Chapter 129 China-reed case 3

After staying in Washington for two days, Hu Chuyuan moved out of the slightly shabby Daqing Embassy and stayed in the best Washington hotel at present. At this time, the United States has begun to adopt new construction technology of reinforced concrete. This is DC's first hotel with such characteristics, with six floors and two very novel electricity. Ladder.

Hu Chuyuan ordered three of the best luxury suites, and there were six high-end rooms for his entourage.

That night, he also set out from here for the private residence of John Sherman, the current chairman of the Republican Party of the United States.

At this time, the National Chinese Association was a very important political donor to the Republican Party. In last year's election, the Chinese Association donated 5,000 US dollars to John Sherman's personal campaign organization. In the subsequent campaign, they once again donated 60,000 to James Garfield through John Sherman. U.S. dollars.

This is a lot of money.

Even for this reason alone, John Sherman must accept Rong Hong's arrangement and meet Hu Chuyuan at the residence.

This is just a simple family banquet. John Sherman invited a Republican senator, Dix Sherman, his cousin, and their wife.

Hu Chuyuan took Rong Hong and Wu Shuzhen with him.

John Sherman is actually not a person who looks good-looking. He is in his fifties, short and fat, and has Scottish blood.

Unlike the late poor governor James Garfield, he was a very rich man who inherited a large amount of property from his grandfather. At the same time, those who benefited with him were his cousin, Dix Sherman.

This wealth allowed them to receive a good education, graduated from Yale University together, and entered politics.

The arrogance of Americans is very interesting. It was not until the banquet began that John Sherman learned from his wife who Hu Chuyuan was. The New York Times has reported that the richest man in the Qing Dynasty earns more than two million pounds a year.

?

What the hell.

John Sherman knew that he was somewhat negligent at this time, and he finally understood where the funds of the National Chinese Association came from.

Sitting down in his position, Hu Chuyuan was not in a hurry to talk about the Chinese platoon, but really talked about the warship business.

However, his talk surprised John Sherman again. He asked the United States to have a large-scale warship manufacturer in the Gulf of San Francisco, as well as a supporting steel and other industrial factories. The U.S. Navy must buy several warships at this shipyard, and then he will buy warships at this shipyard and show it. Follow-up long-term cooperation, including sending technicians to the United States for further study.

After listening to his words, the Sherman brothers were stunned, and even their wives were a little speechless.

I've seen a horizontal one, but I've never seen such a horizontal one.

After a long silence, Wu Shuzhen smiled charmingly and said, "Two gentlemen, please don't worry. We have a clear answer about the investors in the shipyard and other industries. At the same time, Hanhua Bank and Mr. Hu will provide sufficient financial guarantees, and Fuzhou Shipping is also willing to transfer some of the technical information we have obtained to the United States.

"What?"

John Sherman could hardly believe his ears and asked, "Do you transfer technology to us?"

Hu Chuyuan answered seriously: "It's true. In my negotiations with Britain and France, we did get a lot of technical assistance. The problem is that we can't digest them. We are willing to share these technical secrets with the United States, provided that the United States helps us digest them slowly and gradually get rid of our traditional dependence on Britain and France.

"This...?"

John Sherman realized that the United States is likely to be involved in an international surname dispute, but the benefits are real. Since the end of the Civil War, in order to digest the negative impact of civil war bonds, the United States has not built another warship.

The current naval construction of the United States has fallen far behind the advanced level of Europe, and the House of Representatives also intends to pass a new budget to support the reconstruction of the U.S. Navy.

At this time, their wife was very smart enough to get up and leave, taking her young children out of the restaurant.

Hu Chuyuan then told John Sherman in detail: "Our contract includes mixed iron armor, three-expansion steam engine, and the overall skeleton design of the central fort warship. In terms of artillery system, we mainly absorbed the French exposed fort technology and Armstrong's hoop mouth. Radial artillery technology, including tube retreating new fast artillery technology. It is probably impossible for us to digest these technologies in a short time, and in order to avoid French competition, the British transfer is particularly generous.

At this moment, the Sherman brothers couldn't help looking at each other.

The United States, which is founded in manufacturing, does not disdain to spend a lot of money to buy technology. As long as they are given five years, they can make these technologies by themselves.

If they can get it for free, they will be happier.

John Sherman thought for a moment and asked Hu Chuyuan, "Mr. Hu, for the secrecy, can we talk alone for a while?"

Hu Chuyuan basically doesn't want to eat it. To be honest, Mrs. John Sherman's craftsmanship is really not worthy of praise.

He nodded slightly, got up and left the restaurant with John Sherman, and entered John Sherman's study one after another.

After Mrs. Sherman warmly presented a pot of brewed black tea, John Sherman closed the door and enthusiastically invited Hu Chuyuan to sit down and pour a cup of tea for Hu Chuyuan in person.

After taking a sip of tea, John Sherman and Hu Chuyuan asked, "With all due respect, how do you plan to carry out such cooperation?"

Hu Chuyuan sat on the sofa, supported his cheeks with his hands, drank tea, and had a little aftertaste in his heart.

After a while, he replied, "I will find a suitable American investor to invest in a steel plant and shipyard in San Francisco, including other facilities and supporting plants, and some of the shortcomings will choose to buy from the East Coast. I transferred the technology to them secretly through a third party, and all the U.S. Navy has to do is use these technologies to build ships in this shipyard. During this period, you should allow me to train my technicians and other Chinese workers at the shipyard. When three or four warships ordered by the U.S. Navy were built, I would persuade the Qing court to buy warships from this experienced and reputable shipyard.

John Sherman drank tea silently and replied after a moment, "There should be no problem. We are very willing to maintain such cooperation with your country for a long time, but with my presumptuous I ask you, is this your personal opinion, or the opinion of the upper royal family and prime minister of your country?"

Hu Chuyuan said, "Obviously, it is my personal opinion, and I can assure you that at least in terms of ship administration, my opinion will easily become a national policy. In addition, I need the United States to provide a few guarantees. First, the U.S. military academy must be open to Chinese, at least the candidates recommended to me. Second, before I purchase other U.S. [***] fires, the U.S. side should also allow the transfer of relevant technology and provide stable technical assistance. In return, and as the owner of China's largest commercial company, I can guarantee that the long-term trade relationship between China and the United States will be very stable. We provide the United States with the tea and raw silk you need, and the United States exports diesel, machinery and chemical supplies, as well as other industrial products.

John Sherman exhaled a hot breath that was a little unbearable.

He must admit that dealing with Hu Chuyuan is a magical thing. This is a very good win-win deal that people can't refuse.

After brewing for a while, John Sherman said, "I don't have the power to decide these things for the time being, but I can assure you that the United States is willing to make such a deal. Among Europe and the United States, the United States is one of the few countries with no interest in China. We are China's best partner. I hope you can convey this to the prime minister and members of your country.

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "I will definitely convey it, but before that, should we discuss the issue of China exclusion in your country?"

"This...?"

John Sherman looked a little embarrassed and said, "You may not know much about American politics. In fact, although we Republicans are in power, the House of Representatives has always been under the control of the Ming Cook Party. Even within our Republican Party, there is no consensus on this matter, and many party members support this bill. Now, the only thing we can expect is that Mr. President can use his veto power to veto bills passed by the House of Representatives and Congress.

Hu Chuyuan hummed a few times and said, "Let's talk about this troublesome legislative issue. Based on my understanding of the politics of your country, the media always has strange energy, so let's fight a war on the media to reverse this situation.

"Oh?"

John Sherman asked curiously, "What are you going to do?"

Hu Chuyuan thought for a while and said, "I have my plan. What I need is some official cooperation. If possible, I want to hold an exhibition of cultural relics and art to help Americans better understand China. In addition, as far as I know, the Pacific Railway caused the death of many Chinese workers during the construction process, did not give contracts, and even deducted all the salaries of some of the deceased Chinese workers. The All-American Chinese Association intends to sue the United Pacific Railway Company for compensation. At the same time, it also uses this matter to awaken the American sense of justice.

"Oh."

John Sherman said, "I also know something about it. Although I don't know much, I support your appeal and am willing to provide some help to the best of my ability. However, it is still troublesome to sue such a large company in the United States, especially the case you are involved in is a class action lawsuit, which is more complicated, and it is impossible without a few years of preparation.

Hu Chuyuan said, "We will expedite this."

John Sherman couldn't help but do so. He worked as a lawyer in Pittsburgh for six years before joining the Republican Party. According to his estimation, without four or five years of preparation, collective authorization alone can be annoying. I don't know how much energy is wasted to really get the right to court.

He just wished Hu Chuyuan and the American Chinese Association success.

After talking about this, the two came out of the study, and then semi-publicly talked about some other issues, such as the location of the Chinese Art Exhibition Hall, and the specific opening date.

The meeting with John Sherman ended here for the time being.

After returning to the hotel, Hu Chuyuan met another person, Stillson Hudgens, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Washington Post, under the contact of Rong Hong.

After some talks, Hu Chuyuan bought the newspaper, which has just been in its inception for less than four years, for 70,000 US dollars. So far, it has sold only 4,000 copies every day, and gave a ten-year long-term subsidy to ensure that the Washington Post can continue to beat the surrounding areas with relatively low and large pages and information. Other newspapers.

He kept all the staff and editors of the newspaper and maintained the original idea of Stillson Hudgens - tracking and reporting political events, analyzing every meaningful thing, and making a supplement - interpreting the truth behind the events.

This is just the beginning. With the help of the Russell family, Hu Chuyuan has founded an American news newspaper company in New York through Wanqi Yanghang. He has won the New York Times, the Boston Herald and the Chicago Tribune at a high price, and paid a total of 470,000 US dollars.

Among the American news newspaper companies, Hu Chuyuan provides a development platform for newspapers to read, has a relatively flexible share dividend system, retains the original business style and reporting rights of each newspaper, and the original editor-in-chief is still responsible for everything.

In order to find the most suitable manager for the American news agency, Hu Chuyuan decided to continue to merge a newspaper.

He chose a person who would not let him down - Joseph Pulitzer, the owner of the St. Louis Express Mail.

"Pulitzer"!!

This surname is the best guarantee.

In order to complete his plan in the shortest time, and out of respect for Joseph Pulitzer, the father of modern news, Hu Chuyuan personally took the train to St. Louis, Missouri, accompanied by Wu Shuzhen and the fourth generation member of the Russell family who had just arrived in Washington. Herbert-Samuel-Rousseu.

Albert Russell is a 27-year-old entrepreneur who is regarded as the new hope of Russell's old family. He is young and handsome, with chestnut-brown red hair, very much like his great-grandfather Samuel Russell. His eyes are blue, well-educated, and his body is elegant.

Although he was very young, with the support of his parents, he founded his own wine bottle factory in New York at the age of 21 and made a lot of money by supplying glass bottles to the surrounding wineries.

(to be continued)