After meeting with Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan, Li Zhen began to prepare to meet with businessmen arriving in Beijing.
According to the news from Mu Zhongyuan and Fan Kai, nearly fifteen big businessmen from all over the country have arrived in Beijing. In the next few days, more people may arrive, and it is expected that at least twenty-five people will arrive. With this With a total of 4.5 million taels of silver, Li Zhen felt confident about raising funds. After all, just Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan had raised 4.5 million taels of silver. The remaining dozens of people would be counted as 100,000 taels each. Two taels can also collect nearly 7 million taels of silver, which is enough to make the bank operational again.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Fan Kai and Mu Zhongyuan arrived at the Presidential Palace.
Both of them looked sad.
When Li Zhen saw this scene, he was confused and asked: "What's wrong with you? The current situation is very good. The Qiao family invested 3 million, and Hu Xueyan invested 1.5 million, which is already nearly 5 million taels of silver. What's more?" Together with Wu Shaorong, etc., as well as other businessmen, the difficulties faced by the Greater China Bank will soon be exposed and it will be able to operate at a high speed."
Mu Zhongyuan looked at Fan Kai and said, "Brother, tell me."
Fan Kai sighed: "President, this guy Wu Shaorong escaped, took up his family fortune and fled to the United States."
"Wu Shaorong ran away."
Li Zhen suddenly didn't understand and asked: "Okay, how could Wu Shaorong escape? I just invited him to come to Beijing to discuss things, and it was not a matter of beheading people and ransacking homes. It's not like that. Donate some money and he will keep quiet." He’s going to the United States.”
Fan Kai said: "According to the news from Guangzhou, Wu Shaorong was probably afraid that you would punish him for colluding with foreigners to sell opium, so he packed up his family fortune and left Guangzhou. Now, he is on his way to the United States, and it is impossible to get him back. .”
"Punishment, I'm afraid not."
Li Zhen denied this statement and firmly did not believe it.
Fan Kai said with certainty: "The news coming from Guangzhou is for this reason."
Li Zhen shook his head and said: "I have been in charge of Guangzhou for many years. All this time, Wu Shaorong stayed in Guangzhou and lived in peace without any problems. If Wu Shaorong was afraid of my punishment and fled, why didn't he escape when I took over Guangzhou? Now, he Why did I come to the conclusion that I was going to attack him? It is undeniable that this guy once colluded with foreigners to sell opium, forced Lin Zexu to step down, and committed a serious crime, but it was all in the past, and I did not dig into the details."
After a pause, Li Zhen said firmly: "I believe that Wu Shaorong cannot leave at will. There must be a deeper reason."
Li Zhen knew Wu Shaorong.
Wu Shaorong's original name is Wu Chongyao, and he is the son of Wu Bingjian, the general merchant of the Thirteenth Bank of Guangzhou. Wu Shaorong is the name of Wu Chongyao in business. More people are familiar with his business name, rather than his real name. Wu Shaorong participated in the trafficking of opium and made huge profits and money from it. Countless, during Li Zhen's rule in Guangzhou, Wu Chongyao restrained his behavior and did not continue the opium business, at least no longer sold domestically.
Therefore, Li Zhen did not pursue the matter.
So far, Li Zhen has not had the idea of pursuing responsibility.
Wu Shaorong left suddenly. Li Zhen did not believe that he escaped because of his guilt. Li Zhen looked at Fan Kai and said solemnly: "Send a message to Wang Xiaoyang in Guangzhou and ask him to investigate the matter immediately. After I go south to Guangzhou, I must get A clear explanation."
"Yes." Fan Kai agreed.
Li Zhen said: "Mr. Fan, you and Mr. Mu are preparing to meet with businessmen together. On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, I will meet with all businessmen at the Presidential Palace. By then, those who arrive late will not be kept waiting."
"clear."
Fan Kai and Mu Zhongyuan answered at the same time, then said goodbye and left.
Li Zhen was sitting alone in the study, still thinking about Wu Shaorong's departure. Li Zhen thought that the country Wu Shaorong fled to was the United States, so would this matter have something to do with the United States? However, Li Zhen was just speculating. , everything will not be confirmed until Wang Xiaoyang carefully investigates it.
…
Beijing, Yiguan.
Ruan Lele and Ruan Mingde lived here, and Ye Chengzhong also stayed here.
During the Chinese New Year, Ruan Lele had a lot of fun in Beijing. He saw countless strange things and was eye-opening. The same was true for Ruan Mingde. As the prince of the Ruan Dynasty, Ruan Mingde had always stayed in the palace. In addition to reading and practicing calligraphy, I usually have very little time to play, but now that I have seen everything in Beijing, I am attracted by new things and have a tendency to be happy and reluctant to leave.
However, Ruan Lele is different.
She had fun but didn't forget about business.
She came to Beijing to seek help.
Ruan Lele invited Ye Chengzhong into the room and said: "Brother Ye, President Li originally said that he would go south to defeat the Xi Yinglong brothers after the New Year. Now, the New Year has passed, but there has been no movement. I am just a subjugated princess. , A person's words are of no importance in President Li's heart. Now, the only one I can rely on is Brother Ye. Please go to the Presidential Palace and ask Brother Ye for me when can I go south."
Ye Chengzhong said: "Lele, I'm afraid I won't be able to go south for the time being."
"Why." Ruan Lele frowned into the character "Sichuan", looking very melancholy.
Ye Chengzhong said: "Currently, there is a problem with the banks in Guangzhou, and there is a serious lack of money turnover. The president has summoned businessmen across the country and is busy dealing with this matter. If he wants to go south, he must wait until this matter is resolved. Only then can we go south."
Ruan Lele said: "If we wait like this, I don't know how many years and months it will take."
Ye Chengzhong continued: "I can't wait much longer. I heard from Mr. Fan from the bank that the president will summon all the businessmen on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month. Once this matter is settled, it should be almost done."
"Okay, we'll find the president after we're eighteen." Ruan Lele said.
Ye Chengzhong thought for a while and said, "Maybe, there is another matter that needs to be dealt with before we can go south."
"ah,."
Ruan Lele exclaimed, looking like he was about to cry.
She walked up to Ye Chengzhong and said, "Brother Ye, you are someone the president values and you can definitely convince him. My country is dead and I can only rely on your help. Please help me." She said. He held Ye Chengzhong's shoulders and kept shaking him. This situation was more like coquettishness than asking for help, which made Ye Chengzhong feel his mind swaying.
I can't stand this situation.
It's over, it's over.
Ye Chengzhong repeatedly stopped him and said, "Stop, stop, I'll tell you, but I can't guarantee you'll get an answer."
"I knew that Brother Ye was the best." Ruan Lele held Ye Chengzhong's hand and said, "Okay, now that the big thing has been solved, let's go out and play. I haven't had enough fun in such a big city of Beijing. Well, I guess Mingde also wants to go out."
"Auntie, I've been here a long time ago and I've been waiting for you to go out."
Ruan Mingde's little head poked out from the door and smiled.
Ye Chengzhong looked at Ruan Mingde and Ruan Lele, sighed softly, and left the post house with them.
