1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 240 Fragrant Hills
The fleet of Jardine Bank and Tongfu Bank set off from San Francisco, escorted by armed guards, and headed for Guangzhou thousands of miles away.

Jardine's fleet carried [-] taels of gold, and Tongfuhang's fleet carried [-] taels of gold into Guangzhou Port.

According to the gold-silver ratio of around 19 in the 50s.One hundred thousand taels of gold is 15 million taels of silver, and 90 taels of gold is also [-] taels of silver.

"Jinshan Jinshan, gold everywhere, really lives up to its reputation."

Wu Shangrong, the helmsman of Jardine Bank, the general merchant of Guangzhou Thirteen Banks, said with emotion as he looked at the shining gold in the cabin.

He was very excited to get one hundred thousand taels of gold from San Francisco in one year, especially for the Guangzhou merchants who are currently in decline, it is undoubtedly a booster.

"If we can grasp the American market, we Guangzhou merchants, maybe ZTE may have hope."

"My clan brother sent me several letters, bluntly saying that the United States is full of opportunities, and it is simply a paradise for us businessmen. It made me think of the United States."

Pan Shicheng played with the rosary in his hand and asked Wu Shangrong.

"Brother Liangfu, how is Jardine's donations and losses going this year? The Changmao Rebellion, the indemnity of foreigners, the famine in Shaanxi and Gansu are all places where money is needed. The imperial court is pressing hard. This year you are in Guangzhou. The general merchants of the merchants must not be careless, the imperial court's donation is the most important event."

"Some things I dare to say to Brother De She. When the early years were relatively peaceful, they were plundered from the people. When the people's upheavals abounded, they were plundered from the merchants. Donate and donate, donate and donate. When will you be able to make a name for yourself." The disgruntled Wu Shangrong walked out of the oppressive cabin, breathed the fresh air on the deck and said.

"If this batch of gold hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid this year's donation would have caused some headaches. In the past, when Guangzhou was making money, we had to donate more. It was a matter of cleaning up. Among the five commercial ports, Shanghai is the most popular. It is getting more and more prosperous every day, and foreigners prefer to do business in Shanghai, so why do we Guangzhou merchants donate the most.”

"What you said is exactly what I'm worried about." Pan Shicheng was still playing with the rosary in his hand, "Shanghai is close to the rich and prosperous places of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and has the convenience of the Yangtze River. If it continues to develop like this, sooner or later, five commercial ports will , it is not surprising that it has become a commercial port in Shanghai.”

"Liangyi (Wu Yuanhua) also told me that as a businessman in the United States, you only need to pay taxes and don't need to donate. A businessman can also be an official. If Wu Jiagen was not in the Qing Dynasty, I would also want to go to California." After complaining, Wu Shangrong said to Pan Shicheng.

"Brother De She, Liang Yaolai trusts us to persuade the old man of the Liang family to bring his mother to California to enjoy the blessings. Our Guangzhou merchants also have a lot of business in California that they take care of. Let's take care of this matter as soon as possible."

"I was about to talk about this matter, and I happened to use this matter to repay the little brother of the Liang family. I just received a letter from Ting Yu a few days ago. Thanks to his idea, we, Jardine and Tongfu, both The bank has directly opened a branch in New York, and in the future, the transactions with the United States will no longer need to be handled by those second-hand dealers in the United States." Pan Shicheng said behind his back.

"Let's go, let's go to Xiangshan to meet the old man of the Liang family."

Guangdong Fragrant Hills, Liang Family Courtyard.

Ever since Liang Yao made a fortune in California and sent back gold, the dilapidated Liang family took back the land that had been sold, and the dilapidated Liang family compound was also renovated.

The Liang family seemed to be another prominent family in Xiangshan.

Wu Shangrong and Pan Shicheng rode tall horses and ostentatiously passed through the city, and the accompanying personnel drove the carriage full of gifts to the front of the Liang family compound.

"I don't know Wu Siqing, Pan Buzheng envoy's visit, there is a long way to welcome him, and there is a long way to welcome him."

Knowing that Wu Shangrong and Pan Shicheng were visiting, Liang Weiming, the father of the Liang family, did not dare to neglect, and hurried out to greet them.

Now Liang Weiming is no longer a Beijing official, but Wu Shangrong and Pan Shicheng are still big businessmen, especially Pan Shicheng, who has a close personal relationship with the favorite ministers of the capital and local officials in Guangdong, and is also the celebrity of the current emperor Xianfeng.

Faced with such a character, Liang Weiming dared not neglect even if he was a merchant from Guangzhou.

"Liang is being polite. Our ministers and ministers are just empty titles. You have always been in the reign of Lord Daoguang, but you are really giving things."

Pan Shicheng laughed.

It wasn't that he deliberately pretended to be ostentatious in front of Liang Weiming. In front of serious imperial examination officials, no matter whether they were big or small, whether they were favored or not, Pan Shicheng always put himself very low and made friends with them.

He also knows that even if his son chooses the imperial examination route to become an official, the brand of the Pan family's businessman background cannot be faded in one or two generations. Good posture.

"It's all in the past. I'm a guilty person now. I just blamed my confusion at the time." The gray-bearded Liang Weiming sighed and said.

"These are the small gifts that the two of us have prepared for you, I hope you will not dislike them."

Pan Shicheng ordered someone to bring up the gifts prepared for the Liang family.

"It's absolutely impossible, absolutely impossible." Liang Weiming said hastily, "Over the past year, the Liang family has received two more caretakers, and Liang will always remember their kindness, and he is extremely grateful. He must never accept any more gifts from you. "

"Mr. Liang is out of touch when he says that. The children of the Wu family and the Pan family who make a living in California, America, have also received the favor of the Liang family. We are both from Cantonese. Whether we are in a foreign country or in our hometown, They should take care of each other, right?" Pan Shicheng said.

"Since Chief Secretary Pan said this, I will be disrespectful and have the audacity to accept it." Seeing Pan Shicheng's remarks, Liang Weiming accepted the gifts from Wu Shangrong and Pan Shicheng, and invited them into the mansion.

"You two, please come inside."

"Congratulations to Mr. Liang, the son of the Liang family has produced a capable person. Liang Yao is now the chief official of the border in the United States. In California, he can be said to be in charge of the army, and he can be said to be in charge of the people. I am so envious."

After taking his seat, Wu Shangrong took the tea served by the maid, took a sip of the tea and said.

Over the past year, the Wu family and the Pan family have taken such good care of the Liang family. Liang Weiming, who has been immersed in officialdom for many years, of course knows that it is for Liang Yao's face.

It's just that the Liang family's son's generation, that is, the generation of Shao Zitou, did not have a harmonious relationship, which made him feel very headache.

"Yeah, both of us are very envious of such a talented person from our two families. Liang Yao is also a filial person. He wrote to me repeatedly, saying that his grandfather and mother treated him well, and now he is prosperous abroad. I want to bring you to California, America, to enjoy the blessings and live a few days of happiness."

Pan Shicheng put down the tea cup in his hand and said.

When Pan Shicheng said this, Liang Weiming of course understood what Pan Shicheng meant, and said after a moment of pondering: "I am very relieved that this son has such filial piety, but I am old and can't bear the rough seas. I'm afraid I won't be able to go.

Liang Yao wants to bring his biological mother to America to fulfill his filial piety. This idea is excellent, and I will fulfill his filial piety. "

"It's so good. Jardine and Tongfuxing will have a fleet to transport immigrants to California in ten days. Mr. Liang's global shipping company also has a fleet arriving in Guangzhou every month. Now it is very convenient to go to California. Global shipping company A large steamship can reach Jinshan (San Francisco) in just over a month."

Seeing that Liang Weiming agreed, Pan Shicheng was very happy. Liang Yao only asked his biological mother to be taken to Jinshan, and he didn't say in the letter whether Mr. Liang would go or not.

Pan Shicheng also thought that Liang Yao didn't want Mr. Liang to go to Jinshan. On the one hand, the boat was too tiring. Liang Yao had a good life in the United States. He took over Mr. Liang's big Buddha, because he made himself feel uncomfortable.

The Pan family is a businessman and has dealt with foreigners for many years, so they have a relatively broad vision, while the Liang family has been farming and studying for generations. The acceptance of foreign things between the two is naturally different.

"That's great. As for what kind of boat you want, it's up to my daughter-in-law to choose." Liang Weiming said.

"I heard that there are many people who are proficient in foreign languages ​​in your firm?"

"We have been merchants for generations, and we all do business with foreigners. How can we do business if we don't know how to speak foreigners?" Pan Shicheng laughed, "Why did Mr. Liang suddenly ask about this?"

"Oh, I'm not afraid of your jokes. I was dismissed because of the scientific examination fraud case, and the descendants of the Liang family are also troubled by me. I want the descendants of the Liang family to come to your business to learn the language and characters of foreigners. There are many ways out for the ability to do business in the future." Liang Weiming said in a sincere tone.

"It doesn't matter, even so, I will pick a few guys who are proficient in foreign languages ​​and Chinese to send to Liang's mansion, and they will be dispatched by Mr. Liang."

Pan Shicheng and Wu Shangrong agreed very happily.

After talking with Liang Weiming for a while, Pan Shicheng and Wu Shangrong said goodbye to Liang Weiming, left Xiangshan and returned to Guangzhou.

"Father, no, if Deng Lan goes to Jinshan, what will Liang Yao do if he doesn't give us gold in the future?"

After Pan Shicheng and Wu Shangrong left, Liang Weiming's second son Liang Shaocong jumped out and said.

"It's useless! When Pan Shicheng and Wu Shangrong were here, why didn't you say no?" Liang Weiming sneered, "Living on your nephew's money, do you still look like an elder?"

"The two adults were both wearing official uniforms just now. I'm afraid I'll offend the two adults. You don't look good." Liang Shaocong hurriedly laughed and said, "Liang Sheng has been digging mines in California for a year, can you help me?" Let's make peace with Liang Yao and find an easy job for Liang Sheng?"

"If it weren't for your bad idea, Liang Sheng would have been sent to the mine?" Liang Weiming glanced at the hollow-eyed, skinny Liang Shaocong with disgust, and asked, "Where is Shao Chen?"

"Brother is in the back room." Liang Shaocong said, wiping the snot from his nose.

Liang Weiming got up and left the main room, and walked to the back room.

There is a portrait of the ancestor hanging on the wall of the house, and there are several couplets beside the portrait of the ancestor.

Below the portrait of the ancestor is a long altar, on which are placed some books and Western ornaments sent back by Liang Yao from the United States.

In front of the tribute table is a soft couch.

I saw Liang Shaochen lying loosely on the couch, holding a bong in his right hand, stroking the cat in his left hand, and puffing smoke from his mouth.

Seeing Liang Weiming coming, Liang Shaochen looked at Liang Weiming with blurred eyes, and said weakly, "Father, are you here?"

"Promising?! Smoking opium in front of the ancestor statue?!"

Seeing Liang Shaochen's behavior, Liang Weiming became even more furious, and raised his cane to greet Liang Shaochen.

(End of this chapter)