America 1881: They Call Me Legend

Chapter 529 20 Tons of Gold

A young white man and a Chinese man stood at the door of the President's Office.

Cleveland knew both of them.

Little Astor and Chen Jianqiu.

The two had crossed paths when he first ran for president.

The former provided him with a certain degree of financial support, and the latter directly saved his life. The border detective agency under him was also responsible for his own security work during the campaign.

But later Astor followed the will of the family and turned to the Republican Party, while Chen Jianqiu was busy with other things in the West.

So the connection between the two sides is naturally much less.

Despite the political differences, Cleveland still has a good impression of the two men.

However, in his opinion, no matter how rich they are, they are nothing more than businessmen.

"We just came from the Capitol. They were adjourning. The speaker said that you left the meeting because of a headache, so we came directly." Little Astor looked around.

He knew many people in Congress, some of whom had been guests at his mother's balls.

"Both, I'm sorry, we are discussing some more important matters. If we want to talk, can we delay?" Secretary of State Ge Lishan said very politely.

"If I'm not mistaken, you should be discussing the treasury's gold reserves." Chen Jianqiu spoke.

Compared with little Astor, he is less reserved.

He looked at the layout of the entire presidential office.

At that time, the President's Office was not located in the famous "Oval Office" in the Executive Office Building, but on the second floor of the mansion.

However, the "Fortitude Desk" made of the planks of the hull of the Royal Navy sailing ship has been placed in the center of the office.

The expression on President Cleveland's face was almost the same as that of Secretary Wright on the other end of the phone.

Embarrassed.

Does the whole of the United States now know that the government has run out of convertible gold?

"You don't need to be surprised. From the moment the financial crisis started, you should have expected this day to come." Chen Jianqiu's words did not save Cleveland the slightest bit of face.

"So, are you also here to take advantage of the fire?" Secretary of State Grace, who was standing in front of the president's desk, glanced at the Chinese and asked bluntly.

"I'm here to make amends." Chen Jianqiu said neither humble nor overbearing, "For your fault."

Ge Lishan laughed loudly: "In my impression, you and your Sanjiang Bank are not as good as Morgan. You don't have the Rothschild family behind you, and you can't move a single step in Europe!"

"But I have gold." Chen Jianqiu walked to one of the three French windows behind the president and opened the curtains.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is the green lawn of the White House.

On the road outside the lawn, there were two rows of carriages parked.

Each carriage was pulled by four horses, and was so tightly covered that it was impossible to see clearly what was inside.

"Mr. Ge Lishan, [-] tons of gold is now parked outside the White House. As long as Mr. President gives an order, it can be transported to the treasury of the Ministry of Finance to meet urgent needs." Chen Jianqiu said calmly.

Greshan glanced at little Astor.

"Yes, Mr. Secretary of State, I can assure you that what he said is true. These were just shipped to the port of Washington this morning." Little Astor said.

The expression of the Secretary of State is extremely wonderful.

He really couldn't imagine how someone would park twenty tons of gold at the gate of the White House.

But the Astor family, which has been famous in New York for a hundred years, will never lie.

It is very likely that what is contained in these carriages is really gold.

"Of course, if you don't need it, I can have someone transport the gold back now, and I can still afford the shipping fee." Chen Jianqiu said.

President Cleveland finally spoke.

He walked to the edge of the sofa and made an inviting gesture to the two people standing:

"Then, please sit down."

"What's your plan? Mr. Chen?"

Part of the twenty tons of gold was transferred overnight by Chen Jianqiu from the vault at the Sanjiang Bank headquarters in New York, and the other part was privately stored in the Astor family's vault.

Since the financial crisis, he has been buying gold all over the world, including but not limited to the United States, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Europe.
Some are exchanged directly with the government in US dollars. In his words, they are saved for the federal government first;

Some are bartered, as in South Africa.

At that time, the Federation of South Africa had not yet been established, and it was ruled by the Transvaal Republic established by the Boers.

In 1884, the world's largest Witwatersrand gold mine was discovered there.

This country is adjacent to the British South African colony, and the relationship with the British Empire is obviously not very good.

Chen Jianqiu learned the news from the Germans.

Arms dealers have the keenest sense of war, just as hounds are most familiar with the smell of blood.

What's more, he is still a time traveler.

He registered a Dutch company and began quietly shipping large quantities of arms there.

From Maxim machine guns, new semi-automatic rifles to consignment Knuber cannons, everything is available.

Shiploads of munitions were shipped from Amsterdam to Cape Town, and then loaded with gold to ports in Mexico, from where they were sorted and shipped to Roswell and New York.

That day, Mark Twain went to Chen Jianqiu's house and told Chen Jianqiu the news of the private meeting in the Freemasonry.

What caught Chen Jianqiu's attention was not the exasperated Rockefeller.

It was August Belmont Jr.

The relationship between this person and the Rothschild family is known throughout Wall Street.

He and Morgan appeared at the same time, and they had important matters to discuss at the same time, so it is worth thinking about.

Chen Jianqiu used the intelligence network of the Border Detective Agency in New York and the relationship network of the Chinese Suffrage Alliance in Washington, and quickly came to a conclusion:

These two are planning to attack the federal government.

The federal government at this time is like a person forced to the river.

The two wanted to push the latter into the river, and then handed over the rope.

People may be rescued, but the rope tied to the body may never be untied.

Chen Jianqiu has no ambition to save America.

He just felt that this rope had to be tied by himself.

But for this matter, he still needs help.

After all, his gold, mainly in Roswell, New York, is only a small part.

So he found little Astor.

"Lend me some money."

In Little Astor's mansion on the outskirts of New York City, Chen Jianqiu opened his mouth to borrow money.

"How much, I'll ask the butler to get it for you now." Little Asart was writing his own novel.

"Today we need 200 million US dollars in gold, and we will reserve 2000 to [-] million US dollars in gold later." Chen Jianqiu said lightly.

Little Astor put down the pen in his hand.

"Um, what are you going to buy?"

Although he is a sci-fi writer with rich imagination, he still can't figure out what to do with so much gold.

"Go to be a creditor." Chen Jianqiu replied concisely.

He thought for a while, and then changed to a reason that sounded more lofty: "Go and save America!"

So, after receiving the information provided by the Border Detective Agency.

Chen Jianqiu's ten tons of gold, plus a few tons of little Astor's, appeared at the gate of the White House under the personal escort of the two.

Otherwise, President Cleveland and the Secretary of State would not have had an equal dialogue with the two of them.

"I don't agree with what Mr. Secretary of State said just now." Chen Jianqiu crossed his hands and placed his fingers on his lower abdomen, "Since the financial crisis, it is true that a lot of gold has been shipped to Europe. The main reason is "Scher Cayman Silver Purchase Act"

He paused and glanced at the Secretary of State beside him.

The Secretary of State nodded.

"But the President has repealed that bill."

"It was too late. Everyone lost confidence in the US dollar, so they exchanged their assets for gold." Chen Jianqiu continued, "Believe me, the United States has gold, but it is in everyone's hands."

"However, you also know that the gold is in the hands of everyone, and we have no way to take the gold out of their hands." Ge Lishan spread his hands and said helplessly, "As you said, they all lost confidence. Even if bonds are issued, no one will buy them.”

Ge Lishan's worries are justified.

After all, they bought the gold from the treasury, so how could it be easily handed back.

"Leave the issuance of the bonds to me, and I will contact the bankers on Wall Street to collectively endorse the credit." Chen Jianqiu said.

He pointed to himself and little Astor.

"Mr. Astor and I will be the first to subscribe, and the others will follow."

"In addition to the White House lawn, I will give another 2000 million U.S. dollars in gold, and Astor and the family he represents will also give more than [-] million U.S. dollars!"

When little Astor heard the numbers, he moved his butt subconsciously.

"That's still the same plan as Morgan and the others!" Graham sneered, "Do you think the people in Congress will agree?"

"It's different, my husband." Chen Jianqiu laughed, "Are you willing to hand over the future of the United States to a group of European capitalists, or to your own people?"

Both the president and secretary of state fell silent.

They didn't say something.

It is true that the powers of those European bankers should be limited, but you, Chen Jianqiu, are Chinese!

Who can accept that the biggest creditor of the American country is a Chinese!
Cleveland is still hesitating.

Chen Jianqiu took out his pocket watch and glanced at it.

"Mr. President, you choose one. Before four o'clock in the afternoon, the gold reserves of the entire United States will be depleted!"

Chen Jianqiu's words pierced into Mr. President's heart like a sword.

He had to face a choice.

This is an opportunity to end this financial crisis.

But the price is to have to face the reality that a European consortium or a Chinese becomes a creditor of the US government.

Moreover, whether it is Morgan or Chen Jianqiu, it is possible to use the interest rate difference of the bond issue to make a fortune for the country.

Cleveland finally made a decision:

"Mr. Chen, let me try and see if I can convince those people in Congress."

He couldn't let the credibility of the federal government be ruined in his own hands.

In front of everyone, Mr. President hung up a call to the Minister of Finance.

"We've found gold, Wright, but it may take a while to convince Congress."

But the other end of the phone completely exploded.

"Mr. President! I don't have that much time! Those Brits are waiting downstairs! If we don't meet today! The credibility of the government and the dollar is over!"

Cleveland put down the phone and said nothing.

It is almost impossible.

If you want the Congress to reach a consensus, you can't do it in ten days and half a month!

But it is completely impossible to make those British guys give up paying.

He knows Wright.

The finance minister must have tried every means, otherwise he wouldn't be so emotional on the phone.

Once again, things hit a dead end.

However, at this moment, Chen Jianqiu suddenly took out something from his clothes.

"Mr. President, I have already asked you to think about this matter."

"During the Civil War, there was a law that allowed the federal Treasury to borrow gold from outside during special periods, and only the president's approval was required."

He took out the top few sheets of paper and handed them to Cleveland.

It's a copy of the law at the time, and it's from the Frontier Detective Agency.

This law was originally prepared by the Northern government to raise war funds and signed by Lincoln.

In terms of exploiting legal loopholes, Chen Jianqiu has extremely professional talents in his hands. After all, this is not the first time he has done this.

President Cleveland took the papers, read a page, and handed it to Secretary of State Graham.

"You are professional, is this law true?"

Ge Lishan took out the pince-nez from his breast pocket, looked at it, and nodded.

As a lawyer-turned-Secretary of State, he is familiar with all the federal bills and constitutional amendments passed since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"Then let's do it," the president said.

Half an hour later, Chen Jianqiu and Little Astor walked out of the president's office.

It took them 22 minutes to sign a contract for the issuance of gold government bonds. All matters will be fully represented by Chen Jianqiu and his Sanjiang Bank.

"I hope this crisis will end here."

When saying goodbye, the president held Chen Jianqiu's hand.

"Don't worry, Mr. President." Chen Jianqiu's tone was very certain, his face as calm as water.

"Mr. Chen, I would like to ask again, what made you bet almost all of your fortune?" Cleveland asked again.

"Because I believe that this country has a bright future." The Chen family replied.

When the two walked out of the White House gate, Chen Jianqiu stretched.

"We seem to have made a big deal just now." Little Astor looked at Chen Jianqiu and said resentfully, "You should have told me in advance."

"It's over if you mess with me, brother, when did I let you suffer." Chen Jianqiu said disapprovingly, "You just wait to surpass Rockefeller and become the richest man in the United States."

On the other side, Morgan and August Belmont Jr. were waiting for news in the reception room on the third floor of the Ministry of Finance.

JP Morgan pulled out another cigar.

This is the third cigar he smoked here today.

"Don't worry, Morgan, they don't have a choice. The people in Congress will have to listen to us obediently." Belmont looked at Morgan's cigars one by one, and comforted him.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Morgan took a puff on his cigar.

He knows too well what kind of piss the members of Congress are.

Leaving aside other factors, even if the president really agrees to his plan, people in Congress may have to argue for a long time.

Those Republican congressmen will not let go of any opportunity to disgust Cleveland.

Even if the president wants to add an extra toilet to the White House, I'm afraid these people will find a reason to veto it.

"Let's go to the White House and see Cleveland." Morgan suddenly realized that he seemed to have made a mistake.

This matter should be directly discussed with Cleveland, and it is meaningless to entangle with the people from the Ministry of Finance.

Morgan and Belmont walked out of the reception room.

They were going to say hello to Minister Wright's office, but found that the minister and the other two leaders of the Treasury Department were not in the office.

"Do these people know what they are facing?" Belmont was a little annoyed.

"Never mind, let's go, it's not far from here to the White House." Morgan walked downstairs.

However, when they walked to the lobby on the first floor, they suddenly found that the few British people who had been waiting here had disappeared.

These British people are naturally also arranged by the Belmont and Rothschild consortium.

"Where are the British people who came here to demand the payment of the national debt just now?" Belmont walked to the staff who was in charge of the reception.

"Oh, they cashed the gold and left." The clerk replied casually.

"What? Say it again!" Belmont's eyes widened, regardless of his gentleman image, "How did they pay the 200 million dollars?"

"Gold! Nearly [-] tons of gold were transported from outside just now." The staff pointed to the door, "It took a while to carry and count."

But immediately, he looked up and down Belmont and Morgan suspiciously:

"Who are you? How do you know the amount of the national debt so clearly? I don't think I've seen you before." The staff asked vigilantly.

But Belmont ignored him.

He lost his composure and rushed out the door, looking around, trying to find out where the gold came from.

But apart from many deep ruts left on the ground at the door, there were no valuable clues left.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Belmont murmured.

He turned his head to look at the expressionless Morgan who came out of the hall, and asked:
"Morgan, have we miscalculated? The Treasury actually still has gold in stock. Haven't they been forced to take advantage of it?"

Morgan held a cigar in his right hand, stared at the direction of the port, and spoke after thinking for a long time:

"We may have been preempted by someone."

Belmont simply could not accept Morgan's judgment.

"It's impossible, Mr. Morgan, you don't understand, no one can raise so much gold in such a short period of time! No one knows these rich people in America better than you and me, even Rockefeller There won’t be so much gold in a while!”

Morgan shook his head:

Just now, in his mind, he went through the Americans who had intersected with him, and even the plutocrats from other countries.

In the end, only one face came to his mind.

"It's Chen, only he has this ability and courage."

(End of this chapter)