Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 447 Arms Trading
Yuan Shikai felt that the conversation was almost over, and directly brought the topic to the center, "Mr. Du Pont, you can come to Singapore in person this time, which shows that you attach great importance to this transaction. I, Yuan, are also very happy and willing to talk with you. Cooperate with a powerful company like yours."

There was a sly gleam in Eugene's eyes: "We don't just talk about business. DuPont pays more attention to politics."

"Oh? How do you say this?"

"What we value is His Excellency Governor's political status in China."

Yuan Shikai waved his hand and said: "I, Yuan, have a small official position, and there are many officials like me in China." He leaned forward, and said in a deep voice: "You are the largest arms dealer in the United States, I heard Arms dealers like to go to places where there are wars, so why would they be interested in my little Singapore?" Yuan Shikai was scheming and knew that the trip of the DuPont family was not easy.

DuPont smiled knowingly, changed to a more comfortable sitting position, and said: "War is a magical thing. It can make the poor become rich overnight, and it can also make the rich become poor in a blink of an eye. As for arms products, When doing business in peacetime, we have to sell according to the buyer's terms. But in wartime, it is different. Any buyer, even if it is a large transaction, must be settled according to our mediation, because the market is dominated by producers and sellers in wartime They need what we have urgently, so let them pay a corresponding high price. If you think that the war will come and the sales will be large, you can lower the price, it is wrong. Whoever makes small profits but sells more during the war That is a complete fool. This is the old tradition of DuPont, and the price of all wartime orders is higher than usual.” He stared into Yuan Shikai’s eyes and said: “National security should not be auctioned to the lowest bidder. There are no bargains when it comes to securing our liberties!"

Yuan Shikai squinted at the other party and laughed: "Happy! Happy! I, Yuan, have been in the officialdom for many years. Never beat around the bush before interests. I like such people."

DuPont restrained his eyes and smiled: "If businessmen, especially arms dealers, are not tied to politics, they will never be able to develop."

"I don't understand. China is now in a time of peace. Our emperor has governed the country in an orderly manner. It is impossible for a war to break out. How can you take a fancy to Yuan's political status?"

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid you don't know what the arms dealer does. One of his main responsibilities is to start a war where there is no war. Otherwise, the world will be peaceful. How can the arms dealer rely on it?" to make money."

"Oh?" Yuan Shikai rolled his eyes and said, "I still don't quite understand what you mean. Do you want me to start a war between China and other countries? You should know that China's affairs are decided by the emperor. I Mr. Yuan is just a local official, and he has no ability to control the situation of the empire."

"Your Excellency, I don't think we need to go around anymore. You are not doing well as an official under the Emperor of the Empire, are you?"

"Why do you say that?" Yuan Shikai immediately raised his vigilance.

"Don't forget, we are arms dealers, and politics will always be the focus of our attention. Without this ability, DuPont cannot stand for a hundred years."

Yuan Shikai said disapprovingly: "I'm afraid you have heard wrongly this time. The emperor has shown me the kindness of knowing you. Even if I, Yuan, are smashed to pieces, it will be difficult to protect the emperor!"

"Sincerely, Your Excellency Governor, since we want to become partners, the first point is the sincerity of both parties. We have known about your personal experience and current situation for a long time. A few days ago, Wang Zhixin, director of the Beijing Police Department, was arrested Executed for corruption, you must know about this. As far as we know, Wang Zhixin is your confidant and the most powerful senior official you have installed in Beijing. If my guess is correct, Singapore privately smuggled arms The matter of opium trafficking is likely to be known to you in the near future, and your current situation is very difficult." Du Pont, like a loyal lobbyist, took the trouble to enlighten Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai's hidden pain was uncovered in public, and immediately became angry from embarrassment, and said angrily: "No matter how far this matter develops, it is China's internal affairs. Could it be that Mr. Du Pont likes to interfere in the affairs of other countries besides being interested in the arms business?" Internal affairs are not working?"

DuPont smiled and said, "No, no, I'm a businessman and I'm not interested in your internal affairs. I just want to help the governor as much as I can."

Yuan Shikai sneered, "Really? I don't know how Mr. Du Pont wants to help?"

"I like to speak straightforwardly. I think that in your current awkward situation, you only have two choices."

"Speaking!"

"The first is to find a strong political force as the backing. The second is to work hard to expand your own strength. Only by doing these two points can you gain a firm foothold in Singapore, a tiny place, and China will not easily Take action against you."

Yuan Shikai immediately became very interested in this Mr. Du Pont. Although he was a businessman, he had a sharper mind than a politician. It seemed that the other party had seen through his own thoughts. "What you said has some truth, but judging from my current situation, it is difficult to do both of these two things. I have long heard that the DuPont family dominates the United States. I would like to hear how you plan to help me."

DuPont turned around and said to the people around him: "It seems that Your Excellency the Governor still has doubts about DuPont's ability."

DuPont's personal assistant said solemnly: "Your Excellency, the DuPont Kingdom now controls all aspects of Delaware's politics, economy, finance, transportation, culture, education, and news. 21% of the output value. Of the four largest banks in the state, the DuPont family directly controls two and indirectly controls two. More than a quarter of the state legislators are the DuPont family and their agents. Can control and manipulate the laws of Delaware. Of course, these laws are beneficial to the DuPont family. For example, the tax rate it imposes on industry and commerce is the lowest among all states in the United States. The DuPont family also controls the two most influential newspapers in Delaware. , Wilmington Morning and Evening News, here is the veritable stronghold of the DuPont Kingdom. Mr. DuPont has just served as the leader of the Republican Party, is often active in Washington politics, and has a close relationship with President Roosevelt. 17th, Mr. DuPont’s younger brother was also elected as a senator in the U.S. House of Lords. One-fifth of the members of both houses of the United States have received funding from DuPont. So the DuPont family is the one who can influence the political situation in the United States. This There is no doubt about it.”

Hurd DuPont interjected: "And those politicians who harm the interests of the DuPont family will undoubtedly be targeted. McKinsey was in the tariff negotiations with Western European countries in order to open up US agricultural products, tobacco and aluminum. In the international market, without DuPont's consent, the tariff barriers used to protect American chemical companies were cut down, resulting in a large influx of European chemicals, which harmed DuPont's interests. Three days later, President McKinsey was assassinated, It has become one of the biggest unsolved cases in the history of the United States. There is no evidence that the death of the president has any direct relationship with the DuPont family, but it is true that some of McKinsey's policies have violated the interests of some large conglomerates like DuPont."

Mr. DuPont's lawyer also said: "During the World War, DuPont's orders once again flew in like snowflakes. From the outbreak of the war to the end of the Battle of the Marne, the Allies ordered 2162.13 million pounds of explosives from DuPont, which exceeded the company's usual production by 840 pounds. 6 pounds. Without increasing equipment and personnel, the total production of gunpowder and weapons has reached 13 times the usual production in just 54 months. By the time the United States entered the war, DuPont’s gunpowder production capacity It has reached 40 times before the war. During the entire war, [-]% of the shells fired by the Allied Powers used DuPont’s explosives and propellant gunpowder, and DuPont became the loyal logistics minister of the Allied Powers.”

DuPont finally concluded: "So, Your Excellency Governor, you don't have to worry about DuPont's strength and ability to deal with various wars. As long as you are willing, the DuPont family will be fully responsible for your friendly contact with the United States. Of course, in the It is carried out under the premise of confidentiality, and we will provide you with all the weapons and ammunition equipment you need, so that you can form a first-class armed force in Asia in the shortest possible time. In this way, your security will be greatly improved Guaranteed."

"Why do you help me?" Yuan Shikai asked knowingly.

"What better reason does a businessman have than profit?" Du Pont laughed.

"I'm afraid your biggest purpose is to encourage me to go to war with China, so that you can gain greater benefits from it, right?" Yuan Shikai's face suddenly changed and became extremely frightening.

DuPont was very calm, "It's not our agitation, but based on your current situation, sooner or later there will be an armed confrontation, or you will be dismissed or beheaded by your emperor, just like Wang Zhixin. "

Yuan Shikai laughed suddenly, and said after a while: "It seems that you are really shrewd businessmen. I am very happy to cooperate with a businessman like you. It seems that I, Yuan Shikai, have found the right person. Haha"

DuPont said grimly: "This is a transaction where both sides seize interests. For you, you will get the strong support of the DuPont family and the United States, so that you will gain the strength to confront China. People's general opinion of an arms manufacturer The perception is: vicious, cruel, abhorring peace and contemptuous of the search for it. These people do their best to fan the flames between nations and gloat in the ensuing conflicts, which create for their arms companies Huge profits. I think that's what is commonly said about arms manufacturers, when in fact it's a common misconception that Du Pont doesn't need war, it needs a just and lasting peace all over the world. Still, war, whether Chinese or foreign, we are waiting anytime and anywhere, because it creates a market for gunpowder!"

(End of this chapter)