Chapter 357 Declaration of War
Everyone wants to cut a piece of the cake of the Eastern Railway, but it is impossible for someone to swallow it in one bite.
Kandong State is not Amur, nor is it George's private fiefdom. The Grand Dukes of St. Petersburg probably believe that they and George have equal opportunities.
George can only say that the princes are used to being unscrupulous in St. Petersburg and do not understand what local snakes are.
It’s just local refugees or bandits who really don’t have the ability to force the road convoy to withdraw from Ice City.
Kanto Continent is not only filled with refugees and bandits, but also Cossacks from Russia.
This is also normal. The Cossacks were originally bandits. They couldn't survive in the Russian Empire, and they had no choice but to go to the Qing Empire to make a living.
George admitted that the gun was sold by Amur, and the Cossacks definitely did not run from Amur.
The Siberian Military District next to the Amur Military District also has many Cossacks.
“I want to ask you about this. We need to hire local workers to build roads. Your relationship with the locals is so bad. Are the locals still willing to work for us?”
George began to take the blame. If his selfish interests affected the construction of the China-Eastern Railway, St. Petersburg would be held accountable.
Ukhtomsky and Alexeyev were speechless. They did not expect that the situation would deteriorate to this point.
“The road protection team formed after the military model was actually beaten back by the farmers. You are really giving the empire face-”
Ye Luoxin’s words made Ali Kseyev's face turned red with shame.
“That’s not a farmer, it’s definitely an organized army.”
Alexeyev only realized this later.
But this doesn’t make sense.
Although the area along the Middle East Railway is the territory of the Qing Empire, according to the agreement between the Russian Empire and the Qing Empire, if the Qing army enters the area along the Middle East Railway, it needs the consent of Russia.
So the opponent of the road protection team is at least not the army of the Qing Empire.
Understanding this, Alexeyev looked at George and Yeluoxin with suspicion.
"No matter who it is, the key question now is, what should we do?"
Ukhtomsky is the chairman of Daosheng Bank and the first person in charge of the China Eastern Railway.
The grand dukes of St. Petersburg couldn't make money in Kanto State, so they patted their butts and returned to St. Petersburg, running and dancing like horses.
Ukhtomsky cannot run away, he is responsible for the investment of the empire and the Grand Dukes of St. Petersburg.
“How about we set up another Middle East Railway Security Company.”
George treats security as a business. This is the difference between professional and amateur.
Ukhtomsky frowned, and he found that he had fallen into George's trap again.
Before the China Eastern Railway project was approved, George established the China Eastern Railway Company to undertake the construction business of the China Eastern Railway.
When building a railway in Russia, the land management rights on both sides of the railway automatically belong to the railway company.
The management rights of the land on both sides of the China Eastern Railway are also owned by the China Eastern Railway Company.
After the China Eastern Railway is completed, the operation and maintenance will also be responsible for the China Eastern Railway Company.
If George is also responsible for the security work, then Daosheng Bank’s only right is settlement.
Co-author The Russian-French consortium worked hard for so long and spent tens of millions of rubles, all of which were used to make George's wedding clothes.
George is not in a hurry.
In the evening, George hosted a banquet for Ukhtomsky at Yuriev Palace.
It was only after Ukhtomsky arrived at Yuriev Palace that he learned that George had not invited Alexeyev.
It was said to be a banquet, but in fact there were only three people.
Besides George and Ukhtomsky, the only other guest was Prince Vasily Suvorov.
Others are not qualified to sit with the three of them.
"George, you really gave me a big problem."
In informal settings, Ukhtomsky speaks more casually.
"I am not targeting you, I just want some people to know that the Far East is not St. Petersburg."
George sat in the chief seat with great style.
“Kandong Prefecture is not Amur——”
Ukhtomsky was unwilling to give in, but he had no choice but to do so.
George could still hold it in, but Vasily lost control and burst into laughter.
Ukhtomsky glared at Vasily.
What are you laughing at?
What did I say wrong?
Ukhtomsky was right, the way of doing things was wrong.
"I laugh at you and you won't make any money -"
Vasily's task is to act as George's mouthpiece.
Old Ukhtomsky's face was red, he had many identities, he was a duke, a biographer, a traveler, a gourmet, and now he had a banker.
Only when it comes to making money, Ukhtomski is really not good at it.
But this is not Ukhtomski’s problem.
In Russia, no one dares to say that they are better at making money than George.
"How much profit can be gained by robbing Qing farmers? How many cents can be earned in lumber mills? This is what you so-called imperial elites know about making money?"
What did Vasily inherit? It’s hard to say how much military talent the Military God has. In terms of being acrimonious and acrimonious, he is definitely better than his master.
“Then what do you think we should do?”
Ukhtomsky used anger to cover up his embarrassment.
"You have to ask the Duke, I don't need to make money."
Vasily is also a talker. His salary and salary, as well as the interest generated from Olga's dowry, are enough to support the family.
“If you want to make quick money, of course you have to find a way to make money from the major shareholders——”
George knew that the princes usually didn’t have much patience. The payback period for railways is very long, so in Russia before, this kind of business was not favored by the big bosses at all.
Otherwise, those Hebrews wouldn’t have their turn.
Dousheng Bank is jointly funded by the Bank of Russia and the Bank of France. The Bank of France accounts for the majority of the investment, but it is at a disadvantage in terms of voice.
Georgigen Ukhtomsky made a calculation.
Dousheng Bank and the Siberian Fleet jointly established a road protection team, with Dousheng Bank investing 100,000 rubles.
There are only 250 people in the road protection team, and the average cost per person is 400 rubles.
The Eastern Railway covers more than 1,700 kilometers within the Qing Empire alone. Is it enough for 250 people?
George made a generous move, referring to the experience of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and directly increased the size of the road protection team to 1,700 people per regiment.
"Impossible, the board of directors can't agree."
Ukhtomsky was very disappointed, it turned out that the God of Wealth was just like this.
"Who has the final say on the board of directors——"
George chuckled.
The board of directors of Daosheng Bank has a total of 8 people, 5 from Russia, and even the chairman is Russian.
So whether the board of directors agrees or not, it is the Russians who have the final say.
It is not the French who have the final say.
"This - this -"
Ukhtomsky never imagined that he could still play like this.
Russians are indeed too upright, no wonder they are tricked by Europeans.
“Weapons and equipment for more than 1,700 people, why should this cost one million rubles——”
“It won’t use that much——”
Ukhtom Ski's resistance grew weaker and weaker.
"I have the final say on how much I use."
George is the seller.
“France also has arsenals——”
“The Ice City is too cold, French equipment is not suitable for use in the Ice City, it will freeze——”
George didn’t Worrying about the French, the key is the distribution of interests on Russia's side.
French banks have already invested more than 40 million rubles in the Middle East Railway, with another one or two million more to come.
No matter how much the Dowson Bank's budget is, George only earns what he should earn.
As for how to distribute profits, that is Ukhtomsky’s business.
If Ukhtomski is ignorant, George has many ways to make him miserable.
George learned this method from the St. Petersburg Shipyard.
Sure enough, you have to live and learn.
However, if Daosheng Bank and George jointly form a road protection team, there will be nothing wrong with the Siberian Fleet.
“Oh, what the hell is the Siberian Fleet!”
Vasili spoke arrogantly, this was the Grand Duke’s game, and the Commander of the Siberian Fleet was not qualified to participate.
When Ukhtomsky walked out of Yuriev Palace, his head was in a daze.
At night, Yuriev Palace looks like a tiger, overlooking the entire Far East.
With George's participation, the project progress immediately became smooth.
The Amur people have been building railways every day in the past few years and have extremely rich experience.
The requirements of the indigenous people are not high, they just want to survive. Based on this premise, they can tolerate even some losses in their interests.
George sent people carrying gifts and visited the Bingcheng aborigines door to door. He took the initiative to show his goodwill and also said that the China Eastern Railway Company would hire road construction workers from the aborigines, and the welfare benefits would be the same as those of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Since the China Eastern Railway Company will renovate Bingcheng in the future, the Bingcheng indigenous people will receive financial compensation if they are willing to relocate.
If you are willing to stay, there will be more job opportunities. In the future, the operation of the China Eastern Railway will also require a large number of staff.
George Chicken Thief, in order to reduce the resistance of the aboriginal people, the staff sent out are all Chinese.
These staff members all at least graduated from primary school and received a complete primary school education. In the words of the Qing Empire, they were all scholars.
If you are right, you are not afraid of hooligans, but you are afraid that hooligans are educated.
When the physique of a barbarian and the temperament of a scholar are fused together, the effect is not as simple as 1+1=2, but increases exponentially.
Most of the indigenous people chose to stay.
Most of those who took the money and left chose to try their luck in Vladivostok.
In less than a month, the Haiyan River was clear.
The staff not only gave gifts, but also helped the indigenous people solve practical difficulties.
There is a bearded man on the Heixiazi Mountain near Bingcheng who does all kinds of evil.
Antonio, the newly arrived director of the security company, took the initiative to send people to Heixiazi Mountain, hoping that these people would take the initiative to go down the mountain and correct their evil ways.
Beard keeps a respectful distance from the Russians. He is neither obedient nor hostile. He hopes that the well will not interfere with the river.
Antonio does not allow any security risks within his jurisdiction. If he is not a friend, he is an enemy.
On April 24, Antonio Shuai’s expedition team went to Heixiazi Mountain to encircle and suppress the enemy.
The expedition team was well equipped with not only repeating rifles but also mortars.
The equipment of these bearded men turned out to be pretty good. Many weapons were purchased from Vladivostok, which caused some trouble for the expedition team.
However, in the face of the mortar bombardment, Huzi was quickly defeated.
On April 24th, Spain declared war on the United States.
(End of this chapter)