Chapter 24: The Alkali Business And The Fertilizer Factory Business
When the two naval officers dispatched by Leader Yang from the Navy Headquarters saw Zhou Wenhua, they were immediately surprised.
Because they also did not expect that the person who could donate so much money to the Navy Department was so young, and still at the age of a student.
“Hello! Mr. Zhou! We are from the warship ‘Xian Ning’, sent to assist you in the military training of the newly recruited security teams!”
“My name is Ren Lianjie, and his name is Wu Baoshan! We are company commanders in the Navy Department!”
However, even though they were shocked by Zhou Wenhua’s age,
these two naval officers still introduced themselves.
The one who spoke first and introduced himself was naval officer Ren Lianjie.
“I am very grateful that you can come to help me train my newly formed security teams, because my father was also ambushed and attacked by traitors, resulting in serious injuries. He can only lie in bed recuperating and cannot even speak now!”
After hearing their introductions, Zhou Wenhua showed a welcoming smile and responded.
And he quickly had his butler, Liu Xing, hand each of them a check.
“This is for your two months of hard training fees!”
“I only have one request: I hope you can train a security team that can deal with traitors and even the Japanese people. I hope they will not only have certain marksmanship skills but also be brave in combat!”
“As for the number of security team members, I plan to expand it to about 120 people, roughly the strength of a company!”
“Because there are many factories and companies in the family, once they are dispersed, there won’t be many people left!”
“I do not want our family’s enterprises to be schemed against and attacked by traitors and the Japanese people again. My family’s safety also needs to rely on the protection of this security team!”
“Also, I have urgent matters that I need to attend to immediately. I will have Butler Liu Xing host you well!”
“As for the affairs of recruiting more security team members, I have also handed them over to him to handle. The personnel should be fully recruited within these two days!”
“I will take my leave now!”
Then, before the two naval officers could respond,
Zhou Wenhua responded first.
And with a touch of apology, he added his departure remarks to the two naval officers.
“Ah! This…”
Naval officer Ren Lianjie looked utterly bewildered.
Wu Baoshan had the same bewildered expression,
being so taken aback by Zhou Wenhua’s swift reaction and rapid speech that the two of them were momentarily at a loss for words.
Zhou Wenhua apologized briefly and then quickly left, heading towards the convoy of cars at the entrance, as he needed to meet Boss Fan of Yongli Alkali Plant to discuss cooperation and investment matters.
The two naval officers, still in a daze, were immediately left to Butler Liu Xing’s care for further hosting.
However, when the two naval officers regained their senses, especially when they saw the checks Zhou Wenhua handed them, which were two thousand silver dollars each, they were stunned.
“Hiss! Mr. Zhou! This money is too much, we cannot accept it!”
Then, naval officer Ren Lianjie, drawing a sharp breath, hurriedly shouted towards the main entrance where Zhou Wenhua had left.
But at this time, Zhou Wenhua had already boarded his father’s convoy of cars and left under the escort of his bodyguards.
As for naval officer Ren Lianjie, who was still in a state of shock, he heard Butler Liu Xing’s calming words from behind.
“Gentlemen! The money our Fourth Young Master gives out will not be taken back. If you wish to repay his generous gift, then please train the security team well for him, and protect our Zhou family’s various companies and factories, as well as the safety of the Zhou family members!”
“As for the weaponry and ammunition for training, I have already purchased them from foreigners!”
“So I hope you can train an elite security team for the Zhou family!”
Butler Liu Xing said with a smile.
“.”
Naval officers Ren Lianjie and Wu Baoshan.
After a moment of silence, their gazes became firm, and they nodded gently, agreeing with Butler Liu Xing, indicating that they would do their utmost to train the most elite security team for Zhou Wenhua.
Half an hour later,
Zhou Wenhua’s convoy of cars had arrived at the hotel where Yongli Alkali Plant was located for the meeting.
Alkali is not only a necessity in people’s lives but also an indispensable raw material for various industries such as metallurgy, textiles, petroleum, machinery, papermaking, and glass, earning it the title “Mother of Industry.”
However, in reality, in China during this era, no company or factory could produce alkali.
They entirely relied on alkali from foreign companies.
And in the years before he came to Shanghai to raise funds and establish his own Yongli Alkali Company, he had also engaged in price wars and business wars with the British-owned Bunaimen Company, which had monopolized the soda ash market for nearly twenty years.
The British-owned Bunaimen Company, which had long monopolized the import business of fertilizers, alkali, and other chemical raw materials in China, and had extended its business to Tianjin, Hankou, Guangzhou, Harbin, Yantai, and Shanghai, was indeed wealthy and powerful.
Thus, they fought from China to the Japanese market, launching a full-scale price war. Finally, because the British-owned Bunaimen Company did not want to suffer too much loss in the Japanese market share and profits, they stopped the price war.
However, because of this, Boss Fan’s attempt to cooperate with Britain and Germany to establish a joint ammonia sulfate plant resulted in failed negotiations.
This is because the foreigners were unwilling to see Boss Fan’s alkali business expand nationwide, or even overseas, to compete with them for market share.
For this reason, Boss Fan could only stay in Shanghai temporarily, hoping to negotiate with several major banks in Shanghai, where Yongli would raise several million yuan itself, and then the banks would form a syndicate to purchase several million yuan worth of company bonds issued by Yongli.
Yongli Alkali Company was founded in Tianjin, and its factory was also built in Tanggu, Tianjin.
Therefore, there was no factory in Shanghai.
And he had not yet developed the world-renowned “Hou’s Alkali Production Method,” a technology that remains the world’s most advanced alkali production technology to this day.
Therefore, due to his not yet being as famous as he would become in the future,
his negotiations for cooperation with Shanghai banks were not going smoothly.
Many banks were observing, not immediately granting him loans or accepting his cooperation proposals.
So, with a heavy heart, he called Zhou Wenhua’s home, hoping to try his luck and see if he could discuss cooperation matters with Zhou Wenhua’s father.
Because he and Zhou Wenhua’s father had had several business collaborations.
He also knew that Zhou Wenhua’s father was one of the hidden wealthy individuals in Shanghai.
Zhou Wenhua had a great interest in Boss Fan’s alkali business and hoped that this beneficial chemical product for the nation and its people could be introduced domestically as soon as possible, allowing people in China to purchase alkali at a lower price.
In addition,
Zhou Wenhua was also well aware that Boss Fan had successively put into operation two crucial achievements in the chemical industry, sulfuric acid and liquid ammonia, on January 26th and 31st, 1937. On February 5th of the same year, ammonia sulfate, which is fertilizer, officially became the product of the first domestic fertilizer industrial factory.
China finally had its first fertilizer factory and no longer needed to be monopolized by foreigners.
Therefore, to make money by bringing the alkali business and the fertilizer factory business to China earlier, and for the benefit of the nation and its people, Zhou Wenhua felt that meeting and negotiating investment cooperation with Boss Fan this time was a very important matter.
Furthermore, alkali is a raw material that many industrial products cannot do without, including machinery.
When Zhou Wenhua arrived at the hotel where Boss Fan was staying,
they met each other politely.
However, Zhou Wenhua’s extreme youth indeed surprised Boss Fan.
Just like all the important figures who had met Zhou Wenhua, he wore the same surprised expression.
