America 1881: Legend of the West

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 men.

Little Astor and Chen Jianqiu.

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

The former provided him with a certain degree of financial support, while the latter directly saved his life. His Border Detective Agency was also responsible for his security during the campaign.

But later Astor Jr. followed the family's will and turned to the Republican Party, while Chen Jianqiu was busy with other things in the west.

Therefore, the contact between the two sides is naturally much less.

Despite their different political views, Cleveland still had a good impression of the two men.

However, in his opinion, no matter how rich two people are, they are just businessmen.

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

He was familiar with many people in Congress, some of whom were guests at his mother's dances.

"Boy, I'm sorry, we are discussing some more important things. If we want to talk, can we talk later?" Secretary of State Grayson said politely.

"If I guessed correctly, you should be discussing the gold reserves in the national treasury." Chen Jianqiu spoke.

Compared with little Aster, he is not so reserved.

He looked at the layout of the entire presidential office.

At that time, the presidential 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 wooden planks from the hull of a Royal Navy sailboat 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.

Extremely embarrassed.

Does the entire United States now know that the government can no longer afford the gold that can be exchanged?

"You don't need to be surprised. From the moment the financial crisis began, you should have expected this day to come." Chen Jianqiu's words did not leave any face to Cleveland.

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

"I'm here to remedy the situation." Chen Jianqiu said in a neither humble nor overbearing tone, "for your mistakes."

Grayson burst out laughing: "In my impression, you and your Sanjiang Bank are not as good as Morgan. Without the Rothschild family behind you, you can't move forward in Europe!"

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

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

There were two rows of carriages parked on the road outside the lawn.

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

"Mr. Grayson, twenty tons of gold are now parked outside the door of 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.

Grayson glanced at little Astor.

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

The Secretary of State's expression was wonderful.

He really couldn't imagine how someone could park twenty tons of gold directly at the door of the White House.

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

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

"Of course, if you don't need it, I can have the gold shipped back now. I can still afford the freight." Chen Jianqiu said.

President Cleveland finally spoke.

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

"Then please take a seat."

"What good advice do you have, Mr. Chen?"

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

Since the beginning of the financial crisis, he has been purchasing gold all over the world, including but not limited to the United States, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and Europe.
Some of them exchanged U.S. dollars directly with the government. In his words, they were deposited for the federal government first;

Some are barter-for-thing, as in South Africa.

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

The world's largest Witwatersrand gold mine was discovered there in 1884.

The country borders the British colony of South Africa, and its 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 smell for war, just like hounds are most familiar with the smell of blood.

What's more, he is also 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 Knub cannons sold on consignment, they are all available.

Shiploads of munitions were shipped from Amsterdam to Cape Town, and then the gold was carried to ports in Mexico, where it was counted and shipped to Roswell and New York.

That day, Mark Twain ran to Chen Jianqiu's house and told Chen Jianqiu about the private party in the Freemasonry.

It was not the furious Rockefeller who caught Chen Jianqiu's attention.

But August Belmont Jr.

This person's relationship with the Rothschild family is known to the entire Wall Street.

He and Morgan appeared at the same time and had important matters to discuss at the same time, which is worth pondering.

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

These two people are planning to attack the federal government.

At this time, the federal government is like a man forced to the river.

The two men wanted to push the latter into the river and then hand him the rope.

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

Chen Jianqiu has no ambition to save the United States.

He just felt that he had to tie the rope himself.

But he still needs help with this matter.

After all, his gold was mainly placed in Roswell, New York, but only a small part.

So he found little Astor.

"Lend me some money."

In 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 Asert is writing his own novel.

"Today we need two million US dollars in gold, and we will reserve one thousand to twenty million US dollars in gold later." Chen Jianqiu said lightly.

Little Astor put down the pen in his hand.

"Um, what do you want to buy?"

Although he was an imaginative science fiction writer, he still couldn't figure out what to do with so much gold.

"To become a creditor." Chen Jianqiu answered concisely.

He thought about it for a moment, and then came up with a more noble-sounding reason: "To 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 gold for little Astor, appeared at the door of the White House under the personal escort of the two men.

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

"I don't agree with what the Secretary of State said just now." Chen Jianqiu crossed his fingers and placed them on his lower abdomen. "Since the financial crisis, a lot of gold has indeed been shipped to Europe by ship. The main reason is still the Sherman 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 law.”

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

"But, you know, the gold is in the hands of different people, and we have no way to take it out of their hands." Ge Lishan spread his hands and said helplessly, "As you said, they have lost confidence. Even if we issue bonds, no one will buy them."

Ge Lishan's concerns are justified.

After all, they exchanged this gold from the national treasury, so how could they return it so easily?

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

He pointed to himself and little Astor.

"Mr. Astor and I will be the first to subscribe, and others will follow closely behind." "In addition to the money on the White House lawn, I will also put out another 20 million US dollars in gold, and Astor and the family he represents will also put in more than 10 million US dollars!"

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

"That's still the same as Morgan's plan!" Ge Lishan sneered, "Do you think those people in Congress will agree to it?"

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

Both the President and the Secretary of State fell silent.

They had some things left unsaid.

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

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

Chen Jianqiu took out his pocket watch and took a look at it.

"Mr. President, you pick one. Before 4 p.m., the entire U.S. gold reserves will be exhausted!"

Chen Jianqiu's words pierced the 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 that they have to face the reality that a European consortium or a Chinese person will become a creditor of the US government.

Moreover, both Morgan and Chen Jianqiu have the potential to make a fortune from the national crisis by taking advantage of the interest rate difference in issuing bonds.

Cleveland finally made a decision:

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

He cannot let the credibility of the federal government be destroyed in his own hands.

The President called the Secretary of the Treasury in front of everyone.

"We have found gold, Wright, but it may take a little time to convince Congress."

But the person on the other end of the phone was completely blown away.

"Mr. President! I don't have that much time! Those British guys are waiting downstairs! If we can't fulfill our promise today! The credibility of the government and the dollar will be ruined!"

Cleveland hung up the phone without saying a word.

It is almost impossible.

It will take at least ten days or half a month to reach a consensus in Congress!

But getting the British to give up on repayment is now completely impossible.

He knew Wright.

The finance minister must have tried every possible means, otherwise he wouldn't have been 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 about this matter."

"During the Civil War, there was a law that allowed the federal treasury to borrow gold during special times, and it only required the president's approval."

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

It was a copy of the legal text of the time, obtained by the Border Detective Agency.

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

When it comes to exploiting legal loopholes, Chen Jianqiu has extremely professional talents at his disposal. After all, this is not the first time he has done this.

President Cleveland took the papers, read a page, and then passed them to Secretary of State Gresham.

"You are a professional, is this law true?"

Ge Lishan took out a pair of nose-pinches from his chest pocket, took a look, and nodded.

As a Secretary of State who was a lawyer by profession, he is familiar with all federal laws and constitutional amendments passed since the founding of the country.

"Let's do it," the president agreed.

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 treasury bonds. All matters would be handled by Chen Jianqiu and his Sanjiang Bank.

“I hope this crisis ends here.”

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

"Don't worry, Mr. President." Chen Jianqiu said with a very affirmative tone and a calm face.

"Mr. Chen, I would like to ask you one more question. What made you gamble almost all your fortune?" Cleveland asked again.

"Because I believe that this country has a bright future." Chen Jiayou answered.

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

"It seems like we just did a big deal." Little Astor looked at Chen Jianqiu and said resentfully, "You should have told me in advance."

"Just follow me and you'll be fine. When have I ever let you suffer any loss, brother?" Chen Jianqiu said disapprovingly, "Just wait until you 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 Treasury Department.

JP Morgan pulled out another cigar.

This was the third cigar he had smoked since coming here today.

"Don't worry, Morgan. They have no choice. Tonight, those people in Congress will have to listen to us." Belmont comforted Morgan as he watched him smoke one cigar after another.

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

He knows too well what kind of people those members of Congress are like.

Putting aside other factors, even if the president really agrees with his plan, people in Congress might argue about it for a long time.

Those Republican congressmen will not miss any opportunity to disgust Cleveland.

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

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

This matter should be discussed directly with Cleveland. There is no point in getting entangled with those people in the Treasury Department.

Morgan and Belmont walked out of the reception room.

They were originally planning to go to Minister Wright's office to say hello, but found that the minister and two other leaders of the Ministry of Finance were not in the office.

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

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

However, when they walked into the lobby on the first floor, they suddenly discovered that the few British people who had been waiting there were gone.

These British people were naturally arranged by Belmont and the Rothschild Consortium.

"Where are those British people who came here just now to ask for repayment of national debt?" Belmont walked up to the staff member who was in charge of reception before.

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

"What? Say it again!" Belmont ignored his gentlemanly image and widened his eyes. "How did they pay the 12 million dollars?"

"Gold! Nearly 20 tons of gold were just transported in from outside." The staff pointed outside the door, "It took a while to move and count it."

But then, he looked at Belmont and Morgan with a suspicious look:

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

But Belmont ignored him.

He rushed out of the door in a panic, looking around to find out where the gold came from.

But there were no valuable clues left on the ground at the door except for many deep tire tracks.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Belmont murmured.

He turned to look at Morgan, who was walking out of the hall with an expressionless face, and asked:
"Morgan, have we miscalculated? The Treasury Department actually still has gold in stock. Have they not been pushed to that point yet?"

Morgan held a cigar in his right hand, staring at the direction of the port. He thought for a long time before speaking:

"We may have been beaten to it by someone else."

Belmont simply could not accept Morgan's judgment.

"This is impossible, Mr. Morgan. You probably don't understand. No one can raise so much gold in such a short time! No one knows these wealthy people in the United States better than you and me. Even Rockefeller doesn't have so much gold in a short time!"

Morgan shook his head:

Just now, he went over in his mind all the Americans he had interacted with, and even the tycoons from other countries.

In the end, only one person's face appeared in his mind.

"It's Chen. Only he has the ability and courage to do this."

(End of this chapter)