The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 241 Named Aurora
Teng Yuzao lit a cigarette and said, "These three companies are all named Zhendan, which means that these companies and banks will rise and develop at a earth-shaking speed."

"They are Aurora Trading Company, Aurora Industrial Development Company, Aurora Minsheng Company, and Aurora Investment and Development Bank."

"In addition, we will take the meaning of Da Gong Zhi Zheng and establish a newspaper called Ta Kung Pao to objectively and impartially report current affairs, which will also make it easier for the world to understand the deeds of the Vanguard Army. At the same time, we will actively introduce advanced Western knowledge and revive the spirit of Westernization."

As Teng Yuzao spoke, the charters and development directions of these companies were presented to the people one by one.

According to Teng Yuzhao's design, the "Aurora Trading Company" is mainly engaged in import and export trade as well as domestic trade. The head office is located in Hankou. Hankou is located in the hinterland and is connected to the coast by the Yangtze River waterway, which can better radiate inland areas. Hankou is close to Shanxi, Shaanxi and Baoding, which is convenient for transporting materials needed by the vanguard army.

The Ta Kung Pao was also located in Hankou. This was mainly because Zhang Zhidong's attitude towards the Southeast Mutual Protection was rather ambiguous. By setting up these two companies there, Zhang Zhidong would not make things too difficult for them.

Aurora Industrial Development Company, mainly engaged in the establishment of factories similar to modern Western enterprises, with its head office in Shanghai and Zhou Xuexi as general manager;
"Aurora Minsheng Company" is mainly engaged in businesses related to people's livelihood, such as pharmacies, department stores, entertainment and the like, which are most closely related to people's livelihood. Its headquarters is also in Shanghai, and Huang Chujiu serves as the general manager.

The Aurora Investment Bank focuses on investment and deposit-taking, providing financial support to the other three companies. It is also the channel for financial transactions between these companies and Vanguard Army. Its headquarters is temporarily located in Shanghai, and Xi Ligong serves as the general manager.

The three companies, "Aurora Industrial Development Company", "Aurora Minsheng Company" and "Aurora Investment Bank", set up their headquarters in Shanghai, mainly because it is located on the coast, has a developed economy, and is where foreign merchants are concentrated. The most important reason is that Shanghai has a developed financial sector. Not only do almost all the major money houses and bill shops in the country have branches in Shanghai, it is also where foreign banks are most concentrated, making it easy for funds to flow.

Teng Yuzhao particularly emphasized that the nominal owner of all these companies, banks and newspapers was Ning Xingpu, and his name could not appear. Even the fact that he was the actual behind-the-scenes boss could not be disclosed to the outside world to avoid interference from foreigners.

Therefore, Ning Xingpu was the chairman of all three companies, banks and newspapers, and was based in Hankou, the jurisdiction of Zhang Zhidong, who had a relatively ambiguous attitude towards him.

The person who was most surprised by Teng Yuzao's plan was Zhou Xuexi.

Before coming, the father and son pondered for many days about the reason why Teng Yuzhao specifically asked Zhou Xuexi to go to Zhili. Finally, Zhou Xuexi and his father Zhou Fu both thought that now that the vanguard army had won victory after victory, Teng Yuzhao was in the limelight and his reputation was resounding throughout the country. It was no exaggeration to say that he was at the peak of his career. After the war, no matter what the political situation was like, this person would have a better position.

Therefore, Teng Yuzhao probably wanted to get closer to the Zhou family this time, and then make use of the Zhou family's connections in Zhili over the years so that he could do things more smoothly in Zhili.

In this case, the father and son decided that Zhou Xuexi would go and help Teng Yuzhao first. If this person is not capable in the future, they can find a way to leave.

However, Zhou Xuexi now finally understood that both he and his son had underestimated Teng Yuzhao. Now it seemed that this man was not just a warrior, but also had great ambitions.

Now that the outcome of the battle with the foreigners has not yet been decided, he has already begun to consider building factories, banks and newspapers. How can this be done by a general secretary of military affairs?
Teng Yuzao took a puff of cigarette and said, "The most urgent task now is to open these companies, banks, and newspapers as quickly as possible."

"Then we quickly mobilized funds, recruited talents, selected investment and operation projects, purchased machinery and equipment and materials, and also found distribution channels, etc."

Teng Yuzao looked at Zhou Xuexi and said, "Brother Jizhi, you used to work in the Ministry of Industry, so you should be more or less familiar with running industries. So it will be up to you to set up this Aurora Industrial Development Company." Teng Yuzao was not very sure whether Zhou Xuexi would be willing to help him.

Although he himself was born in the Beiyang period and could even be said to be a subordinate of Zhou Xuexi's father Zhou Fu, he was now helping the court fight against foreigners. To a certain extent, it could even be said that he was going against the governors and governors-general who participated in the Southeast Mutual Protection.

Fortunately, Zhou and his son were both actual promoters and implementers of the Westernization Movement within the Beiyang government, and they might not necessarily be interested in the political disputes in the court.

After Teng Yuzhao finished speaking, he looked at Zhou Xuexi expectantly.

Sure enough, Zhou Xuexi nodded and said, "I am honored by your kindness. How dare I not do my best? Your Excellency wants to run this company in a Western style. I have some understanding of the operation of foreign companies. This is not difficult."

Zhou Xuexi changed the subject and said with a wry smile, "There are two main difficulties in running such a factory. One is the huge amount of capital required, and the other is the need for personnel who understand foreign technology."

"Technical staff are easier to find as long as you are willing to pay them high salaries. But funding is a big problem. Zhang Xiangshuai spent six million to build the Hanyang Iron Works."

Zhou Xuexi looked at Ning Xingpu in surprise, and said to Teng Yuzao in astonishment, "Sir, could it be that Mr. Ning's family fortune is worth tens of millions?"

Teng Yuzao would not answer Zhou Xuexi's question, and he couldn't answer it. Not to mention that the fact that Ning Xingpu donated his family wealth was completely false, even if it was true, Teng Yuzao would not tell the exact number. The establishment of these companies was not only for his future development but also for his future preparation, such as talent reserve.

In addition, these companies and banks also have to undertake an extremely important task, which is to help Teng Yuzao launder the large amount of money that he "illegally obtained".

Teng Yuzao smiled and waved his hands, saying, "Brother Jizhi, although the money will not be a problem, and although our bank has not yet been established, Mr. Ning has already brought in a large amount of deposits for our Aurora Investment and Development Bank, and I have also brought in a lot. I estimate that the total amount will not be less than six or seven million, and may even be higher."

The so-called deposit was completely non-existent. This was just a trick used by Teng Yuzhao to conceal the source of the large sum of funds.

Hearing that there were more than six or seven million in funds, not only did Zhou Xuexi's eyes light up, but even Xi Ligong, who had been silent, opened his eyes wide. Bankers are not afraid of having a lot of funds. The more funds they have, the more ways they have to make money, and of course they can make more profits.

Although the salary Ning Xingpu gave them was generous, the bulk of their income did not come from that salary. The reason why Xi Ligong and Huang Chujiu accepted Ning Xingpu's invitation was that what mattered to them was that Ning Xingpu promised to give them a dividend of 1% of the shares of their respective companies.

One percent may not seem like a lot, but it depends on how much money is available for operation and the management methods of the operator. In particular, the profitability of the bank is closely related to the amount of funds it controls.
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(End of this chapter)