A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

A month later, the fleet of ships at Worldwide Shipping increased to 36, with a total tonnage of 21.5 tons.

"He's gone mad! This Chen Guangliang has gone mad! He'll definitely regret this!"

John Keswick, the head of Jardine Matheson, roared in his office.

He didn't know what he was angry about. After all, it was his order for Jardine Matheson to sell a batch of ships; and Wandering Ships bought them all without hesitation. The key point was that Wandering Ships didn't receive any bids at the auction.

Everyone thought the shipping industry was in a slump, so why was Chen Guangliang buying so many ships? I heard that his younger brother had also bought a lot of second-hand ships in London.

His subordinate advised, "Boss, there's no point in thinking about it anymore. Why don't you take a look at how World Shipping went bankrupt!"

John Keswick calmed down and said, "What I'm worried about now is that Chen Guangliang is not someone who fails so easily. If he manages this huge fleet, he will greatly squeeze the survival space of our British-owned shipping companies."

The subordinate said, "If shipping is booming, we can order new ships or buy better and newer second-hand ships from Europe. We British are the masters of the sea, not the Chinese."

John Keswick laughed and said, "You're right, go ahead and get busy!"

Not only Keswick was shocked, but the whole of Hong Kong was shocked. The large-scale purchase of ships by Worldwide Shipping, a move against the trend, surprised many people.

Although people don't know how many ships or how much tonnage Worldwide Shipping has, judging from recent events, they have a vague idea that the largest fleet in Hong Kong has changed and is no longer Jardine Matheson or Swire, but Worldwide Shipping.

In fact, Worldwide Shipping has already surpassed the combined total of Jardine Matheson and Swire, which is called a shift in the balance of power.

When Chen Guangliang arrived at the pier in Tseung Kwan O, he looked at the several large ships on the sea and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

This ship purchase was a massive undertaking, taking about four months and costing US$650 million to buy a total of 27 ships with a tonnage of 16.6 tons.

Global Shipping has a total of 36 ships with a total displacement of 21.5 tons, all of which are cargo ships (in addition to oil tankers and cruise ships).

"Are there any problems with the seamen?"

Zhao Tieyi, who was standing next to him, immediately said: "We expect all of them to be in place by the end of June. After all, we have been recruiting mid- to senior-level seafarers since February this year. Of course, Global Shipping also has a very small number of foreign senior seafarers, some as training officers and some in important positions on board. Based on the current fleet, we expect to have nearly a thousand seafarers."

Those who followed were incredulous!

Chen Guangliang thought it was normal. There were only a few ships on the sea off Tseung Kwan O. At this time, many ports in Hong Kong had their ships docked. These ships were recently installing some equipment and carrying out maintenance, and were in a hurry to go out to sea.

Of course, if there is business to be done, that can be arranged.

“The radio waves of every ship must be kept clear. If 36 ships are sailing all over the world, then the radio waves between each ship can connect the whole world into a communication network. Where there is a storm, where there is a risk of running aground, we will use radio waves to transmit information, and Hong Kong will set up a headquarters for radio waves, a 24-hour command hub. Guang Cong, you must do this well and not make any mistakes.”

Chen Guangcong quickly replied, "Okay, it's all in progress!"

Finally, Chen Guangliang sighed and said, "Although you are doing it, whether the sailors on the ship are taking it seriously or whether they will be negligent are things that we, as the management, should pay attention to and prevent at any time."

"Ok"

Everyone was full of enthusiasm and believed that all 36 ships would be able to start up soon, and then World Shipping would truly be 'world-wide'.

Radio waves from ships can travel hundreds of kilometers, and with 36 ships sailing together, it is easy to form a global communication network.

And this 'network' is something the boss values ​​very much.

Lu the shipping magnate still went north. Before leaving, he left a letter for Chen Guangliang, urging him to do more for the country.

Chen Guangliang looked up at the northern sky and sighed deeply.

He should conserve his strength and do more for the country's future; now is not the right time!

He doesn't need any honors; he'll be content if he can see his fellow countrymen become prosperous in the future!
On this day, the Shangri-La Hotel held a grand groundbreaking ceremony, inviting foreign dignitaries such as Governor Alexander Grantham, Kadoorie, and Keswick, as well as many Chinese celebrities who came to offer their congratulations.

At the scene, Chen Guangliang personally introduced the building planning and design of the 'Shangri-La Hotel' to Ge Lianghong and others, which amazed everyone.

Ge Lianghong went further, saying, "Can aluminum alloy and glass curtain walls withstand typhoons in Hong Kong?"

Chen Guangliang confidently stated, "We invited an American construction company as our consulting team. This technology has already been verified. The Wallley Building in New York City uses aluminum alloy and a glass curtain wall, and it is expected to be completed next year."

Ge Lianghong exclaimed, "Mr. Chen always has big budgets; this is another huge project!"

Chen Guangliang replied, "This project can solve the employment problem for at least 500 people for two or three years."

Last year, he and Grantham discussed a question—whether the 'refugees' would go back or stay.

This has now come true, so in April of this year, the Hong Kong government closed the border and stopped accepting people from the mainland.

Hong Kong's total population has increased to over 2.4 million. It's worth noting that in August 1945, the population was only 600,000; before the war, it was only 1.6 million.

Grantham said happily, "Great! Mr. Chan has solved many problems for the people of Hong Kong. On behalf of the Hong Kong government, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"

Next, this young man will undoubtedly receive a medal from the British Royal Family.

Within two or three years, Chen Guangliang will definitely be able to obtain a knighthood.

This thing was quite effective before the 1980s and 90s.

During the visit, Chen Guangliang had many conversations with the guests.

The Kadoorie also went through the motions, congratulating Chen Guangliang. The Kadoorie's father, Eli Kadoorie, who was a prominent figure in Shanghai's social circles back then, died in a Japanese concentration camp. Now, it is the Kadoorie who manages CLP Power and the Peninsula Hotel.

In fact, Laurence Kadoorie was 11 years older than Chan Kwong-leung and was born at the end of the 19th century.

“Mr. Chen, after the Shangri-La Hotel is completed, our Peninsula will be British-style, and yours will be American-style. We will be in the south and the north, and we will be facing each other across the sea. We can learn from each other!” Roland Scarborough said sincerely.

Chen Guangliang corrected, "The Shangri-La Hotel is not American-style, but a modern hotel style. Of course, the Peninsula Hotel is what we should learn from."

Roland paused for a moment before saying, "That's true. I used to go to the Shangri-La Hotel often when it was in Shanghai. It's very modern!"

When the Shangri-La Hotel was in Shanghai, it was among the first to offer buffets and afternoon tea, making it quite modern.

Next, the groundbreaking ceremony officially began.

The scene was filled with lion and dragon dances, creating a joyous atmosphere!
Chen Guangliang was even more looking forward to the opening of the business at the end of 1953 or the beginning of 1954.

In early June, the weather was hot.

However, Hong Kong's weather is actually not as hot as many cities on the mainland, especially some of the "furnace cities".

Chen Guangliang woke up in the early morning, looked around, and couldn't help but show a smug expression.

As he grew older, he and his two wives also began to indulge in intimate matters, but only in the bedroom, nothing perverse, such as dressing up or changing positions. After a quick squeeze on each side, Yan Renmei and Jiang Meiying both playfully protested.

"I know, you're up to no good first thing in the morning. Didn't you have enough fun last night?" Jiang Meiying said charmingly.

"Mei Ying, speak more tactfully," Yan Renmei said shyly.

Having had enough fun—that phrase was clearly still hard for her to accept.

Chen Guangliang smiled without saying a word, then enjoyed the two women serving him and dressing him. He had an early habit of not abusing himself, but because he was genuinely in good spirits.

"I know you're busy with work. Remember you're going to the US in August to accompany the kids to college!" Yan Renmei carefully tidied her husband's appearance, her expression filled with anticipation.

Because she was going too, it would be another trip for two.

On the contrary, Jiang Meiying goes to the United States every year to manage her assets, but she always goes alone. Of course, her son has been in the United States for the past two years, so they usually go at different times. She will be going this July.

"I know! I'm not too busy with work. To be honest, in two or three years, I'll take the two of you on a world tour."

"They're just trying to lie to us, I wonder what they're up to now!"

Haha, it's true!

He has a good relationship with his wives, and there is no sense of being tired of them. There is both romantic love and familial affection.

Everyone is still very young, well-maintained, and full of energy, so they are very hopeful about the future.

In the morning, I arrived at the Ping An Bank Building.

Chen Guangliang summoned Guo Deming and Ye Ximing and said, "Help me cash out some physical gold at the gold and silver exchange, but try not to attract too much attention. You can decide on the specifics!"

Ye Ximing said, "The gold in the gold and silver trading center is all 95% pure gold."

He meant whether or not to acquire purer gold reserves, which he considered a long-term investment.

Chen Guangliang waved his hand and said, "Let's go to the gold and silver trading center. The trading volume there is large, and it's more convenient to invest there. Besides, this investment won't last too long."

The two men quickly realized that their boss's recent hoarding of supplies and purchase of ships suggested a real possibility of war breaking out.

"it is good"

After the two left, Chen Guangliang began to think.

This investment in gold was naturally due to the start of the Korean War, which was expected to cause a surge in gold prices in Hong Kong, given the large-scale nature of the conflict. Furthermore, he knew someone from his previous life who had lost money during this gold price surge by buying at the peak – that person was Zhang Guotao.

Therefore, this wave of gold price increases will not last long. Chen Guangliang plans to make a quick profit and leave. Of course, with his abilities, he can basically judge when to make a move, and he is not greedy.

He changed some things in Hong Kong, but he couldn't change the real trend, such as the impact of the Korean War.

Time passed quickly.

On June 25, the Korean War began.

On June 27, the U.S. Seventh Fleet entered the Taiwan Strait.

On July 7, the United States rallied 15 countries to form the so-called 'United Nations Command (pseudo)'.

Although North Korea was winning battle after battle, the United States was preparing for a larger operation, and Japan's economy was suddenly revitalized, with orders pouring in from factories across the country.

"Brother, shipping orders have suddenly increased, and our ships no longer have to stay in port," Chen Guangcong reported happily.

In fact, their ships were always running, because the Chen family had stockpiled a large amount of supplies, all of which were transported by their own ships.

At this moment, Chen Guangliang was studying the map before saying, "Don't take any jobs on the empty ships. Just tell the outside world that they are under maintenance."

Merchants sometimes need to understand the principle of hoarding rare goods.

The Far East will only face a growing shortage of ships, as many people will think of stockpiling supplies.

Chen Guangcong immediately understood the key point and said, "Okay."

Just as he was about to leave, Chen Guangliang called him back: "But if there are Japanese guests, we should make good relations with them. We can offer a few boats as a way to build good relations, but only for short-term rentals."

Chen Guangcong asked, puzzled, "Brother, why do the Japanese receive special treatment?"

Chen Guangliang said, "Because if the US and the Soviet Union were to fight a major battle here, it could be a long and protracted war. And the US has always placed the greatest emphasis on logistical support when it comes to war. Do you think they could just transport everything from the US? It would inevitably be Japan that makes large-scale purchases, since this place is already their colony. As a result, Japan's shipping demand will be enormous in the next few years. In short, the main customers for shipping in the future will be Japan."

Chen Guangcong suddenly realized and said, "I understand!"

During this period, he would barely take on some odd jobs. Once freight rates picked up, he would lease the ship to Japan for a year. When the contract expired, he would extend it to a three- to five-year contract. In this way, he could at least maintain the ship until 1954 to 1956, as long as he did not have any contracts with his ship before the second half of 1956.

As long as Chen Guangliang grasps the cycle well, his fleet will expand very quickly.

To put it bluntly, it's also a way to harm Japan and suppress its shipping industry.

At the same time, gold at the Hong Kong Gold and Silver Exchange began to be speculated on again.

With a large amount of gold bars in hand, Ping An Bank is naturally in a strong position to win.

"This surge in gold prices is not expected to last long. You need to keep an eye on the market. Once the US and the Soviet Union or the US and China go to war, that's basically when we should cash out."

Ye Ximing nodded and said, "This time there are fewer gold speculators, and it's impossible for prices to rise to a very high level again."

The last time gold speculators in the Shanghai market learned their lesson, many went bankrupt, so there's not much room for maneuver before the market becomes too volatile.

Then, Chen Guangliang said, "I estimate that the United States will implement a strict trade blockade, so we need to consider the risks of our loans. After all, if the blockade is severe, some factories may not be able to survive. Of course, we can't offend our customers because of this, so you need to grasp the right balance."

He only analyzes the general trend; he doesn't participate in the specific plans.

Ye Ximing asked, "Boss, how long do you think this war will last?"

Chen Guangliang said, "If China and the Soviet Union go to war, it will be a matter between two camps, and it will take three years. During these years, apart from trade and smuggling, other industries will have to tighten their belts."

Ye Ximing nodded, immediately understanding what to do!

However, he also admired his boss, who had stockpiled goods worth nearly ten million US dollars, estimating that these supplies would generate substantial profits.

In fact, as of now, the Chen family business continues to stockpile supplies. (End of Chapter)