Chapter 313 Followers of Lucifer

Chapter 313 Followers of Lucifer

Chapter 313 Followers of Lucifer
There were no mysterious rituals or eerie underground lairs. In a very low-key ordinary building, Shao Quanzhong became a senior member of this society and the Lord of the Far East.

Shao Quanzhong received the club's high-level badge. The square and compass badge was made of copper and looked inconspicuous.

It turns out that the founders of the society were just a group of stonemasons, and the things on the badge were their tools.

Unlike what he thought, the so-called "Lord" was just more respected in the community, and did not have the power to mobilize any mysterious underground forces.

Instead, they need to pay more membership fees to maintain the operation of the organization and to hire service and security personnel for the community.

Compared to the Huai Army's Intelligence Department and Detective Department, which are truly bloody and dark organizations, this is simply a membership-based commercial salon with a higher threshold.

Maybe it was just because the assets of the Wen Chamber of Commerce met the requirements that I, the big boss behind the scenes, was invited to join.

The annual membership fee of 10,000 silver dollars paid by the Lord is insignificant to Shao Quanzhong, and he can definitely earn it back a hundred times through business coordination among members.

For example, in the saltpeter business with Chile, he teamed up with merchants from the same association to lower the price. Do you need Shao Dashuai to personally take care of these small matters? Just let Xiu'er do it.

Mark Twain described this organization as omnipotent. With such power, didn't Napoleon join the organization? How did he still get defeated by the anti-French alliance?
Well, well, anyway, it is a good thing to be able to increase the business allies of the Wen Chamber of Commerce.

"Shao, the members of our society all have their own careers, and we are connected together for the common ideal of promoting the progress of human civilization. Once you join the society, you must learn to use the resources of the society yourself."

"The society cannot guarantee the prosperity of your business. We only accept the strong. The former Far East Lord Wu Dunyuan relied on the resources of the society to invest in the British East India Company, but eventually went bankrupt. This is not our fault. It was his own wrong decision. Ahem! Ahem!"

The person who came forward to talk to Shao Quanzhong was an old man in his seventies named George Peabody. He was the lord of the Federation and was on the same level as Shao Quanzhong.

This is bullshit that promotes the progress of civilization. It's just a bunch of money-minded businessmen satisfying themselves.

Listening to Maria's translation behind him, Shao Quanzhong was complaining in his heart that Mark Twain seemed to be full of respect for this "lord" and tried hard to support Mr. Peabody.

"Mr. Peabody is a great philanthropist. He has endowed a Peabody Institute in Baltimore, a slum settlement in London, a history museum to Yale University, an archaeology and anthropology museum to Harvard University, and has just established an educational foundation for freed slaves in the South."

"Mr. Hugo commented on him, 'In this world, there are people who are full of hatred and people who are full of love. Peabody belongs to the latter. It is on the faces of such people that we see the smile of God.'"

“It is precisely because the club is filled with such noble people that I applied to join the club and do my best to speak up for the club.”

Mark Twain can be considered one of the society's literary voices. Although he had no capital, the society recruited him because of his social influence.

The "Good Man Pi" mentioned by Mark Twain may really be a good man, and he speaks with a little breath.

"I'm old and retired, and when illness strikes me, I realize I'm not immortal. I find people in my life who are just as interested in helping the poor as I am in making money, so I'm going to devote the rest of my life to charity."

Are all capitalists so noble? Shao Quanzhong didn't believe it. What is God's smile? When I walked in, I saw the statue of God standing at the door. It was clearly a Western devil named Lucifer.

Then Mr. Pi finally demonstrated what Mark Twain said, his ability to control the federation.

"Johnson is a lucky guy. We had given up on him. But he seized the opportunity to work with you and opened up the huge market of the Qing Dynasty for federal merchants. The members of the society are now helping him, and he will be successfully elected."

Shao Quanzhong understood. Isn't it just spending money to canvass votes? Merchants can call the shots in the capital world of the Federation, but this may not work in other places. When the soldiers come, the unarmed merchants are fat sheep.

"This time the federal government is helping the Qing dynasty, I plan to donate to a preparatory school for studying in the United States in Beijing. Shao, please help take care of it when the time comes, and don't let my donation be swallowed up by corrupt officials."

"In the investment boom in Qing that is about to begin, my consortium still accounts for a considerable proportion."

"My investment partner Junius Morgan will contact your Wen Group. Please take care of it and make things convenient for my Group as much as possible."

This is the convenience of mutual care between members. The other party owes this favor, and the Wen Consortium's export business to the Federation will also be taken care of by the other party. It's a business cooperation.

It seems that this is indeed a normal business club. As for businessmen influencing elections, that is also the norm for Americans. When I came here, I thought too much about conspiracy theories.

"Okay, Shao, you are busy with official duties, so I, a retired old man, will not waste your time. Ahem! Ahem! There are two very talented young people who want to discuss cooperation with you."

Boss Peabody said goodbye and left, and Mark Twain also formally said goodbye to Shao Quanzhong and went back to California. Shao Quanzhong had no interest in meeting any "talented young man".

The transaction with Peabody also involves aid and investment to the Qing Dynasty, so it is worth spending some time to get involved.

What kind of young people are I working with? Most of the time, it's a deal worth a million or eight hundred thousand. What's the use to me? Can't I talk to Xiu'er?

Well, now that I'm here, I'll devote some time to it on my first day of joining. I won't have the energy to get involved in business matters in the future.

The first young man who met him was indeed discussing a deal worth one or two million.

"Master Shao, I have just joined the society and am a low-level member with no money. I hope to get investment from the Wen Group so that we can make money together."

"How much do you need?"

If it’s not much, at least they respect you so much, so you can spend some.

"With only one million dollars, I can acquire 95% of the federal oil business, and the Wen Group can hold 49% of the shares."

It turns out to be a business worth only millions - wait!

"What did you say? Oil business?" "Yes, although oil prices have plummeted now, I think it is the right time to buy the bottom and acquire oil companies. Believe me, if you invest in my company, the Wen Group will make a lot of money in the future."

Looking at this ambitious young man who was painting a big pie for himself, Shao Quanzhong showed an unfathomable smile on his face, "Okay, I agree. Maria, you will be responsible for contacting this gentleman later and let Xiu'er finalize the Wen Group's investment in his company."

He turned around and patted the young man on the shoulder. "Young man, I am optimistic about your future. What's your name? You spoke English too fast just now, so I couldn't hear you clearly."

"Dear Lord, my name is John Rockefeller."

After seeing off Rockefeller, who had obtained the investment and left happily, Shao Quanzhong immediately raised his psychological expectations of meeting another "talented young man".

The "young man" mentioned by the old man in his seventies is no longer young. He is older than Shao Quanzhong, has a small mustache, and is a steady middle-aged man in his thirties.

Seeing Shao Quanzhong bowed, "Dear Lord, I followed you all the way from Prussia and came here to discuss cooperation with you."

"I am Gustav James Rothschild, and my brother Alfonso is the leader of the society in Europe."

"My family opened a small business called Rothschild Bank in Frankfurt, which had some influence on the situation in Europe."

This is the second person in the Rothschild Group. Unlike Rockefeller who needed to attract investment and boasted about his achievements, this person is quite low-key.

A bank owner? He should not be short of money, and he is not looking for investment on his own.

It is said that Wen's Money House has not yet been upgraded to a bank due to the lack of reliable modern financial management personnel.

The small office built in London was also intended to provide financial services to Wen's Business House itself, and it was difficult to compete with its European counterparts.

It is too early for me to enter the financial industry now. I need the next generation of finance students who study in the United States to grow up and have reliable and knowledgeable supervisors. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be like throwing meat buns at a dog?

"Well, what was that? By the way, Mr. Rothschild, you may have found the wrong person. You followed me all the way from Europe for nothing. We don't have the ability to open a bank and cooperate with you now."

"No, I'm not here to start a bank with you."

Gustav had a calm expression and looked much more stable than the young Rockefeller.

Shao Quanzhong scratched the back of his head. "Is it because you hold a large stake in Prussia's investment in the Qing Dynasty? Do you want me to help take care of it?"

Gustav still shook his head. "Although we have shares in those companies, we will sell them and withdraw our investment at any time as long as we assess that the companies are risky. We are not engaged in industry, so you don't have to give special care to any Prussian companies. We hope that—"

Gustav lowered his voice and said, "When your fleet and army join forces with Prussia to attack France in the future, please help us."

What the hell!

Shao Quanzhong perked up all of a sudden, staring at Gustav with sharp eyes, "How did you know about the secret agreement I signed with Bismarck?"

It was generally known to the top leaders of various countries that the Qing and Putin allied to fight against France.

However, a fierce war would break out within three years, and only Shao Quanzhong, Bismarck and William I knew about it, and at most Maria, who served as an interpreter.

How could this businessman who runs a bank know what happened in the secret room of the City Palace?
Gustav chuckled. "Why would His Majesty William and Prime Minister Bismarck target France? We were the ones pushing for it."

"The steel used to make Prussia's new breech-loading guns was developed with our investment. Krupp was able to manufacture more than a thousand heavy breech-loading guns for the Kingdom of Prussia. Where did the royal family get the money? Prussia implemented a universal reserve system. The huge amount of money required, can Prussia's tax revenue afford it? Who is the biggest donor to ensure that the Berlin Military Academy has not collapsed?"

Shao Quanzhong said that he had underestimated the influence of this society before.

These businessmen are the real masterminds behind the war, and they are not wronged at all.

"France is now arrogant and still equipped with backward muzzle-loading cannons. It is definitely a wise decision for you to join Prussia."

Shao Quanzhong didn't dare to look down on the merchants now. "Don't pat my horse, it's useless. Prussia will definitely win, and it's under your control. What can I do to help you?"

"No, no, no, your words are too harsh. We cannot command His Majesty William. We are just his loyal subjects. His Majesty's shortcoming is that he attaches too much importance to honor. He will definitely not be willing to do what we want to do. We cannot interfere."

You want me to do your dirty work? His Majesty William doesn't want to lose his reputation, so he wants me to be the bad guy? Is it possible for me to agree? You underestimate me.

"Well, what kind of business do you want me to do? What are the benefits?"

"After Napoleon's defeat, our family, under the control of Louis XVIII, controlled most of France's usury financial business. However, the French were not fools. They established the Bank of France and did not allow us to participate in the issuance of francs. So -"

Gustav's voice became even lower. "We hope that you will send a large army to participate in the final siege of Paris. During the battle, the headquarters of the Bank of France was accidentally burned down."

Gustav took out a snow-white handkerchief, wiped his hands, put it back into his jacket pocket, and said in an elegant tone, "When we control the issuance of francs like we control the issuance of pounds, we will give you rich rewards."

"Don't play tricks, how much do you give me?"

"That depends on the number of troops you send and the effectiveness of the operation. I can promise that if you succeed in the operation, the Bank of France will disappear. In ten years, you can get at least 900 million francs of military aid from our family."

(End of this chapter)