The journey starts from the Titanic

Yao Hongmin looked at Li Yuanshan sincerely.

"Okay! Since Hongmin has said so, what else can I say? Actually, I am very relieved of the management of Meihua Company in the mine." Li Yuanshan thought for a while, a little unhappy, but had to admit it.Who calls Meihua company strong?Besides, most of the tin company's money is borrowed from Meihua Company, and the workers are also provided by Meihua Company. As long as the other party does not interfere in the operation of the tin company, Li Yuanshan can still accept the excessive conditions of Meihua Company.

The Ngee Ann Company mentioned by Yao Hongmin made Li Yuanshan feel sorry for him. The previous generation of Li's family was deceived to Nanyang, commonly known as selling piglets.

This is a helpless word.You cannot simply count all the accounts on gangs or societies.It's just that the bad habits that are popular among Chinese workers-smoking and gambling.Gangs or mining companies will use this to lure workers into smoking and gambling, thereby draining their hard-earned money.

This is very common.In Nanyang, there are a large number of examples in the mining companies and plantations of foreign merchants or Chinese merchants, even those Chinese merchants who are willing to do good things are no exception.(Friends who are interested can go to Baidu and check the Chinese business contracted tobacco tax.) Nanyang Foundation wants to implement the new immigration strategy, relying on a group of healthy and well-trained immigrant workers, so it is absolutely not allowed to let the management of the workers, let alone let them The workers who had been transported so hard were ruined by smoke and gambling, so they have been very strict in this regard.At least in education literacy and Huagong financial management are very strict.

Some people don't believe in evil, so they went to the mines and farms of Meihua Company to sell the smoke. After friendly advice to no avail, it evaporated within a few days.After trying a few times, even those gangs dare not attack Meihua's idea.This is very interesting. In order to compete for labor and crack down on Chinese gangs, it became a tacit understanding between the colonial government and Meihua Company.

With the strong financial support of Meihua Company, Li Yuanshan acquired several Chinese tin mines in Penang in one go, and at the same time entered the tin industry in Perak, Malaya.Initiated a series of mergers and acquisitions in Ipoh, known as the "Tin Capital", holding two large and medium-sized tin mining companies, and at the same time acquired 50 large and small tin mines in one go.

Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the sudden emergence of Lee's Tin Company controls 20% of the tin mines in Ipoh from the source.

Relying on the natural relationship of the Chinese, Lee's Tin Company also successfully signed a purchase contract with the Chinese tin mine owners in Ipoh.Because of the fair price, more than half of the Chinese tin miners are willing to sell the mined tin ore to the Lee Tin Company.

Making tin is more profitable than mining. After controlling some tin mines, Li Yuanshan focused on tin ingot manufacturing.

The machinery introduced by Meihua Company from the United States made Lee's Tin Company not only efficient in tin mining that was not owned by British merchants, but Lee's Tin Company was also unique in tin ingot manufacturing.

Even the British businessmen admire this and are dumbfounded, because investing in tin factories is much more difficult than mining tin mines, and the investment is larger, which is not something ordinary people can do.

Li's Tin Company has built two tin factories in Penang and Ipoh respectively, and the combined annual output in the first year reached 10,000 tons.With the expansion of Li's Tin Company, Penang and Ipoh are no longer enough to satisfy Li Yuanshan's ambitions. He gradually extended his tentacles to the Kuala Lumpur area in the central part of the Malay Peninsula.A larger tin factory was built there to double the annual output of Li's Tin Company.

The Malay Peninsula is rich in tin mines, and where there are tin mines, there are Chinese.Penang, Ipoh, and Kuala Lumpur are all places where Chinese people live, especially Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, which gradually formed cities because of the prosperity of Chinese tin mining.

By 1919, the number of Chinese workers in the tin industry in Nanyang had exceeded 500,000, and Malaya had 150,000!

This is not the most, the most are Chinese miners in Belitung, Indonesia, the number is as high as 25!

There, Belitung Mining Company, a subsidiary of Meihua Company, competed fiercely with Dutch tin merchants.Not only secretly stalking, but even on the outside, he even started.

Because Belitung Mining Company is registered in the United States and is an American enterprise, the Dutch colonial government has intentions to favor domestic companies, but it is not too good.In the open field, the Dutch company has the upper hand, but secretly, the Belitung company is more powerful than the other.

In several conflicts, both sides suffered heavy losses. Belitung Company failed to pull the other side down, but in the fierce struggle, it erected authority and attracted a group of Chinese mining companies.

In addition to policy factors, the reason why Chinese businessmen in Nanyang lost to European businessmen was that European businessmen had more abundant capital and technology. While Chinese minerals were still using manual mining, European businessmen used them on a large scale. The production efficiency of various machines is much higher.

The value of Meihua's existence is to provide capital and technology to bring Chinese businessmen to the same competitive conditions as European businessmen, thus becoming the leader of the Nanyang Chinese Consortium.

Easier said than done.In view of the fierce competition between Belitung and Dutch businessmen, Meihua Company could no longer directly carry out Malaya and British businessmen, so it would vigorously support the Li Yuanshan family.

Generally speaking, the business environment in Malaya is better than that in the Netherlands and Indonesia across the sea.Chinese businessmen have not only made remarkable achievements in economy, but also gained certain power in politics.

Penang, Kuala Lumpur and other places where Chinese live together have many Chinese serving in the colonial government, including important positions like Kapitan, the leader of the Chinese autonomous region, which was once held by Zhang Bishi, who had just passed away.

The Nanyang Foundation, which has had a lot of energy constrained by the affairs of the Netherlands and Indonesia, does not intend to fight fiercely with the British in Malaya. It has taken measures to support local Chinese businessmen, so the actions should be gentle and hidden.

The tin mining industry is the backbone of Malaya's economy.Except for a few large foreign consortia, the tin mining industry in Malaya is in the hands of the Chinese businessmen, and the Chinese tin businessmen play a decisive role here.

In order to gain more voice in Malaya, although Meihua Company cannot stand on the bright side, it can obtain the leadership of Malayan Chinese tin merchants through Lee Tin Company.

Chapter 33 Who is your own?

"That island is so strange. There is no betel nut, why is it called Penang?" Laura asked, looking at the island not far away.Her Chinese is getting better and better now.

"It turns out that the island is full of betel nuts, which were later cut down, but the good name Penang has been handed down." Situ Nan explained with a smile.

In his previous life, Situ Nan had a distant relative who lived in Penang, so he had been to Penang several times, so he knew a lot about Penang's history.

Don't have a feeling of revisiting the old place.Past and present, Penang Island is a very unique place in Situ Nam's mind.Here is the only overseas city dominated by Chinese. Penang has the majority of Chinese population, the only one in the world.When I came here in Penang, I felt the same as in China.

Penang is at the crossroads of East and West, where the Eastern and Western civilizations blend, forming a unique Penang feature.There are not only a large number of Western buildings, but also Chinese buildings that Situ Nan is very familiar with, and even some ancient buildings in Ming Dynasty style.

The raised eaves, the blue brick and glazed tiles, the yellow skin and black eyes everywhere, and the kind but not very familiar Hokkien, all made Situ Nan excited.

Situ Nan liked this place from the moment he got to Penang Island.Just like a pearl inlaid in the Malay Peninsula, Penang's natural scenery, rich resources, and colorful humanities all deeply attracted Situ Nam.

"My dear, you will like it here, and we will have a pleasant journey here. Go on! I think Li is ready to welcome us."

Situ Nan finished holding Xiao Andy, and while disembarking, he teased him: "Penang Penang, our city, Andy, do you like it?"

"This is the William you're talking about? His cruise ship alone?" Li Yuanshan looked at the graceful lines of the Port William, a little unbelievable.

That boat is so big and beautiful that it can be used as someone's personal transportation?It's too extravagant.Not to mention Asia, even in the United States, very few people own private cruise ships.He somewhat believed Li Renqiao's friend of the richest Americans.

At this time, watching a handsome young man holding a lovely child while holding a white lady of various styles, the family walked down warmly, Li Renqiao excitedly shouted, "Situ Nan, here!"

"Haha! Renqiao, I haven't seen you in a few days, you have gained a lot! How can the water and soil of Penang City support people? It seems that I have to live for a few more days." Situ Nan smiled, and he took Xiaoan, who was initially uneasy. Dee handed it to Laura, who lightly patted Li Renqiao.

"I'm not the way I am? It's you, how come you went to Africa when you went to the Middle East?" Li Renqiao teased.

"Andy, long time no see, do you remember me?" The speaker returned from Laura to pick up little Andy.

Although Little Andy still has an impression of this strange uncle who has been at home for a while, he still likes Laura's arms, so he is not very enthusiastic about Li Renqiao, and the little face is gone, and he clearly said that I don't know you!

"Haha!" Situ Nan and his wife smiled at each other.

"Dad, this is the Situ Nan I mentioned to you, his wife Laura, and this annoying little villain, Andy." Li Renqiao introduced to Situ Nan, "My father, Li Yuanshan. It happens to be here at my house. I’m here to pick you up."

Situ Nan noticed a smiling middle-aged man next to Li Renqiao, his eyebrows resembling Li Renqiao somewhat.

"Uncle Li, hello! I will disturb you this time." Situ Nan stepped forward and nodded and asked with a smile.

"Where is it. You have taken care of Renqiao in the United States. This time I came to Penang as my own home. You are welcome." Li Yuanshan said enthusiastically.

"Uncle Li is polite. Renqiao has always been our good friend. Our whole family likes him very much. He is a great scientist." Laura said suddenly.

Li Yuanshan was even more surprised when Laura opened her mouth. He didn't expect that the "foreign woman" standing next to Situ Nan could also speak Chinese, although the accent was a little strange.

"I didn't expect that Mrs. Laura could also speak Chinese. The old lady was so surprised. Please here!" Li Yuanshan sighed and invited the Situ Nan family home.

After walking into the Li's house in Georgetown, Situ Nan visited the antique and classical building with great interest.Little Andy was curious about the exquisitely carved screen in the living room. He stretched out his little hand to grab it. Unfortunately, he couldn't reach it, so he struggled in Laura's arms, squeaking.

"Oh! This is a screen made of red sandalwood! It's so beautiful!" Laura exclaimed.

"You also know this red sandalwood?" Li Yuanshan asked. He bought this screen at a high price and placed it in the living room. He was very happy every time a guest praised him.

"Yes. We also have one at home, but it's not so big, so beautiful!" Laura nodded.Situ Nan is always willing to spend money on this.

"Uncle Li, I heard that there are a lot of red sandalwood in Nanyang? If you can, help me pay attention to it. I want to collect a lot of red sandalwood. The price is not a problem." Situ Nan came in interest.

The red sandalwood screen of the Li family is worth at least several hundred thousand yuan, but it is not money for Situ Nan.

"How difficult is this? I have red sandalwood." Yao Hongmin interrupted.He also went to the dock to meet Situ Nan just now, but Situ Nan still moved into Li's house according to the pre-planned plan.

In the past few days, Yao Hongmin has been talking with Li Yuanshan about cooperating with the tin company. Meihua Company and Li's family have also become partners. In addition, Yao Hongmin is also familiar with Li Renqiao.