Chapter 8 Beijing veterans

Xibang Bank is mainly engaged in financial remittance, and the transmission of letters between the various ports and villages has become the most important business support.The customer will need to remit the money in place A, and deliver the ticket number, and the ticket number is written with a cash register note.Then fold the bill in half and tear it in half, hand one half to the customer, and seal the other half into a letter, and send it to the B branch.After the customer arrives at the second place, he takes the half of the bill and submits it to the number for verification. There is no doubt that the two halves of the bill will be connected and merged into one, that is, all the written money can be taken away.This kind of business that takes tickets without taking money depends entirely on the correspondence between the terminals.

Pingyao Rishengchang, the founding name of the ticket office, at the beginning of its business, because it was limited to writing tickets among Xibang firms, the business was not frequent, and the ticket sales were only entrusted to acquaintances.Later, when the business grew bigger, he hired a trustworthy "specialist".Later, the private letter bureau of the Ningbo Gang emerged, and they entrusted all the ticketing business to them. Branches of bank accounts are spread all over the world. In today's words, it means to have a financial network covering the whole country and extending overseas.Controlling this network also relied on letters in those days.Xibang Bank also implements the dictatorship of the head office, the capital is in the head office, and the profits of the branch villages in various places are also owned by the head office.Therefore, in addition to ticketing, business letters in the number are not only frequent, but also well-established and strictly regulated.

There are generally four types of internal reports of this kind: main report, repayment, supplementary report, and narrative.The positive report and the repayment are to report every business done by this account, as well as the changes and results of the business.The attached report is to report the business done by his account.Narration is to report local business conditions, current affairs, political situation, personnel affairs, and local customs and anecdotes, and chores entrusted.Each ticket number writes letters and newspapers, and has its own code words. Therefore, it is juxtaposed with the account room in the ticket number, and a letter room is specially set up, and letters are sent out every day.

During the reign of Guangxu, Western telegraphs were gradually opened between the big piers.Xibang Piaohao naturally became the first merchant gang to use it in middle school.It's just that telegrams are expensive, and the text is limited, so it doesn't mean much, and the secrecy is poor.Therefore, unless there is urgent business, generally rely on letters. After the old owner and the big shopkeeper arrived in Hankou, they almost removed Tianchengyuan's general number, and there were naturally more letters and reports between Zhuangkou and Hanhao at each wharf.Among them, most of them are narrative letters, especially Jinghao.Because the two giants Kang Hunan and Sun Beiming, together with Chen Yiqing, the old gang of Hanhao, are planning new actions to revive the momentum of "store in the north and release in the south".

In the money business of the Xibang Bank, they originally followed the eight-character gist of "discretionary surplus to relieve the weak, exhaustion and quickening".There is no distinction between the semicolons, mutual assistance, quick adjustment, and always transfer the deposit to the most profitable terminal.During the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong dynasties, Jiangnan's economy was far more developed than that of the north, and it became the center of domestic commerce.But the northern capital is also the place where the treasury gathers and disperses. This has formed a financial structure in which more silver is gathered in the north and more silver is used in the south of the Yangtze River.Xibang Piaohao is precisely aware of this pattern, and often writes articles about "storage in the north and release in the south".It is to absorb deposits in the north centered on the capital, and then transfer them to the south of the Yangtze River to lend money.It's a big deal for the Western ticket dealers to manage the wealth of the world skillfully.

However, at this time in the 25th year of Guangxu, the Xibang Bank was facing two major crises, which made it difficult and unpredictable for the large layout of "store in the north and release in the south". One is that at the beginning of the year, the imperial court issued an edict: the provincial treasuries are not allowed to hand over various official funds turned over to the central government, commonly known as Beijing payers, to the bank for exchange.The reason is that the capital is short of money, insufficient turnover, the market is depressed, and businessmen and people are in trouble.The imperial court did not know which foolish ministers they had listened to, and even blamed the crux of the predicament on the Xibang ticket office.It is said that the provinces are unwilling to send cash to Beijing, and blindly entrust the bankers to exchange it, so there is less and less cash in the capital.As a matter of fact, the bill numbers are remittances for the capital rates of various provinces, and most of the money handed over to the Ministry of Households is white money, not all money orders.There are also cases where the number of bills cannot be opened for a while, or the bank of the household department is willing to accept cashier bills and money orders, but this will not cause a shortage of cash in the capital.The capital of the capital is tight, and that is really another reason.

In the year of 1898 last year, the political situation was unstable. First, the law was reformed, and then the new law was abolished. The situation was turned upside down and bloody.The high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the capital had secretly taken the money out of the capital and hidden it.Businesses in various industries in Beijing are shrinking and waiting to see, how can the market not be depressed! However, the ban on foreign exchange was ordered by the imperial court, and the Western Gang cannot take it lightly.Contracting the remittance of Beijing's official payment has long been a big business for the bank, and cutting off this source of income is not a trivial matter.Historically, "storage in the north and release in the south" has been mainly supported by remittances from Beijing.The ticket office in the south of the Yangtze River took over the official money from Xiejing, and absorbed all kinds of deposits in the capital.That is to say, the deposit in the capital is used to offset the salary in the capital, and it is handed over to the account department for storage. At the same time, the official funds in the south of the Yangtze River are converted into business capital, and loans are made nearby.It is not allowed to contract Beijing's salary, what else can we do to "storage in the north and release in the south"?

Another crisis is that in Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and even Beijing and Tianjin in the north, boxers are swarming, teaching cases continue, and the current situation is unstable.The ticket office business is all in the north and south, and the bank is transferred vertically and horizontally. Once the Central Plains is in chaos, the business will be blocked.The current situation is uncertain, and the business community will inevitably wait and see and shrink, and the financial business will also be slow.Who can be free from near and far-sighted worries? Faced with these two major crises, Kang Hunan's vicious eyes still saw that there were great business opportunities in them.

From Jinghao's letter, Kang Hunan concluded that the depression in Jingshi's market was definitely not caused by the shortage of money, but a sign of weak money.The current situation is unclear, businesses are shrinking their businesses, and the market is naturally going to be depressed.The capital payable by the provinces to the imperial court, even using the unsettled current situation as an excuse, tried to delay it. How could the Ministry of Households collect more money?In addition, high-ranking officials and dignitaries secretly rushed to hide money outside Beijing, which naturally created an appearance of tight money.The Beijing News has long reported that ordinary businessmen, as well as those high-ranking officials and dignitaries, are coming to their door, asking us to store cash for them, or transfer savings outside.Therefore, the capital silver market is really tight and tired.

At this time, on the contrary, it is a good opportunity for the West Gang to calmly absorb tired money in the capital.Doing so will not only be profitable, but also righteous.At this time of crisis, isn't it because they trust you that they trust you, Xibang?Refusing to protect yourself at this time will ruin the reputation of the West Gang the most. Who will rely on you again in the future?Don't make common sense, and take the trend of shrinking, and refuse to accept cashiers and remittances. As for the boxing riots in the provinces of the Central Plains, Kang Hunan also felt that it would not be a big deal.On the way to Hankou, I met those boxers in person, but the two martial artists from the escort agency settled them down.The provinces in the Central Plains were bewildered by the boxing chaos, and the business community was mostly on the defensive. We can also take the opportunity to collect tired money and transfer it to other places for profit.

Where will the huge amount of exhausted silver collected in this way be released? Kang Hunan discussed with Sun Beiming and Chen Yiqing, but the only way was to be transferred to Jiangnan.Although it is possible to move around outside the mouth, after all, it can't make a big fuss.After the two giants came to Hankou this time, they have already seen that the situation in Jiangnan is better than expected.The market is prosperous, Westernization is booming, business opportunities are not diminishing, and the flow of money is also booming, especially the big and small banks that rely on banknotes, and the business is very good.The governors of Huguang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Liangjiang are all important towns that can be counted on.After Kang Hunan met Zhang Zhidong, he was even more relieved about the situation in the south of the Yangtze River.Although the master of Taiwan did not talk to him about official affairs and current affairs, Kang Hunan's old-fashioned eyes couldn't see anything! With such a huge amount of money transferred to Jiangnan, what can be used to offset it?You can't hand over the huge silver to the Escort for escort at such a difficult time, right? Kang Hunan said: "We can only try our best to win Huijing's official money in the south of the Yangtze River!" Sun Beiming said: "If there is an imperial edict, who dares to ask us to settle the remittance?" Kang Hunan said: "When I met Zhang Zhidong, the Taiwan Governor also mentioned that the Western Gang remits the official money to the treasury, which is very commendable. He said that it is really a convenient way. Compared with the escort of the provincial committee members, I don't know how much it will save. Expenses. The job of escorting the capital to the capital has always been difficult. Not to mention the arduous journey and the many risks, even if you have traveled thousands of miles to the capital, it is not so easy to send it to the Ministry of Warehouse. If you don’t, you won’t be able to pass the test. It’s not like your West Bank ticket dealers, you have already fed them up and down! Master Zhang said it like this, and he didn’t mention the imperial court’s ban on foreign exchange.” Chen Yiqing also said: "Now that the boxers in the Central Plains are in chaos, the provinces may even use it as an excuse to delay the delivery of capital to Beijing. Instead, we can take the opportunity to move to the treasuries of the provinces, sway the vassals, and go to the court to explain the escort of cash. all kinds of difficulties. To solve the difficulties of the capital, exchange is the most effective way." Sun Beiming said: "Then shopkeeper Chen, can you move the table?" Kang Hunan said: "Hubei is adjacent to the Central Plains, and it's not too far away from Beijing. Mr. Zhang just wants to fulfill us, and he doesn't have many excuses to find. It's better not to make things difficult for him." Chen Yiqing said: "When Mr. Kang came forward, Mr. Zhang didn't want to talk about official matters, and I didn't have much face. This kind of thing needs to be mediated by twists and turns, and it's not appropriate to speak out. I'll find someone else to test it out. In my opinion, The masters of Taiwan are well versed in Western affairs and the operation of the Bank of the West, and perhaps they will also present a performance to explain the disadvantages of moving to other places." Kang Hunan said: "Let me speak wildly. It is our Western Clan that can clean up the depression in the capital. Now the business circles in the capital are all on the sidelines. They are not only watching the situation of the court, but also watching our Western Clan. The capital no longer has any business gangs that can control the silver market. Once we calmly absorb the tired silver in Beijing, the business world will also cheer up. At the provincial docks, we are clever enough to get more money from officials and businessmen in Beijing to facilitate Beijing’s payment. The treasury. There is too much money in the treasury of the household department, and the imperial court still prohibits us from doing anything!" Sun Beiming said: "The old Dongtai is a great talent, and he is planning for the West Gang and the court. But I am still worried, how many of the Jiangnan provinces will be willing to be persuaded by us?" Kang Hunan smiled and said: "It depends on those veteran gangsters under your command. I have a little plan, I wonder if you will accept it?" Chen Yiqing hurriedly said: "Old Dongtai has any clever plans, tell me quickly!" Kang Hunan then said: "Why don't we lend out the rest of the silver first, and pay Beijing's salary for some provincial government?" Chen Yiqing said: "Lend money to them to pay the Beijing salary? In recent years, how many of the provincial treasuries have not been able to pay? The annual indemnity of the Sino-Japanese War is enough for them to complain. How can they pay back the money we borrowed?" In fact, Chen Yiqing had thought of such a move long ago.In the spring, he had already contacted Zhuangkou in Fujian and Jiangxi, asking them to borrow money first, and then collect foreign exchange, and encouraged the feudal lords to play on the imperial court and lift the ban.Now, Lao Dongtai also said this move, of course he had to pretend to be confused and say these words on purpose. Sun Beiming thought for a while, but said: "I think the old boss's move is vicious! We lend him money to pay Beijing's salary, and he doesn't care whether we exchange it or pledge cash. Even if the court knows, it can't blame us too much. Well, official use of commercial banks is considered an act of loyalty." Chen Yiqing said: "Of course, in our terms, this is equivalent to lending the exhausted money absorbed by the Beijing Bank to the government as soon as it changes hands. It's just that the loan to the provincial treasury is afraid that it will not be repaid!" Sun Beiming said: "They owe our money, and they may go to the court to abolish the ban on foreign exchange." Only then did Chen Yiqing exclaim in admiration: "It turns out that there is such a cunning plan." Kang Hunan said: "This is just a small trick! If we want to revive the momentum of 'store in the north and release in the south', I'm afraid we have to contact the major banks of the West Gang to do it together. Our Tianchengyuan family can't save the predicament in the capital. of." Sun Beiming said: "Accordingly, this is also an opportunity for our Western Gang to show their face, and we should join forces for profit. However, it is easy to talk about other families, but the two bosses of Pingyao Rishengchang and Weizihao are willing to listen to us? If they planned this move and we all followed, it would still be a success. Now that we have planned it, the two bosses may not even want to hear it, how can we expect them to join hands?" Chen Yiqing said: "Their bosses will really oppose such a plan?" Kang Hunan smiled and said, "Then don't say that we planned it. I've already thought about it. We don't need to come forward for this matter, just entrust one person to do it." Sun Beiming asked, "Who?" Chen Yiqing said: "Is it the old gang of Dai Dai in Beijing?" Kang Hunan said: "Yes, it's shopkeeper Dai. This move is the most important thing. The old gangs stationed in the capital of the Western Gang are all business experts, and they often join forces on weekdays. Shopkeeper Dai will cleverly make arrangements for the overall situation. Even if the Beijing name of Rishengchang is recommended to take the lead, it is all right." Sun Beiming said: "This way, it can still be done." Chen Yiqing also specifically said: "Old Dongtai snatched all the good ideas." Kang Hunan said: Then trouble shopkeeper Chen, write a letter to Jinghao Dai shopkeeper, and entrust this important task to him. Shopkeeper Sun and I should also find a cool place to avoid the heat for a few days .” In this plan, the two giants, Kang Hunan and Sun Beiming, judged the situation and made clever plans, hiding but not revealing. Normally, they should have a chance of winning.However, they underestimated the Central Plains Boxing Rebellion too lightly, leaving hidden dangers for this revitalization of "store in the north and release in the south".This is something for later, let's not talk about it. Dai Ying, the veteran of Tiancheng Yuanjing, was not surprised to receive this important task. It has been more than 100 years since the establishment of Xibang Bank, and it has been in operation until the Guangxu period, and it is approaching its peak.At that time, the branch offices of major fonts in Beijing became very important.It can be said that if a family does not have a Beijing name with a strong hand to lead the village, it will be difficult to achieve success.At this time in the 25th year of Guangxu, there were forty-eight branch offices in the capital of the Western Gang, representing the leaders of the Western Gang at that time.The bosses of these 48 Beijing accounts can be said to be all of them a momentary choice in the financial industry.Many people among them are far superior to the big shopkeeper of the head office, regardless of their weapons, vision, means, and even their education and literary talents.Because it is difficult for mediocre people to gain a foothold in the position of the old gang of Jinghao.It is inconceivable that the West Bank ticket merchants have developed over the past century, and they are engaged in the great business of managing the wealth of the world and taking the benefits of the world.So in the end, the status of the ticket merchant Beijing account was not inferior to that of the general account.It's just because of the unique system of Xibang Piaohao and strict internal legislation, there will be no troubles of heavy ministers oppressing the master. The common troubles are that the old gang of Beijing has many excellent ideas and good strategies, which are not valued by the head office.Those bosses in Lingdong have been confined to the old Qi Taiping in Jin Province for many years, and they are increasingly separated from the outside world.The wise and good strategies of the veterans from other places are either not used or not understood.If you don't know it first, how can you use it? Therefore, Dai Ying, the old gang member of Tiancheng Yuanjing, kept persuading Sun Beiming to come out and see more.The outside world is changing with each passing day. Why not do it when you come out half to visit the wonders and sightseeing, and the other half to inspect the business?Besides, long legs are the strength of the West Gang.But shopkeeper Sun Da just didn't move.In recent years, the important task of inspecting Zhuangkou in other cities has been divided into two parts and handed over to the two old gangsters.One is Chen Yiqing, who is a Chinese name, and asked him to inspect all the names in the south of the Yangtze River.One is Dai Ying of the Beijing account, who inspects the northern accounts.They went on patrol on their behalf, and they were not afraid of hard work, but the gap between the old account and the other places remained. Kang Laodongtai has always liked to go out and walk around, but unfortunately he is old and it is not easy to go out.The last time Dai Ying came back to Taigu after get off work, he had tactfully signaled to his old boss, hoping that he could persuade shopkeeper Sun Da to come out for a walk.Unexpectedly, the old man personally pulled Sun Beiming to go south in the summer heat.Hearing the news of the two giants going on tour, Dai Ying was really excited.Although the cause came from Qiu Taiji, Dai Ying knew in his heart that the old man did this extraordinary move after he understood his advice. As an old man, it's too difficult to go on tour in the summer heat for the old man, but Tian Chengyuan is your Kang family's business after all.At this extraordinary time, without such an extraordinary move, it is really not enough to respond. Last year, there was a political reform between the DPRK and China, and the political situation was unstable. All the accounts of the Western Gang were shrinking, and their business dropped by 30% to 50%.At the beginning of this year, the imperial court issued another ban on foreign exchange. If there is no countermeasure, how can business be done?However, the old giants in Jin Province still didn't realize it, thinking that the court had banned them several times in the past, but they couldn't stop them, so they just watched and waited. Shopkeeper Sun, on the pretext that this year coincides with Tiancheng Yuanhe's four-year big account, should have contracted, but also ordered him to take a defensive position.Don't you know that today's world is very different from the past.Not only the Jiangnan bank is gradually becoming a major trend, but even a Western bank is already aggressive, robbing the source of profits from the Western Bank!If the Western Gang blindly waits and shrinks in the north, they cannot transfer the source of silver resources to the south of the Yangtze River, and others will take advantage of the vacancy and invade the city and plunder the land.Once Jiangnan is lost, the trend of the West Gang will cease to exist! In the 21st year of Guangxu, the Sino-Japanese War was defeated, China and Japan negotiated peace, and the Qing Dynasty compensated Japan with 200 million taels of silver for military expenses.How could the imperial court afford such a huge sum of money for a while!The British, French, Russian, and German powers took advantage of this opportunity and transferred the huge sum of money into loans from the four countries. The annual repayment of the principal and interest was 12 million taels, the household department shared 2 million taels, and the provinces and border customs shared one share. Ten million taels.This 12 million huge silver is remitted to Shanghai Jianghai Customs every year, and the flow of money in the country is more southward and less northward.The business of the Xibang ticket industry depends entirely on the financial coordination between the north and the south. The imbalance between the north and the south has already made the exchange difficult. Dai Ying said this kind of dangerous words to the old man.It is indeed the luck of the Kang family and the West Gang that he finally made such an extraordinary move. Therefore, when he heard that the old master had dispatched the shopkeeper Sun Da, Dai Ying and Chen Yiqing's old gang of Han Hao sent frequent reports.In fact, what they asked for from the two giants was just one sentence: "There is no need to hold back and wait and see!" In order to obtain this sentence, he and Chen Laobang spent a lot of time thinking.It was their premeditated arrangement to instigate the old man to meet Zhang Zhidong and Fowles of HSBC without any trace. Now finally there is a good result.Chen Laobang said at the end of the letter written by himself: "Everything is as you and I wish. I follow my brother's order, and I will not say anything in front of the two giants. I pretend to be confused, and I am afraid that the old man is not confused. Now it all depends on my brother's actions. " Dai Ying smiled knowingly after reading this. On the second day after receiving the letter, Dai Ying went to pay a visit to Li Hongling, the old gangster of Wei Feng Hou Jing. Tiancheng Yuanjing is located in the grinding factory outside Qianmen, and Weifenghoujing is located in Jiutiao Hutong of Caochang outside Chongwenmen, not far away.Rishengchang, the boss of Xibang ticket dealers, has its Beijing account in Chongwenmen Waicaochang, which is separated from Weifenghou by an alley.Both of them belonged to the Pingyao Gang of the Western Gang, and they were both old bank accounts. Because the two big shopkeepers had a quarrel when they started their business, the two big shopkeepers had been fighting constantly.But at this time, the two veterans of the Beijing name are both very capable people.Liang Huaiwen, the veteran of Rishengchang's Beijing name, has close contacts with Li Hongling of Wei Fenghou, and they often do things together.Dai Ying has friendship with both of them, but he is more congenial with Li Hongling.He felt that Li Hongling was well-respected in the ticket circle of the capital. Li Hongling saw that Dai Ying's weather was different here, so he asked: "You two masters, have you been persuaded?" Dai Ying smiled and said, "I can't convince them! I just advise them not to stay in Hankou for a long time. Anyway, it's hot. They might as well go down the river and go to Shanghai early. Our Tianchengyuan's Shanghai number is not strong, so I told you guys to go to Shanghai." It's about to collapse." "Who are you talking about?" "Who else can there be in Dahao, besides Rishengchang and your Weizihao, who else can there be?" "Don't tell me, we, Wei Fenghou, haven't messed with your family. Besides, there are too many business opportunities in Shanghai, and no one can monopolize them. I don't think your old Meng Gang in Shanghai is mediocre. It looks clumsy, but it's true. It’s because it hides its extraordinary ingenuity so deeply that it’s hard for you to see through it. He won’t bully you, but you don’t want to bully him either, it’s hard to control if you can give people such a feeling.” "Then you want to bully him?" "We can see through it, so why provoke him? It's just that those masters in Shanghai who like to show their cleverness on their faces often fall for your old Meng gang." "See what you said. I really want to ask our old account to transfer me to the Shanghai account. Shanghai has now become a hub of business between China and China, with business opportunities everywhere, and it can be done. Unlike in the capital, there are so many constraints. That's why I encouraged the two masters to go to Shanghai for a walk. I don't know if Brother Zishou has such intentions? If you and I can go to Shanghai together, we can join hands to do some business." "I have worked as a farmer in Shanghai for a few years. There are many business opportunities in Shanghai, but I can't adapt to the climate and soil." "That's because you've lived in Beijing for too long. A businessman in the West, you can't stand up! Last year, didn't your brother send you to study in Zhejiang? When you arrive in Shanghai, you are closer to you, so you can enjoy the family relationship." "Last year, I brought my dog ​​out with the intention of choosing a teacher for him in Beijing. I happened to meet Mr. Zhao Yinchen from the Imperial Academy, and he was about to return to Zhejiang. When Mr. Zhao came to Beijing for the scientific examination, we were generously sponsored by Wei Wei. After visiting Hanlin, they did not forget each other. Therefore, some old friendships are still there. Speaking of Gouzi’s apprenticeship, he advocated sending him to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the cultural movement is flourishing. He also said that their Zhao’s academy is hiring a He is a well-educated private tutor, and he is very good at teaching. Now he only accepts his two grandsons as schoolchildren. If you don’t mind, why don’t you send the young master to study in one class? He is a Hanlin, so I can’t dislike this kindness. ? The child was sent to Master Zhao's residence in Chuzhou, Zhejiang." The veterans of the Jinghao Group have to choose their teachers in this way, which shows that their status and vision are different from ordinary ones. "Brother Zishou, don't you expect your son to order Hanlin in the future?" "Hanlin dare not think that he is just like you and me. It is enough to be a veteran of Beijing and Shanghai." "By the time their generation became old gangs, they didn't know what the ticket industry of the West Bank would be like. If you ask me, they are really promising, and they are still doing it in the ticket office!" "If you don't enter the ticket number, you really want to be an official?" "How can you be successful in seeking an official position? If you are promising, you would rather join a bank than a bank account." "If you don't have your own bank, tell them to serve foreigners as slaves? The year before last, Sheng Xuanhuai opened the Commercial Bank in Shanghai. Although it was the first bank in our country, it was also a bank of the imperial court. It is powerful but not strong, and it is not a mountain. " "So, I advise my brother to go to Shanghai together. How about you and I set up a bank?" "Brother Jing is talking in his sleep, right? Where do you and I get a lot of capital to start a bank?" "We went back to Jinguang to lobby, and we don't have to worry about not being able to raise equity. The founder of your company, Mao Da, the shopkeeper, if he hadn't withdrawn from Rishengchang back then and found a new owner, how could you be so rich?" "Brother Jing, I understand what you mean. Could it be that the two tycoons of your Tian Chengyuan already intend to imitate the bank?" "Nothing." "You old Mrs. Kang and shopkeeper Sun are regarded as enlightened people. When you two arrive in Hankou, why don't you invite them to see the Western Bank?" "Our Chinese name, Mr. Chen, arranged for the old man to meet with an assistant of HSBC Bank. This English assistant is too cunning! In front of the old man, he just praised how great the West Bank bank is, as if it is better than their Western Bank. Even smarter. I can hear the old man's pride!" "There is such a thing?" "That's not it. Do you think the old man will change the bank after receiving such high praise?" "It's also like the British style, killing people with soft knives, you don't feel pain. It's just that your old boss, the big shopkeeper, is still out for a walk after all, and you will meet foreigners. No one else will come out!" "Our old man went to meet Zhang Zhidong and received some compliments. Mr. Chen took advantage of the old man's joy and told us what we wanted." "Fake bank?" "You just want to set up a bank! What Mr. Chen told the old man is an urgent move for us to take: we can no longer blindly shrink and wait and see, and we should use it as a coincidence to collect tired money and solicit foreign exchange in violation of the order." "You guys let go?" "The old man was very happy, so he nodded. He also said something important: in order to solicit official money, you can advance the capital payment to the treasury in a suitable province in the south of the Yangtze River, and remit it back to Beijing." Xibang Bank undertakes foreign exchange business, which can be divided into forward exchange and reverse exchange.Shunhui means that the customer pays the remittance first, then writes the invoice, takes the invoice, and then withdraws money in a different place.Reverse remittance means that if the remittance has not been paid, you can first write a ticket, take the ticket, withdraw money in a different place, and then pay the remittance within the agreed time limit.This is a clever means for the West Bank to solicit foreign exchange.The remittance fee of reverse remittance, that is, the remittance fee, is naturally much higher than that of forward remittance. Li Hongling laughed after hearing this, and said: "Brother Jing, as soon as you came today, I saw that you brought good news. You still have to pretend that nothing happened and talk a lot of nonsense!" "I'm not talking nonsense, I really want to change my Shanghai number." "Whatever change is the Shanghai number! Don't you think I can't talk to my shopkeeper? With the actions of your old master Kang and shopkeeper Sun, I have something to go." "If you come up with something new, tell me and listen!" "As soon as you Tian Chengyuan moves, I will immediately report to the old Pingyao account immediately, saying that the two giants of your family have obtained secret information from Zhang Zhidong. Tell you to take the lead exclusively?" "Brother Zishou, aren't you trying to harm me? My old man has repeatedly ordered us, Tian Chengyuan, not to be too showy. We don't want to do it alone and provoke the whole gang. If we want to stand out, we still have to invite you to help us, Rishengchang and Guiwei." Five consecutive numbers. Sending such a secret report to your old account, isn’t it trying to destroy us?” "Your owner's shopkeeper, this trip to the south of the Yangtze River in the summer has already alarmed the West Gang. If you want to talk about the limelight, you have already done enough. What kind of character is Mrs. Kang, and he is afraid that his colleagues will gossip? Besides, I don't do that. How can our shopkeeper Mao persuade you?" "If you want to talk about moving Mao's shopkeeper, there are better moves to make." "What else is there to do?" "When you write a secret report to the old account, don't mention our Tian Chengyuan, just say that Rishengchang is going to do it exclusively. Master Mao has heard it, can you still sit still?" "This is not like your idea, Brother Jing! I dare not lie about such military information. Besides, if we lie about military information like this, our big shopkeeper will probably try his best and stay put. You do it, but I won't do it. The two of us It's not like your brother doesn't know about the family's temper. At this time, if our two families are angry again, what good is it for Yu Xi to help?" "Brother Zishou, I was just joking. If you want us Tian Chengyuan to stand out, then let's do it for a while. But, if we let us stand out, what will Ri Shengchang think if he knows? He is the boss, and he wants to If you come forward to stop us and don't ask everyone to follow suit, it will really destroy us. If you all obey the order and don't move, but our family violates the order and collects money, the imperial court will spare us?" "If you make a move, Rishengchang won't be able to sit still. Maybe it will join forces with our Weizihao to overwhelm you at the head of the Taigu Gang." "Then it all depends on you and Liang Huaiwen's old gang. I won't say anything about Liang Huaiwen's old gang. You are the leaders of the West Gang. Once you make a move, the situation will open." "Such a disastrous situation should not be a worry for us, the veterans of the Beijing gang. It's just that the old giants of the West Gang are all reclusive and self-willed. They still think that the West Gang is invincible. We are loyal If they don't listen, they even think that I have other plans, which is really chilling. I told our shopkeeper to imitate the bank, and I heard that he blamed me a lot, saying that I, Li, want to do something! Is it not for the name, but for the Xibang?" "That's why I said, if we are constrained everywhere, it's like running a bank at home!" "Your words of worry and indignation are just words. Even if you and I really take that step, the pedantic officials in the Ministry of Household Affairs will not be able to deal with it. They are not the ones who issued the ban on foreign exchange issued by the imperial court this year." It's a pity. Since the Hongyang Rebellion, I have been accepting official funds from the West for many years, and I haven't made any mistakes. I often rescue the imperial court and the provincial government. It's the same as paying you the exact amount of money, so you have to travel thousands of miles The committee members are always worried about our convenient exchange! We didn’t deduct a single cent of your government’s silver, and only earned that little remittance. Compared with the huge expenses of your committee’s deposit, I don’t know how much you will save! It’s ridiculous to say that such a simple Those high-ranking ministers and important officials couldn’t understand the truth. In the past six months, I have traveled to the Ministry of Households many times, but still no one is willing to report to the court and ask for the lifting of the ban.” "Why don't they understand? Sheng Xuanhuai's Commercial Bank, doesn't it accept remittances as usual? In the past, Weng Tongyu served as Minister of the Ministry of Households for many years, and never banned remittances. Mr. Weng was dismissed last year, and Wang Wenshao took over only a few days ago. , ban our foreign exchange. Do you want to secretly help Sheng Xuanhuai, ban the Xibang, and let China Commercial Bank take care of it?" "When Weng Tong was the Minister of the Household Department, I could still try to speak up. I really don't have much friendship with the current Wang Wenshao. Are we not respectful enough to Mr. Wang?" "I'm afraid it's not that simple. Brother Zishou, I think right now, we can work together to do one thing first. For this matter, we don't need to sue the old account, our Beijing account old gang can do it." "What's so high about Brother Jing?" "Isn't the imperial court's ban on foreign exchange due to the depression in the capital's market? Why don't we condescend to start a small business and lend some money to small merchants in the capital? Our Xibang ticket shops, no matter how big or small they are, are too pretentious. Needless to say, a small business of 180 taels, even a small deposit and loan of 10000 taels, I don’t even bother to do it, I only want to do large ones. The market in the capital is sluggish now, we can do some small loan business, maybe we can save the market. With the market turning around, the imperial court will no longer be obstinate about banning foreign exchange." "We don't do small business for the sake of safety. Small businesses are the most difficult to foresee. Besides, this kind of small business has to be left to money houses, stove houses, and pawn shops." "Money houses and pawnshops have always relied on banknotes. We shrink, and they have to shrink. Ticket dealers are big, especially the Guiping Gang, and among the Ping Gang, Rishengchang and Guiwei are the most famous. You take the lead in doing some small business, It’s easy for the other family to let go of their airs. If it spreads to the household department, it may have a better impression on the West Gang.” "Maybe they'll think we're at the end of our rope!" "At this time, what's wrong with us helping to hide a little bit in the west? Besides, there is no need to make any adjustments for this kind of small business. The capital is in one place, brother Zishou, don't you know that it is originally a large government and a small business. Except for the merchants who go out of Russia via Jingshi Tongmeng, there are not many big merchants. I think that releasing some of the accumulated silver collected by each number will be enough to revive the market. Recently, the business of small and medium-sized tickets has been booming. , should find a way out." "Speaking of small bills, I am also worried. The cumulative number of small bills issued by various accounts over the years is huge. In today's gloomy and unclear situation, once things change and holders of small bills flock to run, it is even worse. scary." "So, it is too urgent to rescue the market now." "Then convene the old gang for a public discussion?" "Should, should." A small ticket is a small bank note issued by the Xibang Bank.At first, the bank note was just a proof of deposit.How much silver do you deposit in the ticket office, and the ticket office will give you a receipt, stating how much silver you can withdraw tomorrow with this note.The ticket number has always been doing large-scale business, so most of the bank notes issued are large.A small-value bank note is just a temporary note issued by the ticket number, which can be redeemed at any time.The face value ranges from ten taels to fifty taels, one hundred taels, and up to one thousand taels. No, this kind of small ticket was very popular among the officials and gentry in the capital.Why?It is also convenient to carry this small ticket in and out of the gate of the rich and powerful.Easy to present and easy to store.Knowing that the Xibang bank has a good reputation, the family members of the rich and powerful mansions especially like to collect such small tickets for private savings, and they will not cash them for three to five years to more than ten years.Of course, a larger number of receipts are still circulating in the official circles of the capital: no matter how "black" the money is, if it is exchanged for this kind of bearer banknote, there will be no trace. As a result, handwritten small notes like the Xibang Piaohao have a large circulation in the capital, almost a kind of banknote.There are more than 300,000 taels of receipts issued by Tian Chengyuan.Rishengchang and Weifenghou have more big ones.Adding up all the Xibangjing accounts, the issuance of small notes is on the scale of 10 to 20 million taels, which is actually more than the treasury silver normally stored by the imperial household department. When the current situation is turbulent, small notes are still favored because they are easier to transfer and hide than silver money.But the hidden risks are also obvious. Under Dai Ying's instigation, Li Hongling was finally willing to try to save the market.For this motion, it must first be obtained from the "Jin Province Huiye Office" of the capital, and it will be jointly negotiated by all the capital names.Li Hongling is one of the general directors of "Huiye Office". The Huiye Office in the capital is the industry hall of the Xibang Bank in Beijing. Like all guilds, the Huiye Office also cooperates with the outside world to jointly protect and coordinate the interests of each number internally.Financial guilds, in particular, have to negotiate exchange rates, deposit and loan interest rates, and currency prices in a timely manner.It's just that the guild hall of the Xibang is often located in Guandi Temple.In other words, they often raise funds to build a Guandi Temple first, and then double as their own guild hall. Master Guan is a member of the Xibang Township Party, and his reputation of mighty loyalty is passed down to the world.The Xibang, who has always been away from home and wandered around the world, worships Emperor Guan, partly because of homesickness, and partly because he wants to pray for his blessing of Wuwei.Ke Xibang's such respect, invisibly gave Master Guan a new posthumous posthumous title: the God of Wealth of Merchant.As a result, various merchants gradually followed suit, paying special respect to Emperor Guan and praying for fortune. The Huiye Office of the capital is located in the Reed Grass Garden in the northeast of the capital.This guild hall is also the Guandi Temple in the front and the meeting hall in the back.In the temple of Guandi, there is a gorgeous stage and a canopy for watching operas.The guild hall made a rule that on Guandi's birthday, as well as New Year's Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, it would hold peer gatherings, perform plays and have feasts, honor gods and entertain guests, communicate with fellow gangs, and discuss some important matters within the gang.平时遇有急事，也来集议。 这次集议，本来是临时动议，西帮各京号的老帮，竟不约而同，全都亲自出动了，云集到芦草园会馆。可见大家对眼前死局，也是十分忧虑的。这中间，却有一个例外：惟独日升昌的梁怀文老帮没有到。 以日升昌在票业中的地位，梁老帮自然也是汇业公所的总董之一。同业公推出三名总董，梁老帮居其首。他不来，还能议成什么事？ 李宏龄见等不来梁老帮，就先带了大家，往关帝神主前敬香，祭拜。拜毕，进入后院议事堂。 大家对梁老帮不到，大感疑惑，纷纷问李宏龄：此次集议，就没有同梁老帮相商吗？ 李宏龄说：“哪能不先请教梁老帮？我登门拜见时，他说一准要到的。我们还是再等一等吧。” 于是，大家趁这个时机，又纷纷问戴膺：你们老东家、大掌柜南下江汉，一定有什么不寻常的意图吧？ 戴膺连说：“在这种败兴的时候，我们能谋到什么便宜？老太爷此番南下，实在是因为那位爱奢华的邱泰基！老太爷以为我们这些驻外老帮，个个都像邱泰基似的，成天在胡作非为呢。” 戴膺没有想到，他刚这样说完，李宏龄就当着大家说：“戴老帮，我可是得到信报了，你们康老东家在汉口拜见了张之洞，又拜见了英国汇丰银行的帮办，分明在谋划大举动。是不是要趁大家都收缩，你们天成元独自大做？” 戴膺先还有些奇怪，什么都没说呢，李宏龄怎么就全抖搂出来了？他看了李宏龄一眼，李宏龄不动声色。戴膺才有些明白了：他老兄是有意这样吧？ 诸位老帮听李宏龄这样一说，更追问不止：得了张之洞什么密示，朝廷是不是要收回禁令？ 戴膺就说：“张制台是何等人物，会对我们泄漏天机？各位都是有神通的人物，身在京畿，什么天机探不到！” 李宏龄说：“你们天成元想动，就动。我们也不会坏你们的事。你们先动一步，做些试探，总比大家一起坐以待毙好吧？” 戴膺说：“我们想动，你们就不想动？我们老东家大掌柜到了汉口，是想谋些对策。可目前局面，良策不好觅呀！朝廷禁汇，谁敢违？倒是你们各家的老号，能沉得住气，稳坐晋省，静观乐观。” 祁县乔家大德通的京号老帮周章甫说：“多数老号是不明外间情形。再不谋良策，真要坐以待毙了。” 李宏龄说：“你们祁帮也要动吗？” 周章甫说：“我们大掌柜倒也说了，一味收缩，不是回事。可如何动，也没有良策可施。” 戴膺说：“子寿兄他有高见！” 李宏龄忙说：“我哪有什么高见？真有高见，我们蔚丰厚早先动了。今请各位来集议，就是为共谋良策。” 正说着，日升昌京号一位伙友跑进来，说：“敝号梁老帮昨儿中暑了，不能来集议，特吩咐在下来告假，请各位老帮包涵。” 大家听了，心里更生疑惑，只是嘴上也不便说什么。 李宏龄打发走日升昌那位伙友，就对大家说：“梁老帮不来了，那我们就议事吧。” 对时局，大家也不便多说什么。自去年变法被废后，东西洋列强就总跟朝廷别着劲，可再发生宣战开打的事，好像也没缘由和迹象。只要不跟洋人打仗，局面就不至大乱。对山东、直隶、天津的一些拳乱，大家都没当回事。拳民既跟洋人作对，也给朝廷添乱，两头不讨好，哪能成了什么事？ 对李宏龄提出的救市动议，各家倒都甚为赞同。老号不明外间情形，一味叫收缩观望，这样久了，人家还以为我们也跟朝廷别着劲呢。西帮跟朝廷别劲，那还了得？这次禁汇，本就有对我们西帮的忌防，我们再一任京市萧条，好像真别了劲与人家作对，那真不知会惹什么祸！所以，都很赞同拿出京号存银，联手多做些小额放贷。此举一出，京市当会有变化。只要平帮的日升昌、蔚字号肯放下大号架子，别家都肯跟随。 既由李宏龄提出此动议，蔚字号自然不成问题。可梁老帮未到，老大日升昌它肯不肯这样做？ 李宏龄说，他会通告梁老帮的。 日升昌要是不愿意呢？ 他一家不做，就不做，既经公议公定，各家照样做。 李宏龄这样说了，大家也就不再多说。 因小额放贷，大多是对小资本的钱庄、当铺、炉房以及小商号，所以，公议了一个较低的放贷利息。 对于限制发行小票的动议，大家都觉不大好办。要小票的，都是官吏权贵，得罪不起。只要京市活了，挤兑就不会出现。而大势更在于国中金融的南北调度，能否早日盘活。只是，这又关涉朝廷禁汇，不便公议，也未多说。 因同业各家老帮都来了，议事毕，会馆特意摆了筵席招待。虽是同业聚会，没有太多顾忌，可在吃酒中，这些老帮们仍没有说多少出格的话。在京师做老帮，谁都得有这种不露痕迹的自束本事。席间，大家议论多的，还是日升昌梁怀文的缺席。 戴膺坐的这一席，都是祁帮和太帮的同仁，乔家大德通的周章甫也在。戴膺先敬过同席一巡酒，就问周老帮： “你看梁掌柜今儿不来，是和李宏龄又别上劲了？” 周章甫说：“我看不会。梁掌柜是贤达的人，眼前死局，他能看不出来？他今儿不来，只怕是平遥老号又有什么指示吧？” 戴膺说：“能有什么指示？不可妄动？” 同席一位老帮就说：“人家日升昌财大势强，可以静观乐观，再熬半年也无妨，我们谁能陪得起？” 周章甫也说：“我们大德通是新号，也真陪不起你们大号。” 戴膺趁机就问：“你们老号的高大掌柜，当年驻京时，与庆亲王走动不少。在这紧要时候，也没有走走这条门路？” 周章甫说：“我们大掌柜哪有那么大面子！” 同席都说：“人家走这种门路，能给我们说？” 戴膺说：“不拘什么门路吧，大家都动起来，就好说。” 周章甫说：“日升昌要是别了劲，只是不动，那也是个事。它是西帮老大，商界市面都看它。” 戴膺说：“只要平帮的蔚字号和大家一股，就好说。李宏龄总董，我们还是可以指望的。你们高钰大掌柜驻京多年，在这非常时候，也该来京走走吧？” 周章甫说：“有你们老东家大掌柜做样子，我也正在撺掇他出来呢。” 散席后，戴膺有意迟走一步，单独问了问李宏龄：“梁老帮不来，会是什么意思？” 李宏龄说：“梁老帮今日不出面，是事先说好的。” “为什么？我们所议之事，他都不以为然？” “倒也不是。对设法救市，扭转死局，梁老帮也是甚为赞同的。只是，对做小额放贷，感到不大好办。他倒无所谓，只是怕老号怪罪。挂着'京都日升昌汇通天下'的招牌，做针头线脑的小生意，只怕老号要骂他。所以，他就不出面了，免得扫大家的兴。” “在这非常之时，做点小生意，就不能'汇通天下'了？还是不肯放下架子。” “梁老帮倒是说了，他的京号不会坐视，也要向相熟的一些炉房、钱庄放贷，和大家一起救市。他不来，只是留个向老号交代的口实而已。” “老号那些巨头，真还以为日升昌依然天下无敌呢！” “静之兄，真还不能那样说。梁怀文对我说，他们日升昌的大掌柜，见你们天成元两位巨头出巡江汉，也有些坐不住了。” “那他们的郭大掌柜，也出来走走？” “出来倒没说，但吩咐了：狼行千里吃肉，不能再傻等了。日升昌也要有举动。所以，我就把你们天成元的意图，先嚷叫给大家听了。” “我说呢，怎么都把我们底下说的话，先抖给大家？” “你们天成元和日升昌一动，各家就更坐不住了。” “日升昌动了，你们蔚字号五连号动不动？” “唉，我们范大掌柜倒好说，就是蔚泰厚的毛大掌柜不敢指望。他一句活话也没放呢。蔚泰厚是我们五连号的老大，它不动，我们也不好动。” “原来是这样。梁怀文不来，我们还以为日升昌要冷眼相看呢。人家日升昌动了，你们蔚字号又不动。什么时候你们平帮的两大号能不唱对台戏？” “各家都动了，只我们不动，那也好。” 西帮票号的开山字号日升昌，原先是平遥一家叫西裕成的颜料庄。掌柜叫雷履泰，财东为本县达蒲村李家。雷掌柜是生意场上的奇才，到嘉庆年间，西裕成已有相当规模，在外埠开了不少分庄，京师即有一间。 那时，在京师做生意的西帮商人很多。每到年关时候，都要往晋省老家捎寄银钱。捎寄的途径，只能交给镖局押运。镖局运现费用很高，路途上也常不安全。辛辛苦苦出来挣点钱，往家中捎寄也这样不容易。有一位在京做干果生意的西帮商人，与西裕成京号掌柜相熟，即与之商量：他往老家捎的银子，先交到西裕成京号，由京号写信给平遥老号，等他回晋后，再到西裕成老号用银。因是熟人，京号老帮也就同意了。由此，开了异地汇兑的先例。 但起初，也没谁把这当回事，只是觉得比镖局运现便捷许多就是了。西裕成也只是继续接受亲戚朋友的托付，两相兑拨，无偿帮忙，不收任何汇费。渐渐地，西帮商人觉出了用此法调度银钱的便利，来求兑拨的越来越多。这才两相协商，交付一点汇水，变无偿为约定付费。 西裕成的掌柜雷履泰，独具眼力，很快看出了其中的巨大商机：这种汇水虽少，但钱生钱，来得容易，如广为开展，获利必丰。异地运现，一向就是商家大难事。他与东家商议后，就毅然将西裕成改名为日升昌，专门经营银钱的异地汇兑。这个由西帮新创的商行，就被称做汇兑庄，俗称票庄、票号。当然，雷履泰和他的财东，并不知道他们是开了中国银行的先河。 票号在那时无疑是朝阳产业，一旦出世，很快就如火如荼，无可限量。 雷履泰是经商高手，他由民用家资，推想到商家货款；由京晋两地，推想到国中各地；由北出口外的西帮，推想到纵横江南的茶帮、米帮、丝帮，银钱的流动那是无处不在的。于是，就选派干练诚实的伙友，逐步往南北各大码头设庄揽汇。做金融生意，信誉是第一要紧条件。日升昌也是沾了西帮的光，靠着西帮既有的声誉，再加上雷履泰的巧为运筹，它的生意很快火起来了。 日升昌初时的汇水，即汇费，只取百分之一，一两银子取一厘。比起镖局运现的收费，可以说是微乎其微。这是明处取利，定得低微，易于被更多客户接受。雷履泰还有暗里取利的手段，那就是在银子的“平色”上做文章。 那时代，白银为市面流通的主要货币，无论碎银、银锭、元宝，都有一个“平色”问题。“平”，就是银子够不够它标定的分量；“色”，就是银子的成色，即它的含银量足不足。按道理，作为货币使用的银子，应该是既足量，又纯质的。可实际上，各地银两的“平色”，差异很大。所以，在异地汇兑中，要换算出这种“平色”差异，加以找补扣除。正是在这种换算中，雷履泰为日升昌制定了自家的“平色”标准，使换算变得有利可图。这种由兑换而得的暗利，一般是从“平”中取千分之四，从“色”中取千分之五六。“平色”合起来，又是一个百分之一，也就是说，在不知不觉中，汇水多了一倍。 不过，这种“平色”暗利，雷履泰也严格守定于上述那个限度，再不叫扩张。因为太贪暗利，暗利必显，谁还信赖你？不因一时利厚而太贪，这是雷履泰的精明处，也是西帮的商风。 在收取汇水和平色换算上，日升昌以及后来的西帮票号，都恪守了雷履泰所定下的这些规矩，使汇兑得以做成大事业。 日升昌的兴盛，叫雷履泰的声名大著。他本来就是一个很自负的人，建树了这样的功业，眼里就更放不进别人，只有自家，有些不可一世了。成功者，往往承受不了成功，这真是一种很容易见到的俗相。雷履泰于此也未能免俗。 但晋省风气既是儒不如商，一流人才都投于商家门下，日升昌这样如日东升的商号，自然也是藏龙卧虎。雷履泰为日升昌总理，俗称大掌柜，他之下，就是协理，俗称二掌柜。他的二掌柜叫毛鸿，也是有大才的人。创业时候，他全力协助雷履泰，出谋划策不少，当是有功之臣。可事业初成，雷履泰就不把他放在眼里了。惟我独尊，颐指气使不说了，凡稍涉权柄的事，就不许他趋前插手。这当然使毛鸿日益不满。两人的明争暗斗，也日渐多起来。 有一回，雷履泰得了重病，需卧床将息，却不肯离开字号回家静养。凡重要号事，仍要扶病亲自处理。毛鸿一眼就看出，雷履泰如此鞠躬尽瘁，实在还是怕别人染指号权！ 于是，毛鸿就去拜见了财东李箴视，不露痕迹地进言说： “雷大掌柜对东家，那真是鞠躬尽瘁了。近日病得下不了地，仍不肯回家疗养，早图康复，照旧日夜操劳号事，不惜损伤贵体。雷掌柜是日升昌的顶梁柱，东家怎么舍得如此不加爱护？” 李箴视在此前，已听说了雷履泰正抱病料理号务，现在经毛鸿这样一说，更觉该去劝一劝了。李东家很快来到柜上，慰问一番后，就对雷履泰说：“雷大掌柜不可操劳过甚！我家生意再当紧，也不如大掌柜贵体当紧。我看在号中疗养，诸多不熨贴，还是回府上放心静养吧。” 雷履泰听了，心里自然明白是怎样一回事，但当时什么也没说。李东家走后，他就坐车离开字号，回了家。 没过几天，东家李箴视又亲往雷履泰家中探视慰问。进了门，就见雷大掌柜依然在伏案写信。李东家拿起几张看了看，不禁大吃一惊：原来这些信函，都是吩咐日升昌驻外埠分庄，尽快结束业务，撤庄