Who is the ultimate winner in this land?
The answer is not yet known, but what is certain is that if you want to be a winner, you must seize the time and seize the opportunity to develop yourself, so that you can become the final winner.
The loser will lose everything, while the winner will gain the right to survive!
Once again, when Buffett was about to leave Nanhua and go to New York and London to start his gold-making journey,
Zhu Xianhai asked Elizabeth to prepare a sumptuous dinner for him, Field and others to practice!
As a guest, Buffett was of course the star of the banquet. When the wine was flowing, he once again mentioned the interesting things he encountered during his last trip.
"...I arrived in Liverpool. The "Great Eastern" would sail to New York Harbor in a few days, so I specially boarded that giant ship. You must know that it is the largest giant ship in the world. That ship can be said to be a masterpiece in the history of shipbuilding.
A masterpiece, not only a giant ship, but also a floating city..."
Zhu Xianhai has no interest at all in Buffett’s description!
What he cared about was the Great Eastern!
It's the ship "Great Eastern"!
Zhu Xianhai's understanding of the "Great Eastern" came entirely from a documentary, in which the Great Eastern was listed as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Industrial World". This is not an exaggeration at all.
"Great Eastern" has a length of 211 meters, a width of 36 meters, a maximum draft of 9.2 meters, a displacement of 27,700 tons, and can carry 15,000 tons of coal, 6,000 tons of cargo and 4,000 passengers, with an operating speed of 14 knots.
Such a giant ship was launched as early as 1857. Although the launch process was full of twists and turns, it made its maiden voyage from London to New York in 1860. It was not until half a century later that a cruise ship surpassed it in terms of tonnage. Judging by the times,
From a human perspective, this giant ship made entirely of steel can definitely be called an "industrial miracle."
"When you took the Dadong, how were the passengers on it?"
Zhu Xianhai asked with concern.
"How about, can you imagine such a floating city on the sea with less than a thousand passengers? You don't know, the Great Eastern may be huge, but in the shipping industry, it is a joke and a disaster. It was originally built
At that time, it was to fly directly to Australia, but because the company was in the red and could not afford the cost of direct flights to Australia, the company decided to switch to the American route. However, it was never full. Sometimes, there were even more crew members than passengers...
"
It’s exactly the same as in the documentary!
Zhu Xianhai secretly shook his fist. The "Great Eastern" may be huge, but in its subsequent operations, it was definitely a disaster. Its huge carrying capacity has never been used. Except for its maiden voyage, its highest
The passenger record is 1,500 people.
Not only did its efficiency fail to meet expectations, but accidents occurred frequently during its voyage: an explosion occurred on its maiden voyage - five crew members died, and one crew member jumped overboard and disappeared. In the end, it even directly brought down the establishment that was originally established to build it.
Great Eastern Steamship Company. Due to heavy losses on each voyage and repeated shipwrecks, the shipowner had to put it on hold. In the end, the Great Eastern was repaired and changed hands several times, and was shamefully transformed into a cable-laying ship - used to lay the Atlantic Ocean
cable,
"The Great Eastern..."
Looking at Zhu Xianhai talking to himself, a strange thought came to Buffett's mind.
"Well...you don't want to buy that ship, do you?"
When he said this, Buffett was even a little worried.
"why not?"
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
“You have to know that the British had an extremely ambitious goal when they built the Great Eastern: to connect the tentacles of the British Empire to further Asia to consolidate its dominant position in the world. This requires that the Great Eastern can reach London directly from Sydney.
And back again - no need to add fuel in between. Maybe it doesn't work on the London to New York route now, but what if we bought it and used it to transport immigrants?"
The "Great Eastern" is simply an immigration ship prepared for South China!
"If we dismantle its luxurious first-class cabins, restaurants, ballrooms and other public spaces, and then install all the cabins with multi-level beds like we modified a cargo ship, I dare say that it can at least be
Transport tens of thousands of immigrants, 20,000? Maybe 30,000, maybe even more, who knows.”
Zhu Xianhai couldn't help but look forward to the speed of immigration after buying the "Great Eastern".
"Its steamships are faster. It may take only a hundred days to go back and forth between China and South China. In a year, they can make at least three round trips, and they can transport..."
After swallowing his saliva, Zhu Xianhai said excitedly.
"Buffett, after you go to London this time, you must buy it! Buy the "Great Eastern"!"
"What? Buy the Great Eastern?"
Unlike Zhu Xianhai's enthusiasm, Buffett said excitedly.
"Oh my God! My friend, do you know how much a Great Eastern costs?"
"How much does it cost?"
Zhu Xianhai said.
"Don't worry, we will never buy it at the cost. Don't forget that the Great Eastern Steamship Company is losing money every day. For them, the "Great Eastern" is not a high-quality asset at all, but a burden. It will drag on
If their negative equity is eliminated, they will definitely be willing to sell at a lower price."
Because it is a "negative equity", I have the opportunity to buy at the bottom!
This is simply a God-given opportunity!
Buy the "Great Eastern" at a low price and put it on the route to introduce Chinese immigrants. In just ten years, the "Great Eastern" alone will be able to bring millions of Chinese immigrants to South China.
With a population of one million, Nanhua will not be enough to see even two more Argentinas!
What is the population of Argentina?
Just over one million!
Four years later, in the Paraguay War, Paraguay was besieged by the Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Paraguay lost 300,000 people. Almost all the men in the country died in the war, and the country was almost exterminated. The outcome of the war was doomed from the beginning——
Brazil has a population of 10 million, Argentina has 1.5 million, Uruguay has 250,000 to 300,000, and Paraguay has only 400,000.
During the Civil War, the Northern Union controlled a population of more than 22 million, while the South controlled a population of 9.1 million, of which 3.5 million were black slaves. During the four-year Civil War, the Northern Army invested a total of 2.1 million troops and the Southern Army 1.06 million.
In the South China War in the simulator, the population of South China was only a few hundred thousand.
Human resources not only determine the future of a country's industrialization development, but also determine the outcome of a war. Once human resources are exhausted during a war, defeat will be a matter of time.
people!
It is the basis of everything!
A giant ship can bring at least one million people to South China!
Why not do such a good deal?
This is simply the most cost-effective investment in the world!
"Steven!"
Facing this huge investment, Buffett seemed a little excited.
"You have to know that a Great Eastern costs at least hundreds of thousands of pounds. Even if our plan is successful, we cannot spend all or most of the funds on one ship. This is a complete waste.
!”
Facing the somewhat excited Buffett, Zhu Xianhai said calmly.
"Believe me, this is a very worthwhile investment! What do you think? Mr. Field."
Faced with the boss's inquiry, Cyrus Field said.
"Sir, if you can make a correct judgment on an investment like the Atlantic Telegraph Company, I think you must have a reason for insisting on this matter."
This chapter has been completed!