After more than 4,000 American soldiers arrived in Tianjin, the houses where they lived and the warehouses where ammunition was stored were all rented from the private sector.
At this time, the American soldiers packed their belongings and rushed out, dividing into dozens of small groups and heading towards the port.
During the first half of their stay in China, many of them gained more than ten kilograms. There was nothing they could do. They ate, drank, and had fun every day. They would be damned if they didn't gain weight.
"Line up neatly, line up neatly!"
General Butler's face was extremely gloomy. These were the soldiers under his command. They couldn't even walk in formation and were just like gangsters on the street.
The Marines arrived at the pier. Before they could board the warship, thousands of people suddenly poured out of the pier, completely blocking their way.
"play music!"
"Ten Thousand People's Umbrellas!"
The two presidents of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce came forward, accompanied by a band playing gongs and drums, which was very lively.
Zhang Zhongyuan asked someone to carry out the Wanmin Umbrella, clasped his fists and said with a smile: "General Butler, thank you for your help and support to our Tianjin businessmen over the past six months."
Seeing that he was so respected, Butler said happily: "The Chinese people are very hospitable. I like this beautiful country."
"Then welcome General, Sir, to come again in the future." Zhang Zhongyuan said.
"After I retire, I will definitely come to China." Butler said.
Vice President Wang Yibao personally gave the Wanmin Umbrella to Barrett, and asked someone to open the box next to it, saying: "General, we are discussing business, let's settle the accounts first."
"What kind of account is this?" Butler was confused.
Zhang Zhongyuan pointed to the note in the box and said: "These are all IOUs issued by your soldiers in Tianjin."
Butler walked over and opened an IOU. He saw Chinese characters such as "One Yuan for Dance Tickets" written on it, and the signature below was Lincoln. He immediately understood what was going on and asked, "How much is the debt owed?"
?”
Wang Yibao smiled and said: "After excluding the oddities, the total is 2,037,461 yuan."
Butler felt as if someone had hit his head with a hammer. He couldn't even afford to pay more than 2 million silver dollars if he sold him.
There are 4,000 American soldiers, and each of them owes an average of more than 500 yuan in debt. These Sun Tzu are spending money ruthlessly.
what to do?
Butler was instantly stunned.
With more than 1,000 Chinese businessmen (shop owners and clerks all here), the Marine Brigade can easily "break through" by force, but it can easily lead to bloodshed.
Butler is not Japanese, and he is also a reasonable person, and he will never do anything bad.
He had no choice but to refuse. Butler said dryly: "The signatures on these IOUs are fake. I'm very sorry. I'm afraid I can't find the real creditor."
Zhang Zhongyuan immediately said: "Your Majesty General, your soldiers said when they credited the credit, they can just contact the troops directly in the future. In addition, I also invited a lawyer today to compare the handwriting of the soldiers one by one."
A white lawyer walked out next to him and saluted with a smile but not a smile: "General Butler, I am Powell, the attorney of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce."
Damn, I even invited a lawyer.
Butler's vest felt cold and he asked awkwardly: "What country are you from?"
"I'm from England." The lawyer smiled.
Damn Brits!
Butler cursed the British ten thousand times in his heart, and ordered angrily: "Turn around and go back to camp!"
That afternoon.
"Extra issue, extra issue, "Ta Kung Pao" issue, an American soldier got a credit of 2 million, and was blocked in the military camp by debt collectors and dared not come out!"
"Extra number, extra number..."
"Child, give me a newspaper quickly."
"Oh, these American soldiers are so awesome. How did you spend 2 million?"
“Americans won’t default on their debts, right?”
"Pfft, these businessmen are pretty cool. They're still sitting in front of people's houses and guarding them."
"Nonsense, if we don't guard, those Americans will definitely run away."
"..."
The U.S. Marine Corps brigade instantly became a joke in Tianjin, even in Peiping.
A dignified American was actually blocked in the military camp by a group of Chinese businessmen and did not dare to go out. Moreover, the reason for the matter was that he could not pay back his credit.
General Butler had no choice but to first send a telegram to the U.S. Consul General in China, but received no reply. He then sent a transoceanic telegram back to the United States. This incident alerted the U.S. President, who did not know what to do.
Help soldiers pay their bills?
The U.S. Army does not have this tradition and does not know in what name it should be allocated funds.
No money?
You can't force people to walk. Those Chinese businessmen will definitely try their best to stop them.
Because 2 million silver dollars caused a diplomatic bloodshed, not only was it uneconomical in terms of interests, but it would also cause the United States to lose face.
"Niang Xipi!"
Principal Chang, who was holding a spoils-sharing meeting with Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan, and Li Zongren, learned about this from an American. He was angry and funny. On the one hand, he was worried about the impact on Sino-US relations. On the other hand... well, this fact is too real.
It was so funny that Principal Chang couldn't help it.
Two million silver dollars is a huge amount of money, enough to bribe several local warlords.
Within a few days, the news spread throughout the country, and all the Chinese people who heard the news burst out laughing. From word to word, it turned out that an American general and his subordinates were caught eating a meal in Tianjin without paying, and were eventually arrested.
People were stuck in the military camp and did not dare to show their faces.
General Butler is so angry that he wants to shoot all his soldiers. He has become a joke to the army, a joke to the United States, and a joke to the whole world!
…
"Hahahahaha!"
There were bursts of laughter in the hall.
This is the residence of Zhang Zhongyuan, the president of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce. The presidents of Tianjin's major guilds gathered here and were having a "celebration banquet".
Zhang Zhongyuan stood up and raised his glass: "Mr. Zhou, on behalf of all the merchants in Tianjin, thank you for helping to inform the news this time, otherwise these Americans will definitely run away!"
"No, no, I'm just talking." Zhou Hexuan said modestly.
"Mr. Zhou's words saved the hard-earned money of our Tianjin merchants!" said Vice Chairman Wang Yibao.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Zhou has made us Tianjin businessmen feel proud."
"Mr. Zhou, I respect you too!"
"..."
All the businessmen agreed. In the face of interests and common enemies, Chinese businessmen are still very united.
Because there is an organization like the Chamber of Commerce, which helps foreigners bully their colleagues, they dare not do it easily, otherwise they will be unanimously suppressed by everyone, and it will be difficult to do business in the future.
The Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce fought hard with the Japanese in the past few years, and the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce was already fighting hard with the Nanjing government. They initially supported Chang Kaishen's Northern Expedition, but after the victory of the Northern Expedition, Chang Kaishen wanted to control the Chamber of Commerce and was immediately attacked.
to the strong opposition from the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.
Today, the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce is still being suppressed, but within a few years, they will be able to force Chang Kaishen to bow his head and admit his mistakes.
One businessman may not be able to do much, but when a group of businessmen unite, the energy is really terrifying.
The perfect chapter of "Breaking theft", please use the search engine to read various novels