On Luobie Road in the western suburbs of Shanghai, there is a British classical country villa called "Luobie Garden", commonly known as "Sassoon Villa".
This is the residence of Victor Sassoon, the richest man in Shanghai, and it is also where Zhou Hexuan will have a banquet tonight.
Two Indian Asans with tangled hair were guarding the gate of the villa with guns on their backs. Seeing Zhou Hexuan's car approaching, one of them immediately stepped forward to check, and then asked his colleagues inside to let him go.
When the car drove into the villa, someone immediately came to guide the car and led the car to the side of the main house before stopping.
Then the British butler appeared with his servants, walked to the side of the car and saluted respectfully: "Good evening, sir!"
"Hello." Zhou Hexuan rolled down the window and nodded in return.
A servant carefully helped open the car door. When Zhou Hexuan and Ruan Lingyu got out of the car, another servant immediately came up with a wrung-out hot towel: "Sir, Madam, please wash your hands."
While wiping his hands, Zhou Hexuan complained to Ruan Lingyu: "As expected of the richest man in Shanghai, the ostentation is really grand."
After they finished washing their hands, the British butler bent down and saluted and said: "Sir, Madam, please come with me!"
Zhou Hexuan followed the housekeeper to the main house, while the driver drove to the garage at the rear. The villa covers a large area, not only with gardens and lawns, but also with dedicated flower rooms and stables. After the founding of New China, it was used as a
Sanatorium for workers of the Textile Bureau.
There are banana trees, podocarpus, locust trees and other trees planted on both sides of the main house. It is lush and green, and it is extremely quiet. This environment alone makes Zhou Hexuan quite envious.
The entrance to the main house is a large platform, and there is a corridor after entering. Through the corridor is a rectangular hall of 200 square meters. To the east of the hall is the restaurant, which is also very large. There is an extremely long dining table, which can accommodate at least 20 people at the same time.
Meal.
"Hahahaha," Victor Sassoon suddenly stood up and walked towards Zhou Hexuan with a big smile, "Mr. Zhou, I have admired you for a long time, and I finally met you today!"
"Mr. Sassoon, you'd better speak English. I don't understand Shanghainese very well." Zhou Hexuan said amusedly.
Victor Sassoon was relatively tall, blind in one eye and lame in one leg, but walked quite quickly. He held Zhou Hexuan's hand and said, "I have lived in Shanghai for more than ten years.
I’m used to speaking Shanghainese.”
The British Consul General in Shanghai was named Burrenan, an old gentleman holding a civilized stick. He shook hands politely and said: "Hello, Mr. Zhou, we meet again."
"Hello, Mr. Consul." Zhou Hexuan nodded.
Sassoon and Brennan's wives were also there. The two ladies greeted them warmly, and everyone quickly sat down around the dining table.
This dinner was a standard French meal. It started with appetizers, followed by cold dishes and soup. Zhou Hexuan was so hungry that he croaked before the main course was served. Every time a plate of food was served, a chef came over to introduce the ingredients and methods.
And detail the characteristics of the food and how to eat it.
Ruan Lingyu seemed very reserved. It was the first time for her to eat like this and she felt uncomfortable all over.
Sassoon and Brynn did not mention any serious matters at all, but talked about endless topics. Zhou Hexuan was not in a hurry. Whatever the other party said, he would just go on and talk nonsense.
It wasn't until the desserts were served after the meal that Brainan started talking about the main point: "What does Mr. Zhou think of the current economic situation in China?"
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "It's good. Now that Shanghai's housing prices have plummeted, I took the opportunity to buy some real estate. I think I can make a fortune next year."
Victor Sassoon said angrily: "If Mr. Zhou wants to buy real estate, just tell me where you are interested, and I guarantee that I will give you the lowest price!"
"Definitely, definitely." Zhou Hexuan agreed.
The Sassoon family is known as the "Rothschild of the East" and has a huge influence in India, Southeast Asia and China. Victor Sassoon's father and uncles were all engaged in the opium trade, and Elias Sassoon was even more famous.
The largest opium dealers in China at the time, they were the ones who started the Opium War.
Victor Sassoon is the current head of the Sassoon family in China. When he first took over the family business, the main businesses were banking, arms and opium. With the efforts of Victor Sassoon, the main business projects gradually turned to real estate.
Known as the "King of Real Estate".
The land and house prices in Shanghai have been so high, and Victor Sassoon must bear a lot of responsibility.
Similarly, when the silver crisis broke out in China, Victor Sassoon suffered the heaviest losses in Shanghai. At least half of his property evaporated within six months. This guy felt that the situation in China was critical after the "December 28" Incident.
, was selling off various industries step by step, but the silver crisis disrupted his plan, and real estate and bank assets worth hundreds of millions of yuan were tightly trapped.
If anyone wants to solve China's silver crisis the most, it must be Victor Sassoon.
After chatting about real estate for a while, Brainan suddenly said: "Mr. Zhou, do you know Liz Ross?"
"I've heard of it," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "He is the chief financial adviser of the United Kingdom and Mr. Norman's right-hand man. When I visited Mr. Norman last year, Mr. Norman mentioned this person."
"Leeds Ross is visiting Japan," Burrennan said.
"Uh-huh," Zhou Hexuan nodded, "What does Mr. Brennan want to say?"
Burranan said: "Li Ziros was appointed by Mr. Norman to go to Japan to negotiate a joint solution to China's silver crisis. Unfortunately, the results of the negotiations were not satisfactory."
"Of course Japan won't do it," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
A few months ago, Zhou Hexuan visited Montagu Norman, the governor of the Bank of England. The old lunatic was extremely tempted and wanted to take the opportunity to include China into the pound system. However, the negotiations did not go smoothly, and the British Foreign Office was taboo about Japan. After many parties,
Wrestling, actually trying to bring Japan together to solve China's silver problem.
As Montagu Norman's right-hand man, Liz Ross was sent to Japan to lobby. The Japanese refused directly. They wanted to monopolize China, so how could they bring the British to play with them?
Brenan continued: "Mr. Zhou, you are a well-known patriot. Like us, you want to solve China's silver crisis as soon as possible. But now there are some problems, and we need your help."
"What's the problem? At what stage are you negotiating?" Zhou Hexuan asked.
Brainan said, "Everything is going relatively smoothly, but there are still some issues regarding Japan that need to be resolved."
Well, the Nanjing government has basically controlled China's major banks, and has taken the opportunity to control the shares of many national enterprises. Chiang Kai-shek, Kong Xiangxi, and Song Ziwen are ready to wrap things up, and are willing to engage in substantive negotiations with the United Kingdom, and they have shown great sincerity.
.
What sincerity?
Promise that the UK will continue to control China's customs, including making the UK responsible for recruiting foreign customs staff, but the number of foreign staff will be determined by China.
On the contrary, the UK is more cowardly and is afraid of causing dissatisfaction with the Japanese government, so it proposes not to include customs-related content in the clauses - Japan is also eyeing the position of director of the General Taxation Department of Customs.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said, "If you have anything to do, just tell me."
Victor Sassoon said in a loud voice: "I would like to ask Mr. Zhou to lobby the Nanjing government to recognize the legal status of Manchukuo. As long as this is done, I will give you 50 Shanghai garden villas!"
"Hahaha," Zhou Hexuan laughed angrily, "Mr. Sassoon, you seem to have found the wrong person. For this kind of matter, you should go to Kong Xiangxi. Minister Kong must be happy to help."
"I have looked for him," Victor Sassoon shook his head repeatedly. "This man is ineffective and is almost like a waste."
To recognize the legal status of the Puppet Manchukuo, let alone Kong Xiangxi, it is impossible even to go directly to Chiang Kai-shek. Who dares to take this responsibility!
Zhou Hexuan straightened his sleeves and stood up, saying: "If this is all, then there is nothing to talk about. Farewell!"
"Mr. Zhou, wait a minute," Brennan shouted quickly, "I was just joking. Don't mind, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Hexuan said in a cold tone: "This joke is not funny. What do you two think?"
Brennan glanced at Victor Sassoon speechlessly. He felt that this damn cripple had gone crazy and actually made such a request. Brennan said sincerely: "Mr. Zhou, I hope you can go again."
Go to England and use your influence to persuade the British government."
"What's going on?" Zhou Hexuan was a little confused.
Brennan began to explain the situation in detail. It turned out that the British government was a bunch of idiots. The British financial department wanted to help China solve the silver crisis as soon as possible and had a monopoly on China's currency reform. However, the British diplomatic department was afraid of Japan and insisted on following up.
Japan cooperates to solve China problem.
For this reason, Britain forced China to recognize the Puppet Manchukuo. Of course, China was unwilling, and then the negotiations were completely stuck.
The proud and arrogant British people actually believe that with the consistent cowardice of the Chinese people, this problem can be solved and that as long as it is delayed, China can be forced to submit. No matter how the British diplomats in China explain it, the British government does not believe it.
The thinking of British MPs is still stuck in the last century.
The British Ambassador to China is speechless about this - he has been upgraded to ambassador. This is the only result of Sino-British negotiations in recent months. The British Consul General in Shanghai is also speechless. These diplomats have been in China for a long time, and of course they know that China cannot
Compromise on the issue of puppet Manchukuo.
The British business interest groups represented by Victor Sassoon forced the diplomats to persuade the Parliament, and also united with others to put pressure on the Parliament. But it was useless, so they became ill and went to the doctor in an emergency, hoping to hire a Chinese
Going to London to speak out, Zhou Hexuan became the most suitable candidate.
"Sorry, I don't want to get involved in this kind of thing anymore." Zhou Hexuan spread his hands.
Brennan advised: "Mr. Zhou, you are a pure patriot. This matter is about China's interests and the interests of the Chinese people. I sincerely hope you can go to London. You are not alone. The British Finance Department and
Some congressmen will cooperate with you."
Victor Sassoon also said: "Mr. Zhou, no matter whether your trip to London is successful or not, I promise to sponsor 50 Chinese students to study in the UK within five years, and I will ensure that these students can enter the best universities in the UK!"
Zhou Hexuan struggled and said: "Let me think about it again."
This time is different from a few months ago. Officials in the British government seem to be divided into two groups. The financial department is crazy and wants to help China carry out currency reforms, while the diplomatic department is opposed to the British coming forward alone. The diplomatic department alone cannot compete with the financial department.
, the British military and civilians should also be opposed.
Now that the situation is at a stalemate, Zhou Hexuan only needs to be responsible for breaking the balance. The consortiums with larger British investments in China are all supported by Zhou Hexuan.
It's just that Zhou Hexuan doesn't want to do this kind of thing anymore, it's so thankless.
