Chapter three hundred and thirty fourth robber descendants
Zhang Yida and his two colleagues arrived at Jardine Matheson Group in Hong Kong. After informing them of their intention, the reception staff of the group took them to a luxuriously decorated reception room.
Huang Hongnian sat on the sofa, flipping through the internal magazines of Jardine Matheson Group placed on the coffee table, and sipping tea.
Zhang Yida stood up, crossed his arms, and quietly observed the huge oil painting hanging on the wall.
A young foreigner wore a tuxedo jacket, a white bow tie, a pair of high-waisted wide-leg pants, and a white wig on his head.
It’s the kind of curly wig that the justice often sees in Hong Kong dramas.
Since the Middle Ages, wigs have been popular among European upper-class nobles, not just legal practitioners.
It is also said that Europe in the Middle Ages did not pay attention to hygiene and often had lice on their heads, so people began to cut their hair short.
Wearing a wig is not only a symbol of status and strength, but can also cover unsightly short hair and baldness.
During the Qing Dynasty, Europeans began frequent exchanges with China.
The Qing Dynasty people with their pigtails and shaved heads became the object of contempt for Europeans.
Europeans think: We all know how to hide our baldness by wearing a wig, but you would be better off shaving your hair on purpose.
Therefore, Europeans gave the braids of the Qing Dynasty the nickname "Pigtail", which translates to pig tail.
According to the British missionary Andrew's record: Once he witnessed a Chinese man in his twenties washing his long braid on the back of his head. He had not washed his hair for a month. When the braid was untied, a sour smell hit his nostrils.
Come on, I couldn't help but vomit on the spot.
Therefore, these have become one of the symbols of ignorance in the eyes of Westerners.
When Li Dingji, the head of the Jardine Group, walked into the living room, he found Zhang Yida looking at the oil painting and said with a smile: "This is a portrait of Sir William Jardine, the founder of the Jardine Group.
He was once a ship's doctor for the East India Company and later founded our nearly 200-year-old Jardine Matheson Company.
He is an adventurer, a great wise man and a career pioneer!"
Li Dingji heard the name and thought he was Chinese, but in fact he was an authentic old British man with gray hair.
Zhang Yida couldn't help frowning when he heard that he praised the promoters of the Opium War so much and reminded him: "Sir, the opium trade is an immoral thing and has caused great suffering to the people of this ancient country where you step on."
Li Dingji glanced at Zhang Yida, put away his smile, and said calmly: "I want to correct your point of view. At that time, Jardine Matheson only sold opium to Chinese middlemen who were willing to buy opium in places where trade was allowed in China.
As for the proliferation of opium in China later, it was the Chinese people’s own fault. Who made them love opium so much?
It was legal to sell opium in the UK at that time, but not many people were addicted to opium. Why were there so many in China?
I think all of this, in the final analysis, must be blamed on the corrupt and incompetent Qing Dynasty.
The Chinese people are innocent, and so are the British traders."
Zhang Yida angrily laughed and said: "But China had already banned smoking at that time, and the British did not hesitate to launch the Opium War. The purpose was to legalize the opium trade!"
Li Dingji said: "Yes, Britain launched the Opium War. But that was because before that, the Qing government had always discriminated against foreign countries and foreign businessmen.
In addition, the Chinese people at that time were unwilling to buy foreign goods, and China's trade with other countries had always been in surplus. This was not fair trade.
In addition, the Qing government's method of suppressing opium was very rough. During the process of suppressing opium, it also abused British opium merchants and their women and children's families.
Therefore, this war is a legitimate war launched to protect human rights, protect citizens’ property and trade.”
Zhang Yida himself studied history and was very familiar with this history of humiliation.
Part of what Lai Dingji said is true, but it is obviously evasive.
He sarcastically said: "At that time, the only trade surplus with China was opium! This was a war launched for commercial interests, and there was no need to find any fig leaf.
Before Britain launched the Opium War, Member of Parliament William Gladstone publicly called the opium trade "unjust and evil."
He also said that the businessmen who lobbied Britain to launch the Opium War were using the British flag to "protect their notorious smuggling business."
Warren Delano, an American businessman who also made a fortune from the opium trade with China, also admitted in a letter home that the opium trade was morally untenable. He also admitted frankly:
But as a businessman, I still want to tell others that the opium trade is fair, honorable and legitimate.
This Warren Delano is no ordinary person, he is the grandfather of President Roosevelt of the United States during World War II."
When Li Dingji saw that Zhang Yida could not get through the argument, he said with a cold face: "Mr. Zhang, today we are talking about the sale of the equity of Gemstone Bank, not to argue against history.
If you want to debate history, I think you should talk to a historian!"
Zhang Yida originally didn't want to criticize him, but when he saw these descendants of drug traffickers openly hanging up portraits of the drug generation and wiping out the Opium War, he couldn't stand it anymore.
As a businessman, it is obviously immature to get into trouble with a partner before the business has been officially discussed.
But at the same time, as a Chinese, if Zhang Yida saw others praising an opium dealer, he would not pander to them.
In Chinese textbooks, the "Opium War" is mentioned repeatedly, but British middle school textbooks often make "no mention" of this historical event.
In addition, British academic circles are also clearing the ground for the Opium War. Most of them, like Li Dingji, believe that the Opium War was to protect trade and the people, and that the Qing Dynasty had greater responsibility for this matter.
This is the so-called British gentleman, just a descendant of robbers!
Huang Hongnian was not paying attention and saw that the two of them were about to quarrel whenever they disagreed, so he quickly came out to break up the fight.
"Let's not talk about this! The past is in the past, we have to look forward."
"Mr. Huang, I will give you this face."
After saying that, Li Dingji glanced at Zhang Yida unhappily and made up his mind: If I don't kill you severely, don't even think about me selling the bank equity to you.
After a brief conversation, Lai Dingji expressed his position: "Banking has always been one of the most important industries of Jardine Matheson!
This request from you two makes me very embarrassed!”
Huang Hongnian smiled and said: "When Jardine Group took over Atela, wasn't it just for investment purposes?
Now there is a good exit channel, and I think Mr. Li should consider it carefully."
Then Li Dingji pretended to think about it for a long time, and then slowly said: "I wonder how much valuation you two can give Gemstone Bank?"
“5 times price-to-earnings ratio, valuation of US$1.35 billion!”
Li Dingji sneered, looked at Zhang Yida, and said, "Mr. Zhang, are you sure you are not joking?"
"I'm not kidding you, China Minsheng Bank, whose asset quality and business growth rate are far superior to Gem Bank, has a long-term price-to-earnings ratio of only 3-4 times.
I am willing to give Gem Bank a P/E ratio of 5 times, which seriously overvalues Gem Bank.”
Li Dingji smiled and shook his head, "The national conditions are different and cannot be compared. If the price is this, the two of you should come back! Jardine Group will not sell its shares at such a cheap price."
Huang Hongnian asked again: "What is Mr. Li's psychological price?"
Li Dingji gestured with two fingers, "20 times price-earnings ratio, US$5.4 billion!"
Huang Hongnian put away the smile on his face and said calmly: "At this price, you can buy the top five banks in Indonesia."
Lai Dingji did not answer, he turned the coffee spoon and took a sip of coffee before saying: "US$5.4 billion is the final offer of our Jardine Matheson Group.
If the price is lower than this, then I might as well continue to hold the shares and get some dividends every year.
This bank stock, just like Hong Kong's real estate, not only generates considerable returns every year, but also has long-term growth in value."
Zhang Yida knew that this was "revenge" on himself. He had just refuted Li Dingji because of the Opium War, and the latter was not sure why he hated him.
"Mr. Li, when doing business, integrity is the first priority. If Jardine Group does not want to sell Gemstone Bank to us, then just say so and we will not bother you."
Zhang Yida also understood that Li Dingji had clearly treated him as a traitor and killed him.
With a price-to-earnings ratio of 20 times, why don’t you grab it?
Perhaps this was robbery, and this inferior gene still remains in the blood of the descendants of robbers.
However, there is also Windu Bank as an alternative, and Zhang Yida does not have to choose Gemstone Bank.
Standard Chartered Bank is greedy and wants a price-to-earnings ratio of 10 times. Jardine Matheson Group is even more outrageous and wants a price-to-earnings ratio of 20 times.
Gemstone Bank is no longer the best choice in Zhang Yida's mind.
"Okay, then I'll make it clear." Li Dingji said with a serious face, "If the valuation is lower than US$5.4 billion, we will not consider selling Gem Bank shares."
Li Dingji made it clear that he wanted to kill people, Zhang Yida gave Huang Hongnian a wink, and the two of them immediately resigned.
…
"Yida, something happened."
As soon as Zhang Yida returned to China, he received a call from Huang Hongnian.
"What's the situation?"
Huang Hongnian smiled bitterly and said: "CCB Indonesia also wants to acquire Bank Windu. What do you think we will do?"
Zhang Yida frowned, the news that China Construction Bank was going to acquire Windu Bank had a big impact on him.
If the acquisition of Gem Bank goes smoothly, just give up Windu Bank and be a smooth favor.
But now that the acquisition of Gemstone Bank is not going smoothly, Windu Bank has become Ruixiang's only choice.
"Is the news true?"
Huang Hongnian said anxiously: "It is absolutely true that the executives of China Construction Bank Indonesia have been in contact with the senior management of Windu Bank. After the news came out, the share price of Windu Bank rose sharply by 18%."
"Forget it, let's give up! Wait for the next opportunity."
"Why are you giving up? What's wrong with state-owned enterprises? We still have to fight for what needs to be fought.
If you don't fight, when can you wait for the next suitable goal?
Also, if the bank acquisition plan fails, how will Ruixiang implement its Southeast Asian financial strategy?
In the case of Yimin Bank alone, if nothing else, the capital problem alone will become a shortcoming that limits your business expansion."
Huang Hongnian was angry that he would not argue and began to persuade Zhang Yida on the phone.
"Mr. Huang, you also know China's national conditions. Now that China Construction Bank wants to acquire Windu Bank, can we bid with them?
If there is a bidding process, wouldn't it mean that outsiders are getting a better deal?
Also, in the eyes of the higher-ups, have I become a disunity?"
As Zhang Yida spoke, he recalled what happened to the richest man in his previous life.
It was because I competed with state-owned enterprises for projects in Southeast Asia, and then I was severely educated on how to behave.
"Well, I know! Let me find other targets for you! There are 120 commercial banks in Indonesia. I don't believe it. I can't find a suitable one."
Zhang Yida thanked him on the phone: "Thank you, Mr. Huang! When I resolve this domestic matter, I will treat you to a drink in Singapore."