1928: The rise of giant merchants

This Tianjin tram price increase has been going on for almost two months.

As public opinion continued to ferment, the Belgians continued to push their feet, and gradually evolved from an ordinary foreign company price increase incident to a diplomatic incident that alarmed the northern government, Tianjin City Hall and the Belgian Consulate General in Tianjin.

The cause was the plainclothes riots organized by the Japanese in Tianjin last year, which caused panic in the city. Merchants dared not open their doors, and people dared not go out. The huge city was like a den of ghosts.

The Tianjin Tram Company controlled by the Belgians wanted to make up for the company's losses by raising prices because of the large reduction in business and the suspension of trams during the riots.

Since the trams appeared in Tianjin, there has been no price increase for more than ten years. Now the Belgians suddenly demanded a large-scale price increase, which immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of the citizens.

Then the Tianjin Chamber of Commerce and various Chinese business organizations were also involved. The Kuomintang's party in Tianjin wanted to take the opportunity to intervene in the dispute, trying to expand its influence in the political and business circles of Tianjin by resolving the dispute.

However, their solution was consistent with the principal's consistent style of "giving in on everything and making sure to satisfy the foreigners", which only made the matter bigger and bigger.

The Party Department could not handle it, so it ordered the Tianjin City Hall to come up with a coordination policy to resume the operation of the tram as soon as possible.

Zhou Longguang was also a talent. After repeatedly urging the tram company to restore the original price to no avail, he actually formed a picket team, promoted the so-called "patriotic spirit" everywhere, and called on the masses to buy tickets at the original price at every tram station. Some radicals even called for free rides without buying tickets, in order to make the Belgians surrender.

Many citizens in Tianjin responded to the patriotic call and boycotted all kinds of businesses of the tram company, including the Belgian-controlled electric light company.

Now the matter has become a big deal.

The Tianjin Tram Company is also the largest copper coin exchanger in Tianjin - copper coins must be used to ride the tram.

Seeing the Party Department and the City Hall doing this, the Belgians were completely annoyed and sold the copper coins in stock to the Japanese invaders in Tianjin. These Japanese invaders then transported the copper coins back to their country to be melted into copper blocks for the manufacture of guns and other military products.

Once this incident was exposed, the citizens and the Belgians were completely opposed.

Selling copper coins privately violated the financial law of the Republic of China. If it was done by Chinese businessmen, such a company would probably be closed down that night.

But the Belgians were not afraid and continued to do so blatantly. They even issued a notice declaring that as long as the citizens of Tianjin did not accept the tram price increase, they would continue to sell copper coins to the Japanese.

In order to force Zhou Longguang to surrender, the Belgians also used salary increases as a temptation to send several tram company workers to fight with the pickets.

These scabs and pickets fought more than a dozen times this month, and there were even casualties in the bloody incidents.

Now many political and business figures in Tianjin jointly wrote to Zhang Hanqing in the hope that Zhang Xueming would come back and Zhou Longguang would get out.

And what is Zhang Hanqing doing? He is now hiding in the Marshal's Mansion in the French Concession in Tianjin City, smoking opium!

"Second Young Master! If you don't save me this time, I will really be doomed." Zhou Longguang almost knelt down.

In the original history, after the Japanese invaders invaded China in 1937, Tianjin fell, and Zhou Longguang was the one who took the lead in becoming a traitor.

Ye Luo had no good feelings for him, so he accepted everything he gave him, and at the same time he hoped that he would be killed as soon as possible.

But now the matter has become a big deal, and the business invested by Ye is also affected, and the arrogance of the Belgians has indirectly boosted the arrogance of the Japanese, which is what he can't tolerate the most.

After thinking again and again, Ye Luo took a sip of tea and said calmly: "In this case, I will go to the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce and the Belgians to be the mediator. But Mayor Zhou, I can't guarantee that the matter will be properly resolved."

"No, no, I believe that with the ability of the second young master, such a small matter will be easily solved." Zhou Longguang saw that Ye Luo was willing to help, and he instantly recovered his spirits.

"But. Whether it succeeds or not, I want some rewards." Ye Luo didn't hide it from him. To deal with such a dog traitor, he had to eat him up.

The thing Zhou Longguang lacked the most was money, so he nodded immediately and said, "Of course, whatever the second young master wants, gold and silver jewelry, silver bills and foreign exchange, or land and shops, I can provide them."

"Are you talking to me about money?" Ye Luo looked at him like an idiot.

Zhou Longguang suddenly realized that the person sitting in front of him was one of the richest people in the Republic of China.

Talking about money with him? Isn't that just showing off one's skills in front of an expert!

Zhou Longguang immediately smiled and said, "No, no, I'm just talking, talking, second young master, don't take it seriously."

"The things you said are of no use to me. After the mediation of this conflict, I need Mayor Zhou to help me with a few small favors." Ye Luo looked at him and said leisurely, "With your ability, it shouldn't be a difficult task."

"Second young master, please speak!" Zhou Longguang said immediately. Now he only hopes to resolve the dispute as soon as possible. At this time, let alone a few things, he dares to agree to hundreds of things.

"First, I want to take back the construction rights of Longhai Railway and Jinghan Railway, the mining rights of Kaiping Coal Mine, and the shares of certain mines in North China from the Belgians."

Railways and coal mines are one of the most profitable industries at present, but the situation in North China is complicated, and these have always been controlled by local warlords and foreigners.

With the war approaching, railways and coal mines are both important resources and cannot fall into the hands of others.

The Tianjin Municipal Government has the right to decide on this matter, but because of the transaction between Marshal Zhang and the foreigners, these things were given to the Belgians.

"The City Hall does have the authority to approve, but whether it can be taken back depends on Commander Zhang and the Belgians." Zhou Longguang was sweating profusely after hearing this. He didn't dare to make a decision alone.

Ye Luo smiled and said, "Don't bother with these. You just need to express your position to me on behalf of the City Hall and the Jinling National Government."

"Okay." Zhou Longguang didn't care about so much. If the current dispute is not resolved, he may have to pat his butt and leave in a few days.

At that time, what is the difference between signing one and signing a hundred such agreements?

"Second, reorganize the security team in the name of the City Hall to replace the picket team you are now in charge of the security work of Tianjin City." Ye Luo continued.

This is to prevent the Japanese from causing trouble again.

And with official endorsement, Ye Luo can also get a large amount of arms and military supplies to assist here.

The headquarters of Ye's Shipping is here. Whether some assets and personnel can be transferred from here in the future depends on his control over Tianjin City.

If this was done, they would have to tear their faces with the Japanese again, but Zhou Longguang had no choice at this time, so he nodded and agreed immediately.

"The last thing. Release some patriots who were previously detained for plainclothes riots and ensure their personal safety." Ye Luo put the teacup on the table, "After the three things are done, I will immediately set off to find the Belgians."

"That's it! Second Young Master, please wait for my news. I will get everything done today!" Zhou Longguang gritted his teeth and went all out.

Anyway, those people are in prison and can't be really killed.

If they are released, there will naturally be Kuomintang spies to closely monitor them.

He really doesn't want to continue to be criticized by all parties for the tram price increase!

After watching him leave, Ye Luo slowly got up and called Shi Jianqiao, asking her to call Chen Youde directly and ask him to bring the backbone staff of the Tianjin City General Chamber of Commerce to the villa.

The bell must be untied by the person who tied it.

The fermentation of the tram price increase incident originated from the workers' melee, and it was naturally instigated by those people in the General Chamber of Commerce.

If we defeat these compradors, we won't have to worry about the foreigners behind them. (End of this chapter)