Chapter 664 663 [The Richest Man in Shanghai]

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, Ah San, 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 hot towel: "Sir, Madam, please wash your hands."

While wiping his hands, Zhou Hexuan complained to Ruan Lingyu: "He is indeed 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 back. The villa covers a large area, with not only a garden lawn, but also a dedicated greenhouse and stables. After the founding of New China, it was used as a sanatorium for workers of the Shanghai 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 200-square-meter rectangular hall. To the east of the hall is the restaurant, which is also very large with a very long dining table that can accommodate at least 20 people dining at the same time.

"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 meet you today!"

"Mr. Sassoon, you'd better speak English. I don't understand Shanghainese very well." Zhou Hexuan said amusedly.

Victor Sassoon was a tall man, blind in one eye and lame in one leg, but he walked quite quickly. He held Zhou Hexuan's hand and said, "Having lived in Shanghai for more than ten years, I have become accustomed 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 old women greeted them warmly, and everyone quickly sat down around the dining table.

This dinner was a standard French meal, with appetizers first, 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 is served, a chef comes over to introduce the ingredients and methods, and details 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 Brennan did not mention anything serious, but talked about random topics. Zhou Hexuan was not in a hurry. Whatever the other party said, he would just follow it on, laughing and talking a lot of nonsense.

It wasn't until dessert was 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 want to buy a house. 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 huge influence in India, Southeast Asia and China. Victor Sassoon's father and uncles were all engaged in the opium trade. Elias Sassoon was the largest opium dealer in China at the time, and it was they who instigated the Opium War.

Victor Sassoon is the current head of the Sassoon family in China. When he first took over the family business, its main businesses were banking, arms and opium. With the efforts of Victor Sassoon, the main project gradually turned to real estate, and he was known as the "King of Real Estate".

Victor Sassoon must bear a lot of responsibility for Shanghai's land and housing prices being so high.

Similarly, when the silver crisis broke out in China, Victor Sassoon suffered the most heavy losses in Shanghai. At least half of his property evaporated within six months. After the "128" Incident, this guy felt that the situation in China was critical and was selling off various industries step by step. However, 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."

"Liz Ross is visiting Japan," Brenan 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 incorporate China into the pound system. But firstly, the negotiations did not go smoothly, and secondly, the British Foreign Office was taboo against Japan. After many struggles, it actually wanted to bring Japan together to solve China's silver problem.

As Montague Norman's right-hand man, Liz Ross was sent to Japan to lobby. The Japanese simply refused. 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 something is wrong now, 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 took the opportunity to control the shares of many national enterprises. Chiang Kai-shek, Kong Xiangxi, and Song Ziwen were ready to put an end to the situation. They were willing to engage in substantive negotiations with Britain and showed 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, fearing to cause dissatisfaction with the Japanese government, and proposes that customs-related content should not be included 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," Brainan shouted quickly, "I was just joking, Mr. Zhou, don't mind."

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. Brenan said sincerely: "Mr. Zhou, I hope you can go to the UK again 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 wants to help China solve the silver crisis as soon as possible and is alone in China's currency reform. However, the British foreign department is afraid of Japan and insists on cooperating with Japan to solve China's problems.

For this reason, Britain forced China to recognize the Puppet Manchukuo. Of course, China was unwilling, and then the negotiations were completely stuck.

The 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 British diplomats in China explain it, the British government does not believe that the thinking of those British parliamentarians 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 outcome of Sino-British negotiations in recent months. The British Consul General in Shanghai is also speechless. These diplomats, who have been in China for a long time, certainly know that China cannot compromise on the puppet Manchukuo issue.

British business interest groups, represented by Victor Sassoon, forced diplomats to persuade Parliament and also united with others to put pressure on Parliament. But it didn't work, so they went to the doctor urgently and wanted to invite a Chinese 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.

Burrenan 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 legislators 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, unlike a few months ago, British government officials appear to be divided into two groups. The finance department is crazy and wants to help China carry out currency reform, while the foreign affairs department is opposed to Britain's independent intervention. The diplomatic department alone cannot compete with the financial department, and the British military and civilians should also be opposed to it.

Now that the situation has reached a stalemate, Zhou Hexuan only needs to be responsible for breaking the balance. The major British consortiums investing 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.