Chapter 8 Chapter 7: Old gangsters of Jinghao

one Xibang Bank is mainly engaged in financial remittance, and the transmission of letters between the various ports and villages has become the most important business support.The customer will need to remit the money in place A, and deliver the ticket number, and the ticket number is written with a cash register note.Then fold the bill in half and tear it in half, hand one half to the customer, and seal the other half into a letter, and send it to the B branch.After the customer arrives at the second place, he takes the half of the bill and submits it to the number for verification. There is no doubt that the two halves of the bill will be connected and merged into one, that is, all the written money can be taken away.This kind of business that takes tickets without taking money depends entirely on the correspondence between the terminals.

Pingyao Rishengchang, the founding name of the ticket office, at the beginning of its business, because it was limited to writing tickets among Xibang firms, the business was not frequent, and the ticket sales were only entrusted to acquaintances.Later, when the business grew bigger, he hired a trustworthy professional.Later, the private letter bureau of the Ningbo Gang emerged, and they entrusted all the ticketing business to them. Branches of bank accounts are spread all over the world. In today's words, it means to have a financial network covering the whole country and extending overseas.Controlling this network also relied on letters in those days.Xibang Bank also implements the dictatorship of the head office, the capital is in the head office, and the profits of the branch villages in various places are also owned by the head office.Therefore, in addition to ticketing, business letters in the number are not only frequent, but also well-established and strictly regulated.

There are generally four types of internal reports of this kind: main report, repayment, supplementary report, and narrative.The positive report and the repayment are to report every business done by this account, as well as the changes and results of the business.The attached report is to report the business done by his account.Narration is to report local business conditions, current affairs, political situation, personnel affairs, and local customs and anecdotes, and chores entrusted.Each ticket number writes letters and newspapers, and has its own code words. Therefore, it is juxtaposed with the account room in the ticket number, and a letter room is specially set up, and letters are sent out every day.

During the reign of Guangxu, Western telegraphs were gradually opened between the big piers.Xibang Piaohao naturally became the first merchant gang to use it in middle school.It's just that telegrams are expensive, and the text is limited, so it doesn't mean much, and the secrecy is poor.Therefore, unless there is urgent business, generally rely on letters. After the old owner and the big shopkeeper arrived in Hankou, they almost removed Tianchengyuan's general number, and there were naturally more letters and reports between Zhuangkou and Hanhao at each wharf.Among them, most of them are narrative letters, especially Jinghao.Because the two giants Kang Hunan and Sun Beiming, together with Chen Yiqing, the old gang of Hanhao, are planning new actions to revive the momentum of keeping the North and keeping the South.

The Xibang bank is doing money business, and it has always followed the horoscope of using surplus to help the poor, and getting tired and turning fast.There is no distinction between the semicolons, mutual assistance, quick adjustment, and always transfer the deposit to the most profitable terminal.During the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong dynasties, Jiangnan's economy was far more developed than that of the north, and it became the center of domestic commerce.But the northern capital is also the place where the treasury gathers and disperses. This has formed a financial structure in which more silver is gathered in the north and more silver is used in the south of the Yangtze River.Xibang Piaohao is precisely aware of this pattern, and often writes articles about storage in the north and release in the south.It is to absorb deposits in the north centered on the capital, and then transfer them to the south of the Yangtze River to lend money.It's a big deal for the Western ticket dealers to manage the wealth of the world skillfully.

However, in the 25th year of Guangxu, the Xibang Bank was facing two major crises, which made it difficult and unpredictable to expand the layout of the north and the south. One is that at the beginning of the year, the imperial court issued an edict: the provincial treasuries are not allowed to hand over various official funds turned over to the central government, commonly known as Beijing payers, to the bank for exchange.The reason is that the capital is short of money, insufficient turnover, the market is depressed, and businessmen and people are in trouble.The imperial court did not know which foolish ministers they had listened to, and even blamed the crux of the predicament on the Xibang ticket office.It is said that the provinces are unwilling to send cash to Beijing, and blindly entrust the bankers to exchange it, so there is less and less cash in the capital.As a matter of fact, the bill numbers are remittances for the capital rates of various provinces, and most of the money handed over to the Ministry of Households is white money, not all money orders.There are also cases where the number of bills cannot be opened for a while, or the bank of the household department is willing to accept cashier bills and money orders, but this will not cause a shortage of cash in the capital.The capital of the capital is tight, and that is really another reason.

In the year of 1898 last year, the political situation was unstable. First, the law was reformed, and then the new law was abolished. The situation was turned upside down and bloody.The high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the capital had secretly taken the money out of the capital and hidden it.Businesses in various industries in Beijing are shrinking and waiting to see, how can the market not be depressed! However, the ban on foreign exchange was ordered by the imperial court, and the Western Gang cannot take it lightly.Contracting the remittance of Beijing's official payment has long been a big business for the bank, and cutting off this source of income is not a trivial matter.Historically, storage in the north and storage in the south has been mainly supported by remittances from Beijing.The ticket office in the south of the Yangtze River took over the official money from Xiejing, and absorbed all kinds of deposits in the capital.That is to say, the deposit in the capital is used to offset the salary in the capital, and it is handed over to the account department for storage. At the same time, the official funds in the south of the Yangtze River are converted into business capital, and loans are made nearby.It is not allowed to contract Beijing's salary, what else can I do if I store it in the north and release it in the south?

Another crisis is that in Zhili, Shandong, Henan, and even Beijing and Tianjin in the north, boxers are swarming, teaching cases continue, and the current situation is unstable.The ticket office business is all in the north and south, and the bank is transferred vertically and horizontally. Once the Central Plains is in chaos, the business will be blocked.The current situation is uncertain, and the business community will inevitably wait and see and shrink, and the financial business will also be slow.Who can be free from near and far-sighted worries? Faced with these two major crises, Kang Hunan's vicious eyes still saw that there were great business opportunities in them.

From Jinghao's letter, Kang Hunan concluded that the depression in Jingshi's market was definitely not caused by the shortage of money, but a sign of weak money.The current situation is unclear, businesses are shrinking their businesses, and the market is naturally going to be depressed.The capital payable by the provinces to the imperial court, even using the unsettled current situation as an excuse, tried to delay it. How could the Ministry of Households collect more money?In addition, high-ranking officials and dignitaries secretly rushed to hide money outside Beijing, which naturally created an appearance of tight money.The Beijing News has long reported that ordinary businessmen, as well as those high-ranking officials and dignitaries, are coming to their door, asking us to store cash for them, or transfer savings outside.Therefore, the capital silver market is really tight and tired.

At this time, on the contrary, it is a good opportunity for the West Gang to calmly absorb tired money in the capital.Doing so will not only be profitable, but also righteous.At this time of crisis, isn't it because they trust you that they trust you, Xibang?Refusing to protect yourself at this time will ruin the reputation of the West Gang the most. Who will rely on you again in the future?Don't make common sense, and take the trend of shrinking, and refuse to accept cashiers and remittances. As for the boxing riots in the provinces of the Central Plains, Kang Hunan also felt that it would not be a big deal.On the way to Hankou, I met those boxers in person, but the two martial artists from the escort agency settled them down.The provinces in the Central Plains were bewildered by the boxing chaos, and the business community was mostly on the defensive. We can also take the opportunity to collect tired money and transfer it to other places for profit.

Where will the huge amount of exhausted silver collected in this way be released? Kang Hunan discussed with Sun Beiming and Chen Yiqing, but the only way was to be transferred to Jiangnan.Although it is possible to move around outside the mouth, after all, it can't make a big fuss.After the two giants came to Hankou this time, they have already seen that the situation in Jiangnan is better than expected.The market is prosperous, Westernization is booming, business opportunities are not diminishing, and the flow of money is also booming, especially the big and small banks that rely on banknotes, and the business is very good.The governors of Huguang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Liangjiang are all important towns that can be counted on.After Kang Hunan met Zhang Zhidong, he was even more relieved about the situation in the south of the Yangtze River.Although the master of Taiwan did not talk to him about official affairs and current affairs, Kang Hunan's old-fashioned eyes couldn't see anything! With such a huge amount of money transferred to Jiangnan, what can be used to offset it?You can't hand over the huge silver to the Escort for escort at such a difficult time, right? Kang Hunan said: We can only try our best to win Huijing's official money in the south of the Yangtze River! Sun Beiming said: "If there is an imperial edict, who dares to ask us to settle the remittance?" Kang Hunan said: When I met Zhang Zhidong, the Taiwanese master also mentioned that the Xibang remittance of official funds to the treasury is very commendable, saying that it is really a convenient method.Compared with the escort of the provincial committee members, I don't know how much money will be saved.The task of escorting the Beijing rate has always been difficult.Not to mention the arduous journey and numerous risks, even if you have traveled thousands of miles to the capital, it is not so easy to send it into the warehouse.The little ghosts of the King of Hades in the household department yamen couldn't get through one place, and they couldn't pass the test.Where are you like your West ticket dealers, who have already fed them up and down! Mr. Zhang put it this way, and didn't mention the court's ban on foreign exchange. Chen Yiqing also said: Now that the boxers in the Central Plains are in chaos, the provinces may even use it as an excuse to delay transportation to Beijing.Instead, we can take the opportunity to move to the vassal treasuries of various provinces, sway the vassals and Taiwans, and play the imperial court to explain the difficulties of escorting cash.To solve the predicament of the capital, exchange can be the most effective as soon as possible. Sun Beiming said: Then shopkeeper Chen, can you move to make a table? Kang Hunan said: Hubei is adjacent to the Central Plains, and it is not far from Beijing. Mr. Zhang just wants to fulfill us, and he has no excuses to find, so let's not make things difficult for him. Chen Yiqing said: Mr. Zhang didn't want to talk about official affairs when Mr. Kang came forward, and I didn't have much face.This kind of matter requires tortuous mediation, and it is not appropriate to speak out.I'll find someone else to test it out.In my opinion, the Taiwanese masters are well versed in Western affairs and the operation of the Bank of the West, and perhaps they will also present a piece of music, explaining the disadvantages of operating in different places. Kang Hunan said: Let me speak wildly. It is my West Clan who can sweep away the depression in the capital!Nowadays, the business circles in the capital are all on the sidelines, not only watching the court situation, but also watching our West Gang.Except for our West Gang, there is no other merchant gang in the capital that can control the silver market.Once we calmly absorb the tired silver in Beijing, the business community will cheer up accordingly.At the various provincial wharves, we took advantage of the tricks to get more government and business funds from Huijing, and facilitated the transfer of Beijing salaries into the warehouse.There is too much money in the treasury of the household department, and the imperial court still prohibits us from doing anything! Sun Beiming said: The old Dongtai has great talents and plans, and he is planning for the Western Gang and the imperial court.But I am still worried, how many of the Jiangnan provinces are willing to be persuaded by us? Kang Hunan smiled and said: It depends on the old gang under your command.I still have a little plan, I wonder if you will accept it? Chen Yiqing hurriedly said: What tricks does the old Dongtai have, tell me quickly! Kang Hunan then said, "Why don't we lend out the rest of the silver first to pay Beijing's salary for some provincial governments?" Chen Yiqing said: "Lend money to them to pay the Beijing salary?"In recent years, how many treasuries in various provinces are not supported?The Jiawu indemnity apportioned every year is enough for them to complain.How can they pay back the money they borrowed from us? In fact, Chen Yiqing had thought of such a move long ago.In the spring, he had already contacted Zhuangkou in Fujian and Jiangxi, asking them to borrow money first, and then collect foreign exchange, and encouraged the feudal lords to play on the imperial court and lift the ban.Now, Lao Dongtai also said this move, of course he had to pretend to be confused and say these words on purpose. Sun Beiming thought for a while, but said: I think the old club's move is vicious!We lent silver to him to pay Beijing's salary, and it was inconvenient for him to care whether we exchanged it or pledged it in cash.Even if the imperial court knows about it, we can't blame us too much. It is an act of loyalty to use the bank as an official. Chen Yiqing said: Of course, in our opinion, this is also equivalent to lending the exhausted money absorbed by the Beijing Bank to the government as soon as it changes hands.It's just that if you lend to the provincial treasury, you are afraid that it will not be repaid! Sun Beiming said: They owed our money, and maybe they will go to the court to abolish the ban on foreign exchange. Only then did Chen Yiqing exclaim in admiration: So there is such a cunning plan. Kang Hunan said: This is just a trick!If we want to revive the momentum of storage in the north and release in the south, I'm afraid we have to contact the major bank accounts of our West Gang to do it together.Our Tian Chengyuan family cannot save the capital from the predicament. Sun Beiming said: Ordinarily, this is also an opportunity for our West Gang to show their face, and we should join forces to seek righteousness.It's just that it's easy to talk about other families, but the two bosses of Pingyao Rishengchang and Weizihao are willing to listen to us?If they planned this move and all of us followed, it would still be a success.Now it's up to us to plan. I'm afraid the two bosses don't even want to hear it. How can we expect them to join forces? Chen Yiqing said: Those bosses, would they really oppose such a plan? Kang Hunan laughed and said: Then don't say that we planned it.I have thought of this layer.We don't need to come forward for this matter, we only entrust one person to do it. Sun Beiming asked: Who? Chen Yiqing said: Is the old gang Dai Dai in Beijing? Kang Hunan said: Yes, it is shopkeeper Dai.This move is the key to the capital.The veteran gangs stationed in the capital of the West Gang are all masters in the business world, and they often join hands with each other on weekdays.Shopkeeper Dai cleverly acted for Zhang Luo and for the sake of the overall situation, even if he recommended Rishengchang's Beijing name to take the lead, it was all right. Sun Beiming said: In this way, it can still be done. Chen Yiqing made a point of saying: Lao Dongtai snatched all the good ideas. Kang Hunan said: Then trouble shopkeeper Chen, write a letter to shopkeeper Dai of Jinghao, and entrust him with this important task.Shopkeeper Sun and I should also find a cool place to avoid the heat for a few days. In this plan, the two giants, Kang Hunan and Sun Beiming, judged the situation and made clever plans, hiding but not revealing. Normally, they should have a chance of winning.However, they underestimated the Central Plains Boxing Rebellion too lightly, leaving hidden dangers for this revival.This is something for later, let's not talk about it. two Dai Ying, the veteran of Tiancheng Yuanjing, was not surprised to receive this important task. It has been more than 100 years since the establishment of Xibang Bank, and it has been in operation until the Guangxu period, and it is approaching its peak.At that time, the branch offices of major fonts in Beijing became very important.It can be said that if a family does not have a Beijing name with a strong hand to lead the village, it will be difficult to achieve success.At this time in the 25th year of Guangxu, there were forty-eight branch offices in the capital of the Western Gang, representing the leaders of the Western Gang at that time.The bosses of these 48 Beijing accounts can be said to be all of them a momentary choice in the financial industry.Many people among them are far superior to the big shopkeeper of the head office, regardless of their weapons, vision, means, and even their education and literary talents.Because it is difficult for mediocre people to gain a foothold in the position of the old gang of Jinghao.It is inconceivable that the West Bank ticket merchants have developed over the past century, and they are engaged in the great business of managing the wealth of the world and taking the benefits of the world.So in the end, the status of the ticket merchant Beijing account was not inferior to that of the general account.It's just because of the unique system of Xibang Piaohao and strict internal legislation, there will be no troubles of heavy ministers oppressing the master. The common troubles are that the old gang of Beijing has many excellent ideas and good strategies, which are not valued by the head office.Those bosses in Lingdong have been confined to the old Qi Taiping in Jin Province for many years, and they are increasingly separated from the outside world.The wise and good strategies of the veterans from other places are either not used or not understood.If you don't know it first, how can you use it? Therefore, Dai Ying, the old gang member of Tiancheng Yuanjing, kept persuading Sun Beiming to come out and see more.The outside world is changing with each passing day. Why not do it when you come out half to visit the wonders and sightseeing, and the other half to inspect the business?Besides, long legs are the strength of the West Gang.But shopkeeper Sun Da just didn't move.In recent years, the important task of inspecting Zhuangkou in other cities has been divided into two parts and handed over to the two old gangsters.One is Chen Yiqing, who is a Chinese name, and asked him to inspect all the names in the south of the Yangtze River.One is Dai Ying of the Beijing account, who inspects the northern accounts.They went on patrol on their behalf, and they were not afraid of hard work, but the gap between the old account and the other places remained. Kang Laodongtai has always liked to go out and walk around, but unfortunately he is old and it is not easy to go out.The last time Dai Ying came back to Taigu after get off work, he had tactfully signaled to his old boss, hoping that he could persuade shopkeeper Sun Da to come out for a walk.Unexpectedly, the old man personally pulled Sun Beiming to go south in the summer heat.Hearing the news of the two giants going on tour, Dai Ying was really excited.Although the cause came from Qiu Taiji, Dai Ying knew in his heart that the old man did this extraordinary move after he understood his advice. As an old man, it's too difficult to go on tour in the summer heat for the old man, but Tian Chengyuan is your Kang family's business after all.At this extraordinary time, without such an extraordinary move, it is really not enough to respond. Last year, there was a political reform between the DPRK and China, and the political situation was unstable. All the accounts of the Western Gang were shrinking, and their business dropped by 30% to 50%.At the beginning of this year, the imperial court issued another ban on foreign exchange. If there is no countermeasure, how can business be done?However, the old giants in Jin Province still didn't realize it, thinking that the court had banned them several times in the past, but they couldn't stop them, so they just watched and waited. Shopkeeper Sun, on the pretext that this year coincides with Tiancheng Yuanhe's four-year big account, should have contracted, but also ordered him to take a defensive position.Don't you know that today's world is very different from the past.Not only the Jiangnan bank is gradually becoming a major trend, but even a Western bank is already aggressive, robbing the source of profits from the Western Bank!If the Western Gang blindly waits and shrinks in the north, they cannot transfer the source of silver resources to the south of the Yangtze River, and others will take advantage of the vacancy and invade the city and plunder the land.Once Jiangnan is lost, the trend of the West Gang will cease to exist! In the 21st year of Guangxu, the Sino-Japanese War was defeated, China and Japan negotiated peace, and the Qing Dynasty compensated Japan with 200 million taels of silver for military expenses.How could the imperial court afford such a huge sum of money for a while!The British, French, Russian, and German powers took advantage of this opportunity and transferred the huge sum of money into loans from the four countries. The annual repayment of the principal and interest was 12 million taels, and the household department shared 2 million taels, and the provinces and border customs shared it. Ten million taels.This 12 million huge silver is remitted to Shanghai Jianghai Customs every year, and the flow of money in the country is more southward and less northward.The business of the Xibang ticket industry depends entirely on the financial coordination between the north and the south. The imbalance between the north and the south has already made the exchange difficult. Dai Ying said this kind of dangerous words to the old man.It is indeed the luck of the Kang family and the West Gang that he finally made such an extraordinary move. Therefore, when he heard that the old master had dispatched the shopkeeper Sun Da, Dai Ying and Chen Yiqing's old gang of Han Hao sent frequent reports.In fact, what they asked for from the two giants was just one sentence: there is no need to shrink back and wait and see!In order to obtain this sentence, he and Chen Laobang spent a lot of time thinking.It was their premeditated arrangement to instigate the old man to meet Zhang Zhidong and Fowles of HSBC without any trace. Now finally there is a good result.Chen Laobang said at the end of the letter written by himself: Everything is as you and I wish.I obeyed my brother's orders and pretended to be confused in front of the two giants. I am afraid that the old man is not confused either.Now it all depends on brother's actions. Dai Ying smiled knowingly after reading this. On the second day after receiving the letter, Dai Ying went to pay a visit to Li Hongling, the old gangster of Wei Feng Hou Jing. Tiancheng Yuanjing is located in the grinding factory outside Qianmen, and Weifenghoujing is located in Jiutiao Hutong of Caochang outside Chongwenmen, not far away.Rishengchang, the boss of Xibang ticket dealers, has its Beijing account in Chongwenmen Waicaochang, which is separated from Weifenghou by an alley.Both of them belonged to the Pingyao Gang of the Western Gang, and they were both old bank accounts. Because the two big shopkeepers had a quarrel when they started their business, the two big shopkeepers had been fighting constantly.But at this time, the two veterans of the Beijing name are both very capable people.Liang Huaiwen, the veteran of Rishengchang's Beijing name, has close contacts with Li Hongling of Wei Fenghou, and they often do things together.Dai Ying has friendship with both of them, but he is more congenial with Li Hongling.He felt that Li Hongling was well-respected in the ticket circle of the capital. Li Hongling saw that Dai Ying's weather was different here, so he asked: "You two heads, have you been persuaded?" Dai Ying smiled and said: How can I persuade them!I just advised them not to stay in Hankou for a long time. Anyway, it is hot, so they might as well go down the river and go to Shanghai early.Our Tianchengyuan Shanghai account is not strong, and your large accounts are almost collapsed. Who are you talking about? Who else can there be in a big name, besides Rishengchang and your Weizihao, who else can there be? If others don't tell you, we, Wei Fenghou, haven't messed with your family.Besides, there are so many business opportunities in Shanghai that no one can monopolize them.I don't think your old Meng gang in Shanghai is mediocre.It looks clumsy, but it really hides its extraordinary ingenuity deeply, making it difficult for you to see through. He won't bully you, but you don't want to bully him either, it can give people this feeling and it's hard to control. So you want to bully him? We can see through it, so why mess with him?It's just that those masters in Shanghai who like to show their ingenuity on their faces often fall for the tricks of your old Meng gang. See what I told you.I really want to ask our old account to transfer me to the Shanghai account.Shanghai has now become a hub of business in the middle of the country, with business opportunities everywhere, and it can be done, unlike in the capital, where there are so many obstacles.That's why I encouraged the two masters to go to Shanghai for a walk.I don't know if Brother Zishou has such a meaning?If you and I can transfer to Shanghai together, we should be able to do some business together. I also held a village for several years in Shanghai.There are many business opportunities in Shanghai, but I can't get used to the climate and soil. That's because you've lived in Beijing for too long.West help merchants, where can't stand up!Last year, didn't your brother send your son to study in Zhejiang?When you arrive in Shanghai, you are closer to the son, so you can enjoy the family relationship to the fullest. Last year, I took my dog ​​out with the intention of choosing a teacher for him to study in Beijing.By chance, I met Mr. Zhao Yinchen from the Hanlin Academy, who was about to return to Zhejiang.When Mr. Zhao came to Beijing for scientific examinations, he received generous financial support from Wei Wei, and he has not forgotten him since he was honored in the Imperial Academy.So, there are some old friendships.Speaking of Quanzi's apprenticeship, he advocated sending him to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the cultural movement is flourishing.He also said that Zhao's school is employing a very knowledgeable tutor who is quite good at teaching.Now he only accepts his two grandchildren as schoolboys, if you don't mind, why not send the young master to study together?He is a Hanlin, how can I despise this kindness?I sent the child to Mr. Zhao's residence in Chuzhou, Zhejiang. The veterans of the Jinghao Group have to choose their teachers in this way, which shows that their status and vision are different from ordinary ones. Brother Zishou, you don't expect your young master to order Hanlin in the future, right? Hanlin didn't dare to think that he was just like you and me, and being a veteran of Beijing and Shanghai would be enough. By the time their generation became old gangs, they still didn't know what the ticket industry of the West Gang would be like.If you want me to tell you that they are really promising, what are they doing with the ticket number! If you don't enter the ticket number, you really want to be an official? How can you be successful in seeking an official position?If you are promising, you would rather enter the bank than enter the ticket number. Without their own bank, tell them to serve foreigners as slaves?The year before last, Sheng Xuanhuai opened the Commercial Bank in Shanghai. Although it was the first bank in our country, it was also a bank of the imperial court.If the power is strong but the technology is not strong, it will not rise. So, I advised my brother to go to Shanghai together.How about you and I set up a bank? Brother Jing isn't talking in his sleep, is he?Where do you and I get a lot of equity to open a bank? We went back to Jin and lobbied widely, so we didn't worry about not being able to raise equity.If the owner of your account, Mao Da, hadn’t withdrawn from Rishengchang back then and found a new owner, how could you be so rich? Brother Jing, I understand what you mean.Could it be that the two tycoons of Tian Chengyuan already intend to imitate the bank? Nothing. You Mrs. Kang and Shopkeeper Sun are regarded as enlightened figures.When the two arrived in Hankou, why not invite them to see the Western Bank? Our Chinese name Chen Laobang arranged for the old man to meet with an assistant from HSBC Bank.This English assistant is too cunning!In front of the old man, he just blindly praised how great the Xibang Bank is, as if it is better than their Western Bank.Hear the pride of the old man! There is such a thing? Not really.Do you think the old man has received such high praise, he will change the ticket number and run a bank like it? This is also like the British style, killing people with soft knives without making you feel pain.It's just that your old boss and shopkeeper, after all, still come out for a walk, meeting foreigners, who would come out from other houses! Our old man also went to meet Zhang Zhidong and received some compliments.Chen Laobang took advantage of the old man's happiness and said what we meant. Imitation bank? You just want to run a bank!What Mr. Chen said to the old man was an urgent move for us to take: we can no longer blindly wait and see, and we should use it as a coincidence to collect tired money and solicit foreign exchange against the order. Are you guys letting up? The old man was happy and nodded.There is also an important sentence: in order to facilitate the solicitation of official funds, in the suitable provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, the capital can be paid in advance to the treasury and remitted to Beijing. Xibang Bank undertakes foreign exchange business, which can be divided into forward exchange and reverse exchange.Shunhui means that the customer pays the remittance first, then writes the invoice, takes the invoice, and then withdraws money in a different place.Reverse remittance means that if the remittance has not been paid, you can first write a ticket, take the ticket, withdraw money in a different place, and then pay the remittance within the agreed time limit.This is a clever means for the West Bank to solicit foreign exchange.The remittance fee of reverse remittance, that is, the remittance fee, is naturally much higher than that of forward remittance. Li Hongling laughed after hearing this, and said: Brother Jing, as soon as you came today, I saw that you brought good news.You still have to pretend nothing happened and talk a lot of nonsense! I'm not talking nonsense, I really want to change my Shanghai number. Change whatever you want!Don't you think I can't talk to my shopkeeper?With the actions of you Mrs. Kang and Shopkeeper Sun, I have something to go. Find out what new book, tell me and listen! As soon as you Tian Chengyuan moves, I will immediately report to the Pingyao old account, saying that the two giants of your family have obtained secret information from Zhang Zhidong, and they want to take advantage of everyone's shrinkage to make a big deal first.Do you think, our shopkeeper Mao is willing to let you take the lead exclusively? Brother Zishou, are you trying to harm me?My old man has repeatedly ordered us, Tian Chengyuan, not to be too showy.I don't even want to do it alone and provoke the whole gang.If you want to stand out, you still have to ask for help, please invite Rishengchang and Guiwei with five consecutive numbers.Sending such a secret report to your old account, isn't it trying to destroy us? Your owner's shopkeeper, this summer tour of the south of the Yangtze River, has already alarmed the West Gang.If you want to talk about the limelight, it's already enough.What kind of person is Mrs. Kang, he is still afraid that his colleagues will say a few gossips?Besides, if I don't do this, how can our treasurer Mao be persuaded? If you want to talk about moving Mao's big shopkeeper, there are better moves to go. What else is there to do? When you write a secret report to the old account, don't mention our Tianchengyuan, just say that Rishengchang wants to do it exclusively.Shopkeeper Mao heard this, can he still sit still? This doesn't look like Brother Jing's idea!I dare not lie about such military information.Besides, if we lied about the military situation in this way, our shopkeeper will probably try his best and stay put.You do it, but I don't.It's not like you don't know the temper of our two families.At such a time, if our two families try to get angry again, what good will it do for Yu Xi to help? Brother Zishou, I was just joking.If you want our Tian Chengyuan to stand out, then come out and turn around.It's just that if we let us get the limelight, what will Ri Shengchang think if he finds out?He is the boss, if he wants to come forward and stop everyone, it will really destroy us.If you all obey the order and do not move, but our family violates the order and solicits foreign exchange, will the imperial court spare us? If you move it, it will not be able to sit still.Maybe they will join forces with our Wei brand to overwhelm you at the head of the Taigu Gang. Then it's all up to you and Liang Huaiwen's old gang to make arrangements.I won't come forward to talk about Liang's old gang.You are the leaders of the West Gang, and the situation will only open if you make a move. This kind of disappointing situation should not be worried about by our group of veterans of Beijing.It's just that the old giants of the West Gang now live in seclusion and are headstrong. They still think that the West Gang is invincible.We speak out faithfully, but they don't listen, and even think that we have other plans, which is really chilling.I suggested to our big shopkeeper to imitate the bank, and I heard that he blamed me a lot, saying that I, Li, want to do so!Aren't we planning for the name and for the West Bank? That's why I said, if we are constrained everywhere, it's like running a bank at home! Your words of worry and indignation are just words.Even if you and I really take that step, the pedantic officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs will not be easy to deal with.The ban on foreign exchange issued by the imperial court this year was not instigated by them.Since the Hongyang Rebellion, I have been accepting official funds from the west for many years, and I have not made any mistakes, but I often help the imperial court and the provincial government.The same is to pay you the exact amount of money, but you have to travel thousands of miles to send it in cash. Don't worry about our convenient exchange!And you didn't withhold any money from your government, and only earned that little water. Compared with the huge expenses of your committee members, I don't know how much you will save!It's really ridiculous to say, such a simple truth, those high-ranking officials can't understand it.In the past six months, I have traveled to the household department many times, but no one is willing to go to the court to request the lifting of the ban. Where did they not understand?Didn't Sheng Xuanhuai's Commercial Bank accept remittances from Beijing as usual?In the past, Weng Tonghe had served as Minister of the Ministry of Households for many years, and he never banned foreign exchange.Mr. Weng was dismissed last year, and Wang Wenshao took over only a few days ago, and our exchange was banned.Do you want to secretly help Sheng Xuanhuai, ban the West Gang, and let China Commercial Bank take over? When Weng Tonghe was the secretary of the household department, I could still try to speak up.He really doesn't have much friendship with the current Wang Wenshao.Are we not filial enough to Mr. Wang? I'm afraid it's not that simple.Brother Zishou, I think right now, we can do one thing together first.For this matter, there is no need to sue the old account, our Beijing account old gang can do it. What's so high about Brother Jing? Isn't the imperial court's ban on foreign exchange the reason for the depression in the capital's market?Why don't we condescend to start a small business and lend some money to small merchants in the capital?Our Xibang ticket shop, no matter how big or small it is, is too big.Needless to say, a small business of one hundred and eighty taels, even a small deposit and loan of one thousand and eight hundred taels, I don't bother to do it, only greedy for big ones.The market in the capital is sluggish today. We may be able to save the market by doing some small loan business.As the market turns prosperous, the imperial court will no longer be obstinate about banning foreign exchange. We do not do small business, but also for the sake of safety.Small merchants are the hardest to foresee.Besides, this kind of small business has to be left to money houses, furnace houses, and pawn shops. Banks and pawnshops have always relied on banknotes. If we shrink, they must shrink too.Ticket dealers have big airs, especially the Guiping Gang, and among the Ping Gang, Rishengchang and Guiwei are the most famous.You take the lead in starting some small businesses, and other houses can put down their airs.If it is passed to the Ministry of Household Affairs, it may be more favorable to Xibang. Maybe they'll think we're doomed! At this time, what's wrong with us helping to hide a little bit?Besides, there is no need for any scheduling to do this kind of small business.Brother Zishou doesn't know that the capital is in the same place. It was originally a big official, a big business, and a small business.Except for the businessmen who went out of Russia via Jingshi Tongmeng, there were not many big merchants.In my opinion, releasing some of the accumulated silver collected by various banks will be enough to revive the market.Recently, the business of small and medium tickets has been booming, and it is time to find a way to release them. Speaking of small tickets, I am also worried.The number of small tickets issued by each number over the years is very large.In today's gloomy and uncertain situation, once something changes, it would be terrible if small ticket holders flock to run. Therefore, it is too urgent to rescue and revitalize the market now. Then convene all the veterans for a public discussion? Should, should. A small ticket is a small bank note issued by the Xibang Bank.At first, the bank note was just a proof of deposit.How much silver do you deposit in the ticket office, and the ticket office will give you a receipt, stating how much silver you can withdraw tomorrow with this note.The ticket number has always been doing large-scale business, so most of the bank notes issued are large.A small-value bank note is just a temporary note issued by the ticket number, which can be redeemed at any time.The face value ranges from ten taels to fifty taels, one hundred taels, and up to one thousand taels. No, this kind of small ticket was very popular among the officials and gentry in the capital.why?It is also convenient to carry this small ticket in and out of the gate of the rich and powerful.Easy to present and easy to store.Knowing that the Xibang bank has a good reputation, the family members of the rich and powerful mansions especially like to collect such small tickets for private savings, and they will not cash them for three to five years to more than ten years.Of course, a larger number of receipts are still circulating in the officialdom of the capital: no matter how dirty the money is, if it is exchanged for this kind of bearer banknote, there will be no trace. As a result, handwritten small notes like the Xibang Piaohao have a large circulation in the capital, almost a kind of banknote.There are more than 300,000 taels of receipts issued by Tian Chengyuan.Rishengchang and Weifenghou have more big ones.Adding up all the Xibangjing accounts, the issuance of small notes is on the scale of 10 to 20 million taels, which is actually more than the treasury silver normally stored by the imperial household department. When the current situation is turbulent, small notes are still favored because they are easier to transfer and hide than silver money.But the hidden risks are also obvious. Under Dai Ying's instigation, Li Hongling was finally willing to try to save the market.This motion must first be obtained from the Jin Province Huiye Office of the capital, and it will be jointly agreed upon by all the capital names.Li Hongling is one of the general directors of Huiye Office. three The Huiye Office in the capital is the industry hall of the Xibang Bank in Beijing. Like all guilds, the Huiye Office also cooperates with the outside world to jointly protect and coordinate the interests of each number internally.Financial guilds, in particular, have to negotiate exchange rates, deposit and loan interest rates, and currency prices in a timely manner.It's just that the guild hall of the Xibang is often located in Guandi Temple.In other words, they often raise funds to build a Guandi Temple first, and then double as their own guild hall. Master Guan is a member of the Xibang Township Party, and his reputation of mighty loyalty is passed down to the world.The Xibang, who has always been away from home and wandered around the world, worships Emperor Guan, partly because of homesickness, and partly because he wants to pray for his blessing of Wuwei.Ke Xibang's such respect, invisibly gave Master Guan a new posthumous posthumous title: the God of Wealth of Merchant.As a result, various merchants gradually followed suit, paying special respect to Emperor Guan and praying for fortune. The Huiye Office of the capital is located in the Reed Grass Garden in the northeast of the capital.This guild hall is also the Guandi Temple in the front and the meeting hall in the back.In the temple of Guandi, there is a gorgeous stage and a canopy for watching operas.The guild hall made a rule that on Guandi's birthday, as well as New Year's Day, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, it would hold peer gatherings, perform plays and have feasts, honor gods and entertain guests, communicate with fellow gangs, and discuss some important matters within the gang.In case of urgent matters, we also come to discuss. This meeting was supposed to be an impromptu motion, but the old gangs of the various capitals of the West Gang unexpectedly all mobilized in person and gathered in the Lucaoyuan Guild Hall.It can be seen that everyone is also very worried about the dead situation in front of them.Among them, there was one exception: only Rishengchang's old gang of Liang Huaiwen did not come. With Rishengchang's status in the ticket industry, Liang Laobang is naturally also one of the general directors of Huiye Office.The peer company launched three general directors, and Liang Laobang ranked first.If he doesn't come, what else can be discussed? Li Hongling saw that he couldn't wait to come to Liang's old gang, so he took everyone to offer incense and worship in front of Guandi God.Bye bye, enter the backyard chamber. 大家對梁老幫不到，大感疑惑，紛紛問李宏齡：此次集議，就沒有同梁老幫相商嗎？ 李宏齡說：哪能不先請教梁老幫？我登門拜見時，他說一準要到的。我們還是再等一等吧。 於是，大家趁這個時機，又紛紛問戴膺：你們老東家、大掌櫃南下江漢，一定有什麼不尋常的意圖吧？ 戴膺連說：在這種敗興的時候，我們能謀到什麼便宜？老太爺此番南下，實在是因為那位愛奢華的邱泰基！老太爺以為我們這些駐外老幫，個個都像邱泰基似的，成天在胡作非為呢。 戴膺沒有想到，他剛這樣說完，李宏齡就當著大家說：戴老幫，我可是得到信報了，你們康老東家在漢口拜見了張之洞，又拜見了英國匯豐銀行的幫辦，分明在謀劃大舉動。是不是要趁大家都收縮，你們天成元獨自大做？ 戴膺先還有些奇怪，什麼都沒說呢，李宏齡怎麼就全抖摟出來了？他看了李宏齡一眼，李宏齡不動聲色。戴膺才有些明白了：他老兄是有意這樣吧？ 諸位老幫聽李宏齡這樣一說，更追問不止：得了張之洞什麼密示，朝廷是不是要收回禁令？ 戴膺就說：張制台是何等人物，會對我們洩漏天機？各位都是有神通的人物，身在京畿，什麼天機探不到！ 李宏齡說：你們天成元想動，就動。我們也不會壞你們的事。你們先動一步，做些試探，總比大家一起坐以待斃好吧？ 戴膺說：我們想動，你們就不想動？我們老東家大掌櫃到了漢口，是想謀些對策。可目前局面，良策不好覓呀！朝廷禁匯，誰敢違？倒是你們各家的老號，能沉得住氣，穩坐晉省，靜觀樂觀。 祁縣喬家大德通的京號老幫周章甫說：多數老號是不明外間情形。再不謀良策，真要坐以待斃了。 李宏齡說：你們祁幫也要動嗎？ 周章甫說：我們大掌櫃倒也說了，一味收縮，不是回事。可如何動，也沒有良策可施。 戴膺說：子壽兄他有高見！ 李宏齡忙說：我哪有什麼高見？真有高見，我們蔚豐厚早先動了。今請各位來集議，就是為共謀良策。 正說著，日昇昌京號一位伙友跑進來，說：敝號梁老幫昨兒中暑了，不能來集議，特吩咐在下來告假，請各位老幫包涵。 大家聽了，心裡更生疑惑，只是嘴上也不便說什麼。 李宏齡打發走日昇昌那位伙友，就對大家說：梁老幫不來了，那我們就議事吧。 對時局，大家也不便多說什麼。自去年變法被廢後，東西洋列強就總跟朝廷別著勁，可再發生宣戰開打的事，好像也沒緣由和跡象。只要不跟洋人打仗，局面就不至大亂。對山東、直隸、天津的一些拳亂，大家都沒當回事。拳民既跟洋人作對，也給朝廷添亂，兩頭不討好，哪能成了什麼事？ 對李宏齡提出的救市動議，各家倒都甚為贊同。老號不明外間情形，一味叫收縮觀望，這樣久了，人家還以為我們也跟朝廷別著勁呢。西幫跟朝廷別勁，那還了得？這次禁匯，本就有對我們西幫的忌防，我們再一任京市蕭條，好像真別了勁與人家作對，那真不知會惹什麼禍！所以，都很贊同拿出京號存銀，聯手多做些小額放貸。此舉一出，京市當會有變化。只要平幫的日昇昌、蔚字號肯放下大號架子，別家都肯跟隨。 既由李宏齡提出此動議，蔚字號自然不成問題。可梁老幫未到，老大日昇昌它肯不肯這樣做？ 李宏齡說，他會通告梁老幫的。 日昇昌要是不願意呢？ 他一家不做，就不做，既經公議公定，各家照樣做。 李宏齡這樣說了，大家也就不再多說。 因小額放貸，大多是對小資本的錢莊、當鋪、爐房以及小商號，所以，公議了一個較低的放貸利息。 對於限制發行小票的動議，大家都覺不大好辦。要小票的，都是官吏權貴，得罪不起。只要京市活了，擠兌就不會出現。而大勢更在於國中金融的南北調度，能否早日盤活。只是，這又關涉朝廷禁匯，不便公議，也未多說。 因同業各家老幫都來了，議事畢，會館特意擺了筵席招待。雖是同業聚會，沒有太多顧忌，可在吃酒中，這些老幫們仍沒有說多少出格的話。在京師做老幫，誰都得有這種不露痕跡的自束本事。席間，大家議論多的，還是日昇昌梁懷文的缺席。 戴膺坐的這一席，都是祁幫和太幫的同仁，喬家大德通的周章甫也在。戴膺先敬過同席一巡酒，就問周老幫： 你看梁掌櫃今兒不來，是和李宏齡又別上勁了？ 周章甫說：我看不會。梁掌櫃是賢達的人，眼前死局，他能看不出來？他今兒不來，只怕是平遙老號又有什麼指示吧？ 戴膺說：能有什麼指示？不可妄動？ 同席一位老幫就說：人家日昇昌財大勢強，可以靜觀樂觀，再熬半年也無妨，我們誰能陪得起？ 周章甫也說：我們大德通是新號，也真陪不起你們大號。 戴膺趁機就問：你們老號的高大掌櫃，當年駐京時，與慶親王走動不少。在這緊要時候，也沒有走走這條門路？ 周章甫說：我們大掌櫃哪有那麼大面子！ 同席都說：人家走這種門路，能給我們說？ 戴膺說：不拘什麼門路吧，大家都動起來，就好說。 周章甫說：日昇昌要是別了勁，只是不動，那也是個事。它是西幫老大，商界市面都看它。 戴膺說：只要平幫的蔚字號和大家一股，就好說。李宏齡總董，我們還是可以指望的。你們高鈺大掌櫃駐京多年，在這非常時候，也該來京走走吧？ 周章甫說：有你們老東家大掌櫃做樣子，我也正在攛掇他出來呢。 散席後，戴膺有意遲走一步，單獨問了問李宏齡：梁老幫不來，會是什麼意思？ 李宏齡說：梁老幫今日不出面，是事先說好的。 Why?我們所議之事，他都不以為然？ Not really.對設法救市，扭轉死局，梁老幫也是甚為贊同的。只是，對做小額放貸，感到不大好辦。他倒無所謂，只是怕老號怪罪。掛著京都日昇昌匯通天下的招牌，做針頭線腦的小生意，只怕老號要罵他。所以，他就不出面了，免得掃大家的興。 在這非常之時，做點小生意，就不能匯通天下了？還是不肯放下架子。 梁老幫倒是說了，他的京號不會坐視，也要向相熟的一些爐房、錢莊放貸，和大家一起救市。他不來，只是留個向老號交代的口實而已。 老號那些巨頭，真還以為日昇昌依然天下無敵呢！ 靜之兄，真還不能那樣說。梁懷文對我說，他們日昇昌的大掌櫃，見你們天成元兩位巨頭出巡江漢，也有些坐不住了。 那他們的郭大掌櫃，也出來走走？ 出來倒沒說，但吩咐了：狼行千里吃肉，不能再傻等了。日昇昌也要有舉動。所以，我就把你們天成元的意圖，先嚷叫給大家聽了。 我說呢，怎麼都把我們底下說的話，先抖給大家？ 你們天成元和日昇昌一動，各家就更坐不住了。 日昇昌動了，你們蔚字號五連號動不動？ 唉，我們范大掌櫃倒好說，就是蔚泰厚的毛大掌櫃不敢指望。他一句活話也沒放呢。蔚泰厚是我們五連號的老大，它不動，我們也不好動。 原來是這樣。梁懷文不來，我們還以為日昇昌要冷眼相看呢。人家日昇昌動了，你們蔚字號又不動。什麼時候你們平幫的兩大號能不唱對台戲？ 各家都動了，只我們不動，那也好。 Four 西幫票號的開山字號日昇昌，原先是平遙一家叫西裕成的顏料莊。掌櫃叫雷履泰，財東為本縣達蒲村李家。雷掌櫃是生意場上的奇才，到嘉慶年間，西裕成已有相當規模，在外埠開了不少分莊，京師即有一間。 那時，在京師做生意的西幫商人很多。每到年關時候，都要往晉省老家捎寄銀錢。捎寄的途徑，只能交給鏢局押運。鏢局運現費用很高，路途上也常不安全。辛辛苦苦出來掙點錢，往家中捎寄也這樣不容易。有一位在京做乾果生意的西幫商人，與西裕成京號掌櫃相熟，即與之商量：他往老家捎的銀子，先交到西裕成京號，由京號寫信給平遙老號，等他回晉後，再到西裕成老號用銀。因是熟人，京號老幫也就同意了。由此，開了異地匯兌的先例。 但起初，也沒誰把這當回事，只是覺得比鏢局運現便捷許多就是了。西裕成也只是繼續接受親戚朋友的託付，兩相兌撥，無償幫忙，不收任何匯費。漸漸地，西幫商人覺出了用此法調度銀錢的便利，來求兌撥的越來越多。這才兩相協商，交付一點匯水，變無償為約定付費。 西裕成的掌櫃雷履泰，獨具眼力，很快看出了其中的巨大商機：這種匯水雖少，但錢生錢，來得容易，如廣為開展，獲利必豐。異地運現，一向就是商家大難事。他與東家商議後，就毅然將西裕成改名為日昇昌，專門經營銀錢的異地匯兌。這個由西幫新創的商行，就被稱做匯兌莊，俗稱票莊、票號。當然，雷履泰和他的財東，並不知道他們是開了中國銀行的先河。 票號在那時無疑是朝陽產業，一旦出世，很快就如火如荼，無可限量。 雷履泰是經商高手，他由民用家資，推想到商家貨款；由京晉兩地，推想到國中各地；由北出口外的西幫，推想到縱橫江南的茶幫、米幫、絲幫，銀錢的流動那是無處不在的。於是，就選派幹練誠實的伙友，逐步往南北各大碼頭設莊攬匯。做金融生意，信譽是第一要緊條件。日昇昌也是沾了西幫的光，靠著西幫既有的聲譽，再加上雷履泰的巧為運籌，它的生意很快火起來了。 日昇昌初時的匯水，即匯費，只取百分之一，一兩銀子取一厘。比起鏢局運現的收費，可以說是微乎其微。這是明處取利，定得低微，易於被更多客戶接受。雷履泰還有暗裡取利的手段，那就是在銀子的平色上做文章。 那時代，白銀為市面流通的主要貨幣，無論碎銀、銀錠、元寶，都有一個平色問題。平，就是銀子夠不夠它標定的份量；色，就是銀子的成色，即它的含銀量足不足。按道理，作為貨幣使用的銀子，應該是既足量，又純質的。可實際上，各地銀兩的平色，差異很大。所以，在異地匯兌中，要換算出這種平色差異，加以找補扣除。正是在這種換算中，雷履泰為日昇昌制定了自家的平色標準，使換算變得有利可圖。這種由兌換而得的暗利，一般是從平中取千分之四，從色中取千分之五六。平色合起來，又是一個百分之一，也就是說，在不知不覺中，匯水多了一倍。 不過，這種平色暗利，雷履泰也嚴格守定於上述那個限度，再不叫擴張。因為太貪暗利，暗利必顯，誰還信賴你？不因一時利厚而太貪，這是雷履泰的精明處，也是西幫的商風。 在收取匯水和平色換算上，日昇昌以及後來的西幫票號，都恪守了雷履泰所定下的這些規矩，使匯兌得以做成大事業。 日昇昌的興盛，叫雷履泰的聲名大著。他本來就是一個很自負的人，建樹了這樣的功業，眼裡就更放不進別人，只有自家，有些不可一世了。成功者，往往承受不了成功，這真是一種很容易見到的俗相。雷履泰於此也未能免俗。 但晉省風氣既是儒不如商，一流人才都投於商家門下，日昇昌這樣如日東昇的商號，自然也是藏龍臥虎。雷履泰為日昇昌總理，俗稱大掌櫃，他之下，就是協理，俗稱二掌櫃。他的二掌櫃叫毛鴻腳，也是有大才的人。創業時候，他全力協助雷履泰，出謀劃策不少，當是有功之臣。可事業初成，雷履泰就不把他放在眼裡了。惟我獨尊，頤指氣使不說了，凡稍涉權柄的事，就不許他趨前插手。這當然使毛鴻腳日益不滿。兩人的明爭暗鬥，也日漸多起來。 有一回，雷履泰得了重病，需臥床將息，卻不肯離開字號回家靜養。凡重要號事，仍要扶病親自處理。毛鴻腳一眼就看出，雷履泰如此鞠躬盡瘁，實在還是怕別人染指號權！ 於是，毛鴻腳就去拜見了財東李箴視，不露痕跡地進言說： 雷大掌櫃對東家，那真是鞠躬盡瘁了。近日病得下不了地，仍不肯回家療養，早圖康復，照舊日夜操勞號事，不惜損傷貴體。雷掌櫃是日昇昌的頂樑柱，東家怎麼捨得如此不加愛護？ 李箴視在此前，已聽說了雷履泰正抱病料理號務，現在經毛鴻腳這樣一說，更覺該去勸一勸了。李東家很快來到櫃上，慰問一番後，就對雷履泰說：雷大掌櫃不可操勞過甚！我家生意再當緊，也不如大掌櫃貴體當緊。我看在號中療養，諸多不熨貼，還是回府上放心靜養吧。 雷履泰聽了，心裡自然明白是怎樣一回事，但當時什麼也沒說。李東家走後，他就坐車離開字號，回了家。 沒過幾天，東家李箴視又親往雷履泰家中探視慰問。進了門，就見雷大掌櫃依然在伏案寫信。李東家拿起幾張看了看，不禁大吃一驚：原來這些信函，都是吩咐日昇昌駐外埠分莊，盡快結束業務，撤莊回晉。 李箴視慌忙問：大掌櫃，你這是為甚？ 雷履泰平靜地說：日昇昌是你李家的生意，可各地分莊是我雷某安置的，我得撤回來交代你。兩相了結後，東家還是另請高手吧，我得告退了。 李箴視一聽，這簡直是晴天霹靂，頓時給嚇傻了。雷掌櫃一走，哪裡還會再有日昇昌！他一慌張，不由得就給雷履泰跪下了。 雷大掌櫃，這是咋了？ 日昇昌為我一手張羅起來，剛有眉目，為世人看重，就有人想取我而代之。那我就讓開，他留，我走。 雷大掌櫃，我們李家對你可從來沒有二心呀！你千萬不可聽信閒言碎語。我們不靠你，還能靠誰？大掌櫃真要走，那日昇昌也只好關門歇業！ 聽這樣說了，雷履泰才把東家扶起來，說：我也知道東家對雷某不薄，但有人成心居間挑撥，長此下去，我也不好幹呀！ 李箴視就再三明示：日昇昌就只交給雷大掌櫃一人