Chapter 53: Matsumoto Trading Company

  In the history of foreign firms in China, which firm expanded the fastest and covered the widest range? Among them, Japanese firms are the most prominent. From the Sino-Japanese War to the early Republic, a mere twenty years or so, Japanese firms had already spread to almost every slightly larger city in China.

  Because the Japanese and Chinese look similar, and at that time the expansion of Japanese firms was mainly for commercial interests, it was difficult to attract national attention, which is also one of the main reasons why they were able to expand rapidly.

  Matsumoto Trading Company was not particularly prominent among the many Japanese trading companies in China at that time. Harada Keiji was the manager of Matsumoto Trading Company's Zhangjiakou branch, and as a standard businessman, he was glad to become the manager of the Zhangjiakou branch, although the market here was much smaller than other cities in Guannei.

  However, as the largest transit point for fur trade in Zhangjiakou, the branch still relied on this to become one of the few foreign merchants who could collect goods in Zhangjiakou. Of course, this was after many Russian merchants withdrew from Zhangjiakou due to the war, which caused their domestic fur market to slump. The war also brought significant losses to Matsukata's trading company.

  But while the war brought traditional damage to Matsukata's fur trade, it also brought an unexpected market - the arms market. The unstable situation in the early days of the Republic further promoted the expansion of the weapons sales market. Gun purchases were no longer limited to the military; as long as they had some property, merchants would buy several guns for self-defense.

  Before the war, these overseas Chinese businessmen mostly purchased guns from European firms such as Germany, and rarely from Japanese firms. In comparison, they believed that it was better to buy guns from German firms, but after the outbreak of war, the European firms lost their source of supply and immediately lost this market.

  Seeing such an opportunity, as a standard merchant, Hara Keiji would not let it go. He immediately obtained the import permit for weapons through the consulate and transported the 30-year-old rifles and Type 38 rifles that were eliminated from the army of his home country.

  Started doing a big business in arms outside the mouth, benefiting from the advantage of no competition, after years of hard work, Matsudaya became a well-known foreign firm outside the mouth, of course, referring to the weapons market.

  Dealing in firearms brought an unexpected benefit to Matsukata's trading house, as the buyers were either foreign merchants or Mongolian princes and bandits from outside the Great Wall, not ordinary citizens who would buy guns from a trading house.

  Due to these relationships, Matsumoto's business suddenly expanded a lot outside the mouth, no longer limited to the original fur procurement, and began to transport large quantities of light industrial products such as soap and cotton cloth to the outside.

  But everything changed six months ago, when Hara Keiji first discovered the watches on his wrist. At that time, out of professional instinct, he ordered 100 leather strap watches and sent them back to Japan for sale. In less than three days, the watches were sold out.

  Although the watch's consignment to Matsumoto Shokai brought huge profits, it also brought another problem. The value of goods imported into China by Matsumoto Shokai's North China branch was far from enough to purchase the watches needed in the domestic market, and they were forced to mobilize funds domestically to make up for the shortfall.

  In other words, Matsumoto Shokai is now using the country's precious metals to make up for this, which cannot be accepted by some "patriots" in the company, so that Hara Kojiro was scolded by some people when he received the reward.

  It's just that the original male Qing Er feels very comfortable, extremely comfortable. At least these Chinese people who make watches have begun to seek themselves out and need themselves, so they can suppress their prices.

  "Mr. Harada, I hope your honorable company can provide more assistance in this matter."

  Gao Xiaowei, dressed in a Western-style suit, knelt down on the mat and respectfully said that when it came to these foreigners, he was always careful. After all, Chinese merchants were often inferior to them in terms of status and position. Being cautious was never wrong.

  "Gao Jun, although our humble shop is the largest arms dealer outside the city, we really don't have much stock at present. Moreover, most of these guns have already been reserved by others. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you."

  From their eagerness to get the guns, Yoshida Keiji believed that they must have a use for this batch of guns, otherwise they would not be so anxious. He should seize this rare opportunity to seek greater benefits for the firm.

  "I also hope Mr. Yuan will help me more in our private dealings, and I will certainly thank him greatly another day."

  Gao Xiaowei didn't know why his father was in such a hurry, and it was a large quantity, but from the anxious expression on his father's face when he came to Zhangjiakou at that time, Gao Xiaowei knew that this matter must be handled properly by himself, otherwise something would go wrong.

  "Gao Jun, if your company can offer sufficient conditions, I can send a telegram to persuade the North China branch to purchase guns from other foreign firms. Of course, there must be sufficient conditions to move the branch manager. Otherwise, please excuse me for being unable to do anything."

  "Sufficient condition"

  Upon hearing these few words, Takashi's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he thought for a moment before realizing what the Japanese man meant by "sufficient conditions".

  What he wants is nothing more than the agency rights for watches from Korea and Japan, and hopes that the prices of these watches can be lowered by five percentage points. He has mentioned this meaning more than once in the past.

  "Mr. Harada, this is a big matter and I personally cannot make a decision on it. Please forgive me. I will get back to you as soon as possible."

  As for Kao Ta-wei personally, if the East House had not opposed granting exclusive sales rights to only one firm, he would probably have agreed to Hara Kei's request a long time ago.

  "This Japanese devil is taking advantage of the fire to loot."

  After receiving Gao Chuanliang's letter, Sima Hui slammed his hand on the table, these Japanese devils are not a single good thing, enduring the pain transmitted from his palm, Sima cursed with hatred.

  "Old Yang, have someone send a message to Gao the shopkeeper. Tell him to first agree to that Japanese devil's proposal."

  At this time, Sima had no other choice and could only agree for the time being.

  "Is Master okay, is your hand alright?"

  Old Yang said respectfully, as the butler of this villa, he would often put himself in his proper place. Having been a butler for a wealthy family before, Old Yang knew these things well, and although this young master was very young, he felt that there was something different about him compared to others.

  At least in the matter of letting himself be the housekeeper, he clearly broke the rules. To know that the masters are all let by themselves to be the housekeeper, where they will be like a young master, after being introduced by Gao Zhanggui, he didn't say anything and let him be the housekeeper. I don't know if he trusted Gao Zhanggui's character or himself.

  "Mr. Harada, we have already agreed to your terms. I don't know how many days it will take for your company to deliver the firearms we need."

  It's not strange for Gao Xiangwei to agree to this condition, after all, he is now in a position where he needs others, and if he doesn't agree, he might think that the host will not do so either.

  "Rest assured, Mr. Gao, as soon as you sign the contract now, I have already prepared a batch of goods that are currently in stock at our firm, and you can take them all away. If they're not enough, I can also arrange for another batch to be sent over from our business association. What do you think?"

  Although the other party's compromise was already within his expectations, Harada Keiji couldn't help but feel a little triumphant and even forgot to pretend.

  "Then let's sign the contract."

  Although he knew that Harada was taking advantage of him, there was no way to stop it. Looking at the excited expression on Harada's face in front of him, Kōsuke's resentment grew even stronger.

  Contract

  Contract between Rikugun Shōten and Northwestern General Machinery Company for the purchase of military equipment, etc. as follows:

  Type 38 rifle, with bayonet and scabbard complete. Accessories for each ten rifles, but without sword belt and cartridge box, one thousand rifles. Each rifle costs fifty-four yuan and sixty cents, totaling fifty-four thousand six hundred yuan.

  2. Also used are one million rounds of ammunition, with the first 10,000 rounds costing 1,105 yuan, for a total of 11,050 yuan.

  The total amount is sixteen million four thousand six hundred and fifty yuan.

  Taisho 3rd year type tripod mounted machine gun, 12 units, each unit priced at 2,131 silver yuan. Total price is 25,572 silver yuan.

  2. The same batch of cartridges with 600,000 rounds of ammunition, the first 10,000 rounds cost $1,235 yuan, a total of $74,110 yuan.

  Three, same utensils box type two, first silver 507 yuan, total silver 1014 yuan.

  4. The same type of ammunition box, 36 in total, each costing 51 yuan, totaling 1836 yuan.

  The total amount is seven hundred and sixty-nine thousand nine hundred and fifty yuan.

  The total amount of the two items listed in this contract is twenty-six million seven thousand one hundred and seventy-two yuan.

  The above military equipment is a formal model of the Imperial Japanese Army, and Matsimoto Yoko handled it on one side.

  The above items are also listed in the inventory, and the items will be delivered immediately after signing the contract.

  Goods delivered to the point of inspection, if there is any damage or shortage, etc., will be compensated by Matsubara Yoko.

  The payment method for the above amount is as follows:

  Both parties agreed that the required goods would be offset by Northwest General Machinery Company's self-produced watches, with each plum blossom steel case watch being valued at 92 yuan to offset the goods. In addition, both parties agreed that Matsubara Yoko would have exclusive sales rights for plum blossom watches in Japan and Korea for a period of ten years.

  This contract is made in duplicate, with each party keeping one copy as evidence.

  October 5, 1915

  Promulgated on October 5, Taisho 4 (1915)

  "Little Japanese devils, we were beaten like this"

  As soon as he got the contract, Sima looked at it with disgust, just like eating a fly. Although the price of buying a gun was much cheaper than last time, but the exclusive right to sell watches was knocked out.

  "Actually, we don't need to buy guns from the Japanese at all. We have machines in our factory, and if we want to, we can manufacture them ourselves, no need to be extorted by the Japanese."

  The Japanese have no good feelings towards Germany, the reason is that after the outbreak of war, Japan took advantage of the fire to loot Qingdao, which was occupied by Germany.

  "We can make it ourselves if you're sure"

  If it's possible to make it himself, Sima Ning would rather die than let the Japanese extort him again. Just thinking about being exploited by that Japanese man named Hara Keiji makes Sima's heart feel extremely uncomfortable.

  "Of course, my boss, don't forget that the person standing in front of you is not an ordinary mechanical expert, he was originally a weapons expert from Krupp's armory in Germany."