Chapter 4 Donations

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  "Shanghai's taxes for ten years probably wouldn't add up to a million, how could you possibly raise tens of millions of dollars so quickly?" Xu Shaowen chuckled. He estimated that two months ago, Brown had transferred the money he made from selling his shares in American Express to Shanghai, totaling $5.2 million. After giving Brown a small bonus and recently withdrawing another million to set up a research fund for Lumingdun Company, there were still $4 million left.

  Of course, $4 million was used to repay the loan from the military governor's office, and another $2 million was spent. However, there were still $2 million left. But for convenience in leaving the country, there weren't many US dollar bills, almost $500,000 worth of gold and silver, and only over $1.5 million in real cash.

  Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan heard Xu Shao's words, saw Xu Shao's thoughtful face again, and gradually felt disappointed. Now the domestic forces are competing for land, who will care about the construction of the navy? The two people couldn't help but sigh a few times, preparing to get up and bid farewell.

  "Alright, apart from these two latest ships, how much is still owed for the other five?" Xu Shaowen suddenly spoke up.

  Li Dingxin was taken aback and didn't know what Xu Shaowen wanted to do, but still replied: "The remaining five ships' tail payment will require a total of $3.7 million."

  "Oh, it's all right." Xu Shaowen nodded and took out his checkbook from the drawer of the National Bank, quickly signed a number and a name, and handed it to Li Dingxin with both hands. "This is a little token of my attention, Commander Li can cash it at the Chinese National Bank immediately."

  Li Dingxin saw Xu Shao Wen willing to invest, and immediately smiled. He took the check and looked at it, suddenly stunned: "What... what, 20 million... 20 million US dollars? Commander Xu, are you kidding me?"

  "What? Commander Li, do you think this is a blank check?" Xu Shaowen was also startled, but he didn't get angry. After all, a two-million-yuan check was extremely rare in China, and with two million yuan, one could even buy a bank. "If Commander Li doesn't believe me, I'll personally go to the bank tomorrow to withdraw the money and send someone with a car to deliver the cash to Commander Li's residence?"

  Li Dingxin heard Xu Shao Wen speak like this, and immediately adjusted his attitude. He absolutely believed that the two million check was real. He and Chen Shaokuan exchanged an excited glance, for a moment unable to speak. No matter why Xu Shao Wen had so much money, these two million really solved a major problem for the Navy.

  "Director Xu, you...you have truly moved us," Li Dingxin's face was filled with gratitude. He forgot his own dignity as an elderly and respected person, suddenly stood up, and solemnly saluted Xu Shaojun, "Li on behalf of the entire Chinese Navy, expresses our gratitude to Director Xu."

  Chen Shaokuan also hastily stood up and paid his respects to Xu Shaojun.

  Xu Shaowen was taken aback, hastily stood up from his seat, walked out from behind the office desk, and modestly said: "Commander Li, Colonel Chen, aren't you both making things too difficult for Shaowen? Shaowen is young and arrogant, and doesn't place much value on money either. Being able to contribute a bit of strength to the country is already a rare thing, please don't be too polite, Commander Li and Colonel Chen, it makes Shaowen feel uneasy."

  Chen Shaokuan smiled and walked to Xu Shao's front, solemnly saying: "Director Xu, before coming, I always thought that you were relying on your uncle Xu Shichang's relationship to sit in this position, which is impolite of me. Now it seems that Director Xu can sit in this position, it is the good fortune of my China's revitalization."

  Xu Shaowen was also quite pleased in his heart. At least Chen Shaokuan, this future national hero, praised himself so generously that he felt a little proud of himself. He suddenly thought of something and smiled, jokingly saying: "Alas, Commander Li and Colonel Chen arrived just in time. If they had come a few days later, Shaowen would have had to rush back to Beijing. This naval funding matter is not something that can be entrusted to others, otherwise foreigners will always say that the Chinese military is unreliable."

  "Oh, we're really lucky then," Li Dingxin laughed loudly and also casually asked, "Is Director Xu planning to rush back to Beijing for the Spring Festival?"

  Xu Shaowen's face turned worried, and he let out a deep sigh, saying: "At this busy time of year, who has the leisure to celebrate the Spring Festival?" He didn't continue speaking, but instead continued to sigh several times.

  Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan had just received Xu Shao's favor, so they naturally wanted to show more concern at this time. Chen Shaokuan immediately asked: "Director Xu, is there something on your mind? If it doesn't bother you, please tell us and we'll listen. If the Navy Department can help in any way, we will definitely provide full assistance."

  "Alas, there's no need to bother the Navy Ministry," Xu Shao-wen sighed again, his tone becoming heavier. "To say that this annoying thing is still the Japanese who came up with the 'Twenty-One Demands', constantly pressuring the President to sign this treasonous agreement, how detestable."

  Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan both showed a heavy face after hearing Xu Shaowen mention this matter, the "Twenty-one Demands" had already caused a stir across the country. Whether it was the southern warlords or the Beiyang government officials, anyone with a bit of patriotic sentiment strongly protested.

  "I plan to set off for Beijing as soon as possible, find an opportunity to meet the President in person, this agreement is absolutely not to be signed." Xu Shaowen finally spoke out his mind.

  In fact, Xu Shaozhen deliberately mentioned this matter and emphasized that he would personally return to Beijing to persuade Yuan Shikai to refuse to sign the "Twenty-one Demands", also wanting to leave a good impression on Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan. He was very clear that in two years' time, Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan would both join the National Protection Movement, and at that time if he could not make his position clear, it was likely that he would become enemies with these two big figures.

  Now that he has spoken, Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan have both made up their minds: Xu Shaoxun is a patriot, and when the time comes, the First Fleet's cannons must not be fired at the Shanghai Garrison Command.

  After seeing off Li Dingxin and Chen Shaokuan, Xu Shaowen still had some passionate emotions in his heart. Two million dollars was not a big number for himself, but it was a timely help for the Chinese Navy. He sincerely hoped that the Chinese Navy could grow stronger to wash away the shame of the First Sino-Japanese War. Of course, more importantly, this two million dollars laid a foundation for his future plans.

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  What's going on with being harmonized? I don't want to be harmonized!

  Continue to collect and recommend. You will have good news, thank you.