Chapter 334 Triangle Alliance (Continued)
The triangular business alliance that the Heixinggen Group intends to form is actually the same as local supermarkets forming an alliance to fight against external competitors.
To be honest, the two companies may not really want to cooperate with the Heixingen Group, especially the Shanxi merchants. The Heixingen Bank conducts business in North China, which is actually its sphere of influence. However, the Shanxi merchants' base is far away and their influence on local officials in North China is weak. They do not have the power of local clans like Zhuhai. Among the four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants, Shanxi merchants are the most traditional "merchants". They may have some say in Shanxi, but that does not work in North China.
The Heixinggen Group's willingness to cooperate was definitely a good thing for Shanxi merchants. Qiao Zhiyong was the first to propose: "We can cooperate, but we must first demarcate our respective areas, and the boundaries must be clearly defined, and then no one should cross the line."
Anthony, the Far East General Manager of Hexingen Bank: "Of course there is no problem, but we must also emphasize that after demarcating our respective areas, in the future, the three of us in the north must give priority to purchasing goods from our allies, such as food and industrial products. You should purchase from us first, and we will also give priority to your two companies when importing products from the north."
Hu Xueyan: "What if there is a problem with the quality of your bank's products?"
Anthony: "There is no problem with the products of our Heixingen Consortium. Of course, empty words are not enough to prove it. We can set a unified standard for this matter and grade the products according to their quality. Good products will naturally have higher prices, and poor quality products will naturally have lower prices. We can send professionals to each other and set up a unified organization to supervise."
Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan looked at each other and nodded to each other.
Qiao Zhiyong: "Then this organization will be the liaison center for the three parties. Where should the headquarters be located?"
Anthony: "You can choose any of the three locations: Jiaozhou, Xuzhou, and Kaifeng. The specific location is mainly up to you to discuss, but it can only be these three cities."
Qiao Zhiyong: "Then let's choose Kaifeng! After all, the three of us are relatively close to here."
Hu Xueyan: "Kaifeng is OK, but I prefer Xuzhou."
Anthony: "Then Kaifeng, as the headquarters for tripartite cooperation and communication, can be built next to the East African Kingdom Consulate in Kaifeng, which will also facilitate our exchanges and cooperation."
Hu Xueyan: "There is also the issue of demarcation. In recent years, your side has expanded too fast in the Far East, which is very unfriendly to us."
Anthony: "Please be patient, Mr. Hu. We have obtained this market through normal trade with the permission of your country's officials. After all, people will actively choose high-quality and low-priced goods."
Hu Xueyan: "But if you continue to expand at the current speed, you will have to cross the Huai River and reach the Yangtze River. Then our Huizhou merchants will exist in name only. Sir Anthony, do you think this is cooperation?"
You think too highly of me! This is Anthony's idea. If East Africa is really that powerful, there will be no problem with Britain, France and the United States.
Anthony: "Let's draw the commercial boundaries according to the current respective areas! But Mr. Hu Xueyan, I want to remind you that your biggest enemy is probably the British. Our Hexingen Bank is not stupid enough to compete with the British in the Yangtze River Basin. Although Germany has two world powers, they have no influence in the Far East. Banks like us must also keep a low profile in the Far East."
That's really a low-key way of life. The places chosen in East Africa are all looked down upon by the British. For example, in the north, the business of the Hexingen Bank is in a crescent shape around the southern part of the Yimeng Mountains and extends deep into the Central Plains. The same is even more so in the south. There is only a small coastal area in Zhuhai, and it has not entered the inland hinterland of the south.
Hu Xueyan: "Thank you for your reminder, but does your bank belong to Prussia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or the East African Kingdom that few people mention?"
Few people mention it, which is indeed very interesting. After all, the East African Kingdom was established only a year ago, and not many people in Europe may know about it. Even though it was reported in newspapers when it was founded, as long as you glance at Africa, you will skip it directly.
Anthony: "The Hechingen Bank is a German national enterprise, so it naturally belongs to the entire German nation, not just the three countries you mentioned. So the Hechingen Bank is not an enterprise limited to a certain country."
Hu Xueyan: "Haha, don't be offended, Mr. Anthony. I'm just curious about your bank."
Anthony: "That's not necessary. In fact, our information is public. It's just an ordinary bank in Europe."
Qiao Zhiyong: "Mr. Anthony, I wonder if we can send someone to Europe to investigate your company's operating model?"
Qiao Zhiyong had long been interested in this so-called bank of Westerners. Although money houses are similar, they are definitely two different things.
Anthony: "Mr. Qiao, if you are interested in the banking industry, there is no need to refer to Hechingen Bank, because Hechingen Bank is not a pure bank. If you are interested, we can arrange for you to visit the Netherlands, which is the place with the strongest business atmosphere in Europe and the purest financial industry."
Qiao Zhiyong: "Oh! The Netherlands."
Anthony: "Isn't it unexpected? In fact, many modern financial concepts were first invented by the Dutch. The Netherlands is also one of the most economically developed regions in Europe."
Qiao Zhiyong: "I'm sorry to make you laugh. I've mostly been in the Far East, Central and Western China, and I don't know much about overseas countries. I've only heard of England and France, but that was a few years ago..."
Anthony: "Mr. Qiao, you are welcome. If you really want to understand European countries, you can send people to study. We at Hexingen Bank are willing to support you and help you avoid some detours."
Qiao Zhiyong: “Thank you so much!”
The imperial court learned from the barbarians to control the barbarians, and the Shanxi merchants should also take action. As early as when competing with the Hei Xinggen Bank, Qiao Zhiyong discovered that the operating model of Western banks was more competitive. For example, the interest rate of this bank was higher for those who deposited money, so where was the profit point of the bank?
Hu Xueyan: "I wonder if we can also send people to Europe to study!"
Anthony: "Of course there is no problem, but we only give you suggestions. The specific choice is up to you."
Since the three companies are allies, it is necessary to let these two traditional business groups keep up with the times, which will also facilitate cooperation with the Heixinggen Group.
Learning some Western rules will also help to avoid being deceived by capital from other countries in the future. The Far Eastern government cannot be relied upon, and they can only rely on self-reliance. Anthony himself sympathizes with his two colleagues. If the Hechingen Bank has any problems, it can seek help from the three governments of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Kingdom of East Africa, and they can generally solve the problem. On the contrary, they have to be wary of "their own people."
(End of this chapter)
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