Chapter 56

John was taken aback by Habib's straightforward response. He had only mentioned it in passing, as such a large order, with installment payments, was rarely taken on by any foreign firm. A single order of equipment meant thousands of rifles and some additional gear. In all of Shanghai, only four or five firms could handle it, and most of their capital was tied up, with some invested in stocks. No one was interested in this project, which had been shelved since it was proposed by the Viceroy of the Two Rivers. John had only mentioned it casually, but he never expected that a newly established small foreign firm like Demi would have the audacity to take on such a substantial order. After all, this was a fully equipped order, with 2,500 rifles, short guns, machine guns, and other equipment, valued at around 400,000.

John's hands trembled slightly, and his initial thoughts were quickly dispelled. Whether the rifles were assembled in China or imported from Germany, anyone with such capabilities was beyond his reach as a deputy of a foreign firm. Even Lihe Foreign Firm itself would not easily take such a risk and would first gather information domestically before making a move.

John had come this time with the task of investigating Demi Foreign Firm. Within Lihe, no one suspected any issues; the establishment of a small foreign firm in Shanghai was common. After receiving this major news, they had estimated Demi's strength and found it to be incredibly formidable, a significant rival to Lihe.

"John, how about it? When can you introduce us?" Habib was waiting for John's response. A 400,000 deal, even with just half the payment, would be 200,000, which could greatly alleviate their current financial issues.

"Ah! What did you say?"

"I said the introduction!" Habib gestured, forming the shape of a gold coin.

John's heart stirred. He had forgotten about Lihe's concerns. If the deal went through, Lihe had clearly stated they would not pursue it. He hadn't expected Habib's agreement. Investigation was one aspect, but money was more important. The commission, even at one percent, would be 400 pounds, a significant sum for him in Shanghai. This garden house, for example, cost only 1,200 pounds, and it was one of the best in the area. He could find a suitable location and build a small apartment.

Money had a tremendous effect, especially the pound, which was as valuable as gold. John quickly arranged a meeting with the Viceroy of the Two Rivers, leveraging Lihe's background, and gathered them at the Zhonghui Hotel banquet hall.

Before leaving, Yang Yuanzhao reviewed the information on the Viceroy of the Two Rivers, Rui Fang, collected through the foreign firm's channels and the Yang family's domestic sources. Rui Fang, a Manchu from the Plain White Banner, was a high-ranking official in the late Qing dynasty, inclined towards Westernization, supporting commercial operations, constitutional monarchy, and the Hundred Days' Reform. He was also a relative of Yuan Shikai, with a daughter married to Yuan's son, Yuan Kequan.

In later history, during the Xinhai Revolution, Rui Fang played a role in the Railway Protection Movement, leading the new army to Sichuan, where the troops mutinied and he was killed by revolutionaries. His body was later paraded in Wuhan.

Rui Fang's current information was as follows: the New Army was established in 1907, with one division and two brigades, the 17th and 18th. Given Jiangsu's advanced economic conditions, the two brigades and four regiments were insufficient for Rui Fang, who planned to expand one brigade. He had raised some funds and was preparing to form one regiment but had received no response from any foreign firms. He was anxious when he received an invitation from Lihe.

Rui Fang took it very seriously, bringing the commander of the 9th Division, Xu Shaozhen, and other high-ranking officials from Jiangsu to the Zhonghui Hotel. As they were meeting with foreign officials, he did not maintain the arrogance of a Qing official. When John and Habib entered, he greeted them proactively.

John, well-versed in Chinese customs, remained composed, while Habib appeared slightly nervous. After they were seated, John directly stated that the transaction would be handled by Demi Foreign Firm.

Rui Fang was taken aback, slightly disappointed. He had never heard of Demi Foreign Firm. His eyes darted between John and Habib. In this era, foreign fraudsters were common. If John were not a deputy of Lihe, he might have left in a huff.

John sat silently, having completed his role as a mediator. Whether the deal went through was no longer his concern. He watched Habib to see how he would handle it.

Habib stood up and calmly said, "I understand your concerns about Demi Foreign Firm, but we can deliver the goods and receive payment upon delivery!"

The phrase "payment upon delivery" stunned everyone, including John. In this era, large orders were typically prepaid. No foreign firm would purchase hundreds of thousands of goods and wait for slow sales. Large quantities were usually pre-ordered, with the remainder sold gradually. John had initially doubted Demi's capabilities, but now it seemed they could indeed deliver the required equipment. Otherwise, the cost of transporting such a large amount from Europe would be enormous.

Rui Fang was also impressed. He was not a rigid old scholar but had a deep understanding of Westernization and foreign trade. This approach was both generous and minimized their risk, something no foreign firm had ever offered. His interest, which had been waning, was rekindled, and he looked at Habib with narrowed eyes.

Xu Shaozhen, who had been observing Rui Fang's expression, understood his superior's thoughts. He asked, "What are our terms?"

"Of course, we can meet your terms. Half the payment upon delivery, and the rest can be paid over two years," Habib replied calmly.

Xu Shaozhen glanced at Rui Fang, who showed no expression. Knowing Rui Fang's character, Xu understood that no opposition meant there was room for negotiation. He smiled and said, "Mr. Habib, you are indeed straightforward. Let's see the goods. Once we confirm the quality, we can sign the contract immediately!"

Habib waved, and a clerk from the foreign firm brought up sample rifles, including the Commission 1888 and Mauser, as well as the Browning 1900 pistol, bayonets, and ammunition belts. Since this was a new infantry regiment, the 75mm artillery was not included, only the Maxim machine gun.

Rui Fang did not move, but Xu Shaozhen gestured, and several subordinates stepped forward to inspect the items. They were Xu's personal guards, not only strong but also experienced. They completed the inspection in a few minutes and whispered to Xu, who then spoke to Rui Fang.

Habib remained calm, and indeed, after Xu's report, Rui Fang said, "Good, as long as the quality is this good, we will accept everything. When can you deliver?"

"Anytime," Habib replied casually, confirming John's suspicions. Demi Foreign Firm was indeed powerful, capable of mobilizing the required equipment in Shanghai at any time. Rui Fang and his team, however, looked somewhat awkward. The negotiation had not even begun, and the terms had not been discussed, yet the other party could say they could deliver at any time, a clear indication of their confidence.

However, in Chinese official circles, even in awkward situations, someone would find a way to turn the tide. Indeed, a subordinate stepped in to change the topic, and the conversation became increasingly broad. Habib tried to steer it back, but it was subtly redirected. After an hour of small talk, no one said much, and Rui Fang and his team left.

Habib, who had never experienced such a scenario, watched in amazement and turned to John, asking, "What just happened? Did we succeed or fail?"

"Stay calm, Habib!" John smiled, seemingly unconcerned. A servant hurried over and handed a piece of paper to Habib. It had only three large characters. Habib's Chinese was poor, but he understood basic numbers. A single "three" without context—what did it mean?

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