America 1881: Legend of the West.

Chapter 530: Shorting the United States
20 tons of gold temporarily saved the lives of the US dollar and the federal government, but it was not enough to turn things around.

Chen Jianqiu formed a very professional team and began to issue gold bonds.

This team recruited many outstanding financial talents on Wall Street at that time.

Part of them did it because Chen Jianqiu offered a high salary, and part of them thought it was a very meaningful thing.

After the first batch of gold bonds came out, they sold very well.

Those 20 tons of gold still shocked people a lot.

Rumor has it that the Astor family has also joined the ranks of buying gold bonds. The strength of New York's largest landowner is well known.

If they take action, everything will be fine, right?

On the other side, Belmont was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.

"Morgan! We have to find a way. If this continues, this yellow-skinned Chinese will become a force that Wall Street cannot ignore! This is something I cannot tolerate."

In his office at Morgan Bank, Belmont paced back and forth.

Big-nosed Morgan, on the other hand, sat in his big office chair without saying a word.

"We can use our connections in Congress! If these two guys can act so quickly, they must have bypassed Congress. We can let our people cause trouble for them!"

Morgan still said nothing.

"If it doesn't work, I have other options, such as discussing with the Lord to short the U.S. economy. If he gives those people hope, we will extinguish all hope!"

The Lord Belmont refers to, of course, is the big shot of the European Rothschild family.

Morgan's big nose twitched suddenly, but his expression remained normal:

"Short the United States?" He glanced at Belmont, pointed the finger holding the cigar at himself, and then pointed at Belmont, "You and I are all Americans."

"Morgan, is there something wrong with your brain?" Belmont was so anxious that he couldn't speak at all. "I'll say it again! We are bankers! There is no word nationality in the dictionary of bankers! We only serve capital. .”

Morgan did not dispute Belmont's claims.

So the Rothschild spokesperson in the United States began to talk endlessly about his plan, while Morgan fell into deep thought.

"Morgan! You should express your opinion!"

Morgan raised his head:

"Let's talk to those two people."

34 Bell Street.

This is not only the headquarters of the Border Detective Agency, but also the office location of Chen Jianqiu's "Legal and Financial Center".

Since Sanjiang Bank began to issue gold bonds, Chen Jianqiu, who has been keeping a low profile in the east all year round, has come to the forefront.

People suddenly discovered that there was another big shot in the American business world, Chen.

The industries Chen Jianqiu is involved in include but are not limited to finance, arms, real estate, and international trade.
As a result, various rumors about the "Chen Group" began to spread.

Chen Jianqiu has never denied this.

If there really is a "Chen Group", then 34 Bell Street is where the brain is.

The entire large office on the third floor seemed to be in a wartime state.

All kinds of staff were walking back and forth in the corridor with various materials and documents in their hands.

None of them had time to stop and chat. They were all performing their duties and analyzing the news from various channels.

Chen Jianqiu placed a huge square table at the end of the large office.

A very large piece of thick cardboard is spread out on the table, with plans, precautions and some key data listed on it.

Chen Jianqiu held a pen and leaned over the table, calculating something with concentration.

On the wall behind him, there were densely packed small notes recording information elements.

"Chen, the second batch of gold from Roswell is already on its way." Lawyer Dylan took a piece of information from his assistant and whispered into Chen Jiaqiu's ear.

Chen Jianqiu straightened up.

He put the pen on the table and moved his neck and waist:

"Well, once it's shipped, we'll send it to New York first, so that Wyatt and Holiday can coordinate the security work so that there won't be any mistakes."

Chen Jianqiu raised his head and looked around, trying to move his eyes.

But his eyes suddenly stopped on an inconspicuous little envelope in the assistant's hand.

There was obviously something inside.

"What is that you are holding in your hand?" Chen Jianqiu asked.

The assistant was suddenly cueed by Chen Jianqiu and was startled. He quickly handed the envelope to the boss's hand:
"Sorry, boss, I was just preparing to give it to you." The assistant said in panic, "A gentleman sent it to you."

Chen Jianqiu looked at the envelope in his hand.

The paper of the envelope is very elegant, and the colorless pattern printed on it can be seen in the sunlight.

The mouth of the envelope was sealed tightly with wax, and it felt heavy in the hand.

Chen Jianqiu touched it with his hand, and it felt like something similar to a medal.

He tore it open and poured the contents of the envelope into his hands.

A badge and a note.

The pattern on the badge looks familiar.

Ruler, "G" letter.

It is the emblem of Freemasonry.

Chen Jianqiu picked up the note.

There is only one short line above:

Tonight, we are waiting for you at 221 Fifth Avenue.

Chen Jianqiu had a sneer on his lips.

He weighed the badge with his hands and put it into his pocket.

We still have to meet each other after all, right?

Time soon came to night.

In April, New York has passed the winter, but the weather is still cold, especially at night, with cool breezes.

A carriage stopped at the door of 221 Fifth Avenue.

Chen Jianqiu and little Astor got out of the car.

The small house in front of you is not eye-catching, but the details everywhere on the roof, fences and even steps demonstrate the builder's ingenuity and the owner's extraordinary taste.

"The former residence of Alexander Hamilton, the founding father and the first Treasury Secretary of the federal government." Little Astor pointed to this house and said, "I don't know how it later became a private salon of the Freemasons. This is my first time here. , Grandpa brought it with him."

Chen Jianqiu didn't know much about the former owner of the house. He only remembered that this man was one of the drafters of the "U.S. Constitution". In addition, this man's marksmanship was really ordinary. He died with the then Vice President Allen ·In a duel with Burr.

The two of them walked towards the door of the house.

When the waiter at the door saw the two people arriving, there was a hint of surprise on his face.

He knew little Astor, but he usually didn't come much; but when a Chinese appeared here, it was a very magical thing.

Chen Jianqiu took out the badge from his pocket, opened his palm, and showed it to the waiter.

The waiter's expression became even more exciting.

You know, owning this badge means that Freemasonry recognizes your strength and at least you are qualified to step into this salon.

There are a lot of white supremacists in the Freemasons, and allowing a Chinese person to have this qualification was unimaginable in the past.

But the waiter was well-informed after all.

His expression quickly returned to normal.

"Gentlemen, please come in,"

After walking through the corridor lined with portraits of famous Freemason members, the two soon arrived at the reception room.

The furnishings in the living room seem to have been adjusted.

Four separate sofas were placed facing each other in the middle of the living room, surrounding a small round table.

Big Nosed Morgan and Belmont were already sitting on two of the sofas.

Seeing two people coming in, Morgan stood up, smiled and waved at them. Belmont had no intention of moving and just looked up and glanced at the two of them.

"Please sit down." Morgan pointed to the two sofa chairs opposite.

"It's a nice place. It looks like Hamilton must have been rich back then."

After sitting down, Chen Jianqiu looked around the living room and said.

"Are you Mr. Chen?" Belmont spoke, but Chen Jianqiu always felt that this person was looking down on him.

"Yes, is there anything wrong?" Chen Jianqiu asked calmly.

"We hope that the subsequent issuance of gold bonds will be undertaken by Belmont Bank and Morgan Bank, so we are here to discuss this with you." Belmont was as arrogant as ever, "You can set the conditions."

Chen Jianqiu raised his eyebrows. "I'm sorry, the issuance of bonds was entrusted to us by the U.S. federal government, so you should go to the President," he said.

"That's because we didn't go directly to the White House, Mr. Chen." Belmont laughed. "If we had gone to the White House, the bond issuance opportunity would have been ours."

"It's not easy for a Chinese to accumulate such a huge fortune. I admire your courage." Belmont advised in what he thought was a patient tone, "You don't know what you are facing. With the strength of the two of you, you can't accomplish anything."

"I never said that it would just depend on the two of us." Chen Jianqiu looked at little Astor and found that his face was not very good either.

It was obvious that this young man was despised and was very unhappy.

"So, I sincerely invite you two to come and buy the gold bonds we issued. If you want to join in the form of distribution, we also welcome you." Chen Jianqiu said to Belmont with a smile.

Belmont could no longer suppress his temper. He stood up from the sofa:
"You are playing with fire!"

"Just two outsiders like you want to challenge the world's financial order?"

"But our gold bonds have already been issued, what can you do?" Chen Jianqiu spread his hands.

"Do you think dozens of tons of gold can save the American economy? Do you know what the foundation of the American economy is? Do you know how much of a stir we can create in the stock market on Wall Street?" Belmont roared, not looking like a well-educated gentleman at all.

He couldn't accept a Chinese person being so provocative in front of him.

"You guys?" Chen Jianqiu turned his gaze to Morgan, who had remained silent.

Morgan had been silent since he and Astor Jr. entered the room, smoking his cigar with no expression on his face.

At this moment, he was like a statue, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Chen Jianqiu's gaze returned to Belmont again.

His expression also changed, and the smile on his face disappeared.

He said to Belmont coldly:

"Belmont, you are not qualified to talk to me like that. Look at the portraits hanging on the wall. Washington, Franklin, and Hamilton, the original owner of this house, are all founders of this country."

"No matter what their purpose is, they don't want this country to be destroyed!"

"If you really want to negotiate, ask your master to come over. You are nothing more than a guard dog for them."

Morgan took another drag on his cigar, and Astor Jr. looked at Belmont with the same cold gaze.

Belmont was trembling all over.

"I want to fight you! You yellow-skinned bastard!"

He completely lost his composure and yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Oh? Time? Place? Here?"

Chen Jianqiu smiled.

He hadn't duelled with anyone for a long time, but he didn't mind killing this cowardly guy.

"Belmont!" Morgan finally spoke, "This is a Masonic salon, not a dueling arena!"

Belmont's blush finally faded.

"Morgan, I'm leaving first! There's nothing to talk about with these two people!" He put on his hat and walked towards the door.

Halfway through the walk, he turned around and pointed at Chen Jianqiu: "Wait for me!"

Chen Jianqiu was a little disappointed.

This guy is still a coward.

If it were in the West, it would probably be scorned and not allowed to enter the town's tavern.

After Belmont left, only Morgan, Chen Jianqiu and little Astor were left in the room.

Morgan was still smoking his cigar, which had only a small piece left, looking ahead, not knowing what he was thinking.

"We're leaving too." Chen Jianqiu stood up.

He extended a hand to Morgan and said, "Mr. Morgan, thank you for your invitation. Capital really has no borders, but you should believe in the future of America."

Morgan was as if in a trance, motionless.

He did not take Chen Jianqiu's hand, nor did he make any other expression.

Chen Jianqiu laughed and left the room with little Astor.

The second batch of gold bonds is about to be issued.

The first batch of subscribed gold was shipped into the treasury and began to provide liquidity for the federation.

People began to gradually regain their confidence, the previously deserted New York Stock Exchange became lively again, and the sluggish stock index also began to rise steadily, which was rare.

Everything seems to be going in the right direction.

It's another Thursday.

After finishing his breakfast, Chen Jianqiu tidied his clothes and prepared to go out.

Also going out with them were Camilla and his son Xiaopeng Kun.

Little Astor found a famous private school for little Kunpeng.

Many children from prestigious families in New York attend this school.

"Dad, what if they bully me?" Xiao Pengkun raised his head and looked at his father and mother with blinking eyes.

He was wearing a school uniform with a bulge on his butt.

Chen Jianqiu squatted down and straightened his son's collar:

"Don't hit too hard. It's better to spank the buttocks. That place is not easy to see."

Camilla snorted:
"It's good enough that he doesn't bully others."

She also squatted down, reached behind her son's buttocks, and pulled out a small pistol from his pants.

"Mom, there are no bullets." Xiao Pengkun said with a sad face.

"You can't bring it to school without bullets." Camilla said "gently", "Come back and play. Mom will take you to the suburbs to shoot bottles tomorrow."

After that, she took Xiao Pengkun into the carriage.

Chen Jianqiu laughed, waved goodbye to the two of them, then rode on Black Radish and headed towards Bell Street.

The sky is a little cloudy and it looks like it's going to rain.

He rode slowly along Fourth Avenue.

Along the way, he saw many people speaking English with London and Frankfurt accents, carrying boxes and asking for directions.

New York is an international metropolis with people from all over the world.

Chen Jianqiu wandered to his base on Bell Street.

He came to the two stone lions, dismounted, took out his pocket watch from his arms and took a look at it.

ten o'clock.

The New York Stock Exchange should have been trading for some time.

It should be the day when the second batch of gold bonds will be issued.

He originally wanted to go and take a look, but then he thought about it and decided to let Silas take charge.

Leave professional matters to professionals. There is no need to do everything yourself.

Chen Jianqiu walked up the stairs to the second floor.

He was originally wondering whether he should make a cup of coffee or tea first.

But when he appeared at the stairs, he found that everyone was looking at him.

And in front of his big table, there was a group of people standing.

Chief accountant Silas, chief lawyer Dylan, Sanjiang Bank general manager Okafor, and Border Detective Agency's eastern region chief Holiday were all gathered there, discussing something nervously.

"Boss Chen is here!" Someone shouted.

Everyone at the table turned their heads and looked at Chen Jianqiu, as if they had seen their backbone.

Chen Jianqiu walked over slowly.

"What happened?" He glanced at everyone, and finally stopped his gaze on Silas. "Weren't you there to keep an eye on the issuance of gold bonds? Why are you back?"

"There are Astor's people watching over there." Silas wiped the sweat from his head.

It was such a cold day, it was obvious that he had rushed back.

“We’ve got more trouble.”

"Oh?"

Chen Jianqiu took off his gloves, and a group of people made way for the boss to walk among them.

Silas pointed to the documents on the table and said:
"Europeans this morning began frantically selling off their assets in the United States, such as shares of various companies that survived the financial crisis."

"The stock index is plummeting and panic is emerging in the market!"

"They want to short America!"

(End of this chapter)