Who is the red capitalist and the god of management?

Armand hammer, one of the most legendary figures in American business circles, was once called "the God of Management" and "the God of Luck". 1898 was born in the United States on May 2 1. When he was in college, he began to run the pharmaceutical factory left by his father, which was a great success and became the only university millionaire in the United States at that time. 192 1 year, he went to the Soviet union, worked as a trade agent, and gained huge wealth. 1956 hammer, 58, bought a western oil company on the verge of bankruptcy and gradually made it one of the largest oil companies in the world. 1974, hammer's western oil company earned as much as $6 billion a year. Hammer has established close ties with political leaders of the East and the West all his life and enjoys a high reputation all over the world. Judging from the various industries he runs, it can be said that it is invincible. Whether it is doing grain, pencils and fur business with the Soviets, selling rare things for Hearst, or trading whiskey and oil, it has made huge profits; From the opponent's point of view, he also had to exclaim that "the hammer is invincible."

However, the "invincible" hammer and the "god of management" hammer had a modest fall: the other side offered a price far from what he could accept, and he resolutely refused, but after several contests, he had to accept the other side's conditions.

It was not easy to get a good steak in World War II. Inspired by this, the hammer stepped into the cattle industry. Cattle can sell at a good price, which largely depends on the blood relationship and quality of breeding cattle.

Just then, an award-winning stallion named "Prince Eric" was auctioned in Missouri. This stallion is praised by breeding experts as the best stallion of this century. At the beginning, the hammer was paid a "big price" of 654.38+0.5 million. But an entrepreneur named O 'Brien offered a higher starting price than him, and bought it at 35 1 0,000 yuan. The next best thing, he bought the "savage prince", the champion of the international cattle raising competition the previous year, for 27,500 yuan to raise cattle, and earned millions of yuan the next year. This made him feel more valuable as "Prince Eric".

Just then, a veterinarian told him a good news: "Prince Eric" suffered from impotence. According to his analysis, his illness was only psychological, not physical. Semen can also be used for artificial insemination.

Hearing the news, Hammer was in high spirits and immediately called O 'Brien: "Les, old friend, how about selling me your prince?"

"I'm happy to do that." O 'Brien's answer was surprisingly frank.

"Well, what are you going to pay?"

"65438+ ten thousand yuan."

This stick almost knocked Hammer unconscious. He couldn't help shouting, "Are you crazy? I just heard that your cows can't mate anymore, and they haven't mated for more than a year. "

"Then why did you buy it?" The other party actually retorted: "I know what you want to do. Someone has sent it to the university and said that' Prince Eric' can also be used as a breeding cow for artificial insemination? "

It turns out that the other party has insight into their own psychology! Hammer was a little discouraged. He immediately bargained with the other party in a very euphemistic tone: "I'm just taking a chance." No one really proves that it can have children. Tell you, Prince Eric has served you for so long, and I have a lot of money. How about giving you the original price? "

"65438+ ten thousand yuan." The other side refused to give in.

Gritting his teeth, the hammer immediately raised the price 1 multiple times: "Let's compromise, 75,000 yuan, but you have to let me do an experiment. Ok? "

O' Brien hesitated for a moment, then said, "All right, you come!" "

Hammer passed the veterinary examination, and the test result was very satisfactory. So he took out a check for 75,000 yuan and gave it to O 'Brien.

Aubrey took the check, looked at it, and then gave it back to Hammer: "There is not enough money."

"Why? Didn't you say 75 thousand? "

"No, I didn't agree to 75 thousand yuan, I just agreed to let you come here to do the experiment."

This is a total scoundrel! Hammer turned away in anger. O 'Brien smiled at him behind his back.

In the second year, 65438+February, the most famous Chicago international livestock was opened, and Hammer took a heifer to the exhibition. By this time, Hammer was already very famous in the cattle industry. Unfortunately, his cattle never won the world championship in the exhibition in Chicago. This time is very different. This cow is also a descendant of "Prince Eric". As a calf, the hammer was bought at a high price of 5000 yuan, and some of the most prestigious experts were invited to raise it. He is determined to win, and many colleagues in the cattle industry also think that the championship belongs to him.

Unexpectedly, this cow only took a runner-up. The champion was still robbed by another "daughter" of "Prince Eric"! Aubrey's phone: "Les, I am willing to pay you 65438+ ten thousand yuan ..."

In the end, the deal was concluded at a price of 64,900 yuan higher than O 'Brien's original price.

192 1 The Soviet Union experienced civil war and famine, and was in urgent need of relief materials, especially food. Hammer could have sat in a clean hospital with a stethoscope and lived a safe life without food and clothing. But he hates this life. In his eyes, it seems that those unknown places are the battlefields worth taking risks to do great things. He made a choice that most people thought was crazy, and set foot on the terrible Soviet Union described by the west as hell. At that time, the Soviet Union was devastated by civil war, foreign military intervention and blockade, and people's lives were very difficult. Infectious diseases such as cholera and typhus and famine seriously threaten people's lives. The Soviet regime led by Lenin adopted a major decision-the new economic policy, encouraging foreign investment and rebuilding the Soviet economy. But many westerners are full of prejudice and hatred towards the Soviet Union, and regard the Soviet regime as a terrible monster. Enterprises doing business and investing in the Soviet Union are called "exploring the moon".

Hammer knows this, of course, but the risk is big, the profit is bound to be big, and it is worth the risk. So Hammer finally entered the Soviet Union by train after experiencing seasickness in the Atlantic Ocean and the troubles of the British secret police. The scene along the way is terrible: infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever are prevalent, and the cities and villages are full of dead bodies, and birds that specialize in carrion and carrion hover over people's heads. Hammer closed his eyes painfully, but the shrewd mind of the businessman told him that the Soviet Union, which was plagued by famine, was in urgent need of food. He thought there was a bumper harvest in the United States at this time, and the price had already fallen to one dollar per bushel. Farmers would rather burn grain than send it to the market at such a low price. The Soviet Union has furs, platinum and jadeite that the United States needs in exchange for grain. Wouldn't it be best for both sides to exchange? Hammer learned from an emergency meeting in the Soviet Union that the Soviet Union needed about 654.38+0 billion bushels of wheat to help the hungry people in the Urals survive the famine. Now or never, Hammer immediately suggested to Soviet officials that grain should be shipped from the United States in exchange for Soviet goods. The two sides quickly reached an agreement. The first battle was successful. It wasn't long before Hammer became the first American to run a franchise enterprise in the Soviet Union. Since then, Lenin has given him greater privileges and made him an agent in charge of Soviet trade with the United States, and Hammer has also become the general representative of more than 30 companies in the Soviet Union, including Ford Motor Company, American Rubber Company and Alice-Charles Machinery and Equipment Company. The bigger the business, the more his income. The number of rubles he deposited in the Moscow bank is amazing.

A friend told him that the western oil company founded in the early 1920s was in a precarious situation. The company turned to Hammer for help. Hammer, who is still a layman in the oil industry, agreed to lend $50,000 as an attempt to let the company drill two oil wells, and the profits will be split 50-50. The hammer plan is that if the two wells dry up, the money can be deducted from the tax payable as a loss according to the regulations at that time.

To Hammer's surprise, oil flowed out of two wells at the same time. The shares of western oil companies suddenly rose. The success of the first attempt aroused Hammer's great interest in taking risks in the oil industry. 1957, he simply changed the loan he lent to the company into shares, becoming the largest shareholder of the western oil company and the general manager of the company.

After all, oil drilling is a high-risk industry. 196 1 year, western oil companies almost used up100000 dollars of exploration funds, but still made no achievements. Hammer plans to concentrate on overcoming difficulties. This project attracted a young geologist named Bob. He suggested to Hammer that there is an abandoned area of Texaco oil company east of San Francisco, where there may be natural gas fields that western oil companies should lease.

Hammer took the advice and raised a large sum of money to invest in this adventure. Geologists dug a well and put it in a clearing about 600 feet away from those abandoned wells. When drilling to a depth of 8,600 feet, the second largest natural gas field in California finally emerged, worth 200 million yuan. A few months later, another rich natural gas field was drilled nearby.

From 65438 to 0966, western oil companies came to oil-rich Libya. Just as the Libyan government was preparing for the second round of land lease negotiations. More than 40 companies from 9 countries participated in the bidding. Hammer seems to bite off more than he can chew when competing with these powerful big companies, and these oil giants can knock him down with their hands raised. But Hammer arrived on a plane modified by a bomber. He adopted a unique bidding method. He was ingenious, making twigs out of red, yellow and green silk, exactly the same color as the flag of Libya at that time. Moreover, he also specifically stated in the tender that if the western oil company wins the bid, it will build a beautiful big garden for the oasis where the king's ancestors are located. In this way, Hammer successfully created the opportunity to develop Libyan oil. He got two concessions in one fell swoop, which surprised his prestigious competitors.

But these two fields soon became the source of trouble for Hammer, and the first three wells were dry wells with no oil dripping. Each well will cost $3 million, and another $2 million will be used for earthquake detection and hidden bribery to Libyan government officials. Some people on the board of directors began to call this plan "Hammer's stupidity", and even Reid, the second largest shareholder of the company, advocated its withdrawal. Hammer is a temper that nine cows can't pull back. He strongly supports the company's geologists to test new technologies with computers and finally hit them. There are 9 oil wells, one of which has an annual output of 73,000 barrels, making it the largest oil well in Libya.

Profits began to flow into the accounts of western oil companies like oil, and the adventure succeeded again.

Another risky and successful investment by western oil companies in overseas oil industry is the development of North Sea oil field in Britain. 1972, the company drilled three dry wells in the north sea, each of which cost $25,000. Fortunately, it finally got the favor of God, drilled oil and achieved success.

At present, the company has formed a consortium with Getty Oil International Co., Ltd., United Chemical Co., Ltd. and Scottish Petroleum Co., Ltd. of newspaper tycoon Thompson to develop North Sea oil, and western oil companies hold 36.5% of the shares.

Jews are in China.

As early as the Tang Dynasty, Jews came to China by land through the ancient Silk Road. However, more Jews turned to China from India after the Northern Song Dynasty.

At that time, the main activity of these Jews was business, especially selling cloth. Kaifeng was the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty at that time, with a population of nearly one million and a very prosperous economy, which provided a vast world for these Jews who were good at doing business.

Shipu, which is famous in Kaifeng, is one of these Jews. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, Shipu came to Beitu Street in Kaifeng, Henan Province, and established the "Shiziyu Biansisi Village". Is a self-produced and self-sold silk handicraft workshop and wholesale and retail store. Shipu is a shrewd and hardworking Jewish descendant. Through the investigation of the market, he found that the silk industry has a bright future, and he was determined to start his own business in this field. Being good at calculation and foresight, he was not eager for success when he started the silk industry, but started from the most basic work. After gradually accumulating rich experience and laying a foundation, we will directly intervene.

When he was truly independent, he achieved the goal of "making a blockbuster without making a sound", putting his career ahead and defeating his competitors in all aspects. Shipu's silk business started as an apprentice in a silk weaving factory. When he decided to set up the "Teacher Yubian Silk Mill", he did not dislike the meager income of being an apprentice, nor did he fear the hardships of being an apprentice, so he went to a silk weaving factory as an apprentice. There, he buried himself in his work, not afraid of hardship and fatigue, and tried to do everything well. Thanks to careful observation and attention to study, he quickly started every job and did it well. Some people in the factory laughed at him as a scalper, wondering why he tried so hard to be an apprentice. In order to get familiar with all kinds of silk weaving techniques and master the relevant know-how, Shipu worked so hard. Many things happen. His silk technology made rapid progress, and his boss admired him very much and soon used him as a mechanic. After several years of apprenticeship and mechanic career, Shipu has become a skilled craftsman in the silk weaving industry. At this time, when the time was ripe, he found a suitable reason, and with a little savings and skills accumulated in the early stage, he founded the "Shizi Yubian Weaving Silk Village". At the beginning, his silk factory was a small and narrow factory with a house of more than 30 square meters. The second half is the factory, inside which is the machine room, cutting, weaving, embroidery, ironing and other processing places; The first half is a retail and wholesale exhibition store. It is such a small silk shop with a front shop and a back factory. Shipu is a boss, a technician and a salesman.

Because Shipu's silk weaving skills are superb. The products produced are very popular with customers. His various colors of twill, silk and yarn soon became famous all over the country and were exported overseas. Legend has it that Shipu was rewarded by Emperor Kangxi for this. With the prosperity of commerce, Shipu's processing factory and silk village have gradually expanded and become one of the best silk villages in Kaifeng and even the whole country. The yellow silk they produce is bright in color, delicate and soft in texture, and has become a famous product at home and abroad. At that time, provincial officials and rich people in Henan and even the whole country often used this yellow silk to pay tribute to the royal family, which was called "Gong Ling". With the efforts of himself and his descendants, Biansi Village founded by Shipu flourished, which lasted for more than 200 years after nine generations of Qing emperors and the Republic of China. There are many legendary stories about Shipu and Shiziyu Biansi Village, such as the story of twelve golden bulls, Kangxi's private visit to Biansi Village and the good silk in Shiziyu Biansi Village.

Since modern times, some Jewish communities have appeared in China, mainly in Harbin, Tianjin, Shanghai and other large and medium-sized cities.

/kloc-in the middle of the 0/9th century, shrewd Jewish businessmen, with their unique business vision, aimed at this treasure trove of geomantic omen along the Huangpu River and came to "seek gold" one after another. Jews in Shanghai in modern times were mostly British, mostly from British India, Egypt and Iraq. From opium, tea and silk trade to industry, finance and real estate, it has gradually become the richest Jewish merchant group in Shanghai and even the Far East.

The first Jew to come to Shanghai for development was David Sassoon. The Sassoon family not only came to Shanghai first, but also became the richest foreign businessmen in Shanghai after 100 years of commercial development. David Sassoon was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and then moved to Mumbai, British India, where he became a British citizen in the early 9th century.

Shortly after the opening of Shanghai, the shrewd David came to Shanghai and founded Shaxun Foreign Firm on 1845. This foreign company started with illegal opium trade and soon made huge profits. Sassoon opened branches in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama and Nagasaki, and established a huge international business empire. Later, David turned to the financial industry. He co-founded the famous HSBC on 1864 * *, and operated in Shanghai and Hong Kong at the same time. By the end of 1864, when David Sassoon died, the family property had reached 4 million pounds. The Sassoon family operated 100 years in Shanghai from 1940s to 1940s, and experienced four generations. By the time Victor Sassoon, the fourth heir of the family, Sassoon Group reached its peak and became the richest man in Shanghai. Sassoon Group has Shanghai Real Estate Co., Ltd., Hamilton Trust Co., Ltd. and China International Investment Trust Company. There are 28 buildings in old Shanghai with 10 floor, among which Sassoon Group owns 6 buildings. When China War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression broke out, Sassoon Group's investment in Shanghai involved 24 enterprises in textile, food, construction, transportation, finance and other industries, with total assets of 5 billion China francs. Before the outbreak of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in China, Sassoon Group began to transfer its property from Shanghai to other countries.

On the eve of the liberation of Shanghai, the new Sassoon Company moved its headquarters from Shanghai to Nassau, Bahamas, ending the 65,438+000-year history of Sassoon family in China.

Another legend is Aaron Hatton, whom we have mentioned many times in this book. We have introduced his professional experience and management skills in detail in the last section, so I won't repeat them here. When he died, his legacy consisted of nearly 500 mu of land,1more than 300 buildings, all over the bustling area of Shanghai. Hatong's legend stems not only from his management ability, but also from his close relationship with China society. Most foreign adventurers who come to Shanghai do not intend to settle here. Their purpose is to get rich and have fun here. Even the Shanghai consortium Sassoon family has set up branches in many other parts of the world. Once the domestic situation changes, immediately transfer the property abroad and walk away. Harbin children, not only made a fortune in China, but also deeply entered the China society and lived and worked in Shanghai. People say that Harbin is very enthusiastic about the traditional culture of China and has established extensive relations with all walks of life in China. Some people think that he has completely accepted China culture ideologically, while others think that it is just a tactic. But in any case, these activities show that he has deeply integrated into China society, and his activities objectively played a positive role in modern Shanghai's cultural undertakings, municipal and economic construction.

Among the rich Jews in Shanghai. Besides the Sassoon family and Harbin, there are many Jewish businessmen. Although their wealth is not as great as that of Sassoon and Harbin, they are also famous millionaires and occupy a place in the modern Shanghai economy. The famous ones are Kadoorie family, Ezra family and Arnold family.

After the Japanese invasion of China broke out, the activities of Jewish businessmen in Shanghai were also dealt a heavy blow and went downhill from then on. Before the outbreak of the Pacific War, some Jewish enterprises such as Sassoon Group began to transfer their assets from Shanghai to other countries. After the Japanese invaders occupied the Shanghai Concession, they took over the property of foreign businessmen in various countries, and these Jewish businessmen were not spared. Then civil war began in China, and the situation was very chaotic and turbulent. Jewish businessmen in Shanghai realized that there were few opportunities for development in China. Gradually began to divest, Sassoon Group moved its headquarters to Bahamas, Kadoorie family moved its business center to Hong Kong, and some moved to America, Europe and Australia.

In modern times, Harbin, China was once the largest Jewish settlement center and spiritual center in East Asia. Jews carried out political, economic and cultural activities in Harbin, which made great contributions to Harbin's economic prosperity and urban development.

During the decades when Jews lived in Harbin, their economic activities were very active, and many industrial, commercial and clothing enterprises were founded, which laid an important foundation for the development of modern industrial economy in Harbin.

These industries include mining, metallurgy, finance, circulation, hotels, forestry, flour, petroleum, wine, sugar, tobacco, construction, printing, publishing, warehousing, transportation, animal husbandry and other industries. Jews also pioneered the export of soybeans from China to Europe through their trade ability.

With the start of the Middle East Railway, Jews first moved to Harbin. The construction of this railway is a rare business opportunity for Jews. Harbin Jews contracted Middle East railway projects, forest farms and coal mines, set up shipping companies, and provided living services for Russian workers and Chinese workers engaged in Middle East railway construction by virtue of their relationship with the Jewish upper class of Middle East railway companies. Many people have made a fortune as a result.

This is how the famous Stidelsky family got rich. 1903 obtained the right to cut five forests, including Weishan River. 1909 started to operate zazenor coal mine, and 1924 obtained the management right of muling coal mine and became the main supplier of railway fuel in the middle east.

Another important Jewish family, the Soschin family, opened a shipping company.

Since the construction of the Middle East Railway, Jews in Harbin have established many enterprises in flour, oil, wine, sugar, tobacco, animal husbandry, construction, printing, publishing, warehousing and other industries. It laid the foundation for the development of modern industry in Harbin.

For example. Ashe River Sugar Factory was established in 1908 and operated by Jewish Kagan. It is the first beet sugar factory in China and occupies an important position in the history of industrial sugar production in China. Huaying Oil Press Factory, established in 19 14, has advanced equipment, which makes Harbin's edible oil industry finally enter the European and American markets.

What's interesting is. Jews also opened the earliest perming shops and suit-making factories in Harbin in 1906 and 1907, and trained a group of China technicians.

In addition to starting a business, smart Harbin Jews will certainly not give up their best business activities.

They have a good knowledge of fur identification. 95% fur traders in Harbin and Northeast China are Jews, and they have absolute monopoly advantage in this field.

Harbin was one of the earliest cities in China to introduce western medicine, and Jews made great contributions to it.

At that time, almost all the people engaged in western medicine trade in Harbin and Northeast China were Jews.

On the export side, in 1907, Bietke Novski, a Jew from Harbin, sold soybeans made in China to Europe for the first time, setting a historical precedent for China to export soybeans to Europe.

1922, Jewish businessmen such as sosiqin founded Harbin far east commercial bank; 1923, Harbin Jews raised funds to set up a private bank-Harbin Jewish National Bank; 1926, Harbin Jews founded Harbin Sheikh Bank. In addition, banks with international Jewish capital include China-Russia Dawson Bank, HSBC and Citibank.

In particular, the Harbin Branch of China-Russia Daosheng Bank, established in 1898, is the earliest foreign bank in Harbin and Northeast China, and also the beginning of modern financial industry in Harbin.

According to the statistical data of 1926, there are 489 Jewish industrial and commercial enterprises in Harbin, including 28 kinds of industrial departments and 25 kinds of businesses. Of the total foreign investment in the three northeastern provinces, Jewish business accounts for 3 1.6%, and industry accounts for 46.5%.

In the first board of directors of Harbin Exchange Committee, there were *** 13 members and alternate members, 8 of whom were Jews, and the post of Speaker of the Exchange was always held by Jews.

From 65438 to 0927, the power of Jews in Harbin declined, and the bankruptcy of the Russian-Asian bank dealt a great blow to many Jewish trading companies. From 65438 to 0932, when Japan occupied Harbin, Jews were persecuted, many Jewish shops closed down and some Jews were forced to leave Harbin for Shanghai or the United States.

Since then, Jews have successively established many primary schools, middle schools and various specialized schools, such as business accounting schools, piano vocal schools, music art schools and violin schools. It has trained a group of business and music talents for the Jewish community and Harbin.

19 12, Jews established the national library in Harbin, with a collection of 15000 volumes, ranging from rabbi literature and Jewish hymns to contemporary elegant literature and children's books, which could meet the cultural needs of readers at all levels. It was the largest Jewish library in East Asia at that time. The library also often holds various cultural activities, such as concerts and poetry readings, and is one of the important cultural activity centers for Jews in Harbin.

Jews are also keen to start newspapers and spread all kinds of information. He founded more than ten newspapers and periodicals, such as Jewish Speech, Far East News and Jewish Life. These newspapers publicized and introduced the political, economic and cultural life of Jews in Harbin, which kept the Jews in Harbin in close contact with the outside world. It is worth mentioning that 1929 was founded on February 9th. It is one of the secret news organizations established by * * * International Company in Harbin, and its chairman is Hatton fleet, a British Jew.

Harbin Jews also founded music schools, troupes, musical instrument shops and held concerts, which made outstanding contributions to the spread and root of western music in Harbin. 1910-1922, the Jews in Harbin founded the Imadag Hebrew Music, Literature and Drama Association, which gathered many klezmer, and had a great influence on Harbin music. In the 1920s, many famous klezmer taught in various music schools in Harbin, including B.N. Tlach Tenberg, a famous gold medal winner of the Petersburg Conservatory of Music, and Helmut Stern, deputy chief of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra who took refuge in Harbin to escape the persecution of the German Nazis. During this period, Harbin also had its own symphony orchestra. Thanks to the participation of Tlach Tenberg and other klezmer, this orchestra can compete with the Shanghai Ministry of Industry Symphony Orchestra and become one of the two most famous symphony orchestras in China. At that time, there were often world-class Kretzmer performing in Harbin, including the violinist Kheifits, who was known as the "Divine Bow", and ellman, who was nicknamed "The Voice of ellman".

While performing and teaching, Jews in Harbin also opened the "Kangjilianna" musical instrument store, which was one of the most influential musical instruments stores in China at that time.

After World War II, Jews who settled in Harbin left China one after another and moved to Europe and America. Today, there are Harbin Jews and their descendants in Israel, Australia, the United States, Britain, Russia and other European countries.