Why did Zhang Jian, a champion industrialist and educator, become a giant in the oriental industry?

Zhang Jian, 1894, the top scholar in the examination, was given to the academician courtyard for editing. When Japan attacked Korea on a large scale, he fought generously and took the lead in opposing Li Hongzhang's compromise. Later, due to the death of his father, he quit his job and returned to his hometown.

The fiasco of the Sino-Japanese War and the deepening of the national crisis greatly stimulated Zhang Jian. He realized that only by developing industry and innovating education can China regain its grandeur among the nations of the world. He even suggested that the scholar-officials should become the pawn of saving the country by industry. Just then, Zhang Zhidong, governor of Huguang, wrote to the court, asking Beijing officials registered in Suzhou and other places to invest and raise funds to set up factories to resist the infiltration of foreign capital in these areas. This memorial hall gave Zhang Jian an opportunity to put the thought of saving the country by industry into practice, and let him embark on the road of capitalist setting up factories.

Zhang Jian did public welfare at home in his early years and was very familiar with the property in Tongzhou. He decided to establish a new cotton mill here according to the characteristics of Tongzhou cotton office, such as tenacity and long duration, and developed manual cotton spinning industry. He quoted the Book of Changes as saying that "the size of heaven and earth means the birth" and named the factory "Sheng Da Cotton Mill".

1in the winter of 895, Zhang Jian began to attract investment. However, a scholar is penniless and it is difficult to raise money to set up a factory. The dumping and crowding out of foreign goods, traditional stereotypes, the constraints of the government, the squeezing and plundering of donations, and the serious lack of funds are all in front of Zhang Jian. Sheng Da Cotton Mill was originally planned to be organized by gentry and businessmen from Tongzhou and Shanghai, raising 602,000 yuan. However, shortly after preparation, two gentry businessmen broke their contract and left. In desperation, Zhang Jian changed the cotton mill from a commercial office to a joint venture between officials and businessmen, and the officials and businessmen each raised 502 thousand yuan. At this time, two businessmen withdrew from the board of directors because of lack of confidence, while the official shares were prevaricated by a group of rusty yarn machines piled up on Huangpu beach for three years. Therefore, Zhang Jian had to reduce the commercial stocks to 252,000, but there were still few respondents. From the winter of 1895 to the spring of 1899, during these four years, Zhang Jian shuttled between Nanjing, Shanghai, Han and Tong with his own perseverance, and even changed the arrogance of scholar-officials and asked officials to talk about private affairs. Building a factory has gone through a lot of hardships.

1in the spring of 899, the cotton mill was unable to start work due to insufficient liquidity. At this time, Zhang Jian is really at the end of his tether. Faced with numerous ravines and difficulties, and the rapids and reefs that followed, Zhang Jian was really exhausted and disheartened. He had intended to rent the cotton mill to others, but the Shanghai businessman took advantage of his danger and the conditions were very harsh. Finally, he made up his mind and decided to use the existing cotton spinning in the factory for sale. Sell yarn and pick flowers, continue your autobiography. Results After opening, the cotton yarn market was smooth and profitable every year, and the factory actually operated without liquidity. This is a miracle in the history of the development of Chinese national capitalism.

With the growing prosperity of Sheng Da cotton mill, since 1900, Zhang Jian has successively established Tonghai Huangmu Company, Shanghai Dadwaijiang Lunbu Company and Tianshenggang Lunbu Company, and owned pig iron smelters.