Wu Bingjian's assets: about 28 million taels (at that time, the richest people in the United States only had 7 million taels).

The reason for his fame: the richest businessman of his time.

Wu Bingjian's ancestors moved from Nankang, Jiangxi Province to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in the early years of Kangxi, and originally planted tea in Lianhua Mountain. This is one of the few businessmen in China who are allowed to trade silk and porcelain with foreigners. His father Wu Guoying used to be the accountant of Pan, the richest man in Guangzhou. 1783, opened Jardine Matheson and became a Hong Kong businessman. Like Hehe, the Wu family's ancestral home is Nankangfu, Jiangxi. As a businessman from Jiangxi after 13 trips to Guangzhou, he pushed the influence of Jiangxi people in Guangzhou to another peak. Wu Bingjian's family only receives two cashiers; They don't want all foreign goods. 1789, Wu Bingjian took over his father's business. He lent foreign businessmen a lot of money (one million silver dollars at a time) in exchange for some ships. He is also a recognized philanthropist, and donated1120,000 silver dollars in reparations after the First Opium War. At that time, Wu Bingjian's reputation spread far and wide, and his portraits were still hung in some official residences built by Americans who had business dealings with him, such as Salem, Massachusetts and Newport, Rhode Island.

Legendary life

Wu Bingjian, the world's richest man, published an album "Millennium" in The Wall Street Journal (Asia Edition) in 200 1, taking stock of the 50 richest people in the world in recent centuries. Among them, six China people were selected, namely Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Liu Jin, Xiao Shenyang, Wu Bingjian and Song Ziwen. Among these six people, Wu Bingjian is the only one who appears as a pure businessman, so Wu Bingjian is also the focus of attention. Wu Bingjian (1769 ~ 1843), also known as Pinghu, was originally from Fujian. His ancestors settled in Guangdong in the early years of Kangxi and began to do business. When I arrived at Wu Bingjian's father, the Wu family was beginning to participate in foreign trade. 1783, Wu Guozong took an important step, established Jardine Matheson, and gave himself a business name "Guan Hao". This business name has been used by later generations, and became a resounding name in the international business community in the early19th century. 180 1 year, 32-year-old Wu Bingjian took over Jardine Matheson's business, and the Wu family's business began to rise rapidly. Wu Bingjian became the leader of Guangzhou businessmen-the chief businessman. In terms of management, Wu Bingjian has established close ties with important customers in Europe and America, relying on advanced management concepts to rise rapidly in foreign trade. Wu Bingjian not only owns real estate, real estate, tea gardens and shops. In China, it also boldly invested in railways, traded securities and set foot in American insurance business across the ocean. At the same time, he is also the largest creditor of the British East India Company, Wu Bingjian. The East India Company sometimes has poor cash flow and often borrows money from the Wu family. Because of this, Wu Bingjian enjoyed high popularity in the western business circles at that time and became the richest man in the world in the eyes of foreigners. He was once called "the richest man in the world" by some western scholars. 1June 840, the Opium War broke out. Although Wu Bingjian once donated a huge sum of money to the court for the triple crown hat, it could not save his official career at all, and he had to give huge wealth to Qing * * * again and again in exchange for short-term peace. 1843, Wu Bingjian died in Guangzhou at the age of 74 during the turmoil in China. The wealth accumulated by the Wu family is amazing. According to the Wu family's own estimate in 1834, their property has reached 26 million silver dollars, which is equivalent to 5 billion yuan today according to the international silver price. Moreover, the Wu family's mansion on the bank of the Pearl River is said to be comparable to the Grand View Garden in A Dream of Red Mansions.

Historical background

1834 China became the richest man in the world.

1686 In the spring, Li Shizhen, the governor of Guangdong Province, issued an announcement in Guangzhou, announcing that anyone with a "well-off family" could take over foreign trade as an "official businessman" as long as he paid a certain amount of silver every year. To Li Shizhen's surprise, this announcement will give birth to a richest man in the world for China in the next few years. Monopoly of foreign trade at sea In the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou became a rich group.

/kloc-In the late 7th century, Emperor Kangxi temporarily relaxed the sea ban policy, and more and more foreign businessmen came to China to engage in trade. Therefore, Guangdong local * * * recruited 13 powerful hong merchants in 1686, appointed them to do business with foreign businessmen on foreign ships, and collected customs duties on behalf of the customs. From then on, the famous "Guangzhou Thirteen Lines" in China's modern history was born. In the future development, these businessmen are well received by foreign businessmen because of their high efficiency, strong adaptability and honesty.

1757 (twenty-two years of Qianlong), the Qing dynasty ordered a closed door policy, leaving only Guangzhou as a foreign trade port. This major historical event directly made Guangzhou 13th Bank the only legal "foreign trade special zone" in China at that time, which brought huge business opportunities to Hong Kong businessmen. In the following 100 years, 13th Guangdong Branch provided 40% of the customs revenue to the Qing Dynasty.

Business initiative

Guangdong shisanhang

In the history of China, there was a "Thirteen Lines in Guangdong", which is almost unknown now. However, it was this neglected merchant group that once operated the only foreign trade port in the heyday of the Qing Dynasty and was active in the stage of Sino-Western trade. At that time, these Chinese businessmen were regarded by the western world as the richest people in the world in the18th century.

The so-called "thirteen lines" is actually just a general term, not 13. When there are many lines, it can reach dozens, and when there are few lines, there are only four. However, because it enjoyed the privilege of monopolizing foreign trade at sea in the Qing Dynasty, all foreign businessmen had to go through this special institution to buy domestic products such as tea and silk, or sell foreign goods into the mainland, so the "Guangdong Thirteen Lines" gradually became a business gang alongside salt merchants in Huaibei and Shanxi.

In the process of wealth accumulation, a number of wealthy businessmen emerged in the 13th line of Guangdong, such as Pan Zhencheng, Pan Youdu, Lu, Wu Bingjian and Shanglin Ye. At that time, it was circulated that "foreign ships compete for officials and businessmen, and the cross door opens two oceans." Five or eight silks and satins are good, and the money pile is thirteen lines. Now, these hong merchants are undoubtedly the richest people in the world at that time.

Yihehang

Jardine Matheson, one of the thirteen lines, is famous all over the world because of its owner, Wu Bingjian. Wu Bingjian is a business genius. When he was running Jardine Matheson, he had established close contact with important customers in Europe and America. He was not only an official and businessman in China feudal society, but also knew how to get rich by relying on the trade of western businessmen. At that time, his firm had the closest contact with foreign businessmen, and he could be found by East India companies, bulk merchants and American businessmen. Before 1834, the annual trade volume between the Wu family and British and American businessmen reached several million taels of silver, and Wu Bingjian was also the "banker" and the largest creditor of the East India Company. Because of this, Wu Bingjian enjoyed a high reputation in the western business circles at that time, and some western scholars even called him "the richest man in the world".

In terms of industrial management, Wu Bingjian not only owns real estate, real estate, tea gardens, shops and so on. In China, it also boldly invested in railways, traded securities, and even set foot in insurance business in the United States on the other side of the ocean, making Jardine Matheson a veritable multinational consortium.

international fame

Wu Bingjian enjoyed a high reputation in the eyes of western businessmen, and many anecdotes about Wu Bingjian were widely circulated among foreign businessmen at that time. One of the stories made him a symbol of the generosity of China businessmen.

It is said that at that time, an American businessman from Boston cooperated with Wu Bingjian in business, but due to poor management, he owed Wu Bingjian 72,000 silver dollars. However, he has been unable to repay this debt, so he cannot return to the United States. When Wu Bingjian learned about this, he didn't embarrass the businessman, but let people take out the IOUs and say to the Boston businessman, "You are my number one' old friend'. You are the most honest person, but you are unlucky. " After that, he tore up the debt and told the other party that the account between them had been settled and the other party could leave Guangzhou for home at any time.

This amazing move by Wu Bingjian made Wu Guanhao's bold reputation popular in the United States for half a century. Of course, the wealth accumulated by the Wu family is also surprising. According to 1834, the Wu family estimated that their property has reached 26 million silver dollars (equivalent to 5 billion yuan today), making them the richest man in the world in the eyes of foreigners. At that time, the Wu family's good house built on the bank of the Pearl River was said to be comparable to the Grand View Garden in A Dream of Red Mansions.

In American history, there was a "multi-millionaire" who left an eight-figure legacy. He is john jacob astor, the richest man in the United States who died in 1848. When Awan died, his legacy was estimated to be $20-30 million. Astor became the richest man in America by doing business with the Qing Dynasty at that time. One of his important trading partners was Wu Bingjian, who was extremely rich at that time.

Patriotism and helping the country

Anti-smoking campaign

According to historical records, Jardine Matheson of the Wu family has always been engaged in serious business, and tea trade is the main business of the Wu family. However, some foreign businessmen guaranteed by the Wu family often carry opium in order to make huge profits. On the one hand, it is the imperial government, and on the other hand, it is a business partner for many years of trade. Neither side can afford to offend. Therefore, he must try his best to resolve this crisis.

Three days later, Wu Shaorong handed over 1037 boxes of opium handed in by foreign businessmen to Lin Zexu, hoping to close the case. However, Lin Zexu decided that this 1037 box of opium was colluded by thirteen businessmen and British businessmen to deceive the government. On March 23, Lin Zexu sent someone to lock Wu Shaorong and others to the imperial court for trial. The Wu family once again compromised and expressed their willingness to serve with family resources. However, Lin Zexu ordered Wu Shaorong to be dismissed and arrested. After all this, Wu Bingjian lost face and swept the door.

Donate money to save the country

1In June of 840, the British Expeditionary Force blocked the Pearl River Estuary and the Opium War broke out. According to an American businessman, Wu Bingjian was "scared to the ground". His efforts to solve the opium problem peacefully failed completely. Wu Bingjian clearly knew that the root cause of Britain's war was dissatisfaction with the monopoly trade of the thirteen banks. Once Britain wins, there is no doubt that the unique position of Thirteen Lines will be forced to lose.

The Wu family, even other businessmen, contributed great wealth to this war. At the beginning of the war, Wu Bingjian and thirteen businessmen actively raised money to build forts, warships and cannons. Even so, the Qing dynasty was completely defeated. 184 1 in may, the British army marched straight into Guangzhou, and the Qing army under the command of Yishan was unable and unwilling to resist, so he came up with a plan-please ask the hong merchants to mediate. Outside Guangzhou, he was ordered to negotiate with the British leader Yelu. Finally, the two sides signed the Guangzhou Peace Treaty. According to the agreement, the Qing army withdrew to 60 miles outside Guangzhou and handed over 6 million yuan in compensation within one week; British troops retreated outside Humen Fort. Thirteen businessmen contributed one-third of this huge sum of 6 million yuan, of which Wu Bingjian contributed the most, accounting for 165438+ 10,000 yuan.

Regrettably, this redemption did not bring honor and gratitude to Wu Bingjian, but more criticism. From the beginning of the war, Hong merchants dealing with foreigners were painted with the shadow of "traitors" by Chinese people. No matter how much money you donate, you can't erase this shadow.

1842, the Opium War ended in the defeat of China. In the compensation for defeat, the Wu family was paid 6,543,800 yuan, the Hong Kong commercial office subscribed 6,543,800 yuan, and other Hong Kong businessmen shared 660,000 yuan.

Decline and development

Physical death and family failure

As a wealthy businessman during the decline of the feudal dynasty, Wu Bingjian's accumulated wealth was doomed to be short-lived. Just when his multinational consortium reached its peak, an undercurrent surged quietly. 1June 840, the Opium War broke out. Although Wu Bingjian once donated a huge sum of money to the court for Wu Bingjian's profile, it didn't save his career at all. Wu Bingjian was repeatedly reprimanded and punished by Lin Zexu for sheltering foreign businessmen from smuggling opium, and had to hand over huge wealth to Qing * * * again and again in exchange for short-term peace. After the treaty of nanking was signed, the Qing government ordered the bankers to repay the foreign debt of 3 million silver dollars in 1843, and Wu Bingjian took10 million silver dollars alone. It was in this year that Wu Bingjian died in Guangzhou.

After Wu Bingjian's death, the thirteen lines in Guangdong, once rich in the world, began to decline gradually. Many hong merchants went bankrupt under the pressure of the Qing dynasty. Even more deadly, with the implementation of the five-port trade, Guangdong lost its advantage in foreign trade, and the privileges enjoyed by the thirteen banks in Guangdong also ended. After the outbreak of the Second Opium War, another sudden fire broke out in Shisanxing Street, and finally these commercial halls with a history of 100 years were completely reduced to ashes.

A desolate night scene

According to Wu Bingjian's own estimation, the Wu family lost more than 2 million taels of silver in the war. But this figure, for the world's richest man who claims to have 26 million taels, does not hurt the bones. In addition, Wu Bingjian, who is far-sighted, has already expanded his business overseas, and his business is no longer the only lifeline for the Wu family. At this point, however, Wu Bingjian has been disheartened.

On February 23rd, 1842, 1842, he wrote to J·P· Cushing, an American friend in Massachusetts, saying that he really wanted to move to the United States if he was not too old to withstand the hardships of crossing the ocean. 1843 In September, Wu Bingjian, the richest man in the world, died suddenly at the age of 74.