The Triangle Business Alliance intended to be formed by the Heixinggen Consortium is actually similar to local supermarkets forming alliances to resist foreign competitors.

To be honest, neither party is necessarily sincere in wanting to cooperate with the Heixinggen Consortium, especially the Jin Merchants. The Heixinggen Bank operates in the North China region, which is already within its sphere of influence. However, the Jin Merchants' stronghold is far away, and their influence over North China officials is weak. Unlike the powerful local clans in Zhuhai, the Jin Merchants are the most traditional "merchants." They might have some say in Shanxi, but it is ineffective in North China.

The willingness of the Heixinggen Consortium to cooperate is definitely beneficial for the Jin Merchants. Qiao Zhiyong was the first to propose, "We can cooperate, but we must first clearly demarcate our respective areas, specifying boundaries that everyone must not cross."

Anthony, Far East General Manager of Heixinggen Bank: "Of course, that's not a problem. However, we must also emphasize that after defining our respective areas, in the future we three parties in the north must prioritize purchasing alliance members' goods. For example, with agricultural and industrial products, you should prioritize buying from us, and we will first consider your two parties for importing products from the north."

Hu Xueyan: "What if your products have quality issues?"

Anthony: "The products of the Heixinggen Consortium do not have problems. Of course, empty words are not credible. We can set a unified standard for this matter, grading products by quality. Naturally, better products will cost more, and poorer ones will cost less. We each can send professionals to establish a unified institution for supervision."

Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

Qiao Zhiyong: "Then the institution would be our contact center. Where should the main headquarters be established?"

Anthony: "You may choose from Jiaozhou, Xuzhou, or Kaifeng—specifically where will be up to your discussions, but it must be one of these three cities."

Qiao Zhiyong: "Then let's choose Kaifeng! After all, we are all relatively close to here."

Hu Xueyan: "Kaifeng is acceptable, but I am more inclined towards Xuzhou."

Anthony: "Then it will be Kaifeng, serving as the headquarters for cooperation and liaison, built next to the East African Kingdom's consulate in Kaifeng, which also facilitates our exchanges and cooperation."

Hu Xueyan: "There is also the issue of boundary demarcation. Over the years, your rapid expansion in the Far East has been quite unfriendly to us."

Anthony: "Please be patient, Mr. Hu. Our market is obtained through normal trade with official permission from your country. People will naturally choose quality goods at affordable prices."

Hu Xueyan: "However, if you continue to expand at the current rate, will you eventually cross the Huai River, reaching the Yangtze River, leaving our Huishi virtually nonexistent? Mr. Anthony, is this what you call cooperation!"

Thinking too highly of me! That was Anthony's thought. If East Africa were truly that powerful, the British, French, and American interests wouldn't exist.

Anthony: "Let's set commercial boundaries to the current regions of each party. However, Mr. Hu Xueyan, let me remind you that your biggest enemy is likely the British. We are not foolish enough at Heixinggen Bank to think of competing with the British in the Yangtze River basin. Although Germany has two world powers, they have no influence in the Far East. We at Heixinggen Bank must also keep a low profile in the Far East."

Truly keeping a low profile, East Africa chose places scorned by the British. For instance, in the north, Heixinggen Bank's business curves south from the Yimeng Mountains, deeply into the Central Plains. In the south, the business is similarly limited, only touching a small coastal area in Zhuhai, without penetrating the southern inland.

Hu Xueyan: "Thank you for the reminder, but is your bank actually affiliated with Prussia, Austria-Hungary, or the rarely mentioned East African Kingdom?"

Rarely mentioned, indeed interesting, considering the East African Kingdom has only been established for a year and might be unknown even in Europe, having only briefly appeared in newspapers with the mention of Africa generally skipped over.

Anthony: "Heixinggen Bank is a German national enterprise, naturally belonging to the entire German nation, not limited to any one country you mentioned. Therefore, Heixinggen Bank is not restricted to any specific country."

Hu Xueyan: "Haha, Mr. Anthony, don't take offense, I'm just curious about your bank."

Anthony: "No need for that. In reality, our information is open to the public. We are nothing more than an ordinary bank in Europe."

Qiao Zhiyong: "Mr. Anthony, is it possible for us to send someone to Europe to study your company's operational model?"

Qiao Zhiyong had long been interested in the Western concept of banking. Although similar to money houses, they are ultimately different entities.

Anthony: "Mr. Qiao, if you are interested in banking, there's no need to look at Heixinggen Bank, as it is not purely a bank. If interested, we can arrange for you to study in the Netherlands, which has the richest commercial atmosphere in Europe, as well as the purest financial sector."

Qiao Zhiyong: "Oh! The Netherlands."

Anthony: "Unexpected, isn't it? Many modern financial concepts were first invented by the Dutch, and the Netherlands is one of the most economically developed regions in Europe."

Qiao Zhiyong: "I must apologize. I mostly stay in the central-western Far East and know little about foreign countries, only hearing about England and France due to past events…"

Anthony: "Mr. Qiao, there's no need to be formal. If you truly wish to understand European countries, you can send someone there to learn. Heixinggen Bank is willing to support you, allowing you to avoid detours."

Qiao Zhiyong: "Thank you very much!"

The court's strategy to learn from the barbarians requires the Jin Merchants' action. Qiao Zhiyong had long discovered, when competing with Heixinggen Bank, that Western banking proved more competitive, such as the forgiving interest rates that let depositors benefit more, prompting questions about the bank's profit-making methods.

Hu Xueyan: "Could we also send people to Europe for learning?"

Anthony: "Definitely no problem, but we only provide advice. The specific course of action is up to you."

As allies, ensuring these two traditional merchant groups keep pace with the times is necessary and beneficial for cooperation with the Heixinggen Consortium.

Learning Western rules will help to prevent future deceit by foreign capital since the Far East government is not reliable, forcing them to rely on themselves. Even Anthony sympathized with his two colleagues, as Heixinggen Bank could seek assistance from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the East African Kingdom, generally resolving their issues, while they had to guard against their own 'people.'

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