不撒大网不得大鱼

He who will not spread a big net will not fish big fish.

"For too long," Industry Minister Weng Wenhao read, "the ships of our government have operated in a disorderly fashion, under a variety of owners with no clear unifying goal. To that end, today I, along with my counterpart, the Transport Minister Huang Shaohong, announce the formation of the China Star Line, to incorporate all merchant shipping operating under the Fengtian flag."

He looked up from the prepared statement at the Grand Marshal. Zuolin nodded tersely. Economic Minister Yuan Jinkai spoke up suddenly. "Has the Association responded to this statement?"

Weng Wenhao squinted at him before glancing at one of his aides. "They have not, Minister Yuan."

"Will they? That is the question," Yuan Jinkai continued. "They will suggest that we sell our ships to Nippon Yusen, and let the Japanese run all our ships as they run our railways."

Yuan received some sidewise glances from the ministers assembled. Zhang Yanqing, the head of the Scarlet Guard, privately noted these thoughts from Yuan. Nevertheless, he continued.

"And shall we allow Mantetsu to run more than they already do? I think not. The China Star Line is a new and glorious chapter in the history of our Fengtian Government. But it is the railways which must be claimed next."

Zhang Zuolin looked thoughtful for a moment. "The Transport Minister is under your direction, Minister Yuan. I wonder what the Transport Ministry thinks about this issue?"

"They agree with my opinion," Yuan said with a steel glance at Minister Huang.

Before he could speak again, an aide came and spoke into Zhang Zuolin's ear. He rose from the meeting table and his ministers rose with him. "We will continue this conversation at our next meeting. I congratulate your ministry, Minister Weng."

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The China Star Line, a state-owned enterprise responsible for all the merchant shipping under the Fengtian flag, was established November 10th, 1936. A bureaucrat under Huang Shaohong, Jianghong Yu, was appointed as the head of the line, which began operations with a ragtag group of 20 or so ships of varying sizes and conditions. Nevertheless, funding from the state was rapid and generous, and by the beginning of the year 1937 the China Star Line had set its eyes on expansion. It had already negotiated the purchase of three old colliers and two general merchant ships, which now form the center of the new China Star Line fleet.

However, influence from the Xiehehui seems even to have permeated into the brand new corporation, as an exclusive transportation deal was arranged shortly after the company's opening to hand all rail transportation duties down to the ships themselves to the Japanese-owned rail company. Economic Minister Yuan Jinkai has expressed his dismay at this to the Grand Marshal, but whether the Concordia Association will be successful in its attempts to influence the China Star Line remains to be seen.