This "Chinese funded first round" has repeatedly undertaken the important task of transporting troops to Taiwan and safeguarding the country | Iton | transporting troops

Recently, the Chinese luxury cruise ship "China Merchants Yidun" set sail from the Shanghai Port International Passenger Transport Center. This ship is named after the first ship of China's first shipping company, China Merchants Group, the Yidun.

150 years ago, under the protection of unequal treaties, ships of Western powers seized enormous rights in China's offshore and Yangtze River water transportation, and monopolized China's foreign trade in ocean shipping. The powerful power and fast safety of ships pale traditional sailing. The trend is like this, it is difficult to stop. "Only by rushing to catch up and setting up their own bureaus and wheels can we maintain the aviation industry and fill gaps."

In 1872, the preparatory ship China Merchants Group purchased the Yidun ship, which was the "first round of Chinese investment". On November 30th of the same year, the Yidun ship sailed from Shanghai with full cargo to Shantou, and the shipping business of China Merchants Group officially began.

In January 1873, the Shipping Investment Promotion Bureau officially opened in Shanghai. Two days later, the Eton departed from Shanghai and headed towards Hong Kong via Ningbo.

The Ship Investment Promotion Bureau, which was officially established 150 years ago, also had the intention of transporting grain from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to Beijing and Tianjin. In March 1873, the Yidun and Fubo ships loaded over 8000 stones of southern rice and unloaded them at the Zizhulin Wharf in Haihe, Tianjin, via Dagukou.

In 1874, the Eton sailed from Xiamen to Hankou, and during Japan's invasion of Taiwan, China, it undertook the important task of transporting troops to Taiwan and defending the country for many times.

At this point, the active presence of the Yidun remained in modern China's Beiyang, Nanyang, and Yangtze River routes, as well as in commercial, political, and military fields.

In July 1873, the Eton made its maiden voyage to Nagasaki, Japan, becoming the first Chinese funded ocean going vessel. At the same time, stop at Kobe Port along the way to load and unload goods. According to reports, the Iton travels back and forth to Japan about 4 times a year.

At the end of 1873, the Yidun continued to expand into the ocean and made its maiden voyage on the route from Shanghai to Luzon. The Shipping Investment Promotion Bureau has also successively opened international routes to Vietnam, Siam, Singapore, Penang, and India.

It is worth mentioning that China Merchants Shipping Co., Ltd. was the first Chinese joint-stock company established through public offering. The reason for adopting this organizational approach is because people at that time saw the powerful power of joint-stock companies in gathering capital and developing industries.

Shortly after the purchase of the Yidun ship, the Shipping Investment Promotion Bureau published a notice in the "Declaration", disclosing the purchase cost and revenue situation of the first voyage to Shantou. Afterwards, the company insisted on publishing its annual operating records to the public through newspapers every year. This move "makes those who have shares believe that their operations are legal, and those who do not have shares envy the cleanliness of their accounts, so there is no need to persuade and secretly solicit.".

In the early stages of operation of China Merchants Shipping Group, there were no Chinese insurance companies. As a Chinese funded ship, the Eaton, which was flying the Chinese Loong Flag and the China Merchants' Pisces Flag, was once deliberately challenged by foreign insurance companies, so that China Merchants had to buy insurance from foreign insurance companies at twice the normal premium.

At that time, the premium for the Yidun ship at two foreign companies, Jardine Matheson and Bao'an, was as high as over 10000 taels per year, making the huge premium a heavy burden. For this reason, the China Merchants Group established two Chinese insurance companies, Jihe and Renhe, in 1875 and 1876 respectively, in order to provide more affordable insurance services for Chinese ships. In a certain sense, it can be said that the Eton gave birth to the Chinese shipping insurance industry.

In August 1878, the old Yidun was converted into a pontoon and used as a navigation light boat by Tianjin Customs. The Yidun was equipped with a fixed beam light that was moved from the Lantern Ship of Langshan Waterway in Nantong, and anchored outside the river mouth to block the sand. Therefore, it is also known as the "Dagu Lantern Ship" and is the first modern navigation device in Tianjin Port.

In modern times, the first round of Chinese investment continued to shine in new positions after completing the historical mission of ocean shipping.