Chapter 242 The Dutch Heart
Lingao is a hive. [No pop-up novel website] This is what many people say about this place. Anyone who comes here for the first time will feel the busy, tense and active atmosphere here as soon as they step onto the pier of the port. When they went deeper here, especially into the industrial, agricultural and residential areas along both sides of the Wenlan River, their feelings became more profound.
The streets are filled with busy people and vehicles all day long. The front of the "Meteor" pulled the convertible, which was either piled with cargo or packed with people. Although safety regulations have been promulgated, "ticket hanging" is not allowed, and police and national army soldiers have been added to maintain order at the station, every train is still surrounded by overloaded people. So much so that people fall off the car every day. Fortunately, the speed of the "Meteor" is not much faster than walking, so the casualty rate is kept at a level that a planning institute can tolerate.
At noon on this day, the rumble of cannons came from the direction of Bopu Pier - this was a salute for foreign ships entering the port. This was a rare occurrence in Lingao: except for an occasional Portuguese ship, only Chinese merchant ships came here. It's summer now, and even Chinese merchant ships rarely come here.
Fan? Delantron stood on the stern of the ship, looking with interest at the Australian sampan where the towing rope was being tied. The 400-ton Magdeburg will be towed into the port by this small ship. The Dutch "speed boats" were quite clumsy, and there was no steering wheel mechanism at the time, making it difficult to steer in the fjord port. Without riding the tide in and out of the port, it would be impossible to sail into the anchorage accurately just relying on the captain's driving skills.
Every time the Magdeburg entered or left the port, she had to lower her rowing boat to tow the large ship. However, in Australian ports, this work is handled by Australian ships, and the cost is included in the pilot fee.
The small boats used by the Australians to tow ships were equipped with chimneys and spewed out thick black smoke. They had no oarsmen, but they were very powerful and could easily tow heavily loaded ships. The Magdeburg had already seen their power the last time it transported spices to Hong Kong.
The Dutch generally do not sail to the coast of mainland China in the summer - the wind direction is not favorable to them, and there is a risk of encountering typhoons. However, this time the Magdeburg's adventurous voyage not only carried out trade, but also had an important mission.
Fan? This is Delantron's second time at Bopu. According to the urgent instructions of the Australian Department of Colonization and Trade: the Magdeburg shipped a large amount of woolen cloth, cotton cloth and sheepskin - most of the woolen cloth was produced in Britain. Given the intensity of business competition between the Dutch and the British, it was not easy to understand why they were buying woolen goods from their business rivals - not to mention that the Netherlands itself was famous for weaving high-quality woolen goods. But for the Dutch East India Company, the interests of the company and its major shareholders were above all else. Since the price of British woolen goods was low enough for the East India Company to make enough profits, it would not give up this opportunity.
Needless to say, the British were only commercial competitors and were nominally allies of the Netherlands. In the future, the East India Company will not hesitate to sell and transport food and weapons to the enemies of the motherland who are at war. Because profit has no motherland.
Half an hour later, the Magdeburg was already berthed at berth No. 5. Fan? Delantron admired the Australian port. Their ports have trestles available, eliminating the need to use small boats to transport goods and people in bulk. The cargo is lifted off the ship by a crane, and personnel get on and off directly from the gangway, saving a lot of time and manpower. In Lingao, Sanya and Hong Kong, vessel turnover rates are calculated in hours and days, not in "weeks" and "months".
Soon? Delantron met an old friend, Leib? who was stationed in Lingao as the consul of the Dutch East India Company? Mr. Trini. The Italians have already completed all the port formalities, Fan? Delantron checked the customs declaration and various required documents for the last time. After confirming that they were correct, he handed the documents to the customs officials. He did not have to worry about the subsequent unloading, inspection and tax matters. Australian customs and port services will be taken care of.
"Mr. Trini, long time no see. You look good."
Trini was resentful about being posted as consul in Lingao, although this position was higher than his previous position in Batavia and the salary income also increased by several guilders. Moreover, the company also allowed him to distribute several types of company products in Lingao. Including certain spices that are very popular among the Chinese: ambergris, myrrh, sandalwood, etc., from which a lot of benefits can be obtained.
But Trini knew very well that this lucrative job was given to him because he was a painter and cartographer, and he was asked to serve as a spy in Lingao. And because he was an Italian with extremely dubious Catholic beliefs and a passion for science and mysticism, even if he was killed by the Australians, the Dutch would not regret it and could distance themselves from him.
However, this period of time in Lingao has made Trini regard his work in Lingao as the third thing after family and life that no one can interfere with.
"One day in Lingao is better than a year of traveling in this world." Trini wrote in a letter to a friend.
"It's very hygienic and there's a lot of variety in life here. The food supply is good," Trini said, "but there's very little meat."
Fan? A sarcastic smile appeared on Delantron's lips: "I thought you would complain about not having enough olive oil?"
According to European standards of how much meat they eat, the quality of their diet was still very poor even in the first half of the 20th century. Most Italian civilians can only settle for simple slices of bread with a few drops of olive oil and a little cheese.
Of course Trini understood the ridicule in this wooden shoe's words - he had experienced this kind of thing too many times. Although the Dutch people’s food is also known for being simple and rough. But at least the Dutch eat much more meat than the Italians.
"Australians are also very interested in olive oil - maybe they will consider importing it from Europe in the near future. Of course, the premise is that the company can invent a method of long-term preservation of oil..."
"They say they like grease very much?"
"Yes, they buy copra in large quantities for this purpose," Trini said.
The two of them left the customs as they spoke. The empty bell tower above the customs attracted Fan? Drantron's attention. The bell tower has always been empty since the last time I arrived. He wondered why the Australians never equipped this clock tower with a set of loud-sounding copper bells. Let it sit empty. He learned from Trini's letter that the Australians wanted to equip these vacant clock towers with an unprecedented timer but had been unable to do so.
"Mr. Trini, your last picture album has caused a sensation in Batavia, and there are people who want to collect your picture album at a high price. I didn't expect that after you arrived here, you were so inspired to engage in artistic creation. "
Trini brought a book of his paintings back to Batavia by ship every month—as long as there were ships sailing. Picture albums are not only artistic creations, but also information for reporting. Nothing can express information more accurately than intuitive images.
"Thank you for your concern. There are many new things here. It is beyond my past thinking and experience. This has greatly stimulated my inspiration." Trini smiled and took out a wooden cigarette case, "Including Australians Enjoyment."
Fan? Delantron took out a cigar - he was no stranger to cigars, some Hispanics often smoked tobacco this way - but he personally preferred to use a pipe. But he's not opposed to a change of taste.
"Friends in Australia want me to help them buy some works by famous Italian painters: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo..." He named a dozen famous Renaissance painters in one go. Some were already famous painters at that time, and some were more modestly famous, “and there were violins by Stecrivari and Guarneri.”
It was unimaginable for Trini's friends and family in Italy to purchase these works of art - they did not have such financial resources. Only the East India Company, which was extremely wealthy, had this ability.
"They have such a high vision. Apart from others, I find it difficult to see the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Most of his paintings are in the hands of the King of France. The rest depends on whether your Italian compatriots are willing to part with them." Fan ? Delantron said, "This time I brought two guarneris and some musical instruments you named, as well as the musicians mentioned in your letter. I think Australians may be Chinese, but they prefer Western art."
"It's hard to say. I can only understand their artistic taste a little bit. They also like some strange line drawings, which are very exaggerated, very stylized, and very narrative..."
After the two had a conversation about Australian art, they came to the edge of Customs Square.
"Sir, I would like to invite you to sit here this time." The Italian pointed to a wooden shed diagonally opposite the Bobu Customs. Under the shed is a masonry platform raised above the ground.
The stage was already crowded with people, and they seemed to be waiting eagerly for something.
"What are they waiting for..."
"Ugh... besides, besides, besides..."
"Is this a new form of transportation for Australians?" Now that his butt is sitting in a moving carriage, Fan? Delantron already knew they were waiting for a form of transportation.
"Yes, my dear lord, the Australians call this a train. It runs on two rails at a speed like riding a fast horse. But you see, my lord, this train has 5 carriages. It can More than 200 people can sit there..."
Fan? Delantron found it interesting, but from his previous understanding of the Italian, he could tell that Trini wanted to say more than that.
< >, reading is a kind of enjoyment, it is recommended that you collect it.
