Mr. Lando opened his own cryptex - this is one of the few mechanical products imported by Lingao to Europe. The Foreign Intelligence Service and the Political Security Bureau are the main users. [Full text reading] Lando's cryptex contains a code pad written on tissue paper and tablets containing secret writing potion.
When he started to spread out the paper and write a boring ordinary business letter, he suddenly remembered something:
"What? Portuguese ship?"
"Yes, there is a Portuguese ship."
"Let's try to find out tomorrow who the owner of the ship is and what kind of cargo it is carrying?"
Weiss Lando didn't last long in his playboy style. On this day, Sebastian Andrade was ordered to go to Parian District to check the local commercial tax collection status. When he accepted the suggestion of Parian District Mayor Juan Aguilar, he went to a tavern to observe the public sentiment. By the way, when we were talking about the expenditure of the public funds of the overseas Chinese community, His Royal Highness the Earl of Fannanova came out of the tavern. He wore a crisp white Dutch linen shirt like a sailor, with the collar open, and the Manila straw hat he held in his hand, although exquisite, was far less eye-catching than the wide-brimmed hat decorated with bird feathers. Only his breeches were not tied to the hem of his shirt with ribbons and ropes according to the popular European custom, but were tied tightly around his waist with a buffalo leather belt, and the gold belt buckle was carved into a roaring lion. The long leather boots were polished to a high shine, and the saber with the sheath inlaid with precious stones was always with him. Such a half-baked appearance made the finance officer realize that the earl was first a arrogant warrior, then a wealthy warrior, and finally a fake nobleman.
The warrior or soldier studied philosophy and Latin at Complutense University. In the eyes of Andrade, who dreamed of becoming a court scholar but was sent to a remote colony as a supervisor, he was synonymous with drunkards, idiots and gangsters. Maybe the count was not an idiot, but he did smell of alcohol and gangster-like ferocity at the moment. A short man. The slightly hunched Chinese man followed the count out of the tavern and disappeared around the corner in the blink of an eye. Andrade didn't pay much attention to that guy, because the contrast between the count's image at the moment and his usual appearance was too strong and attracted people's attention, and he was greeting his group.
"Ah, hey, it's really God's arrangement." Weiss waved the straw hat in her hand and walked towards the group of people. The Spaniards sat on soft sedan chairs with awnings and were carried by Chinese coolies. In front of the sedan were two Chinese people leading the way. He nodded and bowed to Andrade and Aguilar with respect. Weiss recognized them as brothers Huang Jian and Huang Xiang. They were both wealthy Chinese businessmen who were devout Catholics. They were also Parian Chinese administrators and clerks appointed by the colonial government.
"I have just negotiated a deal with a respectable Chinese gentleman. He promised to provide my men with three hundred Japanese muskets. And the asking price is only half of what Mr. Joe de Cross (Note). Two distinguished gentlemen .Please come and drink a toast to my luck."
The count's smile made Andrade feel uncomfortable, as if he was hiding some kind of sarcasm with his smiling mask. If the treasurer knew that this grinning expression was the result of Weiss imitating Jimmy Carter, he might laugh at his efforts; but if he knew that the fake earl was meeting informants in this tavern a minute ago, collecting intelligence and plotting against the colonial authorities Unfavorable, it will definitely praise his acting skills.
Although he thought he could become James Bond in the 17th century, the result of the former mercenary's nearly a month of fighting on the intelligence front was only to develop a few informants who were willing to provide him with information, including small traders, sailors and colonists. A low-level employee who performs errands for an organization. These people have low status and are all Chinese or mixed-race people living in the local area. It can only provide some information that is general in content and of average value. despite this. Weiss still knew very well that if what he did was exposed to colonial officials, there would be absolutely no good fruits to be gained. The count was thinking about which subordinate or agent to contact the informant, while smiling and continuing to observe the situation. The two Spaniards' mutual gazes and hesitant expressions showed that they were surprised by his appearance and invitation.
Sure enough, the district chief said he wanted to inspect the prison in Parian District. He thanked the count for his kindness, but left with a resentful look. The Treasurer sincerely stated that he must return to the city immediately, because the Governor of Salamanca was still waiting for his report in his official residence.
"Then please use my carriage as a favor. As for the sedan chair, it is the product of thousands of years of stale life of the Eastern people. They like this cradle-like means of transportation, so they do not value heroes. Men in their prime are as timid and childish as babies. They are destined to It is to be conquered. As you know, Caesar won the whole of Rome while standing on a wheel, while Atahuallpa lost his empire sitting in a sedan chair." After making this strange argument, the count turned He turned around and whistled, and two pairs of black horses with white spots on their foreheads pulling a four-wheeled carriage came slowly and stopped in front of them. Andrade was so taken aback that he even forgot to say what he wanted to refuse. His feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, his eyes were circling back and forth on the golden-trimmed red flag carriage, and he was looking greedily at the four vigorous and powerful horses. The elegant horse riding, and the silver-gleaming harness on the horse. He was still immersed in that trance-like state until the count signaled Schlick to help Andrade step onto the velvet-covered steps.
The slamming of the carriage door brought the financial officer back to his senses. The count's black slave jumped onto the carriage from behind and stood in his seat. The driver pulled up the reins and the carriage began to move forward slowly. Andrade reached out and touched the shiny satin on the sofa seat - this is the best Nanjing satin! , then he stared at the interior paneling decorated with cloisonné, the gauze curtains, and like a curious child, imitating the count, he turned the handle to roll up and down the glass window.
"Sir, people only know you as a man who got rich due to luck." Andrade sighed and continued: "But now I want to change my view. If you are just rich, no matter how much money you have, It's not enough to make a man in this abandoned corner of the earth live like a prince of Naples. This may require some kind of magic or magic."
"Be careful, Lord Quaestor, you are about to describe me as a wizard. I hope the Inquisition has not been established in Manila, otherwise I will be too unjust."
"Excuse me, Your Majesty the Count, I think I am not ignorant. This kind of horse was mentioned in Alexander's expedition, and the princes of India were willing to exchange gems and gold for their own mounts. Don Esteban Zagreb Mr. Navria wanted to buy a pair of such famous horses to match his carriage, but no one was willing to sell it to him even if he offered a thousand pistoles. As for estimating the value of such a carriage - "
"Wait a minute, Your Excellency." Weiss interrupted Andrade, opened a hidden compartment on the panel, and took out a delicate small silver box with four carved goblets lined with velvet. wine bottle. "Whatever I have spent on my carriage and horses, tell me, has that money detracted from their beauty?"
"No, there isn't. I just wanted to point out that-" Andrade coughed after taking a sip of rum, "Oh my God, this is really strong."
"Don Esteban Sanabria. The name you gave me tells me that he is an out-and-out nobleman. I think this gentleman should be among the first-class gentlemen in Manila." .”
"Your Excellency, your question will get a Pyrrhonian answer, which can be said to be yes or no. Mr. Sanavria is a first-class rich man. Without this premise, he is not a gentleman, let alone a gentleman. A true nobleman."
"Can you please elaborate?"
"You must have heard of it." After a few glasses of rum, the reserved atmosphere mixed with politeness and caution no longer existed. Andrade rested his head comfortably on the back of the sofa, and the conversation became more and more interesting. concentrated. "The Philippines is known as the pearl that God gave to our monarch, but its light attracts poor people who have nothing but dreams of getting rich. These people are so embarrassed that they can't even find a place in New Spain. Mr. Sanabria He was such a person when he was young, but he quickly got money in Manila. It is said that he won a large sum of money from a Chinese millionaire by playing dice - but there is more reason to believe that he robbed it - thirty years He was a 'volunteer' during the former Chinese riots." As he spoke, a smile appeared on the financial officer's face.
Lando understood the meaning of his smile - the so-called volunteers at that time were a group of gangsters. They did not receive any military pay and relied on robbery for all expenses and supplies.
After that, Mr. Sanafriya made several successful speculations, especially when he once married a wealthy widow. After she "died" of illness soon, his wealth finally accumulated enough to buy a "tang" in his name. front, to prove his noble family background. Soon he began to visit the houses of dignitaries in Manila and made a lot of money.
Weiss continued to fill the financial officer's glass. It turned out that whether it was a Chinese, Japanese or Spanish, as long as he could drink a bottle of wine, things would be much easier.
"I guess the gentleman you are talking about did not spend a lot of money on this 'donation', at most it would not be more than the small amount of money he paid for the horse he liked. You know, the nobles in the East despise us. For barbarians who wield swords and guns, their most important treasures are horses and beauties, and the cost of replenishing the stables is much higher than replenishing the harem. Mr. Sanafriya was only willing to pay for the two best mawari horses. The horse took out a mere thousand pistols, which would be too detrimental to the status of a first-class rich man. (To be continued...)
ps: Note: One of the founders of the Macau Gun Foundry.
Note: Ancient Greek skeptical philosopher.
