"Are those local indigenous people having a meeting?" The long dining table covered with snow-white tablecloth was filled with exquisite silver plates filled with exquisite French cuisine.
Foie gras, veal, salt-baked snails...all kinds of vegetables and fruits as well as top-quality French red wine shipped by sea. The canal management company spent a lot of public funds to entertain the noble Egyptian consul, Viscount Ferdinand.
In the corner, the band was playing a relaxed waltz. These were masters invited from France. They were proficient in hundreds of movements and knew how to control the rhythm of the banquet.
The conductor kept observing the rhythm on the wine table with his eyes. When everyone started talking about serious work topics, the sound of the entire band would lower and lower again, becoming background music that did not affect the host's thinking.
When the topic reaches the toasting stage, the band will speed up the tempo to make the atmosphere suddenly cheerful. This kind of enjoyment is not something ordinary people can experience. Such an experienced band's daily commission is hundreds of gold francs. It's really It’s not something that ordinary people can afford.
However, the canal company will not care about this small amount of money. The Suez Canal guards the arterial transportation between Europe and Asia, and it has been making money every day since the day it started sailing.
Although such a large-scale project requires a large investment at the beginning, the profit will be greater later. Spending several thousand gold francs to entertain the Consul General, no one is willing to check this kind of money in the public accounts.
Food was flowing up and down the wine table, and bottles of red wine and champagne were opened. Basically, all the leading French figures in Suez Port were here.
Managers at all levels of the canal company, and battalion commanders of the local garrison, twelve or three people gathered together, flattering the viscount like stars over the moon, and toasted one after another.
When the wine was full and the noodles were hot, Ferdinand wiped his mouth and looked out the window disdainfully, "Those natives are having a meeting? Do they think the Chinese methods can be trusted? These ignorant natives can actually understand subtle bacteria. Want to learn?"
When the band conductor heard the Viscount's words, he immediately signaled the band to lower the volume, and the beautiful music gradually became the background sound.
"Hahaha, Mr. Consul, your joke is so funny. How can these ignorant guys understand the cutting-edge science that Europe is exploring? What else is on their minds besides eating and who..."
"Hahaha... You're right. These lowly people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for a little favor know what science is, hahaha..."
There was a burst of laughter in the room, but Ferdinand did not laugh. "Oh? Since they are a group of lowly and unscientific natives, what are they discussing when they gather together?"
The gentlemen at the table were immediately speechless. What could those natives talk about?
"Dear Lord Viscount, maybe the natives have indigenous affairs. They are talking about a certain family's wedding, or preparations for some religious ceremony. Anyway, those indigenous nobles have nothing to do all day long..."
Ferdinand gave the talkative guy a cold look, "What if they were talking about how to rebel against our rule? Why are you so confident!"
The guy who interrupted was so frightened that he was sweating on his forehead. As a result, the cavalry company commander dispatched in the morning laughed: "Dear Sir, will France's powerful army be afraid of the rebellion of these indigenous people? Please don't worry, while we are drinking, I have ordered the cavalry company to stand ready. If there is any trouble, we will be there in fifteen minutes!"
"Well... very good! This is ridiculous! Remember, the glory of France does not rely on blind self-confidence, but on careful judgment and strong military support!"
"During this period of time, you must not relax. Try not to provoke the local indigenous people. You must not ruin the plan for the Great Bitter Lake. If there is a flaw in any place, you will spend your whole life in the dungeon!"
Everyone quickly put down their wine glasses and sat upright, "Yes! Your Excellency, there will definitely be no accidents. If you need any help from the Great Bitter Lake, please tell me as soon as possible. If there is a gap in funds, we can dismantle part of it from the canal company..."
"It's not necessary yet. It doesn't cost much to hire those Bedouins. A few gold coins are enough for them to work hard...Okay, let's drink this!"
Ferdinand was really too confident. He thought that France's colonial rule over Egypt was like an iron barrel, but he never expected that among the local maids with dull faces, there was a smart girl who could understand French.
No one in the Canal Company knew that this girl knew French, and this girl was also an excellent actress. No matter what she heard, her expression did not change at all.
The indigenous riots that the French were worried about did not appear. At dawn the next day, the French cavalry were surprised to find that these lazy indigenous people actually organized themselves and began to clean the toilets in the city.
Specialized people use various vehicles to transport the feces to the depths of the remote desert. The intense heat and scorching sun will quickly kill the plague bacteria. The local indigenous nobles began to purchase coal and distribute it to poor families. From this day on, drinking raw water was absolutely prohibited.
A large amount of garbage has been cleared, and simple sewers are being dug. It seems that these Egyptians have decided to go it alone.
Of course, Ferdinand can't control the Egyptians to solve their own sanitation problems. Anyway, just don't trouble us French people and don't ask us for money. It's a good thing that we can really solve the plague.
The obedience of the indigenous people made the French relax their vigilance, but no one expected that the indigenous employees of the canal company would act secretly under the secret instructions of the local nobles.
The canal company and the barracks outside the city had independent wells. The local natives began to find ways to add sand into them. Polluted well water was carefully poured in. Some people even dissolved the feces of dysentery patients in the well water at night.
These natives knew that they were no match for the French team, and there was absolutely no chance of winning in a direct confrontation. However, when the Chinese unveiled the mystery of the plague, they finally thought of a way to treat others in their own way.
The French did not know that they had been surrounded by the plague. Perhaps it was the conspiracy on the other side of the Great Bitter Lake that attracted everyone's attention. When their minds were filled with the conspiracy of the Great Bitter Lake, Naturally, they will relax their vigilance towards these respectful local natives.
Under the leadership of La Deng, God knows how much contaminated drinking water entered the French people's stomachs, and retribution has been catching up with them.
The next morning, when Ferdinand was enjoying refreshing and cold lemon black tea, suddenly the canal company's telegraph office received the latest telegram.
"Sir Consul! A telegram came from the Great Bitter Lake. The Zhiyuan has officially entered the lake area at nine o'clock this morning. It is now waiting for the north canal to clear the river... When will the attack be launched? Please give the order!"
With a bang, the ice-cold lemon black tea was spread all over the table. Ferdinand rubbed his hands excitedly, "Great, order the natives in the desert to fire on time at twelve o'clock at noon..."
"Telegram to Port Said that the Mediterranean Fleet will enter the north entrance of the canal as soon as it arrives. The canal must be blocked by me!"
"Hahaha... Zhiyuan, you want to enter the Mediterranean through the canal? Just dream, I will use this unexpected conflict to lock you up, and even the British will be unable to do anything to me!"
After speaking, Ferdinand walked out of the room happily, leaving only the maid with a strange look clearing away the ice tea on the table. Her eyes swept across the tea stains on the table, revealing a strange light.
