The political discussion meeting originally scheduled for the end of 1792 was postponed because of Zhao Xin's plan for Kalimantan. After several telegrams back and forth with Yu Deli, the meeting was rescheduled for February 5, 1793, lasting one week. After the holiday is over, it’s time to celebrate the New Year.
Fortunately, there are not many people who are sure to stay in this time and space for a long time. The total number of people does not exceed 20, so it is not that troublesome to notify them. For Liu Sheng who was far away in Ulyasutai, Fan Tong from Khovd, Cao Peng from the island country, and some people from Boli Town, they all needed Zhao Xin to pick them up in person. After all, it was freezing cold outside. Frozen for thousands of miles, it is faster to return to Beihai Town from another time and space.
The new ship bought back was named "Nanhua No. 1". Deng Fei promoted the chief mate of the Thor to the captain of the new ship, and transferred eight crew members from the Thor, including the second engineer, mechanic, radio operator, deckhand and cook, as well as from the security team. A guy who had worked as a carpenter and someone who was responsible for operating the processing room and freezing room were selected to complete the crew of the new ship.
A new ship cannot be driven as soon as it is bought, and must undergo adaptive training. After all, the deck mechanical system on this ship is very different from that of the Thor. Zhao Xin plans to buy a few more after using "Nanhua No. 1" for a year and a half to become proficient.
First of all, we need to understand the hull structure, check the quality and use of various parts of the ship, and understand the operation and use of various systems on the ship. Then you have to do navigation experiments, usually short-range or long-range, light or heavy load. Through the above procedures, the crew can know the speed and main engine horsepower, and master the maneuverability, turning performance, navigation stability, inertia and seaworthiness of the designated navigation area, etc.
So Deng Fei's task suddenly became onerous. He not only had to provide guidance to these crew members, but also had to take them out to sea for training.
The arrival of the "Nanhua No. 1" caused a sensation in Bacheng. After all, no one had ever seen such a strange ship. The dark blue hull coupled with the snow-white deck buildings, set against the blue waves and blue sky, is really pleasing to the eye. Everyone was curious as to what the white boom on the deck, which was longer than the mainmast, was used for, and they were all trying to guess. However, because there was a fence around the berth to prevent people from getting closer, they could only watch it from a distance.
Compared with local residents, the merchant ship owners and sailors who came to Bacheng were more interested in the "Nanhua No. 1". Several boats tried to approach, but were driven away after the Marines fired warning shots.
It is said that the use of modern large-scale ship equipment is never a single ship. It must have a supporting auxiliary system, and at least a dock and oil depot.
The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas, nor the Western New Year, so on December 23, the Bacheng Military Control Commission paid 5 Beihai silver dollars per month, which is one tael of silver, through the court in Chinatown and major plantations. The park is recruiting workers to carry out earthwork construction for a new dock and oil depot one kilometer east of the port. The entire site covers an area of 30,000 square meters.
Compared with the women who were under the rule of Dai Qing, who had to bind their feet, the local Balinese women did not have this problem, and they all endured hardships and stood hard work. The most important thing is that the construction site not only provides picks, shovels, carts and other tools, but also provides breakfast and lunch every day. The salary of one tael of silver is equal to a net profit. As soon as the news came out, men and women in the city immediately flocked to it.
Because the amount of earth and stone excavation was too large, and sand and gravel had to be used for backfilling, Zhao Xin bought three single-bucket excavators with a bucket capacity of up to one cubic meter. The excavator operators were all selected from the Marine Corps. After a week of intense study, the six of them were able to get on the job.
On the day when the excavator entered the construction site, despite advance notice, when the excavator roared and wielded a giant bucket to bring out thousands of kilograms of soil with a shovel, all the people in Bacheng on the construction site were stunned and everyone put down their hands. The tools stared blankly; when the big guys started to move forward and backward on the tracks, the construction site exploded. With a "boom", thousands of people dropped their tools and ran away. They didn't stop until they were two miles away. .
Thanks to the fact that the Military Control Commission has gained a good reputation in the past two years, the security team members responsible for supervising the construction have also been vaccinated in advance and are well prepared. At this time, they held up a tin trumpet to persuade the escaped Chinese workers to come back to work, beating their chests and swearing to God that the iron animals would not eat people. With such a guarantee, the men and women who escaped hesitantly returned to the construction site.
Early the next morning, all the people in Bacheng mobilized to help the old and young to the outskirts of the construction site to look at the iron animals. Dang (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 621: The Real Princess and the Fake Prince
Seeing that the excavator made a huge pit and brought out thousands of kilograms of soil, everyone was dumbfounded, their jaws and eyes dropped to the floor.
Do you think this is the end? Don’t forget that the total amount of money in circulation also depends on the distribution of value. Zhao Xin plans to release a large number of Beihai silver dollars and copper coins through this project so that the people of Bacheng will accept and get used to the currency system of Beihai Town.
He then asked the Military Control Commission to set up tents at the construction site and conduct literacy classes and Mandarin learning. Study for 20 minutes before starting work every day, regardless of gender. He also offered a reward: as long as he knew 50 words and could write his own name, he would give 5 Beihai silver dollars; if he knew 200 people, he would give 10 yuan; if he knew 500 people, he would give 20 yuan; if he knew 500 words, he would give 20 yuan; if he could know 1,000 words And if you are fluent in Mandarin, congratulations, you will be recruited immediately to work in the management committee.
The workers were bewildered by this move. What they don’t understand is that since ancient times, studying and literacy have always cost money. How can it be reversed now? But it’s always a good thing to make money, and you’d be a fool if you didn’t! So every morning at the construction site, thousands of workers sat under more than a dozen straw huts, facing the blackboard, and followed the instructors sent by the Military Control Commission to start "Oh, uh, pop Buddha." The sounds came and went, making it sound like chanting sutras.
Regarding this situation, the wealthy people in Bacheng thought that the military control committee would have too much money and nothing to spend. Little did they know that Zhao Xin wanted to break regional barriers and enhance the cohesion of the Chinese through the promotion of Mandarin, so that he could break the clan clan system under the Sanyuan model. Social Structure.
Of course, this is just the first step, take your time...
The use of new machinery also alarmed the French people in Condorcet. When they saw the excavator extending its long arms and claws a hundred meters away, they were all stunned, and their jaws dropped to the ground. I want to ask the Military Control Commission personnel at the construction site for advice, but they don’t understand French; I want to get closer to visit, but the security team won’t let me get close; go back to the Military Control Commission to find Deng Fei... Sorry, that guy followed "Nanhua" No. 1" went to sea.
When they finally met Zhao Xin, the other party told them that it was just using hydraulic transmission technology, and he couldn't tell the details; when they arrived in Beihai Town, there would naturally be special books. In fact, he was not worried at all that the French would learn it. Without the corresponding processing equipment and technology, they would not be able to make it even if they knew the principles.
You must know that in two years, the British will invent the world's first hydraulic press. However, it was not until 1905 that the working medium was changed from water to oil.
Condorcet and the four "Ras" all understood what the "static pressure transfer principle" was. After all, the great Pascal was a Frenchman, but they could not imagine that there were such advanced machines in the world. Those invented by the British were comparable to this. It’s so much weaker than it really is! The Thor, the excavator, and the newly emerged "Nanhua No. 1"...all these have cast more mystery on the town of Beihai, thousands of miles away, and filled Condorcet and others with excitement. Longing.
After Christmas, it’s New Year’s Eve. The year 1792 is about to pass. In this year, Zhao Xin experienced the betrayal of his confidants, saw the truth about the Black Triangle trade, and personally witnessed the blood and fire of the French Revolution, and by the way, he almost strangled the National Convention... ..
Counting the secret agreement just signed with Sendai Domain, how many secret agreements has Beihai Town signed now? Local governance, the Sultanate of Mysore, the Sendai Domain, and even made an agreement with Oi Qing to exchange Outer Mongolia for Gurkhas that could only be understood but not expressed.
Sometimes Zhao Xin couldn't help but have a bad taste. Was he trying to surpass Britain and catch up with the United States to become the world's No. 1 troublemaker? I don’t have such ambition...
On December 30, Mrs. Elizabeth, who had been under close supervision, asked someone to send a message and wanted to have a good talk with the distinguished "Prince Zhao."
The next day, Zhao Xin went as promised and came to a heavily guarded mansion on the west side of the Gillian Canal. The two of them were sitting in the living room on the first floor, and the sound of the three children, Louis Charles, Lan and Theresa, playing and playing could be heard from time to time outside the door.
"Your Highness, are you satisfied with your stay in this house?"
"Thank you very much for your care, Your Majesty the Prince. Apart from not being able to go to church, everything else is fine."
In the middle of this month, Zhao Xin quietly moved Mrs. Elizabeth and three children from the small courtyard on the north side of the Governor's Mansion and transferred them here. In order to take care of their daily life, they also borrowed several servants and cooks who could cook Western dishes from the Huang family in the city.
The problem is that no matter how considerate you are, you will always have everyone around you (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 621: The Real Princess and the Fake Prince
They were all Chinese with yellow skin and black hair, which made Mrs. Elizabeth feel that her every move was being monitored. In addition, it had been more than 20 days since Degene took a boat to go to the local area for governance, and she was a little anxious waiting. In fact, the Thor did not send the three of them to local management when passing through the Indian Ocean, but brought them to Bacheng, which already made her wary.
Although Zhao Xin always had a kind face and a sincere tone every time she saw him, Mrs. Elizabeth, who had grown up in a complicated palace, knew that this tall man who dared to lead dozens of people to sneak attack on the Temple Tower was definitely not a kind person. .
She had always been curious, but she didn't dare to ask how Zhao Xin took the three of them out of Paris and sent them to the big ship outside the port of Le Havre. All fools know how many checkpoints they have to go through on the way from the Temple Tower to Le Havre, and the big iron box the three of them were hiding in was 20 meters long!
Elizabeth did not believe that these Chinese could buy through all the checkpoints along the way. The only explanation was that they killed all the people who stopped and interrogated...
Hiss~~! Elizabeth shuddered every time she thought of this.
Such a troublesome move made her never believe what Zhao Xin said, just to prevent the British from occupying the Indian continent. This man must want something from his nephew. Except for God, there is never any free giving in the world. If she did not understand this, Elizabeth would have experienced so many intrigues in the Palace of Versailles in vain.
The atmosphere in the living room became a little strange at this moment. While Elizabeth was uneasy, Zhao Xin also took the opportunity to look at the woman in front of him.
The 28-year-old unmarried princess belongs to the ranks of old girls whether in the East or the West, but for a modern person like Zhao Xin, she is still young.
As a member of the Bourbon family, like Louis XVI, she has a round chin and a high nose, and her red lower lip looks slightly protruding. However, as the saying goes, whiteness covers three ugliness. The fair complexion, coupled with a pair of deep blue eyes and a head of long silver-gray hair, actually made this princess look charming, and the more she looked at her, the more interesting she became.
Historically, Elizabeth remained unmarried until her death. As the sister of Louis XVI, her marriage was bound to be involved in politics. Unfortunately, both engagements were terminated. The reason why this princess followed in the footsteps of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and went to the guillotine was because she grew up in a luxurious palace, which made her have no sympathy for the people at the bottom. She often said Hateful words.
For example, she opposed any measures to weaken the royal family or the church's privileges, and even bluntly said that her brother was too weak and had been led by the National Convention. For all these reasons, the first person hated by the French people during the Revolution was the queen, and the second most hated person was the princess.
When Elizabeth noticed something was wrong in the atmosphere in the room, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly and glanced at Zhao Xin. Almost at that moment, Elizabeth felt that the other person's black pupils were like the vast starry sky or the deep sea, full of the mystery of the East, making her feel like she was about to fall into it, which made her panic for no reason.
However, the palace education she had experienced since childhood enabled Elizabeth to conceal her emotions very well. She picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee, lowered her eyebrows and looked at the fruit plate on the table, and said: "Your Highness, please tell me if there is any news about local governance. What?"
"I'm sorry." Zhao Xin shrugged after saying that.
"Your Highness, I am very grateful for your care and hospitality. Charles and Theresa have almost recovered now, so in accordance with the agreement between you and Governor Leclerc, I want to take them to local governance."
Elizabeth finally summoned up the courage to speak out. She tried her best to suppress the fear and uneasiness in her heart, and looked at Zhao Xin. For a moment, the aura of being a princess of the Bourbon family finally emerged.
Although Zhao Xin comes from the grassroots of the common people, the determination he has developed over the years of killing and killing has made him disregard all authority. A person who wants to bring down even the illustrious imperial power is still afraid of a princess from Europe?
"Your Highness Princess, to be honest, if Governor Leclerc comes to Bacheng, I would very much welcome it. But you have to go to local governance. Alas, it is really unsafe there."
"But M. de Guigne said..."
"Degigne used to be just a translator in your Guangzhou office. With his ability (this chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 621: The Real Princess and the Fake Prince
How can you understand the ambition of the British. Your Highness, I can guarantee that when the news of the declaration of war comes back from Europe, the British will take action. "
"..."
Zhao Xin did not scare Elizabeth, he told the truth. Just before they left Paris, the British Parliament passed a proposal for war against France; and the day after the North Sea delegation arrived in Le Havre, the National Convention also passed a resolution declaring war on Britain.
It is not easy to start a war in Europe. The British will definitely focus on France's overseas colonies first. The so-called killing you while you are sick, if you don't do it now, when will you wait? Besides, as long as they win local governance, if the French want to support Mysore, it will definitely be an ant before an elephant - they have no energy to use it. However, with the painful speed of news transmission in the 18th century, Zhao Xin estimated that local governance still had at least 4 months of preparation time.
This is true in the history of another time and space. The National Convention declared war on February 1st. The news reached Madras on June 2nd and Calcutta on June 11th. Lord Cornwallis immediately ordered troops stationed in the Netherlands. The Ceylon fleet set sail to conduct a naval blockade of local governance.
The problem is that because of the involvement of Beihai Town in this time and space, the French who govern the local area may not lose. The key depends on what Governor Leclerc will do. If he obeys the orders of the National Convention and resigns, the secret agreement signed between Beihai Town and local governance will be useless; but if he continues to recognize the Bourbon family's rule over overseas colonies and refuses to hand over power, Pazaya Lai's The Northern Navy would fulfill the agreement and take the lead in launching an attack on the British garrison in Madras.
Zhao Xin's effort to rescue Louis Charles was not to send a favor to Leclerc, he was to save French Louisiana on the American continent. The Bourbon family wanted to restore their kingdom, but it would be impossible without massive wealth. From now on, Louisiana would be Louis Charles' bargaining chip in exchange for the support of the Northern Navy.
Furthermore, if Louis Charles were to be governed locally, the British would know about it within a month, given the French's colander-like level of secrecy. Needless to say, the British are so aggressive? They will definitely try their best to control this child in exchange for the benefits of the European and North American colonies.
Elizabeth was silent. Compared to the intrigues among European royal families, the man in front of her made her feel more secure. Although she didn't know Beihai Town, what she had seen so far was only a corner of the other party's territory in Southeast Asia. However, based on what she had learned about Tsarist Russia's disastrous defeat in the east and the large iron ship outside the port, she was convinced of the other party's strength. Far more powerful than Austria and Prussia.
But what’s the point of leaving the Bourbon royal family in Europe?
Seeing that the other party was silent, Zhao Xin continued: "Your Royal Highness, please believe me, I have no interest in fighting for the throne of France. There are more than 300 million people in the East who need to be conquered. Everything I do is just out of motivation. Sympathy for a weak child. What you need to do is to let Ciel grow up healthily and let him make his own choices."
Yes, Elizabeth couldn't help but think of Marie Antoinette's words when she was leaving, that the only thing she should do was to let her child grow up healthy and safe.
"Okay. Your Highness, I believe you."
Chapter 621: The Real Princess and the Fake Prince
