Su Shu watched the fleet move away from the American coast.
He said in a relaxed tone: "Cousin Su Jinghong's hands are already very dark, and Uncle Su Xiong's hands will be even darker.
Fortunately, we were well prepared, achieved our goal, and left immediately. "
Admiral Zhan Tie said with a cold face: "We must strengthen military discipline education. After leaving the empire for too long, some soldiers have become wild-minded."
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan agreed: "The navy's ocean voyage is very boring.
The impact of this incident is not very good, but from another perspective, the fleet has also removed the bad apples, which can make the fleet more pure. "
They stood on the deck, facing the sea breeze, and discussed how soldiers should deal with violations of military discipline.
Su Shu picked up the telescope from time to time and looked at the situation on the shore.
He lamented: "The population of Zhao State is only more than two million.
The American continent is too huge. After leaving the Golden City, there is no human habitation at all on the shore. "
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan smiled and replied: "This is a normal situation, going overseas to build a country from scratch.
It will develop very slowly at first, but when the population rises, it will expand rapidly.
Even though these places are desolate now, if you look at them ten or twenty years from now, they will definitely be filled with people.
The speed of development of Nanyang Province is still fresh in my mind.
I thought it would take at least fifty years to develop Nanyang Province.
The reality is that in less than ten years, Nanyang Province has become an indispensable province for the empire. "
Zhan Tie had a look of disbelief on his face. Based on his level of knowledge, he judged that North America would take at least a hundred years to develop.
It’s incredible how much we can grow in just a decade or two.
Su Shu fell into deep thought. What Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan said was indeed possible.
As long as the food and population problems are solved, a country will develop faster than imagined.
The fleet was billowing black smoke, and he was sailing on the sea. More than ten days had passed since the sun rose and the moon set.
Su Shu stood on the deck of the battleship Taishan. He liked the feeling of the sea breeze.
He used his binoculars to look ahead at the mouth of a small river, with smoke rising from the bank.
After Su Shu watched carefully, he asked curiously: "I did not find the flag of Zhao State at the port ahead. It is still far away from Xiang State, and they did not plant the flag of Xiang State.
Isn't this port an official port? It was created by private forces. "
Admiral Zhan Tie and Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan were also confused when they saw the sudden appearance of the port that was not recorded on the chart.
Captain Li Pinglang was silent when he saw these people.
He said: "I have heard about this situation."
After hearing this, Su Shu opened his eyes and asked curiously: "Captain Li, you are a hero of the navy. You have been to many places in the world. Tell me about the situation in this port."
Captain Li Pinglang saw that Admiral Zhan Tie and Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan had no objection.
He said: "Xiao Su, these ports are not large in scale and are established in places where shipping routes must pass. They are usually jointly established by chambers of commerce that carry out ocean-going trade."
When Su Shu heard this explanation, he was shocked and said: "The Chamber of Commerce is so powerful that it can build a port city in a strange continent that is only inferior to the Golden City.
Looking at the size of this port, it is similar to the Yantai Port in Shandong I have seen. "
Captain Li Pinglang explained: "The chamber of commerce, whose main business is ocean trade, took advantage of the great development of the empire's ocean trade and made a lot of money.
Some of the money was earned without conscience. These businessmen were very scared, fearing that one day they would be arrested by the empire and their families and property would be ruined.
Many of the first wave of merchants who came into contact with the Ocean Chamber of Commerce were from pirate families, so it was not surprising that they had this concern.
On the islands surrounding Nanyang Province, there is a chamber of commerce that wants to occupy the islands and become king.
When the current Second Fleet and the Third Fleet cleared the waters around Nanyang Province, they expelled all these chambers of commerce.
It was the early days when several princes of the official empire established their country overseas.
Some chambers of commerce that had this idea took the initiative to seek refuge with several princes to provide money and efforts, thereby becoming the founding figures of these countries.
Some ambitious people discovered that there was another way to go overseas and found a country.
They do not have the support of the empire, but they also have abundant money and want to rely on their own abilities to build a country overseas.
When I last traveled to Europe, I saw this kind of chamber of commerce in the Arabian Peninsula.
That was the official founding of King Cai. When these chambers of commerce saw that the situation was not right, they immediately surrendered to King Cai. "
After Su Shu listened to Captain Li Pinglang's story, he also understood the situation of these chambers of commerce.
They have seen the huge benefits of founding a country overseas, especially some ambitious people, who cannot refuse the merit of becoming a monarch of a country.
Su Shu is happy to see these situations come to fruition. The fewer careerists in the Great China Empire, the better. These overseas careerists can really succeed, and they can also involve overseas vassal states.
These careerists are also very clever in their calculations. Once the founding of the country is successful, they will gain huge benefits.
Even if it is annexed by other forces such as Zhao State, as long as you lower your profile, you can be accepted by this country and become a noble.
Su Shu suggested: "Let's go to the port to anchor and replenish the fleet with some fresh water.
I am a little curious about this port and want to go to the port for a walk. "
As soon as Su Shu proposed this idea, Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan immediately retorted: "Absolutely not. For the safety of His Highness, His Highness must not go ashore in such a strange port.
Traveling to vassal states or other European countries, they would weigh the costs of war with the empire.
For the sake of their own country, they would never dare to fight to the death.
His Highness is protected by the fleet's deterrence and guards, and his safety is guaranteed.
This port is full of desperadoes.
After His Highness lands ashore, the possibility of an accident is extremely high. "
Su Shu heard Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan's rejection. He knew what Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan said was correct, but there was a look of reluctance on his face.
Admiral Zhan Tie observed Su Shu's expression and suggested: "Your Highness does not need to go ashore, we can call the port director on board the ship.
In this way, His Highness can not only understand the situation of this port, but also ensure safety. "
Su Shu could only agree to the method proposed by Admiral Zhan Tie.
The battleship Taishan approached the port, but did not enter the port directly.
They were responsible for the logistics cargo ship and drove directly into the port.
The ships all carried the flag of the Great China Empire, and people at the port did not dare to block the cargo ships from entering the port.
Su Shu soon saw a small wooden boat approaching the battleship Taishan.
An old man with a slightly white beard, led by the guards, boarded the warship.
"Little old man Wang Dahai, I would like to pay my respects to all the adults from the empire."
Wang Dahai looked at the battleship Taishan and the warships escorting it.
His legs were shaking involuntarily. The strength of the Royal Navy of the Great China Empire was far beyond the imagination of a person like him.
When he saw the huge naval fleet arriving at the port, Wang Dahai felt very desperate.
Thinking that other countries want to destroy them.
He was still wondering in his heart that people with low strength like them were not worthy of dispatching such a huge fleet.
After seeing the flag of the Great China Empire, Wang Dahai relaxed a little.
They did not dare to offend the Dahua Empire. After building this port, they did not engage in pirate business, but received normal merchant ships to dock. The reputation of the port is obvious to all.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan looked at Wang Dahai's frightened situation and asked in a gentle tone: "I saw a port here. The Imperial Royal Navy fleet passed by here to replenish some fresh water and food."
Wang Dahai bowed and said: "My lord, please rest assured that we will provide fresh water and food to the Imperial Navy fleet at a fair price.
The prices at our port are nothing to be deceived about. "
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan nodded and asked again: "I see that there are no flags of any country in your port. Which force do you belong to?"
Wang Dahai thought to himself that he didn't know how to answer this question.
He was sent here because he is older, has rich life experience, and is very smooth in doing things.
Wang Dahai came to the American continent. At the age of over fifty, he never thought about returning to his hometown.
He plans to die of old age on the American continent and make more contributions to his family.
He has been loyal to his family all his life and cannot bring disaster to his family just because he reacted incorrectly.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan's expression changed and he reprimanded: "Wang Dahai, do you think the Imperial Navy doesn't understand your situation?
What are you doing on the American continent? The Empire didn't care at all.
I'm just curious and want to know about you guys.
You are not the only one who is similar to you! "
Wang Dahai immediately bowed and saluted, his face turned pale, and he replied with a trembling voice: "The little old man is a bit old and his reaction is slower. I will answer your questions right now."
He knew he had to answer clearly. The Imperial Royal Navy really wanted to attack the port. No matter how he answered, he would not be able to avoid this crisis.
Wang Dahai adjusted his mood and said: "We are just businessmen who came to the American continent to make a living.
At first, I just saw that there were no ports on the route, and it was inconvenient for ships to come and go.
The caravan is planning to build a port here to serve the ships coming and going.
After the port was built, some injured sailors stayed in the port to recuperate.
After they recovered from their illness and had no jobs, they prepared to develop the land around the port.
As the port gradually developed and expanded, it became like this. "
Wang Dahai saw the expressions of the people opposite him change slightly, and he changed the topic and said: "Our caravan gradually found that the port was difficult to manage, so we established the Political Affairs Hall to manage the port.
If we can develop and grow in the future, we businessmen can also build a country overseas. "
Su Shu asked curiously: "Old gentleman, you have only established a political hall, don't you have a monarch?"
Wang Dahai said with a smile: "This port has different say rights according to the shares invested by each company.
No one person can dominate everything, so why should there be a monarch?
In the Song Dynasty, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats ruled the world together, and there were endless kings.
There are scholars in the empire who believe that only when scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together can the system be stable.
Our Chamber of Commerce believes that businessmen alone can rule the world. "
When Su Shu heard Wang Dahai's words, he was shocked.
Does it mean that the governance of the country does not require an emperor at all?
He had never thought about it before and it was such a shock to him.
When Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan heard Wang Dahai's statement, his expression changed and he knew he could not continue talking about this topic.
There is indeed a group of scholars in the country who are clamoring to depose the emperor and let the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together.
This school of thought has no support from the empire at all, and he is like a stinking piece of shit. Every school of thought avoids him.
Unexpectedly, there are still people who believe in this school of thought in the American continent.
Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan immediately changed the subject and said: "Mr. Wang, you have lived in the American continent for these years, you should have some understanding of the major forces in the American continent.
Taking advantage of the time for logistics to load goods, Mr. Wang would like to introduce to us the situation on the American continent. "
When Wang Dahai heard this question, he immediately relaxed.
This matter is clear to him and will not affect the family.
Wang Dahai saw the young officer who asked the question just now and handed him a cup of tea.
He thanked the officer, drank tea to soothe his throat, and introduced the situation on the American continent.
"Our small port is not considered a power. There are four major powers in North America.
The most numerous forces are the indigenous tribes scattered all over the place. They are the strongest in size and the weakest in strength.
Without the support of other forces, some indigenous people would still use bone knives and bone swords. The indigenous tribes that entered the Bronze Age were all rare and large tribes.
The Zhao State in western North America was very wealthy and rich in gold.
Zhao had abundant troops, could import firearms from the empire, and was constantly expanding.
Zhao State treats businessmen relatively well, the country is also relatively open-minded, and is good at absorbing indigenous tribes.
The English colonies in eastern North America also had advanced firearms.
After the war in Europe ended, a large number of veterans went to America to seek a life.
We don’t know much about eastern America.
In the southern part of North America is the Xiang State, which is rich in silver.
Xiangguo has a small area, but it has no foreign enemies. The local Spaniards were wiped out two years ago.
Xiangguo's canned food is very popular among merchants and is a specialty there.
Xiangguo is also the country that treats doctors best.
Doctors there could easily obtain noble titles.
Many doctors in the caravan heard about the situation in Xiangguo, and they all went to Xiangguo to practice medicine.
It's just that the king of Xiangguo seemed to have insufficient ambition and just wanted to settle down in a corner. After wiping out the local Spaniards, he made no big moves. "
Wang Dahai drank a glass of water again and continued: "There are three major forces in South America.
The local indigenous people are almost extinct because of the smallpox plague spread by the Spanish.
The huge Inca empire was destroyed by the smallpox plague.
The population of indigenous tribes is not as large as that in North America.
A large part of the native people in South America are of mixed race. These people are very aware of current affairs and cannot form an independent force.
The Cao State in northern South America is the most domineering, and the local military status is very high.
Cao State is also the country that likes craftsmen the most. If you can bring a craftsman to Cao State, you can get at least twenty taels of silver coins as a reward.
The Wei State in eastern South America is the most stringent, and it is said that there is no room for Western colonists to survive there.
The entire country is clearing forests and clearing wasteland for farming.
Because the distance is too long and the communication is not close, we don’t know much about the situation in Wei.
In the Qi State in southern South America, its presence is not strong.
This country is famous for its mining and animal husbandry industries, and has never heard of foreign troops.
Many chambers of commerce opened ports not far from the border of Qi State, but the Qi State army did not care. It was the most popular country for merchants. "
Wang Dahai told the intelligence in his memory and won praise from Chief of Staff Cao Zhengyuan.
He left the warship happily, feeling relieved that he had overcome this crisis.
Su Shu and others heard about the situation in America from Wang Dahai.
Combining the information they learned from Golden City, they had a clearer understanding of the situation in America. (End of chapter)
