The sun never sets in America

Chapter 267 African Development: Eastern Company Part

Wow…

On the wide sea, a huge steam ship is sailing at a constant speed.

The Chinese dragon flag was hung on the sails, and it looked no different from ordinary Han merchant ships. At least when they just passed Malacca, the British didn't care about anything and just let them go.

The ship is called Dongfang. The name is very common, even popular, because there are so many ships named Dongfang that when it was registered to go to sea, the ship was marked with a number of 105, which means that the ship is one hundred Zero five ships called Oriental.

Woohoo...

Black billowing smoke rises from the single-tube chimney. This single-tube chimney is the latest technology in Han Dynasty. Compared with the original double-tube, it saves a lot of space and coal, and can store more goods. This is the case for the latest Xiang Yu, which has been in service for one year.

"Turn left..."

In the control room, following the navigator's order, the entire ship started to move, and the bow of the ship moved in a rolling arc toward the north.

A C is drawn on the sea.

During the steering process, there is a great demand for power, so in the power room of the bottom warehouse, the stoker was busy with smoke and dust billowing from his body. After everything was over, he was even darker.

When it was all over, the East continued to move towards its destination, East Africa under the Indian Ocean.

…………

"Cough cough..."

In a cabin, Zhang Jun looked at Xiao Wu in front of him, feeling a little helpless. He could only comfort him with a comforting tone: "Come, drink the medicine, and you'll be fine."

With that said, he brought the medicine in the spoon close to Xiao Wu's mouth.

"Gululu..."

After drinking, Zhang Jun wiped Xiao Wu's mouth thoughtfully, and then said:

"I just told Captain Hu that you don't have to work during this period, just have a good rest."

(Captain of the ship's escort)

"Ahem", Xiao Wu coughed a few times, then looked at Zhang Jun:

"Brother Jun, how much time do we have to get to the shore? If this continues, I will die or die. Damn, if I had known better, I wouldn't have been greedy for this money. Alas..."

Zhang Jun "sighed", then stood up and said to Xiao Wu: "Okay, don't scare yourself, it's just the wind and cold, just rest for a few days and it will be fine."

After taking one last look at Xiao Wu on the bed, he left the small cabin.

After walking out of the cabin, he walked a few steps in the dimly lit cabin, then relied on the escalator and climbed to the first floor, which was responsible for driving and commanding.

squeak……

The copper door of a room was opened, and as soon as you entered, you could see the smoke filling the air, and the smell of smoke filled the air.

"Four twos...can't afford it, give me money, give me money!!"

"Damn it, why do you always draw good cards!!"

"Oh, I'm not convinced. If you're not convinced, just hold it in!!"

"What the hell, what did you say??"

As soon as he came in, he saw four or five people holding playing cards, holding cigarettes in their mouths, and the cards were vibrating. Even Zhang Jun's good temper couldn't help but yell:

"Everyone stand up!!"

Wow...

Everyone at the table stood up in fear.

One of them took the courage to take the cigarette from the corner of his mouth and shouted with a smile:

"Brother Jun, are you here??"

Zhang Jun didn't say anything. He walked forward, looked at the banknotes and silver coins on the gambling table, and took them into his arms. When he left, he said:

"I like gambling so much, I'll make a big bet with you. If you can clean the ship before four o'clock, you will be eligible to get your money back..."

Several people looked at each other with unusually embarrassed expressions.

In the captain's cabin, Master Tang was chatting with a deputy named Wang.

"Master Tang, what grade do you think this woman ranks in?"

As they talked, the two of them talked about the topics that men were most interested in.

"Ha ha……"

Hearing this, Master Tang laughed, and then replied obscenely:

"This kind of woman is white, beautiful, tall, has an excellent temperament, and is full of grace and charm. She is like the essence of jade. When you put it in your hand, it is like caressing a warm jade. It is wonderful and wonderful!!"

"This second-class woman is white, fat, and slutty. She looks like a lady in front of others, and like a courtesan behind her. She makes people intoxicated..."

"This is a third-level one. Just use it. No need to say more."

Master Tang waved his "Renyi" fan and talked endlessly about women.

“Then I’d like to ask how to use it??”

Deputy Wang asked Master Tang ambiguously.

Master Tang played with the closed folding fan and then replied with a smile:

"Brother Wang is also a fellow-minded person!!"

"Ha ha……"

"Okay, Master Tang is awesome!!"

Deputy Wang was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and gave Master Tang a thumbs up.

"Master Tang, what I like most in my life are scholars, but most of them are too pedantic. When talking to them, it's like what is that, what is that??"

"Playing the piano to a cow!!" Master Tang added.

"Play against each other, play the piano to a cow..."

Deputy Ambassador Wang agreed very much with the term "playing the lute to a cow", and he became more and more pleased with Mr. Tang across from him. He finally understood why he was the deputy envoy and he was the chief envoy. The difference lies in this, in culture.

"Master Tang, this time the two bosses, Mr. Huang and Wang Zhao, formed a joint venture, Oriental Company, and asked us to go to Africa to find slaves. Do you think it is easy to find slaves?"

After a while of banter, Deputy Wang asked about the business, which was their main purpose this time, to go to Africa to find slaves and get them to work on the Lanfang plantation.

For this matter, Mr. Huang later established a shipping company, Dongfang Company, or Dongfang 105 Africa Company, with Boss Wang and Boss Zhao at the poker table.

According to the shareholding, Mr. Huang, as the promoter, gets 50% of the shares, the other bosses each get 20%, and the remaining 10% is given to the people below. Master Tang alone gets 100%. Third, we can see his importance in this matter.

When Master Tang heard this, he waved his folding fan with a "swish" sound, and then replied in a low tone: "Brother Wang, do you really think that you are here to make a slave this time??"

Deputy Wang looked at Master Tang, his expression stagnant, and asked in a puzzled tone:

"Master Tang, do you mean there is a mystery in this?"

Master Tang glanced at Deputy Wang, and then whispered:

“This trip to Africa is both hey and not hey!!”

These words made Deputy Wang not sure what to say. He now felt that his brain was not enough. He even wondered whether he really had no brain, or was Master Tang's statement not obvious enough? ?

Seeing Deputy Wang's expression, Mr. Tang felt a little helpless. He knew that he was not talking to a man like Mr. Huang, so he had to speak more clearly, and then explained:

"This trip to Africa seems to be about hiring black slaves for farming. However, the water here is very deep. Brother Wang should know about Lanfang Company, right??"

"I know, the predecessor of Lanfang Mansion."

Deputy Ambassador Wang still knew this.

(The Governor-General of Lan Fong is also called Lan Fong Mansion)

Master Tang approached Deputy Ambassador Wang and continued in a low tone:

"The slaves are real, and so is the company. Then, how much money can we make if we just transport the slaves back to Lanfang? Not to mention, how to get the slaves?"

"Buy it from a foreigner. Not to mention the price, the foreigner will use it himself. How can I sell it to you??"

"And if you want to acquire black slaves, you need to occupy land in Africa, and it must be along the coast. Deputy Ambassador Wang should be aware of the dangers involved!!"

At this point, Master Tang stopped talking. After all, if he couldn't even understand this, he would really want to doubt Mr. Huang's vision of people. How could he send such a fool to spy on him.

(Master Huang was worried about Master Tang, so he specially asked the newly appointed Wang Haitao to be the deputy envoy of the fleet. He looks like a deputy envoy, but in fact he supervises the army)

"Master Tang means that Mr. Huang wants to be the second Lanfang Company??"

"Of course, his intention is not to be a slave, but to walk on the great road!!" Master Tang replied in a low tone, the "Benevolence and Righteousness" fan in his hand shining brightly.

Deputy Wang's face was full of shock. After all, before setting off, Mr. Huang just told him to keep an eye on Master Tang. If anything happened, he would immediately lead his men to capture him. Normally, he could listen to him if nothing happened. But now he learned a piece of news that could shock him for the rest of his life. Mr. Huang was so bold. In doing so, wouldn't it mean that he was betraying the king and relying on himself? When he thought of this, Deputy Wang's hands trembled.

But he quickly calmed down. After all, Mr. Huang had been kind to him, and he couldn't betray him.

And this is also the reason why Mr. Huang uses Deputy Ambassador Wang. He is easy to use and loyal.

I didn't tell him because I was afraid that if too many people knew about it, things would be in trouble. After all, people talk a lot! !

At this time, Master Tang continued:

"Don't think too much about it. Mr. Huang's move is not a betrayal of the Han Dynasty and self-reliance. On the contrary, it is the skill of following the dragon. If you catch it, you and I will be granted the title of wife and son-in-law..."

"The power of the dragon??"

Deputy Wang's mind was completely confused. What are these, Africa, Heinu, and the company? These three should not be combined with such a high-level thing as Conglong Zhigong. Good guy, think of me as a joke. Did you see it? ?

"Ugh……"

Master Tang looked at Deputy Ambassador Wang and cursed in his heart, "Rotten wood cannot be carved." Then he said:

"The Lanfang Company was founded by Uncle Lan Fang, the first generation, and passed down to the hands of Ye Tengfei, the last generation of Lan Fang. It lasted for several generations, and then returned to the Han Dynasty. It is what it is today. Now Mr. Huang wants to follow the example of the forefathers and open up territories in the continent. The black barbarians are under the banner of the Han Dynasty. After a few years, when their wings are full, they can emulate Ye's righteous deeds and return to the Han Dynasty. The position of Bohou can be easily obtained..."

"Deputy Ambassador Wang, what a great opportunity this is, you must seize it!!"

Master Tang patted Deputy Wang on the shoulder and said nothing more, just looking at him suggestively.

"Master Tang, awesome!!"

"Master Huang is even more powerful!!"

"I'm not as good as me!!"

Three sentences expressed what Deputy Ambassador Wang was thinking at this moment. Really, he had never seen anyone more shrewd than Mr. Huang and Mr. Tang. These two people were like thousand-year-old foxes. They could use any tricks at will. The little white rabbit has fallen into the trap.

"Oh, don't say this."

"After all, we all work for Mr. Huang and are all friends!!"

They said they were friends, and Master Tang instantly became involved in the relationship with Deputy Ambassador Wang. After all, just now, after saying how powerful he was, Deputy Ambassador Wang's wariness towards Master Tang had reached its peak.

It wasn't until Master Tang left that Deputy Wang came to his senses. Looking at the place Master Tang had made, there was no trace of it. You must know that it was a velvet sofa, which wrinkled easily. Unless he had smoothed it before leaving, he would not give it to anyone. It may even be a natural reaction in daily life, leaving a mark of sitting down.

"No, he hasn't sat down a few times."

Deputy Wang suddenly remembered that when Master Tang was talking, he leaned forward and kept standing up and waving his fan to speak. In addition, with his other hand on the side, Deputy Wang's whole body felt a little numb. a feeling of.

Old fox, what is an old fox, this is the old fox! !

.............................................

Gululu...

The Vostok, billowing black smoke, docked at an Iranian port.

Zhang Jun on the deck looked at the dock opposite and had a strange feeling, especially the women wearing veils, which made him feel like he was back in Brunei. (Brunei is also a true religion)

After docking, Deputy Wang ordered them to rest for three days, and even gave them a large reward to let them go to the city to have fun.

Zhang Jun bought a few local Persian specialties in the city and returned to the ship. After all, he was not familiar with the place here, so he was really uncomfortable with it.

But others didn't care so much. They wandered around the city in groups of twos and threes, drank some horse urine, and even teased Persian women wearing black veils. Two of them were even arrested in the local jail. , if Master Tang hadn’t asked local Han merchants to spend money to operate it, we don’t know what would have happened later! !

…………

Early in the morning, the sky cleared up. Today was also the last day in Persia. Master Tang had given an order the day before to return to the ship before two o'clock in the afternoon. If he was late, he would be fined.

squeak……

The door of the big cabin where Master Tang lived had just opened, revealing Master Tang's thin figure with a cigarette in his mouth, which was very different from his usual appearance of dancing with a fan and writing papers.

"Good morning Master Tang!!"

"morning……"

A guard passed by Master Tang and said good morning. He glanced into the room and could vaguely see a disheveled Persian woman with half-white shoulders exposed.

The guard was filled with envy.

After all, I can get a Persian beauty in conservative Persia. I have the heart but not the courage! !

When Master Tang saw the guard who wanted to leave but was hesitant, a smile appeared on his lips. Then he went in directly and closed the door. There was only a "pop" sound, and there was nothing left.

The guard could only vaguely hear the sound of "panting" and "moving", probably because he was losing weight.

"Master Tang is not afraid of meat and vegetables, even a Persian woman wants to..."

After receiving the news, Deputy Wang smiled and said to his subordinate Luo Kui.

Although the tone was teasing, it was more relaxed.

After all, it would be terrible if Master Tang was greedy for nothing and good at nothing.

Thinking of the phrase "people of the same kind", Deputy Wang felt a lot more relaxed. After all, as long as one person has shortcomings, it is easy to deal with them. The most fearful are those who have no shortcomings. This group of people is the most difficult to deal with. If you are as shrewd as Master Tang, it will be difficult.

"By the way, Mr. Wang, Mr. Tang said he wanted to buy that Persian woman and take her to Africa. What do you think?" Luo Kui then said a ridiculous sentence that Mr. Tang uttered when he was carefree. Word.

"Ha ha……"

"It all depends on him. He can do whatever he wants. He is just a prostitute. Compared with Mr. Huang's big plan, it is nothing!"

When Deputy Wang heard this, he smiled happily, and even felt that Master Tang was nothing more than this.

"Anything else??"

"No more, Mr. Wang."

Luo Kui replied respectfully that he was the intermediary arranged by Master Tang to be beside Master Tang.

Deputy Wang suddenly thought of something and suddenly ordered Luo Kui: "Go and find the Han merchant named Li and ask him to find me a Persian girl. I want to open the meat shop..."

"Master Wang??"

Luo Kui didn't know what Deputy Wang meant.

Deputy Ambassador Wang waved his hand and told Luo Kui: "Go, don't delay the ship schedule."

"Yes, Mr. Wang!!"

Luo Kui had no choice but to agree.

After Luo Kui left, Deputy Wang, who was lying on the sofa, lit a cigar and blew out a smoke ring. The smoke surrounded him and covered his face. He couldn't see clearly. He only heard:

"Master Tang, we can be considered as kindred spirits!!"

…………

In the Indian Ocean, a steam ship flying the Chinese flag and whirring was speeding up its voyage. The black smoke in the chimney was pouring out as if it was free of charge.

Zhang Jun stood on the deck, welcoming the sea breeze, while Xiao Wu next to him lazily avoided the sea breeze and basked in the sun as if he was recovering from a serious illness.

"Brother Jun, when do you think we can arrive? Also, where exactly we are going to go, the higher-ups won't tell you." Xiao Wu's voice kept complaining from his ears.

Zhang Jun didn't say anything, he just took out a candy wrapped in paper and threw it over.

"Peanut candy!!" Xiao Wu shouted in surprise, and then quickly stuffed the candy into his mouth, "Bah, bah, bah," enjoying the mixture of peanut aroma and sweetness.

"Brother Jun, tell me, where are we going?"

“You think, can we make a fortune??”

"Brother Jun..."

Listening to Xiao Wu's chattering voice, Zhang Jun turned around and said:

"Do you know why I can survive until now and be able to kill such natives??"

"Why??" Xiao Wu asked curiously. As a newcomer, he was very interested in Zhang Jun's killing of five natives.

Zhang Jun didn't say anything and walked directly into the cabin. Just when Xiao Wu was disappointed, he suddenly said: "Because I don't talk nonsense!!"

In the cabin, Master Tang and Deputy Ambassador Wang are playing chess. Black and white are mixed on the chessboard, and the killings are indistinguishable. It looks like a draw, but in fact Master Tang is very capable, advancing when he wants, retreating when he wants, while Deputy Wang barely plays. If there are too many, you will basically be hung up by Master Tang.

"No more, Master Tang is awesome, I admire him, I admire him!!"

Deputy Wang threw the black characters into the chess box and admitted defeat with a smile.

Master Tang smiled, took back the black piece just now, and placed it on the position of life and death. In an instant, the chessboard was turned upside down, and life and death were divided. Deputy Wang was dumbfounded.

Master Tang immediately hinted:

"Brother Wang, this is called risking your life to survive!!"

"It's the same when we go to Africa."

Deputy Wang shook his hands and hugged Master Tang.

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(End of this chapter)