African Nationhood

Chapter 17 Governor of the Cape
  The investigation of Thomas Spahn was quickly completed, and his crime was simple.

从去年上任开始就有计划的贪污鲸湾港的公款，共计1万1千19镑6先令3便士。

另外还涉嫌挪用公款用于放贷，获利6千2百37磅3先令10便士。

He also used the power of his position to play with local residents (Portuguese women) for a year and three months.

A total of three black slaves were killed.

At that time, he was drunk and insisted on hunting. Because he was too drunk, he couldn't shoot accurately. Instead, he shot three black slaves who were accompanying him.

Among Thomas Spann's crimes, killing slaves was the least important.

Because no one would count black slaves as human beings, they were added just to make up the numbers.

His economic crime was the biggest crime, and the reason why it was discovered so quickly was that Thomas was too greedy and didn't understand the principle of equal benefit.

None of his subordinates have received any money, so naturally they won't help him cover it up.

And his private ledger was placed casually in a drawer.

Shi Jintang was easily found.

Now that the charges are clear, there is no need to talk nonsense and a public trial will be held directly.

Walvis Bay Pier is a good meeting venue.

The procedure for the public trial was that Shi Jintang acted as the prosecutor on behalf of Nanhua Company, and the defender assigned to Thomas was a mixed-race guy who couldn't even speak English well.

The white management of Walvis Bay served as the jury.

Therefore, the formal trial was completed quickly.

The final verdict sentenced Thomas Spann to 20 lashes and 10 years in prison.

All illegal gains shall be confiscated and returned to Nanhua Company's account.

The punishment was carried out on the spot, with Thomas tied and lying on a long bench.

Robin Trudeau served as the executioner, and the cowhide whip dipped in water was usually used to whip black slaves.

This time it was used to punish a white man. Not only all the white people in Walvis Bay, but also the few black slaves were alarmed.

As time went by, more and more people gathered in the port square.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Shi Jintang nodded to Robin Trudeau.

Lao Te understood the idea and whipped the whip in the air.

"Snapped"

The explosive sound of the whip piercing the air shocked everyone at the scene, and it was raised again and fell on the back of white Thomas.

Thomas was tied so tightly that he couldn't break free.

In addition to the screams, only his fat body was shaking, and the clothes on his back were torn open by the whip.

The bright red mark is very obvious on the white skin. This is the first whip, and the next crackling whip is bloody.

The screams made people's scalp numb even more, and many people present couldn't bear to look any further.

By the time the 20 lashes were finished, Thomas' back was as rotten as a rag and dripping with blood.

Halfway through the beating, the guy passed out.

Before the execution, Shi Jintang told Lao Te not to be beaten to death on the spot.

After the execution, Tian Liang led people to drag Thomas away.

If this guy survives, spare his life and throw him directly to the Cape Colony. If he dies, he will die.

After all, this is an age without antibiotics, so it depends on whether Thomas' life is tough or not.

The main reason why he added whipping was to shock the remaining people in the company.

Although his Nanhua company has just started, this gap cannot be opened.

You can fool the previous colonial government, but you can't fool me, Shi Jintang!

After the trial meeting, Shi Jintang summoned the port law enforcement team.

It was announced that the next task was to prospect for minerals in the interior, and all members of the law enforcement team were transformed into prospecting team members.

There are more than ten people in this team, half Europeans and half black slaves.

Shi Jintang asked James Lister to recruit people and get 20 people to distribute weapons and medicines.

In addition, guard Qu Sangqian was dispatched as the leader of the prospecting team, and several prospecting experts were escorted to the inland.

The exploration area designated by Shi Jintang naturally included the area of ​​the gold mine in his memory.

In addition, these people also need to do mapping work while prospecting.

These jobs are also done by prospecting experts. These people are paid top-notch wages, 2000 pounds per person per year, and will receive additional commissions after finding mineral deposits.

The equipment given to this prospecting team is of the highest quality, and they also have plenty of ammunition and medicine.

The prospecting team also has another responsibility, which is to declare sovereignty. Because Nanhua Company has just landed and has no manpower, the main purpose for the time being is to intimidate the indigenous black people in the interior.

After the location of the gold mine is determined, the next step is to capture black indigenous people to work as miners.

Aboriginal miners are required to sign labor contracts, and there is also a reward, but the difference is just in amount.

The tentative goal of Nanhua Company is to consume as many native people as possible in the form of labor workers.

If the indigenous people cannot bear the heavy pressure and resist in the future, they can simply be physically cleared and driven away at that time.

European and American colonists used similar methods to deal with the indigenous people. They first created an illusion of peace to paralyze the indigenous people, and then used economic means to consume the indigenous people.

If you dare to resist, there is no need to discuss it, just speak with guns.

In the original time and space, this was how the German colonists treated the indigenous people of Southwest Africa.

The German colonial governor massacred the natives, poisoned them, built concentration camps, and exterminated them all. This aspect was practiced in advance. In the mustache era, his techniques became more proficient.

After arranging the prospecting team, Shi Jintang took Trudeau, Tian Liang and the half-dead Thomas on a short merchant ship to the Cape Colony.

American merchant ships can dock in Cape Town. Walvis Bay Port is too remote and has no specialty goods, so the people and goods transported need to be unloaded there.

In addition, Cape Dune can also send and receive telegraphs. It is a very prosperous and important port city. These are incomparable to Walvis Bay Port.

It is only a few days' sail from Walvis Bay to Cape Town. Along the way, you can feel the cool sea breeze and feel the wrath of nature.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are particularly violent in the Cape Peninsula area. In the past, walking along this section was scary in the days of wooden sailboats.

Once you drive through this section, the sea will become calm when entering the Indian Ocean.

That's why Vasco da Gama named it the Cape of Good Hope when he passed through the Cape Peninsula for the first time.

Of course, Shi Jintang's voyage did not need to pass through the Cape of Good Hope, and he was traveling on a steam ship. Iron-clad ships in the industrial era were enough to withstand wind and waves.

When they disembarked from the ship in Cape Town, they were completely shocked.

There are so many people here, it’s many times more prosperous than Walvis Bay.

Even the skin colors of the people here are of different colors, including Europeans, indigenous people, Indians and Chinese. There are all kinds of people, and the business atmosphere here is also stronger.

Because they had something to do, they did not delay at the port. Trudeau called a carriage and headed towards the Cape Colonial Government.

The buildings of the Cape Colonial Government are particularly dignified, with three-story buildings everywhere.

In addition, there are many churches here, and I saw several along the way. Unlike Walvis Bay, there is only one solitary one, and it is particularly dilapidated.

When they arrived at the gate of the colonial government, two Indian Asan stopped them. When they learned that Shi Jintang was here to perform his duties, Asan did not show any kindness to them.

After waiting patiently for nearly a quarter of an hour, Brother Asan arrived and invited them in. The half-dead Thomas was handed over to them.

There were many colonial government buildings, and Brother Asan led them through many twists and turns and finally came to a one- or three-story building.

"The highest level on the third floor is Governor Freire's office. You can go in."

As he climbed the stairs, Trudeau couldn't help but complain: "The Indians' weird English makes people feel very uncomfortable."

"Well, their English is full of curry flavor, just get used to it."

After saying that, Shi Jintang took the lead and stepped onto the third floor. The entire third floor belonged to one person, and that was the colonial emperor, Sir Henry Butterford Forre.

The door was ajar, Shi Jintang nodded to Trudeau and Tian Liang, and they stayed outside the door knowingly.

Shi Jintang knocked on the half-open door first and said, "Kunkou."

A rich baritone replied, "Come in."

Shi Jintang opened the door and saw a tall, thin man standing at the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the sea view.

The smell of tobacco reached his nose, and there was still smoke drifting from Sir Freyr's side.

It seems that the governor likes tobacco, and I have a common topic with him.

"Hello Sir Freire, I am Henry Shi, the general manager of Nanhua Company."

After hearing Shi Jintang's words, Sir Freire turned around, pointed to the chair in front of him with the finger holding the cigar in his left hand, and smiled slightly.

"Mr. Shi, please sit down."

This Sir Freyr should not be too old. His blond hair is still very soft and has not faded.

In addition, the skin on his face is still very tight, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes are not obvious.

At the same time, the uniform he wore was crisp and smooth, and it was obvious that this gentleman paid great attention to personal appearance.

Sir Freire reached behind the desk, pointed to an open box on the table, and asked: "Do you smoke cigars? This is an authentic Spanish Royal cigar."

Shi Jintang smiled and nodded, "I like tobacco, but I haven't tried cigars yet. I'll try it today."

After saying that, Shi Jintang leaned over, picked up a cigar, stuffed it into his mouth, and then rubbed the fire wheel with his fingers.

The orange flame ignited in the sound of "stab", and Governor Frere's eyes also lit up.

　Please read it!

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)