African Nationhood

Chapter 303 The Spanish are coming
  In May 1892, Southwest Africa welcomed new guests.

Since Herstal Arsenal announced the patents for the new gun case and bolt action, South American countries have come to discuss the design and manufacturing of new rifles.

With the popularization of electrification in Nanhua Company's local arsenal, the pace of work has become faster and faster.

Countries in South America have successively received new rifles and new bullets.

Because the new rifle has smooth ballistics, can hold more bullets, and has good accuracy, it has received rave reviews from various countries.

The Spaniards couldn't sit still after receiving the news. They also wanted to improve the army's standard rifle.

The Spanish had been cooperating with the Mauser Arsenal before, but the Mauser Arsenal was busy working for the German military and had no time to deal with them.

But what had to be done still had to be done, so the Spaniards found the Herstar Arsenal.

As soon as Trudeau heard about the Spaniards' intentions, he immediately directed them to go to Southwest Africa, where he could help them solve their problems.

After the doubtful Spaniards arrived in Southwest Africa, Ouyang Geng came forward to receive the Spanish military team.

After learning their intentions, Ouyang Geng directly told them that if they wanted Nanhua Company to help produce new rifles and bullets, they could also use their land in exchange.

Nanhua Company took a fancy to the Sulu Islands and Mariana Islands in the Philippines.

These two places are connected to the state of Sabah in Borneo. Sabah is very rich in oil resources. Once you get it, you can wait for the future.

The other is an important island chain in the Pacific, among which Guam has a strategic position.

After taking it over, it can serve as a transfer point for Nanhua Company to transport immigrants, and it will also prepare for the future World War I and World War II.

At this time, both islands were desolate and useless.

The Spanish were naturally willing. The Sulu Islands were the territory of the Sulu Sultanate. Although they claimed to have sovereignty over the Philippines, they had never conquered the Sulu Sultanate.

As for the Mariana Islands, it was because the Germans forcefully occupied the Marshall Islands in 1889. Their attitude was tyrannical. In the Micronesia region (including the Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands and Palau Islands vast sea area) to do whatever they want.

(Spain is very afraid of the tyrannical Germany. In the original time and space, the United States took Guam away after the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1899, Germany bought all the remaining islands.)
  Moreover, they asked Ouyang Geng very enthusiastically if Nanhua Company should also take over the Philippines.

This question surprised Ouyang Geng, but he adhered to the principle that doing more is worse than doing less, so he shook his head and refused.

The Spaniards were a little disappointed with Ouyang Geng's reaction, because at this time the Philippines was fighting for independence and the Spanish government could not collect taxes.

Their military expenditures to counter the rebellion were huge and they were already overwhelmed.

After the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain was also willing to get rid of the big burden of the Philippines.

After accepting the Philippines, the United States also vigorously suppressed resistance activities and killed many people before taking control of the Philippines.

Nanhua Company's takeover of the Philippines was not worth the gain. The local population was not enough, so there was no extra energy to take care of external affairs.

As for transporting the indigenous people, it is even more impossible, because the indigenous people in the Philippines are living a very difficult life.

Importing more foreign residents will only intensify their conflicts and resistance activities in advance.

……

The role of the Sulu Islands in exchange is not for the present but for the future, and the same is true for the role of the Mariana Islands.

After consulting with the locals, the Spaniards agreed to Nanhua Company's request.

Because these two islands are too ordinary and do not have any special minerals, the two parties finally agreed to price the two islands at 20 pounds.

This 20 pounds was enough to produce nearly new rifles, and the Spaniards readily accepted this.

In the end, the two parties signed a cooperation agreement. Because the signing place was in Harbin, the treaty was called the "Harbin Agreement." The contents of the treaty are as follows:

1. Based on the principle of equality and voluntariness, both parties (British South China Company and the Spanish Ministry of War) reached an agreement through negotiation on the issue of South China Company's processing of the standard rifle M1892 for the Spanish Ministry of War.

2、本次代工M1892式步枪数量是3.4万支，子弹300万发，费用共计20万镑。

3、M1892式要求如下：口径为7mm，子弹格式7mm*51mm，全枪长986mm，空枪重3.4kg。

4. The two parties agreed to use two islands in the Pacific Ocean: the Sulu Islands and the Mariana Islands as compensation for the cost of manufacturing the new rifle.

5. After the signing of this agreement, the Spanish government needs to transfer the sovereignty of the above two islands to the British South China Company.

6. If the Spanish Ministry of War wants to continue to purchase more new rifles in the future, Nanhua Company has the priority to renew the contract.

……

After the agreement was signed, it was already the end of June, and two ironclad ships from the Navy Department of the Nanhua Company were sent to the two islands to take over the jurisdiction of the islands.

Xue Youfu rushed to the Sulu Islands on the "Guan Yu", while his camp deputy district Haiwa rushed to the Mariana Islands on the "Zhou Yu".

The reason for this distribution is that most of the natives of the Sulu Islands are Muslims. They are very strong. This time, they wanted to be stronger and force the Sultan of Sulu to abdicate. The Nanhua Company took the initiative.

The indigenous people of the Mariana Islands are very peaceful. After the "Zhou Yu" handed over sovereignty in the past, all that was left was to establish good relations with the Germans. As long as they did not seize the islands, anything was easy.

……

The "Guan Yu" arrived at Lanfang Company after more than ten days of sailing. Lanfang Chief Zhong Yilin, Nanhua Merchant General Manager Zeng Ze, together with Lanfang Company Administrative Officer Li Yuchang, Lanfang garrison battalion commanders Liang Luyi and Luo Yibo Come along with others to greet you.

Xue Youfu exchanged greetings with a few people, and then followed Xue Youfu directly to the "Guan Yu" for a meeting.

……

Zhong Yilin and others had never seen a large warship, so they were very curious about the "Guan Yu" and couldn't help but look around.

Liang Luyi and Luo Yibo tried to touch each other. The sailor next to them did not stop their curiosity, and they became bolder.

"This ship is so big!"

"It goes without saying that this is a British-made warship."

Although Zhong Yilin also cared about this battleship, Liang and Luo were both under his command, so they were a bit inexperienced in the world.

"Cough cough~"

Liang and Luo woke up and shut up to avoid showing their cowardice again.

Xue Youfu laughed and said to everyone: "Everyone, please sit down. I am here to borrow troops from you."

"Borrowing troops, what to do?"

Liang Luyi was the first to ask, and his question was also the voice of everyone.

"The company has signed an agreement with the Spaniards and bought the Sulu Sultanate from them. I am here to recover these islands. I only have more than 400 navy soldiers on my warship, which is not enough to occupy them. Those islands.

So I want your Lanfang Company to send troops to help the company occupy these main islands. What do you think? "

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  (End of this chapter)