African Nationhood

Chapter 324 Cecil Rhodes’ true purpose
  Governor Rhodes thought for a while, "30%, so your equity is the largest among the four people on the company's board of directors."

After hearing this, Shi Jintang shook his head and said, "45%."

Governor Rhodes also shook his head, "The other two shareholders are only willing to give you 20% of the equity. In order to win over you, I transferred another 10% of my equity to you."

Shi Jintang was a little dissatisfied with these equity interests, but the other party did not force them to give them to him. After all, it was not the time to fall out.

"Okay, I accept 30% of the shares. What is the discount for these shares?"

"Three million pounds."

Upon hearing the price, Shi Jintang immediately put out the cigar in his hand, his face turned cold.

"Are you kidding me? How long will it take for me to get back my 300 million pounds?

Forget it, I'll pay 50 pounds and give me 10% of the shares. This has given you enough face, and I have suffered less loss. "

Governor Rhodes laughed, "Henry, don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet.

What I mean is to give you 30% of the shares, and then give 30% of your share of supplying black slaves in the Rand Basin to the Rhodesian Company, and then you pay another 100 million pounds, which is enough.

Two million pounds buys you 200% of the black slave supply share. In this way, you get benefits, we also get benefits, and everyone benefits. "

Shi Jintang nodded, "Okay, for your sake I agree, but I have a request. I have 51% of the voting rights in Rhodesia Company."

Hearing this request, Governor Rhodes was a little embarrassed, "I need to discuss this issue with the other two shareholders."

"can."

……

After several days of communication, Governor Rhodes regretfully informed Shi Jintang that the two shareholders could not agree to his request.

Shi Jintang didn't say anything. He and Governor Rhodes and the other two shareholders, James Maguire and Alfred Byte.

The four of them signed a shareholding agreement in Anhai Town. So far, Shi Jintang holds 30% of the shares in Rhodesia Company, Cecil Rhodes holds 25%, James Maguire 28%, and Alfred Byte. 17%.

Among the four shareholders, James Maguire was an Englishman and an Oxford alumnus of Governor Rhodes, while Alfred Beit was a Jew and a well-known financier in the Cape Colony.

It holds a 23% stake in South African Bank and a 41% stake in De Beers Mining Company.

These two shareholders were very interested in the copper mines and plantations within the Nanhua Company. Shi Jintang promised that they could develop mineral resources, but not the plantations.

At the same time, they can also invest in railways within the territory of Nanhua Company, which makes Alfred Beit very happy. He has long wanted to get involved in railway investment.

So Alfred Byte took the lead, James Maguire and Shi Jintang followed suit, and the three parties established the South African Railway Company.

The company's first railway was to build a railway line from New Orange Town (now Kuruman Town, South Africa) to Randfort City (now Johannesburg, South Africa).

This line can use part of the railway line from Jindeli Town to Bloemfontein. As for the route from Bloemfontein to Rand Fortress City, it needs to be discussed with the Boers.

This railway line was somewhat difficult for the Boers to accept.

If they agreed, the railway would become a plunder of the Boers by British and Chinese capital.

But there is a possibility of success in this matter. As long as the Boers also invest in this railway, it will be a win-win situation for everyone.

But who is going to talk about this?
  The relationship between the British and the Boers has never been very harmonious, and it became even more tense after the discovery of the Rand Basin gold mine.

The two shareholders of the railway company looked at Shi Jintang, "Sir Henry, it is best for you to do this!"

When he heard this sentence from the two shareholders, Shi Jintang didn't think much about it, but just said that he should think about it.

Next, two railway company shareholders and Governor Rhodes came to urge Shi Jintang to find the Boers. Seeing that the British were so eager to promote this matter, Shi Jintang finally came to his senses after counting the time.

The British tried to win over themselves, and their ultimate goal was to be on the side of the Boers.

Governor Rhodes wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of building the railway to explore the true and falsehoods of the Boers. He wanted to take action against the Boers.

In the original time and space, at the end of this year (1895), there would have been an incident in which Dr. Jameson, Governor Rhodes' "pig teammate", led an expedition to the Transvaal with 500 policemen.

Governor Rhodes, an imperialist, has never changed from beginning to end. He has always been thinking about opening up territories for the British Empire.

Therefore, he first approached Shi Jintang to negotiate and asked for the right to supply black slaves in the Rand Basin.

Then he asked his allies to cooperate with Shi Jintang to establish a railway company, but the ultimate goal was to target the two Boer countries.

After some review, Shi Jintang finally saw Cecil Rhodes' plan or steps clearly.

His first step was to integrate the two colonies of Cape and Natal, and then began to plot the two Boer countries. Once he succeeded, his next target would only be the South China Company.

No wonder he first wooed the Nanhua Company and then teamed up with Shi Jintang to carve up Portuguese East Africa.

All he did was to paralyze Shi Jintang and make him think that the British were nothing more than that.

I have to say that Cecil Rhodes's plan was very successful. What he did really made Shi Jintang relax his vigilance.

If Shi Jintang hadn't had the historical experience of later generations to draw on, he would have almost been deceived by Governor Rhodes.
  This is really "imperialism's will to destroy me"!
  ……

Now that he has seen Cecil Rhodes' true intentions, Shi Jintang no longer has any respect for his former idol.

There was only a naked conflict of interests between them. Since the British wanted to plot against the Boers, he naturally wanted to help.

As long as the British didn't start fighting with the Boers, his Nanhua Company still couldn't find a chance to stand on its own feet, so he had to do this favor.

……

On the eve of the Spring Festival in 1895, Shi Jintang took the initiative to visit two Boer countries.

After discussing with Sir Brand and President Paul Kruger, the two Boer presidents agreed to build a cross-border railway, but the Boers demanded 40% of the entire railway.

At the end of February 1895, the South African Railway Company once again welcomed shareholders, Sir Sir Brand and Paul Kruger, who represented their respective Boer countries.

After the five parties signed a new shareholding agreement, there are now five shareholders of South African Railways.

The two Boer shareholders held 40% of the joint venture, Nanhua Company held 25%, Alfred Byte held 20%, and James Maguire held 15%.

At this point, the whole matter has been resolved satisfactorily, and the next thing will have nothing to do with Shi Jintang. He only needs to sit down and watch the show.

……

On April 1895, 4, the Qing Dynasty and East China signed the infamous Treaty of Shimonoseki.

The next step was for Japan to spit out the Liaodong Peninsula under pressure from Russia, France, and Germany.

After Japan spit out the Liaodong Peninsula, it demanded 3000 million taels of "city redemption fee" from the Qing Dynasty.

Nanhua Company directly contacted Li Zhongtang and told him that Nanhua Company can lend capital. I wonder if your country needs it?
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  (End of this chapter)