African Nationhood

Chapter 358 Anger

At the end of 1898, the number of immigrants in the Nanhua Company increased sharply, reaching more than people.

Most of these immigrants came from the northern part of Hui Province in the Qing Dynasty, where there had been droughts in recent years and the people lived in poverty.

In order to avoid chaos and trouble, Qing officials took the initiative to contact Blackstone Shipping Company to transport immigrants there.

Among these immigrants was a guy with a tumor on his head named Liu Chaodong, who was also nicknamed "Liu Gada". He was a famous thief in Zhiheji (now Woyang County, China).

On weekdays, he associates with the underworld, sells stolen goods, and accumulates a lot of wealth.

The Qing government had long targeted him, so after Blackstone Shipping Company began transporting local immigrants, local regiment officials set up an ambush and captured him.

Then he was escorted to the immigration ship and transported to the Port of Beira. When he arrived at the Port of Beira, he was attracted by the prosperity and noise here. He tried to stay here and "make a comeback" and refused to obey the control of the Immigration Bureau.

He was immediately suppressed by the port guards and was sentenced to "one year of forced labor".

……

While he was in the labor camp, he kept comforting himself that this was just a "tiger that falls in peace" and there is always a chance of recovery.

So he took advantage of the break from the labor camp to contact "fellow laborers" to discuss a plan to escape from prison.

Unexpectedly, the "laoyou" didn't care about martial ethics at all. He had a good confidential discussion with him in person, but then turned around and sued him.

In this way, he liked to propose a one-year sentence of reeducation through labor, while his fellow laborer had his sentence reduced by half a year because of his meritorious service.

Now he is put in wooden shackles and has become a fool that everyone despises.

Although he worked hard in a labor camp in Southwest Africa, he at least managed to save his life.

Without the Nanhua Company's immigration plan, he would have falsely claimed to be a "Han clan member" in Zhiheji and started an uprising against the Qing Dynasty.

Then half a month after the uprising, he died under random gunfire from the Qing army.

……

In early February 1899, Governor Alfred Milner invited Shi Jintang to Cape Town to discuss how to force the Boers.

At this troubled time, Shi Jintang would not leave his nest casually.

Therefore, Shi Jintang declined the invitation of the Governor of Cape Natal on the grounds that the company was busy with business affairs.

Governor Milner was naturally unwilling to give up. He took a train to Kimberley Town first.

At the headquarters of De Beers Mining Company, he persuaded Cecil Rhodes to act as a lobbyist for him.

The two took a train to Jinling City (Bulawayo). Shi Jintang had no choice but to meet the two visitors at Meilin Palace.

……

This was the first time Shi Jintang met the new ruler of Cape Town. Governor Milner had a square face, a high hairline, and two thick beards on his lips.

Naturally, Shi Jintang knew the purpose of the two people's visit.

But it was impossible for him to agree to the other party's request. He had to find a way to disrupt the meeting, so Shi Jintang looked at the thin Cecil Rhodes.

"Governor Milner, please take a seat, and Rhodes, please take a seat as well.

Long time no see. You have lost a lot of weight recently. "

"I haven't been sleeping or eating well lately, but thank you for your concern, Sir Henry."

Shi Jintang took out a cigar and lit it slowly, then blew out a puff of smoke in the direction of Rhodes.

"We are old friends, and the diamond processing workshop you set up in Walvis Bay Port is running well.

I like the manager of that workshop, whose name is Philip. I plan to buy him and this workshop together. What do you think? "

A look of panic flashed across Rhodes' face. Ever since Philip Clark collected intelligence for him, he had been secretly paying attention to Nanhua Company.

But after he resigned as Governor of Cape Natal, Philip Clark suddenly disappeared.

He was panicked at the time, fearing that Philip Clark would be exposed.

After he resigned, when he faced the general manager of Nanhua Company, he was no different than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

He had been worried about this for a long time, but since Nanhua Company didn't bother him for a long time, he relaxed his vigilance.

It is thought that Philip Clark ran away on his own because he was afraid of Shi Jintang's power. …

When he came to Nanhua Company this time, he also had the idea of ​​​​finding out the whereabouts of Philip Clark.

After meeting, Shi Jintang suddenly mentioned Philip, and he subconsciously felt that the other party did it on purpose.

Cecil Rhodes took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down: "I'm sorry, Mr. Clark no longer works in my workshop.

I have no news about him now. I guess he has returned to the UK. "

Shi Jintang stared at Cecil Rhodes and couldn't help but sneer, "Really? How did I hear that he is still in Southwest Africa?"

Cecil Rhodes was completely panicked at this moment. The charge of "arranging spies to monitor friendly countries" was big or small. He had become a white man and there was no way he could get away with it.

He suppressed the shaking of his body and turned to look at Governor Milner.

Governor Milner was a little confused. What was going on?

"Can you let me know what you two are talking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing. One of my employees is missing. I don't know where he is now."

Shi Jintang slapped the table with a bang and said angrily: "Are you really not aware, or are you pretending not to know?

Roz, I have always regarded you as a friend. Is this how you treat a friend?

Tell me what you want to know from me, and I can tell you directly without having to be a spy! "

"Wow!"

The teacup in Cecil Rhodes' hand fell to the ground, and the panic on his face could no longer be concealed.

"I-I didn't!"

"No, then what is this?"

After speaking, Shi Jintang took out a stack of paper from the table next to him and threw it in front of Cecil Rhodes.

"This is all the confession made by Philip Clark. I thought he was framing you before, but now I believe it, Mr. Rhodes, you really did it.

Governor Milner, I ask you to seek justice for me. I want to know the truth. "

Governor Milner became even more depressed. He came here to ask Cecil Rhodes to help persuade Shi Jintang to deal with the Boers together.

Why did it happen here that Shi Jintang asked Cecil Rhodes?

"Oh, Sir Henry, can you please put your matters aside? I have something important..."

The anger on Shi Jintang's face did not seem to be fake. His face was full of pain and sorrow. He glared at Cecil Rhodes angrily and shouted angrily: "No, I want to know now why Rhodes, who I regard as a close friend, Mr. Si wants to monitor me and my Nanhua Company?

If the British government was worried about me, it could have summoned me to London for questioning. Why did it arrange such despicable means to monitor me?

Mr. Rhodes, if you are really a spy chief, please tell me. I will tell you whatever you want to know! "

Cecil Rhodes has no way of telling the difference. If he tells the truth and it is indeed with the approval of the Prime Minister that I monitor you, then he will never survive.

The previous Jameson raid had already made the Marquis of Salisbury extremely disappointed with him.

If this matter is revealed again, I am afraid that the Marquis of Salisbury will immediately issue a silence order to him.

The only solution for now was to refuse to admit it, so Cecil Rhodes immediately pretended to be innocent.

"Sir Henry, listen to me. I have no knowledge of this matter. Don't be deceived. That Philip Clark was probably sent by others to sow discord between us."

Governor Milner finally came to his senses and tried to smooth things over.

"Your Excellency Baron Henry, there may be a misunderstanding on this matter, otherwise we..."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. You are all liars. You British people have deceived me again and again. I want to complain and complain to the cabinet.

I won't believe you anymore, get out, get out! "

After saying that, Shi Jintang waved his hands and walked out of the reception room, and then left without looking back.

Shi Ming walked towards the two British people with a cold expression, "You two, please leave, our Lord does not welcome you!"

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(End of this chapter)