African Nationhood

Chapter 398 Final Agreement (Part )

Shi Jintang chuckled, "Of course it's not just what's in front of me. I want to have some footholds in the Persian Gulf. I think the two island countries of Bahrain and Qatar are good."

The Emirate of Bahrain has now become a protectorate of the British, while the Emirate of Qatar was only invaded by the British and has not yet become its protectorate.

Most of these two island countries are currently deserts, and Britain controls the entire Arabian region, which is too small.

Because the place is too small, it's not worth the money at all.

"Any more?"

Shi Jintang thought for a while, "There is also an island in Newfoundland. The winter environment there is good and there are good fishing grounds. It is a good place."

Hearing Shi Jintang talk about Newfoundland, Minister Chamberlain thought of this colonial island with developed fisheries.

Newfoundland is an important transportation hub between North America and Europe and has developed transportation (the Titanic sank nearby).

The Newfoundland fishery is one of the four largest fisheries in the world. It is located at the intersection of the cold Labrador Current and the warm North Atlantic Current. It is rich in cod, plaice, herring, salmon and other fish.

Back then, the British Empire earned its first pot of gold from overseas colonization by relying on the dried sturgeon caught in the fishing grounds near this island, and slowly embarked on the road to becoming a world hegemon.

Nowadays, as the British Empire has expanded its colonies, the island's importance has declined.

In the original time and space, the island became a Dominion in 1917.

Newfoundland actively participated in the war of the mother country and sent a large number of soldiers to participate in the First World War.

As a result, adult males on the island suffered heavy losses.

With the rise of the American fishing industry, Newfoundland's economic situation gradually deteriorated.

After experiencing a serious debt crisis during World War II, Newfoundland voted to join the Canadian federation in 1949.

……

With current navigation technology, the voyage from Africa to there takes at least more than a month. Once the Nanhua Company gets it, it has very limited control over it.

The value of this island far exceeds all the territories mentioned before. Minister Chamberlain was secretly happy that now he could calculate a little more compensation.

"Well, that's all."

Shi Jintang nodded, "That's enough. These overseas territories have already met the needs of Nanhua Company."

Minister Chamberlain nodded, "What do you think about the establishment of a new weapons research and development institution?"

If the previous conditions can be met, Shi Jintang can be more generous when it comes to new weapons.

“If the cabinet can meet the conditions I set forth before.

I will hand over all the current patent rights of the Nanhua Army's new weapons to the management of the research institute. At the same time, the research institute will focus on the local area, and my people will assist. "

Once these new weapons become available, it is only a matter of time and not difficult for other countries to incorporate them into their own armies.

However, the British Empire must ensure that it gets the design drawings of these new weapons first, because the British Empire is on the defensive and must beware of attacks from all parties.

In this matter, Minister Chamberlain originally thought that Shi Jintang would take advantage of him and impose additional conditions.

He was delighted with Shi Jintang's cheerful attitude, "Really? This is great. What about the title?"

"This will be done according to His Majesty the King's wishes. I want this title to better manage Nanhua Company.

After all, I have a high-level title, so what I say is tougher, haha~"

Minister Chamberlain was smiling on his face, but in his heart he was secretly mocking Shi Jintang for being a nouveau riche. Wouldn't it satisfy your vanity to insist on a title?

……

The ensuing negotiations got to the core issues of both parties.

"What do you think about the gold monopoly agreement at Rand Gold Mine?"

Shi Jintang took a puff of his cigar and said, "How many years does the cabinet plan to sign the contract and at what price?"

Minister Chamberlain hesitated slightly: "4.5 pounds per ounce, signed for 20 years, and a new purchase price will be renegotiated after expiration." After hearing such an offer from the other party, Boss Shi would naturally not agree.

The price of gold was strong at the beginning of the 20th century, and the price set by the British government was not in line with market rules.

"Twenty years is too long, let's go five years. Re-negotiate every five years, with an increase of no less than 20% each time."

This answer was somewhat difficult for Minister Chamberlain to accept. Once this agreement was signed, the burden on the British government would be too heavy.

"I can't make the decision on this. We still need to consult with the cabinet."

Shi Jintang nodded, "Okay."

The negotiation is basically over at this point, and all that's left is waiting.

This involves a lot of paperwork, and Cai Shaoji, Sansa Bruce and others who participated in in-depth negotiations will not be able to rest for a long time.

……

As the relationship between the South China Company and the British government eased, the South China Company's stalled immigration affairs could be restarted. It must be said that this was a major benefit.

New immigrants no longer go to Beira Port for transshipment, but sail directly to Map Port and Durban Port.

……

Now the focus of the South China Company's work has also shifted from the deep inland Matabeleland region to the two new districts of Transvaal and Orange.

A large number of civil servants took trains to take up their posts in the new district. These trained Chinese civil servants were all proficient in English and could communicate fluently with the Boers.

The Boers who had previously been in the territory of the South China Company were also reused. They were recruited and engaged in the work of pacifying their fellow Boers.

The leaders of the new district put Shi Jintang in a bit of trouble. The company still lacked talents.

Cheng Daye, the former Administrative Commissioner of the Matabeleland region, came in handy. Shi Jintang directly appointed this old classmate as the Administrative Commissioner of the Transvaal.

As for the Orange Administrative Commissioner, Shi Jintang thought about it and decided to bring up Deng Shicong, the district chief of the Central Plains Region.

As for the Administrative Commissioner of the Natal Colony, the former Lunda Administrative Commissioner Winston Brown was appointed as the Administrative Commissioner. He had spent too long in the wild places in the interior.

One is to help him change his environment, and the other is to let him use his talents.

In local governance with complex ethnic composition, his ability is even more highlighted.

The administrative commissioner of the Cape Colony was promoted to the position of Lu Yongquan, the district chief of Fuqua District.

These individuals have made many achievements in their respective positions, and I believe they can make greater progress in their new positions.

……

In October 1902, news came from the negotiating team that the London Cabinet had agreed in principle to the agreement agreed upon by both parties, but some clauses had been modified.

After Shi Jintang read the agreement sent from the cabinet, he had no objections. Most of them were insignificant modifications.

For example, the cabinet compensation was divided into two parts, one part was 3000 million pounds in direct compensation, and the remaining 5000 million pounds was made up in the name of supporting construction.

The money is paid by the British government, and British companies teach Chinese skills, train employees, sell patents, etc.

In addition, the cabinet requested the Nanhua Company to release other captured generals and captured soldiers of the expeditionary force first.

Shi Jintang nodded in agreement. These soldiers had no other value besides selling their labor force. After all, all the property they had robbed from the war had been confiscated by Nanhua Company.

Except for a small part of these properties that were returned to the Boers, most of them fell into the hands of the Nanhua Company.

After this war, Nanhua Company became rich immediately.

During this time, Sansa Bruce was walking with wind, and she would hum some tunes from time to time to express her excitement and joy.

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(End of this chapter)