African Nationhood

Chapter 68 Confidence
  The reason why the coastal diamond deposits in the Golden Hook Port of Southwest Africa (today’s Port of Lüderitz, Namibia) are rich is due to geological reasons.

These alluvial diamonds originate from the Kimberley native pipes in the Central Plateau of South Africa's interior (more than 300 miles to the east).

After 8000 million years of geological time, rough diamonds were transported to the Atlantic Ocean via the Orange River and other river systems, and then moved northward along the coast with ocean currents and were deposited on the shallow seabed or along the coast.

Long water transports tend to filter out poorer quality crystals, so the vast majority of diamonds found in this remote coastal region are suitable for use as gemstones.

Later generations estimated that the diamond yield in Southwest Africa reached an astonishing 95%, ranking first in the world.

The yield rate far exceeds that of other diamond producing areas. In addition, the total diamond output in Southwest Africa is estimated at 8000 million carats.

……

The first diamond found was the size of a soybean grain, crystal clear and extremely dazzling.

Shi Jintang visually inspected it and weighed almost 1 carat.

After checking it for a moment, he took Jin Xiyue's little hand and gave the diamond to her: "This is yours."

Jin Xiyue was very happy after getting the first diamond. She held the diamond tightly in her hand for fear of losing this dazzling treasure.

There were too many people at the scene, so she couldn't say anything. She planned to express her gratitude to Dad Shi properly when she went back.

Shi Jintang looked up and saw everyone looking at him. He laughed: "Don't be stunned. Hurry up and dig. I don't even want the 100 yuan military coupons."

Hearing what Mr. Shi said, the civilians who had not dug yet were even more motivated. The first civilian to dig out diamonds also got his 100-yuan military coupon reward as he wished, and then continued digging in the sand without raising his head. .

There was a lot of dust in the bunker area, and Shi Jintang hurriedly pulled Jin Xiyue out of the excavation area.

With no one around, Jin Xiyue quickly took out the bright gem and gestured towards the setting sun, smiling foolishly while gesturing.

Shi Jintang ignored her, as women all love such shiny things.

When it becomes really developed in the future, we will dig out the Cunene River Basin. The Fantastone and demantoid garnet there will be even more beautiful.

The excavation here is still continuing. Shi Jintang ordered the guard company to unload the living supplies brought with the convoy, and then left a platoon of soldiers as security force.

Then they returned to Jingou Harbor and waited for the fish to take the bait.

Cecil Rhodes was indeed very efficient. The moment he received the telegram, he immediately took the fastest mode of transportation at the moment - riding horseback and rushed to Golden Hook Port.

Facing a pile of sparkling gems of different sizes in front of him, Cecil Rhodes, who was exhausted and dying, was instantly resurrected with full health.

He picked up this one and then that one, looking at each rough diamond. After reading it, he even let out an admiration sound like "tsk tsk".

There was a spark in his eyes, a mixture of greed and jealousy.

“My God, what a shining jewel this is!

Henry, I'm jealous of you. Not only gold mines have been discovered one after another on your land, but diamond mines have also been discovered. You are so lucky! "

Shi Jintang held his cigarette and puffed out smoke leisurely, and said lightly: "Indeed, I don't know why I am so lucky, but the harsh natural conditions here also exist objectively.

If my land could be replaced by the Cape, I would rather not have these minerals. "

After hearing what Shi Jintang said, Cecil Rhodes chuckled and changed the subject.

"These things have nothing to do with a businessman like me. Why don't we talk about cooperation."

"My idea about cooperation is this: Nanhua Company will mine the diamond mine here by itself, and the sales will be directly handed over to your De Beers Company. What do you think?"

"That's okay, but a colonial company general manager like you should focus more on developing colonial affairs.

Managing a mine is very cumbersome, so it is better to leave it to professional managers. Shi Jintang chuckled and put out the cigarette in his hand, "It's hard to find professional managers, but you have many of them, right?" "

“It’s easy to talk to smart people!
  Henry, I am your friend, making money should be shared with friends.

In this way, our relationship will be more harmonious and our friendship will last longer! "

Listening to the threats in Cecil Rhodes' plain words, Shi Jintang was not moved at all. He was not as weak as when he first arrived at Walvis Bay Port.

Although he currently does not have many soldiers in training, he has sufficient reserves.

Today, two immigrant ships arrive in Southwest Africa every month, carrying more than 1100 immigrants each time. Most of the immigrants are young and middle-aged men.

These strong men can take guns to the battlefield with a little training. If there is a war, he can form a force of 6000-8000 people at any time.

And he also has a bonus, that is, the soldiers in the army are loyal enough to him.

Once he gives the order, these soldiers will go through fire and water without any hesitation.

In terms of combat will and equipment, his troops are no inferior to the British Army in head-to-head combat, and he has also prepared secret weapons.

If a war really broke out, he would definitely be able to fight the British army immediately, but his stamina was a bit weak.

With confidence, Shi Jintang could directly say no to businessmen like Cecil Rhodes.

"Mr. Rhodes, can I understand what you said as: You British people only care about interests. Without interests, there will be no friendship?"

Looking at Shi Jintang's stern and solemn face, Cecil Rhodes felt very strange.

This young oriental man who always smiles actually has such uncomfortable moments.

He was a completely different person than he had been when he was negotiating the Consolidated Mining Company.

Has the guy in front of me evolved to be as greedy and ruthless as us Brits?
  “Henry, I have always admired your understanding, but that’s not what I meant.

I am just asking you to share your benefits with me as a friend.

If you don't want to, I won't force you. We still have a basis for cooperation.

De Beers Mining Company is very happy to distribute the raw diamond ore produced by Nanhua Company. "

Now that the British guy understood the current affairs, Shi Jintang immediately smiled and took the British guy to sit down and have a drink and talk in detail.

In view of the high yield of rough diamonds in Southwest Africa, De Beers purchased the rough diamonds from "Southwest Africa Golden Hook Mining Company" at a 50% premium on the purchase price of Kimberley rough stones, and initially agreed on annual sales of 50 pounds.

Shi Jintang went to the Cape Colony again and contacted bankers in London through Governor Freire.

He used the sales contract of Golden Hook Mining Company as collateral and took out a 20-year mortgage loan totaling 400 million pounds.

This money was mainly used to build a 400-kilometer railway line from Meibu City (today's Tsumebu City, Nagoya) to Hot Springs (Windhoek).

This railway line is mainly used to increase the connection between the central region and the northern region and prepare for the development of the Tsumeb copper mine.

The extra part is to import giant coastal defense artillery from the United Kingdom and Germany to build coastal defense artillery positions along the coast of Southwest Africa.

With the shore defense artillery position, Shi Jintang can really relax and have the confidence and patience to deal with the Bechuanaland (Botswana) area.

　Please continue reading, invest, recommend and collect, thank you!
  　　
  

(End of this chapter)