The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 438 Qing Consul in San Francisco
Qing Dynasty, East Warm Pavilion. Dong Xun, the Minister of Finance and Minister of the Zongli Yamen, knelt on both knees to greet him.

"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother!"

"Minister Dong, I saw in your memorial that the United States was defeated by the hard-working people of the Qing Dynasty?" Cixi asked.

"Your Majesty, it is true. The U.S. Army was defeated by a group of coolies from the Qing Dynasty and suffered heavy losses. They signed the Treaty of Washington in Washington, the capital of the United States!" Dong Xun replied.

"I have asked the British ambassador about this matter, and it is true."

"Aren't they said to have powerful firearms? How come they can't even defeat the hard-working laborers of our Qing Dynasty?" Cixi was a little surprised and looked down on the United States in her heart.

"Our Qing Dynasty has many talented people and a long history. The United States, with its short history of just a hundred years, cannot compare to that," said Dong Xun.

"Moreover, the Western countries are also different. Among the Western countries today, the strongest are naturally Britain and France, followed by Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and then the United States."

"I remember that Lord Dong translated a poem by an American and knows a lot about America. Can you tell me about America?" Cixi said.

She was in a good mood today too.

After all, it was always said that foreigners were powerful, but they were beaten by a group of coolies from China. This made her look down on those foreigners and she was interested in listening more.

"Your Majesty, the United States has a vast territory, with a total of 38 states... but the population is sparse, with a national population of over 50 million... These Americans were originally British who were exiled there..." Dong Xun replied quickly.

Cixi knew all these things, but she just wanted to hear them.

"Where is that San Francisco?" Cixi asked again.

"It's in the far west of the United States, along the coast. Going east from Guangdong, you can reach their San Francisco."

Cixi nodded, and after a long while she continued, "I never thought that when we Chinese laborers came to foreigners' land, we could beat them and make them flee in disgrace."

"This bandit leader... the ambassador we sent to the United States died at his hands. We asked the U.S. government to hand over the murderer, but now that the U.S. government can't even defeat him, it naturally can't hand him over either."

"I heard that there are a lot of hard laborers in San Francisco. This gang leader is lawless, but others may not be like him."

"In addition to sending an envoy to the United States, I would also like to set up a consulate in San Francisco and send officials. On the one hand, it is to protect the hard laborers abroad. After all, they are all citizens of the Qing Dynasty. On the other hand, we can also find loyal and brave people among these Chinese and take down the bandit leader. Thirdly, we can let the Chinese here benefit from the weapons made by foreigners and give back to the Qing Dynasty."

Dong Xun agreed immediately.

The candidate for the minister to be sent to the United States this time has actually been selected.

It was Ouyang Geng’s cousin, Ouyang Ming.

He often dealt with foreigners in Zhili, and his cousin Ouyang Geng was studying in the United States and was quite familiar with the situation there.

But building a consulate in San Francisco and sending a consul made Dong Xun a little embarrassed.

After all, the bandit leader made his fortune in San Francisco and had many cronies there, so it was extremely dangerous to go there. And the Queen Mother had ordered that no one could be sent there casually, otherwise he would be blamed for not doing his job well and be reprimanded.

After Dong Xun returned, he thought hard but to no avail. Then, after being reminded by his confidant, he thought of someone.

Liu Xihong.

Before Guo Songtao was appointed as the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, he proposed to appoint this person as counselor.

As a result, after arriving in Britain, Liu Xihong and Guo Songtao became enemies and fought endlessly with each other.

This remained the case even after Liu Xihong was appointed Minister to Germany.

Last year, the court recalled both of them. After Liu Xihong returned, he was appointed Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, a fifth-rank official.

In addition, Liu Xihong had suppressed peasant uprisings and opposed Westernization, saying, "If we need to use firearms to strengthen the army, we can let foreigners buy them instead of making them ourselves."

"Everyone should learn benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and trustworthiness, but not too many people should learn about ingenuity and military equipment."

With Confucian education, he could educate the Chinese laborers in San Francisco; he had suppressed uprisings and had some experience; he had been an envoy to foreign countries; after gaining a foothold in the United States, he could use the United States' ability to make weapons to give back to the Qing Dynasty...

A perfect candidate.

Most importantly, Dong Xun didn't like him.

This man was once Guo Songtao's aide. When Guo Songtao served as the British Minister, he turned against Guo Songtao because he was angry that Guo Songtao nominated him as counselor instead of deputy envoy. This was unjust.

He is a self-proclaimed conservative and even after his diplomatic mission to the West, he remains like this. This is unwise.

Sending this person will certainly be a good thing.

If we fail, there will be one less fool in the court.

Subsequently, Dong Xun wrote a letter to the emperor, and Ouyang Ming and Liu Xihong were recruited into the court.

Half a month later, the two packed their luggage, took their entourage, and took a boat to Guangzhou, and then took a boat from here to San Francisco.

At the same time, the Zongli Yamen also applied to the United States through the American Minister to the Qing Dynasty to establish a consulate in San Francisco.

When the US government received this application, it agreed without much hesitation.

If the Qing Dynasty set up a consulate in San Francisco to divide the Chinese there... the President of the United States would say thank you to them.

……

After Chen Zhengwei bought the Hoffman House, Lin Changning moved in, while Cicely still lived in the Fifth Avenue Hotel.

Lin Changning didn't want to see her, and she was a little scared of Lin Changning.

The main reason is that I feel insecure.

"Hoffman House... this name is not grand at all. From now on, it will be called Continental Hotel! Let Chicago change the name of the hotel... From now on, we will have a Continental Hotel in every major city!" After Chen Zhengwei stayed at the Hoffman House for a day, he waved his hand and changed the name.

As for whether the name change would affect the business, he didn't care at all.

He wants everyone to see Continental Hotels in every city, so that Continental Hotels can be deeply rooted in people's hearts.

His influence will gradually penetrate into these cities through Continental Hotels.

Therefore, these hotels are actually the core of his industry in each region, and also his tentacles reaching into major cities in the United States.

After all, it is too troublesome to cross the American continent.

He also tried to avoid taking the train.

Only when the Panama Canal was opened could he travel frequently by ship.

"When are we leaving?" Lin Changning asked while eating lunch.

"Wait a few more days! The club's design drawings will be delivered in the afternoon!" said Chen Zhengwei.

After dinner, Aaron handed over a newspaper: "Brother Wei, look at this!"

"Multiple shootings occurred in Philadelphia late at night, causing dozens of casualties"

"According to the reporter's investigation, the victims were all gang members who were shot when they came out of the bar. A gunfight broke out between the two sides at the scene."

"The identity of the attacker is still unclear, and the police are conducting a close investigation!" "Isn't it like this every day in the United States? Everyone has a gun, and the chaos can't get too serious anyway." Chen Zhengwei took a look and didn't take it seriously.

It's too common.

Then I thought about it and realized that this method was a little familiar: "Did Green go to Philadelphia?"

Because of the ironworks that Andrew Carnegie wanted, Green went to Pittsburgh a few days ago and recruited local gangsters into the committee.

And Philadelphia is his next destination.

"It should be him who did it! But he didn't send a telegram back, so it should be nothing." Aaron said.

"Is that the problem? I asked him to do business, not to kill anyone, and yet you made such a big deal out of it!" Chen Zhengwei pointed at the newspaper.

"I guess I met a young and inexperienced person!" Aaron said with a smile.

"Forget it, as long as he doesn't send a telegram back for help, let him go." Chen Zhengwei waved his hand.

"Brother Wei, the voting results in San Francisco are out! James became the mayor, and there are no problems with the governor." Aaron took out another telegram.

This is only natural, after all, that is Chen Zhengwei's lair.

It would be surprising if James didn't become mayor.

While the two were talking, several young men in gentlemen's suits got off the train.

"Is this New York?" A handsome young man walked out of the train station and looked at the dense crowds and tall buildings around him with a country bumpkin look.

"Sangyan, look, those people seem to be afraid of us! They all walk around us." The young man stretched out his hand and pushed the ordinary-looking young man next to him.

"What's there to be afraid of? Can you eat people? They are not afraid of us, they are afraid of Brother Wei!" said the young man known as the Miserable Words.

"Find a carriage and let's go find Brother Wei first!"

The one called Sangyan is Xu Yan. When he was in Virginia, the ideas he came up with were too cruel and too crazy, so he got this nickname.

But most people don't dare to call him that, Rong Jiahong calls him that the most often.

And that handsome young man was Rong Jiahong.

After the incident in Virginia, Xu Yan caught Chen Zhengwei's eye.

Chen Zhengwei was preparing to return to San Francisco, so he called him over to take charge of matters here.

Although Rong Jiahong is young and lustful, he is smart and daring, and is suitable to be his deputy.

The group first found the Fifth Avenue Hotel and were then taken to the Hoffman House.

Then Chen Zhengwei and A Long were seen in an office on the top floor.

"Brother Wei! Brother Long!" Xu Yan spoke calmly.

"Brother Wei, Brother A'long, I haven't seen you for a long time! I missed you so much!" Rong Jiahong became much more lively.

Aaron laughed and punched each of them.

"Such sweet talk?" Chen Zhengwei said with a smile, looking the two up and down, and nodded after a moment: "Not bad, it's different after some experience outside."

After the Chinese New Year, the two of them went to Old Silver Mountain. It has been almost a year now, and there have indeed been great changes.

It is completely different from the youthful appearance at the beginning.

It looks quite imposing.

Rong Jiahong chuckled. "Brother Wei, what do you want us to do this time?"

"Send him to exile at the frontier!" said Chen Zhengwei.

"Ah? No way, Brother Wei?" Rong Jiahong was stunned.

Aaron burst into laughter.

When Xu Yan heard Chen Zhengwei's words, he knew what he meant. His eyes lit up and he became slightly excited.

"You will stay in New York from now on! All matters here will be left to you to handle!" Chen Zhengwei said directly.

"Are you confident?"

"Yes!" Xu Yan nodded.

"I have one too!" Rong Jiahong said quickly.

"Sit down and talk!" Chen Zhengwei took out a bottle of whiskey from the wine cabinet and threw it to the two of them, then sat down, crossed his legs, and lit a cigar.

"New York is not comparable to Old Silver Mountain! This is the heart of the United States, with the most rich people and complex forces. You must be especially careful here!" said Chen Zhengwei.

"Washington has no chance to attack me, but that doesn't mean they will behave! Be especially careful of those who get close to you!"

Chen Zhengwei pointed at Rong Jiahong and said, "Especially you! I won't say anything about playing with women, but be careful!"

After hearing what Chen Zhengwei said, Rong Jiahong no longer dared to laugh and quickly agreed.

After chatting with the two about some things, Chen Zhengwei asked them to go and rest first.

Take them out to see the world in the evening.

The main thing is to bring them to banquets, and when I am not in New York in the future, they will be the people representing me.

……

In the evening, at a banquet, after Chen Zhengwei finished talking to someone, he no longer saw Rong Jiahong.

"Where's Hong?"

"He went upstairs with a woman!" Xu Yan said expressionlessly.

"The French ambassador's daughter."

"Fuck!" Chen Zhengwei cursed with a smile. He had seen the French ambassador's daughter before and she was quite pretty.

This guy actually acted so quickly.

But this guy is young, good-looking, sweet-talking, active, and has fought in life-and-death battles.

With his own support behind him, he can really thrive in a place like New York.

"Remind him later not to get his belly too big! That would be ugly." Chen Zhengwei said.

(End of this chapter)