The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 547: Fighting Human Trafficking
So many people followed Chen Zhengwei to work, and every few months or half a year, they would send large amounts of money to his home. In just a few months, his family could build a house and buy land.

This matter cannot be concealed at all.

If you just ask around in Guangzhou, you will find that there are a few like them in every county and town.

Taishan is the most important one.

Now many people in Guangzhou have changed their preferred destination for going out to sea from Southeast Asia to the United States across the ocean.

However, most of the things shipped to the United States this year were disaster victims trafficked from Tianjin, and ordinary people couldn't even find a ship.

In addition, many people on the piggy boats were detained and stuffed into the navy, so the price of the ticket to the United States next year increased from 80 American dollars to 120 American dollars.

So Dong Xun sent someone to Guangzhou to inquire and found out.

"Tell me about that group of laborers!" Cixi asked.

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, Chen Zhengwei's ancestral home is the Wencun Chen family. He has lived in Xinning since he was a child. Two years ago, he killed someone, so he hid his identity and fled to the United States on a labor ship."

"Two years ago?" Cixi paused while drinking tea.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, it was the fourth year of Guangxu!" said Dong Xun.

He was also a little surprised when he heard the news.

It is only the sixth year of the Guangxu period.

I didn't expect that Chen Zhengwei would cause such a big mess and such a big uproar in the United States in just two years.

"Go on!" Cixi said.

"Chen Zhengwei has more than 10,000 people under him. The first ones to follow him were the Chen family of Wencun, Hai Yanrong, and the Yan family. However, as his power expanded, his subordinates came from all over the place. But they are mainly from Guangdong!" Dong Xun found out clearly.

"But I heard that most of the Chen, Rong, and Yan clans have left. Almost all the young and strong have left the area, and only some elders are still there."

Because of the incident with the consul in San Francisco, some of Chen Zhengwei's important subordinates moved their families away. Except for those who came to the United States, some are in Hong Kong and some are in Guangzhou.

"Is this situation common?" Cixi asked.

"It's not common. Guangzhou is close to the sea. Although there are many workers going out to sea, there will still be some young and strong people left in the village! Otherwise, the land will be occupied by others!" Dong Xun said.

For farmers, the most important thing is land.

"This was premeditated!" Cixi said expressionlessly, with a little more vigilance in her heart.

Originally, she was somewhat wary of Chen Zhengwei obtaining American weapons in the United States, colluding with the rebels in the south, and causing another chaos.

Especially now that several provinces in the southeast are already disobedient, the Qing Dynasty cannot afford another chaos like the one caused by the Long Haired Bandits.

For her, it is more important to guard against the Han people than against foreigners, as the threat posed by the Han people is far greater than that posed by foreigners.

No matter how hard the foreigners fight, the Qing Dynasty is still the Qing Dynasty.

But if the Han people start to make trouble, the Qing Dynasty will be gone.

But these people under Chen Zhengwei moved their families away. Chinese people believe in returning to one's roots, so even if they go to work as laborers, they will eventually come back to spend money.

His action was clearly to guard against the Qing Dynasty. What were they guarding against the Qing Dynasty for?
This made Cixi think more.

No matter what he wants to do, as long as he cuts off the sea routes from the southeast coast to the United States, if he has no reinforcements in the United States, the Americans will kill him.

"What is the recent attitude of the American minister?" Cixi asked again.

"Just like before, as long as we are willing to combat human trafficking, they will provide us with technology!" Dong Xun said.

"Their new president also supports this deal and will provide us with gun manufacturing technology and mining technology, and will also sell us a batch of textile and mining equipment. However, they have one request: this matter must not be spread!"

"Promise them!"

At the court meeting a few days later, Dong Xun submitted a letter to the court, calling for a crackdown on human trafficking in the southeast coast.

The ministers in the court were all puzzled, but conservative ministers immediately objected, believing that the court should not spend its time on such trivial matters.

There is no other meaning. As long as Dong Xun supports it, they will oppose it.

But then Cixi spoke up: "After all, the people of our Qing Dynasty were sold overseas by some greedy people to work like slaves and be humiliated by others. This is a disgrace to our Qing Dynasty. We have to take care of this matter!"

When they saw Cixi speak, the conservatives stopped talking.

However, Cixi later appointed Guwalgiya Ronglu, who had served as the Minister of Works and the Minister in Charge of the Imperial Household Department and had just been impeached and demoted to the second level for taking bribes, as the imperial commissioner to inspect the naval forces in Fujian and Guangdong and urge the crackdown on human trafficking along the coast.

The emperor also issued an imperial decree ordering the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi Zhang Shusheng and the Governor of Fujian He Jing to be in charge of the matter.

As soon as this appointment was announced, many people began to ponder.

You must know that Ronglu is a relative of the Empress Dowager and has always been favored by her. Although he was demoted two levels, his favor has not diminished.

Moreover, to combat human smuggling, is it necessary to appoint a governor or a governor?
I'm afraid it's not just to combat human trafficking, this is just an excuse.

Its real target is probably several provinces in the southeast.

No matter what everyone speculated, ten days later, Ronglu returned to the capital to pay a visit to Cixi, and then received orders to go to the southeast.

……

In Washington, a German lawyer and several Chinese walked into the U.S. Patent Office.

"We are here to apply for a patent!" The German lawyer took out the prepared documents directly from his briefcase.

A few Chinese people were sitting on one side with their legs crossed.

When the staff of the Patent Office saw this group of people, they perked up.

After receiving the document and looking through it, I immediately found that this was a new type of drug.

Penicillin injections and tablets are effective in preventing and treating infections and syphilis.

Although the instructions were brief, the description of the drug's effects surprised the staff at the Patent Office.

In particular, there is a more specific description below, which shows that this medicine has excellent therapeutic effects on wound infections and syphilis.

You know, the mortality rate of wound infection has always been a huge problem in modern society.

On the battlefield, most soldiers did not die from being shot, but died painfully from wound infection.

In addition, everyone may suffer from wound infection, amputation, or even death due to a small wound.

Syphilis is also a huge problem throughout the world.

If this new drug can achieve the effects described, it can be said that it is an invention that will shock the whole world.

However, when he wanted to see more, he found that it was gone.

There was nothing there except the name of the drug and a description of its therapeutic effects.

The only raw material is Penicillium.

Apart from that, there is no specific information including chemical composition and structure, drug formula and production process...

"Sir, excuse me for being blunt, but if you apply for a patent, you need to provide more information. Otherwise, I can't submit it to the examiner for review, and it won't pass as it is now." The staff member looked up at the lawyer.

Before the German lawyer from the law firm could speak, the Chinese man next to him smiled and imitated the staff member's words: "Sir, with all due respect, you should look at the applicant's name and call the examiner over as well!"

Several other Chinese people looked at the staff with smiles on their faces.

Of course, if the staff member still doesn't understand, he can see the traditional Chinese art with his own eyes.

Sichuan Face Changing!

The staff member quickly glanced at the applicant's name.

Chen Zhengwei.

A person suddenly appeared in his mind, and then he stood up with an embarrassed look on his face: "Everyone, please wait a moment."

Then he went to see his supervisor.

After he told him about the matter, the supervisor thought for a moment and then said, "I believe you can handle it! There is a promotion opportunity recently, and I am very optimistic about you!"

"But you have to remind them that even if we pass the patent, it will not have sufficient legal effect because there is too little information and they cannot prove that the drugs made by others infringe their patent."

The staff had no choice but to go back and repeat what the supervisor had said.

The German lawyer shrugged after hearing this, but in fact he had also mentioned this issue.

However, Chen Zhengwei just showed a sarcastic smile: "If I say they infringed, then they infringed my patent!"

In just one day, the U.S. Patent Office approved Chen Zhengwei's patent application at an extremely fast speed.

……

Standing in his villa on Nob Hill and looking down, Chen Zhengwei could overlook half of San Francisco and the vast Pacific Ocean.

I have to say, the scenery here is nice.

In more than a year, Leland Stanford's manor was completely demolished and rebuilt. A lot of trees were added to the outside, and the inside was divided into a main building and two small buildings.

The main building is three stories high and is still in European style overall, with a huge garden in front.

The two small buildings next to it are also three stories high. The three buildings form a fan shape as a whole, so the interior of the main building cannot be seen from the buildings on both sides.

These two buildings are for servants, bodyguards and grooms to live in, and they also serve as warehouses and kitchens.

Now the main building has been completed, and even most of the furniture inside has been made.

"What do you think of this place?" Chen Zhengwei asked Lin Changning with a smile.

"Not as good as Chinatown!" Lin Changning shook her head. She didn't want to move here.

Their house in Chinatown is not small, with a 200-square-meter yard.

Moreover, there are Chinese people everywhere you go. There are restaurants and teahouses everywhere. There is a martial arts school a hundred meters away, and a square outside the back door. It is much more convenient than here.

"Besides, the manor in Los Angeles is also under construction, so we can just move directly to Los Angeles later!"

"You are a wild boar that can't eat fine bran!" Chen Zhengwei cursed angrily when he heard this.

The reason why he killed Leland Stanford was not only because San Francisco didn't need anyone more powerful than him, but also because Chen Zhengwei had his eyes on this manor.

This is one of the best locations in Nob Hill.

In the end, Lin Changning still didn't like it.

Didn’t Leland Stanford die in vain?

When Lin Changning heard what Chen Zhengwei said, his eyebrows stood up. This guy is like a dog that can't spit out ivory.

Back in Chinatown, Chen Zhengwei called Situ Ye directly and gave him a list: "Give these people some money and tell them they can leave!"

"Whatever goods they need, such as guns and the like, we can sell them."

The list included all the captains and sailors of the piggy boats in the fleet. A group of people with more problems were selected from them, such as those who smoked opium and liked to gamble, and they were simply asked to get out.

Their ship has been docked in San Francisco for almost half a year, and with the shipyard maintaining it, they didn't lose out.

What's more, I helped train the navy here for half a year, so I have some friendship with Chen Zhengwei, and it will be much easier to do business in the future.

In another month, the stormy season at sea will be over, and they will be able to return to the Qing Dynasty by riding the ocean currents.

"Then select another group of people to take their places on the ship!"

After Chen Zhengwei gave the order, Situ Ye went out with the list.

As soon as he went downstairs, Situ Xianyi caught up with him.

"Uncle Clan!"

"It's Xianyi! You grow really fast!" Situ Ye gestured his height and smiled as he touched Situ Xianyi's shoulder.

“Almost taller than me!”

Situ Xianyi has been in San Francisco for a year and a half, and he has grown a lot.

He is now studying in school and helping Chen Zhengwei with his work. He is diligent and studious, and has a good understanding of telegraphs and finance. He is also Lin Mingsheng's apprentice. Although he is only fourteen years old, he is hardworking, generous, and smart, so no one will look down on him.

Situ Ye also liked this younger generation of his own clan quite a lot.

"It's rare for my cousin to come back, I'll treat him to a drink!" Situ Xianyi pulled Situ Ye and said cheerfully.

"Okay!" Situ Ye laughed.

"I have to go do some things first. You treat me to dinner at Dingshilou tomorrow night!"

Then he called several captains according to the list and had a drink together.

"You have helped train the sailors these days and have put in a lot of effort. I have seen all your contributions." Situ Ye took out a few stacks of money from the side and put them on the table.

The expressions of several people changed immediately.

"Brother Situ, what did we do wrong?" someone asked.

The other party's action was obviously an attempt to drive them away, which made them somewhat unwilling.

"Not really. It's just that you all have family connections in the Qing Dynasty, and we can't keep you here forever!" Situ Ye shook his head and smiled.

"But as long as we have this friendship, you will have a smooth journey to the United States in the future, whether you want to do business or buy any goods."

Situ Ye’s words were clearly stated, and the others were all experienced enough to stop arguing.

Then some people were taken away according to the list.

……

In the evening, Juan came to the Golden Club. As soon as he opened the door, he heard cheerful music. Under the dim and ambiguous light, he felt relaxed.

Juan called the waiter and asked, "Where is Mr. Chen?"

"The boss is on the dance floor!" said the waiter, looking towards the dance floor.

Chen Zhengwei and Anna were seen dancing on the dance floor. Despite Chen Zhengwei's huge figure, he gave people a sense of lightness and art when dancing, which made other guests in the club watch with admiration.

Everyone in San Francisco knows that Chen Zhengwei not only likes to dance, but also dances very well.

"After Mr. Chen finishes dancing, tell him I'm here!" Juan said to the waiter, then went to the sofa on the side and ordered another cup of coffee.

After more than ten minutes, applause broke out in the club.

When Chen Zhengwei and Anna came out of the dance floor, the guests next to them applauded and came up to talk to Chen Zhengwei.

Anna's head was covered in sweat and her face was filled with smiles.

As for Chen Zhengwei, he didn't even break a sweat and greeted everyone with a smile.

The waiter found an opportunity to say a few words to Chen Zhengwei, and Chen Zhengwei glanced at Juan.

Then he nodded to the others and left.

"Long time no see, Juan! I heard that you had a very fruitful trip this time!" Chen Zhengwei laughed and walked up to Juan to shake hands, then sat down opposite Juan.

"Yes, I convinced the Spanish Governor!" Juan said with a somewhat reserved smile.

"Tell me the details!" Chen Zhengwei stretched out his hand to the side, and immediately a henchman handed him a cigar.

(End of this chapter)