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In a Portuguese-style western-style building in Qimen, a tall foreigner looks into the distance in front of the north-facing window, contemplating in the distance. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

This tall foreigner is none other than the Prussian --- Ricky, who once opened a "Lihe Foreign Company" in the Thirteen Hangs Business District of Guangzhou. Karenway.

Merchant ships from German states, such as Prussia and the Kingdom of Hamburg, only began to appear in Guangzhou 50 years ago. At the beginning, because the number of Prussian merchant ships arriving in Guangzhou was small, the Kingdom of Prussia appointed British merchants as consuls and entrusted them to fight for the interests of Prussian merchants.

But the real interest of these British merchants was only to do business with China, so the Kingdom of Prussia approached the Prussian merchant Ricky, who had established the "Lihe Foreign Company" in Guangzhou in 1846. Karenwei became the consul of the Kingdom of Prussia in Canton in 1847.

For so many years, even Ricky. Karenway, by virtue of his consular status, often lost the competition for foreign trade business in Canton with the so-called "Hong Kong merchants" (British and Indian retail merchants who traded in Canton).

There was no way, the British were too powerful in the Far East. Although the British East India Company, which had an exclusive monopoly, had been dissolved, the "Hong Kong Foot Merchants" who succeeded him occupied the main trading business with the Manchus. So, for this gang of Hong Kong merchants who started by smuggling opium, Ricky. Karenway has never had a good feeling.

However, the reputation of the Kingdom of Prussia here was too small, and the Manchu government in Canton had always been difficult. Karenwei did not fight for much profit for the Prussian merchants, and even his own business was a little light and barely maintained.

Unexpectedly, a sudden rebellion interrupted his backwater life.

Hundreds of thousands of natives outside the city of Guangzhou actually staged an uprising and besieged the city of Guangzhou.

Richie. After the uprising of the rebels began, Kalunwei closed the Lihe foreign store in Guangzhou, and went to Qimen with many foreigners to escape the war with valuable goods.

Originally, he thought it was just a slightly larger anti-Qing uprising. It won't take long to be back in Guangzhou and start a business. Unexpectedly, the rebel army in Guangxi, which is also said to believe in God, suddenly took the opportunity to attack Guangzhou, and occupied the city of Guangzhou not long after.

Just yesterday, Wu Chongyao, who had dealt with him several times, came to visit with a few Chinese.

According to Wu Chongyao, the leader of this rebel army, known as the Taiping Sacred Army, was an enlightened monarch who set out to form a Nanyang company to engage in trade, and was in need of an honest merchant like himself.

Honest businessmen? Richie. Of course, Kalunway knew that it was just a compliment from the other party, and who didn't know, the businessman was after profit! As long as there is a 100% profit, Ricky. Karenway could sell everything. Although he hated the British who ran the opium trade from the bottom of his heart, he knew that it was jealousy and envy.

Then, Wu Chongyao, the famous Manchu comprador of the Qing Dynasty, invited himself to Guangzhou to participate in the opening of the Nanyang Company. It seems that this rebel leader really has a set, and even this Manchu comprador Wu Chongyao has taken refuge in him.

Originally Ricky. Karenwei was about to go back to Guangzhou to see the situation of the foreign company, and just in time, he agreed to go to Guangzhou to participate in the opening of the Nanyang Company.

Come to think of it, Ricky. Karenwei hesitated: he was about to set off, and he asked the guys from the foreign company to bring those large backlogs of foreign cloth and foreign fire, as well as three hundred Dresser M1841 needle muskets, can they be sold?

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At the same time, the British Governor's Palace on Hong Kong Island.

The British consul in Canton, Bao Ling, was discussing what he was arguing with Rear Admiral Cha Wei, the commander of the naval fleet, who was also the deputy governor.

"No, no, No, Your Excellency, I've been wrong once, and I can't be wrong again!" Bao Ling spread his hands and said with a wry smile: "I was forcibly taken out of Guangzhou by that damn Manchu governor to return to Hong Kong Island, which was a wrong step. Now, the rebel leader, Mr. Paiwu, has invited us to the opening of his foreign business, which is our last chance to be good with him. ”

The grim face of the young general was disapproving: "Dr. Bao Ling, you businessmen are always thinking so troublesomely!" A rebel army, even if it is tens of thousands, but they are all indigenous farmers armed with sticks, as long as our British warships sail under the city of Canton and fire a hundred guns, they will definitely escape. Is it necessary to pay so much attention? ”

"Moreover, you are the consul and director of trade in Guangzhou, if you make friends with him, I am afraid that the Manchu government will protest!" Major General Cha Wei added.

"What if you protest? Besides, we're just going to check on the situation first, and if this rebel army occupies southern China, we'll miss the opportunity to make friends in the early stage! Although it can't be! Bao Ling replied.

"No! I am the Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong Island, and I do not agree to make a formal relationship with the rebels. Although the stupid Manchu governor was greedy for life and afraid of death, there was still some truth in his words. He had promised us that if he would help them recover the city of Canton, he would report to their emperor that he would lease us the Kowloon Peninsula to the north of Hong Kong Island, and that he would open three more treaty ports in Guangdong. ”

Major General Cha Wei laughed hesitantly: "Moreover, all military expenditures are paid by their Manchu government!" The spoils of war from defeating the rebels are also all ours, and they do not interfere. ”

"It's going to be a great asset! It's much faster than you can make money from trading! "The young general is a little longing.

"No, no! Although you are the deputy governor of Hong Kong Island, I am also the director of commerce in China, and once it is determined that the enemy of the rebels is not able to capture the city of Guangzhou, many of our British merchants will no longer be able to do business in Guangzhou, and will have to make a detour to Xiamen and SH. Bao Ling had a calm face, "We can't bear this consequence!" Have you considered it? ”

"Hi my dear Bao Ling, you're thinking too much! Not possible! When the warships and armed merchant ships on the Xiamen side arrive on Hong Kong Island, as long as there are six or seven warships, plus the cooperation of several armed merchant ships, those rebels will be able to suffer! Major General Cha Wei said proudly, "If you add the cooperation of the Manchu army, you will definitely be able to conquer the city of Guangzhou." Then I'm afraid you'll have to call me Admiral!" ”

"Oh my God! So you hit this idea? Bao Ling felt insulted, and said angrily: "Then yesterday I agreed with Mr. Wu's persuasion and suggestion from Guangzhou and promised to stop fighting, why didn't you speak out against it?" ”

"That's your business! Besides, now that our troops on Hong Kong Island are insufficient, we will first pretend to agree to a truce and let those riotous natives retreat. After a few days, as soon as the warships of SH Guangzhou arrived, they would defeat those natives first. Cha Wei licked his scarlet lips, "Some time ago, the Yankees said that their southern plantation owners were very short of slaves, and if they could take some prisoners, they could sell them for a lot of silver dollars. ”

"You madman!" Bao Ling slammed the door in anger!

"Dr. Bao Ling, if you want to go, go in your own name, in the name of an ordinary businessman. Remember, Governor Wenham is not here, and now that I am the Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong Island, I can represent the British Empire. Cha Wei shouted after him.

Seeing Bao Ling leave angrily, Cha Wei laughed in the room. After a long time, he said to himself, "These weak businessmen! Have they forgotten that if it weren't for our imperial soldiers, the ancient and closed Manchus, how would they do business with them? ”

"Counting the next few days, it is almost time for SH's warship to return to Hong Kong Island for maintenance. When the time comes, we must teach those yellow-skinned monkeys a good lesson! ”

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