Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 767 The Ghost Abacus of the Russian Businessman
"Ah! Boss Zhao actually wants to go out in person?"

At noon two days later, Lu Qi, who had just returned to Kinmen Town, was ecstatic after seeing the telegram. Boss Zhao came to help him solve his problem.Since the leader is coming, why should he do something to save his face? Should he ask an Indian girl to send flowers, or should he lay out a red carpet at the entrance of the fort?

"Boss, that fellow Baranov is here again. Have you seen him?"

Lu Qi's cranky thoughts were interrupted by the report of his guards. He pondered for a while and said, "See you. Ask him to come in."

Not long after, the door opened, and a burly, fat guy with a red-faced dark face walked in following the guards.The man looked to be in his forties, with triangular eyes and high browbones.He walked to a place about two meters away from Lu Qi and stood there. He took off the top hat made of beaver felt on his head, revealing a Mediterranean-style bald head and a circle of light yellow and thinning hair around it.

"Hello, Honorable Governor, I'm here to disturb you again." The visitor spoke English, because he was afraid that Lu Qi would not be able to hear clearly, so he spoke very slowly.

"Please sit down, Mr. Baranov." Lu Qi, who got up to greet him, also greeted him to sit down in English.

This Mr. Baranov's full name is Alexander Andreevich Baranov, and he is the general manager of the Russian "Northeast America Company" in Alaska.And this company is actually the predecessor of the "Russian-American Trading Company" in another time and space. It is currently mainly engaged in the fur business from Alaska and whaling at sea.

Twenty years ago, a Russian merchant fleet set off from Okhotsk on a commercial trade voyage to the Kuril Islands and the Aleutian Islands.Five years later, in 20, the year when Zhao Xin first met Li Ji and his wife, the fleet finally made an expedition to Alaska, and established its first stronghold on Kodiak Island in the northwest of the Gulf of Alaska the following year. .

In the spring of 1790, the 41-year-old head of the company, Shelikhov, returned to Irkutsk due to health reasons. Before leaving, he appointed Baranov as the company's general manager.

In August of the same year, the "Battle of Usoliye" broke out between Beihai Town and the Tsarist Russian Empire. After the battle, Okhotsk was completely lost, cutting off all land and water transportation from Tsarist Russia to Eastern Siberia. Shelikhov heard that After hearing the news, he fell ill due to desperation.

We must know that the Tsarist Russian Empire has formed a world strategy including "six seas and three oceans" since the establishment of the navy by Peter the Great, and all subsequent monarchs have regarded it as a standard.The loss of the eastern estuary forced Russian merchant ships to take the Baltic Sea, or the route from the Crimea to the Black Sea, and from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.

The Russians have not opened up the Arctic Ocean shipping lanes in this year. If there is no accident, it will not be realized until at least 100 years later.And even if it is opened up, it is useless. The harsh natural environment makes the east and west waterways not commercially viable until the 21st century.

Therefore, in the previous negotiations between Tsarist Russia and Beihai Town, the return of Okhotsk was one of the main conditions, but Zhao Xin ruthlessly refused each time.

In order to completely make Okhotsk the sphere of influence of the Chinese territory, the Civil Affairs Committee renamed it "Shaohai Town" according to the records in the "Tong Dian" of the Tang Dynasty; The team will rotate personnel every summer when the supply ship arrives.Every winter during these three years, Zhao Xin would spend a few days traveling back from another time and space to send a large amount of fresh vegetables, rice noodles, grains and oils to the local garrison to ensure the health of the soldiers and prevent them from being damaged. blood disease.

In addition, in order to naturalize the local Evenki and Yakut people, the Education Committee also specially allocated funds to build a Chinese school in the local area.Compared with the Russian church schools, the schools in Beihai Town not only take care of food, clothing and housing, but also give out four clothes, shoes and hats every year, and take out scholarships.The teachers who were sent there also paid double their salaries, and also provided various subsidies.

While waiting for the tea, Lu Qi chatted a few words. Although Baranov was anxious, he could only respond with a smile.When the guard brought the tea, the two finally got back to business.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting for several days. I just came back from Lushui Town. Please understand that as the governor of a newly developed area, there are too many things that need to be handled personally." After Lu Qi finished speaking, he made a gesture. He shrugged helplessly.

"Sir, I know you are busy with work. However, this year's beaver hunting season is about to arrive in one month, and many things need to be prepared in advance. If you can allow me, I hope to come back next spring to discuss cooperation between the two parties."

Lu Qi thought for a while after listening, Zhao Xin will come next month, and that person can speak more Russian than himself, so he said: "Mr. Baranov, I have fully understood your idea of ​​establishing a joint venture company. Yes. However, I very much hope that you can stay. Because in a few days, a big man will come to the Golden Gate Fortress. In addition to presiding over our negotiations with Spain, your matter can also be resolved.”

"Really?! Exactly how many days?" Baranov's eyes lit up, staring at Lu Qi intently.

"Well, not more than ten days."

Baranov frowned and considered for a moment, then said decisively: "I can wait for ten days. But Your Excellency Governor, I have a small request."

"Please say."

"Can you accommodate me and let my crew go ashore during the day to go to the market. They have been on board for many days. Don't worry, I promise they will not cause you trouble."

This guy has been in Golden Gate Town for a week and lives on a sloop moored in the harbor.Except that he himself can go ashore with an entourage to ask for an audience, the other crew members are not allowed to disembark and hang out.Although fresh water, tea, radish and other fortresses send people to the ship every day, the rule of not allowing them to go ashore has suffocated them all. They can only drink and fish on the deck every day, or wash the deck to pass the time, watching the hearts of the people. More and more impetuous.

"Well." Lu Qi thought for a while and said, "It's not impossible to go ashore, but you have to promise me two things. Once someone violates it, not only will they be arrested for hard labor, but others will also be driven back to the ship."

Baranov hurriedly said, "Please tell me."

"First, you are not allowed to force or molest Indian women after landing." Lu Qi stretched out his fingers one by one, and continued: "Second, doing business with Indians must be fair and there must be no fraudulent behavior."

Baranov can ignore the British, the Spaniards and the Americans, but he never dares to offend the town of Kinmen.The disastrous defeat of the Spanish army made the Overseas Corps look like a scourge along the entire northeastern Pacific coast, not to mention that Beihai Town had already occupied the entire Siberia, cutting off their way back to Europe.So he immediately swore to the sky: "Please rest assured, I promise in the name of the Holy Mother that we will abide by your request and local laws."

Well, he came thousands of miles away from home to North America to seek money, and he was still counting on establishing a joint venture trading company with Beihai Town, so how dare Governor Lu be unhappy.

It is said that in the early Qing Dynasty, China had always been the world's largest trade surplus country, and a large amount of silver poured in, resulting in the lack of precious metals in most European countries. At the same time, they wanted Chinese tea and silk products.So from the 50s, a number of commercial companies specializing in the Pacific fur trade have sprung up; such as the Constantinople Russian Trading Company, the Persian Trading Company, and the Bukhara and Khiva Commercial Company. , "Lebedev-Rastochkin Company", and "Northeast American Company" founded by Shelikhov and Ivan Golikov.

All companies wanted to monopolize the fur trade in the Pacific Ocean alone, so they launched fierce competition.In the past few years, the Tsarist Russian government deliberately established a unified company to avoid the involution of fur resources, and at the same time strengthen the management of the colonies to cope with the infiltration of Britain and Spain.

Originally, this matter had been included in the agenda of the State Council, but the appearance of Beihai Town completely aborted the plan of the Tsarist Russian government.

Don't look at Siberia being taken from Tsarist Russia by the North Navy, but the huge profits of the fur trade still attract Tsarist Russian businessmen, especially those like Shelikhov who were the first to conduct commercial expeditions and earn a lot of money. give up easily.

In the history of another time and space, the Russians relied on the large-scale fur trade in the Pacific Ocean to obtain sufficient goods and funds from the Guangzhou and Kyakta trade, so that by the beginning of the nineteenth century, Russia already had The strength to compete with the European powers at that time, otherwise Alexander I would not have the confidence to go to war with Napoleon.

In just over 1747 years from 1791 to 40, Russian merchants shipped more than 600 million rubles worth of fur from the Aleutian Islands, most of which flowed into China, and then turned into tea, rhubarb, and silk He and porcelain were sold to Europe and made a lot of money.For example, Zhao Yi once received a seal fur as a gift. He once recorded: "The fur comes from the northern Russian country. It is black in color and dense in hair. The people in China call it Haihu, but I don't know what it is called in that country."

In the past two years, the northwestern coast of North America seemed to have no wind or waves, but in fact, the waves were dark, and sometimes it even developed into a firefight between hunting teams.Especially now that Beihai Town, who turned the tables on the situation, was added, it was even more messed up.

You must know that Britain lost a considerable colony after the War of Independence, so it stepped up its expansion to western Canada.The near-declaration of war between Britain and Spain five years ago over the tiny Nucat Bay was a direct manifestation of this policy.

Fortunately, after tense talks between Britain and Spain, the first "Nutka Treaty" was finally signed four years ago—that is, in October 1790, which eliminated the danger of war. Otherwise, both Tsarist Russia and the United States would be forced to end.

This year, the Hudson's Bay Company expanded its activities around Alaska because the British acquired Nucat Bay and occupied Vancouver Island through fulfilling the contract; businessmen in the New England region of the United States also used Robert Gray's expedition to The tentacles stretched out.A melee over the possession of fur resources and the acquisition of indigenous fur franchises is about to begin.

In the spring of this year, Shelikhov, who was lying on his sickbed, learned from a letter from Baranov that Beihai Town had snatched the Golden Gate Strait from the Spaniards. He was keenly aware of the rare opportunities in this crisis .

The British, Americans, and Spaniards are all scumbags!It is only possible to monopolize the fur trade from Alaska to Guangzhou by embracing the thick legs of Beihai Town.

In order to reach a cooperation with Beihai Town, Shelikhov sent his confidants to Okhotsk, took a fast boat to Kodiak Island, and sent a secret letter to Baranov, ordering him to go to Golden Gate and The Chinese discuss cooperation.

Thinking of being able to monopolize the fur trade in Alaska and Guangzhou in the future, Shelikhov, who is far away in St. Petersburg, would wake up laughing from his dreams. Forget it, he woke up from coughing.

Although this guy is not even fifty yet, his days are numbered due to the damage done to him in the Aleutian Islands and Alaska.According to the historical trajectory of another time and space, if nothing unexpected happens, this person will die next year, and his huge property and company shares will be left to his 14-year-old daughter to inherit.

Lu Qi listened to Baranov's assurance with a smile on his face, and said to himself that I didn't let you go ashore because I was worried.If I hadn't received a telegram from Boss Zhao, I would have told you to leave now.

He is right to think so.The life of the sailors at sea these days is very boring. Once they dock, they will inevitably go ashore to find women to have fun, get drunk, and even fight and make trouble.

There are no brothels here in Kinmen Town, not even bars.In addition to a basketball court, there is also a library that is not open to the public as entertainment facilities.In addition, every Saturday night, as long as there is nothing wrong, Lu Qi will play an outdoor movie in the open space inside the fort, which the officers and soldiers love to watch.

Movies usually start with a news documentary about the construction achievements of Beihai Town and the appearance of the countryside, followed by opera movies about Peking Opera or Henan Opera.Such as "Wild Boar Forest" and "Lin Chong Running at Night" in Peking Opera, "Mulan" in Henan Opera, "Interviewing the Commander with Boots", "Mu Guiying in Command" and so on.

Although there are no women in Jinmen Town at present, many officers and soldiers of the Overseas Corps have family members, and they were not sent here before because their families are in Liaodong.Now that the Shengjing area has been brought down, it's time for them to reunite.As for Lu Qi's fiancée, Hu Yingying, he plans to wait until next year's Spring Festival when he returns to Beihai Town to get married first, and then come together again.

Time passed day by day, and it was the eighth day after Lu Qi received Zhao Xin's telegram.

In the early morning, the sun has just risen from the horizon, and white smoke has risen above the tribe where Katata is located, and a new busy day has begun.

Katata also woke up. She stood up and rubbed her eyes. When she realized that her mother was not in the room, she started to get dressed.Before leaving the house, she hesitated, turned around, and took out a pair of small black leather boots from where her floor was next to the wooden wall.

The boots had been given to her by a young officer in the Golden Gate Fort, and they were the right size.Katata likes it so much that he is reluctant to wear it and wipes it off every night before going to bed. The young men and women in the tribe are all envious when they see it.She thought that she was going to see her father on the other side of the strait today and was more likely to meet the officer, so she decided to put it on.In this way, when the two of them stand together, they can look taller.

After participating in the "Battle of San Bruno Mountain" a few months ago, her father Baibai and a dozen other people were recruited as the "militia" in Jinmen Town, and they are currently receiving military training there.

The Miwok people are very curious about the combat methods and weapons of the Overseas Corps, and believe that this is the magic weapon to defeat the white devils.When the militia was first recruited, young and strong people from various tribes signed up extremely enthusiastically.But after practicing for two days, many people couldn't take it anymore. Turning around, standing at attention, turning left, right, and back, etc. made them dizzy, thinking that what does this have to do with fighting? !

If it weren't for the good treatment, many people would have been unable to persist.Four clothes, shoes and hats are given out a year. Food is not counted during the training period. Thirty catties of wheat flour are given out every week. After the training is over, because they have to go back to the tribe, it is 120 catties of flour every month.

The Miwok Indians don't need money. Their transactions with the tribes are barter, and they have no place to spend the money.Ever since many people have eaten steamed buns made of flour, they think that this is the best food in the world.

In the past, the Miwoks often migrated due to food shortages during winter.Since the opening of the barter market in Jinmen Town, coupled with the food provided to the militia, many families no longer have to worry about running out of food.

As for the chiefs of the various tribes, they are now wearing "golden blankets" exchanged for fur, wearing safety shoes on their feet, stewing food in iron pots exchanged for them, smoking cigarettes produced in Beihai Town, and drinking a few mouthfuls of sorghum Stuffed burning knives, hey, the little days are so beautiful!
Seeing Katata emerge from her house, the men, women and children nearby all greeted her with a smile.Ever since the Thor came to the Golden Gate Strait and drove away the Spaniards, no one has laughed at her anymore.At the same time, many people also began to miss the late "Soaring Eagle", believing that he was really the messenger of "Wolf God Kaknu".

When Katata boarded the canoe and rowed the paddle with his companions, his heart was full of indescribable expectations.At this moment, the boat is a red rope connecting the two sides of the Golden Gate Strait. As the wooden oars continue to move the water, the distance between it and that person is getting closer and closer.

(End of this chapter)