African Nationhood

Chapter 70 Mr. Shi

The Bechuanaland region in the first few decades of the 19th century was not as small and barren as Botswana would become in later generations.

Its land area also includes the vast area north of the Orange River and south of the Molopo River.

This area has flat terrain and abundant water and grass, making it a good place to develop animal husbandry and planting.

The British believed that the Bechuanaland area was a passage to the interior of southern Africa, and also wanted to prevent the Boers from encroaching on this area.

Therefore, the Cape Colonial Government signed a contract with the chiefs in 1885.

A total of 12 square kilometers of land north of the Orange River and south of the Molopo River was designated as the British Bechuanaland Region, also called the Southern Bechuanaland Region.

In 1895, this area was directly incorporated into the territory of the Cape Colony, and the territory of Botswana was formally formed in the future.

The Tswana people were the first African indigenous people to have contact with the British, and the chiefs had a deeper understanding of the British.

They were well aware of the principle that "the weak are guilty", so they defected to the British early.

The more well-known chief among the Tswana people is Kama III. This chief is one of the earlier civilized African indigenous chiefs. He is very enthusiastic about trade.

Not only that, he is also a wealthy man among the Tswana people. He himself owns 8000 cattle.

Whenever an outsider enters the territory of the Tswana people, the chief will take the initiative to ask the other party if they have any goods that can be exchanged.

If outsiders have no goods to exchange, he will treat them with indifference, and even privately ridicule them as poor people.

When Shi Jintang came here with his guards, there was no way he would be ridiculed as a poor man.

This time he brought a large number of cans, tobacco, alcohol, mirrors and other industrial products.

After Kama III learned that Huang-skin was coming, he very carefully asked his subordinates to investigate and made sure that the other party was not hostile before opening the gate of the tribe.

After opening the gate, the Tswana people warmly welcomed Shi Jintang's arrival. King Kama III also arranged for warriors from the tribe to perform war dances for Shi Jintang.

Seeing the wild and rough dance of these Tswana warriors, Shi Jintang laughed.

No matter how brave these natives are, they can't withstand the destruction of grenades.

Kama III was happy to see that his guests were happy, and he asked the translator to tell Shi Jintang that distinguished guests like him could come here often to trade.

Shi Jintang naturally agreed to this. This time he traveled through the southern Bechuana area for military reconnaissance.

Once the Boers launch a rebellion at the end of the year, his advance second battalion will directly send troops to capture this area.

By then, the British would not be able to take care of both ends, and would ultimately have to acquiesce to the Nanhua Company's occupation.

Before that, he had been able to make some extra profit on the industrial scissor spread, and the conversation was friendly and lively.

After the guests and hosts had a good time, Kama III generously presented several black pearls to Shi Jintang.

Look at these young, dark-skinned indigenous girls.

Shi Jintang resisted in his heart, but he didn't want to give up the black slaves for free.

As the number of Chinese immigrants gradually increased, there were no longer enough black slaves in Southwest Africa, so he accepted them directly.

"Thank you, noble Chief Khama!"

Kama III expressed his appreciation for the yellow-skinned person's straightforwardness, and immediately asked Shi Jintang about the yellow-skinned people's intentions towards the Tswana people.

Shi Jintang generously said that his territory was large enough and he came here just to make friends with the Tswana people.

Kama III was even more happy when he heard what Shi Jintang said.

He had been worried that these yellow-skinned people were as greedy and evil as the white people.

Many Nama and Bushmen escaped from southwest Africa before.

What these refugees told was that the yellow-skinned people were ferocious human beings who killed the elderly and children, and captured strong men and women as slaves.

This news worried Kama III for a long time, and he wondered whether he should consult the British for protection.

The two parties met happily today, and the other party readily accepted his gifts and brought a large number of industrial products to exchange.    This is the beginning of the goodwill between the two sides, and it will definitely get better and better in the future.

So Kama III proposed that the two sides sign a treaty of friendship and trade, and Shi Jintang immediately nodded in agreement.

When he signed the contract, he was still complaining. This old black man is really naive. He won't hit you after signing the contract?
  Next, Shi Jintang and his party stayed in Kama III's tribe for three days and successfully started the transaction.

This batch of industrial products was exchanged with the Tswana people for more than 1000 cattle and more than 400 sheep.

Before leaving, Kama III also asked Shi Jintang about the time of his next visit, and tactfully expressed that he wanted more cans, especially canned fruits.

The indigenous people cannot resist their love for desserts, and they are even more rare in transparent glass bottles.

Naturally, these requirements must be met. Shi Jintang also suggested that the other party could trade ivory and cow and sheep skin next time.

Kama III also readily agreed that to whom these properties were traded was not a transaction?

Yellow-skinned people are at least kinder and more fair than white people.

While in the Kama tribe, Shi Jintang chatted and spanked with Kama III.

Shi Ming, Trudeau and others were not idle. They took the opportunity of wandering around the tribe to find out the truth of the tribe.

After returning to your residence, compile it into a document for future use.

After bidding farewell to the Kama tribe, Shi Jintang and his party went to some small and medium-sized tribes to trade.

The same routine also allowed Shi Jintang to make a lot of black girls in vain.

It was not until the end of October that their group finally arrived at the farm area of ​​Rand Basin.

Tian Liang and his little-footed wife Zheng Xiuhong came to see Shi Jintang.

At this time, Zheng Xiuhong was already eight months pregnant. She was still running around with her little feet and big belly. It was really hard for her!
  When they met, she actually wanted to forcefully salute him, and Shi Jintang quickly stopped her.

"I have issued the 'Equality for All' decree, so these false etiquette can be avoided."

Zheng Xiuhong expressed her gratitude to Master Shi for his thoughtfulness, and still called him Master Shi.

Shi Jintang stopped her again, "My decree is not a joke, you have to control your mouth, otherwise I will 'kill the chicken to scare the monkeys'!"

Zheng Xiuhong was grateful for everything today, and she had been unable to repay Master Shi's kindness, which made her very uncomfortable.

Master Shi seemed to be joking today, but in fact he was giving a stern warning.

If he doesn't change his words, I'm afraid he will really be punished by Master Shi.

Zheng Xiuhong learned about Master Shi's past through her husband Tian Liang, and she determined that Master Shi had high ambitions and big plans.

Such people are determined and more ruthless.

I can no longer call me Mr. Shi. Do I really want to be called Mr. Shi like everyone else?

How can you show your specialness and gratitude?
  Soon Zheng Xiuhong had a flash of inspiration. She straightened her posture and bowed deeply to Shi Jintang, and then respectfully shouted: "Blessings to Mr. Shi, I am polite."

"Mr. Shi?"

Shi Jintang muttered a few words and chuckled. One day he too would be called boss!

Seeing Shi Jintang in a daze, Zheng Xiuhong felt a little panicked.

In the Qing Dynasty, most of the generals and generals who led the army were respectfully called "Boss".

Mr. Shi has temporarily taken over as the commander of the second battalion. With military power, what does it matter if he is called "boss"?
  ps: Some people are confused about the tnt in the previous chapter, please respond here.

TNT was invented in the 19s. It was originally used as a dye like picric acid.

It was only later that people discovered its high explosiveness. In the 19s, the military began to use it as explosives for artillery shells and grenades.

　Please pursue reading, invest, collect, and recommend votes. I also want to thank my book friends, little lady, don’t run away. I’ll chat with you two for your monthly ticket support when I have time!

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)