African Nationhood

Chapter 95 Exchange of Interests
  In early October, Shijintang traveled from the junction between East and West Griqualand in the Julin area (South Bechuanaland area) to the Fourteenth Creek Ferry.

Cross the Vaal River and enter the town of Kimberley in the Cape Colony.

At the headquarters of Dalbes Unified Mining Company in Kimberley Town, Shi Jintang met Cecil Rhodes.

Through the other party's introduction, Shi Jintang finally met Governor Xia Qiao Shi Robinson.

Summer Robinson has a typical Irish face, and his hairline is now gloriously bald to the sky.

This is a veteran colonist. His face is resolute and solemn, and his blue eyes contain endless indifference.

He was surprised by Shi Jintang's youth, but he did not express it.

Through his connections in Whitehall, he had found out how this young oriental man obtained the Queen's charter.

We also know that Shi Jintang’s backstage in London is Lord Bannerman, the Financial Secretary of the Ministry of War.

At the same time, he also found out that this Eastern colony was sparsely populated and most of its territory was desolate.

The only fertile land was the southern Bechuanaland area that had been captured a few months earlier.

The land in South Bechuanaland is still slightly barren compared to the land south of the Orange River.

The Nanhua Company and the land it occupied in Southwest Africa are not something to be afraid of. The current area should be the limit of the Nanhua Company.

……

If Shi Jintang could read minds, he would definitely admit that Sir Robinson's knowledge of the situation was mostly correct.

For example, there is a large area of ​​barren red land to the north of New Orange Town (Kuruman Town, South Africa) where the Second Advance Battalion is stationed.

Where the climate is hot, it is impossible to grow crops or graze.

The fundamental reason is that there is a large vein of manganese ore beneath the ground.

British prospectors in the late 19th century named the place Hotzell, which means hot, because it was too hot.

That place was also well-known because of its manganese mines. No one knew about it at this time, unless Shi Jintang was willing to announce it.

The truly fertile area of ​​South Bechuanaland is the Fucrocodile area, which is not only filled with rivers but also has fertile land.

The disadvantage is that there are too many wild animals. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, etc. are almost all over the entire area.

Before migrating to the crocodile area, you must first clean up the beasts. At this time, there is neither an animal protection organization nor a European Madonna to cause trouble.

Therefore, the immigration work in Fugu District is very smooth, and most of the immigrants claim that they have made a lot of money when they arrived here.

Because the zebras, horned antelopes, and warthogs here are hard to beat, and you can kill them casually, but you won’t be able to eat them all.

As for the furs of lions and cheetahs purchased by the regional government at high prices, guns and bullets are not cheap, but they can be paid in installments.

As long as immigrants apply for a gun permit, they can start planting normally under the guidance of the government.

……

This meeting with Governor Robinson had two purposes:

The first is naturally to repair the relationship between the South China Company and the Cape Colony government;
  The second was to seek the support of the new governor for the South China Company.

Therefore, Shi Jintang's attitude when he came this time was very low.

"Hello Sir Robinson, my name is Henry Stone."

"Ah hello."

Faced with such a big boss, Shi Jintang diligently helped Sir Robinson light his cigar, and then smoked Lucky Strike by himself.

Cecil Rhodes's trachea was very uncomfortable under the smoke of the two smokers, but he still endured it.

Because this meeting was related to his interests, when he learned that Shi Jintang wanted to contact Governor Robinson through him.

He immediately mentioned to Shi Jintang again the issue of sharing the profits of "Jingou Mining Company".

Shi Jintang reluctantly agreed to his request and promised to give him 1% of the shares at a price of pounds.

Cecil Rhodes recognized the quality of diamonds from Golden Hook Mining and agreed.

……

After taking two puffs of his cigar, Governor Robinson spoke.

"I have wanted to talk to you since I took office, but you have been absent from the company and have delayed it until now."

"Yes, I was going to Europe to review the financial situation of my partnership with Lord Bannerman.

At the same time, we should also discuss the launch of new cigarettes and lighters with shareholders like Sir Bannerman. "

Shi Jintang's repeated mention of Sir Bannerman was certainly not accidental, and Governor Robinson naturally understood what he meant.

"The governor also has some friendship with Sir Bannerman. As his good friend, I also want to cooperate with Mr. Shi. I wonder if you are interested?" Hearing this, Shi Jintang immediately became depressed. This jb British man , I really never forget to make money wherever I go.

"Oh, how does Governor Robinson want to cooperate?"

Robinson took the cigar out of his mouth. He stared at the Lucky cigarette box in Shi Jintang's hand and said lightly: "When Sir Freire left Cape Town, he sold several workshops in his hands to I.

Those workshops produce cigarettes and the lighters you hold in your hands. "

Hearing this, Shi Jintang nodded, "I know all this, but Sir Frere has never mentioned it in front of me, so I just pretend I don't know."

Governor Robinson expressed surprise at the calmness of this young Easterner. Shouldn't a young man of this age be so mature?

Since the cigarette and lighter patent holder has no objections, it means that he has acquiesced in the existence of these gray incomes.

"I'm not as short-sighted as Sir Frere. I plan to hand over these workshops to you to run, with a 70-30 shareholding ratio. How about that?"

Shi Jintang had no objection to this. Anyway, he didn't have to pay for it, and the tools, workshops and workers were all ready.

Just import a few sets of machines from France and you can get started, so don't let the profits go to waste.

"Yes, I can authorize the workshop in Cape Town to produce it."

Governor Robinson nodded and continued: "I am also interested in the diamond mines in your territory.

But I won't let you give it away for free, 5% of the shares, priced at 10 pounds. "

Cecil Rhodes on the side listened to the conversation between the two and immediately became angry.

He had talked with Shi Jintang several times and even used threats. If he hadn't taken the opportunity to blackmail this time, he would not have been able to get the shares of the diamond company.

But he worked hard to get 1% and paid 10 pounds.

Sir Robinson can get 5% of the shares just by saying anything, and the price is still 10 pounds.

It seems that it is not enough for a man to have money, he must also have power in order to be invincible.

……

Shi Jintang did not know that this negotiation between the two would inspire Cecil Rhodes' ambition to enter politics.

He has no good way to deal with these greedy white people, who makes himself too weak at this time.

However, he couldn't easily agree to the other party's request, so he made his own request.

"Your request is not difficult, but I also have a request.

If you promise me, I can agree to give you 5% of the shares. "

When Governor Robinson heard this, he blew out a smoke ring and stared at Shi Jintang closely.

The young Qing man did not succumb to his gaze, but instead showed a patiently thoughtful expression on his face.

"Tell me what you want."

"I would like to ask you to sell the East and West Griqualand areas to the South China Company."

The East and West Griqualand areas were once the lands of the Zulu Chief Kingdom. Because they are close to the Orange River, the land here is very fertile. The two areas combined cover an area of ​​more than 9000 square kilometers.

Because of the continued invasion by the Boers and the British, it was eventually merged under the rule of the Cape Colony.

The Orange Grove region (Southern Bechuanaland region) would not be complete without the regions of East and West Griqualand.

Governor Robinson thought for a long time, shook his head again and said, "I'm sorry, I can't promise you."

There was nothing unusual on Shi Jintang's face. He looked directly at Cecil Rhodes.

"Before meeting you, General Manager Rhodes and I also discussed a deal.

We agreed on the price of 1% of the shares of Golden Hook Mining Company, which was priced at 10 pounds.

Sir Robinson, if you want 5% of the shares of Golden Hook Mining Company, please pay at this price, otherwise I will not be able to explain to General Manager Rhodes. "

Governor Robinson's face turned grim. He stared at Shi Jintang for a while. Seeing that he was not scared, a smile appeared on his face, "Okay, I promise you.

However, these two areas cannot be directly ceded to Nanhua Company, but can only be entrusted with management. "

Once the goal is achieved, there is nothing wrong with Shi Jintang, "Happy cooperation!"

……

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  (End of this chapter)