Boer farmsteads are not much different from traditional Dutch, the only difference is that there are a few long fence carts parked outside each farmstead. The model of www.biquge.info the fence car is similar to the common cart in the westward expansion of the United States, and it is prepared for long-distance travel.

In the past, the fence car had wide wooden wheels and a lightweight, sturdy fence. The former is to allow the car to run long distances, while the latter is to allow the vehicle to reduce its weight as much as possible on long distances and save forward momentum.

The Boer farm, surrounded by British troops, had such a fence car, because of the business with the Chinese, the current fence car has been replaced with lighter and more durable Chinese rubber tires and iron cart frames. In fact, Chinese merchants also tried to sell lighter carts to the Boers, descendants of the Dutch, Portuguese, and French, but the stubbornness of the Dutch was particularly evident in the blood of the Boers, and even if they were interested in Chinese products, they were uncompromising in the fence carts that expressed their origins. In other words, they are open to a few practical changes, but not cosmetic changes.

This legacy meant nothing to the British Expeditionary Force, whose goal was to deal with the Boers on the farms. An hour earlier they had been attacked by the Boers as they approached the farm, and now they were even more nervous as they approached the farm. Raids in the wilderness and storms on farms are not at all a level of battle.

The cannons were erected and the farm was surrounded, and after two hours of intense preparation by the British troops, the commander ordered a cannon shot at the farm.

The shells of the 37 guns blew up a cloud of smoke on the dirt road in front of the farm. Then, in the window of the outermost house on the farm, a long wooden pole with a large white cloth tied to the head of the pole was attached. As the wooden poles swayed, white cloth fluttered, making the attitude of the Boer Farm clear to the British.

More than two hours later, the fence cart outside the Boer farm was attached to the livestock, and the British put everyone in the Boer farm on the fence car. The original fence was a tool used by the Boers to defend themselves against wild beasts, enemies, and bad weather as they crossed the boundary river colonized by Cape Town, England, and headed north. Now that the fence junction was locked by the British army with rattling chains and large locks, the Boer Farm members in the car were instantly taken prisoner in the fence.

The people who were sent into the cart were the leftovers of the farm, mostly old people, women, children, and black slaves from the Boers. As the fence cart drove and the familiar homes grew farther and farther away, these people cried loudly.

The British army, on the other hand, followed its own tradition, that is, 'cleaned the battlefield'. The two majors who led the group sat down on light marching chairs, which were trophies from the capture of Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal Republic. The stainless steel stand is stitched with a sturdy canvas, which is wide and perfect for sitting, and you can even rest comfortably on the back of the chair supported by the stainless steel stand and cross your legs with your legs stretched out.

The edges and corners of the chair are polished, there are no burrs, no sharp bumps. All the connected parts are reinforced at the time of manufacture to make the marching chair comfortable and sturdy. The two majors came from famous families and had a high vision. The precious and valuable booty was naturally divided among the high-ranking officers, and the mundane goods were divided among the low-ranking officers and soldiers. Major Solomon took a fancy to these two chairs at a glance, and chose only these two chairs.

Sitting comfortably in their marching chairs, the two majors felt that this choice was too good, and that there was nothing more pleasant than a moment of relaxation after a hard march.

The soldiers went in and out, packing the spoils of war into their huge backpacks. The British Expeditionary Force gave the soldiers marching backpacks before they set out, but after arriving in the Cape Town colony, Chinese merchants sold a backpack with a huge capacity to the British army. This 'big enough to fit a big living person' rucksack is thick and huge, and it is especially cheap. The British soldiers bought it out of their own pockets, and the British officers bought a lot of it collectively with the money of the troops, and each officer got several of them.

Watching the soldiers dragging backpacks with more and more things to scour around the farms where only British soldiers remained, Major Solomon smiled wryly: "I thought I could collect some local specialties and give them to relatives and friends as gifts when I returned home." Looking at it now, I guess only this chair is left as a souvenir for myself. ”

Major Adam and Major Solomon, both graduates of Oxford, had been working in decent jobs at securities firms for more than a year, specializing in U.S. bonds and securities. After the Sino-US war began more than a year ago, US bonds and securities have plummeted by 3,000 feet, and the securities companies where these two men work have had to cut down their US bond departments.

Major Adam and Major Solomon, who were born in famous families, were able to work in the securities company because they were born in famous families, but there was no shortage of college students from famous families in the securities company, and too many people were more famous than these two. After some maneuvering, the two majors deserved the army and submitted their resignations to the securities company on the grounds that they had joined the army and served their country.

It took a year for the two to be promoted from reserve officer to lieutenant. They were promoted to one rank shortly after signing up for the Expeditionary Force, and one more rank after arriving in South Africa. It must be said that in the process of graduating from Eton College and going to Oxford University, both young majors had the experience of horseback riding, hunting, military training, camping, and picnics, and these aristocratic games actually evolved from military operations. With these practical experiences, they can be called 'less elite soldiers', but they cannot be called 'unqualified soldiers'. For the British Field Army, military operations were almost like horseback riding, hunting, camping, and picnicking.

Major Solomon lamented that the spoils of war had been taken by the people below, and Major Ada had a different opinion, and his tone was full of mockery, "Dear Solomon, when you arrive at the territory of the Boers, can you find a product that is not 'Made in China'?" If you really want to collect local produce, take some Boer ...... with you. Oh no, the Boers are also from Europe. You can take some local blacks with you. An absolute souvenir. Not only does that backpack work as a pillow, but everyone says it can fit a big living person. ”

More than a year after leaving the securities company, Major Solomon heard for the first time that someone was speaking in the field of economics. Even if the British Empire's army was the best in the world, it would be too much to expect it to have a view of anything other than 'plunder' in the economic sphere. Even though Major Adam's tone was full of sarcasm, Major Solomon sighed with a sense of nostalgia: "I don't know what the British merchants in Cape Town do to eat." ”

"When I was in Pretoria, I followed the command to investigate some of the seized documents, which were mainly about the commercial agreements signed between the Transvaal Republic and China." Major Adam recounted his experience.

Major Solomon had an inexplicable wave of jealousy in his heart, and even if he had no ill will towards Major Adam, this jealousy could not be contained. Maybe it's because of his youth, but he can't help but show sourness in his expression. Major Adam pouted his tongue and showed a helpless expression, "Solomon, I have already thanked you for the chair. Transferring you to escort the loot is not a decision I can make. ”

"What do those agreements say?" Major Solomon also quickly came to his senses, as Major Adam said, their rank of major was also an order-taking class in the army.

Major Adam lowered his voice, "It doesn't matter what you say, in the current situation, I see that the British government is ready to continue to fulfill the agreement with the Chinese." In other words, the Chinese can continue to hold the mining rights of a large number of gold ore veins. Compared with this mining right, the affairs of those businessmen are not even a hair. ”

Hearing this short remark, Major Solomon's face changed. It doesn't matter what sense of honor those soldiers have, or how much love for the British Empire boils in the hearts of the teachers, workers, and writers who came to the army with great interest under the encouragement of government propaganda. Major Solomon, who came from a securities firm, was convinced that the British government was fighting this battle to seize control of the Rand gold mine. If what Major Adam said was true, the actual benefits of the British government in this war were not high.

"The Chinese already have the right to mine most of the deep veins of the Rand gold mine, and in the information I have seen, the shallow veins of the Rand gold mine have almost been hollowed out. If you want to continue to make a profit from gold mining, you must be able to mine deep veins......" Major Adam also seemed to be suffocated, and now he spoke with a deep hatred on his face and a happy spit out.

Major Solomon listened very carefully, he knew that Major Adam was mainly engaged in mining work before leaving the securities company, and all sober investors believed that after China solved the United States, 99% of them would probably not recognize the investment of European investors in American mines, so the investors who could run sold the mine bonds as soon as possible.

The Chinese can completely ignore the investment interests of European investors, while the UK has to abide by the investment agreement between the Transvaal Republic and China. From the perspective of the economy, it is not only the money calculated in hundreds of millions, but also the lives of many people. The number of suicides in Britain soared last year, and Major Solomon knew some of them were his former clients.

"Major, we've packed up and are ready to leave." An old captain ran up to the two young majors to report at this point. The conversation between the two had to be temporarily interrupted.

"Oh." Major Solomon replied with some discouragement, and then stood up for a final inspection. Pre-study, study, and review are the lessons that Major Solomon and his classmates have received since childhood, and it is also the basis for them to be able to succeed step by step, so he instinctively follows this pattern regardless of his emotions.

Everything that had little value and could be taken was treated as trophies by the soldiers, and things that were worthless and could not be taken were concentrated in the largest room on the farm. Messy clutter, and broken things all piled up. Glancing at the pile of rubb, Major Solomon asked the old captain next to him, "Have all of them been taken away?" ”

The old captain was stunned, he thought that the major was going to ask how much he had caught. I didn't expect the major to care about whether anyone was still here. The old captain hurriedly replied: "Major, everyone has been taken away. ”

Knowing that no one was left here, Major Solomon said, "Okay. We withdraw. ”

The Major had not gone far when he heard movement behind him. When I turned my head, I saw that the British soldiers had begun to set fires everywhere. The Boer farms are not brick and tiles, and in this arid place, most of the buildings are made of wooden poles and thatched, and the winter temperatures are not high and the humidity is low. Under deliberate arson, the buildings soon burst into flames.

By the time the two majors led their troops to assemble outside the farm, the entire farm was already in flames, and there was no chance of recovery.

"Let's go!" Major Adam commanded. Regardless of those subordinates who carried large bags and small bags, or simply led sheep and chickens, he urged the war horses to take the lead. After a few moments of slowness, Major Solomon also rode away. The British army set out on the way back with prisoners and booty.