La Cruz hesitated for a moment, but said calmly: "If a large diamond mine is really discovered in the 'Kimberly' area, I believe that the Boers and ...... The British, will demand sovereignty over the region. ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said, "Yes! When the time comes, I would like to inform Your Excellency Chancellor Atwood that Citi Mining supports the Queen's Government's claim to sovereignty over the Kimberly. ”

La Cruz's eyes lit up and he said, "Your Royal Highness, this is a wise decision!" Whether it is tax policy or trade policy, Her Majesty's government is far more enlightened and reasonable than the government of the Boers! ”

"Oh, I don't say this because I'm an Englishman - I learned the ridiculously high rates of wool in the Orange Free State when I bought them - both income tax and customs duties! This was a big reason why I gave up on the wool business in South Africa. The character of the Boers, like their Dutch counterparts in Europe, was extremely conservative and stingy! ”

Guan Zhuofan nodded and said, "Your observation of the Boers is very accurate, Mr. La Cruz, I completely agree with you. In fact, I believe that this judgment should be an important basis for us to formulate Citigroup's business policy in South Africa. ”

"Okay, now let's look at 'Johannesburg' again."

"Unlike 'Kimberly', the Transvaal's sovereignty over 'Johannesburg' is clear, and although we don't like the Boers, we can only deal with them for the time being."

"As far as I know, of the two Boer states, the government of the Transvaal Republic is greater than the government of the Republic of the Orange Free State. More conservative, harsh, corrupt. So. Doing business in 'Johannesburg'. It is approximately necessary to give a certain amount of gifts - either money or other forms - to the persons concerned in Pretoria. ”

La Cruz understood and said, "Yes, this is the necessary 'lubricant' for dealing with the Boers." ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said: "The word 'lubricant' is interesting. Well, though, I judge, no matter how many gifts we give. Probably nothing really changed the heavy taxation and protectionist policies of the Boers - especially since the Transvaal Republic was so financially constrained that it was impossible not to shear us like sheep. ”

With a slightly worried look on his face, La Cruz said, "'Shear us like sheep' - this is a vivid and apt metaphor, Your Highness. However, it is disturbing. ”

Kwan said: "It's really disturbing. Therefore, I hope that in due course you will be able to convey to His Excellency Chancellor Atwood that Citi Mines believes that Her Majesty's Government should intervene in the affairs of the Transvaal in the appropriate manner. To protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign merchants, including British merchants, and to uphold the sacred principle of free trade. ”

La Cruz was silent for a moment. Then he nodded slowly and heavily, and said, "I see what you mean, Your Highness. I think the Colonial Office will agree with you - that it would be in the interests of the British Empire and the established policy of the northward development of the Cape Colony. ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said: "This topic is a little heavier, well, let's change it to a lighter one." Let's imagine how people around the world would react when the news of Kimberly's discovery of diamonds and the discovery of gold in Johannesburg spread. ”

Without thinking about it, La Cruz said: "Gold diggers will flock from all over the world - His Royal Highness, which seems to be ...... for 'Citi Mining Company' It's not a relaxing sight. Well, does Your Highness mean to get the exclusive right to mine development? I'm afraid this ......."

Guan Zhuofan laughed and said, "Mr. La Cruz, how is this possible?" Kimberley is a terra nullius land, and there is no exclusive right to speak of; As for Johannesburg, Mo said that it was unlikely that the Boers would have given their vast veins to a single company for exploitation, and that even if they wanted to, how could South Africa, a desolate and vast land, be able to restrain the actions of so many gold diggers with the administrative standards of the Transvaal Republic. ”

"It is indeed so—then, what does His Royal Highness mean ......"

"Because there are so many gold prospectors, the mineral deposits that are shallow on the surface will soon be depleted. But the information I got was that the real bonanza was below the surface, with veins hundreds of meters or even thousands of meters deep – and that was what we really were aiming for. ”

La Cruz's eyes lit up, "I see what you mean, Your Highness. Mining deep veins requires large-scale blasting and large-scale modern machinery, which ordinary gold diggers and small mining companies are powerless. Well, by this time, they will either leave or go bankrupt - this is the best time for us to fully monopolize the market! ”

Guan Zhuofan laughed loudly: "Mr. La Cruz, I just said that you are the best candidate for the general manager of 'Citigroup Mining Company'!" ”

*

*

The first Western colonists to come to South Africa were the Dutch, who established the first colony in southern Africa, Cape Town.

About half a century later, the British came.

After several setbacks between the British and the Dutch, the Dutch finally lost their foothold in Cape Town and had to move north. These Dutch descendants, known as the Boers, founded the Free State Republic of Orange in central South Africa, the Transvaal Republic in northern South Africa, and the British Cape colonies that occupied southern and eastern South Africa.

In addition, there are numerous black tribes, large and small, among which the most formidable is the Zulu Kingdom in eastern South Africa.

Several parties come and go, and from time to time they fight.

In general, the British were the strongest, had the most tricks, and were more perfunctory to the local aborigines. In the process of moving northward, the Boers could not but rob the indigenous lands; Moreover, they were slaves to the blacks, so the relationship with the locals was extremely strained. The Transvaal and Zulu kingdoms were adjacent to each other, and powerful black tribes were always putting pressure on the survival of the nascent Boer Republic.

As La Cruz points out, both the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic are very poor. The Orange Free State receives only a few tens of thousands of pounds a year. It's not as good as a businessman with a bit of strength; The Transvaal Republic is even worse. Government coffers are always close to zero. In a word. These two so-called "republics" are both struggling on the line of food and clothing, and they naturally cannot take care of any infrastructure, culture, education, and health.

South Africa's world-famous gold and diamonds were still lying asleep underground, and neither the British nor the Boers knew anything about them.

This was the basic political and economic pattern of South Africa in the mid-sixties of the nineteenth century.

For Guan Zhuofan. At this point, it is the most appropriate time to go to South Africa to open the golden finger.

First of all, it can't be delayed any longer.

If history had not changed much because of the "butterfly effect", the first diamond in South Africa would have been discovered in a little more than a year, in 1867. When the time comes, it's a little late.

The discovery and exploitation of large-scale gold mines in South Africa, according to history, has not been so fast. But. Why should I wait? Now is the time for me to spend my money!

First, gold from Johannesburg. It will provide an endless stream of funds for China's industrialization; Provide sufficient reserve currency for China's financial reforms to be implemented in the near future.

Second, it won't be long before the world will enter the era of gold standard money, and gold will usher in its own "golden age". As the world's gold supplier, South Africa will not only meet the needs of China's reform and construction, but also make incalculable profits for "Citigroup" itself.

Third, these gold and diamonds will further provide a solid guarantee for the financial independence of the Xuan army.

Guan Zhuofan calculated that in the United States, Europe, and at home, the financial resources under his personal control, together with the existing "stocks" -- mainly the "special military supplies" realized in the United States, and the gold, silver, and jewels seized from the hands of the Twist Army, and so on, he could already afford to support an army of about 50,000 to 60,000 on his own for a long time -- and according to a fairly high standard.

Now with the addition of South Africa, after the scale of the Xuan Army has been further expanded, it also has enough financial independence.

Of course, the current Xuan Army still eats "imperial grain", and he doesn't need to pay for it himself. But in case "the world changes", with completely independent financial resources, you can truly be invincible.

Fourth, at this time, the major diamond and gold producing areas were either terra nullius or the government's administrative capacity was weak. At this time, you will not be too constrained by others for the time being, and you can seize the time, divide one side, and expand and solidify your own interests to the greatest extent. This, "a vast world, a lot to be done".

"Kimberly" is the "Kimberly" of the original time and space. When the original time and space developed this place, it was named after the British colonial secretary at the time, "Kimberley", which is translated as "Kimberley" in Chinese. Guan Zhuofan changed "uncle" to "hundred", found another set of rhetoric, and then pushed it back.

This place, the original plane, is the home of De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer. However, Cecil. Mr. Rhodes, in this time and space, the diamond diggers are nothing to do with you. "Diamonds last forever" will be the slogan of "Citi Diamonds", so why don't you study hard - you're only 12 years old this year?

If the British wanted to defeat the Orange Free State and gain sovereignty over this land, they could not but make excuses about the biggest force in the region, the "Citi Mining Company." In the process, Kwan Cheuk-fan can get the most out of his own hands, including getting the best tax treatment from the British.

"Johannesburg" is also the name of the original plane. Of course, those two friends, "John" and "Nestor", were made up by him.

"Maintain the original proposal" is Guan Zhuofan's commemoration of the original time and space; At the same time, so as not to change too much and confuse yourself.

Johannesburg was on the side of Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal Republic, and the British could not reach for the time being, so they had to deal with the nasty Boers first. However, the Transvaal is so poor that the development of the country's mineral resources must rely on big capitalists like us. Although heavy taxation is inevitable, it is impossible to "nationalize" at every turn, as was the case in some countries in the original time and space.

When the Boers have grown fat and may have some strange thoughts, it is time for the hand of the British to come in.

To sum up, at this point, it is necessary to open this golden finger.

The fact that this golden finger can be opened is related to the craze of "strengthening memory" and "shorthand" that arose for a while when Guan Zhuofan was in middle school. At that time, it was very popular to use the latitude and longitude of famous cities around the world for memory training. Kwan Zhuofan's "training results" are quite good, remembering the latitude and longitude of hundreds of cities, including Kimberley and Johannesburg.

Of course, time has passed, and the latitude and longitude of many cities. Guan Zhuofan has now forgotten. Thankfully, this does not include the Kimberley and Johannesburg.

However, the reason why Guan Zhuofan wants to open this golden finger is not to make money and make a fortune, but to detonate the Boer War in advance.

*(To be continued......)