The Straits Settlements, which included the port cities of Penang, Malacca and Singapore, were territories developed and administered by the East India Company. Of these, Singapore is the most important because it holds the eastern mouth of the Strait of Malacca, the only route from India to China, and is the most prosperous. Stanford, the founder of the Singapore Free Trade Port? Raffles established a duty-free policy for Singapore, which enabled merchants from all over the South Seas to bring goods to Singapore for sale, and attracted a large number of merchant ships to trade here. Originally, there were only more than 1,000 people in Singapore, most of whom were Malays, dozens of Chinese, and now Indians, Arabs, and British businessmen were bustling with tens of thousands of people.

Singapore's trade status surpassed that of Penang and Malacca, and even the trade volume of Manila and Batavia (Jakarta) was surpassed by it. But it was also a place that was not profitable, because Sir Raffles had created a duty-free policy for Singapore, which prevented the East India Company from making a huge profit from the trade, and was reluctant to manage the place, but the port was too important to be thrown away. Therefore, Downing's appeal to become the governor of the Straits Settlements has a chance, at least not as difficult as it seems. If he is in charge of the Straits Settlements, then Downing will have a base to develop in his homeland, and this wishful thinking is good.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who lives at 11 Downing Street, is the second person in the cabinet besides the Prime Minister, but he didn't seem to expect Downing to have such a strange appeal, and he was stunned for a moment and said: "This is a matter under the jurisdiction of the Viceroy of India, and you should go to him." ”

The more Tang Ning thought about it, the more true he became, and smiled: "Marquis of Dalhousie?" Old friend, you should know that he has a 5% stake in the British telegraph company, right? This market value is equivalent to 300,000 pounds, and my old friend makes a lot of money. He'll thank me, and besides, I want to build a shipyard in Singapore, and I'm going to have a recommender now, why don't you be it?" ”

Charles? Wood: "God, are you serious?" Where can that little place afford a shipyard? Besides, your British telegraph company doesn't care? ”

Downing: "Well, I'll arrange it, even if I'm appointed governor of the Straits Settlements, it's not a matter of time before I take office." It will take a few years to come and go, right? I'm not in a hurry, I just ask you to bring a letter and recommend it, you are not in a hurry, and it will not be too late to wait for India to send a telegram, soon, just this or two months. ”

Wood: "It's okay to recommend, then...... So it's decided? 300,000 in cash, three board seats plus stocks for a total of 1.2 million, and the account is settled! ”

Downing: "It's over." ”

Wood was overjoyed, but he really didn't expect that his "toxic stock" package could really be sold. Even the shares of Nanhai Company were all received as ordered, haha...... Wood secretly laughed and hurt his belly.

After Wood left, Downing was also depressed, as if he had been thinking about Singapore during the negotiations, which was really lard.

Since you have four public offices and a knighthood, let's go and see them all, and let's go to see the most unpleasant Nanhai company first. A company that is in liquidation and preparing to collapse has a new director, which is also a strange news.

Not to mention, it is really one of the triumvirate on a par with the Bank of England and the East India Company, whose nominal head is the Governor-General, and it is ...... Queen Victoria. Of course, the actual person in charge is a man named Charles? Frank's guy, as the lieutenant governor.

The South Sea Company was in debt due to fraud, and it was the government that owed it, but this notorious company eventually led to the Whigs' long-term rule of British power, because they handled the South Sea Company's debts and salvaged the government's shaky credibility.

As soon as Singapore and South America were combined, Downing suddenly thought of rubber. This raw material also has a strong stroke in the history of industrial development, if steel is hard power, rubber is "soft power", is the raw material for the production of many industrial products, the most prominent is the tire. For big industry, you have to use both soft and hard.

The age of the car is obviously not now, but it is possible to prepare for a rainy day. Southeast Asia will replace South America as the most important rubber production area, and rubber trees to grow from seeds to harvestable trees, it will take more than ten years of effort, under their own catalysis, I am afraid that more than ten years later will be the age of automobiles, and it is not too early to make a move.

Downing told the lieutenant governor: "Is it still possible for the South China Sea Company to conduct actual trade?" ”

The lieutenant governor was taken aback by the idea of the new director and said, "This ...... Theoretically yes, but ...... There's no need, to be honest, there are about two or three years to pay off all the debts, and that is the end of the company, the reputation is not good, and the business is not good. ”

Downing: "It's been more than 100 years, and the British probably don't remember the past, right?" ”

The deputy governor laughed and said: "There will be people who remember, when they make a noise, the Nanhai Company will have to stand on the cusp again, and I will stand on the last shift safely." ”

Because Tang Ning's shares are too large, so he has now become the largest shareholder, with the further completion of the repayment, he is even more dominant, the Nanhai Company has become his private property, and a generation of "celebrities" is somewhat reluctant to smash it in his hands, but the deputy governor is right, this bad reputation is a big problem, and there are many opportunities, so why stick to the Nanhai Company? Don't worry about it for now.

Tang Ning asked again: "Do you know where there may be rubber seeds?" I want a little bit and the more the better......"

Deputy Governor: "Well, I don't know where the rubber factory is...... Ay? Do you know the Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Academy, Michael? Mr. Faraday? He seems to have studied rubber, and you ask him to find it. ”

Ay? Faraday? This one...... Those who know something about the history of science must know something about this master, the father of electricity! Haha, Downing is worried that no one will come to study the power plant for him, Mr. Faraday...... Interesting, looking for rubber found his head.

In fact, when the Queen and Prince Albert went to BT to watch Downing, Faraday had already appeared on the sidelines, he was a big helper to help the Prince plan the World Expo, but at that time, Downing was full of the Queen and the Prince, and the Prime Minister, so he put this real master aside, in fact, what prince, Prime Minister, who can compare to Faraday's name through the ages?

Tang Ning must visit the master, although his knowledge is better than that of the master, but the admiration in his heart has not diminished in the slightest. However, he didn't need to bring any greeting gifts, maybe he would make Faraday a partner in the world's first power station, and the world's largest, and this gift would be interesting enough! Ha, Downing suddenly had the idea of making friends, when he faced the Viceroy of India, the richest man in the world, the most noble queen and the most powerful prime minister, he did not have this idea, and when he thought of Faraday, he had a strong urge to communicate, this is the charm of the master!

The horses in the carriage seemed to feel the relaxed and happy mood of the passengers, as if Downing was humming some tune. It's been more than a year since the fly camp, and it seems that this is the first time that I have visited a friend without the idea of profit, which is really rare.

Yes, the old Faraday is 60 years old, he just came to see him, if interested, they will become partners, if the old man likes a peaceful life, it will definitely not bother him The old man, judging from the table Xiàn on the BT booth, it is said that the old man should be very interested in electromagnetism, but Faraday did not come to "harass" Tangning, which surprised Tangning, perhaps, this master has calmed down to the point that he does not necessarily have to make a big ugly figure in science.

The assistant had already made an appointment with Faraday yesterday that Downing would have dinner at Faraday's house. Faraday lived and worked at the Royal Academy, close to Buckingham Palace.

Before 1835, Britain's pure academic scientists were relatively poor, and even the top scientists in the Royal Academy, such as Faraday, received only £100 a year for the life of the Royal Academy, and later, the government provided a special annuity for outstanding scientists, and Faraday became the first master to receive such an annuity of £300 a year. It can be said that from this time on, he lived a life of middle-class affluence.

Generally speaking, an annual income of 300 pounds is considered a real middle class, 500 is the upper limit of the middle class, and then there is an aristocratic luxury life. What's more, the Faraday couple has no offspring, and they usually go out to eat less often, because Faraday's wife Serra is a master of cooking.

Serra makes her own ginger wine, wine, jam and snacks, and Faraday's students and friends often come to their home for dinner. Of all the dark English dishes Downing has ever eaten, Old Lady Serra's craftsmanship is the best.

Faraday thought that as the president of the British Telegraph Company, Downing would mainly talk about electrical engineering, but he did not expect that the young man seemed to be more interested in jam than in electricity and magnetism, and talked to the old lady more often than he was the authentic master.

The old lady liked Downing very much, because this handsome young man didn't have the bigwig of a millionaire at all, and he actually cared about making jam, and she liked it even more when she thought of the "biggest philanthropist in history".

The old lady was concerned about the whereabouts of his huge donation and asked, "How is the London sewer project going?" ”

Downing: "I haven't started yet, but the cabinet has been decided to make me the chairman of the sewerage committee, I haven't taken office yet, I'm here, the speed must be doubled, I'm really more anxious than everyone in London, the environment in London is so bad, there is no big improvement in 5 years, I will move to the country." （http：／/.)。 Oh, I might have bought that Duke of Buckingham's Stove Garden. ”

The old lady was envious: "That's a good manor, it's good that you live like a duke at such a young age, and you know science and business." She glanced at her husband and seemed to think that he was one of the best scientists, but unfortunately...... Why is there such a big gap between the two people's income? The couple has a good relationship and is used to ordinary life, but there will be slight envy, the old lady, who has been in a lifetime, and has no children or daughters.

Tang Ning smiled and said, "If I really buy it, please come and live for a while, really." ”

The old lady was pleasantly surprised: "Ah! Is it true? But...... Mr. Windsor is so polite, we have just met ......."

Tang Ning shook his head, was chewing dark food, puffed out his cheeks and said, "No, no, Professor Faraday is the teacher of all of us who make a living from electromagnetism, even if we haven't met, we will thank him for his pioneering contributions to electromagnetism!" You, you are my master and mother! Kind words needless to say! ”

The most gratifying thing in the life of a great scientist is to hear this kind of words, his old man is very happy, and he drinks very energetically.

The old lady was so happy that she leaked the old man's bottom: "What teacher! Sue you, he got your wireless telegraph patent application and said, I don't understand! This future belongs to you young people! ”