"I'm sorry, sir. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info "The secretary cautiously said to Cecil. Rhodes said, "Sir Milner will be here in ten minutes." ”

"Good." Rhodes put down the folder and looked up at the secretary - behind him, actually, even though there was nothing. "Hopefully he has some good news for us."

He needed good news -- good news about the Kimberley, about his diamond mines. But so far, all he's got is bad news...... There was good news that Buller ordered Lieutenant General Meshuin's infantry brigade to rescue Kimberley. But now it has turned into bad news: the lieutenant general's troops were ambushed by Boer forces less than twenty miles from the city, and lost 1,700 soldiers and all their heavy weapons in the battle—that is, it was no longer offensive until reinforcements were received.

However, Maysuein's forces were the only military force in the Western Cape colony, and if it were incapacitated, the plan to rescue the Kimberley would become a distant matter. It takes a lot of time to ask for reinforcements from within the country or to send soldiers from Buller to reinforce Meshuin. But Rhodes didn't think he had that much patience and time: his diamond mine! The high financial losses were tormenting his nerves and heart repeatedly.

And there is no guarantee that Meshein or his successor will be able to resolve the crisis in the Kimberley and the diamond mines after receiving reinforcements - what if the Army loses the battle again? Rhodes was unable and unwilling to dispel this worrying and malevolent suspicion of mistrust: the South African Expeditionary Force's poor battlefield performance left him with no courage to trust its capabilities.

Even though, as a citizen of the great empire on which the sun never sets, a former colonial official, he prefers to believe that the Imperial Army can recover his diamond mines.

Just wishful thinking. Of course, Rhodes never pinned his hopes entirely on the Army, and mercenaries were another option that seemed viable...... At least it used to be. As for now, recruitment has reached an impasse due to the poor performance of the Army.

No mercenary was willing to accept the mercenary because they were afraid of the Boer army, which could easily take out a makeshift patchwork of mercenaries who were inferior in numbers, weapons, and quality, since the Boers could defeat a regular army that was superior in numbers, weapons, and quality. Rhodes knew the dangerous outlaws, mercenaries who killed or were killed for money, but they were not willing to die.

No one wants to participate in his counterattack.

Rhodes was frustrated and hated by the mercenaries who rejected him; and the British Army, which he hated just as much, though a few months ago he had been full of respect and love for it - it had been an important safeguard for the overseas interests of the British Empire and its citizens. But now, it is no longer able to perform its duties properly; Its incompetence is harming the interests of the Empire and its citizens.

Rhodes hates it now.

But even now, most of his hatred is given to the Boers: they can defend their interests, but they should not harm his. And yet they did. Rhodes swore that he would make the Boers pay twice as much for what they had done.

As long as he gathers a strong army of mercenaries.

As long as......

Milner sat down in the chair across from him. His face was unusually ugly. When Rhodes began to look at his old friend, he was astonished at the worst look he had seen on Milner's face after the unfortunate start of the war, and immediately became worried.

The only way to make a skilled politician's face as bad as it is now is ......

"The South African Expeditionary Force suffered a crushing defeat. Boer forces have occupied Durban. "Milner himself confirmed Rhodes's guess and made up for what he didn't." We lost about 3,500 people...... Dead and captured, including Buhler. ”

"Buller captured!" Rhodes almost bounced off his chair. An army general is a prisoner of war for the Boers, that's a ......

Then he began to rejoice that he had guessed wrong.

"Killed." At the mention of the word, Milner's tone relaxed a little, and then became heavy again, "The Boer artillery hit his command directly...... At least three six-inch caliber shells...... I'm sure he must not have felt the pain. ”

"I hope so." Rhodes slowly drew a cross on his chest and asked, "When did it happen?" ”

"Five days ago."

"Why didn't I hear a little wind?"

"I order all individuals and departments who know the situation to strictly block the news." "It would be a great disaster to let the inhabitants of the colonies know that our army has lost again, and that the Supreme Commander has died," Milner said. You know, those Dutch immigrants ......"

He paused, but Rhodes knew what he meant. There are many Dutch immigrants in the Cape and Natal, all of whom are unfortunately on the side of their compatriots - in fact, there are already some Dutch immigrants in the Eastern Cape who have responded to the call of the Transvaal to join the Boer raiders operating there - and it is clear that if they get the news, more will join the Boer army, further aggravating the situation in the Eastern Cape and even triggering an avalanche of rout.

With little choice, Milner had to strictly block the message.

But his actions didn't mean much.

"News always leaks out." Rhodes cautioned that "the Boers, and those of Europe who oppose the Empire, will certainly make a big deal about it, and our people may have leaked the news by negligence." ”

"I know." Milner replied, "I never thought it would be possible to block news for a long time. But a few days, a week, or two weeks were enough for me to arrange for the army and police to spy on Dutch immigrants in the colony. If they were going to join the Boer army, at least I could get the news right away. ”

"I don't think that's enough, you should arrest all the Dutch immigrants, put them in a few camps and put them in military custody."

"Just like the French did in Vietnam, and the Spaniards did in Cuba?"

Rhodes nodded. "That's it."

Concentration camp. A good idea, but Milner refused. "I don't think that's appropriate. Do not forget the results of what the Spaniards did in Cuba. ”

"The British Empire is not Spain."

"Dutch immigrants are not Cubans either." Milner retorted, "If I put them in concentration camps, I would be strongly attacked by the European countries." And you should not forget about the Germans, who in no way let go of such an opportunity to strike at the international image of the Reich. ”

Rhodes' eyebrows furrowed. "You have too many concerns."

"For the sake of the image of the empire, I have to worry so much." Milner said firmly, of course, that he was worried about his political life.

Alfred. Milner is a politician, not a political leader.

"Sooner or later, you'll regret your decision, Alfred." Rhodes sighed reluctantly, then jumped away from the potentially embarrassing topic. "So, you're here to tell me the bad news?"

Originally, he had hoped that he would bring good news......

Milner didn't notice the slightest disappointment from Rhodes. He took the coffee from the servant and took a sip of it, then said, "Actually, apart from telling you the bad news, I'm here to know how you thought about it. ”

"What's the matter?" Rhodes was stunned. He didn't remember Milner ever asking him to think about anything.

Milner was confused: if Rhodes really didn't know about that, it was that his secretary didn't get the job done, but it's almost impossible! However, if the secretary was not negligent, could it be that Rhodes himself forgot about it? It doesn't seem to be possible either......

He secretly guessed the answer to the question, and at the same time reminded loudly: "It's about mercenaries."

"Mercenaries?" Rhodes still didn't understand.

"Duke Marlborough hired an American mercenary army to rescue his cousin, demanding commissions from the colonial government." Milner explained, "I knew you needed mercenaries as well, so I asked the secretary if you were planning to hire Americans as well." ”

"Let me think about it...... When the expeditionary force went to Durban? ”

"Yes."

"Looks like I forgot about him." Rhodes shrugged, "You know, the Kimberley takes most of my energy and keeps me up at night. ”

That's not a good reason. Milner shook his head secretly - he could guess the real reason: Rhodes had no intention of hiring Americans. Of course, the Umbrella mercenary may be the best commercial mercenary right now, not even "one of them", but Rhodes prefers to believe in the forces he himself recruited.

Figures like him only trust themselves, or individuals and organizations they trust—and Umbrella is clearly not on his trust list.

Thankfully, things are changing fast.

"Now that you've remembered...... Cecil, what do you think of the Americans? Milner took another sip of his coffee, "I think they're doing a great job, whether it's in Abyssinia, Vietnam, the Philippines or China." ”

“Umbrella？”

"Who else could it be?"

"You can have its troops come here and try it." Since there is no other option, why not? "I'm a little apprehensive though," Rhodes continued, "and it's said that Umbrella asks for an upfront commission, but if its soldiers are still no match for the Boer army......

Milner still understood what he meant, and that was exactly what he had planned. "The colonial government can bear a part of the commission."

"It seems like this is good news." Rhodes's bad mood was finally a little better, and then he felt that it should be made better, "How much does the colonial government intend to bear?" ”

"Fifty percent." Milner pretended not to care and threw a number. He knew Rhodes would take it because there were no better conditions.

Rhodes thought about it for a few seconds. "What's the strings attached?"

"Sign a contract with the Americans as soon as possible." (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )