Ghana, Gold Coast, Africa, 30 October 1792.

Ghana turned out to be an ancient empire in West Africa with a very long history of nationhood. The Kingdom of Ghana is believed to have been established in the 4th century AD and reached its peak in the 10th century, but the territory of this country did not include the present-day Republic of Ghana. It was an eternal truth that the kingdom was in rapid decline, unable to resist the expansion of the Kingdom of Mali, and was even destroyed by the Berbers from the Sahara at the end of the 11th century. Some of the tribes of the Kingdom of Ghana, unwilling to accept foreign rule, migrated south to the vicinity of the Gulf of Guinea, where they were the ancestors of the ethnic groups of present-day Ghana.

As far as Wickham knows, Ghana's recent history is a history of colonizers' struggles. In 1471, the Portuguese, who began the Age of Discovery, were the first to arrive here. The Portuguese were so shocked by the staggering gold deposits that the navigators named the area the Gold Coast.

The Portuguese made a fortune by building forts along the coast of the Gold Coast and monopolizing trade. However, the discovery of gold soon attracted many greedy colonists, including the Dutch, British, Swedes, Danes, and Hanseatic League (Germany), and fierce trade competition began here.

After the fall of Portugal, the emerging maritime power of the Netherlands drove out all Portuguese merchants in 1642 and monopolized trade. Soon, however, it changed hands, and the British Empire rose strongly, fighting three Anglo-Dutch wars with the Netherlands in order to compete for maritime supremacy. By the end of the eighteenth century, British power in Ghana had surpassed that of the Netherlands.

After a month's voyage, the Qing fleet that set out from Britain finally came to this golden African coast. Guided by a small boat, the fleet slowly sailed into a merchant dock set up by the British here to resupply. The soldiers can't get off the ship yet, so they can stay on board, but the officers can go first and go to the shore to rest.

When he set foot on the calm land again, Wickham was so excited that tears almost fell, and the life at sea in the past month was really tormenting him, I really don't know how the soldiers survived the nuclear submarine that cruised for three months in the future.

When the members of the mission and the officer corps walked down the dock, the senior staff of the Royal African Company had been waiting here for a long time. A pot-bellied fellow shook his fat flesh and ran over at an alarming speed, saluted Lord Magalny, who was in the lead, and then said respectfully: "Your Excellency Lord Magalny, welcome to Ghana. I'm Fritz Mellon, a member of the Board of Directors of Royal Africa, and I'm sure you'll have a fond memory for Ghana. "The Royal African Company monopolized the slave trade in Ghana by obtaining the king's license, and it can be said that the domestic political bigwigs decided whether the monopoly of the Royal African Company could be maintained. Lord Margarny was one of Britain's leading politicians, and Fritz Mellon certainly went out of his way to satisfy him.

As a big nobleman, Magalny still looked down on Fritz Mellon, who was a merchant, and just nodded reservedly: "Excuse me, Mr. Mellon." ”

Seeing that Magalny's attitude was very cold, Fritz Mellon was a little embarrassed, he was also a figure in the London business community, which one was not greeted with a smile? However, Fritz Mellon quickly adjusted his mentality, after all, the aristocracy does have arrogant capital, and if he offends the lords of the House of Lords, it will be difficult for him to do business: "Gentlemen, please go to the fortress to rest first." The company has prepared a simple welcome dinner this evening, and we hope that everyone will come to enjoy it. "Several employees of the Royal African Trading Company, at the beckon of Fritz Mellon, led the dusty fleet members to rest in the city.

At this time, the sharp-eyed Fritz Mellon soon found Bert walking with Wickham, and hurriedly walked over: "Bert Chelsea!" I didn't expect it to be you, how did you join the army, does your father know? Fritz's words were quick and fast, and all sorts of questions came out like a barrage of questions.

Bert had long since discovered Fritz Mellon, with whom Mr. Mellon had a good relationship and was an elder who had watched him grow up. was just afraid that Mr. Mellon would ask him about joining the army, so Bert lowered his head and pretended not to see it, but he didn't expect the sharp-eyed Mellon to find out. Bert, who couldn't avoid it, immediately smiled brightly, and greeted him and said, "Uncle Fritz, how is your recent business?" When I was in London, my father used to talk about you. ”

The Mellon family and the Chelsea family are world friends, and Fritz almost grew up watching Bert, who has long regarded the unreassuring Bert as his own child. Fritz said in a soothing tone with kindness in his eyes: "Bastard, don't be busy changing the subject!" Tell me how you got into the army? "Fritz knew that France had not been at peace lately, and that there was probably going to be a war to be fought, and from the point of view of the elders, he was not at all in favor of Bert joining the army.

Bert said with a bitter face: "Uncle Fritz, don't I want to earn a knighthood for the family on the battlefield?" Even though a hereditary title is more difficult, it is not bad to get a lifetime title (Note 1). Look at the demeanor of Lord Magalny just now, Uncle Fritz, it's not that I said discouraged words, how good you are in the business of business, you can't squeeze into that circle. I don't want our Chelsea family to be looked down upon by the nobles who are glamorous on the surface and dirt on the inside!" This has always been Bert's heart, generally speaking, if you want to get a knighthood, the fastest way is to make a meritorious service on the battlefield! Bert secretly joined the army not only to anger his old man, but also to improve the family's status.

Fritz Mellon was silent, but Bert's words also spoke to his heart. Although Fritz had millions of pounds in assets, he was annoyed that the nobles always regarded the Mellon family as nouveau riche, consciously or unconsciously.

After a while, Fritz said slowly: "That's it, you young people have their own ideas, what else can we old men say?" Your father doesn't know about your joining the army, does he? I'll go back to London in a month and tell my father about it. ”

Seeing that Fritz promised to help him intercede in front of his father, Bert was overjoyed and said: "Thank you, Uncle Fritz, you also know that my father is more stubborn, you can help me persuade him." Bert ran out without saying hello to his family this time, and he didn't want to be beaten all over the yard by his old man with a cane when he came home.

The uncle and nephew chatted for a while, and then Fritz Mellon turned his gaze to Wickham and said apologetically: "This gentleman, are you?" Wickham is full of black lines, this old and young finally noticed their existence, and when did my sense of existence become so low?

Before Wickham could speak, Bert rushed to introduce: "Uncle Fritz, this is my commander, Lieutenant Wickham, and a good friend of mine. Fritz had a fake smile on his face and said politely: "It turned out to be Lieutenant Wickham, thank you for taking care of Bert in the army, this kid is in the army for the first time, if there is anything he doesn't understand, I hope Lieutenant Wickham will give me a lot of advice." ”

Wickham secretly said in his heart, my brother's military age is a few days younger than Bert, teach a fart! But this could not be said on the lips, and Wickham showed a decent smile: "Mr. Fritz, Bert has always done a good job in the army, you can rest assured." The two men had spoken a few words and then dispersed, and Fritz was still busy greeting the members of the mission.

The group soon entered the fortress built by the British merchants, which was typical of the European Star Fortress, with irregular walls, which meant that the attackers had to face fire from at least two sides when attacking. The fort was well planned, with residential quarters, slave trading quarters, barracks, and the administration of the Royal African Company in the area arranged in a relatively regular grid. Such regular urban areas are very rare in European cities, after all, everything here is newly planned and built, and there are no strong historical problems like cities in continental Europe.

As you walk, Wickham admires this European-style town on the west coast of Africa, and the tropical trees of the streets make it look exotic. From time to time, mercenaries from the Royal African Company escorted some newly captured black slaves to the trading area for auction.

These faltering black slaves are the secret key to Ghana's wealth. Yes, the Gold Coast was a golden area for British slave traders, and every year tens of thousands of black slaves were captured here from various tribes, and then loaded from the ports here and shipped to the New World. This business brought millions of pounds in profits to British slave traders every year. Fritz Mellon made his fortune in the slave trade of the Royal African Company, and of course Bert's family had a lot of influence in the business.

The dignitaries of the mission, as well as the middle and senior officers of the Royal Navy, were graciously invited to rest at the town hall, where conditions were among the best in the city. Junior officers like Wickham and Burt were taken by the clerk to the barracks in the city, where the facilities were mediocre. Although it is a little simpler, it is much stronger than the big shops of those big-headed soldiers.

When the two arrived at a barracks, they found that Evan on the Encouragement had already cleaned up his room here. Wickham looked at the somewhat haggard Evan and asked strangely, "Evan what's wrong with you?" Is it seasickness?"

Ai Wen threw away the rag in his hand with some anger, and said angrily, "Sir, don't forget that I used to serve in the Royal Navy. But the captain of the 'Encouragement' is not a gentleman at all, and the people in their Royal Navy are superior to us, or what? Whatever they do, they all exclude me, an officer of the Marine Corps, and want to exclude me, but they are still a little tender!"

After this period of getting along, Wickham also felt a faint sense of superiority among the naval officers, but he himself got along well with Captain William Blair, and he didn't expect the people on the "Encouragement" to do so obviously, which was a bit too much. Wickham had already considered in his heart whether he would go to the "Encouragement" himself on the next voyage and support Evan for the scene. He's just a bit of a short-sighted, and since Evan calls himself a sir, he won't care.

While Wickham was pondering, he heard Bert shout, "Ensign Barnett, don't you live in the town hall, why did you come to the barracks?" Turning around, the man at the door was really Barnett, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Bernet's son is relatively straightforward, and everything he thinks in his heart will be shown on his face, and his face is a little stinky at this time: "Yo, this is not Second Lieutenant Barnett." Why, if you don't live in the bright city hall, why are you here in this broken barracks?" Because of Margarny's care, Barnett, who was stationed on the "Lion", lived a very comfortable life, which made Bert, a boy, itch with envy.

Barnett didn't care, he had a very good relationship with Bert, and he had already figured out the guy's heart. He knew that Bert wasn't really angry, but just shrugged his shoulders: "Anyway, I'm also a member of the Marine Corps, of course I'm going to live with you." Bert wasn't angry, so he walked over and hooked Barnett's shoulder: "How are you on the Lion these days?" Tell me about your earl uncle?"

Barnett reluctantly broke away from Bert's clutches and shouted to Wickham, "Report to the sir, Second Lieutenant Barnett reports to you."

Wickham waved his hand: "Hurry up and get ready to rest and rest, there is a banquet in the evening, everyone will give me some spirit at that time, don't embarrass me, you know?"

All three shouted in unison, 'Understood, sir. ”

Note 1: There are two types of titles in the United Kingdom, one is hereditary nobility, such as the prince and the princess. The other is a lifelong nobleman, which cannot be hereditary, such as knights and barons. Hereditary nobility was not easy to obtain, and there were no more than four hundred people in the whole of England, a real aristocracy. The lifelong aristocracy is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to the country, of course, donating money can also be bought, similar to the donation of officials in the Qing Dynasty.