London.

The black, yellowish, purple, and spicy, choking fog of London produced by smoke and dust often becomes the yearning of any foreigner who comes to London, and the fog in the fog seems to symbolize the strength of the British Empire after the Industrial Revolution, and it seems that the influence and strength of the British Empire are generated by this fog of London.

Almost every foreigner who comes to London, especially tourists and students from backward countries, will be more or less immersed in the yellow-black fog of London mixed with smoke and fog, and in their eyes, what bothers Londoners is exactly what they are looking for.

It's just that for many of these people, they don't know the three pillars of the British Empire: trade, finance, and raw materialsIn the middle of the 19th century, with the opening of the free trade policy, the protagonists of the British economy were replaced by industrial giants and bankers. The advantages of financial currency, international trade, and raw materials constituted the three pillars of the power of the British Empire.

After Waterloo, in the seas of the world, the supremacy of the British Navy was unmatched. The British fleet sailed around the world laden with British steel, coal and Manchester textiles exported abroad. British manufacturing has led the world for decades. In the late 90s of the 19th century, Britain had unparalleled political, economic and military power in the world. But behind this extreme prosperity, no one knows what kind of crisis is hidden, at least especially for the many foreigners who enjoy the London fog, who are often just indulging in the power revealed in the London fog.

It was the weather at the end of July, there was no fog in London, London was foggy and rainy, although there was no fog, but it was rainy, the ground was damp and cloudy, the trees and grass were green and bright, and there was no such peculiar black color of London in autumn, winter and spring at this time. The shops are closed, and there is a large meadow on the right side of the road, and a forest in the distance, which makes people feel quiet.

Because the sky has just rained, and there are still water droplets hanging on the trees, the air and sunlight after the rain give a special taste, and even make people feel that the air seems to have a sweetness, which is definitely a refreshing and good weather.

Those smiling passers-by on the sidewalk undoubtedly reveal people's mood, the mood brought by the weather is refreshing, only for some people, although it is a large number of people, but there are always some people whose mood is not necessarily better because of the weather.

Holding a large number of long circles of drawings between his left elbows, wearing a London-style suit and an English top hat, Shi Tiange walked on the sidewalk, not only was his mood not cheerful because of the good weather, but even showed a little bad, so that when the occasional passer-by greeted him, he also ignored it.

"Damn the Wakos!"

As he walked, he hated and scolded those Oriental dwarfs, but the hatred for them in his heart deepened a little.

Eight months ago, the battleship "Mikasa" ordered by the Navy was launched. Dunn, as Dunn's student, not only participated in the design and subsequent manufacture of the battleship, but when he was launched, because he was a "Qing Guoren", he was "politely" rejected from the launching ceremony, and at the completion ceremony, when those naval officers who came to pick up the ship learned that among Dunn's students, there was actually a "Qing Guoren" and participated in the design and supervision of the battleship, and they first talked to him enthusiastically.

When the officer asked him if he intended to go to the warship, he said that "after completing his studies, he will return to China to design warships and defend the sea frontier." This was his original intention, and the reason why he came to Britain to study shipbuilding was precisely because of the disastrous defeat in the Yellow Sea during the First Sino-Japanese War, and he said that he was his enemy, so how could he serve the enemy.

The officers first praised him, but today his teacher Dunn reluctantly told him that he could no longer be his mentor, and the reason was very simple, "It is impossible for the people to use the blood and sweat of the people to fund the internship of students from enemy countries." This is the requirement of the people, and in order to be able to win the design commission of the future military of the Benhai, he has to regretfully let him find another job.

After graduating from the academy and interning with this famous British shipbuilding expert, he was far more disappointed than angry when he was treated like this, and the reason why he confessed and endured discrimination was precisely to acquire first-class knowledge of warship design and manufacturing, but now?

If he had been a man himself, perhaps three years ago, when he had obtained his master's degree, he would have received an invitation from the shipbuilding company or the navy to return to China to participate in the design and supervision of warships. However, he was Chinese, and even when Qing Zhengaxe ordered the Haiqi and Haitian cruisers from the British Armstrong Company, he took the initiative to find the legation and was not allowed to participate in the supervision.

After the initial anger, the strong contrast between the thought that his former classmates had designed or supervised all kinds of small ships and had achieved nothing so far always made him feel a little helpless, and even a little regret for the industry he had chosen.

When he was in the UK, he experienced the sting of the First Sino-Japanese fiasco, and he was not the only one who was stimulated, thinking of his friends who worked in Armstrong, he couldn't help but feel some sympathy, and he didn't enjoy the heat and coldness of the world in the foreigner's company, and the dignified artillery experts were reduced to the same as workers, in the factory, for this helplessness, I wanted to study and work in London for fifteen years, Xiao Lie, and the experience was deeper!

Yan Pingyao, who was sitting on the chair, poured a new glass of whiskey for the Mr. Xiao in front of him, and then looked at him without saying a word, quietly waiting for his answer.

Grabbing the wine glass in a daze, Xiao Lie gasped, sobbed and poured the wine down, then hummed, turning the steak on the plate with a fork as if it were not light, this lunch was very rich, and even in the past fifteen years, he had never enjoyed such a hearty meal.

Listening to the music in his ears, he looked around at the decoration of the fancy restaurant in front of him, which cost at least 10 pounds a meal per person, and was always out of reach for him with a salary of only 65 pounds a month.

"I don't know why you or the people you carry came to me, but I must admit that with a monthly salary of 200 pounds, it is true that even in the Armstrong Arsenal, only a few people can get such a high salary!"

Xiao Lie said in a very polite tone.

"It makes me wonder if I'm really entitled to be paid so well?"

Yan Pingyao shook his head, looked at Xiao Lie in front of him and continued.

"Mr. Xiao, you yourself understand, with your talent, far from succumbing to the post of quality supervisor, in Europe, buried talent and not only Mr. Xiao alone, our people have the heart to work hard, the public study abroad has it, self-funded study abroad such as Mr. Xiao, it is countless, such as Mr. Xiao, I want to learn European technology to serve the country to resist foreign insults, but the state affairs are not quiet, I don't know how many people who have been full of enthusiasm, after returning to China, they have no choice but to change to the top and mix in the officialdom, or become a comprador, all what they have learned. Only a few strong-willed people like Mr. Xiao have been able to persevere to this day! ”

Praise Yan Pingyao once again poured him full of wine, Chinese like to talk at the table, even in England, after following his wife from Mexico to London, his wife gave him a task, in London for industrial companies to hire experts from all walks of life, and specifically mentioned artillery, chemical technicians, compared to those foreign experts, Yan Pingyao prefers these "outside the sea" self-funded students, at least they do not have the swagger of foreigners, and often cherish rare opportunities.

Is there a reason to refuse?

For a while, it was really difficult for Xiao Lie to find a reason to reject him, but could he really realize his ideals there?

"Mr. Yan, I don't know, you are entrusted by that governor, where will Fang Ping serve after returning to China?"

A string of questions came out of his mouth, if he can't make artillery in the arsenal after returning to China, even if he returns to China, it is desirable, it is better to continue to stay here, but those governors in the country really intend to make their own large artillery? He really doesn't have any bottom, after all, for them, I'm afraid it's better to buy it.

"Mr. Xiao, you will know then, and here I can at least guarantee that you will be able to realize your dreams there!"

As he spoke, he took out a document from the document bag, in addition to his personal treatment, the most important thing in this contract was a confidentiality clause, although it was only a literal constraint, but it was a reminder to him.

"However, Mr. Xiao, there is a contract here, I hope you can sign it, of course you don't need to make a decision now!"

Looking at the contract, Xiao Lie found that in the contract, the word confidentiality is probably the strictest, and he is not even allowed to talk about his work to anyone in the outside world, even his family.

This made him feel a little uncomfortable, but thinking that maybe he could realize his dream there, he hesitated and signed his name on the contract, and after receiving the contract, Yan Pingyao took out a check from his bag.

"Mr. Fang, this is a signing fee of 1,000 pounds!"

With a smile on his face, Yan Pingyao had to admire the chairman's thoughts, in the past month, even those high-minded foreign experts, they were all surprised by the company's generosity, just a signature, as little as a thousand pounds, as much as two thousand pounds in return, at the beginning he Yan Pingyao was not stunned by the signing fee of 5,000 taels of silver, and gave birth to the feeling that the man knew that he was dead.

Looking at the check, although his heart was moved, Xiao Lie pushed the check forward.

"Mr. Yan, what Fang Ping is doing is only ideals, not money! If you don't carry forward what Fang Ping has learned, Xie Moujie will still find another high-level achievement! Please forgive me! ”

Yan Pingyao smiled embarrassedly with wide eyes, this person who doesn't love silver really has it! It's a pity that even if this Xiao Lie doesn't want this money, it won't fall into his hands.

"Then the company will keep it for you temporarily! You won't regret it! ”

Xiao Lie lowered his head but ate the steak on the plate, just took two bites as if he remembered something, and looked up at Yan Pingyao.

"If you need expertise in shipbuilding, I can introduce you to someone!"

"Who?"

Julila brought the teacup to her face, sniffing the faint scent of tea, and asked Mrs. Arlo.

Lady Arlo is the widow of an earl, a famous courtesan in London, half a month ago, maybe now Ji Li? Sterling is the famous lady who will be the richest woman in all of England, but Lady Arlo knows the whole of high society.

"John, who has just been promoted to Second Sea Lord? Abbasnot? Admiral Fisher! ”

Countess Arlo said lightly, looking at Ji Li beside her, who was nearly fifty years old, Arlo couldn't help but be a little jealous of the beauty of this girl who was only nineteen years old, although she was only nineteen years old, but there was a mature and charming charm in her youth, like a flower cultivated by her heart. The plump soft lips are enough to make any man lose his eyes, petite but with a somewhat plump figure, wrapped in an oriental-style light gauze dress, magnificent as the sunset over the desert, walking and whirling, it is very good-looking.

But the most envious thing is the wealth she has, the oil field owned by Anglo-Mexican oil company in Mexico is just an oil well, in just half a month, it has spewed out millions of pounds worth of oil, according to the assessment of the London financial community, at least 1 billion pounds!

"Possessing wealth comparable to that of Queen Victoria."

A London journalist once commented on her as the richest and luckiest woman in Britain in the twentieth century. Who would have imagined that the Stirling family, which went bankrupt ten years ago, could become the richest family in Britain and even Europe overnight?

No matter which newspaper one opens, whether it's in England, Scotland, or Ireland, they'll always see a news or two about the richest woman in the world and her latest words and deeds. At first, the news about her was placed at the tail of the chatterbox, and then she surpassed the knights, and so on and so forth, she rose higher and higher, and became more and more famous, until she stopped at a place where she could not go any higher.

It was her wealth and the prestige that came with it that made the nobles of London flock to her, vying to please her, to woo her, to pursue her, and Arlo was also one of those crowds of people who flattered and stammered.

"Lady Arlo, does Admiral Fisher have anything to do with this?"

Ji Li blinked her beautiful eyelashes and looked at Countess Arlo, although in the past half month, in addition to the support of the London financial community, she has also obtained the support of dignitaries including the Speaker of the House of Lords, and she may be received by the Prime Minister in the near future, but she also needs stronger support, support from the navy.

Although the scientific and public opinion circles in London talked about the importance of oil to Britain under the offensive of money, and constantly reminded the public that no British company owned the oil fields, and the British colonies also did not produce oil, thus reminding them that the oil fields owned by the Anglo-Mexican oil company were important to the United Kingdom, but support from the more powerful departments was necessary.

"Miss Sterling, at a public meeting in September 1882, Lord Fisher, then a Captain of the British Admiral, said that Britain must change the status quo of the navy's use of coal as a power fuel, and should use a new type of oil fuel, and believe me, Lord Fisher will definitely be the staunchest supporter of the Anglo-Mexican Oil Company."

Madame Arlo's face was smiling slightly, and she gently lowered her glass, but looked at the richest lady in Europe beside her.

"Miss Sterling, although your company is working hard in London, it is not only British and Mexican oil that is working hard in London, as the largest kerosene supplier in the United Kingdom, the Standard Company of New Jersey is also working hard, and there are even rumors in the newspapers that you are married to a Chinese, right?"

Yaluo, who was smiling slightly, looked at Ji Li, as if waiting for her answer. Every nobleman who pursues her knows that Miss Sterling is married, and the diamond ring in her hand is the best weapon to reject them.

"My husband doesn't seem to be part of this problem, does he?"

When Mrs. Arlo picked up the teacup, she looked at the sunny sky, but she smiled faintly.

"But what if the actual owner of the Anglo-Mexican oil company is an Oriental surnamed Chen? Ji Li, there are many secrets in London, and there are no secrets either! ”

Yaluo's words only made Ji Li's heart tremble, and after the initial panic, the eyes on the charming and moving face shot an aggressive gaze at Yaluo.

She has a special ability to put on a scaring posture, but in fact, what really makes people feel weak and frightened is a certain temperament in her. The face that was so beautiful that it was palpitating, and the eyes that were unobstructed and gloomy looked at Countess Arlo, but she didn't say anything for a long time, just looked at her so coldly.

"Kirly."

Feeling the compulsion and gloom in his eyes, Ya Luo took a sip of tea and swore an oath.

"You have to believe that I am your friend, and almost from the day I met you, I have regarded you as a relative like my niece, and you must believe this, just like your father!"

Arlo looked at Ji Li with a wink and a smile, and a handsome man came to mind, it was Viscount Stirling, who was also one of her lovers.

"Oh! Is it? ”

Responding lightly, Ji Li thought in her heart about the intention of Mrs. Arlo to mention this matter.

"There are many secrets in London, and there are no secrets at all! Sometimes, if you want to, you can make some secrets a secret forever! What do you think? Ji Li! ”

Her words made Ji Li retract the gaze that made others a little hairy, but instead showed that sweet and charming smile, and this time she became the girl who poured countless men again.

"Lady Arlo, what do you need?"

"I just want to get ...... Yo, a cheque with a few sketches. ”

Taking a deep breath, Arlo reminded again.

"Trust me, a secret will become a secret, and I don't think you need to doubt my credibility, as many people do!"

With a wink of eyes, she smiled a little, as a courtesan of the upper class, she had her means of survival and credibility, otherwise she would not have been able to gain a foothold in the upper class of London.

"Moreover, I can introduce you to Admiral Fisher! And he will definitely become the staunchest supporter of Anglo-Mexican oil! ”

(To be continued)