"I heard that Mr. Rhodes is here to help you facilitate a business deal with our government. We have always encouraged foreign investors to invest in Mozambique, and we will do our best to ensure the interests of investors......" Chen Xing'an said in his opening remarks.

Rhodes laughed and said: "I am very interested in investing in Mozambique. However, this time I came here to have another important business. ”

"Oh?" Chen Xing'an is like a mirror in his heart.

"Our company wants to buy two territories of your country in the Transvaal Republic, one is the Premir mine and the other is the gold field."

Rhodes did want to buy the Premir mines and the gold fields (later known as Johannesburg), but they were not the territory of the Northeast Autonomous Region, but the private land purchased by Wang Yi's big merchant group. Among them, the Premir mine has already begun mining, and the raw diamond ore has been sent to the northeast for processing. At present, Jintian is still only a large farm, with an insurance team stationed, and a large amount of grain tax revenue is provided to the Boer Transvaal Republic every year, and the two sides cooperate happily.

As a successful businessman, Rhodes certainly has a very thorough view of the shape over there. As it stands, it would be very difficult for his De Beers Mining Company to acquire the Premir mine, and even if the big businessmen were to be kicked in the head by a donkey and willing to sell the diamond mines, their company would not have enough money to buy these sky-high assets. So the real target of Rhodes' acquisition is not the coveted diamond mines, which are just a smokescreen to confuse people, but the gold fields are the direction of their crosshairs, even though they are now only a vast farm.

Of course, the reason why Rhodes wants to buy today is not to change careers from the mining industry and become a farmer again! Rather, he received the exciting news that gold had been found in the gold fields, the world's greatest original sin! Hearing the news, Rhodes stayed up all night, tossing and turning, and the next day he sent his henchmen to secretly go to various places in Jintian to do geological exploration. It is a pity that the Northeast Insurance Team supervises Jintian very closely, and from time to time there are empty boats patrolling the territory.

Although no detailed information was obtained, the prospectors who were sent to the prospect still received the news that Rhodes was happy, and there was a great possibility that there were indeed huge gold deposits buried under the gold fields. Rhodes, who had easily calmed down from his ecstatic state, suddenly discovered a very difficult problem, although the gold mountain was close at hand, but between himself and the gold mountain, there was a huge chasm.

That is, Jintian is already the territory of the Northeast Autonomous Region! How to make Jintian his own place of control has become a problem that Rhodes has to solve, otherwise no matter how rich and noble Jinshan is, it is a flower in the water for him, and the moon in the mirror has nothing to do with him.

"I can understand that I want to buy the Premir mine, but why does the gentleman want to buy the land in the golden field?" Chen Xing'an asked with a smile while pouring coffee for Rhodes, looking very casual. "Mr. Fei is also interested in agricultural products?"

Rhodes didn't understand the reason for Chen Tianan's question, and he was shocked, but on the surface, he looked calm and said with a smile: "Recently, agricultural product futures have fluctuated very much, so I also want to invest in them and make a profit." Makes you laugh! ”

"I see."

"You know, if there is no source of supply for futures, it is a tree without roots and water without a source, and it is completely fish and meat on the chopping board of other financiers. And now it's obviously not realistic for me to open up a large farm. It is based on the above considerations that our company decided to acquire all the land in Jintian. Governor Chen, don't worry, as long as you agree to this deal, the price is easy to say. ”

When Dashang Group acquired this land, it didn't cost much money, because what was the value of a large piece of wilderness? In addition, at that time, the government of the Republic of Dewasland of the Boers was also poor and white, and it was impossible for the British to treat them as their own sons and invest in them, so seeing that a big financier like Dashang sent them to the door, of course, he responded to his request. Later, in addition to pretending to be reserved and asking the big merchants to provide some additional medicines every year, they were also afraid that the big merchants would think that the transaction was not cost-effective, and the Boers personally came to sign the contract.

According to Rhodes's calculations, the price offered by the big merchants at the beginning was multiplied by five first, and if it was not multiplied by ten, the Northeast was also cultivated on that land anyway. At the beginning, they had no foothold in Africa, and now they have a much larger area of Mozambique, and it is unlikely that they will sell the Premir mines, but the value of the large farms in the gold fields has increased several times, and he really can't think of a reason why the big merchants will not sell this land.

If you think only from a business point of view, Rhodes is right. The problem is that when Wang Yi first fell in love with this land, he fell in love with the gold and diamonds below him. Now the price quoted by the De Beers Mining Company, not to mention a tenfold increase, is twenty times, compared with the mineral deposits under the gold fields, it is only a drop in the bucket.

"I'm sorry! Mr. Rhodes, although we encourage investment, our government is not involved in specific business operations. Whether it is the Premir Mine or the Golden Field, it is the Dashang Group that is entering the camp. As long as it is not illegal, we have no right to intervene. ”

Rhodes didn't know much about the Northeast Autonomous Region, and he didn't know much about the Dashang Group. The only thing I know is that the drugs of the big merchants are very hot in Europe, and with high popularity, there are also high prices. As for the rest of the big business, he didn't know much. However, before coming to Mozambique, he sent someone to ask about the possibility and offer of the big merchant to sell the two territories in Dewaziland, but the big merchant was very resolute and did not consider it at all, otherwise he would not have been able to go far to Maputo.

"I hope that Mr. Chang can you think about it, as long as you are willing to help and match the bridge, our company will be easy to talk about. Whether it is investment, charity fundraising and other public welfare activities, our company will definitely give Mozambique a complete return. ”

It was the idea of Rhodes' friend Charlie George Gordon, who helped the Qing government suppress the Taiping army during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and knew a little about the way the Qing people acted. If the front is not successful, go to the back, and the back is not to go to the official face, if the official face is not successful, then you can only take risks. In Rhodes's mind, no matter how powerful the big business is, it is not as big as the Northeast Autonomous Region, that is, the official. Even if the merchants knew that there were abundant gold reserves under the land of the Golden Fields, this would not bring much income to Mozambique. On the other hand, if it helps De Beers Mining Company to obtain gold mining rights in the gold fields, Rhodes is even willing to contribute two to three percent of its income to the Mozambican provincial government. This will allow the provincial government to profit from the deal, while also helping Rhodes achieve the deal it has always dreamed of.

After listening to Rhodes's words, Chen Xingan sat on the sofa and did not speak, holding coffee in his hand, sucking in small sips, and said for a long time: "Mr. Rhodes, if your proposal is changed to another company, our provincial government will consider it, but ......"

"How?" Rhodes said eagerly. "As long as you promise us, the governor, we can negotiate any conditions."

Chen Xingan shook his head and said, "Mr. Rhodes, you misunderstood, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I really can't do it, Dashang is very powerful, and you and I can't afford to provoke it." ”

"What do you mean?" Rhodes looked surprised, thinking that the Mozambican provincial government might refuse, but he didn't expect to use that reason. "How is it possible, you are the highest official in Mozambique, how can a big merchant rebel against your decision."

"You are wrong, the law of the Northeast states that no public official may interfere with the normal conduct of business under any pretext unless there is clear evidence that the businessman has committed a crime. Our government can only guide, not force. Chen Xing'an raised his head, looked at Rhodes, and said, "Of course, this is not the main reason why I denied your mention. Probably you don't know the status of big merchants in the Northeast! Do you know the name of our army? ”

"Insurance Team ......"

"Not bad! But do you know his full name? Chen Tianan said earnestly: "Dashang Insurance Team! The Northeast Autonomous Region was a regime established on the basis of the Great Shang and its alliances, and although it was still nominally an autonomous region of the Qing court, the Qing court had to retreat when there was a real conflict with the Northeast Autonomous Region in terms of power and prestige. ”

Rhodes was speechless in shock, he thought that Dashang was strong, but he didn't expect to have such a deep background. Look, if you move the big business, it seems that you are the enemy of the Northeast Autonomous Region, although the British, as the world's largest power today, are born with the pride of despising the world. However, in the face of the Northeast Insurance Fleet, which could compete with the Russian Army and completely wipe out the French Far East Fleet, the world's second navy, in a naval battle, even a colonialist of the British Empire like him could not ignore the advantages and losses.

"Mr. Rhodes, the only thing I can do now is to match you up and give you the opportunity to meet with the heads of big business in Africa. But if you want to count on me, it's obviously very unrealistic. ”

"I understand." Rhodes nodded understandingly. This kind of thing was very common in this era, and the strength of the famous British East India Company, which was really at its peak, I am afraid that most countries would have to retreat. Even in the UK, it is also stomping on the feet, and the entire British Isles are shaking and shaking.

The two talked for a while, and Chen Xingan took Rhodes for a light meal, not to mention, the two really became friends with wine and meat. Although Chen Xing'an may not believe what Rhodes said, it is not worth it for Rhodes to be able to get in touch with Chen Xingan.

Chen Xingan is acting, why not Rhodes?