After introducing the captain Mirabeau. Plenkovich was followed by Jérôme. Patterson introduced the remaining thirty or so to Grandi, who saluted and shook hands with them in turn.

After a preliminary understanding between the two sides, Jérôme. Patterson's expression was serious to Mirabeau. Plenkovic admonished: "Mirabeau. Major Plenkovich, you and your men will study with Mr. Grandy for the next period of time, and if you don't understand, ask Mr. Grandi!

Do you understand? ”

Mirabeau. Plenkovic nodded to Jérôme. Patterson assured: "Your Excellency, please be assured! We will definitely study hard and not cause trouble to Mr. Grandi! ”

Jérôme. Bonaparte bowed his head and then turned his gaze to Captain Grandi, "Mr. Grandi, these people will be at your disposal in the future!"

If any of them won't obey your orders, let me know!

I'll clean them up! ”

"Hmm!" Captain Grandy responded, "I won't have to say the same." ”

……

For the rest of the day, Captain Grandi and his team were Mirabeau. Plenkovic and others gave lectures on the precautions for entering the interior of the Congo region, as well as the common words used by some tribes in the Congo region, so as to prevent them from violating the taboos of some tribes in the Congo region and thus triggering conflicts.

Of course, these tribes are all tribes that Captain Grandy has already discovered, and there are many undiscovered tribes in the Congo region.

Mirabeau. Plenkovic and the others carefully studied the knowledge imparted by Captain Grandi, and each of them made rapid progress.

Grandi had planned to take about four weeks to get the hang of something Mirabeau. It took Plenkovic just over three weeks to get the hang of it.

At the end of October, Captain Grandi found Jérôme. Patterson said to him, "Major Mirabeau and the others have all the knowledge to go deep into the interior of the Congo region, and we can go!" ”

Jérôme. After hearing this, Patterson said to Captain Grandi with a surprised expression on his face, "So fast! ”

Captain Grandi was frank about Jérôme. Patterson said, "To be honest, I didn't expect it to be so soon!" ”

"Hmm!" Jérôme. Patterson nodded to Captain Grandy and asked, "When are you going to go?" ”

"I'm going to leave tomorrow!" Captain Grandi vs. Jérôme. "We've been delayed for almost a month or so, and we can't continue grinding and chirping here!" ”

"Okay! Tonight, all of you come to the Governor's Palace! I'm seeing you off! ”

"Thank you very much!"

That evening, Jérôme. Patterson hosted Captain Grandi and his team at the Doge's Palace, as well as Mirabeau. Plenkovich et al.

During the banquet, everyone laughed and toasted to the upcoming departure.

By the time the banquet was over, it was about 11 p.m.

Captain Grandi and his team staggered in their chairs due to excessive drinking.

Jérôme. Seeing this, Patterson hurriedly ordered the servants of the Doge's Palace to send Captain Grandy and the others back to their respective rooms, and then he ordered Rastigne to summon Mirabeau. Plenkovich.

Mirabeau at this time. Plenkovich stood in Jérôme with a slightly drunken expression on his face. Patterson said, "Your Excellency, what are you looking for me?" ”

"When you follow Grandi into the outback, be sure to keep an eye on Grandi's movements!" Jérôme. Patterson told Mirapoplenkovic.

"Don't you trust them?" Mirabeau. Plenkovic vs. Jérôme. Patterson asked.

Jérôme. Patterson shook his head and denied it, "It's not that I don't believe them, but I think that when you do anything, you have to keep an extra mind!" Otherwise, it's easy to get a problem!

It's good for both of us! ”

"I see! I'll secretly spy on their every move! If they really dare to act against France, then they will be unceremoniously stopped! "Mirabeau. Plenkovic responded to Jérôme in no uncertain terms. Patterson Road.

"Hmm!" Jérôme. Patterson patted Mirabeau. Plenkovich's shoulder said: "It is indeed a wise choice to let you be their captain!" ”

"You've won a prize!" Mirabeau. Plenkovic modestly to Jérôme. Bonaparte responded.

"That's it! It's not too early! "Jérôme. Patterson yawned and said, "You should go back and rest early!" ”

……

The next day, as the morning sun rose over the eastern sea, Captain Grandi, who was lying on the bed, opened his eyes.

At this time, Captain Grandy felt a dizziness, as if he had been punched in the head.

In this dizzy and swollen situation, Captain Grandy closed his eyes and pressed his temples lightly with his hands, and suddenly there was a feeling of numbness in his head.

After a few moments of compression, Captain Grandi's head finally felt a little more comfortable.

Just then, there was a knock on the door from outside the room, and Grandi hurriedly asked who was outside the door.

"Mr. Grandi, Your Excellency the Governor asked me to tell you that it's time for breakfast!" Rastigne's voice reached Captain Grandy's ears.

Captain Grandy hurriedly responded, "I see! Wait for you to tell His Excellency the Governor to wait a little longer! I'll be there soon! ”

"That's it!" With that, Rastigne left Captain Grandy's door.

Five minutes later.

A well-dressed Captain Grandi walked out of the room and moved towards the Doge's Mansion dining room.

When Captain Grandy pushed open the door to the dining room, he found everyone already sitting at the table waiting for him.

Captain Grandy hurriedly apologized to everyone present: "I'm really sorry! I'm late! ”

"It's not too late! It's not too late! "Jérôme. Patterson's voice came from the main seat, and he pointed to the vacant seat beside him and said to Captain Grandi, "Sit down!" Mr. Grandi! ”

Captain Grandi sat in Jérôme. Patterson's side.

Breakfast began, and the servants placed two pieces of fluffy bread and a porridge in front of everyone.

"Today's breakfast is a bit basic, I hope you can forgive me!" Jérôme. Patterson said to Captain Gran.

Grandi shook his head at Jérôme. "It's great to be able to have porridge and bread for breakfast!" ”

With that, Captain Grandy and the others began to eat.

After breakfast, Grandi and the others went to the docks, where they were to take a clipper boat from there to the mouth of the "Congo River"[1] and enter it.

Jérôme. Patterson and Rastigne saw them off personally.

[PS: During this period, people did not explore the Congo River in as much detail as later generations, and many people mistakenly thought of other rivers as the Congo River.

In fact, there is only one river that can really penetrate into the hinterland of Central Africa, that is, it is located in the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the future.

And the "Congo River" that Captain Grandy thinks can enter the hinterland is actually the Ornway River! 】

At 9 a.m., the steam clipper departed, and Grandi, who was standing on the deck, rushed to Jérôme. I'm afraid that special training and others will beckon.

Jérôme. Patterson and the others also beckoned and watched them leave.

Looking at the steam clipper that was drifting away, Jérôme. Patterson asked Rastigne, who was beside him, "Rastigne, do you think they can bring us good news?" ”

"Your Excellency, I am sure they will be able to bring good news for us!" Rastigne was steadfast in his opposition to Jérôme. Patterson responded.

"Hmmm! I hope too! ”

……

At 9:40 a.m., the steam clipper arrived near the Ornway River.

The crew quickly turned the rudder, and the steam clipper slowed down as cautiously into the Ornway.

Upon entering the Ornway River, Captain Grandy reaffirmed their purpose this time, and asked all present to cheer up.

Everyone present was full of energy and had a grim expression on their faces.

When the steam clipper had been on the Ornway River for nearly two hours, Captain Grandy, who was standing in the bow with a telescope in his hand, saw a tribe not far from the riverbank, and he hurriedly ordered the boat to pull over.

The steam clipper slowly stopped on the shore, and Grandi and the others jumped to the shore.

Captain Grandi, who was standing on the shore, asked Mirabeau. Plenkovich said: "How's the preparation going?" ”

Mirabeau. Plenkovic pointed to the baggage in the hands of the players and said to Grandi, "Everything is ready!" ”

"That's good!" Captain Grandy nodded, and continued, "Then let's move on!" ”

Grandi and the others continued on their way, and soon reached the vicinity of the tribe that was surrounded by a fence.

When the "scout sentinels" in the tribe saw Captain Grandy and the others, they immediately shouted at the tribe, saying words they didn't understand.

"Quick! Take advantage of this time to reload your ammo! Grandi slightly urged everyone in the room to start reloading.

Grandi's expedition team tore open the paper wrapped in gunpowder with their teeth, then poured it into the muzzle of their guns.

Mirabeau. Plenkovich and others directly pulled open the breech, stuffed the paper fixed ammunition directly into the breech gun, and then closed it again.

The whole process goes down, Mirabeau. Plenkovic reloads much faster than Grandi's expeditionary team.

Grandi glanced at Mirabeau with a slanted eye. Plenkovic and the others showed a little surprise on their faces.

Once Grandi's expedition was fully loaded, a group of tribal soldiers armed with spears burst out of the fence and gradually approached Captain Grandi.