When Captain Grandi heard this, he looked at Mirabeau excitedly. Plenkovich shouted, "What! You repeat, what did you find? ”

Mirabeau. Plenkovich had to repeat again: "Mr. Grandi, we have found an open-pit mine around the tribe conquered by the Ntuya!" ”

"What are the types of mines?" Captain Grandi asked Mirabeau with an eager face. Plenkovich.

Although Captain Grandi knew that the odds of the open-pit mine being gold were slim, he wanted to be able to get the mine from Mirabeau. Plenkovich heard the word "mine d'or" (gold mine in French).

Because if he finds out that the open-pit mine is gold, it means that he can take a 10% commission from the gold mine.

The bigger the mine, the more profit he can draw from it.

It's a pity that Captain Grandi's dream of gold mines didn't work in Mirabeau. Plenkovich said it in his mouth.

Mirabeau. Plenkovich spread his hands and replied to Captain Grandi: "Although I don't know much about the types of ore, I can be sure that the ore from that open-pit mine is definitely not gold!" ”

Captain Grandy immediately showed a hint of disappointment, as long as it wasn't a gold mine, the value of the mine would be greatly reduced.

"Then ask the Governor's Mansion to send someone over to inspect the type of mine!" Captain Grandy replied with a sigh of relief, and then sent his team back to the Doge's Palace to inform Jérôme of the open-pit mines. Patterson.

The members of the expedition team sailed all the way out of the Ornwe River by boat, and then traveled north to Libreville, the governor-general of Gabon, in a total of nearly three hours.

When the members of the scientific expedition team arrived at the gate of the Governor's Palace, the time had already come to one o'clock in the afternoon.

The person in charge of receiving the expedition members was still the "chief" secretary of the Doge's Palace, Rastigne.

"Is something happening to the Entua tribe again?" Rastigne asked as he handed the brewed black tea to the expedition members.

Without the slightest hesitation, the dry-headed members of the expedition took a sip of the black tea, and then replied to Rastigne: "Your Excellency, Secretary-General, we have found an open-pit mine near the rival tribe of Ntua! ”

"What! Open-pit mines! Rastigne's breathing quickened.

Apparently, Rastigne subconsciously thought that the open-pit mine in the mouth of the expedition team members was a gold mine.

If it were a gold mine, the Gabonese Governor's Office would be slightly less dependent on the imperial government, and relying on the gold mines would attract more gold prospectors to Gabon for "employment".

Since the discovery of gold in California and Melbourne, gold prospectors across Europe have become more eager than ever to explore unknown gold mines around the world.

As long as news of gold mines in Gabon broke, Rastigne was not afraid of the daring gold diggers.

Unfortunately, Rastigne had no idea that his dream of gold mining would be shattered in the next words of the expedition team.

"That's right!" The expedition team nodded, and then added: "However, this mine is not a gold mine!" It's a kind of ore that we don't recognize!

So Mr. Grandy sent me here in the hope that the Governor's Palace would come and find out the minerals!

”

A hint of loss flashed in Rastigne's eyes when he heard that it was not a gold mine.

Just think about it and you will understand that there are so many gold mines in the world waiting to be discovered.

"I see! Wait here for a moment, and I'll report back to the Governor!" Although Rastigne's heart was a little lost, his face remained unfazed.

"I'm sorry for you!" The expedition team replied to Rastigne.

Rastigne left the reception room and headed for Jérôme. Governor Patterson's bedroom.

Jérôme at this time. Governor Patterson was lying in his bedroom taking a lunch break when Rastigne, who was standing at the bedroom door, knocked lightly.

Soon, there was a message from the bedroom. Patterson's voice was slightly sleepy, "Who?" ”

"Your Excellency the Doge, I am Rastigne!" Rastigne replied softly.

"O Rastigne! Please come in! "Jérôme. Patterson's slightly hoarse voice reached Rastigne's ear, and Rastigne pushed the door open.

Rastigne, who entered the bedroom, saw Jérôme sitting on the edge of the bed and gently patting his cheeks. Patterson, hurried to Jérôme. Patterson apologized, "Your Excellency, I'm sorry to disturb your rest!" ”

"Nothing!" Jérôme. Patterson smiled understandingly and said to Rastigne, "Say it! What the hell is going on? ”

Rastigne told Jérôme about the discovery of the open-pit mine by the expedition. Patterson, in order to prevent the Governor from misunderstanding, added: "According to the scientific expedition, that open-pit mine is not a gold mine!" ”

Jérôme. Patterson's expression also showed a hint of loss, and he shook his hand and said to Rastigne, "Understandable! There are so many gold mines in this world, and even if there is, I am afraid that it has already been mined!

It was already a joy that the expedition team was able to discover the mine on the second day of going deep inland! ”

"Your Excellency the Governor, do we need to send someone who knows minerals to investigate? Maybe it's just the mineral we need! "Rastigne vs. Jérôme. Patterson asked.

"Do we have someone here who is well-versed in ore?" Jérôme. Patterson asked with a frown.

Rastigne was stunned for a few seconds, constantly recalling the administrative officials in the Doge's Mansion in his mind, and then said to Rastigne with a wry smile: "Your Excellency the Doge, there is no one in the Doge's Mansion who is proficient in ores!" ”

"So what do we do now? You can't send someone back to France to invite you! "Jérôme. Patterson asked Rastigne.

Rastigne pondered for a while before turning to Jérôme. Patterson replied, "Your Excellency, my advice is to recruit the right people nearby!"

If we can't recruit the right people, then we will consider inviting the right people from France. ”

"That's fine!" Jérôme. Patterson nodded in agreement with Rastigne's suggestion, and he pointed at Rastigne and ordered, "It's up to you to draft the document and issue the invitation!" ”

Rastigne then asked Jérôme about it. Governor Paterson, should the Doge of France establish a subordinate body of the Bureau of Minerals for the exploration of minerals in the colonies.

"Just do what you say!" Jérôme. Patterson replied decisively to Rastigne.

"Is there a scientific expedition team to let them stay a few more days! Or do we send someone to take over the mine! Rastigne asked Jérôme again. Patterson Road.

Jérôme. Patterson muttered for a moment before responding to Rastigne, "Let our men take over the mines!" After all, Mr. Grandi's mission is to dig deeper! Even if you leave him there, it won't do anything! ”

"Yes!" Rasti replied respectfully.

When all the problems were settled, Rastigne bowed and left Jérôme. Paterson Bedroom, Jérôme. Patterson lay down in bed again.

From Jérôme. Rastigne, who had left Patterson's bedroom, returned to the reception room where the expedition members were.

The members of the expedition immediately stood up and asked Rastigne, "What does Your Excellency the Doge say?" ”

"Your Excellency the Governor means that your expedition can move on! Just leave the open-pit mine to us! Rastigne said to the expedition members, and then added: "If that open-pit mine is really valuable, we will pay you your due!" ”

The expedition team members nodded and said to Rastigne, "Yes! When are you going to come and take over! ”

"Right now! Come with me! Rastigne responded, and then arrived at the barracks in a carriage with the members of the expedition.

Rastigne, who entered the barracks, in the name of the Viceroyalty of Gabon, presented his message to the only remaining major in the barracks, André Brown. Milanovic gave the order, "Major Milanovic, you should immediately send two companies (one company of 3 officers and 115 sergeants and enlisted men) of soldiers on board!" ”

"Secretary General Rastigne, is it Mirabeau. Something happened to Major Plenkovich? "Andrey. Milanovic hurriedly asked Rastigne.

"Nope! No! Rastigne shook his head at Andrea. Milanovic explained: "The expedition team found an open-pit mine, so I sent you over to guard it!" In this way, the expedition team will be able to continue to go deeper! ”

"Understood!" Andre. Milanovic replied solemnly to Rastigne.

"You're moving a little faster, I'll go prepare a boat for you now!" Rastigne said one more remonstrance, then turned and left the barracks for the port of Libreville.

Arriving at the port, Rastigne quickly found the troop carrier anchored at the port dock and gave the troop carrier an order to leave the port at any time.

The captain and crew of the troop carrier who received the order quickly took their positions, and the steps of boarding were slowly placed on the deck of the dock.

After a while, by Andrey. Two companies led by Milanovic, totaling 236 people, boarded the troop carrier in turn.

At this moment, the time had come to 2:25 p.m., and the expedition team members took the steam clipper as a guide, and the troop carrier followed the rear of the steam clipper and set off.

After sailing for nearly three and a half hours, the two ships arrived near the Ntua tribe.

Small boats carrying foreign regiments slowly descended from the troop carriers to the river, and several foreign regiments in small boats rowed to the shore.

The boat then continued to row back, and after several round-trips, more than 236 soldiers, sergeants, and officers arrived.

All the soldiers lined up in two formations and arrived near the Ntua tribe under the leadership of the expedition members.

Thanks to Andrey. Milanovic's team did not fly the French flag, so the soldiers of Ntua, who were in charge of the sentry, saw the two companies and subconsciously took them for enemies.

So, the soldiers who were guarding quickly reported the news to their superiors, who ran to the old chief's room and quietly told the old chief the news of the "enemy's" attack.

Being with Grandi and Mirabeau. After listening to the old chieftain who was sitting cross-legged on the red carpet, Plenkovich couldn't help but show a hint of panic on his face.