South America

The city of Glory, the seat of the Andean Governor's Palace, is a bustling scene.

The province of Glory is a newly established province south of Buenos Aires, the capital of the province, bordered to the east by the beautiful bay of San Matthias, from which you can continue east into the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 20 kilometers south of the city of glory is the wide La Plata estuary, and nearly 400 kilometers along the estuary are waterways, and inland waterway shipping is extremely convenient.

The Atlantic Rim Railway passes through the city of Glory, and there is a branch line to the west that connects the central and northern provinces, thus connecting all the central and northern provinces, and the city of Glory is the hub of these railway trunk lines, and the geographical location is very important.

After more than 8 years of development

Glory City has built a world-class coastal port, with a Royal Navy base and a large coastal warehouse, and there are more than 10 inland river terminals in the southern suburbs, as well as a forest of food processing plants, large flour mills, oil mills, wool textile mills, meat slaughtering and processing factories and other enterprises, forming a large factory area.

By 1870

With a population of 357,000 residents, Glory City is the largest city under the Andean Governor's Palace, mainly food and grain and oil processing enterprises, and about 62% of the grain entrepot trade to Europe is concentrated in Glory Port, with an annual throughput of 2.1 million tons.

There are 12 provinces under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of Antis, with a total population of more than 2.44 million people, and the Glory Province occupies 1/3, with a total population of more than 836,000, making it the most well-developed and wealthiest province.

Railways, roads and shipping are well developed here, and it is a major export channel for the northern and central provinces to Europe, with convenient transportation and many large and small towns, a scene of prosperity and development.

Baron Wu Erbao was wearing a sophisticated tweed coat, standing on the empty railway platform, watching the cowboy in his hand driving a large herd of cattle and sheep off the train, and his face couldn't help but show a satisfied look.

The train from the province of Córdoba was loaded with all the agricultural products produced in Wujia Town, including 1,500 beef cattle, 11,000 sheep, 4,000 barrels of wine and 230 tons of wool, with a value of more than 20 million Tang Yuan.

And this is only a small part of the annual output of Wujia Town, when it comes to the wheat harvest season, the wheat in Wujia Town needs at least 6~7 trains to be towed.

Baron Wu Erbao's ranch has 17,000 head of cattle and more than 200,000 sheep, as well as a vast area of wheat fields, employing more than 440 farm workers, many of whom are residents of the town.

In South America, there are at least 70 large ranches like Wujiazhen, and there are six in Córdoba province alone, which are not inferior to Wujiazhen, but the geographical location may be a little remote and the transportation is not so convenient.

"Hahaha...... Sir Wu, rare guests, you are here, our Fushunda Trade Bank is shining! ”

A black car drove into the platform, and a wealthy middle-aged Chinese businessman with a rich appearance got out of the car, and several business bank employees laughed and greeted him from a distance.

This person is Zhu Fu, the chief treasurer of Fushunda Trading Company, which is also a very powerful trading firm in Glory City, with its own dock warehouse, flour mill and large livestock slaughterhouse, as well as a fleet and more than a dozen grain and oil business shops, and the business is quite large.

Baron Wu Erbao himself is a nobleman of the empire who runs a large ranch, and he is very influential in the Governor's Palace, and his business partners who have been cooperating all year round are naturally extraordinary.

Fu Shun Da Trading & Co. owns a shipping company, run by his second brother Zhu Shun, with a total of 11 ocean-going cargo ships operating regular freighter sailings to Europe.

Among them, there is a newly launched 4,200-ton ocean-going refrigerated ship, and two refrigerated ship orders are under construction.

The cattle and sheep of the Wu family farm are sent to the slaughterhouse under the command of Fushunda Trading House to be slaughtered and divided, made into cold and fresh packaging, and then loaded on ships.

After a three-week voyage, you can reach the port of Liverpool and get to the tables of the British.

Europe's huge market is almost endless, and no amount of agricultural products can be absorbed.

"Boss Zhu, you are too polite, the quantity of this batch of goods is relatively large, I won't follow to take a look, these guys under my command are hairy, and their hearts are always unsteady!" Baron Wu Erbao held the other party's outstretched hand with a reserved expression, and said with a smile.

Zhu Fu replied with a hearty smile; "Since it's rare to come here, let's stay for a few more days, just when the old guys of the volunteer corps gather, I'll be the host, Sir Wu won't be unflattering, right?"

"That feeling is good, it's better to be respectful than to obey your fate!"

The two talked and laughed as they walked and chatted, watching the cowboys skillfully drive the cattle and sheep into the distance, which was the direction of the slaughterhouse.

After working together for many years, the next procedure is to weigh and delineate, and then drive into the cattle pen and sheep barn in the slaughterhouse for temporary rearing, waiting for the slaughter and division according to the production plan, which has formed a fixed procedure.

In a European-style building on the edge of the bay

When old friends meet, Zhu Fu takes out a collection of good tea leaves, sits opposite a cup of tea, and the wide bay of San Matthias comes into view, and the giant ships moored in the bay are dotted, adding invisible vitality to this beautiful blue bay.

"It's been 17 years, and now I think back to immigrating to Paradise Island, and then participating in the North American War with the army, and I have traveled half the world unconsciously over the years, and it still feels a little unreal!" Wu Erbao took a sip of tea, put it down, stared at the bay and muttered.

Think back to the beginning

He is just a penniless peasant family, more than ten years have passed, and now he is a prominent imperial nobleman, sitting on a large farm of 100,000 hectares, everything is like a dream.

Zhu Fu can understand his mood very well, because his three brothers also started as small merchants who walked through the streets, followed the expansion of the empire again and again, and took advantage of the situation, extending their business tentacles to the other side of the Atlantic, isn't this a legendary experience?

So he said;

"This is thanks to the fact that we were born in a good era, and thanks to the guidance of the Tang Emperor, we seized the opportunity and created an industry that is enough to pass on to future generations.

Sir Wu, I heard that you are preparing to run for senior Córdoba officials in the next term, is the news confirmed? ”

"Hehehe...... That's right. Baron Wu Erbao does not deny that he is now living a transparent life, and after being promoted to the nobility of the empire because of his military exploits, he is eager to appear on a bigger stage.

He sighed softly and continued with some regret;

"Last year's election was too hasty, neither experienced nor prepared, and it was understandable that the election failed.

This is no longer the case

As convener of the provincial caucus of the "National Power Party", a member of the Provincial Council, and the commander of the Cordoba Volunteer Militia Division, I have convenient conditions to start preparing in advance.

The first is the midterm elections in two years' time, and the National Power Party must do everything in its power to win this battle and increase the strength of our representation in the provincial councils.

We must compete not only for provincial seats, but also for the mayor and prosecutor of Cadoba in order to have more voice. ”

"Then I wish Sir Wu success first, replace wine with tea, and toast a glass first." Zhu Fu smiled and picked up the tea cup in his hand and took the lead in taking a sip.

In his heart, the weight of this big customer has added a heavy weight.

Baron Wu Erbao smiled "haha", and also picked up the teacup and took a sip.

He was very confident in his candidacy, and as an imperial nobleman, he now held the position of division commander of the volunteer division of the militia of the province of Córdoba, which was a great advantage.

There are more than 330 officers in the militia division, including regiment commanders, battalion commanders, company commanders, and platoon commanders, all of whom are large and small farmers or ranchers.

Through the group of ranchers, it can also influence more Chinese voters.

Wu Erbao's eyes saw a stack of newspapers on the table, so he took it and flipped through it, and saw that there were not only the main newspapers of the empire, but also English newspapers in this stack of newspapers, so he said with appreciation; "Lao Zhu, your enthusiasm for learning as a businessman is really admirable, do you know English now?"

"Where...... Sir Wu laughed, but he only understood it roughly. Zhu Fu said humbly, then picked up the teapot and refilled the hot water, and said while busy; We businessmen do international trade, we have to learn the words of the devil, Portuguese has no market in Europe, but this English must be learned. My third brother Judah even learned German, oh yes......"

Zhu Fu's heart flashed, and he put down the teapot and said;

"Sir Wu, do you have any cattle and sheep for sale in your pasture? Send me two more trains in the near future and the prices are pretty good. This is the goods that the Germans want, and the newly built canneries in our trading house have already been put into operation, and the short-term demand is quite large. ”

"Oh...... Canned? Baron Wu Erbao asked with a somewhat surprised expression.

Canned food is used for military supplies, and only families above the middle class can afford it in Europe, and ordinary working families still buy frozen meat, after all, it is cheap and good.

Baron Wu Erbao has a lot of service experience, after coming to South America for armed colonization, he almost never stopped fighting and killing in the early years, and canned meat is a necessary good thing for the armed militia.

This thing is not usually used, it is always put in a horse bag, and each armed militia will prepare a few.

Only when there is no food or drink, is he willing to open a canned meat, mixed with fresh wild vegetables to cook a pot, with salt and oil, no matter how good it is to replenish physical strength.

The canned food can be burned directly on the fire and thrown away after eating, which is very convenient.

With these few canned meat bases, it can last an extra week in the wilderness.

So as soon as Boss Zhu mentioned canned meat, Wu Erbao was immediately sensitive to the military use, so he asked more.

Zhu Fu hesitated and replied;

"It is to be made into canned food, and the quantity of this batch of Prussian orders is still very large, and the demand is more urgent, and the price is also appropriate.

They didn't say it explicitly, but I guess something would happen?

It's not ......

This is the British Sunday Times last month, saying that the relationship between the French and the Prussians is now very stiff, and there is a conflict for the Spanish throne or something?

I don't know the specifics, but if you have a large number of beef cattle in your ranch, it should be a good opportunity to hurry up and deal with a batch. ”

"Thank you Boss Zhu, you have a heart, after I go back, I will immediately start to prepare two trains of livestock, and now I am just about to eliminate some beef cattle of poor breeds."

In the face of Boss Zhu Fu's deliberate overtures, Wu Erbao knew as well as a mirror in his heart, which was also the main reason why he broke his head and wanted to participate in the election.

Since ancient times, there has been no separation of power and money, and if you want to be deeply rooted in South America and become a powerful family, it is the only way to develop in the political arena.

The Emperor once said; Opportunity is reserved for those who are prepared.

Think back to the beginning

If Wu Erbao indulges in the comfortable and comfortable life of Paradise Island and runs his own small farm of more than 90 acres, he can live a small and prosperous life.

It's the same as the partners who immigrated to Paradise Island, still digging in the soil, and there is no big deal.

It is precisely because he is not willing to be mediocre that he actively participates in the militia training organized by the town and performs relatively well. He was able to enter the army during the mobilization and expansion, and after three months of rotational training, he became a second lieutenant officer.

It is precisely because he is unwilling to be mediocre that after the empire launched the "desert expedition", he resolutely sold his property to raise funds, organized a small expeditionary armed militia team, and pioneered in South America......

Wu Erbao put down the tea cup in his hand, picked up the "British Sunday Times" and read it carefully, his expression was quite serious.

Across the tea table

Zhu Fu tasted the tea very patiently and waited, he had read the newspaper on the table repeatedly, and he didn't know what new ideas the nobleman from the province of Cordoba in front of him could see?

A moment later

Wu Erbao put down the newspaper and thought for a while, and said in a more affirmative tone; "It seems that the French wanted to fight this battle, and the Prussians were well prepared, and I seemed to be able to smell the smoke of gunpowder between the lines of the report."

"Will you really fight?"

"It's just a premonition, what's so strange about war? The British and the French fought one battle after another outside of Europe, and almost never stopped. However, Europe was quieter, after the Crimean War that ended in 1856, that is, in 1858, when the Kingdom of France united with the Kingdom of Aden and fought against Austria. Oh...... By the way, there is also the Prussian-Danish War of 1864 and the Austro-Prussian War of 1866......"

Speaking of which

Baron Wu Erbao couldn't help but stop talking, looking at Zhu Fu, the two of them suddenly laughed at the same time, and then the laughter became louder and louder...... I can't even take it.

"Hahaha, hahahaha......"

Far across the Atlantic

They always felt that the situation in Europe was still relatively calm, but they didn't expect to be shocked by pinching their fingers, and there was almost a war in Europe every two or three years, and it never stopped.

If you count the wars in the Balkans and the rebellion within Austria-Hungary, Europe is really chaotic!

Finally suppressed the laughter, Zhu Fu's businessman's mind began to run at high speed, and said thoughtfully; "If there is a war, the war between the French and the Bruces is probably not small, then cowhides, flour, black beans, oil and tents are all indispensable, and the demand is very large!"

"Yes, tobacco and spirits are also bestsellers. We don't have tobacco, but there are quite a few in the spirits town brewery. A lot of cowhide has also been accumulated. Wu Erbao's eyes also lit up, this is a business opportunity to make money!

Needless to say, cowhide is used to make high leather boots, cowhide saddles, belts, cowhide armed belts, bullet magazines, backpacks and other military items, and almost every officer and soldier must be equipped with it.

Even though there were a lot of reserves before the war, how could there be a number when the war started?

If the two sides mobilize millions of troops to fight, the amount will be lost, and the price will be appropriate.

There is no shortage of cowhiders in Europe, but there is certainly no such a large amount of cowhide in stock, which is a good opportunity!

Flour, spirits, black beans and other military supplies are the same thing, and the outbreak of a large-scale war in Europe means huge business opportunities.

Hoard a little, and if you can't keep it, you can make a war profit.

Just do it

After Baron Wu Erbao finished this business, he got a large amount of cash, turned his head and returned to the pasture to prepare cattle and sheep, and at the same time, he sent people to buy a large number of cowhides and spirits everywhere, which were successively transported to Glory City.

Fushunda Trading Company was even more powerful, and a large amount of inventory in the hands of many farmers and herdsmen was eaten, and it was successively loaded and shipped to Europe.

Such a large amount of goods, in the absence of orders, is a very risky behavior.

And this is a reflection of the keen business sense and bold style of Chinese businessmen, that is, to take 10,000 steps back, the European market is so big, how much money can be made, can you still lose?

In May and June of 1870

An atmosphere of tension pervaded the skies over Europe, and the accumulation of contradictions caused by the vacancy of the Spanish throne, combined with the dissatisfaction of the French with the actions of the newly rising Prussia and the British, plunged Europe into an inexplicable agitation.

It's like the gloomy weather before a summer thunderstorm, which makes people feel worried and yet expect the most incisive outbreak.

The French discovered;

In recent months, there has been a marked increase in the number of cargo ships from North America, carrying goods to the ports of the North German Confederation and the Kingdom of Prussia, and the piles of goods on the docks have further exacerbated the suspicion of the French.

The news circulating through various channels proves that the suspicion of the French is not groundless, and it could not be concealed in the first place.

The Tang Empire was sending all kinds of military supplies to the Kingdom of Prussia on a large scale, including high explosives and bullets, which undoubtedly angered the French.

Luo Zhaohui, the Tang ambassador to France, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the French Foreign Minister, Duke Gramont, angrily accused;

"Please tell your emperor that what the Tang Dynasty has done has seriously hurt the feelings of the French people, and the French Empire would like to solemnly warn your country; Never underestimate the strong conviction and ability of the French to defend their own interests. ”

"The French Empire will never ignore it, and will surely make a strong counterattack."

"Datang should be cautious in its words and deeds in European disputes, as a traditional continental country in Europe, France has extensive influence, and I hope Datang can clearly recognize this."

"Tell your emperor that this is not a North American ......"

Ambassador Luo Zhaohui can only express regret for the strong protest of the French Empire, and any other words are superfluous.

Over the years

Although the Tang Empire made great efforts to develop trade with Europe, France was still a trade area with many barriers, and little progress was made.

France itself is a major agricultural producer in Europe, with small and medium-sized family farms as the mainstay. It is also a newly industrialized country that protects its industrial and agricultural development through high tariffs and protects it from the impact of more competitive North American industrial and agricultural products.

Comparatively

The North German countries, led by the Kingdom of Prussia, had a huge shortage of agricultural products, and the land was more barren than that of France, making it unsuitable for large-scale cultivation.

Faced with a booming population and a sharp contradiction in the food supply, it has abandoned its efforts to become self-reliant and introduced a similar Corn Law to the United Kingdom, that is, to open the import of bulk agricultural products at lower tax rates to meet strong domestic demand.

Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and other countries are the main markets for North American agricultural exports, while France and the Austrian Empire are not, and their importance is much lower.

Relations with Britain and Germany were the two pillars of the Tang Empire's European diplomacy, and transatlantic trade was quite close and contained significant economic interests.

From the point of view of interests alone, it is obvious which side to support.