Chapter 40 The Immigrant Army Returns to China
The naval battle of Lissa was over, but it had no effect on Ernst.
Now Ernst, apart from stepping up the provision of supplies to both warring parties, is most concerned about speeding up the progress of immigration from the Far East and Europe.
Although the land in Binhai District has been cleared, there is not enough manpower to develop such a large area. Except for a few newly developed strongholds with a small population, the vast land in the middle is in a state of abandonment.
In order to absorb more immigrants, Ernst sent instructions to the East African colonies to increase the speed of immigration this time. Whether it is by cheating or robbing, more people must be brought from the Far East.
…
July 4, 1866. Jiaozhou Bay.
A Dutch fleet passing through East Africa docked in Jiaozhou Bay. Unlike the past, this time, some Chinese who had lived in the East African colonies for a long time came back with the staff responsible for the immigration affairs of the Hexingen Consortium.
They were the first batch of Chinese immigrants to the East African colonies.
Before going to the East African colony, most of them were yellow and thin, unable to even eat, and almost starved to death. After the Germans recruited workers, they went out to sea without too much worry.
Now after nearly a year of recuperation in East Africa, he is no longer as thin as before, with a rosy face and a strong physique, especially in his eyes revealing an indescribable sense of pride.
They set foot on the land of the motherland again, but they are no longer from the motherland. Now they are all registered Germans, holding the household registration of the East African colonies.
It’s different from before, maybe they used to be afraid of those local dignitaries, but now with the support of the Germans, they have confidence.
At this moment, they were carrying guns and negotiating with the Germans and Qing officials.
Now that Germany has not yet been unified, the Hexingen Consortium cannot use the banner of the German Empire. Therefore, in order to deter these Qing officials who bully the weak and fear the hard, this group of East African Chinese immigrants with missions are all armed.
Having received training from German instructors, the Chinese immigrant army in charge of negotiating with foreigners in Jiaozhou Bay looks decent.
Although the guns are all outdated front-loading flintlocks, only the current Prussian army has replaced rear-loading flintlocks on a large scale in the world, and these guns are not second-hand goods retired by Prussia, but A new gun from the Hechingen Arsenal.
Paired with the custom-made colorful Prussian military uniforms, they are simply Prussian East African soldiers. There is indeed something in the eyes of the Manchu and Qing diplomats who came to negotiate.
This Manchu Qing official was a port manager in Jiaozhou Bay. He also knew that there was a so-called "German caravan" here for trade.
Because of the tossings of Britain, France, and even the Dutch and Portuguese over the past few years, European businessmen and even ordinary Qing officials dare not offend too much.
In case of a diplomatic accident, let these foreigners find an excuse to declare war, can the old emperor spare us?
A few years ago, foreigners entered the Forbidden City from the sea. This Jiaozhou Bay is less safe than the palace where the emperor lives. The artillery of the foreign sea ships is enough to drink a pot.
So in the past, officials of the Qing Dynasty turned a blind eye to the behavior of the company of the Heixingen Consortium, for fear of causing trouble.
The way to be an official is to be flexible, not to seek merit, but to seek no faults. Usually, Qing officials will also help the staff of the Heixingen Consortium, for fear that foreigners will make trouble.
But today is different. No matter how incompetent or weak we are, we can no longer turn a blind eye. The foreigners who came ashore today bring an army of a hundred or ten people. What are they doing?
After receiving the report from the wharf's eyeliner, the wharf management did not dare to be negligent, and directly reported it to the government. However, the top officials of Jiaozhou Port did not dare to come forward, so they sent their deputy "Wang Qiangui" to inquire about the news.
"Mr. Anthony! May I ask what your company is going to do?" Wang Qiangui cautiously probed.
A staff member of the Heixingen Consortium named Anthony pulled Wang Qiangui who looked disgusted but pretended to be flattered, and said, "Hahaha, Wang, you came just in time. This is our company's private armed force. Come here this time." Mainly to assist our company's recruitment work throughout North China!"
"Mr. Anthony, although we are all 'friends', we have our own difficulties. After all, your country's army will embarrass the top leaders of our government!"
Wang Qiangui identified the "conspiracy" of these Prussian barbarians at a glance. Obviously it's the army, but it's a private armed force? This military uniform, this posture, this spirit can be displayed by a group of servants?
Wang Qiangui guessed correctly about the spirit and spirit. Many immigrants in the East African colonies have seen blood.
When the colonies choose Chinese immigrant troops, they will give priority to those immigrants who have lived in the colonies for a period of time.
In addition to the fact that the body is stronger after a period of cultivation, the main reason is that the high-level colonial officials are more cautious about the new immigrants, and these old immigrants are "our own people" who have passed the test of time.
Although the Chinese immigrant army did not speak, they all lined up neatly behind Anthony, but Wang Qiangui still felt a looming murderous aura.
Anthony explained: "King, I know your concerns, but we in Germany came here with good intentions. I heard that your country has a lot of people, especially idle people, so we are here to recruit workers as usual! After all, you don't need these? Employable population, and we need population to develop land, if you send your surplus population to our Germany, then you will have less hidden dangers, right?"
Wang Qiangui is not worried about this, he knows about employment and overpopulation? I'm just living in the government. At most, I read the Four Books and Five Classics, and look at the residence newspaper.
"Mr. Anthony, it's not that I'm embarrassing your country, but that the army is difficult to handle! If your army is caught in an accident by our troublemakers, I won't be able to keep my hat! My family can count on it to eat Ah! You always measure your body, don’t you?”
Seeing that Wang Qiangui refused to accept his softness and toughness, Anthony became angry and gave you a face, didn't he?
"Wang, now I solemnly warn you, if you cannot agree to our request, then prepare for war!" Anthony said that it was a threat of war, but in fact it was just to scare Wang Qiangui. The soldiers formed cannot be moved by one person.
But even so, Wang Qiangui was still discouraged, and quickly said: "Mr. Anthony! Don't get excited, don't get excited, the matter is not so serious. It's because I have a low position and power, so I can't make up my mind. Please wait a moment, I will inform you immediately." Shangguan, I will never keep you waiting!"
Saying that, Wang Qiangui ordered his subordinates to stay here, and ran to the government in a hurry.
…
"My lord, my lord, you better make up your mind! Otherwise, the Prussian barbarians will really make trouble, and the emperor will spare us then?"
"You tell the details of Prussia in detail, and I will think of a way!" the fat-headed official said.
Despised this incompetent superior, Wang Qiangui said: "Master, this Prussian barbarian is also considered a powerful country in Europe, second only to Britain, France, Russia and Austria. I heard that Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands belong to the same echelon as this Prussia..."
After listening for a long time, the Shangguan also understood that he couldn't beat him.
"Then what is the purpose of their trip?"
Well…
Wang Qiangui still said: "Same as before, they said they were recruiting workers to work overseas."
"Well, then what are you afraid of! A few unscrupulous people are worth a few dollars, send them away first, remember to send someone to watch them, and don't let them come to the government. If they are really recruiting workers, other local officials I'm worried, if it's not recruiting but pay attention, as long as it's not too serious, don't mind your own business, if they come to the government...you have to report it in time, and then the official will return to Beijing to ask for some help, and then you can temporarily replace it The officer presides over the affairs."
In this way, the colonial immigration army and the staff of the liaison office in charge of recruiting swaggered towards the inland, and the government along the way did not dare to stop them, and even assisted them in the work of recruiting workers in the inland.
After all, all you want are mud legs, which are not worth a lot of money.
(end of this chapter)