Chapter 324 Zhuhai Commercial District

The rebellion of the Ndebele people disturbed Constantine's good mood to continue visiting the city of Dodoma. If the indigenous people in other areas rebelled, Constantine himself would take it for granted. After all, the indigenous people are only poorly civilized and not stupid. , also know how to resist.

But East Africa has given the Ndebele people enough face in Zimbabwe, and they belong to the same family as the Ndebele people to govern the Matabele Plateau, because East Africa and the Ndebele people are both invaders to the local Shona people, and the Shona people They account for more than 80% of the population of Matabele Plateau.

Just like the British used Indians in Africa, the East African government planned to use the Ndebele people as Indians and support them to suppress the local Shona people. The result seemed to be that they lost the rice.

However, although the rebellion of the Ndebele people is huge, it is not a fear for the East African Kingdom. The Ndebele people started out as military, and so did the East African Kingdom, and the total number of Ndebele people is not much larger than the East African army in Zimbabwe.

It only took 40 or 50 years for it to develop from the Zulu Kingdom to the Matabele Plateau. After decades of intermarriage and development with the local Shona people, the entire ethnic group, including mixed blood, is only a few hundred thousand in size.

For the Shona people, the Ndebele army is completely invincible, but the Ndebele people cannot even defeat the Boers, so East Africa does not pay much attention to the Ndebele people.

But in order to punish the Ndebele people for their ignorance of promotion, Constantine has decided to let the entire Ndebele people go to eastern East Africa to dig canals for ten years.

…

April 3, 1871.

Zhuhai Trade Zone is located in the coastal area east of Tangjia Town, Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, across the sea from Qi'ao Island. It is a treaty port established in Xiangshan County in accordance with the Treaty between East Africa and the Far East after East Africa established diplomatic relations with the Far East. .

The city of Zhuhai did not exist at that time. East Africa came here earlier than Jiaozhou, but its development was much later than Jiaozhou.

There is no special reason. In Jiaozhou, East Africa only needs to deal with the local bureaucrats, and then they can do whatever they want. However, it is a bit difficult to deal with the officials in Xiangshan. After all, the locals are well-informed. To the south is the Macao-Portuguese colony stolen by the Portuguese. There are British activities.

After East Africa finally frightened the Qing government and obtained local privileges, it met the Tang family, a powerful local family.

Tang is a local surname. The Tang family in Tangjiawan, Zhuhai can be traced back to 1205. In the Song Dynasty, Tang Jujun led his family to move from Nanxiong Zhuji Lane (today's Shaoguan) to Xiangshan Fuyong (today's Tangjiawan, Zhuhai City). Tang Jujun, also known as Shaoyao, was the ninth grandson of Tang Jie, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, and the ancestor of the Tang people in Tangjiawan.

Not only does the Tang surname influence local affairs, it can be said that the East African government wants to work here, so it has to not only greet Xiangshan officials, but also discuss with the heads of the Tang family.

The Tang family was quite wary of the East African Kingdom setting up a treaty port here. After all, the Portuguese had learned from their mistakes, and no one could guarantee that the East Africans would not occupy the magpie's nest.

The Tang family itself had great power within the Qing government. With the rise of Tang compradors such as Tang Tingshu, Tang Tingzhi, Tang Tinggeng, Tang Jichang, and Tang Qiaoqing, the economic strength of the Tang family and Tang people was once again enhanced, and the family and temple properties increased dramatically.

Take Tang Tingshu as an example. He is one of the folk representatives of the Westernization movement in the Far East. He has a very good relationship with Li Hongzhang. His achievements include founding China's first civilian enterprise Steamship Investment Bureau, the first coal mine Kaiping Mining Bureau, and the first relatively Renjihe Insurance Company, a large-scale insurance company, presided over the construction of the first railway Tangxu Railway (Tangshan Xugezhuang), presided over the drilling of the first oil well, and presided over the laying of China's first telegraph line, etc., including the famous Far East in modern times. "Report" was also founded by him and was one of the "four major compradors" in the Far East in the late Qing Dynasty.

Now Tang Tingshu is still working under the British, serving as the general comprador of Yihe Matheson Company. He has huge assets and numerous investments, and he is only one of the more representative figures of the Tang family in the business world, so the work of the East African Xiangshan Consulate here is very important. inconvenient.

For example, land could not be bought in East Africa without the Tang family asking for it. Then the Xiangshan Consulate protested to the Xiangshan County Government. It turned out that they were in the same group and kept delaying the reply. At the same time, they privately forced the local people not to interact with East African businessmen and officials. Business dealings and normal communication, okay, okay, this is how you play, right?

So on March 7 this year, a company from the East African Kingdom was sent to Tangjiawan to land. This was the first time the East African Kingdom sent troops to an overseas country.

Although there are armed personnel from East Africa in Jiaozhou, at least they are not the East African army in name. East Africa also respects local officials. After all, if they cooperate well, they must be given some respect.

East Africa sent troops to Xiangshan, which alarmed Mei Qizhao, the then prefect of Guangzhou, who came from Guangzhou specifically to mediate the matter.

Xiangshan County Government.

Mei Qizhao scolded the magistrate of Xiangshan County: "Look at the good things you have done? If you have to get into trouble with foreigners, aren't you afraid of a diplomatic incident?"

The magistrate of Xiangshan County hesitated and said: "We can't interfere with the free sale of land. In addition, because of the people's temper and their unwillingness to interact with foreigners, we can't ask too many questions..."

Mei Qizhao: "Okay, don't quibble. I still understand the virtues of the township forces. How much benefit have you taken from the Tang family?"

The magistrate of Xiangshan County: "This, a low-ranking official is a person..."

Mei Qizhao: "Huh! If you want others to not know, you have to do nothing yourself. The current dynasty is at the time of the Spring and Autumn period. The court is deliberately innovating and learning Western techniques to control the barbarians. It needs time for peaceful development. Once it provokes Can you take the responsibility for the accident and ruining the country's plans?"

Magistrate of Xiangshan County: "What do you think, sir?"

Mei Qizhao: "You will prepare generous gifts and go with me to apologize to Consul Humus. As for the Tang family, I warn them not to provoke the barbarians. If there is a conflict and a diplomatic incident occurs, be careful that your reputation is not protected."

The magistrate of Xiangshan County said with embarrassment: "I'll take care of it now."

…

Tangjiawan Town.

Mei Qizhao: "Consul Humus, this matter is all a misunderstanding. The local people were defrauded by the Portuguese, so there was some harm to your country. I apologize to your country on behalf of the local people."

Humes: "Okay, originally we in the East African Kingdom didn't want to cause a big deal about this matter, but as the local talkmakers, the Tang family blocked our normal transactions at every turn, intimidated the local people, and banned transactions with our businessmen. I think Still punish them severely."

Mei Qizhao: "Cough cough cough!"

The head of the Tang family: "Consul Humus, this matter is a complete misunderstanding. It is all because I no longer belong to the clan some time ago and went out on business. Now that the matter has come to this, I feel deeply ashamed. I have nothing to do with your country's lease of land to build a port and trade." Our Tang family absolutely supports trade matters!"

Humes was about to speak.

The head of the Tang family suddenly threw out a check from HSBC and handed it over: "This is a little thought from our Tang family. I hope your envoy will accept it to resolve the misunderstanding between the two countries."

Humes calmly took the check and said, "It's okay to have a misunderstanding, but this land matter..."

The head of the Tang family: "Rent, rent!"

After that, someone brought a map and pointed to the southeast of Tangjiawan: "This is the place with the best port conditions in Tangjiawan. We fully support your country in developing this place."

Humes: "Very good, Your Excellency Mei Qizhao, we in East Africa also hope that the Guangzhou government can provide more convenience when developing this place. After the commercial bank here is built, fair trade will absolutely be guaranteed."

Mei Qizhao: "This is natural, Consul Humes, I will try my best to publicize it to business people in Guangzhou. But Consul Humes, the misunderstanding is cleared, your army..."

Humes: "Don't worry, we are only acting in accordance with the treaty with your country, and naturally we will not do anything illegal. This is the spirit of the contract, and you must abide by it, otherwise it will be bad if something happens again like this time. .”

Mei Qizhao: "Definitely, definitely."

Under the threat of force from East Africa, the Zhuhai Trade Zone was finally established. It was mainly responsible for exporting industrial products and food from East Africa in the Pearl River Basin, and at the same time importing products needed by East Africa.