Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 55: No-cost Business

"General, it's an honor to meet you!"

Willy said in a broken Chinese accent.

Fang Yong warmly invited Willy to sit down.

This made Willy feel a little flattered.

In Daxi, officials generally discriminate against foreigners like him.

Their discriminatory standards are roughly the same as those they use to view African chiefs.

Those Daxi officials always wore long robes and looked at him as if he were an uncivilized savage. Except for a smile when he handed over silver, their eyes were always full of arrogance.

His identity as a big businessman not only did not bring him respect in this country, but instead led to even more discrimination, making it impossible for him to integrate into the upper class.

Even those poor priests who couldn't make a living in the British homeland had a higher status here than him.

At least, the local officials sometimes go to the priest to perform the Yimakou ritual...

"Mr. Willy, I heard that you are from the distant British Empire. I wonder who is the current king of your country?"

Fang Yong asked.

Willy quickly replied:
"Dear General, the king of our country today is George III, whose full name is George William Frederick Hanover."

Fang Yong thought about it and said, okay, I haven’t heard of it.

Forget it, just ask the one you care about.

"Mr. Willy, it is like this. I like your country's culture very much, especially your firearms and ships. I am very interested in your country. I heard that your country has a kind of steam ship. I wonder how far it has been developed now."

Willy was overjoyed when he heard this.

As an ocean-going merchant and former naval captain, Willy naturally also sold some of the "scrapped ships" of the Imperial Navy. However, in Daxi, local officials were not interested in Willy's ships at all.

Now that someone is finally interested in the ship, Willy can't wait to introduce it to Fang Yong:
"General, it is a good decision for you to ask me this question. You know, I once served in the British Navy and went on an expedition to Africa. Oh, you may not know Africa yet, but it doesn't matter. What I want to tell you is that our steam ships are now very advanced."

"In my country, there is a kind of ship. We call it the Nemesis! It is a ship that is about 11 meters long and less than 150 meters wide. The outside is covered with thick iron sheets, which are 150 centimeters thick, about three to four inches. This layer of iron sheets makes it difficult for ordinary shells to break it. It is powered by steam and equipped with sails. The horsepower is as high as , which is the power of horses!"

"In addition, the Nemesis is equipped with two 2-pound cannons, four 32-pound cannons, and a Congreve rocket launcher. It can carry 4 soldiers. In fact, it can carry more, such as black slaves. It is no problem to carry a thousand people..."

Willy talked incessantly, as if the ships were his pride, and when he talked about the ships he showed a strong confidence from the bottom of his heart.

In comparison, Fang Yong was feeling a little depressed.

Afterwards, Fang Yong asked Willy about the firearms and artillery technology of the British Empire.

The result was as expected.

The other side has already mastered the technology of mature flintlock rifles and shrapnel shells.

Fang Yong's heart sank completely.

Daxi's various techniques are obviously far behind his opponent.

If we don't catch up quickly, we will be completely crushed by the other side in a few years.

By then, the shame that happened on this land in the previous life will most likely...

"Mr. Willy, I think we can work together!"

Fang Yong said.

Upon hearing this, Willy hurriedly listened attentively.

Cooperation.

How precious this word is.

This was the first time he heard the word cooperation from these bigwigs since he came to this country.

In the past, officials of Daxi regarded him as a beggar on his knees.

When was the collaboration?

"General, please tell me, how would you like to cooperate?"

Fang Yongdao:
"Mr. Willy, this land has a sufficient population and abundant resources. Our workers are so honest and simple. Their hard work can bring you huge profits. Therefore, I sincerely welcome merchants from the British Empire to invest and set up factories here, and I will only charge half of the tax of Daxi!"

"what!"

"Oh, God!"

Willy was stunned by this huge surprise! He was allowed to invest in a factory and only charged half the tax. Oh my god! There is such a good thing?
Willy couldn't believe how much the capitalists would go crazy if he brought this news back to the empire.

Those greedy capitalists have been drooling over this land for a long time!

Seriously, no one understands Daxi better than them!
This is a fertile land with a population of tens of millions. The fertility of this land even exceeds the total fertile land in the whole of Western Europe. It has inexhaustible raw materials and cheap workers!
In the past, Daxi officials had been extremely discriminatory and exclusive towards them, but now, they were finally accepted.

To be honest, if a few years pass and the British Empire becomes even stronger, they might not be able to resist the urge to use force here!

Fortunately, such an enlightened monarch appeared in this land!

Willy even found it hard to believe the authenticity of this condition. He repeatedly confirmed it with Fang Yong, and finally got accurate conclusions.

"General, I swear, you are truly the most enlightened king in this land! Even God is moved by your generosity!"

Willy couldn't stop praising the other party.

Fang Yong sneered in his heart.

This guy acts like he has never been to junior high school!
If we really allow the other party to invest and set up a factory here easily, it will cause a devastating blow to the local economy. I don't know how many families will go bankrupt and become displaced. How could Fang Yong allow such a thing to happen?

Therefore, the so-called investment in setting up a factory was just a bait to attract the other party.

Yes, Fang Yong is ready to get something for nothing.

"Mr. Willy, thank you for your compliment, but I'm sorry that I can't do what I just promised you at the moment."

Willy's heart tightened when he heard this, and he quickly asked:

"What's the matter, General? Have you changed your mind?"

Fang Yong sighed and said:

"It's not that I changed my mind, it's just that I have no power. My regime has just been established and is facing the possibility of collapse at any time. Da Xi's soldiers are brave and good at fighting, and their ships are strong and their artillery is powerful. I have no confidence of winning against them!"

"This……"

Willy hesitated.

"Although the soldiers of the British Empire are brave, this matter involves the diplomacy of the two countries. If we rashly go to war for the sake of the general and Daxi, I am afraid that the parliament will not easily agree."

Fang Yong quickly shook his head and said:

"No, no, no, Mr. Willy, you misunderstood. That's not what I meant. What I meant was that your country could first pass on the technologies of ships, artillery, and flintlock rifles to me. When I defeat the Daxi Empire and gain a firm foothold, I can fulfill my promise to you to invest in a factory!"

Hearing this, Willy lowered his head and began to think.

Fang Yong was afraid that the other party might have concerns, so he added:

"Please rest assured that my promise is absolutely valid. I am willing to swear in the name of my sworn brother Wang Lun that if I do not keep my promise, I will let my brother be shot to death!"

Willy thought to himself when he heard this, he had lived in this land for a long time, so he knew that the people in this land still attached great importance to oaths.

Fang Yong dared to swear on the life of his sworn brother, which shows that the other party's promise is very true.

Thinking of this, Willy nodded in his heart and replied:
"General, I need to report your idea to the parliament and the royal family after returning to the country for discussion before making a decision. However, I think they will most likely agree. After all, your conditions are so tempting."

"It's just that we can't fully provide some of the core technologies you mentioned, but don't worry, as compensation, I will do my best to get you a preferential price."

"Price?" Fang Yong asked, "What price?"

Willy was stunned: "Don't you want us to provide you with weapons and equipment and build military factories to fight against Daxi?"

Fang Yong nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Willy said, "Then what are you still confused about? Aren't you going to pay?"

Fang Yong nodded: "Mr. Willy, you don't know that I am too poor. The ravages of war have left my people starving and miserable. I have no money to pay you!"

Willy's smile faltered.

If there is no money, should we ask him to give away weapons for nothing?

But at this moment, Fang Yong changed the subject, causing Willy's frozen smile to bloom again.

"But you can rest assured, Mr. Willy. I will never take your country's things for nothing. I heard that your country has the British-Sun-Setting Bank. I am willing to use the name of my eldest brother Wang Lun and any rights of this land as collateral to borrow a loan from your country!"

After hearing Fang Yong's words, Willy laughed so hard that the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears, making him look like a smiling devil.

Fang Yong was also smiling, but his smile was much more subtle than Wei Li's.

In the West, this image is called a cunning devil.

(End of this chapter)