Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 408 Congo River Company

The situation reported by Wu Qingfeng, the Minister of the Colonial Office, was quite encouraging. The immigration and colonization of the Chu State in Kalimantan, Australia, Central America and the Viceroyalty of Patagonia in South America had been progressing steadily.

As of the end of June 1875
The total population of the country has risen to more than 2640 million, an increase of nearly 200 million compared with the end of last year. The number of newborn children aged 7 and above in the mainland of Chu, its outer islands and the governor's districts has reached 39.22, and there are about 149.73 million immigrants.

some of

There were about 31.64 independent immigrants from the northern continent and various parts of Southeast Asia, and the total number of Chinese immigrants organized by the Chu State at various immigration ports in northern China was about 118.1 million.

By the end of the year, there is no doubt that the total population of the country will exceed 2800 million, which will be a major achievement.

For several consecutive years, the new population of Chu State remained between 260 million and 300 million, the country's ability to accommodate immigrants continued to grow, and more outlying islands and offshore governorates were newly opened.

In the Patagonia Governorate in South America, controlled by Lieutenant General He Ruolin, a huge amount of manpower and material resources were invested in the new Transoceanic Railway, and a comprehensive construction boom was underway.

A large number of Indian convicts were put into the construction of the railway, with the total number reaching more than 2.2. There were also more than 4700 Chinese workers distributed along the entire railway construction line.

Multiple sections were being constructed simultaneously, and the entire project was expected to take two years and nine months to complete, with the entire line to be ready by the end of June 1877. This would greatly advance the immigration and colonization process in South America.

The rails and steam locomotives of the Transoceanic Railway were imported from Britain, as were the related steam engine engineering equipment and tools, which further strengthened the bilateral economic and trade relations.

Compared with transporting rails and steam locomotives from the Chu state over thousands of miles, importing them from the UK is closer, more affordable, and the quality can be guaranteed.

By crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Puerto Blanca, a voyage of about 3760 kilometers, you can reach Guinea in central West Africa. By heading north along the west coast of Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar, you can enter the warm Mediterranean Sea.

If you don't pass through the Strait of Gibraltar, you can sail directly north, pass through Portugal and Spain, and then pass through France to enter the English Channel.

This route is not far from the infamous slave trade triangle route and is a relatively mature transatlantic route since the Age of Discovery.

The port of Blanca in the Viceroyalty of Patagonia under the Chu State exported bulk goods of carded and combed wool tops to Britain and Europe, exported soybean oil and canned meat, and imported steel products and steam locomotives, cotton cloth and factory equipment.

Most of the imported British factory equipment is for deep processing of agricultural and sideline products, such as woolen mill equipment, oil pressing equipment, rice milling equipment, flour mill equipment, mining equipment and cement plant equipment, etc.

If the Transoceanic Railway is completed in the future, the Viceroyalty of Patagonia will also increase the export of copper ingots as a major commodity.

The total investment in the entire Inter-Oceanic Railway was 1320 million silver dollars, including more than 37 kilometers of railway lines, 20 railway stations along the way, and all land ownership rights within kilometers on both sides of the railway, all of which belonged to the Inter-Oceanic Railway Company.

This major investment was 1920% contributed by the Royal Industrial Fund, totaling million silver dollars, and % by government and private investment. It was operated in the name of the Royal Transoceanic Railway Company and was a major investment project.

After completion

The towns along the Transoceanic Railway alone could accommodate as many as 40 to 50 Chinese immigrants, create 1.5 jobs, cover railway freight and freight transportation to inland plain towns, handicraft industries and inland ranches, etc., and bring significant immigration benefits.

The Trans-Oceanic Railway is located in the northern border area, which is also a relatively prosperous plain area. It plays an irreplaceable and important role in maintaining border tranquility, peace and long-term stability.

Once the railway is built, everything will come alive.

The Viceroyalty of Patagonia has submitted a subsequent plan for the construction of the Atlantic Railway, which is to build a large railway running from north to south along the Atlantic coast, with the Bahia Blanca terminal of the Trans-Oceanic Railway as the core. It is called the Atlantic Railway.

This is also a backbone railway line project with a construction scale not inferior to the Transoceanic Railway. It has a total length of about 1860 kilometers, extending south to the southernmost tip of South America and facing Tierra del Fuego across the sea.

Of course, this ambitious construction plan has not been approved for the time being.

Perhaps in five or six years or even ten years, when the Patagonia Plain is being developed in depth, it will be truly put on the agenda and large-scale construction will begin.

At the current stage, there is no possibility of implementation.

The construction of villages, towns and ranches along the Transoceanic Railway alone was enough to keep the Patagonian Governorate busy for more than ten years, and to accommodate more than one million new Chinese immigrants.

Bahia Blanca is adjacent to Buenos Aires Province, Argentina's most prosperous and wealthy province. It shares a similar climate, vast tracts of fertile land, and numerous river systems, making it a world-class pasture.

In the long term

In the vast area of ​​about 210,000 square kilometers of the Blanca Prefecture, it is not difficult to support a population of three to four million, with agriculture and animal husbandry as the main industries.

The goal of future development is not only the pastures of Chu, but also the pastures of Europe, mainly producing high-quality meat, eggs and dairy products, including wine and soybeans.

In the original historical time and space
This land, which belongs to the Argentines, has not been fully utilized. However, in the hands of the Chinese, who are skilled in farming, it will surely blossom into a more beautiful brilliance. Due to its geographical proximity to Europe, the Viceroyalty of Patagonia's main market in the future should be Europe, providing a rich and abundant supply of meat and dairy products.

North America and Argentina can only be competitors of the Viceroyalty of Patagonia, not a common market.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu once again took a closer look at the infiltration situation in Central America. After putting down the memorial, he said with satisfaction:
"Wang Hai was a pioneer in colonial development and made significant contributions to the kingdom's expansion. He seized the opportunity to intervene perfectly, leaving the Americans speechless. He was truly thoughtful."

"Your Majesty is wise. The Colonial Office has enjoyed a pleasant cooperation with Wang Hai. As early as the time of infiltrating the Hawaiian region, they have had close and effective operations. This man knows the way and is good at finding opportunities to break in chaotic situations. He is like a fish in water in Central America." Wu Qingfeng also praised this highly and was not stingy with his praise.

After the Patagonia Governorate fell into its hands, the three fruits in Chu's hands now became more mature with the passage of time.

The former Dutch-occupied areas in the southern part of Sumatra and Central America are expected to be included in the package within five years. The ranking is in no particular order and the decision will be made based on changes in the international situation.

These two regions are currently the focus of infiltration by the Ministry of Colonial Affairs.

As for the last Australia, King Zheng Guohui of Chu planned it for the next 20 to 30 years, seeking autonomy from Britain and then slowly nurturing it to maturity, which is a two-step plan.

The next step in the Chu State's colonial expansion plan is in the Congo River Basin in West Africa. Chinese expedition teams have already gone there to prepare for establishing a sphere of influence in black Africa in the future.

The Congo River Company was newly established under the Chu State's Colonial Ministry. It was a typical Chinese colonial company aimed at exploring the Congo River Basin in West Africa and building colonial outposts, with a registered capital of 65 silver dollars.

The members of the Congo River Company included retired soldiers, scholars, sailors, geological experts, colonial officials and other talents from various fields, and their goal was to embark on an adventurous colonization of the Congo River Basin in West Africa.

So far, the company has sent two adventurous fleets to the Congo River basin to occupy territory and establish colonies and ports.

After reporting a few things, Wu Qingfeng, the Minister of the Colonial Office, continued his report:
"Your Majesty, please understand:
According to news from the Suez Canal Authority, two expedition fleets heading to the Congo River basin successfully passed through the Suez Canal in March and May respectively, and headed to the West African coast via the Mediterranean.

In early August, the news came back that

The advance team of the Congo River Company successfully landed in the waters of West Africa and went upstream along the Congo River, establishing as many as seven colonies along the way and beginning to promote the construction of preliminary colonial towns.

It is estimated that after 1 to 2 years of exploration, the area around the Congo River will be successfully included and occupied, and colonial rule will be gradually implemented.

Colonial Office Planning
Before the end of the year, no less than 10,000 Chinese immigrants will be sent to the Congo River Basin to initiate an orderly colonization process.

According to news from Europe
King Leopold II of Belgium planned to hold an international colonial conference on Africa in Antwerp, Belgium in the second half of next year and invited the State of Chu to participate.

It seems that the European powers have set their sights on colonizing Africa.”

"Well, this is expected, so we need to speed up our pace." King Chu Zheng Guohui nodded.

In the original history

King Leopold II of Belgium, a mere third-rate European power, relied on his close relationship with Britain to create the Congo Free State, covering an area of ​​more than 200 million square kilometers, and turned it into his personal territory.

Leopold II had long had ambitions for external expansion. As early as 1861, he wrote in a letter:
"...

The information collected is sufficient to convince the subjects to actively expand their influence overseas."

"Only through direct contact between the mother country and the colonies can the export outlets of goods and capital be preserved and the supply of cheap raw materials be obtained at the same time."

In order to realize his grand "ambition" of colonial expansion, Leopold II had drawn up colonial expansion plans many times, some of which were passed down from his father, with the goal of conquering China or a region in the Far East.

However, Leopold II clearly saw that "there was no place for intervention in Asia", so he turned his attention to the central region of Africa that had not yet been invaded.

Unfortunately, he will be disappointed again this time.

The Congo River Company, initiated by King Zheng Guohui of Chu, has quickly taken action, establishing colonies and colonial towns in Congo and surrounding river basins, and occupying a vast area of ​​the Congo River basin.

The next step will be to inject more colonial forces into the region.

The Belgians were a step late when they arrived here. All they could see were the Chu colonial outposts and national flag, as well as the colonial territorial rights claimed in the Congo River basin.

If you have a quick hand, you will have it, but if you have a slow hand, you will not have it.

(End of this chapter)