I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 176 The Journey West 2 Governor Chen gave too much (4,000 words)

As Chen Wenbin finished his inspection and was preparing to return, a military policeman in a black uniform rode up towards them. He pulled on the reins three meters away and loudly reported to Governor Chen, "—Your Excellency! A Mr. John Campbell, who claims to be the Vice-Governor of the Western Territory, has arrived at the camp. He is waiting in your tent!"

John Campbell?

Chen Wenbin was taken aback. Wasn't this guy supposed to be heading west via the Albany route in upstate New York?

Why did they catch up again?

Did he fail to reach an agreement with William Jensen, the director of Northern Indian Affairs?

"I understand, I'll go see him right away!"

After speaking to the military police, Chen Wenbin turned to Henry Reinhardt and said with a smile, "Henry, our deputy governor has arrived. Come with me to welcome him!"

He has worked in the North and West for many years and can provide a lot of useful information.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Reinhardt was naturally very interested in the situation in the west and immediately nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later, the two rode back to their tent at the temporary camp.

Sure enough, Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell, with his slightly balding head, was already waiting inside. Judging from his travel-worn appearance, he seemed to have ridden a fast horse all the way from Philadelphia.

Governor Chen's secretaries, David Jones and John Smith, were talking to each other.

"—Haha! Dear John! My friend! Long time no see!"

Chen Wenbin laughed and stepped forward to shake hands and hug John Campbell, asking curiously, "Why did you change your mind and come here? Did something happen in New York?"

John Campbell was somewhat flattered by Governor Chen's enthusiasm, and he quickly explained, "Your Excellency, it's not that anything has happened in New York—it's that London sent me an official letter requiring me to accompany you to your new post in the west!"

He shook his head helplessly and said, "When I received the order, I was preparing to head north—in order to catch up with you, I had to temporarily hire a fast ship to get to Philadelphia. Fortunately, I still made it in time!"

"So that's how it is—"

Chen Wenbin knew that this was probably because some people in London didn't trust him and had specially sent John Campbell to act as a "supervisor".

But that doesn't matter. Once he gets to the West, he'll be surrounded by his men. As long as he doesn't openly rebel, what can John Campbell do even if he reports on him?

How could a mere deputy governor easily shake the connections that Governor Chen had in London?

However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, it's best to win the other party over, or at least prevent them from causing trouble.

Thinking this to himself, Governor Chen said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned, "John, perhaps London was afraid that I was unfamiliar with the situation in the west, so they had you come with us."

Actually, I wanted to invite you to come with us, but you said you were going to Quebec to pick up your family, and I couldn't very well stop a husband who was so eager to see his wife, could I?

John Campbell secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Chen Wenbin say that.

He really didn't want to offend this richest man in North America, who was a baron and governor of the British Empire, and was said to be a close confidant and friend of the king.

Such a person's opponents are at least big shots in Downing Street, and he doesn't want to be directly drawn into the vortex of this level of struggle as a pawn.

His previous defeat in his struggle against William Jensen had made him realize his own capabilities and status.

So he chimed in with a laugh, "Yes, Your Excellency, I haven't seen Anne for almost half a year—but the gentlemen in London decide my salary, so I have no choice but to write to Anne and ask her to go to Detroit Castle."

Chen Wenbin understood the implication in his words, smiled and nodded, and said with emotion, "Everyone has their own boss. Your boss is Downing Street, and my boss is His Majesty the King. We are all responsible to our bosses—"

But John, since you are my deputy, how can I let you worry about money?

Once we reach Fort Pitt, I'll give you a thousand acres of land near Fort Pitt!

Furthermore, the shares of the Southern Development Company are sure to appreciate in value in the future, and I can also transfer 1,000 pounds worth of shares to you.

Also, I don't know how much your current deputy governor's salary is.

John Campbell was overjoyed to hear that Governor Chen was giving him land and shares so generously—a thousand acres of land!

Although located in Pittburgh in the west, its actual value is no less than £500, as Pittburgh's climate and land are much better than those in Quebec.

And then there's that 1000 pounds of Southern Development Company stock—a Royal Charter company whose shares will surely be as valuable as East India Company stock in the future—but he doesn't have 1000 pounds right now!

He didn't even have 500 pounds, let alone 1000.

Because most of his savings were spent on buying the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army, as well as buying French perfumes and various fashion luxury goods for his wife.

His father-in-law was Luc de La Corne, an important French military leader and fur merchant in North America. He distinguished himself in the Seven Years' War and was awarded the Order of Saint Louis. After the war, he was employed by the British government of Quebec and became a senior advisor on Indian affairs.

Without his father-in-law, he could not have risen from a regular army captain to become a confidant of Quebec Governor James Murray and served as Inspector General of Indian Affairs in Quebec.

However, the father-in-law's wealth also had its downsides. His wife had been accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle since childhood. When he got married two years ago, although he had just spent £4000 to buy the rank of lieutenant colonel, his family still had £3,000 in assets, including his wife's dowry. In addition, with his annual income of £700 or £800, theoretically, it was enough for him to live a decent life in North America and accumulate enough land and wealth for his descendants.

But no amount of money could withstand his wife's extravagance.

Leaving aside all the various French luxury goods, last year I don't know what possessed me, I actually started taking a kind of anti-worry pill that started popular in London to treat menstrual cramps and headaches. But that thing costs five pounds a pill, and I spend hundreds of pounds every month just on medicine!

In addition, in order to show off to other noblewomen in Quebec, she also commissioned a luxury spring-loaded carriage in England that cost nearly five hundred pounds—it is said that the company that manufactures spring-loaded carriages is the property of Governor Chen in front of her!

Thinking of this, he said in a low voice, "—Your Excellency, my deputy governor does not receive a basic salary; he can only receive it from the finances of the western territory."

"If you don't pay me, I'll have to live on the salary of a lieutenant colonel commanding the 7th Infantry Regiment—that's about £400 a year, not even enough to support Anne!"

Chen Wenbin feigned surprise and shook his head, saying, "A lieutenant colonel infantry regimental commander only earns four hundred pounds a year?"

That's definitely a bit too little!

Alright then! John, you are my friend, so let your salary as deputy governor be two thousand pounds a year!

I'll give you a raise once my factory and farm are built!

What do you think?

'

""

Two thousand pounds!!

John Campbell's heart pounded uncontrollably when he heard the number. He stared at Governor Chen in shock and asked incredulously, "—Your Excellency! You, you really gave me two thousand pounds?"

My God! That's more than a lieutenant general's salary!

Not only him, but also Henry Reinhardt, David Jones, and John Smith, who were sitting next to him, were all shocked by Governor Chen's extravagant gesture.

Henry Reinhardt, in particular, was well aware of the salary levels of British Army officers. Generally speaking, ranks below colonel could be bought by civilians, and the price was about ten times the annual salary of the rank.

John Campbell's rank of lieutenant colonel must have cost him between £4000 and £5000. The ranks above colonel, up to lieutenant general, not only require money to buy, but also require being a noble or having noble blood. General is usually awarded only to members of the royal family and top nobles.

Now, Governor Chen has raised John Campbell's salary to the level of a lieutenant general, which is something most people would find hard to refuse.

Seeing that his spending had yielded results, Chen Wenbin was satisfied and frankly said to Campbell with a smile, "John, you don't need to worry. You are my friend and partner. In the future, the two of us will be the ones calling the shots in the Western Territory. Of course, I will give you a salary that matches your status!"

Two thousand pounds is just the beginning; once our factory and farm are built, we'll add more every year.

It's actually true!

He wasn't joking!

John Campbell took a deep breath.

He had originally thought that Chen Wenbin would give him a monthly allowance of several tens of pounds as deputy governor. After all, there were hardly any proper residents in the western territory, and the fur trade was controlled by the Hudson Bay Company and London merchants, so taxes could not be collected at all. It would be reasonable for Governor Chen not to pay him a salary.

As expected, this person was indeed as generous as rumored, giving away two thousand pounds in salary without hesitation!

That's two thousand pounds!

Compared to Governor Chen, some people in London are simply stingy to the core!

To have him monitor this generous knight loyal to Britain, he wouldn't even part with a one hundred pound stipend—

Damn it!

I actually planned to secretly gather intelligence on Governor Chen and report it to London?

What if Governor Chen falls from power? Who will pay me my two thousand pounds salary?

London?

Totally impossible!

The lousy Downing Street gentlemen even have to pay officers a lot of money to promote him to a higher rank. How could they possibly promote him to general for free just because he made a contribution?

In just a few breaths, he figured out what he should do.

He was Scottish, but he loved England because it allowed him to make a fortune in North America.

He was loyal to the king because the king appointed him as a lieutenant colonel in the army.

But now, he's decided to side with Governor Chen! Because Governor Chen has given him far too much—

"—Lord Robin!"

He looked intently at Governor Chen, who emanated a faint golden light, and said seriously, "I would like to speak with you privately!"

Chen Wenbin knew he had exceeded his target price. He nodded, glanced at David Jones and John Smith, and the two immediately got up to say goodbye and left the tent.

Seeing that only Governor Chen and he remained in the tent, John Campbell stopped concealing himself and said directly, "Sir, I think you've probably already guessed that my change of course was at the behest of certain people in London."

""

Chen Wenbin nodded slowly. How could he not see something so obvious unless he was out of his mind?

Seeing that Governor Chen remained unmoved, John Campbell said with distress, "I don't really want to accept this order either, but I'm just a lieutenant colonel in the army, and I was promoted by General Murray. The person who instructed me to collect your information also promoted General Murray, so—I swear to God, I never intended to be a snitch!"

My report to London will absolutely not contain any information detrimental to you!

Chen Wenbin didn't believe that at all!

But that didn't stop him from smiling and reassuring the other man: "John, I understand. Even if you reported something to London, I won't blame you, because you were just following orders against your will."

Let me tell you the truth!

In fact, I report all the major decisions I make in North America to His Majesty the King. I only do things with His Majesty's approval. For example, the construction of the steel plant in the West was approved by His Majesty.

But His Majesty is far away in England, so many times I have to make decisions first and then write reports—I hope you can understand my predicament, because I am responsible not only to His Majesty and London, but also to the 1,600 immigrants who followed me to the west!

John Campbell didn't believe Chen Wenbin's words either, but he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "I completely understand your actions and am willing to fully cooperate!"

Chen Wenbin laughed heartily, "Haha! I knew you were a loyal partner and friend!"

Then, with a chuckle, he asked, "So, as a friend, I think I should know who cares about me so much, John?"

He actually guessed who had sent Campbell to spy on him, since the other party had just hinted at it, but he wanted Campbell to say it out loud so that the other party would be completely on his side!

John Campbell hesitated for a moment, but then gritted his teeth and said, "—It is Lord Halifax, the Southern Affairs Secretary, one of the three cabinet leaders!"

He served as chairman of the North American Trade Commission for 13 years and was a backer of the Hudson's Bay Company and many London fur traders. He was probably worried that you, sir, would harm his interests in the West—and he also had some prejudice against you.

"Oh?"

Chen Wenbin asked curiously, "What prejudice does the Lord have against me? Is it because of what happened in Paris?"

Last time, he was preparing to bring the French royal family into the Southern Development Company as a shareholder, but it was abruptly stopped by Charles House, who was sent by the other side. It seems that this feud is not over yet!

"Not just because of this—"

John Campbell shook his head and said, "Lord Halifax said in his secret letter that someone secretly reported to London last December that you were training private mercenaries in North America and producing weapons in large quantities, with unclear intentions."

The lord said he had already arranged for that man to become the new Royal Governor of the New Jersey colony, and that any letters that were inconvenient for me to deliver in the West could be secretly given to that man, who would then report them to London through him.