Chapter 173 American Alliance Team

Sheffield was not prepared to sign any friendly treaty with the Ottoman government on behalf of the United States. He always knew that the United States advocated sharing the benefits equally, which meant just following Britain and France to get some leftovers. If something of great interest really happened, Britain and France would have no psychological burden to sell out the United States.

Besides, doing so would benefit the United States greatly, but not necessarily his own company. Sheffield's image as a patriotic businessman was limited to fighting a favorable war, and he could never even think of taking risks for the country.

If a formal treaty is to be made, it must go through the Ottoman aristocracy, the Askari. This will involve many people and it will not be a problem that can be solved by the Grand Vizier alone.

The central system of the Ottoman Empire consisted of the Sultan and his family, the Ottoman royal family. The Ottoman royal family was assisted by the Diwan, which was composed of the Grand Vizier and the ruling class, called Askari, which included nobles, court officials, military officers and religious figures, namely Imams.

Since Murad IV in the 17th century, the Ottoman Sultan no longer governs the Diwan. All Askari, including the Diwan, are governed by the Grand Vizier, or the Prime Minister.

Because the Ottoman sultans in the early period traditionally had to kill all competitors before they could ascend the throne, the Ottoman Empire was under the cooperative rule of a wise ruler and a great vizier in the early period. With a wise ruler and a great vizier managing daily life, the system seemed very advanced, but in the end it still fell.

Sheffield prefers to solve problems face to face, just like future real estate businessmen facing Japan and South Korea alone, defeating them one by one, rather than facing the entire ASEAN or the EU at the same time.

Purchasing land near Kuwait in the name of a private company would not be so conspicuous. After all, he was a long-time collaborator of the Ottoman Empire, with the title of Pasha on his head. He bought a piece of land with his own money, which was not excessive in any way, although Kuwait seemed to have a more important strategic position.

Kuwait is now nominally a county of the Basra Province of the Ottoman Empire. In fact, the British have been eyeing this place because of its important geographical location. However, they have not officially started, not on behalf of the United States, but in the name of private individuals to buy local land, also to avoid becoming a vortex between the United States and the British Empire.

Ayobayan understood what Sheffield meant. If it was a private purchase, it would be a good way to avoid trouble. In fact, even the Grand Vizier did not want to offend the British too much. Everyone knew that the British Empire was the world hegemon. If the land was sold by signing a contract with a private company, the nominal sovereignty would still belong to the Ottoman Empire, which would be much better.

"I heard that the Arabs have a grudge against the great Sultan. I can help the imperial government with this matter. I am worthy of the title of Pasha!" Sheffield added another weight to the scale. The country has its own tasks, but individuals also have their own personalities. Who says that no one dares to do anything to the British in secret? Can the tens of millions of British citizens not be touched? How can this be absurd!

As for the various Christians who did not submit to the Ottomans, the reason they were trafficked was that before the Civil War, the South had a huge population disadvantage, and Sheffield's grandfather wanted to find some people to narrow the gap. That's how the population of Texas came about.

Today, the Sheffield United Company has long since stopped engaging in the labor transfer business, but successive Grand Viziers have always used this early cooperation as a regular means of private enrichment.

After all, Sheffield United paid for the population, and although the price of smuggling people has dropped to $20 per person due to the tense international situation and the xenophobia of the United States, which is almost the same as the monthly salary of a citizen of the United States, the scale of 30,000 people a year can still bring $600,000 in income to the Grand Vizier.

For Osman, this always plays a stabilizing role that is better than nothing. Sheffield originally didn't want to get involved in this kind of business again, because in his opinion, he was no different from the intermediary who introduced Vietnamese brides to the Republic.

Sheffield wanted to refuse, but when he heard that they were Armenians, he hesitated. It seemed that the Armenians had been brutally dealt with by the Ottoman army during World War I, and more than a million people died in unclear circumstances.

So he proposed that Ayobayan report to the Grand Vizier and let his company be responsible for the operation of the transit station in Kuwait. In addition to its important geographical location, Kuwait is now a place with only yellow sand and fishermen. However, there are indeed British military agencies there.

"William Pasha, how long will you stay in Athens and when will I contact you?" Ayobayan sent Sheffield downstairs and asked hurriedly when he saw everyone was about to leave.

"Jesla, give him our address." Sheffield took the top hat and told the bodyguard beside him. John Connor was leading another team to Spain, so he didn't follow.

This Olympics is four months later than in history, starting in August. This is because of the participation of ten American countries. As a member of the International Olympic Committee, Sheffield has also made its own contribution.

Although apart from the United States, there are Honduras, Panama, and Venezuela, which has just been humiliated by the British and escaped from embarrassment, it is already considered a big guy.

In a parallel universe, American college students raised their own funds and participated in the competition as individuals. Because of Sheffield's participation, the US team still did not receive a dollar from the federal government, but at least they had enough food and clothing. Sheffield removed the bonus for entering the medal list to encourage these athletes who had not done any competition last year.

He even just helped an athlete solve the trouble from the Greek police. I don't know if this athlete had a brain attack, but he actually learned from the US military a hundred years later and contributed to the prostitution industry in Greece. If it weren't for the fact that the other party's performance was not bad and it was easier to have a handle in his hand, Sheffield would definitely eliminate the scum for the country.

The extra four months certainly allowed Greece to be more fully prepared, and the fact that ten American countries had come from afar seemed to give them a greater sense of honor. On the opening day of August 6, the entire stadium was packed, with nearly 100,000 people pouring into the stadium.

After a solemn classical string music, King George I of Greece came to the scene in person. As the host, he extended a warm welcome to guests and athletes from various countries. At the opening ceremony, he praised Coubertin's efforts in establishing the modern Olympic Games and expressed deep respect for the founder. He also said: "May the revival of the Olympic Games enhance the fraternity between the Greek people and people of all countries; may sports and its moral values ​​help to cultivate a new generation of Greeks, so that they will live up to their ancestors."

Then George I solemnly announced the opening of the Olympic Games to nearly 100,000 subjects.

Vikelas, Coubertin and other IOC officials attended the opening ceremony, and Sheffield was no exception. In the area for American spectators, Sheffield estimated that there were about 200 people, including his bodyguards and secretaries, and more than 100 American citizens, witnessing a day in history.

As the teams from various countries entered the stadium, the atmosphere in the entire stadium gradually reached its climax. Sheffield was holding a full set of the world's first batch of Olympic stamps in his hand, thinking to himself, "This thing will sell for a lot of money in the future, right?"

However, as the American team entered the stadium, many officials present, as well as King George I of Greece, frowned slightly, but their doubts were interrupted by the cheers of the entire stadium. The small area of ​​the audience belonging to the American audience was even more silent, which made Sheffield look up, put the stamp in his arms, and waved his right hand. The bodyguard beside him had already waved the prepared Southern Cross flag.

It just happened to be in harmony with the Southern Cross flag in the hands of the flag bearer of the American team entering the venue below. The bodyguards shouted loudly and joined the ranks of cheering for the American players, forming a sharp contrast with the other half of the stunned audience.

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Sheffield looked at the American audience on his left and nodded with a reserved smile, as if he didn't think there was anything wrong. The federal government didn't take a penny, but still wanted to enjoy the glory? This was simply crazy.

Is there any law that forbids the raising of the Southern Cross flag? Especially in international occasions, there is no law at all. This is the spontaneous will of the civilian representatives. They are willing to raise this flag, and no one can stop them.

The episode did not cause any commotion, and it was unrealistic to expect Greek citizens to know what the flag of a country across the Atlantic looked like. Sheffield could not remember what the flag of Kuwait looked like.

The competition included athletics, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, cycling, Greco-Roman wrestling, gymnastics, fencing and tennis. The Greeks were most concerned about the marathon, which was associated with historical glory. Sheffield, who was so considerate, had never trained for this event. Only one American citizen participated in the marathon, who signed up by himself and waited to board the ship in New York.

Thus the landmark Olympic Games officially opened. From that day on, the media newspapers in Sheffield's hands, except for the Los Angeles Times in California, no longer paid attention to the election which had already begun to heat up, bringing a breath of fresh air to the mutual attacks in previous US elections.

“Boss!” Evelyn dodged Sheffield’s arm, her eyes full of helplessness, “I’m not ready.”

“It’s okay, leave it to me, I’m ready.” Sheffield hugged Evelyn’s body tightly, and after a burst of attack and defense, with a cry, he finally successfully implemented the workplace rules.

The next morning, unlike Evelyn who looked at the bed sheets with a complicated expression, Sheffield was humming Sukabuli and was in a very good mood.

(End of this chapter)