Chapter 1045: Transactions between Imperialist Powers (3rd update, please subscribe)

“Da…da…da…da”

In the back garden of the Delhi Governor's Mansion, rapid gunshots continued to echo. As everyone watched, a large tree in the distance continued to have bullet holes on it. The whistling bullets were like a gasoline saw, quickly sawing through the thick tree trunk.

Suddenly, the big tree fell down!

Looking at the tree trunk broken into two pieces, George Robinson, the British Governor-General of India and Viceroy of India, put down his telescope with a serious expression, then turned to look at Zhu Zhenwen, the young man who had just arrived in India and had attracted countless women from Delhi's upper class. After a while, he spoke.

"Sir, is this your Type 10 machine gun?"

Finally, I saw this weapon that amazed the whole world.

"Yes, sir."

Zhu Zhenwen nodded, then turned into a salesman and introduced himself.

"Compared to the large and clumsy Gatling gun, it is not only lighter, but also does not require motors, batteries or generators. As long as there are bullets and water, it can almost keep shooting. Gentlemen, just like on the Kenyan border, our machine guns once repelled tens of thousands of natives."

Looking at the British generals and officers of the British Indian Corps present, and their drooling looks, Zhu Zhenwen said seriously.

"If you have this kind of machine gun in Afghanistan, no matter how brave the Afghans are, I'm afraid they won't be able to withstand the bullets of the machine gun."

This is really a pot that should not be mentioned. Last year, under the advice of George Robinson, the British Governor-General of India, the British army withdrew from Afghanistan, and the Second Anglo-Afghan War ended. Although Britain occupied Kabul and forced Afghanistan to sign the Treaty of Gandamak, Afghanistan became a British vassal. However, in the face of Afghan resistance, they still had to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan and give up the attempt to occupy Afghanistan.

Of course, it cannot be said that the British failed. After all, through the expedition, they took control of Afghanistan's diplomacy. As for internal affairs, although they seemed independent, they were actually still influenced by Britain.

But the Empire… did suffer a lot there.

"Your Excellency, Governor, you may not have heard that someone in the UK has successfully developed a similar product."

Colonel Schmidt's words made Zhu Zhenwen laugh.

"Is it Mr. Maxim's machine gun? To some extent, it can be considered a similar product, but it is still very primitive. Colonel, compared to the immature Maxim, the Type 10 machine gun is the most mature and most suitable product for the army, and it has also been tested in actual combat."

Almost at the same time when the secret of the Type Ten machine gun was revealed, Maxim publicly displayed his machine gun in London. Although its popularity in Europe had long been replaced by the Type Ten, in Britain... the British still preferred British products. Even if those British products were very ordinary, it did not prevent the British from being full of confidence in them.

"Besides, sir, war won't give you time to wait for Maxim to perfect his weapons!"

Is he the Governor? Or a salesman?

What is certain is that Zhu Zhenwen was definitely the former. The so-called machine gun demonstration was not to leave Maxim with no way out, but for... a weapons display.

It's just for display of weapons.

Soon, this weapons exhibition came to an end. In the luxurious office of the Vice King of India, Zhu Zhenwen took the cigar handed over by George Robinson. After he lit the cigar, George Robinson said.

"Mr. Governor, we all know that the purpose of your trip is the land in the Persian Gulf - "Trusil Oman", right?"

The deputy king's straightforwardness made Zhu Zhenwen become straightforward as well.

"Yes, sir, I came here just for the 'Pirate Coast'."

Zhu Zhenwen did not even mention "Trussil Oman" (meaning "Peaceful Oman"), a long name given by the chiefs to distinguish it from Oman, whose capital is Muscat.

"As we all know, according to the treaty signed between the East India Company and the Emirs of the Pirate Coast in 1819, the British Indian authorities currently need to pay them 42,700 pounds a year to compensate for their losses in stopping maritime plunder, which also means survival. In the past 60 years, you have paid more than 2.5 million pounds, and will continue to pay this money every year in the future..."

In fact, in another world, the British Indian authorities paid this "protection fee" until 1948. After India's independence, the British continued to pay this money until the 1960s, when the UAE prospered because of oil.

"Your Excellency the Governor, this is a contract signed between Britain and the seven chiefs. We will protect them and provide financial subsidies! Britain will not betray the promises it made to them."

Have some shame!

Zhu Zhenwen sneered in his heart. Everyone in the world knew that the British were best at tearing up treaties. What was the most fundamental reason why they didn't tear up the treaty?

The cost of breaching the contract is too high.

Rather than the spirit of contract.

What are the fundamental principles of the Anglo-Saxon spirit of contract?

It depends on how much the cost of betrayal is!

"Your Excellency, that's nearly 50,000 pounds!"

Zhu Zhenwen said while reminding the other party that it was a considerable expense.

"Right now, you have the opportunity to lift this burden, and..."

As he spoke, Zhu Zhenwen gave a quote.

"One hundred thousand pounds!"

"A hundred thousand pounds?"

George Robinson looked at the young man in surprise. This guy was willing to buy that piece of sand for 100,000 pounds?

"Yes, I will buy the land for 100,000 pounds, Your Excellency. This is definitely a very cost-effective deal for the British Indian authorities. Not only can you get some funds, but you can also get rid of a burden of more than half a century."

Faced with Zhu Zhenwen's offer, George Robinson hesitated for a while and then asked.

"Are you sure? You have to know, it's a desert there."

Although the French discovered oil in Mosul, at that time, no one believed that there would be oil in the desert. It was just a desert with sand everywhere.

Worthless sand.

"But many Bedouins have fled there. Their existence itself is a threat to us."

Looking at the vice king in front of him, Zhu Zhenwen did not hide his thoughts. For the empire, those people were potential security threats, which was why he came here for negotiations.

Of course, this was just an excuse, an excuse to get that land.

"Since they are a threat, we must eliminate them to prevent them from threatening the security of the territory. However, under your protection, we have to face this threat. We should reach some kind of consensus on this point! Your Excellency!"

"Indeed, those savage natives have always been a threat to the civilized world. Civilized people cannot ignore the threat that savage natives bring to us."

Even though George Robinson said this, he still said it.

"But you know, that place is just our protection area. It is not convenient for us to interfere in the affairs there, so we can't help in this matter."

"However, Mr. Governor, you should know that although it does not belong to Britain, it is under British protection after all. I personally do not have the power to hand it over to you. This requires the consent of London. If I want to convince London, I always need some reasons to convince them."

George Robinson had no interest in the desert at all, but that didn't mean he would give up the land for nothing.

I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)