Chapter 667: Zhan Tianyou's Choice (First Update, Please Subscribe)

The news of Jacob Sassoon's kidnapping not only caused an unprecedented sensation in Haizhou, but also shocked Hong Kong and other places. After all, in these areas, everyone knew the influence of the Sassoon family.

When the British consul and the British minister expressed their concerns, the staff of the Sassoon Company in Haizhou also reported to the Sassoon Company in India via telegram as soon as possible.

In Bombay, it was already evening when David Sassoon received the telegram from Haizhou.

"Father, what's going on?"

asked Edward Sassoon, who was preparing to leave for England when he was suddenly summoned by his father.

"Your brother has been kidnapped!"

David Sassoon said without looking up.

"What? How is this possible? Who dares to kidnap him? Are they crazy?"

Although he subconsciously felt that no one would dare to kidnap someone from the Sassoon family, Edward immediately asked again.

"How much do they want?"

If those people want money, then just give them the money. As long as Jacob's safety can be guaranteed, that's all.

"No one has contacted us, and there is still no news, but the people who kidnapped him killed the driver and his bodyguards. They are Indians. It is certain that no Qing people would do that. They know very well what the consequences of killing foreigners will be."

David Sassoon frowned. He couldn't imagine who would dare to kidnap Jacob.

"so what?"

Edward also didn't believe that any Qing people would dare to kidnap Jacob. Those people would never seek trouble. Kidnapping foreigners was absolutely a taboo among taboos in the Qing Dynasty.

"I suspect this is not just a simple kidnapping!"

It has to be said that David Sassoon's judgment was very accurate. Although he had only been to the Qing Dynasty once, he also had some understanding of the Qing Dynasty. Those people in the Qing Dynasty would never dare to kill foreigners. Neither the government nor the people dared to do so.

"Why don't I go to Haizhou? After all, Jacob is..."

Before Edward could finish, David Sassoon shook his head.

"No, your plan cannot be changed. When you arrive in London, you must try your best to win Caroline's heart. For the Sassoon family, nothing is more important than marrying the Rothschild family. After all, we are from Baghdad and Mumbai. Only after marrying the Rothschild family can we integrate into the circle of British upper society. Otherwise, we are just a Jewish family in Mumbai!"

Marrying into the Rothschild family was a plan that David Sassoon had carefully planned for several years. Now that London had just agreed, how could he miss such an opportunity?

In comparison, Jacob's kidnapping was nothing worth mentioning. Of course, that couldn't be said, after all, Jacob was also his son, but now the interests of the family were the most important.

"But what about Jacob?"

In response to Edward's concerns, David Sassoon shook his head.

"Whoever kidnapped Jacob will eventually put forward their conditions and demands. I have already told Haizhou to agree to any conditions they put forward, but I am worried..."

David Sassoon frowned and thought over and over again, but still had no clue.

"This is not just a kidnapping, but..."

If it wasn't kidnapping, then what was it?

It is a just judgment!

"death penalty!"

When these two words came out of the judge's mouth, Zhao Fusheng's whole body went limp. His goldfish-like eyes stared straight ahead. When he was about to collapse, he suddenly spoke loudly.

"Why, why, I, I just brought the opium here..."

No one paid attention to his question. He was arrested in Chinatown in Peru, and the arrest was even public. The Peruvian authorities did not mind the Ming Dynasty arresting some people in Chinatown. Compared with protecting a few Ming Dynasty expatriates, they did not want to offend the Ming Dynasty. After all, the relationship between the two sides was already tense enough due to the border dispute.

So they directly agreed to the Ming Dynasty's request and allowed them to enter Peru to arrest those people.

"This, this is how I'm going to die..."

Wang Sanhu murmured in disbelief. He... was also sentenced to death. He looked at the thirty-seven elders and brothers sitting in the iron bars. This... everyone in the hall from top to bottom was wiped out.

"I've said before that opium cannot be sold to the Ming Dynasty. You all didn't listen. Now it's all over, now it's all over. You're all dead, all dead..."

Master Ding Hui slumped in his chair and spoke in despair. The others all looked as pale as death. They didn't expect this!

They once thought that selling opium in foreign countries had nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty, but what about now?

It's all over!

The next morning, 37 drug traffickers were tied up and taken to the wilderness outside the city. After their identities were confirmed, accompanied by gunshots, these bigwigs from Peru's Chinatown died in the wilderness...

On that day, a small news report about the incident appeared on the back pages of the Ming Daily, Nanhua Daily, and other newspapers. Although the report announced to the outside world in an extremely stern tone that anyone who trafficked opium to Ming would be arrested and brought to Ming for trial, it did not attract anyone's attention. After all, it was just a few Chinatown gangsters who died, which was not a big deal at all.

Although few people noticed this news, Li Jingfang, the eldest son of Governor Li, saw the report. The eldest son of Li, who had been admitted to the Law Department of South China University two years ago, spoke after a long time after putting down the newspaper.

"Mr. Rong, if opium is not eradicated in our Great Qing Dynasty, even if my father works hard to manage it, I'm afraid it will all be a mirage in the end."

Mr. Li's words made Rong Hong agree deeply.

"That's true. Not only will opium and drugs cause a large amount of silver to flow out, leaving the Qing Dynasty without silver to pay its military pay, but they will also poison the hearts of the people. Without the elimination of opium and drugs, how can we talk about a rich and strong country? However, my lord, the Qing Dynasty cannot do without the foreign and local medicine taxes. Even the governor-general relies on the lijin and foreign and local medicine taxes to run foreign affairs!"

Of course, Yung Wing has not mentioned another point - the legality of foreign drugs is written into the treaty signed with the British. If the Qing Dynasty wants to ban opium, it must first obtain Britain’s consent, but how could the British agree?

They agreed, how could those British businessmen agree?

"That's why we need to develop industry and commerce. Mr. Rong, what did the Ming Dynasty rely on to become strong? Although it's education, it's essentially industry and commerce. Only when industry and commerce are developed, and factories and banks are built, and all industries are prosperous, can the government collect enough taxes, which can then be used to build new factories, train soldiers, build warships, and build schools. Money is the foundation of everything. Otherwise, everything is just empty talk!"

Looking at the newspaper in his hand and staring at the advertisements in the newspaper, Li Jingfang's eyes were firm. He had been in Ming Dynasty for three and a half years and had changed a lot compared to the past. After witnessing the power and prosperity of Ming Dynasty with his own eyes, he certainly hoped that one day Qing Dynasty would be as powerful as Ming Dynasty.

It’s not the Qing Dynasty, it’s China.

In his heart, since some time ago, the Qing Dynasty no longer existed and only China remained!

"If China wants to become rich and strong, it must do so!"

Looking at the eldest son who made a solemn promise, Yung Wing sighed slightly in his heart. As the director of international students, he witnessed the changes in those students with his own eyes. Although cutting off the braids was a requirement of Ming law before entering the Ming Dynasty, they received Ming Dynasty education and lived a Ming Dynasty life in the Ming Dynasty. As time went by, those international students had already been deeply influenced by the Ming Dynasty.

Are they still overseas students of the Qing Dynasty?

Once again, such a question emerged deep in Yung Wing's heart. He knew the answer, but he was also afraid of that answer.

Faced with that answer, he even chose to turn a blind eye. The reason for this was not only because he needed to be responsible for these international students, but the more important reason was that even his own heart was greatly affected.

What kind of impact?

Yung Wing didn't even dare to think about it, at least he would never tell anyone what he was thinking. But every day he stayed in the Ming Dynasty, some thoughts that shouldn't have appeared would appear in his mind.

It was like this every day, and the thought became stronger and stronger, so strong that he couldn't even sleep at night, but... he was an official of the Qing Dynasty after all.

Don't let your imagination run wild.

Once again, Yung Wing encouraged himself in his heart...

(End of this chapter)