Chapter 1310: Adding fuel to the fire, adding fuel to the fire again (Second update, please subscribe)
There is a kind of people in this world called "brokers" who make profits by acting as middlemen through their advantages in information and other aspects.
Liang Dong is one of the many "brokers", but unlike ordinary "brokers", as a "broker", he still has a boss, and his boss is...
Sitting by the window of the Guanhai Tower, Sun Chengjiu asked while enjoying a seafood feast.
"How's it going? Have you settled the deal?"
Compared to work, he was more focused on the seafood in front of him. After all, if I didn't eat seafood when I came here, it would be a waste of time. The coastal areas from Linhai to Peru are all places rich in seafood. Thanks to the superior fishing grounds in Peru, the seafood on the west coast is much better than that on the east coast, which also makes the seafood here famous in Daming.
"It's almost done. Taichang Shipyard is one of the largest private shipyards in Linhai, and the owner has always been interested in building ships. He will definitely not miss this opportunity. Nicholas and his team don't have a better choice now. The two sides should be able to reach a shipbuilding agreement."
After a pause, Liang Dong hesitated as he looked at the director who was enjoying the seafood.
"Director, I don't quite understand what this business has to do with us. Logically speaking, it should be the Military Intelligence Bureau that handles this matter."
Liang Dong has never been a trader or a "broker". He is an agent of the Investigation Bureau. Of course, he is not a "submarine" who needs long-term training in a spy school. He was recruited as a field agent by the Investigation Department when he was in college. Since then, he has traveled to many countries in the world as a businessman and has certain connections with businessmen and officials in many countries. This time, the head of the Roman Empire Navy delegation, Major General Nicholas, and he were already familiar with each other in Constantinople and could be called old friends.
"It doesn't matter who does it. What matters is that you need an identity."
Looking at Liang Dong, Sun Chengjiu smiled.
"The ministry needs some people to engage in certain special businesses, such as arms brokers and arms dealers. This is also for better jobs in the future. Through these businesses, we can establish good relations with the military..."
Intelligence work itself requires a lot of relationships. Liang Dong is of course very clear about this.
"I see."
Nodding, Liang Dong asked again.
"Now my mission is basically completed, so what's the next step?"
"Go to Constantinople and use the friendship established through this transaction to gather as much intelligence as possible from the Roman side, especially from the navy."
After thinking about it, Liang Dong said.
"The ministry believes that Rome is likely to take action in the Indian Ocean. After all, they need to establish a base in the Indian Ocean, so they are likely to increase their force investment in New Moscow. Once they gain a foothold there, they may establish an Indian Ocean Fleet and begin their next strategy. The ministry hopes that you can obtain intelligence in this regard."
"New Moscow" - that was the colony established by the Roman Empire on the shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura on the Red Sea in northeast Africa at the beginning of the year, but the Roman Empire had just arrived there.
"I see!"
After accepting the mission, everything else became simple. When Liang Dong began to prepare for his trip to Constantine, he didn't know that his mission was not from the Investigation Department, but was a direct instruction from Emperor Zhu.
"We need that polar bear to reach out to the Indian Ocean!"
In the palace, enjoying the bright sunshine of the Brazilian plateau, Emperor Zhu met the visiting French envoy Claude, whose grandfather was the famous Prince Talleyrand in the Napoleonic era. However, because his father was an illegitimate child, he could only take his mother's surname. However, this did not prevent him from being valued in the Second Empire.
"That is to say, we need to make concessions on the Northeast Africa issue..."
Claude said as he looked at the Majesty in front of him.
"Your Majesty, you should know that although France has not established a formal colonial governorate there, the international community has tacitly acknowledged that it is France's sphere of influence. That polar bear has directly inserted its hand there, which has seriously affected France's interests."
“It’s just a temporary impact.”
Emperor Zhu said with a smile.
"Allowing the polar bear to establish a colony in India is, to some extent, to allow them to rush out of the Mediterranean. After all, we need them to turn the Indian Ocean upside down."
In fact, Emperor Zhu had always been worried that the Russians could not extend their reach to the Indian Ocean, but the adventure of a Russian adventurer, Ashnov, gave Emperor Zhu an opportunity.
Although they missed the Age of Exploration, Russian explorers did have many talents, and Ashnov was one of the best. He arrived in Ethiopia in 1883. As an Orthodox Christian, his plan was to promote religious ties between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Roman Empire. During this journey, he lied that he was an official representative sent by Russia and was received with high standards by the locals.
After returning home, he used his experiences in Africa to promote his ideas, and was widely sought after by the Romans. A group of followers immediately appeared around Ashnov, hoping to join him in his expedition to Ethiopia, an African country. The "Caesar" of the Roman Empire also wanted to mix Russian identity with Orthodox identity, and of course hoped that someone would prove that Ethiopia was a good brother that had been lost for thousands of years. Of course, the so-called "good brother" was for the next expansion.
In order to seize a tropical colony, after a long period of preparation, in December last year, the Ashnov team, which had recruited 175 explorers, set out from Odessa, a city on the Black Sea coast, and headed for Africa under the protection of Russian naval gunboats. Three months ago, the double-headed eagle flag of the Roman Empire was raised in the "New Moscow City", and Ashnov declared his sovereignty over this place.
For the Russians, who had been stuck in the Mediterranean for too long, building a colony in Africa was a huge achievement. But the good times did not last long. What Ashnov did along the coast of the Gulf of Tadjoura aroused the vigilance of the French.
Unlike the other world, when faced with French protests, Russia directly gave in, saying that everything was Ashnov's personal behavior, and finally allowed France to bombard and occupy the "New Moscow City", this time, Rome not only did not make concessions, but even sent warships.
There is no way. Unlike the other world, Russia's strategic focus has now shifted to the Indian Ocean, and they need to have a foothold in the Indian Ocean.
However, the French, who regarded the area as their sphere of influence, were somewhat unhappy. When protests were futile, Napoleon V directly sent a special envoy to Zhongdu to solicit opinions. On the Mediterranean side, he had already prepared warships.
"We need them to turn the Indian Ocean upside down. Of course, this does not mean that France's interests are harmed. I think the problem in Juno Bay can be solved through negotiations. If it can be solved through land exchange, purchase, or even leasing, what do you think?"
After making this suggestion, Emperor Zhu Da gave a special reminder.
"You have to know that everything we have now is for one ultimate goal, for the common enemy."
(End of this chapter)
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