Chapter 503 Havana (3rd update, please subscribe)
The water of the Caribbean Sea is as blue as a gem. The waves roll on the calm sea, and the sunlight shines on the sea, making it sparkle.
In this blue sea, a fleet consisting of two ironclad warships and two merchant ships is sailing on the traditional commercial route. The fleet occasionally passes by some small islands. Those islands are all covered by lush green jungles, and the white sand beaches are blended with the waves.
Standing on the spacious bridge of the ironclad ship "Friendship", the warm breeze of the Caribbean Sea gently caressed his face, and Zhao Yaozu felt an indescribable comfort.
"7,500 tons!"
This is the tonnage of the "Friendship" ironclad ship. It and its sister ship "Alliance" are French ocean-class ironclad ships. The official statement of these two warships is that they were presented to Nanhua as a "symbol of friendship between South France". But in fact, everyone knows that it was just a transaction, because Nanhua presented France with 20 airships.
However, in order to remember the friendship and alliance between South France and France, the Ocean was named the Friendship and the Marrengo was named the Alliance.
"This is the most powerful battleship in all of America!"
As the first captain, Zhao Yaozu felt unprecedentedly honored. God knew how this easter egg fell on him. Like all the captains of the navy, he also came from a special transport company. He had commanded "fast transport ships" to break into southern ports countless times and deliver large amounts of supplies to the south.
Now, he came to the Caribbean Sea again and was extremely familiar with this sea area. Standing on the bridge, he picked up the telescope and observed the surroundings, then looked back at the "Alliance" and the two immigrant ships returning with the fleet, carrying 5,000 expeditionary forces.
“Why visit Cuba?”
Zhao Yaozu looked towards the back of the boat with some confusion. His Majesty should be at the corridor.
Zhu Xianhai was indeed on the stern corridor, lying on a lounge chair, enjoying the bright Caribbean sunshine.
“This is the Caribbean…”
While sighing, Zhu Xianhai raised the corners of his lips slightly.
“What a great place!”
After leaving France, Zhu Xianhai did not return directly to Nanhua, but ordered the fleet to sail to Cuba.
The reason for sailing to Cuba was entirely due to an accident. When visiting a French school in Paris, Zhu Xianhai unexpectedly met a Cuban student. It was his accusation that led to this trip to Cuba.
Looking at Li Weiye standing on the side of the veranda, he did not look like a Chinese but more like a Spanish person. If it were not for the fact that he spoke in Minnan dialect, Zhu Xianhai would have found it difficult to tell him apart from the others.
"Weiye, we'll be home soon, what do you think?"
Li Weiye, who was looking at the sea, heard His Majesty's question, turned around quickly and spoke respectfully.
"Your Majesty, I am thinking about my father. He came to Cuba on the Ocando 23 years ago. He met my mother on the plantation. He was a very hardworking man. If it weren't for him, my mother and I might have been slaves on the plantation. Although he was an indentured coolie, it took him eight years to get out of the plantation, and then he bought me and my mother out of the plantation in one year."
Although Livia didn't say much, his few simple sentences revealed his family's experience - his father was a Chinese worker, a contract coolie, with a status equivalent to that of a slave, and his mother, although a mixed-race child of several generations, was still a slave on the plantation.
It was not easy for a coolie and a slave to send a child all the way to France!
"I wonder how happy my father would be if he saw our fleet!"
Li Weiye's face was full of smiles.
"Yes, I believe they will all be very happy, including the Spaniards!"
Zhu Xianhai sneered.
“This time, we went to Havana just for them!”
who are they?
130,000 indentured laborers!
There are 130,000 indentured Chinese workers in Cuba. They are called indentured workers, but the treatment of Chinese workers in plantations is comparable to that of black slaves. In fact, there are many such indentured Chinese workers in South America. Even in Rio de Janeiro, there are still many descendants of Chinese people living there. As early as 1810, the Portuguese hired dozens of Hubei tea farmers from China to grow tea in Rio de Janeiro. They opened up tea gardens there and finally settled down in Brazil.
In the past, Zhu Xianhai did not have much power to care about the plight of these Chinese workers, but now it is different. The current Nanhua, no, the current Ming Dynasty, is strong in both military and military power, and has two ironclad ships. It is time to engage in gunboat diplomacy and protect the rights of Chinese workers.
Of course, the most important thing is that Zhu Xianhai also has ambitions towards Cuba!
…
October 26, 1870, 10:00 a.m. In the Spanish colony of Cuba, at the port of Havana, rumbling cannons were heard from the port fortress from time to time.
Twenty-one gun salute!
This is the salute fired by the Hanawa authorities to welcome the arrival of Emperor Nanhua. When Lieutenant General Joaquin Jovellar Soller, the governor, learned of the news of Emperor Nanhua's visit, he had a bad feeling in his heart.
"God can testify that they are definitely here for the Chinese workers!"
Soler spoke directly to Brigadier General Arsenio Martínez Campos-Anton beside him.
"Damn it, those people are obviously not Nanhua. No, it seems that they are not called Nanhua now, right?"
"Yes, Governor General, now they are called Ming Dynasty!"
Brigadier General Anton replied.
"This is their current country's name, the Ming Empire. Yes, that should be the name."
Staring at the fleet sailing into the harbor, Chief Justice Nicholas frowned and said to the governor with his head tilted.
"Governor, we must be prepared. If they discuss the issue of Chinese workers with us, how should we negotiate with them? After all, as you know, the treatment of Chinese workers on the plantations is basically the same as that of black slaves. If they pursue it, it will definitely not be a good thing in this special period."
What is a special period?
Cuba is now at war. Two years ago, in 1868, a revolution broke out in Spain, Queen Isabella II was overthrown, and the Cubans took the opportunity to launch an uprising for independence.
Now the war is going on, and at this time, the sudden visit of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty can't but make people worried!
Of course, the most important thing is that they have a guilty conscience, even they themselves know that the way they treat those Chinese is inhumane.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
