It seems that every tropical region has a plateau city where people can escape the summer heat, which represents the harmony of yin and yang.

For example, Siam has Chiang Mai, the Malay Peninsula has Cameron Highlands, Annan has Dadao, and Luzon’s summer plateau is Baguio.

This mountaintop city, which covers an area of ​​50 to 60 square kilometers, has a year-round temperature of around 20 degrees and a suitable humidity. In addition to being a summer resort, it is also rich in flowers, fruits and vegetables. No wonder the Chinese gave it such a poetic name, "Baguio".

Moreover, the continuous mountains surrounding Baguio are rich in gold and copper mines. As early as more than a hundred years ago, the Igorot people mined gold in the mountains of Baguio. The famous Baguio mining area is the largest gold producing area in Luzon. It has been mined for hundreds of years, and new veins are still being discovered in the 21st century.

In order to deal with his father-in-law, Zhao Hao ordered his men to search for gold all over Luzon. They all found their way to Mayit Island, and naturally, they did not let go of the famous Baguio.

After several years of exploration and trial mining, the Luzon Branch of Nanhai Gold Corporation has basically identified the ore vein and started to select a site to build a mine and its ancillary facilities, the most important of which is a 35-kilometer mountain road.

The exit of the highway is at the Coast Guard Wangchao Base. So in addition to guarding the sea, the patrol team also has an important mission, which is to protect the future Baguio gold mine and the Baguio health resort.

In Zhao Hao's plan, Baguio City will be the second education and training center in Luzon in the future. The University of Luzon, Luzon Coast Guard School, Luzon Mariners College, Luzon Medical College, Luzon Vocational and Technical College, etc. will all set up branches here. Of course, that will only be possible during the 4th or 5th Five-Year Plan period.

At present, there is only one large military-civilian sanatorium in the whole of Baguio, which provides a place for marine police officers and soldiers, outstanding group employees, including farmers and workers, to recuperate and vacation.

Sebastian, Drake, the two sultans, and representatives from various countries who wanted to see Zhao Hao were all sent to this highly guarded sanatorium after the end of their quarantine, waiting to be summoned by Master Zhao.

~~

That night, Zhao Hao stayed in a villa at the highest point of the sanatorium and slept comfortably.

The next morning, he got up with Sister Ma's help and came to the huge viewing balcony in high spirits. He saw the red sun shining on the pine trees on the mountain, and dyeing the white mist lingering between the mountains into golden yellow. It was really golden and brilliant, just like the fairyland of Yaochi.

A sumptuous breakfast had been set on the long table covered with a navy blue tablecloth, and the people who were invited to have breakfast had already been waiting on the lawn under the balcony. In addition to Jin Ke, Tang Baolu, Liang Qin and that guy, there were also Macaron and ten representatives of the task force.

The members of the task force are no longer the untidy and unkempt men they were when they were overseas. They all have short hair and beards, and are wearing neat summer uniforms of the Coast Guard and polished leather shoes. They are all energetic, capable and handsome.

Their police ranks were all raised by at least two levels, and most of them had silver stars on their shoulders.

In addition, they also had a share of the spoils captured by Lin Feng's fleet from America. Although it was only half of what their companions who completed the round-the-world voyage got, it was more than 10,000 taels of silver.

Add to that the collective special merit awarded by the General Headquarters and 2,000 points for each person, and we have gained both fame and fortune, and we are so proud of ourselves!

When they saw Master Zhao coming out, they quickly put out their cigarettes and came up to greet him.

"We are all family, there is no need to be polite, just sit anywhere." Zhao Hao sat down in the main seat and kindly invited everyone to take their seats.

Jin Ke was about to introduce the invited task force members to the young master. Zhao Hao smiled and waved his hand, saying, "No need to introduce them, I know them all. Six years ago, I personally gave them the task and sent them aboard."

As he spoke, he pointed to the one closest to him and said, "This is Macron and Ma Yinglong's younger brother, Macron. When we went to Xishan Island, he followed his older brother to my boat. He was still a teenager at that time."

"Sir... No, the commander-in-chief has a really good memory!" Macaron turned red and stood up excitedly to salute.

"Have a seat." Zhao Hao waved his hand and called out the names of the other nine coast guards, moving them all to tears.

In fact, Zhao Hao has such a bad memory, how could he remember all this? It was all from Sister Ma before he came out.

"Don't be shy, eat quickly, and we can chat while we eat." He took a sip of the hot milk served by the maid and said with a smile: "It's been almost six years in a blink of an eye. I am so thankful to see you all return triumphantly."

"It's the commander-in-chief who makes the plans and wins the battle thousands of miles away. We are just following orders!" Macron said on behalf of the task force members: "Without the support of the two special envoys, we might still be drifting on the sea now."

"Well, of course we have to work together. If possible, how can we let you fight alone?" Zhao Hao smiled and said, "By the way, where are the others? Why are you the only ones here?"

"Most people have taken their long vacations and returned to their hometowns to visit their families." Macron replied quickly, "We have to accompany the red-haired king, so we don't have any vacations for the time being."

"I see. Thank you for your hard work." Zhao Hao nodded with a smile and asked, "How is Sebastian now?"

"My injuries have completely healed. I can eat and sleep well, and I've gained a lot of weight." Macron smiled bitterly, "But I'm getting more and more anxious. I ask every day when I can see the commander-in-chief..."

"In order to stabilize the red-haired king, I told him before that we can decide when to send him back only after meeting the commander-in-chief." Jin Ke explained from the side.

"Okay, go back and tell him that I'll see him in the next two days." Zhao Hao nodded, put the cut dough sticks into the bak kut teh and said, "By the way, he was brought all the way from Africa to Luzon, didn't he get suspicious?"

"Well..." The team members looked at each other, not daring to answer such a question. Macron then remembered his boss and looked at the person who had been silent.

The man put down his teacup and said softly, "It's not a big problem. Even if we suspect him, we can't produce evidence to confront you, young master."

"That's good." Zhao Hao seemed to be relieved and said, "I can pretend to be a good person without any worries."

This caused everyone to laugh.

~~

After breakfast, Macron and the others said goodbye. Zhao Hao watched them leave, and then, at Liang Qin's request, gave him a chance to talk alone.

The two moved to the other end of the balcony and sat down under the parasol. Zhao Hao took out a cigar from the wooden box, cut it with scissors, and handed it to Liang Qin, saying, "Try the tobacco leaves grown in Luzon. How do they compare to those grown in Cuba?"

Liang Qin quickly took it, and after Zhao Hao cut one for him, he quickly lit the match with the lighter on the table, first lighting the match for Mr. Zhao, and then lighting his own match.

The reason why they don't use lighters directly is said to be because the smell of alcohol will destroy the mellowness of the cigar. So they have to light a match made of poplar wood first, and then use the match to light the cigar. The dog owners' pampering is always endless.

The two of them puffed on the smoke for a while, and then they analyzed the difference between Luzon cigars and Cuban cigars in a serious manner. Then Zhao Hao asked with a smile: "What's wrong, Lao Liang, can't you stay in Goa?"

"Oh, I'm so ashamed." Liang Qin nodded his head in shame and said, "I heard that Lao Liu is doing very well in the Ottoman Empire and has even become the Count of Suez. The Portuguese are guarding me like a thief and I can't do anything. They even forbid me to visit the local kings around Goa. It's really... a disgrace to my mission..."

"Old Liang, don't underestimate yourself." Zhao Hao smiled and dusted off his cigarette ash. "Your situations are different. Old Liu can do well because the Ottomans and we have a common enemy - Portugal. You are in Goa, Portugal, which is in enemy territory. Do you think you can survive well?"

"Now that you've said that, I don't feel so guilty anymore." Liang Qin smiled awkwardly and said, "But life in Goa is really hard. I, I really can't hold on any longer."

"Hold on for another year, just one year." Zhao Hao put down his cigar, patted his shoulder and said, "It's not impossible to change to someone else, but you've suffered for so long, you can't let others reap the benefits at the last minute, right?"

"Uh, what you mean, sir..." Liang Qin's expression brightened and he said, "Is Goa going to change?"

"Of course, otherwise why would we go through so much trouble to invite the King of Portugal back?" Zhao Hao nodded and smiled.

"But I heard that he is already a former king." Liang Qin whispered, "The new king of Portugal has already ascended the throne. How much value does an expired king like him still have?"

In this era when news traveled by ship, it took half a year for news happening in Europe to reach Goa, and nine months to reach Malacca. However, with the help of the Nanhai Group's pigeon system throughout the Southeast Asia, news could reach Luzon in ten days.

So he only found out about this this month.

"Then I will test you as the ambassador plenipotentiary." Zhao Hao asked with a smile: "What about the new king of Portugal?"

"My Lord, the new king, Henry I, is Sebastian's great uncle. He was originally a Catholic cardinal and served as regent for a long time before the king came of age. When Sebastian went to war last year, he also entrusted him with the supervision of the country."

You can't just slack off in Jiangnan Group, otherwise you won't be able to cope with the endless assessments and inspections. So although Liang Qin is not used to or even hates his job, he still has to work hard and try his best to collect all kinds of intelligence as required.

"Since the Portuguese royal family is small, he became the first in line to the throne after Sebastian disappeared, so it was only natural for the nobles to nominate him as the new king."

"So do you think he is a good player?" Zhao Hao asked with a smile.

"His ability is beyond doubt." Liang Qin frowned slightly and said, "But the biggest problem is that he is already 67 years old this year. And because of his status, he has no children. But according to the latest news, he is said to have asked the Pope to release his vow of virginity and wants to marry and have children."

"Is it possible?" Zhao Hao asked again.

"It's hard to say what will happen in those European countries." Liang Qin took a puff of his cigar and said, "But even if the Pope agrees, at his age, whether he can still have children is a big question mark."

ps. Keep writing.