Reborn South Africa as a police officer

Chapter 218

The elimination of 250 guerrilla members at one time was an unprecedented victory for the Kimberley Regional Expeditionary Force against the guerrillas.

Because of the outstanding performance, the expeditionary army once suspected that the patrol team had killed good men and made false contributions. However, the corpses scattered all over the mountains and plains where the battle took place proved that the patrol team did not lie, so almost overnight, Captain Ted Barton became famous.

That's right, the Expeditionary Force Command was still virtuous, and the Johannesburg Police Department was not mentioned in the commendation order early the next morning, but the Rhodesia police were named, but it was only an auxiliary role.

Being named and praised is already enough for Aiden to be happy.

Because of a series of oolongs before the war, the Rhodesian police and the South African company have become a laughing stock. While the Congress is investigating Cecil Rhodes, some people question the necessity of the existence of the South African company. Management of Desia.

Although the Congress did not express its position publicly, it was an expression of the attitude of the Congress.

The South African company wanted to fight, but it lacked enough "achievements". The award from the Expeditionary Force Command was a shot in the arm. The big newspapers and tabloids in London immediately took advantage of the trend. For a while, Rhodesia once again became the focus of the ruling and opposition parties. Focus.

"London's newspapers are not so kind. The cost of these press releases is at least [-] pounds. What the hell does the newspaper print instead of newspapers, but damn money—" Aiden cursed and scolded those editors and reporters who had no bottom line .

"This is the benefit of manipulating public opinion—" Rock imagined that the Transvaal is being rebuilt, and there is not even a decent newspaper in the entire Transvaal. If a newspaper office is opened in Johannesburg, is there any way to control public opinion? possibility?

The whole operation is a bit difficult. If you have money and people, it is easy to set up a newspaper, but the audience is a big problem. The majority of people in Johannesburg are miners. They are basically uneducated, and even if they have newspapers, they can’t read them.

Therefore, the key to the problem is the literacy rate, and there is a long way to go to universalize the nine-year compulsory education.

"However, it is worth the [-] pounds. Now that the investigation is over, Congress has no reason to keep Mr. Rhodes in London. It is estimated that Mr. Rhodes will be able to return to Cape Town in a short time. At that time, hehe—— "Aiden didn't finish speaking, and there was a taste in his words that he wanted to settle accounts after autumn.

The world has never been short of people who make trouble. Some time ago, the Congress investigated Cecil Rhodes, and there were a lot of people jumping up and down in Cape Town. If Cecil Rhodes was in Cape Town, the Cape Parliament would not discuss it at all. Stop the issue of immigration subsidies.

Now that the investigation of Cecil Rhodes is over, and Congress has confirmed that Cecil Rhodes is not responsible for the outbreak of the war, then the person who initiated these messy things, Cecil Rhodes will definitely come back Bad luck.

Rock didn't speak, not as optimistic as Aiden.

If there is no accident, Cecil Rhodes has been in these two years.

To be precise, early next year.

Rock is now thinking about the post-Cecil Rhodes era.

Queen Victoria died at the beginning of the year, ending an era.

By early next year, the death of Cecil Rhodes will also be the end of an era for Rhodesia and Cape.

When Cecil Rhodes was alive, the British government would not touch the South African company. This is not only respect for Cecil Rhodes, but also respect for the Queen. After all, it was the Queen who entrusted Rhodesia Managed by a South African company.

After the death of Cecil Rhodes, London began to take action against the South African company. In 1904, London took back the jurisdiction of the South African company over Nyasaland. In 1923 and 1924, London took back South Rhodesia and South Africa. Jurisdiction in Northern Rhodesia. Although the South African company still had a commercial monopoly in Rhodesia after that, by 1965, the South African company finally ceased to exist.

If Rhodesia and Roque had nothing to do, then Roque would not care about the life and death of the South African company, but now Roque already owns a large area of ​​land in Rhodesia, and the land may be further increased in the future, which makes Rock and Rhodes The interests of West Asia are closely intertwined.

Considering that Cecil Rhodes Jr. and Roque have established an initial friendship, Roque will certainly not sit back and watch London take back the South African company's privileges in Rhodesia.

With Cecil Rhodes Jr., Rock's interests in Rhodesia can be guaranteed. What if it is someone else?

God knows who London will send to manage Rhodesia, if it is idiots like Henry Alsop and Arnold, then Rock will have a headache.

Before leaving the Kimberley, Rock and Aiden went to see Captain Ted Barton—

Oh, no, it's not Captain Ted Patton anymore. In the commendation order issued by the Expeditionary Force Command, Captain Ted Patton has been promoted to Major Ted Patton by the Fire Line because of his military exploits, and he has also been sent back to London for treatment. Opportunity.

Rock and Aiden are also going back to Johannesburg, so Rock and Aiden are here to say goodbye to Major Ted Barton.

Considering the traffic conditions in this era and the future of the four Cape colonies, this farewell may be a farewell.

"Sir Locke, I'm ashamed—" Ted Barton blushed when he saw Rock. The commendation order from the Expeditionary Command was nothing short of an insult to an upright person.

"Don't be like this, Major Patton—" Rock didn't care, he was used to it.

"Sir Locke, please call me Ted, I'm a major—I'm really sorry—" Ted Barton felt ashamed, the rank of "Major" was originally Ted Barton's dream, but now it is Ted Barton. Shame on Patton.

"Don't be like this, Ted, I know this is not up to you to decide. In fact, the Expeditionary Force Command can't give me anything. I am an official in the Transvaal. It is impossible to become a general at the Expeditionary Force Command." Luo Ke is not joking, if he, a "baron", joins the army, he will almost start as a general.

In fact, noble families generally have no right to inherit titles to join the army, such as Henry of the Matilda family.

"Sir Locke, you are a magnanimous person." Ted Barton finally felt better.

"After returning to London, take a good rest. If you have a chance in the future, don't forget that you still have an old friend in Johannesburg." Rock said goodbye to Ted Barton. Ted Barton was not seriously injured in the battle. The main trauma It is still psychological, and this kind of trauma may be more serious than physical injuries. Now Ted Barton's body has not recovered, and he is not suitable for long-term reception.

"Thank you, Sir Locke. Please also believe that in Portsmouth, you also have an eternal friend." Ted Barton was almost in tears. Not just anyone can be friends with a nobleman.

It cannot be said that, for some reason, Ted Barton is now known to everyone in the UK, so after Ted Barton returns to the British mainland, Ted Barton will also have the opportunity to be knighted.

Considering Ted Barton's complexion, he might have a higher title than Rock.

Early the next morning, Rock and Aiden returned to Johannesburg.

Two days later, the construction of the Crocodile Bay Hydropower Station officially started.

Rock's plan is to at least build the reservoir before the rainy season, and the hydropower station can be built slowly in the future.

Compared with the hydropower station, the technical content of the reservoir is much lower. Professor Douglas sent a telegram to the country and called three professors and twelve students directly.

Don't think that the professor's integrity is so high. The professor also eats and drinks. Is it shameful to work for Rock, the "baron"?

Don't be funny, don't talk about professors, the morals of the British royal family are not very good. Henry II was born in France and died in France. He didn't even know English, so he became the king of England.

Rock's salary for the professors is directly doubled on the basis of the original salary of the professors, which is enough for many professors to let go of their restraint.

This does not include the Germans. Abramovich probably hasn't bothered to send a telegram back. If the professors at Heidelberg University know that Abramovich gets a salary of 400 pounds a year in Johannesburg, do you think they will move their families here?

Some probably won't, but most will.

Among the three professors, a professor named Wayne Bell is an agricultural expert like Professor Douglas, the other two are an architectural expert named Caleb Meg, and a geologist named George Eugene.

Neither Professor Mello nor Professor Eugene teaches at the Royal Agricultural College of Gloucester, but they have a good relationship with Professor Douglas. After knowing that Professor Douglas's annual salary is 400 pounds, they have been waiting for Rock's call, and now they are finally satisfied.

Rock has never been stingy with talents. He offered Professor Merlot and Professor Eugene an annual salary of 400 pounds, and their students, regardless of their grades, could get a salary of 200 pounds. It's good enough for young people.

What's more, what really attracts these young people is not the salary, nor the residence in Bigwig Town, but the nurses in the Bigwig Town Hospital——

Roque didn't expect this at the beginning.

Entering September, the wave of marriages in Bigwig Town is still going on.

Rock underestimated the enthusiasm of bachelors for their families. More than 100 Chinese girls have been looted, and most of the more than 40 Boer nurses are rich. The lucky guys are all Chinese policemen.

By the end of September, the permanent residents of Ziwei Town had exceeded 500 households, with a population of more than 2500 people. Residential houses were built on both sides of the main road. The appearance of the city, the town government came into being.

Thanks to the military control in the Transvaal, the establishment of a town government in Ziwei Town only needs to report to the Johannesburg City Government. The city government is not even qualified to appoint a mayor, but is elected by the residents of Ziwei Town.

Rock's planning for the past two years has finally begun to exert its power.

"There are four candidates for mayor of the town, Sheriff Dunn, Mr. Shelley, Dr. Bellamy, and Mr. Buck." The person reporting to Rock is Mr. Buck himself.

Shelley is the tax officer Brad Shelley. Under normal circumstances, he and Dunn are not eligible to run for mayor because they are already government officials.

But who made Bigwig Town the private property of Rock, so Rock said that Dunn and Brad are eligible, and Dunn and Brad are eligible.

Of course, it’s just qualified. Rock doesn’t want to interfere with who can really be the mayor. This is the first election in Bigwig Town, and it’s the first election for many Bigwig Town residents in their lifetime. Regardless of the future How, this time, Rock didn't want to operate in the dark.

"So, Mr. Barker, if you are elected mayor, what is your policy agenda?" Rock said seriously.

"I don't want to be!" Buck resolutely refused.

"The mayor is also paid, and being the mayor will not affect your management of the Rock Gold Mine." Rock said earnestly. No matter how you look at it, Buck is the best candidate.

To strive for more interests for the Chinese in Johannesburg, Rock alone is not enough.

After all, Roque is an official and has a noble status. Although this will provide Roque with a lot of convenience, it will also become a restriction for Roque.

For example, in the future, if the Johannesburg City Government wants to set a policy that is unfavorable to the Chinese but beneficial to the Johannesburg City Government, it is not convenient for Rock to express his opinions directly due to his limited status. At this time, Rock needs a spokesperson.

A spokesperson who can express opinions in place of Roque.

In Johannesburg, in name, including Rock, Buck had the highest academic qualifications, and at University College London, Buck had received serious higher education.

After coming to Johannesburg, although what Buck did had nothing to do with his profession, Buck was qualified as a lawyer, and the profession of lawyer is the profession that incubates the most politicians, so Buck is the best spokesperson for Rock.

"I'm not short of money. The annual salary of 1000 pounds is enough for me to do many things." Buck is very satisfied with the current salary level.

"You mean, should I lower your salary?" Rock pulled out a bottom line.

"That, that's not necessary." Only then did Buck realize that showing off his high salary in front of his employer might be a desperate effort.

"Don't be so complacent, even if you run for the election, whether you can be elected or not is another matter, but if you are elected, you have to take responsibility. Bigwig Town must be controlled by our own people. There can be no surprises at this point. happened." Rock emphasized the value of Bigwig Town, which Buck understood.

"If it's Dunn—" Buck still wanted to get away.

"He's not capable enough!" Rock decided with one word, what qualifications does a person who knows even words have to be mayor?

I'm afraid Dunn doesn't even know how to sign his own signature. It would be ridiculous if Dunn became the mayor of the town. If the town government wants to make an announcement in the future, it's not easy to just stamp your fingerprints——

"Then Brad and Dr. Bellamy—" Buck's voice faded to inaudible.

Brad and Bellamy are both white. When they are mayors, they will definitely give priority to safeguarding the interests of white people. Then Bigwily Town will be changed!

"Okay, I'll try—" Buck firmly believed.

"I believe you can do well, man, sometimes you have to push yourself. If you don't push yourself, you won't know how great your potential is." Rock respected Buck with a bowl of poisonous chicken soup.

"That's true. At the beginning, I also thought that it was impossible for me to manage a gold mine—" Buck rejoiced.

That's it!

(End of this chapter)