Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1269 Rescue the businessman Li Jinde
The city of London, a business house established by the Chinese, is the headquarters of Western companies in the West.

In addition to the directors and employees of Western companies working here, there are also offices of the Intelligence Service here.

There was a rush of footsteps, and there was a knock on the door: "Leuter from the Netherlands came here from the Mediterranean, and he found Li Jinde's whereabouts."

"Let him in quickly." The person in charge of the intelligence department here had sharp eyes, and said to the intelligence personnel who came in to report.

Soon a Dutch businessman under thirty entered the room.

"We Dutch people are the most faithful to the contract. I wonder if I provide Li Jinde's news as agreed, and you Chinese people can trade tea and saltpeter with me." Netherlandish businessman Luiter said.

"Western companies are looking for a partner in the Netherlands. If you can provide information about our missing person, then Western companies can give priority to cooperation with you when exporting tea and saltpeter to the Netherlands." Intelligence Department The person in charge said, "We will not treat anyone who has helped us badly, nor will we let anyone who makes things difficult for us go."

Knowing the other party's promise, Luyter didn't make a fool of himself: "I searched for Mr. Li's whereabouts from Morocco along the west coast of the Mediterranean Sea with the Dutch pirate Jansson, and we finally found him in a pirate port called Algiers. Mr. Lee."

"Algiers?" The person in charge of the intelligence department had done enough homework before arriving in Europe, and had a general understanding of the situation in Europe.

The Barbary pirates mainly gathered in Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia, and Tripoli, which means that Li Jinde fell into the hands of the Barbary pirates.

But why was Li Jinde tied up in the North African pirate's lair in Halep in West Asia?

"Do you have more detailed information? For example, who kidnapped our people to Algiers?" asked the head of the intelligence department.

"We found Mr. Li in the fortress of Lord Pasha Murat in Algiers, and the pirates saw with his own eyes that Pasha's personal soldiers escorted Mr. Li from the Calais ship to Algiers. Murat Pasha is The actual ruler of Algiers, he surrendered to the Ottoman Empire, was one of the navy of the Ottoman Empire during the war, and was a gang of pirates who looted around the Mediterranean Sea in peacetime. He had all the power in Algiers, more like A semi-independent pirate kingdom," Luitt said.

"Are our people still alive?"

"Although his situation is not optimistic, he has not been killed yet. As for why the Pasha of Algiers wanted to arrest him, this is unbelievable, and I don't know the reason."

"You and I elaborate on his situation, whether there is a possibility of rescue..."

The head of the intelligence service had a detailed conversation with the Dutch businessman Luyter who had returned from the Mediterranean, not letting go of a single detail of Algiers.

The Dutchman Luyter is also not a simple person. He seems to have expected that the Chinese would try to rescue the kidnapped Li Jinde. Before leaving, he even managed to personally describe a simple defense of Algiers. picture.

"I'm just a businessman, and I occasionally received commissions from your people. It happened that I could find a pirate who was also a Dutchman, so I was able to find Mr. Li smoothly. But Mr. Li is probably blessed by God, and he is still in Arles. In the city of Jier, if he was sold to the barren desert, then even if I searched all the ports, I would not be able to find his trace." Luit said.

"Don't say that, Mr. Luyter, you have already helped us a lot. You Dutchmen are at war with the Spanish, and you can go to the Mediterranean to help us find someone at the risk of danger. This is already a great courage. .Our businessmen very much hope to conduct free trade with you in the Netherlands.” said the head of the Intelligence Department.

"Ahem, I heard from our friends of the Netherlands East India Company that that's not what you said when you drove the Netherlands East India Company away from the Spice Islands..." Luit said.

The person in charge of the intelligence department laughed a little embarrassedly: "I believe that a free trade system will be established in the future."

The Kyushu Army expelled the strongholds and armed caravans established by European countries in the Spice Islands, and set up customs to collect high spice tariffs, which seemed to be a bit different from the free trade advocated.

Of course, whoever has the biggest fist is the truth. Although the Netherlands is upset, it does not dare to attack. It is common for countries to compete with each other for colonies.

After the intelligence office learned of Li Jinde's news, it ordered the directors of the six western companies in London to be summoned, as well as the officers of the Fourth Fleet stationed in Portsmouth.

"What?! Did you find out about Li Jinde's whereabouts?"

At this time, businessmen who were in factories, teahouses, porcelain shops and other places immediately put down what they were doing and gathered in the business hall after receiving the notification from the intelligence office.

The disappearance of Li Jinde is undoubtedly a blow to the Chinese merchants in London, and it is difficult for them to guarantee the safety of their trade in the West.

A big businessman with status will disappear if he doesn't see him. Who would dare to do business in the West in the future?
The six directors and some of the following managers came to the shop. The head of the intelligence department only let the six directors in: "I have received the exact news that Li Jinde was captured by the Barbary pirates and taken to Algiers in North Africa. Algiers On the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where pirates are rampant, there are Moors, Berbers, Turks, and Arabs. The person who kidnapped Li Jinde was the local governor. I guess it is very likely not a personal grievance, but the person the governor may target It is our group of Chinese merchants."

"Barbary pirates!" The six directors looked at each other.

They knew that there was a huge group of Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean Sea, but they didn't expect that they would confront the notorious Barbary pirates before they started trading in the Mediterranean region.

"I came here to discuss with you how to save Li Jinde. Although our intelligence office has some ability to find out Li Jinde's whereabouts, Li Jinde is now being captured by the other party's governor and is building a fortress. It is difficult for our people to escape from the fortress. Rescue Li Jinde. How to save Li Jinde may require you and the Fourth Fleet to figure out a way." The person in charge of the intelligence department said.

After all, the intelligence department is not omnipotent. After finding out about Li Jinde's whereabouts, the intelligence department, which does not have enough manpower, has nothing to do with the heavily guarded fortress.There is a pirate's den, and it's okay to go in and ask for information. If you save someone, even if you rescue someone from the fortress, it may not be able to escort Li Jinde out of Algiers safely.

(End of this chapter)