Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1413 Manila

The scariest time of day in Manila is noon.In the morning, the breeze opens the window and enters the room, which is refreshing.However, the good times didn't last long. Just as the morning breeze washed away the drowsiness and cheered up, the scorching heat soon followed from outside the window.Even if you lean against the window and look at the sea, you can't look far away, because the flash of the waves is like a raging coal fire.The white walls of the houses, painted in the Spanish style, radiate blinding white light, and the sky is like a sea of ​​fire, which blinds the eyes.Before noon, going out has become a kind of torture in purgatory, and staying in the house is exhausting. The Sandman attacked again, forcing people into a cage made of sultry gauze and pillow mats.It is not until dusk that people wake up from their lethargy and feel a little more comfortable.The Spaniards conquered the Philippines, but were so overcome by the weather that they had to change their habits and schedule their beloved bullfights until dusk.

"Who is that person?" Madame Delgado asked.She is the wife of a ship owner.Contrary to this surname (Note), she is plump and has a round face.It was still unbearably hot in the bullring at five o'clock in the afternoon. Although the sun was setting in the west, the sun was still very hot.The cotton veil was drooping, and there was no wind at all.She shook the silk fan lightly, and the fan blocked most of her face.This languid and affectionate gesture satisfies the lover who sits beside her.

"Who? On the bench under the arbor? Hell, it's the mayor."

"No, it's the tall guy next to the mayor. Look, he's talking to the mayor, and he's got his hat in his hand. God, if only we could sit in that seat, it's so hot in here gone."

"Ha, ha, ha, sitting next to him will make you hot. This is the latest big red man, just like Apollo came to Manila in the sun chariot. As soon as he got here, everyone immediately gathered around He turned. Haven't you heard of it?"

"Who is he?"

"Then you are so ignorant. Now he is the talk of the city in Manila: he was the one who sent Donna Marina de Arellano, the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis Gonzalo de Arellano, to Manila. .”

"So it was him! What a wonderful gentleman! He was surprisingly handsome. But I can't remember his name."

"Hey, no one can tell who he is. The guy claims to be from Italy, but he's as tall as a Patagonian savage when he stands in front of you. He could be a nobleman of Parma, a Marquis of Sicily, Naples Prince of Montenegro, perhaps, exiled in Asia, supported by a host of savages. That crowd will make him King of Japan, Emperor of China."

"You're talking nonsense, Paolino," Madame Delgado raised her fan and patted the young lover's shoulder lightly, "you're always talking nonsense."

"Nonsense? For the sake of the Virgin Mary," the young man named Paulino took out a perfumed handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, deliberately revealing her name embroidered on the handkerchief in front of his lover. initials to win her a smile, "This man's name is Vince Lando, Vince, Weiss, or Vincento, but his surname is Lando. They paid [-] pesos to redeem Donna Marina. My uncle, Don Basilio, the port tax officer, was the first to see this guy disembark from the Trinidad: haughty as a king. He was in Macau. He booked the two best cabins on the Trinidad, and on board he and Miss Arellano ate the best ham and wine they brought. This rich man always invites the captain and officials He went to eat in his cabin, and even found a few violin players among the passengers to play music while he was eating, and gave each of them a piastre every time."

"Thirty thousand pesos! Oh, then he must be a rich man. But I heard that Miss Arellano's fiancé is also a rich man. Will he pay it back?"

"Perhaps. But he doesn't necessarily value the money very much. It's just a drop in the bucket to him. Do you see the pair of gold crosses newly erected on the altar of the cathedral. This Lando contributed it. The first time he got off the boat The thing is to go to Mass and consecrate the treasures to God, and now the whole town knows he is a pious rich man," Paolino, seeing his lover's eyes widen, went all the more vigorously to show off the gossip he got from the tavern and casino: "Mr. Lando probably had some experience in the army, but he certainly didn't have any meritorious service in his hometown, so he ran to the East several years ago. At that time, he was poor and had nothing but a noble title. The ship passed One night after Malacca, he was drunk and slept in the bow. Two sailors took the last coins in his pockets, and then pushed him from the deck to the sea."

"My God!"

"However, he swam ashore and arrived in Macau with the help of missionaries. Since then, the venerable Mr. Lando has been faithfully serving God's servants, the Jesuits, with his sword. It is said that he recruited a large group of The Chinese and Japanese led them to fight everywhere. Later, Captain Lando went to rescue the Kingdom of Pattani, defeated the Siamese army of 3 invading troops, and captured the younger brother of the King of Siam alive. The Queen of Pattani paid him heavily Reward him for his bravery."

"Is this man's title and fortune the Queen's gift?" Mrs. Delgado asked. "It is indeed interesting for a Christian to be ennobled by a pagan monarch, but it is not something to boast about."

"No. He claims to be the Count of Sardinia - you know that the title of nobility in this place is not worth a penny. But what happened next is as magical as the story of "Arabian Nights". Captain Lando asked The queen sold him a piece of mountain land in the upper reaches of the Kelantan River. The hill did not produce anything. Gold mines were found at the foot of the hill, but after the gold was mined, no one cared about it. So the queen agreed immediately, as for the land. The price only charged him one silver coin. However, who knows what method that genius used to find a new and larger vein under the ore deposit that everyone thought had been exhausted. This is the legend of Mr. Lando, and this is his wealth source. Now there are thousands of Chinese working there for him, digging ore and smelting gold."

"In my opinion, the Mr. Lando you introduced is not a fool who can only play with swords and muskets, but has some real skills and knowledge--in fact, he is the same as Miss Arellano's fiancé. There are some similarities." Madame Delgado covered her face with a fan, revealing only the eyes under her forehead, and the eagerness in her eyes made her lover feel a little overwhelmed, "Paolino, you also go to Siam to buy a piece Well, maybe you'll be as rich as him."

"You're talking nonsense too, my dear," said Paulino. "I've been told that Mr. Lando got the gift of gold from the devil. In exchange, the devil asked him to sign a piece of red parchment, Like Esau sold his birthright, he sold his soul to the devil. I don't really believe that, Faust's offering can never be put on the altar of God. But such a good thing as the discovery of gold You will only be bumped into once, otherwise you will be punished by God. Look, the spearmen have entered the field, and the trumpeters are about to blow their horns. Let's watch the bullfight." The spearmen entered the arena one by one on horseback, and the cheers of the audience resounded throughout the bullring.The lovers duly cut off their conversation about the gold magnate and the mercenary captain, for neither could make the other understand what he was saying.

The rainy season in the Philippines is usually daunting, but today was an exception.The moist mist that usually floated under the night sky gradually dissipated, and the Manila Cathedral, the Governor's Palace and the distant city walls stood like ghosts in the moonlight and the occasional mist.The mayor's mansion was full of activity, with bright lights shining through the cracks in the shutters, and the orchestra playing alternately solemn sarabandes and fast tarentellas.There is no doubt that Mr. Mayor is holding a very lively banquet in the mansion, which can even be said to be unprecedented in Manila. Even the garden is full of colorful lanterns made of Japanese paper.All the well-informed know that this pomp is a fashionable imitation of the Italian custom.

Except for the governor and archbishop, almost all the big names in Manila gather here.The pretentiously elegant chatting and laughing of the gentlemen and ladies mixed with the sound of music, mixed with the high or low shouting of the servants.The short, white-uniformed Tagalog servants were carrying cups and trays, sweating profusely, and sometimes collided with the tall and strong black slaves, and sometimes squeezed through the crowd.From time to time there will be loud announcements from the servants from the door of the hall, announcing the arrival of a certain colonel, such and such an official, such and such a rich man who bought a noble title with money, and sometimes there will be an explosion in the crowd because of hearing a certain name and title. There was some minor commotion, but most names were met with nothing more than a dismissive glance or a contemptuous smile.Manila is too remote, and the dignitaries in the high society of the colony have long been known to the social circle, and they are not exciting. The arty nobodies who come with the style of arty, let alone arouse people's interest.Until the servant reappeared at the door of the living room, calling out a series of titles in a drawn-out voice: "Count Vananova of Sardinia, Defender of Cetinje, Conqueror of the King of Siam, Lord of Kelantan— —Master Vincenzo Lando Divananova is here!"

　Note 1: Delgado, Delgado means thin in Spanish.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)