Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1416 Financial Officer

Mr. Lando opened his own cryptex—this was one of the few mechanical products Lingao imported to Europe, and the Foreign Intelligence Service and the Political Security Bureau were the main users.Lando's cryptex contained a cipherbook written on thin paper and a tablet of steganography potion.

When he began to spread out the paper to write a dull and ordinary business letter, he suddenly remembered something:
"What? A Portuguese ship?"

"Yes, there is a Portuguese ship."

"Go try to find out tomorrow, who is the owner of the ship, and what kind of cargo is it in?"

Weisslando didn't last long in that playboy pomp.On this day, Sebastian Andrade was ordered to go to Parian District to check the local business tax collection status. When he accepted the suggestion of Parian District Mayor Juan Aguilar, he went to a tavern to experience the people's situation and talk by the way. When the issue of the expenditure of the public funds of the overseas Chinese community coincided with His Royal Highness Earl Vannerova walking out of the tavern.He was dressed like a sailor in a crisp white Dutch linen shirt with an open collar, and a manila hat, though delicate, was far less showy than a wide-brimmed hat adorned with bird feathers.Only his breeches were not tied to the hem of his shirt with ribbons and strings, as was the custom in Europe, but were tied tightly around his waist with a buffalo leather belt, and the gold belt buckle was carved to resemble a roaring lion. The long leather boots were well polished, and the saber with the sheath studded with gems was always on his side.Such a haphazard attire made the treasury realize that the count was first a warrior, then a rich warrior, and lastly a false nobleman.

A warrior or a soldier, in the eyes of Andrade, who studied philosophy and Latin at the University of Complutense and dreamed of becoming a court scholar but was sent to a remote colony as a supervisor, is synonymous with drunkards, idiots and gangsters .Perhaps the count is not an idiot, but at the moment he does smell of alcohol and gangster-like ferocity.A short, slightly hunchbacked Chinese followed the earl out of the tavern, and disappeared around the corner in a blink of an eye.Andrade didn't pay much attention to that guy, because the contrast between the count's image at the moment and his usual appearance was too strong, and it was too eye-catching, and he was greeting his group.

"Ah, hey, it's really God's arrangement," Weiss waved the straw hat in his hand and walked towards the group of people.The Spaniards sat on soft sedan chairs with canopies and were carried by Chinese coolies.In front of the sedan chair walked two Chinese leading the way, nodding and bowing to Andrade and Aguilar, respectful.Weiss recognized that they were brothers Huang Jian and Huang Xiang, both wealthy Chinese businessmen who believed in Catholicism, and they were also Parian Chinese administrators and clerks appointed by the colonial government.

"I have just concluded a deal with a respectable Chinese gentleman, who has promised to furnish my men with three hundred Japanese muskets at half the price of Mr. Jordcross. Two honorable gentlemen, Please come and toast to my luck."

The count's full smile made Andrade feel uncomfortable, as if he was using a smile mask to hide some kind of irony.If the financial officer knew that the grinning expression was the result of Weiss imitating Jimmy Carter, he might laugh at his efforts; but if he knew that the fake earl was still meeting informants in this tavern a minute ago, collecting intelligence and plotting against the colonial authorities. Unfavorable, it will definitely praise his acting skills.

Although he thought he could become James Bond in the seventeenth century, the result of nearly a month of fighting on the intelligence front by the former mercenary was nothing more than the development of several informants who were willing to provide him with information, including small traders, sailors and colonial agencies. A low-level employee who runs errands.These people are not of high status, all of them are Chinese or mixed-race living in the local area, and they can only provide some information with general content and average value.Still, Weiss was well aware that nothing good would come of his actions if they were exposed to colonial officials.The count was thinking about which subordinate or agent he should arrange to connect with the informant, and at the same time continued to observe the situation with a smile. The gazes and hesitant expressions of the two Spaniards showed that they were surprised by his appearance and invitation.

Sure enough, Mr. District Mayor pushed that he would go to inspect the prison in Parian District. He thanked the Earl for his kindness, but left with a resentful expression.The treasurer sincerely stated that he must return to the city immediately, because the Governor of Salamanca was still waiting for his report in the official residence.

"Then please use my carriage. As for the sedan chair, it is the product of the ancient life of the Eastern peoples for thousands of years. They like this kind of cradle-like means of transportation, so they don't value heroes. Men in their prime are cowardly and childish like babies. They are destined To be conquered. As you know, Caesar won all Rome while standing on a wheel, but Atahualpa lost his empire sitting in a litter." After this strange speech, the count turned Turning his face and whistled, two pairs of black horses with white spots on their foreheads were pulling a four-wheeled carriage slowly approaching, and stopped in front of them.Andrade was taken aback, and even forgot to say what he wanted to decline. His feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, his eyes circled back and forth on the golden-rimmed red-flag carriage, and greedily looked at the four vigorous and vigorous horses. An elegant harness, and a silver harness on the horse.Until the count signaled Shlick to help Andrade walk up the velvet-covered steps, he was still immersed in that trance state.

The slamming sound of the door closing brought the treasurer back to his senses, and the earl's black slave jumped into the carriage from behind and took his place.The coachman pulled up the reins, and the carriage began to move forward slowly.Andrade reached out to touch the shiny satin on the sofa seat - this is the best Nanjing satin! , and then he gazed at the cloisonne-trimmed interior panels, the tulle curtains, and, like a curious child, imitated the Earl, turning the handle to roll the glass windows up and down.

"Your Excellency, people only know that you are a person who has become rich through luck." Andrade sighed and continued: "But now I want to change my view. If you are only rich, no matter how much money you have, Not enough to make someone in this abandoned corner of the earth live like a Prince of Naples, and it might take some kind of magic or magic to do that."

"Beware, Monsieur Treasurer, you are about to describe me as a sorcerer. I hope the Inquisition has not been set up in Manila, or I have been wronged very much."

"Forgive me, my lord, but I don't think I'm ignorant. This steed is mentioned in the expeditions of Alexander, and the princes of India were willing to exchange precious stones and gold for their mounts. Don Esteban Sanaf Monsieur Ria wanted to buy a pair of these famous horses to match his carriage, but no one would sell him a thousand pistoles. As for estimating the value of such a carriage—”

"Slow down, Your Excellency." Weiss interrupted Andrade, opened a hidden compartment on the panel, and took out an exquisite small silver box, with four carved goblets lined with velvet inside. wine bottle. "Whatever I spend on my carriage and horses, tell me, does that detract from their beauty?"

"No, no. I just wanted to point out—" Andrade coughed after taking a sip of rum. "My God, this drink is amazing."

"Don Esteban Sanabria. The name you have given me tells me that he is a real nobleman. I think this gentleman is among the first class gentlemen in Manila."

"Your Excellency, you will get a Pyrrho-style answer to your question, which can be said to be yes or no. Mr. Sanabria is a first-class rich man. Without this premise, he is not a gentleman, let alone a gentleman. A true aristocrat."

"Could you please elaborate?"

"You must have heard." After drinking a few glasses of rum, the restrained atmosphere mixed with politeness and guard was of course gone. Andrade rested his head comfortably on the back of the sofa, and the conversation became more and more interesting. concentrated. "Philippines is known as the pearl God gave to our monarch, but its light attracts poor people who have nothing but rich dreams, and these people are so poor that they can't even settle in New Spain. Mr. Sanabria When he was young, he was such a person, but he got money quickly in Manila. It is said that he won a lot of money from a rich Chinese man by throwing dice - but there is more reason to believe that he got it by robbery - 30 years ago He was a 'volunteer' during the Chinese riots." A smile appeared on the finance officer's face as he spoke.

Lando understood the meaning of his smile—the so-called volunteers at that time were a group of bandits, they didn't have any military pay, and all their expenses and supplies depended on robbery.

Since then, Mr. Sanabria has made several successful speculations, especially when he once married a rich widow. After she "died of illness" soon, his wealth was finally accumulated enough to buy a "tang" in his name. In front, to prove his aristocratic family background.Soon he was visiting the courts of Manila's dignitaries, and his fortune was rolling in.

Weiss continued to fill the wine glass for the treasurer. Facts have proved that whether it is Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish, as long as he can pour a bottle of wine for him, things will be much easier.

"I guess the gentleman you speak of didn't pay much for this 'don', at most no more than the little money he paid for the horse he liked. You know, the nobles of the East despise us Barbarians who wield knives and guns, their most important treasures are horses and beauties, and the cost of replenishing the stables is much higher than that of the harem. Mr. Sanavria is only willing to pay for the two best Marwari horses. The steed took out a mere thousand pistoles, which would be too detrimental to the status of the first-rate rich man.

　Note: One of the founders of the Macau Gun Foundry.

　　Note: Ancient Greek skeptical philosopher.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)