Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1491 Authorization of the Governor

Governor Juan Salamanca, who had not expected such an answer, could not help being startled, as a soldier feels a blow to the stomach of the armor he wears.There is at least one grain of truth in Weiss' statement: Vulture crows, big and small, are now flying around Sanabria's millionaire fortunes, and nearly every imperial subject from Macau to Manila is busy suing him, whether The seemingly ridiculous charges were all majestically written into the case file and presented to the royal prosecutor.Everyone wants to tear a piece of flesh from the fat and oily corpse of the former richest businessman in the colony, and the governor is no exception.

"The accusation against Sanabria must go through the trial of the royal court before it can be convicted." Seeing that the purpose of beating the opponent was almost defeated, the governor wanted to get rid of this topic as soon as possible.

"He is guilty, and he has been convicted. You have exercised the power of justice on behalf of His Majesty the King to confiscate his ill-gotten gains."

"Where did you hear that nonsense? The government is just seizing the property of the suspect pending trial."

"Who would send temporarily seized property, such as merchant ships and yachts in Sanabria, to the Royal Dockyard for repairs, just so that the victims can get a brand-new compensation? This is what I have witnessed." Weiss He replied: "Your Excellency, all you need now is a perfect trial in absentia, the dead will not quibble."

"It's only a temporary requisition. The colony has a very urgent need for ships that can be used for combat." The governor finally decided to abandon this topic. He pulled the bell rope and called the servant, "Go and get some drinks. No, no wine, take Australian water."

The servants of the Governor's Palace in white uniforms brought in a wooden tray containing two glass bottles sealed with wire corks and two silver cups.The glass of the bottle body is covered with large and small drops of water, probably just taken out of the well water.

"You don't mind this little luxury, do you? Personally, I don't agree with drinking while discussing business." The governor's tone became kind and gentle. "In such a hot place, such a refreshing enjoyment is so rare. Perhaps It doesn't matter at all to you."

Weiss smiled, noncommittal.He really dismissed the "luxury Australian water", which is just the common salt soda in Lingao. Even the naturalized migrant workers from better-off families can buy something to quench their thirst during work breaks. "Stupid miser, ignorant Spanish pig," he groaned.

"Even this small enjoyment must be restrained, because we have unavoidable difficulties. The colony's finances have always been poor, and now they have to increase expenditures on military projects. We cannot indulge in pleasure," the governor tried to convert. A topic to counter: "So some of your behavior here is inappropriate. Now rich people in Manila are imitating you, from fashionable clothes to fancy carriages. That's fine, but you decorate the bathroom The method is too inappropriate, using expensive porcelain as a pail, and making a special pump to wash the dirt. If the nobles in the entire colony follow suit, how much money will the colony lose? It is simply unimaginable.”

"Not only money, but now even the dirt that you wash off with your pumps is valuable, and we have to collect it to make saltpeter like the British do to pigeon droppings. Yes, Sanabria is guilty, but we can't find it. Find an agent who can replace him and buy Indian saltpeter for the government at a fair price. Now we either figure out our own way of solving the problem, or we can only endure high prices from the Indians. Maybe you have a way to help the government of His Majesty's colony out of trouble We are all obliged to serve God and His Majesty, isn't that what you said to Mr. Osvaldo?"

"Of course I can," Weiss narrowed his eyes, and the smile that had been hanging on his face finally turned into a mockery, "I'm afraid there are more than you think."

"I don't understand what you mean," said the governor in astonishment.

"Please think about it, why would a Chinese rural farmer squat in the mud and drink a rough porcelain bowl for tea, and transport it across the ocean to Europe and then be sent to the king's table? In Madrid, there is no more Chinese Silk and satin are more expensive materials. But I have seen those Australians entrenched on the coast of China use the same texture of silk to wrap the gunpowder of their cannons. The merchants of the country lamented to death. Demand brings value, and distance multiplies it. In the same way, iron from Bilbao and copper from Mexico are as expensive as gold and silver when shipped to the Philippines. Indeed, compared with Iron and quicksilver, and saltpeter from India is much nearer, but as you have seen, these heretics have no conscience, and exploit honest and good Christians to a heinous degree."

"In fact, this colony under your jurisdiction is too dependent on trade with the Chinese. So far, the Philippines has no industry sufficient for self-sufficiency, and only plays an insignificant role in the distant journey of Chinese goods to America and the mainland of the empire. The role of transshipment. Doubtless, it will be of no benefit to your exploits, or to the welfare of the people of the colonies. You also intend to force the people to save every peso to strengthen their defenses. If they arouse their complaints, What's the point of adding cannon and warships, thinking the colonies won't bring them happiness and peace? Enemies don't always come from without."

"You're right," the governor nodded, and Weiss pointed out a possible danger.Every Philippine governor will be investigated by a special court presided over by his successor when he leaves office. It is not a good thing to offend too many people. "But is there another way? Even shipping grants from the Americas is now a dangerous task."

"The best way to maintain a colony and make it prosper is to establish self-sufficient industries. Haven't you already done that? You have allowed the Chinese to leave Parian for farming and gardening, and have factories outside Manila." See Seeing what the Governor wanted to say, Weiss raised his hand to stop him, "A good factory is a goose that lays golden eggs. This is the magic weapon for the Australians to make a fortune. They set up factories and assemble Chinese porcelain and water pumps into barrels. The Chinese Willing to pay more than ten times the price. Of course building factories and making machines requires a lot of metal, but did God give the Philippines as a barren desert to His Majesty? You have found gold in Baguio and Palawan With the discovery of mercury, isn’t there copper, iron, lead, tin, or all the materials we need under this fertile land? For example, the saltpeter you mentioned repeatedly.”

"Are you sure about this?"

"The source of my wealth is not a secret. Gold mines were discovered in Kelantan, and diamond mines were discovered on islands close to China. Some of my subordinates are Chinese. They are the best miners and technicians. The family has been mining for generations. , No one is better at finding mines and excavating mines than them, and they are unique in the technology of using special machines to prevent mines from being flooded. As long as you approve, I will immediately order them to work."

Juan Salamanca patted the armrest of his chair lightly with his fingers. Weiss saw that his rhetoric had worked, so he stopped to moisten his throat with salt soda, and waited for the other party to speak.

"Mr. Vananova, your proposal is undoubtedly very valuable." The governor pondered for a moment, "I just want to point out some information to you. You have not lived in the Philippines for a long time, and you may not know that the inland mountainous area of ​​this colony is so far inaccessible , where untamed savages run rampant. Though the Philippine Islands are all His Majesty's colonies, south of the Visayas there are savage Malay pirates and murderous Moro infidels. The army must first defend In Manila and other important cities, the government cannot deploy its already stretched troops to protect your mining engineers."

"That's not a problem. I'm in a profitable business and I'm a soldier. I have a few Christian soldiers who are small but good enough and loyal enough to protect the mining business. You don't have to provide ships either, because I My Esmeralda can be used to transport mining personnel and machinery. What I ask, first of all, is that my people must have the freedom of legal movement throughout the colony, whether it is coastal or inland, while surveying the terrain and looking for veins. They are working for the good of the colony and should not be treated with disrespect like that of Mr. Brambilla. My personnel have the right to hold the necessary weapons to resist the attacks of barbarians and heretics, so as to save It is necessary for the government to use force. Finally, if the mining project is in demand, if the government can approve me to hire coolies on the spot or directly capture those savages and heretics as slaves, that would be great."

"Very well, what else do you want?"

"About the benefits of private investment in mining, and the legal terms—"

"According to the laws prevailing in New Spain and the Viceroyalty of Peru, private mine owners should pay the May [-]st tax to the government of His Majesty the King." The governor picked up a few volumes and flipped through them for a while, "However, there is no private investment in mining in the Philippine colonies yet. A precedent. If you do excavate the minerals required by the government, as a reward, I have the right to exempt you from mining taxes. As long as you promise to sell all the ores you extract to the colonial government."

"At a price we can both agree on," Weiss said. "An oral price or a written agreement is fine, and I accept both."

"You have been a great service to us. I will send the secretary to write the papers at once, and you will have your pass in no time."

The two exchanged a few more words, and when Weiss got up to say goodbye, he heard the Governor say, "Thank you very much for your gift, Earl."

"Your Excellency, you now understand. I have much more to offer than you can imagine."

(End of this chapter)