Lin Wanrong found it funny. This Tavone was also a genius at acting. He had clearly seen the Grand Mistress when he visited the Lin Mansion last time, but this time he deliberately said these nice words. It was nothing more than flattery.
"Yes, yes, I have always thought so." Lin Wanrong smiled and touched his nose. "Tavone, isn't your ship in Shandong? Why did you come to Lianyungang?"
Tavone said, "Dear Lin, with your introduction, I met His Majesty the Emperor of your country in your capital. We have also reached an agreement on the issue of trade and foreign trade tariffs between the two countries. Lin, His Majesty the Emperor of your country is as shrewd as you are. Most of the money earned by our French fleet has been returned to China, alas! "
How can he not be shrewd? I taught the old man every trick and trick to levy high tariffs on the French fleet. With that old man's scheming, who can play against him?
Lord Lin patted the French on the shoulder. "Tavone, don't say that. It was trade, after all. It was a win-win situation. Our China's silk, tea, perfume, and soap are all top-notch goods. They are in short supply in Europe, and we don't have to worry about not being able to sell them. It is also right to collect more tariffs from you. These goods will definitely make a lot of money once they are sold in Europe. To tell you the truth, a few days ago there were two British and Portuguese fleets that docked in Fujian and Guangdong. I heard that they also came to expand trade. "
Tavone was shocked to hear this. Since this came from Mistorin's mouth, it was certainly true. Britain and Portugal were both powerful maritime trading countries, and it was not surprising that merchant ships would come to China. He didn't expect that there would be competitors coming to snatch the food after just a few orders of business with China.
"Lin, we, France, reached this agreement first." Tavone nervously grabbed his hand. "Your country must have integrity!"
Lin Wanrong said, "Don't worry, don't worry. The level of tariffs we are giving you now. It will not change for three years. Even if Britain and Portugal want to do this business, the tariffs will definitely be raised. Tavone, this is a friendship price for you! If it were someone else. Not so easy to deal with, haha! "
China's customs taxes were high, and the corresponding prices of goods in Europe naturally rose. The people who paid the bill were the Europeans, and Tavone and Emperor Louis naturally did not lose out. Lin Wanrong and the Frenchman were well aware of this, but they had a tacit understanding.
Tavoni smiled bitterly. "Then I hope you will take care of our French fleet in the future. His Majesty Louis XIV also sends me a cordial invitation to you and your ladies, that next year, if you have time, you and your family are welcome to visit France, to see Marseilles, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. His Majesty Louis will personally receive the distinguished guests from the far east. I am sure you and your family will have a pleasant time. "
The caravans of Britain and Portugal that he had codified. This caused Tavone to feel a deep sense of worry in his heart, and he naturally couldn't wait to increase the price.
He didn't expect that he would accidentally become the first person to go abroad for an inspection by a Chinese official, and he even brought his family with him. Lin Wanrong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He casually said, "We'll talk about it later! Tavone. I asked you how you got to Lianyungang, you haven't answered me yet! "
"Yes, yes. I reached a tariff and trade agreement with your Emperor, and collected enough goods to return to Europe from Shandong. In Rizhao, I heard from Miss Xu Zhiqing that you were going to board a ship from Lianyungang to Korea. I received the warm care of His Excellency in your country. Of course, I came to say goodbye to you. To tell you the truth, we have been here for two days, just to see you. "
The Frenchman was affectionate, but he was secretly glad that he stopped at Lianyungang and saw Lord Lin. Otherwise, how could he have known that the British and Portuguese would also come to steal his business? How fortunate, how fortunate!
Lin Wanrong sneered. This old man lied without spitting out the bones. It was clearly because the thirty young men I sent to France to study are now interning on the ironclad ship in Lianyungang. He had no choice but to stop here, but he said that he missed me. I have imposed a heavy tax on you, extorted you, and you still miss me? Is there no justice?
"Tavone, you are too polite." He said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "We are old friends, there is no need to be so polite. Oh right, are you going to leave now? Aiya, I haven't had the time to treat you to a meal, what a pity, what a pity! "
If you treat me to a meal, then I will definitely be the one to pay in the end! Tavone was well aware and hurriedly said, "I should be the one to treat you, but unfortunately, the last few times I visited your residence, His Excellency was not at home. When next year comes, I will definitely bring His Majesty Louis' best chef and treat you and your family to the most authentic French meal! "
"Is that so? Oh, I recently went to the Turks. You also know that the war was won, but there are still many follow-up matters to deal with, right? After fighting with the Turks for so many years, suddenly losing an opponent, I quite miss it. I wonder who will be fighting with us next? Oh, Tavone, don't misunderstand, I am not a warmonger, I just can't stand others bullying us, haha! "
When listening to Sir Lin's words, one had to think carefully, otherwise, there was really no way to determine which of his words was true and which was false. The poor Frenchman was confused by him, and in his confusion, he only remembered one sentence from Mistorin: Do not bully the Chinese!
"Oh right, Lin," Tavone suddenly moved closer to his ear and said mysteriously, "The two little French beauties that I gave you last time are still waiting for you in the residence! You must not waste them, one of them is the sister of our French Empress, and she is even more beautiful than the Empress, even His Majesty Louis is … tsk tsk … "
Lin Wanrong hurriedly looked at the Grand Mistress beside him. Fortunately, it was English, so she did not understand much. She only opened her eyes wide and looked at him blankly.
"Tavone," Sir Lin hurriedly corrected his expression and said with a serious face, "I am not such a vulgar person! To me, beauty is no different from skeleton poison! "
"I understand, I understand. Looking at your wives, you are already poisoned!" Tavone smiled slyly and said, "So, I suggest that you try to fight poison with poison —"
Fight poison with poison? Lin Wanrong glanced at him, and the two laughed at the same time. All the men in the world were wretched!
After talking for a while, the two ironclad ships behind them also docked one after another. The four ironclad ships brought by Tavone. Because the flagship was purchased by Sir Lin at a high price of ten taels of silver, he could only return with three ships.
Lin Wanrong pulled Xiao Yuruo. He slowly walked forward and carefully sized up the Westerners' ironclad ships.
These ironclad ships were more than two hundred feet long and two square feet wide. They were two stories high. The hull was extremely hard. He knocked on it with his hand, and a dull sound echoed in his ears. It was actually made of a whole piece of steel.
There were four crossroads on the deck that could be passed through: the steering room, the rest cabin, and the ammunition cabin. Behind it was the living area, with a large sail at the front and back. On the left and right sides of the ironclad ship, there were more than ten plywood and more than twenty large oars in the middle. More than ten black muzzles extended out, and several thick Western cannons extended out. The workmanship was extremely exquisite. On both sides of the hull, there were another forty to fifty musket holes.
Lin Wanrong took a few glances and sighed. This was a genuine ironclad ship, not as crude as wrapping iron armor outside the wooden side. It could cut iron sheets and assemble them. The mechanical level of the Westerners had indeed developed to a certain level. It was just that the large oars on both sides of the hull and the sails at the bow and stern of the ship that made him feel a little lucky. The West had not yet fully entered the steam age, and this was an opportunity to catch up.
Seeing the surprise in Mystolin's eyes, Tavone proudly patted the ironclad ship behind him: "Lin, how is it? This is the ironclad of France, and no cannon in the world can penetrate it. "
"Is that so?" Lin Wanrong laughed, took out a golden scimitar from his bosom, and stabbed forward with a swish.
With a soft creak, a small hole was cut through the iron armor. Tavone's face turned pale: "How, how is this possible?"
It's your ironclad ship that was stabbed! Lin Wanrong's face was flushed. He held the scimitar with both hands and exerted all his strength to break a small hole in the iron armor.
He didn't dare to let Tavone see any flaws. He hurriedly put away the golden scimitar, calmed his chaotic breathing, and laughed: "Brother Tavone. This iron armor is ordinary, not even comparable to the knife in my hand. How can you talk about cannons not being able to penetrate it! "
The golden scimitar in his hand was personally given to him by his little sister. It was the supreme national treasure of the Turks. It could be said that it could cut through hair and cut iron like mud. In the face of the Westerners' iron armor, it was almost unable to pierce through. The hardness of the steel plate could be seen.
Tavone didn't know this. Seeing him casually take out a knife and pierce a small hole in the iron armor that the whole of France was proud of, he was so shocked that he couldn't even straighten his tongue: "Lin, Lin, China actually has such an armor-piercing weapon?"
"Of course." Lord Lin laughed and patted him on the shoulder. Just now, he used all his strength to pierce the iron armor, and his arm was sore: "So, you have to be humble. You see, our China has such a treasure, but we never publicize it to the outside world. This is the implicit beauty of our Oriental people. Alas, if your ironclad ship meets our China's armor-piercing weapon, cough, cough – brother, your stuff still needs to be improved! "
He put the golden scimitar back into his arms, and in his heart, he had already thanked his little sister a thousand times, ten thousand times. In the face of Tavone, his words were half-spoken, and his eyes were unfathomable.
Seeing him being so "implicit", Tavone helplessly lowered his high head: "Lin, I have to say, your East is really mysterious! When I go back, I will definitely suggest to His Majesty Louis that our two countries should have frequent exchanges and establish a long-term friendly and cooperative relationship. Let's be friends with each other, and no one will fight each other! "
"Is that so? Then let's think about it." He laughed unhurriedly. Tavone was frightened. This Lord Lin was putting on airs again. Next time, it seemed that he would have to send more diamond beauties to repair the relationship between the two countries.
Lin Wanrong narrowed his eyes, looked at the sails on the ship, and said with a smile: "Tavone, do you rely on these sails and oars to cross the sea? Is there any other power, such as a smoking machine?"
The Frenchman jumped up in fright: "A smoking machine? You, how do you know? "
"What?" Lin Wanrong was even more surprised than him: "You, you really have a steam – oh, that smoking machine?"
Tavone nodded and said: "I only heard about the smoking machine before I came to China. It was invented by a miner in France named Savery (Note 1). I heard that it can be used to draw water from the well. It has only been a few months, but I didn't expect Lord Lin to know about it from thousands of miles away. "
I know my ass. Lin Wanrong let out a long sigh of relief. It turned out that the Westerners had only just begun to study steam technology. It would take at least two hundred years for them to truly step into that era. There was still time, there was still time!
He laughed and nodded: "I was just guessing. Tavone, you don't have to take it seriously. Just pretend that I didn't say anything. By the way, which ship is my ship? I've been a bit better off recently and raised another ten taels of silver. I want to buy it again – "
"This ship, this ship, I'll take you to see it!" The Frenchman turned pale with fright and turned to leave. He had a deep understanding of Lord Lin's temperament. If this King of Extortion really took out another thirty taels of silver, he and everyone else would have to walk back to France.
The ironclad ship that Lord Lin spent ten taels of silver to buy was the flagship of the Frenchmen and the last ship to dock at the dock. It was even larger in size and the most luxurious in decoration. The front and back of the ship were several hundred feet square, and dozens of yellow-skinned and black-haired youths were busy on the deck.
After muddling around for so long, I finally have a cruise ship! Lin Wanrong took the Grand Mistress's hand and stepped forward. Looking at the huge ship, he suddenly laughed.
"Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law –" Among the group of youths, a crisp and delicate voice suddenly sounded, and a beautiful figure hurriedly ran towards him.
… …..
Note 1: For the sake of writing, this article sets Savery as a Frenchman. Friends who understand the history of the steam engine do not need to argue about his nationality, just take a look.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
