Chapter 850 The Ugly British

“Calcutta is a devil’s city!”

Under the bright light, Zhu Shihai whispered fiercely while writing carefully on the paper. His handwriting is extremely beautiful, and every stroke is written through the back of the paper, just like his determination at this moment.

He wants to peel back the layer of hypocrisy on the British people.

The tragedy of the Bengal Famine was shocking, and the foolish Mughal emperor also reduced taxes and provided some relief measures to assist the victims when the famine struck. However, the British ignored famine warnings, ignored the fact of continuous drought and significant reduction in food production. When the great famine broke out in 1770, five years before Chengtian, and people in Bengal began to die on a large scale the following year, the British Instead, the tax was increased to 60% to make up for the losses caused by the reduction in the taxable population. A smaller working population leads to smaller output, which means smaller harvests. Those farmers who survived the famine were instead forced to pay double the tax to ensure that revenue to the British treasury did not decrease.

Large tracts of farmland were abandoned. The fields were overgrown with weeds and became an unfathomable jungle.

But the most ironic thing is that the income of the British in 1771, the year when the famine was the worst, was higher than in 1768.

"These are a group of devils, devils in human skin." Zhu Shihai is not a reporter, nor is he a moralist, he is a jurist, but now he uses his own notes to record the terrible disaster.

He wants people in the country to truly recognize the true face of Xiyi - the ugly British!

The terrible famine lasted from 1769 to 1773 in the Western calendar, killing 10 million people and reducing the population of Bengal, which was densely populated at the time, by one-third.

During the Mughal rule, Indian people were taxed at 10 to 15%. Part of this money is used to support the ruling class, and part is used to establish safety funds to prevent famines due to poor harvests in the coming year.

After the British took over Bengal from the Mughal rulers, they not only lost the security deposit, but also began to vigorously promote the cultivation of a single cash crop, all for the sake of export interests. Farmers who originally grew rice and vegetables are now forced to grow cash crops such as indigo, opium, and poppy. Although the latter have high market value, they cannot solve food shortages. In times of famine, there is no substitute for food. When droughts hit one after another, single-variety agriculture has led to disastrous consequences. However, there was clearly a conscription, and the British did not take any active measures to deal with famine or disaster.

This is a natural disaster, and it is also a man-made disaster caused by commercial interests.

Moreover, ten years after the end of this catastrophe, a second disaster occurred in Bangladesh. The number of people who starved to death was not as high as the previous one, but it was no less than half a million.

Compared with the Indians killed by the British, the easy and simple means and investment, and the natives killed by the sinicization policy promoted by the empire in Southeast Asia and other places, the means were really weak.

Facing the whale oil wind lantern in the cabin, every stroke Zhu Shihai made seemed to be bearing a heavy weight. A sense of history and responsibility made his blood boil.

It's a pity that not many people in their 'team' cared about this matter, and Zhu Shihai, out of his own inner Xiao Jiujiu, did not inform everyone about what he accidentally discovered.

The word 'fame and fortune' is always something that many people can't understand, and the same goes for Zhu Shihai.

…

Compared with Professor Zhu Da's notes, which seemed to carry a heavy sense of history in every stroke, Chen Zhan, who was also taking notes on paper at the same time, had a face full of impatience and wrote lightly and quickly - although compared to Zhu Shi's Compared with the travel notes of literati with criticism and satire, the data in Chen Zhan's writings are much more important - he is checking the accounts of the China Commercial Bank station in Jinder Nagar!

Chen Zhan also studied economics and finance at a Chinese university. But in these two lessons, he learned only half a bottle.

Chen Ming also knew that his son was a bit unreliable academically, so he decided to give him a practical lesson during the trip. When the mission arrived in Calcutta, they went to the Commercial Bank branch in Jinder Nagar to check the accounts. Chen Zhan wants to do it himself!

Accompanied by his wife, Chen Zhan and others recently conducted a comprehensive inspection of the business situation of Commercial Bank in Jinder Nagar, which can be regarded as a sudden assessment.

"There are no errors in the format."

"There is nothing wrong in the accounts. However, the transaction volume at Jinder Nagar station has been declining. Did we make too much profit to the British before?"

Chen Zhan knew very well why the turnover of commercial banks here kept falling. The British Bank of Calcutta played a big role in this, including the headquarters of the East India Company.

The agreement signed between China and the British played a major role in promoting this matter.

The operating status of the Jinder Nagar station can be clearly understood by reading these accounts. Before the signing of the agreement, the transaction volume of the Jinder Nagar station was rising steadily, but after the signing of the agreement, it continued to decline.

But before he could sort it all out, Chen Zhan had to go through them one by one in person.

"The loan business has increased a lot, but can all the funds lent be recovered? This Hampton, as well as Dural and Porter, the funds you have lent to these British people alone have exceeded one thousand pounds. . It’s too much. It’s reached the limit of your maximum loan amount. Now notify them and ask them to come to see me!”

When Chen Zhan frowned, he still had a bit of momentum. The manager of the Commercial Bank stationed in Jindernagar nodded repeatedly, not daring to say a word of rebuttal.

…

On the other side, in a hotel in Jindernagar.

Zhu Wo, accompanied by guards, was talking to a 30-year-old European with a vicissitudes of life. There were more than a dozen people waiting in the corridor outside the room - they were all former British and French soldiers, sailors, and businessmen.

These people don't care much about concepts such as country, nation, and even religion - those who care don't come here.

But to be honest, most Europeans these days still have a little sense of country and democracy.

At the same time, these people are also relatively law-abiding people. They have been in Jindernagar for more than a day or two, and have been carefully observed by observers. They are all people who can abide by the rules.

In addition, these people have family or relatives and friends in Jindernagar. According to the observers, people with family and relatives and friends always have more concerns - when they want to betray.

"Jerome...Former French Navy Lieutenant Commander, I heard you are also a French nobleman?"

Juwo is the commander of the fleet going to Europe this time. He looked at the information in his hand and compared it with the tall and burly white officer in front of him, while waiting for the translator beside him to convey his question to the other party. Juwo can speak a few words of English and a few words of Swedish, but he does not understand French.

Under the translator's communication, Jerome stood up and saluted - imitating the military salute of the National Defense Force, but it was a bit out of place.

"Yes, General."

"Then can you tell me why you want to join our team? You know, you are a nobleman."

Juwo continued to ask, and the other party's answer was also very frank:

"I need money, respected general. My wife is seriously ill. Although the kind-hearted Dr. Zhang snatched her back from the hands of death and has not charged us for medical treatment, my wife's recuperation and recovery still costs a lot of money."

Juwo looked at the information in his hand - the observers here have investigated the situation of each person in detail. This Jerome's wife was indeed his wife. After the war, she came to India from Europe with her children to find him, because Jerome was settled in Jindernagar after the war. He performed well in the war and was then placed on a sloop of the French India Company as the captain.

At that time, their family lived a very comfortable and beautiful life.

Although Jerome was still serving at sea, the activities of his sloop were around Jindernagar, and he was able to return home frequently.

But later, the Great Revolution broke out in Paris, and Jerome's property in his hometown was confiscated by the People's Army, and he could not even contact his wife's family. The Indian Company summoned all their armed ships in India, withdrew their forces, and evacuated India to prevent "unpredictable dangers."

Jerome could not leave his wife, who was very unstable at the time, and his two young children.

Jerome chose to leave the warship and stay in Jindernagar. In the following days, Jerome's wife fell ill, which made their family, who were living off their family, even worse, and their living conditions were getting worse and worse.

By now, Jerome's family was penniless. He had to work, and his son was twelve years old and his daughter was ten years old, and they could already take care of their mother.

So Jerome didn't care whether the next team he joined belonged to France or China. He felt a sincere disgust for the current France, but was full of goodwill towards Dr. Zhang's motherland, China, who had helped him.

In the evaluation of the observer, Jerome was a qualified naval officer, a man who loved his family and had a certain cultural accomplishment, and the four words "serious and responsible" could be used as his label.

As the "guide" of the European fleet in Europe, the qualification review of the selection object was very strict. The dozen people selected by the observer were all morally upright people. No matter in what organization, such people are always more trustworthy.

"Have you tried to find other jobs?"

"I am a soldier, more accustomed to using weapons and fighting on warships. In addition to these and those aristocratic etiquette, I don't have other life skills." His temperament and size are not suitable for being an attendant or a butler.

"The Chinese treat the military very well. Your soldiers and officers are paid very well. This salary is enough for my wife and son to live a stable and abundant life."

Ju Wo nodded, feeling quite satisfied - the feelings between people are actually very simple, it's nothing more than whether they like each other or not.

Ju Wo admired Jerome's resume very much. He liked people who were responsible for their families and relatives. Because Zhu Wo himself could not spare too much time to accompany his family, but he was also a person who loved his family very much.

He felt that Jerome was the same as him.

After ticking this name, Zhu Wo looked up at the other person - soldiers are always straightforward, without any nonsense:

"You are admitted, but you can only start from the most basic third-class consultant - we do not recognize the French military rank, nor do we recognize your noble title. So your current salary is not high, of course, it is okay to meet your requirements. It's just that your wife is still sick, right?

We can temporarily lend you a sum of money to treat your family members and resettle your family. If you want, you can let your wife and children go to China. You can repay this loan slowly in the future. This is an interest-free loan. We will deduct part of it from your future salary to repay the debt, and it can be repaid in three years.

But you need to master Chinese as soon as possible and have at least the minimum language communication skills. There will be no translators on warships. "

"If you speak Chinese well, maybe you can get a salary as a 'translator.'"

Jerome was about to shed tears. The treatment given by Zhu Wo was beyond his imagination. "Of course I am willing to send my wife and children to a peaceful and stable China. Thank you for your concern. I understand and I will use it." Give your life to repay, General!"

When the last four words were spoken, tears flowed out of the corners of Jerome's eyes uncontrollably. The Chinese are actually willing to lend themselves a sum of money to settle their own families. This is truly God-like kindness.

The pay in this army is really good. Even the lowest-level soldier gets a lot of pay, which is enough to support his wife and children. All the pressure, all the sorrow, were swept away at this moment.

Excited, he said a few more words:

"China's navy is very powerful. You have the most powerful first-class battleship in the world, and there is more than one. I really hope to serve in such an army." When Jerome said about the first-class sailing battleship, his eyes Blooming with dazzling light, as a naval soldier, no one does not hope that one day he can command a first-class sailing battleship as huge as a hill to traverse the four seas.

It's just that Jerome's understanding of his 'advisor' position is a bit wrong. He didn't go to serve on the warship. He had to explain to a group of people in the delegation various aspects of European society, culture, economy, history, philosophy, Issues of faith, etc.

Jerome was born into a noble family, so he was really a necessary candidate.

At the same time, in an ordinary building on the other side of Jinder Nagar, the observer was smiling and talking to a white young man. Compared to Zhu Wo, who was serious and serious, the observer was much kinder and amiable. There were even two cups of steaming coffee on the table, with sugar cubes and milk next to them.

But the white boy seemed quite uneasy, with his back straight, and from time to time he would reach out to wipe the sweat on his forehead, or touch the silver cross hanging around his neck, as if to resist the temptation from the devil.

This is indeed a temptation from the devil.

As long as you pass on the message, you can get an amount of pounds ranging from ten to one hundred pounds, depending on the importance of the message. If he could just whisper in his uncle's ear, he would have hundreds of pounds.

China is going to devour the five unarmed French colonies in India.

Nanjing doesn’t want to wait any longer.

And this requires the cooperation of the French in India.

The uncle of the young man in front of me is the French mayor of Jinder Nagar.

At the same time, there are always many things happening in the world. Father Time cannot let one thing take over him.

In India, in Jinder Nagar, Chen Zhan was checking accounts, Zhu Wo was making up for his shortcomings, Jerome was pleasantly surprised to have found his heart, and the observer was also pulling a young man who had already entered the water deeper into the pool.