you can skip this one - TL
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Outside Dagu Fort at Tianjin Port, the sea breeze rolled white foam, lapping against the muddy tidal flats.
On the pier, soldiers who had cleared the area had already formed a long human wall.
The coolies who originally carried heavy loads at the port and the vendors selling tea had all been driven far outside the cordon.
The crowd squeezed together, stretching their necks to gaze out at the sea.
Soon, whispers spread through the crowd.
"Old Li, what kind of performance is this today? They even mobilized troops from the Governor-General's office. Look over there, take a look... carriage after carriage parked there. Good heavens, those tops belong to high-ranking officials from the capital." A man with a tattered towel draped over his shoulder asked in a low voice.
Old Li spat on the ground.
"What else could it be? How many times in your life have you seen a spectacle like this? Aside from when foreigners arrive, when have our Great Qing officials ever made such a fuss? It must be an envoy or admiral from some foreign country coming ashore. Just watch, these officials have soft bones; no telling how much real gold and silver they'll hand over."
"Damn it all to hell. I came early this morning looking for work, only to be driven out by these soldier thugs with their rifle butts. When the foreigners come, we can't even get a meal." The commoners complained outside the cordon.
Inside the cordon, the atmosphere under the makeshift canopy was heavy yet expectant.
Prince Gong sat in a grand armchair, holding a hand warmer.
Although it was already autumn, the sea breeze still carried a chill that seeped into one's bones.
Standing behind him were Prince Chun, Prince Zai Ze, and a group of nobles preparing to engage in distribution business in the interior.
As for the officials sent by the Tianjin Customs and the Zhili Governor-General's office, they could only stand outside the canopy, not even qualified to strike up a conversation.
"Sixth Brother." Prince Zai Ze leaned into Prince Yixin's ear.
"Calculating the time, the scout ships said they weren't far off, and the Metropolitan Trading Company fleet should have arrived by noon today. Now that the sun is setting, how come we haven't even seen a shadow of them?"
Prince Yixin did not turn his head, remaining composed.
"What's the rush? Just wait. As long as they are carrying what we want on their ships, never mind waiting half a day, we must stand here and wait even if it takes two days. You must keep your cool."
Just then, a lookout standing on the outermost perimeter suddenly pointed at the edge of the horizon and shouted.
"They're here! The foreigners' ships are here!" Everyone was immediately invigorated.
Prince Yixin stood up and walked quickly to the edge of the pier, raising his telescope.
In the gray mist where the sea met the sky, several huge black dots were rapidly enlarging.
As the distance closed, all the officials present and the commoners in the distance were plunged into shock.
Those were not the wooden-hulled sailing merchant ships they were accustomed to.
They were three jet-black steel behemoths with massive sails.
Towering smokestacks spewed thick black smoke, and the stout ironclad bows sliced directly through the waves.
No wood was exposed on the exterior; that pure sense of oppression forged from steel was like a black iron mountain moving across the sea.
The leading ship was none other than the Dreadnought, which O'Neill was aboard.
Following behind were two 3,000-ton large armed merchant ships fully loaded with cargo.
"My God..." Prince Zai Ze lowered his hand, his mouth open wide enough to fit a fist.
"All... all made of iron? How can these iron lumps float on the water without sinking to the bottom?"
Prince Yixin's hands gripped the brass barrel of the telescope tightly, his fingers trembling.
"This Argyle Family is truly worthy of their reputation. Even if we exhausted the national treasury, our Great Qing could not build such naval weapons right now." Prince Yixin's voice was dry.
The ship's whistle sounded deafeningly.
The three ironclad merchant ships slowly decelerated, dropping massive iron anchors weighing several tons.
The gangplanks were pushed out by the sailors, resting steadily on the pier of Tianjin Port.
Witt ONeill bit down on his cigar and adjusted the collar of his overcoat.
He turned to look at Intendant Li beside him.
"Mr. Li, it seems we have arrived. This is your hometown." O'Neill smiled and strode down the gangplank.
Intendant Li hurriedly followed with Interpreter Wang and his entourage.
Prince Gong led the group of nobles to meet them.
Intendant Li quickened his pace, went up to Prince Yixin, and knelt down to kowtow.
"Your humble servant Li pays respects to Prince Yixin. I have not failed my mission, bringing the merchant ships and Western equipment of the American Metropolitan Trading Company safely back to Tianjin Port."
"Rise. You have performed a great service on this overseas trip." Prince Gong raised his hand slightly.
He turned his gaze toward the tall American with the cigar in his mouth.
Interpreter Wang immediately stepped forward to introduce them in English.
"Mr. O'Neill. This is the Minister of the Zongli Yamen of the Great Qing Empire, His Highness Prince Gong. He is also the highest decision-maker for this procurement."
O'Neill took the cigar from his mouth and casually flicked the ash into the air.
He did not bow, nor did he perform a European court curtsy, but simply extended his right hand.
"Very pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I am Witt ONeill, General Manager of the Metropolitan Trading Company's Asia Division. On behalf of my boss, Mr. Felix Argyle, I extend his greetings to you."
Prince Yixin looked at the hand O'Neill extended, and after a slight hesitation, reached out and shook it.
"Mr. O'Neill, you have had a long and arduous journey. I have already prepared a welcoming banquet at the official residence in Tianjin. Please..."
That night.
At a top-tier government-run residence in Tianjin.
The banquet hall was brightly lit.
The large mahogany round table was laden with delicacies, bird's nest, and shark fin.
O'Neill sat in the seat of honor for guests.
This Eastern way of eating, where everyone gathered around one table, felt somewhat novel and also somewhat uncomfortable to him.
He was more accustomed to individual servings.
Prince Yixin sat in the main seat, with Prince Zai Ze and others accompanying him.
Interpreter Wang sat beside O'Neill, acting as a bridge between them.
"Mr. O'Neill, try this wine. This is a strong liquor aged for twenty years in our Great Qing Empire." Prince Zai Ze raised a small porcelain cup, signaling to O'Neill.
O'Neill picked up the porcelain cup in front of him.
He then smelled an extremely strong fermented odor.
To be honest, he was used to drinking whiskey and absinthe; this was his first time drinking this kind of transparent Eastern baijiu.
He tilted his head back and downed the wine in the cup in one gulp.
"Cough, cough!"
A line of fire burned directly from his throat to his stomach.
O'Neill's face turned bright red instantly, and he hurriedly grabbed the handkerchief on the table to cover his mouth.
"God, this isn't wine at all. This is damn medical alcohol!" O'Neill complained loudly in English.
The Qing officials at the table let out a burst of good-natured laughter.
"Apologies, Mr. O'Neill. This wine is strong; drink it slowly." Interpreter Wang translated hurriedly.
O'Neill drank a large gulp of water, finally suppressing that burning sensation.
"Your Highness, your wine is too wild. My stomach is still protesting."
O'Neill waved his hand, refusing the maid who was pouring more wine.
Prince Yixin put down his chopsticks and asked tentatively.
"Mr. O'Neill. May I ask if the winds and waves on the ocean were smooth? From San Francisco to Tianjin Port, having traveled for so many days, did these three ironclad ships not need to refuel with coal along the way?"
O'Neill listened to the translation and revealed a confident smile.
"The waves are high, Your Highness. But the hulls of our ships are extremely stable. As for coal, we have a private coaling station in the Hawaiian Islands that belongs to the Metropolitan Trading Company.
After docking for half a day, we filled up with high-quality anthracite coal. The steam boilers on these three ships are a new model developed a few years ago; their heat conversion rate is very high, so they don't need to dock for resupply as frequently as the British old-style steamships."
Prince Yixin and Prince Zai Ze exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with even greater astonishment.
It turned out that not only did they have ships, but they even had their own supply stations in the middle of the ocean.
"Mr. O'Neill." Prince Yixin cut straight to the point.
"Your ships have indeed opened my eyes, but I have also seen British ships, and I don't see much of a difference. The key is, when can we inspect the machines and firearms stipulated in our contract? The Imperial court's silver and the customs procedures have all been prepared. We are just waiting to inspect the goods."
O'Neill leaned back in his chair and took out a new cigar, and the maid beside him immediately stepped forward to light it for him.
"Your Highness. This is the most fascinating part of business: the inspection."
After holding the smoke in his mouth for a moment, O'Neill exhaled.
"I learned from Chen that you Easterners value seeing goods with your own eyes when doing business. Tomorrow morning, I will invite you and all the gentlemen present to board the ship yourselves. Go into the cargo hold and see what the Metropolitan Trading Company has brought."
As he spoke, O'Neill looked toward Prince Yixin.
"I guarantee it. Tomorrow on the deck, I will show you a brand-new world. By then, you will feel that those three million-plus dollars in gold were absolutely worth spending. Because what you are buying is not just machines, but the cutting-edge industrial crystallization of America."
Prince Yixin nodded.
"Very well, I will wait for tomorrow. If the goods are truly as Mr. O'Neill described, three million in gold will be moved onto your ship immediately. I have already sent people to clear out the storefronts of the Imperial Bank in Tianjin and Shanghai."
The dinner party ended with some simple probing.
O'Neill returned to the guest room prepared for him at the residence.
Standing by the window, he looked out at the low houses and dim streets of Tianjin.
"An ancient, ignorant, yet gold-filled empire." O'Neill smoked his cigar.
"Tomorrow, once those rats with tails see the firepower of the gatling gun and the light of the electric lamps, they will surely hand over the keys to the national treasury to me obediently. The boss in New York will definitely be crazy about this customs agreement I've signed."
The next morning, at the Tianjin port.
The mist on the sea had not yet fully dispersed.
Three ironclad merchant ships of the Metropolitan Trading Company were anchored quietly beside the pier.
Prince Yixin, Prince Chun, Prince Zai Ze, and a dozen accompanying Westernization Movement officials arrived at the pier early.
Behind them were over a hundred mule-drawn carts heavily guarded by elite soldiers.
The carts were covered with thick tarpaulins, filled with over three million dollars' worth of gold urgently gathered by the Great Qing Empire from the national treasury and major banks.
O'Neill stood at one end of the gangplank, welcoming these most powerful people of the Great Qing Empire.
"Your Highness, gentlemen. Welcome aboard."
After saying this, O'Neill made a gesture of invitation.
Prince Yixin stepped onto the deck of the ironclad, the hard sensation unique to pig iron coming from the soles of his feet.
Looking around, the huge steam cranes and thick steel cables made him feel a sense of dizziness.
"Mr. O'Neill, let's begin."
Prince Yixin did not waste words and went straight to the inspection.
O'Neill snapped his fingers.
Dozens of Metropolitan Company sailors and security personnel immediately sprang into action.
They lifted the rain tarps off several huge wooden crates on the deck.
"This is the first item: civil and office equipment from the General Electric Company."
O'Neill pointed to the first crate that had been opened.
A pure black machine with round keys was lifted out and placed on a wooden table.
"What is this? It looks like an iron abacus."
Prince Zai Ze leaned in, examining it curiously.
"Well, sir, this is actually a Typewriter."
O'Neill walked over, took out a piece of white paper, and fed it into the machine's roller.
Then, with extremely skilled movements, he quickly typed on the keyboard.
"Click, click, click..."
A crisp metallic clatter rang out on the deck.
In less than a minute, O'Neill pulled out the paper and handed it to Interpreter Wang.
The paper was filled with uniform English letters.
"You don't need your writing brushes. Just press the keys, and it can print text clearly on the paper. It's five times faster than handwriting."
Seeing that they were a bit confused, O'Neill explained.
Interpreter Wang hurriedly handed the paper to Prince Yixin.
Prince Yixin looked at the handwriting without a single smudge, and gasped deeply.
"If this thing could be modified to use the radicals of our Chinese characters, wouldn't it save a great deal of effort for copying official documents in the yamen?"
Clearly, Prince Yixin had keenly perceived its utility.
"Of course it can. You should know that our American government departments have been using it for a long time. It greatly improves office efficiency. As long as you have enough funds to place an order, General Electric can definitely customize a Chinese character version for you."
O'Neill did not hesitate to make empty promises.
In reality, General Electric had never developed a Chinese Typewriter, but as long as the money was right, he felt that wouldn't be a problem.
Afterward, he walked toward the next crate.
The sailors rolled out a small iron box with a hand crank.
"Gentlemen, this is a miniature hand-cranked generator from General Electric. Next, please witness a little bit of magic."
O'Neill picked up a light bulb encased in glass, with a thin tungsten filament inside.
He connected the base of the light bulb to the two wires extending from the generator.
"Come on, buddy, crank it." O'Neill said to the sailor.
The sailor hurriedly cranked the generator's wheel with force.
A few seconds later.
In the dark morning mist, an extremely blinding, warm light suddenly erupted from the glass bulb.
"Oh!"
Prince Zai Ze was startled and took a step back, covering his eyes with his hand.
"This... what kind of fire is this? Why is there no smoke, and why isn't it afraid of the wind?"
"NONONO~ Your Highness, this great invention is called an electric lamp."
O'Neill waved his hand and said loudly with a slightly excited expression.
"It doesn't need to burn lamp oil; it uses electric current. As long as that generator is turning, it can stay lit forever. In America, our boss is filling the streets and alleys of all Manhattan with these lamps."
"Even those factories are starting to install electric lamps one after another, using electricity to drive machinery."
Hearing this, Prince Yixin stared fixedly at the glowing glass bulb.
He hadn't expected that foreign countries could actually manufacture such an object, and then he thought of the palaces in the Forbidden City that consumed large amounts of candles every night, yet remained dim.
"Miraculous skill, truly a miraculous skill."
Prince Yixin muttered to himself; he was truly shocked by the electric lamp.
The demonstration continued.
For the next demonstration, O'Neill opened a wooden barrel from the Standard Oil Company.
"Look—this is the premium blue-barrel kerosene refined by our sister company, Standard Oil. It has no impurities and produces no black smoke when burning. It is extremely popular throughout Europe."
O'Neill poured some kerosene into a dish and lit it; the flame was pure and bright.
This actually managed to calm these Great Qing officials down.
It seemed not everything they had was so amazing; they had this kind of kerosene in the Great Qing too.
Next were the products from the Argyle Food Company.
The sailors used openers to pry open a dozen tin cans, heated them up, and set them out.
"Come, everyone, have a taste."
O'Neill used a knife to pick up a piece of beef.
"This is high-pressure sealed and sterilized canned beef; theoretically, it has a shelf life of two years. Whether in the desert or at sea, it will not spoil. It is the perfect ration for armies on the march and ships at sea."
Prince Chun picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth.
The meat still retained its elasticity, and the taste was actually quite good.
"If we could bring this along for military campaigns, it would indeed save a great deal of trouble in transporting provisions."
As a prince in charge of military power, Prince Chun immediately understood the military value of this item.
But... he felt it might not be easy to get approved, after all...
"And there is also this: Iodine Glycerin and high-concentration carbolic acid from the Umbrella Pharmaceutical Company."
Seeing that these people did not seem very interested, O'Neill picked up a bottle of brown Iodine Glycerin again.
"I believe everyone here should know. On the battlefield, soldiers who are shot often do not die from the bullet, but from the wound festering and becoming infected. However, as long as you pour this medicine onto the wound, it can kill those invisible bacteria. It can increase the survival rate of your wounded soldiers by more than fifty percent."
Seeing the medicine, the eyes of these officials lit up.
This stuff is good; it would be very useful if one were injured in the future.
The series of demonstrations of civilian and logistical supplies had already given these Great Qing officials a rough understanding of the Argyle Family's industrial strength.
But this was not enough.
O'Neill knew that what would really empty the gold bars from their pockets were things that could kill.
"Gentlemen, I know these cans and medicines cannot protect your borders. Now, let's look at something truly hardcore."
O'Neill walked to the very front of the deck.
A huge, long wooden crate was pried open.
Inside, fifty rifles, emitting the scent of gun oil, were stacked neatly.
"Vanguard Military Industry, Model 65 breech-loading rifle."
O'Neill picked up a rifle, pulled back the bolt, and ejected a bright yellow metallic fixed cartridge case.
"There is no need to use a ramrod to poke gunpowder down the muzzle. You load from the back. Whether lying prone or on your back, you can shoot. The range and accuracy are twice that of your current muzzle-loading rifles."
O'Neill skillfully loaded and chambered a round, then turned to face the sea.
"Bang!" The gunshot was crisp.
A wooden board floating on the sea not far away was instantly shattered.
"Look, this is the excellence of our weapons. Next is our star product, which is what we promised Lord Li in San Francisco."
Two sailors pushed out a heavy weapon mounted on a two-wheeled base.
Six barrels were arranged in a circle.
"The gatling gun."
O'Neill walked behind the machine gun himself.
He had the sailors set up a dozen straw man targets on some abandoned wooden pilings on the pier in the distance.
He grasped the crank handle.
"Your Highness, Gentlemen. Please cover your ears; you should know that this thing makes a rather piercing sound when it gets going."
After saying this, O'Neill cranked the handle vigorously.
"Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da!"
The deafening sound of continuous gunfire exploded over Tianjin Port. Tongues of fire spewed madly from the six barrels.
In less than ten seconds, the dozen straw man targets on the pier were instantly torn to shreds by the dense rain of bullets.
The wooden pilings were seen riddled with holes, with wood chips flying everywhere.
The Great Qing officials on the deck all froze.
Prince Zai Ze's legs were trembling.
He could not imagine what a bloody, miserable scene it would be if the Great Qing Empire's cavalry charged at this weapon.
Prince Yixin's face was pale, but his eyes revealed a fanatical desire.
This was what he wanted.
With this kind of machine, those rebellious Taiping rebels and Nian rebels would be completely vulnerable.
The gunfire stopped. The deck was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder smoke.
O'Neill released the crank, loosened his shoulders, and turned around.
"Look—this is the sincerity of the Metropolitan Trading Company. Your Highness. Not only these guns and cannons, but the cargo hold also contains a complete set of disassembled parts for a steel furnace. As long as you find a piece of land, our engineers can help you build a steel plant."
O'Neill walked up to Prince Yixin. "Now you have seen all the items, can our contract be fulfilled?"
Prince Yixin took a deep breath. He turned his head and waved to the Governor-General of Zhili behind him.
"The goods have been verified; let the men below bring up the gold." Prince Yixin's voice was a bit hoarse.
As over a hundred carriages began to unload, crates of heavy gold were carried by the sailors onto the gangplank and into the cargo hold of the ironclad ship.
"Mr. O'Neill, in addition to settling the three million-plus in spot goods."
Prince Yixin took out a document stamped with the official seals of the Zongli Yamen and the Ministry of Revenue from his sleeve and handed it to Interpreter Wang.
Interpreter Wang passed the document to O'Neill.
"This is the imperial court's gracious permission, specially authorizing the Argyle Empire Bank to establish branches in Tianjin Wei and Shanghai County. Furthermore, starting from next month, the tax revenue from the Jiang Customs and Yue Customs will be directly transferred by the Customs Circuit Intendant into the branch accounts of the Imperial Bank as collateral and repayment for the remaining 4.5 million. This will last for ten years."
O'Neill took the heavy document, feeling his hands trembling slightly.
This was the first piece, and the fattest piece, of meat that American capital had carved from this vast empire.
"Very good, happy cooperation, Your Highness. The Metropolitan Trading Company will always be the most reliable friend of the Great Qing Empire."
Of course, provided there is enough profit. Thinking this, O'Neill put the document into his inner pocket.
Prince Yixin looked at the gold being continuously moved onto the ship and sighed inwardly.
"Mr. O'Neill, since the official business is finished, I would like to sincerely invite you to a banquet tonight. There will be no outsiders, just myself and a few brothers from the imperial clan. There are some private matters regarding business in the interior that I would like to discuss with you, Mr. O'Neill."
Facing the private invitation from Prince Yixin, O'Neill understood perfectly.
You know, this was the real highlight.
Before coming here, President Bill had already instructed him that this bunch of feudal nobles would surely try every means to profit from distribution in the interior.
"It is a great honor, Your Highness. I will definitely arrive on time."
Night fell. In a private garden in Tianjin that had been temporarily rented out and was heavily guarded.
There were none of those customs officials or people from the Governor-General's office from the daytime here.
There were only a few core Manchu nobles, such as Prince Yixin, Prince Chun, and Prince Zai Ze.
O'Neill arrived at the garden by carriage. Then, led by the steward, he walked into the brightly lit main hall.
The banquet was already set, but the theme this time was not eating.
O'Neill sat down in the guest seat, with Interpreter Wang sitting beside him.
Prince Zai Ze, who was to the side, said impatiently, "Mr. O'Neill. It was too crowded with people on the ship during the day; now, let's close the doors and speak some honest words."
Seeing O'Neill did not respond, Prince Zai Ze continued, "The machines and firearms from the Metropolitan Trading Company are indeed very good. But our Great Qing Empire is vast. Aside from the heavy machinery purchased by the imperial court, if you want to sell your electric lights, Typewriters, kerosene, canned meat, and medicinal potions to the inland provinces and counties, without people like us to handle the local connections, the goods might not even make it out of the city gates of Tianjin."
O'Neill silently lit a cigar. He understood what the other party meant, so he went with the flow. "Prince Zai Ze is right. The Metropolitan Trading Company has a perfect logistics network in America, but not in the Great Qing Empire. Therefore, we do indeed need local partners."
"Exactly! That is why we brothers have established a company called Liyuan Company." Seeing that they were being recognized, Prince Yixin quickly took over the conversation. "We want to secure the exclusive distribution rights for all civilian goods from the Metropolitan Trading Company, excluding military and mechanical equipment, for the region north of the Yangtze River in the Great Qing Empire."
O'Neill quickly calculated the profits in his mind. These nobles wanted the status of a general agent. "The exclusive distribution rights can be granted."
"But the pricing must follow the rules of the Metropolitan Trading Company. We will provide you with the landed price at the port of Tianjin. Based on this price, we will give you a fifteen percent discount. You will be responsible for inland transportation, warehousing, and all local transit taxes. As for how much you sell them for inland, that is not our concern."
"Fifteen percent?" Prince Zai Ze frowned. "Mr. O'Neill, this discount is a bit too thin, isn't it? The expenses for handling connections along the way when transporting to Zhili and Shanxi are a significant sum."
"It is not thin, Prince Zai Ze." O'Neill would not budge an inch. "This fifteen percent price difference, if it concerns kerosene and medicine, is absolutely an astronomical figure you cannot imagine. Besides, this is exclusive; others cannot even get the goods if they want to sell them."
Prince Yixin pondered for a moment. He knew the foreigners were very firm on pricing. "Then fifteen percent it is, let's settle on that. The agency rights north of the Yangtze River belong to Liyuan Company." Prince Yixin made the final decision. The business discussion concluded. The atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
Prince Zai Ze clapped his hands. "Mr. O'Neill, the business is done. Let us talk about friendship now." Prince Zai Ze shouted toward the door, "Bring them in." The screen on the side of the main hall was moved aside. Five young women wearing the most magnificent silk gowns of the Great Qing Empire walked in slowly in a line, heads lowered. Their steps were perfectly synchronized; they had clearly undergone strict training. The air was immediately filled with a faint scent of high-quality rouge mixed with sandalwood.
O'Neill was stunned. He looked at the five Eastern women who had suddenly appeared, his cigar suspended in mid-air. Prince Yixin picked up his teacup and said with a smile, "Mr. O'Neill. We are well aware that Mr. Argyle is an extraordinary figure in America. These five women are the 'pearls' carefully selected by us imperial clansmen. They are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and have received the best training in etiquette. This is, as we mentioned in the telegram, a private gift prepared for Mr. Argyle."
Interpreter Wang translated these words for O'Neill. O'Neill sized up the five women. Su Ying and Wan Qing, standing on the left, had their eyes lowered, looking pitiful. Although Amur kept her head down, her back was straight as a ramrod. The twins, Yun Yan and Yun Meng, looked exactly the same.
"God~" O'Neill muttered to himself. From the aesthetic perspective of a rough American man like him, these five women were indeed beautiful, with delicate features like porcelain dolls. But the problem was, they were too thin. Their frames were too delicate; a gust of wind could blow them over. "Which of the partners the boss looks for isn't curvy? The boss could break these frail little Eastern kittens apart in bed."
O'Neill complained inwardly. But he would never reveal his true thoughts. Because President Bill had told him before he set off that Easterners were concerned with saving face and liked to use this method of gifting women to handle political and business relationships. O'Neill immediately put on an expression of extreme amazement and admiration. He stood up and walked over to the five women.
"It is incredible, Your Highness. These are simply five perfect pieces of Eastern art." O'Neill exclaimed in an extremely exaggerated tone. "Their eyes are like stars, and their skin is like silk. I swear, when the boss sees them in his manor in New York, he will go crazy with joy. This is absolutely the most generous gift I have ever seen."
Hearing O'Neill's flattery, Prince Yixin and Prince Zai Ze showed satisfied smiles on their faces. It seemed this move was the right one. O'Neill looked at Su Ying in front of him and keenly noticed that the girl's hands were trembling slightly. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. These five women were gifts for the big boss. What if, just in case, there really was such a miracle in this world? What if the big boss happened to like this kind of frail Eastern style? Or what if one of them really won the big boss's favor and became someone close to him? If he, O'Neill, did not build some goodwill now, then if they said something by the boss's pillow in the future, his career as the Asia regional manager would be over. Businessmen never let go of any potential emotional investment.
"Your Highness, the gift is truly too precious. But I have a small suggestion." O'Neill turned to look at Prince Yixin and said in a sincere tone. "In America, everyone knows my boss is a very kind and family-oriented person. These five beautiful ladies are about to travel across the ocean to New York. The journey is long. If they leave alone, they will surely miss their homeland very much, which will affect their mood. And if they are in a bad mood, they will not be able to serve my boss in the best way."
O'Neill paused. "So, if they still have family—like brothers or parents—I suggest we let them bring their families along on the merchant ship to America. The Argyle Family has many vacant properties in New York, and we can properly accommodate their families. Only then can they stay by the boss's side wholeheartedly. Of course, if they are unwilling to go, we will certainly not force them."
As soon as these words were spoken, Su Ying and Wan Qing, who had been keeping their heads down, suddenly looked up, their eyes filled with unbelievable ecstasy. They had originally thought they would never see their parents and brothers, who had been exiled to the frontier, again in this lifetime. Yun Yan and Yun Meng even had tears welling up in their eyes. Prince Yixin was stunned. Hey~ He really hadn't expected this American to make such a request. But upon careful consideration, he knew the backgrounds of all these women. Su Ying's family was in exile, and Wan Qing's family was struggling at the bottom of society. Packing them up and sending them away was not a big deal at all; it could be done with a few fake travel permits. Anyway, he didn't intend to use their families to threaten these women into doing things; after all, they were just maidservants being sent away, how high could their status be? Whether Mr. Argyle liked them or not was another matter. But since O'Neill had said so, why not do a favor?
"Hahaha~ Mr. O'Neill is truly thoughtful." Prince Yixin laughed heartily. "This is absolutely no problem. Since they are Mr. Argyle' people, it is only natural that they should have no worries. I will send someone to bring their relatives to the port of Tianjin tomorrow. Those who are willing to go can board the ship together." "Then many thanks, Your Highness." O'Neill smiled and sat back in his chair. He glanced at the five women out of the corner of his eye. Looking at the boundless gratitude in their eyes as they looked at him, he thought, "This is it, an investment in goodwill that doesn't cost me a single dollar." O'Neill raised his wine glass, feeling very pleased.
The banquet continued. In the time that followed, they began to divide the agency scope for regions such as Zhili, Shanxi, and Shandong in detail. It was late at night. O'Neill sat in the carriage returning to the guesthouse. He reached out and touched the ten-thousand-dollar HSBC check and the customs mortgage agreement in his inner pocket, and then thought of the more than three million in gold stored in the bottom hold at the port.
And those five Eastern beauties who were about to be packed and sent to New York. "This trip to the Great Qing Empire was not in vain."
In this era, the mornings in the capital always carried an inescapable stench.
In the backyard of the Music Bureau, rows of low, flat houses stood packed tightly together.
The people imprisoned here were all the families of disgraced officials. Those once high-and-mighty official wives and young ladies, once they stepped through this door, their lives were worth less than grass.
Steward Wu from Prince Gongs Mansion, carrying orders from Prince Gong, led two burly attendants straight into the main hall of the Music Bureau.
The official in charge of the Music Bureau was a eunuch with a face full of flab. Upon seeing the Prince Gongs Mansion waist token in Steward Wu's hand, he immediately bowed low.
"Steward Wu, why have you come in person? Does the Prince have any instructions?" The official rubbed his hands together, his face plastered with a smile.
Steward Wu didn't waste words, pulling a slip of paper stamped with a red seal from his sleeve and slapping it onto the table.
"I'm here to take someone. The family member of the former Censor, Master Su—the Hu woman. The Prince has a task for her."
The official looked at the slip, his face showing difficulty.
"This… Steward Wu, this Hu woman is top-tier merchandise in the Music Bureau. Although she is thirty-two this year, her figure and appearance are more alluring than those teenage virgins. My subordinates have put in a lot of effort, spending the better part of a month every day teaching her the rules and the tricks of the trade. Now that she is finally trained, we planned for her to officially hang her sign and receive guests tomorrow night. Several wealthy merchants in the capital have already secretly offered silver to vie for her as the top attraction. If you take her away with just one word, it will be hard for my subordinates to do their jobs."
Steward Wu sneered and pulled two gold bars from his bosom, tossing them onto the table.
The gold bars made a dull thud.
"Rest assured, I understand the rules. These two gold bars are for you all to have some tea. As for those wealthy merchants, tell them to go to Prince Gongs Mansion to ask for her if they have the guts. Go quickly and bring the Hu woman out. If she is missing even a single hair, you better watch yourself."
The official's eyes went straight when he saw the gold bars. How could he dare to say a single word of refusal? He scrambled toward the backyard.
In less time than it takes for an incense stick to burn, a woman was brought into the hall.
She was Hu Mei.
In her thirties, she was at the prime of a woman's allure.
Although she had suffered greatly in the Music Bureau during this time, leaving her complexion somewhat pale, the maturity that seeped from her bones and her extremely alluring curves could not be hidden.
However, her eyes held a dead, numb look. She knew what fate she would face tomorrow night: being wantonly trampled by those men reeking of copper and fat.
"Steward Wu, the person has been brought here," the official said fawningly.
Steward Wu looked Hu Mei up and down and nodded.
"Come with me." Steward Wu turned and walked out.
Hu Mei did not ask where they were going, nor did she resist.
Like a walking corpse, she followed Steward Wu onto the carriage parked outside.
The carriage turned several times through the streets of the capital, finally stopping in front of a secluded residence.
Hu Mei was led into a side room. As soon as the door was pushed open, she froze.
"Mother!" A shrill cry rang out.
Su Ying rushed over from inside the room, clinging tightly to Hu Mei and sobbing loudly.
Hu Mei trembled all over, her previously numb eyes instantly regaining their luster.
Looking at her daughter in her arms, tears streamed from her eyes. She had thought she would never see her daughter again in this lifetime.
"Ying'er! Why are you here? Weren't you taken away?" Hu Mei held her daughter tightly, stroking her cheeks.
Steward Wu stood at the door, interrupting their crying.
"That's enough. There will be plenty of time for mother and daughter to reunite. Hu woman, your daughter has been selected by the Prince's Mansion to be sent abroad. She is going to America to serve a very important person. That person's subordinates have spoken, saying that you family members can go along with her. Therefore, the Prince has shown mercy and had you brought out from the Music Bureau. If you are willing to go across the ocean, you can go along with her."
Hu Mei was stunned upon hearing this.
Go abroad? America?
Seeing that the mother and daughter were both silent, Steward Wu frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased.
But because these were people the Prince had ordered to be looked after, he dared not say much more.
After giving a few more instructions, he closed the door and left; he still had to go find others.
Only the mother and daughter were left in the room.
Hu Mei pulled Su Ying to sit on the edge of the bed and wiped away her tears.
Her gaze quickly became clear.
Having survived in a man-eating place like the Music Bureau, she had long abandoned those unrealistic fantasies.
"Ying'er, tell Mother the truth. What is actually going on? What is the background of that American?" Hu Mei asked in a low voice.
Su Ying sobbed as she told her mother everything about her experiences in the side courtyard of the Prince's Mansion over the past half-month, as well as the snippets she had heard from the interpreter about Felix.
"Mother, they say that American is wealthier than a nation, and the houses he builds are higher than mountains. The Prince's Mansion is sending the five of us girls over just to curry favor with him and trade for some guns and cannons. I'm scared, I'm really scared. Will those foreigners swallow us alive?"
Hu Mei listened quietly.
Looking at her daughter's stunning but timid face, she sighed deeply.
How could she not know what her daughter was thinking? After all, she had grown up in the deep chambers and had rarely been exposed to the outside world.
She must have been living cautiously during this time, not to mention having to go abroad to that so-called America.
She reached out and cupped Su Ying's cheeks.
"Ying'er, listen to Mother. Your father is dead, and our family has fallen. If we stay in the Great Qing Empire, your fate will be to be toyed with by those officials, and my fate will be to receive guests in the Music Bureau until I contract some rotten disease and am thrown into a mass grave."
A fierce look flashed in Hu Mei's eyes.
"So, no matter how dangerous this America is, we must go. If we don't, there is no way for us mother and daughter to survive in this Great Qing."
Su Ying's eyes were teary; she hadn't expected her mother to say such things.
"But Mother, that is a land of barbarians…"
"What does it matter if it is a land of barbarians? As long as that man named Argyle has power and gold in his hands, nothing else matters."
Hu Mei interrupted before Su Ying could finish, gripping her daughter's hand tightly.
This child really hadn't suffered much; was there anything more important than surviving now?
"Listen to Mother. I've lived and learned during this time in the Music Bureau. For us women, our lives are held in the hands of men. Rather than being ruined by hundreds of men here, it is better to go across the ocean and stake our lives on a man who can summon wind and rain."
Hu Mei stood up and tidied her hair. The allure of a mature woman and the seductive tricks she had been forced to learn in the Music Bureau merged perfectly in this moment.
"Five people going together? Hmph. Ying'er, your personality is too soft; you won't be able to compete with the others at all. But don't worry, Mother is here now."
Hu Mei looked out the window, her gaze resolute.
"As long as we mother and daughter are of one mind, no matter what kind of temper that American has, Mother will help you stand firm."
Meanwhile, in a private slave market in the western suburbs of the capital.
A burly man from the Western Regions with a high nose and deep-set eyes was chained to a wooden pillar by two thick iron chains.
Although his body was covered in whip marks, his eyes were as fierce as a wolf's.
This man was named Batu, Amur's older brother.
Several guards held whips but did not dare to get close to him.
Manager Wu walked into the private market with his men, glanced at the portrait in his hand, and pointed at the chained Batu.
"That's him. Release him."
The owner of the private market hurried over.
"Sir, this man is a lunatic with a very violent temper. Why are you buying him? Be careful he doesn't hurt anyone."
"Cut the chatter. Is it your place to question who Prince Gong's Mansion wants?" Manager Wu threw down a bag of silver.
The chains were unlocked.
Batu did not resist, only staring coldly at Manager Wu.
Half an hour later, Batu was brought to that secluded residence.
In another side room, Amur saw her brother covered in wounds, and her eyes instantly reddened.
"Brother!"
Amur ran over but did not cry out.
For the children of the Western Regions, tears were the most worthless things.
Batu patted his sister's head and turned to look at Manager Wu.
"You bought me to make my sister obediently go with you?"
Batu's Mandarin was a bit stiff, but his thinking was very clear.
"It was that American who spoke up, suggesting they bring their family members along," Manager Wu replied.
"You can consider yourself lucky. If you're willing to go to America, you won't be a slave anymore."
After Manager Wu left, Batu pulled Amur to sit down.
Amur quickly recounted the whole sequence of events.
"Brother, we are going there. It will just be the two of us depending on each other. I don't know if that man named Argyle is easy to get along with."
After listening, the muscles on Batu's face twitched slightly.
"Amur. Regardless of whether that man is easy to get along with, you must make him feel that you are useful. And not just useful in bed."
A shrewd, pragmatic gleam like that of a prairie wolf shone in Batu's eyes.
"Once you go to America, you five women will have to compete for favor. You don't have the scheming nature of those Han women, nor their fragile, delicate ways. So, what will you rely on?"
Batu pointed to his own chest and then clenched his sandbag-sized fist.
"Rely on me."
Batu stared into his sister's eyes.
"Men, especially leaders who possess immense wealth and power, don't just need women in bed; they need loyal subordinates outside who can do their dirty work and risk their lives for them. I won't be eating his food for free in America. I will go to his factory, to his guard detail."
"I will use my fists and my loyalty to prove my worth to that Argyle. As long as I become a useful blade in his hands on the outside, no woman will be able to shake your position on the inside."
Batu stood up and looked at the night sky in the distance.
"Once we get there, you focus on dealing with that man. I will handle the matters outside for you. In that place called New York, we will carve out our own pasture."
The post station in Tianjin was bustling with noise.
It had been temporarily chartered by the soldiers of Prince Gong's Mansion to house the female family members and their relatives who were about to set sail abroad.
In a fairly spacious courtyard, the twin sisters, Yun Yan and Yun Meng, were kneeling on the ground.
Before them sat a middle-aged couple dressed in decent silk garments.
These were their parents, the wealthy Master Yun and Madame Yun from Jiangnan.
Madame Yun held a handkerchief, crying until she was almost breathless.
Although Master Yun was holding back his grief, his eyes were also red.
"Father, Mother. Your daughter is unfilial and cannot serve you at your knees anymore."
Yun Yan kowtowed once, her voice choked with sobs.
Beside her, Yun Meng had long since become a tearful mess.
Master Yun's hands trembled as he pulled a heavy bundle from his sleeve and stuffed it into Yun Yan's hands.
"Yan'er, Meng'er. When Father came, I sold ten acres of our family's fertile land to get these gold bars. Father is incompetent and cannot take you away."
"Keep these treasures on you."
"The ocean is vast and the distance is great; I hear those foreigners are unreasonable."
"If that... Argyle treats you poorly, use this gold to smooth things over. Do not make yourselves suffer."
Yun Yan shook her head and pushed the bundle back.
"Father. The manager from the Prince's Mansion said we won't lack for anything over there. You should take these gold bars back. My younger brothers still need to study for their civil service exams. Although our family is considered wealthy, we cannot afford such upheaval. Our going there is actually escaping the fate of scheming in the palace. Just consider that your daughters have married far away."
Madame Yun hugged both her daughters tightly.
"My darlings. Jiangnan is so far away; your father traveled day and night after receiving the letter that you had been intercepted. How did we end up in this situation? The people from the Prince's Mansion said we could go too, but our family's ancestral graves are in Jiangnan, and your brothers are in Jiangnan. This bond cannot be broken."
Yun Yan gently patted her mother's back.
"Daughter understands. Father and Mother do not need to go. You wouldn't get used to that place, America. As long as my younger brothers can strive and preserve our Yun family's estate, we daughters will be at ease over there."
Although this parting was filled with tears, the concern of the Yun parents was more of a pure, familial love.
They did not have many ambitions; they only hoped their daughters would be safe.
On the other side of the courtyard, the atmosphere was a bit different.
The former prominent salt merchant of Lianghuai, Liu Yuan, was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
Although he wore a somewhat old-fashioned long gown, the shrewdness and calculation honed from decades in the business world still lingered in his brows and eyes.
His wife, Madame Liu, sat in a chair, wiping away tears.
Liu Wan Qing stood to the side.
She did not cry; she just watched her father quietly.
"Wan Qing."
Liu Yuan stopped his pacing and turned to look at his daughter. There was not much sadness in his eyes; instead, they revealed a hint of shrewdness.
"You said earlier that the general manager of the Metropolitan Trading Company, that O'Neill, doesn't even show much respect to Prince Gong?"
"Yes, Father," Liu Wan Qing replied calmly.
"I saw him at their banquet. The man was smoking opium, and whether it was a prince or a noble, he carried himself as an equal to them. Moreover, the interpreter who understands foreign languages told me privately that our Great Qing Empire wants to buy machine guns that can spit fire and those lights that shine without fire. All of these things are manufactured in that Mr. Argyle's factory."
Liu Yuan revealed a satisfied smile and vigorously rubbed his face with both hands.
"Heavens, the Heavens have not cut off the path for my Liu family!" Liu Yuan's voice actually trembled slightly.
Madame Liu looked up, glaring at her husband with some anger.
"Liu Yuan! Have you gone mad? Our daughter is about to be sent thousands of miles away to serve a foreigner. How is this any different from being sold as a concubine? And you are actually smiling!"
"Hmph! A woman's perspective—what do you know!"
Liu Yuan sternly reprimanded his wife.
He walked over to Liu Wan Qing and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Wan Qing. Do you know how our family fell? It was because the salt routes in Lianghuai were cut off by those officials and larger salt merchants colluding together. Doing business in this Great Qing Empire, without a backer, even a mountain of gold and silver cannot be protected!"
Liu Yuan's gaze became deep.
"But now, you have a very good backer in front of you. Wealth that rivals a nation? No, I think it's even richer than the national treasury."
Liu Yuan began to view this matter with a merchant's mindset.
"Why does Prince Gong want to send you five over there? Because the Great Qing Empire is begging them to sell machinery. What does this mean? It means that Mr. Argyle holds in his hands the heaven-reaching means that even the Great Qing Empire must bow to."
"So, in your father's view, you absolutely must not just think about how to please a man and earn your keep when you go to America."
Liu Yuan stared into his daughter's eyes.
"You must also compete for favor, and even learn about his business. Those foreign goods, those machines—as long as Mr. Argyle leaks even a small opening by the bedside and hands over the agency rights for some place in the Great Qing Empire to our Liu family, our Liu family will not only be able to turn things around immediately, but we could even become the largest comprador in all of Jiangnan!"
Liu Wan Qing did not feel repulsed listening to her father's words.
Because she had inherited her father's shrewdness, she knew that in this world of survival of the fittest, only profit was the most reliable thing.
"Father, daughter understands."
"But there are five people going this time, and..."
Liu Wan Qing frowned.
"A few days ago, that Su Ying's mother was also brought here. I heard they are preparing for both mother and daughter to go to America together. Su Ying has family members there to support her, and her mother... is extremely beautiful."
"It's possible that Mr. Argyle might have some intentions."
"Although I have studied, I am afraid I do not have absolute confidence in my looks and methods to come out on top."
After listening to his daughter, Liu Yuan's brow furrowed deeply.
He was a shrewd businessman.
He knew very well that in business, if one's own chips weren't strong enough, one had to find external allies to bind their interests together.
So he walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and looked out into the courtyard.
Just then, Hu Mei was pulling Su Ying out of the opposite wing.
Hu Mei was dressed in plain clothes, but the sway of her hips as she walked, combined with the seductive charm unique to a mature woman in her eyes, made even an old hand like Liu Yuan feel his heart skip a beat.
Liu Yuan sucked in a breath, secretly crying out in dismay.
"What formidable methods."
A woman in her thirties who had been trained in that hellhole of the Music Registry, paired with a young, beautiful daughter with an equally stunning figure.
He had no doubt that any man would be tempted.
If this mother-daughter duo really both ended up in that American's bed, a well-bred young lady like Wan Qing, who had only ever read books, wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance.
Liu Yuan slammed the window shut and turned around.
His gaze fell upon the young girl standing behind his wife.
That was his sister-in-law, Shen Yue.
She had just turned eighteen this year.
Because her parents had died early, she had been living with the Liu family.
She was delicate and pretty. Though she lacked Wan Qing's elegant grace, she possessed the gentle, delicate charm unique to women of Jiangnan.
Liu Yuan's mind began to race.
An extremely bold, even absurd plan began to take shape in his mind.
Shen Yue felt a chill under her brother-in-law's gaze. She unconsciously took half a step back and lowered her head.
Liu Yuan withdrew his gaze and quickly walked over to his wife.
"My dear, have Wan Qing and Shen Bi go out first. I have an extremely urgent matter to discuss with you."
Wiping away her tears, Mrs. Liu had no idea what her husband was up to.
She waved her hand at the two girls.
Wan Qing glanced at her father, then led her aunt Shen Bi out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Only the husband and wife were left in the room.
Liu Yuan pulled up a chair, sat down in front of his wife, and lowered his voice.
"My dear, it absolutely won't do for Wan Qing to go to America alone."
Mrs. Liu froze for a moment, then was overjoyed.
"Master! Have you finally come to your senses? Are we going to beg the prince's manor's steward to let Wan Qing stay? Good, good... No matter what, we cannot push our daughter into a fiery pit!"
"Shut up. What time do you think it is, to still be speaking such nonsense?" Liu Yuan interrupted her impatiently.
"Wan Qing must go; there is no resisting this. What I mean is that she won't be able to compete with the others on her own, so she needs help."
Liu Yuan stared into his wife's eyes.
"I want Shen Yue to go to America with Wan Qing as her 'dowry maid'."
Hearing this, Mrs. Liu felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She stared blankly at her husband, as if looking at a complete stranger and a madman.
"Liu Yuan... are... are you mad?"
Mrs. Liu's voice trembled, and then she suddenly stood up, pointing at Liu Yuan's nose and scolding him.
"Is it not enough that you sold your own daughter, but you want to sell my own sister too?! Yue'er is only eighteen. She was supposed to find a good family to marry into in Jiangnan, yet you actually want to send her to a foreigner's bed as a concubine?"
Liu Yuan did not shrink from his wife's accusations.
After all, this was indeed a rather despicable thing to do.
However, he still grabbed his wife's wrist and forced her back down onto the chair.
"Calm down and let me lay out the math for you."
There was a sense of helplessness in Liu Yuan's voice.
"What's the use of crying and screaming out there? Do you really think our family is still the great sea-salt merchant of the past, riding in sedans and eating mountain delicacies for every meal? Right now, we can barely even afford the carriage fare outside the courier station!"
Liu Yuan pointed out the window, his face filled with worry.
"I just took a secret look. Do you know what kind of people are going with Wan Qing?"
"There is a pair of identical twin sisters, and an exotic Western Regions woman. Worst of all is that girl named Su Ying—even her mother, who used to be an official's wife, is going along!"
Liu Yuan gritted his teeth.
"Though I couldn't see that woman's face clearly, just looking at the way she walks... she's a vixen trained with utmost effort by the matrons of the Music Registry. Once a woman like that gets into a man's bed, she'll suck him dry to the bone."
"No matter how rich that American boss is, he is still just a man. Wan Qing has read a few books, knows how to keep ledgers, and understands calculation. But she certainly won't be able to lower herself when it comes to serving a man. She stands no chance against that pair of vixen mother and daughter!"
Releasing his wife's hand, Liu Yuan paced back and forth in the room.
"Our daughter must go; that is set in stone."
"So we must consider what happens if Wan Qing falls out of favor. She'll just be a useless servant in that villa. If that happens, our hope of reviving the Liu family will be completely shattered."
"Therefore, she must have help."
Liu Yuan turned around and looked at his weeping wife.
"Shen Yue has been raised in our home for so many years. She has a gentle temperament and is close to Wan Qing's age. Wan Qing has the brains, and Shen Yue is young and obedient. If the two of them join forces, even if they can't come out on top, they can at least secure a piece of the pie in that foreign man's backyard."
"Once Wan Qing establishes her footing, she can whisper in that American's ear. When the time comes, our family will be able to secure the agency rights for the Metropolitan Trading Company's foreign goods in Jiangnan. Do you have any idea how highly profitable those matches and kerosene are? If we get those agency rights, our Liu family will recover our past glory within two years."
Mrs. Liu shook her head frantically.
"I don't want to hear your business talk. Shen Yue is my own sister; I cannot watch her suffer such humiliation. If she goes there without any status or title, she will just be treated as someone's plaything!"
Liu Yuan walked up to his wife, his eyes tinged with sorrow.
"My dear, you ache for your sister, but what about our son?"
"Your precious son is still wandering around with us, and we can't even afford to hire a tutor for him. If the Liu family falls like this, he will only be able to work as a bookkeeper for others or carry heavy sacks at the docks in the future. Can you really bear to watch the Liu family lineage end up ruined in the mud like this?"
Liu Yuan leaned down and stared into his wife's eyes.
"We have already sacrificed a daughter, so what harm is there in sacrificing a sister as well? If it can exchange for our son's lifelong wealth and prosperity, and the restoration of the Liu family's name, is this bargain really not worth it?"
Mrs. Liu's crying gradually subsided.
She stared blankly at her husband, her mind conjuring up her son's face, which was somewhat gaunt from not having enough to eat.
In this era, a woman's destiny was always just an appendage of her family.
She closed her eyes, sighing in despair, her entire body going limp in the chair.
"I'll go... I'll go speak to Yue'er."
Mrs. Liu's voice was so faint it was barely audible.
Liu Yuan finally felt relieved. He stood up straight and smoothed out the hem of his long gown.
"That's more like it." Liu Yuan patted his wife's shoulder.
"Tell her she isn't going there to suffer, but to enjoy a life of luxury. That man has endless wealth. As long as she follows Wan Qing's arrangements, she can wear fine silks and satins and live in a mansion over there. That is ten thousand times better than marrying some penniless scholar in Jiangnan."
Half an hour later.
Liu Yuan found O'Neill's deputy.
He slipped over an ancestral jade plaque and requested to have his sister-in-law board the ship as a family member.
In the eyes of this trading team, which was about to carry away three million ounces of gold from the Great Qing Empire, bringing an extra woman on board was as insignificant as bringing along an extra cat.
For the sake of the jade, O'Neill's deputy readily agreed.
After all, this didn't break any rules.
Early the next morning.
At the docks of Tianjin Port, the steam whistle blared loudly.
The Great Qing Empire's gold had been fully loaded onto the ship.
Prince Gong and a crowd of nobles stood on the dock, waving goodbye to O'Neill.
Meanwhile, inside the spacious luxury cabin of the 'Intrepid'...
Hu Mei held Su Ying's hand, Amur was wiping a dagger, and Batu stood outside the door like an iron tower. Yun Yan and Yun Meng leaned against each other, watching the waves outside the porthole.
Liu Wanqing sat on the edge of the bed.
Behind her stood her aunt, Shen Yue, whose eyes were red with tears but who had already changed into a set of new clothes.