The water in the Caribbean Sea is as blue as a gem. Waves roll on the calm sea surface, and the sun shines brightly on the sea surface.
In this blue sea, a fleet composed of two armored warships and two merchant ships sailed on traditional commercial routes. The fleet occasionally passed through some small islands, and those islands were all covered with greenery without exception.
Shrouded in jungle, the white sandy beach blends with the waves.
Standing on the spacious bridge of the ironclad "Friendship", with the warm sea breeze of the Caribbean blowing gently on his face, Zhao Yaozu felt an indescribable sense of comfort.
"7500 tons!"
This is the tonnage of the ironclad "Friendship". It and its sister ship "Alliance" are French ocean-class ironclads. Officially, these two warships were presented to Nanhua as a "symbol of friendship between South France". But in fact,
Everyone knows that it is just a deal, because Nanhua gave France twenty airships.
However, in order to remember the friendship and alliance between South France, the "Ocean" was named "Friendship", and the "Marrengo" was named "Alliance".
"This is the most powerful battleship in America!"
As the first captain, Zhao Yaozu, he only felt an unprecedented honor. God knows how this easter egg fell on him. Like all captains in the navy, he was also born in a special transport company. He had served countless times
Command the "fast transport ship" to break into the southern port and deliver a large amount of supplies to the south.
Now, he came to the Caribbean again and was extremely familiar with this area. Standing on the bridge, he picked up the telescope and looked around, then looked back at the "Alliance" and the "Alliance" behind him.
The two immigrant ships that returned with the fleet carried 5,000 expeditionary troops on board.
“Why visit Cuba?”
Zhao Yaozu glanced towards the back of the ship with some doubts. His Majesty should be on the verandah.
Zhu Xianhai was indeed on the stern veranda, lying on a deck chair, enjoying the bright Caribbean sunshine.
"This is the Caribbean..."
After sighing, the corners of Zhu Xianhai's lips raised slightly.
“What a great place!”
After leaving France, Zhu Xianhai did not return directly to South China, but ordered the fleet to sail to Cuba.
The reason why he sailed to Cuba was entirely due to an accident. When he visited a French school in Paris, Zhu Xianhai accidentally met a Cuban student. It was his accusation that led to this trip to Cuba.
Looking at Li Weiye standing on the side of the verandah, his appearance was not like that of a Chinese, but more like a Spanish. If it weren't for the fact that he spoke Hokkien, it would be difficult for Zhu Xianhai to tell the difference between him and other people.
"Wei Ye, you will be home soon, what do you think?"
Li Weiye, who was looking at the sea, turned around quickly when he heard His Majesty's inquiry and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, I am thinking about my father. Twenty-three years ago, he came to Cuba on the "Ocando". He met my mother on the plantation. He is a very hard-working man.
Without him, maybe my mother and I were just slaves on the plantation. Although he was an indentured coolie, it took him eight years to get out of the plantation, and then another year to bring my mother and I
Bought from the plantation."
Although Livia didn't say much, a few simple sentences still revealed the experiences of their family - his father was a Chinese laborer, an indentured coolie, with a status equivalent to that of a slave, while his mother, although she was of mixed race, was still mixed.
for generations, but still a slave on a plantation.
It’s not easy for a coolie and a slave to send a child all the way to France!
"I'm thinking how happy my father would be if he saw our fleet!"
Li Weiye's face showed a full smile.
"Yes, I believe all of them will be very happy, well, including the Spaniards!"
Zhu Xianhai sneered.
"This time, we go to Havana just for them!"
who are they?
One hundred and thirty thousand indentured laborers!
There are 130,000 indentured Chinese workers in Cuba. They are said to be indentured workers, but the treatment of the Chinese workers on the plantations is comparable to that of black slaves. In fact, there are many such indentured Chinese workers in South America. There are even many Chinese living in Rio de Janeiro.
Descendants of - As early as 1810, the Portuguese hired dozens of Hubei tea farmers from China to grow tea in Rio de Janeiro. They opened up tea gardens there and finally took root in Brazil.
In the past, Zhu Xianhai did not have much ability to care about the situation of these Chinese workers, but it is different now. Today's Nanhua, no, now the Ming Dynasty, has a strong army and two armored ships. It is time to engage in gunboat diplomacy to protect the rights of the Chinese workers.
Already.
Of course, the most important thing is that Zhu Xianhai also has ambitions for Cuba!
…
October 26, 1870, ten o'clock in the morning. In the Spanish colony of Cuba, the Port of Havana, the rumble of cannons came from the port fortress from time to time.
Twenty-one gun salute!
This was the salute of the Hanawa authorities to welcome the arrival of Emperor Nanhua. After the governor, Lieutenant General Joaquín Jovellard Soler, learned about the visit of Emperor Nanhua, he had a bad feeling in his heart.
"God can testify, they must be here for the Chinese workers!"
Soler said directly to Brigadier General Arsenio Martinez Campos-Anton who was standing beside him.
"Damn, those people are obviously not Nan Hua, no, it seems they are not called Nan Hua now, right?"
"Yes, Lord Governor, now they are called Daming!"
Brigadier General Anton replied.
"This is their current country name, the Ming Empire. Yes, that should be the name."
Staring at the fleet sailing into the harbor, Justice Nicholas frowned, and he tilted his head and said to the Governor.
"Governor, we must be well prepared. If they discuss the issue of Chinese workers with us, how should we negotiate with them? After all, you know that the treatment of the Chinese workers on the plantations is basically the same as that of black slaves.
If they pursue it, it will definitely not be a good thing during this special period."
What is the special period?
Cuba is currently at war. Two years ago, in 1868, a revolution broke out in Spain, Queen Isabella II was overthrown, and the Cubans took the opportunity to launch an uprising for independence.
Now the war is going on, and at this time, the sudden visit of the Ming Emperor can't help but make people worried!
Of course, the most important thing is that they have a guilty conscience. Even they themselves know that the way they treat the Chinese is inhumane.
This chapter has been completed!