Obtaining the Katanga mining area did not satisfy Roque. After the signing of the peace agreement, large rubber gardens that originally belonged to the British-Belgian Rubber Company and the Antwerp Company were successively taken over by the newly established Congo Rubber Company, Boma Rubber Company, and South African Trading Company.
, these companies are all subsidiaries of Congolese companies, and the list of shareholders is very long. In addition to the unshakable Iron Triangle Rock, Henry, and Stoudemire, it also includes Anton, Martin, Ada, Winston, and Neville.
, Owen, Sidney Milner, Christian, Yaya, Isaiah Chamberlain, Lu Taitai, and the underage Prince of Wales.
Just looking at the shareholder list of the Congolese Company, you will know how huge Roque’s network is now. This shareholder list includes royal families and nobles, presidents and kings, members of political families with deep roots in the United Kingdom, and important people in southern Africa.
Among the financial oligarchs, there are rising political stars with unlimited future prospects, and there are also feudal officials who hold great power in southern Africa.
Unlike other companies under Rock's name that were determined not to be listed, the Congo Company operated completely in accordance with the standards of British companies. It was listed in London shortly after its establishment. The first 100,000 shares were sold out within two hours.
, the stock price quickly soared from the initial price of 2 pounds to 25 pounds. Within the next week, 1.5 million shares flowed into the market. Almost all of these shares were divided up by the British aristocrats, making it rare for ordinary investors to see them.
"You mean, the share price of my 1% share is now over one million pounds?" Sidney Milner couldn't believe it. You must know that Congolese companies have not made a penny yet, but the stock market uses
Voting with feet, showing great confidence in Congolese companies.
Or the great confidence in Rock.
Roque is the largest shareholder of Congo Company, holding only 25% of the shares. Henry and Stoudemire's combined shares are 25%. The next largest shareholder, Ada, only holds 100% of the shares.
three-quarters.
"It should be more than that now. The stock price of the Congolese company reached 35 pounds yesterday, and it seems that it will continue to soar." Stoudemire beamed. It was so easy to make this money, it was almost like picking it up for free.
"How did you do it?" Sidney Milner really didn't understand how Rock and Stoudemire operated.
"This is the charm of finance. No one is deliberately driving up stock prices. Facts have proved that there is no need for us to operate. There are more smart people than we imagined." Roque is also happy, but he has not yet gotten carried away. Except for the Congolese company, Roque
Congo still has many high-quality assets in its hands. Not to mention the large number of military-industrial enterprises in Nyasaland, Umbrella and Adan Company alone, any one of which is listed on the market, can create a sensation similar to that of the Congolese company.
To be sure, 35 pounds is not the limit for the stock price of Congolese companies. Before the outbreak of the Congo Free State rebellion, the stock price of the Anglo-Belgium Rubber Company, which only owned part of the rubber business, reached 35 pounds. Now Congolese companies almost own the Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Congo.
For all rubber plantations, the stock price should at least triple to match the value of those rubber plantations.
If it triples, the Congolese company will become one of the most valuable companies in the world.
"Great! Locke, even if you want to annex the Congo Free State now, there will be countless people who will speak for you." Sidney Milner was convinced. It is really unreasonable for such people not to get rich.
However, Rock has already surpassed the pursuit of wealth. In his previous life, Rock would be cynical when hearing about certain small goals. Now think about it, 100 million is indeed a small goal for some people. Rock doesn’t care about the profits of Congolese companies.
, using the Congolese company to pull more and more people onto the big ship in southern Africa is Roque’s real purpose.
"No, no, no, at least not yet. We still need to use the Congolese people to rebuild the rubber plantations. Even if it is annexed, at least it will be after the rubber plantations are rebuilt." Roque will not get into trouble. The reconstruction of the rubber plantations will definitely be based on exploitation.
On the basis of Congolese people, this pot belongs to the Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Congo, and Roque will not take it.
"Our tasks are also very arduous. We need to dig mines, rebuild rubber plantations, build ports, and dredge canals. I originally thought we would have to invest tens of millions, but now it seems we don't need it at all. It's amazing that the company hasn't done it yet.
Make money, but we have already started to make money." Stoudemire was also under a lot of pressure before, but now all the pressure has turned into motivation.
The basic conditions of the Congo Free State are actually very good. Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State for 20 years, and the number of Africans in the Congo Free State decreased by 15 million. Now there are huge rubber plantations in Congo.
With the most complete railway system in Africa outside of southern Africa and nearly 10 million human resources, the Congo Free State can complete a magnificent transformation with just one port.
This is also the reason why Roque pulled as many people as possible into the car. It is certainly faster to build a port than to directly grab the Portuguese port. Next to the Kingdom of Congo is Cabinda, and next to the Republic of Congo is Soyo. Leopold II did not dare to do so before.
Taking action against the Portuguese, Isaiah Chamberlain and Lu Taitai are now fearless. Although the Portuguese are increasing their troops, their mobilization ability is also limited. Once the cost of defending Cabinda and Soyo exceeds that of Cabinda and Soyo,
If the profits come, then the Portuguese will be shaken.
It now seems that the importance of Cabinda and Soyo is constantly decreasing. For Portugal, Cabinda and Soyo are not core territories that must be defended. For example, Cabinda's main income previously came from customs clearance of products from the Congo Free State.
Cost, now that the friction between the Kingdom of Congo and Portugal due to Cabinda is gradually escalating, products will definitely no longer be sent to Europe via Cabinda. In this case, the Portuguese's determination to defend Cabinda is also declining.
The crux of the problem is that even if you pay a huge price, you may not be able to protect it. Portuguese East Africa is a lesson learned from the past. In order to suppress the rebellion of the Yao people, Portugal not only mobilized the Portuguese in Portuguese East Africa, but also dispatched troops from within the country.
Expeditionary force, the rebellion not only failed to subside, but intensified, eventually causing Portugal to lose control of Portuguese East Africa. Portuguese West Africa might have the same consequences as Portuguese East Africa, and the Portuguese would be miserable.
The Portuguese are now seeking to negotiate with the Kingdom of Congo through southern Africa, and Roque, Stoudemire, and Sidney Milner are now on their way to the Rhodesian Hotel.
The Portuguese waiting at the Rhodesia Hotel is called Bianca Carolina. This is a Portuguese businessman doing business in Cape Town. He has now become a Southern African citizen. Portugal’s choice is also very interesting, even if it cannot be negotiated.
, nor will it affect Portugal’s reputation and image.
"How are we going to talk to him?" Sidney Milner felt comfortable sitting on the sofa. The compartment of the armored command vehicle was really comfortable and spacious.
"Let's talk about it, the Portuguese want the best." Stoudemire was unhappy. The Portuguese's demands were excessive. They hoped to exchange Cabinda and Soyo for Kalonda, which was occupied by Rhodesia, and then the Kingdom of Congo and the Republic of Congo would separate.
Compensate Rhodesia so that the Portuguese can exit with dignity. Although there is a loss of profits, they can be compensated in Kalonda.
Karonda is a protruding part of Portuguese West Africa. Except for the part connected to Portuguese West Africa, it is surrounded by Rhodesia on three sides.
Speaking of which, the Portuguese are also trying to swallow the elephant again. Portugal has a mainland area of less than 100,000 square kilometers, Portuguese West Africa covers an area of more than 1.24 million square kilometers, and Portuguese East Africa covers an area of about 800,000 square kilometers. In addition, there are
Goa in India, Macau in the Qing Dynasty, and East Timor in East India were all Portuguese colonies.
There were so many colonies that Portugal could not control with its own population alone, so Portugal also had to use the colonial natives to complete its actual occupation of the colonies.
In another time and space, Portuguese West Africa was classified as a Portuguese colony after the Berlin Conference, but it was not until 1922 that the Portuguese army completed actual control of Portuguese West Africa.
In this time and space, the independence of Portuguese East Africa accelerated Portugal's control of Portuguese West Africa. As a result, Rhodesia, inspired by Nyasaland and vigorously expanding its colonies, occupied Kalonda first. The Portuguese repeatedly negotiated with the Federation of Southern Africa.
The government and the Rhodesia state government made representations, but received no response.
The Calonda area covers an area of about 50,000 square kilometers. It is an inland area with high mountains and dense forests, rich in timber. Although its value cannot be compared with Cabinda and Soyo, which are natural ports, it is better than nothing. After losing Portugal
After belonging to East Africa, Portugal was unwilling to lose even a small colony.
Although the Portuguese's wishful thinking was good, Stoudemire was not stupid. The reason why the Portuguese were willing to talk was because they were forced to do so. The current Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Congo are different from the previous Congo Free State. The Kingdom of Congo has huge human resources.
, will make Portugal continue to bleed until the Portuguese can no longer bear it.
The Republic of the Congo, which is supported by southern Africa, is even more destructive. If the situation gets out of control, the Republic of the Congo may incite Africans in Portuguese West Africa to rebel. By then, let alone Cabinda and Soyo, will the entire country be able to survive?
Portuguese West Africa is a problem.
Portugal has now lost Portuguese East Africa. If it loses Portuguese West Africa again, Portugal will completely become a third-rate country in Europe.
A featherless phoenix is not as good as a chicken. By then, Portugal will be inferior to the Balkan countries that have just become independent from the Ottoman Empire. The Balkan countries can at least work hard from scratch, while Portugal relies on squeezing the colonies. Domestic life is generally prosperous, and national strength can be considered.
Yes, if you are used to eating delicacies from the mountains and seas, eating steamed buns once in a while is just a taste of something new. No one can stand eating it every day.
