Chapter 54: Persistence is a virtue

Ever since Han Xiufen met Yun Zhao, her county magistrate has been short of money.

No matter how much money they get, after turning around, the faces of Kuzangsi’s sisters will become ugly again.

They couldn’t understand why the county magistrate never kept the money!

Qian Duoduo still has some money in his hands, but the money in her hands has not been seen by the sisters in the Treasury Department. Compared with Lantian Treasury, the money in Qian Duoduo's hands is The money is completely negligible.

However, people like Han Lingshan, Xu Wuxiang, Zhang Guozhu, and Han Xiufen don't see it that way. They pay more attention to how the money is spent.

Compared with the great cause of Lantian, a little money is not worth mentioning at all.

Compared to warehouses full of gold and silver, they prefer to see prosperous cities and prosperous villages.

As for money - just look for it when you don’t have it.

Baron Cristiano is not dead, but he is not living well.

He liked the big medal hanging around his neck, and it still hangs around his neck. It is his honor. Han Xiufen is not a person who likes to deprive others of their honor.

There is only one ironclad ship in the entire Nanyang, and it is Han Xiufen's flagship - Lantian.

It was because of this ship that Han Xiufen dared to participate in the activity of dividing the Portuguese fleet.

The reason why the British and Spanish dared to participate was because Portugal failed in the European naval war.

Thirty-five years ago, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in the Battle of Malacca, causing Portugal, which was once more powerful, to lose most of its interests in Southeast Asia. From then on, it was difficult for the Portuguese to have any influence in Southeast Asia. What you do.

This time, it was also a naval battle between the Dutch and the Portuguese, but this time the naval battle took place in the Atlantic Ocean. The Portuguese lost fifty-six warships and the harbor was bombarded by the Dutch.

Therefore, within the next five years, the Portuguese staying in Nanyang will have no support.

After learning the news, the British, Spanish, Dutch, and Lantian people all showed some vague malice towards the Portuguese.

The Portuguese knew their situation, so the sad and angry Baron Cristiano abandoned the entire Portuguese fleet after weighing it, and took a dozen sailors with him on a small supply ship. , preparing to leave Nanyang quietly.

He knew that if the Portuguese wanted to regain their former strength after losing their Nanyang treasures, it would take longer.

So, for the sake of the future of the Portuguese Navy, Baron Cristiano ran away.

This is the private prosecution of Baron Cristiano.

Han Xiufen and Leonie were dumbfounded by these words. After coming here for a long time, Leonie said: "Are you really not doing this for your family, but for Portugal?"

Cristiano said sadly: "Portugal is too small and cannot withstand this level of failure. For many years, we have been committed to avoiding war and do not want to participate in European wars.

However, the Dutch do not agree. They are full of hostility towards us, and the Spanish have also launched an attack on us from the land. No matter how humbly we admit their rule, it is useless. They have occupied us, and now they have To take away our dignity.

The sea is the last place of freedom for the Portuguese. Now, we are going to lose even the sea.

Dear Baron Xiufen Han, I am. I heard that the distant Ming Dynasty has always been a country of etiquette. Now, I, Baron Cristiano, ask you to leave this wealth to Portugal, and you will gain a firm ally on the sea."

After hearing this sad story, Han Xiufen sighed, stood on the side of the ship, looked at the seagulls flying in front of her, and said to Baron Cristiano in the most pitiful tone: "Write your surrender. Book, use your seal to tell all the wandering Portuguese that they can surrender to my Lantian Navy and accept the dispatch of my Lantian Navy.

In this way, they may survive, otherwise, they will become slaves. , was sold to the far east—to be a slave forever!”

Critisiano nodded and said: “It’s a good idea, and it’s also a kind idea. I’ll write it now, but, Dear Baron, I hope to continue to be the commander of this Portuguese fleet belonging to Lantian." Han Xiufen waved her hand, and a tall bald man walked over from the mast and raised it with one hand. Baron Cristiano's body was thrown onto his shoulders and he was carried down the cabin.

Leonie listened to Baron Cristiano's weak plea and whispered: "I always feel that this guy is dishonest."

Han Xiufen said: "No matter what He is not honest. If we don’t have what we need when we get to Tierra del Fuego, we will throw him into the crater and let him go into hell forever.”

Leonie laughed. Said: "This is the best. I can't wait to see the treasures that the Portuguese dare not bring back to the country."

Tierra del Fuego is a black island that was formed after a volcanic eruption. of a small island.

There is a thick layer of fertile volcanic ash on the seaside of the island. After seabirds dropped plant seeds on the volcanic ash through their feces, lush plants appeared here.

Of course, the coconuts that occasionally drifted here also stayed on the beach to take root and sprout, giving birth to dense coconut groves.

On the top of the smoking mountain, the entire mountain is still black and barren of grass. There is always a gap in the volcanic lake. At this gap, the acidic water after the volcanic eruption is soaked by the rain. Highly pure sulfur is formed.

This thing is an essential material for making gunpowder. The reason why Han Xiufen came to Tierra del Fuego was to look for the Portuguese treasures.On the other hand, mining sulfur is also an important job.

Zhang Chuanli led more than a thousand black sailors to mine sulfur, while Han Xiufen led the Lantian soldiers and the dispirited Baron Cristiano to find the treasure.

"Will you kill me? Baron Xiufen Han?"

"Baron Han, nobles do not kill nobles. You cannot do this. This is not the behavior of an elegant noble." "Baron, I can obtain my freedom by paying a ransom. This is stipulated in the Noble Code and you cannot violate it."

Han Xiufen said with a smile. : "The first priority of a noble is honesty. If you are honest, I will abide by the "Noble Code" and allow your family to redeem you with an equal weight of gold."

Leonie is here While smiling: "Baron, you should believe in our Lord Baron. She has always been merciful. As long as you fulfill your promise, we will fulfill our promise."

Leonie's words are somewhat convincing. Baron Cristiano was a little confident. Although the road he walked was slightly different from the human skin map, the direction was still roughly correct.

Critisiano, who had a large piece of skin peeled off his leg, did not walk very fast. However, with the help of Han Xiufen's slave giant, the group quickly arrived at a dark cave. front.

Han Xiufen glanced at the rocks scattered around the entrance of the cave and said to Baron Cristiano: "I'll give you another chance. If you deceive me, the consequences will be serious. When that time comes, , your family will all pay the price for this."

Critisiano said feebly: "This is it, you can go in and take away our treasure. If you can't see it, it's you. Her eyes were covered by vagina."

Han Xiufen looked at a foot-thick bush at the entrance of the cave and whispered: "No one has been here for fifty years, at least. "

"We transplanted these trees specially."

Han Xiufen glanced at the people in black and saw a bandit with nimble hands and feet walking over. A lamp shrouded in glass walked into the cave step by step.

Immediately, there were bursts of roaring sounds in the cave. While Han Xiufen was waiting anxiously, the man in black crawled out in disgrace. After coughing for a while, he said to Han Xiufen: "The cave is very deep. There are things inside. "Acid Lake, I almost fell into the lake just now. This is no place for people to stay."

Leonie pulled out a long knife and put it on Baron Cristia's neck and said, "You dare to lie to us?"

Critisiano lowered his head and said: "The treasure belongs to Portugal, you can't take it away."

Han Xiufen nodded and said: "Your behavior makes me Very respectful, but we need treasures very much. These treasures will be turned into many useful things, which can support our workshops to make more things and allow our farmers to produce more food.

Say, Cristiano, I have witnessed your loyalty to Portugal, now it is time to think about it for yourself.

Baron Cristiano raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky and said sadly: "I am also a nobleman, and there is no sincerity in anything a nobleman says."

Baron Han, you will not allow me to live, just like I will not allow you to live if you fall into my hands.

Since it’s all about death, I don’t mind suffering some more pain before dying. Only in this way will my Lord love me even more after I go to heaven. ”

Leonie dragged her long knife fiercely, and she made a bloody gash half a foot long on Baron Cristiano’s back. Immediately, the open wound Like a big mouth, blood flowed like a river.

Critisiano screamed, knelt on the ground, opened his arms and shouted to the sky: "Lord, I am suffering for you!" ”

Leoni slashed his back with another knife. Immediately, a bloody cross appeared on the Baron’s back. The weak Baron curled up on the ground and was covered in volcanic ash. He still opened his eyes wide. He closed his eyes and looked at the sky and murmured to himself: "Lord, remember what I have suffered today.

Han Xiufen saw that Leonie was still about to kill her, so she stopped her and said, "Stop it. Torture is to achieve the goal. If it cannot achieve the goal now, it is cruelty. There is no need for us to continue to be cruel." ...

Throw him into the volcano. ”

“This way we won’t be able to find the treasure. "Leonie was a little unwilling.

Han Xiufen looked at Baron Cristiano, who had fallen into a state of self-anesthesia, and said: "He has already told where the treasure is. ”