"Mr. Luo, you don't really believe the things predicted in this ridiculous "Great Book of Prophecy", do you?"
Aitang already exclaimed after reading more than a dozen pages. There are so many predictions about the French Empire in this book! In addition to Napoleon III becoming emperor, France will also be involved in the ninth Russian war with Britain.
The Turkish War - France is going to fight Russia again? This is too scary. If Napoleon I hadn't been crazy and went on an expedition to Russia, and ended up losing hundreds of thousands of troops in the harsh Russian winter, the French Empire would still be completely intact now.
The greatest empire in the world! Why don’t the Bonapartes have long memories?
"Mr. Consul," Luo Yaoguo said with a smile, "these prophecies predict not what will happen ten or a hundred years from now, but what will happen this year... Some of them may have already happened, but the news is still there.
It did not reach China.
For example, the news about the marriage of Napoleon III and the Spanish aristocrat Eugenie de Montijo. The "Grand Prophecy" states that they will hold secular wedding ceremonies at the Tuileries Palace and Notre Dame de Paris on January 29 and January 30 respectively.
And religious weddings...Mr. Consul, Your Excellency Bishop, have you heard about these two news?"
"His Majesty the Emperor is marrying Eugenie de Montijo? Shouldn't His Majesty marry a princess?" French Consul Etang obviously knew nothing about this.
Bishop Zhao Fangji shrugged: "Brother Luo, we won't know about what happened in Europe at the end of January until the beginning of April at the earliest."
"That's only one month," Luo Yaoguo said, "Bishop, consul, let's wait for a month and see. If after one month, news comes that Napoleon III and Eugenie are getting married..." Luo Yaoguo said with a full smile.
In a seductive tone, he said to Consul Aitang: "I think... His Majesty the Emperor will definitely want to know more about the prophecies about the Ninth Russo-Turkish War and the Bonaparte Dynasty by then! Mr. Consul, this is a rare opportunity.
ah!"
"This..." Consul Aitang seemed to have thought of something.
For him, who was an atheist a month ago, this was really unbelievable; but he wanted to make progress so much. And the ladder of progress seemed to be right in front of him!
If he can obtain accurate predictions about the war with Russia and the Bonaparte Dynasty for His Majesty the Emperor...then his room for improvement will be unlimited!
"No, that is making a deal with the devil!" Bishop Zhao Fangji was still very vigilant, "You will go to hell!"
"No, that's not a deal!" Luo Yaoguo quickly retorted, "It's just that person's unilateral statement... He preaches publicly every month and makes some prophecies during the sermons, which will be recorded by the internal affairs officer we sent to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
When it came down, it became the "Great Book of Prophecy".
I didn’t think it was true at first, until I learned in Shanghai that Napoleon III had ascended the throne in France and proclaimed himself emperor. This event was also recorded in the "Great Book of Prophecy", which was prophesied in June and July last year.
That man had just fallen from the sky at that time!
So we don’t need to make any deal with the devil, we just need to send someone to listen... Bishop, if you eavesdrop on the devil, you won’t go to hell, right? Moreover, we are not sure now whether the person is a devil, an angel or a liar.
.
Bishop, what do you think?"
"This..." Zhao Fangji frowned, "Brother Luo, I can't judge who that person is? I'm afraid the only ones who can make a judgment are the Holy See and the Inquisition of the Roman Church. All I can do is to truthfully obtain the information. Report it."
Luo Yaoguo asked: "Does the information obtained include that person's prophecy?"
"Of course." Zhao Fangji nodded.
Luo Yaoguo smiled and said: "Even if you obtain the devil's prophecy, as long as it is not obtained through a deal with the devil himself, it is not a deal with the devil, right?
"Of course it is correct to understand it this way." Zhao Fangji gave an affirmative answer, but he always felt that something was wrong.
Luo Yaoguo turned to look at Aitang: "Mr. Consul, do you have any questions now?"
"There is one more!" Aitang looked at Luo Yaoguo, "Master Luo, what do you want from me?"
"Help!" Luo Yaoguodao said, "Mr. Consul, I need French arms, military advisors and political support. With these, I will be able to become a leader in Shanghai and even Suzhou, Songjiang, Taicang, Jiaxing and Huzhou in the future. The actual controllers of several wealthy state capitals." "Lord Luo, if I understand correctly... your idea is to become a warlord with the support of France to separate Suzhou, Songjiang, Taicang, Jiaxing, Huzhou and other places?"
The French Consul in Shanghai finally understood what kind of deal Luo Xueyan wanted to make with him.
Luo Yaoguo nodded and continued to seduce: "Mr. Consul, I have received the support of the American Consul Ma Hui. If you are also willing to support me, then I have a great chance of success... And my success will also be Great success for you and Bishop Zhao! After all, I am a devout Catholic!"
"But I am only a consul, not an envoy." Aitang frowned and said, "My authority is not great!"
"You will become the Minister!" Luo Yaoguo raised his finger and pointed at the "Great Book of Prophecy", and then promised, "As long as you are willing to sell me all the Minie rifles and Minie bullets in stock in the French Concession in Shanghai, and then send me A few truly professional Army officers to help me train my troops and I will succeed!
And a Chinese warlord who believes in God that you support controls the richest area in China. Even without those magical prophecies, you can definitely become a minister!
In addition, I will prepare two more generous gifts for you and Your Excellency the Bishop to thank you for your help!"
The Migne rifle is a front-loading rapid-fire gun developed in 1849 by Captain Migne, the inventor of the Migne bomb, and Captain Devine, a firearms expert. The power of this rifle is amazing, with a killing range of up to 918 meters and a range of 550 meters. Can hit the target accurately - provided it is used by a true marksman.
In this era, the effective range of ordinary front-loading smoothbore cannons is not much greater than this!
There are many sharpshooters in Luo Yaoguo's army. If they can be equipped with minie guns and minie bullets, they will definitely be able to fight even if they encounter a real imperialist army.
And with the power of a war, there is room to deal with the great powers. Because next year Britain and France will be involved in the Crimean War, and a cruel war will break out with the "European Gendarmerie" the Russian Empire.
Although the Russian Empire, which exposed its weak nature after this war, was called a "Clay-footed Giant", no one dared to make such a big statement before the Crimean War had a winner.
After Britain and France devoted all their efforts to the war with Russia, Luo Yaoguo had room for development as long as it had a certain strength.
"Well, if it's just some Minie rifles and Minie bullets, that's within my purview. There are currently one hundred brand-new Minie rifles and 10,000 Minie bullets in the warehouse in the French Concession. ..I originally planned to give them to the French soldiers stationed in the French Concession. If you are in urgent need of these equipment, I can sell them to you. But the price is a bit expensive!"
Consul Aitang put away the "Great Book of Prophecy" with the "white pound" sandwiched between it, and said to Luo Yaoguo with a smile.
"No problem, just make an offer!" Luo Yaoguo said with a smile.
"The Migne rifle costs ten pounds, which is forty silver dollars. The custom-loaded Migne ammunition is more expensive, one silver dollar per shot... It costs a total of fourteen thousand silver dollars."
"Okay! Luo Yaoguo smiled and nodded, "I want them all!"
Seeing Luo Yaoguo being so cheerful, Consul Aitang smiled and said: "Xue Yan, let me tell you the truth. In fact, Minister Bourblon has already given instructions. As long as the concession is not violated, France will fight in the war between the Qing Dynasty and the Taiping Rebellion. China remained neutral. However, as long as it did not violate the principle of neutrality, the consulate could provide assistance to the Qing Dynasty, including weapons, ammunition, and military advisors.
However, military advisers sent by France can only provide training and consultation, and cannot directly participate in and command battles.
If you still need more Migne rifles and ammunition, I can introduce you to Henry Remy, the chief executive of Remy Company. If you buy from him, he has the connections to buy tens of thousands of them.
Chapter completed!