Zhou Li'an called him to climb the mountain to explain a few words to the tribe elders, and then disappeared.
Today is already November 20th.
The journey south covered more than one-third of the journey.
The tribesmen are accustomed to this "Long March". At least they have meat to eat and don't have to chew bark and grass roots. Every few days of rest, they even have fruits and vegetables to adjust their appetite.
The death of the elderly and sick is inevitable.
For the indigenous people, death is not a rare thing, but rather commonplace.
Just 10 days ago, they were shocked when heavy snow fell from the sky.
The territory of the Modoc people is located in southern Oregon. Although the Cascade Mountains have the heaviest snowfall in the United States, except for a few alpine tribes, the other tribes are not in areas with heavy snowfall, and the snow season will come later.
Not to mention they are migrating all the way south.
Although the tribal people do not have standard solar terms legislation, they can also count the days.
The elders of some tribes looked at the falling snowflakes and became distracted: "This cold winter has come earlier than before."
At the beginning of the 15th century, the Little Ice Age really showed its power.
In previous winters, dead people were the norm.
Now they have the magical weapons bestowed by our Lord, and can easily hunt wild beasts without having to worry about food. Coupled with the thick and warm clothing, their protection against the cold is far better than their leather coats.
The outcome of whether to migrate or not is decided by the superiors and the superiors.
…
In the grocery street, Lao Wang returned to the pawn shop he had been running for half his life.
Zhou Li'an sat opposite him.
Wang Defa poured tea for the two of them and said: "The factory equipment testing in Ciudad Juárez has been completed, and I have signed the employee contract."
"Hey, I'm exhausted. Besides, my stomach has been bad for the past few days and I've been having diarrhea."
The words of complaint are expressed in the most expectant tone.
Just need to say that the goods will arrive and start work.
Therefore, Zhou Li'an did not need to ask him about the sales channel. He said bluntly: "The first batch of furs is 5,500 pieces in total, there are 1,500 cooked furs, and the rest are raw hides. Let's go to Hualei tomorrow morning."
Siba."
Lao Wang's eyes widened: "Tomorrow? I just came back..."
…
Zhou Li'an's time is very tight.
He needs to lead the way when the tribe migrates. Starting a "small business" has always been more expensive for the boss, so he can only do it himself.
Now he regrets buying a house in Oregon.
I didn't think too comprehensively at first. I didn't expect that setting up a factory in Mexico would take three hours by direct flight from Oregon to Juarez.
It would be okay if he only traded furs every month, but when it came to the subsequent gold trade and cooperation with gang forces, he had to go to Ciudad Juárez from time to time.
"Otherwise, buy a farm in Texas and move there?"
But this time he was not impulsive.
There are still some days left to collect placer gold, and it would be mid-December before the tribes migrated to Sacramento.
If you can establish yourself directly in Ciudad Juárez, why spend money to buy property in Texas?
I saw it last time I went there. Sin City is not as dangerous as imagined, let alone who is kinder than others? Haha.
The next day.
After settling down the tribe for two days, Zhou Li'an and Lao Wang took a plane to Juarez early in the morning.
On the plane.
The two of them sat side by side in the super economy class, which is between business class and economy class. The seats are more spacious, but other services are not much different from the latter.
The flight ticket was booked by Lao Wang.
Zhou Li'an is not a person who wants to enjoy himself, but he is a little puzzled: "You are not short of money, right? Even if you don't take first class, are you reluctant to part with two business tickets?"
Lao Wang cried and said: "Ah Zhou Sheng, I spent a lot of money to set up a factory with you. If I hadn't considered you, I would have taken economy class for the round trip."
"You are a young man, and you don't understand the true meaning of life. Save when you can, and don't be lavish. Have you ever heard of 'a penny beats a hero'? As a man, you have to have savings and be prepared for a rainy day."
The words just fell.
A plump stewardess who walked like a Tom cat and swayed her buttocks, suddenly said in surprise: "Oh, God... King, it's you again."
Lao Wang was startled, and his expression froze even more a moment ago.
Zhou Li'an glanced at the two of them suspiciously: "Do you know each other?"
The stewardess covered her mouth and laughed. The huge thing in front and behind shook the earth: "Mr. Wang was a passenger of 'Global First Class' the last two times, remember? Mr. Wang, last time you went to Bermuda, a few days ago
, you flew from Bermuda to Juarez, and I was able to accommodate you."
Zhou Li'an sneered: "Save money if you can, global first class?"
"Ah, hahaha, believe me, that's in exchange for flight points. My daughter likes to travel very much, so I used her card..."
"roll!"
We landed in Juarez just in time for lunch.
David Liang didn't show up this time. We have established a cooperative relationship and there is no need to continue eating and playing with us.
The person who came to pick him up was a Latino man wearing a white shirt. His skin color was darker than that of a yellow man. He was clean-shaven and looked capable and decent.
This is the factory manager recruited by Lao Wang to manage employees and was hired from another tannery factory in the local industrial zone.
The man's name was Julio, and he had a hearty smile. He told some jokes along the way that were not very funny, or that only locals could understand, but the atmosphere was lively.
First, he went to stay at a hotel owned by David Liang, where Lao Wang had reserved two rooms for a long time, and then went to the factory he had rented before.
The large factory building of 4,000 square meters is divided into peeling stations, filled with chemical soaking tanks for tanning, and stretched assembly lines.
More than twenty industrial fans are lined up on both sides.
Construction hasn't started yet, so the smell inside is not good.
Julio introduced the factory facilities in detail, and finally went to the warehouse and explained the security equipment there.
There are cameras all over the factory, and the fire doors of the warehouse are so strong that, in his words, they can’t be blasted by gang rockets.
Security is a big deal.
After all, leather is of high value, and if it is looted, there will be no place to cry.
Zhou Li'an knew it well after watching it.
Back at the hotel, when the three of them were ordering for dinner at the restaurant, Zhou Li'an stood up, took out his cell phone to make a call, and said as he walked -
"Delivery is ready."
Lao Wang and Julio only heard one sentence.
Later, I saw Zhou Li'an chattering by the window of the restaurant for a while, but I don't know exactly what he said.
When he came back, the two of them had a tacit understanding and didn't ask any more questions.
Zhou Li'an's phone call was just a pretense, and the call was not dialed at all.
The industrial area where their tannery factory is located is probably the most monitored and safe place in the entire city of Juárez.
It is impossible for me to unload the goods directly in the factory, so I have to think of other ways.
After dinner, it was evening.
The three of them had a few drinks at a local club, and Julio hired a dancer to accompany them. The girl claimed to be a local college student.
It seems that this trend exists all over the world.
After three rounds of drinking, the girls started to show off and if they continued to play, they would have to change venues.
Lao Wang is helpless.
Zhou Li'an is powerful, but he... Mei Xing.
The next day.
Lao Wang woke up drunk at noon and rang the doorbell next door, only to find that Zhou Li'an was not there.
He dialed the phone and heard Zhou Li'an's voice: "Call Julio to the factory. The goods have arrived."
"Why did you introduce me so quickly?"
Toot toot.
Before waiting for Zhou Li'an's reply, a busy signal came.
Lao Wang immediately went back to his room to wash up, and called Julio in advance to pick him up downstairs. When they arrived at the factory, they did not see Zhou Li'an, only two large semitrailers parked outside the factory.
Wang Defa walked over and struggled to open the heavy container door.
Mountains of bison hides were piled inside, emitting a pungent smell of blood.
This scene made him stunned for two seconds.
Then he exclaimed.
"Oh! Shet!"
"Quick! Julio! Call the workers to start work, these hides cannot be stored!"
Wang Defa and Julio were surprised and happy, and were in a hurry.
The local temperature was high and raw hides could not be stored. Fortunately, there was a cold storage in the industrial zone, so Wang Defa rented one to store the raw hides.
While waiting for the factory to be operational, the workers started working under the command of Julio.
Lao Wang was completely relieved. His whole body was soaked with sweat. Only then did he think of Zhou Li'an. When he called, he was prompted to shut down his phone.
Finally, I found a text message on my phone: "I have to leave first, and I will leave the factory affairs to you."
Wang Defa couldn't laugh or cry for a while, and was shocked and speechless.
The whole thing was weird.
Overnight, 5,500 furs arrived, and Zhou Li'an only contacted the delivery yesterday afternoon.
So, these furs were actually in Mexico before?
Lao Wang was puzzled.
…
Zhou Li'an's approach is very simple.
In the morning, I rented two containers in the storage area and threw the furs in; then hired two truck drivers to deliver the goods, and everything was done.
Perhaps Lao Wang would be confused by this, but Zhou Li'an believed that he would not release his curiosity.
The more bizarre and strange things are, the more dangerous they are.
curiosity kills the cat.
November 23rd.
After two days of rest, the tribe once again embarked on the road to move south.
Zhou Li'an would receive Lao Wang's work report every night, and he would only reply "I understand" without any extra care.
When the furs are shipped, he just waits to collect the money. He does not intend to deal with the leather company in the whole process, and his presence is invisible.
The origin of the fur is unknown.
There is no slaughter certificate for local animal products, nor is there a customs entry form for foreign imports. There are many restrictions on the trading of animal leather. When exported to the United States, relevant procedures are required to prove its legality.
But the advantage of setting up a factory in Mexico is...
They can bribe the relevant local departments, obtain customs entry orders, and give the raw hides and skins a legal identity.
Nothing that money can solve is a problem.
Moreover, the United States does not care whether foreign resources are infringed. They are the importers anyway, so it is a good thing for someone to sell a large amount of leather.
This money will of course be borne by Zhou Li'an's 'forces behind', and it will be deducted from the settlement payment at that time. He and Wang Defa have discussed this before.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
[System time December 9, 1400]
The migration team stepped out of the snowy areas of the mountainous areas. The sun was shining brightly, and the tribesmen felt a slight rise in temperature for the first time in a long time.
According to the current map, it has now entered California.
The endless virgin forest is lush and full of life.
This makes the tribesmen feel very good.
Zhou Li'an asked the tribe elders and they knew nothing about this area. The Modocs had more disputes and wars with tribes in the northern and eastern mountainous areas.
The most recent war is something that some elders remember when they were young.
The tribe had enough food and clothing to survive, and without horses, the expedition would have been impossible.
Only in the central and eastern plains of North America were conquests very frequent. There were not many mountains and rivers to block them, and it was easy for struggles to arise due to material issues.
Therefore, along the way, it was actually the territory of the Modoc people, and we did not encounter any other tribes.
Zhou Li'an came to the mountain climber and ordered: "Tomorrow, send 50 Balance Knights as scouts to explore the roads and the situation of the local tribes."
"No fighting should occur. Once informed of the situation, report immediately."
Zhou Li'an does not need to complete the subsequent exploration tasks.
Tribal knights should also play a role.
It is more than 200 kilometers from here to Sacramento. Since there are no mountains and rivers to block it, the speed should be improved.
But after practice.
Zhou Li'an was speechless.
After detouring through several forest lands, the rich river system in northern California became a big problem. Because there were no bridges, tens of thousands of people could only wander in the forest, looking for detours and finding fords to cross the river.
California's climate is humid and cold, which makes the Modoc people who live in dry mountainous areas extremely uncomfortable.
Helpless, he could only order the camp to be stationed, and he would travel with the mountain climbers and others every day to explore the roads.
Ten days later.
A group of knights are repairing by the river.
Zhou Li'an compared the modern map with the system map after the exploration was opened, and finally gained some joy.
In front of him, three rivers converged, and combined with the terrain division, he determined the name of the river.
A tributary of the Sacramento River, the American River.
This place is only 60 kilometers away from modern Sacramento County and roughly 30 kilometers northwest of Folsom City.
Folsen City built the Folsen Reservoir Area in modern times as one of the water conservancy projects for diversion of water from the north to the south, which caused great changes in the original water system and rivers.
It is difficult to identify the terrain difference that is six hundred years apart, otherwise Zhou Li'an would not have spent ten days to find where he wanted to go.
Have a clear destination.
After a group of knights rested, they continued to set off, heading upstream to find a ford large enough for the tribesmen to cross the river.
A few days later.
The tribesmen finally arrived at the settlement chosen for them by our Lord Kinkou.
That night, people were laughing and laughing.
Set up a steam room in an open area outside the forest, clean yourself, and put on clean clothes.
The hunting team harvested plump turkeys in the forest.
Sprinkle with salt and spice powder and bake over flame until golden.
Zhou Li'an waved his hand and rewarded them with fruits.
Just under the cover of night, people began to eat, drink, and dance.
Praise the balance, praise our Lord.
The only thing that makes Zhou Li'an a little funny is...
Today is December 25th.
Thanksgiving Day.
In another time and space, the Puritans settled, planted, and raised livestock with the help of the Indians, and were happy with the harvest. On this day, they invited the Indians to celebrate together and thank them for their help to the settlers on the Old Road.
Well, the next step is to massacre millions of indigenous people, occupy the magpie's nest, and drive them away to the barren and small reservations to fend for themselves.
Year after year, American families eat turkey and sing songs on Thanksgiving Day, moving themselves while praising their loving and merciful God.
Festivals are tools to enhance cohesion and national cultural spirit.
Zhou Li'an felt that he should also do something.
So, after 5 days.
It's past 12 o'clock in the morning.
He stood on a brand-new high platform built for him by the tribe, and used the sound system to make a deafening sound of the gods——
"My most devout people, you have gone through hardships and completed the tests I set."
"From this night on, you will accompany me, the great Lord of Balance, to create the true Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Balance."
"The balanced brilliance will sweep away the darkness and dust, ushering in new life."
"Resume, my most devout apostle, waiter——"
Countless people worshiped and watched.
The noble figure on the high platform was instantly enveloped in a layer of dazzling golden light, illuminating everything around him.
Also at this moment.
Another figure appeared out of thin air under the gaze of tens of thousands of people.
She opened her eyes and scanned the unfamiliar scenes around her in a daze. When she saw the divine figure emitting golden light next to her, the confusion in her eyes faded away, and she exclaimed in disbelief -
"Lord, master!"
The sound is diffused.
The sea of people kneeling in front of the audience burst out with shouts of surprise——
"Witch, it's a witch!!!"
"The great witch who once fell into eternal sleep because of saving us Kinkou people has revived!!"