Lingao is a honeycomb. This is what many people say about this place. Everyone who comes here for the first time will feel the busy, tense and active atmosphere here as soon as they board the pier of the port. When they go deep here, especially
This feeling becomes even more profound when we go deeper into the industrial, agricultural and residential areas along both sides of the Wenlan River.
There is a constant flow of busy people and vehicles on the streets all day long. The convertibles pulled by the front of the "Meteor" are either piled with goods or crowded with people. Although safety regulations have been promulgated, "tickets" are not allowed to occur, and there are still
More police and National Army soldiers were added to maintain order at the station, but every train was still surrounded by overloaded people. So much so that people fell off the train every day. Fortunately, the "Meteor" type was faster than walking.
It won't be much more before the casualty rate can be kept to a level that a planning institute can tolerate.
At noon that day, the sound of rumbling cannons came from the direction of Bobu Pier - it was a salute of foreign ships entering the port. This was a rare thing in Lingao: except for the occasional arrival of a Portuguese ship,
Only Chinese merchant ships come here. It is summer now, and even Chinese merchant ships rarely come here.
Van Dellentron stood on the stern of the ship, watching with interest the Australian sampan that was tying the towing rope. The 400-ton Magdeburg ship will be towed into the port by this small ship. The Dutch "
"Speed boats" were quite clumsy, and there was no steering wheel mechanism at that time, so it was very difficult to steer in the fjord port. Without riding the tide in and out of the port, it was impossible to accurately sail into the anchorage relying on the captain's driving skills alone.
Every time the Magdeburg entered or left the port, it had to put down its rowing boats to tow the ship. However, in Australian ports, this work was handled by Australian ships, and the cost was included in the pilotage fee.
The small boat used by the Australians to tow ships was equipped with chimneys and spewed out thick black smoke. It had no oarsmen but was very powerful. It could easily tow the heavily loaded ship. The last time the Magdeburg
I had already seen their power when transporting spices to Hong Kong.
The Dutch generally do not sail to the coast of mainland China in the summer - the wind direction is not favorable to them, and there is a risk of encountering typhoons. However, this time the Magdeburg's adventurous voyage not only carried out trade, but also had an important mission.
This is the second time for Van Dellentrön to visit Bopu. According to the emergency instructions of the Australian Department of Colonization and Trade: the Magdeburg transported a large amount of woolen cloth, cotton and sheepskin - most of the woolen cloth was from British.
Domestic. In view of the intensity of business competition between the Dutch and the British, it is not easy to understand that purchasing woolen goods from business rivals-not to mention that the Netherlands itself is also famous for weaving high-quality woolen goods. But for the Dutch East India Company, the company
The interests of the major shareholders were above all else. Since the price of British woolen goods was low enough for the East India Company to make enough profits, it would not give up this opportunity.
Needless to say, the British are only commercial competitors and are nominally allies of the Netherlands. In the future, the East India Company will not hesitate to sell and transport food and weapons to the enemies of the motherland who are at war. Because there is no profit.
of the motherland.
Half an hour later, the Magdeburg was already berthed at berth No. 5. Van Drentrön admired the Australian ports very much. Their ports have trestles available, so there is no need to use small boats to transport goods and people in bulk. Goods.
There is a crane to lift off the ship, and people get on and off directly from the gangway, which saves a lot of time and manpower. In Lingao, Sanya and Hong Kong, the turnover rate of ships is measured in hours and days, not in "weeks" and "months"
computational.
Soon Van Drenteron met his old friend, Mr. Leib Trini, who was stationed in Lingao as the consul of the Dutch East India Company. The Italians had already completed all the port procedures, and Van Drenteron finally
After checking the customs declaration form and various required documents at once, and then handing the documents to the customs officials after confirming that they are correct, you don’t have to worry about the subsequent unloading, inspection and tax matters. Australian customs and port services will handle it for you.
.
"Mr. Trini, long time no see. You look good."
Trini was once resentful about being posted as consul in Lingao. Although this position was higher than his previous position in Batavia, his salary income also increased by several guilders. Moreover, the company also allowed him to distribute in Lingao.
Several types of company products, including certain spices that are very popular among Chinese people: ambergris, myrrh, sandalwood, etc., from which a lot of profits can be obtained.
But Trini knew very well that the job was given to him because he was a painter and cartographer, allowing him to serve as a spy in Lingao. And because he was an Italian, a Catholic with extremely dubious beliefs, and was keen on science and mystery.
Doctrine, even if it is beheaded by the Australians, the Dutch will not regret it and can distance themselves from it.
However, this period of time in Lingao has made Trini regard his work in Lingao as the third thing after family and life that no one can interfere with.
"One day in Lingao is better than a year of traveling in this world." Trini wrote in a letter to a friend.
"It's very hygienic here, and life is diverse. The food supply is also good," Trini said, "but there's very little meat."
A sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of Van Dellentron's mouth: "I thought you would complain about not having enough olive oil?"
According to European standards of how much meat they eat, the food quality of Italians was still very poor even in the first half of the 20th century. Most Italian civilians could only be satisfied with simple slices of bread and a few drops of olives.
Oil, just a little bit of cheese.
Of course Trini understands the ridicule in this wooden shoe - he has experienced this kind of thing too much. Although the Dutch people's food is also known for being simple and rough. But at least the Dutch eat more meat than the Italians.
many.
"Australians are also very interested in olive oil - maybe they will consider importing it from Europe in the near future. Of course, the premise is that the company can invent a method of long-term preservation of oil..."
"They say they like grease very much?"
"Yes, they buy copra in large quantities for this purpose," Trini said.
The two left the customs as they talked. The empty clock tower above the customs attracted Van Dellentron's attention. The clock tower has always been empty since the last time he came here. He was surprised: Why do Australians never pay attention to this?
The bell tower was equipped with a set of loud-sounding copper bells. It was left vacant. He learned from Trini's letters that the Australians wanted to equip these vacant bell towers with an unprecedented timepiece, but they were delayed.
Can't be achieved.
"Mr. Trini, your last picture album has caused a sensation in Batavia, and there are people who want to collect your picture album at a high price. I didn't expect that you would be so inspired to engage in artistic creation after arriving here.
"
Trini brought an album of his pictures back to Batavia by ship every month - as long as there were still ships sailing. Picture albums are not only artistic creations, but also reported intelligence. Nothing can express it more accurately than intuitive images.
Information.
"Thank you for your concern. There are many new things here that are beyond my past thoughts and experiences. This has greatly stimulated my inspiration." Trini smiled and took out a wooden cigarette case, "Including Australians.
enjoyment.”
Van de Lenteron took a cigar - he was no stranger to cigars, some Spanish people often smoked tobacco in this way - he personally preferred to use a pipe. However, he was not opposed to changing flavors.
"Friends in Australia want me to help them buy some works by famous Italian painters: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo..." He named a dozen famous Renaissance painters in one go.
Some were already famous painters at that time, and some were less well-known, “and there were violins by Stecrivari and Guarneri.”
It was unthinkable for Trini's friends and family in Italy to purchase these works of art - they did not have such financial resources, and only the East India Company, which was extremely wealthy, had this ability.
"They have such a high vision. Apart from others, I find it difficult to see the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Most of his paintings are in the hands of the King of France. The rest depends on whether your Italian compatriots are willing to part with them." Fan
Delantron said, "This time I brought two guarneris and some musical instruments you named, as well as the musicians mentioned in your letter. I think the Australians may be Chinese, but they prefer Western art."
"
"It's hard to say. I can only understand their artistic taste a little bit. They also like some strange line drawings, which are very exaggerated, very stylized, and very narrative..."
After the two had a conversation about Australian art, they came to the edge of Customs Square.
"Sir, I would like to ask you to sit here this time." The Italian pointed to a wooden shed diagonally opposite Bobu Customs. Under the shed was a masonry platform, elevated above the ground.
The stage was already crowded with people, and they seemed to be waiting eagerly for something.
"What are they waiting for..."
"Ugh... besides, besides, besides..."
"Is this a new form of transportation for Australians?" Now that their buttocks are sitting in a moving carriage, Van Delantron already knows that they are waiting for a kind of transportation.
"Yes, my dear lord, the Australians call this a train. It runs on two rails at a speed like riding a fast horse. But you see, my lord, this train has 5 carriages. It can
More than 200 people can sit there..."
Van Delantron found it very interesting, but from his previous understanding of the Italian, he could tell that Trini wanted to say more than that.