Australian Storm 1876

  Chapter 142 Coastal Railway Opened

  Three months have passed in a flash

  July 21, 1880

  Sydney

The 12,000-ton new ocean freighter "Tongbaishan" of the 19th Century United Shipping Company from North America, docked at the 10,000-ton wharf of Beilun Port, unloaded from the ship a full 1,000 brand-new walking tractors, including various models of flatbeds and high and low fences. , It looks spectacular.

  Part of this batch of tractors will be transported to Songjiang Town in the north through the coastal railway that has just been penetrated to participate in the enthusiastic civil engineering construction there.

  Songjiang Development has now become the most popular word.

Songjiang Town, once unknown, has now become a super-large town with a population of more than 36,000. It only participated in the construction of Songjiang Reservoir, the second phase of the Hongshan Iron and Steel Plant, the 4th and 5th woolen factories, and the new plant of General Machinery Company. There are close to 20,000 construction workers for major projects such as construction.

  In Beilun Port, the construction of the sixth wool spinning mill will begin. This is also a super-large wool spinning mill with an estimated number of 10,000 workers. After completion, it will become a distribution center for 200 miles of ranches around the wool. After worsted spinning, it will be exported to Europe and the United States.

  On the once deserted north bank, row upon row of houses stand now, as well as large warehouses and factories under construction, making it a lively construction site.

The 10,000-ton wharf that has just been completed ushered in the 10,000-ton freighter of the 19th Century United Shipping Company. The front of the wharf is still under construction. Those are deep-water berths No. 3 and No. 4. With the extension of the reinforced concrete trestle, In the future, more deep-water berths will be built to form a large port comparable to Jackson Seaport.

  The branch line of the coastal railway is connected to the port side, and a large warehouse area is built here to meet the large-scale overseas import and export demand.

  Earl of Queensland, with his strong economic strength, set up a new stove on the north shore of Sydney, creating a production, processing and trade center that does not rely on Sydney at all.

  With the massive industrial output of the Red River Valley today, it can easily meet the operating needs of Beilun Port, which makes a bunch of people in Sydney regret it.

  Because all the taxes in Beilun Port go into the pocket of the Earl of Queensland, which also belongs to the Red River Valley Ranch, which now extends from Brisbane to the north shore of Sydney, a full 670 miles away.

  Calculated according to the metric system; more than 2,000 miles from north to south are covered, and more than 400 miles deep from east to west, covering an area of ​​220,000 square kilometers, accounting for almost 2/5 of the rich coastal areas of Australia.

  South Wales once consulted the London Colony Department on this matter, and the official answer was yes;

  The Red River Valley Ranch owned by the Earl of Queensland was awarded to Her Majesty the Queen. There is no doubt about this. Due to the untimely update of the data, it has been finalized at 220,000 square kilometers in the near future.

  In other words, the benevolence of the Earl of Queensland will not continue to expand, so please stay calm.

  What is this answer?

  The high-ranking officials in New South Wales almost had their noses crooked, but they were helpless with the bureaucracy in London, let alone overturning the official documents of the Colonial Department.

  London is covered by a Duke. As expected, you can do whatever you want in Australia. Even the number of fiefdoms can be changed. What else can't be done?

  Standing on the dock

  Li Fushou vigorously pinched his waist and looked at the city of Sydney on the opposite side of the bay. It looked exceptionally beautiful against the blue bay. He turned around and looked at the Kangsby Plateau on the north shore, which was under construction. A kind of vicissitudes of life still emerged.

  "Hahaha...Sydney grandsons, I came to visit them in person, Lord Earl, one by one, I am sloppy, I am afraid I am stupid now, right?"

Wu Mozhou continued with a smile; “A while ago, the Governor of New South Wales, Morgan McLaury, talked to me several times. He wanted to learn from the example of Queensland and put Beilun Town, Songjiang Town, Wisconsin Town, and Edinburgh Town. It was promoted to a city, but I bluntly rejected it.

I told him;

  There is no need to ask the Lord Earl of Queensland for this matter. You can answer South Wales now, it’s impossible.

  Not possible now, and not possible in 20 years.

  Morgan McLaury's faces were green at the time, and they groaned and left, ignoring even the most basic gentleman's demeanor. "

   "Hahaha...good answer, mad at these grandchildren." Li Fushou laughed.

  The situation in New South Wales is different from Queensland. The Botany Bay where the British first landed in Australia is near Port Jackson today, more than 100 years ago.

  As South Wales has the longest history of development, among the population of more than 1.3 million people, whites account for 75%, Chinese account for 20%, and the rest are immigrants from the East Indies and Oceania Islands, the total number is less than half.

  New South Wales is the autonomous state with the highest percentage of whites in Australia. The Red River Valley cannot replicate the success of Queensland. Of course, it is not enthusiastic to upgrade towns in the territory to cities and transfer a lot of taxes.

  In South Wales, it is impossible to obtain an overwhelming advantage over voters, it is impossible to completely control the election of state legislators, and it is impossible to penetrate the state self-governing office. Of course, such stupid things cannot be done.

The Red River Valley and the surrounding four cities, from the mayor to the ordinary RCMP and government employees below, are either Li Fushou’s carefully trained confidant, or the backbone of Hongmen or activists of the Communist Party, which is equivalent to using government taxes to support My own influence has not diminished but expanded.

  What's more, the Queensland State Finance is still helping Li Fushou to raise a small-scale Coast Guard, so don’t even think about it elsewhere.

  The situation in New South Wales is completely different. After the tax is taken away, to raise white employees, isn’t it the wrong medicine?

"Gentlemen, today is a good day for the official opening of the coastal railway. Let’s meet the gentlemen of Sydney’s upper class. After all, many people here are shareholders of Red River Valley enterprises. It must be maintained." Li Fushou said that everyone smiled knowingly.

  Xin Changjun, Pan Shoudao, as today’s important guest, walked forward with Li Fushou behind him, with a very relaxed expression.

  Xin Changjun said; “Master Yuanding, I don’t think these guests from Sydney today will laugh out. Let’s forgive and forgive!”

"Mr. Changjun's words are bad. I think that the British gentleman's demeanor is still very good, he has a kind of awareness of knocking down his teeth and swallowing blood." Pan Shoudao laughed twice, but the following words came out. Those white gentlemen almost vomit blood; "Isn't the ceremony of the smooth opening of the coastal railway today a resounding slap in the face of those who are desperately trying to prevent the coastal railway from entering Sydney?"

   "Hehehe... Brother Changjun, Brother Shoudao, **** is still hot! What this says is really... in place!" Li Fushou couldn't help laughing.

  The two voices were very loud just now. Not far from the upper class gentlemen in Sydney, they all heard them, and many popular people stared at them with eyes.

  Xin Changjun, Pan Shoudao, Wu Mozhou and others stared back without showing any weakness. The expressions that were afraid of you biting me made the gentlemen on the opposite side turn blue with anger.

The Governor of New South Wales, Morgan McLaury, showed good demeanor and proactively stretched out his hand and said; "Congratulations, Your Excellency, the opening of the coastal railway and the construction of Beilun Port, oh... and the construction of Songjiang Town is in full swing. It will inject new economic vitality into New South Wales. We are delighted to see all this and sincerely hope that your career will become bigger and bigger, compared to Queensland..."

Morgan McLaury looked at Governor Frank provocatively, the contempt in his eyes was undisguised, and continued; "The territory of the Red River Valley in New South Wales has almost reached 150,000 square kilometers, and here is you. Our true home, we welcome you, Lord Earl of Queensland."

"Thank you, Mr. Governor." Li Fushou politely shook hands and greeted him. At this moment of victory with the "boom" big-eared photon fan, there is no need to be aggressive, and more should show demeanor; "Thanks to New South Wales. Showed kindness, but unfortunately I am a nostalgic person, and I have deep feelings for Queensland under the leadership of Governor Frank. After all, my title is the Earl of Queensland, not the Earl of New South Wales, so Queensland will always be red. The base camp in the valley."

   "Uh, that's really a shame." After being bluntly rejected, the smile on Morgan McLurry's face became a little stiff.

  Governor Frank said in a fuss; "Wow, I was abandoned by my mother. Isn't our Morgan kid going to cry?"

"God, what are you talking about?" Morgan McLaury jumped off his feet directly by this joke, and said angrily; "My mother can only be the British Empire, the noble Queen, not There are two ranchers with bad money."

Frank heard the words and said helplessly; "I also want to have such a good mother, but unfortunately I am only one of the thousands of subjects of the British Empire, far from being qualified, but I am very strange, Morgan Mack Lord Lowry, your title seems to be too low! And there is ambiguity in your words, suspected of slandering the noble Queen, in front of all the gentlemen present, I need you to explain clearly."

   "Uh..." Morgan McLaury was caught in a panic when he was caught by Frank, his face suddenly turned blue and red, and he couldn't say anything.

Frank is an old bureaucrat who has been in politics for many years, and he has the ability to beat down dogs. He turned solemnly to face the upper-class gentlemen and ladies present, and said; "Your Excellency Governor Morgan McLaury publicly declared that his mother is honorable. Your Majesty, I have the right to ask him to explain clearly the meaning of this sentence in public, and to report it to the Colonial Department truthfully. As a subject of the British Empire, I will never allow anyone to tarnish the glory and dignity of Her Majesty, gentlemen , Please solemnly swear and testify."

   "I swear, I will truthfully prove everything I heard and saw." Someone began to echo.

   "I swear to God that I will justly verify everything I see." More people participated.

   "I swear..." There was already a sound of sympathy on the dock.

  The problem is serious. A group of gentlemen in Sydney’s upper class immediately began to stand in line. They dare not make jokes on this issue of the dignity of Her Majesty, and swear solemnly one by one.

   Seeing the wall fell and everyone pushed, Morgan McLaury knew that he was finished, his political career was over, and years of hard work were in vain.

  The Colonial Department of the Empire will not allow any officials who dare to offend Her Majesty the Queen to remain in office. The best way is to resign and leave here quietly, leaving the place where he has struggled for decades.

  If you say something imprudent in public, being caught by political opponents is a chase. The key is that you can't deny it in the public.

  Gosh, I am really dizzy.

Morgan McLaury was so desperate at the moment, and said with a sullen expression; "For the sake of God, I apologize for what I have said very ambiguous. The imprudent speech is unforgivable, although I didn't mean it originally. As a responsible British gentleman, I will take the blame and resign and kneel before the Holy Cross and ask for forgiveness."

   Having said this,

  Morgan McLaury left with a lonely expression, his figure rickety from the back, as if he was getting older all of a sudden.

  Li Fushou witnessed this wonderful change with his own eyes. He felt a truly absurd feeling in his heart. At the same time, he felt the majesty of the British Empire, truly everywhere.

  Even if the hierarchy is as strict as that of the Qing dynasty, and the emperor dowager often bows to the empress dowager, it will not cut off the top official Hualing of the Fengjiang official with a single comment.

  Thinking about it carefully is normal;

  The only governor of Australia in the United Kingdom was appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. The officials of these other autonomous states are all elected. After a few years of elections, they will step down if they fail to be elected.

  Elected officials are of course easier to let go than the larger life-time officials of the Qing Dynasty. The problem is that they are caught by political opponents and cannot let go.

  The full-scale opening ceremony of the coastal railway line with noisy gongs and drums began in an almost absurd atmosphere. The new railway trunk line was announced with loud laughter, and the two adjacent autonomous states of Queensland and South Wales added an economic artery.

  The Earl of Queensland, as the main shareholder of the railway and owner of the Red River Valley Ranch, is the biggest beneficiary.

  This coastal railway runs through the whole territory, connecting the dotted towns along the way, shining like a chain of pearls.

  From then on

  The grazing point can drive the sheep to the nearest coastal town for shearing. The trimmed wool is transported by train to Songjiang Town or Zhuque City, where it is processed in the local woolen factory and sold overseas.

  In the future, it is possible to develop farming industries near the town, planting wheat, rice, soybeans, grapes, nuts, various fruit trees and economic plants. After primary processing, it can be easily exported by rail, which breaks the bottleneck of transportation.

  (End of this chapter)