The Straits colonies, including Penang, Malacca and Singapore, are territories developed and managed by the East India Company. Among them, Singapore's status is the most important because it guards the eastern glade of the Strait of Malacca, which is the only way to India to China, and is the most prosperous. Stanford Raffles, the founder of the Singapore Free Trade Port, formulated a tax-free policy for Singapore, which allowed merchants in the entire Southeast Asia to ship goods to Singapore for sale, and also attracted a large number of merchant ships to trade here. It turned out that there were only more than 1,000 people in Singapore, most of them Malays and dozens of Chinese, and now Indians, Arabs and British merchants are bustling with tens of thousands of people making their own lives here.

Singapore's trade status surpassed the original Penang and Malacca, and even Manila and Batavia (Jakarta) trade volumes were surpassed by it. But it is another place that is not profitable, because Sir Raffles created a tax-free policy for Singapore, which made the East India Company unable to obtain income from huge trade, so it was reluctant to manage the place. However, this port is too important and it is difficult to throw it away directly. Therefore, Downing's demand to become the governor of the Straits colony is a chance, at least not as difficult as it seems. If he is in charge of the Straits colony, then Downing will have a base for development to his homeland, and this wishful thinking is good.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who lives at No. 11 Downing Street, is the second person in the cabinet except the Prime Minister, but he didn't seem to have expected Downing to have such a strange appeal. He was stunned for a moment and said, "This is a matter under the jurisdiction of the Indian Governor, you should go to him."

The more Tang Ning thought about it, he became more and more serious, and smiled and said, "Marquis Dalhousie? An old friend, you should know that he has a 5% stake in the British Telegraph Company, right? This market value is equivalent to 300,000 pounds, and the old friend makes a lot of money. He will thank me. Besides, I want to build a shipyard in Singapore. I am just a shortage of one recommendation person now, why don't you be a good person?"

Charles Wood: "God, are you serious? Where can that little place support a shipyard? Besides, your British Telegraph company doesn't care?"

Tang Ning: "Well, I will arrange it. Even if I am appointed as the governor of the Straits colony, it will not be a matter of time. It will take several years to go there, right? I am not in a hurry, just ask you to send a message and recommend it. You are not in a hurry. It is not too late to wait until India sends a telegram. It's almost time, it's just one, two months."

Wood: "The recommendation is OK, then... Is that settled? 300,000 yuan in cash, three director seats and stocks totaling 1.2 million yuan, and the account will be settled!"

Tang Ning: "It's over."

Wood was overjoyed. He didn't expect that his "toxic stock" package could be sold. Even Nanhai Company's stocks were accepted as ordered, haha... Wood secretly laughed and hurt his stomach.

After Wood left, Tang Ning was also very depressed. It seemed that he had been thinking about Singapore during the negotiations, which was really shocking.

Since we have obtained four public offices and one title, let’s take a look and see the most unpleasant Nanhai company. A company that is paying off and preparing to go bankrupt has also come to a new director, which is also anecdote.

You can say nothing, it is really one of the three giants as famous as the Bank of England and the East India Company. Their nominal head is the Governor, and Queen Victoria. Of course, the actual person in charge is a guy named Charles Frank, who is the Deputy Governor.

Due to fraud, the Nanhai Company owed a lot of debts and made the government owe to debts. However, this notorious company finally made the Whigs take charge of the British regime for a long time, because they properly handled the debts of the Nanhai Company and saved the government's crumbling reputation, and compensated what should be compensated and punished what should be punished.

As soon as Singapore and South America were combined, Downing suddenly thought of rubber. This raw material has a strong mark in the history of industrial development. If steel is hard power, rubber is "soft power" and is the raw material for producing many industrial products. The most prominent one is tires. In large industries, both soft and hard need to be used.

The automobile era is obviously not the present, but we can prepare for the future. Southeast Asia will replace South America as the most important rubber production area. It takes more than ten years to grow from seeds to trees that can be harvested. Under its own catalysis, it is probably the automobile era in more than ten years, and it is not too early to take action now.

Tang Ning told the deputy governor: "Is it possible for the Nanhai Company to conduct actual trade?"

The deputy governor was startled by the new director's idea and said, "This...is OK in theory, but...no need. To be honest, all the debts will be paid off in about two or three years. That is the end of the company, with a bad reputation and a difficult business."

Tangning: "More than a hundred years have passed, and the British should no longer remember what happened before, right?"

The deputy governor laughed and said, "There will be someone who remembers it. When they clamor, the Nanhai Company will have to stand at the forefront again. I'll stop at the last shift safely."

Because Tangning's shares are too large, he has now become the largest shareholder. With the further completion of the liquidation, he will dominate the party. Nanhai Company has become his private property. A generation of "famous socialites" are a bit reluctant to let it go, but the deputy governor is right. This bad reputation is a big problem. There are many opportunities, so why bother to stick to Nanhai Company? Let's not worry about it for now.

Tang Ning asked again: "Do you know where there may be rubber seeds? I want a little, the more the better..."

Deputy Governor: "Well, I don't know where the rubber factory is... Hey? Do you know Mr. Michael Faraday, Fuller Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institute? He seems to have studied rubber, so you ask him to find it."

Hey? Faraday? This... Those who know some knowledge of the history of science must have some understanding of this master, the father of electrical science! Haha, Tang Ning was worried that no one would come to study the power plant for him. Mr. Faraday... It's interesting, I found him on his head after looking for rubber.

In fact, when the Queen and Prince Albert went to BT to watch Downing, Faraday had already appeared on the side. He was a great helper in helping the prince to plan the World Expo. However, at that time, Downing was full of the queen, prince, and the prime minister, so he left this real master aside. In fact, who can compare to Faraday's title for the ages?

Tangning must visit the master. Although his knowledge is better than that of the master, his admiration in his heart is not reduced at all. However, he does not need to bring any meeting gifts. Maybe he will make Faraday a partner of the world's first power station and the largest in the world. This gift is only useful! Ha, Tangning suddenly had the idea of ​​making friends. When he faced the Governor of India, the richest man in the world, the noblest queen and the most powerful prime minister, he did not have this idea. When he thought of Faraday, he would have a strong social impulse. This is the charm of the master!

The horses in the carriage seemed to feel the passengers' relaxed and happy mood, as if Tang Ning was humming some tune. It has been more than a year since he was accustomed to the dog. It seems that this is the first time he has visited a friend without the greed and greedy idea. It is really rare.

Yes, Old Faraday is on his 60th birthday, and he just came to see him. If he is interested, they will become partners. If the old man likes a peaceful life, he will definitely not disturb him. Judging from the performance on the BT booth, it is said that the old man should be very interested in electromagnetics. However, Faraday did not "harass" Tang Ning, which surprised Tang Ning. Perhaps, this master was so calm that he didn't have to make a fool of himself when he was about science.

The assistant had already agreed with Faraday yesterday that Downing would have a dinner at Faraday's house. The place where Faraday works and lives is the Royal Institute, which is very close to Buckingham Palace.

Before 1835, pure academic scientists in Britain were poor, and even the top scientists who worked for the Royal Institute, such as Faraday, had only received an annual salary of 100 pounds for the Royal Institute's lifetime post. Later, the government provided special annuities for outstanding scientists, and Faraday became the first master to receive such an annuity, with 300 pounds a year. It can be said that from this time on, he lived a prosperous life of the middle class.

Generally speaking, even if the annual income of 300 pounds is really a middle-class person, 500 is the upper limit of the middle-class person, and further up is a luxurious life like a noble. What's more, the Faraday couple has no offspring and rarely go out to eat because Lady Faraday Sierra is a cooking expert.

Sierra can make her own ginger wine, wine, jam, and dim sum. Faraday's students and friends often come to their house for dinner. Among the dark English dishes that Downing has eaten, Mrs. Sierra's craftsmanship is the best.

Faraday thought that as the president of the British Telegraph Company, Downing would mainly talk about electrical engineering matters. Unexpectedly, this young man seemed to be more interested in jam than electromagnetism, and he talked to the old lady more frequently than his authentic master.

The old lady likes Tang Ning very much because this handsome young man is not as arrogant as a millionaire, and she is actually concerned about making jams. Thinking of this Jianghu big player who is "the biggest philanthropist in history", she likes it even more.

The old lady cared about where he went after donating a huge sum of money and asked: "How is the London sewer project progressing?"

Tangning: "It hasn't started yet, but the cabinet has already decided to make me the chairman of the sewage treatment committee. I haven't taken office yet. With me here, the speed will be doubled. I am really anxious than everyone in London. The environment in London is too bad. There is no major improvement in five years, so I will move to the countryside. Oh, I may buy the Sitau Garden of the Duke of Buckingham."

The old lady was envious: "That's a good manor. You are so young that you live a duke-like life, know science and do business, it's great." She glanced at her husband and seemed to think that her husband is one of the best scientists. Unfortunately... why is the income gap between the two so big? The couple has a good relationship and is used to living a dull life, but there will be slight envy. As an old lady, she has been without children for the rest of her life.

Tang Ning smiled and said, "If I really bought it, please come and stay for a while."

The old lady said in surprise: "Ah! Is it true? But... Mr. Windsor is so polite. We just met..."

Tang Ning shook his head, chewing the dark food, and bulged his cheeks and said, "No, Professor Faraday is the teacher of all of us who make a living by electromagnetics. Even if we have never met, we will thank him for his pioneering contribution to electromagnetics! You are my master, my wife! You don't have to say anything politely!"

The most gratifying thing for a great scientist in his life is that he hears this kind of thing. He is very happy and drinks very enthusiastically.
Chapter completed!