Chapter 771 Team
These small countries in Europe are very clear about their own strength and status. They are now completely ruined and just messing around day by day.
As early as two years ago, a large-scale copper mine was discovered in central Congo. The Belgians not only refused to develop it themselves, but also refused companies from other countries to invest in Congo.
Some people may ask, why don’t you make money if you have money?
It’s not that the Belgians don’t make money, but if they want to maintain their colonial rule in the Congo, they must block other countries’ investment in the Congolese colony.
Congo is very rich in mineral resources, with copper reserves of 75 million tons, accounting for about 15% of the world's total reserves; cobalt reserves of 4.5 million tons, accounting for about half of the world's total reserves; tantalum and niobium mineral resources of 30 million tons, accounting for 80% of the world's total. %; diamond reserves are approximately 206 million carats.
In the 1884 Berlin Conference, King Leopold II of Belgium became the biggest winner and turned the "Congo Free State" into his private domain.
Leopold II himself died in 1909. Before his death, the Congo Free State was taken over by the Belgian government and changed to the Belgian Congo.
Not to mention Leopold II himself, it has been more than 15 years since the Belgian government took over the Congo Free State. It is impossible for the Belgian government to have no idea about the situation in the Congo Free State.
It is precisely as more and more information is learned about the Congo that the Belgian government becomes increasingly fearful.
The common man is not guilty, but he is guilty of carrying the jade.
Leopold II took advantage of the European countries' lack of understanding of the Congo Free State to take advantage of the Berlin Conference and secretly made a fortune for decades.
If the outside world knows that the Congo Free State is actually a world raw material warehouse containing countless treasures, it will definitely arouse the coveting of European powers, and Belgium will lose Congo.
Understanding the twists and turns here can explain why Belgium is so resistant to foreign capital.
Portugal refuses foreign capital to enter Portuguese East and West Africa for the same reasons as Belgium.
When the students of the Abyssinian Empire arrived at the Vladivostok Army Academy, the explorer Maxim from Italy was preparing to explore the Katanga region in the interior of Africa.
It is said that Katanga has rich diamond mines. Maxim hopes that he can find the legendary diamond mine. Even if he does not develop it himself, he can still get a large sum of money by selling the news. .
Expeditions, like travel, require financial support, so Maxim is raising funds for the expedition.
After the New Year, Maxim went to a number of Italian companies to seek support, but as expected they all ran into snags.
"These bastards, they will regret it one day."
Maxim was so indignant that he didn't even bother to support him with money. He actually laughed at Maxim's ideals and deserved that his business wouldn't be successful.
“What should we do now?”
Maxim’s assistant Marco frowned. He and Maxim were already penniless. If they could no longer find a sponsor, they would The two of them are going to live on the streets.
"Keep looking for the next one. If it doesn't work, we will go to North Africa. There will always be a way-"
Maxim is very motivated. He doesn't want to stay here, he has his own place to stay. .
Turning the corner, a signboard called "African Resource Development Company" came into Maxim's sight.
Maxim strode into the door.
“Welcome——”
The girl at the front desk is in a white shirt, her hair is tied into a ponytail, and her hands are invisible under the bar. Although her words are gentle, her eyes are guarded.
“Is your boss here?”
Maxim's tone sounded like he was about to discuss a big deal.
The girl at the front desk didn't answer immediately, and her scrutinizing gaze from top to bottom made Maxim very uncomfortable.
Judging from their appearance, Maxim and Marco are indeed a bit embarrassed. Not only do they have no money to buy decent suits, the wrinkles on their leather shoes are also obvious, and Marco’s face has not even been washed. There is still eye mucus in the corners of his eyes——
No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look like a big business.
"Marco and I are explorers, do you know explorers——"
Maxim hopes that the identity of "explorer" will arouse the interest of the girl at the front desk.
Girls who are new to the world are always interested in things they don’t understand. As long as Maxim shows his profession at the bar, even if he can’t trick the girl away, he can still get her a drink. "Please wait a moment -"
The girl at the front desk interrupted Maxim's self-introduction and looked at the rest area not far away.
It was only then that Maxim noticed that there were several strong men sitting in the rest area.
A strong man stood up and walked over. He was over 1.9 meters tall, making Marco look like a weakling.
Maxim was not much better.
"Are you explorers? Great, we happen to have an expedition project that needs senior people to join."
It can be seen that the strong man is trying to release his goodwill.
Maxim felt that the strong man's profession was a butcher.
Maxim followed the strong man into the reception room and got to know him better.
“We have a professor who is very interested in insects in Africa. He hopes to understand the number of insects in the interior of Africa and needs to go to Africa for inspection. If you are interested, you can also join.”
The strong man's name is Brooks, and his position is security director.
"We are going to the Katanga region to look for local diamond mines. If you are interested, we can have an in-depth chat."
Maxim hopes to lead this expedition.
Insects are everywhere and can be inspected anywhere.
If the professor can be tricked into going to Katanga, then Maxim can complete his work along the way.
"Where is Katanga?"
Brooks lacks knowledge of Africa.
So Maxim took out the treasure map he had collected.
Brooks has the look on his face like an old subway guy looking at his phone.
“This is the approximate location of the diamond mine. If I can find it, I hope you can pay me enough and I will keep it a secret for you. This is my professional ethics.”
Maxim sells hard.
"Is your team just the two of you?"
Brooks was curious, this is the interior of Africa, not an outing.
"The greater the number of people, the greater the risk -"
Maxim still has some experience in exploration.
"You make sense, but how do you make me believe that you won't just take our money and disappear?"
Brooks is straightforward.
“I’m not a liar, you don’t have to invest in me, but you can’t insult me!”
Maxim was furious.
"I will reserve two positions for the two of you within the professor's team. If you want to come, leave your personal information."
Brooks is always in control Dominate the conversation.
Maxim and Marco looked at each other, with joy and relief in each other's eyes.
Although the future is uncertain, this in itself is the meaning of adventure.
(End of this chapter)