Chapter 110: His ability to make trouble is even greater than mine, Shao Quanzhong

Shao Quanzhong's body swayed and he fell backwards.

If Zhang Siwen, who was like a shadow beside him, had not pulled him back, Shao Quanzhong would have swam freely in the Yangtze River.

After being dizzy for a long time, Shao Quanzhong smiled apologetically to everyone and said, "It's my first time riding on a steam warship. I felt a little seasick, but I'm much better now."

Zhang Zhidong admired his master's ability to lie with open eyes and be shameless.

How can someone who grew up in the water town of Suzhou get seasick? It's more believable to say that you and your two ladies worked too hard last night and were exhausted.

Is this down-and-out old soldier some kind of celebrity? Why is the lord so shocked?
I heard that the Americans claim that equality and freedom are the norm, and that anyone with ability can succeed. If this person is really capable, how can he still be in such a miserable state at the age of nearly 40?

Shao Quanzhong quickly calmed down. It wasn't because he felt dizzy seeing a famous person. He wouldn't feel dizzy even if Lincoln or Bismarck came. He was so happy that he almost cried.

No matter how powerful Lincoln, Bismarck, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and other people are, it is useless if I cannot invite them. They cannot help me and may even become my opponents and make things difficult for me.

I clearly know who has the ability, but I can't invite him. I wanted to act in advance and get Deng Shichang to come, but he was still criticized by the eunuch brothers.

If you invite them too early, it will delay their development; if you invite them too late, they will be successful and famous. We can’t invite them in this small temple. Staring at the talented people, who knows how sad it is to not be invited?
This guy is almost forty years old, so he must have some skills, as he got it with such little money.

Today is my lucky day. Even Mr. Li Er can help me. I can hire Grant for 200 taels a month. No, this gentleman rarely falls into my hands. I have to keep him no matter what. I have to pay more.

Looking back at Grant was like seeing a plate of braised Northeastern pork elbow, so familiar.

"Captain, why are you willing to come to me? How can you help me?"

Grant was very honest, "I'm short of money, and you're giving me a lot."

Shao Quanzhong was very puzzled, "Don't you have five black slaves? How can you afford to support five slaves if you have no money?"

"The four black slaves were my wife's dowry, and I bought another one myself. They have been loyal servants for a long time, and we couldn't bear to let them go even though we had no money. Before I came here, they were so poor that they had to work in my father and brother's leather factory to make shoes."

“Are captains in the U.S. military treated so badly?”

Grant was a little embarrassed. "Seven years ago, I was reprimanded by my superiors for drinking, so I had to resign and retire. I have no livelihood, and I have no other skills except fighting..."

He is also a drunkard. Alcoholics are good. If you hadn't retired, how could I take you in?
"When you come here, you can drink as much as you want. I can afford as much wine as you want. Sven, record my order and allow Grant to drink as much as he wants."

Turning to look at Grant, he said, "But you have to be worthy of the special treatment I give you."

Grant patted his chest and said, "I have been able to raise, train and ride horses since I was ten years old. I have a special understanding of cavalry. I was promoted to captain of infantry during the Mexican-American War. I am also proficient in infantry command. I have studied at West Point. Of course, I also know a little about artillery, engineering and logistics."

"You must have done very well at West Point."

"Well, my grades are average. Because I always cause trouble, I have been punished 290 times..."

Everyone was full of admiration. How amazing! How much trouble must one have to cause to create such an unparalleled record of being reprimanded 290 times in four years?
Shao Quanzhong felt that he had found a good friend. This guy was even better at making trouble than me. He always believed that people who didn't dare to make trouble would never amount to anything.

Shao Quanzhong looked at the young man who looked gentle and refined. Although he looked like a scholar, the scar on his face betrayed him. He must be someone who dared to make big trouble.

The young man felt a little embarrassed by being looked at. "I'm an honest man. I've never been punished at West Point. I did well in all subjects and graduated with eighth place. Here, this is my diploma and transcript." Grant didn't need to show this to his employer. The captain's epaulettes on his shoulders were enough to prove everything.

Young people are in a different situation. As they have just graduated and have no achievements, they have to rely on their diplomas to find jobs.

"Don't look at my scar. It was caused by a duel with a racist before I went to West Point."

Honest people are not easy to bully. Habitual hooligans bully the weak and fear the strong, but they will not do anything surprising. Once an honest person with conviction crosses his bottom line, it will cost someone's life.

The young man is smart, as he can get excellent grades in all subjects at West Point. He will answer questions proactively without Shao Quanzhong asking.

"I'm short of money, too. My family has an average income, and I'm the tenth child in the family, the sixth boy..."

Well, this reason is enough. It is said that a man fainted on the spot when he learned that his wife gave birth to quadruplets. Ten children can definitely overwhelm the father easily for an ordinary family, and he may not be the youngest child...

"I need money to support my family, and I will send most of it back to the United States. Don't worry, I can do any subject. I was originally going to apply to join the army as a second lieutenant in the artillery, but I came to apply for the job after listening to Mr. Wall's advice."

The young man learns languages quickly and speaks Chinese better than Grant, which makes Shao Quanzhong very satisfied.

"Don't worry, your resettlement allowance will be paid out as soon as I return to Hailing. I will keep my promise. Mr. Wall, this is a check for five thousand taels of silver. You can cash it in full at Wen's Bank in the British Concession in Shanghai."

Waler was stunned for a moment, then took the check, checked it carefully and put it in his arms, then immediately changed his face, "Sir, we have a deal, I will help you introduce a talent, you will give me 5,000 taels as a reward, how come you gave me half less? You can't bully me like this!"

Shao Quanzhong smiled, not realizing at all that he was defaulting on his debt.

"What did we agree on? I want two skilled artillery instructors, right? This top student is an expert in artillery, but he has no combat experience. The old one only has a 'slight knowledge' of artillery. The people I found don't meet my requirements at all, and you still want the full payment?"

Wall was not convinced. "Do you know how hard it is to find the people you want? There are many West Point graduates who specialize in artillery, but most of the people who go to West Point have rich families. No matter how much money you offer, they won't come. I finally found these two who are short of money."

"It's not difficult. Can I give you five thousand taels each? My father-in-law is going to America with you. He will find me there. Why should I ask you? Just tell me whether Grant is an artilleryman."

Wall felt guilty about this. "Grant is just being modest. Even if he has 'some knowledge' as a West Point graduate, he is still much better than those foreign hooligans hanging around in Shanghai."

Shao Quanzhong nodded in agreement, saying that these "foreign gangsters in Shanghai" included Wall himself.

"One has no combat experience, and the other has some experience. Together, we count them as one. Five thousand taels is good enough for you. If you don't have more, it's up to you."

"Sir Shao, you are in need of a cavalry instructor anyway, so you can use this old one, right? Give him more anyway, we will cooperate in the future. Besides, it took me a lot of effort to teach them Chinese along the way, otherwise you will have to pay extra for an interpreter, right?"

Shao Quanzhong looked very embarrassed and said, "Then I can give you 500 taels at most. There is absolutely no more."

Wal rolled his eyes, his face turned from cloudy to bright, "Thank you, Lord Governor, we old friends should cooperate more in the future."

He took another five hundred taels of silver and hurriedly boarded the ship.

There were hidden dangers in his introduction of these two talents, so he did not tell Shao Quanzhong. He took the money and ran away while Shao Quanzhong was unaware.

The two scoundrels, Shao Quanzhong and Huaer, were grinning to themselves, both feeling that they had gotten the upper hand.

(End of this chapter)

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