Chapter 1165: The General is Doubting My Intelligence

Nashadier naturally could not see the private actions of the two, and seeing Liu Zheng's face turn livid, Nashadier could not help but ask, "Chief Minister Liu, what is the matter with you?"

Liu Zheng glanced at Xie Chan, and Xie Chan gave a light cough.

Liu Zheng looked nonchalant: "Nothing, just an appendicitis flare-up."

"Appendicitis? What is appendicitis?" Nashadier looked puzzled.

It was not just Nashadier; this term was something even Xie Chan and Jiang Xuan were hearing for the first time.

Although they were a bit curious, they said nothing; after all, there were simply too many new terms coming out of Liu Zheng's mouth, and they were no longer surprised after hearing so many.

"Since Chief Minister Liu is feeling unwell, you should go back and rest quickly. If something were to happen to you here, I could not bear the responsibility."

Nashadier looked nervous.

Although Nashadier had his own little schemes, his current concern was not feigned.

After all, Liu Zheng was his biggest financier right now, and he was counting on absorbing Liu Zheng's energy to rebuild an Arab Empire in this region at the intersection of three continents.

This had always been Nashadier's ambition!

Of course, he was doing exactly that.

Relying on this Suez Canal, he had already reaped enough dividends in every aspect...

He had been living incredibly well these past few days.

Dividends from France, from Britain, from the East India Company—all kinds of dividends were rolling in.

For the first time, Nashadier felt that he was actually so popular...

He had no sense at all of whether he should be taking these dividends... or if there might come a time when he would capsize. He only knew that he was the first person to occupy this Suez Canal, and in this regard, Ling Chen should be eating his dust!

Suez...

What a wonderful place!

This was the lifeline of the Mediterranean; with so many great powers wanting to win him over, it was only natural that he would get carried away.

"No matter, General. The wining and dining can pause for a moment; now, we should talk about business."

Liu Zheng put down his wine glass with a chuckle and said lightly.

"That is only natural, that is only natural. Chief Minister Liu, please, just give your orders."

Nashadier knew that since Liu Zheng had come to find him the moment he arrived in Suez, there must be something going on. That was why he had hosted him so grandly; at the very least, no matter how many schemes he had, he still had to keep his own position straight...

"Orders is too strong a word. After all, we have a cooperative relationship, we are equals. I came here to talk to you about the development of the Suez Canal."

Nashadier's eyes lit up; the main event had finally arrived!

In fact, he had also been waiting for Liu Zheng to discuss this matter with him.

Back then, when Nashadier was exiled from the Safavid Dynasty, he had followed Liu Zheng's words and headed straight for the Suez Canal. Relying on his own troops, he had taken the place in one fell swoop.

For this, he had paid a huge price!

First, it was the position of a governor in the Safavid Dynasty!

Second, he had led his brothers away from their homeland with an uncertain future; the pressure from all sides at the time had been immense.

Third, before Ling Chen brought the East India Company here, almost all the excavation work at Suez had been started by Nashadier first. It was only when the East India infrastructure troops arrived that the entire project was taken over.

Therefore, with the opening of Suez, Nashadier's share of the profits could not be lacking.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Although the Suez Canal was developed long ago, the technology at the time was too poor, the channel was neither wide nor deep, the canal's capacity was not large, and furthermore, having gone unmaintained for many years, the channel has long since silted up."

"Therefore, with maritime trade becoming frequent, renovating the Suez Canal is a matter of urgency. I entrusted this matter to you, General, so that we might develop it together. We provide the funds and technology, while you provide the manpower. When the time comes, we split the profits fifty-fifty, how about that?" Liu Zheng asked with a smile.

"

What?"

Liu Zheng's words were truly somewhat beyond Nashadier's expectations.

After all, when they were at their wit's end, it was Liu Zheng's East India Company that had pointed them toward a bright path. Liu Zheng was their financier, yet for the financier to provide the money and technology and only ask for half—honestly, this was truly quite conscientious.

Hearing Liu Zheng's words, Nashadier's eyes began to flicker.

This Liu Zheng, he really is Liu Zheng...

His attitude toward him was completely different from that of Ling Chen!

Half!

A fifty-fifty split!

Honestly, that was already quite a lot.

But...

Nashadier was not a person who knew how to be content. Although he was a general who led troops and did not understand modern economics, a place that could make three great powers and even the whole of Europe pay such close attention must have very considerable economic returns!

If he could firmly grasp the Suez Canal and keep all ten parts of the profit in his own pocket, what a massive fortune that would be!

Just thinking about it made Nashadier's eyes shine.

Although he was excited, he still needed to restrain himself. After all, he still feared Liu Zheng's formidable power for now; it would not be too late to swallow the canal's profits alone once his wings were fully grown!

"This, this, this... Young Master Liu, this... this is too much!"

Nashadier was already stammering; half of it was feigned, and half was genuine shock—he was even somewhat at a loss.

"It's just that..."

Nashadier took a deep breath, masking the ambition in his eyes.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Hmm?"

Nashadier laughed it off, then said cautiously: "I naturally have no objections to the profit-sharing you mentioned, Young Master... it's just that this..."

He hesitated, leaving his words unfinished.

A flash of "as expected" brilliance crossed Liu Zheng's eyes, and he laughed: "If there is something, General, just speak plainly."

"Young Master, you are now the Chief Minister of Longyan... you surely cannot attend to the management of the Suez Canal, so after this..."

The person in charge!

This is the most important thing of all!

As for dividends, or this or that, to Nashadier, none of it was as tempting as the status of being the manager of the Suez Canal!

Only real power is real!

Nashadier is a man of ambition.

He does not want to be a useless person who only collects dividends! Besides, thinking of the worst-case scenario, if the manager plays some tricks with the Suez Canal's revenue, would you even know? In that case, what does it matter what percentage of dividends you have?

Liu Zheng also had a look of "as expected."

This Nashadier...

Is still thinking about this.

But this is also understandable.

If he were Nashadier, he would certainly consider this issue as well. After all, he was the first to arrive and develop this place; for the East India Company to come directly to take over, Nashadier is, more or less, unhappy in his heart.

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "General Nashadier, the question of who will be the manager... remains to be discussed. After all, what I need is someone who is tactful, well-versed in business, puts the interests of the Canal first, and is extremely loyal... is that not so?"

Nashadier laughed loudly: "That is so, that is so!"

He himself still felt that he was tactful and adept at social maneuvering regarding the operation of Suez...

It is just that...

Liu Zheng's next words made his expression change drastically.

"Then, may I ask the General, what is the agreement with France?"

Liu Zheng asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Nashadier's smile came to an abrupt halt, and the hand holding his wine glass trembled as well.

"Young Master..."

This matter was his highest secret; how did Liu Zheng know about it?

Although very surprised, at this moment, Nashadier had to pretend to be calm!

Right now, the help he needs most is still Liu Zheng; without the aid of Liu Zheng's East India Company, it would be difficult to accomplish great things.

Furthermore, he also fears Liu Zheng's military power; if Liu Zheng were truly pushed to the limit and let that "Human Butcher Ling Chen," who wreaked havoc in Central Asia, come over, his tens of thousands of troops wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth!

The matter is top secret; perhaps Liu Zheng only heard a bit of gossip, and now, he must play dumb! Once there is revenue from the Canal, his power will continuously increase! It won't be too late to turn against Liu Zheng when his troops are strong and his horses are sturdy!

"Young Master, where did you get this news? We have no agreement with France."

Nashadier laughed it off and said.

Liu Zheng revealed a meaningful smile: "Really?"

Seeing Liu Zheng's smile, Nashadier also felt a chill down his spine.

Could it be that this Liu Zheng really has concrete information?

Although this Liu Zheng looks amiable, he is able to command a human-shaped beast like the "Human Butcher Ling Chen," so he must not be a pushover; if he were truly offended, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Although Nashadier was worried in his heart, he still pretended to be calm on the surface: "Recently, some French merchants have come to do business with us. Young Master, you also know that this Suez is a strategic location, and there are many eyes watching this place. The British have already taken Alexandria and are marching into Egypt; they are eyeing us covetously, so we must have some ability to defend ourselves."

"Although the aid provided by you, Young Master, is substantial, war cannot be finished in a few days; there will be consumption, and I cannot keep asking you for things, so I turned my gaze toward France. Young Master, you can understand this, right? Besides, isn't our Canal just opening its doors to do business? Hahahaha!"

This explanation from Nashadier was very reasonable; even he himself almost believed it after finishing.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng smiled lightly and said: "General, do you think that the intelligence system of our Longyan is filled with a bunch of good-for-nothings?"

"Young Master, what do you mean by that?"

Liu Zheng did not mince words and directly revealed the killing blow.

"In the middle of this month, the General sent men to purchase a batch of beauties from Central Asia, thirty in total. Among them, one died after falling off a cliff while relieving herself on the road, and one was beheaded after kicking the lower body of the team leader, Deleha, while resisting his assault..."

"Three days later, Deleha led twenty-six Central Asian beauties to report back, claiming that five had died on the road due to accidents, when in fact three had been kept by himself. Upon learning of this, the General was furious, ordered him to be turned into a eunuch, and then dismembered him to feed the wolves."

"..."

"Two days ago, the General had diarrhea and went to the latrine four times in one morning..."

"The person who came from France, was it Christian?"

"General, you are questioning this Young Master's intelligence..."

"General, what I said, is it correct?" Liu Zheng looked at Nashadier and asked with a smile.

"..."

Nashadier looked at Liu Zheng with a blank expression; at this moment, he was drenched in cold sweat.

It was truly terrifying; everything Liu Zheng said was accurate to the letter!

He even knew how many times he went to the latrine in a single day; the Longyan intelligence system is too terrifying!

Now, Nashadier is truly panicked. Liu Zheng must know everything about his transaction with France. Will his attempt to deceive him provoke Liu Zheng's fury?