Chapter 43

Hannah looked at the goods on the shelf with some hesitation. It was a piece of high-quality wool from Britain, priced at 8 yuan. She only had 12 yuan in her pocket, which she had just earned from selling a pig. It was too expensive, and she sighed.

"Fabian, the wool is really expensive. I wanted to buy it to make you a new outfit. Your old clothes are too worn out. If you don't have new clothes for the training at Dingyuan Fort this afternoon, will people from other villages mock you?" Hannah looked at Fabian Klinger with a guilty and worried expression.

"It's fine, dear." Fabian kissed his wife and said, "Mr. Ge said that uniforms will be issued when we go for training. Don't worry about me; everyone will wear the same clothes."

"Mr. Ge is a respectable person in the village. If he says so, it must be fine." Hannah felt a bit happier. "Miss Adele said that participating in the five-day training will earn us one jiao. The training will continue until the wheat planting in April, and we can earn more than one yuan by then."

"Next month, we'll sell all the potatoes we can't eat to Dingyuan Fort. We should be able to get about 20 yuan. We'll use the money to redeem the land, and we need to get this done before the potato planting in April. We need to spend the money on important things, understand, dear?" Fabian pinched Hannah's nose affectionately.

"Fabian, is your training related to the Spaniards? Miss Adele mentioned during dinner yesterday that the Spaniards will come to rob our food and livestock this year. They are fighting with the Dutch and many other countries and have run out of money, so they will come to rob us. Is that true?" Hannah asked with sudden concern.

The committee didn't hide some matters from the lower-class farmers. After all, they weren't fools and could keenly sense the undercurrents beneath the calm surface in Tartan Port and Dingyuan Fort. So, it was better to guide public opinion and strengthen propaganda, making the Spaniards' image as robbers firmly established in their minds, which could also stir up their courage to fight a common enemy.

Fabian's face immediately turned grim. "Those parasites! They will be punished!"

Although somewhat gloomy, Fabian still accompanied his wife in selecting goods at the supply cooperative. The shelves were now more diverse, and Hannah's eyes roamed over the sugar, dried fruits, cheese, and cured meat. Fabian, however, focused on a few bottles of strong liquor on the shelf, about to ask the clerk for the price. Suddenly, a commotion at the door caught their attention as a group of teenagers rushed in.

A tall teenager slapped ten one-yuan coins on the counter, chin raised proudly, looking at the surprised clerk and customers. "Buy alcohol! Buy alcohol! All of it!"

The other teenagers crowded around, clamoring to buy the alcohol.

The clerk was surprised but quickly regained composure. "There's only one type of strong liquor, priced at 2 yuan per bottle. Are you sure you want to buy it?"

The teenager hesitated for a moment, seemingly pained by the expenditure, but quickly put on a brave front. "All of it, five bottles!" The other teenagers cheered.

"No, Tess, you can't sell it to him!" A middle-aged man approached as the clerk was about to get the alcohol.

"Mr. Store Manager." The clerk Tess bowed slightly.

"Givin, you naughty boy. Where did you get the money?" The middle-aged man weighed the ten yuan in his hand, glanced at Givin, and said, "Ten yuan. Your monthly allowance is only 50 cents. When did you earn so much?"

"It's a reward from the principal for solving his exam questions." Givin answered proudly.

"Ha ha ha..." The middle-aged store manager laughed. "That's great. Does your father know about this?"

Givin's confidence wavered but quickly returned. "I don't need to report everything to my father. I'm a soldier now, a sailor on the Navy's 'East Coast Eagle' frigate. Maybe you'll have to call me Mr. Givin in the future."

"Mr. Givin... Mr. Givin..." The group of teenagers cheered.

The middle-aged man glared at them. "I became a sailor at sixteen, served under many famous captains, and even went to the East. Have you been to battle? Have you killed anyone? Go home, and no alcohol for minors."

"I'll prove my bravery." Givin raised his chin proudly. "When the Spaniards come, I'll send them all to the bottom of the sea. And when did it become a rule that you can't sell alcohol to minors?"

"Right now, just now!" A stern voice rang out behind them. "I set the rules; the Navy doesn't need drunkards."

Givin's body stiffened, and the teenagers around him shrank back, wishing they could hide under the table.

"Principal... Principal." Givin's face fell as he turned around. "I... I was just... looking."

Lu Ming had seen the children withdraw money from the finance office and then rush out, talking about drinking. He knew where they were going and followed them quietly, catching them at the supply cooperative.

To be honest, underage drinking was common in this era (if they could afford it). However, Lu Ming, being from the 21st century, had a strict view that underage drinking was absolutely forbidden and intolerable. "Givin, your holiday is canceled. Get back to school immediately and start physical training, now!"

Fabian watched the dejected teenagers and couldn't help but smile. His wife Hannah muttered, "Rude Irishmen."

Suddenly, a commotion arose on the street, with people shouting. The police, who had been strolling with their hands behind their backs, immediately became tense, drew their batons, and rushed toward the crowd.

"A Spanish ship has arrived at the dock!" Someone shouted. The news quickly spread through the crowd.

More detailed information soon followed. "There aren't many people on the Spanish ship." "A few officials came ashore." "The Spaniards are very arrogant." "Their officials were received."

In the supply cooperative, no one had the heart to continue shopping. Many people were anxiously seeking more information. Lu Ming, with a serious expression, herded the students back to school and then rushed to the Navy Department to gather more information.

It took him ten minutes to reach the Navy Department office, but he found it almost empty. Everyone was leaning over the railing, looking down. Curious, Lu Ming peered over and saw several Spaniards in formal attire, with the committee members standing opposite them.

"By the grace of God, King of the Romans; Supreme Commander of the Catholic Armies; Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece; Protector of Tuscany; Arbiter of Italy; Most Holy Knight; Co-king of the Indian Ocean and the European Continent; Count of Barcelona; King of Jerusalem; Ruler of Portugal; King of León, Toledo, Valencia, Aragon, the Two Sicilies, Granada, Andalusia... (omitting many titles) the Sovereign of the West Indies; and Protector of all Spanish dependencies; the great Philip IV, sends his most loyal minister, nobleman, devout Catholic, and elegant Alfonso Bianca de Santis Romero, to the leaders of Tartan..."

"What is he saying?" Even the most patient Ma Qianzu was getting impatient, whispering to Gao Mo.

"Uh, the first part is the titles of the Spanish king, mostly fluff. Currently... he hasn't gotten to the main point yet." Gao Mo was embarrassed.

...

"The Tartans have illegally occupied the eastern shore of the La Plata region, under the jurisdiction of the Viceroy of Peru appointed by the great Philip IV, violating the trade laws of the Spanish Kingdom. The benevolent Inspector General Romero allows the Tartans to leave freely after paying 1 million pesos in back taxes from 1630 onwards." The Spaniard finally finished reading the long letter and handed it to Gao Mo, the diplomatic commissioner.

Gao Mo had expected the Spaniards to come with demands but didn't anticipate such a large sum, 1 million pesos. He chuckled at the audacity. After informing the other committee members of the Spanish demands, as expected, most of them strongly opposed it.

"How can we tolerate being extorted? Do they think we're three-year-olds? Take the money with one hand and then start a war with the other." "We don't have the money, and I won't agree. If they want to fight, let's fight." "Tell them we have plenty of money and let them come and get it."

Gao Mo was not surprised by their reactions and formally rejected the Spanish Inspector General's envoy's demands.

The Spanish envoy was not surprised either. He then took out another envelope from his pocket, handed it to Gao Mo, and said, "According to the principles of neutral warfare, you have six hours to prepare before the Viceroy of Peru takes all necessary actions against you." Without waiting for a response, he left with his entourage.

Damn, is this... a declaration of war? Everyone was momentarily confused.

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