I was the Founding Father of the United States

Chapter 42 The Spark of Civilization

Chen Wenbin was well aware of his purpose and smiled faintly, saying, "Preventing scurvy... that's just knowledge I summarized based on the records of my ancestors and my own experience."

Mr. Courtes, to be honest, I don't really know right now what exactly is lacking that causes scurvy.

But all we need to know is which foods contain this substance, right?

Henry Coster nodded helplessly, then gestured with his eyes to Captain House, who had no choice but to speak:

"Robin, for the past two months, as you requested, I've arranged for some people to try simulating the dietary habits at sea. The conclusion is that fruits, especially citrus fruits, can indeed prevent scurvy, but it's impossible to preserve fruit for long periods on a ship... So we want to know how to solve this problem!"

What kind of medicine did you give the sailors on the Jenna?

Chen Wenbin, of course, couldn't admit that he had been feeding the sailors Vitamin C tablets on the ship, and that telling them that mixing rum with lemon juice and pickled vegetables could prevent scurvy wouldn't do him much good either. So, he shook his head regretfully and said:

"That's just medication to relieve their pain and stimulate their physical potential, similar to the painkillers I give to my gout and surgical patients now."

The real scurvy preventers are the fruits and vegetables we source in West Africa and Cuba, as well as sprouts from barley and wheat.

He said to the two of them sincerely, "I believe there are only two ways to completely prevent scurvy."

First, fresh vegetables and fruits were kept on board and supplied to the sailors daily.

Second, fruit plantations were established along the route to resupply the fruit every so often.

Actually, I've been trying to store fruit using airtight methods lately, but I haven't found a way to prevent it from spoiling yet...

Both of them were somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, but the fact that citrus fruits and other similar fruits could prevent scurvy was still good news that they could atone for their previous disappointment.

At worst, they could set up fruit plantations on tropical islands along the ocean routes, which would preserve the supplies for half a month to a month after each resupply, thus reducing the mortality rate of sailors in the navy and the East India Company.

"Okay, Representative Robin, I will report this to the company truthfully."

Henry Courts nodded. "If you find a way to seal and preserve fruit, be sure to write to me! The East India Company is willing to pay you a sum that will satisfy you... I guarantee it will be no less than 500 pounds!"

"Of course! I also hope to resolve the sepsis problem as soon as possible!"

Chen Wenbin immediately agreed, then, while searching his field of vision for rabbits, he glanced casually at Henry Courts and asked:

"Mr. Courtesy, you work for the East India Company, so you must know a lot about the East. Have you ever been there?"

"...No! I have never been to the East!"

Henry Coates shook his head, then, noticing Chen Wenbin's enviable handsome appearance, chuckled and said, "My understanding of the East is certainly far inferior to yours, Mr. Congressman, after all, you are from the East!"

"Just call me Robin! That's what Charles and my friends call me! Can I call you Henry?"

Chen Wenbin put down his rifle, pulled on the reins, and walked alongside him. After receiving an affirmative answer, he looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with melancholy, and slowly said, "Henry, you must know that I am an exile who has lost my country!"

More than eighty years ago, due to the Qing Dynasty's invasion, my family left Dongning Island, which is known as Formosa Island to Europeans. Not long after arriving in Macau, they were forced to leave Macau and go to Guangnan Kingdom.

My ancestors once married a princess of the Ming Dynasty, so the Qing Dynasty's Tatars, who conquered China, would never allow me to return to the East. I also do not want to go back to be their obedient subjects and slaves!

But I still want to do everything in my power to help my people. Even if I can't help them resist the Qing Dynasty's rule, I at least want to rescue some of them and free them from the Qing Dynasty's cruel oppression..."

At this point, he emphasized his words and said seriously, "Therefore, in addition to presenting gifts to His Majesty the King and applying for a patent for the Jenna spinning machine, I also want to talk to the captains of the East India Company. I hope to hire them to bring my people from the East to North America or Patagonia in South America."

Three hundred and ten years ago, the Turks conquered Constantinople, and the Romans chose to leave and go to Italy and Western Europe, preserving the flame of Roman civilization.

Now I also have a responsibility to preserve the flame of Eastern civilization... so please believe me, I want to solve the problem of scurvy more than anyone else!

Because this will allow more of my people to gain freedom!

Transporting immigrants from the East to the Americas?

Henry Coates shook his head inwardly. How many people could be transported over such a long distance in a year?

Hundreds of people? A thousand people?

It definitely won't exceed three thousand!

As a mid-level employee of the East India Company, he was well aware that the majority of the Eastern world had been conquered by a group of Tatars with ugly queues, and that they were implementing very strict trade control policies, conducting foreign trade only through a single customs port.

The East India Company only sends a dozen or so merchant ships to China each year. If Chen Wenbin is willing to spend this unnecessary money, the company's senior management will definitely be happy to help him bring over a few hundred people.

As for the so-called spark of civilization... he preferred to believe that Chen Wenbin simply wanted some Eastern servants and mistresses who better suited his tastes.

What a greedy fellow!

With a woman as beautiful and noble as Diana, how could he not be satisfied?

"...I don't think that's a problem, my friend!"

Henry Coates said enviously, "Robin, with your wealth in North America, even in Britain, you're among the richest people. The company certainly won't refuse your commission!"

However, it would be best to settle your people in the Rhodes colony. Patagonia is not a British colony, and although it seems to be inhabited only by savage indigenous people, the Spanish claim it as their territory… The war has only recently ended, and we cannot easily provoke a diplomatic dispute!

Charles House chimed in, "That's right! Robin, you could just buy a piece of land in Rhode Island or inland Pennsylvania and settle them there. Why put them in faraway Patagonia?"

I heard from the other captains that there was nothing there except for Native Americans, grasslands, and bison; the Spanish didn't even want to develop it!

Seeing their reactions, Chen Wenbin breathed a sigh of relief and casually shrugged, saying, "Alright! I just heard that Patagonia is a no-man's-land, and the Spanish don't actually control it. Why can't Britain send people there to establish a colony?"

The Spanish were not truly punished in this war, and London's decision to return the wealthy cities of Havana and Manila to them was clearly a mistake!