Make France Great Again-Chapter 874 - 865: Contact with Gabonese Natives
After introducing Captain Milap Polenkov, Jerome Paterson then introduced the remaining thirty or so members to Grandi, who in turn greeted them and shook hands. ๐๐โฏ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐.๐โด๐
After the initial introductions, Jerome Paterson seriously instructed Major Milap Polenkov, "Major Milap Polenkov, you and your subordinates will follow Mr. Grandi for the time being to learn. If you donโt understand something, ask Mr. Grandi!
Understood?"
Milap Polenkov nodded, assuring Jerome Paterson, "Rest assured, Your Excellency the Governor! We will work hard and not trouble Mr. Grandi!"
Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then focused his gaze on Captain Grandi, "Mr. Grandi, these people will follow your direction from now on!
If any of them are unwilling to follow your orders, be sure to tell me!
Iโll deal with them!"
"Hmm!" responded Captain Grandi, "Even if you hadnโt said it, I would have done so."
...
In the following period, Captain Grandi and his team lectured Milap Polenkov and others on precautions for entering the Congo regionโs interior, and common phrases of some tribes within the Congo region, to prevent conflicts with these tribes out of taboo violations.
Of course, these were tribes Captain Grandi had already explored, as there were many tribes in the Congo region which werenโt explored yet.
Milap Polenkov and others diligently studied the knowledge imparted by Captain Grandi, and each of them progressed very quickly.
Captain Grandi had originally planned to take about four weeks to master this knowledge, but Milap Polenkov covered everything in just over three weeks.
At the end of October, Captain Grandi found Jerome Paterson and said, "Major Milap Polenkov and his men have already mastered all the knowledge needed for going deep into the Congo region. We can depart now!"
Jerome Paterson was surprised and said to Captain Grandi, "So soon!"
Captain Grandi candidly replied, "To be honest, I didnโt expect it to be this quick myself!"
"Hmm!" Jerome Paterson nodded and asked Captain Grandi, "When do you plan to depart?"
"Iโm planning to depart tomorrow!" Captain Grandi told Jerome Paterson, "Weโve been delayed for almost a month, we canโt dawdle any longer!"
"Alright then! Tonight, all of you come to the Governorโs Mansion! Iโll see you off!"
"Thank you very much!"
That evening, Jerome Paterson hosted a banquet at the Governorโs Mansion for Captain Grandi and his team, along with Milap Polenkov and others.
During the banquet, everyone laughed and toasted to their imminent departure.
By the time the banquet ended, it was around 11 PM.
Due to drinking too much, Captain Grandi and his team were slouched in their chairs, nodding off.
Seeing this, Jerome Paterson quickly ordered the Governorโs Mansion servants to escort Captain Grandi and his team back to their rooms, then instructed Rastigne to call for Milap Polenkov.
At this time, Milap Polenkov, looking slightly intoxicated, stood before Jerome Paterson and said, "Your Excellency the Governor, why did you call for me?"
"When you follow Grandi into the inland areas, you must closely monitor Grandiโs every move!" Jerome Paterson instructed Milap Polenkov.
"Donโt you trust them?" Milap Polenkov asked Jerome Paterson.
Jerome Paterson shook his head, flatly denying, "Itโs not that I donโt trust them, itโs just that I believe itโs always wise to be cautious in everything we do! Otherwise, things could easily go wrong!
This benefits both sides!"
"I understand! I will secretly observe their every move! If they dare to act against France, I will not hesitate to stop them!" Milap Polenkov decisively replied to Jerome Paterson.
"Hmm!" Jerome Paterson patted Milap Polenkov on the shoulder and said, "Choosing you as their leader was indeed a wise decision!"
"Youโre too kind!" Milap Polenkov modestly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Alright! Itโs getting late!" Jerome Paterson said with a yawn, "You should also go back and rest early!"
...
The next morning, as the bright sun rose slowly from the eastern horizon, Captain Grandi opened his eyes while lying in bed.
At this moment, Captain Grandi felt a severe headache, as if someone had punched him heavily on the head.
In this dizzy and swollen state, Captain Grandi closed his eyes and gently pressed his temples with his hands, immediately feeling a soothing and tingling sensation in his head.
After pressing for a while, Captain Grandiโs head finally felt a bit better.
Just then, a knock came from outside the room, prompting Grandi to quickly ask who was there.
"Mr. Grandi, His Excellency the Governor asked me to tell you itโs time for breakfast!" Rastigneโs voice came to Captain Grandiโs ears.
Captain Grandi hurriedly responded, "I understand! When you inform the Governor, ask him to wait just a moment! Iโll be there right away!"
"Alright!" Rastigne said, then left the entrance of Captain Grandiโs quarters.
Five minutes later.
Fully dressed, Captain Grandi left his room and headed towards the Governorโs Mansion dining room.
When Captain Grandi pushed open the dining room door, he found everyone already seated at the table waiting for him.
Captain Grandi hurriedly apologized to those present, "Iโm truly sorry! Iโm late!"
"Not late! Not late!" Jerome Pattersonโs voice came from the main seat. He pointed to the empty seat beside him and said to Captain Grandi, "Please, have a seat, Mr. Grandi!"
Captain Grandi sat next to Jerome Patterson.
Breakfast officially began, and the servants placed two pieces of soft-textured bread and a serving of porridge in front of everyone.
"Todayโs breakfast is a bit plain; I hope youโll forgive us," Jerome Patterson said to Captain Grandi.
Captain Grandi shook his head and said to Jerome Patterson, "Being able to have porridge and bread for breakfast is already quite nice!"
With that said, Captain Grandi and the others began their meal.
After breakfast ended, Grandi and the others headed to the dock, where they would take a speedboat to the mouth of the "Congo River"[1]and then proceed inside.
Jerome Patterson and Rastigne personally saw them off.
[PS: During this period, peopleโs exploration of the Congo River was not as detailed as in later times, and many mistakenly considered other rivers to be the Congo River.
In fact, there was only one river that truly led deep into the heart of Central Africa, the river that later divided the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo. Historically, when France and Belgium divided their spheres of influence in the Congo, it was based on this river, which was also the only outlet to the sea for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, Captain Grandi believed that the river they could use to enter the heartland was actually the Ouenvi River!]
At 9 a.m., the steam speedboat set sail, and Grandi and his team waved to Jerome Patterson and the others while standing on the deck.
Jerome Patterson and the others waved back, sending them off as they left.
Watching the steam speedboat gradually sail away, Jerome Patterson asked Rastigne beside him, "Rastigne, do you think theyโll bring us good news?"
"Governor, I firmly believe they will bring us good news," Rastigne confidently replied to Jerome Patterson.
"Yes, I hope so too!"
...
At 9:40 a.m., the steam speedboat reached the vicinity of the Ouenvi River.
The crew quickly adjusted the rudder, and the steam speedboat slowly decelerated, cautiously steering into the Ouenvi River.
Upon entering the Ouenvi River, Captain Grandi reiterated their purpose on this mission, emphasizing that everyone present needed to be at their most vigilant.
Everyone present was full of spirit, their faces displaying grave expressions.
After the steam speedboat traveled for nearly two more hours on the Ouenvi River, Captain Grandi, standing at the bow with a telescope, spotted a settlement not far from the riverbank. He quickly ordered the boat to stop by the shore.
The steam speedboat slowly came to a halt at the shore, and Grandi and his team jumped ashore.
Standing on the shore, Captain Grandi asked Mirabeau Pulinkovic, "How are the preparations?"
Mirabeau Pulinkovic pointed to the bundles in the hands of the team members and said to Grandi, "Everything is ready!"
"Thatโs good!" Captain Grandi nodded and continued, "Then letโs move forward!"
Grandi and his team proceeded forward and soon arrived near a settlement surrounded by a fence.
Upon seeing Captain Grandi and his team, the "reconnaissance sentinels" of the settlement immediately started shouting loudly towards the settlement, speaking in an unintelligible language.
"Quick! Load the ammunition while theyโre distracted!" Grandi hurriedly urged everyone present to start loading.
Grandiโs expedition team used their teeth to tear open the paper wrapping the gunpowder and poured the powder into the rifle barrels.
Mirabeau Pulinkovic and the others directly opened the breeches and inserted the paper cartridges into the rifles, then closed them again.
The entire process showed that Mirabeau Pulinkovicโs loading speed was much faster than that of Grandiโs expedition team.
Grandi glanced sideways at Mirabeau Pulinkovic and the others, showing a hint of surprise.
Once Grandiโs expedition team had finished loading, a group of tribal warriors wielding spears rushed out of the fence and gradually approached Captain Grandi.
