Chapter 54: Your last name is Browning?

Apache garrison, black police.

Ma Shao felt that this was not enough and that there should be some more... white hostages.

The most suitable people to be hostages are undoubtedly minors, preferably ignorant children. Not only are they safe and harmless, but when they grow up, they may become white-skinned, yellow-hearted egg-people and become spies or something.

In his previous life, Ma Shao was a physics teacher with excellent professional skills. Except for the chaotic first year after joining the job, he always helped his students get better grades, as well as respect and love for him.

Therefore, he believes that he is better than most people at shaping the spiritual world of children.

"Mayor Thomas, what is your son's name?" Ma Shao asked.

Thomas's face suddenly turned horrified when he heard this, and he quickly said, "Don't hurt him, please, he's just a child!"

"Wow--" His son also burst into tears, and Mrs. Thomas hugged her son tightly.

"Of course I won't hurt him. I haven't done anything to you, so how could I hurt an innocent child?" Ma Shao said.

Mayor Thomas hesitated and said, "His...his name is John, John Thomas."

Ma Shao nodded: "He looks very smart, so from now on, I will be his teacher."

"What!"

Ma Shao thought what he said next sounded like bragging, but it was the truth: "Although my English is not very good, other than that, it is no exaggeration to say that I am one of the best teachers in the world."

Thomas, of course, didn't believe him and thought he was bragging. He clenched his fist and said, "You can't separate me and my son!"

"Are you sure?" Ma Shao frowned.

Thomas was silent for a while. He looked at the Apache warriors around him and knew that he actually had no choice.

"You... promise not to hurt my son?" he asked finally.

Ma Shao said: "As long as you don't hurt my soldiers."

Thomas understood that the other party wanted to use his son as a hostage in order to completely control him and the entire town.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

It seems that this Indian is determined to enslave the white people in the town, and his methods are so rich, cunning and cruel that they may never get out of this situation!

Is this God's punishment?

God, please forgive my sins!

At this moment, Thomas seems to have become the most devout Christian on the planet.

"I hope you can keep your promise." He sighed and agreed.

Ma Shao: "Of course, I will do what I say. But I must also remind you that children are more prone to accidents. If your son dies unexpectedly, there is nothing I can do."

Before the development of modern medicine, the rate of unnatural deaths among human beings remained high. Even in 1844, it was not uncommon for children to die prematurely.

Thomas knew this, so he thought for a moment and asked, "Can I visit?"

"Can."

Thomas finally nodded and said to his son with a sob, "Son, promise me that you won't cry or make a fuss when you get there. Be obedient, okay?"

"Wow, wow, wow..." Little Thomas cried.

Later, Ma Shao picked about 20 more children, most of whom were from wealthy families in the town. He picked the wealthy because the children of wealthy families were in better health and because the wealthy had a greater influence on the town.

As expected, this process sparked a conflict and crying, and even almost led to a fight.

"Bang!" A gunshot suddenly rang out.

Ma Shao heard the sound and looked over, and found that it was a white man who seemed to have taken out a pistol from somewhere. An Apache warrior saw this and went over to snatch it. During the struggle, the gun accidentally went off, but fortunately no one was hit.

"Don't kill him."

Ma Shao walked over and asked, "Didn't we just confiscate all the weapons? Where did this gun come from?"

"He seems to be a gunsmith." An Apache warrior said, "I just found more than a dozen guns in his house, but I didn't expect to miss one."

Gunsmith?

Upon hearing the news, Ma Shao's eyes suddenly lit up.

Although he knew a little about guns, he lacked practical experience and could barely repair some minor problems with guns, but he couldn't make guns at all. As a result, he had many ideas in vain, but his people were still using revolvers that were equivalent to defective products.

Now that the Walker revolver has not been launched, this defective product can still be used for a while. But when Colt's design matures in the future, the weapon advantage of the Sleeping Bear Clan will be eliminated.

So there is no doubt that for him, a professional who can make guns is of strategic significance.

"What's your name?" Ma Shao asked hurriedly.

"Don't try to separate me and my child!" The white man's face flushed. He was held by two Apaches but still looked ready to fight. "Dirty and stupid barbarian, I will fight you!"

Ma Shao said, "You are a gunsmith? If you answer truthfully, maybe I can spare you and your child."

The white man calmed down after hearing this: "Of course, I am the best gunsmith within a 500-mile radius. No one knows how to make guns better than me!"

"What's your name, then?"

"William Browning."

Ma Shao was surprised when he heard this: "Your last name is Browning?"

Browning!

This name is known to everyone. Not only gun enthusiasts, but also those who have watched a little war movie will be familiar with it.

John Moses Browning, one of the greatest gunsmiths of all time.

Of course, this big man was active in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and died in 1926. Ma Shao was very sensitive to this year, and he was either still young or not yet born. So Ma Shao suspected that the gunsmith in front of him, whose surname was Browning, might be Browning's father.

After all, as far as he knew, Browning inherited his father's business, and his father was also a gunsmith, but his name was unknown.

He glanced at William Browning's children, two daughters, one older and one younger.

Hmm...it seems that he might have overthought it. This person just had a similar surname and was not the father of the later Master Browning.

Although he probably has nothing to do with the real Browning, Ma Shao still hopes that this person is worthy of the surname.

"Mr. Browning, as long as you are willing to make guns for me, I will not separate your family." Ma Shao said, "And I will pay you according to the market price."

This doesn't sound like a harsh condition, and considering that the demand from Indians should be considerable, it can even be considered a good business.

"Really?" Browning couldn't believe it.

Ma Shao smiled: "Of course, I am not a barbarian. I am very familiar with the 'spirit of contract' that you white people often talk about."

"Okay, I promise you." Browning nodded and smiled. "I have to say, you have some knowledge, hehe."

Ma Shao said with satisfaction: "Very good, in that case, bring your family and return to the clan with me."