Chapter 400 Thoughts

"I don't know if you have noticed that in some places - a lot of people, a lot of huge machines, and cars like the one we were riding in - they are still building roads. I asked the official, and he told me about their emperor , the big plan of the people they call the Son of God. They want to build roads to every village. I can’t imagine how much manpower and material resources are needed to complete such an amazing plan for a huge country with a distance of at least five thousand miles from east to west, north to south. ." said Sir Edward, the English envoy.

"Perhaps they are just like the car we are riding in. They have extremely powerful road construction technology. And they have 30 million slaves." Sir Williams said: "There are not that many people in Portugal combined."

"No, add the Netherlands." Sir Tanguy said: "The Netherlands plus Portugal plus Spain, total, maybe 30 million people."

"And there are so many young and middle-aged men who are used as slaves by them." Sir Edward said: "Imagine that if we have a war, they only need to arm their slaves - this is not difficult. I think such a bridge in front of us The steel consumed can arm an army of millions."

"Even more." Spanish Sir Maxi said: "Do you know how long this bridge is? More than ten miles!"

"We should not discuss war." Sir France Chirac sighed: "This is not wise. This is a super state with 30 million young slaves and 200 million people. It is more powerful than the whole of Europe put together. I think We should be thankful that they are very far away from Europa. We are here to talk business, aren't we?"

"Maybe." Sir Edward frowned and said: "Maybe what we think is far away is not far away for them. They already have Persian slaves and must have had a war with the Safavid Empire. I don't think the Safavid Empire is Their rivals. If they defeat and annex the Safavid Empire, Austria-Hungary will not be far behind."

As soon as these words came out, everyone was silent.

Yes, the distance of Europa may not be so far away from Daxia.

"They like to build roads." Sir Williams said thoughtfully: "If they lay down a place, they will build roads wherever they go. Just looking at the speed of a car like the one we are riding in makes people uneasy. And this is just Civilian. We don’t know yet what kind of vehicles their army uses.”

"So we have to keep our heads down."

Sir Maxi narrowed his eyes slightly: "This country uses slaves. This shows that they are not sheep, but lions. I heard that this empire called Bactria has just replaced the previous dynasty and has only been established for less than four years. In four years it has It’s so powerful, how about ten years?”

"Lower your head? Sir Maxi, as a nobleman, how can you say such a thing?" Sir Tanguy accused.

Sir Maxi smiled: "We can't beat them, so of course we have to bow our heads. Is this worth discussing? But I didn't say bow our heads forever. We should use commercial means to seize some technologies from them, such as our rides That kind of car, and their ships. We also have the technology, so of course we are not afraid of them."

"I hope so." Edward said, "If it were me, I wouldn't leak such technology."

"Of course, of course. Of course their country won't, and neither will their son of heaven. But those officials are not sure." Maxi said confidently: "People are greedy."

"So, we have to surrender first?" Sir Tanguy of the Netherlands said unhappily: "Our fleet crossed the sea, conquered the sea, conquered America, conquered Africa, which is also vast..."

"But there is no Xia Kingdom in America or Africa, right?" Sir Maxi said: "They don't have a population of 200 million, they don't have a unified country, and they don't even have an army, and most of their weapons are stones. So we can conquer They. But not here."

Sir Maxi paused and said: "When we see their Son of Heaven, we must be more respectful. Everyone, think about it."

They each returned to the station thoughtfully. After a night's rest, they continued their journey early the next morning, crossed the Kaifeng Yellow River Bridge and entered Hebei. They rested for half an hour in Baoding at noon and arrived in Tongzhou before evening.

More than half a month has passed since the empire's three-year National Day, and October is about to come.

After the envoys from the Western and Western barbarians arrived in the capital, they were arranged by the Ministry of Rites to rest at the Ministry of Rites Posthouse. It was not until the first dynasty meeting in early October that they saw the human god, the Son of Heaven, in that splendid and majestic palace.

They don't need to be respectful, they must be respectful the moment they see Ying Yi. Under Ying Yi's casual pressure, no one could raise their head.

Presenting credentials and gifts, the meeting did not really get down to business. Ying Yi is the emperor, so of course he will not end up personally. Even if the kings of these five countries come before him, it will be the same.

Two specific matters are handled by the Ministry of Rites.

After the court meeting, Ying Yi left Zheng Yunzhi and Huang Zongxi behind in the Emperor's Pavilion.

"The intentions of the foreigners from the West are beyond words." Ying Yi said: "From Guangzhou to the capital, what they saw and heard will make them dare not make mistakes. At the moment, the empire has not yet touched Europa, and there is no need to start a direct war with it."

Zheng Yunzhi nodded slightly and said: "Your Majesty is wise. After the navy banned the sea, the interests of the Western barbarians were greatly damaged. They would not dare to make any mistakes, so they asked me for help. Or they might ask for the opening of the sea and trade like the Japanese Japanese."

Ying Yi smiled and said: "It's more than that. The Western Yi are also bandits. Opening the sea and trading are certainly what they want. But this is only one of them."

Zheng Yunzhi suddenly asked: "And there are Daxia skills, such as how to build chariots and ships?"

"Of course." Ying Yi said with a smile: "There are only three methods of Western Yi. One is commercial invasion. The other is religious invasion. The last is war. The second and third are not mentioned. Daxia civilization is self-contained and there is no Western Yi. There is no room for missionary work, and war is not a consideration. Naturally, commercial means are used to achieve its goals."

Huang Zongxi, who had not spoken yet, was not interested in mutual benefits at this time. He believed that an emperor and a prime minister would both speak for benefits, both inside and outside. The so-called gentleman does not talk about benefits, what kind of decency is this?

Immediately he said: "What is your Majesty's message to the Ministry of Rites?"

Ying Yi laughed dumbly and said: "Huang Qing, don't be anxious. The Western barbarians will be frightened when they come. They will not dare to start a war and will turn to business negotiations. Now that the empire's products are getting richer, I have already planned to open the sea. They came at the right time." At that time. However, they did not know that I intended to open the sea. The responsibility of the Ministry of Rites lies in this - the South Vietnam Peninsula and Nanyang are the inherent civilization circles of the Xia Dynasty. I never thought of reaching it in one step, and did not expect to teach through negotiation. They gave up Nanyang and the South Vietnam Peninsula, but they can take back part of it first. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites."

Huang Zongxi was heartbroken and said: "Most of the countries in the South Vietnam Peninsula were vassal states of past dynasties, and many of the islands in Southeast Asia are also inhabited by Han people. As the heir of Yan and Huang, Daxia is the heir of Yanhuang, and your Majesty, as the patriarch of all Xia, should be like this."

Ying Yi smiled and touched his palms: "Huang Qing's words make sense."