Xiang Ying's spirits were lifted when he heard the master started to use foul language. He knew that there must be something useful to come out later.
"What was it like in the Middle Ages? That was an era when continental civilization controlled everything. Oceans, mountains, and rivers became natural passes. The territorial competition between humans always relied on the lines created by these natural and artificial passes. Developed based on the defense line..."
"Why is the Sichuan Basin called the Land of Abundance? Even in the era of great unification, people used the word "国" to describe this land. That's because Sichuan's geographical conditions are too much like an independent country..."
"There are high mountains and rivers all over to the east, west, south, and the road to Shu is difficult to reach the sky. Under these geographical conditions, it would be difficult for the emperor of Beijing to eat food from Sichuan. The problem is that it is too difficult to transport materials back and forth..."
"To be honest, even if a foolish emperor issued a decree to transport all the grain in Sichuan and feed it to others, he would not be able to do it, because with the current manpower and material resources, it is simply impossible to mobilize materials on such a scale... …”
"How much supplies do you expect the Three Gorges Trackers to pull? How much food do you expect the Sichuan Plank Road to transport? This is a limitation of geography on the scope of human existence in the Middle Ages... But when technology has given wings, you think this limitation can still be maintained how long?"
"Xiang Ying! If one day a train is connected to the Sichuan Basin, can the Kingdom of Abundance still take care of itself? Supplies from all over the country can be easily transported there, and supplies from Sichuan can also be easily transported away. In a few days, hundreds of thousands of troops can appear on the outskirts of Chengdu... Under such a background, do you think that those self-preservation dynasties that were relatively safe in history can still appear?"
Xiang Ying shook his head desperately after hearing this, "Of course not. Prussia's dense spider web-like railway network impressed me so deeply. Railways are definitely a powerful tool to change geopolitics!"
"That's right, then let me ask you again, if one day human beings can fly freely in the sky, faster than birds, and hundreds of soldiers can fly to every inch of mountains and rivers in China, what do you mean by geography? What will politics look like?”
Xiang Ying was stunned for a moment, and his mind suddenly imagined the absurd scene of a regiment of new troops riding on the back of a roc, and then quickly shook his head to dispel those thoughts.
"How is this possible?" he asked involuntarily.
"Look! As someone who has studied abroad, don't you just keep to yourself and only believe in what you see with your own eyes? You have seen the railway, so you can recognize its benefits. You who command the warships can better understand its wonders. When it comes to...something you haven't seen before, your first reaction is to deny it?"
"Why are you so sure that humans will not be able to transport large armies in the air in the future?"
Xiao Letian patted Xiang Ying on the shoulder, "Can you understand now? Why can I succeed? Why can I become your master, including becoming the founder of the Chinese nation... It's because I have always had a heart that believes in fantasy. Heart!"
"I never put myself in a box. I always let my heart fly in the sky, so I can see things that you can't see!"
"Changes in technology will naturally break down some inherent barriers! Just like the British fleet was able to turn the original natural chasm and the sea into a smooth road... The sea was originally the defense line of the Central Plains civilization, but now it has become a weakness full of loopholes! In other words, since the First Opium War, if you want to analyze the chess game in the Central Plains, you must add the variable of the sea..."
"You must know that ancient people did not need to consider this variable! Since there is one more variable, then I have to adapt to this variable. This is the fundamental reason why I abandoned the old model of changing dynasties in the Middle Ages..."
"Child! Times have changed. There will no longer be the old path of fighting for land county by county, city by city, and pass by pass, then expanding the territory bit by bit, and finally unifying the country and establishing a new country! Changes in the future era I think it will be all-round, three-dimensional, and three-dimensional!”
"Every move I make, I have to carefully analyze the response of the various forces in the Central Plains, and even the attitudes of the Western powers! I must walk carefully on the tightrope, and I must always show my ferocious fangs to deter those guys who are ready to move. I also need to show my goodwill appropriately so that I can’t force those great powers to completely go berserk and overturn the table!”
"Do you know how difficult it is for me? But I have no choice. Who allowed us to encounter such a complicated era? And I can tell you for sure that the world will become more complicated as it develops... The United States is still If we don’t devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the cake-grabbing game, if one day the United States accumulates enough strength and starts taking action, our Pacific strategy will be in jeopardy!”
Xiao Letian sighed, "Hey... I also want it to be simple and straightforward. I also hope that if the enemy scolds me, I will pick out his hair and beat him up! Whoever dares to punch me, I will blow up their house. Dig their ancestral graves!"
"But that's unrealistic! That kind of reckless man can only trap himself in the wrath of the public, and in the end he will be doomed! Why did I conquer the city of Beijing, but didn't dare to punish any senior Manchu official? I have already practiced martial arts in Taihe Palace, but Do I still recognize the Manchu rule?"
"Because I know that those big-nosed people in Dongjiaominxiang are just waiting for me to get angry! As long as I, Xiao Letian, dare to rebel, they will start another expedition! After all, they signed an agreement with the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Although it is a treaty that humiliates the country, it is It has legal effect!”
"It's funny, isn't it? The treaty that humiliates the country ensures that certain benefits will be delivered to the great powers every year. So for these continuous benefits, the great powers must ensure the legality of the treaty. If they want to ensure the legality of the treaty, they will We must ensure that the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty cannot fall!"
"The truth is so simple, but people in the world just don't understand it!"
"Now that I, Xiao Letian, dare to raise my flag for rebellion, Britain, France, and Russia will dare to launch another expedition to destroy me with all their might! Unless... unless I secretly reach an agreement with them, I, Xiao Letian, will betray my country and sell more than the Manchu Qing Dynasty. This will make them stop taking action..."
"But can I sell it? If I betray the country, am I still worthy of being the prime minister of the Chinese people?"
Seeing Xiao Letian's expression of grief and anger on the verge of tears, Xiang Ying was shocked. He trembled with trembling lips and said, "Yes... yes, the Prime Minister has suffered too much grievance. I know it, we all know it!"
"The situation is difficult! Therefore, the prime minister must carefully balance among the great powers. While fighting one faction, he must also unite with the other. He must be careful to gain benefits without angering the entire powerful group. How can such a balance be achieved in this world? The only one who is in this position is you, Prime Minister..."
"It's good that you know. I'm so relieved that you can understand my painstaking efforts! In fact, if you can understand everything I said above, the answer to the question you just asked will be readily available!"
Xiao Letian sighed and shook his head, "Hey...actually! I worked hard to train Zai Chun. In fact, I only have one purpose, which is to better defeat the Qing Dynasty!"
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