At this point, Xiao Letian suddenly became silent. He sipped the cold red wine. The knife and fork in his hand had already cut off a small piece of tender beef, but he kept the fork to his mouth and never ate it.
Gladstone's weird behavior made him very uncomfortable. "Well...that's it? Isn't there more to come? You don't seem to have formally answered my question?"
Xiao Letian smiled bitterly and threw the fork and meat back on the plate. This was a very rude behavior in dining etiquette, but Gladstone just looked at him and said nothing.
"Don't you understand what I said so clearly? This is not your style! Well...since you insist on being vilified, don't blame me for my vicious tongue!"
Lifting his head and drinking a glass of wine, Xiao Letian wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I have just analyzed the key points of Britain's gradual acquisition of maritime rights. In fact, it is not only the competition with Spain, but also the confrontation with France. In fact, Britain also wins because of its national strength. superior!"
"Napoleon was a great man for a while, but he was just a genius commander. France has always been at a disadvantage in the economic war between the two countries!"
"As I said before, even the military uniform fabrics worn by Napoleon's soldiers were purchased from British products! This is the magic of the market economy, which can even transcend wars between countries..."
"With the same quality, anyone will choose cheaper products. This kind of business behavior cannot be stopped by the government. As long as the UK can always ensure that its country's productivity is higher than other countries, then efficiency is guaranteed!"
"In market competition, whoever controls costs will also control the right to speak, and the improvement of national power will naturally come naturally!"
"But..." Xiao Letian's expression was extremely serious at this moment, "But in the past hundred years, Britain's national policy has gone a little awry!"
"What I just said about improving the level of science and technology, increasing productivity, and increasing the international competitiveness of domestic products all fall into the category of practicing internal strength. If a country wants to be strong, it is not enough to just practice internal strength. It must also show dominance to the outside world! "
"When Britain officially became the maritime hegemon, your military power began to be projected around the world. Colonies were established one after another. The small island country gradually became the empire on which the sun never sets!"
"It is true that the colonies are an indispensable part of the British economy. You get cheap raw materials from the colonies, and then use your efficient factories to process them into goods, and then dump them to the colonies. They are shearing sheep as they come and go. It’s a game!”
"Britain has received endless benefits through its colonies. The glory of the empire on which the sun never sets is right in front of me. I can see clearly if I'm not blind!"
"But there is no immutable policy in governing the country? When the wheel of history reaches a breakthrough point, I would like to ask the UK... are you ready?"
"The point of breakthrough?" Gladstone asked rhetorically.
"Yes, human civilization is not static. The development of science and technology always moves forward in cycles. Especially when the era of rationality comes, basic natural sciences flourish, which will definitely accelerate the explosion of practical science and technology sooner or later!"
"I once mentioned this concept in my notes on Journey to the West. I believe that the industrial civilization brought about by the steam engine can only belong to the early industrial revolution, or the first industrial revolution..."
"A hundred years have passed now, and there is not much room for improvement in steam engine technology. So do you really think that there will be no new technology to replace steam engine technology in the future?"
"I believe you also have such a discerning eye. The development of science and technology has reached a breakthrough bottleneck at this moment, because there are already signs that it is ready to take action in the theoretical community!"
"How many people are studying electricity in laboratories? How many laboratories are refining oil? Among other things, without the support of countless advanced scientific theories, there would be no battleship Reach anchored on the Thames!"
"We are all experts, so I won't speak in layman's terms. Facing the unknown second industrial revolution, do you think the UK is ready?"
Xiao Letian's passionate speech was deafening and enlightening. Gladstone's face turned red, and the imperial elites who were eavesdropping also felt humiliated.
"Mr. Xiao, I think your words are a bit extreme. The British Empire is full of talented people, and its major colleges have the smartest brains in the world. Our scientists are not inferior to any other nation!"
"Your inference is an insult to us! I would like to express my strong protest! Although I agree with your unique theory of the first and second industrial revolutions, I have to tell you that even if there is a second industrial revolution, The revolution must be led by me, the UK!"
"The Empire on which the Sun Never Sets will never fall behind! We will always be the leader of the world!"
Xiao Letian looked at the proud Gladstone and couldn't help laughing, "Hahaha... As expected, before I even brought up this topic, I knew you would be angry, you bunch of British cows who have been arrogant for hundreds of years! How could you admit defeat..."
"However, I have to teach you a lesson today. I want to smash your arrogance and let you know where the shortcomings of your thinking are. I want you to know what is darkness under the light and what is the weakness that you cannot see. Where!"
"If I am wrong, then I can accept any punishment from you, even if I lose my life here, I will have no complaints!"
"But..." Xiao Letian gritted his molar teeth and said fiercely, "If what I say is true, you have to accept it! Then from now on, put away all your arrogance and negotiate with me on an equal footing!"
Xiao Letian is so arrogant. Gladstone's face changed drastically. He knew that these words would definitely offend those who were eavesdropping.
Sure enough, the imperial elites around the crown prince were so angry that their noses were almost crooked. They stood up and wanted to get angry, but Crown Prince Edward grabbed their hands tightly.
He lowered his voice and said, "How come the elites of the Empire on which the sun never sets don't even have the courage to listen to a few harsh words?"
"I..." Everyone was at a loss for words and sat back in their seats. "Okay, I'll listen to what else he has to say! If it's just sensationalizing, then I will use my actions to let him know that he regrets it!"
The night is getting darker and darker, and many of the first wave of guests on the first floor of the Berkeley Restaurant have already finished their meals and gone back to their homes. The waiters at the door send these distinguished guests away with a smile. The number of clothes in the cloakroom is decreasing, and the number of items in the waiters' pockets is decreasing. Tips are also increasing.
At this moment, a black carriage suddenly galloped along the river embankment. The carriage was very ordinary, but it actually had a small royal emblem on the carriage, and the horses pulling the carriage were also very tall and strong Arabian horses.
Pedestrians and vehicles on the road took cover one after another. No one knew why the carriage was running so fast.
"Quick, quick, stop in front of the Berkeley Restaurant! Don't worry about the traffic order. This is the royal carriage. If there is any problem, go and negotiate with the police yourself. I don't care about that much!"
