After spending more than two years in the core military division of the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Weidao has finally understood the ways of this super family that has controlled the political economy of the Ming Dynasty for more than a hundred years... They are the top players in the world's largest casino. A real big player, and he has the "trickster skills" passed down from his ancestors, and has more capital than anyone else! But I don’t do stud, I don’t gamble big, I just play small, and I take out a little bit from the pile of chips to bet with my opponent.
The new Ming Dynasty has reached this stage because of these "small bets and small wins." If the sons and grandsons of King Zhuge Wuzhong were willing to compete with the British Empire, world hegemony might have been achieved long ago.
Of course, there is also the slightest possibility that the bet will be lost...
In Zhuge Weidao's view, this approach is almost unplayable. Daming was able to play like this in the past because the transportation back then was underdeveloped. There were not as many railways and ships as there are now, and the distance between Daming and Europe seemed out of reach. Moreover, the degree of industrialization in the Ming Dynasty and Great Britain was not high at that time. There were not many people in the world who had reached the threshold of industrialization. Markets and resources were relatively abundant.
But now the old industrial powers such as the Ming Dynasty, Great Britain, France, and Prussia have begun the second industrial revolution. Their industrialization levels have increased crazily, and they are even more hungry for resources and markets than ever before. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty now has a population of 360 million, Europe has 180 million to 200 million (excluding the Turkish Empire), and the United States is close to 20 million. In other words, the population under industrial civilization is approaching 600 million.
In the words of later generations, this is about to "roll"!
Now there are no nuclear weapons, and there is no interdependent global market. Although there is a large trade volume between the Chinese market dominated by the Ming Dynasty, the European market dominated by the British, and the Indian market, fundamentally speaking, the three major markets are not Integrated, but three circles.
In addition, there is no non-convertible currency now. Today's currencies are all convertible currencies, that is, the banknotes issued by various countries must be backed by gold and silver. Gold and silver are purchasing power and the market.
Without gold and silver, no matter how large the population is, there is only demand without money. This demand is invalid demand. And having enough gold and silver (brass is just fine) can create demand even if there is no demand.
At present, the main gold and silver producing areas in the world are in the Americas. Countries such as Mexico, Gran Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Brazil all have mountains of gold, silver, copper, "dung mountains" and "saltpeter mountains." By bringing these countries closer to our own circle, we can start a large trade cycle with them. Without the precious metals, guano and saltpeter from these countries, the industrialized countries in Europe would collapse.
Similarly, if these countries were all pulled away by the British Empire, Ming Dynasty's huge industrial production capacity would lose room for growth even if it did not fall into excess.
Therefore, this gamble on national destiny can easily enter the stage of showdown stud now.
At this stage, Britain is struggling, what should Ming Dynasty do? Can you back down?
And if Britain doesn't dare to stud, can it tolerate Ming's "small bets will win"? It's simply impossible... If Britain continues to bet with Ming, a cheating "big old man", it will definitely lose everything.
So the world's largest casinos are about to enter high-roller gambling mode.
According to Zhuge Weidao's "calculation", the world's gamble has probably begun, but other military strategists of the Zhuge family have not discovered it yet.
...
France, Versailles, Grand Trianon.
Great Military Advisor Zhuge Weijiu was sitting in his office at this time, holding a phone receiver in his hand, and the other end of the phone line... was on the other side of the English Channel at No. 10 Downing Street in London, the British Prime Minister's Office.
It turns out that this is a "hotline", a phone for direct communication between Ming Dynasty and the British Prime Minister.
The real reason why Zhuge Weiji resigned from his post and went to France to "retire" was to communicate with the British Prime Minister here.
The people of the Zhuge family did not want to break up with the British Empire...except Zhuge Weidao.
Zhuge Weijiu said in Chinese: "Hello, is this Sir Wei? I am Zhuge Weijiu! Do you know about the military conflict that occurred in the waters near Goa?"
The somewhat angry voice of Duke Wellington came from the other end of the phone. Duke Wellington spoke in English. He said: "Your Highness, of course I know what happened! It was your fleet that attacked our Indian fleet. Moreover, our Indian fleet has thwarted your attack...and sunk three of your armored cruisers. You must apologize and make compensation for this military adventure and punish those responsible. , but also promise to never do it again!”
"Sir Wei, please calm down... don't be fooled by the false news coming from the front. Although we have lost three 3,000-ton cruisers, you have lost one more than 9,000-ton cruiser. Blake-class armored cruisers, and two other Blake-class armored cruisers are injured. In addition, it is going to be night on the west coast of India soon. If you want to have a night battle, the situation will be unfavorable to you!"
"Prince, what do you mean by this? Do you want to seize India?" Duke Wellington looked very excited.
"No, no," Zhuge Weijiu said, "Master Wei, don't worry... Our Ming Empire has no ambitions for India, and we recognize all the special rights and interests of the British Empire in India as always. We also recognize Emperor William's rule over India is legal..."
"That's all?" Duke Wellington on the other end of the phone line immediately sensed something was wrong. "Has your Indian Ocean policy changed? You no longer recognize the rights of the British Empire and the Indian Empire to the Malay Peninsula? In addition, your What does the large fleet want to do near the west coast of India?"
"Duke, nothing is set in stone! Your colonial rule in the Strait of Malacca should end! I hope this process is peaceful and can take care of the interests of all parties. As for the fleet we entered into the Indian Ocean, it is actually the Persian Gulf Fleet ! Their target is the Persian Gulf rather than the west coast of India. Our Indian Ocean policy has indeed undergone some changes... Our Ming Empire needs to deploy a certain number of naval fleets in the Indian Ocean! This is also what we must fulfill as a world empire Responsibility!"
Because Burma and Siam have always been vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Empire was strictly speaking a country along the Indian Ocean. However, in order to avoid conflict with Britain, the Ming Empire has always adopted a conservative and restrained Indian Ocean policy.
One of the key points is that Ming Dynasty did not maintain maritime power along the Indian Ocean, and did not even build naval bases or large shipyards along the Indian Ocean coasts of Burma and Siam.
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Of course, in exchange, the British have always ensured that Ming products and merchant ships can freely enter and leave Europe.
But now, the Ming Empire, which is determined to take over the Persian Gulf, must deploy its fleet in the Indian Ocean and completely open the Strait of Malacca.
This of course harms the core interests of the British Empire! However, Zhuge Wei still believes that these things can be achieved or partially achieved through peaceful purposes.
"No, this is impossible!" Duke Wellington almost exploded. "The British Empire and the Indian Empire will never allow the Ming Dynasty's maritime armed forces to enter the Indian Ocean!"
"Master Wei, please calm down," Zhuge Weijiu said with a smile, "Our fleet has entered the Indian Ocean and will soon enter the Persian Gulf. Whether you agree or disagree, we are already there!
If you agree to our terms, no new conflicts will arise. Otherwise... there will be a new conflict tonight! But we can talk tomorrow. The door to negotiations should never be closed. "
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. After about a quarter of an hour, the voice of Duke Wellington came over: "Okay, let's talk about it tomorrow morning!"
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