Zhu Jingyuan continued to walk through various main halls and auxiliary halls as he considered various possibilities about Napoleon.
Under the guidance of the guards, we passed through several doorways and saw James Monroe from Yinzhou.
Monroe was talking with Arthur Wellesley, a British general who had returned from Yinzhou.
Wellesley is the historical Duke of Wellington, nicknamed the Iron Duke, and one of the most famous generals in the history of the West.
Defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and became a British marshal.
He was later awarded the rank of marshal by Russia, Austria, Prussia, Hanover, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
He became the only person in world history to obtain the rank of Marshal of the Eight Kingdoms of Thailand and Spain.
He was also the first British general to become prime minister, and achieved the life achievement of "becoming a general or becoming a prime minister".
Now Wellesley is still a thirty-six-year-old general in his prime, and he doesn't know what achievements he will have in the original history.
Zhu Jingyuan greeted Napoleon very casually:
"Mr. Monroe, General Wellesley, may I ask you two questions?"
The two men heard the sound and turned around to see Zhu Jingyuan, and like Napoleon, they immediately guessed Zhu Jingyuan's identity.
Although the two sides were originally direct enemies, they had just fought a world war for more than ten years.
But now that peace talks have begun, especially now that you are standing on the other side's territory, you have to be polite enough.
The former president of the Monroe Doctrine and the marshals of the eight countries of the Western European continent now bowed to Zhu Jingyuan together:
"I have met His Highness the Food King."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled and waved:
"Without being too polite, what I want to know is, has the United Kingdom considered withdrawing from the vassal state and granting full citizenship rights to the Yinzhou colonial immigrants?"
Wellesley's expression immediately became very confused. Even if we have started peace talks, it is impossible to communicate on such internal affairs, right?
But Wellesley was a general, so he turned to look at Monroe beside him.
British Secretary of State for American Affairs, Monroe said to Zhu Jingyuan with a straight face:
"This is an internal affair of our UK. Please forgive me for not being able to give a detailed introduction to His Royal Highness Prince Dashi."
Zhu Jingyuan didn't care about the answer and immediately asked a more sensitive question:
"Has Mr. Monroe considered establishing an American empire belonging to the Americans, or becoming a princely vassal state of the Ming Dynasty..."
Monroe's expression became even more ugly. What on earth are you going to do, Your Highness?
The idea of an American empire for Americans would indeed make the hearts of the colonial people tremble.
But even if you want to discuss this kind of thing, you have to discuss it with me alone. How can you discuss it in front of the British generals?
Monroe and Wellesley were both stunned by Zhu Jingyuan's simple, crude and straightforward provocation, and they did not react immediately.
"If you haven't considered it, you can start thinking about it now. If you have any ideas, you can contact me at the inn's phone number."
Zhu Jingyuan left one more sentence, turned around and left without having a detailed chat with the two people.
Monroe watched Zhu Jingyuan's back disappear with a face filled with astonishment, and then suddenly reacted and immediately turned to Wellesley beside him:
"General Wellesley, I definitely don't have that idea. This Prince of Food is 'stoking dissension'!"
Wellesley nodded with a wry smile and said:
"Of course I believe you, minister. What His Highness the Great Food King did just now is actually copying the famous saying of Emperor Renwu of Ming Dynasty.
"'Don't worry about whether there are jujubes or not, try to hit a pole.' Otherwise, he should stay and talk to us in detail, instead of just leaving a word and leaving..."
Monroe felt visibly relieved when he heard Wellesley say this.
Of course, this unfounded matter will not get him punished, but if it spreads, it may make the king suspicious of him.
This is completely an unwarranted disaster imposed on himself by the Ming Dynasty. The best result is to nip it in the bud.
Little did Monroe know that he in another time and space was actually the President of the United States.
Now, as a member of the British cabinet and minister in charge of American affairs, he is already the top official of the British court.
Although I am the spokesperson for the interests of the American colonies, I also value my identity as a British cabinet minister.
Therefore, on specific matters, we should continue to ensure the basic interests of the American colonies and fulfill our representative obligations.
At the same time, it is most in line with Monroe's personal interests to maintain the status quo in the relationship between the colonies and the British mainland.
If the United States really "withdraws" its annexation, can I, as the Secretary of State for American Affairs, continue to serve?
At the same time, Wellesley paused for a moment and then continued on the topic:
"But he may have really hit the mark. We may not have this idea, but there are too many people in the colony who have this idea.
“I just came back from the colonies, and in the past few years I have been there, I can clearly feel that many people are not satisfied with their current status.
"Especially when the Ming Dynasty officially began to substantively 'remove the vassal state' and decided to grant full citizenship rights to immigrants from vassal countries.
"Now we have to start thinking about these issues and we have to advise His Majesty to make changes to the situation."
Munro also reacted immediately and explained with a not-so-pleasant expression:
"Of course I understand that if possible, we in the UK should also essentially 'disband' and turn the United States into our own country.
“But you should know that the Ming Dynasty’s withdrawal from the vassal state began when the royal family provided sufficient benefits.
“But our British royal family may not have that kind of power, nor may we be able to make such a decision.
“If it is during a war, the media and official power can also be used to exaggerate the atmosphere of threat and force local interest groups to compromise.
“Now that peace talks have begun, the pressure of war has suddenly eased, and everyone is waiting for real peace.
"Now it is basically impossible for us to substantively 'remove the vassal state'."
Wellesley also understood these difficulties, so he nodded melancholy and said:
"Yes, I know it's impossible, but we must respond in advance, even if it means announcing a preparation to 'withdraw the vassal state'.
"If someone raises the banner of 'Princes and generals should rather have their own kind' in the colonies, the consequences will be unpredictable...
"I don't want my next combat mission to be to go to the colonies to put down a rebellion."
While Monroe and Wellesley were discussing colonial affairs, George III of the British Kingdom, who was far away in the British mainland, was also browsing various news at his desk.
Reports from the negotiating team at the front, daily reports from cabinet members, important matters in the native and colonial areas...
The situation at the front and at home is relatively controllable, but there is some trouble in the colonies.
After reading the report, the sixty-seven-year-old King George sighed slightly tiredly, unable to think of any particularly good solution.
After being in a daze for a while, the old king began to read the newspapers of the past two days.
"The Ming Dynasty's Search for Roman Successors".
"Princes, Uncles and Nephews in the Ming Dynasty Delegation".
"The Cape of Good Hope ranked first in the Ming-Europe peace talks, and the Ming Dynasty recognized that Rome could be ranked alongside it."
"The Roman Empire, Europe's Most Glorious Era".
"Lucia, Austria, Ottoman, France, who is the real Rome?" 》
"The Beauty of His Highness Zhu Jingyuan, the Angel Emperor of Ming Dynasty".
"What Rome Should Look Like in the New Era".
"If Rome Still Were Here".
"The French royal family issued a statement that King Charles VIII of France obtained the claim and title of Byzantine Emperor in 1494 from Andre Bariolo, the nephew of Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor."
The old king felt a little dizzy looking at these news headlines.
How come in just one or two days, Rome is everywhere in the newspapers?
Prussia and Austria had a falling out, and the Holy Roman Empire was completely disbanded. Why did Roman fanaticism arise again in Europe?
Just because Ming Dynasty recognized Rome as equal to it?
This can only be the reason.
The old king was not interested in these news, because the Roman title could not be transferred to his own home.
The old king turned back the newspaper with some boredom, and then saw the name of Prime Minister Peter.
"Peace Talks News: The witty Prime Minister Pitt cleverly resolved the problem of Prince Ming during the talks."
King George instinctively felt that it should be a short article praising Prime Minister Pitt.
After reading the text for a while, I found that the actual content is indeed like this.
But after King George read it all, he always felt that something was very wrong with this article.
What is "change of position between monarch and minister"?
The king and his ministers exchange places? This word is obviously changed from castling of the king's car, but it seems awkward no matter how you look at it.
The Prince of Wales is the Crown Prince, and King George himself is not in good spirits, so the Prince of Wales' responsibilities are even heavier.
King George was even prepared to make the Prince of Wales regent if his illness became more serious.
But in the current international negotiations, the position of the Prince of Wales has been changed to behind Prime Minister Pitt.
Is this what Prime Minister Pitt calls "tact"?
Today, I changed my position when determining the ranking. Will I have to sit down during the negotiation process in the future?
The key point is that, according to the Ming Dynasty, when the monarch and his ministers change positions, isn't this a usurpation of the throne?
After realizing this problem, King George III's expression became increasingly ugly.
Although in today's Britain, it is basically impossible for a minister to usurp the throne, not to mention that Pitt cannot be regarded as a powerful minister.
But King George had an inexplicable knot in his heart.
Prime Minister Peter's past actions immediately flashed through the king's mind.
Small details that weren't originally a problem now made the king feel a little uncomfortable for no reason.
"Pete has been in office for six years. How about changing to another prime minister?"
"Let Monroe give it a try? If he, who was born in a colony, becomes prime minister, can he appease the people of the colony?"
"But this will definitely be opposed by various local groups..."
Even in the original history, King George III had the ability to skip elections and directly appoint the Prime Minister without skipping the House of Commons.
Historically, William Pitt Jr. was directly appointed as Prime Minister by George III.
The House of Commons at that time did not want to accept Pitt, so George III directly dissolved Parliament. After re-election, Pitt became the leader of the House of Commons.
George III could even appoint a peer from the House of Lords as Prime Minister, simply by resigning from the House of Lords and then joining the House of Commons.
In Britain, where the world has been influenced by Mingxue, King George III has greater power than in history, and the success rate of directly appointing the prime minister is also higher.
However, it was still a bit too sensitive to let Monroe, a minister from the New World, become prime minister.
So the old king fell into thinking and hesitation.
Peter and Monroe, who were far away in the western capes, did not know that their fate had reached a threshold.
Time passed slowly, and it was gradually approaching noon in the Western Cape, and the banquet was about to officially begin.
The palace attendants dispersed throughout the palace, guiding the scattered guests to their seats.
Peter was taken to the first place on the right side of the main hall, which was basically the same position as during the meeting. Opposite him was Zhu Jianfeng, Prince of the Ming Dynasty.
Peter felt a little strange, but this was an informal banquet, so he didn't need to pay too much attention to the place, so he sat down directly.
Zhu Jingyuan returned to the back hall to rest for a while, and when the banquet officially started, he walked into the main hall again under the guidance of his entourage.
The seating arrangement in the main hall is similar to that of the Wenhua Hall where meetings are held, except that the conference table has been removed and turned into a place for singing and dancing performances.
The representatives of Ming Dynasty and Taixi were seated on the left and right sides of the center, each with a separate small table.
Sitting directly above the south facing north, there are still two seats in the master's position.
Zhu Jingyuan took one seat himself, and the other seat was vacant for Roma.
His ninth uncle, Zhu Jianfeng, sat first on the left under the main seat, and Peter was placed first on the right.
Zhu Jingyuan was very satisfied with this and walked to the stage unhurriedly.
Except for Zhu Jianfeng, all the people attending the banquet stood up together and bowed to Zhu Jingyuan:
"I have met His Highness Prince Dashi!"
"You're welcome, please take a seat."
Zhu Jingyuan returned the greeting casually, and then did not sit down directly, but stood on the spot and cleared his throat:
"On this important day today, I have a few words to say. Please listen carefully."
The scene immediately became quiet, and the sound of silk and bamboo in the surroundings immediately stopped.
All the representatives raised their heads and looked at Zhu Jingyuan on the stage. Even Zhu Jianfeng next to him was a little curious.
What would the young prince say at the start of such a banquet?
Zhu Jingyuan's gaze swept across the audience, and he spoke in a very formal and solemn voice:
"On behalf of the Ming Dynasty, I came to the Cape of the West to negotiate with you. I have only one real purpose.
"That's peace, for peace in our time."
The representatives below were immediately speechless.
You were so serious just now, thinking you were going to announce something big, but the result was nonsense like "peace."
So far, representatives from various countries in Europe and the West still regard Zhu Jingyuan as a simple and innocent child.
I still instinctively believe that everything Zhu Jingyuan said and did was specially planned by Ming's diplomatic team.
He was just the representative who came out to implement these plans. After all, Zhu Jingyuan himself was too young.
But no matter who made the arrangements, the representatives were very cooperative with the ceremonial slogan of peace:
"Hopefully we can have real peace."
"The kindness of His Highness the Food King is truly admirable."
"Work hard for peace for our generation!"
"Thank you, King of Food, for your contribution to peace."
When most people spoke big words, nothing unusual happened. Only when Peter spoke, someone took pictures again.
Pete still didn't feel anything was wrong. He was the most important representative of Tessie, and it was normal to take more photos of himself.
Napoleon listened to these words and wanted to laugh when he looked at the atmosphere:
"Peace...hehe..."
