William is nineteen years old this year. Thai people are already mature, and a nineteen-year-old child already looks like an adult.
I have been with Zhu Jingyuan for more than four years, and now I have the rank of captain in the Great Food Country.
Louise is also eighteen. Whether in Ming Dynasty or Taixi, she can be regarded as an adult, and it is time to talk about marriage.
When the two heard Zhu Jingyuan's call, they immediately rushed over from the guard and the office.
After meeting and saluting, Zhu Jingyuan asked with a smile:
"How are you? Are you still used to living in Ming Dynasty these past few years? Do you miss home?"
William was stunned for a moment, and his curiosity immediately arose.
After William had more in-depth and direct contact with Ming culture in the past few years in Ming Dynasty, when he heard this type of question, he knew that he probably had something to arrange for him.
William was unsure of his answer:
"Going back to Your Highness, William has learned a lot in the past four years in the Ming Dynasty and truly understood how the people of the Ming Dynasty lived.
"Those who have never lived in the Ming Dynasty cannot truly understand the past.
"If possible, I hope to stay in Ming Dynasty..."
Louise also said:
"I miss home...I can't say that I don't have it at all, but I feel more comfortable working and studying in Daming, and I don't want to go back to Berlin."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded lightly:
"I understand, but I have a mission now and need you two to go back.
“I plan to build a direct railway from the East China Sea to the North Sea.
“Connect Yingtianfu, Moscow, Berlin and Paris with main railway lines, and then use branch railways to connect Shuntianfu, Songjiangfu, Suzhoufu, as well as important cities such as Vienna and Amsterdam.
“I plan to call this project the Shenou Continental Bridge, a bridge spanning the entire continent.
"I hope you will go back and cooperate to complete the corresponding negotiations and preparations."
When the two William brothers heard this plan, they opened their mouths:
"From Yingtianfu to Paris? What a huge project this is!"
"It will be very difficult to build and manage this..."
Zhu Jingyuan smiled and said:
“Actually, the first phase of the project will not be too difficult in terms of the project itself.
“What you may not realize is that most of the entire route has existing railways.
“Even most of the railroads were originally connected.
“We just need to connect some of the unconnected railways and organize a unified management structure.
“Only in the second phase will we need to consider adjusting existing routes and building replacement routes in more suitable places.
“Even rebuilding a unified, high-standard railway.
“You can temporarily ignore the subsequent planning and only consider connecting the railways and unified management.
“This is mainly a social issue.
"As the prince and princess of Prussia, you two are very suitable to participate in related coordination tasks."
William suddenly realized:
"Thank you for your teaching, Your Highness. I understand how to do it, but after completing this mission, can we come back?"
Zhu Jingyuan thought for a while:
“If you really want to continue working with me, you can.
“But my personal suggestion is that it is better to directly participate in the management of this railway line.
“This railway involves many countries, and management must involve all countries.
"You two are about to turn twenty. Even according to the Ming Dynasty's tradition, you are already in your prime years.
“It’s time to go out and take on more practical work.
“Of course, you don’t need to rush to make a decision immediately, this matter cannot be completed in a short time.
"You guys should pack your things and get ready to go home."
Brother William and his sister had mixed emotions. After a few seconds of silence, they nodded together and then left a little uneasily.
On the other side, Luo Feiya greeted her father, packed her things, and set off with a few servants.
Zhu Jingyuan can directly arrange for a formal official to contact the Lucians directly to make an appointment to go to Xianbei City for negotiations.
But that is not done now, because the current situation is that the Lucians are definitely more anxious.
Zhu Jingyuan also hoped that Luo Feiya could be more personal and let her explore the general direction through family relationships.
Zhu Jingyuan's planning direction for the continental bridge is relatively clear, but his goals for development in the Volga-Urals area are relatively vague. Now he just wants to take a shot and see what happens.
So Luo Feiya returned to her parents' home very relaxedly. After arriving in Xianbei City, she met her parents and didn't discuss things seriously. She just chatted and played like a normal return to her parents' home.
Xianbei Duke Luo Yashan endured it for a few days, but finally couldn't help but want to get the news from his daughter:
"Fiya, you should know that I sent two letters to His Highness Prince Dashi, right?
"After His Highness saw the letter, didn't he express any opinions or make any arrangements?
"I haven't received a reply from here, so I'm very confused..."
Then Luo Feiya followed Zhu Jingyuan's instructions and told the truth to her father very casually:
"I do know, but dad, you don't have anything to worry about. This is not your problem in the first place, right?
"You just sent a letter to Uncle Nicholas.
"As for the content of the letter, His Highness didn't take it to heart at all.
“When the Ming Dynasty was building up the northwest provinces and vassal states, they never specifically considered targeting Lucia.
“It’s to integrate the local population resources of the Ming Dynasty. Uncle Nicholas just thinks too much.
"It's just that...the letter from you and Uncle Nicholas reminded His Highness...
"After we complete the construction in the northwest, if we really want to deal with Lucia, it will come in handy."
Luo Yashan's expression suddenly became very exciting.
What is this?
Originally, Daming did not target Lucia. Instead, Lucia was worried about being targeted and wanted to communicate, which reminded Daming that what he was doing now could be used against Lucia.
What is Lucia planning?
But then I thought about it, it didn’t matter whether the Lucians reminded me or not.
After Ming Dynasty completed its own construction, if there were any potential conflicts with Lucia, the strategic department would naturally use the results of these constructions when formulating plans for Lucia.
Now Nicholas and his letter only made this possibility clear in advance.
And it's none of my business.
He originally proposed to explore on the east bank of the Urals, but Prince Dashi arranged for him to go to the middle reaches of the Ob River for development.
After the exploration team went there, preliminary discoveries were made, and it is very likely that there is indeed oil in that place.
So Mount Roya has no interest in Ural now.
The environment in the Ural region is much better than that in the middle reaches of the Ob River, but the Ural is a border area after all.
The Ob River is the hinterland of the vassal state, not the demilitarized zone.
It's a place where you have complete control.
When developing in a place like this, there is no need to worry about stimulating the emotions of the other side like Lucia does now.
Luo Yashan had several thoughts in his mind, and then continued to try to ask his daughter:
"Then what is His Highness's final plan? Will he not respond directly to our letter at all?"
Luo Feiya thought for a while and said:
"Probably not. After His Highness was reminded by you, he had the idea of targeting Lucia.
“I don’t know exactly how to do it.
“It seems that a group of settlements are to be built in the lower reaches of the Ural River according to the standards of military fortresses for immigration purposes.
"Build some steel plants, oil refineries, tractor factories, civil aircraft factories, seamless steel pipe factories, etc...
"By the way, we need to open up a lot of farmland and build a food processing factory..."
Luo Yashan was immediately speechless.
What is a standard military fortress settlement? Can it be directly turned into a fortress when necessary?
The oil refinery can provide fuel, and the tractor factory can be converted into a tank factory.
Only Prince Dashi can tell the difference between a civilian aircraft factory and a military aircraft.
Only the factory director can tell whether the products of the seamless steel pipe factory can be used to make gun barrels and barrels.
As for those steel plants, they provide raw materials to other factories. Only God knows whether they use military standards.
It is conceivable that if necessary, the local area will become a fortress, with aircraft, tanks, artillery factories, large granaries and food factories.
So can we support the troops gathered locally to push all the way to Moscow?
Luo Yashan was not a fool. After being silent for a long time, he finally realized what he should do:
"Then...my precious daughter, tell me, what should I do now?
“Your Uncle Nicholas wants me to explain to Ming Dynasty to prevent Ming Dynasty from targeting Lucia.
"Now... Daming is really targeting Lucia, how can I explain it to Nicholas?"
Luo Feiya tilted her head and thought for a while:
“According to His Highness’s daily teachings, the way to resolve conflicts and avoid conflicts is through communication.
"The more direct the communication, the better the effect. Even a direct quarrel is much better than preparing for war separately.
“So my idea is that dad can be a mediator and invite both parties over to sit down and talk.
“Firstly, direct communication will avoid conflicts, and secondly, it will allow both parties to the conflict to communicate directly, so you don’t have to be caught in the middle.”
Luo Yashan suddenly realized:
"Yes, I can't be angry at both ends anymore, I directly let them discuss clearly...
"Although Nicholas and I are brothers, I am now the Duke of Ming Dynasty. This status is too embarrassing."
Luo Yashan was not sure whether his daughter's words were her daughter's casual suggestions or Zhu Jingyuan's special arrangement.
But in his opinion, this direction was obviously good, so he immediately arranged for people to work on it.
First, he contacted Nicholas and Zhu Jingyuan privately and explained the suggestions he had discussed with his daughter.
Regarding Lucia's information, Luo Yashan specifically reminded Nicholas according to his daughter's wishes. Regardless of whether the Ming Dynasty had the intention to specifically target Lucia or not, the current construction could be "used" to target Lucia.
Therefore, if Nikola does not want to have a real conflict with Daming, it is best to cooperate with this communication and exchange and strive to cooperate with Daming's developers in the border areas.
Then he took the official route and expressed his concerns about the current situation in Xianbei and Anxi using official caliber.
There is concern that Ming and Lucia's construction in their respective border areas may escalate the situation without communication.
Therefore, both parties were invited to Xianbei City to communicate their true intentions.
It is recommended that both parties cooperate to jointly develop resources in the border areas.
After Emperor Nicholas of Lucia received the reply, he immediately felt unspeakable depression and aggrieved.
Luo Yashan's reminder and the analysis of Lucia's main officials can be said to lead to the same goal by different routes.
Regardless of whether what Daming is doing now is aimed at Lucia, it will have an effect against Lucia in the future.
Of course, Nikola has no way to refuse the suggestion of exchange and cooperation.
If refusing to communicate is equivalent to reminding Daming, Lucia just wants to target Daming and let Daming continue to target him quickly.
Then the two sides will start competitive semi-military construction in the border areas.
But Nicholas himself had no idea how to communicate specifically and how to avoid conflicts.
So Nicholas summoned Wedemeyer, the most important minister in Lucia's court, explained the news he had received, and asked him for his opinion on the matter.
After reading it, Wedemeyer thought about it for a while, and said with determination and dejection:
“This matter is actually very simple to say, we will give whatever Ming Dynasty wants.
"Whatever Daming wants us to do, we will cooperate with him.
"That should be enough..."
Nicholas's expression suddenly turned ugly, and he even said angrily:
"What do you mean, your Excellency? What do you mean we will give whatever the Ming Dynasty wants? Are we a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty?"
Wedemeyer said with a wry smile:
"Of course we are not a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. It is because we are not a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty that we have the current contradiction.
"At the same time, it is also because we are not a vassal country, and Ming Dynasty will not make the same demands as the vassal countries.
“It should just come up with some options to make sure we don’t conflict with each other.
“Of course it may involve the transfer of interests, but more likely it will be some form of economic cooperation.
“This is the experience I gained from Daming’s cooperation with us in warship technology transfer.
“After the world war, the Ming Dynasty publicly promised to give up its annexation of the European and European countries by force.
“After that, the direction of our efforts turned to the economic level, trying to deeply bind the European and Western countries to the Ming Dynasty at the economic level.
“Of course the Ming Dynasty was able to gain benefits through this method, allowing Ming Dynasty funds and goods to flow into the European and Western countries.
“But in most cases, the countries in Europe and the West can also benefit from this process.
“Otherwise, such a plan cannot be implemented for a long time.
“It is very likely that Ming Dynasty will propose a similar plan this time.
“Furthermore, unlike other European and Western countries, we and Ming Dynasty are still theoretically neighboring countries.
“So we can also engage in some cooperation such as border opening.
"Of course, these are just guesses after all. What are the specific requirements of Ming Dynasty? We got Xianbei, met with representatives of Ming Dynasty, and only found out after asking directly.
“But Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry too much.
"The worst result is that the connection with Ming Dynasty will be closer..."
Nicholas moved his lips several times, trying to say something to express his feelings, but in the end there was only a sigh:
"The connection with the Ming Dynasty is closer...Okay, then please go to Xianbei City and communicate with the Ming Dynasty..."
Wedemeyer bowed and agreed, and then asked a reminder question:
“The negotiation took place in the Grand Duchy of Xianbei, and the Grand Duke of Xianbei was also a member of the Romanov family.
“At the same time, Grand Duke Alexander’s daughter Sophia, also known as His Royal Highness Prince Feiya, was also in Xianbei City.
"According to the family relationship between Grand Duke Alexander and His Royal Highness Sofia and Your Majesty, should Your Majesty arrange for a member of the royal family to go together?"
Nicholas immediately realized this problem and nodded lightly as a matter of course:
"Let my daughter Yekaterina go and talk to Feiya on behalf of..."
(End of chapter)
