The diplomatic missions from various countries in Thailand and the West took the passenger ship arranged by Honglu Temple and sailed upstream along the Yangtze River Estuary.
Along the way, we passed Songjiang Prefecture, Nantong Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, Changzhou Prefecture, Zhenjiang Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture, and Yingtian Prefecture.
These most prosperous and wealthy places in the entire Ming Dynasty finally arrived in the capital of the Ming Dynasty on December 22, the fifteenth year of Ankang.
The large passenger ship from Honglu Temple docked at the pier in the south of Jiangbei New Town.
Representatives from various countries in Thailand and Spain set foot on the most coveted land in the world with full of shock.
Under the arrangements of the staff of Honglu Temple, they moved directly into the post house by the river.
Arriving in this brand new city, everyone once again experienced another form of shock.
In this completely modern pure Ming-style architecture and living environment.
They seemed to sense "detail and substance" everywhere, and a real difference from what they experienced in the West.
The Fengtian Temple Building, which can be directly seen from most places in the city, has also become the target of observation and discussion by most of the Thai and Western elites.
They all knew through newspapers and radio that Ming Dynasty had built a new capital in the past few years.
I know that Ming Dynasty built a towering super building.
But in the past, I only heard about it and only saw pictures in illustrated magazines, but now I can finally see it with my own eyes.
I also really felt the huge shock of the giant building.
The servants directly experienced various novel and convenient designs.
In addition to new appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and televisions, there are also unique natural gas stoves and hot and cold water systems.
With these facilities, their work becomes extremely simple.
Correspondingly, the number of servants required was also significantly reduced.
This makes them slightly worried about where the corresponding people who have been eliminated from the wealthy class due to the popularity of these facilities should go.
They did not immediately realize that Ming's labor demand continued to grow.
The servants eliminated by these families can find other serious jobs relatively easily.
Most of the representatives from various countries in Thailand and Spain are adapting to and experiencing the new environment.
At the same time, follow the instructions of the staff of Honglu Temple and begin to understand, memorize and prepare to meet the Ming Emperor.
But there are also a few special personnel who have already started to do their own business.
Among the representatives from various countries in Europe and the West, the most special people are Charlotte, Charles, Liu Muyu and their children.
If Zhu Jingyuan was still the prince of the Ming Dynasty, he would have gone to the dock to greet them directly.
Now that he has become the emperor of Ming Dynasty, he cannot go.
However, since their status is special, they can be different from ordinary guests and can meet in a private capacity before the formal official meeting.
Charlotte has two children, and Charles and Liu Muyu have four children.
The two families took two royal welcome cars and went directly to the palace under the guidance of the palace servants.
The two families met Zhu Jingyuan and Liu Muyu in the Qianqing Palace.
Charlotte was the most casual, as if she was going home to see her husband.
He reluctantly performed a Ming-style blessing ceremony, and when Zhu Jingyuan waved, he went up and gave him a hug.
But considering that there were outsiders at the scene, I just hugged him briefly and let go.
Zhu Jingyuan also gave the two children a hug, and the two children also directly called daddy according to Daming's custom.
After Zhu Jingyuan finished greeting his woman and children, Xia Er and Liu Muyu's family next to them also came to greet Zhu Jingyuan and Liu Muyun.
Zhu Jingyuan asked them all to sit down first, and then began to chat about home affairs intermittently.
The personal relationships between these people at the scene are very close among the people, and they can be relatively casual in informal situations.
Of course, it was Zhu Jingyuan who was actually casual.
Even if other people know that they can "feel free", they actually don't dare to do whatever they want.
He always maintains some posture to keep himself as stable as possible.
After all, Zhu Jingyuan was the emperor, and his status was very different from before. People like Xia Er and Liu Muyu couldn't help but deal with it carelessly.
Zhu Jingyuan can also understand this situation.
So the family-style chat didn't last too long, and we got down to business.
When Zhu Jingyuan asked what the situation was like in France and Taixi, Charles, who had been mentally prepared for a long time, stood up directly.
Charles performed a formal courtesy very seriously:
"King Louis Charles of France meets with His Majesty the Ming Emperor."
Zhu Jingyuan could probably guess Charles's mentality, so he was not too polite at this time and accepted his courtesy seriously.
"Tell me, how can I help you?"
Charles raised his hand to Zhu Jingyuan again:
"Your Majesty must have heard that the situation in Europa has become increasingly tense in the past two years.
"I'm worried that there may be a large-scale war on Europa in the next few years.
"In front of Your Majesty, I will not deny that the biggest factors of instability in Europa are Prussia and Lucia.
"According to my speculation, Prussia is likely to find an opportunity to ask you for permission to launch wars against other countries.
“The first ones are of course Denmark and Austria, but France is obviously a close second.
"I don't think Denmark and Austria can withstand a Prussian attack.
"France now only wants to focus on construction and does not want to get involved in any form of war.
"So... I hope that His Majesty can intervene in advance to help stabilize the situation in Europa."
Zhu Jingyuan sighed after hearing this:
"Char, you have been the king for so many years, and you must have had many interactions with the people of the Honglu Temple of the Ming Dynasty.
"In fact, you and I have had direct and in-depth communication more than once.
"So I think you should know that Daming and I have very simple attitudes and standards towards the countries in Thailand and Spain.
“Since the Thai and Western countries are independent countries, they are not vassal states of the Ming Dynasty.
“It will not pay taxes directly to the Ming Dynasty, it will not directly use the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and it will not fully open its borders and markets to the Ming Dynasty.
"Neither Daming nor I have any obligation to help European countries do anything.
“But for France and Charles, I can give you a guarantee.
“As long as France maintains relations with Ming Dynasty, Ming Dynasty will not give up on France.
"As long as you still stick to our friendship, I will not ignore you.
"Of course, I don't think Prussia is capable of destroying France in one wave...
"Even if you are defeated by Prussia, Ming Dynasty will help you recover.
"I can explain the reason clearly to you. Prussia's unification of the entire Europe is obviously not in the interest of the Ming Dynasty.
"The Ming Dynasty will not allow that situation to occur, and even if it occurs, it will take action to break it."
Zhu Jingyuan said it very straightforwardly, and Charles could completely understand it.
After the Renwu Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's governing and foreign strategies were to seek truth from facts.
If a country is not a vassal state, it is indeed impossible to receive the treatment of a vassal state.
If you want to become a vassal state, you must pay taxes and accept the jurisdiction of the court according to the standards of a serious vassal state.
And it is very easy to understand that the division of the western continent is beneficial to the Ming Dynasty.
Only the western continent that is unified by a powerful regime has a certain chance of affecting the status of the Ming Dynasty.
These are obvious things.
Ciel received quite substantial protection and was obviously relieved.
Of course, Charles hoped to get more details, but out of politeness and caution in the relationship, Charles did not continue to ask for details.
While he began to think and evaluate the future situation in his mind, he naturally changed the topic and continued talking about personal matters.
Sisters Liu Muyu and Liu Muyun were also chatting very animatedly with their children.
Xia Er and Liu Muyu's family stayed in the palace until the evening and had dinner with Zhu Jingyuan before returning to their residence again.
Charlotte, meanwhile, took up residence directly at the palace.
That night, Zhu Jingyuan left Charlotte in his room as a matter of course.
After a tender reunion after a long separation, the two de facto politicians lay in bed and chatted about quite serious matters.
Charlotte first explained her questions and curiosity:
"Your Majesty... what you said to Louis XVII during the day meant that you and Ming Dynasty will not interfere in the war between Prussia and Denmark or even Austria?"
Zhu Jingyuan responded naturally:
"Yes, if Lucia sends troops to Norway, Ottoman and other countries, Ming will not intervene.
"In fact, even if Prussia and Lucia were to annex all other countries and then face each other with swords, the Ming Dynasty would not intervene.
"Until there really is a Thai-Western country that can unify the Thai-Western continent, Ming Dynasty will intervene."
Charlotte continued to ask rather puzzledly:
"But... Your Majesty, are you a little exaggerating?
"If all the countries in Europa were really unified by a military power, the power they could unleash should not be underestimated.
"Even if Ming Dynasty is 90% sure of defeating it, how should the losses caused be calculated?
"Your Majesty, don't you want the people of Ming Dynasty to suffer the most?"
Zhu Jingyuan said with a smile:
"Even if the western continent is unified, a new Rome is really established.
“The Ming Dynasty’s winning rate is not 90%, but 99%.
"There is only one reason why Ming Dynasty will fail, and that is that I suddenly want to try the feeling of surrender..."
Charlotte looked in disbelief:
"This... you, who have always been prudent and conservative, have now directly stated this kind of guarantee. Could it be that Ming Dynasty has developed a particularly powerful new weapon?"
Zhu Jingyuan did not deny it.
Anyway, ordinary people have no idea how powerful fission and fusion weapons are until they have direct understanding.
Charlotte got the answer from Zhu Jingyuan's silence, but did not continue to ask for more details.
Charlotte can realize that the epoch-making new weapon must be highly confidential.
For him to let himself know that such a thing exists is already trust.
At the same time, Charlotte really couldn't imagine how useful the so-called "new weapon" would be.
We can only think and make assumptions based on the standards of conventional weapons.
So no matter how you think about it, the psychological feeling will be one or even several orders of magnitude smaller than the actual one.
I always have a feeling of not being particularly solid.
The next morning, at the Fengtian Hall of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Jingyuan of the Ming Dynasty formally received the members of the royal families from various countries in Thailand and Spain who came to pay their respects.
What happens in the main hall is an official ceremony.
After the business-like greetings, the event is considered over.
However, after the meeting, Zhu Jingyuan organized a semi-formal banquet in the side hall of Fengtian Palace.
After three rounds of drinking, Zhu Jingyuan received a report from the servant. The King of Prussia and the prince wished to express their gratitude to Zhu Jingyuan.
The key is that I hope to meet His Majesty the Ming Emperor alone.
Zhu Jingyuan immediately realized that the Prussian matter had been put on the table.
The King of Prussia seemed unable to bear it for a day longer.
Without much hesitation, Zhu Jingyuan directly met with William III of Prussia and his children in the special lounge next to the banquet hall.
William and Louise who used to work beside Zhu Jingyuan.
Zhu Jingyuan sat on the main seat. William III and his entourage first bowed very formally, and then sat down at Zhu Jingyuan's signal.
Then William III asked his question with excitement and anxiety:
"Your Majesty, as far as I know, according to our League of Nations agreement, the purpose of the League is to eliminate conflicts among countries and limit and avoid wars.
"However, the Alliance does not prohibit war. If war between countries within the Alliance is truly unavoidable, the Alliance will not forcibly stop it, right?"
Zhu Jingyuan was mentally prepared for this, and at this time he responded very simply or added:
“But the initiator of the war must issue a declaration of war to the target through the alliance before the war can be officially launched.
“The alliance will dispatch specialized inspection and tracking personnel to monitor the war behavior of both parties involved in the war.
"Ensure that violations of alliance covenants by both parties in the war are stopped."
Zhu Jingyuan did not answer directly, but the meaning was already obvious.
You can do whatever you want, but you must follow the rules we set originally.
At the very least, there cannot be a surprise attack, and a formal declaration of war must be given.
William III never expected that Zhu Jingyuan would agree so readily.
He was stunned for a moment.
I had originally prepared many reasons and cover-ups to persuade and persuade Zhu Jingyuan.
As a result, it is of no use at all now.
The Ming Emperor just reminded a few of the most basic requirements.
Then William III began to instinctively speculate and doubt. What was the Ming Emperor's thoughts and mentality?
It's just an analysis in a civilian newspaper. I don't like and don't want to participate in the war?
Even hate or disgust or even fear of war.
That’s why you won’t interfere in the war between the Thai and Spanish countries now?
No matter what the Ming Emperor thought, his purpose had been directly achieved.
I have obtained permission from Ming Dynasty and can declare war on other countries normally.
William III also became uncontrollably excited.
But now in front of the Ming Emperor, he did not dare to show it directly, so he could only continue to maintain his calm state and speak to Zhu Jingyuan carefully and calmly.
But the most important thing is determined, and the rest is just chatting, and the impact will not be big...
