Located in the middle of the Tigris and Euphrates River basins, Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, means "God-given place" in ancient Persian, and was an important city more than 4,000 years ago. In 762 AD, it became the capital of the Arab Empire. For centuries, it was the center of economy, trade, culture, and transportation in West Asia and the Middle East. In the meantime, it has risen and fallen several times.

Sun Hua didn't go away, and Ouyang Jing brought someone to pick him up. After coming to Iraq, the first serious expense of the Zezi system was to buy a car: the Toyota domineering Middle East version is indeed very common in the Middle East, which is solid and durable, and can go to war with a machine gun on it, with strong cross-country ability, good climbing and wading ability, and can still maintain normal operation in hot and dry temperatures.

Five Toyotas, the leader of which was a military vehicle of the Iraqi government army, formed a long snake formation and left the airport side by side.

Driving on the streets of post-war Baghdad, I did not feel too much of the atmosphere of war, the streets were full of cars and people, there were all kinds of vendors and shops on both sides of the road, the whole city was lined with high-rise buildings, the road traffic was convenient, there was no lack of characteristic landmark buildings, and the impression of poverty and chaos was not the same thing at all, as if it was a moderately developed country.

In fact, Iraq has the fourth largest oil reserves in the world and the second largest natural gas reserves, and Baghdad has been an economic and political center for thousands of years.

This has always been a rich and beautiful land.

However, if you are careful, you can still find the trauma caused by the war, from time to time there are small groups of government soldiers patrolling the streets, bullet holes in the buildings on both sides of the road, large and small craters on the road, and the uneasy and nervous eyes of passers-by, all silently telling what has happened here.

"The security in Baghdad is actually pretty good, as long as it's not particularly unlucky enough to encounter a human bomb." Ouyang Jing said with some trepidation: "The day after I came, there was an explosion outside the presidential palace. ”

"Safety comes first at all times, especially your safety." Zhao Zejun nodded, and then asked curiously: "Why did you live in the presidential palace?" ”

This time, Zhao Zejun came over, and the Iraqi official arrangement was to stay in the presidential palace for one night, and then accompanied by the 'important person' of the Ministry of Commerce, to go to the site of the site for on-site investigation, and finally negotiate, and sign the contract without problems.

"Mr. Zhao, this place in Iraq ......" Ouyang Jing couldn't help but shake his head and smile, and said: "Actually, it's quite hospitable, especially for foreigners like us who don't have any political goals or religious tendencies and purely come to invest, which is very popular." ”

After asking, I learned that living in the presidential palace does not mean meeting with the president. In fact, due to the relatively high security of the presidential palace, all important people from foreign countries, including relatively large investment businessmen, reporters of famous media, and even celebrities and athletes, live in the presidential palace guest house as the first choice in Baghdad--- of course, the local Iraqis call it the 'presidential palace room', but the conditions are too poor, and they are nicknamed 'guest house'.

The real heads of state and important leaders do not live in the presidential palace guest house.

The appearance of the Iraqi presidential palace shocked Zhao Zejun very much.

The presidential palaces, imperial palaces and other places where heads of state live and work all over the world are either beautiful, such as the Palace of Versailles, or solemn, such as the Forbidden City, or at least elegant and chic, such as the small courtyard of the emperor of the island country.

But there has never been a government that has built the presidential palace into a military fortress.

Yes, from the outside, the Iraqi presidential palace looks like a standard military fortress, with four thick high walls, there is a trapezoidal stone building full of ancient Babylonian style, which looks like a pyramid that has been flattened from it, and the huge strips of stone form the main body of the presidential palace, and the room windows on the wall look more like the shooting holes of the bunker.

Under the leadership of the leading military vehicle, they drove into the courtyard of the presidential palace: this is not so much a courtyard as a small parade ground, the field is vast and huge, and you can see loaded military posts and heavy weapons everywhere, two anti-aircraft machine guns on both sides of the courtyard, and the gun jackets have long been pulled apart, pointing to the sky.

The Chinese put stone lions at the door, and the Iraqi yards magnified the cannons.

Entering the gate of the Presidential Palace, there were people coming and going along the way, mostly locals and Westerners, and occasionally you could see a few yellow-skinned and black-eyed Orientals, a few of whom saw Zhao Zejun and his party, and they nodded slightly, showing a very friendly expression, looking like compatriots.

The corridors on both sides leading to the 'guest house' are full of the 'achievements' made over the years after the Iraqi ruling government overthrew Saddam's regime, propagating the 'governing program' for the future.

Zhao Zejun was stunned to find that several female-dominated photos had been used as propaganda photos for the 'Women's Liberation Status Advancement Movement'.

It was a black-and-white photograph of a couple of Iraqi teenage girls from the '70s dancing in one-piece lace ballet costumes, and a photo of a couple of Iraqi women basking on the beach in swimsuits, which were popular at the time, exposing large swaths of skin on their arms, backs and thighs.

It has to be said that civilization has not always progressed. A few decades ago, the status and living atmosphere of women in the Middle East were much more relaxed than they are now, and in terms of dress, Iraqi women today, including women in most parts of the Middle East, had to walk on the streets wearing thick scarves that covered most of their faces, and were not even allowed to show their ankles. When a woman goes out, she must be accompanied by her husband or an immediate family member, otherwise anyone can be beaten in public.

"Let's not say that Iraqis envy China." Ouyang Jing said with a smile: "When I came here, I really realized what it means to be a big country, don't look at Westerners have money, but Iraqis don't like Westerners, in the eyes of the locals, China is safe and rich, everyone can eat enough and live a comfortable life, it is simply heaven." ”

An Iraqi Foreign Ministry civil servant who acted as an interpreter said sincerely: "Peace is the greatest happiness, and the Chinese enjoy this enviable happiness." ”

"Cang Liao knows etiquette enough, so the Chinese are very kind." Zhao Zejun smiled: "I hope that this time, we can also bring this happiness to our friends in Iraq." ”

Ouyang Jing roughly explained the meaning of 'Cang Liao is full and knows etiquette' in English, and the translator's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously: "A very profound oriental proverb, full of the wisdom of life and the true meaning of social governance. Mr. Zhao, can I keep this sentence and, when appropriate, report it to my superiors? ”

"Absolutely." Zhao Zejun thought that the translation called 'Manuel' was very cute, and said: "Mr. Manuer, there is still a lot of good content in oriental culture, and we will continue to share it with you in the future." ”

"I hope there really is a culture or idea that can save our troubled country!" Manuel bowed slightly, then stopped: "Mr. Zhao, your residence has arrived." ”

Pushing open the door, Zhao Zejun immediately frowned.