In February, there were many ships docked on the docks in Shanghai, and many workers on the docks were carrying goods, and among the crowds of people, many people were wearing Chinese and Western costumes to communicate, which gave people a rather strange feeling, as if Chinese and Western civilizations had converged in Shanghai at this time.

Since Ningchu promulgated the relevant industrial and commercial regulations and personally supported foreign trade in an official capacity, the relevant foreign trade activities have become more and more close, especially from Japan and Southeast Asia, and Shanghai has become an important port for Ningchu to communicate with foreign countries.

In view of Shanghai's special status at this time, Ningyu even placed the General Tariff Yamen in Shanghai, and also arranged for officials of the Overseas Trade Department to set up a temporary yamen in Shanghai to help promote foreign investment in China.

When the wharf was crowded, there were several middle-aged people in extraordinary clothes standing on the passenger terminal dedicated to the Shanghai government, followed by several young people, they looked at the calm sea in the distance, although their faces were as plain as water, but most of their eyes were a little anxious.

"My lord, Lord Ernst's fleet should be able to reach Shanghai today....... I also ask your Excellency to return to the yamen later, and the lower officials will wait here, and when Lord Ernst's fleet arrives, it will not be too late to inform your lordship. ”

A young man in a long robe whispered to the side, a few drops of sweat running down his face, but he didn't even bother to wipe it.

A middle-aged man at the head shook his head slightly, "Scholar Ernst has returned from overseas this time with His Majesty's will, how can he be presumptuous?" The Overseas Trade Division has been established for too short a time, and it should be more difficult. ”

When everyone on the side heard this person's words, they quickly nodded in approval, looking at the middle-aged man's eyes with a little awe.

This person's identity is indeed not ordinary, is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under the deputy director of the Department of Overseas Trade Shen Shikuan, in the early years in Shanghai and other Westerners learned some foreign languages, and later in Ningyu Governor's Mansion on an errand, his ability has been recognized, especially his background is much appreciated by Ningyu, so he became the deputy director of the current hot overseas trade department.

Now, the purpose of their arrival on the dock was naturally for the books, talents, and some equipment that Ernst and he had scavenged from Western Europe, and these valuable books, talents, and equipment were all highly valued by Ning Yu, so he specially ordered the government in Shanghai to cooperate and send them back to Nanjing as soon as possible.

There is also a middle-aged man standing next to Shen Shikuan, this person is Dong Yuqing, the county magistrate of Shanghai County, and his background is also extraordinary, in the early years, he followed Ning Zhonghai in the boat, and later because of his outstanding ability, he was transferred to the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion at that time, and was valued step by step.

According to ordinary people's ideas, from the government to the county order, there is naturally a big difference, and it is almost derogatory. But Dong Yuqing is not an ordinary person after all, he has experienced the process of building the country step by step by the Han Army, so he is a little more calm in his heart, coupled with Ning Zhonghai's admonition, he is also relieved to be the Shanghai county magistrate.

Dong Yuqing had a smile on his face, and in the face of this deputy director, who was much higher than his official position, his attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and he said softly: "Director Shen doesn't have to worry, Shanghai County has prepared the transfer ships and related carriages, and will definitely be able to send Lord En and others to Nanjing in the fastest time." ”

"Since this is the case, the official is also relieved, but there is Master Lao Dong."

"Director Shen is polite, this is the duty of the lower officials."

Shen Shikuan seemed to suddenly think of something, and the smile on his face became even bigger, "Lord Dong is polite, with Lord Dong here, it must not be long before Lord Dong will be promoted." ”

The people around him didn't dare to gasp when they heard it, but they knew who the minister mentioned by Shen Shikuan was, it was Ning Zhonghai, the current secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the famous King of Yunyang, and now in the scorching yamen of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is even more prestigious.

Dong Yuqing smiled bitterly and shook his head, although he was entrusted by Ning Zhonghai, but he did not have the slightest confidence in his future, after all, it was His Majesty the Emperor who made him the commander of Shanghai County, if there was no emperor to speak, who would dare to let him Dong Yuqing move his nest? It's just that some of the things in it are confidential, but it's not easy to talk to everyone, so I can only face it with a wry smile.

Everyone waited for a long time, when the sun was high to see a sail shadow in the distance, the heart was a joy at the moment, waiting for the fleet to dock, and after half an hour, a huge fleet of more than 20 ships arrived at the cargo port in Shanghai, one of which was more than 20 zhang long three-masted sailing ship under the guidance of a special person, slowly approached.

The ship seemed to be crowded with people, basically the vast majority of them were blonde and blue-eyed Europeans, who looked greedily at everything on the Shanghai dock with a pilgrimage-like gaze, especially when they saw Shen Shikuan and others who were waiting, they cheered and jumped with joy.

When the ship slowly approached the dock, the dock workers threw the rope from the ship, firmly fixed to the post of the dock, to help the ship to settle down, and then a long gangplank was put on the side of the ship, only to see those cheering Europeans could not wait to get up from the gangplank to the dock, and the first of them was Engstein University Scholar, he was wearing a bright red official robe, and was walking out of the crowd with a good bearing.

Today's Ernst is not ordinary, since he was named a scholar by Ning Yu, he has asked someone what kind of official position this is, and later learned that this is a second-rank official in the empire, he was even more ecstatic, because in his impression, the rank of this official position is almost equivalent to the level of overseas governors, and it is a very remarkable position.

Therefore, before returning to Europe, Ernst also wore a bright red second-grade official uniform, which aroused the envy of European aristocrats. Now that Ernst has finished his errand and comes to China again, he can't wait to change into his official clothes to show his special status in the Celestial Empire.

After the excitement of these Europeans was over, Shen Shiwan greeted everyone with him, looked at Ernst who was looking forward to himself, and bowed, "Ernst University Scholar has had a bumpy journey, and it has been really hard!" ”

Ernst could probably guess that Shen Shikuan and the others were here to greet him, and there was a little excitement on his face at the moment, "It's not hard, it's not hard, it's not hard, I can breathe the sweet air of the Heavenly Empire again, and when I see this unimaginable luxury, I'm completely intoxicated by it!" ”

Chinese thinking is always restrained and subtle, but when they really heard the Westerners praise the Celestial Empire so much, Shen Shikuan and the others couldn't help but have a little smile on their faces, "Fellow Masters of Ernst University, and everyone, please follow me and others to turn to the carriage to Nanjing, and the goods carried will be transported to Nanjing by ship." ”

After listening to this, Ernst wondered: "Since the goods can be transported to Nanjing by ship, why don't we take a ship to Nanjing?" "In his heart, it must be much faster to travel by boat than by land, so that he can see His Majesty quickly.

Shen Shikuan said softly: "This is ordered by Your Majesty, let the scholars take their Western European friends to travel by land to see the vastness and scenery of our Celestial Empire, and to better understand our empire in the future." ”

Ernst was overjoyed to hear this, and felt that he was held in great respect, so he summoned the Europeans and repeated it in English, German, and Spanish, and when he had finished speaking, the Europeans present were even more delighted, and although they did not know much about China, Nanking had heard it many times from Ernst's mouth.

It was the greatest capital in the world, a city more prosperous than Paris and London, and the opulence of the people made the European aristocracy ashamed, and the silk and porcelain they were proud of were nothing more than the pleasure of the common people there.

It has to be said that in this era, Europe's worship of China has reached a peak enough period, and anything that spreads from China to Europe will attract people's strong attention.

Although Shen Shikuan had begun to get used to the surprise of these Europeans, he was still a little uncomfortable with this enthusiasm, so he had to give up and take Ernst and others to Shanghai County to settle down temporarily.

In the next few days, Ernst and his European group traveled all the way from Shanghai to the prosperous places of Suzhou and Hangzhou, and what they saw and heard were the most exquisite places in the south of the Yangtze River, and the large and small cities and even towns along the way would cause their strong reactions, and those beautiful and rich scenes left a deep impression on their hearts.

"God, it's hard to imagine how the pigs of London run the city, and the whole city is like a huge dunghill with a disgusting smell!"

"Dear sir, maybe you don't know that the corpses that are carried out every day in Paris will let you know what hell is!"

"When you come to the Celestial Empire, everything here is so beautiful, God, how wonderful it would be if his people could stay here forever!"

Along the way, these Europeans who had crossed the ocean from Europe to China were now full of praise for what they saw, and looked at Ernst's back, revealing a little envy.

In their eyes, Ernst had become a big man, and it was said that he had become a scholar in the Celestial Empire, and that was a high-ranking official comparable to an overseas governor! A real big shot!

Ernst felt great satisfaction in his heart at the adoration of the people, and with a smug smile on his face, he exclaimed: "Gentlemen, you have set foot in a great empire, and you are about to meet a great emperor whose army is fighting the damned Tatars in the north!" And each of you has passed my assessment of ability, as long as you can make contributions to the Celestial Empire, you will also have the opportunity to become a nobleman of the Celestial Empire! ”

"Aristocrats!"

These elites from all walks of life in Western Europe were speechless with surprise when they heard this word, knowing how difficult it must be to become a nobleman in their country!

Even if you become a servant of the king, you have the opportunity to become a knight after nine deaths on the battlefield, and the knight is not a nobleman, because the identity of a knight is not inherited, and its essence is different from that of the noble, in addition to being able to obtain a fief like the noble, the knight must also serve in the lord's army, and bring his own weapons and horses in the war, and there is still a long distance from the starting point of the nobles.

Even then, it is not easy to become a knight of the king.

But now, these gentlemen heard from the admirable Lord Ernst the possibility that as long as they served His Majesty the Emperor, they would have the opportunity to become a venerable nobleman!

A bearded middle-aged man from France looked at Ernst and asked with some hesitation: "Lord Ernst, although I really want to serve His Majesty the Emperor, I don't know if I can bring anything with my ability." ”

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, the others also expressed their worries, and to some extent, although they belonged to the elite of their respective countries, their social status was not enough to support their self-confidence.

With a smile on his face, Ernst immediately said loudly in fluent French: "Oh, my dear Antony, don't underestimate yourself, you are the most elite cavalry in the entire French Army!" You will become His Majesty's right-hand man, training an elite cavalry unit for His Majesty, and kicking those Tatar cavalry in the ass! ”

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd, but Ernst looked at everyone and said loudly: "Every one of you has been carefully selected by me, such as you little John, who will bring the latest mathematical knowledge to His Majesty, and you Johnny, whose knowledge of artillery will open the eyes of His Majesty!" ”

There was some longing in everyone's eyes at this time, they seemed to find that they had stepped into an incomparably better world, and an unprecedented future was beckoning to them, and their hearts were full of anticipation.

Oh God, what a damn surprise!

Ernst looked at the expressions of these people, and his face was also a little excited and proud, and he was already expecting the reward that the emperor would bring him, and it was said that he must be at least an earl......

Just when everyone had their own dreams, Shen Shikuan brought it in front of everyone, with a polite smile on his face, clasping his fists and saluting.

"Everyone, the Jingshi will be here soon!"

When the translator translated Shen Shikuan's words in different languages, everyone couldn't help but raise their heads, only to see that in the afterglow of the setting sun, a huge city faintly appeared in the distance, its scale even exceeded everyone's imagination, and it was magnificent, soaring into the sky.

It is a city of miracles built on earth, and it will become a dream place in everyone's hearts.