Who can do it at the level of Shangshu is a fool? Like the routine proposed by Hong Chengchou, Wu Ganlai just understood the twists and turns after simply listening to it.

The Ming could get mines from other barbarian countries by rail, and then resell them to the merchants of the Ming Dynasty at a higher price.

In addition to the cost of subcontracting the mine itself, these merchants also have to pay taxes, hire manpower, and related transportation, food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and there are too many places to make money inside and out.

After nodding, Wu Ganlai spoke: "That's fine. It's just that what His Majesty just said about nine out of thirteen returns is too straightforward. ”

After thinking about it for a while, Wu Ganlai continued: "Loan mortgage fees, account management fees, these related fees are almost the same?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen felt that there should be an Internet at this time - he could see the large-scale online loan scene hundreds of years in advance, which was not easy!

Li Chengyan immediately got busy.

There are not many diplomatic talents cultivated by the Ming Dynasty now, and they are not even specially cultivated, and the vertical and horizontal studies have been inherited but not as valued as in the early years.

The reason is very simple, the current Da Ming prefers to use power to suppress people, and he likes to ask for what he wants directly, or he will go over and get it from the army if he doesn't come, and he never thought about taking it from the negotiation table.

Although Emperor Chongzhen felt that this was a bit excessive, but now that he was on the strong side, he naturally wouldn't take it too seriously.

But fortunately, Li Chengyan and the students he brought with him have passed on the vertical and horizontal learning, so that they can't even find a person to negotiate with.

Li Chengyan went to Europe quickly, Chongzhen set out in the summer of the twenty-sixth year, and had already set foot on the soil of England in the autumn.

For any Ming person, if they want to go to Europe, England is a place that cannot be bypassed no matter what-there are the people of the Ming Dynasty, there are the garrisons of the Ming Dynasty, and there is the land of the Ming Dynasty overseas, which belongs to the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

The governor stationed in England was Wu Sangui, Marquis of Pingxi, and Li Hongji, who had partnered with Wu Sangui for about a year, had already led his troops back to England after the pacification of England.

Wu Sangui felt that Li Chengyan was just thinking too much.

The barbarian countries of Europa still need the angels of the Ming Dynasty to visit one by one?

What are you kidding, even if you send an invitation as the governor of England in the Ming Dynasty, which of the barbarians in Europa dares not to give face?

Regarding Wu Sangui's strength, Li Chengyan just smiled softly and explained: "This time Li Mou is not just here to sell the railway.

In fact, the best way to sell the railroad was to build a few lines on the English side, and then let the barbarians see the actual effect, or invite the barbarian envoys to visit the railroad that had been repaired. ”

Wu Sangui understands in seconds.

These guys of the Zongheng family, in addition to serving as envoys, often have another layer of identity, that is, I don't know whether they belong to the Jinyi Guard or the military government.

After nodding, Wu Sangui said: "Since this is the case, then Wu will no longer persuade him." I just don't know, which barbarian country does Master Li plan to go to first? ”

Li Chengyan said: "Naturally, it is Bavaria, the third prince is in Bavaria now, and Li is here this time, and he is also responsible for the mission of meeting the third prince." ”

Wu Sangui said: "That's right, the eldest princess and the concubine are also in Bavaria now, and Lord Li can also stop by to meet the little grandfather." ”

Li Chengyan nodded, and then continued: "Except for Bavaria, it is naturally the Holy Roman Empire, although they are neither holy nor empire. ”

Wu Sangui immediately burst out laughing.

As the Ming learned more and more about Europe, the title Holy Roman Empire was gradually taken as a joke by the Ming Dynasty and the military who knew the truth.

What qualifies a country that is subject to religion, electoral power, and even the right to influence the emperor to be called the Holy Roman Empire?

It's just that the current Holy Roman Empire still has a few faces in Europa, and the most important thing is that it is also related to the Ming Empire by marriage, so the Ming court and military still give the Holy Roman Empire some face, just laughing a few words in private.

After laughing, Wu Sangui said: "After going to the Holy Roman Empire, I personally recommend that you go to France, or Poland." ”

Li Chengyan nodded and said: "If nothing else, it should be France, after all, France is also a European powerhouse now, and it can be regarded as rich." As for Poland, what is the situation over there? ”

Wu Sangui said: "Although Poland itself is not very good, aren't they now colluding with Tsarist Russia, which is transferring troops and supplies to Poland. ”

After getting up and walking to the edge of the sand table and comparing them, Li Chengyan squinted his eyes and said, "That's meaningless." Tsarist Russia looks like it is still working, but in fact it is over. ”

Licking his lips, Li Chengyan continued: "Actually, before I set off for Europa, the Governor's Office of the Five Armies had already prepared supplies, and the army had been drawn in batches, targeting Tsarist Russia.

If nothing else, by this time in the twenty-seventh year of Chongzhen, Tsarist Russia would have completely lost all their lands in the north of the Ming Dynasty.

Unfortunately, even if we were able to immediately persuade Poland to build a railway with Tsarist Russia, I am afraid that our Ming army would not be able to use it. ”

Wu Sangui stroked his black beard and said: "If it is really as you say, then it is obvious that the focus of Tsarist Russia in the future will be forced to focus on Europa, and even have another wave of internal strife with those barbarians in Poland?" ”

Li Chengyan nodded and said, "Actually, it depends on what Your Majesty means.

If His Majesty wants them to be more chaotic, as long as the army is sent further west, Tsarist Russia will lose a large part of the land, and then they will have to find a way to make up for it from Europa.

Of course, it is not excluded that the tsar of Tsarist Russia will have a hot brain and suddenly turn around and fight to the end with our Ming army, although this possibility is very small. ”

Wu Sangui shook his head and said, "It's basically impossible. ”

Seeing Li Chengyan looking at him, Wu Sangui explained: "As the saying goes, there is no turning back arrow when opening the bow. Tsarist Russia is now massing its armies to the west, and some of the supplies and vanguards have entered Poland, and now they have reached Krakow.

If nothing else, they will be engaged with the armies of the Holy Roman Empire in a little while.

When that time comes, it is basically impossible to turn back, because their follow-up army is slower and limited than the vanguard, and it will only be a few months at most. ”

Li Chengyan nodded and said, "That's very interesting." Tsarist Russia marched into Europa in the west, but faced an attack from our Ming Dynasty in the east, and in the end I don't know what will happen. ”

Wu Sangui sneered and said, "It's cheaper than Ferdinand III." Tsarist Russia was attacked in the east, and Tsar Alexei would definitely not be reconciled, and it was estimated that he would divide his troops into two fronts to fight, and the support for the western front would be much smaller at that time. ”

Stretching out his fingers and gesturing on the sand table for a long time, Li Chengyan said: "Actually, it doesn't matter, let the Holy Roman Empire get some cheapness, and in the end, it will be cheaper for the three princes, which is equivalent to cheapening the Ming Dynasty, it doesn't matter very much."

Tsar Alexei, on the other hand, there is still too little information about him, and many things are difficult to deduce now. ”

Wu Sangui said: "Then there is no way. Although England is very close to them, they are always looking at each other, and if they want to get more information, they still have to see if there is any good way on the side of Jinyiwei. ”

Li Chengyan said: "That's not a big problem, you can see it slowly, as long as Alexei makes a few instructions on the European war situation, it's simple to slowly analyze him as a person." ”

After Wu Sangui answered, he asked again: "By the way, when you came from the Suez Canal before, did you hear any rumors?" ”

Glancing at Wu Sangui curiously, Li Chengyan said, "What kind of rumors?" ”

Wu Sangui "I don't know where the demon wind blew earlier, the Ottoman side seemed to be very dissatisfied with my Daming, and then I don't know why, suddenly it died down again, probably has something to do with the return of the Suez fleet?" ”

Li Chengyan laughed and said: "This is not clear, and I have never heard Liu Hou mention this, and when I came, I heard that the Ottoman side put forward a slogan, called insisting on the friendship of Ming and Austria for a hundred years?" ”

"Ahh , spat hatefully, Wu Sangui said: "The fart has been friendly for a hundred years, who has been friendly with them?" Didn't you see that the Suez Canal Fleet went back, and the barbarians bought warships from my Daming, and there were many places asking for help from my Daming, so they put on this posture? ”

Li Chengyan said: "Whatever they want, the Ottoman court is not too stupid, and now that he knows that his country has to ask for my Ming in terms of the navy, he will naturally lower his posture." ”

Wu Sangui said hatefully: "What about our side in England?" Until now there is not a full-fledged fleet, can this work? ”

Li Chengyan shook his head and said, "This is not easy to say. In fact, except for the warships sold to the Ottomans, the Ming Dynasty has not launched any new warships in the past two years, and it is estimated that the focus will still be on ironclad ships in the future. ”

Thinking of the trial voyage of the ironclad ship, Wu Sangui's face couldn't help but show a look of fascination: "Do you say that it is possible for the England fleet to become the first fleet of all-ironclad ships?" ”

Li Chengyan still shook his head: "This is even more difficult to say." It is said that many problems were found in the last sea trial, and the Royal Academy is still tossing and turning to improve the ironclad.

If you really want to wait until the whole fleet is equipped with ironclad ships, it is estimated that it will not only be a matter of sea trials, but it is likely to find someone to fight a naval battle from the beginning, and then improve it, and finally it can be installed on a large scale, right? ”

Wu Sangui also had a headache: "Who knows, who knows what those people in the Royal Academy are thinking in their heads." ”

After finishing speaking, Wu Sangui continued: "By the way, does the Ministry of Railways have any plans to build a railway on this side of England now?" ”

Li Chengyan said: "I don't know. Because the Royal Academy has tossed out a new steam locomotive, which is not the same as the original railway standard, the original plan of the Ministry of Railways has almost been completely overturned, and now it is a headache.

However, I personally estimate that it will be fast, after all, in the new plan, the Xinming Island side will build a railway to the standard of repair, and it is estimated that England will also be fast. ”

Wu Sangui said: "That's not bad, there are quite a lot of ports in the east, west, north and south of England, and it would be better if you could add the railway to communicate between the ports." ”

Li Chengyan nodded, and suddenly changed the topic to another direction: "By the way, tell you a secret, you must not tell anyone else." ”

Wu Sangui said: "Don't worry, I promise not to mention it to anyone." ”

Li Chengyan then said: "You will soon be assigned two female slaves, I will tell you about this first, don't make a noise." ”

Wu Sangui suddenly looked confused: "Slave girl? Doesn't the Great Ming Law stipulate that slaves are not allowed? Especially the military, now that the control is so strict, still distributed? Are you kidding? ”

Li Chengyan shook his head and said: "You will know after a while, anyway, according to the rank of your naval governor, it is appropriate to divide two barbarian slaves, and I don't know if there are more, you should honestly wait for the news from the military government." ”

After rubbing his forehead, Wu Sangui said, "It's not very tidy." ”

In a hurry, even the Liaodong accent that he hadn't spoken for a long time was brought out - Wu Sangui certainly had a headache, he married Mao Wenlong's daughter as his wife, and he didn't even accept a concubine, and now he suddenly wants to divide two female slaves, and this family can't be turned upside down?

Li Chengyan said: "You don't have to worry about this, anyway, the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies and the Imperial Hall have their own sayings, and it is said that the queen will also give orders to the ladies of each family, saving the noble generals from kneeling on the washboard." ”

Wu Sangui said: "I suddenly heard the roar of the lion in Hedong, and the cane fell into the palm of my hand at a loss. Ay! ”

Wu Sangui, who suddenly heard the bad news, was in no mood to say goodbye to Li Chengyan, so he simply arranged a dinner party and asked people to take Li Chengyan to rest.

Li Chengyan naturally does not sympathize too much with Wu Sangui, who is about to be unlucky or is likely to be unlucky, after all, it is better to have someone to accompany him to be unlucky than to be unlucky alone.

Finding his mental balance, Lee Seung-yan stopped on the island of England for a few days before setting off for Bavaria.

Zhu Ciyi was very excited about Li Chengyan's arrival.

After all, since the Ming Dynasty was sold to Bavaria by Emperor Chongzhen, he has become a complete vassal king, and in addition to worrying about national affairs, he also has to consider the chaos of the entire Europa, and he doesn't even have much time to hunt, which is really bad enough.

Now that a Ming official finally came to Europa, Zhu Ciyi couldn't help but feel a feeling of seeing a fellow countryman and tears in his eyes.