It's not so easy to convince his father, this old guy is too shrewd.

Zhou Chenggong prepared a logical rhetoric that made sure that his father could clearly see China's interests from the complex political strategy, and that he knew that China would have to pay very little to get them.

Along the way, he rediscovered his hometown after a long absence, and saw the industrial vitality that had emerged here no less than that of Britain. Hundreds of commercial companies across the country are engaged in various businesses, building large-scale factories and developing underground mineral deposits. They drive untold laborers, and they hold untold wealth in their hands. The country is bursting with unparalleled dynamism, driven by commerce.

If China throws its own forces into the struggle for the Mediterranean, Zhou Chenggong believes that no force can prevent China from achieving hegemony in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, China's strategic direction is not in Europe, and European companies used to be only one of China's four overseas privileged companies, along with African, American, and Australian companies. The Americas were not only able to provide land that Europe could not provide, but also markets, so the Americas were the first to be incorporated into the mainland and set up state and county jurisdiction.

Moreover, Zhou Chenggong was not very happy with China's direct entry into the Mediterranean, which would mean that Greece would be completely in a vassal situation, and he did not want to see his brother's face in the future.

So after two more days of catching up with his father, he finally found a suitable time to talk to his father about the Mediterranean.

He hoped that China would come forward to persuade Egypt to enter the war, with the immediate benefit that a stronger Egypt would replace the Ottoman Empire as an obstacle to European power entering Asia; Zhou Chenggong also assured that he could persuade Egypt to open up its greater interests to China.

After listening to his son's suggestion, Zhou Lang was silent for a long time, and then asked: "Where are the interests of Greece, have you considered it?" Have you considered the involvement of neighboring countries? What will happen to Russia? What will happen to the UK? ”

Zhou Chenggong had already prepared: "Father." Russia does not want to get involved in a long war. British policy has generally been to avoid getting involved in costly land wars. Greece's interest, of course, is to maintain its own territory! ”

Zhou Lang sighed: "You are too anxious." Your previous policy was good, if you can stick to it for another ten years. When an emerging business interest group grows, your position is unshakable. When the time comes, there will naturally be more than enough offense and defense. ”

Zhou Chenggong sighed: "My father doesn't know anything, and the child is also difficult to ride a tiger, and the persecution from all sides is too tight!" ”

Zhou Lang said: "It's mainly you." You're a little too eager. The French could not force a Greek king. You're so eager to make a difference. ”

Zhou Chenggong hurriedly said: "Father Mingjian, the child has no such ambition. ”

Zhou Lang waved his hand and smiled: "As a king, it is normal to be ambitious. Just rushing to achieve results often leads to big defeats, and Napoleon is an example. ”

Zhou Chenggong can only cater to it: "What my father taught me is that the child will remember it." ”

Zhou Lang sighed: "It's too late. You have put Greece in a very dangerous situation, and even if you survive this difficulty, I am afraid that there will be no peace in the future. ”

Zhou Chenggong didn't understand very much: "Please make it clear to my father." ”

Zhou Lang said: "The Russians really don't want to fight. Their serfdom was about to collapse, and various reforms had already begun to be attempted. However, as soon as the Egyptian army approaches the strait, I believe that the Russians will send troops immediately. As soon as the war began, Russia sent a fleet to the Black Sea in the name of escort, in fact, breaking the requirements of Britain, France and Austria for the demilitarization of the Black Sea region. It is estimated that the Russians are now secretly building a fleet in the Black Sea, and it will not be long before the Russian Navy will have an advantage here. ”

After speaking, Zhou Lang of Russia said to France: "Do you think the French will be willing for China to enter the Mediterranean, they just need our help to expel the British forces, and then the Mediterranean Sea will become the sea area where France and China are the strongest forces." The diplomatic strategy of the Orleans dynasty was indeed much stronger than that of Napoleon, and after we helped them expel the British power, the British would not continue to target France, but would support France against China behind their backs. Because Britain would not want to see the Chinese occupy the Mediterranean, then it could only help France maintain its hegemony in the Mediterranean. The French gained a lot through this union, and he always kept himself in a good position, always able to have a strong ally of union against third countries. ”

Then there was the Muslim power: "It was difficult for Egypt to replace the Ottoman Empire, because the Egyptians' system of government-run industry was based on the premise of squeezing resources from the peasants, and industry itself was not a wealth-creating industry in Egypt." This pattern is hard to sustain. In fact, the Ottoman Empire has done it a long time ago, relying on its huge national strength to build a highly militarized government-run industry, which was probably a very advanced approach a hundred years ago, but it is not possible now. State-run industry, under the onslaught of Chinese and British products, is simply not profitable. Therefore, the more Egyptian industry develops, the heavier the burden on Egypt's peasants, and the deeper the domestic contradictions. Even if they had taken control of the Ottoman Empire by force, it would quickly fall apart, and the Asian-Africa-Europe triangle would have become a land of chaos. ”

Zhou Lang commented on the winners: "On the contrary, I was impressed by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and it was a miracle in human history that they succeeded in controlling the nomads. The Roman Empire did not do it, and neither did the Qin and Han Empires. But the Manchus did it, and through religious, Huairou and other policies, they created a solid system of rule of the steppe peoples. So in this chaos, they will be the biggest gainers. ”

Finally, he said about Greece: "Greece has placed itself in the middle of a game of great powers in Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and Europe, and is at the forefront of the struggle for power within Islam, which is an extremely sinister situation." In the event of an unexpected collapse of the situation, Greece will bear the brunt of the situation. In the event of a large-scale war between the great powers, Greece would have to be involved in the battle, and Greece would become one of the main battlefields. Regardless of the final victory, it will be devastating for Greece, which has a population of only one million. Even if the European powers had not been involved in the war because of the checks and balances, Greece would not have much to gain. ”

Zhou Chenggong listened to this kind of long-term political thinking, and he also began to worry. His goal is simple, to increase the national cohesion of Greece through a war, to fight against the local powerful factions, and to make Greece a country completely under his control. But if this country is finally involved in the melee of Britain, France, Russia and Austria, it will not be what he wants.

"Father Xie advised. The child understood that he would try to avoid the involvement of the great powers. ”

Zhou Chenggong suddenly felt that he had made a fatal problem in the general direction, that is, he sat on a table with large bets without capital. What he wants to do now may not be to fight big with small and bet on national fortune. Rather, it is necessary to seek the mediation of the powerful and restore peace with the least possible loss.

As for the lost territory, Zhou Chenggong didn't care. What he needed was not a huge territory, he had always sought only one country, and it didn't matter whether it was big or not, and he had even been seeking a small European principality earlier, with the aim of being independent and showing his strengths. Greece's territory was of little value, and it was not a pity that the mountains in the north were given to the Ottoman Empire, as long as he had a foothold on the coast, he could still develop into a great power in time.

But he saw his father shake his head.

Zhou Lang said: "I'm afraid it's too late. Competition between countries is like sailing against the current, and if you don't advance, you will retreat. Greece is already on the cusp of the storm, and if it can't take advantage of the trend, it will only be crushed to pieces, and there is absolutely no possibility of retreating. ”

Zhou Chenggong was really a little flustered at this time, after all, he was just a young man and had very little experience. And I didn't start from the grassroots level, and I always looked at things from a higher position, which inevitably made some mistakes. But his father's judgment he could imagine that even if he invited the good offices of a powerful country to successfully reach an agreement with the Ottoman Empire, and then cede the northern territories to the other party. Greece has been preserved, but his prestige is probably over. The great humiliation will also cause the newly formed Greek national cohesion to collapse, and such a Greece may really be powerless. Because of the loss of national cohesion, the remnants of Greece will not attract the return of the Greek diaspora, and then it will really be a small country forever, and the next time it will be quietly submerged in the wind and waves of European poverty.

Europe is such a region, you can fail, but you can't make mistakes, one mistake can be a catastrophe. Poland was once so strong that it was said to perish and perish, and it has not completely turned over to this day.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chenggong put down his face as a monarch and knelt on the ground: "The child begs his father to save him!" ”

Zhou Lang pulled his son up and sighed: "As the old saying goes, governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, and you need to be patient. Governing a small country requires more patience. I can help you this time, but only to a limited extent. China cannot intervene directly, otherwise the situation will be more complicated. A goldfish will swim well when it is put into the pond, and a whale will squeeze all the water out when it jumps into the pond. The Mediterranean Sea is so big, and it will inevitably be stormy for China to get involved. A major war between China and the alliance of Western European powers would also destroy Greece. ”

Zhou Chenggong knew that his father's purpose in saying these words was by no means to shirk, and the other party must have a way to help him.

"Please ask my father for advice."

Zhou Lang sighed: "I will let European companies and African companies cooperate with you." The consuls on the Manchu side will also support you, hoping that the two major companies plus the influence of the Manchu state will be able to bring Egypt into the war. The impact of Egypt's entry into the war could make the Ottoman Empire make concessions. End this war before the Great Powers are involved. Such a great battle, as long as Greece did not lose land, was a victory. Your future path will be easy, and you must be cautious and not rash. ”

Zhou Chenggong's face was worried, this is the best result.

After receiving this promise, he quickly returned home, and no one can say what the current situation in Greece is.