The sound of the piano is rippling, but this time it is from a beautifully crafted French piano, playing the first movement of Beethoven's famous "Moonlight Sonata". Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 The info, ybdu, and piano sounds are soft and lyrical, and the slow melody also reveals a touch of sadness. Let me listen to it a little intoxicated.

This "music appreciation" was not held in the Ming Palace, but in Chatu, thousands of miles away. Fort Lafitte. And the one who plays the piano is a girl from China, the versatile Ming princess Zhu Yisha. Several men in crisp Western-style military uniforms sat around the girl, all showing expressions of appreciation and intoxication. From time to time, he nodded slightly to the tune. The fragrance of green tea wafts in the living room at the same time.

As soon as the song was played, applause rang out, and Zhu Yisha nodded lightly.

This time in Chatu. On the Château de Lafitte, the most distinguished guests were visited by Napoleon, the Dauphin of France and the Roman Empire. Eugène. Louis. Let. Joseph. Bonaparte, and Albert, Crown Prince of the British and American Empires. Edward. Feng. Saxophone. Kerburg-Gotha. The names are very long and not easy to remember. In fact, it was the future kings of England and France, Napoleon IV and Edward VII.

They were all invited by Zhu Guoxiong, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, to Chatu. Fort Lafitte came as a guest. This is also an important purpose of Zhu Guoxiong's visit to Europe -- to establish contact with the heirs of the two great empires of Britain and France. Speaking of which, this is also related to the current economic boom in the world. Although the three empires are all aiming for the throne of world hegemony, the struggle for hegemony is not the whole of the political life of the three empires.

These three countries are already unprecedentedly large. Not to mention the Ming Empire, the British Empire now also nominally integrates the United States of America, plus Canada, Australia, and India. There are also the Straits Settlements of South Africa in West Africa, as well as a number of miscellaneous islands and territories. It's even bigger than the heyday of the British Empire in history! And because of the reconstruction of the American empire and the construction of Canada, as well as the demand generated by the industrialization of Russia, the British mainland has been overwhelmed by the boom. There are enough orders in all factories, workers' wages are growing rapidly, and there are many new technologies in use that can dramatically increase productivity. At this time, who wants to fight a world war?

France is now equally satisfied. A French Roman Empire was taking shape, and in addition to the two major territories of France and Italy in Europe, most of North Africa was already under imperial control. The Mathildian Empire, which was actually the empire of Napoleon III, also expanded rapidly in the Americas. By December 1865, Empress Mathilde's Mexican Empire had successfully captured Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, as well as Lima, the capital of Peru, and La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. and co-administered the Atacama Desert with the British Empire.

And one of Napoleon III's cousins, Pierre. Bonaparte was elected king by the Argentine parliament in early 1865, and now he has taken control of Buenos Aires with the help of the French team - the new Japan, which once threatened the city, signed an armistice with Argentina after the Bonaparte family took over, and took ownership of the entire Patagonian plateau and Tierra del Fuego. And Napoleon III's illegitimate son, the heir to the Mexican throne, Henry. Bonaparte (who was originally betrothed to a Spanish princess, but the princess did not live to adulthood) married Isabella, the princess of the Brazilian Empire, and became the future Brazilian matchmaker, and could also receive the title of Emperor of Brazil. As for the Paraguayan President López, who fought the war with Argentina and Brazil for more than a year, he also had his luck in this time and space, and married Joseph under the mediation of Mathilde I. A granddaughter of Bonaparte, and with the support of the Bonaparte family, she was dressed in a yellow robe. He became King of the United Kingdom of Paraguay and Uruguay.

After this sorting, all of Latin America, with the exception of New Japan and the Atacama Desert in the southernmost part, was already part of Napoleon III's empire. Such a big piece of belongings. Naturally, it takes a lot of effort to take care of it. And building such a huge empire will also create a huge demand. Now not only the factories in France and Italy are filled with orders, but even France's ally, the German Empire, is also stained with it. The economic boom is in shambles. Stimulated by huge demand, the industrialization process in France, Germany and Italy is also on the fast track. In the Lyon and Alsace-Lorraine regions of France, Milan, Turin and Venice in Italy, and the Rhine Valley and Galicia regions in Germany, all kinds of factories have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. In such an economic situation, the French certainly have little incentive to fight a world war.

So from the second half of 1865 onwards, the whole of Europe was enveloped in a cry for peace. The Yellow Peril theory, which was once very noisy, has gradually dissipated. In its place was the theory of "eternal peace" and "economic cycle". In the eyes of Europeans, the Ming Empire, with a population of 60,000, could not be wiped out, and the country's theoretical mobilization force could reach tens of millions, while European countries could not send more than 1 million troops east of the Strait of Malacca even if they were united. Therefore, Europe can only remain defensive in the East, and as long as the Chinese do not continue to invade Russia, the Straits Settlements and the Dutch East Indies, they should live in peace with the Chinese. Moreover, there can only be peace.

It was in this atmosphere of total relaxation that the British Crown Prince Edward took the initiative to visit France, and with Eugène, who was only 10 years old. Bonaparte and several other nobles and ladies of France were invited to visit Chatu. Fort Lafitte, come to contact the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

"Elizabeth, you are a pianist! Can I invite you to play at Windsor Castle? The whole of British high society will be cheering you on. ”

It was Crown Prince Edward who spoke, and he was obviously also fascinated by Zhu Yisha's beauty. The girl was the most beautiful princess he had ever seen - the 25-year-old British crown prince was a famous playboy and fool in Europe. He did not inherit the intelligence of Prince Albert at all, and he studied at Oxford and Cambridge for several years without being able to graduate. But a bunch of scandals broke out every once in a while, and it was with some women who had no noble blood. In 1861, he also angered his father, Prince Albert, with typhoid fever (this disease can also be angry?). If it weren't for the berberine that Zhu Jishi made, his father would have been dead for several years!

Because his father is not dead, this playboy does not know how to restrain himself, and he has no fancy to the blind date that Victoria arranged for him. It really hurt the queen and his wife. And now, he seems to think that he has found a princess who is really suitable for marriage.

Zhu Guoxiong couldn't understand the British playboy's voice, Windsor Castle is not a place to hold concerts...... He hurriedly smiled and interrupted: "Elizabeth still has her studies to complete, but she graduated from Yingtianhuangcheng Public School with the highest score, and she will enter Yingtianjishi University next year." Her dream is to become a female scientist. ”

Zhu Yiza's face was snow-white, and she sat there quietly. Next to the piano was a Russian Grand Duke looking at the British Crown Prince with a cold gaze, as if he was going to go up and beat him. Hearing her brother's words, Zhu Yisha just smiled faintly. She was a little interested in science, but she was fascinated by politics even more.

"Your Highness Edward, are you inviting me and my brother to Windsor Castle? We are looking forward to meeting Her Highness the Empress and the Prince. Zhu Yisha chuckled and spoke.

Crown Prince Edward was stunned for a moment, and quickly nodded: "Yes, I am inviting His Royal Highness Guoxiong and you to visit the United Kingdom." ”

Zhu Yisha exchanged glances with her brother and smiled, "Then I am really honored." But I have a little bit of advice before I arrive in England...... Now the heirs of the three most powerful empires in the world have gathered, apparently not to listen to me play the harp. It's for the peace of an entire generation! I think that's what a billion people in Europe and Asia are all aspiring to. Shouldn't the three of you be in Chatu. Fort Lafitte makes a peace statement to tell the world that you are friends and not enemies with each other? ”

"Yes, we should make a public peace statement!" After a moment's thought, Crown Prince Edward realized that this was the best opportunity to show his political talents.

Eugène. Bonaparte was still a child, but Duke Valewski, who had accompanied him, whispered a few words in his ear. The child also quickly expressed his support. As for Zhu Guoxiong, he nodded at his sister appreciatively-this sister of his own is really very politically talented! (To be continued.) )