"What else else can I do?" Xu Mu drank coffee depressedly.

Fate opened a door for him to see the dawn of hope. However, when he happily threw himself in, he was stunned to find that the door was closed again! This disillusionment of hope is far greater than the blow of hopelessness.

"The world is so big, why just look at one place?" Zhang Cheng said with a smile on his face: "The Zhang family has agreed to arrange for me the position of the governor of the new Jinshan Lanzhou Prefecture. In two years' time, I'll be there at the end of this term of governorship. Is Brother Xu interested in going to show off together? ”

"Xinlanzhou?" Xu Mu looked at Zhang Cheng with a strange expression. Even if he didn't care much about the affairs of Xinjin Mountain, he knew that these places named after the important cities in the northwest were all vast in area, but all kinds of resources were barren and barbaric places. What to develop in that kind of place?

"It's desolate now, but I'm confident that it can be developed. I need a helper, though. Brother Xu, are you interested in helping me? Zhang Cheng looked at Xu Mu with a sincere gaze. There has always been a lot of power to do things, and it is impossible for Zhang Cheng to complete everything alone. The help of good people is essential.

"I'll think about it." Xu Mu nodded seriously. He is only in his thirties, and if he really goes to retire, he must be unwilling. It's just that Zhang Cheng's proposal is a little too floating, and he wants to wait and see. Anyway, it's two years later, and there's still plenty of time. He wanted to see if Zhang Cheng, the young man who had made his eyes shine, could go to the next level.

"What's going on for the near future?" Xu Mu, who was in a better mood, asked with a smile.

"Of course it's making money." Zhang Cheng crossed his legs and said with a smile, "Xinlanzhou Mansion is very desolate, and if you want to develop it, you must invest a lot of money." ”

Xu Mu looked at Zhang Cheng with eyes like a little monster, opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

When the governors of the colonies of the Ming Empire arrived, who did not desperately squeeze and plunder, and did everything possible to earn back the money they spent. Where will there be a governor who will subsidize the colony himself? Don't you see that most of the colonial governor's palaces are in tatters? Governors, you don't even want to repair the Governor's Palace! This is why there are always riots in the colonies.

"Hey." Zhang Cheng smiled freely, he naturally knew what Xu Mu was thinking.

His eyes turned to look sideways at the huge pure and transparent glass on the side. Looking out the window, the traffic was busy, and the neon shimmering drunken gold fans. His gaze gradually became a little confused, "After I went, I didn't think about handing it over to others." ”

Although Zhang Cheng's words were very light, they made Xu Mu's body tremble involuntarily when he heard this. The hands holding the coffee are constantly shaking.

All governors of the Ming Empire served for a ten-year term, and could only serve one governor in a colony. This was to prevent the governors from making a big mutiny. The meaning revealed in Zhang Cheng's words just now shocked Xu Mu and made him unable to help himself!

The heart of this young man, whom he thought was the most capable he had ever seen, was so big!

"This world is about to change." Zhang Cheng whispered and muttered to himself

As if to echo Mr. Zhang's statement, two days later, a shocking piece of news swept away the world's attention to the acquisition of Pfizer. All eyes were on the peninsula in the middle of the Mediterranean.

On Christmas Eve, King Vittorio of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Emmanuel III made a declaration of Italian unification in Turin that shocked the world!

The king, who had spent his life campaigning for the unification of Italy, was spurred on by the German Empire's successful reconquest of the Lotus Domain. Excitedly believing that the time has come to overthrow the colonial rule of the Ming Empire and unify Italy. After urgent consultations with his prime minister and important courtiers, and with the tacit support of some of the major European powers, he brazenly issued a declaration of unification.

King Emmanuel III demanded the return of all the colonies of the Ming Empire and called on all Italians to unite in the struggle for their homeland.

Emanuel III's declaration of unification caused an uproar around the world. People all over Europa are supportive of the Italians' efforts to reclaim their homeland. Many took to the streets to demonstrate their support for the Italians. There are even many people who choose to volunteer in Italy.

These Europa people were oppressed by the Ming Empire for many years. Looking at those yellow-skinned, black-eyed Chinese people in their own land. The anger in their hearts has already accumulated higher than the Alps!

If the success of the German Empire in recovering the Lotus Collar was the ignition of a bonfire, then the Declaration of Unification of the Italians was a bucket of gasoline poured on the fire! The national flame of the Europa, broke out.

Unlike the fanatical civilians. The rulers of the countries of Europa have the opposite in mind!

Italy is not Germany!

The reason why the German Empire was able to recover its colonies from the Ming Empire was in addition to the global decline of the Ming Empire. The most important reason is that the German Empire was very strong!

After the baptism of the second industrial revolution, the German Empire, which was the first to start the revolution of electricity and chemistry, rose rapidly within a few decades with its rigorous and serious spirit and became the first power in Europa.

The German Empire had a standing army of nearly 800,000. Once the national mobilization is started, the number of troops can explode to 3 million in half a year. Moreover, they also have a naval fleet that exceeds the strength of all the Ming Empire's sub-fleets stationed in Europa combined.

When the German Empire demanded the recovery of the Shihe Territory with the threat of war, the Ming Empire, which could not support a super-large-scale expeditionary battle, reluctantly accepted the threat of the Germans for various reasons. Even so, the heart of the Ming Empire is still full of unwillingness and anger!

However, this does not mean that the Ming Empire has really reached the point where anyone can bully. Hundreds of years of heritage are no joke. The massive army is enough to crush the navy of any country in the world in terms of tonnage. The strength of the Ming Empire was far from being something that the Italians could provoke.

What do Italians have compared to the Germans? They are still torn apart even by their own country!

The self-confident Emmanuel III was hit the next day. The Ming Empire sternly rejected the demands of the Sardinians. And said that in order to protect the interests of the empire, the Ming Empire did not hesitate to fight!

The naval fleets of the port of Taranto, Alexandria, the fortresses of Gibraltar began to light fires and raise anchors. The garrisons led by the Governors began to distribute weapons and ammunition and became combat-ready. Colonies also began to recruit volunteers.

The Ming Empire tolerated the Germans, but will never tolerate the Italians again! This kind of thing is like a domino, once it continues, the cornerstone of the Ming Empire's colonial rule in the world will be completely destroyed.

Of the entire Italian peninsula, only the Kingdom of Sardinia was a country dominated by Italians in the pure sense of the word. The kings and grand dukes of several other countries were not Italians.

Emanuel III's call was met with a cold reception on the Italian peninsula. Needless to say, the Papal States, which have always been opposed. Other powers, such as the Two Sicilies, Tuscany, Parma, etc., remained silent. That is, they do not support it.

As for the European powers, which secretly gave guarantees to Emmanuel III, they could only secretly provide support. If you want them to jump out directly and stand opposite the angry Ming Empire, now is not the time.

After a painful struggle, Emmanuel III decided to issue an ultimatum to the Ming Empire. It's like his grandfather did.

The Italian peninsula is cloudy and war is on the verge of breaking out

"The general manager of Haitao Trading Company, Mr. Ken Watanabe, donated 700,000 silver dollars! Thank you, Ken Watanabe, for your support of the Empire! As the host's words fell, the luxurious banquet hall immediately burst into warm applause.

"Thank you, thank you. That's what a contemptible person should do. His heart was dripping blood, but Ken Watanabe, who had a smile on his face, squinted his smiling eyes and bowed back.

Ken Watanabe also has no choice. As the most loyal younger brother of the Ming Empire, now that the empire is going to war, he can't even think of bleeding when he starts fundraising! How else can you call it a little brother?

"Damn bastard!" Ken Watanabe, whose face was full of smiles, cursed viciously in his heart: "These are the wealth of our Great Japanese Empire!" May you bastards all be defeated! ”

At this time, Watanabe Ken would definitely not remember that if it were not for the care of the Ming Empire, why would they be able to enjoy preferential treatment in various colonies to do business? The mentality of small countries and widows dooms them to only be entangled in petty profits, and they will never become a big thing.

"It's your turn." Xu Mu, who was smiling, looked at Zhang Cheng slightly sideways and said with a chuckle.

"Hmm." A complicated look flashed in Zhang Cheng's eyes, and the corners of his mouth were hooked to look at the host who came to him with a tray.

This is the banquet hall of the Imperial Hotel, the most luxurious in the London Concession. Today is a fundraiser hosted by the Governor of the London Concession. Raise money for a war with the Kingdom of Sardinia, which is very likely to break out.

The Ming Empire had more than 100,000 garrisons in its colonies throughout Europa. However, most of these garrisons had to be stationed in various concessions, and not many could actually be sent to Italy.

In the case that the mainland will not send a large army to come, if you want to gather troops, there is only one way to do it: mercenaries. How many millions of Chinese people live in the colonies of Europa? As long as there is money, pulling out an army of 100,000 is not a problem at all.

As for the money, it is natural to collect donations from the rich.

"Good! Let's take a look at Mr. Zhang Cheng, the richest young man in the London Concession, how much is he willing to contribute to the empire? Zhang Cheng put the written check in the tray, and the host walked back to the host desk as he spoke. When I picked up the check and looked at it, a pair of eyes instantly widened like copper bells!

"One, 10 million yuan !!" The host's face turned red, and he roared with all his might. It instantly shocked the entire banquet hall!

PS: Thank you for the book friend Pure Xiao Mo, the reward of the wind and rain sword. Thanks for your support!