Chapter 205: A Lively Christmas
If there is any difference between Prague and other European capitals, it is that there are many Chinese and African Americans, and they do not seem to have any inferiority complex or fear when walking the streets. They're just like any other white person, casual, comfortable, and relaxed.
In recent years, many colleges in the Czech Principality have signed agreements with African and Asian students to study abroad, and it is reported that in 1919, the number of international students in the Czech Principality reached more than 26,000, which is a rather terrifying number. If nothing else, the economy they brought to the Czech principality alone was a figure that could not be ignored.
Perhaps the most popular among international students is the Royal Czech Army Academy, thanks to the performance of the Royal Czech Army in World War I, and it is these performances that allow governments and generals around the world to see clearly the faculty and training level of the Royal Czech Army Academy.
The school has always been a favourite place for Ernst, and almost every year at the beginning of the school season, Ernst travels to several prestigious colleges in Prague for lectures and visits. This is the future of the Czech principality, the future of the Habsburgs, and his most loyal and fundamental strength.
"I was asked why the Czech Duchy was able to rise, why it rose after the defeat of the Central Powers, and why I was the only one left in exile of the Kaiser and Austria...... There is only one reason why Ernst Franz is still here, because I am Ernst Franz, because I own the Czech Duchy, because I own you - Habsburg allegiance, allegiance to my students! ”
Ernst's speeches at school were always thought to be exaggerated, but in fact Ernst did not think that his words were exaggerated, because the foundation of the Czech principality was really the foundation of these students, the Habsburgs, or Ernst's strong position because of their loyalty.
Every year, the Royal Czech Army Academy contributes to the Czech Principality several future generals of the Czech Principality, countless outstanding officers, who are the basis of Ernst's rule over the army. The Prague School of Economics and Management, the Moravian School of Finance, and so on assured Ernst of the loyalty of the government and the cabinet.
The key to mastering a country lies in the army and the government, and if you want the allegiance of the army and the government, then the foundation is naturally the students of the school. They are the protégés of the Son of Heaven, they are the descendants of Ernst, and they are the most loyal and will not rebel.
The large number of international students not only brings economic benefits to the Czech principality, but also brings their friendship with the Czech principality back home. When they were successful a few years or more years later, the investments made by ERNST at this time were able to reap unimaginable returns.
The year 1919 is almost over, and today's Christmas is about to be celebrated. Although last year's Christmas was very joyful, but just after the end of the war, many families were still immersed in the grief of losing their loved ones, but today is different, time has made most of the pain disappear, and this year is the real year.
The streets of Prague are filled with different ways of celebrating with citizens of different nationalities and nationalities, and dragon dances and many traditional Chinese programs are already being held on the streets with a large number of Chinese shops. Jugglers leading monkeys, little girls on stilts, strong men wearing pig-head masks......
When they saw the vendors selling sugar gourds and bean curd on both sides of the street, they couldn't help but pay for it, after all, the red fruits and bleached bean curd made them full of appetite.
"Oh! My God! ”
“Good! Wai Rui Good! ”
Similar exclamations often ring out on the streets, and there is no need to ask if it must be from white people and African-Americans who have never seen the "world". Although he couldn't see the specifics, Ernst could imagine that the Chinese around them must have looked at them with contempt, and of course this contempt was good-natured contempt.
In the teahouse, Ernst was sitting by the window with Jessica, who was looking out with interest, breathing in the air with some smoke and fireworks, and tasting the clear and turquoise tea, Ernst was very familiar and friendly.
"Ernst, I have a question."
"Say!"
Ernst was a little strange, Jessica was not the kind of reserved person, usually she would ask any questions directly, and would never look at him with such beautiful big eyes as she did now.
"I've always found that you seem to have a good affection for that old country, and that you should have a museum of oriental antiquities in England. Oh! Have you brought back those antiques, it's a lot of money......"
Seeing Jessica Ernst, who suddenly changed the subject, couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, but Jessica's ugly face quickly made Ernst explain: "Most of them are shipped back, and some of them are shipped back to Siberia by a shipping company......
"Siberia? Are you going to give those officials as gifts? ”
The official naturally refers to the officials of the Beiyang government, but Ernst didn't expect Jessica to be so smart and understand what she wanted to do from just one sentence. Ernst's surprise made Jessica very proud, although she was not young, but this kind of thing was always worth a little pride, after all, it was the Grand Duke of the Czech Duchy who was surprised.
"That's right, that old country has a lot of potential, but their officials are greedy, and we can get a lot of benefits with very few gifts."
"The gift is personal, but the benefit is from the state, and if it were me, I would be willing to make such a deal."
Jessica's words made Ernst laugh, but if you look closely, you can find the helplessness and sadness in Ernst's laughter, the huge empire may be destroyed at the hands of these people! I don't want you to have any patriotism, but at least don't let this country fall into the abyss!
Speaking of naval battles in the Manchu Empire, it was a tragedy through and through, 80 percent of the artillery could not be used, and in the end the most brutal hits could only be exchanged for minor enemy losses. A large number of excellent naval officers were killed in such battles, and the same tragedy would soon befall that country again.
When Ernst told these stories to Jessica as a joke, she thought she would laugh, but she didn't expect Jessica's face to be ugly.
"They're all heroes, and we should make a movie for them, and I'm serious."
Jessica's attitude made Ernst very happy, he naturally would not refuse such an offer, and this was also to bring them closer to the Beiyang government, after all, most of those excellent navies had a deep relationship with the warlords of the current Beiyang government, and even some of them were classmates who graduated from the same school.
"Well, you haven't told me why you have a good affection for that old country."
"Reason ......"
Knock knock!
Just when Ernst was indulging in his previous life and was about to speak, the gongs and drums under the teahouse sounded, and several performers in fancy costumes suddenly appeared in the open space in the middle of the teahouse. It was only for a moment that they drew Jessica's gaze to her, and she looked at Ernst with a slight confusion, obviously hoping that he would explain what it was.
"It's an ancient kind of entertainment in the East, just like songs, but with a big difference. Depending on the region, they have different types of Peking Opera, Henan Opera, and Qin Dialect. ”
"Like folk and jazz?"
"That's right, but often these dramas are accompanied by action, which is simply a rap version of the movie."
Jessica listened to Ernst's explanation while listening to the Peking Opera below with great interest, squinting slightly, Jessica only showed the appearance of liking something very much. In his previous life, although Ernst didn't like Peking Opera very much, he didn't know why, but at this moment, he really sounded full of charm.
At this time, the Czech principality was almost a melting pot, and the collision of various cultures not only erased some cultures, but also contributed to the development of cultures. If you use one sentence to describe the Czech principality at this time, then a hundred schools of thought are very appropriate.
"Their costumes are beautiful, isn't it ...... geisha in Japan?"
"No, there are some differences between them and Japanese geisha. However, the origin of Japanese geisha is also in China, and China is a place worth visiting. ”