Dick looked at Maurice and raised an eyebrow.

He knew that Morris's affection for China's strong government came largely from the troublesome relations within Britain — England, Scotland and Ireland — rather than from China's achievements in industrial construction over the years.

In Morris's eyes, the high speed of China's industrial development in recent years is only due to the strong capacity of the Chinese government, which means that the Chinese government has done its job beautifully. It's not yet worth Morris's affection for it.

The real reason for this goodwill is that China is such a huge multi-ethnic country, with such a huge territory, and such a stable domestic situation, which is inseparable from the strength of China's central government.

It's not because it's strong, it's cohesive! It is because of the strong formulation of the Han nationality, the main ethnic group in China, that their own people do not dare to cross the boundary.

The British government is naturally very strong, but it is the strength of England, just like the power of the Han people in Chinese politics, the power of the British government is in the hands of the English, but the British government is too poor in dealing with Scotland and Ireland, especially the latter Ireland.

The Great Famine in Ireland, which broke out 37 years ago, lasted for more than five years, and the Irish lost a quarter of their population.

And what about the Chinese government? Under the decree, the Han people and ethnic minorities of all ethnic groups are treated equally, so they have generally achieved these four words. In recent years, many foreign media reporters have gone deep into the Li nationality in Hainan, the Zhuang nationality in Guangxi, the Tujia nationality in Guangxi, the Huihui nationality in the northwest, the Mongolian nationality on the Mongolian plateau, and even the indigenous people in Xinjiang in the great northwest. Among the Hezhe and Oroqen groups in the northeast, according to the urine nature of these foreign journalists, they have not been able to come up with any dry goods. It can be seen that the Chinese government has really done a very good job in this regard.

Moseley, a journalist himself, is well aware of what this situation indicates. How could such a Chinese government not make him feel respectful? In the UK. The nobles of the Parliament and the upper echelons of the empire as a whole never controlled themselves to make the Scots and Irish truly equal to the English.

Without the basis of 'equality', there will always be contradictions between Scotland and England, and the turmoil in Ireland will never stop.

In Morris's many previous correspondence with Dick, Dick clearly saw Morris's thoughts.

"Well, Morris, don't overestimate the Chinese government. Although I also admit that he has done really well in the past few years. Just like that emperor of theirs. But you also have to be clear that the Chinese do not have the right to set prices in the international market. If it weren't for the strong domestic demand of their own country, and the oriental cultural circle of East Asia for their exports, the oriental country would not have made such astonishing progress in industrial construction.

Of course, on the other hand, I am very much in favor of the Chinese government's behavior in economic and industrial construction, as you are. In my opinion, this high degree of government intervention in the economy is precisely another major reason for the brilliant industrial achievements of this Eastern country. If it weren't for the government's unified planning and design, we probably wouldn't see so many modern factories here in Tianjin. Maybe. At most, there will be a few small workshop-type enterprises, as in Japan to the east, and they can only rely on foreign capital, not only do they have no pricing power. Even their survival depends on the will of foreign capital. Although I also firmly believe that excessive government intervention in the economy will lead to economic rigidity, which needs to be carefully weighed. ”

Dick seriously analyzes for his friend: "The world is still in the hands of us Westerners. Those goods that China has come out of its own cultural sphere of influence. Except for their own specialties such as raw silk and rhubarb, there are very few truly industrialized products. More often than not, we bought it at a low price. They give us shipping to India or further afield. Then I will buy a large number of goods there.

Didn't the Chinese's Royal Bank develop into the South Seas, the Middle East, the Near East, Europe and North America? This provides great convenience to Chinese businessmen. ”

"But the Chinese's goods are really cheap, and their labor is too cheap. Ever since the Chinese government got in touch with Turkey. The Chinese took advantage of the blunt relations between the British Empire and Turkey to squeeze into the Turkish market with textile products. As for China's domestic market, there is no need to say more. Low prices have allowed more and more Chinese goods to occupy the market in their own countries. In just two years as a commercial representative for a foreign company in Tianjin, sales of British light industrial products such as cloth and kerosene have fallen by more than half.

Those Chinese businessmen, stingy guys, are simply annoying.

If it weren't for the fact that the foreign bank receives a large amount of orders from the Chinese government every year, I, as a business representative, might have lost my job. At present, many British-funded foreign banks in Tianjin rely on Chinese orders to maintain high returns. ”

Morris looked solemn. "I knew that the empire was gradually losing the Chinese market, but I didn't expect it to be so strict. Relying on orders from the Chinese government will not last long. Two years? Three years? China's industry is developing rapidly, and more and more machines are being manufactured by themselves. ”

For a while, Morris's interest in visiting the city of Tianjin was gone. He is a freelance writer, but his contributions are mainly for the Daily Telegraph, and even Morris accepted funding from the Daily Telegraph for his trip to China. And the Daily Telegraph is the mouthpiece of the Conservative Party. The current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, William. Yurt. Gladstone was a Liberal, and the Daily Telegraph was the most powerful newspaper to attack Gladstone.

At the same time, this means that Morris is against the Gladstone government, at least he is not interested in Gladstone.

But what is the biggest controversy between Gladstone and the Conservatives? is the positioning of the colony.

When the economic crisis struck in 1873, the British bourgeoisie demanded increased colonial plunder. Disraeli, the opponent of Reston, put forward the slogan of "imperialism" in response to this need of the bourgeoisie, and transformed the Tory Party into a Conservative Party capable of satisfying the expansionist ambitions of the aristocratic landlords, industrial capitalists, and finance capitalists.

To put it more bluntly, the British bourgeoisie, having lost its industrial monopoly and the constant emergence of domestic monopolies, increasingly regarded the colonies as the lifeline of the British Empire. They no longer have the ambition to go to the Americans, the French, the Germans. Compete with American, French, and German goods.

Morris, who is personally politically inclined to the Conservative Party, is saddened by this perception. Because it means that after hundreds of years of accumulation, the British Empire has reached the peak of its national strength. The lobster soldiers were able to rely on the British Empire's great national power to fight for colonies. But this object, in fact, has changed its purpose.

Now the biggest target of British colonization was Black Africa. Who are they against? It is the Black Shuli of Black Africa.

And in the era before that, who was the British Empire's rival for the colonies? It was the Dutch, the coachman of the sea, the Spaniards of the first empire on which the sun never set, and the French.

As an Englishman, an Englishman who is proud of Great Britain, there is nothing more sad and frustrating for Morris than to see this.

During Dick's two years in Tianjin, sales of British light industrial products fell by more than half. Don't think that this is a trivial matter, the light industry that is trading and making the most profit in the market is related to people's livelihood. In this regard, China's own industrial products are gradually driven out of the market, that is, the market is lost. Lost this big market opened with strong ships and cannons forty years ago.

"All right, my friend. Stop worrying about these things. Today is the day we meet after two years, and it is a happy and happy day. Eliver has prepared lunch at home and let us happily enjoy the good food and wine.

How many days do you want to rest first? Two days? Three days? After that, I will take you around the whole of Beijing and Tianjin. Let's go to the Forbidden City, go to the Great Wall? In less than a month, the Chinese will have their Christmas. At that time, the whole of China was lively, prosperous, and full of festive atmosphere. ”

The friend's words brought Morris back from his sigh as well. "That's right. I need to rest first, rest. I spent Christmas on a boat this year. I want to be easy. Relaxed. If you have a good spirit, you can work better, right? ”

Dick laughed. "Of course. You are one of the best freelance writers in all of the UK. Your pen is worth every penny the Telegraph spends for you. ”

Morris's arrival in China did not attract anyone's attention. There are too many foreigners coming to China now.

Europe and the United States are in an economic crisis, but the Chinese are offering high salaries, and many Europeans who live in poverty but have skills have come to China. In the United States, there are very few. Only the Chinese are returning to China one after another.

Honolulu in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Gathering Chinese, Japanese, and Americans there, it is almost possible to do the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. And the Kingdom of Hawaii, as the innate ruler there, still retains a certain amount of power. Its current king, Kalakaua I, is on a globetrotting journey. He first went to San Francisco, USA, where he was treated with royal hospitality. He then went to Japan. Meet the Emperor of Japan, who is now wandering around Kagoshima. I will definitely come to China before the New Year.

The second war between China and Russia is about to be decided. The Russians at the negotiating table are under heavy pressure. Presumably, an agreement that satisfies Liu Xian will be reached soon. Then there will be no delay in the big military parade to be held in February!

Caracal I will certainly come to China years ago.

The reason why Morris came to China at this time. There is also a reason for this. China's first public military parade attracted the attention of the whole world.

This trip to China, which was also the king of Hawaii in Japan, Caracal I, also attracted the attention of Britain, France and the United States.

In 1843, the British government publicly asserted British sovereignty over Hawaii.

In 1849, the French government claimed to occupy Hawaii and claimed some sovereignty over Hawaii, although this claim caused resentment among Hawaii's inhabitants at the time.

In 1873, the U.S. Secretary of State offered not to allow other countries to annex Hawaii.

This small place, with its excellent geographical advantages, has stirred the nerves of China, Britain, France, and the United States. Especially China and the United States! (To be continued......)