Now that you have decided to go to war, the rest is naturally simple.

After joining the Entente, the government began a series of propaganda campaigns throughout the war.

During this period, not only the justice of the war was publicized (although Yan Shao and other high-ranking officials regarded it as a dog-eat-dog between the great powers), but also the benefits that China could gain from participating in the war.

As mentioned earlier, tariffs, etc., there are also two colonies that can be obtained, including Iraq. And most importantly, through this war, China will truly become a great power, officially joining the ranks of the great powers ...

If tariffs and garrisons are not obvious to ordinary people, then a colony and recognition by the great powers are very important for this bullied country.

And this, more or less, can be regarded as giving all walks of life some enthusiasm.

————————————————————

On a certain street in Shanghai, many shops are selling the latest product of the moment—————— 'World Map'.

It's just that while they are selling, the owners of those shops are glaring at each other.

Rather, one of them glaes at the other, while the other is triumphant, looking like you can do anything about it.

By the way, the shops of the former are run by foreigners, while the shops of the latter are Chinese.

In cities such as Shanghai, many people look for the locations of Iraq and Kuwait on a map. After all, according to the treaty between China and the Entente, these two places would become China's first overseas colonies after the war was over.

This is for the people of the country, who have been losing their territory all the time. To is an incentive.

After all, in the past 100 years, China's territory has never grown, but has been constantly losing. Although the battle of Shandong was won. But while getting some benefits, it only ensured the integrity of the country, as for expanding the territory or something...

If it is said that the recovery of the originally lost territory can be regarded as the expansion of the territory, then it is inevitably too simple.

However, although many Chinese people have begun to search for the location of Iraq and Kuwait, but...

The result...

The maps of this era are still very rudimentary, so the locations shown on the maps are not particularly accurate. In some of the more minor locations, even the name is not identified. As a result, many of the maps published in China show almost no presence of Iraq and Kuwait.

However, those businessmen are very business-minded, and they have a very keen sense of business opportunities, especially money. Soon a number of maps of the New Cene Rim were drawn up that plotted the territory of Ottoman Turkey—————— and at first the foreigners took the lead, after all, few people in the country knew where Iraq and Kuwait were, and even very few countries knew which Ottoman Turkey was.

But the movements of domestic merchants are not slow, and the map of foreigners here has just come out. So they sent for a copy. He then plotted the locations of Iraq and Kuwait on his own map of the world, and sold them as his own map.

Of course, those foreigners are very annoyed by this, but there is nothing they can do about this group of Chinese counterparts. Because as those Chinese businessmen showed, they really have nothing to do with these people.

After all, China at this time is no longer the country that is at their kneading. Their once mighty motherland is now mired in the swamp of war in Europe, not to mention that they have found some excuse to carve out a piece of territory in China, as they did in the past. It even needs China's help to win the war.

And the police officers of the Shanghai Police Department who originally regarded them as heavenly beings, although because of inertia. still put on a look of great respect for them. But it is no longer a matter of listening to what they say, treating foreigners as first-class citizens and their own compatriots as second-class citizens. Although respectful, it is the same, even if these foreigners go to the police station to complain, the police at the police station also ask them to show evidence, and then talk about other things...

Evidence, where did they get the evidence?

If it is like a car, or another commodity, even if it is the most ordinary toothbrush, as long as they can produce evidence, the police will act in accordance with the law—————— there is also a patent law in China, and it seems that it has been in place since the end of the Qing Dynasty.

The question is, how can there be any patents for maps?

You can't say that you marked the location of Iraq and Kuwait on the map, and that became your patent, right? If someone makes a very detailed map, doesn't it mean that whoever gets the map in the future will give you the royalties?

Of course, if you say that you have discovered these places, there may be people who will recognize them, but the problem is that you yourself have obtained information through other means, and people are just learning the same, what can you do with others?

So they have no choice but to sulk there.

Fortunately, they took the lead, and they sold a lot of money, otherwise I am afraid that they would have exploded in anger.

On the other hand, after buying the map and looking at the location of the new colony, the area, and so on, many people were somewhat disappointed.

"The Middle East? What is that place? ”

"I've heard it's all desert..."

"And it's a remote place..."

"Didn't you say that there were two colonies, but that place called Kuwait............... It's better to merge the two pieces into one..."

"I don't know if there are any specialties there..."

It's not surprising, after all, that Iraq and China are so far apart, not to mention that the Middle East, as mentioned above, is all desert. If it weren't for the fact that there was oil in Zhilu Dao, even Yan Shao would not have chosen that place.

However, it is impossible for these people to know this, so after seeing that their country has only obtained these places, many people are immediately disappointed.

Of course, not all of them think so, but at least there are many people who think it's nice to get two places.

"After all, we have only just become a strong country, and we are not the main force in this war. Those foreigners are not all fools, why do they give us so many good places..."

"yes, not to mention that Kuwait may indeed be a little smaller. But Iraq is still very good, it is the size of two or three, three or four provinces, and we can get such a large territory for the first time, and it is worth it for us to send troops to Europe to help this time..."

This is not a lie, although Iraq is a place where no grass grows, and no one has found oil at this time. But Iraq is really large, and it really needs to be taken seriously. The three provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong are added together, and none of them is the size of Iraq, plus one Fujian. Probably more than that...

In the first battle, you could get a colony the size of three or four provinces, and although the place looked very barren, it seemed very good to many. This is also one of the reasons why there are many people in the country who support it.

Not to mention. In this war, taking the opportunity of declaring war on Germany and other Allied countries, Yan Shao also took back the concessions and some interests that were originally occupied by Germany and other countries, and directly canceled some reparations and arrears to Germany in the past, in general, he made a lot of money...

If it weren't for Yan Shao's kindness, if he really borrowed a large amount of money from the Germans before the outbreak of the war, then...

But one has to think about the long term. After the war, Germany will be depressed for a while. But history has proven it. No matter how downtrodden Germany is, as long as it can grasp the opportunity, it will still rise.

Although Yan Shao did not know, whether the war maniac with the mustache would die in this changed history. But it is in China's interest to maintain friendly relations between China and Germany...

This was also to encourage Yan Shao to recapture some of the German concessions in China, but to ensure the safety of the Germans' private property, rather than putting them in concentration camps or guarding them.

Even for those German soldiers in China, Yan Shao did not impose too many personal restrictions.

Therefore, although some time ago the attitude of the Germans was very harsh, warning China not to get involved in this war between the great powers. But privately, even though the Nationalist government had taken back all German rights in China, the German government was not very angry—————— if not counting the Kaiser Wilhelm II...

————————————————————

"These Chinese really think that they are the saviors of Europe..."

Listening to the Chinese on the street talking about Iraq, discussing how many troops should be sent to Europe, rolling up the car window, Peters said with some disdain.

"No wonder they think so, the strength of the Chinese has indeed grown rapidly in recent years, just like the car we are sitting in now..." sighed, Sir Fareis, the British Consul General in Shanghai, who had just taken office, said helplessly. It's like the car we are riding in now is made by the Chinese..."

"The Chinese..." smiled disdainfully. Maybe it's not bad, but it's not as good as British cars, and I really don't understand why so many people in China buy Chinese cars, and..."Looking at Sir Fareis, Peters said with some dissatisfaction. "Let's not talk about it, the Consulate General actually purchased Chinese cars, not our own British production..."

Hearing Peters say this, Fareis smiled bitterly.

He was well aware that the diplomat, Peters, was not only a racial skeptic, but also a Great Anglologist, who believed that Britain was the center of the world. Not to mention China, even those countries in Europe and the United States are also looking at it.

Therefore, Fareis did not distinguish that the cost performance of this 'Liulan' car is high enough, perhaps not as good as the British-made Rolls-Royce, but it is extremely advantageous in price. Instead, he changed the subject. "Speaking of which, what's the situation in the country lately?"

Fareis didn't all want to change the topic, but also wanted to understand the situation in China, after all, this Peters had just come from China not long ago.

Hearing Fareth talk about this topic, Peters, who was still full of pride, couldn't help but sigh.

"It's not good, although the 'Battle of Gallipoli' launched by Minister Churchill is still continuing, everyone knows that this battle has failed, and even if it continues, it will be difficult to get any breakthrough results, but Minister Churchill is still insisting, and the Prime Minister has a good relationship with Churchill, so it is still continuing, but..."

With that, Peters looked out the window.

Despite having closed the windows. But the voices of the Chinese outside the car window could still reach his ears more or less. At the same time, it is precisely because he came from China that he is more aware of the plight of Britain today.

And as long as you think of the British Empire, now you need the help of a group of yellow people. Peters couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Now that the Russians are almost overwhelmed on the Eastern Front, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the ports of the North Sea, which often freeze, cannot provide the Russians with sufficient supplies, so we must find a way, otherwise the Russians may well be in fornication with the Germans according to the speculation of the Reich. Or even worse..."

"So we have to find a way to replenish their supplies, which is the main reason why I came from China this time..."

At this, Peters let out a long sigh.

————————————————————

After a period of stay in Shanghai. Peters departed for Beijing.

However, this time he did not take a boat, but a train, in order to see the real situation in China. He was amazed by the current situation in Shanghai, because he had no idea that he could see such a modern city in the Far East.

But to think that the city has already been influenced by European countries, many people. He was relieved. I didn't expect that although Shanghai is much more prosperous than other cities in China. But these changes are actually due to the relationship between the national and social governments.

But even if he told him, I'm afraid he wouldn't believe it. That's why Fares didn't say anything, and it seemed to him that it was a waste of words and tongues, so much so that it would be better for Peters to see with his own eyes...

It turned out that Fareth was right, and Peters was indeed a stubborn man, and no matter how much Farles said, it could not affect him.

But on the way north by train, look at those nice and clean train stations. There were also tall buildings and new streets in the distance, but Peters was amazed.

Because everything in front of him is what he imagined in his heart. Poles apart...

In his mind, a city like Shanghai may be prosperous, but other cities should be like many cities in India, dirty, dilapidated and backward...

As a result, although there are still many backward places in these cities in China, the changes can be seen by the blind. In many places, these cities are even newer than London.

And Peters also found that the construction of these cities was very realistic, and there was nothing more than he could afford.

For example, trams are found in some big cities, but in smaller cities you don't see them at all, and some are just four-lane roads. In big cities like Shanghai or Nanjing, there are usually eight-lane roads.

When Peters interrogated the accompanying officials if it was to maintain the status of the big city, the answer was...

"There's no need..."

It is not surprising that some small counties, although they need roads to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, but eight-lane roads are inevitably a bit too much.

And while new buildings are being built in some counties and towns in China today, urban planning is not done by the counties and towns themselves. Instead, the Ministry of Urban Development is working with local governments to avoid unrealistic designs.

Like an overpass or an underground tunnel...

A small county with a population of only tens of thousands of people can use this?

Even if it is built, it is just a waste of taxpayers' money...

Therefore, this cooperation between the two sides is purely to plan a new urban construction blueprint under the condition that best meets the actual requirements.

It should be noted that in the eyes of the people in the Ministry of Urban Development, those counties do not even have four-lane roads. According to the current situation in China, only two lanes are enough, after all, there are not so many cars in the country for these roads, some are just some ox carts, mule carts and horse-drawn carts.

And for these vehicles, two lanes are clearly enough to use ...

However, Yan Shao is very clear that this situation is only temporary.

The reason why the Ministry of Urban Development and the Cabinet are so recommended is simply because they underestimate themselves and underestimate the country. I can't imagine how much the country under my feet will change after it develops.

That's why I think that ordinary counties only need ordinary roads.

But they don't understand, but Yan Shao knows it very well.

After all, in his time, from the 90s to the beginning of the 21st century, the original roads were no longer enough. And by the time he crossed the era, even in ordinary fourth-tier cities, four-lane roads had become the basic configuration.

In some big cities, traffic jams are more common.

Now, four lanes is a bit of a waste, but it will only take another ten years for them to understand the limitations of dual lanes...

Rather than expand at that time, it's better to start now.

After all, the later the time, the higher the cost.

It's like Yan Shao's era, things were very cheap in the 90s, but when he crossed over, the price was unimaginably high compared with more than ten years ago...

The same is true now, if you repair it now, at least the labor cost will be lower, but it will be done more than ten years later, even if the cost is only twice as high, it is already a very fortunate thing—————— although at that time, I believe that the local government's fiscal revenue will definitely rise faster than prices...

Having understood, Peters nodded, not further ado.

It's just that in his heart, he has a better understanding of China's political system.

"Compared to the cities in Europe that have more autonomy, in China, the central government has a strong control over the localities, and even local construction is under the jurisdiction of the central government, and it seems that the Chinese government is indeed a more authoritarian political system, even more authoritarian than Tsarist Russia or some other countries..."

However, this also made Peters have greater expectations for the purpose of his trip. (To be continued......)