What would a world without America look like?

Nobody knows.

Even for Emperor Zhu, he didn't know what the world would be like without the United States.

As for the people who have been working at Sidley Austin for 28 years, they have never thought about this issue at all. After all, to them, the United States is just a thing of the past.

Compared to a world without the United States, everyone is looking forward to a world without war at this time.

Finally, in February of the 28th year of Shengde, with the mediation of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, China, France, Romania, Britain and Germany began peace negotiations in Vienna.

At the negotiation table, all parties naturally argued their case and tried to maximize their own interests. However, the Ming Empire's performance was a bit ambiguous. In fact, after the United States, for reasons of balance of power, the Empire did not want Germany to be weakened too much. As for Britain... the Empire still insisted on its original request - Australia and New Zealand.

Negotiations are ongoing, but the war continues.

Both Rome and the Empire hoped to gain more bargaining chips through war. In fact, Britain had been placed on the dinner plate. How much could it eat?

It depends on how the situation develops.

However, the situation in Europe had little impact on the empire. The French army stopped the attack after the negotiations began. According to Emperor Napoleon V, we will get justice at the negotiation table. He even kept saying that the lives of French soldiers were more important than the honor of the royal family.

In fact, this is just nonsense from politicians. While stopping the land attack, Napoleon V gave an order to the navy - to impose a complete blockade on the British Isles, including a ban on neutral ships from entering the UK.

If a neutral country protests, please ask the Big Stick first!

Now that Britain has lost its big stick, it is simply unable to intervene. As for those neutral countries, what else can they offer except a few books of international law?

Fleet?

Just as Napoleon V was trying to use starvation to force Britain to compromise, on the other side of the ocean, the empire had already begun post-war preparations - preparing for the retirement of its soldiers.

No matter how dazzling their military achievements are, for the vast majority of ordinary soldiers, going home is what they have always longed for.

On March 16, a troop transport ship slowly sailed into Linhai Port and finally docked at the pier!

The vibration of the steam engine has completely disappeared.

Kang Mingwei, who was lying on a canvas bed, heard cheers from the dock even though he had not yet left the cabin.

Back to China!

Finally home!

The cabin, which was originally crowded, was now empty. Everyone ran to the deck to cheer for their relatives, friends, or even strangers who welcomed them home. Originally, these veterans returning from North America were supposed to take the train back home. Just half a month ago, the "Pan-American Railway" finally passed through the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the American continent into a whole.

However, because the railway had just been built and had not yet passed acceptance, they could only return home by boat - but in fact, the railway had already been put into use for transporting goods.

In order to avoid unnecessary accidents, the military carefully chose the ship. After all, no one wanted to see soldiers injured or killed in an accident at the end of the war.

Although the voyage at sea was long, they were finally home now.

Until this moment, Kang Mingwei let out a long sigh, and an inexplicable sense of relief arose in his heart:

"I'm finally back! I can finally be with my wife and children... Now I don't have to worry anymore!"

In the past two years, he has been on the front line and his expression has been tense all the time. In the war, he didn't know where the shells or bullets came from, or even the landmines under his feet could take his life at any time.

Now, it's all over!

"Starting tomorrow, you will start a new life..."

Finally, after taking another look at the crowded troop transport cabin, Kang Mingwei took a deep breath, as if saying goodbye to the past.

Then he put on his backpack and walked up the ladder to the deck.

When he walked onto the deck, what filled his ears was deafening cheers and the dock was crowded with welcoming crowds.

"I'm here!"

"Hey, I'm here!"

Voices calling out to friends, husbands, sons, and lovers rose and fell, filling the air. These voices were filled with all kinds of emotions. Before, they had woken up from nightmares more than once, fearing that their loved ones would not come back. Now, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief, as their families had returned.

There were constant cries coming from the dock, listening to it all quietly, feeling it all. Kang Mingwei knew that he would not be able to see his family here, because he came from the inland, and no one would come to greet him. If there was anyone, it would only be the mountains and rivers of the motherland!

Yes, the mountains and rivers of the motherland are welcoming him.

But then again, isn't California also part of the motherland?

It seems... I have never left Ming Dynasty!

After figuring this out, he suddenly laughed. It seemed that this was the credit of him and his comrades!

The retired veterans on the ship like him all leaned over the railing and waved their arms vigorously.

Although he knew that no one would welcome his return, Kang Mingwei couldn't help but lean half of his body out, trying to look for something.

Looking for what?

Is it possible that the family will come back?

Will you be disappointed if you can't see them?

But at this moment, he thought of the brothers whose souls returned to the Martyrs' Shrine, and the voices and smiles of the brothers who had long since passed away appeared in his mind one after another.

I thought of their excitement when they first went to the battlefield, their excitement when they killed the enemy for the first time, and...

Suddenly, tears flowed from his eyes.

He...missed them!

Standing there quietly, Kang Mingwei was immersed in an inexplicable emotion. At this moment, he heard a familiar voice in the crowd.

"Mingwei, Mingwei..."

The moment Kang Mingwei looked in the direction of the voice, he couldn't help but exclaimed "Ah".

"Mingwei, I'm here, I'm here..."

In the crowd, he saw his wife holding the child, shouting at him and waving her arms...

"Mingwei, I'm here, I'm here..."

The woman kept calling out, and finally, after she got a response from her husband, she spoke excitedly to the child in her arms.

"Look, Daddy is back, your daddy is back..."

A few minutes later, the family of three finally hugged each other tightly on the dock. This scene was played out everywhere on the dock...