Chapter 186 Nanhua News (Second update, please subscribe)

From the moment they set foot on this land, the city that appeared before them brought an unprecedented shock to Zuo Zongtang and others. The most direct shock was not even the black smoke emitting from the steamships in Nanhua Bay and the towering sails of Western sailing ships.

After all, the ship they came on, the Great Eastern, was the largest merchant ship in the world. After such an experience, they certainly would not have any feelings about the ships in the bay.

But this city!

The spacious streets are lined with three or four-room-high buildings on both sides. Today's Nanhua has long since gotten rid of its initial start-up state. The sturdy brick and stone buildings on both sides of the main street block have long replaced the original wooden houses. Even with the successive production of steel mills, rolling mills and cement plants, reinforced concrete buildings are becoming the mainstream of Nanhua.

What is more intuitive is the city's green landscaping. Urban planning engineers from Britain, France and other countries have carefully planned Nanhua. Although the lawns and parks are still very primitive, the lush green space and neat planning are not available in domestic cities.

On the way to the hotel in a carriage, like everyone else, Zuo Zongtang was surprised at the smoothness of the road and asked as he looked at the dark road.

"Jiayu, why is this road so smooth?"

"Brother Zuo, this road is Nanhua's unique asphalt road, paved with gravel and asphalt. Nanhua is the only one in the world that has this. Even in Europe, the roads are all slabs of stone. Many Europeans were surprised when they first came to Nanhua!"

When talking about the admiration of foreigners, Ding Bing looked very proud of it.

Asphalt pavement was a novelty even in Europe and America in 1860. In fact, the reason why Nanhua paved asphalt roads was because there was a lot of asphalt left over from coking. It was a waste to pile up so much asphalt in the factory, so Zhu Xianhai personally designed an asphalt gravel frying machine and paved asphalt roads in Nanhua. Compared with the common stone roads of that era, this type of crushed stone asphalt pavement has low laying costs and technical difficulties. It is also smoother and more durable, and has even become Nanhua's business card.

“Even foreigners admire him!”

Zuo Zongtang and others couldn't help but look at the road a few more times in surprise.

In addition to the buildings with completely different Chinese and Western styles on both sides of the street and the asphalt roads that even foreigners admire, what is even more refreshing to Zuo Zongtang and others are the pedestrians here.

When they arrived at the Atlantic Hotel, although it was already past 6:30 in the afternoon, in the square in front of the hotel, there were a large group of workers in work clothes practicing military posture and marching in response to commands. There were also many women watching around, and there was no taboo at all between men and women.

"One two one, one two one...!"

Amid the neat commands, Zuo Zongtang was somewhat surprised to find that the formations of these young men in training looked even more orderly than the "Chu Army" he had trained. They seemed extremely serious during training, and even the clothes they wore were soaked with sweat.

After standing there and observing for a while, Zuo Zongtang was puzzled.

"Who are they? Are they soldiers?"

It must be the soldiers. Apart from anything else, it is their spirit and energy. Even his personal soldiers in the past did not have that spirit and energy.

These people are not only soldiers, but perhaps also the elite in the army.

"What kind of soldiers are they? They are just ordinary people! In Nanhua, everyone must undergo military training, and the number of hours of military training per week must not be less than ten hours."

"Military training?"

"Yes, we train like soldiers. On weekends, we even go to the shooting range to practice shooting!"

"What? Practice shooting?"

"Yes, military posture, formation, shooting, these are all compulsory courses, everyone must undergo military training!"

"Everyone? Both men and women?"

Su Shijing and others were surprised.

"Yes, everyone! Even women must unbind their feet and participate in low-intensity training, and at least master shooting skills. According to the master, "farmers in farming season and soldiers in wartime" is the rule passed down by the Han ancestors. If the Han people want to survive on this land in this era of tigers and wolves, they must regain the Han martial tradition. Otherwise, they will be slaves of foreign races here!"

The phrase "slave of a foreign race" made Zuo Zongtang and others look a little strange.

After careful observation, Zuo Zongtang found that the people here seemed to be obviously different from those in his country, not because the men had cut off their braids and kept Western-style short hair or short hair that was only an inch long, nor because of the clothes that men and women wore.

It's their spirit!

Both men and women looked full of energy.

In fact, their clothes are similar, men wear indigo or gray uniforms, and women wear long skirts of similar style and color. Although the clothes are monotonous, it is certain that their spirit is obviously different from the common people we are used to seeing.

Their faces did not have the numbness and confusion that are common on ordinary people's faces. Instead, they were full of vitality, and even their eyes were shining.

Not to mention men, even women are like this.

There is light in their eyes!

For some reason, Zuo Zongtang had this thought in his mind. Such an expression should not appear on their faces. Aren't they all poor people who were sold as "piglets" and drifted to a foreign country? Shouldn't they be full of sorrow?

Looking at Zuo Zongtang, Su Shijing and others who seemed to be deep in thought, Ding Bing smiled.

“Do you feel that they are different?”

“It’s definitely different.”

"In fact, many of them have only been here for half a year, but in this half year... they have been completely transformed!"

Ding Bing sighed.

"In their words, it is only when you get here that you understand what it means to be a human being and what kind of life a human being should live."

"What is a human being..."

Pursing their lips, Zuo Zongtang and the others just buried this question in their hearts.

Why? How could they not know that in the Qing Dynasty, only officials could be considered human beings, but they were not considered human beings when they met their superiors. As for the common people, were they living a normal life? The exploitation and oppression of officials and gentry meant that few ordinary people were not able to get enough food and clothes.

And this?

Just by looking at the rosy faces of the men and women, you can guess how they live. In fact, there is no need to guess. Whether in the waiting area on Yangshan Island or on the ship, they can not only have enough food to eat, but they can even eat meat every other day. This is the life that human beings should live.

"Alas, although the lives of the common people are better, it is still not their ancestral land. They are still poor people who have left their hometowns and cannot return to their roots!"

Liu Dian's sigh made Ding Bing raise his eyebrows and sneer.

"Hehe, what's the big deal about leaving your homeland? In the Qing Dynasty, the people are not even afraid of living, so how can they be afraid of leaving their homeland?"

The people are not afraid of leaving their homes, so of course they are not afraid of leaving their homes. It seemed like a casual remark, but it made Zuo Zongtang and others sigh. Looking at the men and women who were training in the square, they all fell into deep thought.

During those years, the lives of the people in the Qing Dynasty were truly worse than death.

After thinking for a while, Zuo Zongtang said.

"People can live and work in peace and contentment here. This is the so-called paradise on earth!"

That night, Zuo Zongtang and others who stayed at the Atlantic Hotel even forgot the surprise they felt when they first saw the elevator, and the "frightening" amazement of being in a six-story building. After all, each of them had too many questions in their minds.

In comparison, high-rise buildings, elevators, and all of these are not worth mentioning.

(End of this chapter)