Chapter 531: The Young Child of Liuming (Third update, please subscribe)

This was not only the case in Singapore. Soon, from Manila to Batavia, from Bangkok to Saigon, almost all the overseas Chinese were talking about this topic. No matter whether they were from the Qing Dynasty or Ming people who had drifted to Southeast Asia in the late Ming Dynasty, they all seemed a little excited when talking about this topic. For these overseas wanderers, they knew better than anyone what the fleet bombardment meant.

No matter where they came from, when they met, they were no longer hostile to each other because of their different places of origin as in the past. They even took the initiative to greet each other and chatter about when the Ming Dynasty would open a consulate in their places.

Qing Dynasty?

It is true that many of them came from the Qing Dynasty, but the Qing Dynasty was not ambitious enough. When had the Qing Dynasty ever protected its own people? But it was different for the Ming Dynasty. As soon as they came, they dared to fire for their own people!

If nothing else, it's just for this reason.

You will definitely not suffer any loss if you are a wise man!

People have sharp eyes and they will always make the choice that is best for themselves. Of course, the Westerners occupying Southeast Asia are certainly not so happy. Among people’s rumors, they are of course more concerned about the actions of the British. After all, that was a shot fired under the nose of the British Empire!

"What a coward!"

"Are you that cowardly?"

"What else can they do to our Ming Dynasty? If you ask around, everyone in the Ming Dynasty knows that the emperor of our Ming Dynasty led troops to France to fight the foreign devils. Even the French palace was burned down by our Ming Dynasty."

"We burned down the palace. That would be so exciting."

"That's right. The Qing Empire, I mean, only let others burn down the palace. But we, the Ming Empire, are the ones who burn down others."

"You say, the British are really going to give in like this?"

"What are they doing?"

As people were talking about these topics, the air in Southeast Asia seemed to have changed. No one knew what this change meant, but what was certain was that it meant change.

This kind of change was unexpected by many people, let alone the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. Even Zhu Xianhai, who had just ascended the throne, was stunned for a long time after hearing the news before he spoke.

"You didn't fight with the British!"

"The British didn't dare to fire!"

"That's good, let's negotiate!"

When military efforts cannot resolve the issue, then diplomatic negotiations will be used. In fact, for now, Zhu Xianhai is not willing to break off relations with the British. It is not that he is unwilling, but that the time has not come yet. When the time comes, not to mention Malaysia, even Singapore and even Australia will have to be taken down.

For Zhu Xianhai, who had just ascended the throne as Emperor Shengde, what happened in Southeast Asia was simply a trivial matter not worth mentioning. After all, the Ming Dynasty was currently thriving, and even the British had to make concessions.

The British would certainly not fall out with the Ming Dynasty over the insignificant Kedah Sultanate. Of course, they would definitely make some agreements, such as defining spheres of influence and protecting Ming expatriates in the colonies.

In short, for the Ming Empire, the sound of Kedah's artillery fire was not worth mentioning at all.

But such a trivial matter caused an unprecedented disturbance in East Asia. Governor Li of Xuzhou was stunned for a long time after hearing the news.

Then, he said to himself in his heart.

“Is this still the British Empire?”

Indeed, to everyone, the Ming fleet's action of firing cannons to seize territory right under the noses of Britain was simply a little unbelievable!

In addition to being shocked, Governor Li thought about it all night. He thought about a lot that night. He not only thought about whether the Ming Dynasty could force the British fleet to retreat, but also whether they could force the British to recognize the treaty they signed with the local state.

Governor Li thought more about the conversation with Liu Kunpeng that day. It must be said that the conversation that day had a profound impact on him.

Who wouldn't want to have unfettered rights? He is just a human being.

Governor Li then summoned Zhao Tianfeng. They talked a lot together that morning, mostly about Nanhua. At the end, Governor Li asked.

"You mean, when Nanhua was first built, there was nothing there either."

"Yes, there were only a thousand people at that time, and there was nothing but wasteland all around. We could rely on introducing foreign workers, setting up factories, and developing commerce, but the key is still to have people. When Nanhua was first established, the Zhu family sent people to study in Europe and the United States at all costs. The country's prosperity in recent years has a lot to do with this!"

Looking at the Governor-General, Zhao Tianfeng, the most capable official in the Governor-General's Office in charge of Westernization, spoke directly.

"Your Excellency has been running foreign affairs for the sake of four words - enriching the country and strengthening the army. But if you want to enrich the country and strengthen the army, you have to send people to study abroad. Otherwise, even if we build iron factories and shipyards, it is nothing but missing the point. After all, without talents, these factories are still rootless. After all, we can't rely on foreigners for everything!"

In fact, during these years of foreign affairs, what Zhao Tianfeng hated most was officials. The factory was either full of officials or workers. There were few real technicians. The technicians were basically foreign employees. What about the officials? They were all laymen. How could laymen manage the professionals?

He had said this to the Governor many times, but what was the use? In order to train talents, he even set up apprentice schools in several factories to cultivate talents, but it was still insufficient.

It's not that there is something wrong, it's that he doesn't take it seriously at all. Sometimes even Zhao Tianfeng himself doubts whether his original choice was right or wrong?

Without talents, how can we carry out Westernization? How can we enrich the country and strengthen the military?

Perhaps he could follow Nanhua's lead and learn how to run factories and do business, but without talent, everything would be in vain.

"If you want to make your country rich and your army strong, you still need people!"

"Yes, talent is the foundation. Sir, what did the Zhu family rely on to achieve its current success? It was by educating people. Back then, they only had a group of coolies, but today? By educating people, they have become a powerful country. Sir, the Zhu family only used ten years of hard work!"

ten years!

But it’s only been ten years!

Governor Li fell silent. When it came to foreign affairs over the years, he was proud and even complacent. The shipyard he set up in Haizhou was already able to build large ships. The spinning mill made a profit of over one million taels of silver each year. As for the railway, it was more than 3,000 miles long. Who could compare with such achievements? Even foreigners said, "Governor Li's achievements in a few years are no less than those of other countries in more than ten years." But so what?

"Ah, ten years..."

Listening to the governor's sigh, Zhao Tianfeng thought for a while and said.

"My Lord, instead of sighing, you should make an effort to catch up. In my opinion, if you want to study abroad now, you don't even have to go to Europe and America. There are language barriers in Europe and America, but studying in Nanhua has no language barriers, and the cost of studying abroad is much lower than in Europe and America. We can send some students to Nanhua to study there, and when they return after graduation, they can naturally be used by you, my Lord!"

Although Zhao Tianfeng had defected from Nanhua, he had always been paying attention to Nanhua and had been keeping track of everything there through various channels.

"Nanhua also has a university?"

"Sir, four years ago, Nanhua established Nanhua University. Currently, there are no less than fifteen colleges and universities in the area, covering a wide range of disciplines."

"Alas, we are far inferior to the Zhu family! It's just that there are too many ties in the court. Whenever I mention sending students abroad, they always object in various ways."

With a long sigh, Governor Li narrowed his eyes. He seemed to think for a long time, and then spoke as if he had made up his mind.

"Well, in that case, let's do as you said and send someone to study abroad in Nanhua. By the way..."

Governor Li said after thinking about it.

"Let Jingfang go too! Let him see what's going on there!"

(End of this chapter)