Chapter 268 Self-recommendation (Third update, please subscribe)
Electric lights were definitely a very new thing in Nanhua. Given limited production capacity, priority had of course to be given to meeting the demands of the foreign trade market. After all, the profits from the current foreign sales of various equipment, including electric lights and generators, were extremely considerable.
So the blessing of the Nanhua workers... has not arrived yet, but now, since it is needed in national defense construction, national defense should be given priority. The Coast Guard's report was approved on the day it was submitted to Zhu Xianhai.
However, it only took a week for the shipyard to be brightly lit at night, and the workers of Nanhua Shipyard finally became the first group of people in the world to enjoy this blessing.
This is definitely a great event that is worthy of praise and admiration. Of course, no historian would record this event in history books. For people in 1866, at most they would cheer that mankind had finally defeated darkness.
As for blessings or overtime work, no one even mentions them.
In fact, this was just a trivial matter. When the shipyard became brightly lit at night and the shipyard workers were enjoying the blessings brought by science under the bright lights, the "New Hope" finally sailed into South China Bay.
After more than three years of overseas inspection, Zuo Zongtang and his team finally returned to Nanhua!
For Nanhua in 1866, this was definitely a big event. Not only did Zuo Zongtang and other members of the inspection team return, but also the first group of students sent abroad. Although there were only a few of them, in order to welcome their return, Zhu Xianhai still held a grand welcome banquet to welcome them back.
However, before the welcome banquet, Zhu Xianhai met Charlotte, the girl who had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday on the ship. She was like Sophie Marceau from "First Love", full of youthful vitality and incredibly beautiful.
This made Zhu Xianhai breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the girl was pretty enough, otherwise... that would really be sacrificing her looks. Men also have looks!
Charlotte was extremely conceited about her appearance. The admiration in the man's eyes moved her heart slightly. She met his gaze, walked over, looked at him and said.
"Your Majesty, we finally meet!"
Your Majesty, it is true that Zhuxian has another title - King of the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia.
"Your Highness, welcome to Nanhua!"
As soon as Zhu Xianhai finished speaking, Charlotte spoke in stiff Chinese.
"Your Majesty, I am not here as a guest, but as your queen."
What!
Now it was Zhu Xianhai's turn to be dumbfounded. Although Elizabeth had long told him that Charlotte was the best marriage candidate and repeatedly encouraged him to pursue her, he never expected that this girl would be so... bold.
Or to put it directly.
"queen?"
Zhu Xianhai raised his brows slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable. Charlotte's directness and utilitarianism were indeed a little hard to accept.
"Yes, Your Majesty, as a kingdom, you need a suitable wife, and I believe I am the most suitable marriage partner for you. My mother is Princess Kenino and Musignano, the heir to the Spanish throne. This land was once a Spanish colony, and the royal family, even the Bonaparte family, has many supporters here, which is more conducive to your rule, such as the occupation of Chile... Of course, you will deny this, but it is well known, Your Majesty, that the annexation of Chile is only a matter of time, but you need a suitable plan to make the Chileans accept your rule. I think that as the heir to the Spanish throne, becoming your wife is the most appropriate solution!"
This woman... is so direct!
Are all European women so direct? They appeal directly to interests, not love, just interests?
She considered herself as the solution, and of course it must be said that her suggestion was very tempting. After all, with this "solution", the white people in South America would psychologically agree with the new regime.
After all, they are very unclear about the cost of not agreeing. Unless they are sure to kill these millions of white people without provoking a reaction from Europe, these people are the targets of united front work.
If we raise the knife against them now, it is certain that the old powers in Europe will use this as an excuse to launch an expedition in the name of "saving Europeans".
South China does not have the strength to put itself on the opposite side of Europe. The courage to challenge the whole world like this... well, my Qing Dynasty has it. It's just that the Eight-Nation Alliance entered the capital and signed a treaty based on China's material resources.
And who is this woman in front of me?
It is to give those white people who are hostile to us a reason to submit. It is to save face.
It is no different from the Qing dynasty saying that they were "the destiny of the world". In Europe, it was conquering other countries and sleeping with their daughters. What is this called? It is called national merger. How did the series of titles of European kings come from? Isn't it this way?
Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
For the sake of the long-term stability of the empire, I will sacrifice my beauty.
At this moment, Zhu Xianhai felt heavy-hearted and complicated.
It’s not easy to be an emperor!
"Is this why you're here?"
"No!"
Shaking her head, Charlotte's pretty face turned red.
"This was my initial thought, but I also don't deny that you are a very charming and handsome man, enough to make any girl fall in love with you. After getting to know and meeting you, I am more determined in my thoughts."
Staring straight at Zhu Xianhai with a pair of blue eyes, Charlotte spoke directly and honestly.
"The idea of becoming your wife! Not only because of interests, but also because of love. Maybe not now, but I believe that you will definitely fall in love with me in the future, just like... you do to Elizabeth and the others."
"You know?"
When the words came to his lips, Zhu Xianhai remembered that her Chinese teacher was Song Bing, and Song Bing was also Elizabeth's Chinese teacher. They must have had a lot of communication on the ship.
"Of course, they are all very beautiful and extremely charming women. Any man would be willing to submit to them. The fact that they are willing to be your lovers is enough to prove how outstanding you are. But I believe that one day you will fall in love with me!"
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte looked at the man in front of her.
"Marriages among European nobles usually have nothing to do with love. Marriage is just a transaction. Sometimes it is a union of two kingdoms, sometimes it is a union of two families. It is rarely based on love. But I believe that we may meet because of interests, but we will be united because of love."
I have to say that Charlotte is definitely an extremely bold girl, not only because of her words, but also because of her action of running away from home to pursue "love (li) (yi)".
"Maybe, but you should know that I am only the king of the Mapuche, um, the Indians."
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
"Your Majesty, Napoleon Bonaparte is just a foreigner from Corsica. He can become the greatest emperor of France, and you can also become the greatest emperor of this land!"
What brought Charlotte here?
Is it just because of a report?
No, it was because she saw the shadow of Napoleon in him, although they were two completely different types of people. But what was certain was that they were both conquerors!
Men conquer the world! And women conquer the world by conquering men!
Of course, she doesn't want to conquer the world, but she wants to be the wife of the world conqueror!
Every woman has her own dream. For Charlotte, this is exactly her dream and what she wants.
What she wanted was very simple, that is, to become a queen, and the man in front of her could help her realize this wish.
In fact, this man is the only one in the world who can help her realize this wish.
"Charlotte, ..."
Staring at the girl in front of him, Zhu Xianhai said.
"You are a very brave girl, and I think bravery is one of the most important qualities to be a queen!"
Although he did not agree immediately, Zhu Xianhai's answer was clear enough. His answer brought a smile to Charlotte's pretty face, and her smile was still very beautiful.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I think you will never regret your decision today!"
More than ten minutes later, after Charlotte left, Zuo Zongtang walked in. Zhu Xianhai smiled as he looked at Zuo Zongtang, who was now dressed in a completely Western style.
"Ji Gao, welcome home!"
In fact, in the past few years, Zuo Zongtang wrote him many letters. In the letters, he mentioned many of his feelings about visiting various countries. From those letters, we can feel the changes in this person's thinking. He is now completely different from the past. It even feels like he has been reborn. This is exactly why Zhu Xianhai sent him to various countries for inspection.
"My Lord...No!"
After a pause, Zuo Zongtang said seriously.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you..."
Zuo Zongtang's surrender was completely within Zhu Xianhai's expectations. In fact, he had already surrendered before, and now he just changed his title.
Zhu Xianhai was not very resistant to this title and smiled.
"Ji Gao, you seem to be shouting too early. I'm not the emperor yet!"
Zuo Zongtang shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, although Your Majesty has not yet ascended the throne, in my opinion, it is only a matter of time before you ascend the throne, and my wish is to help Your Majesty and this place reopen our great Ming Riyuetian."
Uh… Actually, Zhu Xianhai had heard a little about that rumor, and he was helpless! It was true that his name was Xian, but the reason why he was called Hai was because his father, who was concerned about the navy, gave him this name during the Straits Crisis in the 1990s. Xianhai… meant giving priority to the development of the navy.
As for the Zhu family... well, they probably just have the same surname. The only thing they have in common is that his grandfather wanted to eat.
Is this considered a tradition of the Zhu family?
Although he felt helpless, Zhu Xianhai thought about it and said.
"Ji Gao, this is Nanhua!"
Not denying it means admitting it. In fact, for Nanhua, it doesn't matter whether there is such a title or not. What is the biggest benefit of having such a title?
In fact, it is to make those immigrants from China willingly submit to His Majesty. After all, no matter what, this emperor is also the emperor of the Han Dynasty. And he is also a descendant of the royal family of the Ming Dynasty, so it is easy for them to accept it.
Zuo Zongtang said.
"I know! This is Nanhua, and Your Majesty is the ruler of Nanhua!"
(End of this chapter)
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