Chapter 540: Anti-American Act (First update, please subscribe)
After Li Jingfang and his party walked out of the train station, they boarded the double-decker carriages that had been prepared long ago. There were more than 100 people in the group riding in five double-decker carriages.
In order to get a more intuitive feeling of the Ming Dynasty, Li Jingfang deliberately sat on the top floor. As the carriage moved, he looked around curiously at the city in front of him.
From now on, what he saw before his eyes was a strange and bizarre world. Although it was evening, the tall buildings on the roadside seemed to present a completely different world.
"Well, that carriage doesn't even need a horse!"
Suddenly, someone pointed at a tram coming in the distance with a clanging sound.
They even stared in amazement at the bustling crowd in front of the train station, scrambling to get into the strange-looking car, and then watching it clang away into the distance.
"Then that's the tram!"
Li Jingfang muttered to himself in surprise.
He had seen trams in picture magazines and knew that they were a type of vehicle that did not need to be pulled by horses. They were similar to trains, but unlike trains, they did not require a locomotive to tow them.
"Yes, I think so..."
Just before Li Xuexian finished speaking, the dim streets suddenly lit up.
I saw street lights emitting dazzling light stretching along the street into the distance.
The electric lights that seemed to have no end made Li Jingfang and others a little confused, but they knew that they were electric lights.
They even knew that Nanhua had the nickname of "the city that never sleeps", but now when they looked up at the bright lights of the street lamps, the shock they felt was unimaginable to outsiders.
For Li Jingfang and others who had just arrived in Nanhua on this day, the shock they felt seemed inevitable. After all, Nanhua is currently the most modern city in the world.
Nanhua not only has street lights covering the entire city, but also has modern transportation such as trams. As the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Yingtian is undoubtedly backward compared to Nanhua.
However, this backwardness will soon change. In the planning of the capital, not only the construction of the capital is replanned, but also a new district is planned in the south of the city. Compared with the old city full of European style, the buildings in the new district are modern but have Chinese architectural style.
After all, this is the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and it is obviously inappropriate to have all European-style buildings. Although Zhu Xianhai's plan is to build the future capital of the Ming Dynasty in the hinterland, this temporary capital still needs to be built.
The new district is an administrative district in the center, and its shape is "中" when viewed from the air. The area includes many government buildings, as well as buildings such as the Imperial Library and Museum. The State Council Building is located on the left wing of the "中" district. The building was designed by Zhu Xianhai himself and is a building with a strong Chinese architectural style. It covers an area of 51,000 square meters, with a construction area of 27,500 square meters. It is in the shape of a "山". The building is the latest reinforced concrete structure, with the main entrance facing east, six floors on the front, and two floors of tower roofs in the basement. The roof is covered with glazed tiles. Although the overall architectural style is modern, the tower top and roof are oriental. The layout is grand and the appearance is extremely majestic.
In fact, this is also the characteristic of the architectural design style of the new urban area - mainly based on the Chinese national style, while incorporating modern needs, and emphasizing both practicality and beauty. In the second year of Shengde, that is, in March 1871, after the State Council moved here, to a certain extent, this was the political center of the Ming Dynasty, although it was 6.5 kilometers away from the imperial palace.
That morning, as usual, Zuo Zongtang, the prime minister of the empire, was handling official business in his office on the sixth floor when Foreign Minister Zhu Guozhong came running over in a hurry.
"Think left, think left,"
What are you thinking about?
Every time, whenever Zuo Zongtang heard the king's uncle calling him, he couldn't help but grin. This guy spoke in Mandarin.
"Something terrible has happened!"
Putting a newly received secret telegram on the table, Zhu Guozhong said seriously.
"In the United States, no, in Washington, some congressmen have submitted a bill to enforce the provisions of treaties concerning the Chinese. They want to fundamentally ban Chinese people from entering the United States..."
"What?"
Zuo Zongtang stood up suddenly and said.
"What's the telegram coming over?"
"Just now."
"Let's go and see His Majesty together!"
Let’s go see His Majesty together!
When Zuo Zongtang walked out of the office, he gave instructions to the secretary outside.
"Prepare the car and go to the palace!"
After a while, when Zuo Zongtang and Zhu Guozhong went downstairs, a black BMW 101 sedan had already parked under the large balcony in front of the building. After the two got in, the car drove out of the State Council building. When Zhu Xianhai ascended the throne last year, this car's appearance borrowed from the luxury sedan of the 1930s Ford sedan, but only a few were produced.
Now, more than 300 of these 50-horsepower four-cylinder five-seater cars have been produced, of which more than 200 are in various government offices. As soon as it was put into use, it was deeply loved by people. After all, this car is fast.
As the car drove out, six escort motorcycles guarded it in front and behind. Once the convoy was on the road, the speed quickly increased to 40 kilometers. In the speeding car, Zuo Zongtang had a frown on his face, with a hint of annoyance.
"Those Americans, aren't they just looking for trouble?"
"That's right. Do they think our fleet is just for show?"
When Zhu Guozhong, the uncle of the emperor, mentioned the fleet with confidence when he mentioned the United States, it was because the U.S. Navy was simply not worth mentioning - there was not even a single ironclad ship. At the end of the American Civil War, the U.S. Navy had 700 ships and more than 5,000 artillery pieces, far ahead of the navies of European countries. After the war, even in the face of the reality of national division, members of the United States still believed that since the war was over and there would be no war for a long time in the future, they should focus on developing the economy, so they began to cut the navy on a large scale. The U.S. Navy only retained 48 warships in service, and these warships were basically wooden ships. As for the ironclad ships built during the war that had no navigation capabilities, they were basically eliminated.
Forgetting war will lead to danger. Americans understand this truth. It is because there is no threat, even in the south... they have put their horses in the mountains.
The words of the King's Uncle made Zuo Zongtang frown again. This was exactly what he was worried about.
What you fear will come true. Just a few months ago, we were worried that the border between the North Sea Governor's District and the United States would lead to an intensification of relations between the two sides, but now, the Americans have come directly to our door.
How could he not be worried when faced with the United States coming to him for help?
"My Lord, what I am most worried about right now is that His Majesty will use the fleet to speak!"
Before this, Zuo Zongtang had no such worries, but since the Kedah Sultanate, he basically understood His Majesty’s attitude - the Ming Dynasty is a member of China, and naturally should be the protector of the Chinese nation. Now that the Americans have taken the initiative to come forward to cause trouble, can His Majesty endure it?
However, after more than ten minutes, Zuo Zongtang's worries disappeared. After listening to his report, Zhu Xianhai did not give an immediate answer, but walked to the window silently and thought for a while.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was finally introduced. In another world, it would have taken another ten years to implement. Unexpectedly, now, the Chinese Exclusion Act was introduced ten years ahead of schedule.
America!
Finally I couldn't bear it anymore.
Zhu Xianhai said, smoking a cigar silently and thinking for a while.
"Let's pass a bill too!"
"What?"
"Let the Minister of Justice start drafting an Anti-American Treaty based on this treaty!"
Give him a taste of his own medicine, Zhu Xianhai sneered and said.
"Can't the Americans pass laws? So can we. We should treat the Chinese the same way they treat them. Aren't there nearly 10,000 Americans in the North Sea Governorate? We should treat them according to the American laws. They prohibit Chinese workers employed as miners from entering the United States, so we should also prohibit Americans from entering the Ming Dynasty. No American workers are allowed to enter the Ming Dynasty."
The reason for banning Americans from entering the Ming Dynasty was not only a targeted countermeasure, but also a more important reason - gold. Soon the news of the discovery of gold in Alaska would spread throughout the world, which would cause an unprecedented wave of immigration.
If there were no corresponding legal prohibition clauses, how could we prevent Americans from entering the Ming Dynasty to pan for gold? Now the bill that the United States has come up with is simply a reason that comes to the door, which can directly close the door of the Ming Dynasty.
"As for the reason! ..."
Walking back to the table, looking at the telegram, Zhu Xianhai read the contents of the bill.
“Since the U.S. government believes that the arrival of Chinese workers in the United States endangers the good order in certain places within the United States, therefore…”
Throwing the telegram on the desk, Zhu Xianhai suppressed his inner dissatisfaction and anger and said.
"Since the Ming Empire government believes that American workers coming to the Ming Empire are endangering the good order in certain places within the empire, therefore... there is no need to modify it, just apply this American bill directly. As for this bill, it was proposed by those senators, so remember to mail them a copy and translate it into English!"
"Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan,"
Zuo Zongtang quickly complimented him.
"If the Americans can target us, we can also target them!"
Humph!
In response to Zuo Zongtang's flattery, Zhu Xianhai just snorted twice and said nothing.
Is this revenge?
This is certainly not real revenge. What is real revenge?
We must speak with strength! Introducing a targeted bill like this is just a simple response, not a retaliation.
And now...it's not very comfortable to hold this anger in.
"American……"
Zhu Xianhai snorted somewhat unhappily.
"They really got carried away..."
I will continue to update today! Guaranteed to have more than 10,000 words!
(End of this chapter)
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