Chapter 739 This Ming Dynasty is Different (Third update, please subscribe)
In the world of the 19th century, weak countries have no status!
All weak countries are just fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others. This is true from Asia to other countries in the world.
This is also the fundamental reason why the Ming Dynasty continued to pursue industrialization, enhance national strength through industrialization, and maintain a medium-sized and well-equipped land and naval force.
Strong country!
No one is more eager to succeed than the weak, and no one understands better than the Chinese that falling behind will lead to being beaten. The Chinese may not understand this, but it is enough for the great Emperor Zhu.
In the past fifteen years, it was thanks to the strong promotion of Emperor Zhu that Nanhua had transformed from a seemingly insignificant "small colonial company" into a powerful empire. For the world in 1875, almost everything about this empire was a miracle.
In the past few years, there have been so many inventions here that have surprised and amazed the world.
From the electric light that dispelled darkness and brought light to the world, to the cameras, cars, movies, and phonographs that took the world by storm, one invention after another kept people overwhelmed, to the point that a kind of speech developed in Europe.
"God seems to favor the Ming Empire more. In just over a decade, they have created achievements that even God is amazed at!"
Correspondingly, people can't help but compare the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and then everyone is silent, because they see two completely different people. The scholars in the Ming Dynasty are happy to discuss various topics such as science and technology with any scholar. They have an extremely strong curiosity about European science and art. In contrast, the Qing Dynasty was panicked, hostile, and ignorantly rejected new things such as foreigners, trains, and telegraphs. It makes people wonder how they can be the same people?
Not to mention the curiosity of Westerners, even Guo Songtao, the former Qing Dynasty's ambassador to Britain, was surprised to find that he seemed out of place here after arriving in the Ming Dynasty.
"Master, you see, they are really different from the common people in our country!"
Sitting in the open-air teahouse, leaning against the flower fence beside the teahouse, looking at the bustling pedestrians on the road, Liang once again said to her husband.
"It's not about how they dress. Look at their spirit, their appearance, and even the way they talk..."
Liang thought for a while and said.
"The way he speaks, he looks a bit like a foreigner."
"confidence!"
Guo Songtao uttered two words, then pointed at the pedestrians across the road with the hand holding the teacup and said.
"Madam, look at that man, the one in blue clothes standing next to the street lamp. Is there anything different about him?"
When the master asked this, Liang looked at him carefully for a while and suddenly said with some joy.
"Ah, sir, I dare say this man has just arrived in Ming not long ago."
"How do you know?"
"Master, look at that person standing next to the street lamp, he is so timid, bent over, with his head down, very cautious, just like..."
"It's inevitable for people who come from the countryside to be like this when they first come to the city."
Guo Songtao shook his head.
"Ma'am, please take a closer look."
After observing carefully for a while, Liang said.
"Huh? It seems a little different. When the police are around, he can't help himself...ah!"
Suddenly, Liang clapped her hands as if she understood something.
"Master, I understand. In my country, the people fear officials like tigers and are very cautious in their lives. The county magistrates who confiscate people's property and the prefects who exterminate their families, but here the people have no such concerns at all, so they live more freely. That man must have just come from my country. When he saw the police, he couldn't help but want to avoid them..."
Listening to his wife's words, Guo Songtao sighed silently. He seemed to understand why Zuo Zongtang said that - "Everyone under the Qing Dynasty is a slave. Only in the Ming Dynasty can people be human beings."
You can be a human being! Instead of a slave!
The imperial court governs officials by treating them as slaves, and the officials govern the people by treating them as prey and slaves, killing and taking them at will. In a country like that, how can the people... have any self-confidence or spirit?
"Hey, ma'am..."
Suddenly, Guo Songtao said.
"Now I finally understand why Yang Jigao said in the letter that this place is the future of China. The difference between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty does not lie in the number of factories, but in the spirit of the people, in..."
What?
In the Emperor!
The emperors of the Qing Dynasty were foreigners who ruled China. All they thought about was the world of one family and one surname. Everything they did was to maintain their rule. As for the prosperity of China and the future of the nation, these were naturally not within their consideration.
But what about in the Ming Dynasty?
The emperor of the Ming Dynasty not only has to consider his family, but also the whole world!
The Son of Heaven governs the people.
We must take care of each family and surname, but we must also take care of the prosperity of China and the future of the nation even more.
When he came to this conclusion, Guo Songtao felt heavy-hearted.
It was precisely because of this conclusion that he realized that the Qing Dynasty had no future in this world.
If this continues, our Qing Dynasty will be nothing more than meat on a board, the kind that can be exploited by anyone.
But what else can we do? For the Qing Dynasty, they must first maintain the rule of Aixinjueluo and the Manchus. As for the rest, it is not important.
But how could China be composed of only the Aisin-Gioro clan and the Qing dynasty?
How could such calloused and spiritless people possibly fight against the fierce and powerful Western army?
But even if there is no future, what can we do?
Unlike Zuo Zongtang, he had never been captured. Even when he was attacked by conservatives and had to return home in disgrace, he was still very grateful to the court in his heart. After all, without the court's recognition and favor, how could he have made the leap into officialdom?
But... Guo Songtao not only thought of the accusations against him by the court officials, but of course also thought of his fellow villagers - now people from all over the capital regarded him as a traitor, and even his fellow villagers in Hunan regarded him as a "traitor" and scolded him for "colluding with foreigners."
"Master, this place is actually quite good. If we set up some business here and settle down here, it wouldn't be a bad idea..."
Without waiting for Liang to finish her words, Guo Songshou sighed and said.
"Fallen leaves always return to their roots, and besides..."
Guo Songtao was unable to continue speaking when the words came to his lips. In fact, he had had such thoughts in his mind more than once, but the thoughts only flashed through his mind. After all...
"Why do you think so much, sir?"
Noticing that the master was a little absent-minded, Liang interrupted him with a smile.
"When you were in London, didn't you keep saying that when you got to Daming, you would definitely have a drink with Mr. Zuo and the others and have a good reunion? But why are you avoiding them here? Master, you have to go meet this old friend!"
"I have to meet him. I have to meet him, but..."
Guo Songtao was quite sad. He and Zuo Zongtang were not only from the same Hunan hometown, but also an old friend. Logically, he should have visited Zuo Zongtang first when he arrived in Ming Dynasty, but he did not dare to go. What was he afraid of?
"It's just that now is not the right time!"
While he was sighing, Guo Songtao suddenly opened his eyes wide, looked at the other side of the tea table, and said in surprise,
"This, this...how is this possible?"
The reason why he was so surprised was that he saw a person who absolutely could not be here, but that person was sitting alive at the next table.
This was simply unbelievable. It was impossible for him to appear here, but Guo Songtao knew that he had definitely not made a mistake. Even if the boy had no braids now, he could still recognize him at a glance. After all,
But why is he here...
This was almost impossible, but... at this moment, Guo Songtao saw that he saw himself. His expression showed surprise and some fear!
That’s right, it’s him!
(End of this chapter)
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