Chapter 924: Kindness and Power (Fourth update, please subscribe)
“This is a happy city!”
Amid the cheerful music and the cheers of people singing and dancing, the people of Constantinople, who had been enslaved by the Turks for 424 years, were finally liberated.
Amid the cheers of the people, accompanied by several loud bangs, the tower outside the Hagia Sophia was blown down. Led by the Grand Pope, people held the first worship in the Hagia Sophia since 1453.
On this day, the sound of mass filled the sky over Constantinople, and the double-headed eagle flag of the Roman Empire fluttered.
Today... the Roman Empire is resurrected!"
The news reports in the Ming Daily were enthusiastic, but to ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, it meant nothing at all. They would not cheer for the victory of another country thousands of miles away, even if it was an ally.
As for the Roman Empire, its greatness, its extraordinaryness...what does it have to do with China? You can brag about yours, and we will live ours. At most, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a congratulatory telegram in the name of the emperor, congratulating the Russian Tsar and the new "Caesar".
The title of the Roman Empire is enough to make Russians crazy.
"The whole world is waiting for you, His Majesty Alexander I, to be crowned as the Emperor of the Roman Empire in Hagia Sophia!"
Zhu, who knew the inner thoughts of Russians, certainly knew how to tickle the hearts of Russians. In fact, this is not much different from the relationship between men and women. As long as you cater to their preferences, the country is no different from women. As long as you tickle the right place, the rest will be easy.
But the licker will end up with nothing!
"Your Majesty, I believe Alexander I will be unable to sleep all night because of what you said!"
Zuo Zongtang's words made Emperor Zhu burst into laughter.
"Haha, this is exactly what I want. By the way, the Russians will definitely move their capital to Constantinople. They will certainly implement a new capital construction plan. This time our construction company performed well in directional blasting. We should try to get some reconstruction contracts. Gold rubles... that's also gold!"
War is business, and the Ming Dynasty did pursue expansionism, but at the same time, later experience told Emperor Zhu the fact that building a country on trade is the only way for a weak country to rise into a strong one.
Exporting to foreign countries is trade, and so is seeking contracts for infrastructure such as buildings, railways, and bridges around the world. The current infrastructure technology of the Ming Dynasty is at the world's leading level. Not to mention the specialties like the first skyscraper, even the four Muslim towers outside the Hagia Sophia, only the Ming Dynasty's blasting engineers in the world can carry out accurate directional blasting to destroy them.
"Indeed, a gold ruble is also gold, Your Majesty. I heard that Russia has already started looking for construction companies. By then, construction companies from France, Britain, Germany, and of course Russia will all get involved. I estimate that the competition will be fierce."
Having lived in the Ming Dynasty for so many years, Zuo Zongtang certainly knew that "trade-based nation-building" was the basic national policy of the Ming Dynasty. Who doesn't love money? A rich people and a strong country!
"Then find another way and don't just focus on superficial projects."
After thinking about it, Emperor Zhu suggested.
"The reconstruction of Constantinople is definitely a huge project. Not only will there be landmark buildings such as train stations, government offices, department stores and hotels, but there will also be other projects, such as sewer projects... When the Eastern Roman Empire built Constantinople, it established a complete sewer system. However, after the Turkish occupation, they simply did not know how to repair the sewers and reservoirs left by Rome. They simply filled up the several large reservoirs in the city as soon as they broke down. After ruling for more than 400 years, they still did not know how to repair them. Even in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Sultan recruited an expedition team from Europe to explore the Eastern Roman sewers. After ruling Constantinople for more than 400 years, they did not even draw a blueprint for the sewers. Let's see if we can use this as a breakthrough point to take over this order. Rebuilding the underwater road is also a big order!"
What is the regression of civilization after barbarism conquers civilization?
Many people never admit this, but in fact, it is true all over the world. The Ottoman Empire was the best among them. Not to mention the decline in infrastructure, even the population was halved. Egypt's population returned to the Middle Kingdom under the Ottomans, and at its lowest point it was even less than the population of the Old Kingdom. Isn't that scary? This is comparable to the Qing Dynasty ruling China and bringing the population back to the level of the Xia Dynasty 4,000 years ago. In the eyes of Emperor Zhu, the comparison between the Qing Dynasty and the Ottoman civil rule is whey.
However, business is business. Without the complete retreat of the Ottoman Empire, there would be no business today. The future post-war reconstruction is the big business. The Ming Dynasty must not only do this business, but also do as much as possible. No matter how much money it makes, it will not feel like a burden.
"I will let those companies know, but Your Majesty..."
After thinking for a while, Zuo Zongtang said.
"Your Majesty, the Mato Grosso Plateau has been occupied by our army. When will the New Capital Project begin?"
As the prime minister of the empire, Zuo Zongtang certainly knew about the "New Capital of the Empire" plan that the great emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had been thinking about. He also knew the significance of the new capital of the empire to the Ming Dynasty, so of course he would pay attention to it. Even when the military had just conquered the Mato Grosso Plateau, he had already ordered people to go to the local area to make preparations. In fact, the so-called preparations meant that the land would be made official. As for the private land nearby, the large landowners would be directly confiscated for some reasons, and the small self-cultivating farmers would be directly purchased. In a word, as a minister, you always need to make preparations in advance.
"Um……"
After thinking about it, Emperor Zhu said.
"The construction of the new capital of the empire is related to the thousand-year foundation of our Ming Dynasty. There is no need to rush. Just prepare the land first. By the way..."
Looking at Zuo Zongtang, Emperor Zhu gave specific instructions.
"Left Prime Minister, please buy a piece of land outside the planned area to build a garden! 1,000 acres will be enough!"
Purchasing land outside the planned area of the imperial capital was ostensibly to be used as "the Zuo family's garden", but in reality, it was simply giving money to Zuo Zongtang. No matter how much the land price there was now, it would surely skyrocket after the imperial capital was built in the future. In the future, as the imperial capital expanded, the one thousand acres of land could be developed a little bit, and it would be enough for the Zuo family to benefit from for generations.
This is no longer a simple reward, it is clearly a hereditary privilege bestowed upon the Zuo family!
"His Majesty……"
In response to His Majesty's reward, Zuo Zongtang was so moved that he bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty's gift to me is something I know well, but the construction of the imperial capital is related to the fate of the Ming Dynasty. As the prime minister, how can I be partial to others? Please take back your order!"
(End of this chapter)
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