Chapter 3348 3350 [Shared interests]
Xiang Nan was also well aware of this. For this reason, he specially formed a large convoy along the railway to patrol the railway every day to prevent the enemy from causing sabotage.
You must know that the China-Europe Railway passes through countless tunnels, canyons, dense forests, and grasslands. An accident in one section will cause the entire railway to be interrupted.
It's okay if it's a small accident, but it's troublesome if it's a big accident, so you must take strict precautions.
In addition, he also adopted benefit-sharing measures so that businessmen from France, England and other countries can also use China-Europe special trains to transport goods.
In this way, this railway is no longer a source of wealth for Xiang Nan’s family, but a source of wealth for everyone, and the resistance from other countries will naturally be reduced a lot.
After all, capital values profits, and it can do things that benefit itself at the expense of others. What are you doing when you do something that harms others and does not benefit yourself?
Furthermore, Xiang Nan also used freight resource allocation to win over and support foreign businessmen who were close to him, allowing them to serve as his eyes and ears. Just like U.S. investment banks now invest in companies in other countries.
Out of interest considerations, these foreign businessmen are naturally willing to cooperate with Xiang Nan. After all, capital has no national boundaries.
By supporting these foreign businessmen, Xiang Nan not only expanded their capital, but also expanded their influence in their own country, thereby affecting the situation in their own country.
Just like what the United States is doing now, it controls so many countries through the two big sticks of military and economics and makes so many countries dance with it.
…
In the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong's reign, although the China-Europe special train was opened, Xiang Nan did not choose to return to the palace, because the core of the world's duel now lies in Europe.
Over in Asia, the Qing Dynasty now has no rivals. Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia have all been conquered by the Qing Dynasty. And with the completion of the China-Europe railway, the probability of rebellion in these places has become very small.
Comparatively, Europe is full of powerful enemies.
England, France, and Prussia are all bad guys. Therefore, Xiang Nan had to deal with them carefully, otherwise they might overturn his army at any time.
Because of this, Xiang Nan could not leave Europe. He just asked Lang Hua, Ruyi, Xi Yue and others to move from the Forbidden City to Europe to accompany him. It just so happened that they could go out of the city and see the scenery of the world.
Twenty concubines, including Lang Hua, Ru Yi, Xi Yue, Zhu Ying, and Hai Lan, then took the China-Europe special train all the way from the capital to Europe. The scenery they saw along the way was something they had never seen before.
For example, the snow-capped mountains, precipitous peaks, wild forests, boundless tundra, rushing rivers, and snow nearly meters deep... surprised them all.
Most of them have been raised in purdah since they were young. Not to mention going out for outings, they may not even be free in their own homes. Now their horizons have really been opened, which makes them naturally very happy.
“Your Majesty is really a master of martial arts, he actually conquered such a large territory~”
“It will take us half a month just by car, but if we walk, we won’t be able to walk for several years!”
“Tang Monk might not have gone this far to obtain the true scriptures.”
“Tianzhu is just south of Qinghai-Tibet. We are going to Europe now, which is half further than Tianzhu.”
"I heard from Yongheng that outside the pass, it can snow in August and September. Going further north, to the far north, the ground is covered with snow, which will not melt for thousands or tens of thousands of years. And you can see immortals in the sky. The light is so colorful and wonderful, I really want to see it.”
"There is a chance. I heard that you can see it in northern Europe. The emperor said that it is not called fairy light, but called aurora, which is the projection of the sun's light on the earth."
…
"Your Majesty, I haven't seen you for a few years, and all my concubines and concubines miss you." Lang Hua led the concubines to say hello. "Okay, no need to say hello, let's go back to the palace." Xiang Nan smiled and said,
“So this is what foreigners’ palaces look like.”
“It’s weird and weird, but it’s no better than our Forbidden City.”
“Oh, why is this kind of painting still hanging on the wall? It’s so shameless. Take it off immediately.”
The concubines followed Xiang Nan into Ke Palace, chattering all the way.
“Okay, don’t make any noise.” Lang Hua said quickly when she saw this.
They are the concubines of the Qing Emperor, not the chattering old women in the market. They still need to be reserved.
It seems that a trip out really relaxed their hearts.
The Kgong Palace covers an area of 25 hectares, which is much smaller than the Forbidden City which covers an area of 72 hectares. However, the Kremlin Palace is a multi-story building, so the usable area is quite large.
Xiang Nan immediately settled down the concubines. As for the maids, eunuchs, etc., they also came with them this time. The subsequent life was basically the same as in the Forbidden City.
Just here in the Rakshasa Kingdom, there are not many royal chefs, and the vegetables and fruits produced are also quite different from those in the Central Plains, so everyone needs to adapt for a while.
“Your Majesty, these dishes have no flavor or flavor, and yet you can still eat them? I really feel sorry for you.” Lang Hua said, looking at the dark smoked steak.
The Chinese people are very particular about not getting tired of fine food and meticulous cooking. Especially the emperor’s royal banquets are very particular about the color, flavor and taste. Confucius said: "Don't eat if the color is bad, don't eat if the smell is bad, don't eat if it's not cooked well, don't eat if it's not cooked properly, don't eat if it's not cut right, don't eat if it's not cooked properly..."
The cooking style of the Rakshasa Kingdom is rough and bold, which is very different from the food style of the Central Plains, so Lang Hua, who comes from a wealthy family, naturally can't stand it.
On the other hand, Xiang Nan didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. He has an appetite for the world. He has traveled all over the world and eaten all kinds of weird food.
Comparatively, this dark-looking smoked steak is actually very normal.
"It doesn't matter. It's naturally not as good as at home when you go out. It's just a little bit better." Xiang Nan smiled and said, "Come on, try it. It actually tastes pretty good. It's similar to the taste of bacon, with a little smoke."
“Well, I’m still not used to it.” Lang Hua took a bite and then waved her hands.
Fortunately, the concubines were very capable with their hands. They were not used to the cooking done by the Rakshasa cooks, so they started their own small stoves.
Fortunately, there are still general vegetables, such as cucumber, eggplant, cabbage, garlic, radish, onion, etc. In addition, there is no shortage of beef and mutton here, so eating is not a big problem.
A few days later, they specially made dumplings stuffed with mutton and cabbage to celebrate their reunion with Xiang Nan.
Xiang Nan saw that they were so affectionate, so he wrapped them up together with them.
“Your Majesty, my concubines and I don’t even know that you are really good at making dumplings.” Yi Huan said with a smile.
When all the concubines saw him, they all praised him.
Logically speaking, Xiang Nanyi stretched out his hands and opened his mouth when rice came. A gentleman should not be so well wrapped when he is far away from the kitchen. I didn't expect that he could be wrapped up in a decent way, even better than the concubines like them.
"What kind of person am I? Nothing in the world can defeat me." Xiang Nan said with a proud smile.
He hasn’t dared to reveal his true abilities yet. If he did, they would all be shocked.
(End of this chapter)