Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1800 Seven Years Later

In 1657 AD, seven years had passed since the first World Expo.

In the city of London, on the banks of the Thames, there was mist and rain, and two ironclad ships broke down in the Thames despite the rain.

Water droplets fell on the hull and flowed along the black hull. The cold rain and the steel hull intertwined into a classic picture of the steam age.

A group of people in raincoats came out of the cabin, and some held waterproof kerosene lamps, looking at the slightly backward city of London in the mist.

One dinghy was lowered in an attempt to make contact with shore, while the rest remained on board and waited.

"This is the city of London, right? I haven't been here for ten years, and it seems that something has changed."

"This time your mission is to visit Western countries and inform them about the Second World Expo. It seems that you have a bright future in the Ministry of Rites."

"Brother Zheng, you are amazing. Now you are the captain of the iron-clad ship 'Wu', and you have children, and your family is happy."

"You are not young, you are not thinking of starting a family? With your status, what kind of princess can't do it if you want to marry?"

"Actually, when I finish this mission and go back, I'm going to get married."

"Really? Who is that girl? Why haven't you heard of it?"

Two people were chatting, one in his 30s and the other in his 20s.

The two of them had participated in a round-the-world voyage more than ten years ago, and they had a good friendship with each other.

The boat landed to communicate with the customs officials in the City of London, and then came back with two customs officials from the United Kingdom.

"Welcome, friends from the East, I didn't expect you to come on such a bad rainy day. Her Majesty the Queen has told us in advance that as long as you come, let us receive you with the highest standard. It's a pity that it's raining, and everything can only be kept simple." "The customs officer in England said to the person in charge on the ironclad ship in Chinese with an English accent.

"You can speak Chinese?" Huaxia Lai on the ironclad ship was a little surprised that the English customs officials greeted them in Chinese.

"That's natural. I graduated from Queen's College a few years ago and have been working in customs. Queen's College uses both Chinese and English for teaching. Even if you are not an official who graduated from Queen's College, it is necessary to know Chinese when working in customs. One thing, because the amount of trade between us is increasing day by day, and Chinese is a common language in the world." The customs official replied.

The two men looked at each other. It turned out that the England customs officer was a graduate of Queen's College.

Queen's College is a modern college established by Queen Sophia in imitation of the Beijing Normal University. In order to please Chu Yun and not offend the English, it is strictly stipulated that Chinese-English bilingual teaching must be used, so it is normal for the other party to understand Chinese.

The current Queen's College has overwhelmed Cambridge University and Oxford University in England to become the best college in England.The reason is also very simple. Sophia has the power to appoint cabinet members, and the cabinet has to manage various agencies and appoint officials. Students from Queen's College have many opportunities to obtain government positions, and more people are willing to join Queen's College.

"Are you in a hurry to carry the goods to the ship? If you are not in a hurry, you can go ashore and have a few cups of hot tea. If you are really in a hurry, I will go back and arrange more people to help you carry the goods ashore." The customs official said.

"Don't worry. It's better to say that we are wet by the rain, and our cargo loss will be even more serious."

"Then please come ashore with me, and I will prepare hot black tea for you."

The main crew of the ironclad followed the customs officer ashore, and he led a dozen of them to a brick house.

The crew of the ironclad took off their raincoats and shook the rain off them.

"This is the 'rubber raincoat' produced by Li's Chemical, right? It is also sold in our city of London. Your umbrellas and raincoats are very popular here, and London is often cloudy and rainy." Seeing them taking off their raincoats, the customs officials recognized them immediately. The manufacturer of the product.

Li's Chemical, the rubber products it produces have been exported to Europe.

"You guessed right, this is indeed a product of Li's Chemical."

The members of the ironclad ship entered the house, and soon other customs officials brought tea sets at the right time, set them up in front of everyone, poured steaming black tea for them, and even prepared sugar thoughtfully.

"We still like the taste of the original tea." The crew who got off the ironclad ship did not put sugar into the black tea.

"This time you used ironclad ships to come to our England. It must be to officially invite other countries to participate in the Second World Expo, right? Although it is still three years later, I think the European countries can't wait. The first time After the World Expo, conflicts among countries have decreased, and no large-scale war broke out again. In addition, the "Navigation Regulations" allowed many sea power countries to declare that the use of privateers in peacetime is a criminal act, and there are many fewer conflicts on the sea. You are the true messengers of peace." The customs official hung his wet hat on the hook and said to the group of envoys from China.

"I remember when I came here more than ten years ago, the English Channel was still very dangerous, and merchant ships were attacked. It seems that Spain and the Netherlands have given up confrontation now?" a man in his 20s asked.

"Times have changed. How can their wooden sailboats defeat your ironclad ships? If they can't do it by force, then there is no need for them to continue to fight against you. Spain and the Netherlands have joined the navigation regulations 4 years ago. .Now the English Channel, merchant ships can pass freely. The only troublesome area is the Caribbean Sea, where there are still privateers and pirate ships.” The London Customs official said.

The crew of the ironclad ship nodded after listening.

The major civilizations in the world have joined the "Free Navigation Regulations" dominated by the East, and various resources and commodities can pass freely on the sea.

Unless there is another naval power, it is possible to hinder the free passage of sea routes.

China, which dominates the navigation regulations, is naturally the biggest beneficiary. Gold, silver and resources from all over the world are continuously transported to China along the shipping routes, and then turned into commodities and dumped all over the world.It is difficult for products from other kingdoms to compete with industrial machinery.

"Our people have already gone to inform Her Majesty the Queen, please stay safe. By the way, I still don't know your names after talking for so long?" the customs officer asked.

A man in his 30s who got off the ironclad ship said, "My name is Zheng Chenggong."

A man in his 20s replied, "Chu Lingyun."

(End of this chapter)