At the end of the Tang Dynasty, it was a feudal town, but in Western Europe

"Hererio, I remember that Hamburg City was built less than two and a half years ago?" Odateto looked at the towering Heavenly Father Tower beside him, and couldn't help asking, "In two and a half years, can such a tall tower be built?" Is it the city wall? You and I both know how hard it is to transport and buy stone and wood, but isn’t this time too fast?”

Helerio did laugh and said: "The reason is very simple. First of all, the entire city wall is not completely made of stone, but made of bricks, so it does not need to be transported and polished over long distances like stone.

And the wood is even simpler, just sending people to open up wasteland to cut down trees is enough for our use. This is still when our Duke issued an agricultural and forestry decree to rest the forest every five years.

As for speed, Seres cement dries much faster and is much harder than mortar. "

After this period of development, the city walls of Hamburg changed from three-meter mud and wood walls to six-meter walls of masonry structure.

Originally, Feng Sen wanted to build a cement city wall, but after experiments and investigations, he gave up this plan. The first reason is that the cement output is too low, and the second reason is that the cement is actually triad, which is too brittle.

If steel bars can be used as the frame, the brittleness can be perfectly neutralized, but Feng Sen has no choice but to use steel armor and farm tools, let alone use them as steel bars, so he has no choice but to give up.

When the carriage came to the city walls, Odateto carefully observed the walls. The walls of Hamburg's walls were quite different from those of Constantinople.

The walls of Constantinople are made of large stones, so most of the wall bricks are very thick and large, while the wall bricks of Hamburg have a fine and dense feeling.

Compared with the wall bricks on the walls of Constantinople, the bricks used in the city walls of Hamburg are flatter and slender. Between the bricks and stones, traces of gray triad cement can be seen.

Entering from the city gate, passing through a dark and deep doorway, a long blue-gray road made of tile roofs extends all the way forward, the road that can allow four carriages to pass directly leads to the inner city, and the bell from the Heavenly Father Tower The sound and chanting make Odateto seem to have returned to Constantinople.

Pointing to the two-meter-high square wall on the side of the road, Helerio introduced the city to his friends with a spring breeze on his face: "Hamburg faces south and faces the Elbe River. The city is divided into three square districts, one inner city, An outer city, a market area.

There are currently a total of twelve workshops in the three districts, and each workshop can accommodate more than 1000 people. The new workshop is still under construction, and it is said that it can accommodate up to 3 to [-] people. "

Looking at the slate-covered drains on both sides of the road, Odateto turned his gaze back to his old friend: "Are there any restrictions for outsiders in Hamburg?"

"Of course there will be." Helerio said, pointing to a relatively tall square wall in the distance, "See if there is no one there, it is the inner city, and outsiders are not allowed to enter the inner city unless they have the seal of the shogunate.

The inner city is where officials, military officers, dental soldiers, and Han nobles live. The streets are much wider than ours. Not only are there flower beds and small parks, but there are also dedicated people to clean them every day. If my wife is not Han, I would not be able to enter. "

"Ah? Are you married? When did this happen?" Odateto stood up with a snap, but was immediately knocked down by the roof of the carriage.

Helerio couldn't help showing a smile that couldn't be hidden: "Recently, I wanted to inform you, but after thinking about it, the distance is still too far, so I finally forget it."

Odateto said in disbelief: "You actually married a Sirisian?! Oh my God, a Sirisian, I haven't even seen one, you actually already have a Sirisian wife."

"Her name is Jin Qiuniang." Helerio smiled softly, "She was a skilled girl when she was in Seris, but since she came here, the Duke gave her a few acres of land. It will be fine."

"Technical girl?" Odateto's eyes widened.

"What? Don't you look down?" Helerio snorted dissatisfiedly, "How many people want to marry, but there is no such way. Although she is a skilled woman, she is just like the rich widow in Venice, vying for others.

She not only owns land and real estate, but also has the identity of a Han Chinese. Do you know what a Han Chinese represents?

All Han people can serve as high-ranking officials, receive titles, and as long as they are willing to join the army, they can divide another [-] acres of land without paying taxes.

You must know that the local yamen has no right to judge the crimes committed by the government soldiers, and only the central government of the shogunate can judge.

The highest-level dental soldiers in the government soldiers will never be sentenced to death or corporal punishment unless they commit treason, and the highest sentence is exile.This is the so-called sentence that cannot be punished by soldiers, and that common people cannot be treated with courtesy.

The most important thing is that she has connections with Han Chinese. My wife is Han Chinese, and those officials look up to me. "

"Common people?" Odateto said this somewhat unfamiliar Chinese word.

"Yeah, if I didn't have this Seris wife, I would be a commoner, but if we have a child in the future and ask him to join the army, then he will be a Han soldier." Helerio said happily, "You will know when you see me. My home is in Taobaofang, which is on the edge of the West Market, and I will be there soon."

Sitting on the somewhat shaky carriage, Odateto looked out through the car window. The roadside walls obscured his sight, but many two-story wooden buildings or taller gray tile roofs could still be seen.

Unlike the warm and glorious atmosphere of Constantinople, it seems to be more solemn and orderly, as can be seen from these horizontal and vertical streets.

"Look there, it's Shangxuefang, where the housing prices are the most expensive, because the church and the church public school are there, as long as you are a believer in Heavenly Father, you can send your children to the church to learn characters and classics every Saturday and Sunday."

"Look over there. That's the East City. It used to be the busiest, with gambling houses and brothels, but it was later moved to the port by the lord. I heard that it will be transformed into a school ground."

"Just now those people in green clothes don't provoke you if you don't provoke them. They are all worthy bannermen. They are nothing, but the bannermen and the tooth soldiers are closely related. Maybe there is some kind of tooth soldier's relatives. Then It will be difficult."

"We're here, we're here." Helerio greeted Rizheng, who was guarding the gate, and then said to Odateto, who was dazzled, "My home is here."

The carriage turned a corner and came to a steady stop within two steps. The gatekeeper immediately walked out of the courtyard and moved a small bench to the side of the carriage.

Dragging the dizzy Odateto, Helerio got out of the carriage and stood in front of his small courtyard.

Chapter 286 I've Been a Hamburger for a Long Time, and I've Been Registered in Hamburg!

Standing on the street of Taobaofang, Odateto found that it was mostly small courtyards, while what he saw in the port area were mostly crowded houses of tens of square meters or even tens of square meters.

Raising his feet, looking at the gravel road under his feet, and then raising his head, he looked at the nearly two-meter-high courtyard wall in front of him. Odateto suddenly realized, isn’t this the middle-class community on the side of Constantine?

Although the size of Helerio's yard cannot be seen from the outside, it is roughly estimated that it is at least two to three hundred square meters.

"What are you doing in a daze?" Helerio waved to Odateto, "Come in!"

The courtyard door was wide open, and the groom drove the carriage to the center of the courtyard, unloaded the horses, and drove them into the stables, while Odateto looked around and followed Helerio.

This small courtyard consists of five parts, one is the master bedroom of the Helerio couple, a living room, two side rooms, a kitchen and the small courtyard in the middle.

There is a small tree as tall as one person planted in the small courtyard, and there are more than a dozen pots of flowers of various colors. Seeing Odateto admiring these flowers, Helerio smiled proudly: "My wife planted it by hand, how is it?"

"It's beautiful. Although it's not as lively as Constantinople, it's more spacious and quieter than Constantinople, and it's very orderly. The whole city is as solemn as a big court." Odateto gave his old friend a thumbs up.

Helerio sighed, and said with some regret: "Actually, Hamburg was lively for a while, and there was a time when the two cities were still together, and that time was the busiest.

But our Lord the Duke is a devout believer with a kind heart, who doesn't like skilled women and gambling, so he moved the entire West City to the port area and the river bank area. If you want to play a few games, I will take you there. "

"No, no, God, I seldom go to that kind of place." Odateto waved his hands blushing. He went to study in Constantinople. The teacher was a very decent person, but he would question and whip any students who were found to be profane.

So although there are many such places in Constantinople, he has never been to them once.

As if seeing Odateto's embarrassment, Hererio smiled: "If you don't go, you won't go. I will take you to see the world this afternoon. During this time, you can stay at my house first."

"Thank you, Helerio." Odateto shook Helerio's hand sincerely. Unwelcome, only his friends accepted him.

Patting his good brother on the shoulder with emotion, Helerio smiled and said, "Don't worry, Hamburg is an open place. Although there are nobles and oppressors here, at least no one will be rejected in a practical sense because of their beliefs.

In this way, you put your luggage down first, we have a meal together at noon, and you take a nap, I will take you to relax in the afternoon, how about it?

That who, that Yeva, you come, take my good friend to the guest room, help him pack his luggage, and provide him with services when necessary, understand? "

"Understood, sir." The Slavic female slave named Yeva took the luggage from Odateto lightly, "Guest, your room is here, I will help you make the bed first, if you need anything, please call my name , just call me Yeva."

Seeing the Slavic girl leaving gracefully, Odateto coughed subconsciously.

"Our Duke is not allowed to keep Heavenly Father believers or Han Chinese slaves, so..." Helerio shrugged, "Anyway, enjoy it, but it's best not to hit hard, they are servants, and you can't mess with them." Come, because the Duke is big..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Odateto hurriedly stopped his friend's indiscretion, "I'm not that kind of person, I'm going to pack my luggage first."

Looking at Helerio who was still winking, Odateto blushed and waved his hands again and again, but still kept pace with the female slave and entered the guest room.

After placing the luggage and the bed, Odateto sat on this rare brick bed (hot kang) connected to the ground, was served by a female slave, wiped his face, and walked out of the guest room.

Outside the guest room, in the center of the courtyard, a table and two small mats were placed in the open air.

"Sit down." Hererio handed Odateto a mug full of beer.

Odateto picked up the handle of the mug and began to observe it curiously: "I saw more new things on this day than I have in the past year. What is this kind of mug?"

"This one is called a mug. Han people drink from this cup when they drink. Thieves are particular about it."

"Oh——" Odateto took a sip of the beer, and a fragrant and slightly bitter taste instantly invaded the taste buds. This taste is different from ordinary Groot beer.

"This is called craft beer. What you drink in taverns outside is called light beer, and the taste is far worse." Helerio proudly introduced it to him.

Odateto nodded, but his gaze was on the chopsticks again: "What is this?"

"These are called chopsticks, and Chinese people use them that way. You see, it's not only convenient, but it's also not easy to dirty food. The most important thing is that even very hot food can be picked up with chopsticks." Helerio skillfully picked up a few slices of ham and put them in the bread, stuffed some garlic and cheese, and handed it to Odateto.

"Thank you." Odateto took a bite, "Hererio, actually, I've always wanted to ask a question. Normally speaking, you are a Venetian. Aren't businessmen from other places often squeezed out by locals? How did you succeed in doing business?"

"Who says I'm a Venetian?" Helerio asked back, "Odateto, I've been a Hamburger for a long time, and I've already registered as a Hamburger!"

"As long as you have a Hamburg household registration, can you not be discriminated against? It's not that simple."

"You have to know that Hamburg has only been established for more than a year, and more than half of the city is not born here. If you really want to talk about locals, I am the first generation of locals. A section of the city wall was repaired by myself." Helerio took a sip of beer, "Venice, the city that abandoned me, is no longer my hometown!"

Odateto knew that the exile of Helerio by the Venice City Council made him very dissatisfied with his hometown, but he didn't expect to hate so deeply, so he hurriedly changed the subject.

"Actually, I've always wanted to ask, what's the difference between a Han Chinese and a Hamburger? From your accent, it should mean the same thing?"

"No, no, no." Helerio threw a dried fruit into his mouth, and shook his finger at Odateto, "The Han people are those with black hair and black eyes, just like the Latins.

As for the difference between a Han Chinese and a Hamburger, you can think of him as the difference between a Roman citizen and a 'Roman'.

People from Hamburg like me belong to free citizens and cannot be officials, but can only be officials. They are not allowed to wear blue, yellow and purple clothes, and patterns of raptors and beasts are not allowed on their clothes. No matter how powerful I am in the eyes of ordinary civilians, it is still a fake.

In the eyes of the Han people, no matter how rich I am, that’s all.

This is why I must cling to a Han wife. In this way, my child is a Han. After birth, he joins the army. After two years of service, he can choose to transfer to the government soldier. After becoming a government soldier, he will immediately have a hundred acres of land. That is a human being. Only the Venerable Master has status. "

"So, like Constantine's Greek nobles?"

"Almost." Helerio shook his head. "Let's not talk about me, how did you learn in Constantinople? You haven't told me carefully why you became an iconoclast?"

Smiling wryly and stuffing the rest of the bread into his mouth, Odateto said helplessly, "Actually, it's very simple. When I went to study in the Eastern Empire, I followed a teacher of the iconoclast faction. Empress Irina remembered.

When Queen Irina came to power, my teacher was immediately exiled. Even though I was only a student of art, philosophy, and Latin, and my relationship with him was not as good as that of my seniors, I was still implicated. "

"Oh." Helerio touched his chin. "Art, philosophy and Latin...do you know mathematics?"

Odateto immediately waved his hand and said, "I get a headache when I see the numbers."

Helerio slapped his thigh and said, "Oh, this is troublesome. The newly established audit department of the shogunate needs to test mathematics. I wanted you to try it... Then you know how to build?"

Odateto was silent for a few seconds: "A little bit, but I mainly study sculpture and painting. If I build a building from scratch, I may not be very good at it."

Helerio said helplessly: "Okay, then you follow me to the dock these days, I need a trustworthy helper to help me look after those boatmen.

Then the shogunate and the church have free Chinese lectures. When my daughter-in-law gives me a class, you can also listen to it. I can learn Chinese within six months. In Hamburg, it is difficult to know Chinese.

Don’t find it difficult. If you just listen and speak, Chinese is much simpler than Latin. January is the first month, and February is the second month. There are not so many messy grammar and Yin and Yang. You can learn Latin well. , I will definitely be able to learn Chinese well. "

The two finished their meal while chatting, and after talking to the servant, Helerio dragged Odate out the door.

Chapter 287 Ten Thousand Horses of Wool

While Odateto and Helerio were eating in the small courtyard, Feng Sen, who was standing in front of the gate of the West Britain company headquarters compound, sneezed hard.

He looked at the dark clouds in the sky and sighed helplessly. If possible, it would be better to move the future residence to a place with more sunshine. The winter in Germania is too gloomy and difficult.

The time seemed to press the fast-forward button. Before Feng Sen could react, the cold wind swept over half of Hamburg.

However, due to the relatively warm climate in this era, and Hamburg is not far from the sea, even in winter, it does not feel cold, at most, the grass will be covered with a layer of hoarfrost in the morning.

"Long time no see, Frasen!" Feng Sen saw a group of people rushing towards him, and took the initiative to say hello.

"I salute you, Your Excellency the Duke." Frasen put his hands on his chest and bowed to Feng Sen in a flattered manner, "My stupid groom broke my wheel and wasted a lot of time on the road."

"Hahaha, then you are late today, so you should drink two more glasses."

"sure."

Standing in front of Feng Sen, Frasen only had the opportunity to observe the newly built headquarters of West Britain Company carefully all the time.

Since the West Britain headquarters was established last time, it has been separated from the Food and Food Department and has become a separate department, and the new headquarters is located in the East City of Hamburg.

Since West Market moved to the port area, East Market, which originally specialized in selling goods, took over part of the entertainment and service industries, but its essence as a distribution center for goods remained unchanged, and it was also the place where merchants most often came to.

And the headquarters of West Britain is located in the golden location of Dongshi.

This compound covers an area of ​​about two acres and is surrounded by a brick wall. The interior is divided into three parts, one is the hall facing the gate, the other is the warehouse next to the gate, and the small courtyard in the middle .

In the small courtyard is a pool five meters square and two meters deep. Several turquoise fish swim freely in the pool. It is a pity that there are no carp on Europa. The eclipse scene is called spectacular.

Next to the pool is a circle of wooden railings that are similar to "Kai Kai Kai". The mahogany railings are also carved with a statue of the Virgin Mary sitting on a lotus flower, and the connection between the railings is carved with the Holy Cross.

"This is for fire prevention." Feng Sen pointed to the pool in front of him, "The sand pile and water tank over there are also for fire prevention."

"It really needs fire protection." Frasen looked at the headquarters hall in front of him, and said approvingly, because the headquarters hall in front of him was made of a wooden structure on the second floor.

This hall occupies almost half of the entire company headquarters. On the plaque in the hall, the name of the hall is marked in both Chinese and Latin—"Juyi Hall".

This is Feng Sen's name to encourage businessmen to do charity business, even businessmen should not forget loyalty.

"Please come in."

When the door was opened, the heat from the floor heating rushed in. Looking at the crowds in the hall, Frasen couldn't help cursing inwardly. When the West Britannia Company was not famous, everyone who loved it didn't come, but now they are more attentive. .

"Sir Frasen?"

"Huh? Oh, it's me." Frasen almost forgot that he was still a jazz.

The maid replied obediently: "Then Sir, please come with me. You are a member of the 17-member meeting, and you can directly sit in a separate seat in the front row."

Frasen was sure that he did hear the whispers of the former business partners around him, and although Frasen couldn't hear what they were talking about, the tone was obviously envious and jealous.