Steel Dynasty - Chapter 724

[Chapter 723 Dutch Mission]

Brandon looked at Qingzhou City Wall in a daze.

This time he came all the way from the Netherlands and risked his life all the way to Qingzhou. All his suffering finally ended at this moment.

“Earl Brandon, welcome to Qingzhou.” Standing at the city gate was a young man dressed as a scholar. The young man greeted Brandon in fluent Dutch.

Rhodes was a little surprised. He smiled bitterly and said, “It seems that I can shut up this time.”

The young man’s name is Qiao Chuan. He was a former student of Bowen College. He studied Western languages and was also Xiao Ming. Prepared for receiving foreign missions.

“It’s an honor.” Brandon smiled, then he looked at the cement road under his feet and asked doubtfully: “Is this thing made of volcanic ash?”

He was interested in this kind of flat road when he entered Qingzhou. Yes, it just didn’t look like the volcanic ash being used in Europe.

Qiao Chuan was startled for a moment, and then he said, “Your Majesty, this thing is paved with cement made in Qingzhou.”

“Cement?” Brandon remembered it silently, and now he began to believe Black’s words.

Half a year ago, the news that Blake secretly signed a contract with the Great Chongqing Kingdom reached the Dutch National Parliament, which made the Parliament extremely angry.

When Europeans first set foot on the American continent and then went to colonize Asia, no indigenous people could make European countries surrender. Members of Parliament shouted that Blake was a disgrace and asked Blake to return to the Netherlands for questioning.

At the same time, the Dutch National Parliament sent a mission to Dayu out of caution to try to understand the truth of the matter.

Qiao Chuan smiled after explaining and said, “The emperor is waiting for the envoy in the political hall. Please come with me.”

Brandon nodded. In fact, he wanted to know more about this strange country. Obviously, this is a European colony. The first accident in history.

As far as he knew, Europe had never failed against people of color in hundreds of years, and this had contributed to the rise of Eurocentric, white supremacy.

There are even more extreme opinions that believe that non-European indigenous people should become European slaves.

Before coming here, he had the same idea, but now he is a little shaken because he found a hint of technology here.

After all, the whole of Europe is now in a frenzy over various new inventions, and everyone from civilians to nobles attaches great importance to scientific and technological inventions.

Following Qiao Chuan towards the city, Brandon did not miss any opportunity to observe the city. When a group of soldiers passed by, his eyes took a sharp look at the flintlock guns in the soldiers’ hands.

And when he saw a horse pulling a field gun passing by, he was even more shocked. Now he finally understood why Blake chose to compromise.

Dizzy all the way, Brandon soon arrived at the Council Hall. At this time, Brandon entered the Council Hall with the four people who came with him.

At this time, Xiao Ming and a group of ministers were waiting for Brandon in the political hall. This was the rule of the Chongqing Kingdom for receiving envoys.

The presence of ministers was a sign of respect for their mission.

Entering the government hall, Brandon first glanced at the young man sitting on the dragon throne, feeling a little surprised. As Black said, the emperor of the Great Yu Kingdom was only a young man in his early twenties.

However, he also knew that these Eastern countries still retained their backward national systems, so he took off his hat with his right hand, bowed, put the hat on his chest and performed aristocratic etiquette on Xiao Ming.

He said, “The Dutch envoy Brandon has met the Emperor of Chongqing.”

Xiao Ming could understand Brandon’s words, but the ministers did not understand. Qiao Chuan then translated.

There is no etiquette for kneeling in Dayu, so no minister will ask the mission why they don’t kneel. At the same time, this custom of not kneeling makes the people and officials of Dayu less servile.

Because of this, the ideas he promoted were sometimes not very resistant to the ideas of the people and officials.

“Excuse me, what’s the matter with the Dutch delegation coming all the way?” After a brief greeting, Xiao Ming got to the point.

In fact, there is no need to be polite when meeting the envoy. After all, since you are here, you must have something to ask for.

Before Brandon set off, the parliament prepared two plans for him. One was to overturn all the contracts signed by Blake and require the Great Chongqing army to withdraw from the city of Geranje.

Of course, this is based on the fact that Dayu is not worthy of its name. The second set is to strengthen the relationship with Dayu, use the power of Dayu to fight the British at sea in Asia, and at the same time expand trade in Dayu, and Establish a permanent negotiating team.

Now that the tip of the iceberg in Qingzhou had already made him anxious, he naturally did not dare to mention the first thing, so he said: “Your Majesty, the Emperor of Great Chongqing, the purpose of sending a mission to Qingzhou this time is to strengthen the business and cooperation between the two countries. trade, and hopes to set up a permanent negotiating team in Qingzhou. “

Permanent negotiating team?” Xiao Ming showed an interesting look. This permanent negotiating team is none other than the predecessor of the embassy, the negotiating team. It’s the envoy.

“Yes, Your Majesty, the permanent negotiating team is to resolve trade disputes.” Brandon said.

Xiao Ming nodded, because the Netherlands is too far away from the Great Chongqing, and sometimes trade matters are indeed very troublesome. If the Dutch envoy is here, it can save a lot of trouble.

So he said: “This is a very good thing, so I approved it.”

Brandon was delighted, and then he said: “This time the mission came and brought a large amount of tribute to His Majesty, please accept it.” Xiao

Ming showed an interested look and said, “Send it up.”

At this time, Qian Dafu walked out and returned with the eunuch after a while, and a large box was carried up.

Brandon opened the box at this time, took out a round object from it and said to Xiao Ming: “Dear Emperor of Dayu, this thing is called a pocket watch. It can record time. Please accept it.”

Then Brandon continued He took out a music box and turned the button. The music box emitted sweet music. Brandon said, “This is called a music box.”

After putting the music box down, Brandon took out a beautiful glass craft and said seriously. ; “Your Majesty the Emperor, this thing is very expensive. It is the most expensive thing in this tribute.”

After saying that, Brandon looked at Xiao Ming carefully, trying to find a different expression on Xiao Ming’s face, but he just let He was disappointed.

The emperor was still somewhat interested when the pocket watch and music box appeared, but when it was Glass’s turn, he looked indifferent.

Brandon thought his statement was wrong and emphasized: “This is a treasure, priceless.”

Xiao Ming finally burst out laughing. This Brandon had deceived the wrong person this time.

PS: Chapter 709 has been released.

(End of chapter)