Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1699 Gift
Victoria glanced at Shangluo: "I'd like one too. They're for people in Egypt, could you send us one as well?"

"Didn't you already deliver it? Right, senior brother?"

“Hmm.” Zhu Xianxi nodded. “It’s already been sent. Didn’t I send you the [Academic Sinian Language]? What you’re learning is even more advanced; at least it’s something that can actually be used for communication. What was sent to Egypt was just secondhand knowledge of foreign lands, while what was sent to Rome was firsthand knowledge that only Korea could learn—and Ryukyu as well.”

Joseon and Ryukyu, as two exemplary tributary states of the imperial court, held a special position within the tributary system, allowing them to directly learn the latest knowledge from the Celestial Empire. The King of Joseon himself was essentially the Joseon ambassador, serving as a diplomat for the country, and was able to gather intelligence in the capital city in real time.

His presence was actually more beneficial to Korea. For example, after the Imjin War, the court actually planned to establish a military base directly in Korea to help train the Korean army and defend against invasions from foreign enemies. The mastermind behind this plan was Xing Jie, the Minister of War.

However, things are accomplished in secrecy and ruined by leaks. Although Emperor Wanli himself had given his approval, the formation of policies required deliberation and discussion, and the Minister of War could not decide on national policy alone. But once the discussion began, the Korean envoys Yi Deok-hyung and Yi Heng-bok, who were in the capital, learned of the situation. After consulting with the King of Korea, they went to the Ministry of Rites and burst into tears, rolling on the ground. The Ministry of Rites was so disturbed by their disturbance that it was difficult to open its doors, and the relationship between the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War became tense as a result.

Therefore, even if the emperor himself agreed, the policy still couldn't take shape if a consensus couldn't be reached among the court officials. After all, Emperor Wanli couldn't possibly go to Korea to become a centurion and train soldiers on how to repair deer antlers; he couldn't move around in the Forbidden City, and if he wanted others to listen to him, he had to persuade them first.

However, allowing Koreans to wander around the capital, and now allowing the Korean king to stroll through the city, and even allowing them to open their own department stores to sell the tribute goods, is also a kind of honor.

This honor was reserved for Korea and Ryukyu, signifying that the court allowed them to participate to some extent in discussions about their policies.

“Actually, Victoria, you fall into this category since you're in the capital,” Zhu Xianxi replied. “We would welcome you to stay in the capital for an extended period, so you can convey any opinions or suggestions you may have through Shangluo. You can also meet me directly if you wish, but considering some etiquette requirements, it's not very convenient for us to meet.”

"May I tell you through Her Majesty the Queen?"

Zhu Xianxi shook his head: "No, no, Yang Jing won't agree. First of all, she's very busy; she has her own research to do. Secondly, her busyness is also a defensive posture, making it impossible for anyone looking for her to find her, because the security of her research lab is much tighter than that of Xiyuan—but from another perspective, if you come to me through Yang Jing, it's the same as coming to me through Shangluo. The harem can't interfere in politics, but it's reasonable for my junior brother to chat with me."

“So that’s how it is”

"Don't you want to contact me through Shangluo?"

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to trouble him to do everything.”

Shang Luo covered his forehead: "Are you trying to put pressure on me by saying that in front of me?"

“Hmm…” Victoria stuck out her tongue. That was exactly what she meant.

"Okay, I'll keep you connected—why do I feel like I've become the ambassador to Rome?"

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Zhu Xianxi replied. “Thinking back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there were many such ‘ambassadors’ between the states. They served in one court but had their own connections on the other. If there are indeed many things that we need to reach a consensus on, then such intermediaries are still very important. Besides, Shangluo, you are indeed reliable when it comes to getting things done.”

[This way you can directly contact Agassiz and Victoria, making you far more useful than ordinary envoys. After all, you yourself are the King of Rome, and you have decision-making power over Rome's top-level strategies. Therefore, this matter is entrusted to you, entirely.] "Entirely?"

"Hmm." Zhu Xianxi nodded. "What I mean is, you decide what you think you can decide, and ask me what you're unsure about—just figure it out yourself. I'm leaving things here to you. I'm going back to rest."

"Ah, okay."

"Oh, right." Zhu Xianxi suddenly remembered something, "When you come back, bring me some Egyptian flatbread, the kind that costs one yuan for thirty pieces, so I can try it."

After saying that, Zhu Xianxi hung up the phone. He didn't ask for anything except for asking Shang Luo to bring him some flatbread when he returned.

If there are no requirements, then it is indeed a complete delegation of authority.

"Alright. I guess I've added a task for myself." Shangluo shook his head. "Then, I'll be in charge of delivering the big gift package to the Egyptians. I'll accumulate the virtue for that."

Civilizing Egypt is a massive undertaking. However, the resulting projects can also address pressing issues at hand.

"By the way, where could we build the dam in Egypt?"

Well, that depends on how you want the dam to function.

It really depends on how the dams are built. Or rather, it depends on what Egypt's flood agriculture actually is.

"So what exactly is flood agriculture in Egypt?" Shangluo asked. "I seem to have heard people say that Egypt has flood agriculture. How does flood agriculture work?"

Egypt's population was quite enormous in ancient times. According to Shangluo, before Egypt entered the true industrial age in the early 20th century, the narrow strip of farmland along the Nile River, cultivated using semi-modern methods, was enough to support a population of over 3000 million.

According to ancient Chinese texts describing the ancient world, Egypt was described as a country where "it would not receive rain for a hundred years, and there was only one river in the sky, the source of which was unknown. The water was extremely sweet, and when it overflowed, it would flood the fields for forty days. After the water receded, the fields could be cultivated."

The map on the "Complete Map of the World" depicts the Nile River as the largest river in the world, flowing into the sea through seven outlets. The country experiences no clouds or rain year-round, hence its people are skilled in astronomy. The river floods annually, making the land extremely fertile, as if fertilized fields were being manure.

"So, it's irrigated by floods?"

“Actually, relying on flood irrigation is Herodotus’s nonsense. The Greeks didn’t know how to farm at all. To hear the Greeks talk about farming is like hearing Germans teach you poetry,” Victoria replied. “It’s more accurate to call it tidal flat agriculture than flood-land agriculture.”

(End of this chapter)