Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

What they say is probably no longer up to these Americans.

When Zhao Lian quotes classical texts, he's aiming to make it incomprehensible to these foreigners.

Moreover, it was a pre-written draft, intended to showcase the calligraphy of a Qing Dynasty prince.

Although Zhao Lian's calligraphy is not the most accomplished, it is still quite good.

So much so that once he finished writing it, he could hang it on the wall of Capitol Hill as a memento.

However, such important documents are usually archived and simply stored away.

As for Solovyov, he was leisurely fanning himself with a fan inscribed with Ji Da Yandai's calligraphy.

After all, he's just watching the show, and there's no need for him to say anything for the time being.

Also, these Americans like to clap. Zhaolian was interrupted by clapping three times during her speech.

No wonder they were able to create some excitement later on.

After Zhao Lian finished his speech, the president and vice president went on and on, expressing their gratitude to the Chinese emperor's envoy and their hope that American ships could also trade in Guangzhou.

Americans, to some extent, prefer a shared sense of benefit.

Now that everyone has finished speaking, it's Solovyov's turn to speak.

But when it comes to him, the atmosphere is even more lively.

After all, he was the last general to fight Napoleon and actually win. The bilateral relationship between Russia and the United States also needs to be developed.

These Americans are obsessed with money.

However, Solovyov's opening remarks were not so friendly.

"Just now, Prince Li, His Highness Aisin-Gioro Zhaolian, also mentioned that this visit is a return visit to the friendly trade visits of various European countries, as well as a visit to comfort and appease them, hoping to maintain long-term trade relations. I wholeheartedly agree with this point, but it is important to be clear that the Chinese Emperor and his government share the same view: they oppose the opium trade. The harm of this contraband to people is obvious."

As for his long, rambling explanation, it was basically about the dangers of opium, and he did it very professionally.

"Such harmful goods, once they enter the market, can be strictly controlled if used solely as medicine. However, in the hands of some unscrupulous merchants, they become tools for making exorbitant profits. Some people import these harmful substances from India, others from the Ottoman Empire and Persia, which endanger human health and undermine the harmony of all human society. Russia is also aware that some opium and cannabis from Central Asia flow into Russia and China through the channels of several Central Asian khanates. The Russian government firmly opposes all forms of opium smuggling and will severely crack down on these contrabands. The Russian government's position is consistent: our trade in the Far East will be based on friendly and cooperative relations, conducted through legitimate trade activities at the border and Guangzhou port, and will not involve any harmful goods. In accordance with Russian practice, we will also export furs, medicinal herbs, horses, and handicrafts to China, and import silk, tea, porcelain, and rare medicinal herbs from China, thus maintaining long-term trade cooperation based on mutual benefit."

Therefore, we also hope that future trade activities between Russia and the United States will be conducted under such friendly and mutually beneficial conditions. Russia firmly opposes all forms of illegal smuggling and will certainly crack down on them severely. We will also resolutely crack down on smuggled and prohibited goods that endanger the health and safety of our citizens, showing zero tolerance and zero leniency.

At this point, even the Americans were confused about his true intentions, but what he said made a lot of sense.

"Over the past period, the US government has made considerable efforts to revitalize its manufacturing industry, encourage invention, and expand trade. Russia agrees with the US position in this regard, but also hopes that our American friends can effectively protect the interests of workers. In enterprises, besides investors and managers, there are tens of thousands of frontline workers. Since the US already has a Senate, it should naturally represent the interests of the American people, not what happened at the end of the Roman Republic."

Those familiar with classical Latin texts will know that the great jurist and statesman, the brilliant orator Cicero, crushed a rebellion plotted by the Roman nobleman Catiline in 63 BC. This illustrates how a small group of people attempt to incite public opinion, manipulate, coerce, and manipulate the people's stance to pursue their own interests. The difference between a republic and a monarchy lies in the fact that a monarch, due to their responsibility, cares for their people and issues decrees, like the late Emperor Paul Petrovich. Or, like the current Chinese emperor, frankly acknowledges to his subjects that past actions did not proceed on a reasonable path and seeks to correct them. Besides the Doge of Venice, there are other forms of republics.

We should also understand that under such a government, regardless of whether the head of state is a consul or president, their term of office is limited. Like in the late Roman Republic, a group of people who destroyed or altered the republican system for their own selfish interests ultimately led the Roman Republic astray. In the end, it was Caesar and Augustus who had to bring it all to an end, and Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire, which lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

There are many issues here that deserve our deep consideration. Even someone like Catiline, who incited public opinion, had a group of senior elders to thwart his plots when he was opposed. But what happened in between? Catiline never defended himself; the rebels put him under immense pressure. In reality, this rebellion was far less intense than the slave revolts in Sicily or the gladiator uprisings of Spartacus. We should also note the role played by certain behind-the-scenes forces.

We also hope that the United States can uphold the wisdom of its predecessors and avoid similar incidents. For example, during the Jugurtha War, Rome's frontline commanders were bribed, the tribunes of the plebs were bribed in the assembly, and behind-the-scenes deals later became openly visible in the Senate. While such behind-the-scenes deals are common in diplomatic settings, we must understand that the Senate, or the modern-day Senate, is the elected father of the republic, meant to protect the interests of the voters who elect senators. It should not become a tool for a few, like the knights of Crassus, to profit by lobbying groups manipulating Congress, controlling public opinion, and ultimately advocating war.

This statement was meant to place him on a moral high ground, leaving the senators present somewhat helpless, seething with anger, yet unable to do anything about it.

After all, the other party has the moral high ground, and it's just a suggestion, so there's nothing to be gained from it.

The senators responded with applause.

At the end of his speech, Solovyov also stated that he welcomed American friends to conduct legitimate business activities in Russia, which is consistent with the Russian government's stance.

After that, our time on Capitol Hill was almost up.

This speech was quite successful.

President Monroe then arranged for delegations from both countries to visit and tour the site of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. At this historic moment, an artist also sketched a portrait of the event.

Things were very strange, but Solovyov had arranged everything he could do very well.

As for Zhaolian and others, although they claimed it was a "republic," they still expressed some opinions about their disrespect for the emperor and father and their failure to establish a monarchical state.

But these cannot be translated.

The French delegation had already departed for Europe, and the Russian fleet's stopover in the United States was also to resolve the fleet's supply issues and to quickly repair the ships.

Fortunately, the American shipyards had ample timber reserves. After the check was signed, the Americans quickly replenished the materials and completed the repairs. Solovyov's delegation was about to embark on its journey back to Europe.

As for sailing from the east coast of the United States, then north along the coastline, and eastward from the cod fishing grounds near Newfoundland, the journey was smooth thanks to the prevailing winds.

Solovyov's target is the waters near Ireland.

On this return trip, I will inevitably have to deal with the British.

Considering that Amherst's ship had been burned by pirates, he would have to take other ships back, and the speed was not guaranteed. Even with Solovyov currently sailing to the Caribbean and the east coast of North America, which would be an extra detour, it would be good if Amherst could even reach Saint Helena by now.

But Napoleon was in Haiti, living the life of an island tycoon, and planting trees there.

Even if Trujillo were to come, he probably wouldn't be able to accomplish much.

This trip to Ireland was also Solovyov's way of putting his plan into practice, to see if the Irish were willing to travel to China and other places in need through any means.

Even in this remote and impoverished place, the Irish could spread their influence all over the world and thrive, which would be far better than staying on this island.

After seeing the New World, Zhaolian's miscellaneous notes could probably be expanded into a lot of content.

Even the scholars and staff who came with them each had their own set of personal opinions.

Solovyov's explanation of the political system in the United States made them highly vigilant.

In particular, Long Ruyan believes that if the United States really does develop in an unpredictable and terrible direction as Solovyov said, it will be just as bad.

"Why do you say that, Zijia?"

“Your Highness, General Suo, if America is like this, and you go west according to your so-called ‘manifest destiny,’ you will inevitably attack neighboring countries. In time, you will become a tyrannical Qin dynasty and implement policies that harm the people. Therefore, I believe that this group is the worst.”

"That is in line with the views of the Western sages. However, the United States still needs to accumulate national strength. If it cannot span the two oceans, it will only be trapped by the giant beast of the Atlantic Ocean, which is not a cause for concern."

Solovyov was unaware of the progress in Hawaii at the time. The Russian expedition in Hawaii was ultimately thwarted by the Americans, and they failed to establish a foothold.

Understood. It also speeds up the construction of the colony in Roseburg and improves the productivity of the Indian tribes so that they can trade their grain for weapons exported by the Russians.

If the United States still wants to expand westward at that time, it will probably be a scene where the pioneers are prepared to have their scalps cut off.

However, the natives of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains did not indiscriminately kill innocent people; they would take in white women and children, especially little girls.

Boys, as long as their height does not exceed a certain range, will also be accepted as members of the tribe.

From this perspective, they didn't seem to persecute the indigenous people as brutally as the Americans did when they moved westward.

If the Americans were to focus on developing the East, these resources would be enough to sustain them for a while.

Solovyov will find ways to cause trouble for the Americans in the future.

He had a broader perspective, not only on confronting Britain, but also on what the Americans were planning to do in North America.

The fleet embarked on its journey back to Europe, but they would encounter many challenges along the way.

Sailing eastward from Newfoundland, you're bound to encounter some passing ships.

In addition to fishing boats, there were also some immigrant ships coming to the New World.

If you're unlucky and encounter rough seas along the way, you might end up sinking to the bottom of the sea and becoming fish food.

Those who want to immigrate to the Americas will inevitably encounter such difficulties.

In the 21st century, as refugees crossed the Mediterranean into Europe, they inevitably capsized or drowned while attempting to cross.

At that time, it may not even be possible to record the missing persons from maritime disasters.

Their registration information can probably be found at their hometown church or village office before they set sail.

For example, some people's ancestors were thieves who were exiled to Australia for stealing something.

Solovyov's fleet, sailing onward in a grand procession, encountered a migrant ship with a leaky hull, which had already set up rafts in preparation for its escape.

Therefore, the "Grace" and "Flora" were positioned in front of the fleet and quickly retrieved all of these people.

After asking, I learned that all 200 people on the ship were Irish people heading to the New World.

Solovyov was worried about not having an inside man in Ireland; his brewery was a business, so it didn't count.

So he also asked about Ireland's grain harvest this year.

The conclusion was that it was terrible, but potatoes could still fill one's stomach and prevent starvation.

The volcanoes in Indonesia not only affected the weather near the battlefield of Mount St. Jean in June 1815, but also had an impact on the environment several years later.

Therefore, many Irish people were considering moving to a new place, to the New World.

However, Solovyov gave them an option.

"Go to faraway China. The Chinese emperor will allocate you some land. Adult men with skills will be employed as artisans, and those without skills will serve in the army, becoming auxiliary troops in the Chinese emperor's personal guard. Do you want to do it?" (End of this chapter)