Volume 3: Confrontation! The Run of Civilization Chapter 481 The Ming Dynasty Mission Arrives in Austria
Flags fluttered, gongs and drums roared. On July 1, 1621, in the midsummer of Istanbul, the streets were crowded with people. In the buildings on both sides of the street, people kept throwing flower petals along the way. Such a grand scene was naturally a high-level delegation from the Ming Empire, which arrived in the capital of the Ottoman Empire on this day.
It is true that it was a high-level delegation: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Chen Zizhuang, Resident Military Attaché to the Ottoman Empire Liu Xingzuo, Deputy Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Cui Yingyuan, as well as special officials of this delegation, Yuan Keli, one of the three assistants of the Cabinet, and Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Works.
At present, the research directions of Zhao Shizhen and Sun Yuanhua are firearms, cannons, and gunpowder. Bi Maokang is responsible for military integration: the weapons of the Ming Dynasty are becoming more and more complex, and how to integrate the new materials brought by science and technology is also a very complex and laborious task. Song Yingxing's current main research direction is agriculture and machinery, while Wu Youke and others are developing medicine. Li Zhizao mainly studies basic physics and chemistry. Yang Tingyun is inclined to Western humanities, history and philosophy - this is the social science aspect.
Among so many people, only Xu Guangqi was in overall control. Therefore, he had to be the one to consult Yiprahin on technology this time - only he knew best where the bottleneck of Ming's technology tree was.
As for Yuan Keli, it was of course specially arranged by Zhu Youdong: the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty were only temporary allies at present, and Ibrahim could not show everything to the Ming Dynasty delegation without reservation. But Mr. Yuan's insight was extremely strong. The so-called glimpse of the leopard in the tube can reveal a part of it. Others only see one thing, but Mr. Yuan can see two or even three things from one thing!
In addition to officials, the delegation also included doctors, clerks, guards, etc., with a total of more than 300 people. They were formed in March and set out from Tianjin Port, stopping along the way, and even visited Abbas I in Safavid Persia, and finally landed on Ottoman territory in Kuwait Port in early June.
After receiving the news, Ibrahim immediately dispatched a team of 3,000 elite cavalrymen to escort the delegation throughout the journey. After the delegation arrived in Istanbul, a grand entry ceremony was held to welcome them.
This is of course a great honor, but on the one hand, after the Holy Roman Empire was completely buried, the only major powers in the world at this moment are the Ming Dynasty, the Mughals, the Safavid Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Spain, which can be counted on one hand. It is not an exaggeration to give high honors to the envoys of a powerful country like the Ming Dynasty. On the other hand, Yiplashin also wants to use the envoys to show the whole country: Look, look, the Chinese have never sent such a large envoy to visit our country before. As soon as I became the Grand Vizier, the Chinese envoys came. What does this show?
"Zixian (Xu Guangqi), how do you feel about the journey?"
"Well, it can be seen that this country is still quite powerful. Uh, Mr. Yuan, let me say something disrespectful, but judging from the military appearance alone, it is no worse than the Ming Dynasty before the Wanli Dynasty."
"Hahaha, you're too polite. Judging from their appearance, they are no worse than the elite troops of the nine frontiers of the Ming Dynasty. As for the other garrison troops of the Ming Dynasty..." Yuan Keli shook his head: "It's better not to talk about it."
"That's right, but speaking of this." Xu Guangqi also smiled and said, "Your Excellency is lucky. This year, the Emperor is going to start checking the military yellow books. You are in charge of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, so you couldn't escape. Who would have thought that you would go abroad with me..."
"Haha, of course the Grand Marshal has an obligation to do this." After cheerfully joking with Wang Xiangqian, Yuan Keli turned around and looked at Chen Zizhuang: "Jisheng, how about it? Next, you have to stay here for at least three years. Well, the women here have high noses and deep eyes, and they look unique. It seems that you don't have a wife yet? Bring one back when your term is over?"
"You are joking, my Lord. Although I am unmarried, I have already made an engagement in my hometown. As for my impressions along the way, beneath the exotic customs, this country seems to be in danger."
"Ha, Jisheng, what you said is nonsense. Powerful ministers are always in crisis. That is to say, our Ming Dynasty needs this country to help us hold back Spain. Otherwise, why would we support such traitors?"
"What you are trying to teach me is, uh, I also feel that from what I have seen along the way, although this country has various problems, the people all have faith, the market is well-organized, and the merchants who come and go, although they shout at the top of their lungs when bargaining, are usually gentle and polite. Although the army guarding us is definitely an elite group of carefully selected troops, it is indeed rare that they have a clear purpose for advancing and retreating and enforce discipline when marching. In short, this is indeed a great country in the world that can rival my Ming Dynasty!"
"Ji Sheng is right!" Xu Guangqi also twirled his beard and said, "Before we set out, the emperor repeatedly told us to respect the country's traditions and unique culture. He also said that among the five major countries in the world today, three have the Star-Moon Religion as their state religion. We must not underestimate this religion or this country. Of course." At this point, Xu Guangqi changed the subject and said, "My Great Ming is number one in the world. We are not arrogant, but we will never belittle ourselves."
"Please rest assured, Grand Marshal, I will not bring down the reputation of the Ming Dynasty while we are here."
"Well, well, it looks like the other side's distinguished person has come out to greet us."
…
He personally stood at the gate of Topkasha Palace to welcome the Ming Dynasty delegation and accompanied the delegation to meet the Sultan. After completing all the official procedures, the next day, Ibrahim held detailed talks with five officials of the Ming Dynasty delegation.
"My friends, what I want is very simple. First, money and food. Second, if possible, I hope that the Ming Dynasty can provide me with finished pig iron or steel. Third, I don't know if you have passed the stage of black powder and entered the era of smokeless powder. If not, I will give it to you for free... ah? Do you already have smokeless powder? That would be great. Then third, I hope that the Ming Dynasty can provide us with smokeless powder or finished bullets ."
"Grand Vizier, we have two questions. First, we, the Ming Dynasty, have provided you with so many things. What have you given us in return? Second, are the calibers of the bullets and the like consistent?"
"Hahaha, I'm too impatient. Well, the caliber of our country's rifle bullets is 7.62×63 mm. The caliber of light machine guns is also 7.62. And the caliber of heavy machine gun bullets is 12.7 mm. Eh..."
As soon as he reported a set of data, Yiplashin saw Xu Guangqi and Liu Xingzuo on the opposite side showing shocked expressions. A thought flashed through his mind: "Why, is the caliber of your country's bullets the same as ours?"
"Well, today I finally understand the true meaning of 'heroes think alike.'" Of course, I can only say this in my heart, and I must never say it out loud: This Yipulaxin is a powerful official, a traitor who has no respect for the emperor and his father, how can he be a hero? In the world today, there is only one hero, and that is the Emperor Tianqi of the Ming Dynasty.
"Well, Grand Vizier, the calibers of our rifle and machine gun bullets are the same as yours. But what is that light machine gun?"
"The so-called light machine gun, of course, has the ability to fire bullets continuously like a machine gun, but is itself lighter and can quickly move forward and assault with the soldiers. This type of firearm has higher requirements for the material of the barrel. After all, it must be light and able to withstand the kinetic energy impact and high temperature caused by continuous firing of bullets."
After the Ming envoys exchanged glances, Yuan Keli said, "If possible, we hope to see the real thing and practice it ourselves."
"Yes, of course. Well, this is the first thing my country gives back to your country."
After another eye contact, Yuan Keli nodded gently: "If we are satisfied after the actual operation, we are willing to use this as support for your country and convert it into the base price of our country's support materials for your country."
"Well, let's continue..."
However, in the subsequent talks, Ibrahim was not so happy.
Originally, he thought that he was an expert in materials science, and that he could get countless materials from the Ming Dynasty by just taking some materials science knowledge. However, after in-depth talks, he found that the Ming Dynasty's technology tree was not slow at all: smokeless gunpowder, gun steel, ship steel and even stainless steel were all available. Steam engines were available, and they had developed to the stage of steam turbines, and even ironclad ships were available.
Wasn't the Chinese time traveler's original major in medicine? How come he is so good at science and technology? Damn, you have everything, how can I get something for nothing?
Of course, Yiprahin can hand over a more advanced steel formula: but that is meaningless. The smelting of advanced steel does not require a single formula. It also requires a comprehensive improvement in the entire technology. And the Ming Dynasty still has a long way to go with these things, and they are not useful at all: the Chinese traverser can defeat the other two traversers in East Asia, so he must not be a fool. Instead of taking out these floating things , and finally failing to deceive, but instead making the Chinese traverser distrust himself, it is better to honestly take out something practical - Osman and himself are both in danger at this moment, and China's support is crucial at this moment, and there is no room for error!
After thinking this through , Yiprahin took a deep breath and said, "In this case, I will provide your country with the production process of celluloid."
