The Travelers of the Heavens

""Prince, this is the commercial director, Zhao Yuankai." Chu Bufan introduced Wang Qi to a young man in a suit and leather shoes.

""Prince, Madam" Zhao Yuankai stood up and greeted Wang Qi and his wife.

"Well, please sit down," Wang Qi said.

"This is a doctor of international law, Nan Jinren." Chu Bufan introduced Wang Qi to a young man wearing glasses.

"Prince, madam," Nan Jinren also stood up to greet him.

"Dr. Nan, please sit down," Wang Qi replied.

""This is General Qiu Fang, the commander of the Corps Stationed Abroad." Chu Bufan introduced to Wang Qi a middle-aged man wearing a military uniform with three stars on his shoulders. The

Corps Stationed Abroad is a newly formed unit. This unit has four brand-new Army numbers: 500th, 501st, 502nd, 503rd Army.

Unlike other army-level units, each army of this foreign corps only has three divisions with a total of 56,000 people. The entire corps has four corps and twelve The total number of divisions is more than 220,000.

The designations of division-level units are: 500th Army has 1001st Division, 1002nd Division, and 1003rd Division.

501st Army has 1004th Division, 1005th Division, and 1006th Division.

502nd Army has 1007th Division. Division, 1008th Division, 1009th Division.

The 503rd Army has jurisdiction over the 1010th Division, 1011th Division, and 1012th Division.

Not all of this unit is stationed on the Rooster Land. Among them, the 1008th and 1009th Divisions of the 502nd Army are stationed in Chaoxian, and the 1010th Division and 1011th Division of the 503rd Army are stationed in Chaoxian. The division is stationed in Yuenan, and the 1012th Division of the 503rd Army is stationed in Liuqiu; these troops replaced the Jiuzhou soldiers originally stationed here. The remaining troops are stationed in Gongji Land, among which the 1001st Division under the 500th Army is stationed in An, Jiangning City Protect the surrounding areas of Dongduhufu

"Prince, madam, and subordinates will do their best to protect the safety of you two and protect the interests of our Great Zhou Empire." Qiu Fang stood up, saluted, and said

""Okay, okay, I believe what General Qiu said. Please sit down," Wang Qi replied.

Then Chu Bufan continued to introduce other officials.

After all the introductions were completed, Chu Bufan asked Wang Qi to give everyone a lecture.

"Well, I am stationed here under the order of my father. I am new here, and I hope you will take care of me. I would like to thank you." After Wang Qi finished speaking, he bowed to everyone.

"We will strictly follow the prince's orders." Everyone responded.

Then Wang Qi said that the meeting can be dismissed, and he will invite all civil and military officials here in the evening.

Luan Pavilion is a three-story ancient building, with a study room on the top floor, a bedroom on the second floor, and The first floor is the living room, dining room and kitchen, and there is a garden outside. There is a swimming pool in the garden.

This Luan Pavilion is Li Xiaoman's bedroom. The maid guided him into the Luan Pavilion. Li Xiaoman was very satisfied with the environment here.

Tongxin The palace is the second largest palace in Andong Protector's Palace after De'an Palace. It is the residence of Wang Qi. It is a double-eaves Xieshan-style building. Its appearance is similar to Beixuan Palace in Taishi Palace but its area is much smaller.

"Prince, I think it is necessary for you and your wife to go to the capital to see Emperor Jiaqing to express our respect for him from the Zhou Empire." Chu Bufan said to Wang Qi

"What the teacher said makes sense, so when will we set off to Beijing?" Wang Qi thought for a moment and nodded.

""Don't worry, wait until you and your wife have settled down before sending someone to the capital to inform you. It won't be too late to set off after getting a definite answer," Chu Bufan said

""Okay." Wang Qi responded.

In the evening, Li Xiaoman had to change clothes and touch up her makeup to attend the banquet with Wang Qi.

"I’m exhausted. Why are these people so busy?" After the banquet, Li Xiaoman returned to his Luan Pavilion and lay on the bed complaining about the banquet just now.

"Madam, those people are all subordinates of the prince. They naturally want to please the prince and madam for their own future," the maid said.

"If they have something to talk to the prince, why are they looking for me?" Li Xiaoman sat up and said while taking off her headdress.

"Sometimes the lady’s words are more effective than their music," the maid said.

"Okay, I understand, please help me change my clothes," Li Xiaoman said.

Wang Qi did not spend the night with Li Xiaoman tonight. He went back to his Tongxin Hall after the banquet and came back with him. There were also more than a dozen folders, all of which had just been handed over by officials at all levels.

The next morning, Wang Qi approved all the more than a dozen documents, and then sent people to send them to each department. office.

Wang Qi asked Commercial Director Zhao Yuankai to send someone to send invitations to the Western Chamber of Commerce in Jiangning, saying that they would have a banquet with the presidents of these chambers of commerce in the evening to discuss business matters. As expected, the Westerners who accepted the invitation were very enthusiastic, and they brought Come to the banquet with heavy gifts.

These Westerners are not ordinary businessmen. Behind them are politicians in their respective countries. Some of them are even politicians, but they are just pretending to be businessmen and come here to inquire about information.

As early as the reign of Emperor Qianlong At that time, there were Western merchants in Jiangning, but the number was very small. Now, as the Zhou Empire occupied the major ports in the south of the Qing Dynasty and fully opened them to the outside world, the number of Westerners has gradually increased, and there are also chambers of commerce opened by Westerners in Jiangning.

"ah? Want a treat?"When she learned that her husband was going to treat guests again in the evening, Li Xiaoman felt very speechless.

"Who are you going to invite this time? Isn't it an official from the Qing Dynasty?" Li Xiaoman asked again

"I heard that he is a Western businessman, and the prince asked his servant to inform you that you must be there on time in the evening," the maid said.

""Hey, okay, tonight is another tired night." Li Xiaoman was a little wilted.

Soon it was evening. There were quite a few Western businessmen who came to the banquet today, and their wives even came with them.

"Mr. Palmerston, I heard that you have deep connections with the political circles of your country. I wonder if I can trouble you with something." Chu Bufan discovered that the person he was talking to was actually the future Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Palmerston. So he said with a tentative attitude.

Palmerston, who was only twenty years old this year, was still a little green. He had just entered the political arena and was sent to the Qing court to gather information.

""General, please tell me." Palmerston knew that Chu Bufan was an important and powerful figure in the Zhou Empire, a senior general in the army and Wang Qi's teacher, so he did not dare to be disrespectful at all.

Just kidding, don't talk about a small politician Palmerston, even if The current British Prime Minister William Pitt Jr. has to be polite when he comes.

"We know that your country is organizing an anti-French alliance to fight against Emperor Napoleon of Gaul, and your country’s navy is the most powerful in the world. I hope that your country can build a warship for me. The price is whatever you want," Chu Bufan said

"Sir, I have to ask my superiors for instructions on this matter. The situation in Europe is very unfavorable to our country, and I heard that Napoleon is stepping up his efforts to build various ships and train soldiers to invade our country, so I can’t guarantee that what you asked will be accomplished." Palmerston said.

The situation in Europe is very unfavorable to the anti-French alliance led by Britain. Napoleon has repeatedly defeated the land attacks of the anti-French alliance. Currently, his troops are stationed in Boulogne to rest and recuperate. The Gallic navy is also stepping up training and building ships. , preparing to cross the sea to attack Britain

"It doesn't matter, Mr. Palmerston, if your country is in danger, we are also willing to provide help within our capabilities, such as sending troops to Europe to help you defeat Napoleon," Chu Bufan said. When these words came out, Palmerston was surprised. He was very sensitive to The Zhou Empire may want to gain benefits from the"Napoleonic Wars"

"General, I will definitely respond to your request above," Palmerston promised.

"Thank you Mr. Palmerston. I will thank you deeply when the matter is done. Oh, by the way, if you have any news and I am not around, you can talk to the prince directly about this matter. On this matter, my opinion is his."Opinion." Chu Bufan thanked him, and then pointed to Wang Qi, who was talking to a few Westerners not far away.

""Okay general, I will try my best to facilitate this matter," Palmerston looked at Wang Qi and said.

On the other side, Li Xiaoman was talking and laughing with a few Western women.

The women exchanged glasses and drank. It's a joy. At this banquet, Li Xiaoman wore a royal blue horse-faced skirt and a pink cardigan with wide sleeves. There was also a phoenix-shaped badge on the left side of her chest. This badge symbolized Li Xiaoman's Man was a royal noble of the Zhou Empire.

Li Xiaoman's dress made several Western women's eyes shine, but what attracted them even more was the fabric of Li Xiaoman's clothes. It was so smooth and smooth without stains. Several Western women were attracted by it. The women's husbands all had cloth businesses, but they had never seen cloth like this.