Opening game, American Tycoon

Chapter 186 What I Know About South China (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
From the moment they set foot on this land, the city presented in front of them brought an unprecedented impact to Zuo Zongtang and others. The most intuitive impact was not even the black smoke from the steam ships in Nanhua Bay and the towering western sailing ships. sail clouds.

After all, the "Great Orient" they took when they came was the largest merchant ship in the world. After such an experience, of course they would no longer have any feelings for the ships in the bay.

But this city!

Both sides of the spacious street are full of buildings with a height of three or four houses. Now Nanhua has long since gotten rid of its initial creation. The solid brick and stone buildings on both sides of the main street have long replaced the original wooden houses. Cement plants have been put into operation one after another, and reinforced concrete buildings are becoming the mainstream in Nanhua.

What is more intuitive is the green landscaping of the city. Urban planning engineers from Britain, France and other countries have carefully planned Nanhua. Although the grasslands and parks are still very primitive, the lush green space and neat planning are What domestic cities do not have.

On the way to the hotel in a carriage, Zuo Zongtang, like everyone else, was surprised by the smoothness of the road and looked at the dark road, Zuo Zongtang asked.

"Jiayu, why is the road so smooth?"

"Brother Zuo, this road is Nanhua's unique asphalt road. It is paved with stones and asphalt. Only Nanhua has it in the world. Even Europe is just a stone road. When many Europeans first came to Nanhua, Very surprised by this too!"

When it comes to the admiration of foreigners, Ding Bingquan looks proud.

Even if the asphalt road surface was in Europe and the United States in 1860, it was still very fresh. In fact, the reason why Nanhua paved asphalt roads was because there was a lot of asphalt left over from coking. An asphalt and gravel frying machine was designed, and the asphalt pavement was paved in Nanhua. Compared with the common stone horse-tooth roads in this era, this kind of crushed stone asphalt pavement was laid with low cost and low technical difficulty.Moreover, it is smoother and more durable, and now it has even become Nanhua's business card.

"Even foreigners admire it!"

Zuo Zongtang and the others couldn't help looking at the road in surprise.

In addition to the buildings on both sides of the street that are completely different in style from China and the West, and the asphalt road that makes foreigners admire, what makes Zuo Zongtang and others refreshing is the pedestrians here.

When they arrived at the Atlantic Hotel, even though it was already past [-]:[-] in the afternoon, on the square in front of the hotel, there was a large group of workers in overalls, following the password and practicing military posture.And there are still many women watching around, and there is no taboo between men and women who show their heads.

"One two one, one two one...!"

Amidst the orderly voice of passwords, Zuo Zongtang was a little surprised to find that the formation of these strong men who were training looked even more orderly than the "Chu Army" he had trained. The clothes he was wearing were already wet with sweat.

After standing there observing for a while, Zuo Zongtang was puzzled.

"Who are they? Are they soldiers?"

It must be the soldiers, among other things, even their spirit, even his former soldiers did not have that spirit.

These people are not only soldiers, they may also be the elite of the army.

"What kind of soldiers are there! They are ordinary people! In Nanhua, everyone must undergo military training, and the weekly military training hours must not be less than ten hours."

"Military training?"

"Yes, it's training like a soldier. On weekends, you have to go to the shooting range to practice guns!"

"What? Gun practice?"

"Yes, military posture, formation, shooting, these are compulsory courses, and everyone must undergo military training!"

"Everyone? Regardless of gender?"

Su Shijing and others were surprised.

"Yes, everyone! Even women should put their feet up, participate in low-intensity training, and at least master shooting skills. According to the lord, "Farming is farming, and wartime is soldiers." This is the ancestor's rule of the Han people. If you want to survive on this land in this world of tigers and wolves, you have to go back to the martial arts tradition of the Han family, otherwise you will be a slave to a foreign race here!"

The phrase "slave of a foreign race" made Zuo Zongtang and the others all look a little strange.

Taking a closer look, Zuo Zongtang found that the people here seem to be obviously different from those in China, not because the men cut off their braids and wear short Western-style hair or short hair that is as long as an inch, nor is it because of the clothes men and women wear.

It's their spiritual heads!

Both men and women appear energetic.

In fact, they dress similarly, the men wear indigo or gray uniforms, and the women wear long skirts of similar styles and colors.Although the clothes are monotonous, it is certain that their spirits are obviously different from the common people they are used to in the past.

Their faces did not have the usual numbness and bewilderment on common people's faces, but some were full of vigor, and even their eyes were shining.

Not to mention men are like this, even women are like this.

There is light in their eyes!
For some reason, Zuo Zongtang had such an idea in his heart.Such expressions should not appear on their faces. Aren't they all poor people who were sold as "pigs" and exiled to foreign countries?Shouldn't they have a sad look on their faces?

Looking at the thoughtful Zuo Zongtang, Su Shijing and others, Ding Bing smiled.

"Do you feel that they are different?"

"It's really different."

"Actually, quite a few of them have only been here for half a year, but in the past six months... that's a complete change!"

Ding Bing sighed.

"In their words, it means that only when you arrive here do you know what a human is? What is the life that a human should live."

"What is a human..."

Pursing their lips, Zuo Zongtang and the others just buried this question in their hearts.

Why, how come they don't know that in the Qing Dynasty, even being an official can be regarded as a superior, but seeing a superior is not considered a superior.As for the people, are they living the lives of people?Exploitation and oppression by the tyrants and gentry of the government, how many ordinary people are not hungry or clothed.

And this?
Just by looking at the ruddy faces of men and women, one can guess the days they live. In fact, there is no need to guess. Whether it is the waiting station on Yangshan Island or on the boat, they can not only eat enough, but even eat meat every other day. , such is the life of man.

"Hey, although the life of the common people is easier, it's not the ancestral land, the poor people who have left their homes and can't return to their roots!"

Liu Dian's sigh made Ding Bing raise his eyebrows and sneer.

"Hmph, what's the point of leaving your homeland? The people of the Qing Dynasty are not even afraid of living, so how can you be afraid of leaving your homeland?"

The common people are not even afraid of being alive, and of course they are not afraid of leaving their homes. They seem to be angry, but Zuo Zongtang and others all sigh, looking at the men and women who are training in the square, all of them are lost in thought.

In this year and month, the life of the common people in the Qing Dynasty is indeed worse than death.

After thinking about it, Zuo Zongtang said.

"The common people can live and work in peace and contentment here, the so-called paradise is nothing more than this!"

That night, Zuo Zongtang and others who stayed in the Atlantic Hotel even forgot the surprise when they saw the elevator for the first time, and also forgot the awe of "fearing the heavens" when they were in a six-story high-rise building. Many questions.

In contrast, whether it is a high-rise building or an elevator, all these are not worth mentioning.

(End of this chapter)