mage in the late qing dynasty

Chapter 1107 So, how much money can you give?

In spring, Iceland is still very cold.

But Iceland has many volcanoes, smoke is everywhere, and hot springs are everywhere. When Zhao Chuanxin arrived, he felt what it meant to be a world of ice and fire.

Iceland's population declined. In the 18th century, a smallpox epidemic killed one-third of the population. At the end of the century, a volcanic eruption produced huge smoke and a lack of vegetation, leading to famine and the death of another quarter of the population.

At that time, Iceland was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Denmark. It did not even have an army and was barely autonomous.

Zhao Chuanxin brought his daughter here to practice swimming and enjoyed a rare benefit, using the hot spring pool as a swimming pool.

Zhao Lingjun was wearing a full-body swimsuit made of special materials that even covered her arms.

It’s not because Lao Zhao is conservative, it’s just that the material of this swimsuit is a super elastic silk from Brilliant Oasis, which is hand-woven and has V-shaped pleats on the surface, which can reduce water resistance when paddling.

Zhao Lingjun was splashing in the warm blue water.

Zhao Chuanxin said, "Won't you be exhausted to death if you swim like this?"

"Dad, look at me."

As Zhao Lingjun spoke, he exerted strength from his waist and abdomen, and emerged from the water like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

This happened repeatedly, with water splashing everywhere.

If it were any other child, they would have been exhausted and out of breath, but she kept struggling as if she had endless energy.

Zhao Chuanxin was helpless: "This swimsuit is a waste."

She won't stop until she sees my real skills.

Zhao Chuanxin said, "Look at your father's."

As he spoke, he laid his body sideways and paddled using the crawl stroke, but his speed was far beyond common sense, even faster than a fish. He rushed out twenty meters in a flash, leaving behind a trail of rippling water.

Zhao Lingjun was very unconvinced: "I can do it too."

She imitated her father's movements and rowed slowly forward.

When she looked up, she saw that she was still a long way from her father.

She continued rowing.

It took her a long while to reach Zhao Chuanxin, and she was so angry that she splashed water.

Zhao Chuanxin smiled and said, "Young man, how about it, are you convinced? If you are convinced, then learn from me."

At this time, on the dark basalt next to them, a blonde woman with braided hair was taking off her clothes and said to the father and son, "You swim very well. Is this the way you invented?"

Zhao Chuanxin and Zhao Lingjun turned around to take a look.

Oops...

He and his father came here to swim, but others came here to take a bath, so they took off all their clothes.

Although Iceland has no army, the residents here are descendants of Viking pirates, and both men and women are very strong.

The woman in front of him was about 1.7 meters tall. She was the strongest woman Zhao Chuanxin had seen in recent years. She had a muscular body with obvious fat surrounding her body, broad shoulders, thick back and strong arms.

But her facial features are very delicate and her cheeks are not bloated.

Zhao Lingjun pointed at her and said to Zhao Chuanxin, "Dad, she is so shameless!"

She couldn't understand the woman's Icelandic, and the woman couldn't understand Zhao Lingjun's Chinese.

poof...

"Hello, my name is Sarah Willsdottir."

Icelandic women always add "dottir" after their surnames, which actually means daughter in English.

So-and-so's daughter.

Add "son" after "son".

Zhao Chuanxin said to his daughter, "I advise you not to meddle in other people's business."

Zhao Lingjun: "Humph, it's obviously true!"

Zhao Chuanxin said to the woman, "I am Zhao. This is my daughter Juliana."

Old Zhao also knows how to click his tongue.

Because of the presence of his daughter, Old Zhao couldn't watch intently. After all, as a father, he had to maintain his dignity.

Sarah Wilsdottir scrubbed her body as if no one was around.

Zhao Chuanxin coughed and reluctantly swam away with his daughter.

While his daughter wasn't paying attention, he looked back.

Plus-size women with big bodies but thin waists, get to know them.

Old Zhao suffered a great mental trauma.

In a trance, I remembered that many years ago in a hot spring in Japan, I also met a girl who was in stark contrast to the woman in front of me.

Two extremes.

Soon, Zhao Chuanxin came ashore, and Zhao Lingjun was still struggling in the water.

Old Zhao said to himself, "As I get older, it's inevitable that my taste will gradually become heavier."

Sarah Wilsdottir in the water looked up and smiled at Zhao Chuanxin: "Why do you always look at me?"

Zhao Chuanxin saw his daughter struggling on the swimming ring in the distance and not paying attention to this side.

He took out the pan, cracked an egg in it and said, "You misunderstood. I was just thinking and not looking at you."

"So what are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about your body."

"..."

Sarah Wilsdottir burst out laughing.

She walked out of the water and stepped on the stones to come to Zhao Chuanxin's side.

The looming effect turns into an intuitive visual impact.

The eggs in the frying pan in Zhao Chuanxin's hand became hard - they were cooked.

He took another piece of chicken and put it in the pan to fry.

Sarah Wilsdottir asked: "This is the first time I've seen eggs cooked without fire."

Zhao Chuanxin nodded: "Then do you want to see it more often in the future?"

Sarah Wilsdottir blinked. “Okay.”

Zhao Chuanxin took out two slices of bread, put the eggs and chicken on them respectively, and poured the stuffed peppers with the secret walnut cream sauce made by the nuns from the Santa Monica Monastery in Puebla, Mexico.

He handed the sandwich to Sarah Wilsdottir. "Want some chicken?"

"Okay."

Sarah put on her clothes before taking the sandwich from Zhao Chuanxin.

Zhao Lingjun has a dog nose and can smell the scent of food even from a long distance away amid the strong smell of sulfur.

"Dad, did you ask the nun to make stuffed peppers with walnut cream sauce?"

Zhao Chuanxin waved his hand: "Come up and eat something."

In the past, when Zhao Chuanxin went to Puebla, he jumped over the wall to steal this delicacy.

Now there was no need to steal, he could just walk in as John Constantine.

He took Zhao Lingjun there once, and Zhao Lingjun couldn't forget the secret food.

Zhao Lingjun was lying on the swimming ring and flapping his arms towards this side.

Before she got ashore, Zhao Chuanxin whispered to Sarah Wilsdottir for her address.

When Zhao Lingjun came ashore, Zhao Chuanxin's face had already become stern, but his image as a strict father would never collapse.

Zhao Chuanxin raised his hand, and the water vapor on Zhao Lingjun's body evaporated. Old Zhao took out a blanket and covered her with it.

The blanket consists of horizontal stripes of blue, black, brown and ivory.

Sarah Wilsdottir first saw Zhao Chuanxin raise his hand, and the water stains on his daughter's body dried up.

Touching the blanket again, she asked, "What kind of blanket is this? It's a very fine blanket."

Zhao Chuanxin said: "This is a chief blanket woven by a Navajo woman in the Americas. It is a hand-woven flat blanket. This blanket is so delicate that it is waterproof."

Zhao Lingjun was very dissatisfied: "Dad, what are you talking to this shameless woman? Are you bullying me because I don't understand?"

Zhao Chuanxin handed her the sandwich and said, "Why are you so nosy? I'm just telling you the origin of this blanket."

"Oh, it seems I need to learn Icelandic."

Zhao Chuanxin put on ethnic-style half-shoes for her and said, "Go to the back and change your clothes. Don't get cold."

Although Zhao Lingjun was a princess, most of her shoes were designed and made by Zhao Chuanxin, and several pairs had to be made every year to keep enough for her.

When Zhao Lingjun saw the tall and strong woman eating the sandwich made by her father, he silently deducted another point from her.

"Don't whisper to her before I come back."

Zhao Chuanxin: "..."

When Zhao Lingjun came back, there was a green parrot on his shoulder.

Zhao Lingjun threw the swimsuit he had taken off onto the stone.

Zhao Chuanxin took his swimsuit to the hot spring to wash it. Lord Runzhi controlled the water flow, which was more powerful than a washing machine. The water flow was fine and impacted the intersection of each two fibers, and it was clean after several times back and forth.

He shook it three times, allowing the evaporated water vapor to mix into the hot spring vapor, and then he deftly folded it several times, folding the swimsuit into a neat square.

Sara Wilsdottir looked at her with interest: "Do you usually take care of her like this?"

In Iceland, she had never seen such a meticulous and neat man who could take care of children. He seemed to be able to perform magic...

Without waiting for Zhao Chuanxin to answer, Zhao Lingjun turned around and asked the parrot: "Sangling, what did that woman say?"

The spirit of the dead had disintegrated from the crow, and when Zhao Lingjun was away on a long journey, it possessed the telegraph parrot.

It tilted its head and looked at Zhao Lingjun: "Nonsense, how should I know? I don't understand."

The parrot actually spoke Chinese.

Zhao Lingjun urged Lao Zhao: "Dad, let's go home."

Zhao Chuanxin had no choice but to smile and leave with Sarah Wilsdottir.

He grabbed the dead soul, picked up Zhao Lingjun, and leaped more than 20 meters away. In a little while, he floated out of the pool.

The sun was shining brightly and the air was crisp and cool.

The father and son returned to The Hague with the deceased's soul riding on the third-generation dragon.

Zhao Chuanxin has been going to the Essen Steel Plant quite frequently recently. The inexplicable decrease in the inventory of weapons and ammunition has aroused the vigilance of the person in charge.

In order to avoid being blamed, he quickly reported the matter.

The importance of Krupp's military industry to Germany is self-evident.

The superiors immediately sent troops to patrol at night.

But at night, the inventory was inexplicably reduced.

……

January.

There has been no conclusion as to whether Yuan Weiting was responsible for the assassination of Song Jiaoren.

The murderer has been brought to justice, but the trial lacks crucial evidence.

However, Sun and others spread the news, believing that it was Yuan Weiting who did it.

In addition, after Yuan Weiting signed the "Post-Settlement Contract", public opinion overwhelmingly condemned Yuan Weiting.

In May, the five governors of Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, and Lubin Prefecture jointly sent a telegram to strongly oppose the post-war loan.

Soon after, the governors of the remaining 17 provinces jointly signed a letter to support the post-war loans.

It can be seen that Yuan Weiting still has some means.

Disagreements arose again between Sun Gongwu and Huang Xing.

Sun Gongwu decided to overthrow Yuan Weiting by force, but Huang Xing opposed it and believed that legal procedures should be used.

This serious disagreement caused a rift between the two for the first time.

Perhaps Huang Xing had some understanding of the revolutionary nature of his class and was somewhat weak. If he wanted to rebel, it would probably take him ten years to succeed, just like before.

If I had known this would happen, I should not have compromised with Yuan Weiting. I should have persisted to the end and would not be in the current predicament.

In June, Yuan Weiting issued the "General Order to Honor Confucius."

There were so many people flattering him that even Kang Youwei, who was driven back to China by Zhao Chuanxin, published an article in the newspaper praising Yuan Weiting.

A trend of respecting Confucius and restoring ancient ways has emerged in the country.

Reporters from major newspapers rushed to find Zhao Chuanxin to ask for his opinion.

Unfortunately, after contacting everyone, it seems that Zhao Chuanxin is not in the country.

The reporter from Internet Gazette begged Zhang Shouzeng to help contact Zhao Chuanxin.

Reporters from other newspapers took a ride and were able to talk to Zhao Chuanxin.

Zhao Chuanxin was wearing his bathrobe and tidying up the warehouse in the underground fortress of Quetshalan when he received a call.

Zhang Shouzeng explained the purpose of the call, and Zhao Chuanxin spat: "Ah... tui! Guess what Yuan Weiting meant by this?"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Shouzeng really didn't understand. After all, he couldn't see through history.

Zhao Chuanxin said disdainfully: "Respecting Confucius and restoring the past is to maintain feudal ethics. To put it simply, he wants to use ethics to maintain his rule; to put it more deeply, he wants to restore the monarchy and dream of becoming an emperor again."

When Zhang Shouzeng made the phone call, the reporter was also nearby.

The mobile phone had serious sound leakage, and the reporter heard it clearly.

Everyone was shocked and the room fell silent.

Among the various voices criticizing Yuan Weiting, there has not yet been any statement saying that he wants to become emperor.

Zhao Chuanxin was the first one.

Zhao Chuanxin asked Zhang Shouzeng: "Tell me, who is the most ruthless person who advocates Yuan Weiting's tactics now?"

Before Zhang Shouzeng could speak, the reporters around him exclaimed, "Kang Nanhai?"

Zhao Chuanxin naturally heard it.

He sneered: "Don't you know what kind of character Kang Youwei is?"

When everyone heard this, they secretly thought that Zhao Tan Gong really had a keen eye.

While living abroad, one can see the domestic situation clearly.

Everyone got excited.

I wonder what Yuan Weiting’s reaction would be when he sees this news in the newspaper?
Seeing that the reporter was about to scream at the top of his lungs, Zhang Shouzeng simply put his cell phone on the table.

Everyone discussed it, and then came forward one by one to talk to Lao Zhao.

"Governor Zhao, Yuan Weiting said that the strength and survival of a country depends on the protection of propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame. He also said that Confucius was born to be a model for all ages, and Confucius's teachings are applicable to all places, just like the sun and the moon are not damaged, and the rivers are not abolished. President Yuan requires all provinces to worship Confucius according to the ancient meaning, and the regulations are detailed and clear. In terms of education, he also promotes the policy of restoring the past and respecting Confucius. Lubin Prefecture is naturally included in this list. What do you think?"

Zhao Chuanxin said bluntly: "Let him die."

The reporters were in an uproar.

Zhang Shouzeng was ashamed.

Another reporter asked: "It is said that Yuan Weiting said that you did not respect the orders of the superiors and failed to live up to the trust of the country..."

Zhao Chuanxin seemed to be smoking, and he hissed and said, "He just wants to say that I don't give him face. Let me tell you this, when I hit him in the face, don't ask me why I hit him. Because when I gave him candy, he never thanked me."

The reporter thought to himself, you don’t look like a politician, do you?

He asked: "Governor Zhao, aren't you afraid of causing domestic conflicts by saying this?"

Zhao Chuanxin was amused: "Scolding is sometimes a good thing. After all, I am better at doing things."

reporter:"……"

"Captain Zhao, what have you been busy with recently? Are you abroad? Which country?"

Zhao Chuanxin was vague in his explanation.

hang up the phone.

Zhao Chuanxin was teleported back to Iceland from Kuitshalan.

On the bed, Sara Willsdottir propped her head up with her hands, leaned sideways and asked him, "Where have you been?"

Zhao Chuanxin took off his nightgown, jumped onto the bed, and slammed it hard, causing the waves to surge.

"Go stock up, we need to make money."

……

In early June, Serbia and Greece secretly signed the Anti-Bulgarian Alliance, and Romania soon joined.

Bulgaria was also busy. It obtained loans from Austria-Hungary and Germany and decided to prepare for a preemptive military strike.

Originally they were a whole, but Bulgaria had contributed more before, so it thought it should take the lion's share.

The rest of the Balkan League disagreed, so they fell out, and it turned into a crude farce in which all the Balkan countries ganged up on Bulgaria.

Even Serbia and the Ottoman Empire, which had hundreds of years of grievances, came together.

The so-called nationalism and religious sentiments are both absurd and pale in the face of interests.

Zhao Chuanxin prepared the goods for Bulgaria.

He had already contacted the Bulgarian generals, and as soon as they got the loan, Zhao Chuanxin went to negotiate.

"Cannons, shells, Maxims, bullets, all ready. Is the money ready?"

The Bulgarian general held the cigar handed to him by Zhao Chuanxin in his mouth, and said respectfully: "Mr. Zhao, how about the price?"

Zhao Chuanxin smiled slightly. "It's our first cooperation, so it's easy to negotiate. The price is 20% lower than what Germany offered you, and there's no shipping cost. As for how much you report, that's up to you. In addition, weapons and ammunition will be delivered to you within seven days. Once you go to war, as long as the money is in place, all kinds of military supplies will be available on demand."

The general was delighted.

Zhao Chuanxin was equally happy.

The military supplies stolen from Germany were resold to Bulgaria, and the German business was also taken away.

In addition, Zhao Chuanxin also resold war-related products.

Zhao Chuanxin had other uses for the money.

At the end of June, Bulgaria, which was confident of its strength, could no longer hold back and finally launched a surprise attack on Serbia and Greece.

The Second Balkan War begins.

As soon as the fighting started, the Bulgarian side noticed something was wrong.

Not only did Serbia and Greece, but also Romania and Montenegro joined the war, but the Ottoman Empire was also trying to recover the land lost in the First Balkan War.

Bulgarian General Kliment Boyaziev said anxiously: "Mr. Zhao, I need help."

Zhao Chuanxin asked uncertainly: "Do you need weapons and ammunition?"

Kliment Boyaziev shook his head and pulled his gray beard: "It would be best if you could help us fight..."

He had heard of Zhao Chuanxin's achievements.

Although he couldn't understand how a single person could influence the war.

But the man in front of him had already proven his strength through war after war.

Zhao Chuanxin filmed the whole process, so he naturally knew what was going on.

The Bulgarian Second Army attacked the Greek positions at Thessaloniki.

Greece launched a counterattack as if it were injected with chicken blood. All Bulgarian actions were detected and blocked by Greek cavalry. In addition, fighting with other countries distracted their attention. By June 6, the attack changed from Bulgaria to Greece.

It was now June 6th, and the Greeks had ordered the 20st and 1th Divisions to form six battalions of troops, with mountain artillery, to prepare an attack on the Bulgarian flank at Kilkis.

Judging from their posture, they are preparing to capture Kilkis at night.

Zhao Chuanxin watched it every day and was already itching to do it.

But he still took Joe: "Let me think about it."

Another general, Georgy Todorov, took a deep breath and said, "Don't think about it. Just agree to it. The war has reached a critical moment."

Kliment Boyaziev even used the Bulgarian Tsar as an example: "Our Emperor Ferdinand I, who is also an entomologist, botanist and writer, has the same interests as you. He read your book The Road to Extinction and praised it highly. For the sake of this friendship, please help us."

He also said that Zhao Chuanxin really likes doing research.

Zhao Chuanxin put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky: "Yes, we have been friends for a long time, so we do have a friendship. It's just that..."

Georgy Todorov raised his eyebrows: "Money?"

"I'm so ashamed. I don't really care about money." Zhao Chuanxin smacked his lips, "So, how much can you give?"

"..." Kliment Boyaziev cursed in his heart and tentatively stretched out five fingers.

Zhao Chuanxin stroked his beard and asked, "Fifty million?"

"Hiss..." Kliment Boyaziev almost choked to death on his saliva: "It's 50,000 marks."

Zhao Chuanxin calculated with his fingers: "Fifty thousand marks? Then I can only promise to help defend position 123 behind the Galicos River."

(End of this chapter)