The British Empire is a name that cannot be erased in modern Chinese history. It can be said that in the original historical line, from 184o to 1997, all the sufferings and experiences that China endured were inseparable from this country for a period of 137 years.

If you study it further, in fact, as early as the Qianlong period, Britain sent envoys to China, kicking off the prelude to British forces' attempt to penetrate the Far East.

Of course, compared to the normal historical line, Britain today is not as powerful as it was later. Britain has just risen in Europe, and it is not the empire that never sets in later generations. However, William's appearance cannot help but remind Zhu Yicheng of history. Although the British's purpose of sending William to the Far East only involves trade on the surface, who can guarantee that there will be no other behind it?

The situation in Britain has been explained a lot in the history of later generations. Zhu Yicheng has also read several books on modern history. However, because of these situations, Britain was rejected and Zhu Yicheng would not do this. First, Britain has not yet reached its prosperous period, and second, Zhu Yicheng also has confidence in the Ming Dynasty. In this great era, two countries cannot get around it. One is France, which is now in power by Louis XIV of the Sun and is known as the overlord of Europe, and the other is Britain, which is now thriving.

I will deal with this country sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to come so suddenly. How to deal with Britain is different from Portugal before. Although the Kingdom of Portugal seems to be strong for a while, it has actually gone downhill, while Britain is in the rising period and has revealed its tentacles to the whole world. Soon, when Britain completely defeats Spain and gains maritime hegemony, an empire that will not set will begin to be born.

Before meeting William, Zhu Yicheng thought a lot and made a lot of preparations.

A few days later, William finally entered the palace. When he came to this huge palace, William truly felt the majesty and power of the Ming Dynasty for the first time. Considering William's identity, Zhu Yicheng did not meet him in the side hall where people were common in Japan, and of course he did not meet him in the main hall. Instead, he chose a quiet place in the palace. The weather in March was still a bit cold, but it was as warm as spring. Coupled with the surrounding plants and buildings with Jiangnan atmosphere, it added a softer atmosphere to this meeting.

He was taken into the palace gate by the little yellow gate and came to a place. Through a garden, he saw a person standing in the pavilion in front of him. He was slender and gorgeously dressed. He stood there with a majestic momentum. He should be the Emperor Zhu Yicheng of the Ming Dynasty.

"His Majesty the Emperor, foreign minister William Adams, assistant to His Excellency George Adams, a member of the British East India Company, and an envoy responsible for Far Eastern affairs, pay homage to His Majesty the respected Emperor of the Ming Empire." Seeing Zhu Yicheng, William respectfully saluted and reported his identity at the same time.

Zhu Yicheng already knew William's identity, but his uncle was one of the members of the British East India Company. He just learned about it today. Originally, he thought the other party was an ordinary senior executive, but he didn't expect that he was one of the twenty-four members. The members of the British East India Company are generally directly served by directors, among which the chairman is also called the president, or the governor, but the name of this governor is different from that of the governor of other colonies. The entire British East India Company is a huge economic consortium, composed of several companies. Under the current circumstances, its commercial nature is much greater than that of the political nature, so the rights of directors, that is, members are not small. In other words, William, appointed by a member, can basically serve as the representative of the British East India Company Committee, that is, the board of directors.

Facing William, Zhu Yicheng did not look arrogant, but was very harmonious. He smiled and raised his hand to signal the other party to get up, and then invited the other party to sit down and serve tea.

William is not unfamiliar with tea. Although his family was not a British aristocrat, as a member of the East India Company, he was also considered an upper class in the UK. Moreover, the first batch of tea trade in Britain was facilitated by the East India Company.

More than half a century has passed since the completion of the first tea trade. The upper-class gentlemen in the UK have gradually formed the habit of drinking tea. Of course, drinking tea is a relatively luxurious act nowadays. It not only requires a certain status, but also requires considerable financial resources. After all, in the UK, tea must be transported from the far east, and its price is very high.

When he was in the local area, although William had drunk tea, he could not develop this habit due to price reasons. After he arrived in India, the supply of tea became much more abundant, and his preference for tea gradually emerged. Since he arrived in the Ming Dynasty, especially during the three months he followed Huangluzhuang, drinking tea changed from preference to habit, and gradually adapted to and fell in love with the original Chinese way of drinking tea.

Thanking first, William looked at Zhu Yicheng with some anxiety, but did not move the teacup in front of him. He was both expectant and a little nervous about today's audience. After all, a big man like Zhu Yicheng is far more noble than the president of the East India Company. This is the first time that the young William has faced this situation.

"Don't be restrained, be more casual." Seeing the other party's restraint, Zhu Yicheng smiled and signaled William to take a sip of tea first.

After taking a sip of tea carefully, my mood calmed down a little, and I heard Zhu Yicheng speak from his official words first, and smiled and said that William's official words were very good. It seemed that he had put in effort in this regard.

Starting from the official language, we gradually talked about William's departure from India to Macau, and then turned to Ningbo, Shanghai and other places. Zhu Yicheng didn't ask anything else. Most of the conversations were just local customs and seemed to be quite interested in these things. After several answers, William gradually lost his previous tension and slowly relaxed.

"Adams, your East India Company requires trade with our Ming Dynasty, and there is no problem with this. Our Ming Dynasty has always been an open country and has no restrictions on maritime trade. As long as countries around the world abide by the laws of the Ming Dynasty and pay taxes and transactions in accordance with the law, I am very welcome as the ruler of this country."

Zhu Yicheng took the initiative to raise questions about trade. When he said these words from his mouth, William was immediately overjoyed. With the promise of His Majesty the Emperor, he said that his mission to the Far East was completed. As for other requirements, William did not make too many. He just asked some questions about how to conduct substantial contact and carry out trade cooperation, etc., and did not mention some unreasonable or presumptuous requests at all.

Of course, Britain is not the later Britain, and it is not as arrogant and arrogant as a hundred years later. From William, even the top leaders of the UK, and even the King and the East India Company, the Ming Dynasty is a country stronger than Britain, and it needs respect for a powerful country. This has always been a matter of course in Western civilization.

"Thank you very much for your magnanimity, and I will pass on your Majesty's opinions to the company committees in India."

"These are all small matters. I will send an order to the Maritime Bureau. In a few days, someone will naturally have specific contact with you." Zhu Yicheng said, basically confirming the matter about trade. Then Zhu Yicheng asked about the current situation in the UK, especially the general situation of overseas trade in the UK. William was very frank and told these people one by one. After all, these are not secrets. Since the two sides want to start trade cooperation, it is normal to know these.

"Mr. Adams graduated from Cambridge University? I heard it is a student of Sir Newton?"

"Your Majesty, I am indeed a graduate of Cambridge University, but I have only heard a class by Sir Newton. However, my tutor is a Jazz student, because although Jazz has been in the university for many years, he usually no longer cares about specific teaching aspects." William explained. After hearing this, Zhu Yicheng nodded slightly. No matter what, William is also Newton's disciple.

"I summoned Huangluzhuang a few days ago. Huangluzhuang praised you in front of me, saying that he gave Huangluzhuang a lot of help when he was in Ningbo, especially in some technical research, you have made many breakthroughs because of your assistance."

"Dear Your Majesty, I admire Mr. Huang's knowledge and scientific attitude very much. As for help, it is not really a question. Many of the work is led by Mr. Huang. I just made some suggestions on some theoretical aspects." William replied with a smile. Although he was a little humble in his words, he was also a little proud.

During these days in Ningbo, William has contacted a lot of Ming Dynasty's science and technology and practical situation through Huangluzhuang. Although he has given Huangluzhuang a lot of assistance, he is also surprised after contacting him. He was surprised that the Ming Dynasty's science and technology was not as advanced as Europe in some aspects, but he has passed Europe in other aspects, especially in metallurgy, chemical industry, manufacturing and ordnance. Many technologies have opened William's eyes and benefited a lot.

In fact, as a senior talent who graduated from Cambridge University, William has keenly discovered this problem. He even wanted to resign from his position in the East India Company after returning to India and return to his hometown, relying on his family's financial resources to invest in industrial construction, and directly apply some of the things he learned from Ningbo. He is very confident that this will be a successful investment, and the companies he founded will definitely make a big profit, because the technologies he learned in Ningbo have surpassed the technologies of all European countries. As long as he seizes this opportunity, he will definitely succeed.

"Mr. Adams' professional ability has been proven by practice, so there is no need to be modest." Zhu Yicheng waved his hand and then suddenly asked: "Mr. Adams once said before, you are your uncle's assistant in the East India Company? So do you have other official positions besides the assistant?"

"This... is very ashamed, but I think that when I return to India, the committee will definitely grant me a due position." William also thanked Zhu Yicheng. After all, he completed the task because of Zhu Yicheng. Without the other party's permission, it would be impossible to succeed.
Chapter completed!