So that’s it!

Li Xiao finally understood that the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with its huge army and the blessing of Ming Dynasty weapons, could not even defeat the small Israel.

It turns out that there is a big brother behind me!

No wonder!

No wonder!

Zheng Sen didn't know what he was doing for food. He was in Paris but couldn't even find out about such a thing. It took Ekaterina traveling thousands of kilometers to tell him.

For the first time, Li Xiao had doubts about Zheng Sen's ability.

But after thinking about it, Li Xiao also talked more.

The loan to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was secured by the mines in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Even if you lose, you still have to pay me back.

However, Israel was so cheap, which made Li Xiao a little vigilant.

He did not expect that the Hebrews had such great power in Western political circles.

It was actually able to influence the decisions of Frederick and Napoleon!

I thought that after seeing the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, Bismarck would lose his desire to compete with the Ming Dynasty. However, I did not expect that this veteran German nationalist would secretly attack the Ming Dynasty.

No one understands better than Li Xiao how strong the Hebrew people's desire to restore their country is.

With the support of an integrated Israel, the Hebrews will develop superior combat effectiveness and organizational mobilization capabilities.

Although now, Israel cannot compete with Ming Dynasty.

But it won't be long before Israel will clamor to Ming Dynasty. After all, there are only so many interests in the world.

It’s either yours or mine!

Moreover, the Hebrews were inherently greedy. In this regard, Li Xiao felt that they were very similar to himself.

"The Ming Dynasty plans to build a railway from Ili to Moscow so that Ming Dynasty's goods can be transported to Europe smoothly.

At the same time, goods from Europe can be shipped back smoothly." Li Xiao suddenly asked Ekaterina a question.

"Of course!" Ekaterina was distracted for a moment, and immediately nodded excitedly. The two lumps on her chest swayed with her head, making people dizzy.

Daming is the richest place in the world now. If it can be connected to Daming by railway, then...!

The Principality of Muscovy will become the export outlet for Ming Dynasty goods in the West. For Russia, which has underdeveloped commerce, this is simply a piece of pie falling from the sky.

"However, building railways requires a lot of labor. As you know, Ming Dynasty did not have that many laborers. And along the way, there was also a need for military protection.

These are huge and complex expenses, and Daming hopes that Russia will help us share them.

Another thing is that I heard that the width of Russian railways is not consistent with ours.

If you want Ming Dynasty trains to go to Russia, you must re-determine the width of Russian train tracks.

I wonder what Her Majesty the Queen means!" Li Xiao said politely, but his tone was unquestionable.

There is no pie in the sky! Building the railway for free is certainly not such a good thing.

Li Xiao immediately put forward conditions!

Central Asia was originally the sphere of influence of the Russians. For the Ming Dynasty twenty years ago, Central Asia was too far away.

And in the middle, there is a Zhungeer who is quite unfriendly to the Ming Dynasty. People from the Ming Dynasty rarely set foot in Central Asia!

As for the Russian Empire, its expansion has continued since it drove away the Mongols. Central Asia, which has numerous plains, has naturally become a place where Russian cavalry roam.

After conquering Transcaucasus, Russia even recruited a group of Cossack cavalry there.

These guys wear black cloaks and hold full-moon scimitars in their hands. They charge as fast as lightning, and they become a nightmare for all infantrymen on the battlefield.

In the past, the Cossack cavalry in the hands of Russia was definitely a powerful enemy of the Ming Dynasty.

But now...!

Just one tank platoon can easily kill thousands of Cossack cavalry.

If you want to build railways in Central Asia, you have to rely on Russian talent. After all, it is easier to build roads than to protect them.

The railway you have worked so hard to build can be cleaned up in one night. Moreover, it is best to build railways in opposite directions.

In this way, the construction period can be shortened by almost half. Li Xiu's telegram stated that Moscow already has a basic railway.

It's just that the track width of these railways is different from that of the Ming Dynasty. Since it has become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, it is no longer possible to have the same text, but the trains still have to be on the same track.

"Russia will work hard to raise the funds needed to build the railway. You know, we in Russia have just experienced a war, and in terms of financial resources...!"

When it came to getting money, Ekaterina felt a little helpless. After all, she had just lost a battle and lost everything.

Now the Russian treasury is so empty that a rat could starve to death. Even the crown of Russia was given to Li Xiao. There is really no money!

"Oh, you can invest in shares with manpower. After all, building a railway requires a lot of workers.

The Ming Dynasty is responsible for providing surveying technicians and planning personnel. But the ordinary road construction workers are provided by your Russia."

More than 10,000 people died when building a railway in the Western Regions. Although they were all slaves of foreign races, the money to buy more than 20,000 people was not a small sum of money.

Now we need to build railways for Russia. Since Russia has no money, it’s better to hire people.

Anyway, there is no shortage of population in Russia now.

The Russians who lost the war and ceded the land were miserably bullied by the occupying forces. Many people had no choice but to burn down their houses and take their property and flee to the last land of the Russians, the Principality of Moscow.

As a result, Muscovy became increasingly crowded.

Russia is now desperately poor, with workers unemployed and farmers bankrupt. It is a mess anyway, with many ordinary people crying from hunger and cold, struggling to survive on the food and clothing line.

The purpose of building railways now is actually to help Russia and find a way for those Russians who are living in poverty to survive.

"That's no problem. Russia will provide all the manpower needed." Ekaterina agreed without even thinking.

If you really want to sleep, just give me a pillow!

Yekaterina was worried about how to tell Li Xiao that she wanted to immigrate some people to Central Asia. After all, there were so many Russians who needed a place to go.

Central Asia is vast and sparsely populated, which is perfect for a weak Russia to resettle these war refugees.

"Okay, this matter is settled like this. I know you are in great difficulty in Russia now. After the railway is repaired.

After the railway is repaired, you can use Russian resources to buy whatever you need from Ming Dynasty."

The railway is not a one-way line, and those locomotives and wagons have to come back.

The ideal situation is that when I go there, I will be loaded with goods exported by the Ming Dynasty. When I come back, I will be loaded with resources from Russia and the Nordic countries.

Northern Europe is very rich in resources such as wood and coal.

Especially the iron ore from Northern Europe is of very high quality.

Although Ming Dynasty already has iron ore supplies from Australia, who would object to the abundance of resources?

What's more, there are rare metals in northern Europe that are lacking in the Ming Dynasty. These things now have to cross the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean to reach the Ming Dynasty.

With this railway, it would be much simpler.

The most important thing is that the speed of railway is faster than that of sea transport.

Liecheng set out from the mainland of the Ming Dynasty and passed through the Western Regions and the vast Central Asia. It took almost a week to reach Moscow.

If you have one more day, you can reach St. Petersburg.

From St. Petersburg across the Baltic Sea, goods can be sold directly to Europe. This speed is much faster than shipping by sea.

The train can even run back and forth in half a month.

A boat can't do this!

Even the warships of the Ming Dynasty cannot make it back to Tianjin from the Atlantic Ocean in half a month.

Early the next morning, Ekaterina boarded the train to the capital of the Ming Dynasty. For her, not being able to take the airship was the happiest thing.

Li Xiao gave up his luxurious box to Catherine and took the airship back to the capital.

Because of the difference in speed, there will be a time difference between the two of them arriving in the capital. Li Xiao needs to use this time to complete the matter of the railway to St. Petersburg.

"Commander! Why do we want to build a railway to St. Petersburg?" Stewie knew that the Ming Dynasty had no plan to build a railway across Central Asia.

He didn't understand that the focus of the next section of the Ming Dynasty was to build the railway from Guanzhong to Chengdu. How could it suddenly be necessary to build the Central Asia Railway?

With the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, it is still very difficult to build such two arduous projects at the same time.

What's more, Guanzhong is also building a hydropower station on the Wei River.

Two bridges across the Yangtze River are being built, and a railway from Jinling to Guangzhou and Nanning is also being built in the south.

Road networks are being widened all over the country. Even small villages must be connected to roads.

With so many projects, even the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty is somewhat difficult to support. Now we have to build railways abroad, this...!

"Austro-Hungary is definitely defeated this time, and the State of Israel will survive. With the support of Prussia and France, Israel will soon become a European power.

The most important thing is that the Hebrews hate us. With their current influence, they can organize an alliance against the Ming Dynasty within a few years." Li Xiao looked at the white clouds outside the car window and wanted to take a puff of cigarette to relieve himself.

Scattered thoughts.
To be continued...