Chapter 1432: The Next Stage

Jiang Xuan did not answer this question; this was the highest secret of Longyan.

It became the highest secret after Liu Zheng proposed the concept of "electricity" in Longyan.

The Steam Engine would eventually be phased out. Others might not know, but Jiang Xuan had always been very clear about the laboratory far away in Liangzhou, where the latest type of Steam Engine researched by Longyan was located, or rather, it should not be called a Steam Engine.

It should be called—Internal Combustion Engine.

Nashadier did not get the information he wanted from Jiang Xuan's mouth and was still somewhat disappointed.

But the next sentence Jiang Xuan said made Nashadier perk up again.

"Lord Liu Zheng said that in the future, a manufacturing plant for giant Internal Combustion Engines will be built in your territory."

Hearing this, Nashadier was jolted, and immediately a smile appeared on his face.

"Then did Lord Liu Zheng say when he would build the factory here for me?"

Nashadier asked anxiously.

The Suez Canal was now under the control of Longyan, but the Suez Canal was also within Nashadier's territory.

Nashadier had witnessed the development of maritime transport; there were quite substantial benefits here.

Especially when seeing many European powers like France and Britain, countries whose territory did not even compare to a large city of Longyan.

They relied on strong maritime transport and powerful navies to plunder the world and become one power after another.

Although Nashadier did not have the intention of becoming a power right now.

But using maritime transport to develop shipping, with his back against the Suez Canal, achieving this goal was still possible.

At the thought of this, Nashadier grinned and laughed out loud.

"This matter is not urgent. The war has not ended yet, and it is too early to build such a large factory now."

Nashadier pondered for a moment and nodded.

Indeed, building a Giant Steam Engine manufacturing plant also required the creation of other related industries.

Although these industries existed in his territory now, their numbers were few, and they could not form a scale.

Thinking of this, Nashadier took a deep breath; this matter could not be rushed and had to be planned slowly.

Now that he had received a positive answer from Jiang Xuan's mouth, Nashadier felt much more at ease.

"Good."

With this matter coming to an end, Jiang Xuan immediately informed Liu Zheng of the successful negotiation.

Now that war had officially started with France, everything had to be prepared.

They were currently in a state of cooperation with Britain.

Although both sides were unwilling, they had no other choice.

In all of Europe, only Britain and Prussia were allies, while other European countries were all hostile toward them.

Longyan had an alliance relationship with Prussia.

Prussia could not abandon Longyan, a powerful ally. Although Britain had slight grievances with Longyan, in the face of absolute interests, these grievances could be temporarily set aside.

They would unite to deal with their greatest enemy at this stage first.

At this moment, Dike had returned to his Colonial Area in Egypt.

"General, why did we have to agree to such shameless demands from Longyan, using a port city we almost never use and a Steam Engine to exchange for a city of ours that produces iron ore?"

Regarding the result of the negotiation, the British who followed were actually very resentful.

They did not understand why their side had to give up such great benefits.

That was the resource of an Iron Mine; although it was not as precious as other mineral veins, it was still a mine.

Dike had an angry expression on his face the whole way back.

But at this moment, upon returning to his Colonial Area, he revealed a look of smug satisfaction.

He looked very pleased with himself.

"How do you know we lost on this deal?" Dike asked in return.

His subordinates, the Chief of Staff, were confused; in their view, it was a loss.

Although Longyan's Giant Steam Engine was powerful, their British Steam Engine was not bad either. While this thing was good, it was not as important as an Iron Mine.

The Chief of Staff was full of confidence in their Britain; as long as they researched this level of Steam Engine enough, he believed Britain could develop it.

"That Iron Mine is so close to Cairo, and the geographical location is also good. This place is a treasure mountain for us."

"We gave it to the Longyan so easily; isn't this strengthening their power?"

"If we give it to the Longyan so easily, isn't that just strengthening their power?"

But it was not entirely correct... Dike smiled: "Don't worry about what we told him. First, let me ask everyone, who is our enemy now?"

"The French." Everyone said without hesitation.

The Chief of Staff was full of confusion; what did this have to do with the Longyan?

Dike nodded: "The French have too many colonies in Africa, but the fastest route they need to take for maritime transport is through the Mediterranean Sea. But now, of the two port cities the French have in Egypt, one is occupied by Longyan. The other is still in French hands."

"Since our enemy is France, then why can't the enemy of an enemy be a friend? Why can't we win them over?"

"Since our enemy is France, then why can't the enemy of our enemy be a friend, and why can't we win them over?"

The Chief of Staff snorted coldly and spoke: "That is true, but we have grievances with Longyan. If France falls in the future, how will we get along with Longyan?"

"Longyan has ports in Europe and controls the Suez Canal; these are all extremely important strategic positions."

"If we develop in Europe, we might not be able to bypass Longyan in the future."

Dike smiled lightly: "That is why we need Longyan's Steam Engine."

"With Longyan's Steam Engine, I believe that with the talents of our Britain, we can definitely research a Steam Engine even more powerful than Longyan's."

Dike looked at the Chief of Staff and his subordinates, and asked: "By then, our British navy will be the world's number one, and even Longyan won't be able to stop us, right?"

Nashadier watched the Chief of Staff looking at his subordinates and asked, "When the time comes, our Britain's navy will be the best in the world, and even Longyan will not be able to stop us, will it?"

The Chief of Staff was stunned, his body trembling violently, as he suddenly felt his own perspective was too narrow.

If they mastered the technology of Longyan, let alone an Iron Mine, who could stop them under the sturdy ships and powerful cannons of Britain?

As for those overseas colonies of France, once they lost their advantage in maritime transport, the only fate awaiting them would be destruction.

Upon thinking of this, the Chief of Staff understood why Dike could become the Spokesperson for Britain in Egypt.

And the reason he could only be a Chief of Staff was fundamentally because his perspective was too narrow.

He simply could not compare to the other man.

After figuring this out, the Chief of Staff no longer dwelled on it.

Instead, he let out a sentence: "Only by standing on the shoulders of giants can one see further and higher."

Dike looked at his Chief of Staff and nodded, expressing his agreement with those words.

Dike immediately wrote a letter to inform Britain of the decision he had made and the cooperation reached with Longyan.

After writing this letter, however, Dike let out a sigh.

In truth, if it were possible, he would have preferred for Britain to be that giant, but unfortunately, Britain was not.

Longyan was now that giant, and the leader of this giant was Liu Zheng.