Chapter 1769: The Interests of the Nobles

While still in Poland preparing to display his grand ambitions and send the Longyan army scurrying in defeat, Naleishi felt astonished upon receiving a letter from Portugal.

As a former maritime colonial hegemon, Portugal had now become a country on the verge of collapse, just like Spain.

Although it still held the title of an Empire, it was already in a state of decline.

A letter from there?

The two countries usually had no interaction.

However, Naleishi still opened the envelope, and as he looked at the design drawings that fell out, his expression shifted from astonishment to shock, and then to ecstasy.

He could read these design drawings written in Longyan characters.

The meaning of these characters, when pieced together, meant "bicycle."

A bicycle!

This was the device Naleishi had always wanted to know how the Longyan produced to accelerate their marching speed; now he finally...

He never imagined that this bicycle design blueprint would be delivered into his hands in such a way; this was something he had never expected.

Just at this moment, Boerniefu walked in.

"Oh, Boerniefu, you've come at the right time. Quickly, help me investigate which of our outstanding agents accomplished this; I haven't found their name."

Naleishi waved his hand and laughed heartily.

Boerniefu looked suspiciously at the envelope in Naleishi's hand: "General, what news have you received?"

Naleishi nodded; today could be said to be his happiest day, and he handed the design drawings in his hand to Boerniefu to look at.

Boerniefu looked at the contents of the design drawings, and his expression changed abruptly.

He also knew Longyan characters and could understand the content on them.

"This is a design drawing for a Longyan bicycle!"

"My God, which agent managed to get such a design drawing? This..." Boerniefu was so excited he couldn't describe it in words; countless adjectives were stuck in his throat.

Naleishi laughed: "No matter who they are, we must find them; such a person deserves a reward."

"Also, send this design drawing to the army's researchers immediately, have them dissect it, and it would be best to manufacture a bicycle with the same performance as the Longyan one in the shortest possible time."

"I have already received news that it won't be long before we can launch an attack on the Longyan."

Hearing this news, Boerniefu nodded heavily; what he wanted most now was to go head-to-head with the Longyan.

To wash away the shame of his previous few battle defeats.

This opportunity was about to come to him, which made him sufficiently excited.

After thinking of this, Boerniefu immediately went to find out who had provided the intelligence for them.

This was truly a timely gift.

Naleishi narrowed his eyes as he looked at the territory the Longyan currently occupied in Poland and laughed; with bicycles, they would be able to launch a counter-raid against the Longyan.

The scales of victory would tilt!

Meanwhile, in the Ottoman Empire.

Prince Yong was negotiating with Hamid about building the train.

"Your Majesty, the construction progress of the train is moving along quite well now."

"Once the route is completed, the strength of the Ottoman Empire, possessing such a powerful transport route, will definitely advance further!"

Hamid nodded; indeed, with the train, their transport routes would be even more powerful.

The current construction of the train line was radiating directly toward the Polish battlefield.

For the Longyan army, the railway was a transport line and a lifeline; once the railway was completed, they would possess an unrivaled combat force on the Polish battlefield.

At that time, the France-Austria-Russia Alliance would be facing a Longyan army with sufficient supplies capable of long-term combat.

"Prince Yong, I also heard that the Longyan are currently researching a type of Train Cargo Carriage, which is said to be able to transport a large amount of supplies. I wonder if our Ottoman can be equipped with such carriages," Hamid said, thick-skinned.

Prince Yong chuckled: "The carriages you speak of do exist, but the Longyan are still in the research and development stage, so you will have to wait a while for the equipment."

Prince Yong did not continue the topic further.

Having received this non-answer of an answer, Hamid smiled sheepishly and continued chatting with Prince Yong about this and that.

Now in Europe, Western Europe had already seen constant warfare during the Winter War period, and many countries had fallen into financial crises.

They had to adjust their strategies and temporarily cease fire, ushering in a brief peace.

And in Eastern Europe, the battlefield there had never seen any major progress; whether it was Tsarist Russia or Austria, or even they themselves, the Longyan and the Ottoman, all were in a delicate balance.

No one had broken this balance.

But they all knew that such a situation could not be maintained for long and would eventually be broken.

The battlefield Austria was currently concerned with was Xilixi; they had already recaptured Xilixi, and although the plan to attack Berlin had gone bankrupt, this did not mean all fighting was to end.

Tsarist Russia did not know what they were plotting and had made no moves.

"No matter how the battlefield situation changes next, the railway is the foundation for us to deal with future changes; we need to speed up the progress," Prince Yong said in a deep voice.

"We need more laborers and more cooperation from the factories."

Faced with Prince Yong's request, Hamid pondered for a moment.

The Ottoman Empire was still an Absolute Monarchy; needing more laborers meant needing to have a portion of the people stop farming and enter the factories.

But the current structure of the Ottoman still relied on traditional agriculture to maintain the basic operation of domestic life, and the industrial system was not yet perfect.

Moreover, most of the land within the Ottoman was controlled by the Noble class, who held vast amounts of land in their hands.

If more farmers were conscripted into the factories, there would be no one to tend to their land, which would directly affect their interests.

It would inevitably incite resistance from these Nobles.

However, just as Prince Yong said, the railway would be their cornerstone in the future; with the railway, they would be able to achieve faster development.

"Why, Your Majesty, are there any difficulties?" Prince Yong asked directly.

Hamid rubbed his forehead; he sat in the Emperor's seat, as the most powerful person in the Ottoman state, yet at this moment, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

Industrial reform is necessary; these Nobles who rely on imperial power should be restricted.

"Oh, it is nothing, Prince Yong; I will handle this matter."

Prince Yong saw Hamid's predicament; this scene was very familiar, as Longyan had also gone through such a period in the past.

This is the backwardness stemming from the system; because the entire country is highly centralized and society is still in an agricultural stage, to progress to an industrial society,

one would touch upon the interests of many Nobles, and these Nobles are the power born from attachment to authority; Hamid, as the person with the greatest power in the Ottoman state,

if he were to reform, would need to consider his own interests as well as the interests of these Nobles who live by relying on him.

He has no Method or courage to give up everything he has now.