The Free City of Hamburg, one of the most important ports in North Germany, *xshuotxt/com . d . Many people's understanding of the history of world commerce and trade generally focuses on the 17th-century sea coachman Netherlands in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when the sun never sets in England, and before that, a commercial organization called the Hanseatic League monopolized most of the maritime trade in Europe, and Hamburg was one of the strongest city-states in the Hanseatic League at that time.

However, due to the fact that the Hanseatic League was only accustomed to buying low and selling high, doing some business and selling work, and did not pay attention to the development of its own local handicraft industry, so after the development of the Netherlands, Britain and other countries, the Hanseatic League soon launched the historical stage. Today, the Free City of Hamburg is still a bustling port, not only as a seller to other regions of the German vassal states, but also for trade between the confederations of Hanover and England.

Especially after the formation of contacts between Hamburg and the Tang Republic, there were new financial routes in the local area, and many German merchants established bases in Hamburg, and the popular Tang merchants were brought by the Tang merchant ships, sold here, and brought to the various German vassal states. The development of commerce and trade has naturally brought more cultural exchanges. Even though the Tang Dynasty and Germany belong to two different nationalities, and the differences are very great, the Tang fever that is popular in Europe is no less than the Chinese fever in the Marco Polo era and the Tokyo fever after the 21st century. People like to talk about all kinds of strange things about the Tang Dynasty, and they are happy to see that the Tang Dynasty merchants and even the more powerful people who don't know what it is used for will say some of the Tang people's many insights on science and humanities.

No matter which country it is, the conversation at the wine table is really a kind of capital, and the matter about Datang is obviously a good talking point.

In the Hamburg tavern, where the local beer is one of the best in Europe, a neatly dressed but bearded man holds a large wooden glass, drinks a lot, and then says: "Boss, your wine glass is so rustic, isn't there a glass wine glass sold outside?" ”

The somewhat skinny tavern owner complained, "Glass? Are you there? Although the glasses on the market have been cheaper in recent years, and the common people can afford to use them, you are not a place here, and this place is full of drunkards with unclear minds. When I'm drunk, no one knows what I'm going to do, and if I use a glass, wouldn't I have to buy it every day? That's really bad, not only will it not make money, but it will lose money. ”

The beard said, "At least use a big plastic cup, you look at this wooden cup, it makes people think that we are still in the Middle Ages." ”

The tavern owner was curious: "Plastic? What is that, it's a Tang word. ”

The bearded man smiled: "That's right, it's Tang language." ”

A drinker next to him said: "Brother, you still know Tang language, not an ordinary person." ”

The bearded man shook his head and said: "It's just an ordinary veteran, I'm a native of Brunswick, I was sent to North America to fight in North America five years ago by our damned Grand Duke, and finally lost and became a prisoner of the Tang people." ”

The tavern owner became interested, leaned over and said, "I was not killed by the Tang people, that's good luck, I heard that the Tang people's guns are particularly fierce, and there are countless casualties when you meet them." However, you survived, and you are still very decent, probably for the Tang people, they also have mercenaries. ”

The bearded man smiled and said, "That's right, in fact, I could have chosen to go back to Europe at that time, but I was empty-handed, and I guess I would be a farmer or a shoemaker when I went back." The Tang people recruit mercenaries, but they give real money, so I think it is better to fight for a few more years and stay in the mercenaries of the Tang people. ”

One of the drinkers said, "Haha, I know, my brother joined the mercenaries of the Tang people, saying that he could get hundreds of silver coins a year, and he immediately advanced a sum of money to them. If I hadn't had a wife and children at home at that time, and I was afraid of death, I was afraid that I would have to go. I said, would the Tang really give so much money to mercenaries? ”

The bearded man nodded and said, "That's right, I have served in the Tang Army for three years, and now it is enough to buy a small manor anywhere in Europe." ”

He spoke with pride and pride, which naturally attracted the envy of others.

The bearded man continued: "Think about it, the weapons of the Tang people are much stronger than those armies in Europe, and they only need to shoot and fire in the face of the enemy, but it is safer than being a commoner in Europe, because you may be killed by the nobles one day." The treatment of the soldiers of the Tang Army is also good, not only do they have enough meals a day, there are vegetables and meat, but also snacks, but they are too strict about alcohol control, otherwise I don't think I will retire and come back, hahaha. ”

The tavern owner did not forget to advertise, saying: "Yes, when it comes to beer, we are still experts in Germany." ”

"Speaking of which, the country of Datang really doesn't know how much more advanced than our European states, just in terms of concept, we can't compare. Datang is a republic, there is no aristocracy, whether you are rich or poor, an official or a peasant, you are all equal. I have personally seen the governor of the Tang people ride in a car, and when he meets the old man, he honestly gives way. Hmph, if this were in Europe, those aristocrats wouldn't treat us like human beings at all."

Some of the drunken drinkers also said, "That's right, these damn nobles are all fools and vampires!" ”

Someone asked, "Then how do the Tang people govern their country?" ”

"I don't know too well, but I generally know that every official needs to be examined to determine his ability to serve, and according to his merits and qualifications, he can be promoted, and the common people can elect councillors for supervision." I often listen to my Tang officers and bosses discuss which of their officials has been arrested or even shot for corruption and dereliction of duty, hehe, this is something that is simply unimaginable in Europe. ”

The tavern owner sighed: "It's useless to say this, after all, we are Hamburgers, Germans." ”

The bearded man smiled and said, "Yes." ”

Like him, there are hundreds of soldiers who have retired from the German Brigade of the Datang Foreign Legion and returned to Europe, and they are basically doing the same thing, "objectively" recounting what they have seen and heard. In this way, the seeds nurtured from Datang have been brought to Germany in need of change, and germinated from the hearts of people who pursue a better life.