"As soon as Hao Ren died, the internal policy of the Yuan State changed. The imperial court believed that this was because there had long been a strong anti-Song sentiment within the Yuan Kingdom, and the economy of the Yuan Kingdom could be self-sufficient, and many upper echelons of the Yuan Kingdom felt that our Great Song Dynasty had earned their benefits. The province thinks this is true, and sooner or later the Eastern Mediterranean countries will think so. ”

The envoy thought that the Constantinople office would think about it before he said it, but Li naturally immediately said what he had determined before, "The standard of living in the Yuan Kingdom is much higher than that of the Eastern Mediterranean countries. The Yuan Kingdom met almost all the basic needs of the people in a short period of time, and it is not surprising that there is arrogance. It is difficult for the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean to reach the level of the Yuan State. ”

"Isn't the office helping Eastern Rome with agriculture?" The messenger asked.

"The grain of the Yuan Kingdom relied on the black soil and the Han people in the north. Eastern Rome introduced technology, but not scientific research. Without the assistance of our technicians, they would be overwhelmed by any situation. ”

"Is it that serious? I don't think these technologies have that much impact. ”

"The Eastern Roman legions did not understand what iodine was, they did not understand what starch was. Just look at the sweet potatoes that we grind into a pulp, add the clear juice filtered out after grinding barley malt, and then test while heating. As long as Da Song evacuated the technicians, the production efficiency of starch sugar was greatly reduced, and the taste also deteriorated a lot. The rapid increase in the consumption of raw materials alone will double the cost of caramel for the legion. After talking about the current situation, Li naturally smiled and said: "I hope that the Eastern Romans can make a fuss without knowing how to make trouble, and if they don't make trouble, they won't understand that they are actually nothing." ”

"Forget it, let's not mention this yet." The messenger waved his hand. His intention was not to discuss how to clean up the Eastern Romans, "If the slave dynasty defeated the Mongols, do you think it is possible for them to continue to attack the Eastern Romans?" ”

Director Xin preempted Li Tiantian and said, "There is no benefit in attacking the Anatolian Peninsula. The Syrian region, the Jerusalem region, the entire Arabian Peninsula, so many places are much more important than the Anatolian Peninsula. Even if it were to send troops, the slave dynasty would probably send an army to test it. Take this opportunity to say hello to the Eastern Roman Empire and see what attitude the Eastern Roman Empire had. ”

The envoy continued, "If the Mongols were defeated, do you think the slave dynasty would take advantage of the situation to seize the entire valley of the two rivers?" ”

"I don't think so." Director Xin replied.

"I don't think so." Li naturally has the same opinion, "The two river basins are so big, wherever you say that you will occupy them." Aren't you afraid to kill them with such a big appetite? ”

"The most appropriate way is to defeat the Mongols and then divide the people who follow the slave dynasty in various places." Director Xin has worked in the province of Europa for many years, and knows what it is like to open up territory, "The slave dynasty occupies the core of the territory to check and balance the forces of the feuds, and they repair it for a few years and wait for the situation here to be favorable to them before trying to expand. ”

"What if the imperial court decides to seize the valley of the two rivers?" The messenger asked the Athenian side the most important concerns. The situation has really reached that point, and Da Song can't do it if he doesn't make a move. If the Mongols were defeated and the Eutheistic Church returned to rebuild its court, Athens did not think that the Eutheistic Church and the weakened Mongols were so easy to talk to.

Director Xin said decisively: "We think that we should seize Egypt first and control the canal. In addition, the Tianzhu vassal states can form a coalition army and copy the hometown of the slave dynasty. At the same time, it united with the Eastern Romans to send troops to seize the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. Elsewhere you can take your time. ”

After some question-and-answer, the emissary ascertained the views of the two principal officials of the Constantinople office. Their views were debatable in detail and completely consistent in the general direction. It is very important for the Europa province to have the same view of different situations, and when things develop to the next step, they can have a clear attitude towards the imperial court. When the counselling was over, the messenger returned to Athens. Li and Xin continued their daily work, and the winter in Constantinople was very wet and cold, and the result of no heating fuel was that everyone had to huddle in the house to keep warm as much as possible. Every winter, many people die of frostbite and illness. Coal transported from coal mines and processed into honeycomb coal is the best fuel for public heating.

In the past, the demand for coal was not large, and it could be imported directly from the Yuan country. Coal production now had to be produced locally in Eastern Rome, which added to a lot of trouble. The two officials wrote a document and sent it to Sheila, asking Sheila to approve the coal mining plan in the Senate.

Sheila closed the folder after reading the papers, and she took a sip of hot tea before asking the two secretaries, "Is the fireplace at home rising?" ”

Elena replied, "Your Excellency, the fireplace has been raised in my house. ”

Sheila turned to Vanda, "Where's your house?" ”

Wangerda looked embarrassed and hesitated for a moment before saying, "My family has to wait a while." ”

Sheila sighed, took a pen and wrote a list and handed it to Wangda: "You take this to Anping's store, and ask them to send two sets of iron stoves and chimneys, one for your home and one for Anlina's house." There are also 1,000 pieces of honeycomb coal that will be shipped first. The two of you will be divided. By the way, you must learn how to use this stove before you take it back, in case of gas poisoning, it will be bad. ”

Wangerda was shocked, and hurriedly excused himself, "Your Excellency, I haven't been here for a long time, so I can't take so much." ”

"If you fall ill from the cold, who will I ask to help me then?" Sheila replied earnestly.

Wangerda wanted to say something, but Alina took over, "Your Excellency, does it have to be in a fixed room to install the stove?" ”

"Of course not, the Anping store will install it according to your requirements."

"Okay, I'll go with Wanda."

"Well, go ahead. You can help Wanda to see how to install it. Hurry up, do it early, finish it early. Sheila urged.

Elena picked up the list and set off, but Wangerda had no choice but to follow. When I arrived at the Anping store in Europa Province, I saw that the front of the store was crowded with people. Elena went straight to the office where the shopkeeper was and asked in jerky Chinese, "Boss...... Is it there? We've got something. ”

A young man came over and politely asked what was the matter with the two. Elena said, "Sheila...... Excellency...... Cop. Limited to her Chinese level, she couldn't express herself fluently.

The young man took the list stamped with Sheila's seal and looked at it, and said with a smile: "You are Sheila's people?" ”

"Yes."

"Well, wait a minute." The young man took the slip and departed, and after a while he came back and called Elena and Vananda to walk along a small passage between the house and the wall, until they reached a large storehouse. I saw that it was full of cast-iron coal stoves and white iron sheets, and the workers had prepared a frame cart with things on it. Opening the small door of the storeroom, which led to an alley, the young man did not follow them, but told two workers to set off with them.

When Elena and the others walked out of the alley, they saw a long line of people waiting not far away to buy a coal stove. I can see that Sheila's note really works, and I don't know how long it will take to let the two of them line up. The two workers, both Eastern Romans, walked out into the street and everyone started talking. Hearing Wangerda ask who the young man was, the two workers looked at each other and asked puzzledly, "You don't know the owner of the Anping store?" ”

Only then did Wangerda know that the young man was actually the owner of this big store, and he had mixed feelings in his heart. Wangerda is nineteen years old this year, Sheila is twenty years old, and the boss of Da Song looks like he is in his early twenties at most. Others are already powerful people who are only a little older than him, and although he is confident that he will be recognized by Elder Sheila, it will take at least a few years. The gap between Vanda and these powerful men when he was twenty years old will only continue to widen. I still need to work hard.

The workers arrived at Wangerda's house first, which was similar to the old house before Sheila. Two floors, the third floor is half a floor, with a small sundeck. The inside of the house was wet and cold, and when I went inside, I felt that the temperature was not much different from the outside. Seeing her son come back with the iron stove carried by someone, Wangerda's mother was very surprised. Hearing that it was sent by the patriarch Sheila, the lady said to Wangda, "You will go and thank Sheila on my behalf." You'll have to learn from your hands! ”

Wangerda hurriedly agreed, and then asked the workers to install the coal stove in the living room on the first floor, and the chimney passed by Wangerda's parents' room. The worker said, "Brother, the chimney can lead to two rooms. ”

Wangerda was very happy when he heard this, and he hurriedly said to his mother: "Let the younger brothers and sisters move downstairs next door to you." ”

"You'd better move downstairs." Mother said.

Wangerda hurriedly refused, "I'm fine." Let the younger siblings move downstairs to live. Warm. ”

The mother replied solemnly, "No. You are the secretary of Lord Sheila, and the stove is there so that you don't get cold and don't get sick. If you are sick from the cold, what does Sirquity Sheila think? ”

Wangerda was stunned, he really didn't expect this. Having finally become Sheila's secretary, Wanda felt that he was already a pillar of the family. The upper echelons of Constantinople had heard the story of Her Excellency Sheila, who had risen step by step in her own power to the present day. Now that he has become the pillar of the family, Wangerda hopes that he can help the family. However, his mother's words made Wanda understand another thing, since he worked for His Excellency Sheila, Wanda had to serve His Excellency Sheila at any time, and his own health was very important.

Family affection and responsibility were at war in my heart, and before the winner was decided, I heard Elena say: "Your Excellency Sheila, these two stoves are for the two of us, and I decide the use of my stove." Leave it for you, and the honeycomb coal will be given to you. ”

"This ...... It's not okay. Wangerda hurriedly refused.

"Oh? Why did you refuse? Elena asked Wangda.

"That's your stuff, I can't ask for it."

"Do you think Sheila hasn't been to my house? She knew about my house, and I took the stove back and just put it on display. Leave it to those who need it more, and I'm sure Sheila's opinion of me will improve. Elena confidently explained to Wangerda.