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I have an olive branch in one hand and a rifle in the other. Please don't let my olive branch fall to the ground...
Qin Mu's policy towards European countries is roughly the same. For the benefit of Daqin, Daqin's sphere of influence will continue to expand. But this expansion process does not necessarily require the use of rifles.
We can talk after fighting, and fight again if we can't reach an agreement. For example, after we take over Nanyang, we can talk about how to do business. After we take over India, we can continue to talk, and if we are not satisfied, we can continue to fight... ... .
Moreover, within the sphere of influence of the Qin Dynasty, some countries can also be allowed to share a piece of the pie. The Qin Dynasty is not intolerant of others, but it cannot tolerate others to seize the dominant position. If you want to share a piece of the pie, you must be obedient and behave yourself.
Western countries have always put profit first. Qin Mu believed that if the Qin wanted to expand its sphere of influence to South Africa, it would definitely fight fiercely with Western countries. But after the fight, when the Qin took the leading position in these regions, Western countries would certainly compete to trade with the Qin. I am afraid that no monarch could stop this kind of interest.
As for how to deal with the Ottoman Empire, Qin Mu’s idea is, I will not offend others unless they offend me.
The map of the Qin territory drawn up by Qin Mu went south from the Ural Mountains, along the Ural River to the Caspian Sea, then cut across the Caspian Sea to include the Aral Sea, and then used the Amu Darya River as the boundary all the way to the Pamir Mountains.
As far as Qin Mu knew, the main oil-producing area in later Russia was on the West Siberian Plain, spanning the Tyumen, Omsk, Kurgansk, Tomsk, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk regions, and the Krasnoyarsk and Altai regions, covering an area of about 3.5 million square kilometers. 70% of Russia's crude oil was produced in this region.
Among them, Tyumen Oblast is particularly important, with the ability to produce more than 220 million tons of crude oil, accounting for more than 90% of the total production in Western Siberia and 55% of the total production in Russia.
Most of Kazakhstan's crude oil is produced in the Caspian Sea Basin.
According to the territory drawn up by Qin Mu, these major oil-producing areas have been included. As long as these places are under control, Daqin will never have to worry about a lack of oil in the future. Therefore, there is really no need to expand westwards.
The territory drawn by Qin Mu did not infringe on the existing territory of the Ottoman Empire. If the Ottoman Empire did not send troops to intervene, they could even engage in some trade, but if he sent troops, they would be polite.
Mongolia and Tubo have plenty of young and strong men. As long as they continue to conscript men, the Qin Dynasty will have a steady supply of troops to send over. Coupled with advanced weapons, if it fails to defeat the Ottoman Empire, it would be a lie.
After the ministers left the meeting, Qin Mu asked the palace maids to bring dinner to Jianjia Palace. He had dinner with Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan. The autumn sunset dyed the pavilions and towers outside the palace red, and the scenery was very pleasant.
Li Xiangjun couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, can't you send an envoy to take the initiative to make peace with the Ottomans?"
Qin Mu held the white jade cup, stopped and said with a smile: "Xiang Jun is right. We are a country of etiquette. It is not a bad idea to send an envoy to Istanbul first. We should use courtesy before force."
Dong Xiaowan waited for him to finish the wine in his glass and poured him another one. Qin Mu rarely drank white wine, but he liked to drink wine with his meals. Drinking a moderate amount of wine had become a habit of his.
"Your Majesty, do you think that there will be a war between Daqin and Ottoman Empire?" Dong Xiaowan frowned slightly. In her heart, she didn't like to see a war, especially in such a faraway place. She didn't think that such a war was necessary. It would be best if it could be avoided, but she was not qualified to interfere in such matters. She just asked casually.
"I'm afraid it's hard to avoid." Qin Mu knew her character and patted her back gently to comfort her. "This may not be a matter of territory, but the intersection of two major civilizations. There is bound to be some friction.
The current Kazakh Khanate and Bukhara Khanate both believe in Islam. I will incorporate these two Khanates into the territory of Daqin. However, I will not allow anyone to believe in Islam within the territory of Daqin.
As the Caliph, Osman will find it difficult to accept my approach of de-culturation, so conflict will be difficult to avoid. Unless we hurt Osman and let him know that there are some things he should not and cannot intervene in, this friction will probably subside. "
"What about later?"
"Hahaha, Xiaowan, you think too much. I'm not that old yet. I have time to slowly settle this matter. Do you think I'm old, Xiaowan?"
Qin Mu's smile was a little bit sexy, which made Dong Xiaowan's heart tremble inexplicably. Li Xiangjun smiled and said, "Your Majesty wants to prove to Sister Dong that he is not old yet."
"The one who understands me is Xiangjun! Hahaha..."
"Your Majesty is so evil!"
"Hahaha... ... ."
Qin Mu smiled and called up the lady-in-waiting Li Shuang'er, and told her to have someone notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare to send an envoy to Istanbul as soon as possible. After giving the order, he enjoyed dinner with the two stunning beauties.
After dinner, Qin Mu, Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan went for a walk in the Imperial Garden. He suddenly felt like playing the zither and asked the palace maid to bring it. This time, he did not ask Dong Xiaowan and the others to play, but he played it himself.
There was a gentle breeze over the clear pool, and the sunset glow dyed the sky red, covering the pavilion by the water. Ding-ding-dong-dong... Qin Mu played the piano a few times at random, and the sound was really chaotic. Dong Xiaowan and Li Xiangjun glanced at each other secretly, with smiles in their eyes.
"Don't laugh secretly. I feel the love before the tune is even formed. You know what I mean."
"Yes, Your Majesty, your piano skills are superb. I feel like I am listening to heavenly music."
"Xiangjun, you... make me so angry! If I don't show you my skills today, you will think I am easy to bully."
"Nu Nu dare not!" Li Xiangjun had a look of panic on her face, but she could not hide the smile in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. She had a lively and cheerful personality, as bright as a poem, and usually she was the only one who dared to make Qin Mu laugh like this.
Qin Mu glared at her, then sat up straight and began to play in the evening breeze. Although the sound was a little awkward, it was a tune after all. Qin Mu played the song "Scarborough Fair" that almost everyone is familiar with in later generations. Upon hearing this tune, Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan couldn't help but quiet down, because the melody easily moved them, and then they listened to Qin Mu and the piano and sang:
are you going to scarborough fair
parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
... ... ...
The tune of "Scarborough Fair" is very simple, basically four sentences are repeated, but the melody is sad and graceful, which can easily touch people's hearts and bring them into a peaceful and dreamy state. The feeling of love flows from the bottom of the heart and blends with the quiet countryside and the white coastline. Someone is waiting at the seaside under the hillside, waiting for a lonely and unforgettable true love, and the call is floating in the evening breeze... ... ...
Although Qin Mu's performance was not very sophisticated, it had already made Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan indulge in it and unable to extricate themselves. Their eyes were blurred in the sunset.
After Qin Mu finished playing, Li Xiangjun stepped forward and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what did you sing? Can you play it again? I will remember it after listening to it again. I want to learn this song..."
"Haha, come here, I will teach you step by step." Qin Mu said as he put his arms around her slender waist and asked her to sit in front of him.
Li Xiangjun sat in his arms, tuned the zither, and said expectantly, "Your Majesty, can we begin?"
"Okay, let's start." Qin Mu taught her while humming and translating the lyrics line by line:
I ask you whether where you are going is suitable.
Cymbidium, coriander, and fragrant angelica.
The lady over there, please send me your words.
She was once here, and we knew each other.
I asked the beautiful lady to prepare clothes for me.
Cymbidium, coriander, and fragrant angelica.
Do not use needles or anvils, there should be no gaps or defects.
Where is the one I love, comforting me as I miss you
Such lyrics are more likely to gain recognition from Li Xiangjun and me, Dong Xiaowan. Both of us are experts in playing the zither. In addition, the piece of music is relatively simple, so after listening to it once or twice, we both memorized it.
Dong Xiaowan asked someone to bring the four treasures of the study and copied down the music score and lyrics. Li Xiangjun could not help but play and sing it over and over again. Her piano skills and singing voice were beyond Qin Mu's reach, and her appeal was naturally extraordinary.
That evening, almost all the beauties in the harem were attracted by the sound of the zither, and many of them listened quietly, intoxicated... ... .
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.(To be continued..)
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