In 1657 AD, seven years have passed since the first World Expo, which was a hugely popular.

In the city of London, on the banks of the Thames, water was filled with mist and rain continued. Two ironclad ships broke into the Thames in the rain.

Water drops fall on the hull and merges into a stream of water along the black hull. The cold rain and the steel hull intertwine into a classic picture of the steam era.

A group of people in raincoats walked out of the cabin, and some people carried waterproof kerosene lamps, looking at the slightly behind the city of London in the mist.

A small boat was put down to try to get in touch with the shore, while the rest remained on the boat and waited.

"This is London City, right? I haven't been here for ten years, and it seems that a little has changed."

"This time your mission is to visit the Western countries and inform them of the Second World Expo. It seems that you have great prospects in the Ministry of Rites."

"Brother Zheng, you are amazing. Now you are the captain of the Iron Craft 'Mist', and you have children and a happy family."

"You are not young, and you don't think about getting married? As you are, what princess can't be married?"

"Actually, when I finish this mission, I'm going to get married."

"Really? Who is that girl? Why haven't you heard of it?"

Two people were chatting, one of them was in his thirties and the other was in his twenties.

The two of them had participated in a global voyage more than ten years ago and had a good relationship with each other.

The boat docked and contacted the customs officials in the city of London, and then returned with two customs officials from the United Kingdom.

"Welcome, friends from the East, I didn't expect you to come on such a bad rainy day. Her Majesty the Queen has already advised us in advance that as long as you come, we will receive it with the highest specifications. Unfortunately, it is raining, everything can be simplified." The customs officer in England said to the person in charge of the ironclad ship in Chinese with an English accent.

"You know how to speak Chinese?" The Chinese on the ironclad ship was a little surprised that the English customs officials were greeting them in Chinese.

"That's natural. I graduated from Queen's College a few years ago and have been in the customs office. Queen's College teaches both Chinese and English. Even if it is not a Queen's College official, it is necessary to understand Chinese at the customs office, because the amount of trade between us is increasing day by day, and Chinese is the common language in the world." The customs official replied.

The two men looked at each other and found that the customs officer in England was a student from Queen's College.

Queen's College is a modern college established by Queen Sophia imitating the Imperial College. In order to please Chu Yun and not offend the English, it is mandatory to use bilingual Chinese and English teaching, so it is normal for the other party to understand Chinese.

Now Queen's College has surpassed Cambridge University and Oxford University in England and became the best college in England. The reason is simple. Sophia has the power to appoint cabinet members, and the cabinet has to manage various institutions and appoint officials. Students from Queen's College have many opportunities to obtain official positions, and more people are willing to join Queen's College.

"Are you anxious to transport goods on the boat? If you are not in a hurry, you can go ashore and have a few cups of hot tea. If you are in a hurry, I will go back and arrange more people to help you transport goods on the boat." said the customs official.

"Don't worry. It's better to say that wet by the rain, our cargo will be even more severe."

"Then please come with me and I will prepare hot black tea for you."

The main members of the Iron Craft followed the customs officials ashore and he led a dozen people to a brick and stone house.

The crew of the Iron Craft shook the rainwater from the raincoat.

"This is a 'rubber raincoat' produced by Li's Chemical? It's also for sale in our London City. Your umbrellas and raincoats are very popular here, and London is often rainy and rainy." Customs officials saw that they took the raincoat and immediately recognized the manufacturer of the product.

Li's Chemical's rubber products have been sold to Europe.

"You guessed it's right, it's indeed a product of Li's Chemical."

Members of the Iron Craft entered the house, and soon other customs officials brought the tea sets at the right time, arranged them in front of everyone, poured steaming black tea for them, and even prepared sugar thoughtfully.

"We still like the original taste of tea." The crew members who came down from the ironclad ship did not put sugar into the black tea.

"This time you used ironclad ships to come to England, to formally invite the countries to participate in the Second World Expo, right? Although it is still three years later, I think the European countries can't wait. After the First World Expo, the conflicts between countries have decreased and no large-scale war broke out again. In addition, the "Navigation Regulations" have made many maritime power countries declare that using privateers in peace is a criminal act, and there are many fewer conflicts in the ocean. You are the real peace envoys." The customs official hung his wet hat on the hook and said to the group of envoys from China.

"I remember when I came here more than ten years ago, the English Channel was still very dangerous. Merchant ships were attacked. It seems that the Netherlands has given up on confrontation in Spain now?" asked a man in his twenties.

"Times have changed. How can their wooden sailboats defeat your ironclad ships? If they cannot do anything with force, then there is no need to continue to fight you. Spain and the Netherlands had joined the Navigation Ordinance four years ago. Now in the English Channel, merchant ships can pass freely. The only troublesome thing is that there are still privateers and pirate ships in the Caribbean Sea." said a London customs official.

The crew of the Iron Craft nodded after hearing this.

The world's major civilizations have joined the Oriental-led "Free Navigation Regulations", and various resources and commodities can be freely passed through the sea.

Unless another naval power appears, it is possible to hinder free maritime routes.

Huaxia, which dominated the navigation and maritime regulations, is naturally the biggest beneficiary. Gold, silver and resources from all over the country are continuously transported to Huaxia along the route, and then turned into commodities and dumped all over the world. It is difficult for other kingdoms to compete with industrial machines.

"Our people have already gone to inform Her Majesty the Queen, don't be impatient. By the way, I haven't known your name after saying so long?" asked the customs official.

A man in his thirties who came down from the ironclad ship said, "My name is Zheng Chenggong."

A man in his twenties replied: "Chu Lingyun."
Chapter completed!