Livingston finally understood why Thomson had resigned.
"Meet," "separate audience"—could such terms be used for the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire by the leader of your silly eagle nation?
Thomson had made it very clear before that the Ming Emperor could meet anyone he pleased, but others wishing to see the Ming Emperor had to "request an audience," and only after receiving permission could they "pay their respects." This applied even to Louis XVI and George III, let alone the silly eagle nation whose strength was inferior to France and England.
If he were to truly "meet" the Emperor of the Great Ming alone as Thomas Jefferson suggested, the entire silly eagle nation might fall into misfortune.
Thinking of this, Livingston couldn't help but feel a surge of relief.
Fortunately, Thomson had told him all these things, and he had kept them firmly in mind.
After some thought, Livingston decided to try and persuade Jefferson again: "As you can see, sir, the Ming country is a very traditional imperial state. In this country, their Emperor holds supreme status and power, and the people of this country also consider all of this to be as it should be. They even believe that the Emperor of the Great Ming is the ruler of the entire world."
"Yes, including us, England, France, and Russia. Even if we are unwilling to acknowledge this, it does not prevent the officials, commoners, and soldiers of the Ming country from thinking so. Anyone who is unwilling to acknowledge this will be viewed as a rebel by the officials, soldiers, and even the commoners of the Ming country."
"Allies? No, no, sir. Their Emperor can call us his allies, but the officials, commoners, and soldiers of the Ming country will not think so."
"Believe me, sir, if I used terms like 'meet' or 'separate audience,' the only outcome would likely be expulsion from the country, and the Ming army would be prepared to launch an attack on us, even if their Emperor did not intend it."
"Therefore, please remember to show the utmost respect to the Emperor of the Ming country. Never use terms like 'meet' or 'separate audience.' Why should we, the silly eagle nation, not be as strong as the Ming country?"
"In fact, we all know very well that our silly eagle nation is currently no match for England or France, let alone the Ming country, which is much stronger than them."
Hearing Livingston's words, Thomas Jefferson couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration.
However, Thomas Jefferson also understood clearly that no matter how frustrated he felt, he had to endure it. If not for France's help, the silly eagle nation would never have been able to break free from England's colonial rule. If France and England hadn't been at odds with each other, the silly eagle nation wouldn't have dared to propose the purchase of Louisiana to France.
As for forcefully invading Louisiana and letting the banner of the white eagle fly over its skies?
Don't be ridiculous. If it were France a decade or so ago, burdened with debt and extremely unstable domestically, it might have been possible. But the current French treasury, besides owing the Great Ming over a billion Dragon Yuan, has no other debts, and its domestic situation has slowly stabilized. Especially with Marshal Napoleon of France achieving continuous victories on the battlefield against the Habsburg family, France even shows signs of revival.
At this time, unless the silly eagle nation had grown courage in its hair, it would never dare to forcefully invade Louisiana.
The more Thomas Jefferson thought about it, the more frustrated he became. After a long while, he finally sighed and muttered, "Damn it, this is so undemocratic."
However, what Thomas Jefferson did not expect was that Livingston not only did not agree with his statement but instead replied in a more melancholic tone: "Democratic? In fact, I cannot think of any other country in this world that is more democratic than the Ming country."
Jefferson was taken aback at first, and when he came to his senses, he asked with a face full of shock, "Is what was in the English version of the Ming newspaper true?"
Livingston shook his head and said, "Whether the content in that newspaper is true or false, I do not know. But Thomson once told me that the commoners in the Ming country can criticize the Emperor's mistakes, and their Emperor will listen to the opinions of the commoners."
Jefferson said, "The commoners of our silly eagle nation can also criticize the President, and the President will also listen to the opinions of the commoners. Therefore, this does not represent anything."
Livingston, however, countered, "Can the commoners of our silly eagle nation criticize wealthy merchants? If there is a conflict between wealthy merchants and ordinary commoners, which side will the judicial organs of our silly eagle nation favor?"
Jefferson patiently explained, "This is not a matter of favoring anyone, but a matter of who is right and who is wrong."
Livingston let out a chuckle, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Perhaps you are correct, sir. However, I must remind you that the commoners of our silly eagle nation are highly unlikely to afford a good lawyer, and you know the consequences of not having a good lawyer."
Jefferson frowned, "Will the judicial organs of the Ming country hire good lawyers for the commoners?"
Livingston shook his head and said, "Thomson said that the legal profession does not exist in the Ming country. Right and wrong are determined by the government, and they will be more inclined to favor the commoners."
Jefferson's frown deepened, "This is unfair, Livingston. You must understand that those wealthy merchants pay more taxes. If the taxes they pay are gone, how will the country's army and government operate?"
Livingston clearly did not want to argue this point with Jefferson: "Sir, these are things Thomson told me. How much of it is true and how much is false, I am not yet clear. If we want to reach the most accurate conclusion, I think we should observe carefully."
"However... when we transferred to the steam locomotive in Tianjin, we did not receive any special treatment. Instead, we lined up with the ordinary people of the Ming country. Should this not be a good example?"
Jefferson shook his head, somewhat dismissive of Livingston's statement.
The mere act of lining up for the steam locomotive did not explain anything, and not all the claims in the Ming newspapers could be believed. Compared to all the hearsay or written information, Jefferson preferred to believe what his own eyes saw.
However, before reaching a final conclusion, Jefferson did not wish to cause further trouble. Therefore, he instructed Livingston to follow all the proper etiquette, formally submit the letter of credence to the Court of State Ceremonial, and express the desire to meet Emperor Zhu Jinsong.
This time, Zhu Jinsong did not make things difficult for Jefferson and readily agreed to the meeting request.
However, before the formal meeting, Zhu Jinsong arranged a reception process for Jefferson through the Court of State Ceremonial. He also specially invited Jefferson to attend a grand court session held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and took Jefferson on a tour of the Forbidden City.
After all the reception procedures were completed, Zhu Jinsong then summoned Jefferson alone in the Imperial Garden.
Zhu Jinsong first expressed his fond memories of Washington and Adams: "I particularly remember when Washington and Adams first came to the Great Ming. At that time, the Great Ming had only recently been restored, and it would not be an exaggeration to say it was impoverished. The laborers that Washington and Adams recruited for the Great Ming greatly alleviated the Ming's urgent needs. In this regard, the silly eagle nation can be considered an old friend of the Great Ming."
After reminiscing about the past, Zhu Jinsong began to look forward to the future: "I hope that the friendship between the Great Ming and the silly eagle nation can continue forever, and together we can properly manage this 'little broken pot' and jointly work for the peace and stability of this 'little broken ball'."
Jefferson, of course, was not to be swayed by mere pleasantries. He immediately responded with a smile and then stated his request: "This is my first time in the Ming country, and I am very curious about everything here. I hope the Emperor of the Ming country can allow me to study here for a longer period?"
After Zhu Jinsong nodded with a smile, Jefferson changed the subject and brought it back to students: "Previously, our silly eagle nation's Congress made a wrong decision and suspended the dispatch of students to the Ming country. I am here this time hoping to restart the plan to dispatch students?"
Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "Of course, the Great Ming is always open and inclusive. As the saying goes, we welcome all who come and let go of all who leave. If the silly eagle nation needs it, they can dispatch students to the Great Ming at any time. If they do not need it, they can also suspend it at any time. This principle will not change."
"In fact, among the over one hundred countries on this 'little broken ball,' more than half are sending students to the Great Ming, and these students are studying diligently in the Great Ming. I also hope they can achieve great success and return to serve their own countries."
Of course, this was pure nonsense. It was true that more than half of the over one hundred countries on this "little broken ball" were sending students to the Great Ming. However, to say that these students, after achieving great success, would return to serve their own countries was pure nonsense.
Because those students who could return to serve their own countries were generally only half-trained. Those who truly achieved great success were all retained by the Great Ming through various means to serve the Great Ming.
If there were students with extremely firm aspirations who, after achieving great success, still earnestly wished to return and serve their own countries, the Great Ming would not forcibly detain them or arrange ambushes on the way. However, these students would face various forms of ostracism after their return – ostracism from those half-trained students.
The operation behind this seemed simple, but when it came to execution, it was incredibly dirty.
After casually chatting for a few more moments, Jefferson casually remarked, "Speaking of which, this is my first time attending the 'Little Broken Ball' conference. Are there any points I need to pay attention to?"
Zhu Jinsong chuckled and said, "There is nothing special to pay attention to. After all, the silly eagle nation is one of the 'Five Benevolent Ones' of the 'Little Broken Ball,' so you can say whatever you wish. Even if someone is dissatisfied, it will not affect your silly eagle nation's standing in the community."
"From the day the 'Little Broken Ball' was established, it was stipulated that the Five Benevolent Ones of the 'Little Broken Ball' will not change, and there is no way to alter it, unless one of the Great Benevolent Ones is destroyed as a nation. With the support of the other four Great Benevolent Ones, who can destroy one of the Great Benevolent Ones? And whoever has the ability to destroy all five Great Benevolent Ones, why would they care about the 'Little Broken Ball'?"
Hearing Zhu Jinsong's words, Jefferson felt somewhat reassured.
It seemed that the "Little Broken Ball" did adhere to some rules, and with the Great Ming Empire as a colossal entity maintaining order, it was unlikely that any country could simultaneously eliminate the Five Benevolent Ones.
With this thought, Jefferson tentatively asked, "If, I'm just saying, if our silly eagle nation has some unpleasant dealings with France, then what?"
Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "I can tell you this: if small countries have conflicts with small countries, the 'Little Broken Ball' will mediate, and the conflicts will disappear. If small countries have conflicts with the Five Benevolent Ones, the 'Little Broken Ball' will also mediate, and the small countries will disappear. If the Five Benevolent Ones have conflicts with the Five Benevolent Ones, then the 'Little Broken Ball' will not interfere, and will only try to mediate."
Jefferson chuckled and, after a long silence, asked, "Then, what about the Ming country? What is the attitude of the Ming country?"
Zhu Jinsong chuckled inwardly and said, "The attitude of the Ming country is to try not to provoke war, after all, peace and development are the main themes of this 'little broken ball'."
"However, if the silly eagle nation truly has any disputes with France, the Great Ming will not favor either side and will strive to maintain neutrality."
Hearing this, Jefferson likely understood Zhu Jinsong's meaning.
The meaning of "try not to provoke war" was that war could be provoked, but it must not affect the interests of the Great Ming.
The meaning of "strive to maintain neutrality" was that if the silly eagle nation were to truly clash with France, it would depend on who offered a higher price.
However, Jefferson was quite satisfied with this.
What were the interests of the Great Ming?
The Great Ming was currently concerned with oil, labor, steel, and copper. The silly eagle nation could largely satisfy the Great Ming's demand for labor and oil. What else did France have that the Great Ming urgently needed, besides the laborers jointly recruited with England and the jointly exploited copper mine?
In other words, even if the silly eagle nation were to clash with France, it would be the silly eagle nation that offered a higher price!
With this thought, Jefferson confidently declared, "For the friendship between the Great Ming and the silly eagle nation, I will strive to persuade the Congressmen to increase the recruitment of laborers and open several more oil wells."
Zhu Jinsong laughed heartily and said, "Don't be in such a hurry. I am rather curious, what disputes do your silly eagle nation and France have?"
Jefferson considered his words carefully and said, "Actually, there are no major disputes, just a small matter. France has an enclave in our silly eagle nation's territory. I hope to purchase this enclave from Louis XVI, but Louis XVI disagrees."
Zhu Jinsong asked with a smile, "Is it Louisiana?"