The French people's staple baguette can be used as a weapon, and the English have invented countless dark cuisines.
The fundamental reason is that there wasn't enough food, so they had to mix in stones or sand, whatever they could, to feed more people with less.
Of course, if it were just a shortage of food, it might have been manageable. However, in Europe, there was the Papacy relentlessly indoctrinating the populace, preaching that whether there was enough food or not was God's will, and they never bothered to compensate elsewhere.
Therefore, when the food supply in the Central Plains was insufficient, the common people would find ways to fertilize the land, research new foods, and turn animal offal into delicacies. In contrast, Europe would pray to God for more food.
Even now, despite the Papacy's diminished influence and the introduction of the manure method through the "Compendium of Agricultural Administration" into Europe, ingrained habits persist, leading the European populace to continue praying to God.
This has resulted in Europe remaining a culinary desert.
Given this premise, even if the people of the Great Ming had money, they would be reluctant to travel to Europe.
Conversely, European nobles and wealthy merchants were very enthusiastic about visiting the Great Ming, and once they arrived, they wanted to stay indefinitely.
It was precisely for this reason that Zeng Cheng, Liu Huaiwen, and other influential figures found themselves in a quandary.
After listening to the complaints from Zeng Cheng and others, Zhu Jinsong realized he had fallen into a mental trap.
In the original history, when Europeans had money, they traveled the world. When Americans had money, they traveled the world. When the Japanese had money, they also traveled the world. And when the people of the Central Plains had money, they went on buying sprees.
Thus, Zhu Jinsong naturally assumed that the people of the Great Ming might also engage in extensive shopping.
Coincidentally, there was a "Great Ming craze" on Earth, with almost everyone viewing the Great Ming as a paradise.
If the people of the Great Ming, with pockets full of cash, were to go out, especially to France, and shop extensively, it would naturally stimulate France's tourism economy and, in turn, make other European countries envious of France.
This would elevate the "Jianghu" status of France, the foremost admirer of the Great Ming.
Alas...
With no other recourse, Zhu Jinsong had to abandon this enticing idea and, instead, smiled and said, "Then let's recruit some French laborers first, and have them take their earnings back to France."
Speaking of which, Zhu Jinsong then proposed a very advanced concept: "Those who develop first will lead those who develop later."
"Our Great Ming must develop first. After all, the Great Ming accounts for nearly half of Earth's population, and while we occupy about a quarter of the land, the arable area is still very small, making the pressure to feed so many people immense."
"Therefore, our Great Ming must develop first, become prosperous first, so that we have the capacity to drive the development of other countries on Earth and help them prosper as well."
"Of course, France, England, Russia, and America can also prosper alongside the Great Ming. After all, this Earth is so vast, and the Great Ming alone cannot lead everyone."
Zeng Cheng and the other influential figures listened with expressions of disbelief.
If two ordinary people from the Great Ming agreed to fully support one person to become wealthy, and then that person would help another become wealthy, Zeng Cheng and his ilk would not have doubted it.
But to suggest mobilizing the strength of all other countries on Earth to help the Great Ming develop, and then have the Great Ming lead other countries to prosperity together, Zeng Cheng and others found it utterly unbelievable – when the Great Ming was poor, they still schemed against other countries, let alone when they became rich.
However, whether Zeng Cheng and others believed it or not had no bearing on Zhu Jinsong's plan. It also didn't matter whether the leaders of other countries believed it, as long as they all agreed to the plan.
When Zhu Jinsong proposed this theory at the "Five Benevolent Men" conference of the "Small Pot," Louis XVI was the first to respond: "Indeed, we in France, as a major European power, have a responsibility to prosper first and then lead other countries to prosperity."
Even Thomas Jefferson, the third-generation leader of America, who had been thoroughly humiliated by Zhu Jinsong, expressed his agreement. After all, America was considered a strong nation on the American continent, and such a proposal to let America prosper first and then lead other countries to prosperity held many benefits for America, so Jefferson naturally would not object.
As for the opinions of other countries on Earth... it was never heard that chess players cared about the opinions of the chess pieces, nor was it heard that butchers allowed the lambs to choose how they wanted to die.
What's more, the methods Zhu Jinsong proposed were all wrapped in an extremely beautiful guise, which made it difficult for other countries on Earth to object.
After discussing how to play chess with the pieces, Louis XVI suddenly spoke, "I heard that William II of the Habsburg family might not be able to hold on, and is currently choosing his successor?"
Zhu Jinsong grunted and asked, "What are your thoughts?"
Louis XVI replied, "William II has several sons, and it's difficult to say which one will be chosen as his successor. After all, the Habsburg family is not what it used to be, and they are suffering setbacks on the battlefield. Becoming the next successor may not necessarily be a good thing."
Zhu Jinsong nodded and, out of the blue, asked, "Speaking of the Habsburg family, I'd like to hear your and George III's opinions – do you intend to completely destroy the Habsburg family and divide their territories, or just force them to cede land and pay reparations?"
Being asked this, Louis XVI immediately glanced at George III, then shook his head slightly and said, "We haven't decided what to do yet."
"In fact, although the Habsburg family is currently retreating, their foundation is not just what is superficially apparent. There are probably many hidden moves behind the scenes."
"Therefore, we can only advance slowly and dare not put too much pressure on the Habsburg family."
Hearing this, Zhu Jinsong roughly understood Louis XVI's intention – he wanted to annex the Habsburg family, but he was worried that the Habsburg family might have some hidden cards, and he was also concerned that England would not contribute wholeheartedly, so he was somewhat hesitant to continue the conflict.
After some thought, Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "Since you don't know what to do, I have a new idea."
Hearing Zhu Jinsong's words, Louis XVI became interested and repeatedly asked, "What idea?"
Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "As you just said, William II has several sons – so, the best way is to first force him to cede territory and pay reparations, and then have his most foolish son become the next leader of the Habsburg family."
Louis XVI and the others could understand Zhu Jinsong's approach. After all, as leaders themselves, they understood how much damage a poorly chosen successor could inflict on a country.
But William II was also the leader of the Habsburg family; he couldn't possibly not understand this principle.
Therefore, the key question was how to support William II's most foolish son to become the leader.
Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "There are too many ways to ensure William II's most foolish son becomes the leader. The simplest method is to ensure William II has no other heirs to choose from, leaving him with no choice but to select the most foolish one."
George III and Paul I were startled, fearing that Zhu Jinsong might arrange the same for them. However, Thomas Jefferson, the third-generation leader of America, breathed a sigh of relief, as America's system differed from the other four benevolent men, making it less susceptible to such tactics.
"Of course, if a problem can be solved through civilized means, there is no need for bloodshed," Zhu Jinsong continued. "Our five benevolent men, plus other countries in the 'Small Pot,' must have at least a hundred newspapers, right? The Habsburg family should also be subscribing, shouldn't they?"
Louis XVI nodded and replied, "Yes, the Habsburg family also subscribes to the 'Great Ming Newspaper,' the 'French Newspaper,' and 'The Times.'"
Zhu Jinsong grunted and continued, "That makes it easy – if the newspapers from our countries all praise William II's most foolish son, do you think it will influence William II's decision?"
This is akin to the five major mobile arms dealers hyping up Mandela as the saint of the South African Kunlun.
With a mature industrial system, complete infrastructure, and various emerging industries, South Africa, once economically developed, excelled in all fields. At its peak, it could not only research and produce heavy weaponry like tanks and fighter jets but even possessed nuclear bombs.
To put it this way, at that time, apart from the five major mobile arms dealers, South Africa was the most formidable on Earth, considered the universally recognized sixth-greatest power.
The reason for the downfall of this sixth-greatest power was that the five major mobile arms dealers had hyped up Mandela as the saint of South Africa.
After Mandela took office, his first decision was to directly abandon nuclear weapons.
As is well known, when America claims a country possesses nuclear weapons, it is best that the country truly does, like certain nations in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. These two nations genuinely possess them, which is why they are still alive. However, Saddam Hussein, without large-scale weapons of mass destruction, was completely finished.
Therefore, Mandela's decision to abandon nuclear weapons was essentially self-inflicted disarmament.
Mandela's second decision was to recognize all illegal immigrants in South Africa, directly allowing them to become citizens of South Africa. Given the social conditions at the time, what kind of people would illegally immigrate to South Africa? Good people wouldn't illegally immigrate!
To put it bluntly, there weren't many good people among those who illegally immigrated to South Africa! Shooting them one by one might convict the innocent, but cutting down every other person would definitely let some slip through.
Thus, Mandela's decision directly accelerated the chaos in South Africa, turning it into a haven for crime. Many people developed a very poor impression of South Africa as a result, and South Africa entered a development crisis.
Mandela's third and most astonishing measure was complete equality – making the "Kunlun slaves" and the Boers, who originally ruled South Africa, completely equal. Any job position or welfare benefit available to the Boers must also be available to the "Kunlun slaves."
As is well known, "Kunlun slaves" are a peculiar existence. They might not mind going around naked, but asking them to work...
In short, one unreliable saint directly destroyed a great power on Earth that once had the strength to challenge the five major powers.
The current approach of Zhu Jinsong is essentially copying the answers of the five major mobile arms dealers: first, install a foolish and incompetent son of William II, then find ways to brainwash him, instill all sorts of nonsensical ideas in him, and let him self-destruct the entire Habsburg family.
As Louis XVI and others were contemplating this, Zhu Jinsong continued, "Or, what if we all praise William II's more intelligent son, showering him with praise beyond compare, saying he is hundreds of times better than William II? What do you think William II would think?"
This is thorough character assassination through praise.
As everyone knows, emperors are solitary figures, and suspicion exists even between father and son.
Although the so-called Austrian Emperor of the Habsburg family was not the emperor of a great power, he was still an emperor, and all the flaws that emperors possess would be present.
If the five benevolent men of the "Small Pot" unanimously praised one of William II's more outstanding sons, even showing a hint of apprehension, William II would likely be more apprehensive of his own son than the five benevolent men.
If William II were a bit more foolish, the five benevolent men could even praise one after another until only the most foolish one remained.
As a family that has resided in Europe for centuries, the vast inheritance left behind by the Habsburg family, even if they destroy themselves, would be enough for France, England, and Russia to feast upon.
Of course, the Great Ming would also receive its fair share of benefits.
Louis XVI and the others were stunned – so, governance could be played like this?
After some thought, Louis XVI readily agreed, "I agree, but where should we start? Should we praise a more intelligent one first, or directly praise the most foolish one?"
Zhu Jinsong smiled and said, "Of course, we should try praising a more intelligent one first to test the waters."