Iron Dynasty Chapter 968

“My God, this is nothing short of a miracle!”

Bosse, the Prussian ambassador stationed in Qingzhou, cried out from his embassy window the moment the city was suddenly bathed in the glow of streetlights. For several months, construction crews had been tirelessly working along the thoroughfares of Qingzhou. These laborers had erected tall poles topped with glass lanterns, anchoring their bases deep into the earth and burying rubber-insulated wires to link the poles together. Despite their curiosity regarding the project, the foreigners had been unable to pry any details from the workers or officials. Only now did the truth dawn on them; it was a grand display of electric illumination.

“It is truly breathtaking. The technological prowess of the Great Yu Empire has surpassed every nation in Europe. The British and French are fools who have committed a grave error. Attempting to wage war against such an industrial titan in Asia is nothing less than suicide.”

Lilya, a blonde noblewoman and Bosse’s wife, stood at his side. Since the Prussian embassy had opened its doors, she had resided there with her husband and their two sons.

“Thus, their crushing defeat at Dengzhou was inevitable. It is quite a satisfying sight,” Bosse remarked.

He swirled a transparent glass chalice in his hand, a refined industrial product manufactured right there in Qingzhou. Before his arrival in the Great Yu Empire, Bosse had braced himself for a life of hardship; however, he found himself far more comfortable here than he had ever been in Prussia. Having experienced the myriad conveniences that industry had integrated into daily life within the Great Yu Empire, he had grown quite fond of the city.

Lilya lifted her own glass and clinked it against her husband’s. As the crimson wine danced in the light, she glanced at the flickering candle on their table with a touch of annoyance. “I truly hope that we will soon be able to dine under the glow of electric lights,” she murmured.

“Trust me, that day is near. Now that these streetlights have been proven successful, it signifies that Qingzhou City is officially electrified. It won't be long before the residents, ourselves included, benefit from the ease of electricity. My only regret is that the Great Yu Empire remains hesitant to share its most advanced technologies, such as electricity and steam locomotives,” Bosse said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“We should count our blessings. At the very least, His Majesty the Emperor has sanctioned the study abroad program. The first group of eight hundred students is scheduled to arrive in two months,” Lilya said, attempting to soothe him. she understood her husband's perspective well. In truth, Prussia's current situation mirrored the struggles the Great Yu Empire faced a decade ago. Prussia held little sway in Europe and lived under French shadow. Due to French interference, the German Confederation remained fractured, unable to unite into a formidable power.

“You are right. The future of Prussia depends on those students.” A spark of optimism flickered in Bosse’s eyes. Recalling his schedule, he added, “Furthermore, tomorrow marks the first day of the Great Yu Empire’s New Year. I would like you to take our children to the palace to pay your respects to the Great Yu Empress. Cultivating a personal bond will be highly advantageous for us. Meanwhile, I shall attend the grand court session to deliver the King of Prussia’s greetings to the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire.”

“Of course,” Lilya agreed with a slight nod. “Maintaining such ties is the primary duty of an ambassador’s wife.”

Two hundred meters away at the Dutch embassy, Rhode was also watching as the lights flickered to life across the Great Yu Empire. Following Claire’s recall to the Netherlands, Brandon had directed Rhode to remain. Once the Prussian embassy was established, their delegation was formally recognized as the Dutch embassy, and Rhode was appointed as the ambassador.

“The Foreign Affairs Department of the Great Yu Empire has issued an official notice regarding their occupation of Malacca. The primary bottleneck of Asian maritime trade routes is now firmly under their control. Their maneuvers are both swift and ruthless,” a voice spoke from behind Rhode.

The speaker was Parson, the Second Class Minister of the Dutch embassy. Per the diplomatic protocols established by the Great Yu Empire, embassy staff were categorized into three ranks: ambassador, first-class minister, and second-class minister, with specific diplomatic duties assigned to each tier.

“I have known Emperor Xiao Ming for seven years now, and I understand his temperament quite well. He is a man who follows through on his word. It is a pity the Spanish fools allowed themselves to be used by the British and French, only to lose every interest they held in Asia,” Rhode remarked with a sneer.

Parson wore a mocking grin. “They brought that ruin upon themselves. However, Rhode, are you not concerned about our future dealings with the Great Yu Empire? We possess far more colonial territory in Asia than the Spanish ever did. Do you think a lion would allow the meat right in front of its jaws to be snatched away?”

“Certainly not. We realized Xiao Ming was not the type to tolerate losses the moment he insisted on stationing troops at Fort Zeelandia. But there is one factor to consider: this emperor is willing to be patient for the sake of profit, and that is our leverage. For instance, they currently have a desperate need for rubber, and we are their sole suppliers.”

Rhode paused, his brow furrowing. “My concern is that the Netherlands is simply too small. We lack the population and land to challenge the British or French in Europe. I fear the Dutch Parliament will eventually be coerced into choosing a side between Britain and France.”

A flash of dread appeared in Parson’s eyes. “That would be a catastrophe for us.”

“Indeed. We may eventually have to choose between the survival of our nation and the preservation of our colonies,” Rhode’s eyes glinted. “For the time being, let us simply appreciate the cordial relations between the Netherlands and the Great Yu Empire.”

Just as he finished his sentence, a massive wave of cheering erupted from Imperial City Avenue. After their initial bewilderment, the citizens of Qingzhou finally realized the nature of the surprise the Emperor had prepared for them this evening.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

“Long live!”

“...”

The roar of the crowd intensified. Simultaneously, brilliant fireworks launched from the palace grounds, bursting across the heavens and illuminating the darkness. The entirety of Qingzhou City was instantly transformed into a celebration.

“There has been talk of electricity for some time, but I never imagined it was real. Look closely, the light inside that glass isn't burning oil at all!”

Of all the streets, Imperial City Avenue was the most congested and vibrant.

Once the initial cheers subsided, citizens crowded around the streetlights, pointing at the glowing bulbs and marveling at the wonders of electricity.

“I wonder how long it will be before we can have this electricity in our own homes,” one man remarked hopefully.

“Since the city is now wired, it shouldn't be much longer,” another person replied. “If my house could be this bright, my son would have a much easier time with his nightly studies.”

The surrounding crowd chuckled in agreement. This sentiment was shared by many. The transformations over the last ten years had led them to embrace the philosophy of strengthening the nation through science and education.

Moreover, the establishment of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities had provided children from poor families a genuine path for advancement. With the implementation of free education, the burden of tuition was no longer a concern for them.