Chapter 527 Confucius's Abacus and Newton's Apple

In stark contrast to the oppressive and tense atmosphere of the Britannia development zone, Paris, the capital of the Gaul Republic, was experiencing an unprecedented "Oriental Fever."

As the Great Han Empire's "partner" in the Western Continent, Gaul received enviable treatment.

War reparations were waived, and economic aid and low-interest loans poured in continuously.

More importantly, the Great Han Empire opened up the transfer of certain civilian technologies to Gaul and promised to help them rebuild the industrial systems damaged during the war.

In return, Gaul became the showcase window for Eastern civilization on the Western Continent.

Han characters were listed as the second official language in Gaul's schools, enjoying equal status with the Gaul language.

The han yuan circulated freely throughout Gaul, and its strong currency value quickly replaced the weak old franc, becoming the preferred choice for market transactions.

Most notable of all was the world's first "Confucius Institute," located on the banks of the Seine.

This institute, funded directly by the Great Han Empire's Ministry of Rites, featured an elegant architectural style that blended Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The flying eaves and brackets were wonderfully combined with Corinthian columns, symbolizing the exchange between the two great civilizations.

The institute's opening ceremony was grand and solemn.

The Prime Minister of Gaul attended in person and delivered an impassioned speech.

"Confucius is the sage of the East.

His thoughts are like the snow on the peaks of the Alps, pure and lofty."

With the help of a translator, he diligently used Eastern-style metaphors.

"Today, we establish the Confucius Institute here to introduce Eastern wisdom to the land of Gaul.

I believe that the Confucian 'Benevolence' and 'Harmony' will bring lasting peace to our continent, which has experienced too much war."

Offstage were invited celebrities from all walks of life in Gaul, as well as the Great Han Empire's diplomatic and cultural officials stationed in Gaul.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian, as the Emperor's plenipotentiary representative, also sat in the VIP section.

He applauded with a smile, but his eyes remained calm.

He knew that the people of Gaul embracing Confucius did not mean they truly understood the "Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust." What they were embracing was the powerful empire behind Confucius.

After the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian, accompanied by the dean of the institute, toured the new school.

"My lord, please look."

The dean pointed to a spacious classroom.

"This is our calligraphy class.

We have invited the empire's best calligraphers to teach the students of Gaul how to use a brush."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian looked over and saw a group of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Gaulish youths sitting upright, clumsily holding brushes, and tracing the four characters for "Great Unity of the World" on sheets of rice paper, stroke by stroke.

Their expressions were focused and devout.

"Very good."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian nodded.

"Writing is the cornerstone of civilization.

Teaching them to write Han characters is more important than teaching them to speak the Han language."

He walked to another classroom.

A lesson on the Analects was in progress here.

An old master from the Imperial Academy was explaining "Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you" in a mix of Han and Gaulish, with a slight accent.

The Gaulish students below were listening, completely mesmerized.

"We have also opened courses in tea ceremony, traditional painting, Go, and more."

The dean introduced from the side.

"The citizens of Paris have shown great interest in these ancient arts from the East.

As soon as our course slots were released, they were snapped up."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian was noncommittal.

He knew these were just superficial gestures.

The Emperor's true purpose was not to turn all Westerners into Confucian scholars who recited poetry and painted.

The export of civilization was merely a means.

True integration happened at a deeper, more concrete level.

Leaving the Confucius Institute, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian's carriage passed through the bustling streets of Paris and arrived at the other end of the city.

This was the location of the University of Paris.

Unlike the bustling Confucius Institute, it appeared somewhat deserted here.

However, the security was exceptionally tight, with rows of fully armed Han Army soldiers standing at the entrance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian showed his special pass before being allowed to enter.

The person he was here to see was the chief scholar stationed in the West by the Royal Academy of Sciences, Mo Yuan's star pupil, Gongshu Ce.

In a converted, massive laboratory, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian met Gongshu Ce.

He was arguing fiercely with a group of Gaulish scientists while gathered around a massive, structurally complex machine.

That machine was an improved model of the "Difference Engine" that the Gauls were so proud of, a type of early mechanical computer.

Seeing Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian enter, Gongshu Ce stopped the discussion and walked over quickly.

"My lord Zhang."

He wiped the grease off his hands, his face glowing with excitement.

"You have arrived just in time! We have just overcome a critical technical difficulty! By optimizing the structure of the gear assembly, we have increased the computational efficiency of this machine by thirty percent!"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian looked at the young man, who was radiating the smell of machine oil, and smiled.

"You have worked hard.

His Majesty is very concerned about your work."

Gongshu Ce led Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian to tour their "spoils of war."

This place almost gathered the essence of the entire Western Industrial Revolution.

Improved blueprints for the Steam Engine seized from the Sun Never Sets Empire.

Core samples of internal combustion engines obtained from the Teuton.

And the latest research results from the Gauls themselves in chemistry and materials science.

"The Westerners' way of thinking is indeed very different from ours."

Gongshu Ce remarked with emotion.

"They do not investigate the 'Way,' only the 'Technique.'

But precisely because of this focus, they have progressed very quickly on the path of investigating things to extend knowledge.

Look at this..."

He pointed to a liquid undergoing a chemical reaction inside a glass vessel.

"This is the method for preparing nitroglycerin invented by the Gauls; it is more than ten times more powerful than our current gunpowder formula.

If we can stabilize it and apply it to military use, the power of the Empire's artillery shells will be raised to a new level."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian listened quietly.

He understood that this was what His Majesty truly valued.

No matter how skillfully Confucius's abacus is manipulated, it is merely a tool to appease people's hearts.

Newton's apple, when it falls, is the power that can truly change the world.

"His Majesty has an order."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian said to Gongshu Ce.

"All important scientists and engineers in the West, regardless of nationality or past, as long as they have a specialized skill, the Empire can hire them with high salaries, provide them with the best research conditions, and even grant them imperial titles."

"Bring all their wisdom back to the East.

Let them contribute to the rise of the Great Han."

Gongshu Ce's eyes lit up.

"I understand."

He nodded heavily.

"Please tell His Majesty that within ten years, the Royal Academy of Sciences will completely transplant the Western technology tree into the soil of the Empire and make it bear even more fruitful results!"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Qian patted him on the shoulder.

One uses Confucian thought for cultural export to shape the legitimacy of rule.

One uses generous treatment for technology introduction to absorb the essence of civilization.

One tension, one relaxation; one exterior, one interior.

This is the complete strategy of the Great Han Empire to conquer and integrate this world.

Outside the window, the waters of the Seine flowed quietly.

In this city, the dragon of the East and the griffin of the West began a long and profound game of competition and integration.