Greece to roman road

Hearing this, Constantine also frowned.

A large area like the Congo River, a territory of more than 2 million square kilometers, is not so easy to obtain. A feasible strategy must be thought of.

"Banning, do you have any good ideas?" Constantine asked.

"Your Majesty the Duke, I think that all European countries are coveting African colonies. We should put the easy things first and then the hard ones. First, we need to find a country that is weakly involved in African interests and has international influence. It can serve as a breakthrough for the Congo Committee to open up the situation." Banning He said calmly.

The only country that has international influence and has little interest in Africa is the United States.

"You're talking about the United States, right? What's the reason?" Constantine said.

The United States was the first choice for a diplomatic breakthrough, and Constantine was not unprepared.

"Compared with European countries, the United States is very special. Since the Civil War in the north and south of the United States (1860), Americans who have resolved their domestic disputes have embarked on the fast track of economic development." Banning had obviously planned clearly.

“The biggest difference between the United States and European countries is that the United States is vast and sparsely populated, and is rich in various resources. Whether it is coal, iron ore, or copper mine, the reserves are large. The area of ​​arable land is the largest in the world, and the current population is far away. It was far from enough to develop the existing land in the United States, so the United States' willingness to acquire colonies was very weak," Banning said.

To put it bluntly, Americans' North American land is too fertile. The reserves of various raw materials needed for industrial development, such as coal, iron, copper, and even oil, are very considerable, and they cannot look down upon overseas colonies, especially Africa.

In the northern part of Africa, sand is still sand, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, the most impressive are the endless deserts, such as the world's largest desert, the Sahara Desert.

The area south of the Sahara Desert, because it is located near the equator, has a hot, humid and rainy climate, making it unsuitable for Europeans to live.

Speaking of America's rich resources, Constantine immediately thought of the world's largest coalfield (now), the Appalachian Coalfield.

The area reaches 180,000 square kilometers and the reserves reach 310.7 billion tons.

The Appalachian Coalfield is located in the eastern United States. The coalfield is distributed in nine states in the eastern United States, extending from northeast to southwest, with a total length of 1,200-1,250 kilometers and a width of 50-300 kilometers.

What is even more exaggerated is that the thickness of its coal is 500-900 meters, and most of it can be mined in the open pit.

What is even more shocking is that the quality of the coal produced by this coal mine is quite good, almost all of it reaches the level of bituminous coal or above.

In the 19th century, most of the coal produced by Americans came from this coal mine.

Looking at the poor lignite in Greece (the worst quality coal, between coal and peat), I can only say that there is no harm without comparison.

Constantine could salivate three thousand feet just thinking about these data.

With such resource endowment, it is no wonder that it can become a world hegemon.

Thinking of this, the desire to acquire the Congo River Basin seems not to be that strong.

The things you try your best to get will not be appreciated by wealthy people at all.

"Okay, let's start in the United States," Constantine said listlessly.

"By the way, if you go to the United States, there is someone who will definitely take him seriously." Constantine thought of someone.

"Sanford"

Sanford was the U.S. ambassador to Greece and had been friendly with Constantine because his African plans required the support of the great powers.

"Yes, to be the ambassador of the United States abroad, this person must have a deep network of connections in the United States. Let's start with him," Banning suddenly realized.

The three people who made up their minds crossed the Channel from Hamburg to London, and then took a cruise ship to the North American continent.

A ticket to a first-class cabin with a balcony on a cruise ship costs 30 pounds. Even Constantine, a person who is not so sensitive about money, lamented that the price is expensive.

A British worker's entire annual income is roughly this price.

Cruise ships in this era, like airplanes in later generations, were essential means of transportation for cross-border travel.

Sitting at the dining table near the window, the three of Constantine ate while watching the vast, undulating Atlantic Ocean. It was a pleasing thing to see.

At this moment, a 4 or 5-year-old girl wearing a gray-white skirt and disheveled hair came from nowhere and walked up to Constantine and the three people who were dining.

The little girl held her right index finger in her mouth, with a few obvious stains on her face, and a pair of big blue eyes looking pitifully at the three of them.

The three of them looked at me, and I looked at you, and they all shook their heads, indicating that they didn't know whose child this was.

"What's your name, miss?" Constantine stood up and squatted in front of the little girl and asked.

Constantine seemed to frighten her and took a step back timidly, just staring at the table.

At this time, Constantine also realized that the little girl must have run up from the lower warehouse. She was probably hungry and smelled the aroma of the restaurant, so she ran to the restaurant.

Constantine raised his hand, and the waiter hurried over.

Guests in these premium warehouses will enjoy the most considerate service.

"Do you know whose child this is?" Constantine asked, pointing to the little girl.

The waiter just took a quick look and saw the clues. He bowed and said, "I'm very sorry for disturbing the gentlemen's meal. I will..."

"Go and prepare this lady a lunch, a glass of milk, white bread, fried sausages, and, oh," interrupted Constantine.

Speaking of which, he really didn't know what a four or five-year-old child should eat.

"Anyway, prepare a suitable food for her."

Seeing that Constantine was not angry with the "inferior man" for disturbing the distinguished guests who were dining, the waiter nodded in agreement.

The three of them looked at the little girl eating with gusto at the table. It was obvious that she was starving.

"May I have your name?"

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Emma"

The little girl had food in her mouth and spoke indistinctly.

"Where are you from?"

"from below"

This answer is tantamount to saying nothing.

The waiter just now led a young man who was sweating profusely and hurried over to the table where Constantine was sitting.

"This gentleman said his daughter is missing," the waiter pointed at the young man and said to Constantine.

The man quickly walked up to Emma and picked her up, crying in his voice: "Why are you running around, Emma?"

Emma, ​​who was held in her arms, held a fried sausage in her hand and handed it to the man. She said with a milky voice: "Dad, you eat."

Seeing Constantine and the other three dressed neatly, the young man explained in a panic, "I woke up and found Emma missing. I'm sorry, dear gentlemen, to disturb you."

The man hugged Emma and bowed to apologize.

"Sir, you don't have to be so nervous, Emma is very cute"