Chapter 46

Request for collection, request for recommendation.

The weather was at its clearest, the sun was shining brightly, illuminating the mountains and the land with a radiant light. In the southwest of Windsor Castle, a dozen horsemen were galloping through the woods, startling the birds and beasts that had been hiding there, causing them to scatter in all directions. The riders were all dressed in dark red military uniforms, members of the British Royal Guard.

Zhu Jishi raised a Brunswick rifle and fired with a bang. His marksmanship was notoriously bad, after all, before today, he had only handled a smoothbore pistol and had never fired a single bullet. After the shot, a British rabbit heaved a sigh of relief and quickly fled. Another shot rang out, and the rabbit fell to the ground, dying with regret. Prince Albert then smiled and handed the rifle to Windsor Castle's steward, Brown, and picked up another loaded Brunswick rifle, smiling at Zhu Jishi, "Jason, you need to aim before you shoot."

Zhu Jishi smiled bitterly and shook his head, throwing the rifle to a nearby officer of the British Royal Guard. He shrugged and said, "I'm really no good at shooting. It seems weapons and I just don't get along!"

"Jason, it seems not only weapons but also horses don't get along with you. You might become the only baronet in all of Europe who can't ride a horse," a short, brown-haired woman in a lady's hunting outfit, who was following Prince Albert, said with a somewhat exaggerated tone, then burst into a tinkling laugh.

She was none other than Queen Victoria, who had just given birth!

Zhu Jishi's temporary role as the royal obstetrician had been completed. Five days ago, on April 25th, the queen had given birth to a princess named Alice. The entire childbirth process was smooth and without incident, but Zhu Jishi was still commended for his contribution to setting up a small obstetric hospital for the British royal family and training midwives and royal physicians. On Prince Albert's recommendation, Queen Victoria planned to grant Zhu Jishi the title of baronet. It wasn't a formal noble title, just a title granted to commoners, which could even be bought in earlier years.

Additionally, the election meeting of the Royal Society had concluded, and Zhu Jishi was elected a member of the Royal Society without any surprise. Compared to the title of baronet, the membership of the Royal Society clearly had higher prestige.

However, Zhu Jishi was still very pleased to be called "Sir." Being associated with the nobility, whether for his current pharmaceutical and rubber business or for his future plans to establish a university in the East, would be extremely beneficial.

Perhaps because she couldn't go anywhere during her pregnancy and had been confined to her room for too long, today, upon hearing that Prince Albert wanted to go hunting with Zhu Jishi, the queen actually came along—something that would be hard to believe in her own country, but it seemed that women in Europe didn't follow the custom of sitting in confinement after childbirth...

Zhu Jishi, Prince Albert, and Queen Victoria no longer hunted but strolled through the fairy-tale-like scenery. In the distance, Windsor Castle gleamed in the sunlight, and on the vast green fields, the Royal Guard cavalry, dressed as if for a festival, were training, either brandishing their sabers or leaping over obstacles on horseback.

Prince Albert extended his hand, "Water." A leather-wrapped water flask was handed to him. The prince opened the cap but didn't drink, just gazed at the cavalry on the field from afar.

Zhu Jishi said lightly, "I've heard that the British cavalry is the strongest in the world, forming the main force of the British Army. Is this true?"

Prince Albert nodded slightly, about to answer Zhu Jishi's question, but Queen Victoria beat him to it, "Jason, your statement is incorrect. The British Army is not like the Mongol Army, relying solely on cavalry. In fact, European armies rely on the coordination of multiple units to achieve combat effectiveness. An army typically consists of artillery, light infantry, line infantry, light cavalry, and heavy cavalry."

Zhu Jishi turned to look at Victoria and smiled, "I didn't expect you, Your Majesty, to be so knowledgeable about military matters."

"It's just common knowledge. You should know that the libraries of Hanover and Britain are filled with military books," Queen Victoria said with a proud smile, as if to tell Zhu Jishi that she knew more than just how to give birth!

"Oh, then are these guard cavalry heavy cavalry or light cavalry?" Zhu Jishi asked with interest.

"They are cuirassiers. Haven't you seen their shiny breastplates?" Queen Victoria pointed to the cavalry, "Cuirassiers are heavy cavalry, and their main combat method is to charge in formation. On the European continent, there are also lancers who use the same formation charge method. By the way, Jason, I don't know who told you that the British cavalry is the strongest in the world, but that statement is clearly incorrect. In fact, the cavalry of Britain, France, and Russia are all very powerful, each with its own strengths, making it difficult to rank them. However, most military books consider the French cavalry to be the strongest, as France is the world's leading land power."

"Jason, you seem very interested in military topics. Are you planning to offer military courses at the university in Hong Kong?"

Zhu Jishi and Sylvia Louise were discussing enthusiastically when Prince Albert's words interrupted them.

Zhu Jishi didn't hide his intentions but admitted frankly, "Albert, I think Western military science is of great interest to every ancient Eastern nation. If the university I establish in Hong Kong wants to attract the children of the Qing nobility, it would be best to offer military courses."

"That's true. Whether it's the reforms in Russia or the Ottoman Empire, they all started with the military, followed by the economy, and finally politics. I imagine the Qing will follow a similar path."

Prince Albert looked at Zhu Jishi seriously and smiled, "Jason, if things go as expected, you will soon be heavily relied upon by the Qing court. You might even return to Europe as a Qing minister. I hope we will still be friends then."

Prince Albert seemed to be making assumptions, but it wasn't surprising. After all, the pattern of being defeated and then reforming for strength has occurred in many countries. Although the results of reforms vary, no country that has been defeated and refused to reform, burying its head in the sand like an ostrich, has ever been heard of. I doubt the Qing will be such a fool.

If the Qing wants to reform and strengthen itself, it will need to use people who understand the West, and Zhu Jishi is clearly such a person. If he were a Russian in the time of Peter the Great or a Turk in the time of Selim III, he would have no problem becoming a minister. Moreover, the Qing is even more isolated than Russia and the Ottoman Empire were, with no understanding of the West. With someone like Zhu Jishi, who is considered a great scholar even in the West, it would be foolish not to use him.

Zhu Jishi smiled bitterly and said, "Albert, don't tease me. I'm not the kind of person who can enter politics."

After a pause, he added, "My ideal is really just to establish a decent university and introduce Western advanced science and ideas to Eastern students..."

Prince Albert slightly turned his body and looked at Zhu Jishi with surprise. Although this person held a high academic status, his ability to establish companies based on his inventions showed that he was not just a bookish scholar. Why would he give up such an opportunity to enter the upper echelons of the Qing?

Queen Victoria also raised an eyebrow and said, "Jason, Albert genuinely wants to help the Qing reform and become a civilized nation, so you shouldn't have any reservations."

Of course, this statement was partly true and partly false. The British certainly have ambitions for China, but it's not as if Prince Albert wants to turn China into a British colony. After all, China is too far away and too large to be swallowed whole, and it is a unified empire, unlike India, which could be gradually annexed. In fact, Britain has yet to fully complete the annexation of India.

Moreover, from the perspective of Prince Albert and other European politicians looking at China from afar, China will certainly reform after being defeated. The question is who will "help" China reform? France? Or Britain?

According to the latest reports from Prince Albert and the British cabinet, the negotiations between the French envoy and the Qing government have been ongoing for a long time. It is reported that the French government is pursuing a goal detrimental to British interests! They might provide arms to China and send people to help the Qing government build fortifications and cast cannons! If the Qing government decides to reform in the future, it is likely to accept French assistance—after all, the French have a penchant for being teachers, and almost every backward country's reform has involved French advisors...

Perhaps the Qing emperor's envoy has already secretly arrived at the Tuileries Palace, discussing with King Louis-Philippe the treaty to hire French advisors to help with reforms!

Zhu Jishi said lightly, "I don't even know where to start to establish a university, let alone think about reforming a country. Perhaps establishing a university will require all my life's efforts."

Prince Albert smiled, "Jason, I can offer you some help in establishing the university."

"Help?" Zhu Jishi's eyes flickered, as if he had an idea. After a moment, he said gratefully, "Albert, I thank you for your help in advance. I will definitely come to you for assistance when the time comes."

Prince Albert smiled, "Then it's settled."

"Then could you help me secure a piece of land in Hong Kong? At least 1,000 acres."

"Trivial matter, I'll give you 2,000 acres." Prince Albert agreed without hesitation, as the land in Hong Kong was cheap and no one wanted it. "I'll write to the governor of Hong Kong to prepare the land for you. By the way, what will the future university be called?"

"Jishi University, with the meaning of saving the world and the people," Zhu Jishi said solemnly.

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