CHAPTER 621: CHAPTER 612 GREEN VINE AND GALLO-ROMAN

"By Allah! What is that!"

As a fully armed "steel beast" slowly sailed into the military port of Constantinople, Ossman residents observing the distant military port through their windows exclaimed in awe. This ship was a brand-new warship they had never seen before, with its steel hull glinting under the sun’s rays, resembling a ferocious tiger from afar. The wooden battleships docked in the port seemed like docile sheep in comparison, always at risk of being pounced upon and slaughtered by the tiger.

Of course, it was not just the residents near the military port who were astonished. Standing near the dock were Abdul-Sultan and Grand Admiral Mahmoud, Prime Minister Mustafa Rechid, along with a group of Ottoman Empire High Gate officials and soldiers who came to welcome the Emperor of France, Jerome Bonaparte. They, too, showed expressions of surprise and even fear.

"Grand Marshal Mahmoud, what on earth is this monster?" Abdul-Sultan asked Grand Marshal Mahmoud beside him in a tone trembling with a hint of excitement.

As the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he "fell in love" at first sight with this ironclad warship. Steel and guns are things that all military enthusiasts (crossed out) love.

When the two are combined, the "chemical reaction" produced is more than just one plus one.

Especially since the Ottoman Empire is currently in a state where there are no ships available.

"Your Majesty, I am not quite sure myself!" Grand Marshal Mahmoud also gazed quizzically at the ironclad warship before him. He couldn’t understand why this lump of iron could float on the sea, perhaps due to the steam engine.

Unable to answer at the moment, Abdul had to turn his gaze to the other side, towards the Valvesky Envoy and his companions.

Ignoring the strange looks from others, Abdul approached Valvesky with a serious expression and asked, "Mr. Valvesky, what kind of ship is this?"

Valvesky was stunned for a few seconds, then replied to Abdul-Sultan, "Your Majesty the Sultan, this is a ship made of iron, and its defensive capability is a hundred times stronger than wooden ships!"

"A ship made of iron?" Abdul-Sultan asked excitedly, "I wonder if the French Empire is willing to sell it..."

Valvesky shook his head and responded to Abdul-Sultan, "Regrettably, Your Majesty, this ship is the latest vessel we have developed, so it cannot be sold in the short term!"

"Can I place an order in advance?" Abdul-Sultan couldn’t contain his fondness.

"Well..." Valvesky hesitated for a moment. He knew this order was practically a gift for him, and to avoid losing it, he decided to agree first, "This matter, I need to report to the Ministry of the Navy! If they agree..."

"Can’t your Emperor decide on this matter?" Abdul-Sultan asked in confusion.

"Of course he can!" Valvesky answered decisively, "His Majesty Emperor Jerome is the supreme authority of the entire French Empire! No one dares to defy him!"

"Then if I ask him, it should be possible!" Abdul-Sultan responded to Valvesky.

"If His Majesty agrees with you, then it will definitely succeed!" Valvesky replied to Abdul-Sultan.

Abdul nodded, then returned to his original position.

Under the watchful eyes of Abdul-Sultan and others, the ironclad slowly approached and docked at the port.

After the ironclad ship was completely moored in the military port of Constantinople, a wooden ladder was slowly lowered from the ship.

In the salty sea breeze, the figures of Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich appeared.

"Raise the flag! Play the music!" Abdul-Sultan ordered his attendant.

The attendant ran to the court orchestra and shouted to them in Greek, "Play the music!"

Upon receiving the order, the court orchestra immediately began to play the "Marseillaise", a favorite of Jerome Bonaparte.

Meanwhile, a red, white, and blue tricolor Eagle Flag symbolizing the French Empire and a Crescent Flag symbolizing the Ottoman Empire were raised high by the flag bearers.

At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte, standing on the wooden steps, watched the Crescent Flag and Eagle Flag raised high in the distance, while listening to the "Marseillaise" from afar. He couldn’t help but shake his head and say to Richard Metternich beside him, "I guess it must be Valveski who told them about my arrival in Constantinople! Now it’s done, tomorrow... no, I should say immediately, all of Europe will know I’m in Constantinople!"

"That’s Mr. Valveski’s duty!" Richard Metternich answered Jerome Bonaparte.

"Indeed!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then slowly walked down the steps.

Richard Metternich also followed Jerome Bonaparte down, and behind Richard Metternich, a group of sailors with rifles on their backs also followed him down.

When Jerome Bonaparte walked to the last step, the majestic "Marseillaise" ended.

In its place was the Ottoman Empire’s national anthem, established in 1844, the "Abdul Majid March". The entire melody is closer to an Eastern classical tone, long and gentle.

"My friend, welcome to Constantinople!" Abdul Majid enthusiastically approached Jerome Bonaparte and shook hands with him.

"I am honored to visit Constantinople!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled at Abdul Majid, who reminded him of a Xinjiang kebab uncle, and answered, "I hope my sudden visit doesn’t cause inconvenience to you and your subjects!"

"How could it be! My friend!" Abdul Majid responded to Jerome Bonaparte in a Parisian accent more standard than Jerome Bonaparte’s, "You are the first European monarch to visit us... We warmly welcome every European monarch to visit us! It’s just that they are not willing to, like you, come and visit us!"

Long excluded by the mainstream European countries, Abdul Majid was excited by Jerome Bonaparte’s response. In his eyes, Jerome Bonaparte’s visit to the Ottoman Empire represented that mainstream European society was gradually accepting the symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

"Their reluctance to visit is their misstep!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Abdul Majid, "Here, I can clearly feel the presence of the Roman spirit! You possess the wisdom of Eastern civilization, and you are also about to learn the techniques of our Western civilization. I believe that sooner or later, you and your Empire will rise again!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s praise made Abdul Majid overjoyed. His personal affection for Jerome Bonaparte also increased with Jerome Bonaparte’s praise.

"My friend, you are the first monarch to praise us so much!" Abdul Majid said excitedly to Jerome Bonaparte, "For a long, long time before you, we suffered too many misunderstandings! Many people consider us barbaric, but in reality, we are not! We are also human, just like you! We also want to progress..."

Abdul Majid became more and more excited, as if he wanted to tear the whole world apart.

"My friend, you need not be like this!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately comforted him, "When I first became the Emperor of the French Empire, the vilification I received was no less than what you and your Empire endured! They called me a tyrant, thinking my empire existed to destroy Europe! But in reality, my empire and I are fighting alongside you for the peace and order of Europe! Without us and the Kingdom of Britain, the whole of Europe might fall into a dark age surrounded by Slavs!

At that time, nothing will be free anymore!"

"Yes! We are defending all of Europe!" Abdul Majid also considered himself a part of Europe.

Although the Ottoman Empire’s territories in Asia and the Middle East were much larger than its European territories, it did not prevent him from believing that the Ottoman Empire was a "genuine" European country.

They were much stronger than Egypt, Tunisia, and such!

"It’s normal for the Ottoman Empire to be misunderstood! After all, many people have never come to this land, and the information they obtain about the Ottoman Empire can only rely on books, and many of those so-called authors have never even lived here! Readers believe their outdated words, thus developing a dislike for the Ottoman Empire!" Jerome Bonaparte posed as someone who "understands Europe better than anyone else," saying, "I am a pragmatist myself, not believing those so-called fake scholars, and therefore I am willing to personally understand the Ottoman Empire!"

"My friend! I am deeply touched that you could come to the Ottoman Empire!" Abdul Majid sincerely told Jerome Bonaparte, "Please believe that the enthusiasm of the Ottoman subjects will not lose to the French Empire!"

Then, Abdul Majid introduced Grand Marshal Mahmoud and Prime Minister Rechid to Jerome Bonaparte. Jerome Bonaparte asked about Rifat Pasha, why he was not seen here.

Prime Minister Rechid awkwardly replied to Jerome Bonaparte that Rifat Pasha was currently idling at home and did not come to attend the welcoming ceremony.

"That is truly unfortunate!" Jerome Bonaparte pretended to sigh and lamented, "Rifat is really a rare talent!"

"Yes, indeed!" Prime Minister Rechid responded with a nod and a bow.