Chapter 26 Crossing the Atlantic

Hearing this, Constantine also frowned.

It is not so easy to get such a large area as the Congo River, with a territory of more than 2 million square kilometers, so a feasible plan must be thought of.

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

"Your Excellency the Duke, I think all European countries covet African colonies. We should start with the easy and then the difficult. First, find a country with weak ties to African interests and at the same time have international influence as a breakthrough point for the Congo Commission to open up the situation," Banning said calmly.

The only country with international influence and little ties to African interests is the United States.

"You are talking about the United States, right? What is the reason?" Constantine said.

Constantine was not unprepared to choose the United States as a diplomatic breakthrough point.

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

"The biggest difference between the United States and European countries is that the United States has a vast territory and a sparse population. It is rich in various resources, whether it is coal, iron ore, or copper ore, the reserves are large, and the arable land area is the largest in the world. The current population is far from enough to develop the existing land in the United States, so the United States has a very weak desire to acquire colonies," said Banning.

To put it bluntly, the North American land of Americans is too fertile. The various raw materials needed for industrial development, coal, iron, copper and even oil, have very considerable reserves. They simply do not look down on overseas colonies, especially Africa.

In the north of Africa, there is still sand. Libya, Algeria, Egypt, the most impressive thing is the endless desert, such as the world's largest desert, the Sahara Desert.

The area south of the Sahara Desert is located near the equator, with a hot, humid and rainy climate, which is not suitable for Europeans to live.

Speaking of the rich resources in the United States, 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's more exaggerated is that the thickness of its coal is 500-900 meters, and most of it can be mined in open pits.

What's even more amazing is that the coal produced by this coal mine is of good quality, almost reaching the level of bituminous coal.

Most of the coal for Americans in the 19th century came from this coal mine.

Look 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 only needs to think about these data, and his saliva will leave three thousand feet.

With such resource endowment, it's no wonder that he can become the world hegemon.

Thinking of this, the desire to obtain the Congo River Basin doesn't seem so strong.

What you try your best to get, the dog owner doesn't look down on it at all.

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

"By the way, if you go to the United States, there is someone who must be taken seriously," Constantine remembered someone.

"Sanford"

Sanford is the US ambassador to Greece. Constantine has always been on good terms with him because his African plan needs the support of major powers.

"Yes, to be able to become the US ambassador abroad, this person must have a deep network of relationships in the United States. Let's start with him," Banning said with sudden enlightenment.

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

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

The entire income of a British worker in a year is probably this price.

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

Sitting at the table near the window, Constantine and his two companions were enjoying their meal while watching the vast, surging Atlantic Ocean. It was a pleasant sight.

Just then, a 4-5-year-old girl in a gray-white skirt and with messy hair came from nowhere and walked up to the three Constantines who were having their meal.

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

The three looked at each other and 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 scare her, and took a step back timidly, just staring at the table.

At this time, Constantine also reacted. The little girl should have run up from the lower cabin. She was probably hungry and smelled the fragrance of the restaurant, so she ran to the restaurant.

Constantine raised his hand to signal, and the waiter hurried over.

These guests in the upper-class cabin will enjoy the most attentive service.

"Do you know which family this child is from?" Constantine asked, pointing at the little girl.

The waiter saw the clue with just one glance and bowed, saying, "I'm very sorry to disturb the meal of the gentlemen. I will..."

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

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

"Anyway, prepare a suitable meal for her"

Seeing that Constantine was not angry that "lower people" disturbed the guests who were dining, the waiter nodded.

The three looked at the little girl who was eating with relish at the table. Obviously, she was starving.

"What's your name?"

"Woo woo... Emma"

The little girl said incoherently with food in her mouth.

"Where are you from?"

"From down there"

This answer was equivalent to saying nothing.

The waiter just now came to the table where Constantine was with a sweaty young man.

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

The man walked quickly to Emma, ​​picked her up, and cried, "Why are you running around, Emma?"

Emma, ​​who was held in his arms, held a fried sausage in her hand and handed it to the man, saying in a baby voice, "Dad, you eat it."

Looking at Constantine and the other two dressed in bright clothes, the young man explained in a panic, "I woke up and found that Emma was gone. I'm sorry, dear gentlemen, I disturbed you."

The man hugged Emma and bowed to apologize.

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