Chapter 73 Banquet 2

After the banquet, Constantine put down his knife and fork and said to the guests: "Ladies and gentlemen, take advantage of this banquet to show you something new."

After that, he waved to the servants around him.

Seeing Constantine's action, everyone understood and took down the silver candlesticks on the tablecloth.

Constantine's action made the guests very confused. They didn't know what Constantine was doing and whispered to each other.

The light in the restaurant dimmed, and everyone could only see the image vaguely with the faint moonlight shining through the window in the restaurant.

"Pa, Pa" two crisp applause clearly reached the ears of everyone present, and the room suddenly became brilliant.

The crystal chandelier above the dining table, with colorful crystals embedded in the golden brass frame, expelled the darkness in the restaurant and liberated everyone's eyes.

This was specially made in France by Constantine and the Tesla team. In fact, it was just a tungsten filament bulb placed in the polished crystals of various colors.

The light from the bulb changed colors after the crystal processing, and it was magnificent.

Everyone looked up and observed this rare thing.

As a businessman who had been wandering around Europe for a long time, Angelis was knowledgeable and experienced, and naturally had seen electric lights.

At this time in Europe, DC lights were no longer a rarity.

"Your Highness, what's special about this crystal chandelier?" Angelis naturally didn't think that Constantine would be so superficial as to hold a banquet in a big way just to show off a chandelier to everyone.

Constantine, who was in the main seat, explained to everyone; "This is a bulb that uses alternating current, which is different from the common direct current light bulb."

Hearing Constantine's words, the people who reacted quickly understood the purpose of Constantine's banquet.

"Your Excellency, I have heard about the debate between direct current and alternating current. It seems that alternating current is constantly changing, and there seems to be obstacles in its application," said Angelis.

Constantine stood up and walked behind Tesla, introducing to everyone: "Thanks to the outstanding work of Mr. Tesla and his team, the current problems in the use of alternating current have basically been overcome."

Seeing Constantine introducing himself to everyone, Tesla nodded to everyone.

After this episode, the banquet soon came to an end.

After the meal, the guests were divided into two groups.

The female companions of the guests, led by Sophie, went to the flower hall to appreciate the work results of the gardener brought by Crown Princess Sophie from Germany for several months - the English garden with British style.

(Sophie's grandmother is Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom)

The topics of the upper-class women are probably what kind of perfume is better, the new fashions in Paris, etc.

All topics that men would not be interested in.

Under the guidance of Constantine, the men came to the reception room, smoking and chatting.

According to the default rules after the banquet, the men would gather together to talk about economic and political topics.

Among the people attending the meeting, no one would be stupid enough to really believe that the banquet carefully prepared by the Crown Prince and his wife was just a simple meal.

"The Ottoman Empire is becoming more and more corrupt. In recent years, we have been able to hear about Christians being attacked. It is really infuriating."

Sitting on the sofa, Angelis complained.

As a Phanaar from Constantinople (the name of the Greeks of higher status living in Constantinople), Angelis could not help but worry about the situation of Christians in the Ottoman Empire.

"Do you know? Those MSL attacks on Christians are like a stone sinking into the sea after entering the government. The criminals are only detained for a while and then released."

"This empire, once upon a time, was so tolerant and great, with a heart as broad as the sea, accommodating Jews, Greeks, Armenians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Arabs, etc., people of all nationalities and religious beliefs living on her land."

"Now it has become a hateful appearance, which is really a pity."

Anges said worriedly.

"Is there disharmony in the Ottoman Empire?" Constantine asked.

"Don't mention it, it's a mess."

There is no doubt that the Ottoman Empire was once a unique and great empire in the world.

This is not an exaggeration.

When the Ottoman Empire was strong, European countries often had a headache in selecting ambassadors to Constantinople.

They racked their brains just to select an ambassador who was loyal to the country and would not rebel against the Ottoman Empire.

Because Western European cities of the same period, such as Paris and London, were like the countryside compared to the magnificent Constantinople.

It can be said that the city of Constantinople, in the hands of the Ottoman Empire, at least in the early and middle periods, did not disgrace her name of "New Rome".

(Constantinople's original name was New Rome)

The Ottoman Sultan, who enjoyed the title of "Caliph", was nominally the supreme leader and religious leader of all MSL.

The territory of the Ottoman Empire, including North Africa, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Asia Minor, the Balkan Peninsula, the Black Sea coast, etc., was the last empire in human history that spanned the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The whole of Europe was trembling and uneasy in front of the 100,000 standing troops of the Ottoman Empire.

Because the Ottoman Empire adopted a tolerant policy and allowed its subjects to maintain other religious beliefs, you can see Orthodox churches, mosques, and synagogues in Constantinople.

It is truly magnificent and all races come to pay tribute.

There is a saying that flowers do not last forever, and missions do not last forever.

Even such a great empire cannot escape the fate of decline.

Under the blows of the Russo-Turkish war again and again, the empire's tolerance and confidence disappeared, and it became more and more conservative and closed.

"The Ottoman Empire has declined, and it will continue to decline," Constantinople said.

When everyone heard Constantine's judgment, they all looked at him, hoping that he would explain.

"Since the last war (Russo-Turkish War in 1878), the Ottoman Empire has completely lost Romania, and now even Bulgaria and Serbia are about to be completely lost (now Ottoman Turkey still has sovereignty over Bulgaria and Serbia)"

"Its main grain-producing areas have disappeared, and it can no longer maintain the huge body of an empire"

In fact, after losing Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, the fate of the empire's decline was doomed.

These three countries have one thing in common, that is, they are located on the impact plain of the lower reaches of the Danube, with abundant rainfall and abundant grain production.

For example, Romania has always been an important granary in Eastern Europe.

After losing these important grain-producing areas, it can be said that the fate of the Ottoman Empire has been doomed.

Although the Ottoman Empire still has vast territories, these important grain-producing areas are irreplaceable for the empire.