Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 57

Northern Ocean: The Kingdom of Prussia

The terrain is characterized by flat mountains original: 坦無山 (tan wu shan); likely referring to the Baltic Uplands or the generally low-lying North European Plain which produce the five cereal grains The traditional Chinese grouping of staple crops: rice, broomcorn, millet, wheat, and beans as well as pine and oak. The tall trees are suitable for shipbuilding and are sold to England.

The provincial capital is Königsberg original: 王山 (Wangshan), literally "King’s Mountain". It has a population of 63,000 people. Its city walls are twenty-seven li Approximately 13.5 kilometers or 8.4 miles in circumference, yet they are not suitable for defending against an enemy attack.

The river there is named the Vistula original: 河澤 (Heze); likely referring to the Vistula or the Pregel, which marks the border between East and West Prussia original: 東西波魯斯 (Dong-xi Polusu). A city is located at this river's mouth. This city, Danzig original: 澤城 (Zecheng); modern-day Gdańsk, has 60,000 residents who make their living through trade. In the 8th year of the Daoguang era 1828, 1,050 ships entered the port; wheat was the primary export. When enemy troops Referring to the Napoleonic Sieges of 1807 and 1813 besieged the city, the economic losses amounted to 15 million dollars.

Further north is the city of Memel original: 墨麥 (Momei); modern-day Klaipėda, which conducts trade with Western nations. There is also the city of Tilsit original: 得實 (Deshi); modern-day Sovetsk, which was the site where peace was negotiated with France The Treaties of Tilsit in 1807. Another city, Elbing original: 益平 (Yiping); modern-day Elbląg, is situated at a river mouth where 1,400 ships enter annually.

Additionally, there is the Province of Posen original: 波新部 (Boxin-bu); modern-day Poznań. This land formerly belonged to Poland, but it is now occupied by Prussia. The Prussians have freed the slaves there, educated their children, and led the common people toward civilization original: 向化 (xianghua); a term for adopting "superior" cultural or administrative practices. The residents were resentful at first, but eventually they submitted. This land produces only the five cereal grains and has no other natural resources. Its capital city...