C436 Country of Sale Specialist (1/2)
Molière and Bruce looked at each other, both of them completely seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes. They never would have thought that in this ignorant and sealed off Qing Dynasty, they actually knew who it was, and not just Xiao Letian, another one actually appeared.
Gong Cheng was right, the education of the citizens in Europe was getting higher and higher, free will of the citizens was rising, the middle class and the working class were beginning to covet the rights of the upper echelons, and France had always been the leader of the Europeans in this area.
There was no need to talk about the French Revolution of 1789, it was not just Louis XVI who was beheaded. At the same time, the absolute monarchy and feudal system that had ruled France for hundreds of years had been chopped off as well.
After the revolution, French politics was just like a swing between monarch and republican. Today, when the emperor took power, the parliament would be in power again tomorrow, and the trend of free thought was spreading more and more in France.
Such a society is very difficult to rule. Freedom and equality are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The people are no longer a string of numbers under the Emperor's rule. Everyone has their own thoughts and demands. Isn't that wishful thinking!
During this time, Molière had been thinking about the problem of casualty rate. He was unwilling to carry out the final battle and had always hoped to use explosions to surrender to the enemy in order to lower the casualty rate of Expeditionary forces.
It was foreseeable that every soldier who died in this battle would establish an additional enemy for the emperor's rule. If thousands of soldiers died in battle, the public opinion in France would attack the emperor with overwhelming force.
Napoleon had already poured a bucket of feces on Napoleon's reputation. If the anti-war waves in the country were to rise again, then the consequences would be unimaginable.
The French, you know, have always had a good habit of overthrowing emperors, even cutting them in the head when they get annoyed.
”Hehe, what a joke …” Since when had the brave French soldiers been afraid of death? In Crimea, we sacrificed a hundred thousand to defeat the Russian … In the wars between Africa and the indigenous peoples, our soldiers did not flinch... ”
”And now you, the guide, have the audacity to laugh at the valor of the Legion? If you were not the messenger of England, I could throw you into the sea today and feed you to the fishes... ”
How could the majesty of an emperor be lost on Major General Bruce? He berated loudly, but he was absolutely not the first to arrive, but this black skinny old man actually laughed towards the sky fearlessly.
”Hahaha …” You are the kind of person who acts tough on the inside but is weak on the inside. Only a tough mouth can be used to cook a duck … Aren't you afraid? Funny, why didn't you guys give the order for an all-out assault when you were so brave? Why didn't the Guotou Village send more troops? ”Then why didn't Tyrant's Wharf forcefully take it over?”
Gong Cheng took out a folding fan and shook it arrogantly: ”I know that you French people have been fighting all these years, but the dead have their skills too …” In Crimea, what you are dealing with is your nemesis, the Russian. Your citizens are not afraid of revenge, let alone a hundred thousand, it's fine even if you win and lose two hundred thousand … ”
”Speaking of the colonial wars that you fought, the reason that they didn't raise any anti-war sentiment in the country is because you guys can obtain a lot of benefits from winning. Needless to say, six years ago, I led you guys into the Beijing, but in the end, you guys in France didn't make any money? ”The profits are all over the place, there's no anti-war voices in the country …”
Gong Cheng looked at General Bruce with disdain, as if he was a scholar in the Qing Dynasty who was looking at a rude military man. ”Look at this Naha Harbor, if you lose thousands of people here, the benefits you get will not be enough to fill the hole you owe us all …”
”The debt is still pretty good. First, Naha Harbor does not produce any food, second, does not produce any mineral resources, and third state treasury is also not filled. The only thing that is of any value is the location, but you, France, can't even protect your colonies in India anymore, and you still have the energy to snatch the Ryukyu? ”
”Hehe, be careful that the Ryukyu gets it and India is lost too. Waiting to starve to death? ”
”You!” Molière and Bruce growled as they stood up in anger. This was a slap in the face to them, and the person who slapped their face was Chinese. This was even more unbearable.
Molière sighed sorrowfully in his heart. He knew that everything Gong Cheng said was the truth.
Gong Banlun waved his fan, drank his wine, and looked at the beautiful scenery of the port. He could not be bothered to pay attention to the two angry Frenchmen, as he knew clearly in his heart that it was impossible to stop these Frenchmen from fighting.
After facing such a stalemate for a few minutes, Molière laughed lightly, the tense atmosphere dissipated. ”Alright, I understand, Mr Gong should have a brilliant plan to offer it to us. I have previously researched it, your Chinese advisers just like to stimulate their employers first and then sell them off at a high price …”
With a ”pa” sound, the opened fan was closed and Gong Cheng slapped his thigh. It's good to talk to someone who knows what he's doing... Let's talk about the price first? ”
No matter what, Bruce was a general, he was not used to this kind of face, so he sat down angrily: ”Price? You only have money left in your eyes... ”A fellow who can even sell his own country, hehe …”