C632 New Years Day Secret Contract (1/2)
In the middle of nineteenth century, humans had not reached an extreme in their development and utilization of the oceans. Although Britain was known as the British Empire, and the navy also strictly followed the two strong laws, this era was after all the era of sail battleship, and there were still limitations to naval technology.
The Western Powers's attention was currently focused on the golden channels, as well as the wealthiest colonies that were under the control of the battleship artillery's control. Regarding these islands that had no economic value, the Europeans did not really care about them.
There were more than ten routes leading to the South America and the North America in Europe. Adding to that, the golden route along the coastline in Black Africa and the Suez Canal that was about to be unblocked, these strategic nodes in the ocean were the focus of their attention. ”Huu.”
In Asia, the Malacca Strait, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, these places were the focus of English and French's attention. It was because there were businesses here, and it was because there was money to be made here.
If Xiao Letian were to extend his hand towards India, to Black Africa and to the Arabian Peninsula, not to mention the fact that the French would not agree, even the British would have to annihilate him. But for an archipelago on the South Pacific, other than giving the Europeans some face, this was no big deal.
Seeing that the Alaska was already sold by the Russian, and that the Louisiana region of the North America was sold to the Americans by France, Napoleon III did not care about these small islands at all.
If the news of the French paying compensation to the Asian for the land had spread to Europe, then the reputation of the Government of France would plummet. No matter how powerful Xiao Letian was, he was still just the prime minister of an island nation in the sea. Although he deserved the respect of the Europeans, the Europeans still did not recognize his strength.
Ge Erdemi lowered his voice and roared, ”You actually want the French to cede their land? ”This is impossible, you're just delusional …”
”No no no, why is Minister so angry? ”Polynesia is just a useless archipelago on the South Pacific. It was first discovered by the French explorer, and then, a flag is all yours. Actually, it is not an inherent territory of the French …”
”Symbolic is much more meaningful than practical. Truthfully, after you French occupied this place, other than supplying the ships with fresh water and collecting passage fees, what other uses do you have?”
”There are many torrential rain typhoons in the South Pacific, the monsoon season is only a few months, to be honest, you guys are too lazy to send troops there, why would you sell them to me …”
”Hmm?” Ge Erdemi was stunned for a moment, ”What did you say? ”I'll sell it to you. Say it again …”
The greedy envoy took the bait. With a smile on his face, Xiao Letian stuffed a cup of fine wine into the envoy's mouth and kept saying, ”Negotiate? Of course we have to bargain. Why are you staring at me like that? If you let me ask for a sky-high price, I will naturally allow you to pay me back for it! ”Come, come, cheers …”
The secret meeting of the Roman proceeded with Xiao Letian's one soft and one hard, Ge Erdemi never thought that there would actually be a politician with benefits on his face, without any concealment, it was as if he was a aunt in the market.
After haggling for a long time, Ge Erdemi finally understood. What 50 million Gold franc, that was not even the main point, Xiao Letian had been staring at the French Polynesia, and in the end, Xiao Letian had actually suggested using 50 million Gold franc to buy this archipelago.
”You French have secretly paid me fifty million Gold franc, and then we spent another fifty million to buy a worthless island from you, wouldn't that save your face in the public opinion in Europe?”
”When you bring French soldiers back to Europe, wouldn't you, as a diplomat, be worth a lot more? To be able to sell an abandoned island for such a high price, you must be the hero of the France … ”
Xiao Letian coaxed all the way from noon to night, until finally, Xiao Letian angrily said, ”Today is the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, tomorrow is the New Year for us Chinese, do you want me to accompany you for the New Year?”
”This is the last condition, I will only give you French people one last chance. If you don't agree, I will gather all the western reporters in Hong Kong and Shanghai, gather all the western ministers, we will open the windows for negotiations, and I will not want the islands anymore. I want you French people to apologize in front of the whole world …”
”If you push me too far, I will let you French prisoners of war stand in front of the Beijing. Do you believe me … Do you believe that I'm a madman!? ”
How could Ge Erdemi not believe it? Xiao Letian brought a few hundred people and dared to stir up trouble in Europe.
If this person wasn't crazy, then who was?
The sky had already darkened, the Tanggu City had already become a sea of flames, a hundred thousand citizens were having fun, and the sky was filled with colorful flames.
”Mr. Minister, don't you think this display of fireworks is very beautiful? ”I can tell you responsibly that this year, Tanggu purchased a total of 100,000 silver taels from Jiangnan, all of which were used by the people themselves. The rich merchants of Jiangnan were already stunned, with only a single Tanggu buying a quarter of Jiangnan's production …”
After this year's wild victory, the people there have accumulated a lot of wild enthusiasm towards the carnival. Now, even the Japanese people have learnt from the Chinese people, and a Ryukyu who has bought nearly half of the production of fireworks in Jiangnan is estimated to be worth at least 200,000 silver taels.