"I'm a man!"

At the London Peace Conference, Mr. Li Hongzhang, the diplomatic ambassador from the Qing Dynasty, swears like this after hearing the place name mentioned by the French Foreign Minister!

"Haha..." In the whole conference room, there was only one person laughing, that was Mr. Huang.n∈n∈,

It should be said that there are a few people who can understand this swear word in the conference room now, but there are several people in the Qing Dynasty mission, and the others are the two ambassadors of the American Empire.

Master Huang San doesn't care about it, so Liszt always needs to maintain some demeanor, but he is actually happy.

Of course, there are also many translations, but now Western Chinese translations, especially those at this conference, are mostly two swords. Didn’t the Qing Dynasty also bring the translation?

"This..." As Li Hongzhang's translator, Zhang Deyi is a little difficult to deal with now.

"Just like this!" Li Hongzhang could see that Zhang Deyi was scruples, but he had to be so tough.

"That……"

"turn!"

OK, Zhang Deyi has no choice, but that's what he said.

"Mr. Leonard, Mr. Li Hongzhang greets your uncle and wish her good health."

Then this reaction...

"Thank you!" Of course Leonard would answer like this. He didn't know that he was scolding him, and it wasn't true.

"Hahaha..." At this moment, Mr. Huang and Liszt laughed.

It’s okay not to laugh, Zhang Deyi is very smart!

"..." Li Hongzhang knew in his heart that Zhang Deyi might not have directly conveyed his meaning just now, but he was very smart and pretended not to know. Anyway, he couldn't understand French.

In fact, Li Hongzhang's power is reflected here. Just this matter... Anyway, his subordinates know his majesty.

But no matter how you say it, no matter how you argue, you still have to go back to that price, whether or not you will give it to France, whether you will give it to Taiwan, Qing Dynasty, or not!

"Gentlemen, what do you think about this issue? The French Empire hopes..." Clarendon IV was going to come out to preside over it, but unexpectedly, Leonard immediately interrupted.

"I, the French Empire, went around most of the earth to India to show the will of God. But now the Qing Dynasty does not allow us to implement God's will. Then the Qing Dynasty will naturally have to compensate us for military expenses! This consumes a lot, and I believe everyone has a common argument."

I have to say that this is definitely the logic of robbers. No one asked you to come, but you are asking for money and land now, but... this group of white people are not easy to refute. On the one hand, it is the Qing Dynasty and has little to do with them. On the other hand, the French pulled God out, so it is not easy to make any decision.

"Okay!" Clarendon IV said this simply. In fact, he did not express his own point of view. He continued: "This is the requirement of the French Empire. So, do you think such conditions are acceptable to the envoy of the Qing Empire?"

"Of course I won't accept it!" What else can Li Hongzhang do? He must not cede land!

You should know that cede land is extraordinary. Li Hongzhang is very clear that even if he dies, he will stick to this bottom line because... because he does not have this right!

The cedent of land is definitely a terrifying reputation for eternity. If this is done, the ancestral tomb may be dug by others. Li Hongzhang naturally knew that this was amazing, but in fact what he cared most was because he did not have the right to decide. If he wanted to cede the land, it was definitely His Majesty the Emperor, he could do it!

To put it bluntly, even the matter of the ancestral tomb can be put aside. If Li Hongzhang now says that he can be given to the French in Taiwan, then when he goes back, Li Hongzhang will have to be chopped off his head and even killed the nine clans.

Since the Qing Dynasty did not accept it, how can we discuss this matter?

"Mr. Li, do you have any other suggestions?" Clarendon IV glanced at Li Hongzhang.

"There is no need to talk about ceding land! However, since the French came from afar, as the master, I can fulfill my friendship with the landlords..." Li Hongzhang's words were very simple.

If we don’t give the land, we can talk about money!

So……

"Mr. Leonard, do you accept this proposal?" Clarendon looked at Leonard again.

"Yes!" Leonard nodded and said.

Alas, this is not bad. Although it is quite humiliating to say that the Qing Dynasty is quite humiliating because the French have to give them money when they are fucking come. It is really frustrating, but after all, there is no need to cede the land and not lose the land. This is great, there is progress.

But what is the price for the French?

"We think it will cost at least 400 million taels of silver." This is the price given by Leonard!

"I'm the uncle!" Li Hongzhang swears again!

Yes, anyone who puts this matter on will swear.

These French people did nothing, just made Vietnam, and then the Qing Dynasty had to pay 400 million taels? Isn’t this just nonsense?

It seems that the French are too bad. Is there no justice in the international community?

"..." The two envoys of the American Empire did not laugh this time because they also felt fucked. At the same time, they also had an idea in their minds, that is, the strong will be prey on the weak!

Is there any axiom in this world?

It seems that Bismarck said something not long ago that the truth is only within the range of the cannon. If you are weak, you will be bullied, and there is no reason to say.

Then Li Hongzhang would not agree?

"This is a sky-high price!"

I greeted my uncle Li Hongzhang again and said something useful.

"No, no, this is a reasonable price. The current military consumption of our French Empire's expeditionary force is indeed so much, it is already nearly 200 million gold francs." Leonard gave an annotation lightly.

This is almost the case with currency exchange now, because the Qing Dynasty was in the silver standard, and the current silver is relatively low. Also, the Qing Dynasty's financial and monetary policy were actually controlled by the European and American powers. The reason is very simple. No one in the Qing Dynasty understood this.

Of course, it is a bit exaggerating to say that the 200 million gold francs are definitely not spent so much.

At the current state of the Peace Conference, the French offered a price, and the Qing people wanted to bargain, but the French disagreed. What else can we do?

"This is a big deal, I can't make this decision!" Li Hongzhang showed a scoundrel attitude!

You really don’t underestimate this method. It looks a bit rogue, but this method is the only one that Li Hongzhang can use now, and if it works, it will really work!

Why?

It's very simple. The message is very slow now and Li Hongzhang cannot make a decision. So he has to ask the higher-level members of the Qing Dynasty, so he has to send letters back and forth?

The Qing Dynasty has no telegram yet, although they are studying to pretend, because they heard that this thing is good. And the New Tang Empire is doing very well, so they have to compete with them.

However, the Qing Dynasty's administrative system determined that this thing could not be launched soon.

So, since that is the case, how long will this round-trip letter take?

It will take half a year at the fastest!

So, Li Hongzhang's trick is very smart. I'm just staying in London, and I'm going to waste my time with you!

But will the French make Li Hongzhang waste?

The Leonard smiled and said, "Mr. Li, your proposal is of course very good, but General Bazan is still in Vietnam. I also know that there is a saying in China, "Generals are not allowed to be ordered by foreign military personnel."

This is definitely a threat of nobility. In other words, if you disagree, you will sign the agreement immediately. Then what will happen to Bazan? The French Empire is not responsible.

In fact, the reason why this meeting was held was to discuss the issues between the Qing and France. In fact, the war has not yet reached the Qing, and Bazan has come leisurely. It was planned from the beginning. If the fight is really started, what else can we talk about? Of course, we will talk about it after the fight!

Time is tight, so what should Li Hongzhang do?

"Then there is nothing to talk about! I won't talk about it!"

Li Hongzhang shook his sleeves, and this time he completely made everything an old ruffian should have.

Then I won’t talk about it really?

In fact, Li Hongzhang was waiting, he was waiting for the French to let go!

Why do you need this?

That's 400 million taels of silver. Can Li Hongzhang take it out? Even the Qing Dynasty now can't take it out!

The most important thing is that Li Hongzhang does not have this right. He has some room for negotiation to say such numbers as millions or tens of millions. To be honest, he can't make a decision even if he has tens of millions. It's better to have a few millions. Without this right, how dare Li Hongzhang make this decision?

You will die when you go back!

Will the French let it go?

"..." Leonard said nothing, he just looked at Li Hongzhang like that!

Yes, why should he let go? France originally made territorial claims against the Qing Dynasty!

"Goodbye!" Seeing this situation, even if Li Hongzhang was thick-skinned, he would not be able to stay in this place.

"Mr. Li!" Clarendon IV wanted to call Li Hongzhang.

But... there has been no change in France!

After seeing this situation, Li Hongzhang felt a little sad, because he really didn't expect that he had used up all kinds of tricks, so why didn't the French react at all?

So put it this way...

Li Hongzhang himself realized that maybe the Frenchman had no intention of being kind from the beginning, and they might not only be for money, but also want to vent their anger!

"Damn it! These bastards don't go to find those bastards from Xin Tang! Are you here to find our Qing Dynasty?" Li Hongzhang actually had a judgment in his mind. There was no need to continue this meeting.

"Gentlemen!" However, the meeting over there was not over yet, Clarendon could speak, "It seems that our mediation with the Qing Dynasty and the French Empire has failed."

Everyone nodded one after another, but in the eyes of Mr. Huang and Liszt, they all felt a hint of chill...

Axiom? What is that? Can it be eaten? (To be continued...)
Chapter completed!