Chapter 348: **Naked robbery

On September 1, a negotiating delegation led by Grigoo and Otov arrived in London. Two days ago, a British delegation led by Williams also arrived in London.

On September 2, the negotiations officially began. The negotiations were chosen at Buckingham Palace, where the British king lived. Due to the French deliberate avoidance, this luxurious palace was not bombed into ruins like other buildings in London.

When they walked into Buckingham Palace, Victoria and others looked emotional. Not long ago, they were still the masters here, but now things have changed. The main personnel of the British delegation mainly included Home Secretary Victoria, newly appointed Foreign Minister Palmerston and Royal Representative Edward (the father of the famous Queen Victoria).

"Welcome to everyone." When Villams and others were taken to the conference room specially prepared for negotiations, Grigoo and others were already waiting there.

At this time, Williams and others were very embarrassed. Especially Edward, Duke of Kent, his face was already a little pale. This was originally their place, but now he has become a guest when he comes here. After discovering the abnormality of Edward of Duke of Kent, Williams quickly pulled him and reminded him to pay attention to the overall situation.

"You've been waiting for a long time," said Williams politely.

"It's nothing, we just arrived." The two sides exchanged greetings. "Okay, since everyone is here, let's start now." Grigoo said. With his presidency, the negotiations between Britain and France officially began.

"I won't say much about the reason for the war, it's just that. What we all need to do now is how to end the war as soon as possible and restore the friendship between the two countries." Grigoo said with a righteous face.

"Yes. I have the same view of your Excellency. Since the war has already happened, it is not very meaningful to pursue the cause of it now. Please believe that our country is very sincere to end the war this time." Williams despised Grigoo in his heart, but he still said hypocritically. The wars between European countries are just to satisfy the interests of the rulers, and there is no distinction between justice and injustice. If it is strictly classified, it can only be divided into temporary winners and losers. Because no one knows what the future will be like? Perhaps today's losers will become winners decades later.

"If this happens, I won't go around in circles. According to the wishes of His Majesty, if your country wants to end this war, it must compensate us for our losses. According to convention, it is normal for the defeated country to pay war reparations to the victorious country. So this time will be no exception." Grigoo said with a smile.

"We fully understand this!" Victoria said with some shame. Once upon a time, the powerful British Empire begged for mercy and then blackmailed a large amount of compensation, but now it is the opposite.

"On the first point, our emperor must demand that the king of your country must declare his defeat and surrender unconditionally." Grigoo said seriously.

"What?" Villams and others screamed in shock. "Your Excellency, it seems a bit inappropriate to do this." Villams smiled apologized. He hoped that what Grigoo said just now was not true. If the British King announced his unconditional surrender, the British royal family would never be able to raise their heads.

"Is there anything wrong? The defeated country surrendered unconditionally to the victorious country, which is completely normal." Grigoo pretended to be stupid. Of course he knew what this meant to the British royal family, and he also knew that the other party would not agree easily, but unfortunately, this was the premise of Xiao Jie's request, and he had to implement it firmly.

"Your Excellency, this is impossible. The British Empire royal family will never fail." Edward, Duke of Kent, shouted.

"Haha. Haven't you failed now? You just dare not admit it." Otov said sarcastically.

"You!" Edward, Duke of Kent, pointed at Otov angrily, and was about to have an attack. But Villams quickly pulled him down. This man is of great origin, he is the father-in-law of the current French emperor. Not to mention now, even before Britain was defeated, he would never provoke.

"I'm sorry, Lord Otov, the Duke has lost his composure." Williams quickly apologized.

"Hmph!" Otov glanced at Edward contemptuously. He didn't even see it. But he remembered that he had to increase the amount when asking for compensation. He beat the British hard.

"Sorry, Lord Grigoo. Your request is really too difficult. I cannot answer you now. Please give us some time. Please ask Your Majesty the King of Our country to reply to you later." Victoria requested.

"Yes, but I want to remind you that we don't have much time left. There are so many troops staying in the UK, and the daily consumption is also very huge. We will naturally be calculated as compensation at that time." Grigoo said with a smile, completely ignoring the increasingly dark faces of Villams and others.

"We will hurry up." Villams responded, then hurriedly took the others away. When they returned to their residence, they quickly sent people to contact George IV and told the French request.

After learning that the French side wanted to announce unconditional surrender, George IV cursed in anger and said that he would never surrender. However, in less than half an hour, a regiment of French soldiers rushed into the palace in Manchester, dispersed the palace's guards, and controlled the palace. George IV immediately changed his position and sent someone to notify Villams, who agreed to announce unconditional surrender.

On September 5, negotiations continued.

"Next, it's time to discuss the issue of compensation. During this war, our army paid more than 100,000 casualties and spent billions of francs. In order to make up for our country's losses and compassion for the casualties, our country strongly demanded that your country must compensate us for 30 billion francs." Otov said with a smile.

"What? Three hundred billion!" Villams exclaimed. Although they had expected that the French side would speak loudly, they did not expect that their mouth would be so wide this time. You must know that 20 billion francs are not a small amount! It is almost half of the French national income before the war.

"His Excellency Otov, I completely doubt your country's sincerity." British Foreign Secretary Palmerston said seriously.

"Robbery! Are you not negotiating? You are simply robbing naked!" Edward also shouted angrily.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you. I'll forget to forget it a little. From today on, the military expenses of our army stationed in your country will be borne by your country. It's not much, it's only one million francs a day." Grigoo continued.

The two of them were so angry that they were almost out of breath. Fortunately, the three of them had better hearts, otherwise they would definitely be angry and would have a sudden heart attack.

"His Excellency Grigoo and Otov, I want to tell you solemnly. Your country's requirements are too great and our country cannot meet them at all. In this war, our country's losses were also very serious. Even the capital was in ruins. Where did you get so much money to pay to your country!" Victoria said angrily.

"This is something you should care about, it has nothing to do with us." Grigoo spread his hands, and Li Yi himself could do nothing.

"How could your country not even have this little money? You should know that your country is a maritime power that has been around for hundreds of years and has accumulated wealth. I am afraid that only you will know how much wealth has been accumulated. I heard that when the royal family evacuated London last time, there were more than 100 large carriages just for transporting treasures and gold. What a great fortune that is!" Otov also said quietly, his eyes full of yearning.

After hearing Otov's words, Williams and the other two couldn't help but urge to vomit blood. What's wrong with us having money? They were all accumulated by our ancestors. How could they be given to the enemy in vain?

"Otov, this is a bit exaggerated. Maritime trade has accumulated some wealth for the country, but over the years, it has been almost consumed. A while ago, Duke William betrayed and led his army to steal most of the treasures. Now there are not many left in our hands." Williams said with a sad face. Anyway, they have already had a quarrel with Duke William, so they don't mind throwing dirty water on them anymore. Yes, when Duke William and his friends evacuated Manchester, they took away some treasures, but that was at most one-tenth of the total. Most of the wealth is still in the hands of George IV.

"Is that? You don't have to worry about this. Our army has now entered Scotland and approached Edinburgh. We will deal with his affairs separately, so you don't have to worry about it." Grigoo said lightly.

"Your Excellency, your country has too many requirements. Can you reduce some of it appropriately?" Villams begged.

Grigoo shook his head. Xiao Jie meant to transfer all the wealth accumulated by Britain in the past dynasties. Because he did not know the specific value, Otov set this number, and there was no reason to reduce it.

"We don't have that much money at all. Even if you are forcing us, we can't afford it." Edward said loudly.

"Haha. Then we have to do it ourselves. Please don't forget that the whole of England is under our control now." Otov said with a smile without being angry.
Chapter completed!