In the mid-19th century, mankind's development and utilization of the ocean had not yet reached its extreme. Although Britain was known as the Empire on which the sun never sets, and its navy strictly followed the two-power rule, this era was after all the era of sailing battleships, and ship technology still had limitations. sexual.
The Western powers are currently focusing their energy on those golden waterways. The warships and artillery control are also the richest colonies. Europeans actually don't care much about some islands with no economic value.
There are more than ten waterways from Europe to South America and North America, plus the golden waterways along the Black African coastline, plus the Suez Canal that is about to be dredged. These strategic nodes on the ocean are what they pay attention to.
In Asia, the Strait of Malacca, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, the outlet of the Yangtze River, these places are the focus of British and French attention, because there is business here, and because there is money to be made here.
If Xiao Letian extends his black hand to India, black Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula, then not to mention the French will not agree, even the British will be furious to destroy him, but an archipelago in the South Pacific, this is very important to Europe. For people, apart from the embarrassment, it's really not a big deal.
Didn’t you see that Alaska was sold to the Russians, and Louisiana in North America was sold to the Americans by France? Napoleon III really didn’t care about a few small islands.
The only thing he cares about is the face of the French emperor. If the news that the French compensated the Asians for land spreads back to Europe, then the image of the French government will plummet. No matter how powerful Xiao Letian is, he is only the prime minister of an island country on the sea. Although he should He has the respect of Europeans, but deep down they still don't recognize his strength.
Goldmy lowered his voice and roared, "You actually want the French to cede territory. This is impossible. You are wishful thinking..."
"No, no, no, why is the Minister so angry? Polynesia is just a useless archipelago in the South Pacific. It was just discovered by you French explorers first, and then it belongs to you after setting up a flag. In fact, it is not you French people. The inherent territory..."
"The symbolic significance is far greater than the actual significance. To be honest, since you French people occupied this place, apart from replenishing some fresh water for sea ships, and then collecting some tolls, what else has it been used for?"
"There are many heavy rains and typhoons in the South Pacific, and the monsoon season where you can sail is only a few months a year. To be honest, you are too lazy to send troops there, so why not sell it to me..."
"Yeah." Goldmi was stunned at the time. "What did you say? I'll sell it to you. Say it again..."
The greedy minister took the bait. With a smile on his face, Xiao Letian gave the minister a glass of wine and kept saying, "Negotiation? Of course you have to bargain. Why are you staring at me? I'm asking for a price that's all over the place. Of course you're allowed to sit down and pay back." Ah, come on, come on, have a drink..."
The secret meeting on the Roma went on between Xiao Letian's soft words and hard words. Goldmi never expected that there are politicians in the world who put the word "interest" on their faces, and there is no covering up at all. Just like the aunt at the market.
After haggling for a long time, Goldmi finally understood that 50 million gold francs was not the point. Xiao Letian was actually looking at French Polynesia. In the end, Xiao Letian actually proposed to buy this building with 50 million gold francs. Islands.
"You France secretly paid me 50 million gold francs, and then we bought a worthless island from you for 50 million in a high-profile way. In this way, you French people's face will be saved in European public opinion. "
"When you return to Europe with French soldiers, won't your value as a diplomat double? If you can sell an abandoned island for such a high price, you are a hero of France..."
Xiao Letian's eloquent deception continued from noon to night. In the end, Xiao Letian said angrily, "Today is the 29th of the lunar calendar, and tomorrow is the Chinese New Year. Do you want me to accompany you to celebrate 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 summon all the Western journalists in Hong Kong and Shanghai, summon all the Western ministers, and let's open the window for negotiation. By then I won't want the islands anymore. I want you French people to apologize in front of the whole world..."
"If push comes to shove, I will let you French prisoners of war parade in Beijing. Believe it or not... Believe it or not, I am a lunatic."
How could Goldmi not believe it? Xiao Letian dared to stir up trouble in Europe with a few hundred people. He defeated the French cavalry on the French-Swiss border, and achieved jaw-dropping results in the Austro-Prussian War.
This kind of person is not a lunatic, who is still a lunatic.
The sky is getting darker and darker, and Tanggu City has now turned into a sea of fireworks. Hundreds of thousands of people are reveling in the carnival, and the sky is filled with colorful fireworks.
"Mr. Minister, don't you think this fireworks show is beautiful? I can tell you responsibly that this year Tanggu purchased a hundred thousand taels of fireworks from Jiangnan, all of which were used by the people themselves. Those wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan Everyone is dumbfounded. Just one Tanggu bought a quarter of Jiangnan’s fireworks production..."
"And Ryukyu, it should be even more exaggerated now. After this year's wild victory, the people there have accumulated countless carnival enthusiasm. Now even the Japanese people have learned from the Han people. One Ryukyu bought nearly half of the fireworks production in Jiangnan. It is estimated to be at least two hundred thousand taels..."
Xiao Letian looked at Goldmi with a sneer and said calmly, "You think I'm a lunatic? You think my people are lunatics? If you don't agree to my conditions, we lunatics don't mind another war, but I do." Let’s see how long France can continue to fight.”
"Abandon your Europe and put all your forces into Asia. I am willing to give you a big quagmire and let you sink into it, even if it takes a hundred years."
The French Minister looked at Xiao Letian's enthusiastic expression, and his heart was filled with a sense of powerlessness. There was nothing the Minister could do about this man who had risen in East Asia. Xiao Letian had already figured out the weakness of the French, and everything was in his plan. middle.
The Tanggu Secret Agreement was signed tonight. France secretly compensated 50 million gold francs in exchange for four thousand prisoners and officers. Xiao Letian publicly signed an agreement with the minister to use 50 million gold francs to purchase islands in the South Pacific.
Everything was happy, France gained face, Xiao Letian gained face, a small island with no strategic significance solved France's problems and saved the emperor's face.
The minister left and took a small boat back to the inn in Tanggu. There were plenty of performances and Japanese women to accompany him. I believe today was a sleepless night for him.
Xiao Letian looked at the boat going away with a sneer on his face and said, "I have a vision that penetrates history. I know that in less than twenty years, the internal combustion engine will replace the old boiler. At that time, the warships sailing on the sea will no longer need sails." …”
"The advancement of science and technology has made the earth smaller and smaller. In less than a hundred years, you will understand that any island in the sea is a priceless treasure. Now whoever occupies more will take advantage."
"You Europeans only focus on the golden waterways on the sea, but I focus on strategic nodes. I don't see much value now, but wait for me twenty years, and you will regret it later... "
After the negotiation, Xiao Letian returned to the Xiao family mansion. By this time, his home had been turned upside down by Emperor Tongzhi. The little emperor, who had been depressed for ten years, actually climbed up the ladder and set off fireworks on the roof. The guards around him were frightened. His face was pale.
"You bastard, why don't you come down here..." Xiao Letian became anxious as soon as he saw it. Letting the little emperor play for a few days was not to make him rebel, so it was worth it.
In the Qing Dynasty, Xiao Letian was the only one who dared to call the emperor a stinky boy. Emperor Tongzhi just followed his example. When he was scolded, he stuck out his tongue and quickly climbed down from the roof with Ermao.
At this time, three banquet tables had been set up in the main hall. Xiao Letian's direct descendants were all gathered here. Since this was a family banquet, the old shopkeeper Fan Lian sat in the main seat. Below him were a circle of senior generals of the new army, Wang Huaiyuan, Sima Yun, Xiao Hexin, Luo Huo and others are all on it.
The meritorious officials of this battle were also sitting around the table. Ye Qiu, Pang Chaoyun, Leo, Matthew, Mike Carnegie, Molière... A group of people were sitting together and talking loudly, and everyone drank. His little face was flushed.
"The Prime Minister has returned home... His Majesty is taking his seat..." As the housekeeper shouted, everyone in the living room stood up and stared at the doorman.
Accompanied by a burst of air-conditioning, Xiao Letian and the red-faced Emperor Tongzhi walked into the room. Before everyone could salute, Xiao Letian roared excitedly.
"The French finally compromised. We exchanged prisoners for an archipelago. France ceded land to us. The French Tahiti Islands are ours from today on."
"Long live." The room was filled with joy. Although no one knew how important Tahiti was strategically, it was already a miracle that the French could cede territory.
Xiao Letian raised his glass and shouted to everyone, "Next year, we will conquer the Pacific. Tahiti, Hawaii, Guam, and Iwo Jima. These strategic places that Europeans have not paid attention to will all become our fortresses..."
"A string of island chains will become the territory of our navy. We will make the Pacific Ocean into China's inland sea. Cheers to our future navy."
The gate of the Xiao family mansion now became a sea of joy, and the fireworks in the night sky became brighter now.
At this moment, in the Pacific Ocean, an American cargo ship was rushing towards Ryukyu in the wind and waves. The ship was loaded with a ship full of submarine optical cables. The submarine communication trunk lines from Ryukyu to Tanggu and Ryukyu to Shanghai were about to be paved.
Farther in the South Ocean, a Prussian merchant ship is sailing north. The Swedish scientist Mr. Nobel is about to go to Ryukyu with his latest explosive technology to repay his kindness.
Farther away in Europe, Wing King Shi Dakai was sitting in his villa in Hamburg, having a dinner with the new soldiers who had stayed behind. They faced the east and shouted with red faces, "Motherland, we are here to hold on, we are here for you." Fight for every opportunity... You have to live up to your expectations, Xiao Letian, you have to live up to your expectations."
The sound of firecrackers ushers in the old year, and new peaches are always exchanged for old charms. The fifth year of Tongzhi passed like this.
