Eastern merchants are completely different from European merchants. First of all, they are completely different from each other in terms of social status. In Europe, merchant power has always kept pace with secular royal power. In Italy, there are even merchants' own autonomous cities.
At first, religious theocracy could still suppress these people, but when secular forces began to rise after the Renaissance, the status of merchants began to rise.
The reason is actually very simple, because Europe has not had a unified country since ancient times. Businessmen are free and capital is stateless. If you treat me badly, I will naturally leave here, and the departure of businessmen will inevitably bring about national strength. of weakness.
Gradually, businessmen became the uncrowned kings of Europe. Now, even the Queen cannot interfere with the printing rights of the pound. Economics and politics have become two parallel carriages moving forward together.
If this situation continues, the merchant class will eventually evolve into a capital force, and the power of capital is destined to override royal power and politics. This is the general trend.
Heng Liwen, who grew up in this environment, is undoubtedly proud. He has never been insulted like this in Europe, let alone in China where barbarians are rampant. Xiao Letian's rudeness has severely challenged his self-esteem. .
At this time, he had no time to think about who started the war, nor did he care about the strength or weakness of the current situation, let alone reflect on his ruthlessness in dealing with Xiao Letian.
People always minimize their own mistakes and responsibilities, and then infinitely magnify the responsibilities of others. In repeated self-suggestions, even a murderer will suggest that he is the most wronged person.
"Stop arguing!" Hengliwen finally broke out. He roared out of the cafe, pointed at the Zhiyuan that had already set sail and yelled, "God will punish you! You damn barbarian! I will not let you go, absolutely." Won't……"
There was a snap, and just as he was scolding, a muddy shoe flew out of nowhere in the alley, and the sole of the shoe hit him in the mouth.
"Who is it! Damn bastard, who is it! Where are the police! Trash, with the salary we paid, don't you know how to protect gentlemen?"
Beep beep beep...the Western policeman blowing the siren led a group of Indians in turbans and chased them down the alley. God knows what they would gain.
Hengliwen was desperate. He went directly to the telegraph office and began to send telegrams to Beijing. As a British businessman, he was now entitled to the help of the ambassador.
Although the telegram was transmitted instantly, it took time to send and translate it back and forth, including delivering it to the ambassador. When Sir Alley Guo, the British ambassador in Dongjiaomin Lane, received the telegram, he was packing up his personal belongings.
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Standing behind him to help was the counselor of the embassy, Wetoma, who was an outstanding diplomat who had experienced the British-French allied forces' attack on Beijing in 1860. In Beijing, Wetoma was the number two figure in the embassy. In fact, many decisions were made. Weituoma took it, after all, Ai Liguo is old.
"Hey... is this Heng Liwen crazy? Who does he think he is? How dare he order us to do things..." Ai Liguo read the telegram with a bad tone and threw it aside.
The telegram is indeed rude. As a president of Citibank, I respect you and you must know your own weight. Just because you lost money, does the UK need to use warships to punish Xiao Letian? A war is going to start over those hundreds of millions of silver? Do you think war is a child's play?
Witoma picked up the telegram and said cautiously, "Mr. Minister, although Henley is incompetent and willful, he represents the big shots in the City of London after all... His opinions do not have to be fully adopted, but there must be someone. Say something!”
"Don't forget, our British Empire has defeated the Qing Dynasty twice. Now when emotions are running high, although the money is not much, this matter is related to the face of the Financial City. If they cannot punish their opponents, this will affect them. Such prestige!”
"A bunch of lunatics! lunatics who only know how to make money!" Ai Liguo paced back and forth in the room angrily. "It is one thing to defeat the Qing Dynasty, but it is another thing to defeat Xiao Letian. That is not a country at all! These are just Assholes who know how to make money, why didn’t they think more about the consequences when they started the financial crisis?”
"Their mistakes should be wiped out by the empire's army!"
Witoma understands the chief's anger, but things must be done now. The City of London is very powerful. If you offend them, the consequences will not be much better than if you offend the Queen. Although the faces of those greedy ghosts are disgusting, but people have Sometimes you have to endure it.
"Mr. Minister, I understand your anger, and I agree with your point of view. I also hate these moths... But we must face reality!"
"London has issued an order for you to return to the country. Judging from your age, returning to the country is a courtesy and retirement. The Queen will definitely host a banquet for you, and the Empire will also give you generous awards. After all, with your efforts, the diplomacy of East Asia has Very well done…”
"I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to come back after you leave China this time. Why do you have to offend those people at this juncture? Offending them will not do any good to your future life!"
"When you return to China, you will inevitably have to deal with those people, and your pension also needs to increase in value!"
Witoma said with a wry smile, "On the one hand, we scold bankers for being greedy, but on the other hand, we ourselves also need money to live. This is helpless!"
"The most critical point is the new Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin. I got the news through many channels. This Benjamin hates Xiao Letian extremely. He believes that Xiao Letian is the biggest threat to the British Empire in East Asia... Prime Minister Derby has gone home to retire. Listen He said that his health condition is very bad and he will probably leave us within a year or two!"
"So will Prime Minister Derby's diplomatic strategy change? Think about it, what if Prime Minister Benjamin is willing to fight this war? What if he is willing to punish Xiao Letian?"
After waking up the dreamer, Ai Liguo's legs softened and he sat on the chair. "Oh God! Do I have to start another war before I leave East Asia?"
Ai Liguo did not want to go to war with Xiao Letian, because he, like the Earl of Derby, believed that Xiao Letian could not become a threat to the British Empire, but on the contrary could help Britain contain the power of Tsarist Russia.
However, their views gradually fell out of the mainstream with the resignation of Prime Minister Derby. Now that Benjamin, who hates Xiao Letian extremely, came to power, what followed was a shift in the diplomatic and strategic center of the entire empire.
"Poor Xiao Letian! His good luck has really come to an end..."
