War is nothing more than tearing apart the flesh and blood of other countries and other peoples and feeding them back to oneself. This is the essence of all wars. There is no difference. If there is any difference, it is just whether the food looks good or not.
No one should say that they are innocent. As long as you are a member of the victorious nation, then you will definitely get some fruits of victory. Here it is just how much is distributed.
As for a failed nation, everyone must bear the consequences together, and of course there are varying degrees of success.
You Blanqui have been talking about the suffering of your working class. You said that you did not directly invade China and did not receive compensation from China. You can use these words to deceive children, but it is absolutely impossible to deceive Xiao Letian.
The French emperor went to war all over the world, expanded the colonies one after another, and plundered countless amounts of money... Yes, the money did not go directly into the pockets of your poor, but the overall wealth of France must have increased.
If nothing else, where will the money come from for Duke Haussmann’s Paris renovation plan? Did the Emperor pay for it himself? Or snatch it from the hands of the nobles?
In the final analysis, it still has to be adjusted from colonial gains and war reparations. Of course you said there are taxes, but don't forget that France's overall wealth already has a lot of plunder funds.
War will naturally lead to plunder, and the wealth stolen by the officers and soldiers will eventually be spent, and the funds spent in France will definitely nourish all industries in the process of commercial circulation.
They will buy famous wines, which will benefit winemakers, and they will buy silverware, which will increase the wages of silversmiths in Paris.
The poor people led by Blanqui are indeed living a difficult life, but no matter how difficult it is, can you guarantee that the money they earn does not include funds plundered from overseas?
The fact that you are poor has no causal relationship with whether the money you use is clean. Being poor does not mean that you have not absorbed the nutrients of plundered funds. You just get less.
Do you dare to say that you have no sin in your body? Do you dare to say that you are innocent?
Regardless of whose pocket China’s reparations first go into, the money will eventually be circulated, and circulation will definitely create wealth and benefit the entire commercial society.
Since the entire French society has benefited, then you are also obliged to repay the war reparations!
You have already lost this war, so France must also bear the war reparations. Don’t think that by announcing the collapse of the empire and the establishment of a republic, you can wash away your sins?
Don't think that we Chinese are all fools, because the wealth you plundered from China is also flowing in your current republic!
The flesh and blood of this country contains the blood of countless nations! Don’t think that just because you changed your name, you can get away with it!
If this makes sense, then I owe you one million francs, and I just need to change my name so I don’t have to pay it back? Are you kidding...
Blanqui blushed at Xiao Letian's words, "Even if what you said makes sense, how should you define it? The poor citizens don't even have enough to eat, and they don't have any money to give you!"
"War reparations are unfair to these poor workers and farmers! No one has the right to steal money from their rations!"
"Do you know how many children starve to death in Montmartre and the East End every year? How many freeze to death? They can no longer bear any plunder!"
Xiao Letian bit his tongue and growled, "That's your problem! Am I responsible for the uneven distribution in your republic? Am I, Xiao Letian, mediating internal disputes for you?"
"Who should bear how much of the war reparations should be settled by you yourself... If you can't solve it, then let someone else do it!"
"The internal conflicts are your own problem, not ours!"
Blanqui took a deep breath, "Does that mean we must fight? You have already chosen to be the enemy of the French people? In this case, why bother negotiating with me..."
Xiao Letian shook his head to calm down, "No, no, no... On the contrary, me coming to negotiate with you is just a reflection of my sincerity. In fact, I am no longer willing to kill anyone anymore. All I want is to persist to the end. Persevere until the last moment when the benefits are shared..."
"To be honest, what I'm afraid of is just someone hacking my interests, so I want to come to Paris early and occupy a position that belongs to me..."
"Actually, I invite you to come. I just want to talk about cooperation. You can talk about anything in a diplomatic setting. Do an isolated and helpless force like you really want to go all the way?"
Blanqui's face changed slightly and he looked at Xiao Letian thoughtfully, "Okay, let me see your trump card. Let me know what exactly you want to do in Paris?"
"There must be war reparations. There is no room for negotiation on this. We Chinese have lost so many people and lost so much wealth. Someone has to pay for it..."
"Don't show your reluctance. I'm not asking for money from your pocket. Why do you feel so bad?"
"After all, you are still a nationalist at heart! Do you really think that nationalism and the principles you pursue can be integrated?"
This sentence made Blanqui's face change drastically, because this was not the first time he heard such a question. Comrades in London had also questioned him. Although not many people said this, they all had a very high status and considerable influence. Big.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Letian would also bring up this topic today, which made Blanqui confused for a moment.
Why do so many gay comrades from other countries always laugh at themselves as utopians? Why do my old friends in London keep asking me to give up my illusions about the right and take the path of independent armed forces?
Are you really wrong? How come in the end even the Chinese people say such things?
Each question made Blanqui fall into deep thought!
Xiao Letian has long seen through the trump cards of people like Blanqui. Although they are passionate, they have no direction. From what he just said, he has already seen through their nationalist nature.
How long has this been, and you still can’t understand the reality? You actually want to persuade Xiao Letian to withdraw voluntarily without paying compensation? Being able to say such words proves that Blanqui still puts the entire French nation first in his heart.
This is very difficult to handle. The entire French nation includes countless classes and interest groups, and even the royalists are members of this nation.
You are a nationalist at heart, which means that you love the main body of this nation, and then you will also have sympathy, compromise, accommodation... and other emotions for all classes in it!
Such indecision in the struggle is fatal. You Blanqui think those rightists are your own, blood relatives of the same nation!
But do others regard you as a relative? Such weakness has laid the foundation for ultimate failure!
But Xiao Letian can only mention a few of these words, but he can never say them clearly!
