Before the Franco-Prussian War, there had never been such a huge amount of war reparations. Even the British did not dare to speak of such astronomical figures, but the Germans and Chinese did!
In the final analysis, the situation determines everything. Bismarck and Xiao Letian have seen through the situation in France. They know the virtues of Thiers and his group, and they have difficulties that they have to accept!
Northern France, including Paris, has been occupied. France has no ability to resist. Now it can no longer even fight guerrilla warfare!
The last 300,000 elites all entered the German prisoner-of-war camps. They are hostages and also an important force that France urgently needs to stabilize the situation!
However, France has not yet reached a unity of power. The Paris Commune has become an actual rebellion. The city of Paris has no order and can no longer continue production!
All industrial areas in France are basically concentrated in the north, and these areas have been devastated by the war, which means that France no longer has the capacity for industrial production!
Finally, and the most critical point, the French royalists, republicans and the Commune were three huge forces fighting among themselves, and no one was willing to give in!
People are selfish, and they will sacrifice the interests of others for the sake of their own high-ranking officials and generous salaries!
Thiers is a republican president on the surface, but multiple sources of intelligence have already shown that this guy is a loyal dog raised by the royalists!
In order to restore his master and for his great ideal of becoming a knight, would such a person care about the lives and sufferings of the people?
Absolutely not. Xiao Letian is sure that these selfish people are traitors at heart. If betraying the country can bring them glory and wealth, they will never hesitate in the slightest!
All heartbreaking patriotic performances are hypocritical. Even if Thiers is bargaining from his true heart at this moment, then he is just embarrassed about how to explain to the people!
If the final armistice agreement is too humiliating and the historical infamy is unpleasant, it will also affect his career... Thiers will only consider these, he will not really consider the well-being of the people!
Xiao Letian poured a cup of tea for the silent President. "Dear President, there are no outsiders or reporters in this room. I will speak frankly about some things..."
"All conditions apply, don't think about lowering the price. We won't drop a single coin..."
"Actually, signing this treaty won't do you any harm! Anyway, in the end the money will have to be passed on to the people. There are so many people in France, nearly 40 million..."
"It's only 156 francs, evenly distributed to everyone. Isn't that too much?"
"You still have countless colonies in Africa. Add more taxes! Then won't the pressure on the homeland be easier?"
“This number seems huge, but it’s really not much when spread out evenly!”
"Your Excellency, President, please solve this problem quickly. If it continues, I'm afraid that within France... your hostile forces will be ready to counterattack!"
“When fighting outside, we must first settle down inside!”
Xiao Letian almost made it clear. You have to take responsibility for the kings and emperors behind you first. Don't delay their important events. This is the most important thing. Everything else is just empty!
Thiers' face turned pale, then turned black, then turned red... just as fast as changing his face in Sichuan opera.
Xiao Letian moved his butt subconsciously, wondering if this guy was going to go crazy!
"Your Excellency, Mr. President... don't you think it's difficult to raise money? It's not that difficult. You can ask the UK to dismantle it, or you can issue bonds!"
"I, the Chinese, can make a promise first. If there is no cash, you can use the battleship to pay the bill. The factory equipment can also be converted into money!"
Xiao Letian's abacus was very precise. The French family is very rich. Although the warships parked in Toulon Port are old and backward, they are among the top warships in Asia!
An ironclad fleet cannot be built in a day. Before more new warships are put into battle, there must be an excessive fleet that can maintain the situation.
Xiao Letian didn't want to spend money on these warships, so he asked France to pay directly. Those warships with wooden shells and iron armor could be used to bully small Asian countries with a simple modification.
Even if the armored fleet is formed in the future, these battleships do not need to be eliminated. They may as well take a back seat and become training ships for sailors!
Navy construction takes hundreds of years, and talent reserve is a top priority!
As for factory equipment, the Chinese need it even more. Although the mechanical equipment in France is worse than that in Germany, it is still the most advanced in Asia.
When the Chinese industrialization started, we should save whatever we can and grab as much time as we can!
Use French machinery for a while, and then gradually replace it with sophisticated German equipment. In the end, of course, you still have to research and produce it yourself!
Isn’t it true that the industrialization process of backward countries means that one penny has to be broken in half and spent?
While Xiao Letian was eloquent, Thiers suddenly stood up, "I... I can agree to your conditions... But! But!"
"But I want to see His Majesty!"
There is only one person who can be called His Majesty, and that is Napoleon III. He is currently recuperating quietly in Germany. The so-called prisoner life is just recuperation for these people.
"I want to meet with His Majesty secretly, and then you have to send Marshal MacMahon and Bazan to the prisoner of war camp in advance so that they can start reorganizing the army immediately!"
"I have no time, I must use the fastest time to eliminate the thugs in Paris!"
Thiers' eyes turned red when he said, "Your conditions... I agree! But you must remember... I want to remind you..."
"The French nation cannot be bullied! Even if I am unable to take revenge, our nation will never forget today!"
"For God's sake, let us all wish ourselves well!"
After saying that, Thiers grabbed his hat and turned around to leave. In the end, he didn’t even get a bite of Xiao Letian’s Sichuan hot pot!
When Thiers pushed open the door and rushed out, Xiao Letian suddenly felt his heart tremble, and the excitement flowed through his body like an electric current. Looking at Bismarck, it was no better. His excited beard was about to fly!
"Done?"
"It's done!"
"Hahaha...it really happened!"
"Reversing the destiny of the country! We have really achieved it!"
The two bosses were so out of character that they actually hugged each other and shed tears at this moment. It was so exciting to climb up the national destiny by stepping on the bones of other ethnic groups!
"Sixty-two hundred and sixty million francs!"
"Long live money!"
Note: The second update is coming!
