Mozambique was several hours ahead of Portugal. While Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, was trembling under the ravages of Uncle Black, the Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Portuguese Kingdom's cabinet, John Mizzou, was shocked. Farrell was dining with his cabinet colleague and future father-in-law, the Foreign Secretary, in the late afternoon.
John? Ferrell was also a young talent. His ancestors were famous seafarers, and he also had a strong military background. The only fly in the ointment was that the handsome man's first wife passed away after giving birth. Although it was a legal marriage, the Foreign Minister still felt that his daughter had suffered a loss. John? Not only was the little girl born to Ferrell's ex-wife healthy, she was also growing up day by day. In the Foreign Secretary's view, if John F. Farrell was a complete widower, and that would be perfect.
Of course, he couldn't say such things at the dinner table. The Minister of Foreign Affairs brought up the latest news about Mozambique as a topic of conversation. The Department of Colonial Affairs did not take this matter lightly and quickly pulled the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into the conversation. The Foreign Affairs Minister sipped his rum and said helplessly, "The Chinese actually want Portugal to oppose England. I really don't know what they are thinking."
Not to mention Britain's great influence on Portugal, just the powerful Catholic forces in Portugal made it impossible for China to get Portugal's support during the Sino-American War.
"The Min dynasty government is officially pressuring us?" Ferrell also treated this as a topic of conversation, so he joined in the fun.
The Foreign Affairs Minister shook his head with a wry smile. "No, it's not the Min dynasty government. If it were the Min dynasty government, it would be easy to handle. Mozambique said it's a company called Gem Wine. "
"Gem Wine Company?" Ferrell was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he quickly asked, "Are you sure it's the Wine of Gems?"
"What's wrong, John?" The Foreign Affairs Minister was puzzled by his son-in-law's reaction.
John? Ferrell picked up the bottle of rum, pointed to the brand on the bottle, and said to his father-in-law, "Gem Wines is the company that produces these liquors."
"Oh?" The Foreign Affairs Minister was stunned. The wine was John? Ferrell had brought it over. The Foreign Affairs Minister had not expected the Gemstone Wine Company to be so powerful.
Seeing that his future father-in-law couldn't keep up with the situation, John Maynard couldn't help but laugh. Farrell could only speak bluntly, "It is said that the company has tens of thousands of private soldiers in Africa, and I heard that they are very willing to use their troops in Africa. In other words, the threat of this company meant an ultimatum. No matter what they did, the government of the Min dynasty could explain it as a private action. But do you think that we have enough troops in Mozambique to deal with these private soldiers equipped with cannons? "
After all, the foreign minister was a big shot. After hearing such straightforward words, he subconsciously frowned and thought for a while before continuing to ask his prospective son-in-law, "John, do you think this is their ultimatum?"
John? Ferrell was someone who had dealings with the Gem Wine Company. Some of his friends had also been involved in various levels of struggles with the company. In the face of his father-in-law's foolish words, John did not respond. Ferrell smiled bitterly. "Sir, how much do you think the Chinese will have to make in order for us, Portugal, to stand on China's side in the future conflict?"
"… No matter how much concessions China makes, it is impossible for Portugal to support the United Kingdom," the Portuguese Foreign Minister replied after only a second of consideration.
Seeing that his prospective father-in-law was on the right track, John Ferrell continued. "Since it is impossible to get Portugal to support China through diplomacy and concessions, and China only needs a private army to seize Mozambique, why do you think China won't do it?"
The Foreign Minister's expression was cloudy, but after a moment, it became completely sunny again. He laughed heartily. "John, you really know how to joke. The Chinese have already offended the Christendom. Do they still want to provoke Portugal for no reason? "
Seeing the Foreign Minister's expression, the 32-year-old John Ferrell also showed a calm smile. Minister Ferrell also showed a calm smile. He said in the same hearty and relaxed tone, "Even if China doesn't do anything, do you think the Christian world will have a good impression of an atheist country like China?"
The Foreign Minister was very unhappy with this tit-for-tat remark. He could not understand why his daughter would favor such a widower who lacked respect for his elders. His daughter had seen John Ferrell more than once. Ferrell had mercilessly ridiculed many people, including the Foreign Minister.
Out of male pride, the Foreign Affairs Minister could not help but retort, "Then what do you think the Chinese are thinking?"
John? Farrell poured himself a glass of Gem Wines rum, filled the Foreign Minister's glass, and raised it to John Farrell's lips. Ferrell said, "I've been reading Ockham's book recently. In the book, Ockham's Razor's Law says that if it's not necessary, don't increase your physical body. Our times tend to think too much about religion, tradition, and morality. Everything we think about is actually meaningless to the Chinese. It's all our own imagination and then we blame it on the Chinese. What China wanted was to win the war. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't find a reason for China to please Portugal. The Chinese wanted to maintain their advantage in the war, so all they needed to do was to issue an order against them. That's all. "After that, John Coltrane Farrell downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and exhaled comfortably. The air was immediately filled with the fragrance of wine.
The Foreign Secretary knew of John F. Kennedy. Farrell was a top student at the University of Oxford. His hobby after work was to quietly read under the peeping eyes of beautiful girls. The Foreign Affairs Minister was completely unaware of Ockham's Razor's Law. Therefore, he did not fully understand John Farrell's words. More importantly, the Foreign Affairs Minister did not want to accept this weak and strong theory. Even though he knew that the relationship between countries was purely based on interests and morality, the Foreign Affairs Minister did not want to accept this theory the most. Because in terms of national strength and strength, Portugal was a weak country. When faced with China, England, and France, they could only be slaughtered. Even Spain could bully Portugal. If he admitted the principle of the law of the jungle, it was to admit that Portugal was destined to be bullied.
Perhaps due to this emotion, the Foreign Affairs Minister's expression became solemn. He asked his future son-in-law, "John, do you think China will make a move against Mozambique?"
"I don't see a reason why they won't." John Farrell replied. However, he was facing his future father-in-law, after all, and the Foreign Affairs Minister's wife was an intellectual and mature beauty. If they really couldn't reconcile, John wouldn't be able to bring his future wife to meet his mother-in-law. So, John? Farrell continued, "Your Excellency, I think we should pursue Portugal's interests at the moment, not Portugal's position. From the perspective of Portugal's interests, it is good for China to give up its hostile position with China. They will probably coordinate with us because of this benefit. This is the only possibility that I see that can ease the situation. And what good would it do Portugal now to be tied to the English ship? If England turns to cooperate with China for their interests in the future, what benefit will Portugal get? "
"You think England will cooperate with China?" The Foreign Affairs Minister was stunned by his future son-in-law's shocking words.
John? Farrell shook his head helplessly. He had always thought that Portugal started the Great Voyage earlier than England, but ended up with nothing because the British valued culture and science far more than the Portuguese. England had Ockham, Newton, and Bacon. The culture and science they created propped up the backbone of the Empire of the Unsetting Sun. His father-in-law was not very educated, but his logic was also problematic. What Ockham said was, "If England turns to cooperate with China for their interests in the future," the premise of this sentence was that the British were defeated. If the British beat the Chinese to a pulp, there would be no reason for the British Empire to cooperate with China.
This understanding made John Farrell strengthen his previous judgment. Ferrell strengthened his previous judgment. The reason why his fiancée was so cute and smart was undoubtedly the work of his mother-in-law, who was also an Oxford senior. Based on his father-in-law's talent alone, it was impossible for him to raise such an outstanding child.
Thinking of this, John? Farrell said, "Your Excellency, if we receive a telegram tomorrow saying that the China is still waiting to negotiate with us, I beg you to hurry up and show that Portugal and the colonies remain neutral in the war. If the China has already made their move, then I also hope that you can show that Portugal remains neutral in the war to recover the losses. "
The Foreign Affairs Minister thought for a while before speaking, "John, just now you thought that with Portugal's strength, China would not recognize it."
"Yes, I still think so. But there is a basis for this view, that is, when Portugal complies with the international order established by England, Portugal's strength will not be recognized by China. But if Portugal joins... I don't think it needs to go to the extent of joining. As long as Portugal recognizes the international order established by China, then China will officially recognize Portugal's strength. "
"You mean Portugal wants to change its position?" The Foreign Affairs Minister frowned and said thoughtfully.
John? Minister Farrell did not want to continue to nitpick. No matter what his father-in-law thought, John Farrell's position had always been consistent. Minister Ferrell's position had always been consistent, which was to protect the interests of Portugal and then take a share of the spoils. As for religion, factions, and all kinds of things imagined by the human mind, since they did not actually exist, there was no value in believing in them.
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