On May 2, 1875, the envoy of the Osman Empire and the envoy of Russia arrived in Nanjing almost at the same time. The former hoped that China and Russia would continue to fight, consume Russia's national strength, and eliminate Russia's army and population. The latter shouldered the diplomatic mission of Russia, hoping to reach peace with China, at least in the North Pacific region. This way, Russia would not continue to lose troops and population in the North Pacific.
China's Foreign Minister, Li Xin, had been in a very unstable mood these days. Vézé had gradually begun to delegate some decision-making power to various ministries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also had its own certain authority. After discussing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li Xin proposed a plan to buy land east of the Lena River to the central government. Unexpectedly, this plan was approved by Vézé.
Nowadays, all countries used the gold standard, and their currencies were pegged to gold. But banknotes were the main means of exchange, and it was impossible to exchange gold back and forth. 100 tons of gold was not just a little bit of gold.
The gold standard was that the currency could be exchanged for gold at a designated bank, but everyone had to use the currency itself. Therefore, the currency itself would be issued. The gold used as a collateral for the issuance of currency was also known as the "reserve." The purpose of the reserve was to ensure that the bank would have sufficient liquidity in the event of a sudden large amount of cash. This reserve could even account for 10% of the currency issued. According to the calculation of 10%, after Russia got the 100 tons of gold, it could issue a currency equivalent to 1000 tons of gold. Of course, Russia would use the 100 tons of gold as the reserve, and whether they would indiscriminately issue banknotes and cause inflation, that was the business of the people of Russia.
Vézé did not intend to continue to expand in the near future. In such a naked and brutal world, the status of morality was not high. Because of this, occupying a certain height of morality was not a bad thing. What kind of power one had was one's own business, and morality was often the evaluation of others. 100 tons of gold was not a small number, but in the area east of the Lena River, the gold reserves alone were more than this number. Moreover, being willing to solve problems with guns could also add points to China's international image. In the international jungle politics, there was no lack of boorish men who relied on their strong bodies to go out and cut people with knives. But those who could kill better than anyone else with a knife and were willing to use money to solve problems first were gentlemen. Most of the time, people have more faith in the gentlemen than in the gentlemen.
The United Kingdom is a typical example. When it comes to evil deeds, the British can be said to be innumerable. But when it came to England, everyone's evaluation was "gentlemanly."
Moreover, Vézé was not only purchasing the area east of the Lena River, but also the entire Lake Baikal area. Faced with the strong opposition from the central government, Vézé could only tell everyone, "If the Russians don't want to give us face, we will take all the land we deserve. They won't take a single cent of the money."
Since the Russians were willing to come, they wouldn't be so shameless. China's population of 500 million was a frightening existence to the European countries. When the United Kingdom beat up Manchu Qing, the Europeans could proudly say that no matter how many people there were, they couldn't resist Europe's weapons. Now China showed the strength to beat up the United Kingdom, and the 500 million people turned into a terrifying torrent.
In the discussion, the Emperor's brother Mikhail? Grand Duke Nikolanovich obediently closed his mouth. But when the 500 million people in China were mentioned, there was no one who didn't feel fear from the bottom of their hearts. The entire population of Europe and the United States combined was less than that. Since China was willing to pay for the land, it was 100 tons of gold. If Russia refused, China could use the 100 tons of gold as the military expenditure for China's attack on Russia. At that time, what could Russia defend? The Lena River? The Yenisei River?
And when China entered North America, Russia wouldn't be the most irritated, but the United Kingdom and the United States. Russia got 100 tons of gold, and China gained the fear and hostility of the United Kingdom and the United States. It seemed that this deal could be done. When the Foreign Minister took out the Monroe Declaration of the United States as the basis to judge the American's reaction, the Tsar also felt that the phrase "America belongs to the Americans" contained the great concern of the Americans about other powerful countries landing in America.
The two sides negotiated quickly. Since there weren't many Russians east of the Lena River, the agreement was signed first. What was signed together was the basic intention of demarcation, the basic scope of demarcation between China and Russia in the future, and the nonsense of not solving the demarcation problem by force.
On May 22nd, the draft was completed. On June 17th, China's ambassador to Russia signed the agreement with Russia in Moscow. On June 19th, China announced the news to the world. It also announced that the Chinese Navy would escort a gold transport ship to Russia to pay 100 tons of gold for the purchase of the land. The news immediately shocked Europe and the United States.
The United States was extremely unhappy. They didn't expect China to land in America, and North America. The United Kingdom was unhappy and panicked. China and Canada became neighbors. Just thinking about it made the United Kingdom afraid.
The other European countries' reaction was not so fierce. China's expansion first had to face the United Kingdom and Russia. Even if the sky fell, there would be tall people to support it. And this time, China specifically stressed that the Chinese Navy would send a fleet to escort the gold ship. A ship loaded with 100 tons of gold was enough to be written in a fairy tale. Not to mention that the warships escorting the ship were the warships that had defeated the British Navy. Huge wealth and powerful force, nothing could be more exciting than these.
Ahmet, the envoy of the Osman Empire?? Midhat Pasha saw the news in the Chinese newspaper. The visit to China was an eye-opener for him. He had seen magnificent cities and powerful industries in Europe. After arriving in China, the envoy saw cities no less than those in Europe. European city streets were very old, so they were generally narrow and crooked. On the other hand, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Nanjing, the three major Chinese cities, did not have these burdens. The wide six-lane, eight-lane, and ten-lane streets, as well as the neatly arranged building complexes, all made Ahmet??? Midhat Pasha was dazzled.
Compared to the magnificent imperial palace of the Osman Empire, which was decorated with silk, fur, all kinds of ornaments, antiques, and works of art, the center of China was too simple. The broad and bright layout of the office building, simple and flat terrazzo floors, and light snow-white walls, did not have the oppressive feeling of the Turkish imperial palace that seemed to be pregnant with all kinds of conspiracies.
The diplomatic results of this trip were also good. China agreed to sell 800 refurbished cannons and 1000 Gatling guns to Turkey at a good price. Moreover, China and Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha signed a letter of intent to help Turkey build the railway. When European countries built the railway, they would put forward a requirement that the mineral deposits found within a few kilometers on both sides of the railway would belong to the railway construction company. There were also a series of other conditions. Asking a European company to build the railway was like inviting a wolf into the house.
China did not ask for any additional conditions. China even believed that Turkey did not need to pay any real money. The former Minister of Commerce, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Xin bluntly told Special Envoy Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha said, "To buy arms and build the railway, the Osman Empire only needs to pay with chromium ore. We do not seek to obtain the mining rights in your country, we only want the ore. "
He had seen too much flattery and deceit. He had seen too much bullying the weak. Ahmet? Midhat Pasha wanted to believe that the young Chinese man was telling the truth, but he did not dare to believe that the young Chinese ambassador was telling the truth. This was the extent of a pie falling from the sky.
There was no need to be afraid of signing a letter of intent. Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha and China had many agreements on armaments, factories, railways, food, and other products. At the end of the day, as long as the Osman Empire had enough chromium ore to sell to China, China could sell almost all the products that the Osman Empire needed.
No need to pay! All the letters of intent mentioned this. Ahmet??? Midhat Pasha was extremely satisfied with this. What the world's powerful countries did was to "ask for money! Ask for money! Ask for money! " These letters of intent did not even need to be executed. Just by taking them out, they could be used to bargain with the European countries, making them more honest when doing business with the Osman Empire. Ahmet??? That was what Midhat Pasha thought.
Of course, the conflict between China and Russia was not something that the Osman Empire could control. China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Xin, frankly told Ahmet on this issue. Midhat Pasha said, "Any action of China is based on China's national interests. The starting point of the war or peace with Russia is also based on this."
Ahmet??? Midhat Pasha could completely understand this statement. He envied the young foreign minister for being able to use such clear words to talk about this issue. In the "oriental style" of the Osman Empire, any interest was based on the personal interests of the ruler and the person in power. Not everyone really did not consider the overall interest of the Osman Empire, but the overall interest of the Osman Empire was probably ranked third in the eyes of those guys. The first was naturally the interest of the person in power, and the second was the interest of the faction that the person in power belonged to. Only after these two conditions were met could the overall interest of the Osman Empire be considered. When the interests of the Osman Empire conflicted with the first two, most of the time, the side that gave way was the overall interest of the Osman Empire.
Just as Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha was about to leave China and return to Osman with a large number of letters of intent, the news of the land purchase and peace treaty between China and Russia was announced in the newspaper. Ahmet??? Midhat Pasha's first thought after reading it was, "The Russians have the money to fight again!"
100 tons of gold was enough to start a large-scale war. When the Russians were ready to start a war, their first choice was probably the Osman Empire. He was about to go to China's Minister of Foreign Affairs to confirm this matter. Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha stopped in his tracks. What would happen if he went to talk to Ahmet?? Midhat Pasha could already imagine the young China Minister saying in a calm tone, "Any action of China is based on China's national interests. The starting point of the war or peace with Russia is also based on this."
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