It was easy to imagine that the British would work hard to build ships in an attempt to take revenge. Li Xin did not doubt that the British would do this. The defeated Britain tried to regain their advantage, and China, who had temporarily gained the upper hand, hoped to maintain its advantage. The new ship-building plan not only required huge expenditures on warships, but also included a large amount of basic research and investment in the research of large equipment. Although Vézé took responsibility for the 100 tons of gold, it was not only the Military Commission that criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Almost all the departments criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for being bold and making quite outrageous suggestions.
Li Xin had been out for a few months and did not have to see the angry faces of other departments all day long. His mood really recovered a lot. On this matter, Li Xin also had a new view. Since the Military Governor Vaize dared to pay the 100 tons of gold, there must be a way to quickly earn back the money. Moreover, Lei Hu, as the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission in charge of military orders, also took the initiative to praise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for doing a good job. There must be a mystery behind it.
Therefore, Li Xin also recovered his mood. Let time prove that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' proposal was correct. Li Xin believed from the beginning that instead of spending a few years in continuous military conflicts with Russia, it was better to cut the Gordian knot and solve the problem with money. This could at least prove to the world that China had its own pursuit of peace and was not a militaristic country. A single land purchase would not be able to establish such an image. However, with this land purchase, China had at least begun to establish the foundation for such an image. {
Even if Li Xin was wrong in this regard, as soon as the agreement was signed, Alaska became China's territory. At this stage, when both the navy and land forces had the advantage, China could completely avoid foreign interference.
Now that he had made a decision, Li Xin also relaxed in this regard. His attention was now on the observation of France. China was now also an industrial country, and its economic development was very rapid. The situation in France was very different from that in China. There were slogans everywhere, and all kinds of portraits were pasted on the streets. On the way from Marseilles to Paris, Li Xin listened to many performances of La Marseillaise, including solo performances and group choral performances. This generous and beautiful song always reminded Li Xin of the tune of the Chinese Revolutionary Song.
Whether it was a solo performance or a group performance, the singers were clearly using this song to call and summon the French public.
"What are these traitors and the king up to?
Who were these damned shackles supposed to be put on? Who is going to wear it for?
Put it on us, Frenchmen!
It was such a great humiliation that he was indignant! This was intolerable. They wanted to push humanity back to the era of slavery!
Arm yourselves, countrymen, and organize yourselves!
Forward! Forward!
The enemy's dirty blood will become manure for the fertile fields! "
Li Xin had learned French, but he was not proficient in it. After hearing La Marseillaise, he often couldn't help but open his notebook and read the lyrics. This was the favorite song of those who propagated to the French public on the streets.
"As expected of the country where the French Revolution took place!" Li Xin had already praised it several times. On this diplomatic trip from Siam to France, Li Xin had seen enlightened monarchies, absolute feudal monarchies, and kingdoms controlled by nobles. France was the only country that truly had a republic from the people. China was actually a republic, but this republic was forcibly promoted by Vézé with the new system. With Vézé's current position as the absolute leader of China, he could only temporarily put on the coat of an emperor and secretly promote the social system of China. And the French people began to work hard to promote the republic from the side of the French people. Li Xin, who was completely disgusted by the feudal system, really thought that the French people were very admirable. At least in terms of the republic, their level of understanding was admirable.
This feeling was aimed at the French people's republic concept. As for the French upper class, Li Xin didn't have the slightest admiration. Britain was now ready to take revenge on China, and the French had the same idea. Li Xin knew that the French had more reasons to hate China. In addition to taking over Indochina, after China took over the Dutch East Indies, they sent their navy to seize the French islands in the Pacific.
Based on the information that Li Xin, a ministerial-level official, knew, what China really cared about was not those small islands, but New Caledonia, which was one of those islands. New Caledonia was rich in nickel mines, and China seized it. Anyway, they had basically fallen out with France, and they didn't need to worry about the debt. If they offended France again, it wouldn't matter.
Li Xin didn't have any expectations for this visit. It would be great if the French showed mercy and drove Li Xin away. When they arrived in Paris, the situation was quite similar to what Li Xin expected. The ten delegations, including the guards, were arranged to a hotel "guarded" by heavy soldiers. Everyone was very relaxed about this treatment. As long as the French did something rude, the China delegation could leave immediately.
However, the French didn't do anything rude. They kept a straight face, saluted, escorted, and led the way. They did it meticulously, and even used honorifics in their speech. Several years later, Li Xin realized that France did this because they couldn't say that the old embassy purchased by China was destroyed by the French. According to the diplomatic convention, the French government needed to compensate. At that time, the French couldn't compensate China a sou. This matter was forcibly covered up.
At that time, Li Xin didn't know about this. When they met, the Dutch ambassador to France appeared in the conference room. Obviously, the French and Dutch wanted to discuss their grievances with China together.
"Minister, as far as the current situation is concerned, China doesn't seem to want to have any diplomatic negotiations with France and the Netherlands." The French Foreign Minister raised such a question.
Since the French were so straightforward, Li Xin also replied readily, "Then what do you think we have to talk about? Or what do you think we can talk about now? "
"We don't agree with the way the United States got Louisiana, but I think from the diplomatic relationship between China and France, some remedial measures are also needed. And your country also paid Russia for the purchase, so there is no reason to refuse to talk to us about this issue. "The French Foreign Minister put forward his own opinion.
The Dutch ambassador then said, "China used the excuse of fighting against Britain to attack the Dutch East Indies. I don't think it's honorable at all. But my country believes that some things have happened and need to end. "
Li Xin didn't like what he heard. He immediately refuted the Dutch ambassador, "The British Fleet pretended to be a Spanish fleet to attack our fleet and sank one of our ironclads. The role played by the Dutch East Indies in that incident was not honorable at all. At least now we are fighting openly and not pretending to be another country's fleet. "
After being criticized by Li Xin, the Dutch ambassador immediately retorted, "So what Minister means is that you are retaliating for that incident? But did you really not have a plan to attack the Dutch East Indies at that time? And when the treaty was signed, we don't think China didn't do something! "
According to the treaty between China and the British, China must inform the British before launching a war in the Western Pacific. Of course, this treaty was originally signed to ensure that China would not attack the Dutch East Indies and Japan. So when the Spanish and French signed the treaty, they were "forgotten" by the China. In the treaty, the British only had the right to mediate before China took the initiative to attack the Dutch East Indies and Japan. The French and Spanish did not enjoy this treatment.
The British ambassador was furious when he received the notice from China. Less than a year ago, China had threatened the Dutch East Indies. Under the mediation of the British, the two sides finally revised the commercial contract. The free mining period was shortened to eight years.
The British governor of the Straits Settlements originally thought that the Dutch East Indies government was making a fuss over a minor issue. But in the past ten months, more and more oil ships from China sailed to Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies. In order to improve oil production efficiency, China built oil pipelines and ports in the Dutch East Indies.
According to the Dutch East Indies, China had long coveted Dutch mines and deliberately wanted to plunder Dutch mines. Long before China signed the mining agreement, China had sent spies to the Dutch East Indies to carry out exploration work.
Britain had consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai. According to the information collected by the consulate and provided by British businessmen, China shipyards frantically built oil ships and made oil barrels. China's oil refinery was built not far across the Yangtze River in Nanjing. Every day, ships carrying all kinds of oil products came and went.
The British governor of the Straits Settlements did not believe the Dutch East Indies authorities until he learned of China's actions. With the level of exploration in this era, the exploration, the mining, and the large-scale transportation. If this was not premeditated, then what was not premeditated?
This was how contradictions accumulated. China tried to use peaceful means to obtain benefits that could not be obtained through war, which proved that the agreement signed by China was a complete fraud. Of course, the British were not willing to be cheated, and the Dutch East Indies were not willing to suffer losses. The only thing they did not expect was that China's plan was longer than the two countries imagined. When Britain thought it could use its army to teach China a lesson, China, who was already prepared, taught Britain a lesson.
China's view was different. The British always rode on China's head with the advantage of their navy. China was dissatisfied for twenty years. Twenty years later, China had a chance to take revenge. How could China, who had been preparing for twenty years, not go all out?
The diplomats were like kindergarteners, pointlessly blaming each other. When everyone finished blaming, they drank a few sips of coffee and began to talk about the aftermath. The request of France and the Netherlands was very simple. Follow Russia's example. China continuously beat Russia for several years until Russia could not stand it anymore. China took out a large sum of money to buy nearly four million square kilometers of land. France and the Netherlands were also beaten and lost land. In any case, China had to pay a sum of money.
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