1890 King of Southeast Asia

Chapter 523 Recapture (VI)

The British policy is always balance.

The British are well aware of their own shortcomings. Unless it is impossible, they will not easily launch military action against a big country.

They prefer to support an enemy for their opponent, support Prussia to balance Vienna to cause the division of Germany, and support Prussia to fight against France to cause the division of the European continent.

In short, Britain will not fight against others because of "small things".

Especially when Britain already feels that there are too many existing colonies, it will not really do anything for a concession and South China that cannot be found on the map.

This is just a small matter. On October 11, London gave Cyril a reply.

"According to international practice, your country needs to ensure that the property of British citizens is not violated. For the property belonging to the King's government in the concession, we can make conditional returns." Cyril found Lin Anmin on the same day.

In the telegram sent to him by London, he asked him not to affect the relationship between the two countries because of a "small matter", to deal with this matter coldly, and not to expand it further.

"Conditional return?" Lin Anmin looked at Cyril in confusion.

"After the British acquired the concession, they invested in infrastructure in the concession. These investments need to be paid by the South China Empire at market prices.

And British citizens should be able to continue to live, do business or conduct other legal activities in Tianjin.

Finally, the number of South China's army in Tianjin should not exceed one division." Cyril did not play Tai Chi again.

"Yes, but our country will implement a comprehensive transformation of Tianjin. During this period, import and export activities will be subject to certain restrictions." Lin Anmin said.

To read novels, no ads^ online free reading!

"Yes, if there are no other questions, I think we can draft a treaty and sign it after the final offer comes out." Cyril said.

London hopes that South China will stop hyping this matter in order to maintain a "complete alliance" to fight against the German-Austrian-Italian alliance.

The fact that South China and Italy reached an agreement in a short period of time made Britain wary and suspected that this was an act of the alliance to win over South China.

Germany has been making many moves recently, trying to win over Spain, the Ottoman Empire, and even trying to ease relations with the Russians. If the French had not controlled Russia's finances, it might have been possible.

So this time, the two sides cut the Gordian knot and ended the matter directly.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Cyril never mentioned the prisoners captured by Nanhua.

That night, Lin Anmin spread the news that Britain was about to return the concession to the French...

...

"Britain has compromised." Vladimir looked at Xiaosong with an ugly face.

"What? So fast? What conditions did Nanhua offer?" Xiaosong said with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

This book~First published: Tower Reading * Novel @APP\u0026——Free, no GG, no pop-up windows, and you can * @interact with book friends^.

The two of them chatted for two days, but they still hadn't come up with any direction.

Britain usually drags on for a few months, eats up all the valuable things, and then asks for a "ransom" before returning them.

"That's exactly the problem. The news in our country is that it is incredible to handle it according to normal international practices." Vladimir rubbed his eyebrows.

The British and Russians have one thing in common - greed.

It's just that the British are greedy for markets and money, while the Russians are greedy for land.

Although it's just a concession, the Russians, like the Japanese, have already regarded the concession as their own territory.

"Two countries, at this rate, there will soon be a third... No! There is already a third one. The American concession is with the British, and they have also withdrawn."

"We must speed up and find a partner. Germany and Austria-Hungary, how about it?" Komatsu asked.

Vladimir looked at Komatsu with disdain and said nothing.

"Germany and Austria-Hungary are closely connected and have a strong influence, and Austria-Hungary has only this springboard in the Qing Empire. They will definitely..." Komatsu became more and more excited as he spoke.

Komatsu completely replaced the ally side. After all, this was the first time that Japan was "recognized" - Britain just needed to use it.

"Enough!" Vladimir shouted.

He really couldn't understand how this Japanese dwarf became a diplomat.

"Our government also intends to return the concession, of course, with conditions." Vladimir said in a muffled voice.

The smile on Komatsu's face disappeared, and he grumbled twice, but in the end he said nothing.

Combined with Vladimir's attitude when he mentioned Germany just now, this is no longer a consensus between countries, but a tacit understanding between alliances.

Otherwise, this decision should be made by Vladimir who opposes the return - he will only oppose this event.

In other words, France will also withdraw quickly, and accordingly, the small country of Belgium will definitely take some benefits and run away, unwilling to be entangled in this vortex.

But the more this is the case, the more unwilling Japan is.

Tianjin Wei's foreign trade volume last year reached 80 million taels of silver. If the average tariff level is 15%, then Tianjin Wei's annual tariff revenue is 12 million taels of silver.

This book~First published: TowerRead*Novel-APP\u0026——Free, no pop-up windows, and you can* @interact with book friends^.

"It would be great if Japan got this city!" Xiaosong muttered to himself.

Komatsu went back. He was kicked out by Vladimir because he was in a daze in Vladimir's office.

Then, Komatsu returned to his office and sent a telegram to Japan, explaining the current situation.

"Your Excellency the Ambassador!" As soon as he finished writing the telegram, the embassy's first secretary, Inu Katsuichiro, came to the door.

"What's the matter?" Komatsu straightened his clothes.

"Just now, France submitted a document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nanhua to discuss the return of Tianjin Concession." Inu Katsuichiro bowed slightly with his head lowered.

"I see." Komatsu nodded, hesitated for a moment, and added his own opinion at the end of the telegram, hoping to follow Britain and France and return to the concession.

...

"Thank you very much for the understanding of our allies. We have considered some more appropriate solutions, but no one expected that our army was too reckless." Lin Anmin looked regretful.

"No, no, no, it's our negligence. I'm very sorry, but the French government is too busy and didn't pay attention to this matter. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many criminals committing such horrific crimes." Bi Sheng waved his hand.

Unlike other ambassadors who have to ask for instructions, Bi Sheng was authorized early on to handle this matter with full authority.

Return the concession, compensate for the expenses, punish the criminals, anything is fine. The only requirement is to solve this matter in the least influential way possible.

Don't blame the government! ! The Prime Minister doesn't want to step down so soon! ! !

So, even if there was irony in Lin Anmin's words, Bi Sheng pretended not to hear it.

"But... According to Nanhua's consistent policies and legal provisions, about 57 French people have been sentenced to death at the minimum..." Lin Anmin looked at Bi Sheng and observed his demeanor.

"Well... Oh?! As an ally, France respects Nanhua's laws, but among these people there are influential groups such as priests, so..." Bi Sheng winked at Lin Anmin, making Lin Anmin confused.

"If the condition for returning the concession is to trample on the law, our emperor will probably reject this proposal. I think, for the sake of friendly cooperation between the two countries..."

"No, no, no! I mean, ahem!" Bi Sheng interrupted Lin Anmin, looked at the clerk, stood up and ran to Lin Anmin's ear,

"That's not what I meant. They are just a group of despicable criminals. It's just that this matter cannot be made a big deal. We can solve it privately." Bi Sheng whispered.

"Solve it privately?" Lin Anmin was stunned, then waved to the clerk.

The clerk stood up and left, leaving only the two of them and the minister's secretary in the entire office.

"Pour a glass of wine for Ambassador Bi Sheng."

"Please continue, I don't understand, what does private settlement mean? We have arrested more than a hundred people, half of whom are not eligible for the death penalty, and they will be released one day." Lin Anmin handed the wine glass to Bi Sheng.

"I hope that Nanhua can conduct a closed trial and a closed execution. This is the French government's requirement for the return of the Tianjin Concession." Bi Sheng took the wine glass.

He just needs to suppress this matter. As for how to suppress it? No one cares.

These people will be sent to the guillotine when they return to France, and it will cause an uproar. They may be attacked by the opposition and the government will step down.

It is better to execute them secretly, and then take the remaining French people in Tianjin back in batches or to all parts of the world. As long as the places are dispersed enough and the number of times is enough, this matter can be covered up.

Shipwreck, native attack, acclimatization, or simply the radio station is broken. Just a few dozen people.

As long as this matter is not hyped up, well... this scandal is not hyped up, the current government will have no responsibility and will not fall because of it.

As for the dead, Parisians may have opinions. They prefer to see the guillotine cut off people's necks at once.

This book~First published: Tower Reading * Xiao @Shuo-APP\u0026——Free, no GG, no pop-up windows, and you can * @interact with book friends^.

By the way, until June 17, 1939, France carried out the last public execution by guillotine.

Then in September, Germany launched a blitzkrieg and attacked Poland. In May of the following year, the German army bypassed the Ardennes Forest and attacked France.

"We can execute secretly, and even, we can set the time of the statement together. Let me ask Sir Cyril?" Lin Anmin asked.

"Of course! As allies, we should unite and express a unified will to the outside world." Bi Sheng responded enthusiastically.

This is also a piece of news. If the Germans are mentioned again in the newspaper, it will definitely guide public opinion and shift the focus of the people from the scandal.

"Please call Sir Cyril for me." Lin Anmin said to the secretary.

The two chatted and drank until ten minutes later, when the secretary told Lin Anmin that the call was connected.

"Hello Sir, I am Lin Anmin, it's like this..."

"Good! Good!"

"I think so too!"

"Have a good day."

Lin Anmin put down the phone and looked at Bi Sheng with a smile.

"Sir Cyril also thinks that we should behave more like allies. He will help us contact the Russians..."

"Russians? I have already contacted them. St. Petersburg should have issued an order."

"In that case, we can set a date in less than two days. A joint declaration of the four allied countries?"

"Perhaps Britain will bring Japan in? I think you should mention it to Cyril."

"Okay, I will mention it. Cheers."