The Chinese foreign minister's visit to Europe is a very shocking event, and the road map of the Chinese foreign minister's visit has been widely reported in European newspapers. Instead of going through the Suez Canal, the passenger ship docked at the port of Basra in the Ottoman Empire, and the Chinese foreign minister took the train straight to Istanbul.

The Ottoman Empire's railway network changed the situation throughout the Middle East, and hundreds of thousands of troops did not have to rely on the legs of men, horses, or camels to cross the journey. In Basra, in Baghdad, and in Damascus, the Ottomans were able to quickly receive the latest information and mobilize troops to suppress separatist actions on the ground as quickly as possible.

As a European nation, the Ottoman Empire was much more advanced than the Kingdom of Goryeo. After taking over the railroad and telegraph systems from the Chinese engineering corps, the Ottoman Empire soon put these two important departments into operation. European newspapers generally believed that the Ottoman Empire had grown in strength with the help of China and was developing into a more normal European country. The Chinese foreign minister first visited the Ottoman Empire in order to demonstrate good relations with this quasi-ally.

"We believe that the Ottoman Empire must pay for the construction of the railway according to the contract." Chinese Foreign Minister Li Xin emphasized China's attitude.

"We're really struggling to make ends meet right now, and we can't pay it back on time." The Ottoman Foreign Minister was also very frank.

As soon as the diplomats of China, which were considered quasi-allies in Europe, met and a heated dispute began. This kind of straightforward negotiation involves more of an attitude issue, China is asking for "repayment according to the contract", and the Ottoman Empire is asking for "you need to give me grace". These two involve the basic attitude of the two sides in business dealings, and this is a position that cannot be made in the slightest concession.

After a few hours of arguing, it's time for a midday working meal. As in Chinese tradition, the Ottoman Foreign Minister invited Li Xinda to a meal. After eating and drinking, we continued to talk in the afternoon. I drank a lot at noon, and Li Xin was not so tough in the afternoon. After all, the two sides have fully understood each other's bottom line, and the construction of railways and telegraph networks did not make the financial situation of the Ottoman Empire improve immediately, and the operating investment of these state-owned departments has made the financial pressure on the Ottoman Empire even greater.

The afternoon negotiations were not European, with sturdy chairs transformed into soft Turkish sofas and wooden floors transformed into thick Arabic blankets. The guest and the host sat on the sofa, and several Arabic dancers in the main hall were dancing the Arabic knife dance to Turkish music, the bare waist, the beautiful face looming under the veil, and the snowy Arabic scimitar, giving birth to an extra sense of seduction. Several young diplomats were a little dumbfounded, and even an old fritter like Li Xin felt that he couldn't help but have some desires.

"We still hope to be able to defer payments." The Ottoman foreign minister continued the work of persuasion.

"Definitely not." Li Xin adjusted his sitting posture slightly, still sticking to the final bottom line. This line cannot be breached, and once it is breached, it will be another content of negotiations, and it is also the content of negotiations that the central authorities have expressly prohibited.

The foreign minister saw that Li Xin was dead or alive and did not agree, so he simply said bluntly: "We have no money, and no matter how much we force us now, we will not be able to come up with the money." ”

Li Xin's face no longer had that kind of tension, his expression showed a gentle expression that could probably understand the difficulties of the Ottoman Empire, and then said slowly: "I already know the difficulties encountered by your country, but this involves a commercial credit problem, the Ottomans are also a dignified empire, how can you do without commercial credit?" ”

In the afternoon, everyone continued to talk. After an afternoon, another big meal in the evening. After a full meal, the meeting became even closer. The foreign minister of the Ottoman Empire invited the Chinese delegates to drink flower wine.

There are dancers dancing, and there are dancers sitting next to the negotiators. In the soft fragrance of the jade, everyone's attitude is even softer. Li Xin hugged a dancer beside him, and so did the Ottoman Foreign Minister next to him. The two of them hiccuped and watched drunken talking.

"China's help to the Ottomans in building the railway is indeed grateful to the upper echelons of our country. However, now that the British have taken control of Egypt, the Russians are eyeing it. Elsewhere, whether in the Balkans or in the Persian Gulf, various forces are making trouble. If your country asks us to force us to repay the loan, we really can't come up with that much money. "Foreign Minister Osman continued his position.

Li Xin said slowly: "We paid in advance for the construction of the railway, and if the Ottoman side does not pay back, the first thing to bear the brunt is not our Ministry of Foreign Affairs but our bank." The bank put pressure on the central government, and the central government came to me to do something. I went back and said that the Ottoman Empire would not pay back the money, and you wanted me to look good. After this meal, my official position was gone. What do you think I should choose? ”

It has been said for so long, and the foreign minister of the Ottoman Empire also knows that it is impossible to get Li Xin's consent on the frontal hard bar, so he asked in a low voice: "Then you give me a suggestion, how can we come up with conditions that the central government of your country can agree to." ”

This is what Li Xin wants to hear, the Ottoman Empire's ability to repay its debts is not strong, and China is not looking forward to the Ottoman Empire's debt repayment. That money is nothing to China, and Weeser cares about the oil in the Persian Gulf. China is a vast country, but there are no large oil fields in the core East Asian continent, and the less large oil field in Yumen is more suitable for exploitation. China has already discovered oil fields in Kuwait and has been fruitful in exploration in places such as Basra. What China really wants is oil in this area. Kuwait originally signed a 10-year lease, and now that the railway is almost finished, China will theoretically slap its ass and leave. Extending your lease is the most important thing right now.

In negotiations, this kind of thing cannot be said just as soon as you open your mouth. Therefore, the Ottoman Empire had to agree to this matter. Li Xin said: "We have said before that we will rent land in the Basra area, and if you can talk about this, we can still talk about it." I can't get it done, and I can't talk about it when I go back. ”

Hearing that China was still interested in the Basra region, the Ottoman Foreign Minister shook his head like a rattle, "This is absolutely not good!" ”

"Okay, you can talk to your prime minister when you go back. You can't just say whether you want to or not, it's still a big deal how I go back. ”

The next day, both sides continued with the events of the previous day. The Ottoman Empire vigorously "advanced", and the Chinese side vigorously "retreated".

On the third day, negotiations were in favor of China getting prospecting rights in Basra.

On the fourth day, the Ottomans were still reluctant to allow China to join the Basra region, and the negotiations reached an impasse again.

On the fifth day, the two sides finally talked about extending the Chinese lease in Kuwait for a 10-year period. The money owed by the Ottoman Empire to China was repaid in yuan. In order to make the Ottoman Empire repayable, China was granted prospecting rights in areas such as Basra, where minerals were sold to China for yuan.

The foreign minister was not responsible for the specific negotiations, and after the intended direction of the negotiations was determined, Li Xin immediately set off for Europe. In Italy, in Greece, and in France, the foreign visits of the Chinese foreign minister have caused a great sensation. China is a powerful country that can be compared with the Royal Navy of the British Empire, and all European countries in this era regard the British Royal Navy as their goal or backer, and China's influence is inadvertently much greater.

When the French foreign minister talked to China about Madagascar, he took a very tough attitude. "France does not see China's demands on Madagascar as unreasonable."

The discussions between the two sides were very sincere, and Li Xin seriously discussed with the French foreign minister the issue of the influence of the Indian Ocean Navy in Africa. The French showed enough bravery in words that they declared that there would be no submission from France.

Li Xin replied with a smile: "Your Excellency, I admire the bravery of the French people very much. But you were already thrown into the sea twice by the Malagasy in 1881 and early 1883. Our army had taken full control of Madagascar in 1884, and now you are telling me that your team has power in Madagascar, and I really don't understand where you say that power comes from. ”

In the face of Li Xin's ridicule, the French foreign minister said that "the issue of Madagascar can continue to be discussed in the future, but the issue in French North Africa is completely different from that of Madagascar." ”

"This can indeed be discussed." Li Xin agreed with the French side's position.

The negotiations between the two sides were rather arduous and there was little progress. The only thing that can be called a result is the agreement that no one will use force to solve the colonial problem. In any case, the French wanted to solve the problem most of the Germans. In the event of a full-scale military conflict with China, it will not be France that will be the happiest, but Germany.

On July 11, 1884, Li Xin arrived in Berlin. Germany was very pleased with the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, who hoped that military technology would be purchased from China. Li Xin said that he "got it", and before this trip, Weeser's attitude towards Germany was "dragging". What should be talked about can be discussed, but on the whole it is just a "drag" word. Prime Minister Bismarck was a very good diplomat and a very good politician. It is impossible for such a person to challenge British hegemony as soon as his brain is hot. Any technology that falls into the hands of Prime Minister Bismarck will not simply be used as a means of warfare, but as a bargaining chip. In this case, it would not be wise at all to terminate cooperation with Germany. Similarly, it would be unwise to cooperate heavily with Germany.

Li Xin originally wanted to make a very ordinary visit to Germany, and then go to the more important destination of this trip, Russia. Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Bismarck also made an invitation to hold a real international conference on African issues.

The incident was caused by a sharp confrontation between the Belgian and French expeditionary forces in the lower Congo River. In the midst of the Franco-Belgian conflict, the Portuguese also protested against Stanley's occupation of the mouth of the Congo River, which the Portuguese government claimed had rights to since the 15th century. Seeing the profitability of the Congo River Valley, Britain took advantage of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance and concluded a treaty with Portugal: Britain recognized Portuguese sovereignty over the Congo River Banks, and Portugal guaranteed Britain the same commercial and shipping rights in the area as its own.

The French government protested against the signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty, and Germany, which was at odds with Britain, immediately publicly supported France's note of protest. The United States also preferred this rich region to be controlled by a weaker Belgium. The attitude of France, Germany, and the United States on the Congo issue was basically the same, so that Britain had to renounce the Anglo-Portuguese treaty, but proposed that an international conference should be convened to finally settle the Congo issue.

Germany had no colonies in Africa, and Russia did not have any colonies, but there were many contradictions between Russia and Britain. Therefore, the United Kingdom, as a party to the party, also agreed to the international conference led by German Chancellor Bismarck.

Li Xin looked at the countries invited to the Berlin conference. Sixteen countries, including the German Empire, the British Empire, the French Third Republic, the Republic of China, the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the United States of America, the Kingdom of Italy, the Spanish Empire, the Portuguese Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Dutch Colonial Empire, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Norway, participated in the meeting.

The conference was devoted to African affairs, and the world's powers, except for the absence of local African representatives, were invited.

"How long is the meeting going on?" Li Xin asked Prime Minister Bismarck.

"A month." The Prime Minister replied.

"I'll leave for Russia now, and I'll be there before the meeting." Li Xin replied seriously.