The British worked hard to build ships to try to take revenge, which is something that is easily imaginable, and Li Xin has no doubt that the British will do it. The defeated Britain tried to regain the upper hand, while China, which had temporarily gained the upper hand, hoped to maintain its advantage. The new ship construction program not only has huge expenditures on warships, but also includes a large amount of basic research, as well as research investments in super-large equipment. Although Wei Ze took the matter of 100 tons of gold on himself, the military commission was not the only one who criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and almost all departments criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for being bold and reckless, and put forward quite outrageous suggestions.

Li Xin has been out for a few months, and he doesn't have to see the stinky faces of other departments all day long, and his mood has really recovered a lot. On this matter, Li Xin also has a new view. Since Governor Wei Zedu dared to pay the 100 tons of gold, there must be a way to make the money back quickly. Moreover, Lei Hu, as the vice chairman of the Military Commission in charge of military orders, can also take the initiative to praise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for doing a good job, and there must be a mystery inside.

So Li Xin also recovered his mood, let time prove that the Foreign Ministry's suggestion is correct. At the beginning, Li Xin believed that instead of spending several years engaged in continuous military conflicts with Russia, it was better to quickly cut through the chaos and use money to solve the problem. At the very least, this will prove to the world that China has its own pursuit of peace, and is not a country that is reckless in military force. A single land purchase could not establish such an image, but with this land purchase, China has begun to establish the foundation of this image. Even if Li Xin was wrong in this regard, as soon as the agreement was signed, Alaska would become Chinese territory, and at this stage when both the navy and land forces were superior, China could completely avoid foreign interference.

Now that he has made a decision, Li Xin has also put down his mood in this regard, and his attention at this time is focused on the observation of France. China is now also an industrial country, and its economic development is very rapid. The situation in France at this time was very different from that of China, with slogans everywhere and various portraits posted on the streets. From Marseille to Paris, Li Xin listened to the singing of "La Marseillaise" many times along the way, both solo and group chorus. This generous and beautiful song always reminds Li Xin of the tune of "Song of the Chinese Revolution".

Whether solo or group-singing, the singers are clearly using this song to call and call the French public.

"What kind of ghost are these traitors and kings having?

Who are these damn shackles going to be worn for? Who exactly are you going to wear it for?

Frenchman, give us a wear!

The shame is indignant! Is it tolerable or intolerable, to push humanity back to the age of slavery!

Arm, compatriots, organize the ranks!

Advance! Advance!

The enemy's dirty blood will become manure for the fertile fields! ”

Li Xin had studied 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 is one of the favorite songs of those who advertise to the French masses on the streets.

"A country that has had the French Revolution!" Li Xin has praised it several times. During this diplomatic journey from Siam to France, Li Xin saw enlightened monarchies, absolute feudal autocratic empires, and kingdoms controlled by nobles. The only country that really has a republican idea from the people is France. China is actually a republic, but this republic is still a system that Weeser forced by the new system. With Wei Ze's current position as the absolute leader of China, he can only temporarily put on the coat of an emperor and secretly promote the continuous progress of China's social system. And the French people began to work hard to promote the republican system from the side of the French people. Li Xin, who was completely disgusted by those feudal autocracy, really thought that the French people were a very admirable people. At least in the republican system, their level of awareness is admirable.

This kind of emotion is aimed at the republican concept of the French people, and Li Xinke has no admiration for the French upper class. Britain is now ready to take revenge on China, and the French have the same idea. Li Xin knew that the French had a reason to hate China even more. In addition to taking spell Indochina, China seized the Dutch East Indies and sent its navy to seize the French islands in the Pacific.

According to the information that Li Xin, a ministerial-level cadre, can know, what China really values is not those small islands, but New Caledonia among these small islands. New Caledonia is rich in nickel ore, and China has taken it away. Anyway, I have basically torn my face with France, there are many lice and there are no worries about debts, and if I offend France again, I will be offended.

Li Xin originally had no illusions about this visit, and it would be great if the French raised their noble hands and drove Li Xin away. Upon arrival in Paris, the situation was similar to Li Xin's expectations, and the ten delegations, including the guards, were arranged in a hotel "guarded" by heavy soldiers. Everyone is very relaxed about this kind of treatment. As long as the French do something inferior, the Chinese delegation will be able to leave immediately.

However, the French do not have any inferior practices, they have a straight face, they should salute, guard, and guide the way, and they are meticulous in what they do, and even the honorifics that should be in the words are a lot of words. Years later, Li Xin was able to do what the French did because they couldn't tell that the old embassy that China had bought was destroyed by the French. In accordance with the diplomatic convention, the French government is required to make reparations. Under the circumstances at that time, it was impossible for the French to pay a single Soviet to China. This matter was forcibly covered up.

Li Xin didn't know about this at the time, but when they met, the Dutch ambassador to France actually appeared in the conference room. Obviously, the French and the Dutch want to talk about their grievances with China together.

"Your Excellency, judging from the current situation, China does not seem to have any intention of entering into any diplomatic negotiations with France and the Netherlands." The Minister for Foreign Affairs of France raised such a question.

The French were so cheerful, and Li Xin also replied cheerfully: "Then what do you think we have to talk about?" Or do you think we can negotiate now? ”

"We're not in favor of the U.S. getting Louisiana, but I think there are some remedial measures that need to be done in terms of diplomatic relations between China and France. And your country also paid for the purchase to Russia, so there is no reason to refuse to talk to us about this. "The French Foreign Minister put forward his opinion.

The Dutch ambassador continued: "I don't think it is at all glorious for China to attack the Dutch East Indies under the pretext of war against Britain. But my country believes that something has happened and needs to be closed. ”

Li Xin didn't like to hear this, and he immediately retorted to the Dutch ambassador, "The British fleet pretended to be the Spanish fleet to attack our fleet, and also sank an ironclad ship of our fleet. The role played by the Dutch East Indies in that incident was not at all glorious. At least we are now fighting the war with open swords and guns, without pretending to be attacked by other countries' fleets. ”

Accused by Li Xin, the Dutch ambassador immediately retorted: "What does Your Excellency mean that you are taking revenge for that incident?" But did you really have no plans to attack the Dutch East Indies at that time? And when the treaty was signed, we don't think that China did something in it! ”

According to the treaty between China and the British, China had to notify the British before starting 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 the Spaniards and the French were "forgotten" by the Chinese when they signed it. In the treaty, the British had the right to mediate only before China took the initiative to attack the Dutch East Indies and Japan. The French and Spaniards did not enjoy this treatment.

When the British ambassador received the Chinese notice, he was furious. Less than a year earlier, China had effectively threatened the Dutch East Indies, and with the mediation of the British, the two sides finally revised the commercial contract. Shorten this free mining period to 8 years.

The British Governor of the Straits Settlements originally thought that the Dutch East Indies government was making a bit of a fuss, but in the past ten months, more and more Chinese oil tankers have sailed to Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies. In order to improve the efficiency of oil production, China built oil pipelines and terminals in the Dutch East Indies.

According to the Dutch East Indies, China has long coveted Dutch minerals and is bent on plundering Dutch minerals. Long before China signed the mining agreement, China had sent spies to carry out exploration work in the Dutch East Indies.

The British had consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and based on the information collected by the consulates and the information provided by British merchants, Chinese shipyards frantically built oil tankers and made oil drums. China's oil refineries are being built not too far across the Yangtze River in Nanjing. Ships carrying various oil products are constantly coming and going every day.

The British Governor of the Straits Settlements did not believe the claims of the Dutch East Indies authorities until he learned of China's actions. With the level of prospecting in this era, the exploration of that year, the production of ore in that year, and the large-scale transportation in that year. If this is not premeditated, then what is not?

This is how the contradictions accumulate, and China's attempt to use peaceful means to obtain benefits that cannot be obtained by war proves that the agreement signed by China is a complete hoax. Of course, the British would not be deceived, and neither would the Dutch East Indies. The only thing they didn't expect was that China was planning much longer than the two countries had imagined. When Britain thought that it could teach China a hard lesson with the army, China, which was already ready to stop, taught Britain a hard lesson with its backhand.

China's view is different, the British have always relied on naval superiority to ride on China's head, and China has been dissatisfied for 20 years. Twenty years later, China has the opportunity to take revenge, and how can China, which has been preparing for 20 years, not let go of the big fight.

The diplomats blamed each other meaninglessly like kindergarten children, and when everyone was done, they drank a few sips of coffee and began to talk about the aftermath. The demands of France and the Netherlands were simple, to follow the example of Russia. China has been beating Russia for several years in a row, until Russia can no longer withstand it, and China has spent a lot of money to buy nearly 4 million square kilometers of land. France and the Netherlands were also beaten and lost their land. China has to pay a sum of money anyway.

On the first day, they established their positions with each other, and then the Chinese envoys took the train back to Marseille and inquired about the country by telegram. The comments on the Netherlands and France were intended to be consulted by the entire delegation. Wei Ze's reply was that he couldn't give more. Li Xin began to bargain with the French and Dutch in Paris.