The next day, as expected, the British came! It was not only Peppis who came, but also Chief Minister Hyde, and negotiations began again.

At the very beginning of the talks, Hyde first told Xiong that although the British had suffered some losses in the Dutch attack, the losses were not large, and the British still had the strength to fight.

Xiong did not expose him for this desire, but sat there calmly and confidently, occasionally taking a sip of tea, which was brought from the ship, and the British and Europeans at this time were not in the habit of drinking tea.

Compared to his composure, the British seemed a little anxious, and they were still concerned with the fleet. They were concerned about when the Ming fleet would arrive in England if they were willing to make concessions on some issues.

They need a reply.

But Xiong couldn't give them any positive answers.

“…… I think the fleet, the fleet of the Ming Dynasty will be the basis for our negotiations! Otherwise......"

Hyde once again reiterated the British condition that they could not negotiate until the arrival of the Ming fleet, and that Britain now needed the Ming fleet.

"Even now, I will send out the results of the negotiations here through the Clippers, and then make a decision on the mainland, I'm afraid it will take a year,"

Compared with the anxiety of the British, Xiong Cilu was very calm, and he interrupted Hyde's words,

"Especially at the Cape of Good Hope, our fleet is also needed, after all, the Netherlands is not very far from the Cape of Good Hope......"

Much closer than in the UK......

Hyde's face turned ugly, was he reminding himself that the Dutch threat was imminent?

"If we are allies, then the Ming must show your sincerity!"

"Sincerity?"

Xiong interrupted.

"Is it sincerity that our fleet will arrive in England in a year's time?"

Peppis, who had been sitting on the sidelines, suddenly interjected. A cheerful smile appeared on his face. He said.

"Of course, we can take into account the distance between Daming and England. In the final analysis, the question we are facing now is whether the Ming will send your fleet, and if your fleet is sent in a year's time, then this problem will no longer be a problem, because we will need your help......

No, you don't!

Because by that time, negotiations with the Dutch had already ended.

Hyde stood up, and he looked at Xiong Cishu and said in the calmest tone possible.

"Yes, if it is a year later, I'm afraid the war is over, and there is no need for us to bet everything on the line for an inevitable end......"

"Not everything ......"

Xiong Cixu calmly picked up the tea, and scratched the floating tea leaves on the cup with the lid of the cup, his movements were very elegant, at this moment, so the Britons who participated in the negotiation, when they looked at the Ming officials over there, looked at their neat appearance, they were ashamed of themselves, compared to the Ming people, they were like a group of barbarians.

After taking a sip of tea, Xiong Cixu said unhurriedly:

"The question of the partition of the Netherlands, we think...... It's not practical. Daming has other issues that are of first concern. I've already listed those before. While we have received satisfactory answers to these questions today, we would like to discuss this issue as well. ”

Putting down the teacup in his hand, Xiong Cilu looked directly at Hyde, at the chief minister whose status was equivalent to that of the first assistant minister, and said in another stern and unquestionable tone.

"Let's get straight to the point: as we all know, both New Amsterdam and St. Helena were taken by the British from the Dutch, St. Helena is a very inhospitable island, and New Amsterdam is just a worthless colonial stronghold in North America, and Jamestown is no different. It doesn't make sense for us to dwell on this issue again and again, do these places make sense for the UK? Perhaps St. Helena is a port of call on the sea route between Europe and the East Indies, but believe me, if we wish, it will never be possible for British ships to cross the Cape of Good Hope again, I mean, and if all this happens, what will make sense to the British. ”

Xiong's words made Hyde's face full of anger, and it also made the others full of anger, but they all knew that it was a fact - the Ming had driven the Netherlands out of Asia, and without the permission of the Ming Dynasty, the trade between Europe and Asia would most likely be interrupted.

However, the Ming have no intention of monopolizing trade, and in previous negotiations, they have made clear their attitude and hope to further develop trade with European countries.

"I don't understand,"

Hyde began.

"In that case, then why do you need ......"

Xiong Cixu still interrupted him directly.

"I'm sorry, Chief Minister, but I'm not done yet!"

Again, he continued in a tone of lesson.

"According to the authority granted to me by the Ming court, I must declare that we insist on these demands."

"What?"

Hyde was immediately furious, and he almost jumped out of his seat.

"Is this what is called negotiation? Is the so-called negotiation like this, without any concessions? What are your insistences, and what about our interests? If that's the case, we should go and negotiate with the Dutch! ”

He even went out of his way to emphasize.

"We have already begun negotiations with the Dutch, and the war will soon be over."

Once again, there was silence.

Xiong Cixu looked at Hyde and said after a moment:

"You can indeed negotiate with the Dutch, whose conditions may not be harsher than ours, but what about the future? ……”

"In the future? Does it mean that in the future, the Ming Dynasty is willing to send your fleet to solve the problem with us? ”

Hyde hastily interrupted him.

"It's not impossible."

Xiong Cixu replied.

"I don't think our fleet would have been able to send it to Europe without St. Helena as a mooring."

It was a decoy, not a concrete promise, but it was enough to make all the British people feel excited.

Hyde's brow jumped sharply. He hurriedly considered the situation that was currently developing. For the British, the result is already obvious now, the Ming fleet is too far away, even if the Ming agree to send their fleet now, what is the point?

A year later...... The war did not last until then.

It's a fact!

However, Xiong Cixu's conditions just now made him feel a headache.

These places are indeed not worth mentioning!

Not for the British, at least, but not in the Jamestown colony, where nearly 10,000 British immigrants now live.

"There are a lot of British immigrants living there in Jamestown."

After getting Hyde's hint, Peppis said with a smile.

"We can't cede to foreigners areas where our citizens live,"

He even went out of his way to emphasize.

"This is the difference between us and the Dutch, and Britain will not abdicate its responsibility to its subjects, and I believe the same is true of the Ming Dynasty."

Peppis still had a smile on his face after saying this. When he saw the officials of the Ming Dynasty talking to each other there, there was only one thought left in his heart - he must learn Chinese, otherwise, how could he know what they were talking about and know where their bottom line was?

While the attachés were communicating, Xiong Cixu still sat silently, just looking at Peppis. And no response was given.

"Now, if you can."

Peppis spoke.

"I wonder what you will give us if you ask us for these places? It's just a promise after a year, and your Excellency, believe me, it's not worth a penny......"

It's really not worth a penny!

Xiong nodded and looked at Pepis and asked rhetorically.

"So, what do you need?"

"Britannia!"

Pepis said as he looked at Xiong Cixu.

"Britain is not at a disadvantage in this war, and if it raises its sword, it will surely be able to defeat the enemy of others, but now it has encountered some difficulties, so it needs a friend to extend a hand of friendship, and we are here to shake hands with a friend......"

It's all nonsense!

Just as such a thought came to Xiong's heart, he saw Pepis take out a piece of paper folded in four stacks.

It was only at this time that Xiong Cixu showed some curiosity. He stared at the piece of paper that Peppis was dangling in his hand, and even leaned forward a little.

If nothing else, now the conditions of the British are written in this piece of paper.

"...... Now"

Peppis still clutched the piece of paper in one hand, his eyes fixed on the bear.

"I want to make a request to Daming, and our request ......"

Request?

What kind of requirements?

"We demand ......," continued Ribbentrop slowly, making every word clear, "that the Ming and Britain sign a condition, and this treaty is an agreement between the two countries from this minute." According to the terms of the treaty, our two countries will jointly declare war on the Netherlands in the next war against the Netherlands......"

The other party's proposal made Xiong Cilu raise his shoulders slightly, and he picked up the teacup again and began to drink the tea slowly, while squinting his eyes......

"We believe that this is a precondition for Britain to accept the conditions you have offered,"

Peppis then continued.

"Of course, we can further discuss the terms of the treaty until we reach a clause that we are both satisfied with. Of course, some of the terms are secret and will not be disclosed to the outside world. And what about other than that? ……”

Peppis paused and added.

"Da Ming needs to make a loan to Britain......"

Leaning back slightly, leaning back in the chair, Xiong Cixu narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Well, let's revise the previous proposal!"