Seeing that Bismarck didn't bite the hook at all, Salisbury was dumbfounded, although Salisbury knew Bismarck's argument that he didn't need a strong navy, but he never expected that Bismarck would really reject this strategic place that was extremely important to the Germans. Could it be that Bismarck was very angry that the German Navy's shipbuilding program in recent years had squeezed out the army's military spending, and that the rumors that he was dissatisfied with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who supported the navy, were true, so even if he lost strategic points, he would have to block the navy?

Seeing that the Germans did not play according to the routine, Salisbury was a little panicked, but at this time he could not show timidity, and he calmed down, and said with a smirk: "Your country's trust in our country is really touching. In the same way, we have great goodwill towards your country, so we feel that we should give Germany a place like Helgoland, which is of great importance to Germany, but given the great value of this area, we should not give it away for nothing, otherwise there will be opposition at home. Therefore, I hope that your government will show some goodwill, and we will be able to hand over Helgoland Island to your country smoothly. ”

Bismarck put his hands on his chest, leaned back in his chair, and showed that he was not interested, and then said in an indifferent tone: "Thank you for such kindness to your government, since your country is so considerate of our country, although a pile of broken reefs in the North Sea is really worthless, but what do you want to exchange it for first, let's hear first." ”

Seeing that Bismarck finally asked for a quid pro quo, Salisbury breathed a sigh of relief, and thought to himself: 'This old fox is really pretending.' If the Germans really didn't want Helgoland, it would be difficult for me here, and now the fox's tail is finally exposed. ’

However, perhaps it was Bismarck's attitude that made Salisbury shake a little, and after making up his mind, Salisbury made his own conditions: "In order to settle the dispute between Britain, the United States, and Germany over Samoa, we hope that your country will give up its power in Samoa; We would then be more than happy to hand over Helgoland to your country if you wish to transfer Vitu (present-day Kionga Triangle in Kenya) and Zanzibar to our country. ”

Salisbury's conditions are equivalent to the historical Anglo-American and German Treaty of Berlin on Samoa signed in Berlin in 1889 and the Treaty of Helgoland-Zanzibar signed in 1890 combined, but Samoa can be waived, Vitu and Zanzibar can also be given up for Bismarck, who does not approve of colonial policy, but in exchange for Helgolan, an island that is extremely important to the navy but of little value to Germany, Bismarck will still settle this account.

"A pile of broken reefs in the North Sea costs our country a kingdom, two large islands, and an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean in exchange. Your country really has a good appetite, where does your country have the confidence to think that we will agree to such an unequal exchange? If Your Excellency the Prime Minister is so insincere, then let's not talk about it any further. Bismarck flatly refused.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, don't be angry, it's really a groundless accusation to say that our country is not sincere. Perhaps His Excellency the Prime Minister does not understand the value of Helgoland, but let me give an analogy, so to speak, that Helgoland is as valuable to your country as Gibraltar is to my country. Can you understand that even if you take out 10 Vitu and Zanzibar, our country will not hand over Gibraltar to anyone else, and now we only need one Vitu and Zanzibar, and Germany will be able to get Gibraltar in the North Sea, which is already the greatest sincerity of our country. ”

"If it were Gibraltar in the North Sea, then it would be managed by your country, and our navy would not need or be able to manage such a strategic location. And Vitu and Zanzibar can bring huge economic benefits to our country, so this exchange is quite disadvantageous for our country, so we are not interested. As for the Admiralty, please rest assured, Your Excellency Prime Minister, that with me, they will not be interested in Helgolan. Bismarck made no secret of his hostility to the Navy, his authority and arbitrariness as Chancellor of the Reich. Of course, the content of the words is to talk nonsense with their eyes open, Vitu and Zanzibar are not like Cameroon and Tanganyika, Cameroon is developing well, Tanganyika has found a lot of resources. Vitu and Zanzibar now have neither resources nor markets for Germany, which really means little, but Bismarck is not willing to let the British succeed in this way.

The sky-high price is to sit on the ground and pay back, this set Salisbury and Bismarck are very familiar with. Seeing that Bismarck was soft and hard, Salisbury had no choice but to put down his posture and asked: "Our country has shown the greatest sincerity, and your country is not satisfied, so I don't know what conditions Your Excellency the Prime Minister is willing to offer in exchange for Helgoland Island." ”

Seeing Salisbury loosen his mouth, Bismarck's heart was happy, and the British were relieved, then the initiative changed hands. At this time, there is no need to be so stubborn, and replied in a soft tone: "For Helgoland Island, my country is really not interested, but if your country only wants Vitu and Zanzibar, we can't talk about it, my country has always wanted to reach an understanding and consensus with your country on African issues, so there are also several sets of plans, and Vitu and Zanzibar we can recognize the value to the United Kingdom, so in order to show our sincerity, we can take out these two areas." However, your country must also show reciprocal sincerity. ”

Finally confirming that the Germans had indeed come prepared, Salisbury felt that it was a big trouble, but he still asked unwillingly: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, can you be sure that your country really does not want Helgoland?" His Majesty Frederick III probably objected" Salisbury also knew that Bismarck and Frederick III were at odds, and thought that this time it was Bismarck's own initiative, so he opened his mouth to test it.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, rest assured, His Majesty the Emperor naturally agrees. How could His Majesty not know such a major event as the memorandum of understanding between the two countries, and His Excellency the Prime Minister was too careful. ”

"In that case, I wonder what kind of sincerity your country wants from our country?" Seeing that Bismarck is not leaking, then Salisbury can only go straight to the topic, no matter how you Bismarck opens his mouth, my side also gritted his teeth and did not let go, everyone is a master of playing the sky-high price and sitting on the ground to pay back, and I don't necessarily lose to you, the old fox.

"Since our colonies are too scattered in Africa, the Army finds it difficult to manage and defend them, and therefore hopes that it would be best if the colonies could be concentrated together. Therefore, we feel that it would be great if Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia could be handed over to us to link Namibia and Tanganyika. For this we can pay Vitu, Zanzibar and South Somalia. ”

Salisbury was frightened by Bismarck's appetite, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia combined area of more than 1.7 million square kilometers, the Germans only want to exchange a small area of less than 200,000 square kilometers of Vitu, Zanzibar and South Somalia, this shameless Cheng dù is even more shameless than his vain attempt to exchange Helgoland for Vitu and Zanzibar's area of less than 10,000 square kilometers.

"It's impossible! The area you requested is more than 8 times the area you took out! China will never agree to such an unequal exchange. If your country is so insincere, we don't need to talk about it anymore. The angry Salisbury was furious, but he did not realize that what he had said was exactly the same as what Bismarck had just said. It's just that his anger and corruption are compared with Bismarck's calm and leisurely, and the judgment is high.

In the face of Salisbury's accusation, Bismarck said in a helpless tone: "Well, since His Excellency the Prime Minister has said so, Germany is willing to take a step back in order to show its sincerity, and the area of German Togoland (now Togo) will also be handed over to your country." ”

As soon as this remark came out, Salisbury was even more angry, Togoland is only 50,000 square kilometers, and listening to Bismarck's tone, it is as if Germany has made great concessions and Britain has taken advantage of it.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, you are so insincere, and there is absolutely no possibility for our country to agree to such a demand. If you just ask for one of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, we can still continue to talk, but if your country wants to swallow it in one bite, it is not afraid to eat it. Salisbury couldn't help but threaten.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your concern, as for whether it will hold on, I don't bother you, the German Army can fight well, and it is not a problem to have three areas. If only one of the three is chosen, our colonies still cannot be connected, so what is the use? Moreover, these three areas are deep inland, inconvenient transportation, poor environment, and development is not easy, even if you get our country, you have to spend a lot of effort to develop, and Vitu and Zanzibar are both East African coasts, and the conditions are good, so although the area is small, but the value is high, how can Your Excellency the Prime Minister think that we have taken advantage of it. "Bismarck had no fear to push Salisbury's threat back, and in the colonies, the British and German armies fought against each other, and the British had a chance to win? Unless you want to fight an all-out war, the problem is that the British are too late to deal with France, and they want to have a friendly match with Germany?

"Your Excellency, if Germany insists on doing so, then I am afraid that we will not be able to carry out this meeting." Seeing that Bismarck's oil and salt did not enter, Salisbury was annoyed, the Germans demanded too much of the sky, and they couldn't afford it.

"If your country is not willing to accept it, then forget it, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia are three regions, which are only valuable when they are connected, and any one of them has no meaning for my country. If there is no better building in your country, then we will talk about it next time."

In the end, because Bismarck resolutely refused to let go, the talks ended in vain. Both sides have died down, regrouped their postures, adjusted their strategies, and prepared for another battle in the coming days.