On the third day of Li Fusi's secret meeting with Kwan Zhuofan, another minister to China visited the palace of Prince Xuan of Bei Xiaojie in the court, this time it was the British minister Ali Guo.

Of course, Ali Guo came during the day and came to visit generously.

When the tea was served, Guan Zhuofan said: "Sir Ali Guo, please drink this year's 'first stubble' 'Ming Qian Longjing' today - as soon as it is picked, it will be sent to Beijing, and it was just delivered two days ago!" ”

Ah Liguo's eyes lit up: "Ouch, the last time I drank the 'Ming Qian Longjing' at His Royal Highness the Prince's mansion, it was almost two years ago, right?" ”

After a pause, he said with great interest: "Today's tea, if you allow it, I will operate it myself." ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said to the maid who served the tea: "Then please Sir Ah to take care of himself." ”

Ali Guo took the purple sand kettle from the maid's hand, poured the water into the glass, then opened the tin can, used a small wooden clip, took a pinch of tea leaves from the tin can, and gently threw it into the water.

He carefully picked up the water glass, and got closer, the heat was steaming, the fragrance of tea was permeating, he took a soft breath, his eyes were slightly closed, and he looked drunk.

The maid with a big black and shiny braid couldn't help but smile.

The buds and leaves in the glass are stretched out one by one, looking through the wall of the cup, carrying heavy loads and floating.

Ali Guo took a sip lightly and exclaimed, "It's really a good tea-it's sweet and long, and it seems to be smeared with a very thin layer of grease on its lips, so it's really worth-"

After a pause, he changed to non-standard Chinese and said: "The four characters 'tooth and cheek fragrance'!" ”

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said, "Sir Aliguo, when you leave today." Such tea. I'll give you another pack. ”

Ali Guo smiled. Learning from the Chinese, he arched his hand: "Your Royal Highness, thank you very much!" ”

After a pause, he said: "China's Longjing tea, in the past two years, has become my favorite, I believe that people are of the same mind." People all over the world will fall in love with this wonderful tea! After the opening of the Beijing Expo, Longjing tea will surely become a first-class star product of the EXPO, and will go to the world from then on - the EXPO and Longjing Tea will witness the great friendship and fruitful cooperation between China and the United Kingdom! ”

Yo, can you really talk about it, take a sip of tea, and you can talk about "friendship" and "cooperation"?

Okay, I'll just go along with you.

"Your Excellency," Guan Zhuofan nodded, "won my heart." China and Britain are indeed sincere friends. ”

"I fully agree with what His Royal Highness the Prince said - between friends. Be honest with each other, the most sincere friend, must be the most honest friend. ”

Is that my statement?

Guan Zhuofan smiled: "Sir, I also fully agree with what you said - if you have anything you want to ask, please say it frankly." ”

"Okay -- may I ask if China is interested in South Africa...... Establishing a colony? ”

Guan Zhuofan showed a surprised look on his face: "South Africa? Colony? Sir, how could you have such an idea? ”

Ali Guo smiled and said, "I heard that there are Chinese troops in South Africa - there are more than one. Well, one is found south of Pretoria and one south of the Fall River and west of Bloemfontein. ”

After a pause, he continued: "Although, none of them are wearing military uniforms, and their numbers are not large, there is enough evidence that they are all well-trained regular soldiers. Some people even believe that with the equipment and quality of these two armies, it is unlikely that they will be ordinary Chinese troops, but only yours -- the Xuan army. ”

"Your Royal Highness," said Aliguo, with a smile on his face, "do not misunderstand - Southern Africa is not a confinement of any person or country, and that it is China's right to colonize South Africa with the intention of China, and that Britain has no intention of interfering - as Minister of Her Majesty's Government to China, I have only been instructed to confirm this fact to you. ”

Britain has no intention of interfering? I'll take a look first.

"Your Excellency," Kwan Zhuofan said in a very sincere tone, "you may have misunderstood. The two teams you are talking about are indeed my people, and they are indeed from the Xuan Army, but they are not soldiers - they have both retired. These two teams were stationed in South Africa as the Mine Protection Team of Citi Mining Company of South Africa -- as a friend, I have no secret of the special relationship between Citi Mining South Africa and me in your presence. ”

Ali Guo's smile relaxed: "Ah...... That's how it goes. ”

"The Mine Protection Team stationed south of Pretoria," said Kwan Zhuofan, "is responsible for the security of the gold mines in Johannesburg; Mine protection teams stationed south of the Fall River and west of Bloemfontein were responsible for the security of Kimberly-Clark's diamond mines. Sir, I'm sure you know the state of law and order in these two areas—"

After a pause, he continued: "In fact, although the law and order in Johannesburg is terrible, there is still a government of the Transvaal Republic in name; The area south of the Fall River and west of Bloemfontein is terra nullius, and there is no such thing as 'law and order', only the 'law of the jungle'. ”

"I currently have the equivalent of two battalions in South Africa, Sir and, to tell you the truth, that number will probably double as the mining area expands. However, even so, you should agree that four battalions is not a lot in relation to the security situation in South Africa and the basic rights and interests that I am trying to protect. ”

"Four battalions? Yes...... Not much, not much. ”

That's not less.

The smile on Ali Guo's face changed subtly: "So, alas, how important is government and order! Without a government, or if the government does not act and cannot establish a basic order, the businessmen can only rely on their own strength and ask for more blessings! ”

After a pause, Pi smiled without smiling: "Well, if the Chinese government colonizes South Africa, won't it be able to establish its own government and provide order and protection for its own businessmen?" His Royal Highness...... What is it not intended for? ”

Guan Zhuofan shook his head firmly: "No, neither the Chinese government nor I have any intention of colonizing South Africa!" At the same time, I also believe that China will not be able to colonize South Africa in the foreseeable future. ”

"In addition, the colonization of South Africa has no real significance for China - China's road to modernization has just begun, and it is not known how many years it will take to complete this task! In such a situation, how is it possible to have extra energy to throw abroad? ”

Ali Guo nodded: "Yes, too." ”

"As for the security and order in South Africa," Kwan Zhuofan's voice became more sincere, "I think that the only thing in the world that has the ability to establish an effective order in South Africa and provide long-term security for businessmen who invest in South Africa is ...... British Empire. ”

*(To be continued.) )