The sunlight in the Zhengda Light Hall was obscured by a dark cloud in the sky at some point, which made the hall slightly darker.

Brooke's face wasn't very clear in the light, but everyone could feel his nervousness.

In fact, Brooke's nervous heart was trembling right now, and the emperor's offer was almost all beyond the bottom line he had drawn up before he came here.

Queen Vidomia and the House of Representatives did not get a single issue clear, and this time the negotiations were not with any European country, they were facing a distant Eastern Empire.

The empire, which he considered even more powerful than the British, had no cards to play in this negotiation.

"Dear Your Majesty, I can't agree to any of these requests, because this is beyond all the bottom lines we provide, and I hope Your Majesty can make reasonable suggestions." Brooke's expression became more and more solemn.

"Reasonable advice?" Xiao Ming showed a playful smile, "Allowing you British to establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese Empire, and also communicate with each other, this is already the greatest mercy I have given you, as for the Nanyang is not something that you Europeans can touch, I advise you, it is better to accept the current conditions, otherwise I can only drive you out of the Nanyang countries with my own hands." ”

"Your Majesty......"

Brooke was desperate, he had been wandering for more than half a year to get here, but now he was afraid that he would return in vain, "Your Majesty, allow me to go back and relay these conditions to the British Parliament and the Queen, and I think we will be able to establish a secure relationship." ”

Xiao Ming was a little disappointed, it seemed impossible for him to take the Nanyang colony through negotiation, so he said coldly: "Of course you can, but remember that before the negotiations have achieved results, the Chinese Empire and Britain are in a state of war." ”

Brooke's face darkened completely, and the threat of what the emperor had just said was obvious, because any offensive action taken by a country in a state of war was a matter of course.

Perhaps this time around, the British colonies were all in the hands of the Chinese Empire.

"In that case, take your leave!" Brooke was helpless, he did not have the right to sell the colony.

Seeing Brooke and his entourage out of the main hall, Zhan Xingchang said: "I am afraid that this negotiation with Britain and France will end without a hitch, and the most effective way for these foreign countries to recognize the reality is war. ”

Yang Chengye said: "The purpose of their coming this time is just to make a truce with us and think that they will win more preparation time. ”

Xiao Ming nodded slightly, and he said: "What Elder Yang Ge said is very true, it is because of this that I will put forward these conditions, but since we can't get what we want through negotiations, we can only solve it with war." “

"The military reform has been completed, and now is a good time to use soldiers." Fiji stroked his beard and chuckled softly.

Pang Yukun said; "The British talks have collapsed, and it is estimated that France will not be much better, as the emperor said, it is almost hot for Britain and France to completely soften in Asia."

Xiao Ming was noncommittal, he then asked Qian Dafu to call Henry to the palace and made a similar request, and like Brooke, Henry chose to refuse, and it was even more crisp than Brooke.

Within an hour, the British and French envoys departed one after another, and the negotiations ended in failure.

"Prepare for war!"

In the Zhengda Guangming Palace, Xiao Ming made a decision.

……

Outside the palace gate, Brooke was waiting for Henry, and when he saw Henry come out with a dejected face, he said, "It seems that the result of your negotiations is not much better." “

"So, it looks like you must be talking badly." From Brooke's tone, Henry judged Brooke's situation.

Nodding, Brooke said directly: "Failed, this greedy emperor is asking too high, which is unacceptable to the British." ”

"Mine is the same, but that's exactly what I need." Henry smiled mysteriously.

France now seems to be strong, but in fact there are many internal contradictions, the army has long been complaining about André's rule, if the war in Asia is lost, public opinion will make André get out of power sooner, and they need a stronger leader.

Bruke, apparently unable to understand what Henry meant, said, "This is a strange remark, perhaps we should talk about cooperation now, are you so prepared to lose your colony?" ”

"A divided Europe cannot stand against the Chinese Empire, and we can only win if the whole of Europe is bathed in the glory of France." Henry said coldly.

Brooke was stunned for a moment, he suddenly felt a little uneasy, and combined with the news he had received, it seemed that all the terrible changes were now taking place in France.

This change was contrary to the tenets of the French Revolution and the ghost of the restoration of the empire floated.

He was about to ask, when Tang Wenjie came out of the palace gate and came to the two.

"My emperor has decreed that the British and French envoys are not allowed to stay in Qingzhou and leave the territory of the Chinese Empire as soon as possible." Tang Wenjie looks like a businessman.

Brooke sighed, he was also going to stay in Qingzhou for a while to observe here, now that this possibility has been completely eliminated, it is obvious that this emperor will not give them any face.

With a sigh, Henry and Brooke led the mission staff to the station with Tang Wenjie, and they would return under Tang Wenjie's watch.

At the same time that Brooke and Henry were deported, Xiao Ming returned to the imperial study, and then he summoned the chief officer of the staff, Cui Shang'an.

Niu Ben and Luo Quan formally asked him to return to seclusion during the military reform, and he also agreed to the request of the two, after which the Military Aircraft Department was cancelled, but the General Staff Headquarters was retained.

Cui Shang'an, who used to be Luo Quan's adjutant in the General Staff Department, was promoted by him; through this military reform, the functions of the General Staff Department have also been refined: First, his orders will be directly delivered to the various military regions through the General Staff Department; second, the General Staff Department will set up a logistics department and an equipment department, and third, it will be responsible for drawing up operational plans.

In general, his leadership of the army will be more direct after the military reform.

"Your Majesty."

Cui Shang'an stood in front of Xiao Ming, looking a little excited.

Just a year ago, he was depressed, but he didn't expect that he first entered the general staff from the Qingzhou Army at that time, and now he has become the chief officer of the general staff in the blink of an eye.

Many officials regard Cui Shang'an's gain as the emperor's balance to the Fei family, after all, Cui Shang'an is the brother of the current imperial concubine, and it is also rumored that the emperor knows the favor of the emperor, which is a reward for the king of Huainan to take the initiative to cut the domain.

But no matter what the reason is, now Cui Shangan is quite proud.