Hu Xiaoyan got out of the car at the intersection in front of him, and he asked Angel to follow Ambassador Luo Fenglu back to the embassy to rest. At this point in time, in Hu Xiaoyan's absence, he didn't dare to let the coachman send Angel home alone. London was not as safe as it was in later generations. The dark corners are full of killing and stealing! As a precaution, he took out a revolver and gave it to Angel. This revolver was only recently bought by him. A total of twenty were given to his subordinates and non-commissioned officers. He also kept one.

Come to the agreed café, which is empty. It's about ten o'clock in the evening. Most people are partying in the streets and bars. The more elegant cafes have a lot fewer people.

After ordering a cup of coffee, Hu Xiaoyan quietly read the newspaper. British politics was still very stable at this time, and the British Cabinet, headed by Lord Salisbury, had unparalleled leadership over Britain and its colonial owners. As Lord Salisbury's right-hand man to the prime minister, Chamberlain also played a very important role in this. At this time, in fact, many matters in the cabinet were handled by Chamberlain. There is news that Lord Salisbury is already very ill. In particular, vision loss is severe. In many cases, it was just his subordinates who read the documents like him, and he gave instructions, and the final process was entirely handled by Chamberlain.

Chamberlain had two positions at this time, one was assistant to the prime minister and the other was colonial minister. The eventual declaration of war on the Transvaal was also manipulated by Chamberlain. Chamberlain at this time was by no means a representative of weakness and incompetence in the later period! Iron-blooded ruthlessness is synonymous with him! So later he defeated all competitors by an absolute margin and became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Even in the last election, he maintained his absolute superiority over Churchill. It's just that Wilhelm II and the mustache are too anxious. In particular, the mustache marched into Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and other places not long after the signing of the Anglo-German Non-Aggression Pact in Munich, which directly threatened the security of Britain and France on the mainland. This also led directly to the fall of the Chamberlain regime.

Chamberlain's iron-blooded approach to the colonies contrasted sharply with his appeasement of Germany. So if Chamberlain is a congenital appeaser, then Hu Xiaoyan absolutely does not believe it. He believed only one thing: "There is no love without a reason in the world, and there is no hate without a reason." ”

The reason for Chamberlain's appeasement should be because of the different position of his ass. The reason why Churchill won the support of the majority of the people and led the war against Germany was because he stood behind the navy of the British Empire, and later also included the army. Behind him is the army. So Churchill necessarily supported war rather than appeasement.

On the other hand, Chamberlain was always appeased and did not want war! So who is behind him? What is the direct connection between this and Chamberlain's vigorous efforts to woo him and Li Yan?

Hu Xiaoyan fell into deep thought.

It was much later that Chamberlain arrived.

"Sorry, I waited." Chamberlain looked apologetic. You have to say that Chamberlain did have a special face, and when he laughed, it was easy for people to feel good.

"No, I just arrived." Hu Xiaoyan put away the newspaper.

Chamberlain reached out and took the newspaper and flipped through it roughly, then took the waiter's coffee.

"Mr. Lee, you are British. Grew up in the UK and was educated in the UK. I believe you should be able to embrace the British idea. "Chamberlain got straight to the point.

"As an Englishman, you should understand that we in the UK do not have too many territorial claims."

Hu Xiaoyan nodded. Britain really did not have a territorial claim, especially the quagmire of the Manchus. They are now an empire on which the sun never sets. For the sake of the interests of the Manchus, if you intervene in it, it is easy to trap yourself in it, and it is possible to face the old adversary Russia. Britain has the ability to take out the Russian navy, but that doesn't mean it can take out all of Russia's land forces.

"We want world peace, not war." Chamberlain raised his hands, "You see how nice it is for everyone to sit here drinking coffee and talking about business. Why do you want to fight and kill all day long? ”

"Our attitude towards the Manchus began only because of the Qing Dynasty's unfriendly attitude towards our country in the first place. In fact, we defeated the Qing and only asked them to open their markets, but did not ask them to cede Shanghai and Tianjin. ”

"We are not interested in the territory of the Manchus, we are only interested in money." Chamberlain made a gesture of pinching the banknote.

Hu Xiaoyan still looked at Chamberlain quietly, and he seemed to understand who the forces behind Chamberlain were.

"You are the most sober person in the entire Qing Kingdom! He is also the prime minister of the Yamen of the General Department of Mining in Anhui. I believe that with the help of our British Empire, you will soon become the most powerful person in the entire Qing Kingdom. Chamberlain covered the newspaper. Sipping coffee.

"Nope! Li Zhongtang and Zhang Zhongtang are. Hu Xiaoyan denied it with a smile.

"Are you laughing at me?" Chamberlain frowned unhappily, "Still don't believe me?" ”

"Nope. I am sure that no one will laugh at you, one of the most powerful men in the British Empire. Hu Xiaoyan complimented.

"I need a market in Qingguo. Not a few treaty ports. It's all inland markets. Chamberlain spoke his terms.

"How many treaty ports do you have a population combined? The Qing State had a population of 40,000. What a huge market it is. ”

"The most important thing is that he doesn't have a strong government yet." Hu Xiaoyan added with a smile, "If the Qing State is a country like Russia, it is obviously not in the interests of Britain. But in fact, the Qing State was a backward and easy country to control. Such a market is in the best interests of the UK. ”

"I didn't misread you, Mr. Li." Chamberlain exclaimed, "Yes. I don't deny that. ”

"Japan can support a country's consumption just by exporting some daily necessities such as cotton cloth to China, which shows the huge domestic market of the Qing Dynasty. But this huge market is not open to the UK. This is grossly unfair. Chamberlain said eagerly, "Tell me your terms." Mr. Lee. I'm sure you understand. ”

Hu Xiaoyan restrained his smile. Although he had expected it, he still couldn't believe it. Chamberlain actually represented the interests of the emerging capitalists in Britain. No wonder he adhered to a policy of bloody repression in the colonies and appeasement in Europe. Because the colonies had the interests of the British capitalists. And in other European countries, even if Chamberlain gave up Poland, Chamberlain can still sit in the position of prime minister. For in countries such as Poland, the interests of the British capitalists were not big enough to make them resolve to go to war.

But when Germany attacked Belgium and other countries and directly threatened the security of Britain and France, neither the capitalists nor the army could bear it. Because it is a real threat to their personal safety.

"What's in it for me?" Hu Xiaoyan blinked.

"You will rule that mighty empire!" Chamberlain replied with a smile.

"With a few powerful forces?" Hu Xiaoyan didn't believe that Chamberlain had such good intentions.

"Then it depends on your strength. With the support of our British Empire, can't you defeat those opponents? ”

It was with the support of the UK that I couldn't beat it. Hu Xiaoyan knew it, maybe he said this, he also said it to Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong and others.

"Well, you know, I have a university in Shanghai, and I need your support."

"No problem. As long as you can afford it. Chamberlain casually agreed.

"I want all the facilities of a whole university." Hu Xiaoyan didn't believe that Chamberlain would be kind.

"I don't think it's a big problem, but I warn you, is it enough for you to go to college?" Chamberlain was a little impatient.

"Of course, I also have an iron mine there in Huaibei that needs all the equipment of a steel mill."

"And I need the support of your country's officers and intelligence officers. The number of Japanese intelligence officers in our country is at least a few thousand. ”

"There are no problems with equipment and officers. But intelligence officers? Didn't you detain Lawrence? Chamberlain was a little dissatisfied.

"Mr. Lawrence is not very cooperative, I hope you will send more intelligence officers to help us organize our own intelligence organization against Japan."

"If that's all I can't convince the prime minister and parliament." Chamberlain raised his index finger and shook it.

"Where I rule, there will be no obstacle to British goods. For example, cotton cloth in Japan will be more 'tax-cared for'," Hu Xiaoyan replied with a smile.

"Of course, normal taxes are not deductible and I can guarantee that British goods will be on the same starting line as local goods. If British businessmen are willing to build factories in the country, not only will they receive government support, but they will also be treated better in terms of taxes than their own businessmen. Hu Xiaoyan put forward the concept of reform and opening up. There's no way around it. Who told the Hui businessmen not to give up?

"Then in principle, I agreed to your request. I believe that the specific content will be of interest to businessmen. Chamberlain stood up and stretched out his right hand, "I hope you can get more rights in the Qing Kingdom soon." ”

"I expect it too." Hu Xiaoyan replied with a smile.

"I can assure you that everything you do in the UK will not be hindered in any way." Chamberlain turned and left. None of them spoke about how Hu Xiaoyan could guarantee what he said. Because the navy of the British Empire would ensure that Hu Xiaoyan made the "right" decision.

Neville Chamberlain is working for the next prime minister. Hu Xiaoyan thought secretly in his heart, and at the same time looked for more interests for the consortium behind him.

However, Hu Xiaoyan believes that he should be the first and only "traitor" who promised to fully open the Qing domestic market.

Capitalists only care about profits, and even do not hesitate to sell the country. And although Hu Xiaoyan is not a capitalist, he also has to "sell the country". Because he has no funds, no strength.

Will my evaluation in history be the same as that of Yuan Shikai who signed the "Twenty-one Articles"?