China's entry into the land offensive in Africa immediately caused a stir throughout the European world, and only a few days after the two battalions of the Marine Corps under the command of the Second Fleet were engaged in the military strategy of the upper Maputo River, various discussions began in the media of various European countries.

As a newly rising military power in the Far East, especially in the transcendent results of military wars in the past decade, European countries are obviously maintaining a restrained attitude, that is, the Russians, who have almost become sworn enemies, are very dissatisfied and loudly emphasize that the Chinese are obviously infringing on the interests of the whole of Europe by counting Africa!

However, Russia had almost no interests in Africa, so the attitude of the Russian Empire was the least important, and Qin Kai soon felt the strongest reaction from the British Empire......

On the 10th, just five days after the start of the military operation in distant Africa, Bauer, the British minister to China, had personally visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a telegram from London to seek diplomatic mediation on China's military operations in Africa...... However, Bauer was reluctant to take the closed door, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only came forward with a deputy counselor to have an unimportant conversation with him and told him to wait for news from the Chinese government.

Power, for his part, conveyed London's intentions to the Chinese government and demanded that China refrain from expanding into the interior of Africa...... Of course, this request was obviously selectively ignored by the young Chinese diplomat, which made Bauer extremely depressed, and he tried to ask the Prime Minister about the situation in Africa through other channels, but was told that Premier Qin was not in Beijing, so he asked him to wait!

And this wait, that is, 10 days, and the news from the British from the front. But it was completely closed. Because the only way to enter the battlefield - the Maputo River. Now fully controlled by the Chinese navy, this important waterway into the heart of southern Africa is forbidden to continue its march except for Chinese-flagged merchant ships...... Even the German fleet.

Therefore, on November 15, after Bauer finally waited for Qin Kai to agree to the news of the meeting, he immediately carefully scrutinized the meaning of the London side before coming to the door after meeting Qin Kai. His first question was to ask about China's intentions in Africa!

"Dear Premier Qin, in accordance with the relationship agreement between the two countries that we signed earlier, the Chinese government has promised that overseas expansion will avoid direct conflict with the British Empire, for which the British Empire has also guaranteed your country's commercial passage of the Suez Canal, I would like to ...... This consensus should not be overruled by you! ”

Qin Kai had long expected Bauer's intentions, military expansion in Africa would never be his core interest, and China did not lack human resources at all. What's more, after conquering the countries of the South Seas. There are a large number of lazy natives in the local area, and they are still thinking about how to use it, which will go to Africa to fish for people......

However, the expansion of Maputo in Africa is a necessary action, and the inland areas of the Zulu tribes that the navy is attacking are the best foundation for the long-term occupation of the Maputo basin, and in the era of the weapons revolution, it will be the area where any enemy will attack first, and the isolated base, in the attack from the sea, will encounter great challenges and damage, without sufficient depth, it will not be able to hold on in the true sense of the word.

Of course, more importantly, this Zulu territory, which later became a closed indigenous monarchy in modern society, fully demonstrated its excellent strategic position, and was close to the Transvaal Republic, and allowed itself to make the most of the upcoming Boer War.

He immediately opened his mouth very sternly and questioned Bauer, "Dear Bauer, you are too stingy, do you think so Prime Minister Gladstone too?" ”

This question surprised Bauer, he is naturally very anxious now, hoping to immediately understand what the Chinese want to do in Africa, and these speculations will naturally not be London paraphrasing the meaning of Prime Minister Gladstone, and the more Cheng dù should be the idea of the cabinet and the Admiralty, and he hopes to understand Qin Kai's thoughts immediately!

Bauer was stunned and immediately opened his mouth to defend: "Dear Premier Qin, this is naturally not what the prime minister meant, but ...... Your country's actions in Africa have caused the European media and London think tanks to speculate about our previous agreements...... This also makes me, the Chinese minister, very passive......"

As soon as he said this, he was interrupted by Qin Kai to complain, this Prime Minister Qin showed a very generous and frank attitude, turned the expression of Yan Sù just now, smiled slightly and said: "Dear Bauer, you have dealt with us for more than ten years, and what I promised will naturally never be breached...... As for the African problem that you are worried about, I have a piece of news for you...... Yesterday evening, the Maputo garrison sent a telegram that our officers had paid a call on King Moodiva II of the Zulu tribe, and that Moodiwa II had kindly agreed to accept Chinese protection, and that he and his 12 princesses would move into the city of Pytrol! ”

Bauer, who had just picked up his teacup and was about to drink water, was taken aback when he heard the word "protection" said by Qin Kai, this Zulu tribal territory was geographically close to a large area of Boer settlements and indigenous tribal protectorates controlled by South African companies, but because it needed to cross the long Dekenras Mountains, it had not been accused by the British.

But in fact, the Portuguese have always had more convenient conditions to attack this territory along the Maputo River, but the Portuguese are now old and old, and this territory does not have enough plains to invade, and the local natives are poor to death, so they have never had the idea of attacking here.

The British initially believed that the Chinese army's attack on this territory could last two to three months, after all, it was a huge territory with an area of nearly 20,000 square kilometers, and the attack was nearly 100 kilometers deep, mostly mountainous, but ...... Now Qin Kai has made his intentions very clear - the Chinese government has taken full control of this new territory.

This news immediately made Bauer's original intention to relay London's intentions completely empty...... It was obviously impossible for this Premier Qin to spit out the meat that had already been eaten because of the British request, and he immediately turned to ask: "Premier Qin, your country's new territory in Africa already borders the Transvaal Republic, and we hope that you will abide by the agreement between the two countries and not provide any form of military assistance to the Transvaal Republic!" ”

Hearing Bauer's request, Qin Kai, who had a rather amiable expression just now, suddenly made a straight face, "Minister Bauer, there has never been a clause in the relationship agreement between our two countries to support each other, not to mention, it seems that your army has just suffered a defeat in the Transvaal, and your government has officially recognized the illegality of this military action...... Then again, should the normal trade between our country and the Transvaal be subject to the supervision of your country? ”

Bauer's face turned a little blue, but he understood in his heart that Britain was indeed ugly in this matter, and he couldn't take it on the table at all, but the British Empire had no intention of stopping there, and after this disgraceful defeat, it completely strengthened Prime Minister Granston's idea of completely eliminating the Transvaal Republic...... Any enemy who humiliates the British Empire will be dealt the heaviest blow to the Empire!

However, these words are obviously not suitable to say in front of Qin Kai, the British Empire has just suffered a defeat in China, and it is really stupid to say this kind of self-defeating words, he wiped the cold sweat on his head, and carefully pondered Qin Kai's questioning, and then relaxed the atmosphere......

"Dear Premier Qin, you have misunderstood what I meant, we just hope that your country will not send military assistance to the Transvaal, not questioning, of course, if we can reach some agreement on this, Prime Minister Gladstone is willing to work with you to discuss any conditions that can be mutually beneficial!"

Qin Kai heard that his question had an effect, and he smiled in his stomach, Bauer, since the British are ready to use the Boer War to negotiate terms, he is not the kind of person who does not change, but he will not mind the interests of the Nabur people to fight for other benefits for the country...... However, it is clear that even if the British are ready to beat the Boers, this qiē is still clearly only the private maid of the politicians of the British Empire.

But this was indeed a good opportunity to negotiate terms, and he immediately tapped the table and asked with a smile: "Minister Power, to tell you the truth, the Transvaal has indeed asked us for the purchase of military supplies......

Bauer was also taken aback by the news disclosed by Qin Kai, this Boer man's hands and feet are really fast, it seems that Chinese has just taken control of that Zulu territory, how can he get involved with the Boer so quickly...... Of course, he would not think that this was the news that Qin Kai made up casually, the Chinese had just revealed their intention to expand in Africa, and the possibility of their continued expansion could not be ruled out at all!

Since the Boers are in the way of Chinese, if they do not become friends, they can only be enemies...... The law of the jungle was originally the law of African colonization, and the British did it, the French did it, and the Boers did it...... The Boers had always been intent on destroying the surrounding native kingdoms, but the British Empire was one step ahead and reached protectorate agreements with the native kingdoms.

He immediately asked, "Premier Qin, if your country does not provide military assistance to the Boers, what kind of cooperation do you hope to reach with London?" ”

His question made Qin Kai also frown, Bauer, now is the time for you to propose benefits yourself, and you still want me to talk about it, but ...... Since the British let themselves speak, they were not polite at all, "Dear Bauer, China has provided your country with a vast free trade zone in the South China Sea, and to this day, your colonies still impose high tariffs on Chinese merchant ships, and your country also levies a staggering 180% tea tax...... I think you understand what we're asking for! (To be continued......)