After receiving the notice from home, the Portuguese ambassador was also thinking about the purpose of allowing the Kingdom of Portugal to participate in the negotiating mission, and he was puzzled. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

On January 9, when he received an attack on the Macao lease by the Chinese Empire, he immediately understood the Xia Empire's intention to let them participate in the negotiating group.

The Kingdom of Portugal, with a population of only more than 5 million, did not dare to confront the Xia Empire at all, although it was very dissatisfied with the arrogance of the Xia Empire, but its strength was limited, and it could only endure it; The lease of land in Macao was a matter between Portugal and the Chinese Empire, and now that the Xia Empire had intervened in it, it would certainly not be a good thing for the Kingdom of Portugal.

Now the Xia Empire's sphere of influence is relatively close to the two colonies of the Kingdom of Portugal, one is the Portuguese Mozambique colony opposite the island of Madagascar, and the other is located in the southwest of the Indian Peninsula, facing the Arabian Sea side of Goa and other colonies, these colonies can be attacked by the Xia Empire's military attack at any time, which makes the Portuguese Kingdom very worried.

King Manuel II of Portugal repeatedly convened his ministers to discuss the issue of dealing with the Xia Empire, but the ministers did not come up with reasonable advice other than some alarmist remarks.

Manuel II remembered the alliance between Britain and Portugal established by the Treaty of Windsor and sought help from England.

At this time, Britain was still too busy to take care of itself, and was even more reluctant to contribute too much to Portugal, but in order to maintain Britain's position in Africa, he did not want Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) to become the territory of the Xia Empire, which would directly threaten Britain's colonial rule over South Africa and other places; As for the Indian colony of Goa, the British suggested that Portugal cede several of their colonies in India to the British Empire.

The Daman and Diu regions were too close to Bombay, and if the Xia Empire occupied them, it would pose a direct threat to British rule in western India in the future; The British had long been very fond of the rich Portuguese colony of Goa, and now it was a good opportunity to take possession of it.

King Manuel II of Portugal was very dissatisfied with the advice given by the British, who sought help from the British because he did not want to lose any of his colonies, and now the British were in a position to occupy the Portuguese colonies in India, which was not at all the duty of an ally.

The king of Portugal was very embarrassed, now that Portugal was weakened, neither the British nor the Xia Empire could compete with them, and no matter which country wanted to occupy these colonies, the Portuguese army could not hold it.

After the Chinese Empire recovered Macao, Hua Guoqiang specially summoned the ambassador of the Kingdom of Portugal in Shangjing, and strongly threatened the Portuguese ambassador: "The Chinese Empire has recovered its sovereignty over Macao by force and demands the reckoning of the crimes committed by the Kingdom of Portugal back then. ”

The Portuguese ambassador was very depressed in his heart, that is, the liquidation was also a matter of the Chinese Empire, where it was the turn of the Xia Empire to point fingers, but he didn't dare to say it to his face, so he had to defend: "Your Excellency, during the Ming Empire and the Qing Empire, the Kingdom of Portugal paid rent every year, which was a reasonable lease, and there was no illegal occupation, so how could it be liquidated." ”

"What are these things that are not illegal occupations, such as the capture of Aberdeen Island (Yi Shui), the capture of Coloane Island, the forcible demolition of the border gates, and the occupation of the Macao Peninsula? If the Xia Empire sends an army to occupy Lisbon and gives the Kingdom of Portugal a rent of 500 taels of silver every year, will your country be willing? Hua Guoqiang scolded.

The Portuguese ambassador's face turned red, and he knew that the places Hua Guoqiang said were indeed occupied by the Kingdom of Portugal by force, so he defended: "Your Excellency, Foreign Secretary, these are two different things, and there is no comparison. ”

"The occupation of Lisbon is not comparable, what if the Xia Empire occupies the Azores? Is this comparable? Hua Guoqiang asked rhetorically.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, this is a matter between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Chinese Empire, and it should be directly negotiated between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Chinese Empire, right?" The Portuguese ambassador was very angry and questioned Hua Guoqiang's words.

Hua Guoqiang did not feel angry at the words of the Portuguese ambassador, but said: "Your Excellency, the Chinese in the world are one family, then, as you said, it is a matter between you and the Chinese Empire, so can the Chinese Empire occupy the Azores and Madeira Islands and pay you a rent of 500 taels of silver every year?" Does that make sense to you? ”

Hua Guoqiang's words frightened the Portuguese ambassador into a cold sweat, although the Xia Empire and the Chinese Empire are two countries, but they have the same roots, appearance, culture and living habits, etc., if there is the support of the Xia Empire, the Chinese Empire is fully capable and justified to occupy the Azores and Madeira, if so, the blow to the Kingdom of Portugal is much greater than the loss of the Portuguese East African colonies, which makes the Portuguese ambassador fall into silence, he is really embarrassed, In any case, it was not good for the Kingdom of Portugal, and he truly experienced the embarrassment of a weak country without diplomacy.

After thinking about it for a long time, he didn't come up with any countermeasures, and finally he was ruthless and asked directly: "Your Excellency Foreign Minister, what do you mean by your country and the Chinese Empire?" ”

Hua Guoqiang had already planned to use the indemnity to force Portugal first, and then discuss the matter of ceding the land, so he said: "Your Excellency, the ambassador has not communicated with the Chinese Empire yet, I just want to see what your country's attitude is, but it is certain to compensate for the rent first, and then cede the land to make amends, which is also a common practice in Europe." As for the rent, it is not expensive, only 1 million summer dollars per year, from 1553 to now, a total of 357 years, according to the annual interest of 5%, I have not calculated the total amount, I need to consult the mathematics to calculate; I am optimistic about the Azores and Madeira when the time comes, and I will support the Chinese Empire in making this reasonable request to your country. ”

1 million summer dollars per year, need to pay for 357 years, and pay 5% interest every year, the total amount calculated must be astronomical, even if the Kingdom of Portugal is sold, it will not be able to pay back this money, and it will also cede the islands of the two countries, which is unacceptable to the Kingdom of Portugal.

In desperation, the Portuguese ambassador had no choice but to report to the country under the pretext of panicking, and fled from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Xia Empire in a panic.

Hua Guoqiang reported the meeting with the Portuguese ambassador to Zhang Wei, Zhang Wei said: "Don't scare the king of Portugal to death, don't say 1 million summer yuan a year, according to your calculation, the interest is rolling, that is, they can't afford to pay 10,000 summer yuan a year in rent; Besides, if you want the Azores and Madeira Islands, don't say that Portugal is unwilling, even if Portugal is willing, all European countries will also oppose it, and this is not to be said, it is easy to make European countries wary of the empire. ”

Hua Guoqiang explained: "Your Majesty, they can't afford to pay the rent and can cede the land, and if they are not willing to give the Azores and Madeira, they will give Portuguese East Africa, and if they don't put a little pressure on them, will they obediently hand over the East African colonies?" As for the enclaves in India, sooner or later they will all be imperial, so there is no need to mention them. ”

Zhang Wei expressed satisfaction with Hua Guoqiang's strategy, but reminded: "It is very good to want Portuguese East Africa, and it is very beneficial to the empire's layout in Africa, I am just worried that the British will get in the way, you must pay attention and make a plan in advance." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will deal with it." Hua Guoqiang replied.

The Portuguese ambassador sent a telegram to report the Xia Empire's request to the country, and the Portuguese king Manuel II's hand trembled uncontrollably with the telegram, and his whole body broke out in a cold sweat, and it took more than half an hour to wake up from the shock.

Not to mention the interest, even if the interest is not counted, the Kingdom of Portugal cannot afford to pay it.

The East African colonies and Indian colonies he was most worried about, the Xia Empire, did not mention it, but asked for the cession of the two archipelagos, which made him unable to understand the true intentions of the Xia Empire.

Without a clue, Manuel II sent a telegram back to the ambassador to the Xia Empire, asking him to discuss with the British ambassador to the Xia Empire how to deal with it, and to find a way to protect the interests of the Portuguese kingdom.

Immediately after receiving the king's reply, the Portuguese ambassador followed the king's instructions to visit Anderson, the British ambassador to the Xia Empire.

After listening to the Portuguese ambassador's account, Ambassador Anderson was not shocked, but he was incredulous about the two conditions put forward by the Xia Empire, which was definitely not the true intention of the Xia Empire.

Such a huge amount of reparations, not to mention the Kingdom of Portugal, even the British Empire could not afford to pay.

As for the two islands ceded, Anderson is strongly opposed, if this is the case, the power of the Xia Empire will block the access to the sea in Europe, whether it is in and out of the Mediterranean Sea or south to Africa, these two islands are the necessary places, and the Xia Empire should know that all European countries will not agree to Portugal ceding the two islands.

It seems that the ambitions of the Xia Empire are not small, and they should be reported to the Empire; Moreover, it is necessary to contact the ambassadors of several European countries in Shangjing to resist the Xia Empire's attempt to cede the two islands.

But what is the ultimate goal of the Xia Empire?

After pondering for a long time, he suddenly thought of Portugal's East African colonies and Indian Goa and other colonies mentioned by the Imperial Foreign Ministry. If so, the Xia Empire can be clearly proposed.

But in return, if the Xia Empire directly proposed Portugal's East African colonies, Britain would definitely oppose it, and if the conditions were raised very high first, and then retreated, Britain's opposition would be much smaller.

figured out the key to it, Anderson thought to himself, this is what the Chinese often say about asking for a sky-high price to pay back, it seems that the Xia Empire is really cunning.

Now not only the Portuguese are in a dilemma, but the British are also beginning to be embarrassed, they very much do not want the Xia Empire to get involved in Africa, if the Xia Empire has a Portuguese East African colony, so close to their homeland, it will be a mortal threat to the British colonies in Africa in the future.

Ambassador Anderson is in a very heavy mood now, and after sending away the Portuguese ambassador, he immediately reported the idea of the Xia Empire wanting to occupy Portuguese East Africa to the country, and let the domestic bigwigs have a headache. (To be continued.) )