Chapter 694 at 10 Downing Street Fourth Shift
Ask for a commuter pass
It was a small, cramped room next to Downing Street, and the dΓ©cor was so old that it did not show any of the grandeur of the British Empire.
It is located in the middle of the famous 10 Downing Street, a 60-room and 100-year-old house that looks old and dilapidated due to poor maintenance. The last time there was a major renovation of 10 Downing Street was more than 60 years ago. Prime Minister Pitt Jr. spent Β£20,000 on the renovation of 10 Downing Street, only to be attacked by the newspapers of the time. For more than 60 years, no one dared to spend British taxpayers' money to renovate the Prime Minister's residence. By 1847, it was so uninhabitable that the current British Prime Minister, Earl Aberdeen, did not live here, but used it as an office and meeting place.
Now in the center of the room was a large long table, covered with red velvet, though it had faded a little. It seems that the British Empire was not as rich as the outside world thought, and it can be described as a gold and jade - the fleets that roam around the world seem quite expensive, and if a few less battleships are built, Downing Street should be renovated.
At least in the eyes of Wu Chunqiu and Guo Songtao.
"Marquis Wu, Earl Guo, welcome." The British Prime Minister, the Earl of Aberdeen, smiled very heartily, and he must not know how gorgeous and spacious Zuo Zongtang's cabinet office was. He laughed, "My friend Earl Valewski has met Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle and conveyed the opinion of the French Emperor on the idea of a Triple Entente. β
Although he did not explain Her Majesty's opinion on this Triple Entente, the smile on his face that could not be concealed clearly explained the problem.
"Your Excellency the Prime Minister. I suppose Count Valewski also mentioned to Her Majesty the Queen the solution to the New Guinea problem? "Wu Chunqiu's face. But it looks serious and cold.
"Mr. Prime Minister. The Ming Emperor had to be rewarded for his efforts, otherwise it would have been difficult for him to convince his courtiers and populace to support the war. β
The man who helped on the side was Andrew. Jones, who is now the Minister of the Grand Duchy of Lanfang to the British Empire, has also acted as the ambassador of the Ming Empire to the United Kingdom several times before, and is also a senior manager of Jason Holdings, which can be regarded as a very special existence.
"This is indeed a problem, but what is the reward for Britain in this war?" British Foreign Secretary Baron Clinton took over the topic and asked-for-tat.
"Britain can retain its hegemony in the world." Wu Chunqiu replied lightly.
"The Ming could also inherit the entire legacy of the Manchu Empire. And not having to take on the diplomatic obligations of the Manchu Empire, such a reward is not huge? Baron Clinton said coldly.
Because the British Empire did not want the Ming Dynasty to completely replace the Qing Dynasty at the beginning, but sought the division of China. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty was not required to fully inherit the diplomatic obligations of the Manchus, including the treaties signed with the British. Later, when the Ming Dynasty signed the Ming-British Agreement with the British, Europe was in the atmosphere of the Great Revolution, and the British government had no time to take care of anything else, and because of the rapid establishment of an alliance between the Ming and France and the collusion of Russia, the British government gave up some of the privileges they had obtained from the Manchus.
Although this successful diplomatic activity was ignored by the Ming political circles, it was regarded as a diplomatic failure in Britain.
"Inheritance does not exist. The Ming Dynasty eliminated the Manchus because Russia eliminated Turkey, and I don't think Russia will assume Turkey's diplomatic obligations. I don't think anyone would dare to make such an unreasonable demand. Wu Chunqiu replied coldly.
"So, what about the Ming territorial claims to Siberia and Alaska? Isn't that rewarding enough? Baron Clinton also gave him a cold look.
"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. Can I understand that the British Empire was ready to support the Ming Empire's territorial claims to Siberia and Alaska? Wu Chunqiu immediately asked.
"Can't be understood in this way, why does the Ming Empire make claims to such a vast land?" Baron Clinton said coldly.
This cannot be supported, because Russia cannot compromise on the Siberian territorial question, and Britain does not want Russia to compromise. If Britain insists on supporting China's demands, it is likely that the future war will become a protracted war.
"Because the Ming Emperor also served as the Great Khan of Mongolia, Siberia was the land of the Mongols, and the Great Khan of Mongolia naturally had the right to make demands."
There's really a basis! Of course, it's not "since ancient times", and this phrase doesn't work in Europe. However, the fact that the inhabitants of Siberia are now predominantly Buryat Mongols is indeed a basis. If the Russians could attack Turkey in the name of saving the Slavs, then the Mongol Khan Zhu Jishi, of course, could send troops to Siberia to liberate the Buryat Mongols.
Baron Clinton was silent, and then exchanged glances with the Prime Minister, Earl Aberdeen. The Earl of Aberdeen said, "What about Alaska? The Inuit don't seem to have a big sweat, right? β
Wu Chunqiu was silent for a moment, and then spoke to Guo Songtao in a low voice in Chinese, the envoys of this era have great power and can make very important decisions.
"So, what is Britain going to do with Alaska?" After that, he reopened his mouth, still in the same cold tone as before.
"The French want Alaska, and they also need something from the war against Russia!" The British Prime Minister replied truthfully.
Wu Chunqiu, of course, knew Napoleon III's request, and before coming to England, he met with the French emperor at the Tureilly Palace. He was told that Princess Mathilde of France had left for China a few months ago to reconcile the marriage of Prince Henry and the Chinese princess, and that he also wanted Prince Henry and a Chinese princess to rule Alaska together - a European-style dual monarchy, and the Kingdom of Alaska would be jointly protected by China and France.
"So does Britain support France's claim to Alaska and China's claim to Siberia?" Wu Chunqiu then asked.
"Britain would support France's claim to Alaska." The British Prime Minister couldn't help but frown. "But the Kingdom of Alaska must be an independent state, and its army cannot exceed 1,000 people, nor can it have any foreign troops."
In the original history, Britain would not have agreed to the French as the king of the Kingdom of Alaska, but now there is a variable in the Ming Empire - by Henry. Is it better for Bonaparte to be the king of Alaska than to have Ju Jishi be the master of Alaska?
"Oh, so that means Britain is against China's seizure of Siberia?" Wu Chunqiu's voice sank.
"No, and no objection." The British Prime Minister finally opened the hole card, "The belonging of Siberia has nothing to do with the British Empire, and no matter who becomes the master of Siberia, Britain will not interfere." β
"Can it be included in the agreement?" Wu Chunqiu hurriedly asked.
"Yes." The corners of Count Aberdeen's mouth hooked, and he concluded from Wu Chunqiu's expression that the Chinese really want Siberia - most likely the whole of Siberia! Well, go and fight with the Russians, the tsar will not give up such a large amount of territory!
It's good if you don't object...... Wu Chunqiu sighed softly, the attitude of the British towards Siberia was not beyond his expectations. As long as Britain does not object, the Ming will always be able to grab a part of Siberia.
"So let's take a step back on the territorial claims of Borneo, can we lease Dutch Borneo? The lease term is 99 years. Wu Chunqiu turned the topic back to Borneo. To do this, we can hand over the entire island of South-East New Guinea and New Britain to the Netherlands as rent. β
"If you really own Southeast New Guinea and New Britain, then it's a fair deal." Baron Clinton's tone was as tough as ever.
"If the Netherlands really owned Borneo, we could have paid a higher price!" Wu Chunqiu also confronted each other, he looked at Count Aberdeen, and said word by word, "Your Excellency, you Europeans and us Chinese, no one is the real master of the Spice Islands. But the reality now is that the Spice Islands cannot be without Chinese, nor can they be without Europeans. So, our two races should join hands to share the benefits of the Spice Islands...... You can't defend us like thieves, you have to recognize our rights and let us share in the benefits - after all, we are the laborers and builders of the Spice Islands! Moreover, our Ming Empire is still a powerful country! If I can't get enough benefits in London, then I'll have to go to Petersburg! (To be continued......)