Cairo, February 7, 1871, the ancient Egyptians called Cairo "Mother of Cities", and the Arabs called Cairo "Kahal", which means conqueror victor. Cairo has a continuous history of 5,000 years and is the largest city in Africa and the Middle East.

The congress was held at the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which is located in the Saladin Citadel in the Old City of Cairo. It was built in 1830 in a Turkish style. The inner and outer layers of the mosque walls are covered with yellow alabaster. The front of the monastery is inscribed with Arabic inscriptions, Quranic texts and the names of the four major caliphs of Islam, Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman and Ali. The whole building is milky white, giving people a plain beauty, also known as the "alabaster mosque". Originally, the conference was to be held at Saladin's Castle, and I don't know what the British thought, probably because the British wanted to use the conference to embody the idea that the British or the great powers would dominate the Islamic world.

Walking through such a beautiful mosque, should you spend more time thinking? This is what Zeng Guofan is thinking now.

"Was!? Ever! ”

"Oh! I'm sorry, Mr. Duke, but being in a room like this makes me feel like I should have more time to think about my life. Zeng Guofan explained kindly to McMahon, who was sitting next to him.

"Unexpectedly, friend, you are still a philosopher! First of all, congratulations on the perfect resolution of the conflict with the Boers, seeing that the British were still boasting one moment ago, and the next moment the Boers suddenly turned to you, haha! McMahon quipped, with the Sino-French agreement the entire French delegation intentionally or unintentionally spread this goodwill to the Chinese delegation, McMahon simply moved his seat next to Zeng Guofan, which once made the British panic, "The next topic is about Bechuana, rest assured that France will fully support you, I think the British will not dare to go against our two countries." ”

"Thank you so much my friend!" Zeng Guofan smiled and nodded.

"Gentlemen, do you have any objection to Portugal's claim to the Bechuana region?" Gladstone said.

At this time, François Paul Jules Grevy of the French delegation suddenly stood up, which surprised Gladstone to what the French meant, and only then did Grevi say: "I do not think that Portugal is qualified to make any claims to the Bechuana region, gentlemen, the Chinese Empire has completed the exploration of the Bechuana region a month ago, and informed the world of their results (a sketch of the region), I think the Chinese Empire is eligible for the Bechuana region." ”

In the British seat, there was a round of ear to ear. "What's going on? Who told me why the French would support the Chinese? Gladstone asked Charlie Eloke on his right.

"It should be the deal that the Chinese and the French have reached to make France support the Chinese." Salisbury reacted first.

"So what to do? If the French turn to support the Chinese, then our plan in Bechuana will be in vain, and the Portuguese will certainly not hold on any longer. Gladstone said with a calm face

While the British were still discussing it privately, German Chancellor Bismarck and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Mazzini spoke in support of the Chinese Empire's ownership of the Bechuana region. Now Gladstone knows why the Chinese sit calmly, the Chinese have the support of the three major European countries for themselves, for Britain to support Portugal, Bechuaner has become a foregone conclusion.

"First of all, thank you Prime Minister, Mr. Prime Minister, for supporting our country, I believe it is the right choice, Mr. Stanley, what do you think? (Henry Morton Stanley published his book Through the Dark Continent in 1878, detailing the conditions of the rich and productive Congo River Valley.) The nations of Europe were moved, and a battle over the Congo River basin began. If you can't find the name of the Prime Minister of Portugal, ask him to top it, forgive me! ）”

Henry Morton Stanley smiled and agreed: "Yes, we also feel that the Chinese Empire is more capable of developing this land of black Africa. He didn't want to be used as a gunman by the British, and although King Louis I of Portugal had proposed a "pink map", it was clear that the situation was still in question whether Portugal could hold Tanzania in the future.

"Alright, gentlemen, now let's talk about Zulu, knowing that a certain country has been mired in too many strife there, and it's time for him to be freed!" As soon as Zeng Guofan sat down the Foreign Secretary Lin Hao stood up and said, these words pointed directly at the British war against Zulu, since Britain declared war on Zulu under the pretext of immigrants being killed in 1870, the war has been fought intermittently for more than a year, and the British Empire has been consumed in Zulu, on the one hand, Britain did not put all its strength into fighting only with the strength of the colonial government of South Africa, on the other hand, the Zulu people relied on geographical advantages and people to give full play to the power of guerrilla tactics. It was foreseeable that this would be a prelude to the Anglo-Boer War.

"No, no! This is an internal affair of our British Empire, the war will soon be over, and Britain will soon establish a civilized order in Zulu. Although Salisbury felt powerless about the performance of the army, how could the ducks in hand let him fly away, and he still expressed resentment at the Chinese's questioning of Zulu, if it were not for China's covert support, Zulu would have been included in the territory of the British Empire.

"Maybe yes, but your actions have discredited our entire civilized world, look at what you have done, the massacre of civilians is still light, and your British Empire's army does not spare even infant babies." Lin Hao said and suddenly turned to the Portuguese Prime Minister and said, "Maybe it would be better for Zulu ** to exist or in the hands of the Kingdom of Portugal." ”

Now Stanley was almost not confused by the Chinese, one moment he was helping the British to block China, the next moment the Chinese suddenly seemed to want to give Zulu to himself, but as a professional politician he was not stupid enough to be qualified to interfere with Zulu, but he still took the opportunity to continue: "We are very happy to bring civilized order to the Zulu people." ”

Of course, the Chinese delegation did not really want to interfere with the Zulu, but it was purely disgusting and disgusting to the British.

In the afternoon of the same day, a diplomatic banquet was being held at the Wanguo Hotel in the Cairo Public Concession area, and Zeng Guofan was discussing with McMahon and Gladstone about the division of power in Egypt; although China and Britain have their own contradictions and conflicts in various parts of the world, when they have common interests, they will definitely not be stupid enough to do something to the detriment of themselves and others, so the three countries have always maintained a friendly attitude towards the division of Egypt's sphere of influence, even if it is only on the surface.

"Gentlemen, I think it is necessary for us to strengthen our grip on Egypt." Zeng Guofan raised his glass and gestured to the two.

"Two gentlemen, I think about Egypt, we are unanimous, no one can shake our position here, we will be the masters here, right? Does Mr. Zeng have any questions? Gladstone's remarks emphasized that China, France and Britain should promise not to expand their sphere of influence in Egypt, which of course was an agreement reached by the three countries long ago. I don't understand Zeng Guofan's words.

"I think someone wants to meddle in our cake." Zeng Guofan said.

"Oh!?" McMahon looked at Gladstone suspiciously, he thought that the British had co-opted some country to meddle in Egypt's affairs.

"No, no! Our three countries have common interests here, and none of us will be stupid to such an extent. Zeng Guofan explained.

"I want to know who dares to provoke the interests of our three great powers." Gladstone smiled awkwardly, before 1867, the British had been seeking the support of the Ottoman Empire for Egyptian affairs, but unfortunately the influence of China and France on the Ottoman Empire was not covered, and finally the Ottoman Empire had to sign the "Ottoman Empire Declaration on Mamluk Affairs" with China, France and Britain, completely giving up the influence on the Egyptian region, only retaining the suzerainty of the Mamluks, and China, Britain and France would also ensure this last fig leaf of the Ottoman Empire