Gladstone was surprised and asked, "Your Excellency, what do you think differently?" ”

Charlie Yilu fell into the sofa and said slowly: "The Boers can't stop the attack of the Chinese, and the total population of the Boers is only more than 100,000 (only more than 200,000 people in the Anglo-Boer War in history), but how many Chinese colonies in the southwest?" 1.2 million, China's population is too much, how many people in the world, China accounts for half, so their colonization method is completely different from ours, they have enough population to fill their colonies, in China's southwest colonies, they recruited 70,000 foreign legions, plus their native garrisons in the South African region, their military strength or the number of land forces has exceeded the population of the Boers, the Boers have no chance of winning, even with the support of the British Empire. ”

"So what are we going to do? Watch the Boers being annexed. The Marquess of Salisbury asked.

"Nope! The Boers will not be annexed. If it was in the past, the Chinese had already sent troops to the land of the Boers, and now they have only sent envoys, which shows that the Chinese have no ambitions to annex the Boers. Yilu went on to say: "China has stopped official colonization activities, and only the people are still colonizing. The Chinese also need time to digest these lands, after all, they have grabbed large amounts of land in North America and Africa in just 40 years. In addition, the Boers are also white no matter how they say, and if the Chinese do it, then they will attract criticism from the Netherlands and other countries, which is why China does not want to do it. ”

"What you mean is that we should be actively involved in this conflict for our benefit."

"Yes, and my other suggestion is to send an invitation to the countries of the continent to convene a conference on the division of African interests in order to curb China's expansion in Africa. Moreover, it can deflect the contradiction between China and the Boers this time, and if we can show a little goodwill to the Boers at the conference, then the Boers will also actively move closer to us. And let's not forget France, whose actions in North and West Africa should also be reined in. ”

"Good attention, carving up Africa, good way!" Gladstone was overjoyed when he heard this advice, "Gentlemen, then! Ready for cake? ”――

Beijing, Old Summer Palace, Council Hall.

"How does Bohan feel in the cabinet?" Lin Hong sat on the sofa and looked at Zeng Guofan, who was also sitting on the side, fidgeting, and asked. Zeng Guofan has been learning how to be a prime minister with the emperor for the past year.

"Your Majesty, the minister has a basic understanding of how the imperial government operates as a whole."

"Oh! Very good, you are the elite I have been cultivating, and you have done a good job in the southwest over the years. I heard that something happened to the southwest consulate this time? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, one of our expeditions was killed by the Boers of Orange."

"Before anyone from the cabinet arrives, tell me what you think."

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that it is nothing more than sending troops to exterminate the Boers, but the British in the south will certainly not agree, they will definitely secretly increase their support for the Boers, and the Boers are also white in any way, and if we rashly send troops, it will be somewhat affected in public opinion, and the Boers are mostly descendants of the Dutch, French and Germans, and the war will only worsen our relations with European countries."

"Alright, the cabinet is here, let's see what they do!" Lin Hong shook his hand and said.

Before everyone took their seats, Chen Kejie, as the prime minister, spoke: "Your Majesty's latest news, the British have come forward to mediate. ”

"How did the British jump out so early." Lin Hong had actually received the news, and he still couldn't stop sighing.

"Your Majesty, as the British intended, invited the countries of the European continent to convene a conference to divide up Africa and plan the interests of each country." The Prime Minister continued.

"Partition...... Africa" was just as Lin Hong was about to speak, when he suddenly received a long-lost system message.

"System Mission: Partition of Africa. As the conflict between the Chinese Empire and the Boers fermented, and the British pushed for it, the First Conference on the Partition of Africa was to be held in Cairo, Egypt, to ensure that the Empire had gained benefits in Africa, and to obtain as much greater benefits as possible. Rewards: Obtain the title 'The Sun Never Sets Empire', greatly increase the possibility of the Chinese Empire's improper demands on countries and regions with low overall national strength, garrisons in colonial areas will receive supply bonuses, and the construction speed of black African colonies will be accelerated. ”

"Branch Mission: Ensuring the completion of the WN Railway. With the Partition of Africa Conference, you must ensure the smooth completion of the WN Railway, for which you must secure Bechuana (Botswana region), Rhodesia (Zambia region) and Nyasaland (Malawi region). Reward: As the first country to build a trans-African railway in Africa, China will gain a huge reputation in the international community, and the aggressiveness of the indigenous tribes in Africa will be greatly reduced, and the affinity will be increased. ”

The two tasks are simple and the rewards are clear at a glance, the first one may not be too difficult but the second one is a bit more difficult. When the Chinese Empire proposed the WN railway plan, the British proposed the two-C railway (Cape Town to Cairo), and the French did not have the historical double S plan because Somalia was in the hands of the Chinese. The Sino-British railway plan collided in the Bechuana area (Nyasaland's complex terrain is not suitable for the current railway construction plan), but fortunately it was the Boers who stood in the way of the British to the north, but there was no obstacle to the imperial conquest of Bechuana and Zambia. But there is also a Portuguese Mozambique to the east of Nyasaland, and the Portuguese are not stupid and will definitely make claims to Nyasaland.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty"

"Hmmm! I'm sorry Prime Minister, I'm distracted, you continue. Lin Hong said.

"Yes, Your Majesty, in order to safeguard the Empire's WN railway plans, the Cabinet's plan is to seize Bechuana (Botswana region), Rhodesia (Zambia region) and Nyasaland (Malawi region), in exchange for the Congo River valley if necessary. Your Majesty, what do you think? ”

"Very good, but Prime Minister, the first thing you have to deal with is our conflict with the Boers, and it will be before the Egyptian conference. By the way, what time is the meeting of the British? ”

"Next year, around February 7, 1871, I am going to send Bohan as the plenipotentiary of the Imperial Council this time, what do you think, Your Majesty?" The prime minister knew that Zeng Guofan would form a cabinet after he left office, so he intended to show him goodwill.

"Good." Lin Hong nodded, then turned around and left, he still had to study what the reward of this mission would be