As early as February 27, 1858, the Chinese Empire and the Republic of Colombia signed the "Treaty between the Chinese Empire and the Republic of Colombia on the Construction of a Navigable River Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans" (referred to as the "Sino-Colombian Treaty" or the "Guo Songtao-Thomas Treaty". Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera was the president of Colombia at the time. The treaty stipulates that Colombia will hand over the 10-mile-wide, 1,432-square-kilometer Canal Zone to China for permanent occupation and control, and some of the Gulf of Panama will also be handed over to the Empire, which will pay Panama 10 million Chinese dollars in a lump sum, and 250,000 Chinese dollars per year since 1859. In addition, Article 5 provided that the Empire had a permanent monopoly on all the property of the Panama Canal Company. Article 11 also provides for the right of the Empire to intervene in Panama City and Colón in order to maintain public order.

With the opening of the Panama Canal in 1865, the canal became incredibly prosperous and busy in just a few years. On March 15, 1870, Britain, France, and the United States formally proposed to China the neutralization of the Panama Canal, demanding that China not establish or maintain any fortifications in or near the key areas of the canal, nor should it occupy or dominate any part of Central America. Since 1858, China has built more than 20 forts and bases in the Canal Zone, stationed more than three divisions and nearly 50,000 troops, and has absolute strength and superiority in Panama. Now Britain, France and the United States are demanding that China withdraw its troops from this region, and the significance is obvious: they want to intervene.

After the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo with Mexico, which gave it the right to dig a canal on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and in 1849, it signed the Treaty of Squial with Nicaragua, which granted the privilege of digging the Nicaragua Canal. On December 12, 1846, after a year of negotiations, the United States and New Granada concluded the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Navigation, and Commerce between the United States and New Granada, also known as the Treaty of Petrarch-Mariarino, with 36 articles valid for 20 years, of which Article 35 provided that the United States acquired the right to enjoy all the rights (all taxes, privileges, and immunities) enjoyed by citizens of New Granada within its territory, and to American travelers passing through the Isthmus of Panama, Equal preference shall be given to mail and merchandise, and the right of way or transit shall be freely open to the Government of the United States and citizens in the future construction of any transportation facility in Panama, and the Government of New Granada shall not levy a higher toll on United States citizens than that of citizens of New Granada, nor shall it impose import duties on United States goods.

In fact, the United States had plans to build a canal before, but because of China's colonial activities on the west coast, the current United States has no access to the sea in the Pacific Ocean, so the demand for the canal is not large, coupled with the lack of domestic economic strength and Britain's peep at Panama, the United States gave up the plan to build the canal. As for the United Kingdom, because of the settlement with China on the Indian issue, Britain ceded the right to build the Panama Canal.

On April 5, 1870, China, Britain, and the United States, as well as eleven countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil, held a meeting in San Francisco to discuss the Panama Canal.

British Prime Minister William Gladstone, who initiated the conference, first said: "Gentlemen, the world is getting smaller and smaller, why? Because of railways, because of advanced ocean-going ships, a canal cannot stop the economic exchange of countries. So in my personal opinion, China should return the rights and interests of the Panama Canal to the Republic of Colombia, and I think we must ensure that the Colombian government has the sovereignty and property rights of the Isthmus of Panama. This is the basis of free trade. Gladstone was also a Tories in his early years, and in 1840 he took the side of the opposition and opposed Palmerston's foreign policy of waging war against China. In 1850, he joined the Whig Party with a group of free-trade Tories, and several times became Chancellor of the Exchequer. As a staunch free trader, his cabinet certainly will not allow China to monopolize the huge interests of the Panama Canal. Even if China cannot be allowed to relinquish power over the canal, at least the interests must be equalized. This was the main purpose of the British this time.

As early as 1850, the United States spent $7.5 million to build a railroad connecting the two oceans on the Isthmus of Panama, which took five years to complete, and in 1849, when an American company was preparing to dig a trans-Nicaraguan canal ending in Graytown, the British invoked the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty to accuse the United States of violating the legitimate rights and interests of the British protected Indian kingdom of Moschito, which led to the discontinuation of the project. The setback led Americans to realize that perhaps a canal on the Isthmus of Panama would be a more cost-effective option.

In particular, in a seemingly accidental bloodshed in 1856, the Americans proposed that Panama City and Colón should become autonomous free ports, and the two countries jointly administered the 40-kilometer-wide isthmus centered on the Panama Railway, and some parts of the Gulf of Panama were ceded to the United States, but with the outbreak of the American Civil War, the American plan for the Panama Canal was also terminated, and as a result, the Chinese took advantage of the situation to obtain the right to excavate and operate it permanently. Now the British are obviously not like the first birds, and after all, Britain is not an American country, and Panama is far less attractive to them than the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.

"I think that, as Mr. Monroe said, the Americas are the Americas of the Americans, and my country believes that China must exchange the Isthmus Canal Zone of Panama to the Republic of Colombia."

Tang Tingshu, the governor of the North American Emperor of the Chinese Empire (the Panama Canal Zone is under the jurisdiction of the North American Emperor Domain), silently picked up the tea in front of him, took a sip, moistened his throat and said: "Gentlemen, please note that this canal is wholly funded by our Chinese Empire, and we will not give away our wealth, unless there is an equivalent exchange or war!" ”

The negotiating envoys of the "this" countries were all stunned, and the threat of war before the talks began, which was indeed a surprise to all countries.

"Your Excellency the Governor, our country has no intention of using force, we just hope that the dispute of interests in the canal can be resolved through such peaceful communication." William Gladstone immediately explained.

"Gentlemen, why don't we take a rest first, I have arranged a drinking party, how about tasting the fine wine of our country?" Lin Hao, the plenipotentiary envoy for Panamanian affairs of the Chinese Empire, said with a smile-

"Sir, the Cabinet does not want the loss of the Empire's interests in Panama, but it would cause international resentment against the Empire if it provokes war or conflict. You know, since the empire swallowed Siberia, Russia has been propagating the Yellow Peril theory in Europe, making it difficult for the empire in international public opinion. Lin Hao and Tang Tingshu clinked glasses.

"Don't worry, I'm just scaring them, it's not that easy for these guys to reap the benefits of the empire for nothing, huh! Now the Franco-Prussian war is going on, and the whole of Europe is staring at it! They won't waste too much energy on this matter, we just need to settle the United States, as for the United States, the combined army and navy of the United States and other countries are less than half of the strength of the empire in North America, so there is no need to worry at all. "Tang Tingshu has been the governor for several years before he doesn't take these hypocritical politicians to heart.

"After all, it's just a matter of leveling the British." Lin Hao realized.

At this time, the representative of Spain, General Juan Prim, leaned over and said: "Good afternoon, gentlemen! ”

"Hello, General!" Lin Hao said, "I don't know if the general is in trouble?" ”

"Yes, gentlemen, I would like to ask your country when the warships ordered by our country from your country will be delivered to my country."

"Oh? General, this military purchase contract is for the Duke of Valencia to represent your Empress, oh no! As for whether the agreement between the former queen and the former government is valid for the current government, I think it remains to be discussed. ”

"No, sir, it can't be like this, the current government is the only legitimate government of Spain, and my country believes that it is necessary to continue to implement this arms purchase agreement, and I hope that your country can fulfill the agreement."

"Of course, that's no problem, then first of all, I hope that your country can pay the balance of all the warships at once, a total of 20 million Chinese dollars."

"Is it possible to pay in instalments as in the agreement? After all, you know the situation in our country. ”

"General, according to the agreement, your country should pay all the balance this year. In addition, I know that your country's rebellion in Cuba can no longer be suppressed, and a strong fleet is essential for your country. ”

"The government is really financially strapped and can't afford to pay."

"General, if this is not the case, how about your country mortgage the colonies?"

"This"

Seeing that Juan Prim was still hesitating, Tang Tingshu interjected: "The Philippines is too far away for your country and far less important than Cuba, and besides, the current Philippines is basically governed by Chinese, and Spain is only the nominal ruler. ”

"Okay, I'll send a report to the country right away, and I believe there will be news soon." As the main military leader who overthrew Isabella II, Juan Prim was somewhat power-deciding.

"In addition, if your country feels it necessary, our team stationed in Panama can enter Cuba to help your country put down the rebellion." Lin Hao suddenly said eagerly.

"Thank you for your kindness, my country is fully capable of stabilizing Cuba," said Juan Prime, who did not believe that China would have such good intentions.

"I hope so!" Lin Hao said regretfully