PS: The first update has arrived! Ask for a subscription, ask for a monthly pass! Thank you for the reward and mooncake of the glorious charter of the book friends! I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

A few drops of cold sweat appeared on the forehead of Colombia's ambassador to China, Carlos Marin. He never imagined that China would intend to build a military base in Colombia. Although, nominally, this is to curb the expansion of the United States into South America, China is also the world's top power! Even stronger than the United States, if China has established a military base in Colombia, then it is impossible for Colombian roots to resist China! Carlos Marlin subconsciously wanted to refuse Wu Tingfang's request. He dared to assert that the current president of Colombia, José Manuel Marrokinri Coulter, would certainly not agree either!

Wu Tingfang did not give Carlos Marin a chance to speak, and he continued: "The United States has announced that it will increase its investment in the Panama Canal, which is expected to be opened within five years. At that time, the U.S. Navy will be able to open the Guò Canal and directly invade Colombia. It's so much easier than it is now! Of course, once the canal is opened, this will also be a huge threat to China. Therefore, we need to create a military base near the canal to contain the United States! ”

Carlos Marin is very convinced of Wu Tingfang's reasons. The relationship between China and the United States is very bad. Once the Panama Canal is opened, the main force of the U.S. Navy will be able to enter the Pacific Ocean through the Guò Canal, which is nearly 15,000 kilometers closer than a detour through Cape Horn in South America. Coupled with the ambitious naval development plan of the United States, China has undoubtedly felt a lot of pressure. In addition, the threat of the United States to Colombia will also increase greatly!

"Your Excellency Wu Tingfang, our country is just a small country, if China builds a military base in our country. It will inevitably anger the United States. Colombia does not have the strength to confront the United States, and we do not want to get involved in the war. Therefore, I can only say sorry for your country's request! Carlos Marin said.

"Your Excellency Marin, don't you think about it again? Or rather, don't you discuss it with the country? Wu Tingfang squinted his eyes and said. Carlos Marin dared to refuse China's request so simply, which surprised him. With the strength of Colombia, China only needs to send two or three divisions of marines, and it will be enough to defeat them!

"No need. H.E. Ng Dinh Fong. I think that Your Excellency the President of our country is of the same opinion! Carlos Marin said firmly!

"Well, in that case, then I won't force it. However, Lord Marin. I have to remind you that the Americans, in order to get the Panama Canal, can support the independence of the Panamanians. And our country, in order to get Tumako, to build a naval base, we can do the same as the Americans! Wu Tingfang said coldly. In the words, there is a hint of threat and warning!

"Your Excellency Wu Tingfang. Is this a threat? Carlos Marin, angrily asked. It really made him angry that the Chinese actually figured out such a despicable and shameless means to achieve their goals. Could it be that Colombia is really easy to bully? Although Colombia is only a backward agricultural country. The industry is extremely backward, and the military industry is almost a blank, but the four million Colombians will never compromise!

"No, no, no. It's not a threat, it's just an exhortation! In my opinion. China and Colombia have a common enemy. As long as Colombia agrees to our request, in the future, China can support Colombia in reclaiming Panama. In addition, we can provide Colombia with the equipment of 5 infantry divisions free of charge. Tumako, we can also concession. Wait until the United States is defeated, and then return it to Colombia. This condition is already very lucrative! Wu Tingfang said. After China's victory in the Middle East war, it seized a large amount of weapons and equipment. These equipment, the squadron is not looking down, but for the rest of the world, these weapons and equipment are all sophisticated equipment!

"Your Excellency Wu Tingfang, I can't reply to you now, I need to contact China!" Carlos Marin said. He knows that the independence of Panama will be an eternal pain for Colombia. The Chinese have made it conditional on supporting Colombia's recovery of Panama, and the Colombian government may really agree to the Chinese's demands.

"Of course, it doesn't matter. However, I hope that you will be able to reply to your best of the word. A week, at the latest within a week, I hope to hear good news! Wu Tingfang said strongly. There is no problem in supporting Colombia to take back Panama. But the Panama Canal, which has already been built, will certainly not be handed over to the Colombian government. Such a traffic artery is the safest only if it is in your own hands. What's more, the annual toll of the canal is also a huge wealth!

"Okay, Your Excellency Wu Tingfang, I will do my best to give you an answer!" Carlos Marin said.

After leaving the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Marin immediately sent back to China the news of China's request to occupy Tumaco as a military base. At the same time, there are the conditions offered by the Chinese side, as well as the threat from China! There is no doubt that this will cause a huge shock among the Colombian government. As for what the final result will be, this is not something that Carlos Marin can guess. He's nothing more than an ambassador to a foreign country!

Although China has not yet obtained the consent of Ecuador and Colombia, the Admiralty has already sent orders to the Pacific Fleet. The Pacific Fleet is ready to organize a huge fleet to cruise to South America to demonstrate China's strong force!

A report on China's request to occupy Ecuador's island of Santa Cruz as a naval base was delivered to Kaiser Wilhelm II on the afternoon of March 20, Berlin time. After getting this report, Wilhelm II couldn't help but have a headache. It was hard to stop China's expansion into Europe and Africa, and the Chinese actually wanted to do it to South America again, and these Chinese have a really big appetite! Aren't they afraid of being choked?

However, German Ambassador to China Lucas pointed out that China's main intention is to contain the United States and does not have much ambition for Ecuador. And even if there were, it would be for later. Germany is well placed to accede to China's demands in order to ease tensions with China. After all, the main enemies of Germany now are not China, but Britain and France. Germany needs to use China's strength to defeat Britain and France first and become the true European hegemon. Europe is the best part of the world. As long as you control the whole of Europe, you can completely defeat China. Kaiser Wilhelm II was convinced of this!

Subsequently, Kaiser Wilhelm II summoned the German ministers. In response to China's demands, the German ministers were also divided into two factions. The faction, led by Crown Prince Wilhelm, believed that Germany should reject China's demands. South America is one of Germany's main overseas markets, and if China intervenes in South America, it will greatly damage Germany's interests. With the greed of the Chinese, they must be eager to swallow up all of South America. Crown Prince Wilhelm's point of view, supported by Moltke Jr.

The other faction, however, agreed to China's demands. After all, Santa Cruz is a thousand kilometers away from Ecuador. For German interests in Ecuador, there will be no threat. Moreover, with the support of China, it will be much easier for Lisaldo Garcia, supported by Germany, to defeat Leonidas Prasa and become the president of Ecuador. In addition, they are also a little worried about the current relationship between China and Germany, if they can take this opportunity to make up for the relationship between China and Germany, it is undoubtedly the best! Prime Minister Bernhard von Bilow, Chief of the General Staff, Count Alfred von Schlieffen, Admiralty Ministers Alfred von Tirpitz and Prince Heinrich, all agreed with this.

In the end, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a decision that Germany would fully support China in establishing naval bases in Central America and curb American ambitions in South America. At this time, Germany was competing with the United States for the South American market. The United States is in an advantageous position because of its geographical location. Kaiser Wilhelm II very much hoped that China's disturbance would bring some favorable changes to Germany's situation in South America.

After gaining the support of Germany, Lisaldo García, one of the leaders of Ecuador, then reached an agreement with China under the guidance of the Germans. At the cost of the equipment of two infantry divisions, China received the right to use the island of Santa Cruz for twenty years. Twenty years later, the two sides decided whether to extend it. The specific conditions will be discussed separately at that time. Of course, this agreement will not come into force until Lisaldo Garcia becomes president of Ecuador. However, with the full support of China and Germany, at the end of 1903, Lisaldo Garcia defeated his rival Leonida Plaza and became the president of Ecuador. The right to use Santa Cruz Island for the next 20 years also belongs to China.

The Colombian government is also very divided on the conditions proposed by China. The conservative faction believes that China's demands should be rejected to avoid angering the United States and to avoid a Chinese invasion of Colombia. The radical faction believes that it is necessary to work with China to drive the United States out of Colombia in the hope of reclaiming Panama in the future. The two factions quarreled and could not reach an agreement. At this time, the main force of the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy, cruising South America. When two Qin-class battleships appeared off the coast of Colombia, Colombia succumbed. Colombian President José Manuel Marrokinri Coulter agreed to China's request to lease Tumaco to China for one million Chinese dollars a year until China defeated the United States. At the same time, China provided Colombia with equipment for two infantry divisions free of charge. Colombia's army has only 50,000 people in total, and even if they are given five divisions of equipment, they will not be able to use it up!