Compared to Easton's panting appearance, Zong Li seemed much more relaxed. At this time, he was sitting in the governor's palace relaxedly, savoring the wine taken out of the wine cabinet. Zong Li will not be polite to these things, maybe after the negotiation is completed, these things will be returned to others. Now you can enjoy it, and it's not in vain to come here.

It didn't take long for Yankin to walk in with Easton. After Zong Li signaled that Yang Jin could leave, the latter walked out, took the door by the way, and left the space inside for the two of them.

The talks took place in secret, because both countries had something they didn't want anyone else to know. So there were only two people involved in this negotiation, and under the tacit secrecy of the two countries, no one else and the media knew that there was such a negotiation.

Before the negotiations began, Zong Li took out a goblet and poured a little red wine for Easton. Then he didn't speak, but picked up his goblet and tasted it carefully. It's as if today's show was a wine tasting.

Easton saw Zong Li's actions, and his originally anxious heart gradually calmed down, and he knew that he couldn't be in a hurry at this time. Moreover, such a quiet wine tasting can also relieve the fatigue of getting off the boat and car, and clarify the idea of negotiation.

About half an hour later, seeing Easton, who had calmed down, Zong Li said lightly: "Mr. Special Envoy, how are you resting?" ”

"It's a lot." Easton habitually blurted out, and after he finished speaking, he knew what the occasion was today, just now he was still thinking about how to start this negotiation, and he didn't expect the other party to speak first.

"In that case, the negotiations have officially begun." Zong Li didn't care who spoke about this topic first, and said: "I am the plenipotentiary representative of the Chinese Empire in this negotiation, my name is Zong Li, and I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire." ”

"My name is Easton, and I am the Foreign Secretary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and I am here to represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands in this negotiation." Easton saw that the other party was so proactive, and he was not hypocritical.

However, when these two sentences are compared, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is weaker. In the West, only a strong imperial state can be called an empire, and in general, it can be called a kingdom. Now a Chinese empire, a Dutch kingdom, the advantages and disadvantages are obvious at a glance.

After Easton introduced himself, he also remembered this question. I was extremely embarrassed for a while, although I didn't pay attention to those unequal questions now, but it was always unpleasant to be invisibly inferior.

"There is no need to say what happened to him, just as he is gone. Now let's talk about what we're going to talk about at the moment. "Zong deviated.

"Okay, let him pass that. I don't know what Mr. Zongli wants to talk about? Easton was happy to say this, he was most afraid that China would not let go of this aspect, and then things would be much more difficult to do. At the same time, in his heart, he also felt that the Chinese diplomat in front of him was not as aggressive as rumored. Could it be that hearing is false, and seeing is believing?

"Now that the Indonesian island of Java has been fully controlled by our National Defense Force soldiers, many Chinese in Indonesia are reluctant to leave the foundation that their ancestors have built with blood for generations, but we are still worried that their lives and property will be threatened. According to our domestic instructions, our request is that you give us the island of Java directly, so that we can resettle these Chinese who are about to become homeless. Zong Li said very calmly, as if all this he said was insignificant.

But these words are like a bolt from the blue to Easton, what does this mean, it is definitely Chiguoguo's blackmail. Despite the fact that Java Island is small, it is the largest in the whole of Indonesia in terms of economic effect, and Kalimantan Island, which is much larger than it, is far inferior. Moreover, the Dutch invested huge manpower and material resources in this, and there were so many sugar factories and other workshops throughout the island that it was impossible to let go.

Before, the whole Dutch Kingdom thought of bleeding profusely, but in the face of such a red fruit blackmail, Easton's originally calmed heart suddenly disappeared without a trace.

"It's absolutely not going to work, and we're not going to say anything about it. We ......"

Before Easton could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Zong Li: "Since it doesn't work, we don't force it, Java Island is so important to your country, so how about we choose other islands." After Zong Li finished speaking, he picked up the wine glass and motioned for Easton to touch it.

When Easton heard Zong Li's words, his excited mood just now calmed down, and he also picked up the wine glass and touched it with Zong Li and said, "Then I don't know what your country's goal is?" ”

Easton, who had already made a decision, did not argue about whether to cut the land to the other party, and it was no longer interesting to talk about this issue now. The other party's abandonment of pursuing the cause of the incident has given enough signals. So Easton simply asked, you want the island. However, Zong Li's answer next made Easton's unswallowed red wine almost squirt out.

"Then we will count Sumatra, so as to avoid the island of Java, where you hold out." After Zong Li finished speaking, he saw Easton with a flushed face, and held back the smile in his heart.

"No, no, Sumatra is even more impossible, and like Java, it is an important source of our economy."

Sumatra can control the entire Strait of Malacca, which is an important sea communication artery, arguably one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and the annual economic benefits are huge numbers that the Netherlands simply cannot defend. Moreover, the strategic location of this place is very important, and it is impossible to give it to China.

Just as Japan, in order to ensure the maritime lifeline of the empire's imported resources, immediately invaded the Indonesian archipelago as soon as it heard that the Netherlands had declared war on the Axis powers. This place is an important transportation artery for Asia and Europe. It can be said that whoever controls here is equivalent to controlling Eurasian maritime trade. Maritime trade is the largest channel for the flow of goods, and the annual trade between Europe and Asia can only be described in astronomical terms. It can be seen how big the Strait of Malacca is every year.

"Don't be too quick to answer, we can talk about it again. For example, how about we build a Kunlunshan-class battleship for free. You have to know that it was the most powerful battleship in the world, there was no one. Zong Li looked at Easton and said slowly.

"No, that's not something that can be measured by these things." Actually, Easton is already very excited, but Sumatra is so important. If it were another island, Easton had already agreed, and now there was not a single warship comparable to the Kunlunshan-class battleships in the whole of Europe, and if the Netherlands had such a battleship, it would completely change the power structure of the entire Europe. The status of the Netherlands will also rise a lot at one time, before the Netherlands was very eager to buy one, although compared to the value of the battleship, the increase in money opened by China is not high, but the Netherlands, the increasingly decaying kingdom, simply can't take out so much money to buy a battleship.

Seeing Easton, who was not impressed, Zong Li didn't pursue this too much. Chen Shao told him before he came that the Dutch on Java and Sumatra would never let go, and it was not yet time for China to take those two islands. Chen Shao on Java Island did not take a fancy to it, and Chen Shao on Sumatra Island was very moved, but reason made Chen Shao clear that now was not the time to get it, because once China forcibly got Sumatra, it would attract opposition from the entire European country, and even the United States would strongly oppose it.

For whites, this place must be in white hands. There is absolutely no objection to this, and it is estimated that everyone except Germany will strongly oppose it now. At that time, they will all support the Netherlands, and then China will still have to face the whole white world, which is absolutely irrational.

"That's what a shame it looks like. Since those two islands can't be given, let's talk about the other islands. Borneo (Kalimantan Island), this place was an important place when we Chinese just went out to sea, and at this time it was basically inhabited by Chinese. There are also a lot of records of our Chinese history on this island, and it is an important overseas gathering point for our Chinese, and our Chinese country stood on it 32 years ago, but it was wiped out by you at that time. Now add to this the compensation that must be given to us for this incident, can we be considered to be able to negotiate? ”

"This—" Easton hesitated, and this request was completely beyond the expectations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As the third largest island in the world, the geographical location is also important, although it is not as good as Java in terms of economy, and it is also lost to Sumatra in terms of geographical location. But in terms of area alone, it's really not small. It is several times larger than the territory of the Netherlands, and if such an island is ceded to China, it will be difficult for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to accept it. But I can't help but accept it, anyway, many of them are Chinese, and the Dutch are also very difficult to manage, so they just ceded it to China, and the Dutch side is really unwilling.

In the end, Easton thought for a while and said, "There is a precondition that we will build a Kunlunshan-class battleship for free for the Netherlands." ”

Hearing the Easton lion speak, Zong Li was not annoyed, but said very calmly: "Do you say that this is possible?" Don't mention battleships unless you give us Sumatra. ”

Zongli's Chinese disappointed Easton a little, but Easton also heard other meanings in it. Don't mention battleships, doesn't that mean you can mention something else?

"Four cruisers, four destroyers."

Zong Li didn't answer, but shook his head directly.

"Then how many warships can the other party take out in exchange?" Easton Road.

"A cruiser, a destroyer." Sect abandonment.

"Three ......"

"A ......"

In the end, the proposal turned into a cruiser and two destroyers, and Zongli completed the mission perfectly.

Although Easton was a little distressed to see the mowed Kalimantan Island, he also got three warships for free. At least in Easton's opinion, it was not too much of a loss, after all, he had been prepared for heavy bleeding before.

(To be continued)