PS. Present today's update, by the way, pull a vote for the "starting point" 515 fan festival, everyone has 8 votes, and the vote will also give the starting point coin, kneel and beg everyone to support and appreciate!

U.S. Secretary of State Hughes looked at British Foreign Secretary Earl Curzon. Count Curzon shook his head without a trace. Obviously, for the price of 800 million Chinese dollars, the British could not accept it.

So, Hughes continued: "Your Excellency, 800 million Chinese dollars is still a very high price. For the sake of peace, I think 200 million Chinese dollars is about the same. ”

"Your Excellency, you are really fit to be a businessman. However, 200 million Chinese dollars is also unacceptable for the empire. Tang Shaoyi shook his head. The bottom line of the empire was 500 million Chinese dollars, and in order to give the British a room for bargaining, they only shouted out 1 billion Chinese dollars at the beginning. However, these guys are also pressing down too much.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, 200 million Chinese dollars is not a small amount. It is completely enough for China to build several advanced capital ships. "Hughes tried to save as little loss as possible for Britain.

At this moment, Xiusi and Tang Shaoyi, the foreign minister of the empire, began to bargain as if they had become vendors in the vegetable market.

"Five hundred million Chinese dollars! This is the bottom line of the empire. If the UK does not agree to the amount of compensation, then there is no need for further negotiations. Tang Shaoyi said.

The compensation of 500 million Chinese yuan was proposed by Emperor Wu Haoxuan, which is also an unchangeable condition. If the British wanted to lower this amount any longer, it would be impossible. It is also absolutely unacceptable to the Empire.

The Earl of Curzon couldn't help frowning, 500 million Chinese dollars was still a lot of money for the British government. The UK is now very financially tight.

"Your Excellency, 500 million Chinese dollars is too much. The British Empire in order to show its sincerity. China can be provided with 400 million Chinese dollars in compensation. Count Curzon spoke. Being able to pay 100 million Chinese dollars less is also a big saving for the UK.

Tang Shaoyi shook his head: "I'm sorry, Your Excellency. 500 million Chinese dollars, not a penny less. ”

Count Curzon was silent for a long time before he said, "All right, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. Britain agreed to this condition. ”

He knew there was no way around it. With the Chinese taking a tough stance, Britain will not be willing to suffer the consequences of the breakdown of negotiations. Otherwise, they will only be able to accept the conditions of the Chinese.

"Your Excellency's choice is undoubtedly wise." Tang Shaoyi laughed.

"Very well, Your Excellency Foreign Ministers, once again we have reached an agreement. If we can continue at this pace, we will soon be able to fully agree. Theseus said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Excellency. Peace will then be achieved. "Extorted 500 million Chinese dollars from the British, which made Tang Shaoyi very satisfied.

The Count of Curzon was also smiling. Although, his heart ached. However, there is no way around it.

"Alright, you two, let's rest for a while, and after lunch, let's continue negotiations in the afternoon." Hughes suggested.

on this. Neither the Imperial Foreign Secretary, Tang Shaoyi, nor the British Foreign Secretary, the Earl Curzon, made sense. Indeed, a morning of negotiations. The constant bargaining made them feel very tired.

After lunch, Tang Shaoyi returned to the consulate lounge. At the same time, the consensus reached in the negotiations is also reported to the country. The Earl of Curzon was doing the same, and he reported to the country that the compensation had been reduced to 500 million Chinese dollars. They've done their best to do that. Albeit. The British Cabinet considered this amount too high. But they also know that there is no other way but to accept. So, the amount was acquiesced.

In the afternoon, negotiations resumed.

"Gentlemen. This morning, we reached two consensuses. I hope that, this afternoon, we will be able to reach consensus once again. In this case, the peace talks will soon come to a successful conclusion. U.S. Secretary of State Sergei Hughes said.

Tang Shaoyi and Count Curzon both smiled and nodded, but they also knew that it would undoubtedly be very difficult to reach a complete agreement. After all, there are still a lot of harsh conditions waiting for you.

"Thirdly, the Chinese Navy captured five battleships of the British Navy in naval battles. The British government hoped that the Chinese government would return the battleships. However, the Chinese Empire regarded these battleships as trophies. Hughes said.

"That's right, those ships were acquired by the Imperial Navy in naval battles. The officers and men of the British Navy raised the white flag and surrendered to the Imperial Navy. Then, these battleships are naturally the spoils of the empire, and no country will force another country to return the spoils, right? Tang Shaoyi said. The five battleships of the British were a good addition to the Imperial Navy. If it was returned to the British, the losses of the Imperial Navy this time would be irreparable. Next year, the empire will go to war against Japan. The strength of the navy, that is even more crucial.

"The Chinese Empire won this naval battle, and we do not deny that. However, the British Empire lost too many capital ships. We hope that the Chinese Empire will return these battleships to us. Otherwise, the naval strength of the British Empire would have suffered serious losses. What's more, the share of the capital ships of the Chinese Empire's navy was only 500,000 tons, and if you add these five battleships, it will exceed 500,000 tons. Count Curzon said.

"Yes! Your Excellency the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Otherwise, the Chinese Empire would have shown its sincerity and returned the five battleships to Britain. Hughes also persuaded. After all, the Imperial Chinese Navy had lost two capital ships, but they captured five battleships of the British Navy. If calculated in this way, the strength of the Chinese navy will increase rather than decrease. This is undoubtedly a great threat to the United States. The United States, of course, hopes that China will return those warships to Britain. That way, they'll be much less stressed.

Tang Shaoyi shook his head: "The Chinese Empire will not return these loot. If the total tonnage of our Navy exceeds half a million tons, we will dismantle some warships. However, if we return the trophies, it will cause great displeasure in the Imperial Navy. For the Empire, it will be very disadvantageous. As for the British, if your naval strength is badly damaged, you can start building new capital ships, as long as they do not exceed the limits of the Limitation of Naval Armaments Treaty. ”

It was clear that if the British rebuilt the battleships, it would cost more money. This will be a huge burden for the British. For the Chinese Empire, it must also have great benefits.

Count Curzon was silent, he knew that it was almost impossible for the Chinese Empire to spit out the fat that had already been eaten in his mouth. However, the fact that the Chinese Empire could promise to let Britain rebuild a capital ship was also a good alternative. According to the restrictions of the Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Armaments, the tonnage of newly built capital ships must not exceed 35,000 tons, and the caliber of the main guns must not exceed 406 mm. Compared to those previous capital ships of the British Navy, it is undoubtedly a little stronger. Of course, if it is compared with the 'Three Emperors-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy, it is undoubtedly weaker. In addition, the funds required for the construction of warships will also be a headache for the British cabinet.

Eventually, Count Curzon agreed. Those warships captured by the Chinese Navy belonged to the trophies of China. However, Britain had the right to build battleships of the next rank to supplement the strength of the Royal Navy. China must not obstruct this issue.

"Fourthly, in the naval battle, 14,325 British officers and men were captured by the Chinese navy. Britain hoped that the Chinese Empire would grant them the corresponding humanitarian treatment in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. And after the end of the conflict, release them unconditionally. The Chinese Empire, on the other hand, demanded that the British Empire pay a sum of 200 million Chinese dollars. It was used to pay for the food, clothing, medicine, and other expenses consumed by these prisoners of war while living in China. Hughes continued.

"The Chinese Empire has won this conflict, and has gained a great deal from the conflict, and it is only natural that the prisoners of war should be released unconditionally. The Chinese Empire still wants us to pay a ransom, which is too undeserved. Count Curzon said angrily.

"It's just reasonable for the British to pay for the cost of the POWs in China. Of course, if the British government has our prisoners of war, then we can exchange them. Tang Shaoyi didn't blink his eyes.

Earl Curzon was very depressed, there were no Chinese prisoners of war in the hands of the British government, how could they exchange prisoners of war?

"Your Excellency, even if China asks for payment for the expenses of those prisoners of war during their stay in China, 200 million Chinese dollars is too high. Why don't you pay 10 million Chinese dollars? U.S. Secretary of State Sergei Hughes said.

10 million Chinese dollars, there is undoubtedly a big gap from the requirements of the Chinese Empire. This naturally couldn't make Tang Shaoyi agree. After all, the bottom line of the empire is 100 million Chinese dollars.

As a result, the two sides began to bargain like vendors in the vegetable market. When the amount was reduced to 100 million Chinese yuan, Tang Shaoyi did not agree to drop it again. No matter what Hughes and Count Curzon said, the Chinese Empire did not agree to lower it in the old days. This made the two of them helpless. In the end, the Earl of Curzon had to pay another 100 million Chinese dollars to ransom the captured British officers and soldiers.

In this kind of bargaining negotiation, the two sides quickly agreed on those conditions. This kind of negotiation efficiency is still very fast.

[It's about to be 515, I hope to continue to hit the 515 red envelope list, and the red envelope rain will be able to give back to readers and promotional works on May 15. A piece is also love, and it must be better! (To be continued.) )

PS: The sixth shift is coming, do the brothers still have monthly passes?