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On July 16, 1848, Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao boarded a 'Western Zhou-class' warship of the Imperial Navy to England to attend the London Peace Conference. Originally, according to the original expectation, he would succeed the current Prime Minister Li Decheng in two months as the new Prime Minister of the Empire. However, this peace meeting is very important for the Empire. Therefore, the emperor Long Yufei specially asked Lin Zihao to represent the empire to participate in this peace meeting.

Compared with the current Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wei Yuan, Lin Zihao is undoubtedly more experienced. This time, the peace talks were held in London, and they had to face a game between China, France, and Spain on the one hand, Britain and the United States, as well as a game within China, France, and Spain. The situation is very complicated, with Lin Zihao going to represent the empire to participate in the negotiations, Long Yufei should also rest assured.

Before Lin Zihao left, the emperor Long Yufei specially summoned him and instructed him. The bottom line in this negotiation proposed by Long Yufei is that the interests of the empire must not be harmed. What is obtained on the battlefield must not be thrown on the negotiating table. Also, be careful with the French. The Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain watched the war between the French very dissatisfied. Although the Chinese Empire and France were allies, in this world, for the sake of their own interests, and then treacherous, is there still a lot of things?

Although, from the standpoint of the Chinese Empire, the French were too ambitious and bent on occupying the most prosperous areas of the United States, which led their attack to a difficult situation. This actually has little to do with the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain. After all. The armies of the two countries in North America are too far from the northeast to be constrained by logistical supply reasons. It was also impossible to reinforce the French troops.

But the French don't think so. Their command believed that this was the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, intent on using the United States to weaken France. As a result, France paid huge losses in the war but could not obtain corresponding benefits. Such a statement would only lead to a drastic change in the relations between the Chinese Empire and France. The two countries may no longer be able to maintain the same good alliance relationship as they once were.

But. Emperor Long Yufei did not regret this. On the day of the alliance with France, he had already expected such a day sooner or later. The alliance between the Reich and France was nothing more than a mutual use. France and the Empire. Sooner or later, differences will arise because of their respective interests. When the time comes, it will be when the alliance between the two sides breaks down. Now, the empire has a new ally, the rising kingdom of Prussia. Undoubtedly more suitable than France to be an ally of the Empire. Once the Kingdom of Prussia united Germany. A powerful German empire would be born in Central Europe. This will play a great role in containing the strength of the European powers. In addition, the Kingdom of Spain, the spokesperson of the empire in Europe, seems to be relatively reliable for now. With these two allies, the interests of the empire in Europe can already be assured.

On the way to Europe, Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao only felt that the task of this trip was very heavy. Currently, the 3rd Army of the Imperial Army. The western part of North America has been conquered. In addition to California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming and Colorado, which were originally part of the empire, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Kansas, and Oklahoma were originally part of the western United States. Also occupied by the Empire. It has been connected to the southern states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas occupied by the Kingdom of Spain. When taken together, the territories of the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain in North America would constitute half of the current territory of the United States.

Of course, the two and three million square kilometers of territory that originally belonged to the empire were purchased by the empire from the Mexican Republic. Legally, it was also the territory of the Empire.

Emperor Long Yufei's meaning was very clear, that is, during the negotiations, it was necessary to ensure the clear ownership of these territories by the Empire.

It is 15,000 nautical miles by sea from Guangzhou to London, England, and even if you take a warship, it will take more than 50 days to arrive. Therefore, among the delegates to the London Peace Conference, Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao will be the last to arrive. Prior to this, in addition to the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, José. Morality. Salamanca waited for the arrival of Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao in Spain, and the two of them rushed out of London together to find the Secretary of State of the United States, James Brown. Buchanan and the French Foreign Minister, Count Walewski, both arrived in London ahead of schedule.

The Americans, led by the British, apparently intended to enter into a secret negotiation with France first.

On August 30, 1848, U.S. Secretary of State James Murphy Buchanan arrived in London. He first represented U.S. President James Brown. Knox. Polk, at Buckingham Palace, met with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the husband of England, to express their American respect and gratitude to Britain for its willingness to mediate the war.

Subsequently, James. Buchanan met with British Prime Minister Earl Stanley. I would like to thank the British Government for facilitating this peace talks.

The Americans knew very well that if they wanted to pay the least price in this peace talks, they had to get the support of Britain. Although, before that, relations between the United States and Great Britain were not harmonious. But now, Britain seems to have become the last resort of the United States.

"Your Excellency, how long will it take for the Chinese to arrive?" James. Buchanan was worried. In this peace talks, the attitude of the Chinese empire is too important. If the United States had not taken the Chinese Empire into account before the war began, it believed that the U.S. Army could easily defeat the Chinese Army on an expedition across the Pacific. However, the Imperial Army's cousin on the battlefield slapped them a few times. More than 100,000 Imperial Army troops cost the US army hundreds of thousands of losses. Such a result really frightened the United States.

"Your Excellency, according to the Imperial Government of China, their Foreign Secretary is expected to arrive in London on or about September 10th. When the time comes, Her Majesty the Queen will hold a grand welcome dinner for the representatives of various countries participating in the peace talks. British Foreign Secretary Earl Glanville said.

"Your Excellency, I don't know what the attitude of the Chinese Empire will be, the Chinese have always been more greedy." James. Buchanan was worried. In the war between the Chinese Empire and Russia, Russia extorted millions of square kilometers of land and hundreds of millions of pounds in war reparations. As for the hundreds of millions of pounds that Russia later spent on the redemption of prisoners of war, the specific amount was not announced to the outside world. However, countries speculate that this ransom must be an astronomical amount.

Count Glanville nodded: "The greed of the Chinese is known to the whole world. This time, the United States is at a disadvantage in the war. It is impossible to end the war without paying a certain price! ”

Who said that the Americans could not win on the battlefield? This puts them on the weaker side of the negotiations. How is it possible to keep what was lost on the battlefield at the negotiating table?

"The Spaniards and the Chinese Empire are perfectly fine with a pair of trousers. So, the attitude of the Chinese empire is theirs. The Earl of Granville continued.

James. Buchanan nodded, and the friendly relations between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain were well known to the world. If it weren't for the Chinese Empire, the strength of the Kingdom of Spain would not have recovered so quickly. It is even more unlikely that we will have the strength to invade the United States.

"Therefore, the only goal of the United States is France. If the United States can reach an agreement with France, it will be beneficial to this negotiation. Said the Earl of Granville.

"French? They are fended off by us on the battlefield, will they be willing to give up the opportunity to blackmail us? "James. Buchanan asked. You must know that France has invested the largest number of troops in North America, divided into three times, with a total of more than 400,000 troops, which is more than the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain combined. The number of Americans who died at the hands of the French was also the largest. This made the Americans grit their teeth with hatred from France.

"Your Excellency, remember, there are no eternal enemies and no permanent friends between nations. Since the attack of the French, it was not possible to achieve the desired goal. So, are they still qualified to extort too much from the United States? What's more, in this war in North America, because of the non-cooperation between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, there has been a rift in the alliance between China, France and Spain. If the United States is willing to pay some appropriate price, perhaps, it will reduce some losses. "The Earl of Granville built yì road.

The British are very worried about the trilateral alliance between China, France and Spain, which has already posed a serious threat to Britain's security and global strategy. If the alliance can collapse by sowing discord between China, France and Spain, it will be very beneficial for Britain. This war between China, France, and Spain and the United States has just exposed the contradictions and differences between China, France, and Spain. If we can make good use of this opportunity, the alliance between China, France and Spain is likely to be broken!

James. Buchanan nodded thoughtfully, as if he already knew what to do!

"Your Excellency, Count Walewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, will arrive in London in three days. When the time comes, we'll arrange for you to have a secret negotiation. Said the Earl of Granville.

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" (To be continued......)