Ismail has always believed that he is the heir to the throne of Egypt. After all, his father Ibrahim was Muhammad. Ali's eldest son, who in turn was the second son of Ibrahim. His brother died young, so he would naturally be the first in line to the throne. However, the throne of Egypt was in chaos from the time of Abbasid I.

Abbasid I used his own strength to seize the throne that should have belonged to Ismail. Subsequently, Abdul. Saeed, who was his uncle, took the throne from Abbasid I. Now, it's time for Ismail to seize the throne that should have belonged to him.

"Your Excellency, what kind of support do you need from the Chinese Empire?" Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng asked.

"Your Excellency, General, I need funds and weapons. I need enough money to buy some neutral generals to support me. In addition, I need a large number of weapons to arm the Egyptian army, otherwise we will not be able to withstand the attack of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Surely the Chinese Empire didn't want us to be destroyed by the Ottoman Empire, right? Ismail said with a smile. Now is the time for the two sides to negotiate terms. If an agreement can be reached, the two sides will be able to officially start working together.

"There are no problems with funds and weapons. The Chinese Empire can offer you an interest-free loan with a total amount of 10 million Chinese dollars. Plus, we can provide you with new equipment to arm 100,000 men for free. Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said. Such conditions are already very generous.

"Your Excellency, this is far from enough, I need more support." Ismail shook his head. Though. The funds for the support of the Chinese Empire and the weapons provided were not less, but far from his needs. It's still too little.

"So, how much do you need?" Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng asked.

"Fifty million Chinese dollars! I need 50 million dollars. It was used to buy other generals, and it was already used as war funds for the war against the Ottoman Turkish Empire. In addition, there are too few weapons to arm 100,000 people, and at least 500,000 people must be armed. Egypt will face an existential war, and we will have to fight the Ottoman Empire to the fullest. 100,000 people is simply not enough! Ismail said what he wanted. Of course, his requirements are undoubtedly much higher than those put forward by Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng before.

"Your Excellency, such a request is too high! The question of weapons. In addition to the 100,000 people of weapons and equipment provided free of charge, the Chinese Empire could sell another 400,000 weapons and equipment to Egypt at a low price. As for the funding of 50 million Chinese dollars, it is too much. Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng shook his head. The Chinese Empire is ready to support Ismail, but this does not mean that the Chinese Empire is willing to be the wronged leader and let him extort money.

"Your Excellency General, this fund can be regarded as a loan from Egypt to the Chinese Empire, and it is not necessary to be interest-free, just to charge low interest!" Ismail continued. In such a country as Egypt. Nothing is more effective than money to gain the support of other generals. As the strongest currency in the world, I believe that other generals will like it. In this way, he can gain the support of most of the military. A coup d'état can then be carried out directly. Overthrow of Muhammad. Said's reign.

A loan of 50 million Chinese dollars is not a small amount. Though it is a loan. Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng Yan Zòng doubted Ismael's ability to repay. After all, Egypt is not rich. their territory. Ninety percent is desert. Even with the conquest of Sudan to the south, this situation did not change. Poor Egypt. There is simply no way to repay this huge amount. When the time comes, the empire can't start a war against Egypt because of this loan, right? In that case, the gains outweigh the losses.

Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng hesitated for a moment, and had to admit that Ismail was indeed the most suitable candidate for support. However, the other party's appetite does not seem to be small. Even if the Chinese Empire wants to support him, it must be prepared to not allow the interests of the empire to be harmed.

"Your Excellency, in principle, the Chinese Empire can accede to your request. However, this loan must have collateral. Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said. Otherwise, the Chinese Empire would certainly not have offered him so many loans at will.

"Collateral?" Ismail frowned. Egypt has nothing of value to use as collateral. If he had, he would not have made a huge loan to the Chinese Empire.

"A stake in the Suez Canal! If you agree, you can use the Suez Canal as collateral, and the empire can provide Egypt with a low-interest loan of 50 million Chinese dollars. Of course, there is a condition that if Egypt wants to buy weapons and equipment, it must buy them from the Chinese Empire! Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said with a smile. The Chinese Empire had long coveted the Egyptians' stake in the canal. Now, it seems, is a good opportunity to take the Egyptians' shares.

Ismail's face suddenly turned very ugly. Since the opening of the Suez Canal, it has become the busiest waterway between East and West. Tens of millions of dollars are collected every year to cross the river. Although Egypt only has a 5% stake in the canal, it can bring millions of dollars in revenue to Egypt. This is already a lot of income for Egypt. If the canal is lost, Egypt will lose a bit of a lot. However, Ismail did not want to miss the support of the Chinese Empire.

The original stake in the Suez Canal was 32 percent for the Chinese Empire, 28 percent for the United Kingdom, 25 percent for France, 10 percent for the Kingdom of Spain, and 5 percent for Egypt. With the help of the last world war, both Britain and France were defeated, and the Chinese Empire took the opportunity to take over the Canal Development Company. And in spite of the opposition of Britain, France and other countries, it directly announced that Britain and France would be kicked out of the Canal Development Company. At present, the Chinese Empire holds as much as 80 percent of the shares in the Canal Development Company, the Kingdom of Spain 15 percent, and Egypt still 5 percent.

In poor Egypt, it is estimated that only the 5 percent of the Canal Development Company can be seen by the Chinese Empire.

"Your Excellency, this is nothing more than collateral. If Egypt is able to repay the loan by then, then the shares of the Canal Company will still be Egyptian. Not to mention, with the support of the Chinese Empire, Egypt would become a powerful state. Your kingdom will expand eastward into Palestine and westward to take over the Ottoman Turkish colonies in North Africa. When the time comes, Egypt will not be able to repay the loan of 50 million Chinese dollars! Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said.

Ismail nodded, if Egypt could succeed in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, then Egypt would be able to grow into a powerful country. When the time comes, they will have a larger territory, a larger population, and a richer national power.

"That's right, Your Excellency. The Chinese Empire had many other preparations to deal with the Ottoman Turkish Empire. The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula will also rise up against the Ottoman Turkish Empire. In addition, in the plains of Ukraine and the Balkans, the locals will also rise up to revolt. They would have pinned down most of the Ottoman Empire's military power. If necessary, the Kingdom of Afghanistan would also go to war against the Ottoman Turkish Empire. It is not impossible to defeat the Ottoman Turkish Empire and force the Ottoman Turkish Empire to recognize Egypt's independence with the coordination of many parties! Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said. He said this solely to boost Ismail's confidence.

Sure enough, after hearing that the Chinese Empire had prepared so many means, Ismail's confidence increased a lot.

"Your Excellency, what about the navy of the Ottoman Turkish Empire? If they send their navy to attack Egypt's coast, or even if the world is closing in on Cairo, Egypt will not be able to resist. Ismail said. On the land battlefield, with so much support, Egypt would not necessarily lose to the Ottoman Turkish Empire. But it's a different story at sea.

"As for the navy, you don't have to worry. Once the war began, the Chinese Empire would prohibit the navy of any country from entering the waters north of the Suez Canal on the pretext of protecting the safety of the canal. Unless the Ottoman Turks wanted to go to war with the Empire, their navy would not have any influence on Egypt! Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng said affirmatively.

Ismail nodded, he was finally relieved.

The next day, Brigadier General Zheng Haisheng signed a secret treaty with Ismail, which stipulated that the Chinese Empire would provide Ismail with a low-interest loan of 50 million Chinese dollars, secured by shares in the Suez Canal, and that the Chinese Empire would provide Ismail with enough weapons and equipment to arm 100,000 men. Ismail will also buy weapons and equipment from the Chinese Empire that can arm 400,000 people.

After receiving a huge loan from the Chinese Empire, Ismail immediately went into action. Under the opening of money, many neutral generals and officers of the Egyptian army fell to Ismail. Even Muhammad. One of Said's palace guards also defected.

On June 21, 1861, Ismail led an army to besiege the Egyptian princes, and the palace fell in just half an hour under the influence of traitors. Mohammed. Said was captured and then executed. Ismail announced that he had become the Pasha of Egypt as his heir, and sent someone to Istanbul to ask Sultan Abdul. Canonization of Mejid I.

At the same time, weapons supported by the Chinese Empire arrived in Egypt, and the Egyptian army began to redress and prepare for war. (To be continued......)

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