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"Your Majesty, our people also made contact with the general manager of the French canal company. It's just that the French refused to transfer the canal to us, but to the Americans! General Wei Zhiyong, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, said. After learning that the French Interoceanic Canal Company was unable to continue to support the construction of the Panama Canal, the Chinese side quickly contacted the French Interoceanic Canal Company to obtain the right to dig the canal, but the relationship between China and France was not so close, and France was repeatedly defeated by China, which made France very hostile to China. Under such circumstances, it is conceivable that China wants to obtain the right to dig the canal.

At the same time, the Americans were also actively fighting, and since France and the United States were both members of the Entente, it was only natural for the French to transfer the canal to the United States. And the Americans, in order to protect their west coast, so that the main forces of the US Navy can be transferred from the east coast to the west coast, and the opening of the canal before the war has become the most important thing for the Americans!

Wang Yuze nodded, and did not blame the Military Intelligence Bureau for this incident. With the current relationship between China and France, if the French are willing to transfer the canal to China, then there is a ghost!

In the distant colonial era, the Isthmus of Panama was a transportation hub connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Spanish overlords, and the annual Portofolo Fair attracted agents of major European trading houses, where tons of Peruvian silver were lucratively traded with European goods, and Panama flourished with commerce and shipping. However, this does not change its subordinate status.

As early as the 15th century, the Spanish Vasco Cortés, who conquered Mexico, proposed the construction of a canal, but he did not specify a suitable location for digging, and later. After the conquest of Panama by Vasco Nuneri Balboa, in 1523 King Charles I of Spain (Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire) made a clear proposal to dig a Mesoamerican canal.

In 1534, King Carlos I of Spain ordered a survey of the Isthmus of Panama, and the Spaniards paved a post road through the isthmus with cobblestones along the ridge in preparation for the excavation. Beginning in the 18th century, the Spanish colonial government sent personnel to survey four alternative sites: the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico; a location near the Atrato River in northwestern Colombia; Isthmus of Nicaragua; Isthmus of Panama. In 1771, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec was surveyed, however, by 1814. When Spain finally decided to dig the canal, the outbreak of the Latin American War of Independence disrupted the entire plan. In 1823, the Federal Republic of Central America, composed of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, was established, and it formally submitted a request to the United States for the construction of the canal, and in June of the following year. At an international conference held in Panama, Simón Bolívar, the father of Latin American freedom, officially put the construction of the Mesoamerican Canal on the agenda. Of the four proposed excavation sites, the Isthmus of Panama is the narrowest (61 km) and the Isthmus of Nicaragua is available with Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River. Economically, the benefits of digging a canal are self-evident, and with the increasing development of shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it is clear that a more convenient route will bring many benefits. If the canal opens, the New York-San Francisco voyage could be shortened by 16 per cent, the Liverpool to San Francisco voyage by 43 per cent, and the New York-Sydney voyage by 28 per cent. Significant.

In the end, the French obtained the right to dig the canal. However, the difficulty of digging the canal far exceeded the expectations of the French. Meantime. The French Canal Company also had problems in its management, and the senior management led by Reseb was unable to sustain the project. but wantonly embezzled the funds of the canal shares issued to the public; In order to cover up the truth and continue to issue additional bonds, the company used large sums of money to bribe officials, and 150 ministers and parliamentarians of the French government accepted bribes, but the paper could not contain the fire, and by 1889, the French Interoceanic Canal Company was exhausted and had to declare bankruptcy, and the people of Reseb were also taken to court.

This allowed the Americans to intervene in the construction of the canal, replacing the French as the owners of the Panama Canal. Historically, the Panama Canal was only opened in 1914. However, now the United States must speed up the process for the sake of its own security. Therefore, the United States expects that the Panama Canal will be opened in five years!

"Your Majesty, once the Panama Canal is opened, it will pose a huge threat to the Pacific Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and we must prepare in advance!" Navy Minister Zhang Chengti said. After the opening of the canal, the main force of the US Navy will be able to move from the east coast to the west coast in less than half a month. Now, the US Navy has begun to build new battleships on a large scale, and in five years, it will inevitably pose a threat to the Imperial Navy!

"Is there anything built in the Admiralty?" Wang Yuze asked.

"Your Majesty, the Admiralty wants us to be able to secure one or two naval bases in Central America. To guard against the U.S. fleet that could enter the Pacific Ocean at any time through the Guò Canal! Zhang Cheng said.

"Acquisition of a naval base in Central America? Is there a suitable place? Wang Yuze asked. Central America has always been regarded as Americans' own backyard. China's acquisition of naval bases in Central America will inevitably further intensify the direct contradictions between China and the United States. However, Wang Yuze is not afraid, and there is no possibility of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States anyway. There will be a war between the two sides in the future, and the acquisition of a naval base in Central America will undoubtedly make the Chinese navy more fully prepared.

"There are currently two candidates. One is Tumaco, in the province of Nariño, in the southwestern province of Colombia, where there is an excellent harbor for large warships. It's also only a day's ride from the Panama Canal! As long as we build a military base there, we can effectively monitor the Panama Canal! The other is Santa Cruz in Ecuador, where Puerto Ayora is also a good harbor. It is 1,500 kilometers away from the Panama Canal, and you can reach the canal in two days. And the islands in the Pacific Ocean are safer. Zhang Cheng introduced.

"So, which one does the Admiralty think is more suitable?" Wang Yuze asked.

"Your Majesty, the Admiralty wants to take both places! In Tumaco, Colombia, we can deploy light cruisers, destroyers and submarines to monitor the Panama Canal. On the island of Santa Cruz in Ecuador, the main forces of the Pacific Fleet can be deployed. As long as the U.S. Navy enters the Pacific Ocean through the Guò Panama Canal, our ships in Tumaco will be able to track them all the way. Provide accurate information for the main force of the fleet departing from Santa Cruz! After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he looked at Wang Yuze with blank eyes, for these two naval bases, the Admiralty did not want to give up!

"Master Wu, how is our relationship with Colombia and Ecuador? Is it possible to have a naval base in the concession of the two countries? Wang Yuze asked. He doesn't know much about South American countries.

"Your Majesty, our relationship with Colombia and Ecuador can only be described as average. But if you want to get a naval base, it's not impossible! Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said with a smile!

"Oh? What's the solution? Wang Yuze asked.

Although the current president of Colombia, José Manuel Marrokinricotte, is a member of the Conservative Party, the relationship between Colombia and the United States has always been not harmonious. Originally, Panama was part of Colombia, and the Americans were able to support the independence of the Panamanians in order to open a canal in Panama. Colombia has always held a grudge against this. As long as we give Colombia certain benefits and let them give us the Tumaco concession, I think, they will not refuse! Wu Tingfang said.

Wang Yuze nodded, the so-called enemy of the enemy is a friend. Colombia is naturally very aware of the hostile relationship between China and the United States. The opening of the Panama Canal is also a threat to Colombia. Americans have also coveted South America for a long time. After the development of the United States, a large amount of American capital has entered South America. A few years ago, the United States defeated Spain and took Cuba, and this was a harbinger!

"So, what about Ecuador?" Wang Yuze continued to ask.

"Ecuador's problem, it's even easier. After the end of Ecuador's previous president, Eloy Alfaro, there was a conflict in Ecuador over the succession of the president, with Leonidas Praza and Lisaldo Garcia both vying for the presidency. It's just that the forces of both sides are about the same, and neither can subdue the other. So much so that for more than a year, the situation in Ecuador has been very chaotic! So we can get involved and talk to both sides, and we'll support whoever can give us the Santa Cruz concession on favorable terms. If the side we are waiting for is victorious, then we will have no problem getting Santa Cruz! Wu Tingfang said.

Both of these methods are very good. In the interests of the country, threats, persecution, and even subversion are also very common. This is also the sorrow of the government of a small country, because for the sake of its own interests, if the small country is disobedient, it will often choose to support an obedient regime. This is undoubtedly the case in Ecuador now.

"But, Your Majesty. The problem of Ecuador is now mixed up by both the Americans and the Germans. The Americans supported Leonida Sprasa, and the Germans supported Lisaldo Garcia. So, we can only support Lisaldo Garcia. However, it is not known whether the Germans will mess around in it! Wu Tingfang was a little worried. The relationship between China and Germany seems to have drifted apart!