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On the morning of December 28, 1843, the Foreign Secretary of the New China Kingdom, Lin Zihao, and the British Foreign Secretary, Henry Brown. Viscount Temple started talks again, but compared to yesterday, the two still did not intend to make concessions in this meeting. Especially Henry. Viscount Temple still looked like he was on top, as if they hadn't suffered a crushing defeat in this war at all.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, it is the best for both of our countries. It is already very good that we, the British Empire, do not hold Xinhua accountable for the losses caused to us. Therefore, Xinhua Guoguo should also accept it when it sees good. Otherwise, I'm afraid it won't end well in the end. "Henry. Viscount Temple advised.

"Your Excellency, we are the victors, and, not for me, though England is the hegemon of the world. However, in Nanyang, Britain also had no way to defeat Xinhua. This is true now, and even more so in the future. Therefore, our interests must be safeguarded! Now that the Straits Settlements are under our control, we intend to establish a Straits Province to administer the Straits Settlements. The Straits Settlements will never be returned to you. In addition, in this war, Xinhua also lost a lot of personnel, weapons and equipment, and consumed a large amount of war materials. The British government owes us compensation. For the sake of friendly relations between the two countries, His Majesty the King of our country only asks the British Government to pay us 20 million pounds sterling! Lin Zihao said. Since Henry. Viscount Temple was so ignorant. Then, he had no choice but to open his mouth. Anyway, now that Xinhua has the upper hand, even if the negotiations break down. For Xinhuaguo, the loss is not large.

"What? This is absolutely not a no-go! The Straits Settlements were an inherent overseas colony of the British Empire, which could never be handed over to China, and the British Empire would never recognize the rule of Xinhua over the Straits Settlements. As for the war reparations, or 20 million war reparations, I can only say that you are daydreaming. The British Empire will never accept your blackmail! "Henry. Viscount Temple said angrily. Especially the huge war reparations. Make it difficult for him to accept. You must know that Britain's fiscal revenue last year was only more than 50 million pounds, and this year it will only be this amount. Xinhua asked for 20 million pounds in war reparations in one bite, isn't this a money grab? Besides, Britain has always robbed other countries, but no country dares to rob Britain. Could it be that Xinhuaguo wants to take the lead this time? That's absolutely impossible.

"Your Excellency, Viscount. The victorious country makes demands on the defeated country. This is entirely reasonable. Besides, we are not asking too much. If the British side continues to hold this attitude, then I can only regret to say that this time the negotiations may be broken. Lin Zihao said with some regret. Although Xinhua longs for peace, the premise is that it will not harm the interests of Xinhua Guo.

"Your Excellency, is your request reasonable? If negotiations break down. The responsibility is all on you. I can responsibly tell you that Xinhua will definitely regret it in the future. "Henry. Viscount Temple said confidently.

Lin Zihao is very clear. There will be no real peace between Xinhua and Britain, and at most there will be an armistice under the cloak of peace. Britain wants to continue to expand, and Xinhua also wants to rise, and the two countries will inevitably collide fiercely. The conflict between the two countries will not end unless the other side is completely defeated.

"By the way, Your Excellency the Viscount, I have one more thing to tell you. In addition to the Straits Settlements, Xinhua also wanted Britain to transfer Australia to Xinhua Nation, including Australia and New Zealand. Lin Zihao said suddenly.

"Australia? You want not only the Straits Settlements, but also Australia? No, it's absolutely not going to work! "Henry. Viscount Temple's head shook like a rattle. He had been completely shocked by Xinhuaguo's appetite. Although in his view, Australia is nothing more than a barren land, which has no other use than the development of animal husbandry. However, Australia has a large area and has a lot of room for development in the future. How is it possible to transfer the vast expanse of Australia to Xinhuaguo?

"Your Excellency, I am not asking for your consent, but just to inform you. The Xinhua Army had already landed in Australia and launched an attack. Soon, Australia will de facto belong to the new country. Lin Zihao said with a smile.

"What? You have brazenly launched an attack on Australia? "Henry. Viscount Temple roared angrily, he knew very well what the British military deployment in Australia looked like. If Xinhua really launched an attack on Australia, Australia's army would not be able to resist it at all.

"Your Excellency, don't forget, we are still at war at the moment. The Xinhua Army has good reasons to attack Australia, not only Australia, of course, but also other places, such as India. Lin Zihao said, although he had a smile on his face, the threat in his words was very obvious. He hoped to be able to use this to persecute Henry. Viscount Temple gave in, which also made him recognize the reality.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, can I understand that you are threatening the British Empire?" Henry. Viscount Temple said with a gloomy face.

"No, Your Excellency. How can this be considered a threat? I'm just stating a fact to you. If peace cannot be achieved between our two countries, then the footsteps of the Xinhua Army will not stop, and we will continue to attack. As for where it will eventually stop, it will probably have to wait until the peace treaty is signed. Lin Zihao said.

"Humph! Your Excellency Foreign Secretary, I assure you that Xinhua will definitely pay the price for this! "Henry. After Viscount Temple finished speaking, he left the conference room angrily. Xinhua actually dared to threaten the British Empire by force, which made Henry. Viscount Temple was furious. Although Britain has done this kind of thing, it is still difficult for him to accept when it really happens to them.

"Humph! I don't know what to do! "Look at Henry. At the back of Viscount Temple leaving, Lin Zihao's face was not very good-looking.

In the afternoon, the talks did not continue. Whether it's Lin Zihao or Henry. Viscount Temple, probably didn't have the heart to negotiate.

Lin Zihao found Rear Admiral Sun Hao, chief of operations of the General Staff of the Xinhua Army, and Brigadier General Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet.

"What's wrong? Lord Lin, is the negotiation still not going well? When Major General Sun Hao saw Lin Zihao's face, he knew that there must be another problem in the negotiations.

"The Englishman was just a stone in a pit, smelly and hard, and wouldn't budge at all. If this continues, we will not be able to agree at all. Lin Zihao complained. As a victorious country, Xinhua will certainly not take the initiative to give up the interests it has acquired. And the British refused to bow their heads, so that the differences between the two sides will grow bigger and bigger.

"Lord Lin, according to me, there should be no peace talks with them at all, we can continue the war. Although the British still have a lot of troops in India, these armies are simply vulnerable. Especially their Indian Ocean fleet, the main force has been wiped out by us, and the remaining warships are just some old-fashioned warships. The 5th fleet will be enough to take them to the table. When the time comes, see what qualifications they have to be arrogant in front of us. "Commodore Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, has always been the main battle faction, and seeing that the negotiations were not going well, he immediately proposed to solve the problem by means of war.

"No, although we are not afraid of the British, it will not do us any good if the war goes on. The country is about to start large-scale construction, and we need a relatively peaceful external environment. Wait a few more years, and when we have developed the country and overthrown the Manchu government, we will no longer have to fear the British. When the time comes, we will fight with them for as long as they want, until we defeat them. Lin Zihao said.

"Well, Lord Lin is right, our foundation is too thin, if we keep fighting, I'm afraid we will be dragged down. The key is to wait until our country develops before we can compete with the British. Major General Sun Hao said.

"But now the British are not cooperating at all, they will not bow their heads, and we will certainly not spit out the fat in our mouths again, in this case, there will be no progress in the negotiations, it is just a waste of time." Commodore Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, said.

Lin Zihao nodded, he also had a headache for this matter.

"Lord Lin, or we will add another fire to the British. Since they will not bow their heads, then we can only force them to bow their heads. Major General Sun Hao said.

"General Sun, what do you mean?" Lin Zihao asked.

"Determining the status between countries or strength is also to see whose fists are hard. Since the British will not bow their heads, then we will only fight them until they bow their heads. Major General Sun Hao said.

"General Sun, if the war resumes, it will be a big deal. If it spreads to the point where it can't be contained, it's not easy to do. Lin Zihao said with some worry.

"Don't worry, Lord Lin, we can control the scale of the war. The army will not be dispatched, but the navy will be sent to the Bay of Bengal, and at the right time an attack will be launched against the British Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet, so that the British know that if we do not compromise any longer, we will really attack India. When the time comes, will they still dare to be so tough? Major General Sun Hao said. (To be continued......)