PS: The third update is here! The fourth watch is at 11 o'clock! Thank you for the tips of the book friends for extreme deep-sea diving! Thank you for the monthly pass at 21 o'clock, sand gathering and scattering, and pine forest waves!

"Immediately convene the ministers and convene an emergency meeting!" French President Emile François Lube at this time, he couldn't care to rush home to celebrate his wife's birthday, and the Chinese actually made a move on the Middle East, which is a great event for France!

The presidential secretary soon went to deliver the order, and only President Lube and Foreign Minister Alexander Ribo were left in the presidential office.

"Ribo, what do you say those Chinese want to do? I remember that last year's earnings in the Middle East were only about 100 million francs. The Chinese were able to sign such a treaty with the Saudi family, and the annual rent of 100 million Chinese yuan is equivalent to more than 600 million francs! French President Lubet asked, frowning, he really couldn't figure out why this was happening. With France's current fiscal revenues, the annual benefits from the Middle East are really somewhat insignificant. However, this does not mean that France will give up this part of its interests. Now that the Entente and the Central Powers are expanding their armaments, even if they have less income, they can't let it go!

"The conditions offered by the Chinese to the Saudi family are indeed very unbelievable. However, I think the Chinese will definitely not interfere in the loss of business, the Middle East, or the Persian Gulf coast, must have some kind of wealth that people have not yet discovered, so the Chinese will offer such conditions! French Foreign Minister Alexandre Ribault replied.

President Lubet nodded, and then said: "So, if this is really the case, in the face of China's invasion, we can't back down?" "Lubet has been elected president for just over two years. He also wants to seek another term. However, if this matter is not handled well, he is afraid that he will be kicked out of the Elysée Palace, let alone seek re-election.

"Your Excellency, the specific situation will be considered in the long run. If the wealth of the Middle East is something that we need to pay a great deal to keep, it will be more than worth the loss for us. After all. This was the first time since the end of the war that the Chinese began to expand. They must have been well prepared for a long time. If we want to thwart their ambitions, we will have to be prepared to pay a huge price! Foreign Minister Alexander Ribo reminded.

President Lubet's face was a little gloomy, and China's power was expanding too quickly. And in contrast. Neither the army nor the navy can compete with China. If we want to fight with China over the ownership of the Middle East, I am afraid that France will not win!

Soon, the ministers rushed to the presidential office at the Élysée Palace. Many of them had already received invitations to the president's wife's birthday party in the evening. But President Lubet's urgent summons made them know. Tonight's birthday party, I'm afraid it's going to be in the soup.

"Sit down, everybody! We have just gotten the latest news that the Saud family of the Kingdom of Najd has defeated the Rashid family in Riyadh. The restoration was successful, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established. They are trying in vain to get rid of our control, and they have already signed a treaty with China. The Chinese will garrison troops in the Kingdom and at a price of 100 million Chinese dollars per year. Rent the Al Ahsa area! President Lube gave a brief introduction.

After listening to his introduction, there was a lot of discussion in the office. They are surprised that China will make a move in the Middle East. And the opponent of the challenge is France. At the same time, he was also shocked by the conditions that China had offered to the Saudi family. The annual rent of 100 million Chinese yuan is very exciting even in France! Those poor and frightened Arabs will certainly not refuse China's good intentions.

"Your Excellency, what exactly is in the Middle East? The Chinese will offer such a price? Finance Minister Maurice Ruvier asked first. This, he argued, was the key issue that would affect France's policy in the Middle East.

"I don't know, we haven't heard anything yet. However, I think that the Chinese will definitely not suffer losses, since they are willing to pay 100 million yuan in rent every year, then they will definitely be able to earn back these rents, and even get more benefits! President Lube said. The Western powers were originally mercenary capitalist countries, and if they had no interests, who would do this?

Everyone nodded their heads and agreed with this statement.

"So, gentlemen, what shall we do now? Such an approach by the Chinese has clearly threatened the interests of France! President Lube asked, after glancing at everyone.

"Your Excellency, I think that we in England remain tough, and the Kingdom of Najd is our colony and must not be lost. I can order the French troops stationed in the Middle East to march to Riyadh at once. Those armies of the House of Saud are no match for our French Army at all! Minister of War Charles Fresiné stated.

"Do you want to start a war? The Chinese have already intervened? Will this spark a war between us and China? Foreign Minister Alexander Ribo said with some hesitation.

"Your Excellency Ribo, now that the Chinese are bullying us, we can't help but fight back, right?" War Minister Charles Fresiné said angrily. Although France's military strength has weakened a lot, it has once again improved greatly in the past two years, which makes Charles Fréssy full of confidence.

"What about other people's opinions?" President Lube asked. President Lube was somewhat undecided about whether to use military means. If you win, it's easy to say. If they lose, their current government will be finished.

"Your Excellency, I think we should take a long-term view. At least for now, the French Navy is not capable of fighting the Chinese Navy. Even if the Chinese Navy only dispatches the Indian Ocean Fleet, the French Army has no chance of winning! The words of the French Minister of the Navy, Goldfrova Kafenjac, undoubtedly poured cold water on everyone's heads. The French Navy's 'Lone Class' battleships have begun to enter service one after another. It is expected that by August, all four 'Guba-class' battleships will be put into service. These four 'lone-class' battleships will become the main force of the French Navy. However, the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy has two 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, as well as two more powerful 'Qin-class' battleships and one 'Baiqi-class' battlecruiser. Such strength is enough to defeat the French Navy lightly. The French Navy's 'Guba-class' battleships have the same combat power as the Chinese Navy's 'Zhonghua-class' battleships at most. The Middle East is not close to France, and thousands of kilometers away need to rely on sea transportation. If the Navy cannot ensure victory, there will be no way to talk about so many operations in the Middle East!

"Don't forget, Monsieur Kafenjak, that we are part of the Entente. Now that France's interests have been harmed, the rest of the Entente is obliged to help France. If we go to war with China, other countries will support us. Although China is strong, the Entente countries are united and are not afraid of China! War Minister Charles Fresiné said strongly.

"I don't think the other members of the Entente will go to war with China for a desert!" This was stated by Foreign Minister Alexander Ribo.

"The Chinese are willing to spend 100 million yuan a year for that desert, and there must be some kind of treasure underneath, maybe iron ore, or other minerals and so on." War Minister Charles Fresiné retorted.

"In the absence of concrete intelligence, I don't think our allies will make a decision right away. Your Excellency President, I believe that what we need to do now is to find out as much as possible the intentions of the Chinese. What is there in the Middle East to let the Chinese help the Saudi family at any cost. If the buried treasures in the Middle East are truly staggering, perhaps we can convince the rest of the Entente to join us in putting pressure on China! Finance Minister Maurice Ruvier said.

"I agree with His Excellency Ruvière!" Prime Minister Waldek Rousseau said.

"What about the others? If there is no opinion, then follow this method! President Lube said.

"Your Excellency, we cannot do nothing. At the very least, our troops in the Middle East must begin to assemble and be ready for war! Said War Minister Charles Fresine.

"Alright! The armies of the Middle East can begin to build. However, it is not allowed to get involved in the war without an order from the Presidential Office. Now, let the army of the House of Saud and the army of the House of Rashid fight for it! We can give some support to the Rashid army! President Lube said.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" The Minister of War, Charles Fresiné, felt that President Lubet's decision was a little weak, but he had no choice but to comply with this order.

"Your Excellency Ribo, immediately contact the ambassador to China, express our country's strict protest to China, and let the Chinese immediately stop supporting the Saudi family and withdraw their troops from the Middle East, otherwise China will bear the consequences!" President Lube said.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Foreign Minister Alexander Ribo took the order. Although, he knows, such a protest, the root is irrelevant, and the Chinese root will not care. However, the necessary diplomatic routines must still be observed.

The conflict that broke out in the Middle East could not be hidden from anyone, and soon all the countries of the world knew about it, especially the Central and Entente powers, and almost all of them focused their attention here. It's just that the object of their attention is not the Saudi family, or the Saudi kingdom, but why the Chinese will give the Saudi family such favorable conditions, what is buried under the desert of the Middle East?