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"There must be some misunderstanding in this, we have to explain clearly to the Chinese, absolutely not let them shell Lisbon." Queen Maria II said. If the Chinese Empire was a weak country, the Kingdom of Portugal would not have thought it was their mistake at all. However, the Chinese Empire was a great power that the Kingdom of Portugal could not provoke, and this great power had the absolute strength to destroy Portugal. Therefore, in such a situation, the Kingdom of Portugal has no choice but to bow its head. Otherwise, they will be the only ones who will suffer in the end.

"Perhaps, we can seek help from the British. This is a strange thing, and from what I know of Vice Admiral Alfredo, he simply did not have the courage to attack the Chinese fleet. Could there be some conspiracy in this? Fernando II asked.

"Even if it's a conspiracy, we don't have evidence. The officers and men of the fleet who were captured had already admitted that it was Vice Admiral Fernando who had provoked him first. The only thing we can do now is to calm the anger of the Chinese. Otherwise, once they really send troops to attack the Kingdom of Portugal, we will not be able to resist it at all. Said the Prime Minister, Earl Tommar. Attacking the emperor of a country, which is also not allowed in Europe. The Kingdom of Portugal will be blamed by other countries for this. Even Britain may not be able to stand up for them.

"Well, Your Excellency Prime Minister, you will be responsible for negotiating with the Chinese with full powers!" However, the interests of the Kingdom of Portugal should be guaranteed as much as possible. Macau we can return to the Chinese. In addition, they can be compensated a little money. Maria II said.

Count Tommar nodded, though, he thought. If such conditions were to be met, the Chinese would certainly not agree. Macau has long been recovered by the Chinese by force, and even if the Kingdom of Portugal does not recognize it, there is no way to change it.

"Her Majesty the Queen, let's first ask about the conditions of the Chinese, and then bargain according to the situation!" Count Tommar said.

"Well, this has to be resolved quickly. Otherwise. It will have a bad impact on Portugal's international reputation. "Queen Maria II has a headache. Lieutenant General Alfredo's unauthorized actions did put the Kingdom of Portugal in an extremely disadvantageous position.

"Yes. Her Majesty the Queen! Count Tommar nodded, and left with Foreign Secretary da Silva, and they were to hurry up and rush to the Chinese fleet. Negotiate with the Chinese. so that this issue can be solved earlier. As for the rest. That's only for later.

"My dear, I can assure you, it must have been a conspiracy. Perhaps the Chinese colluded with the French and Spanish against the Kingdom of Portugal. We need to ask Britain for help, Britain will not watch us being bullied! Fernando II said. He is a cousin of Queen Victoria of England and has a good relationship with the British. Now, Portugal was in crisis, and his first thought was to ask Britain for help.

"Fernando, about Alfredo. That's it. However, I hope it won't happen again! Queen Maria II said. Lieutenant General Alfredo this time. Caused big trouble for the Kingdom of Portugal. If it had been someone else, I am afraid that I would have been punished a long time ago. However, Fernando is her husband, so that's all there is to it.

"Alright, Maria!" Fernando II shrugged helplessly, and didn't say anything more, Maria II didn't hold him accountable, it was already for the sake of the couple's relationship. Fernando II was very resentful of the Chinese Empire and blamed everything on the Chinese.

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal, Count Tomar, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Da Silva, rushed to the Chinese fleet, and when they saw the huge steel warship of the Chinese Navy, Count Tommar was also suppressed, and he couldn't help but curse Vice Admiral Alfredo in his heart, in the face of such a powerful Chinese fleet, they all dared to provoke, it was simply impatient.

The two sides held talks on the foredeck of the battleship Wenwang, and on behalf of the Chinese side were Foreign Minister Lin Zihao and Deputy Minister of Operations Major General Liu Zhongming, while the Kingdom of Portugal was represented by Prime Minister Count Tommar and Foreign Minister da Silva.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, this incident is a complete misunderstanding, and it is Lieutenant General Alfredo's own initiative, and has nothing to do with the Government of the Kingdom of Portugal. We have absolutely no intention of attacking the Chinese emperor, and we can also compensate for the losses caused to China, and I hope that the emperor of the Chinese empire and the government can understand! Count Tommar said.

"So, Your Excellency, how are you going to compensate us? You must know that His Majesty the Emperor of our country is very angry about this incident. At one time, he wanted to send a large army to attack Portugal. In addition, the Kingdom of Spain, the empire's loyal partner, also seems to be ready to send troops to help the Chinese Empire. Lin Zihao said with a smile. Although he smiled, the meaning of his words made Count Tommar and Da Silva shudder.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, we are sincere. War is not a good thing for both of us! Count Tommar said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you seem to have forgotten that our two countries are still in a state of war!" Major General Liu Zhongming couldn't help but remind.

"Your Excellency, the Kingdom of Portugal has long wanted to end the state of war with the Chinese Empire, but it has not yet found a suitable opportunity. Otherwise, this would not have happened. Count Tommar said. Because it can't put down the shelf, the Kingdom of Portugal has been serving the shelf, and now it's okay, and it's going to have to pay a bigger price for making such a big mess.

"Alright, let's not talk about that! Your Excellency Prime Minister, what are you going to do? Lin Zihao didn't want to waste any more time. The Chinese emperor traveled thousands of miles to visit Europe, and the time was already relatively tight, and now he was delayed in Portugal for a long time. The schedule is even tighter.

"Your Excellency, the Kingdom of Portugal is willing to give up Macau, and in addition, we can pay you 100,000 pounds sterling in connection with this incident." Count Tommar said.

"Haha, are you treating us like beggars? The dignified Chinese Empire, how can it care about your little compensation? As for Macao, it is the inherent territory of our country, and it is not a question of whether the Kingdom of Portugal will give it up or not! Major General Liu Zhongming laughed. These Portuguese are simply too picky. Thinking that this will be able to send the Chinese Empire away, it is too underestimated.

"Your Excellency, if this is what you call sincerity, I don't think there is any need for us to talk any further!" Lin Zihao said coldly.

"Well, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, if you are not satisfied with the conditions, we can renegotiate!" Count Tommar hurriedly said.

"If your country has any conditions, you can also put it forward. We'll see if we can meet it. The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal, Da Silva, also said. Negotiations can't break down, and if the Chinese do shell Lisbon, it will be a big problem.

"We don't have many conditions, only two! First, Queen Maria II of the Kingdom of Portugal, must make a formal apology to the Empire! Second, the Kingdom of Portugal, pay an indemnity of 20 million Chinese dollars to the empire to compensate for the loss of the empire! If the Kingdom of Portugal accepts our terms, our two countries can end the state of war. Otherwise, we will shell Lisbon. And send an expeditionary force from within the country to attack the Kingdom of Portugal until the destruction of Portugal! Lin Zihao said.

"Shhh The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal, Count Tommar, and the Foreign Secretary, Da Silva, both gasped. The Kingdom of Portugal could not have agreed to either of the two conditions proposed by the Chinese Empire. If the queen of the Kingdom of Portugal apologized to the Chinese Empire, what would the other European powers think of the Kingdom of Portugal? The war reparations of 20 million Chinese dollars, the Kingdom of Portugal could not take it out at all. Portugal, which was already in decline, had a population of only 3.7 million, and its fiscal revenue was even smaller, and it simply could not afford to pay so many war reparations. In addition, although this time the Kingdom of Portugal was the first to lose, the Kingdom of Portugal suffered heavy losses, not to mention that a fleet was destroyed, and even the capital was shelled. On the contrary, the Chinese side has nothing to lose at all, and where is there any need for so much compensation.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, this is blackmail, and the Kingdom of Portugal will not agree to it!" Count Tommar said angrily.

"If that's the case, then we don't have anything to say, let's let the war continue!" Lin Zihao said.

"The Kingdom of Portugal can ask Britain for help and see if Britain will help you. The army of the Empire will arrive in Portugal in half a year at most! Major General Liu Zhongming also threatened.

"Both, the conditions proposed by the Chinese Empire are too harsh for us to accept. Can you lower the requirements a bit? Portugal's Foreign Minister da Silva said.

"First, this cannot be changed. His Majesty the Emperor has been attacked by the Portuguese fleet, and the Queen of the Kingdom of Portugal must apologize! Lin Zihao is very resolute.

Count Tommar and da Silva nodded, if there was really no way, the queen's apology was not unacceptable. The key is the second one, the Chinese Empire is completely blackmailing Portugal!

"Second, if the Kingdom of Portugal is unable to pay such a large amount of war reparations, it may be replaced by something else. Such as territory! Lin Zihao said with a smile.

Count Tommar and da Silva realized that this was probably the true purpose of the Chinese Empire.

"Cedion the Azores to us and you will be exempt from war reparations!" Major General Liu Zhongming said. (To be continued......)