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"If the Chinese must forcibly regain Macau, is there anything we can do to stop them?" Count Tommar, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal, asked. Although, he knows, it's almost impossible. The strength of the Chinese Empire was much stronger than that of the Kingdom of Portugal. More importantly, Macau was too close to the Chinese Empire, and the Chinese* army could launch an attack on Macau lightly. If the Kingdom of Portugal wanted to send troops to Macau, it would have to cross half the world. What's more, the navy of the Chinese Empire is so powerful that even the Royal Navy of the British Empire is not their opponent, let alone the old sailing ships of the Portuguese Kingdom Navy, if they are sent to Macao, it is estimated that they will be eaten by the Chinese Navy, and there will be no scum left!

The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal, Da Silva, swallowed a mouthful of saliva with some difficulty, and then said: "Your Excellency, it seems that we have no other way. If the Chinese want to forcibly regain Macau, there is no way to stop them. ”

"Your Excellency, the Chinese have only given us three days. If we don't give them an accurate answer within three days, they will use force to recover Macau. Da Silva reminded.

"Okay, I see. Let's go and meet Her Majesty! Count Tommar said. For such a big matter, it is obvious that it must be discussed with Her Majesty the Queen. In the Kingdom of Portugal, the power of the king was still very great. Government in a lot of the time. All obey the Queen's orders.

Da Silva nodded. Although it was already close to late afternoon, Her Majesty's family might be dining. I'm afraid it's not good to bother at this time. But. Now that the matter is urgent, I can't take care of it so much.

Count Tommar and da Silva rode in a carriage to the Portuguese royal palace, where Queen Maria II was enjoying dinner with her family. Being disturbed at this time did make Maria II a little unhappy. However, she stopped eating and met with Count Tommar and da Silva.

"Her Majesty the Queen. Good evening, I'm sorry to bother you at this time! "After meeting Maria II. Count Tommar said immediately.

"It's all right, Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, please take a seat!" Maria II said with a smile on her face. Maria II is only 26 years old this year. But. When she was 7 years old, she became the queen of Portugal, and now, she has been on the throne for 19 years.

"Her Majesty, it is like this. The Foreign Minister of the Chinese Empire met today with our Minister to China, Mr. Peres, and the Chinese made it clear that we should return Macao to them immediately. Otherwise, they will take strong measures to recover Macau. Even war. This would be a disaster for us. The government is in this regard. There's no good way to fix it. Therefore, I hope that Her Majesty the Queen will be able to give us instructions! Count Tommar said.

Maria II immediately frowned, this situation also made her feel very troubled. Macau's importance to Portugal is self-evident, and at a time when Western countries are desperately competing for China's huge market, the Kingdom of Portugal is often able to seize the opportunity because of Macau's deposits. If Macao is taken back by the Chinese, this will be very unfavorable for Macau. However, now that it seems that the Chinese have made up their minds to take back Macau, is the Kingdom of Portugal still capable of stopping it?

"Is there any room for redemption in this matter? On the Chinese side, can we think of a way to make them give up their plan to recover Macau! Maria II asked. Now, she doesn't care about being disturbed at dinner, and this matter is really important.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid this is impossible. The attitude of the Chinese is very tough, and now the entire East is under the rule of the Chinese, and their country is becoming stronger step by step. Coupled with the fact that the military strength of the Chinese is very strong, we are afraid that there is no way to change their attitude. Foreign Secretary da Silva said. Obviously, the Kingdom of Portugal was too weak compared to the rising giant of the Chinese Empire.

"Is there any other workaround? For example, we still pay rent to the Chinese as we did 300 years ago, and we are in the concession of Macao. As long as the price isn't too outrageous, I think we're perfectly okay with it. "Maria II came up with a compromise.

"Your Majesty, you can give it a try. However, it is estimated that it will not have much effect. Count Tommar said.

Maria II nodded, and then said: "Let's communicate more with the British side, we need their support." In addition, if the Chinese recover Macau, it will definitely be Hong Kong's turn next. By helping us, we are helping ourselves. ”

"Yes, Her Majesty the Queen. I'll import and John. Lord Russell made contact. Count Tommar said. Britain is a traditional ally of Portugal, and perhaps with British support, the Chinese will not be so aggressive anymore. However, whether this would be useful or not, Count Tommar did not know. After all, the Chinese Empire once defeated Britain, and no one can say how much deterrence Britain still has against the Chinese Empire.

Pérez, the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal to China, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan while waiting for a telegram from home. Fortunately, in the evening of the same day, he received an order from China, asking him to negotiate with the Chinese side again, and try to persuade the Chinese side to agree to the Portuguese kingdom to continue to stay in Macao by lend-lease. After Perez received this order, he was immediately dumbfounded. He knew that to complete this task, it would not be ordinary. In Portugal, can the Chinese be allowed to lease a piece of land near Lisbon?

Minister Perez ignored the fact that it was already evening, and went to the residence of Foreign Minister Lin Zihao and met with Lin Zihao.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the country already knows about Macao. However, I hope that the Chinese side can understand that Macau is too important to the Kingdom of Portugal. Therefore, we hope to be able to take a compromise, as it was during the Ming Dynasty, where the Kingdom of Portugal could pay China a sum of money in exchange for the Portuguese abode in Macau. In this way, the sovereignty of the Chinese Empire will not be jeopardized. After Minister Perez finished speaking, he looked at Lin Zihao with a look of hope, hoping to get a positive reply from him.

However, Minister Perez was still disappointed, and Lin Zihao shook his head resolutely.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, we are already very sincere. Can't your country think about it again? Minister Perez asked.

"Your Excellency, there is no room for bargaining on this matter. The Empire's determination to recover Macao is very great, and the Kingdom of Portugal should not think of using other methods to shake the Empire's determination! Lin Zihao said directly. He didn't even have to tell Long Yufei to know that the method proposed by the Portuguese would not work.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, is there really no other way?" Minister Perez asked.

Lin Zihao shook his head, and then said: "The only way now is for the Kingdom of Portugal to return Macao to us, and there is no other way." Of course, if you don't want to return it, then we'll have to pick it up ourselves! ”

"All right, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I'll make some more contact with the country." Minister Perez said.

The Chinese Empire gave the Portuguese only three days to think about it, and as soon as the three days had passed, the Chinese side would take a radical approach to the Macau issue. Fools know that this way is bound to be war! For the Portuguese, they were very reluctant to see war break out. Because, they won't have any chance of winning.

In the next two days, Minister Perez repeatedly asked to see Lin Zihao, but the Portuguese still refused to return Macau. The British also expressed concern about this matter. On the morning of 15 February, the last day of the three-day period set by China, the British Minister to China, Bonham met with Minister Perez.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the British Empire is very concerned about peace in the Far East. We do not want war in the Far East, which is very detrimental to world peace and will also affect the interests of the British Empire. As soon as the two sides met, Wen Xian said directly, looking very arrogant.

"Your Excellency Minister Bonham, this is a matter between the Empire and the Kingdom of Portugal, and it has nothing to do with Britain." Lin Zihao said with a frown. Although Hong Kong is also what the empire hopes to get back, the Hong Kong issue lies behind Macao. It was only after the reconquest of Macau that the empire began to solve the Hong Kong problem. After all, the Hong Kong issue is much more complicated than the Macau issue. Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by the Manchu Qing Dynasty. While the Manchu government continued to exist, the Chinese Empire could not tear up this treaty, and the Chinese Empire could destroy the Manchus first. Of course, the Chinese side naturally hopes that the British can get acquainted with each other and take the initiative to withdraw from Hong Kong, so that everyone's face will be better and there will be no conflict because of this. However, from the current point of view, the British are actively intervening in the Macau issue, and it is clear that they are aware of the crisis behind this. If the empire wants to recover Hong Kong, I am afraid it will not be too easy.

"Your Excellency, the Kingdom of Portugal is a traditional ally of the British Empire, and we will not see the interests of our allies harmed!" Minister Bonham said.

Minister Perez couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at Minister Bonham.

"Your Excellency Minister Wen Xian, I also solemnly tell you that the interests of the empire cannot be harmed!" Lin Zihao is also-for-tat. (To be continued......)