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From December 1845 onwards, the main topic in Europe became about the formation of the Canal Development Company by the Chinese Empire, France and the Kingdom of Spain to unite to build a canal connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Thanks to the erection of telegraph lines, almost every country in Europe has received relevant news. All of a sudden, envoys from all countries rushed to Paris to join the plan. After all, the communication between the East and the West now requires a detour to the Cape of Good Hope, and the traffic is very inconvenient, and if the canal can be opened, the communication between the East and the West will be even closer. Of course, this also means great benefits. From the great powers of Europe to the small states, they all wanted to get their hands on it. For a time, the kingdoms of France and Spain were under tremendous pressure.

As for the Chinese Empire, it was different. First, the Chinese Empire was far away from Europe, and even if countries wanted to exert influence on the Chinese Empire, they had no way to do so. The second is that the Chinese Empire is notorious in Europe. In the eyes of many Europeans, the Chinese Empire was completely synonymous with barbarianism, and it was almost impossible to open a gap in the hands of the Chinese Empire. As a result, they set their sights on France and the Kingdom of Spain. In particular, the Kingdom of Spain, because its strength is relatively weak compared to France, has become the target of those countries' key strategies. Morality. Salamanca was miserable.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Earl of Granville, the British Foreign Secretary, has arrived in Paris. Have gone to the Élysée Palace to meet Louis. Philip I is gone. The minister estimated that their target was probably the canal development company we had just formed. Other than that. Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire, and Count Niechel Rodie, Foreign Minister of Russia, were on their way to Paris. Lin Zihao, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, said.

"Are these countries all interested in the canal? So why didn't they get their hands dirty in the previous decades. This time the empire proposed to build yì, and had just formed the canal development company with the French and Spanish kingdoms, and they were all involved. Long Yufei frowned. It can be said that the great powers of the whole of Europe have already joined. The Chinese Empire suddenly took 40 percent of the shares of the Canal Development Company. It is estimated that it will be difficult to keep. Of course, if the Chinese Empire does not want to give up these shares, it is estimated that the canal will not be successfully dug successfully. Even if it is the use of force. That's not possible. It is impossible for the Chinese Empire at this stage to defeat so many European powers in the Middle East!

"Your Majesty, aren't these powers worried that once the canal is in the hands of our three kingdoms, it will jam their necks? Besides, everyone knows that after the canal is opened, there will definitely be great benefits. Of course, everyone refused to give up. Lin Zihao said.

"Dog's day. Now it seems that we are going to give away some of the shares in our hands. However, the Empire, as the creator of the Canal Development Company this time, must get the most shares. Long Yufei said. In any case, the Chinese Empire must have a major majority.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's not easy! The Middle East is so far away from the Empire, but so close to the countries of Europe, that it is difficult for us to influence it. Lin Zihao said. The Middle East and Europe are separated by a Mediterranean Sea. The Chinese Empire, on the other hand, was almost halfway around the world from the Middle East. Although the current navy of the Chinese Empire is capable of defeating even the British Royal Navy. But if you want to control the canal, it is also impossible.

"I can only take one step at a time." Long Yufei was also a little helpless. In the final analysis, the current strength of the Chinese Empire is too weak. If the Chinese Empire's level of industrialization had reached a fairly high level, and its military strength had been the highest in the world, the Chinese Empire would have been able to throw off all the other powers and dig canals on its own. But now, the strength of the Chinese Empire is far from reaching this step, so it has to make some compromises and concessions. Although, this made Long Yufei very unhappy. But he knew it was inevitable.

The Elysée Palace, at the moment King Louis of the Kingdom of France. Philip I was receiving the British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, accompanied by the Duke of Dalmatia, the Prime Minister of France, and the Count of Mollay, Foreign Secretary.

"Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen of our country, let me greet you on her behalf!" The Earl of Granville was very humble, like a noble gentleman. Of course, the Brit is best at pretending to be a gentleman. In fact, they are not good people behind their backs, and they were also born as robbers back then. It's just that now he has become a rich man, so he washed the blood stains on his body, put on a suit, picked up the staff of civilization, and began to pretend to be a good person!

"Your Excellency, please thank Queen Victoria on my behalf." Louis. Philip I said.

Subsequently, the two sides exchanged a few words. Next, let's get down to business.

"His Majesty, the British Empire learned that France, together with the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, had formed a canal development company. The British Empire was very interested in this. Connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea is conducive to shortening the voyage between the East and the West, thereby promoting economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. As the leader of the world, the British Empire should naturally contribute to this end. So we'd like to be able to get on board. The Earl of Granville had a smile on his face all the time, but there was a hint of unmistakable meaning in his words. Obviously, the British Empire was determined to join the Canal Development Company this time.

After listening to the words of the Earl of Granville, Louis. Philip I frowned. The faces of the Duke of Dalmatia and the Count of Morai were also not very good-looking. The British want to take food from their mouths! However, if the British did not agree to their demands, what would be the consequences? Will the Kingdom of France be able to afford it.

"Your Excellency, I don't know if you know. This time, the Canal Development Company was formed, which was the mention of the Chinese Empire. In the distribution of shares in the Canal Development Company, it was also the Chinese Empire that accounted for the lion's share. Therefore, if Britain wanted to join, it had to need the consent of the Chinese Empire. Said the Duke of Dalmatia. He wants to bring trouble to the east and bring trouble to the heads of the Chinese. Who gives the Chinese the most shares? Now that the trouble is coming, it is up to the Chinese to solve it.

"Yes, Your Excellency. The Chinese Empire is the leader of this plan, and the British Empire must first obtain the consent of the Chinese Empire! "Louis. Philip I also hurriedly said. Although he was very dissatisfied with Britain in his heart, he did not want to conflict with Britain unless it was absolutely necessary. After all, France had already suffered too much at the hands of the British.

The Earl of Granville frowned, how could he not see that the French were so obviously shirking their responsibilities. However, how could he let the French get away so lightly?

"His Majesty the King, Your Excellency the Duke, the Chinese, I will soon go and ask their opinions. However, I now want to know the attitude of the Kingdom of France towards the accession of England! The Earl of Granville insisted.

Louis. Philip I hesitated a little, and when he found that he couldn't hide, he still said: "The Kingdom of France has no opinion, if the Chinese Empire agrees, the Kingdom of France also agrees to Britain to join." ”

The Earl of Granville nodded in satisfaction. While the French are playing tricks, it's much easier as long as they don't explicitly oppose it. As for the Chinese Empire, the Earl of Granville believed that he would be able to convince the Chinese.

The Count of Granville did not stay long at the Élysée Palace, and when he had achieved his goal, he quickly took his leave. After leaving the Élysée Palace, the Count of Granville did not go directly to the Tuileries Palace to find the Emperor of China, but to the Legation of the Kingdom of Spain in France. He set his next target on the Spaniard. Compared with the Chinese Empire, the Spaniards were obviously a little easier to bully.

Not surprisingly, in the face of the strong Count of Granville, Spanish Foreign Minister José. Morality. Salamanca had no way at all, and quickly put the blame on the Chinese Empire, saying that as long as the Chinese Empire was willing to join. The Kingdom of Spain will not have an opinion. Although the Kingdom of Spain and Britain had a long history of enmity, and now had the Chinese Empire as its backing. But they still didn't have the courage to fall out with the British. Britain's world hegemony for so many years has left a shadow in the minds of the Spaniards.

After defeating the Spaniards, the Count of Granville went to the Tuileries Palace to meet Long Yufei, the emperor of the Chinese Empire.

"Hello, Your Majesty the Emperor, it is a pleasure to meet you in Europe. Her Majesty Queen Victoria, I sincerely invite you to visit the United Kingdom! After meeting Long Yufei, the Earl of Granville immediately extended an invitation to visit Wèn.

"Thank you Queen Victoria for her request, I will visit Wèn England when the time is right!" Long Yufei said. He did not promise to visit Britain immediately, after all, the army of the Chinese Empire had just killed hundreds of thousands of British troops in Burma, and who knew if it would be a sheep to visit Britain this time?

"Your Majesty, this time I have come to Paris for only one purpose, and that is that the British Empire wants to join the Canal Development Company. The opening of the canal is of great significance. And the British Empire, as a country with great influence in the whole world, has no reason to be excluded! Said the Earl of Granville. (To be continued......)