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"Your Excellency, I have come to you today mainly to discuss with Your Excellency the Minister on the issue of Macao. It has been 300 years since your country illegally occupied Macao. The Empire hopes that your country will be able to return Macau to us as much as possible. Otherwise, it will inevitably affect the relationship between our two countries. If there is some unnecessary conflict as a result, that is not what our two countries want to see. Lin Zihao, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, said. The best outcome was that the Portuguese offered to return Macau to China. Of course, if the Portuguese don't know each other, they will have to take a more drastic approach.

Listening to Lin Zihao's words, Minister Perez immediately felt great pressure, and he should have thought that there was a Macao issue between the Chinese Empire and Portugal. Although the Portuguese government has always claimed that Macau was given to the Kingdom of Portugal by the Ming Emperor. However, there is no factual basis for this at all. Judging from the attitude of the present Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, it is probably impossible for Portugal to continue to rely on the deterioration of Macao. However, for Portugal, Macau is very important. If Macao were to be recovered by the Chinese Empire, Portugal's trade with China would be greatly affected. When the time comes, Minister Peres will certainly be held accountable at home.

"Your Excellency, as early as the Ming Dynasty, we Portuguese people lived in Macao. We gave gifts to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and then the emperor of the Ming Dynasty gave us Macau. Even when the Qing ruled China. This was also recognized by the Qing State. How could the Chinese Empire ignore this? Minister Perez retorted.

"Your Excellency, do you have any evidence that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty gave Macao to Portugal? If not, how can we trust you? Lin Zihao said coldly. He knows. Portugal will not give up Macau lightly. However, this time the Chinese Empire is determined to win Macau!

"This ......," Minister Perez suddenly did not know what to say. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty gave Macao to Portugal, which was simply made up by themselves, in order to find an excuse for the long-term occupation of Macao. Besides, that was two or three hundred years ago, and if they were to come up with evidence now, how could that be?

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. The Portuguese have been living in Macau for hundreds of years, and we can't evacuate it. Minister Perez said.

"Your Excellency, does this represent the opinion of the Government of Portugal? If this is the decision of the Portuguese government. Then, we will take other ways to take back Macau! Lin Zihao said with a straight face.

"Your Excellency, do you mean war?" Minister Perez's voice trembled slightly. He was well aware of the military strength of the Chinese Empire, and if the Chinese Empire really decided to recover Macau by force. The Portuguese could not stand Macau in any case. Not to mention tiny Portugal. Didn't the Spaniards and even the British be defeated by the Chinese Empire? From the point of view of military strength, the two sides are not at all a hierarchical opponent. Portugal, which has long since declined, if it goes to war with the Chinese Empire, it will be looking for death at all!

"War is only one of the means! If you don't cooperate, we don't rule out the use of war! Lin Zihao said.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Portugal is a peace-loving country, and you have imposed war on the Kingdom of Portugal. You will be blamed by the whole world. Other countries won't sit idly by! Minister Perez said angrily. Portugal was weak, but it had a close relationship with the British. Of course. Minister Perez was also not sure whether Britain would come out for Portugal. After all, this time the opponent is too strong, even the United Kingdom, it is estimated that there is no certainty of defeating the opponent.

"Your Excellency, please take your attention. We are simply exercising our rightful authority. You have three days to think about it. After three days, we must be given an answer. Otherwise, we would be deemed to have rejected our good intentions by the Kingdom of Portugal. I am afraid that I don't need to say more about what the consequences will be when the time comes, and Your Excellency the Minister himself knows very well. Lin Zihao said.

"Well, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I will get in touch with the country. However, although the Kingdom of Portugal is weak, we cannot be bullied by others! Minister Perez tried to make himself tougher, but no matter what, he still seemed a little lacking in confidence. In the face of the powerful Chinese Empire, Portugal is really a little inadequate.

Lin Zihao smiled slightly, and was very disdainful of Minister Perez's hard-mouthed behavior.

After leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, Pérez, the Minister of the Kingdom of Portugal to China, rushed back to the embassy as soon as possible, and then drafted a telegram for people to send to Lisbon. That's why the submarine cable between China and Europe has already been laid, otherwise it would have taken at least two months for Peres to report back to China. In addition, Minister Perez also asked people to rule the Governor of Macau, Biandu, and asked Biandu to do a good job in the defense of Macao. It's just that the Kingdom of Portugal only has an army of a few hundred people and hundreds of police officers in Macao, and such a military strength is not enough to even plug the gap between the teeth in the face of the powerful Chinese Empire. The army of the Chinese Empire sent a battalion at random, and it was enough to destroy them.

Minister Perez knew that this time the Kingdom of Portugal was in trouble. If the Chinese Empire had maintained a hard-line attitude, the Kingdom of Portugal would have had little chance of keeping Macau.

"Come on, prepare the car, I'm going to the British Embassy in China!" Minister Perez, after thinking about it for a moment, immediately commanded. In the absence of a reply from home, Minister Peres thought that he should contact the British allies, and perhaps get support from them. After all, across Macau was British-occupied Hong Kong. If the Chinese want to take back Macau, then Hong Kong must also be in the Chinese's plan. With the help of the British, they may be able to keep Macau.

The British Embassy in China and the Portuguese Embassy in China are both in Xiguan, not far away, just two streets away. Perez arrived at the British Embassy in China in just over ten minutes. Although the British Minister to China, Bonham, did not know what Perez was visiting in such a hurry, but he received him warmly. After all, Britain also needs allies when Britain is being strongly provoked by the Chinese Empire, especially when France and Spain in Europe are also getting closer and closer to China. Portugal is one of Britain's traditional allies. Although Portugal is weak, Portugal's geographical location is important. Through Guò Portugal, it was possible to contain Spain and hold the Strait of Gibraltar.

"Your Excellency Perez, has something happened?" Moonham asked. Although Perez tried hard to calm himself, the worry in his eyes could be seen by anyone with a discerning eye.

"Your Excellency Bonham, that's right. Today, I was met by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, and he raised the question of Macau and asked the Kingdom of Portugal to return Macau to them! Minister Perez said.

"What? The Macau problem? Wen Xian was a little surprised. He did not expect that the Chinese would mention this issue at this time. Macau and Hong Kong are separated only by the mouth of the Pearl River. If the Chinese want to attack Macao, doesn't that mean that Hong Kong must also be in the Chinese's plans?

"Yes, Bonham! The Chinese made it clear that they wanted us to return Macao. If we refuse, they may resort to force! Minister Perez said.

"So, what is the Portuguese government going to do?" Governor Bonham did not take his stance lightly.

"Your Excellency Bonham, I have already reported to China. However, it is not yet known what kind of reply will be given in the country! Minister Perez said.

"Well, Lord Perez, I already know about it. I'll report back to China right away. One way or another, the British Empire will support the ordinary! Governor Bonham said.

"Thank you for your support!" Perez nodded.

In Portugal at this time, it was the afternoon. Portuguese Prime Minister Count Tommar is getting ready to get off work and head back to his estate outside Lisbon to enjoy a night out. However, Portuguese Foreign Minister Da Silva broke into his office with a telegram and an anxious face.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, what has happened? Makes you so alarmed? Count Tommar asked, somewhat surprised.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, something is wrong! The Chinese summoned Peres today and formally demanded that we return Macau. If we refuse, they will resort to other means, including war! Da Silva said.

"What? How so? Are the Chinese crazy? How did they suddenly think of Macau? "Count Tommar could no longer be calm.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I don't know. However, what is before us now is how to solve this problem. Da Silva said.

"Hell!" Count Tommar couldn't help but curse secretly. When the Chinese Empire was founded, he went to Guangzhou on behalf of Portugal and attended the enthronement ceremony of Long Yufei. At that time, he realized the strength of the nascent Chinese Empire, and also realized that the Macao issue would be resolved sooner or later. However, he did not expect that this day would come so early. Originally, he thought that as long as he delayed it for a few more years, he would finally leave the issue to his successor after he stepped down. But I didn't expect it, and I still couldn't escape. (To be continued......)