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After a week-long bargaining, China, Britain, France, and Spain finally reached an agreement. In the distribution of shares in the Canal Development Company, which was formed by the four countries, the Chinese Empire held 32 percent of the shares, Britain 28 percent of the shares, France 25 percent of the shares, and the Kingdom of Spain 10 percent of the shares. The remaining 5 percent of the shares belong to Egypt. Of course, neither China, Britain, France, nor Spain consulted Egypt or Egypt's suzerainty, the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Perhaps, in their opinion, being able to leave Egypt with a five-percent stake is already preferential treatment for Egypt. If the Egyptians don't know each other, it is not a big deal to directly send troops to occupy Egypt and turn Egypt into a colony. Although Egypt is already a regional power in the Middle East, it is still vulnerable in the face of real powers. With the exception of the Kingdom of Spain, any of the three countries of China, Britain, and France were able to destroy Egypt.

On December 21, 1845, representatives of China, Britain, France and Spain formally signed the cooperation agreement. This means that the Canal Development Company, which is composed of China, Britain, France and Spain, has been formally established. In order to expedite the progress, it is expected that starting next year, the Canal Development Corporation will begin preliminary preparations, including a meeting with the Governor of Egypt, Mohammed. Ali negotiated to obtain the right to dig the canal.

Emperor Long Yufei of the Chinese Empire, King Louis of France. Philip I and King Leopold I of Belgium were both present at the signing ceremony. Albeit. The Kingdom of Belgium also wanted to join the Canal Development Company, but the Kingdom of Belgium was too weak. It simply cannot be compared with several large countries. Eventually, Leopold I wisely abandoned this unrealistic fantasy.

Of course, the establishment of the Canal Development Company by China, Britain, France, and Spain made several other European powers very dissatisfied. Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia, Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire, and Count Nescher Rodie, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, were still on their way to Paris. But. Before they arrived, China, Britain, France, and Spain had already reached an agreement and formally signed the treaty. Isn't this a clear attempt to keep them out? These three countries can be regarded as the first-class powers of Europe. Russia, in particular, has always been known as the hegemon of the European continent with its army of up to 1.4 million men. Plus the close relationship between the Austrian Empire and Russia. The two countries are united. It can almost dominate the situation on the European continent. Therefore, although China, Britain, France, and Spain formed the Canal Development Company, they had to resist the pressure of the other three powers.

"I hope that the canal will be able to start construction as soon as next year, ideally. And, it will be opened in five years. In this way, by 1850, the canal will be officially navigable! Long Yufei held the wine glass and said to everyone. He hoped. The canal can be opened as soon as possible, so that. The Chinese Empire was able to infiltrate Europe a little earlier. After the canal was opened, the distance from China to Europe would be greatly shortened, and the Chinese Empire would be more likely to influence Europe. Construction of the historic Suez Canal began in 1851 and took a decade to complete. Now, the canal was opened five years earlier, and if the canal could have been built in less time, the opening time would have been greatly advanced.

"Your Majesty, your idea is good. However, the canal will be almost two hundred kilometers long. If you want to excavate, it is not so easy. According to conservative estimates, it will take about ten years. The British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, said with a smile. In the past, the Chinese Empire and Britain were rivals and even enemies in the competition for shares, but now, in the canal project, the two sides can be regarded as allies.

"The information on the exploration of the canal, which can be used in France, is readily available. France has already completed the process. In this way, you can also save a lot of time. Long Yufei said.

"Yes, as early as the Napoleonic period, France began to prepare for the canal, and we have completed the relevant exploration work and can use it directly." King Louis of France. Philip I said. France owns 25 percent of the canal and is already a majority shareholder.

"In addition, we can recruit a large number of laborers from Egypt to dig the canal, and if 100,000 people are not enough, 200,000, or 300,000 or more. The sooner the canal is opened, the sooner we can reap the benefits and recover the costs, so what's so bad about that? Long Yufei said. Egypt has a population of several million, and because it is very close to black Africa, if there is a shortage of labor, it can still go after the black people in Africa. Anyway, these are the old ways of the European powers, even though they haven't been involved in the slave trade for some time. However, if you re-manipulate the industry, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

For Long Yufei's construction, everyone agreed. In order to minimize investment and allow the canal to be navigable as soon as possible, it is very necessary. Of course, the life and death of those laborers will not be taken to heart. For these big countries, it doesn't matter whether they live or die at all, what matters is the benefits that each country obtains.

Everyone is optimistic about the future of the canal. The annual toll fee is certainly an astronomical amount. The most optimistic estimate is that it will take less than 10 years for everyone to recoup their costs. The profits earned in the future will be profits. This is equivalent to having a long-term stable income! While millions of pounds a year is not a lot for a few big countries, it's a lot either! You must know that even the construction of the 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships under construction in the Chinese Empire cost only 3 million Chinese dollars, which is only 750,000 pounds when converted into pounds. The annual income from the canal can build at least two 'Western Zhou-class' warships, and if the income is higher, then more warships can naturally be built.

"Ladies and gentlemen, although our four countries have reached an agreement. However, there are other countries that are also eyeing the canal. Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia is expected to arrive in Paris in two days. Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire will arrive at about the same time. The Russian Foreign Minister, Count Nechel Rodie, arrived in Paris a little later, presumably a week later. When the time comes, we'll have to deal with them. French Prime Minister Duke Dalmatia reminded. These three countries also have a great interest in the canal. The Russians, in particular, have been seeking hegemony in the Balkans, and if they can intervene in the canal, it will be of great help to Russia's next expansion.

Everyone couldn't help frowning, now the shares of the canal company belong to five countries, which is quite a lot. If other countries were to join in, everyone's profits would be further reduced, and no country would want that to happen. After Britain joined, it took a lot of hard negotiations before everyone finally reached an agreement. If the other three powers were to join in, I am afraid that the negotiations alone would take a long time. In this case, the canal will become navigable.

"Ladies and gentlemen, for the sake of our respective interests, I believe that in the development of the canal, we should unite and meet the challenges of the other powers. I believe that with the strength of our four countries, we will be able to meet any challenge! Long Yufei said. The Chinese Empire held only 32 percent of the shares in the canal, and even less if it were to be divided into a fraction.

King Louis of France. Philip I nodded, and he was the first to express his support for Long Yufei's suggestion: "The Kingdom of France agrees with this. The more countries that are left to the Canal Development Company, the more difficult it will be to manage in the future. With Egypt, there are now five countries, and there is no need to bring other countries on board. ”

"Yes, other countries can't be brought on board." Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, José. Morality. Salamanca also hurriedly said. The stake in the Kingdom of Spain has already dropped to 10 percent, and if any other country joins in, the stake will have to be reduced even further. This was unacceptable to the Kingdom of Spain.

The British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, also nodded, although Britain hoped that Prussia would join in, so that Britain's voice in the canal could be increased. However, he knew that the other three countries would strongly oppose it. Moreover, if the Kingdom of Prussia had been allowed to join, the Austrian Empire and Russia would certainly have had a great opinion. Although Britain had a relatively close relationship with the Kingdom of Prussia, it did not want to cause any further problems. Although China, France and Spain have joined forces and have an absolute dominant position in the Canal Development Company. But the Earl of Granville believed that nothing in this world was absolute. As long as Britain slowly uses other methods, it will definitely be able to gradually seize shares from other countries, and finally realize the control of the canal. Yes, although Britain now only has a 28 percent stake in the canal, the Earl of Granville believes that Britain can buy shares in other countries, and gradually increase its stake to more than 50 percent. In this way, Britain would be able to control the canal. Although this was difficult, the Earl of Granville was confident that it would be possible with British strength.

On the plan of canal development, China, Britain, France and Spain gave up their prejudices and decided to unite with the outside world! (To be continued......)