PS: Today's four watches are completed, ask for subscriptions, ask for monthly passes and recommended tickets!

The excavation of the canal is not a simple matter, and the preparatory work alone may take up to one or two years. It will take at least several years before it can be opened. In addition, the issue of labor needs to be solved. These questions had to be discussed by the Chinese Empire, France, and the Kingdom of Spain. According to the estimates of the relevant professionals, it will cost at least 50 million pounds for the canal to open. So, how will this money be distributed among the three countries? The more you undertake, the greater your stake in the Canal Company. The benefits will be greater in the future. In the case of the Chinese Empire and France, although this money is a lot, if you grit your teeth, it is not impossible to get it. However, everyone knows very well the benefits of the canal, and it is unrealistic to want anyone to give up a little share.

This mention was first proposed by the Chinese Empire. For fifty million pounds, the Chinese Empire could afford thirty million. However, we need a fifty-five percent stake in the canal! Lin Zihao, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, said. Although 30 million pounds may seem like a lot, this money is not something that will be taken out all at once. It can be divided into several times, so that the Chinese Empire can be easily taken out.

Duke of Dalmatia and Spanish Foreign Minister José. Morality. Salamanca frowned. How can the Chinese Empire take half of the shares of the Canal Company at once, then only 35 percent of the two countries remain, and the Chinese Empire still has a controlling stake?

Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, José. Morality. Salamanca hurriedly said: "Of the remaining 20 million pounds." The Kingdom of Spain could afford fifteen million pounds. We only need a twenty-five percent stake in the canal minister. ”

The face of the Duke of Dalmatia, the Prime Minister of France, suddenly became very ugly. Although, France can get the last ten percent of the shares for five million pounds, which seems to be a big advantage. But. What does a 5 percent stake in the Canal Company do? I don't get any right to speak. France is one of the great powers, how can it allow such a thing to happen?

"No, France will never accept such conditions." The Duke of Dalmatia said angrily.

"Well, Your Excellency Duke, what do you have to say?" Lin Zihao asked. He also knew that the Chinese Empire wanted to take control of the canal. It won't be that easy. The Kingdom of Spain may not have much of an opinion, but the French certainly will not agree.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, we don't care how much money is going to be spent on the canal. If Egypt is given 10 percent of the shares. How should we distribute the remaining 90% of the shares? According to the allocated shares, it is enough to bear the cost of the construction of the canal separately! Said the Duke of Dalmatia. In such a major matter, it is clear that France cannot afford to lose. Otherwise. Once the canal was navigable. You can only see that others make a lot of money. Although the canal has not yet opened, it is obvious to make money!

"France should get at least 40 percent of the remaining 90 percent of the shares!" Said the Duke of Dalmatia.

"The idea of digging a canal was first proposed by the Chinese Empire, and we in Britain can only get 50 percent!" Lin Zihao also said.

Spanish Foreign Minister José. Morality. Salamanca's face suddenly became gloomy, France and the Chinese Empire divided the remaining ninety percent of the shares, leaving nothing to the Kingdom of Spain, wouldn't this be to leave the Kingdom of Spain behind?

"No, I can't. The Kingdom of Spain would not agree to this proposal. The Kingdom of Spain is also one of the founding countries of the Canal Development Company, so how can it not own any shares? We will never agree! "Jose. Morality. Salamanca said very 'aggrieved'.

This time. Lin Zihao, the foreign minister of the Chinese Empire, and the Duke of Dalmatia, the French prime minister, were both a little embarrassed.

"In this way, the shares owned by the Chinese Empire can be reduced to forty-five percent!" Lin Zihao said generously.

"Your Excellency, the shares owned by the Chinese Empire should be reduced to forty percent, which is equivalent to the shares owned by France. In this case, the remaining ten percent of the shares can be given to the Kingdom of Spain. Said the Duke of Dalmatia. He believed that the French and Chinese empires were equal, while the Kingdom of Spain was much less powerful. In this case, France and the Chinese Empire would divide 80 percent of the shares, and the remaining 10 percent would go to the Kingdom of Spain. However, his mention of yì made both the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain oppose.

"No, Your Excellency the Duke, this mention is unacceptable to the Chinese Empire. If the Chinese Empire could only hold 40 percent of the shares of the Canal Opening Company, then France would need to reduce its shares by 5 percent. The Kingdom of Spain should have fifteen percent of the shares! Lin Zihao said. He thought that if the Chinese Empire had only 40 percent of the shares, then if the Kingdom of Spain had 15 percent of the shares, the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain would be able to unite and control the canal. With the current relationship between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Spain must be the only one in charge of the Chinese Empire.

"The Kingdom of Spain agrees to this plan!" Jose. Morality. Salamanca said quickly. To be able to acquire a 15 percent stake in the canal, the Kingdom of Spain is already satisfied. After all, this 15 percent stake means an investment of at least seven million pounds. The future earnings will definitely be tens of millions of pounds. The Kingdom of Spain could not compete with the Chinese Empire and France, and they were satisfied that they could acquire these shares.

The Duke of Dalmatia frowned, their stake was five percent less than that of the Chinese Empire, which was difficult for him to accept. Including King Louis of France. The French ruling class, including Philip I, has always believed that France is no worse than the Chinese Empire, and even if the two sides are allied, the status of the two sides should be equal.

Therefore, the Duke of Dalmatia expressed his unequivocal opposition to this share distribution scheme. However, both the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Spain strongly expressed their support. The three parties engaged in a heated argument over this.

Over the next three days, the three parties held a number of negotiations. In the end, the Duke of Dalmatia agreed to the distribution on behalf of France. Not for other reasons, but mainly for financial reasons. France had to pay £23.5 million for a large order with the Chinese Empire. If the cost of digging the canal is as high as 50 million, 40 percent of the shares means 20 million pounds of sterling. This amount of money is really unbearable for the French government. Five per cent less means £5 million less. Besides, if the cost of excavation increases, the investment also needs to be increased.

On November 29, 1845, Lin Zihao, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, Duke of Dalmatia, Prime Minister of France, and José Fernandes, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain. Morality. Salamanca signed the agreement on behalf of each of the three countries, and the three countries will formally form the Canal Development Company and begin preparations for the opening of the canal. One of the most important tasks was to obtain the consent of the governor of Egypt. Otherwise, it's all empty talk. Of course, if the Governor of Egypt did not agree, the Chinese Empire, France, and the Kingdom of Spain would have resorted to other means to get the Governor of Egypt to agree.

This time, the negotiations could not be kept secret at all, and the Western powers learned that China, France, and Spain were interested in digging a canal. For a time, the European powers expressed their desire to participate in this program. This was especially true of Great Britain, the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and Russia. Everyone is aware of the strategic significance of the canal, so regardless of whether they have the financial resources or not, they all say they want to participate.

The visit of the emperor of the Chinese Empire, Long Yufei, to France has attracted great attention from all countries. This was especially true of Britain, the enemy of the Chinese Empire. The British ambassador to France, as well as the British intelligence agencies in France, were paying full attention to the matter. Earlier, when France had spent huge sums of money on equipment, warships, and advanced technology from the Chinese Empire, Britain had panicked. And now, China, France and Spain have formed the Canal Development Company, which completely makes the British unable to sit still. Once this strategic route is controlled by China, France and Spain, Britain will be at a disadvantage. So, no matter what, Britain has to get on board.

When the British ambassador to France informed the British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, the Earl of Granville immediately went to the Governor's Palace and reported it to the Governor-General, Earl Stanley.

"Your Excellency, the canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea is very important, it will become a strategic link between the East and the West, we absolutely cannot let China, France and Spain control this canal, no matter what, the British Empire cannot be excluded." Earl Glanville said.

The Earl of Stanley's face was also stern, and he was equally aware of the importance of the canal. However, China, France, and Spain all have contradictions with Britain, will they agree to Britain joining in?

"The union of the three of them is enough to solve all the problems of digging the canal, will they allow us to join?" Earl Stanley asked.

"Your Excellency, if they do not agree, we will unite with other powers to put pressure on them, or we will form a separate canal development company and compete with them for the right to develop the canal. We have a closer relationship with the Governor of Egypt, and there is no reason to lose to them! Said the Earl of Granville. (To be continued......)