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The war between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Portugal was a farce at all. Except for one battle between the two sides in Macao, where the Kingdom of Portugal lost a few hundred men, there was no more fighting, and the rest of the time was mostly just another war of words. And, what is even more incredible is that after the outbreak of the war, neither the Chinese Empire nor the Kingdom of Portugal withdrew their envoys to each other's countries. Trade between the two countries is still going on and has not been affected at all. It's as if this war hadn't broken out at all.

In fact, everyone can see that the reason why the Kingdom of Portugal declared war on the Chinese Empire was only to find a step down for itself. The Kingdom of Portugal did not have the strength to expedition to the Chinese Empire, and although the Chinese Empire had this ability, the expedition to Portugal in Europe was completely more than worth the loss for the Chinese Empire, and there was no need for this. Therefore, the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Portugal were nothing more than a declaration of war without war.

The countries of the world regarded the war between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Portugal as a farce. However, the British were a little nervous about this. After all, Hong Kong is only separated from Macao by the mouth of the Pearl River. Since the Chinese Empire is determined to take back Macau, it does not need to be thought that Hong Kong must be in their plans. The British garrison in Hong Kong is not much, and if the Chinese Empire wants to forcibly recover Hong Kong, the British troops here will only die on the battlefield except for obediently surrendering to the Chinese Empire. Of course, many British young people who have come from thousands of miles to serve here. They're just trying to earn a little more allowance, and if they want to put their lives on the line, it's absolutely impossible.

It was the day after the Chinese army captured Macau by force. Sir Davis, the Governor of Hong Kong, rushed to Canton to discuss with the British Minister to China, Sir Bonham, what should the Chinese do if they wanted to recover Hong Kong by force.

"Your Excellency, what should we do now? The Chinese actually dared to forcibly recover Macao despite opposition. In the next step, they will definitely march to Hong Kong. The Chinese are opposite Victoria Bay. An infantry brigade of more than 6,000 people has been deployed. In addition, several powerful steam warships of their Navy. I've been cruising around Hong Kong all the time, and the situation is very bad for us! Sir Davis said with some anxiety. The British army deployed two infantry regiments in Hong Kong, totaling more than 3,000 people. The Navy also has a small fleet of four sail warships in Hong Kong. The task of this fleet. It's not a confrontation with the mighty Chinese Navy. It was just to fight piracy and protect British merchant ships. If you really want to fight with the Chinese Navy, these old warships are estimated to be swallowed up by the Chinese Navy, and there will be no scum left.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency the Governor, Hong Kong and Macau are different. Macau was nothing more than stolen by the Portuguese. But Hong Kong, but we signed a treaty with the Manchu government. The Manchu government explicitly ceded Hong Kong to us. This is fundamentally different from Macau. I think. The Chinese should not directly send troops to occupy Hong Kong, which is legally unjustifiable. Sir Bonham said.

"Your Excellency, those savage yellow-skinned monkeys, will they pay attention to the law? With an order from their emperor, the wolf-like Chinese* army would have crossed the Victoria Bay. Their shells will fall on Hong Kong. Your Excellency, I hope to receive an accurate answer from the Chinese side as to whether they will recover Hong Kong by force. "Governor Davis was a little worried.

"Your Excellency the Governor, at the appropriate time, I will discuss this matter with the Chinese side. You can rest assured that the British Empire is not a weak Portuguese kingdom. Although in the Far East, we are not necessarily opponents of the Chinese. But we are still the number one power in the world. Those yellow-skinned monkeys will not tear their faces with us if they are not sure. Sir Bonham said. When the Chinese* army first attacked Macau by force, Sir Bonham had some concerns. However, after deep reflection, he found that the Chinese recovering Macao by force was nothing more than an action to deter the British. The Chinese may not dare to apply what was done to the Portuguese to the British.

"Your Excellency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire has arrived, and Your Excellency Lin Zihao hopes to have a meeting with you." At this time, the secretary of the legation walked in and said to Sir Bonham.

"It seems that the Chinese can't sit still. What exactly the Chinese think, we will know soon. Sir Bonham said with a smile, and then asked, "What time is it set?" ”

"Your Excellency, the time is set for two o'clock in the afternoon, in the office of His Excellency Lin Zihao." The secretary replied.

"Well, tell them, I'll go meet him on time." Sir Bonham said.

"Your Excellency, in that case, I will return to Hong Kong tomorrow." Sir Davis, Governor General of Hong Kong, said. Without a definite answer, he was always a little apprehensive. He didn't want to be like the governor of Macau, Biandu, who was stuffed into a prisoner of war camp by the Chinese.

At half past one in the afternoon, Sir Bonham's carriage departed from the British Embassy in China and headed for the premises of the Chinese Foreign Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire is a huge courtyard, which used to be the residence of a Manchu nobleman in Guangzhou, and after the Chinese Empire captured Guangzhou, it was naturally confiscated. The courtyard of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with its towering ancient trees and quiet environment, is much better than the cold concrete buildings of Western countries. Every time Sir Bonham came to the Imperial Foreign Office, he couldn't help but sigh how wonderful it would be if China could become a British colony!

At two o'clock, Sir Bonham, led by the secretary of the Imperial Foreign Secretary, Lin Zihao, knocked on the door of Lin Zihao's office.

"Please come in!" Lin Zihao's peaceful voice came from the door. The Chinese Empire had just recovered Macao by force, and the Portuguese only dared to shout a few words, which made the Chinese Empire once again add a lot of notoriety in the international community.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, good afternoon!" After seeing Lin Zihao, Sir Bonham took the initiative to say hello, and his posture was very low. After all, although Britain is still the world's number one power, the Chinese Empire is the real hegemon in the Far East.

"Your Excellency, good afternoon, please do it. Tea or coffee? Lin Zihao said with a smile.

"Tea bar, I like Chinese tea very much." Sir Bonham said.

Then, after the secretary brought the tea, he left the office, and in the entire office, Lin Zihao and Sir Bonham were left.

After a pleasantry of pleasantries, Lin Zihao began to lead the topic to the topic: "Your Excellency, I wonder what Britain thinks about the conflict between the Empire and Portugal over Macao? ”

"Your Excellency, this is a matter between your country and the Kingdom of Portugal, and has nothing to do with the British Empire. However, the British Empire does not want to see a war-torn Far East, and it is very beneficial for both of us to be at peace in the Far East. Sir Bonham said.

"Of course, we don't want war either. However, Macao is the inherent territory of the Chinese Empire, and we must take it back. The Kingdom of Portugal disagreed, and we had no choice but to resort to other means. Lin Zihao said.

Sir Bonham nodded, and he didn't want to pay attention to who was right and who was wrong between the Chinese Empire and the Kingdom of Portugal on the issue of Macau. Anyway, in this day and age, whoever has the big fist, whoever says what he says is the truth. The British have always believed that truth is within the range of artillery.

"The Empire does not want to go to war, so even after the Kingdom of Portugal declared war on us, we did not send troops to Portugal proper. Your Excellency the Minister should know that with the military strength of the Empire, even an expedition to Portugal is not impossible, we just do not want to be caught in a war, which is very detrimental to the development of the country. Lin Zihao said.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the British Empire is very appreciative of this attitude of your country." Sir Bonham said. The military strength of the Chinese Empire, the British Empire is relatively well understood. Although Portugal itself was too far away from the Chinese Empire, with the strength of the Chinese Empire's army and navy, it would not be impossible for them to make an expedition to Portugal if they were determined to do so. It's just that the consumption will be very large, and even if the Kingdom of Portugal is defeated, the Chinese Empire will not get much benefit.

"Your Excellency, I have come to you today mainly to consult with your country on the Hong Kong issue." Lin Zihao began to get to the point.

Sir Bonham immediately frowned, and then said, "Your Excellency, Hong Kong and Macau are fundamentally different. Hong Kong was ceded to the British Empire by the Manchu government through the Treaty of Nanjing, which has a legal basis. ”

"Your Excellency, you are right. However, the Treaty of Nanking was an unequal treaty after all, and it was forced by the British Empire to sign it by force. Lin Zihao said.

"Your Excellency Foreign Secretary, the treaty is sacred, do you want to tear it up? Besides, the Manchu government continued to exist, and the treaties they signed had legal effect. If your country wantonly tears up the treaty, it will make your country completely discredited in the international community. Sir Bonham threatened.

"No, Your Excellency, the Chinese nation is a nation that stresses integrity, and the Chinese Empire is also an empire that stresses integrity. However, we have a compromise that the British side may want to consider. Lin Zihao said. (To be continued......)