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On the Lunar New Year of 1845, Emperor Long Yufei held a grand dinner at the palace as usual, entertaining military and political dignitaries, celebrities from all walks of life, and soldiers who had made meritorious contributions on the battlefield. Unless it is a time of war, it has become customary to hold a banquet on New Year's Day. Although the New Year is a time for family reunions, everyone regards participating in Long Yufei's banquet as a top priority, which is an honor for them. This is an invitation from His Majesty the Emperor, which is enough for them to glorify their ancestors.

China is originally a humane society, and during the New Year's holidays, everyone visits each other, which is also conducive to contacting feelings.

In addition to high-ranking officials of the empire, envoys from various countries in China were also asked to attend the dinner. The envoys of these countries to China are all shouldering their own missions. Among them, China's allies, the Kingdom of Spain and France, naturally hope that China will become stronger and stronger, so that they will also have greater strength to challenge Britain. As for the future, we will have to wait at least until the defeat of the British. Most European countries, on the other hand, want to be able to start further trade with China. China's huge market and some unique goods are what European countries want to get.

At the beginning of the dinner, Long Yufei attended with the queen and the crown prince, and delivered a New Year's speech, wishing everyone a happy new year. He is still very satisfied with the achievements of the empire last year. The current Chinese Empire is already on the right track. It is developing day by day. Although compared to some of the industrial powers of Europe, the industrial base of the Chinese Empire still looks bad. However, all believed. The country is developing at a rapid pace, and it won't be long before the country catches up with the Western powers.

The British Minister to China, Sir Bonham, was undoubtedly the most hostile to China among the envoys of these countries. Originally, he was the governor of the Straits Settlements, and he was a promising high-ranking official in Britain. However, because of the fiasco of the war. Captured by China. Fortunately, because he is a China expert, he should be the foreign secretary. Viscount Temple appointed him as Minister to China, otherwise. He must have been transferred back to England and stuffed into an idle position in a certain department, and he began to retire early.

Sir Bonham certainly didn't want to go on like this forever, so. After taking office. He closely follows China's developments. Because the submarine cables between China and Europe are already connected, it is possible to communicate by guò telegraph. In this way, the communication with the country will be much closer. Sir Bonham's main focus now is almost entirely on supporting the Manchu government and containing the Chinese Empire. He knew that this was his last chance, and only by defeating the Chinese Empire could he hope to regain his heavy responsibility. And Britain will be able to remove the threat from the East. Of course. With the rapid development of the Chinese Empire, Governor Bonham said. It's very difficult to accomplish this task!

Looking at the young emperor who was giving an enthusiastic speech, Governor Bonham felt resentful in his heart. Long Yufei is only thirty-five years old this year, although he has gradually entered middle age. However, this is just the beginning for an emperor. With Long Yufei's body, there is no problem in living for another thirty or forty years. When the time comes, no one can guarantee how powerful the Chinese Empire will swell under his rule.

After Long Yufei's speech ended, melodious music sounded. Long Yufei didn't stay long at the banquet, talked a few words with some important ministers and important foreign envoys, drank a few glasses of wine, and left early. In the palace, there is also the royal family's own reunion banquet.

It was also after Long Yufei left that the banquet entered its climax. When Long Yufei is there, everyone will be somewhat unable to let go. Especially the bold generals of the military, after Long Yufei left, they immediately shouted and began to drink. Of course, this made the envoys of many European countries in China very disdainful of this. It's just that they can only mutter a few words in their hearts, indicating that they still have to be full of smiles. After all, the current Chinese Empire is so powerful that even the British have to face up to the Chinese Empire, let alone other small European countries.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Happy New Year!" Fabio, the French minister to China, approached Lin Zihao, the foreign minister of the Chinese Empire.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, and I wish you a Happy New Year!" Foreign Minister Lin Zihao said with a smile. The country's strength makes him very comfortable as a foreign minister.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, congratulations on your country's victory. Japan and Korea have become colonies of your country, and that is a huge market with a population of more than 20 million! Minister Fabio had a look of envy. Even today's France has a population of only 35 million. If Minister Fabio had known that the Chinese Empire had obtained more than 100 million pounds worth of wealth from Japan and Korea this time, he would have been even more jealous. Of course, Minister Fabio also knew that the Chinese Empire had already taken the East as its sphere of influence, and would never allow other countries to reach out.

"Your Excellency, France also has vast colonies in the world, and your overseas markets are also very envious of us!" Lin Zihao replied with a smile. Now the relationship between the Chinese Empire and France is relatively close, after the two sides signed the secret alliance treaty, began military, economic, scientific and cultural exchanges, some advanced technology and industrial equipment from France, so that the Chinese Empire in the speed of industrialization, a lot of improvement. Although Britain is the world's first industrial power, France is still much inferior to Britain. However, Britain is China's enemy, and China should not find a way to get a little advanced technology from Britain through formal channels. Of course, what you can get by other means is different.

Minister Fabio was confident that France was only smaller than England in terms of the size of its colonies.

"Your Excellency, in order to strengthen the relations between our two countries, I propose that at the appropriate time the Emperor of your country visit France. I think that the king of my country will be very happy. Minister Fabio said. Inviting the Chinese emperor to visit France will undoubtedly further strengthen France's influence in Europe. Although France and China have formed an alliance, they have signed a secret treaty and have not opened it empty. If France and China could show their friendship to the world, France would be much safer. During this period, the British exerted a lot of pressure on France, and the French government was about to run out of steam.

"Visiting France?" Foreign Minister Lin Zihao frowned. In the eyes of the Chinese, the emperor is a golden body, and even micro-service private visits must be cautious. How is it possible to visit wèn abroad, or to Europe thousands of miles away? However, Lin Zihao himself believed that it was feasible for the emperor to visit Europe, as long as there were no problems with security issues. It's just that he knows that this will definitely be opposed by the cabinet and the important ministers of the military.

"Your Excellency, I will tell Your Majesty about this. However, your Government has finally sent you an official invitation. Lin Zihao said.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, please rest assured, I will do this tomorrow, and the invitation will be delivered soon." Minister Fabio said excitedly. If he could facilitate the visit of the Chinese emperor to France, it would undoubtedly be a great achievement for him. It is also very helpful for his future development in his career.

"Your Excellency, I understand the feelings. It's best to wait a few days, though. Now is the most important festival in our country, the government departments will have a seven-day holiday, and His Majesty the Emperor will not deal with political affairs in these days. Lin Zihao reminded. Foreigners do not have the concept of Spring Festival, and when Chinese are on vacation, they still go to work normally.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I forgot all about that." Minister Fabio hurriedly said.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Your Excellency Minister Fabio, what are you two talking about?" At this time, a middle-aged European man with a big beard was walked over. He was Casimiro, Minister of the Kingdom of Spain to China. The Kingdom of Spain had a closer relationship with the Chinese Empire than France, and had become a faint voice for China in Europe.

"Your Excellency Casimiro, I am talking to Lord Lin about asking His Majesty the Emperor of the Chinese Empire to visit France." Fabio said. From Lin Zihao's attitude, he can see that this invitation is very likely to be successful.

"Ahh Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the Kingdom of Spain is the closest ally of the Chinese Empire, and if His Majesty the Emperor visits Europe, he must go to Spain. Minister Casimiro said quickly. This cannot be missed, otherwise it would be a dereliction of duty.

"Okay, Your Excellency, I will report to Your Majesty." Lin Zihao said. If Long Yufei visits France, it is impossible for the Kingdom of Spain not to go. Of course, whether you can go or not has to wait for Long Yufei to decide.

The dinner ended in laughter. This was followed by a seven-day New Year's holiday, and it was not until the eighth day of the first lunar month that all levels of government departments in the Chinese Empire began to work.

On the first day of work, Fabio, the French minister to China, and Casimiro, the minister of the Kingdom of Spain to China, rushed to the office of Lin Zihao, the foreign minister of the Chinese Empire, and sent the official invitations of the two countries to Lin Zihao, and on behalf of their king and queen, solemnly extended an invitation to the Chinese Emperor Long Yufei to visit Wèn. (To be continued......)