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On January 8, 1846, at the request of Long Yufei, representatives of the Chinese Empire, Great Britain, France, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Prussia, the Austrian Empire, and Russia convened a conference in Paris, France, aimed at resolving the canal problem. The meeting took place at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Emperor Long Yufei of the Chinese Empire and King Louis of France. Philip I was present at the meeting. It's just that neither of them will express their attitudes, and the main problem will be taken care of by the representatives who will be dispatched.

King Louis of France. Philip I looked a little tired, and it was clear that he had been under tremendous pressure during this time. See Louie. Philip I's appearance, Long Yufei couldn't help but shake his head. France, once the most powerful country on the European continent, almost became the master of Europe. However, after the overthrow of Napoleon, France had lost its former glory. Louis. Philip I simply did not have the ability to bring France to the top, but would make France's strength continue to decline. If history does not change, this year, a month later, the February Revolution will break out in France. When the time comes, Charr. Louis. Napoleon. Bonaparte would take advantage of this revolution to become president of the Second French Republic. Therefore, Long Yufei planned to leave France as much as possible and return to China, so as not to be affected by this French revolution. Since the French Revolution, these romantic Frenchmen seem to have become addicted to revolution.

"Gentlemen, according to the mention of His Majesty the Emperor of the Chinese Empire. We decided to build a canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, thereby changing the traffic between the East and the West, making it easier to travel between the East and the West. For this. France, the Chinese Empire, Great Britain and the Kingdom of Spain have formally formed the Canal Development Company. Let us express our most sincere thanks to His Majesty the Emperor of China, for this mention, which is undoubtedly of great benefit to the progress of the whole world! The Duke of Dalmatia, the French Prime Minister who presided over the meeting, said.

The delegates from all countries attending the meeting gave Long Yufei warm applause. And Long Yufei had to get up and nod to everyone.

The meeting went on and soon got to business. The Duke of Dalmatia claimed. China, Britain, France, and Spain have completed the formation of the Canal Development Company, and after negotiations, the division of shares has been clarified. Plus the strength of the four countries. It is already fully capable of undertaking the excavation of the canal. As a result, the Canal Development Company would refuse the accession of the Kingdom of Prussia, the Austrian Empire, and Russia. This caused a backlash from the three countries!

"As a great power in Europe, the Russian Empire must join the Canal Development Company, which will reflect the responsibility of the Russian Empire to the whole civilized world. His Majesty the Tsar attached great importance to the development of the canal this time. And ask the countries to give the Russian Empire a chance! Russian Foreign Minister Count Nesher Rody was the first to speak. Russia's ambitions for the Middle East. As everyone knows, of course, they will not let go of this opportunity to intervene in the Middle East.

Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia and Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire also spoke immediately, but with the Russians as the first birds, their attitude was not resolute. They also don't want to get too stiff with China, Britain, France, and Spain. If the Russians succeed, they should be able to hitch a ride and join the Canal Development Company. If the Russians are not able to succeed, then their efforts will be in vain.

"The great power status of the Russian Empire. It was not achieved through the development of the canal in Guò. The UK will not sell its shares. British Foreign Secretary, Earl Glanville, said first. The Middle East is the territory of the British, if the Russians are put into the Middle East. Then British interests will certainly be encroached upon by the Russians, and perhaps even India will be threatened. Blockading Russia north of the Black Sea is the basic national policy of Britain!

"France will not sell our shares either. The current shareholding structure of the Canal Company is already very reasonable. French Prime Minister Duke Dalmatia said. With the British taking the lead in voicing their objections, France, of course, had to go along with it.

Spanish Foreign Minister José. Morality. Salamanca also agreed that the Kingdom of Spain refused to divide its shares. With the Chinese Empire behind them, the Kingdom of Spain was not afraid of Russia. Although Russia had an army of 1.4 million, Spain was located in the southeast corner of the European continent, and it was almost impossible for Russia to send troops to attack Spain. Although the Russian navy claims to be the largest in numbers. But their warships, all of which were old sail warships, were not comparable to the 'Xia-class' cruisers imported by Spain from the Chinese Empire. What's more, the Kingdom of Spain also ordered six 'Western Zhou-class' warships from the Chinese Empire, and after these warships are put into service, the Kingdom of Spain will become one of the world's naval powers, and there is no need to be afraid of Russia!

The attitude of the Chinese Empire is even more obvious, since the conflict between the Chinese Empire and Russia is destined to erupt, then there is no need for the Chinese Empire to try to maintain relations with Russia. Chinese Foreign Minister Lin Zihao also said that China opposes other countries joining the canal development company. With the current strength of China, Britain, France and Spain, it is enough to ensure the navigation of the canal.

As the representatives of China, Britain, France, and Spain expressed their respective attitudes, the face of the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Neschel Rodie, became extremely ugly. Since the overthrow of Napoleon's First Empire, European nations have never rejected Russia in this way. The voice of the tsar made the whole of Europe have to pay attention. But now, Count Nesherro found that Russia was once again isolated.

Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia and Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire could not help but shake their heads and smile wryly when they saw this. They knew that this time the two countries would not have any chance. However, even if they are not able to join the canal development company, it will not be much of a loss to both countries. They're just trying to get it. Since it can't be successful, it doesn't matter much.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are well aware of the concerns of States. After the deliberations of our four countries, after the opening of the canal, it will be completely neutral! In other words, no country will garrison troops in the canal, and warships of any country can freely pass through the canal, as long as the toll is paid normally. In addition, any attack on the canal will be regarded as a challenge to China, Britain, France, and Spain, and the four countries will take harsh measures to counter such acts. Lin Zihao, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire, said. In this case, it should be possible to reassure the concerns of various countries.

Sure enough, Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia and Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire agreed one after another. Since China, Britain, France, and Spain have promised not to use the canal to jam the necks of other countries, there is nothing to say.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Count Neschel Rodie, of course, would not believe in such a promise, and in the eyes of the Slavs, it was safest only in their own hands. If war breaks out between Russia and the Chinese Empire, will the Chinese ban the Russian Navy from the Guò Canal? According to Count Nesherro Die, this is absolutely impossible. Therefore, he scoffed at this promise. However, China, Britain, France, and Spain all refused to allow other countries to join the canal development company, and he had no other way. Although Russia was strong and had the largest number of troops, it could not be the enemy of China, Britain, France, and Spain at the same time. If nothing else, the navies of the four countries alone would be enough to blockade Russia.

Although Count Nesherro Die's protest against this, his opposition did not play any role. After the meeting, representatives of China, Britain, France, and Spain signed a supplementary agreement, which stipulated that neither China, Britain, France, nor Spain would station troops in the canal zone after the canal was opened. Only one non-military unit, consisting of a joint four-nation organization, will be responsible for the security of the canal. In addition, if other countries attack the canal and want to seize it, China, Britain, France, and Spain will unite to attack it in order to maintain the neutrality of the canal. Prince Wilhelm of the Kingdom of Prussia and Prince Metternich of the Austrian Empire, as witnesses, also signed the treaty. However, the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Neschel Rodie, refused to sign the treaty. Obviously, he was still haunted by not being able to join the canal development company. In fact, even if the Russians were able to join the canal development company, they probably would not have the financial resources to invest in the construction of the canal. Russia's current annual revenue is only 180 million rubles, which is only 20 million pounds when converted into pounds, which is not even comparable to the Kingdom of Spain. In addition, Russia still has millions of troops to support, and their finances are already heavily indebted. Even if millions of pounds were to be invested in the canal development company, the Russian government would not be able to afford it. The reason why Tsar Nicholas I wanted to join the canal development company was probably because of his great power mentality!

The convening of this meeting can be regarded as the end of the establishment of the Canal Development Corporation. Although this full stop is not perfect, it can be regarded as an end. It's just that Russia still hasn't given up. After the meeting, the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Nesser Rodie, once again paid a visit to the French Prime Minister, the Duke of Dalmatia, the British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, and the Foreign Secretary of the Kingdom of Spain, José. Morality. Salamanca, hoping to buy a part of the shares of the Canal Development Company from them, however, in the end, it was not successful! (To be continued......)