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"Your Excellency, you mean that if the Chinese Empire does not budge, the negotiations will break down this time. So, is Britain going to war with the Empire? Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao looked at Earl Granville and asked. The current Chinese Empire is no longer the weak country that was just established and had to make concessions in the face of the threat of war from the British.

Although, with the current strength of the Empire, it would not be realistic to go on an expedition to Europe and defeat the British Empire. However, if the British dared to cross half the world to attack the Chinese Empire, it would be the British who would lose in the end. The overall strength of the Imperial Navy was no worse than that of the British. Although the number is a little smaller, it is entirely possible to defeat Britain while waiting for work. In addition, the strength of the Imperial Army was so strong that it could throw off the British several streets.

"Your Excellency, you have misunderstood me. The British Empire is a peace-loving country, and we have no intention of getting involved in war, let alone declaring war on the Chinese Empire. We hope that the whole world can be peaceful! Said the Earl of Granville. Of course, this was mainly due to the fact that Britain did not have the confidence to completely defeat the Chinese Empire, otherwise Britain would have taken the most direct means to remove the threat of the Chinese Empire to Britain.

"So, what does the Earl mean?" Lin Zihao asked. He wasn't a fool, and he could hear the threat in Earl Granville's words.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the British Empire hopes. The Chinese Empire was able to make some concessions appropriately. Of course, the premise is that the interests of the Chinese empire are not affected. On the U.S. side, we will also persuade. That's the case. The negotiations will be able to proceed smoothly. Said the Earl of Granville. The British would not go to war lightly unless absolutely necessary. Even if there is a war, it will have to wait for Britain to be absolutely sure. Now, the British were not sure of victory, so they could only continue to tolerate the Chinese Empire.

Lin Zihao frowned, and then asked, "What kind of conditions can Americans accept?" ”

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the £100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0 It's kind of outrageous. The U.S. government simply can't afford it. Why don't you waive the war reparations? Said the Earl of Granville. Even Britain has never offered such a large amount of war reparations to other countries.

Of course. Unbeknownst to the Earl of Granville, after the end of the Sino-Russian War, Russia paid 120 million pounds in war reparations to the Chinese Empire. After that, in order to ransom prisoners of war. There was a payment of 100 million pounds. Merely. In order to cover up the ugliness of the Russians, the Chinese Empire also hoped to make a fortune in silence. Therefore, no one has disclosed the specific content of the negotiations.

In fact, in the entire history of the world, the largest amount of war reparations was the war reparations paid to the Kingdom of Prussia by 5 billion francs after the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War, which is 200 million pounds when converted into pounds. Later with the rise of the German Empire, these war reparations. It undoubtedly played the role of a propellant. Also, in the history of humiliation in China. In the "Xinchou Treaty", the compensation paid by the Great Qing State to the Eight-Nation Alliance was as much as 450 million taels of silver, and if the interest was included, it was as much as 982 million yuan, and when converted into pounds, it would be more than 200 million pounds. In the First World War in later generations, the sky-high reparations paid after Germany's defeat were another matter. In the mid-nineteenth century, hundreds of millions of pounds in war reparations were an astronomical amount.

Lin Zihao shook his head: "Your Excellency, the war reparations of 100 million pounds is a lot, and we can reduce some of it." However, it is impossible to eliminate it completely. We can reduce the amount of compensation to 50 million pounds! ”

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, fifty million pounds is too much. The annual revenue of the British Empire is only more than 50 million pounds. As far as the US fiscal revenue is concerned, it will take 10 years to repay it. After this war, the national strength of the United States has been exhausted, and it is even more impossible to repay the Chinese Empire so much war reparations! Said the Earl of Granville. Now, his face looks a lot better. Although the conditions of the Chinese Empire were still harsh, the Chinese Empire had begun to give in. In this way, he also saw a glimmer of hope.

"Your Excellency, how much do you think the United States can pay war reparations?" Lin Zihao asked rhetorically. He would have liked what the Earl of Granville had to say. The British are now determined to help the United States, and if the empire does not want to continue fighting, it is inevitable that some conditions will be appropriately lowered.

"Your Excellency, the war reparations are nothing more than the United States making up for the losses caused to the Chinese Empire during the war. This should be considered in the light of the national strength of the United States. If it's too heavy, the United States can't afford to pay it. In my opinion, the war reparations might as well be set at five million! Said the Earl of Granville.

"Five million pounds? That's too little, isn't it? Lin Zihao's face is very ugly, this is simply calling Huazi!

"No, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I mean, five million dollars. Not five million pounds! The Earl of Granville hurriedly corrected.

Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Five million Chinese dollars, converted into pounds, is only 1,250,000 pounds, which is 80 times smaller than the 100 million pounds war reparations proposed by the empire. Fortunately, the Earl of Granville did not say that he would pay only five million dollars, in that case, it would only be a million pounds!

"Your Excellency, this is simply insincere. The Empire would never agree to such a small war reparation. The empire's expedition across the Pacific Ocean to the United States also consumed a huge amount of national strength! Lin Zihao said resolutely. It is very likely that if the Earl of Granville does not relent, he will not go on.

"All right, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. How about raising the war reparations to 10 million Chinese dollars? The Earl of Granville continued.

"No way. Your Excellency, I tell you the truth, this is too far from our expectations to be agreed upon. Lin Zihao's head shook like a rattle.

"Your Excellency, even if your country offers more war reparations, but the United States cannot pay them, your country will not receive a penny." The Earl of Granville reminded.

"Your Excellency, the Empire can give way one more step. Reduce the war reparations to 20 million pounds. This is already the bottom line of the empire, and it cannot be changed. Lin Zihao said.

"Ten million pounds! Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, if your country agrees, I can wait for the Americans to agree. Said the Earl of Granville.

Lin Zihao frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Yes, the compensation is 10 million pounds." However, the Reich demanded that this indemnity be paid to the Reich within three days of the signing of the peace treaty! ”

Lin Zihao was afraid that the Americans would delay again and again, and in that case, the empire would not be able to receive money.

"Your Excellency, the Americans are already in debt, and it is impossible for them to pay your country in three days." Isn't it hard for a strong man to say, Earl Granville?

"Your Excellency, as far as I know, England has lent a lot to the Americans, so why can't we give the United States another loan of ten million pounds? If Britain does not agree to this condition, then I can only regret to say that I am afraid that I will have to return to China ahead of schedule for this peace conference. Lin Zihao said.

The Earl of Granville hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Excellency, in principle, I have no opinion. However, I need to inform His Excellency the Prime Minister. In addition, it is necessary to negotiate with the U.S. government. ”

"Of course, I can understand!" Lin Zihao nodded. The war reparations of 10 million were not comparable to the war reparations paid by the Russians to the Chinese Empire. However, how can the wealth of the Russians be compared with that of the United States, which has only been established for a few decades? 10 million pounds, converted into Chinese dollars, is also 40 million Chinese dollars, even the latest 'Qin-class' battleships of the Imperial Navy, can build several.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, then, we have reached an agreement on war reparations. And what about the territory? The territories demanded by the Chinese Empire far exceeded those purchased by the Chinese Empire from the Republic of Mexico. For example, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Kansas, and Oklahoma are all U.S. territories. Said the Earl of Granville.

"Your Excellency, I am reluctant to say more on this subject. These territories are already under the control of the Empire's army. Since the Americans had the audacity to invade the territory of the empire, they had to be prepared to pay heavy losses. These territories are regarded as imperial punishment for the United States. If the Americans wanted to regain these territories, there was only one way, and that was to defeat the empire on the battlefield. However, I reminded them that if they really wanted to do that, they would probably have to be ready to destroy the country! Lin Zihao's attitude is very resolute.

"Your Excellency, is this your country's final reply?" Earl Glanville asked. He also knows that the Chinese have a kind of greed for land that emanates from their bones. It is unlikely that the Chinese Empire will return these lands.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Earl, this is what His Majesty the Emperor means!" Lin Zihao said.

"Well, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I see. I'll communicate with the U.S. government. I hope that tomorrow's negotiations will be able to proceed normally and that we will all be able to reach an agreement! The Earl of Granville said with a smile. Although the conditions of the Chinese Empire are still a bit harsh, they are much better than before! (To be continued......)