The second more

Red earth.

Black gunpowder.

After the outbreak of the conflict, the corpses left by the Portuguese colonial army were wantonly eaten by hyenas, the barrels of the French Foreign Legion were still smoking, and the cold wind after the sunset quickly took away the temperature. After waiting for a long time and the Portuguese colonial army did not attack, Charles Gauller finally impatiently threw away the cigarette butt in the corner of his mouth and said disdainfully, "The war is over, and these Portuguese guys are afraid to come again." Inform your superiors, and send a message to Paris, informing them that more than 50 men of the Foreign Legion had clashed with more than 400 Portuguese colonial troops, and that at last the battle was counted, killing many on both sides and wounding thirteen of us. ”

Such a battle loss ratio can only occur when modern armies face the natives with long-haired bows and arrows, and most of the thirteen French soldiers were still hit by stray bullets, and if this matter had spread from the Congo, I am afraid that Portuguese Prime Minister Vieira de Mello would not have a face.

As Charles Gawler said.

"Damn, none of these Portuguese can fight."

The war and conflict that broke out in the Congo Valley ended in a resounding victory for the French Foreign Legion, and three or four days later the leaders of both sides received a different telegram.

The Portuguese governor of Kongo reported to King Louis I that his colonial army of more than 400 men had been attacked by nearly 1,000 French colonists, and finally barely managed to hold the colony after more than 200 dead and wounded. The Governor of Caen tearfully described the strength and brutality of the French colonists, and made clear to King Louis that he would not give up.

However, Napoleon received a telegram that was diametrically opposed, in which Lieutenant Colonel Gouler gave Napoleon a complete account of the incident, and recorded in detail the superior performance of the Maxim machine guns, and their team of more than 50 people, with three Maxim heavy machine guns, stopped the attack of nearly 400 Portuguese colonial troops, and killed more than 200 people. It dealt a blow to the arrogance of the Portuguese colonizers and gave the Congolese negotiations a head start.

Foreign Minister Dekaz stood in front of Napoleon, looked at the smile on the corner of his mouth, and asked curiously, "Your Excellency, what is happening in the Congolese colony?" ”

Napoleon handed the letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs de Kaz and said, "It's nothing, France has just routed the Portuguese colonial army. They originally wanted to control the access to the sea in the lower reaches of the Congo, threatening the French to abandon their exploration of the upper reaches of the Congo, but after the persuasion failed, they had to resort to force a solution. ”

Foreign Minister Dekaz picked up the telegram, but his face changed sharply after reading it, and he believed that the outbreak of conflict with Portugal would mean that the undeveloped colonies in central Africa would be subject to the strife of the great powers, although the French had established a stronghold in the Congo Valley before the others. But they have already torn their faces with Portugal, and they are likely to collude to make a comeback, and the most likely target of Portugal's collusion is Germany. Because a country that has even robbed its colonies and is still pressed to the ground by Spain can have much to offer.

After putting down the telegram, Dekaz hoped that Napoleon would realize the seriousness of the problem, and said, "I think the best way to solve the problem is to solve the problem by meeting, rather than to enter into a direct conflict with Portugal and other countries." Your Excellency, let us not forget that in addition to Portugal, Germany is also eyeing this area. Not to mention Britain, which still wants to expand its colonies all the time, the next diplomacy may pull all the European powers in, and once these people are involved, Congo will not necessarily belong to us. Because the open-door policy is just as valid here. ”

The Congo basin is too big, and anyone who wants to monopolize it will be ugly, so simply an open-door policy to turn this place into the Congo of the great powers can solve the problem.

But Napoleon clearly disagreed with the views of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dekaz, who preferred the idea that power came out of the barrel of a gun, and whoever had a strong enough fist in the Congo valley could speak here.

Portugal thought they were tough enough, but they were slapped twice by Paris as soon as they came up.

"It's only a matter of time before other countries are brought in, Foreign Minister, or what would I let you stand here for? Portugal will then consult with us and strongly condemn and protest against the actions of the French colonial army in the Congo Valley. All we have to do is tell the Portuguese ambassador to Paris that if we feel wronged, we will fight back, and if we have the ability, we will take it back. Anyway, France has the final say in the upper reaches of the Congo. If they are unwilling to let them go to the sea, I can guarantee that Portugal will not even be able to secure the last access to the sea. ”

Just as the two sides were talking, the assistant walked in and told His Excellency the President that the Portuguese ambassador in Paris had asked for a meeting.

Both Napoleon and Dekaz subconsciously looked at each other.

The assistant reminded in a low voice, "Your Excellency the President? ”

Napoleon came to his senses and said to his assistant, who was standing at the door, "Let him in." ”

When the assistant had gone out, Napoleon turned his head and said to De Kaz, "I did not expect Portugal to move so quickly, and it is time to meet with the ambassador to Paris and find out from him what King Louis I has in mind." But I don't think they're going to directly clash head-on, but to bring in others to put pressure on them."

After the Age of Discovery, Portugal, like Spain, inevitably declined without adequate reform or revolution, and the Portuguese colonies that had spread all over the world were either snatched by Britain and Spain, or independence broke out in the colonies, and never belonged to them again.

Portugal, who was still clinging to face, thought that the decline of France would inevitably follow the war with Germany, and the misleading telegram from the Portuguese governor made King Louis I of Portugal think that they could reason with the French on a legitimate and equal footing.

So before Napoleon completely overestimated the IQ of the Portuguese.

So when Franco, the Portuguese ambassador to Paris, appeared in front of Napoleon, the other party showed a look of arrogance. Before Napoleon could speak, he took out a telegram accusing the French president, "More than 1,000 French colonial troops in the Congo opened fire on the Portuguese colonial army, and finally the Portuguese colonial army routed the French army at the cost of 200 dead and wounded." Although I am not specifically here to mock the fighting power of the French army, which was forced to be repulsed by more than a thousand men against a force of four hundred, has France now weakened to such a point? ”

Napoleon glanced at his telegram and instantly understood something, but instead of exposing Franco, he made a deaf look and let his performance continue.

"Therefore, King Louis I of Portugal will tell me to convey to the French government, please do not think that you can do whatever you want on Congolese soil, which is a Portuguese colony, and ask France to show some respect."

Originally, he thought that his intimidation would make Napoleon put down his body and negotiate peace, but the other party looked at him with disdain, and Vance asked methodically, "Are you finished?" If you're done performing, let's talk about our other account. ”

Napoleon threw the report of the French Foreign Legion in front of Ambassador Franco and told him to read it carefully.

"It is written in black and white that the French army stopped the attack of the enemy eight times the enemy with more than fifty men, and finally the Portuguese colonial army was forced to retreat with heavy casualties, did Ambassador Franco think that the telegram he received was true?"

After reading the report on the French war in Napoleon's hand, Franco threw the telegram over in disbelief, shook his head and hypnotized himself, "Impossible, impossible, this is not true." ”

He suddenly raised his head and yelled at the French president, "Don't try to deceive us!" ”

Napoleon bent down and picked up the telegram and taunted Franco, "How can it not be true?" Do you think that France can't even pack a Portugal? Just kidding, you are facing one of the most capable armies in the French colonies abroad, and a mere Portuguese rabble deserves to fight to the death against the French army? The two pieces of information are on the table, and I don't even think about it, it must be the French one that is true. If you can't clean it up, France will simply be annexed! ”

Franco still wanted to fight with the other party, but Napoleon directly told him to shut up.

"Well, I don't want to hear anything more from you right now. If you think Portugal can control the whole of the Congo, then you can grab it, France welcomes you. If you don't have the ability to do it, then shut up honestly on these issues! ”

Ambassador Franco, who had been a teacher to ask for guilt, had become a sinner at this time, and he was too frightened to speak in the face of Napoleon's sudden outburst.

"Portugal wants to cut off the Congo basin estuary and ban French ships from entering, there is no problem. You can go back and tell King Louis I that France welcomes you to do so. Of course, I can also assure you, Portugal, that as soon as you issue this policy, France will let Portugal lose even the last of its colonies downstream. ”

Napoleon's tone didn't sound like a joke at all, and Ambassador Franco couldn't help but glance at the list in his hand, feeling that if he didn't agree to Napoleon's request, the other party might take Portugal along with him at any time.

His heart fell directly to the bottom with Napoleon's next words.

"Go back and tell King Louis that we have the final say in the Congo Basin. Don't think about bringing other countries in to mediate, who is going to be cleaned up in Paris, who dares to stop in front of us? ”