Although the Empress Dowager Cixi spoke softly and did not get angry, Jonas was still a little nervous, his nose was sweating, and he said to the Empress Dowager Cixi with some apologies, "Regarding this matter, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Privy Council have negotiated with the British, and now the British have replied to us that once the rainy season comes, the river will be navigable, and the Suez Canal will naturally be passed, please don't worry, I believe that through the efforts of our German Foreign Ministry, this matter can definitely be resolved as soon as possible." Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

Of course, this answer could not satisfy the Empress Dowager Cixi, "As soon as possible?" Ambassador Jonas, your diplomatic rhetoric will not work for me, what I need is a specific time, I know that your country has a good relationship with the United Kingdom, and the crown princess of your country is the daughter of the Queen of England, but I believe that every country has its own interests, and no matter what the relationship between the two countries is, the interests of your own country are the most supreme, right? ”

"You're right." Jonas nodded in agreement.

"So your country is ready to abandon the contract for this warship to cater to the British?"

"I beg your pardon," Jonas tactfully expressed his opinion, "we must abide by the British sovereignty and domination over Egypt and the Suez Canal, we cannot fall out with the British because of this ship, and you know this, just like your country, it will not declare war on the British government because of this ship." ”

"This is a 7,000-ton giant ironclad ship."

"Yes, but it's only a ship," said Jonas, "and that's not Germany's core interest, as the Queen Mother said." But in order to express our apologies for this matter," Jonas saw the dissatisfied expression on Empress Dowager Cixi's face, and hurriedly remedied, "We are willing to sign the contract for the purchase of repeating musket technology immediately." ”

"Oh? This is an unexpected gain," the Empress Dowager Cixi raised her eyebrows, "but it seems that your country is still willing to be a servant of the British on the continent of Europe, and even in the world, and I am surprised at that." ”

At the end of the nineteenth century, if one were to turn to the map of the world at that time, one would find that nearly 30 percent of the world's land was marked with scarlet, from the icy and barren coast of Canada to the hot and fertile Indian subcontinent, from the vast expanse of the Australian continent to the small islands of the Atlantic Ocean with only a few reefs. In these lands, the blue, white and red rice-shaped flags flutter high, showing off to the world the arrogance, conceit and glory of the "empire on which the sun never sets".

Jonas's face was a little embarrassed and a little annoyed, obviously this "servant" deeply pricked the nerves of the Germans, of course, how could an empire that pursued a continental balance of power policy allow an emerging country that defeated Denmark, defeated Austria-Hungary and even defeated France to become the hegemon of Europe? If you think about it on your knees, you know that this is impossible.

"Your country, like our China, is an emerging power, of course, Germany's status in the international community is more important now, but look at it," Empress Dowager Cixi beckoned Li Lianying to bring in the world map, Li Lianying opened the world map, Empress Dowager Cixi waved her hand, "Look, the good places in the world have been occupied by others, your country is the same as us, it's too late to think about things outside." ”

"Of course, we have a lot of land and resources, and we don't need to find any colonies, because we have a vast domestic market and a sufficient population to carry out industrial production, as long as we do a good job in the internal market, raw material production areas and dumping places for industrial products, we don't need to find other places, and I can even say that the domestic market is enough for us to develop for decades, so we don't need colonies."

"But what about your country? The domestic market and population are just a little bit, and the developed industrialization needs a vast market to digest, and of course, it goes without saying that tariffs are very high between countries, and you will not be allowed to dump your country's industrial products. Overseas markets? Empress Dowager Cixi smiled mysteriously, she pointed to two places in Africa, one on the coast of the Indian Ocean, and the other on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, just across southern Africa, "It only occupies a little colony in these two places, is your country enough?" ”

The Empress Dowager Cixi's tone was a little playful, and Jonas was not angry, and said with a smile, "This is a real thing, and we can't deny it, but we can work hard to expand Germany's overseas territories." ”

"Expansion means that you need to grab it from others, and all the territories in the world have been divided, except for Antarctica, which, of course, has no economic or political role," the Empress Dowager Cixi sneered, "If your country wants colonies, you can only go to others to fight for it." ”

"Who occupies the most colonies in the world?" The Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Do you see clearly? ”

"And I also believe that your country will not move against the French, you ceded Alsace and Lorraine, and are in a hurry to digest these two big cakes, in order to prevent the French from retaliating, then you must let them focus their attention from the European mainland on the occupation and control of the overseas colonies, and there will definitely be no conflict with the French over the affairs of the colonies overseas, right?"

Jonas smiled and said, "Your Highness, do you think that the conflict between the French and your country in Vietnam is due to the willingness of Germany?" "I'm sorry, if you think so, we don't have a black cauldron in Germany.

"No, there are unjust debtors and owners, your country only plays an auxiliary role, the main reason is that the French are insatiable, they have half of Vietnam's territory, and they still want all of it, so you also feel it, ambassador," the Empress Dowager Cixi said with a smile, "In the affairs of Vietnam, we have not asked your country, a Central European power that defeated France, to intervene diplomatically, because we know that your country also has its own core interests to protect." "In this regard, you have to accept China's feelings, and the Germans should be more sensible.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, it is indeed inappropriate for Germany to take a stand on Vietnamese affairs, so we remain neutral and will not express support for France in Vietnamese affairs." I'm encouraging the French to expand overseas, so the matter of Vietnam is our tacit acquiescence to the French annexation, so we won't put pressure on the French, but if you give the French some hardships and weaken the French, we will never mind.

The Empress Dowager Cixi understood, smiled and nodded, "Then we have common interests." (To be continued.) )