But he began to have some panic in his heart, the British reduced their help to France in negotiations, and now they have to face the pressure of the Chinese alone, he is really a little powerless, and the new prime minister at home seems to care about the pressure from the Chinese side, and rarely gives any instructions for his negotiations, does he feel that he does not need to face these damn aggressive Chinese in Paris, and does not feel the pressure so he does not care about this negotiation?

This is a damn thought, maybe the consequences of the final negotiation will be pushed on his head, and then he will live a more miserable life than the previous ambassador to China, the consul in Guangzhou was terrified, he no longer had the same calm heart as the previous negotiation, "The amount of military reparations we negotiated is really too large." Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"Please don't say such ridiculous words again," Guo Songtao waved his hand impatiently, "The reparations we need from France are not as good as the interest on the five billion franc reparations you paid to Germany, and our reparations include the pensions that need to be paid to the fallen soldiers, which are paid by the defeated side according to custom, as well as the war reparations to be paid to Vietnam, your country will not think that such a large-scale war in Vietnam will not cause the slightest damage to the Vietnamese people, right?" Guo Songtao's face showed a compassionate humanitarian light, "Your country must be responsible for the losses in the Vietnam War, so we will use a fee here as a fund to rebuild Vietnam." ”

"Also, if your country wants to continue to stay in Saigon, this is not impossible," Guo Songtao stroked his sleeve and said indifferently, "Compared with the example of Portugal in Macau, you have to pay at least one lease fee every year, otherwise, why should we let your country continue to have colonial rule in Saigon?" If your country does not want to continue to use war to gain dominance of Saigon, then of course it will cost money. Spending money on lend-lease, of course, this name is naturally said in the past for us in China, these three costs are combined, plus the ransom cost of a French soldier, your country has almost 10,000 or so soldiers, is your country not ready to let them return to China? If you don't prepare, then you can reduce the price a little, but you want your country to pay a mere 120 million francs, which is really cheap and can't be cheaper," Guo Songtao seems to have become a small vendor selling vegetables in the vegetable market, full of philistines, and his mouth is full of money, "If your country pays in a lump sum, I can also make a private decision and give your country a discount to reduce 10 million francs." ”

This is still an unacceptable price, although France's finances after the defeat of the war were not as embarrassing as after the defeat of the Franco-Prussian War, but it is definitely not as easy as being able to come up with more than 100 million francs at will, the expenditure of the previous war, the pension of the dead soldiers, and the trade affected by the war, as well as some of the collateral reactions caused by the defeat of the war, such as the imminent movement of the colonies, the rebellion of the nearby neighbors and the protectorates, these are all major problems affecting the country's revenue, and if the amount of compensation is too large, It is easy to cause a decline in the position of France in the international community, and the losses suffered by this decline are simply incalculable in money!

So even if France had so much money, it would not dare to accept such conditions at all. It's not about face, it's about losing face, which will lead to a reduction in actual benefits. The consul in Guangzhou had about a number in his heart, obviously the two sides were still in a tug-of-war, and in the end, when Guo Songtao lowered the price to 150 million francs, the consul in Guangzhou still gritted his teeth and refused to let go, Guo Songtao was a little angry, he asked for a meeting between the two people alone, obviously this was preparing for the final offer, the negotiators on both sides withdrew, and when there were only two people left in the conference hall, Guo Songtao crossed his hands and leaned on the back of the chair, with a relaxed expression, "If your country is not willing to pay cash, We have, of course, another solution that is sufficient to the satisfaction of both countries. ”

The Guangzhou consul suddenly had an alarm bell in his heart, what tricks are the Chinese going to play? Guo Songtao said to himself, "I believe that there is a direct phone call between Mr. Consul and the Prime Minister of your country, so naturally, you can also tell Mr. Prime Minister directly about many things." ”

"Yes, to some extent, that's right," replied the consul in Canton cautiously, the French had already suffered a crushing defeat on the military battlefield and could no longer continue to fall into the trap of the Chinese on the diplomatic battlefield. "Of course, my power is very small, and I can only use it as a microphone."

"I can convey to your prime minister that China is a peace-loving country that hopes to resolve this dispute quickly," Guo Songtao said with a smile. ”

"Okay, then we have to put forward our Chinese conditions," Guo Songtao straightened his face and said solemnly, "Since your country is not willing to pay the amount of reparations that is very expensive in your country's opinion, then I can make the decision and halve the 100 million francs, and France only needs to pay half of the indemnity." ”

The consul in Guangzhou was ecstatic, the price in his heart was 70 million to 80 million francs, but he did not expect the Chinese to be so bold that the price was reduced to 50 million francs at once! But his ecstasy was only for a moment, and then he calmed down, there is no free lunch in the world, "Do you have any other requirements?" The consul in Guangzhou said slowly, "I don't believe your country is so friendly. ”

"Of course, of course, of course we have other conditions, since your country is not able to pay so much cash compensation for various reasons, we China is a country of etiquette, and we will naturally be considerate of your country, so we want something else."

"Something."

Guo Songtao took a sip of the coffee cup and said indifferently: "The shares of the Suez Canal." ”

"What!?"

"What!?" In the living room of the new prime minister, Baptiste was stimulated by the words of the second unannounced Chinese guest, and he stood up in shock and anger, "You are really lions with big mouths!" Actually want a stake in the Suez Canal! It's impossible! ”

"There is nothing impossible, Your Excellency, we can understand the concerns of your country, so we will not seek too much for the amount of the reparation, but the basic conditions, we still have to meet, as for the amount of 50 million francs, the ordinary people seem very staggering, but in fact, it is not enough to mention." (To be continued.) )