Of course, as for the 21 million taels of silver that the first Opium War compensated the British for, it was very amazing in the Daoguang period, accounting for about one-third of the annual income, but fortunately it was paid in installments before, and there was no need to pay it off at once, so this amount was nothing, not to mention that after I paid more and more compensation in the Qing Dynasty, it became more and more scary, and in the year of Gengzi, it was even more compensated China to take out 450 million taels of silver from customs silver and other tariffs, and settled at the exchange rate of various currencies, at an annual interest rate of 4%, It will be paid off in 39 years. I don't know how high this comparable 50 million francs is to 5 www.biquge.info 0 million francs, but you must know that 50 million francs is only about 8 million taels of silver dollars, which is really a drop in the bucket in the face of a big country like France.

This 50 million francs, of course, the consul in Guangzhou can accept it, but the Chinese need this Suez Canal shares, even Baptiste refuses to agree, "The Suez Canal is impossible for your country to occupy the equity," Baptiste shook his head and said coldly, "The Egyptian government used the financial crisis to let your country take advantage of it, otherwise we would not have given up the shares of the Suez Canal, China is a big country in the East, should not be involved in the affairs of the Suez Canal, this is not the territory of the Chinese." ”

Baptiste was too lazy to hide his reluctance for China to intervene in the Suez Canal affairs, "However, of course, we are willing to admit the shares that your country owned before the Suez Canal, but it does not mean that we will continue to sell shares." ”

"Your Excellency, although I don't know what the budget and expenditure of your country's Ministry of Finance is, but I know very well that your country's finances should have a lot of problems right now," Baptiste was not stingy, and took out Italian wine for the guests to taste, and the guests shook the red wine glass in their hands and took a sip, "Of course, I remind this, I don't want to threaten, we prefer cash, but your country is not willing to pay, then of course we have to make other demands, the shares of the Suez Canal, That's what we're asking for. If this request is granted, we can further reduce the amount of compensation. ”

"The stake in the Suez Canal cannot be discussed." Baptiste flatly refused.

"Why doesn't the Prime Minister listen to our conditions?" The visitor smiled indifferently, "We only need five percent of the equity, this equity we will not seek any executive power for twenty years, that is to say, we undertake the relevant capital contribution maintenance and care obligations, enjoy the dividend income brought by the equity, but do not seek any canal affairs that are opposed to your country, this, you can rest assured, we are only for economic interests, because we are different from France, we want to be a long stream." ”

"As for the shares of the canal, I advise your country not to take it too seriously, because your country has only 47 percent of the shares, and it is no longer the largest shareholder, and of course there is no such thing as a controlling stake. The operation of the Suez Canal has been sluggish in recent years, the related maintenance costs are surprisingly high, we also have equity in it, the accounts show that this is a relatively low income, but we need a fixed investment point, so we want to want a little share, we have no other cooperation with France before, I think we can try it in this place. ”

Baptiste hesitated, yes, the Suez Canal does not necessarily have much profit, and the Chinese's requirements are not too high, before they spent 10 million silver to share 4.9% of the shares, now with eight million to buy five percent of the canal shares, it seems that some robbery, but it is not a harsh condition that Baptiste cannot accept, Baptiste held the wine glass and was silent for a long time, and the visitors were not in a hurry, just slowly tasted the grape wine produced in Milan, waiting for Baptiste to make a final decision," I can accept the request to transfer the shares of the Suez Canal, but the proportion of the shares is too high and the price is too low," Baptiste pondered for a long time and decided, "It must not exceed three percent of the shares, and the amount of compensation must be reduced." ”

"Leave this specific matter to the consul in Canton, and the friendship between me and His Excellency the Prime Minister should not be ruined by these trivial and specific matters," he toasted Baptiste and took a sip, "We only need to reach a preliminary intention." ”

"So this aspect of the cession of land, is it because of the transfer of equity in the Suez Canal, and this matter has also been resolved?" Baptiste asked tentatively.

The visitor smiled slightly and shook his head, "Mr. Prime Minister is really joking, these two things are the same thing, this is a matter of compensation, and it has nothing to do with the cession of land, of course, if there is a relationship, then it can be regarded as a little relationship, we don't need French India, but we need something else, this thing, I believe your country is definitely willing to give." ”

Baptiste secretly raised his vigilance, he also thought that if French India would be wanted by China, he would like to throw it out, so that the two countries could have a conflict and collision in the Indian Ocean, because the collision of the ownership of French India certainly seems to be of course not beneficial to France at present, and even if Baptiste now has secret contact with the Chinese, it does not mean that he is happy to see the Chinese arrogant, he wishes that the Chinese will continue to eat in the Indian Ocean, but regrettably, It is really disappointing that the Chinese actually retreated early in front of the British.

At this time, what do the Chinese want, the visitor saw Baptiste pricking up his ears, and couldn't help but laugh, "Please don't think about the relationship between our two countries so badly, Mr. Prime Minister, don't think about the Chinese so insidious, although there was a war before, but now that the war has subsided, if you want, China and France can build a bridge of deeper friendship than between China and Germany or between China and Austria." Yes, as long as you want. ”

Baptiste didn't speak, he was waiting for the Chinese to make an offer, and the visitor took another sip of wine, "I heard that your navy has introduced a new plan, called the 'Green Water Navy Plan', right?" ”

"That's right. There is such a plan, but it has not been approved by parliament," Baptiste said, "and what China needs has to do with this plan?" ”

"Yes, it matters," said the visitor with a graceful smile, "we need those things in this plan that your country does not need, and if your country is willing to give us those things, of course we can give up the demand for land cession." (To be continued.) )