End of the 19th century

After the Civil War, Citigroup's economy recovered rapidly, as one of the world's leading economic powers, Citigroup's economy flourished because of the influx of immigrants, and its steel production increased more than ten times in just a few years, and its total economic output surpassed the French Empire to rank second in the world, second only to the British Empire.

However, its political status cannot keep up with the rapid development of the economy, which is a bit similar to Fusang, an economic giant, and a political dwarf in another dimension.

At best, you can only beat the side drum behind the butt of the British Empire, with a low voice and low volume, and others don't look down on it.

The mediator in the peace talks in Singapore was mainly the British Channel Governor's Office, which brought together foreign envoys from France, Germany and Austria, but no American country participated, and to be honest, no other countries thought of the United States.

This is the embarrassing portrayal of the current American state, a country that stubbornly adheres to the "Monroe Doctrine", and whose international influence is difficult to extend beyond the scope of North and South America, and the old European powers are not very willing to play with it.

This is because the feudal monarchy is the mainstream in Europe as a whole, and this democratic system in the United States is a pure anomaly, and the European powers are naturally alienated from it, and it is difficult for it to integrate into the international mainstream.

"Master, how do I reply?" Tang Shaoyi respectfully asked.

Of course, you can't reply to the dog meddling with a mouse, Queensland has a major business interest in the United States, earning up to 10 million pounds in profits every year, and the relationship is inextricably linked.

Detroit, a thriving Cargil steam machinery company, has taken the lead in the steam machinery manufacturing industry in the United States, employing more than 30,000 people.

For the sake of your own money bag, you have to be cautious.

Li Fushou thought about it for a while and said reluctantly; "The Queensland side deeply understands the concerns expressed by the United States, but peace is never a matter for either side, and we welcome the active participation of the United States in the peace process, rather than pointing fingers at either side with bias, we reiterate; He expressed grave concern and dissatisfaction with the US bill on discrimination against Chinese workers, and hoped that the US side would change its course, not go against the trend of history, and become a constructive member of the international community. ”

Tang Shaoyi's pen walked the dragon and snake, and it was done with a wave; "Master, do you have any other orders?"

"That's all there is to it, remember to put the work into practice."

"Shaoyi has been taught, so let's go back to work."

"Well, go ahead."

After Tang Shaoyi left, Li Fushou stood up and paced back and forth in the room a few times, thinking about the current international situation.

Under the instigation of the wings of the little butterfly, the situation in the entire South Pacific region has been completely changed, and it has affected the fighting in North Vietnam.

This is already the limit of Li Fushou's ability, and he will not do more.

With Queensland's small energy, it is not enough to attract the attention of the European powers that dominate the world today.

The main contradiction and focus of interests in the world today is still in the European region, with the Mediterranean Sea as the core, and its scope can be extended to the Balkans and Central Asia occupied by the Ottoman Empire, including the Egyptian region that the British Empire has recently recovered, which is an important production area of cotton and one of the important raw material suppliers for the cotton spinning industry of the British Empire, and the other is the Indian continent.

In secondary importance is the Central and Eastern European region, mainly the Tsarist Russian woolly bear and its vassal forces, including Ukraine, East Slavia and Yugoslavia, which are the focus of vigilance of the European powers.

In the context of the Great Anglo-American rapprochement, transatlantic trade and Central America, including the Caribbean, the South-East Peninsula and the Far East, were on the back burner of the international agenda.

As for North and South America and the South Pacific, uh...... Anyway, it can't be on the agenda of the European powers, and no one cares.

This does not mean that Li Fushou can sit back and relax, and a letter sent by the US Foreign Ministry has aroused his concerns.

The United States of America has a strong desire to expand to the north and annex Canada, but this dream has been completely shattered by the counterattack of the British Empire.

Remember Count Canaphon?

It was the Englishman who was awarded the title together with the Earl of Queensland, and under his leadership, the originally scattered Canadian territories united to establish the State of Canada, and joined the British Empire as a member of the British Commonwealth to unite the market, and was strongly protected by the British Empire.

Unable to expand northward, the cowboys set their sights on the Spanish colonies to the south, including Central America, Cuba and the Caribbean, Hawaii, and even as far away as Luzon and the East Indies in the South Pacific.

The United States was trying to get a piece of the Caribbean and the Pacific at the end of the nineteenth century, and if history had not changed, the Spanish-American War would have been ringing on the bell of the end of the nineteenth century.

Expansion has never been a purely military issue, it is often closely linked to politics, economics and international situations, and of course, there are also unspeakable transactions under the table, which require the right opportunity, and it is by no means as simple as it seems.

Fifteen years later

February 15, 1898

The USS Maine, a warship sent by the United States to Cuba to protect overseas Chinese, exploded in the port of Havana, and the United States used this incident as a pretext. Demands for punishment of Spain, the Spanish-American War broke out.

Through this war, the United States occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to further expand its power.

The Dutch East Indies has always been a potential target for the Americans, and watching the Queenslanders conquer the East Indies and touch their cheese, this official letter from the US Foreign Office is full of sour taste, which cannot but arouse Li Fushou's vigilance.

He thought about it again and again, and felt that the United States was not yet capable of reaching out to the Pacific, nor would it react strongly to Queensland economically, because it would hurt its fundamental interests, and in a country dominated by capitalists, the president of Citigroup could not act recklessly.

The current scale of the fighting in Borneo should not be expanded, so it should be limited to the province of Central Kalimantan to avoid bringing more international resistance and attention.

In that case, it would be contrary to the purpose of Queensland's obscene development and bring more unnecessary unexpected risks.

In the final analysis, Li Fushou's core interests are still in Australia.

The East Indies are just cuddling grass and beating rabbits, not taking advantage of nothing, and it should almost be over.

In the morning, busy orders flew out of the Red Fort, instigating the huge Red River Valley forces to operate according to the established trajectory and continue to flourish.

In the afternoon

The Earl arrived at the new premises of the Home Rule of Queensland, a large area of the Flying Eaves Bucket Chinese palace buildings, which belonged to the Home Rule Office and the State Parliament, the State Court and the State Independent Prosecutor's Office, and belonged to the Queensland administrative centre.

As the governor, Li Fushou will come to inspect business trips from time to time to show his existence.

Sitting in the spacious governor's office, Li Fushou received representatives from all walks of life and delivered an important speech on the current situation in the north and south of Australia.

In conversation

Li Fushou strongly appealed to the British Colonial Department to take substantive normative and restraining actions against the southern states' deviation from the Australian unified market, and earnestly maintain the current situation in crisis.

He once again strongly denounced a handful of white diehards, believing that Australia is an out-and-out domination of immigrants (not a separate country), and that it should treat immigrants from all over the world equally with an open mind, create a fair, just, harmonious and free social environment, encourage healthy business competition, oppose malicious suppression, oppose malicious discrimination, oppose drawing land as a prison to intensify ethnic contradictions, and oppose pushing Australia into a situation of confrontation between the north and the south with selfishness.

Those in power in the southern states should break away from narrow interests and have the courage to engage in open and honest exchanges with the North, and the British Colonial Department should play a leading role in effectively shouldering the important task of maintaining the stable development of the colonies.

Queensland's media mouthpiece, dominated by the World Journal and the Queensland Chronicle, sent heavyweight editors-in-chief to participate in the report, which will continue to convey the sincerity of the north and call for sitting down and talking despite estrangement.

Anyway, the time is in the hands of Queensland, according to the current immigration situation, the number of immigrants a year is million, and the natural population growth is more than 400,000, which is not a small number.

By the end of 1883

Queensland alone will have a population of more than 4.7 million (including Shangri-La Island) and more than 6 million by the end of 1884, showing a sharp upward trend.

At this time, of course, we must vigorously advocate peace and stability, occupy the moral high ground, and firmly buckle the black pot that undermines Australia's unified market and the atmosphere of peace and stability on the heads of southern states.

We must not think that public opinion propaganda is useless, propaganda and public opinion positions have always been extremely important, and by trying to show a peaceful posture, call for exchanges and oppose separation, not only the vast majority of white communities in Queensland support the state government, but even in the southern states, the stronghold of white conservative forces, there are many sympathetic and supportive white groups in Queensland.

In the Guards Dragoon Division and the Guards Tiger Cavalry Division, there were a large number of white soldiers and officers, willing to fight to defend the unity of Australia.

After all, not everyone wants to see turmoil and the division of Australia, which is related to everyone's vital interests, and the economic tentacles of the Red River Valley have deeply affected every remote countryside and every remote pasture in Australia.

Standing on the moral high ground, the northern forces, represented by Queensland, were able to win more sympathizers.

Anyway, it doesn't take much effort to shout a few voices, of course Li Fushou is willing to do it.

"Is there any action on the part of the Colonial Ministry?" Li Fushou asked.

"Returning to the governor, recently London sent an official letter, strictly ordering all parties to abide by the current situation and not to make any moves to worsen the current situation, and the Colonial Department will organize an investigation team to go to Australia in the near future to work to mediate and ease the current situation."

"In the near future? This is a very interesting word, when will the relevant investigation team go to Australia...... Is there an exact date? ”

"Governor, there is no mention in this official letter, and there is no definite answer to the inquiry."

"That's it......" Li Fushou nodded indispensably, he knew that according to the urine of those old bureaucrats in London, Australia would not be in a hurry even if the head was beaten into a dog's brain, and it would be good if this so-called investigation team could arrive before the end of the year.

Okay, that's exactly what it looks like.

"Call and reply to London immediately, the northwestern states led by Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia will implement the London directive to the letter, and communicate with the greatest efforts, the most sincere attitude, and unconditionally open minds, and look forward to the early arrival of the investigation team."

"Yes, Governor."