Exactly one week later, on a dark night, President Petrola and his entourage secretly stepped on the return train, ending their hasty secret visit.

On April 2, 1889, the Tang Empire government officially announced;

At the request of Peru and Bolivia, one of the parties to the Pacific War in South America, the Tang Empire, with the absolute authority of the permanent chairmanship of the "American Alliance", strongly intervened in the war to mediate.

The Royal Navy's 1st Marine Expeditionary Division in Panama was transformed into an armband with the armband of the "U.S. Coalition Peacekeeping Force", and under the cover of the fleet led by the ironclad ships "Zhennan" and "Zhenbei", it landed in a grand manner at the Peruvian coastal port of Iquique Fortress, claiming to isolate the two sides of the war.

Such a tough move caught the Chilean army occupying Iquique by surprise, but in the face of the powerful fleet of the Tang Empire, they had to hold back their anger and withdraw from half of the city.

The arrival of the U.S. coalition peacekeeping force was warmly welcomed by the local citizens of Iquique and greeted them with the highest courtesy.

The main fleet of the Chilean Navy, anchored in the harbor of Iquique, received a clear warning from the expeditionary fleet of the Tang Empire;

Until the second Panama peace talks process yields tangible results, your fleet would do well to stay in the harbor quietly and refrain from making any misleading moves.

Otherwise, you will bear all the consequences.

In the face of the obvious intimidation of the powerful fleet composed of the "Zhennan" and "Zhenbei" ironclad ships with a displacement of more than 9,000 tons, as well as the four "Tornado" modified ironclad cruisers of more than 5,000 tons.

The Chilean Navy was frightened and silent, and could only endure the humiliation and said that it would comply with it and would not do anything superfluous.

The main force of the Chilean Navy is only one armored cruiser "Giovanni Baussan" of 3,120 tons, and some ironclad ships and sail warships of various sizes, which are completely impossible to oppose.

The Giovanni Baussan is a cutting-edge warship urgently ordered by the Chilean Navy from the United Kingdom after the armored cruiser Esmelaida was secretly attacked and sunk.

Valued at £195,000, the ship is a fast dome cruiser similar to the Esmeralda, with the same arrangement of main and secondary guns, but with an increase of more than 200 tons in tonnage, and a corresponding increase in range.

The class has a 254 mm 30 x caliber main gun in the bow and stern, produced by the British company Armstrong.

In addition, equipped with six 152-mm secondary guns, two six-pounder rapid-fire guns, and three 14-inch torpedo tubes on both sides of the ship's side, it was a new ship launched in 1885.

The sudden action of the expeditionary fleet of the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire was equivalent to completely abolishing Chile's absolutely dominant naval force, and it could only be obediently anchored in the port of Iquique without permission.

Resistance is absolutely impossible, in the face of the main ironclad ships of the Tang Empire like sea monsters, like a child trying to overturn a strong man, the main guns of the Chilean Navy cannot even break the defense.

Santiago, the capital of Chile

Inside the presidential palace where the national flag is flying

Chilean President Francisco Antonio Pinto sat at his table with a grim face, and in front of him was a letter of mediation from the "American Union" from Panama.

Inner meaning;

On May 26, 1889, the International Conference on the Mediation of the Pacific War in South America, attended by representatives of various countries at the headquarters of the American League of Panama, is hereby scheduled to be held.

During the peace talks, it is advisable to cease all hostile acts of war and disengage the two belligerents, so as not to trigger a new round of fighting.

Anyone who uses swords and arms without permission will be regarded as an unfriendly act of disobedience to the mediation of the United States and must bear the consequences arising therefrom......

The inscription was made by Duke Keredo Freych, Secretary General of the United States Alliance and Minister of South American Affairs of the Tang Empire, and was also stamped with the noble badge of fire paint.

Lord Escalade Freich is the heir to the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Tang Empire, Admiral Harry Fretch, the military attache of the Royal Chamberlain, and inherited the title of First Class Protector Duke after the death of Admiral Harry Fridge.

The Freych family was one of the great empires, and Duke Escalade Freci himself was a confidant of His Royal Highness Don Li Kun, King of Quang Nam, and is now the Minister of South American Affairs in the Cabinet.

To a large extent, what he said was representative of the official attitude of the Reich.

Now a new generation of powerful figures in the political arena of the Tang Empire has emerged, such as Lord Liu Daqing, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is the person of His Royal Highness Tang Li Xin, King of Pingxi.

As early as 1861, Liu Daqing, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Liu Xianjun, who was only 15 years old, became the companion of His Royal Highness Tang Li Xin, and it has been 28 years since then.

His body is engraved with the deep seal of His Royal Highness the Eleventh Emperor, and the same is true of the entire Duke's family.

On the one hand, it forced the Chilean Navy to anchor in the harbor and became a de facto hostage, unable to play an active role in the war.

On the other hand, forcibly isolating the two sides of the war, which is obviously biased. The so-called Panama peace talks are nothing more than an attempt to give Peru and Bolivia time to rearmament.

Ladies and gentlemen, are we just going to sit idly by? ”

When Chilean President Francisco Antonio Pinto spoke, the muscles of his face twitched uncontrollably, showing the turmoil in his heart.

With such a clear bias towards bullying, no one can remain calm?

The Chilean military and political dignitaries in the conference room all looked solemn, General Otto von Sternberg of the Army, General Sassoto, and General Williams, the commander of the Chilean Navy, were all silent, what could they say?

All eyes were on Mr. James Greystone, the British envoy for the war mediation, and Chile, with the help of the British envoy, made excessive demands on Peru and Bolivia for large areas of occupied territory, as well as large war reparations.

Now that it's a pot of raw rice, what should I do?

"Gentlemen, it should not be us who should be in a hurry, and don't forget, now we have the full advantage."

Mr. James Greston shrugged his shoulders with a relaxed expression, and he sat in the middle of the Chilean military and political leaders, still looking arrogant and standing out from the crowd.

Because he represents the British Empire, the only ruler of this world, the overlord of the world.

There was a slight pause

Mr. James Greston continued unhurriedly; "That's right, Tang Guo's move did cause us some trouble, and this is exactly the next step to solve.

For this reason, I have written to London, believing that there will be effective communication between the top level of the two countries.

I would like to remind you; Taking any action at this point complicates something that would otherwise be simple. ”

"Dear Mr. Special Envoy, there is information from Lima; Peruvian President Petrola once made a secret visit to the Tang Empire, and it is not yet known what kind of consensus was reached. But it will certainly be detrimental to the existing war situation, and the military is deeply concerned about this. General Otto von Sternberg said in a deep voice.

Mr. James Greston nodded without denial and said; "That's true, but we have to be confident that we can beat Peru and Bolivia once and we can beat them a second time."

Wow Grass ......

Hearing the British envoy's answer, the hearts of all the Chilean government military and political dignitaries present were really black and oppressive divine beasts flying, and they all wanted to kill people.

What does it mean to be able to defeat them a second time if you can defeat them the first time?

In order to win this war, Chile can be said to have tightened its belt, almost exerted all its strength to breastfeed, and owed a huge war loan of up to 150 million Tang yuan.

Chile is a country dependent on mineral exports, and the country is located thousands of kilometers west of the Andes Mountains due to its narrow terrain. There are many hills and mountains in the country, and only a small area of plains and valleys in the coastal areas is suitable for farming, and the agricultural and animal husbandry resources are not abundant.

Therefore, it is a country that has long relied on agricultural imports.

The war has led to a skyrocketing of grain imports from the Tang Empire, while the export of minerals, which are sanctioned and cannot be exported through the Nicaragua Canal, has piled up in the country.

Nowadays, the Chilean government is heavily indebted, and there are large areas of hunger in many provinces in the country, and it is not a new thing for people to die of starvation, but they are just gritting their teeth and carrying it.

Chile's traditional military junta is strong-handed, giving it many advantages in times of war, with higher execution and more endurance, but this is not unlimited after all.

Several generals closed their mouths angrily, their faces darkened and did not want to speak anymore.

Chilean President Francisco Antonio Pinto took two deep breaths, calmed the boiling emotions in his heart, and said in as soft a tone as possible;

"Dear Mr. Special Envoy, the war is now being mediated by the British, and the Tang State has suddenly inserted a lever in the name of the "American Alliance", which is undoubtedly provoking the authority of the British Empire! ”

"No, you can't understand it so one-sidedly." James Greston shook his head like a rattle, and said proudly with his chin raised in a tone of "I said, you just listen well";

"As a world-class power, Britain and Tang have a lot of cooperation in global affairs, and this traditional and close friendship has lasted for nearly half a century, making indelible contributions to stabilizing the world pattern.

The war in South America was only a regional issue, and London needed to communicate closely with the Tang State before it could draw a more objective conclusion.

It will take time, and the relationship between the two countries will not be divided by South America.

Great Britain respects the leadership of the Tang State in the Americas, and the Tang Kingdom, under the leadership of the British Empire, jointly maintains the current world pattern, which is the mainstream perception of society.

Of course, France, Russia, Austria, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire are the co-players who will continue to play a leading role now and for a century to come.

Therefore, the Pacific War was only a regional dispute, and it could only be resolved within a regional context. ”

The meaning of these words is already clear;

There is no place for Chile in world affairs, you should know how many pounds and taels you have?

Chilean President Francisco Antonio Pinto, barely squeezing out a smile, asked; "That'...... The upcoming second round of Panama peace talks? ”

"Of course I want to go, and I have to show the sincerity of peace talks." James Greston looked at him with a glance, as if to say, "Are you an idiot", and impatiently explained a few more words, saying;

This is the reactivation of the mediation mechanism in the name of the "American Union", and as one of the member states that signed the treaty on joining the "American Union", Chile cannot refuse such an international mediation from any point of view.

Regardless of whether they intervene forcibly or not, many countries in the "US Alliance" led by Tang have pledged to remain neutral, with the aim of facilitating a settlement of the dispute and restoring peace in the region.

Chile cannot afford to undermine the peace talks, and the best way to do so is to deal with it positively.

As for the peace mediation, which I personally presided, I can put an end to it for the time being, and wait for news from London. ”

After speaking

Mr. James Greston stood up to himself, took up his precious cane and top hat, and bowed to a knightly salute, saying; "Mr. President, generals, please continue your meeting, I have some things to say first."

Until Mr. British envoy left the dome conference room, all the Chilean government military and political dignitaries present were in a state of bewilderment, staring at each other, and then a roar of greeting the British family broke out......

In the courtyard at the entrance to the presidential palace

The black sedan was quietly parked in the courtyard, and the British envoys, Mr. James Greystone, and Colonel George Graham, got into the car, and immediately made a semicircle forward and drove out of the presidential palace along the manicured road.

In the car

The British envoy, Mr. James Greystone, lost his relaxed look, his face was gloomy and about to drip water, and he scolded angrily; "Damn it, what kind of drug did President Petrola of Peru give to that dictatorial emperor of the Tang Dynasty? Let all our efforts be in vain. ”

"Mr. James, is this the end of the mediation?" Colonel George Graham asked a little unwillingly.

If this international mediation can be successfully completed and the UK's strategic plan to bury the nails in the South American countries on the Pacific coast, both Mr. Special Envoy and he will be honoured, which is also a glorious achievement in his life's history.

After more than three years of hard work, no one wants to end up in vain.

James Greystone seemed to be several years older at this moment, lying in his seat with his whole body relaxed, staggering with the bumps of the vehicle, and replied with a sigh; "The host is back, and if we guests are interested, we should politely say goodbye."

"In that case, there's no point in us staying here."

"That's right, Mr. Colonel, you can pack your bags, and take your beautiful Chilean lover with you, and our next stop is Panama, and we are not expected to be long before returning to London."

"Then ...... here"

"Don't get nostalgic, the war in the Pacific has always been a problem for Chile, and this South American country is just one stop on our life's journey. When the truly powerful landlord comes forward, our existence will be insignificant. ”

"I see, thanks for the reminder." Compared with the coldness of politicians, Colonel George Graham still had some regret in his heart, and he turned his head to look at the receding street scene of San Diego, and he inevitably sighed in his heart.

Perhaps, this is the fate of small and weak countries, right?

(End of chapter)