"That's all for today's meeting, I adjourn the meeting, and I wish you all a nice time in Venice." Count Ehrenthal said with a final word.

Then everyone began to leave, but the East and Britain as the protagonists were left behind by Alenthal.

"A few people, please stay, although there is no result at the venue, but I have a general understanding of the situation of both sides, are you interested in coming to my manor tonight, everyone will get together." Alenthal invited the East British representatives.

Hermann and von der Leyen had planned to ask Alenthal about the situation after the meeting, and now Alenthal planned to bring Britain in, and at a glance it was clear that Alenthal had an idea.

The two looked at each other, and after von der Leyen nodded affirmatively, Hermann said, "Of course, it's an honor." ”

Salisbury also said: "Yes, for your sake, I will also go to the appointment." ”

From beginning to end, Ehrenthal did not invite Portugal or Boers, because these two countries were not the protagonists of the South African war, or their strength was not enough to be valued by Ehrenthal.

So Austria-Hungary was full of contempt for Portugal, but Ehrenthal did not show it as a diplomat, as did most of the people present.

Of course, the only consolation is that Britain is also in a disadvantageous situation in East Africa, but it seems that Portugal still has some strength, after all, Britain as the world's first power can never find all kinds of excuses.

The group then rode in a carriage in the direction of Erenthal's manor on the outskirts of Venice.

It was already eleven o'clock in the evening in Venice time, and the sky was already starting to get dark, and many people noticed that Erenthal and his party were leaving alone, including the Portuguese.

This made the Portuguese representative Gers feel dissatisfied and nervous, which is not good news, after all, if Portugal is avoided, it is difficult to say how Britain will negotiate.

Britain was now in an awkward position in South Africa, and it was entirely possible that the British would decide to negotiate with East Africa at the expense of Portugal, and if the British did, Portugal would be powerless.

For Geers's careful thoughts, Alenthal and others, who have left, have no heart to pay attention, this is the sadness of the "weak country", the two losses to East Africa have completely confirmed Portugal's status as a weak country, and the last time the countries of the West African Conference were divided and the Portuguese were brought to participate, it is difficult to say in the future.

At night, Venice has already begun to enter the nightlife, and as one of the most prosperous cities in Europe, even if it has declined due to the war, Venice is a very atmospheric city.

The taverns are noisy, the workers who have just finished their night shifts get drunk, the factories in the streets and alleys are running day and night, and the dark and foul-smelling sewage is discharged directly into the waterways of Venice.

Thanks to Austro-Hungarian investment, Venice's economy has begun to improve, and as an important center of the textile industry, there is a steady stream of factory orders, most of which come from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Previously, Venice was only an economic colony sucked by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which regained Venice, apparently changed its previous policy.

In fact, it is also easy to understand that the industry of Austria-Hungary was mainly concentrated in the Bohemian region, and the location of Bohemia was honest, and if Ernst was the ruler of this country, it would definitely not be reassuring.

Just as the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dismantled in the previous life, more than 70 percent of the military industry and at least 60 percent of the large-scale industry were separated from Austria as Czechoslovakia became independent.

This is also an important reason why Ernst concentrated East African industry in the province of Matabele, where the heart always makes people feel more at ease, and of course from an economic point of view, the coastal area is definitely more cost-effective.

"Count von der Leyen, Count Hermann and His Excellency Salisbury, in fact, the war in South Africa is not a complicated issue, for all of us, it should be certain that both countries have the idea of a truce, on this basis, the two sides may as well take out their true opinions and talk calmly, anyway, there are no outsiders present now, this is not a formal meeting."

Even if Alenthal said so, in fact, the small meeting of the four has already begun to determine the settlement of the situation in South Africa, and if everyone here agrees, then the subsequent meeting will be at most pompous.

However, as Alenthal's words fell, the two sides did not speak, but stared at each other, and the scene became cold.

At this time, it was time for Count Allenthal to play his role, and he said to Count Salisbury: "Your Excellency Salisbury, what is the bottom line of your Britain, it is better to show it first, the representative of the Heshingen Kingdom is making an evaluation, and this is the attitude to solve the war in South Africa." ”

"Humph!" Salisbury said angrily: "Our British attitude is very simple, as the losing side of the war, Portugal can compensate for the losses in East Africa, and compensate some land to East Africa, but East Africa cannot annex Angola and Mozambique, followed by the Boer Republic must be retained, and finally the East African Defense Forces withdraw from Cape Town and Natal." ”

Von der Leyen said: "Your Excellency's idea is a little too naïve, it is impossible for us in Heixingen to let the Portuguese colony in southern Africa continue to exist, after all, we have suffered two losses, if we continue to keep the Portuguese colony, I am afraid that there will be a third war between Portugal and the kingdom, and the damage caused by the war to the kingdom is huge." ”

Von der Leyen's words could not be faulted, as the "initiator" of the two wars, Portugal should at least be held accountable for its own actions.

However, Alenthal also heard the part that can be reconciled between the two, that is, Britain is not too interested in Portugal, and the first purpose of East Africa is Portugal's colony and is bound to win, which should also be the bottom line of East Africa, of course, it is simple to persuade the British to give up Portugal, and they can find supplies to the British from other aspects.

This is also easy to solve, after all, the South African War was not confined to the two Portuguese colonies, but the core interests of the British were Cape Town and the Boer Republic.

It would be hard to say if East Africa had not achieved military victories in these two places, but now that the Boer Republic and Natal have fallen, Cape Town is at the end of the crossbow.

"That being the case, Portugal is indeed a destabilizing factor in the region, and I agree with Count von der Leyen on this," said Alenthal. ”

"Of course...... "If that's all it takes, it's unreasonable for Portugal, after all, Portugal still has to bear a huge amount of war reparations, and East Africa can't ask the already indebted Portuguese government to pay such an astronomical amount while acquiring land." ”

"However, Portugal's loss of the war is a foregone conclusion, so the territory is what East Africa deserves, but East Africa should relax a little in terms of war reparations and open appropriate bargaining chips according to Portugal's economic level."

Von der Leyen said: "For your sake, we can ask for a little less war reparations, but it is absolutely impossible for us to give up Angola and Mozambique. ”

"We can give up eight million pounds in war losses, but not forty million, after all, the cost of the war has plunged our East Africa into a long period of economic stagnation, and the cost of national production and army casualties far exceeds this figure."

(End of chapter)