C632 New Year's Day Secret Contract

In the middle of nineteenth century, humans had not reached an extreme in their development and utilization of the oceans. Although Britain was known as the British Empire, and the navy also strictly followed the two strong laws, this era was after all the era of sail battleship, and there were still limitations to naval technology.

The Western Powers's attention was currently focused on the golden channels, as well as the wealthiest colonies that were under the control of the battleship artillery's control. Regarding these islands that had no economic value, the Europeans did not really care about them.

There were more than ten routes leading to the South America and the North America in Europe. Adding to that, the golden route along the coastline in Black Africa and the Suez Canal that was about to be unblocked, these strategic nodes in the ocean were the focus of their attention. "Huu."

In Asia, the Malacca Strait, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, these places were the focus of English and French's attention. It was because there were businesses here, and it was because there was money to be made here.

If Xiao Letian were to extend his hand towards India, to Black Africa and to the Arabian Peninsula, not to mention the fact that the French would not agree, even the British would have to annihilate him. But for an archipelago on the South Pacific, other than giving the Europeans some face, this was no big deal.

Seeing that the Alaska was already sold by the Russian, and that the Louisiana region of the North America was sold to the Americans by France, Napoleon III did not care about these small islands at all.

If the news of the French paying compensation to the Asian for the land had spread to Europe, then the reputation of the Government of France would plummet. No matter how powerful Xiao Letian was, he was still just the prime minister of an island nation in the sea. Although he deserved the respect of the Europeans, the Europeans still did not recognize his strength.

Ge Erdemi lowered his voice and roared, "You actually want the French to cede their land? "This is impossible, you're just delusional …"

"No no no, why is Minister so angry? "Polynesia is just a useless archipelago on the South Pacific. It was first discovered by the French explorer, and then, a flag is all yours. Actually, it is not an inherent territory of the French …"

"Symbolic is much more meaningful than practical. Truthfully, after you French occupied this place, other than supplying the ships with fresh water and collecting passage fees, what other uses do you have?"

"There are many torrential rain typhoons in the South Pacific, the monsoon season is only a few months, to be honest, you guys are too lazy to send troops there, why would you sell them to me …"

"Hmm?" Ge Erdemi was stunned for a moment, "What did you say? "I'll sell it to you. Say it again …"

The greedy envoy took the bait. With a smile on his face, Xiao Letian stuffed a cup of fine wine into the envoy's mouth and kept saying, "Negotiate? Of course we have to bargain. Why are you staring at me like that? If you let me ask for a sky-high price, I will naturally allow you to pay me back for it! "Come, come, cheers …"

The secret meeting of the Roman proceeded with Xiao Letian's one soft and one hard, Ge Erdemi never thought that there would actually be a politician with benefits on his face, without any concealment, it was as if he was a aunt in the market.

After haggling for a long time, Ge Erdemi finally understood. What 50 million Gold franc, that was not even the main point, Xiao Letian had been staring at the French Polynesia, and in the end, Xiao Letian had actually suggested using 50 million Gold franc to buy this archipelago.

"You French have secretly paid me fifty million Gold franc, and then we spent another fifty million to buy a worthless island from you, wouldn't that save your face in the public opinion in Europe?"

"When you bring French soldiers back to Europe, wouldn't you, as a diplomat, be worth a lot more? To be able to sell an abandoned island for such a high price, you must be the hero of the France … "

Xiao Letian coaxed all the way from noon to night, until finally, Xiao Letian angrily said, "Today is the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, tomorrow is the New Year for us Chinese, do you want me to accompany you for the New Year?"

"This is the last condition, I will only give you French people one last chance. If you don't agree, I will gather all the western reporters in Hong Kong and Shanghai, gather all the western ministers, we will open the windows for negotiations, and I will not want the islands anymore. I want you French people to apologize in front of the whole world …"

"If you push me too far, I will let you French prisoners of war stand in front of the Beijing. Do you believe me … Do you believe that I'm a madman!? "

How could Ge Erdemi not believe it? Xiao Letian brought a few hundred people and dared to stir up trouble in Europe.

If this person wasn't crazy, then who was?

The sky had already darkened, the Tanggu City had already become a sea of flames, a hundred thousand citizens were having fun, and the sky was filled with colorful flames.

"Mr. Minister, don't you think this display of fireworks is very beautiful? "I can tell you responsibly that this year, Tanggu purchased a total of 100,000 silver taels from Jiangnan, all of which were used by the people themselves. The rich merchants of Jiangnan were already stunned, with only a single Tanggu buying a quarter of Jiangnan's production …"

After this year's wild victory, the people there have accumulated a lot of wild enthusiasm towards the carnival. Now, even the Japanese people have learnt from the Chinese people, and a Ryukyu who has bought nearly half of the production of fireworks in Jiangnan is estimated to be worth at least 200,000 silver taels.

Xiao Letian sneered as he looked at Ge Erdemi and said indifferently, "Do you think I'm a madman? Do you think my people are crazy? If you don't agree to my terms, and we lunatics don't mind another war, I'd like to see how long you French can go on. "

"Give up your Europe and put all your forces into Asia. I will send you with a big quagmire and let you sink into it, even if it will take a hundred years!"

Minister of France looked at Xiao Letian's fanatical expression, his heart was filled with helplessness. To this man who had risen up in East Asia, he had no other choice.

The secret agreement with the Tanggu was signed tonight. The French secret compensation of fifty million Gold franc s was exchanged for four thousand captives and those military officers, while Xiao Letian publicly signed an agreement with the Minister to use fifty million Gold franc s to purchase the South Pacific's islands.

France gained face, Xiao Letian gained face, a small island that had no strategic significance solved France's problem, and saved the emperor's face.

The envoy left and took the boat back to the tavern in Tanggu. There was no room for extravagant acting and the Japanese woman. He believed that today would be a sleepless night for him.

Xiao Letian looked at the boat as it left and sneered, "I have eyes that can see through history. I know that in twenty years, the internal combustion engine will replace the old-fashioned boiler.

"The advancement of technology has made Earth smaller and smaller. In less than a hundred years, you will understand that every island in the sea is a priceless treasure, and now whoever occupies it will take advantage of it!"

"You Europeans only have your eyes set on the golden channels in the sea, but I'm staring at the strategic points one by one. I don't see much value in that yet, but after twenty years, you'll know that you regret it …"

At this time, his home was already overturned by the people of Emperor Tongzhi. The little emperor, who had been suppressed for ten years, actually climbed up the ladder onto the roof to let out fireworks.

"Stinking brat!" "Why aren't you coming down …" Xiao Letian panicked when he saw this. Letting the little Emperor play for a few days was not something he could do.

In the Great Qing Dynasty, the only person who dared to insult the emperor's little rascal was Xiao Letian. The emperor of Tongzhi only took it on himself, after being scolded, he stuck his tongue out, then quickly followed Hairy # 2 down from the rooftop.

At this time, three banquets were held in the main hall, Xiao Letian's direct descendants were all gathered there, and because this was a Family Banquet, Fan Lian was seated at the center. Below them were the high ranking generals of the new army, Wang Huaiyuan, Sima Yun, Luo Huo, Luo Huo and the rest were all gathered there.

There were also those who contributed greatly in this battle sitting around the table. Ye Qiu, Pang Chaoyun, Lei Ao, Ma Xiu, Mike Carnegie, Molière … A group of people were sitting together and talking loudly, and all of them were drinking until their faces were red.

"Prime Minister, you've returned home …" "His Majesty has taken his place …" With a loud shout from the steward, everyone in the room stood up and stared at the guard.

Accompanied by a burst of cold air, Xiao Letian walked into the house with Tongzhi, whose face was completely red. Before anyone could greet him, Xiao Letian shouted excitedly.

"The French have finally come to terms! We exchanged our prisoners for an archipelago, and France ceded it to us! The French Dahuangdi Islands, will be ours from today onwards! "

"Long live!" The whole house was filled with cheers. Although no one knew how important the Dahuangdi was, to be able to get the French to cede their lands was already a miracle.

Xiao Letian raised his wine cup and shouted towards the rest of the people, "Next year, we will take over the Pacific Ocean. Dahuangdi, Hawaii, Guam, Sulfur Island.

"The chain of islands will become the dominating territory of our navy. We will turn the Pacific Ocean into the inner sea of China. Cheers for our future navy!"

The Xiao Family's Great Mansion had become a sea of joy and the fireworks in the night sky had also become brighter.

At the same time, in the Pacific Ocean, an American freighter was riding the wind and rushing towards Ryukyu. On the ship, it was filled with boats full of underwater cables, from Ryukyu to Tanggu, the underwater communication road from Ryukyu to Shanghai was about to be built.

Further out in the Southern Ocean, a Prussian merchant ship was heading north, and Swedish scientist Mr. Nuo Beier, with his latest explosive technology, was about to go to Ryukyu to repay his gratitude.

Even further away from Europa, the Winged King Shida Kai was sitting in the villa of the hamburger, having a meal with the new guards. Their faces were facing the east, and each and every one of them were shouting while blushing, "Home Country! We're holding out here, we're fighting for every chance you can... You have to work hard! Xiao Letian, you have to do your best! "

With the sound of popping bamboo, other than his old age, he kept changing new peaches for old talismans. Five years passed just like that for Tongzhi!