Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 313: The First Peace Talks Failed

Gordon stood in the lobby of the embassy, ​​watching the confrontation between Hu Yaqi and Austin as an audience. After Hu Yaqi left, Gordon said, "The problems left over from the Argentine war cannot be solved simply by force. I believe that the minister can use skilled diplomatic means to force the Han people to surrender.

I regret that I did not lead the expeditionary fleet to complete the mission entrusted by Her Majesty the Queen. All the affairs of South America are in your hands. Tomorrow I will forward a formal telegram to London, taking responsibility for the failure of the Argentine War and applying to Her Majesty the Queen to relieve me of my post as commander of the expeditionary fleet."

During the more than one month he stayed in Brazil, Gordon seriously reflected on his situation. His stubborn occupation of the position of commander of the Far East Fleet not only meant doing nothing all day, but also caused the annoyance of the members of the London government. Someone needed to take responsibility for the failure of the Argentine War. As the supreme commander of the expeditionary fleet, Gordon could not get rid of the mistakes of poor command and reckless operations. Instead of persisting to the end and being driven out of office in disgrace, it would be better to follow the tradition of a British gentleman, express his views on the Argentine War to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and take the initiative to assume the responsibilities he should bear in the war. In this way,
At least he retained the basic dignity of a noble general.

"The failure of the Argentine War is not just your responsibility. Prime Minister Gladstone secretly obstructed the parliamentary resolution and postponed the expeditionary force to South America, which was the most direct responsibility for the failure of the Argentine War. If the Prime Minister had adopted Earl Disraeli's suggestion and did not weaken the strength of the Far East Fleet and immediately send a fleet to interfere in the South American situation, then the expeditionary fleet with a total strength of more than 20,000 people, which set out half a month earlier, would have been able to directly defeat the Han army that invaded Argentina.

The knight is an excellent imperial general. The current situation in South America still requires the knight to lead the expeditionary fleet to garrison Brazil to maintain the balance between all parties. "

"South America needs a more outstanding general to lead the expeditionary fleet. I have privately written to recommend General Roberts as the commander of the expeditionary force. If nothing unexpected happens, I believe that it won't be long before Buckingham Palace will announce a new appointment."

Gordon made up his mind and ignored Austin's polite request to stay. He continued, "General Roberts participated in suppressing the Indian uprising and has rich combat experience. If he takes over as the commander of the expeditionary force, I believe the situation in South America will develop in a direction that is favorable to the empire."

"Sir, you have made up your mind. I will not try to persuade you to stay. But before your new appointment arrives in London, please cooperate with the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete the peace talks with the Han people."

"Of course, this is what I should do."…………

After seeing Gordon off with a serious expression, Austin smiled knowingly. Gordon was extreme and stubborn, and was also a fanatical religious figure. Working with him made him feel uncomfortable. Not to mention that Gordon still retained some basic self-awareness and wisely submitted his resignation to the London government. Even during his tenure as commander of the expeditionary force, Austin put forward his views to the London government on the issue of the British army's underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance, resulting in the army's combat losses of more than 2,000 people.

Austin was in a good mood after getting rid of a general who was at odds with him and shirking the responsibility for diplomatic mistakes during the Argentine War. He then ordered the embassy staff to summon the Han country's negotiating representatives to hold talks on the armistice issue again.

"The British Empire's determination to maintain the civilized world order will never change. If your country can see the situation clearly and sincerely hopes that peace will be restored in South America, you must agree to the following conditions:
The Han army withdrew completely from Argentina and Uruguay and returned the illegally occupied British-owned enterprises.

The Second Han government stopped its brutal expulsion policy, allowed white Argentines to return to their original places of residence, and returned the houses and land properties to the local whites.

3. Stop harming Argentine white women. Do not force Argentine white women to marry Chinese men. White women who are forced to marry Chinese men due to government coercion and pressure must compensate for their personal losses and be allowed to separate from their Chinese husbands.

The four Han governments promised to abandon all overseas colonial outposts and ordered the Han armed forces in Congo, Kismayo and Mtwara to give up resistance and surrender to the nearby imperial army and the Italian-Belgian coalition forces.

At the same time, the Han government must withdraw its illegal troops from the Natuna Islands and Songkhla, and stop privately inciting the Qing people in Southeast Asia to resist the legitimate rule of the Empire and the Dutch government in the local area.

5. Return the occupied Chilean territory, the Han army withdraw from the Pacific coastal land, and shall not illegally enter the Patagonia region in the name of protecting the Indians.

2000. Open up the domestic market. The Han Customs shall not impose value-added tariffs on imported British goods. . The Han Kingdom shall pay million taels of silver in compensation for the damage caused to the interests of British Empire enterprises and to Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile during the Argentine War. …………”

"Impossible! The Han Kingdom will never accept such humiliating conditions!"

After a whole afternoon of negotiations yesterday, Hu Yaji anticipated that the British would put forward many conditions for peace talks, but he still underestimated the British appetite. They were like lions, asking for so many unacceptable terms at once.

“The conditions given by the British Empire are not harsh. If it were not for the purpose of avoiding disrupting the fragile peace in South America again, the British Empire would be able to dispatch more fleets and soldiers at any time to retake Argentina and Uruguay that you have occupied.

Sir, please calmly consider the peace terms proposed by the British Empire. In order to show its sincerity in the peace talks, the British Empire has made concessions. As long as you agree to the above conditions, the British Empire will announce to the world that it will recognize that the land occupied by your country from Brazil and Argentina before 1872 has become the legal land of the Han Kingdom.

Compared to more than a decade ago, when you were working as laborers in South America without a piece of land under your feet, the British Empire has been very kind to own two states in southern Brazil and five states in northern Argentina as national territories. "

"Sir, every inch of land under the feet of the Chinese in South America was won by the struggle and sacrifice of His Majesty the King of Han and the Han army, not because of the sympathy and kindness of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil."

Huo Yaqi coldly refuted the British envoy's opinion. "Congo, Kismayo and Mtwara are all lands that the Han government acquired through legal transactions with local indigenous chiefs. Even according to what you Europeans say, before we set foot on the African continent, those three pieces of land were unowned land. The Han army obtained the ownership of the land through reasonable and legal means. On what basis does the British Empire take away the fruits of the Chinese's ten years of land reclamation? Is this the peace and justice of the British Empire that you are talking about?"

Britain's maritime power surpassed that of European and American countries, and the subsequent development of the Han Kingdom could not be separated from the supplement of Chinese from Central Plains, Southeast Asia and other places. If the Han Kingdom and Britain had been in a state of direct stalemate, the British only needed to blockade the Han Kingdom's overseas transportation and cut off the Han Kingdom from its neighboring countries and overseas regions. The influx of foreign population and the introduction of industrial development equipment on which the Han Kingdom relied for its development would be interrupted.

Britain had the ability to use its own authority and maritime power to isolate the Han Kingdom into a closed island. In the 1880s, no single country could afford the cost of being blockaded by Britain for a long time. As a new country that had only been established for ten years, the Han Kingdom could not bear the harm brought by the blockade. Based on this consideration and concern, a group of Han Kingdom officials like Hu Yaji hoped to reach a compromise with Britain as soon as possible to end the disadvantages of the blockade of the Han Kingdom.

"Sir, it was your country that took the initiative to propose peace talks. The British Empire only proposed reasonable peace terms in accordance with the practice among Western civilized countries. These conditions are the most basic bottom line of the Empire. Only if your country unconditionally accepts the peace terms can we bring peace to your country and the friendship of the British Empire."

"Han also has its own bottom line. In order to end the war in South America as soon as possible, the Han government promises to use the current actual control line as the standard. Since the end of the Argentine War, it will no longer seek to change the territory in continental America. During the Argentine War, the British-owned companies that were temporarily supervised, except for a small number of companies invested by the Argentine government, all other British-owned companies will be returned to your government. For the economic losses suffered by your businessmen and companies in the war, the Han government is willing to compensate them as appropriate."

Hu Yaqi would take a step back and continue, "On the issues of Africa and Southeast Asia, in order to take care of the interests of the United Kingdom, Han is willing to carefully negotiate with your government on issues such as Kismayo, Mtwara, and the management of the Chinese in British Malaya. However, Congo and the Natuna Islands are the bottom line that Han cannot give up and cannot be handed over to your country for handling."

"Sir, are you kidding?"

The British envoy sneered and said sternly, "The British Empire's conditions are not allowed to be changed. If your country cannot accept them, then prepare to face the Empire's punishment!"…………

The British envoy insisted that the peace terms proposed could not be changed, and the negotiations that lasted for several days ultimately ended in failure.

Thank you all book friends for your support!


(End of this chapter)