Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 218: Inconsistent Positions

Zheng Guohui didn't expect that the Americans would interfere and be so sensitive about the Great Chu Kingdom's occupation of Wake Island and Midway Island. It shouldn't have happened.

But when you think about what happened a while ago when an American merchant ship invaded Taiwan and suffered heavy losses, you know that this matter is not that simple.

This must be some powerful high-level forces in Washington, leading the colonial expansion across the Pacific to the East. If they had not been paying attention for a long time, they would not have received the letter so quickly.

How long has it been since the expeditionary task force sent by Da Chu occupied Wake Island and Midway Island?

It has only been two months at most, and in today's era of extremely closed information, the US response can be said to be extremely fast.

After this important meeting, the representatives from Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States left one after another. King Zheng Guohui of Chu deliberately left behind several important members of the provisional government and gave them instructions:

"The founding ceremony is just around the corner. Currently, everything should be stable and nothing unexpected should happen.

We must be reasonable and restrained when dealing with these European and American foreigners. Deputy Minister Zheng’s answer is very good. We must not give in on territorial issues and safeguard the glory of the kingdom.

On economic and trade issues
We can contact England, which is vigorously promoting global free trade, and work together to put pressure on other countries to strive to eliminate trade barriers and pave the way for the export of industrial products.

Well, I've been busy lately, so I won't keep you any longer."

"I will obey your majesty's command and take my leave."

Li Hezhang and others were indeed busy with important matters, and they became busier as the celebration approached, so they respectfully bowed and said goodbye.

Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Yulan was specially commended by His Majesty the King of Chu, which made the officials from various ministries look at him with higher regard, and they congratulated him after leaving the palace.

Zheng Yulan naturally acted modestly, clasping her hands in thanks repeatedly. "This was a lucky break for me, and I owe it to the authority of the ministers. Your Majesty, I truly feel humbled and unworthy of such a generous favor."

"Hehe... Deputy Director Zheng is too modest. Let's get closer after the celebration."

"The Minister has summoned you, Yulan is always at your service."

"Hahaha... then it's settled."

The Prime Minister and several ministers left in carriages one after another, and Zheng Yulan stood by the roadside to see them off one by one.

After they all left, Zheng Yulan got into the carriage that had been waiting by the side and said, "Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quickly!"

"As you command, sir."

The driver raised his whip, cracked it loudly in the air, and drove the horse to a trot.

the other side

Inside the Dachu State Guesthouse
The representatives from Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States who had just returned did not disperse, but gathered in the conference hall, talking in low voices in groups of three or four, with worried looks on their faces.

Especially the Dutch representative Kantberg frowned and said in an anxious tone;

"From the current perspective, the Great Chu Kingdom is a very aggressive country, which is consistent with the path of crazy outward expansion chosen by the metropolis at the beginning of the country's establishment.

Kalimantan, part of the East Indies, faces Zamboanga Prefecture on Mindanao across a narrow strait. The sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard from day to day, and it seems the South Seas are about to be turbulent again.

He was deliberately creating a tense atmosphere. The French representative Jean-François glanced at the gloomy Governor of Aude, then at the Civil Commissioner Sir Joachim Anderson. Seeing that the British did not say anything, he did not continue speaking.

This was during the reign of Napoleon III, and France's foreign policy was to put Britain first in everything, and willingly be second.

This is also the most unique period of peace between Britain and France in their hundreds of years of love and hatred.

The two most eye-catching events during this period were the joint intervention of the British and French forces in the Crimean War, which defeated Tsarist Russia and angered Tsar Nicholas I to death.

Another major event was the British and French allied forces' attack on Peking. Emperor Xianfeng went hunting in Rehe and eventually died of illness there.

This period was the closest period of cooperation between Britain and France in hundreds of years, without a doubt.

Britain and France jointly launched frequent colonial wars around the world and achieved a series of successes, which further consolidated this honeymoon period and brought Napoleon III's prestige to its peak.

Seeing that no one responded, the American representative Tom Chris stood up and said in agreement;
"I fully understand Mr. Kantberg's concerns. The Chu State seems to have a paranoid obsession with territory, and the US can sense this. This deserves the attention of all of us, especially the European and American world."

"The European and American world...this is a very novel place." Jean-François is a typical French aristocrat. He maintains elegant behavior and speaks the most sarcastic words in pure court French.

A mocking look appeared at the corner of his mouth. In Europe, Americans are generally regarded as cowboys with black fingernails, rude and impolite, and a group of country bumpkins.

Hearing Tom Chris linking Europe and the United States together, he felt humiliated and immediately couldn't stand it anymore, and started to criticize:
"Compared to the Americans' endless territorial ambitions, the Chu State is as kind as the purest child.

They have only occupied two small coral atolls with an area of ​​14 square kilometers, but they are portrayed as a threat. What about the Americans?
You took advantage of France's distress and took advantage of it to steal 260 million square kilometers of Louisiana's vast land at a price that was almost like robbery.

This still could not satisfy the appetite of American cowboys, so they annexed Florida and occupied Texas.

Now they are sending ships to Taiwan to stir up trouble. It is said that in St. Petersburg, Americans are discussing the purchase of Alaska.

I'm really curious, how much land do you need to satisfy your greedy desires?" This sharp question made the American representative Tom Chris blush pale and red, and he was choked and unable to utter a word.

The French did not fabricate facts. Each of these is a great achievement of American expansion. Regardless of whether the means were glorious or not, no one can deny the facts.

At this time, the Strait Governor's Secretary Wijnaldum stepped forward to smooth things over. He also disagreed with the so-called "European and American world" proposed by the US representative Tom Chris, but he put it more tactfully.

He said;
"The US's remarks only represent itself. Europe is Europe and America is America. Regarding the two coral islands, the UK has acquiesced in accordance with international practice.

We can't overturn the rules we set ourselves, so let's end this here.

Regarding the concerns of the Dutch representatives, in future consultations with the Chu State, we will ask the Chu State to clarify its position.

But this takes time, and we need to be patient.

Your Excellency, Governor General, what is your opinion?"

Although Governor Ode did not like Chu's tough attitude, as a qualified politician, he would not bring his preferences into specific issues.

So he nodded and said;
"There's nothing to argue about here. Whoever discovers it owns it. Let's end the matter of these two uninhabited islands here.

Other matters can only be discussed after the celebration.

The UK hopes to promote the liberalization of world trade, which is the core foreign policy of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We hope to use this opportunity to help countries in the Nanyang region eliminate trade barriers and promote the prosperity of commerce and trade, which is what the UK values ​​most."

"Your Excellency the Governor, the Chu State strictly prohibits the opium trade. This may be a focal issue that is difficult to avoid." The Dutch representative Kantberg shouted.

When this sensitive issue was mentioned, Governor Ode's face darkened and his eyes became complicated.

Based on the interests of opium merchants, Britain and France brazenly launched the Opium War and invaded the Chinese mainland.

Although they won the final war, Britain and France also witnessed the vastness of the Chinese continent.

The almost endless population is really dizzying.

It is no secret that French Emperor Napoleon's famous statement "Let the dragon sleep" has now become a consensus among the top leaders of European and American society.

Governor Ode had no good way to deal with the tough attitude of the Chu State for the time being.

We can't start another war just for those damn opium dealers, can we?

Civil Commissioner Sir Joachim Anderson looked around at the crowd and said, "Everyone's demands can be communicated openly and freely here without any restrictions.

The principle of promoting free trade policies throughout Southeast Asia remains unchanged. Lowering tariffs and eliminating artificial barriers is an unavoidable historical process and the responsibility of all of you present.

Britain and France will take the lead in setting an example in this regard, and we look forward to representatives from the United States and the Netherlands joining us in creating a prosperous environment in the South China Sea region.

Of course, all parties will also try their best to urge Chu to join this camp. This is the true meaning of the free world."

His speech won applause.

As for how each person feels, that depends on personal opinion, and everyone has different ideas.

Both the Dutch representative Kantberg and the American representative Tom Chris kept their mouths shut and maintained a cautious refusal stance.

They are unable to speak on behalf of their own government on the issue of lowering tariff barriers.

Especially the US representatives. The US is now in the early stages of industrial development and has imposed high tariff barriers on imported goods, with tariffs of 100% or even 200%, mainly targeting industrial products, which has greatly angered the British.

Trade disputes between the two sides broke out from time to time. During the Civil War, the United States seized British merchant ships, and the British side, in anger, blatantly threatened war.

These people don't get together because they have a good relationship.

The conflicts between them are extremely deep, especially the trade conflicts between Britain and the United States, which are irreconcilable and can spark sparks at any time.

When dealing with the State of Chu and the countries in Southeast Asia, they were able to forget past grudges and unite to put pressure on them. It can only be said that they were very good at forming alliances.

Although this secret talk was lively, it actually did not produce any results.

Soon, personnel from the Etiquette Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Great Chu came and invited representatives from various countries to attend the banquet, and the secret meeting was quickly dispersed.

In terms of reception

What Chu State did was truly impeccable. It had authentic Western-style food to choose from, Chinese food to complement the diet, and even the red wine and champagne that the French were proud of.

It didn’t cost much, but all the foreigners praised the food highly.

(End of this chapter)