Nanyang Storm 1864

After submitting the report, Mu Qing, the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Transportation, put down the memorial in his hand, bowed and stepped down, leaving the imperial study.

Afterwards, Foreign Minister Pan Yuchen was arranged to meet with His Majesty to report on diplomatic affairs during this period.

Prime Minister Fan Zhicheng, Deputy Prime Minister Earl Zheng Guotai, and Royal Secretary Zhang Huaizhong were always by his side to discuss current international military and political affairs. It was a high-level imperial meeting.

Foreign Minister Pan Yuchen mainly reported on three things

One thing is that the State of Chu stood firmly on the British side and spared no effort to support Britain's war preparations against South Africa, which was attacked by concentrated fire from European countries, especially Germany and the Netherlands, which jumped the highest and made the most noise.

This is to be expected, there are gains and losses.

Even Paris stepped in to criticize, saying sourly, "These Orientals are desperately trying to flatter the British for their own selfish interests, disregarding international justice and fairness. This is completely irresponsible."

It all sounds funny. These international bandits are frantically engaging in colonial oppression while they are boasting about international justice and fairness. They are simply shameless.

The diplomatic battle between the two sides was fierce, and the Chu envoys stationed in European powers were under great pressure. Some local Europeans even threw rotten leaves and rotten eggs at the carriages, and the emotions were so intense.

The second event was that on September 1896, 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain invited Chu and several European countries to jointly issue a statement on the current Cuban War:
It stated that other countries had no right to interfere in or criticize the war, that Spain had the right to decide how to govern its colonies, and that other countries were interfering in its internal affairs.

This statement implicitly refers to America.

As a result, the United States responded immediately, and the American Minister to Spain threatened that this move would be regarded as an unfriendly act by the United States.

In October 1896, when his term was about to expire, U.S. President Cleveland devoted a long section to discussing the Cuban issue in his presidential message to Congress. Some of his words were close to "declarations of intervention":

President Cleveland declared:

"The inevitable connection between the United States and the Cuban uprising, the numerous American interests affected, and humanitarian considerations all strongly require some active intervention by the United States...

The United States invested a huge sum of $5000 million in Cuba, mainly in sugar plantations and sugar mills, which was also a hard-hit area affected by the war and suffered significant losses in interests.

When all other possible means have failed, the United States must intervene to end the conflict in Cuba.

Even if it means a war between the United States and Spain...

Must see

Certain external forces have been greedily eyeing Cuba and Puerto Rico, which has cast a shadow on the comprehensive resolution of the Cuban issue and is also the biggest confusion for the United States at present.

The longer it takes, the more difficult it will be to resolve.

When it became clear that Spain could no longer successfully defuse the uprising, its legal sovereignty over Cuba disappeared...

The Spanish's hopeless struggle to re-establish this sovereignty has degenerated into a senseless sacrifice of life and the prospect of Cuba's utter destruction.

America's responsibilities towards the sovereignty of Spain will be replaced by higher duties. We should not hesitate to acknowledge and fulfill these duties..."

Anyway, the implicit meaning is that the United States should take strong actions against Cuba, including military options.

The "external forces" that President Cleveland mentioned were Britain and the State of Chu. Both countries did not want to see the United States dominate and its power grow.

The Panama Canal is getting closer to opening, and the Americans don't have much time left.

After careful interpretation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs judged that the United States may take military action within the next 16 months and send troops to Cuba and Puerto Rico.

More evidence is needed to verify the specific time.

But the general direction is correct. The Americans intend to take Cuba and Puerto Rico into their possession before the Panama Canal is opened.

After discussing this judgment, King Zheng Guohui of Chu and several trusted ministers came to a unanimous conclusion:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' prediction was very accurate; the Spanish-American War had entered the countdown.

In the original history
The United States did launch the Spanish-American War in April 1898. Now, due to the intervention of the State of Chu, it is difficult to decide whether the war will be launched in advance, but the war is bound to break out.

Just as the State of Chu had been preparing to launch the final attack on the Dutch East Indies, completely expel the Dutch forces and take Java Island, the most dazzling pearl, for itself, the Americans could no longer bear the loneliness.

Perhaps, this is the madness of the end of the world.

The third thing is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British side reached a secret memorandum in private on the division of power in the Red Sea region, which is also the benefit promised by the UK.

Basically, the northwestern section of the Arabian Peninsula, namely the Yemen region, and the northwest direction to Lis, are all clearly divided in the secret memorandum.

The British side will maintain a tacit understanding of non-participation and non-interference in the infiltration of Chu forces within this area.

Lis is located just across the Red Sea from Eritrea's northwestern border, and its area includes Jizan, which later became part of Saudi Arabia.

This is a typical example of Britain's generosity towards others. This part of the area belongs to the Yemeni Pasha, a frontier province of the Ottoman Empire. Because the emperor is far away, the Yemeni Pasha only obeys the Ottoman Empire's orders and not its orders.

The real power in the area lay in the hands of some of the Arab tribal chiefs, some of whom had guns and territory, and were typical local tyrants. Once the Yemeni Pasha left the city, basically no one listened to his orders.

This place is an area where British influence has penetrated more deeply. It is not a true British protectorate or a British colony, so it can be used for trading.

This kind of thing is not easy to bring to the table and discuss, so the two countries reached a tacit understanding in the form of a secret memorandum. After all, it is the local people who suffer the losses.

After listening to the report
King Zheng Guohui of Chu smiled and said to several trusted ministers:
"My dear ministers, the British are completely trustworthy in their commitment to honoring contracts and are excellent trading partners.

If we can take over the Yemen region, it will be worth it that we were attacked by European countries. We lost face but gained something in return.

This exchange is not a loss!

Britain planned a military conquest of South Africa, and the supplies needed were big business.

They need the best flour, the most authentic Suffolk lamb and Aberdeen Angus beef, at the best prices and in large quantities.

Our Patagonia Governorate and Congo River Governorate can provide these things in large quantities. This is a good business opportunity and we must seize it.

The British would not import from German West Africa and German East Africa, and the Portuguese colony of Angola was unable to provide it. The most reliable supplier was the Chu State.

Based on the close and friendly relationship between the two parties, a large number of orders have now been received.

How much of the logistical supplies we can get in the future will depend on the coordinated efforts of you, my dear ministers. The Foreign Office and the Colonial Office must take action, and the Home Office should also contribute some of the businesses in the UK and mobilize all your relationships in the UK.

After all, with such a big piece of fat, the best way is to share it equally. Only by knowing how to share can you make your business bigger."

"Your Majesty is wise. We are ashamed of our inferiority and will certainly follow your orders." Prime Minister Fan Zhicheng flattered him.

The others also nodded in agreement, expressing their admiration for the King's wisdom and bravery.

Due to Kaiser Wilhelm II's repeated offensive remarks, relations between Chu and Germany deteriorated significantly. Germany imposed tariffs on Chu products, and Chu immediately retaliated with high tariffs.

Both countries are monarchical authoritarian states.

It is easy for the relationship between the two countries to deteriorate significantly due to the discord between the monarchs, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

William II's foul mouth not only offended Britain, but also Russia and the State of Chu, but he felt good about it.

Germany has completely abandoned the diplomatic strategy formulated by the Iron Chancellor Bismarck, and has launched a large-scale attack on and alienated Tsarist Russia, pushing this important military ally to the side of France.

The French were overjoyed as their huge investment over the past two decades had finally paid off.

In 1892, the military alliance treaty between France and Russia was formally signed. Britain was wary of the increasingly aggressive Germany and was negotiating to join the military alliance.

Lord Gladstone also revealed something about this important consultation during his visit, and the Russians' asking price was not low.

Tsarist Russia has always been ambitious about the Balkans in Europe, especially the loss of control over Bulgaria, which made the Tsar feel resentful.

The British were cunning and immediately took out the traditional Yugoslav regions of Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia as bargaining chips, promising to support Tsarist Russia in owning the above-mentioned regions.

These territories were the traditional sphere of influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Tsarist Russia was not allowed to interfere at all.

This is a typical example of "being generous with other people's money".

This was only one aspect of achieving a military alliance. Tsarist Russia had a huge appetite. It not only wanted territory, but also huge franc investments and loans to help it build warships, establish a modern industrial system, improve basic transportation facilities, etc. None of these were easy tasks.

In order to win over Tsarist Russia, France spent a huge amount of money.

Britain, France and Russia are holding secret talks and bargaining on the details of the military alliance, but the general direction of the Tripartite Treaty will not change, and the Allied military group is about to be formed.

This was also a serious consequence of German Emperor Wilhelm II's excessive provocation of the British. A situation of confrontation between the two major military groups in Europe was about to take shape.

Lord Gladstone revealed this matter to King Zheng Guohui of Chu, and also intended to find out whether Chu was willing to form an alliance.

Regarding this
King Zheng Guohui of Chu refused without hesitation, saying:

"The Chu State has no intention of joining one side against the other and is willing to develop equal and friendly economic and trade relations with European countries, deepen cultural exchanges, and achieve the goal of mutual benefit and win-win results."

"Chu's core interests lie in the South Pacific region, and we will continue to dedicate ourselves to the development of the region and the spread of advanced human civilization."

"Chu will not join any camp in Europe. This is the government's consistent policy and will not change."

Respond to the British side with a clear attitude and let the British completely give up this idea.

This thing is really not worth getting involved with, it's too scary. (End of this chapter)