Buckingham Palace, Conference Hall.

"Everyone!" Everyone's eyes turned. The speaker was British Prime Minister Palmerston. Because he had been working for the future of the empire for a long time, the Prime Minister looked very tired. However, he still managed to attend the London Peace Conference.

Every meeting of the peace conference. Because this peace conference is so important!

"It is indeed a very important and meaningful thing to help black Africa move towards civilization and progress. And the several semi-civilized countries in black Africa should be the focus of our help and support as civilized countries. For example, the Kingdom of Abyssinia,

The Kingdom of Madagascar and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. At the same time, we should also respect the vested interests and colonies of various countries in black Africa. For example, the sovereignty of the Cape Colony of the British Empire and the Portuguese colonies on the coast of East Africa should be fully respected!"

Napoleon III squinted his eyes, and a map of Africa appeared in his mind. The several countries and colonies mentioned by Viscount Palmerston, except the British Cape Colony, are all on the east coast of Africa! Among them, France has established bases

The Kingdom of Madagascar. The Cape Colony is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent and is the gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Obviously, the British aim is to control the entire east coast and south coast of Africa to avoid France or China gaining ground in the Indian Ocean.

Naval base.

Although the British Empire's navy still has advantages, it is really very difficult to control the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans at the same time. If the naval bases of France and its allies can be squeezed out of the Indian Ocean, Britain's global deployment will be

Very advantageous. Because without a base for supply, rest and recuperation, it will be difficult for France or the Ming Dynasty's navy to operate in the Indian Ocean.

Palmerston's next request seemed to confirm this speculation. "The British Empire also needs to purchase all French colonies in India."

What a big move. It surrounded the entire Indian Ocean at once!

However, Viscount Palmerston's request is not over yet. "In addition, the British Empire also wants to exchange the rights of the Tehuantepec Canal for France's rights in the Suez Canal."

Napoleon III nodded noncommittally. He knew that the British were already preparing for a future world war! Egypt is now controlled by the British, but the right to dig the Suez Canal belongs to France. However, using Tevante on Mexican territory

Peck's exchange for the Suez Canal is acceptable. However, France's special rights in Madagascar and its colonies in India cannot be given away in vain.

"France needs to get British Honduras." Napoleon III immediately raised the stakes. British Honduras was a British colony connected to the Mexican Empire. Napoleon III would turn it into a direct possession of France in the New World.

"Yes." Palmerston agreed without hesitation. What the British Empire needs most now is to consolidate its basic base, such as India, Australia, and the Canadian Federation. It no longer has much energy to compete with the French for Latin America.

"France also needs Britain to make no further claims to Black Africa except the east coast and the Cape Colony."

Viscount Palmerston was silent for a moment, and after weighing the gains and losses, he said solemnly: "The British Empire cannot accept any demands of the Yellow Empire for Black Africa!"

Napoleon III smiled faintly. He looked at Viscount Palmerston and said, "Mr. Viscount, I think you are mistaken. We are not discussing the carving up of black Africa, but how to help black Africa. The Ming Empire and the Mexican Empire are not trying to divide black Africa.

By acquiring colonies, they must shoulder the same international obligations as civilized European countries and help the people of black Africa escape poverty and barbarism."

Viscount Palmerston was speechless by Napoleon III. He was stunned for a long time and said coldly: "How are the Ming Empire and the Mexican Empire going to help black people?"

This question must be answered by representatives of the countries concerned. Wu Chunqiu smiled and said: "Of course it is to help the black African people build a prosperous and powerful country."

Viscount Palmerston said coldly: "A powerful slave country, right?"

"It's not slavery." Napoleon III took over the topic and emphasized. "In the future Black African Federation, there will be no such extremely cruel and backward system as slavery. Every black agricultural worker will have a life no less than that of a textile worker in Manchester."

level."

Well, there is no slavery. The conscience of Napoleon III did not allow such a cruel system to appear in black Africa.

So Solomon, Zenk O'Hara's eloquent military advisor, came up with the upscale-sounding name "Hereditary Agricultural Workers". What Emperor Zenk O'Hara will implement is a progressive "hereditary worker system".

Rather than the evil of slavery. Although "hereditary workers" can be "transferred" between different farms, and children born to hereditary workers must immediately sign a "hereditary worker contract" with the farm owner.

However, Emperor Zenke O'Hara stipulated that they could receive an extremely meager salary in addition to their own food and accommodation, and they could also pay for their own money to redeem the "hereditary worker contract" and become free workers. In short, these

It is right that hereditary workers are not slaves.

Viscount Palmerston did not go into details. He only heard about the possibility of slavery in the Black African Empire. However, the Black African Empire has not yet been established, and everything is just empty talk. Anyway, he is satisfied with the East African coastline, and West Africa

Let Napoleon III handle the matter. For Britain, the most important thing is how to balance France's land advantage in Europe.

He exchanged glances with Count Andrassy, ​​who had just become the Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire, and the latter immediately said in fluent German: "The current situation in Central Europe is very dangerous. Prussia, Austria, Poland, France, Rome, Russia, etc.

The five countries are all mobilizing their armies. This is a precursor to war! This war is very likely to cause the destruction of white European civilization! So it must be avoided!"

It should be postponed! Wu Chunqiu lit up a cigar at this time, took a sip, and said to himself: "Napoleon III needs time to digest the spoils brought by the North American War, and at the same time speed up the development of the navy. And Britain also needs time to strengthen its maritime

The advantage also helps Russia, Austria and the United States of America regain their strength. Therefore, a world war cannot be fought for the time being...but peace cannot last long."

"Prussia does not want war, because Prussia is the most peace-loving country in the world (Bismarck did not blush). We only want a peaceful and unified Germany. Since Austria has its own empire, why bother relying on the German Confederation?"

Prussian Prime Minister Bismarck shrugged and said, "As long as Austria

If Lee withdraws, won't all crises be resolved?" He glanced around the hall and said calmly, "Unless someone wants a completely unified Germany...including the German Confederation and the entire territory of the Habsburg family.

!I want to know, does anyone in this hall agree with the appearance of such a German?"

The entire room fell silent.

The German Confederation plus other territories of the Habsburg family... the entire Central Europe and most of the Balkans are included. The population is at least 70 million, and the industry is almost the same as that of China and France. As long as it works hard, it may be able to surpass the United Kingdom! Such a country is really

It's about to appear. It's hard to say what Britain means. France and Russia will definitely unite to attack it!

Seeing that no one spoke, Bismarck smiled slightly and looked at Count Andrassy, ​​"Count, I think you Hungarians don't want to see such a Germany, right? An Austro-Hungarian Empire is possible, but a German

Don’t even think about the Hungarian Empire!”

Count Andrassy sneered: "The Austrian Empire can make sacrifices for the peace of Europe, but it needs compensation! Austria needs to get Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mendenegoro and Bulgaria!"

The conference hall suddenly became quiet again. Austria's demands were indeed a bit high. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mendenegoro and Bulgaria are all Turkish territories. If Turkey loses these three territories, its territory in Europe will be almost the same.
Chapter completed!