In the office of the Governor of the French Colony, Friese was sitting on a chair smoking a cigar, and the diffuse smoke reflected his inner anxiety.
Freese knows nothing about the military, but that does not mean he is a political idiot. On the contrary, he has a sensitive sense of politics. Otherwise, he would not have been able to sit in this lucrative position in Vietnam for so many years.
Domestic news has spread to Vietnam. Some members of Congress have questioned his ability. Some people have deliberately spread some rumors among the people. The longer it takes, the more detrimental it will be to him.
Because the president was wooing his family, he was suppressed. In addition, his family's activities in domestic politics prevented him from being reviewed for dismissal now.
But his current situation is also very unfavorable, as if he is being roasted on a fire, and many politically hostile families are staring at him.
But the president does not support him unconditionally. What he wants is his family's support for his re-election. If the president feels that the harm outweighs the benefits, he will definitely abandon him.
No matter what, you must jump out of this pit of fire as soon as possible. Just like a drowning person, he will surely grasp the life-saving straw tightly.
And this life-saving straw is coming soon, and he is deciding how much price he should offer.
Secretary Mary, who was wearing brown professional attire, opened the door and came in: "Your Excellency, the Governor, the Hainan Army negotiators are here!"
"Take them to the reception room! I'll be there soon!"
Freese casually put out the cigar in his hand, straightened the collar of his suit in front of the mirror, combed his hair meticulously, then pushed away the crowd and walked out.
Zhang Qishan, general manager of Nanyang Trading Company, who came to negotiate with Nanyang Army this time. Li Weidong was good at fighting, but knew nothing about negotiation skills.
Although Zhang Qishan is not the most suitable candidate, he has been running the Zhang family's business before becoming the general manager of the company, and he also knows how to negotiate.
Before he came, Li Weidong had already told him the bottom line truthfully. As long as it was not lower than this bottom line, he could talk about the rest as he pleased.
Zhang Qishan was also very concerned about this opportunity.
Although he controls Nanyang Trading Company on behalf of Li Weidong, many people think that he is just a mouthpiece for Li Weidong. What really depends on Li Weidong's thoughts.
Li Weidong trusted him very much, but how could he impress others without his achievements, so he wanted to obtain higher benefits for the Hainan Army as much as possible.
After waiting in the reception room for a short time, Zhang Qishan saw the Vietnamese Governor Fries, wearing a black suit, a gentleman's hat on his head, and holding a civilized stick in his right hand.
When Zhang Qishan was sizing up Friese, the other party was also sizing him up. Compared to Friese's aristocratic outfit, Zhang Qishan was much shabbier.
With a naive smile on his face and a slightly fat figure, he doesn't feel like a government official, but more like a big businessman.
After the translators from all parties introduced each other, the conversation got down to the main topic within a few words.
Zhang Qishan went straight to the point and handed over a document: "Your Excellency, the Governor! This is the peace negotiation condition of our Hainan Army!"
After taking it, Frese's face grew darker the more he looked at it, and finally he seemed to squeeze out a few words from his teeth: "This is impossible! I will not accept such conditions!"
The first article of the document is to recognize the legitimacy of the independence of the North Vietnamese government. Although I don't know where this North Vietnamese government came from, the Hainan Army is definitely behind it.
Not to mention whether he has the right to recognize the legitimacy of the North Vietnamese government. Even if he has the right, he cannot bear this huge responsibility.
If the first one is life-threatening, then the fourth one is purely about cutting flesh. Which kind of knife should you use to cut flesh?
The fourth article is to compensate the Hainan Army for five million yuan in military expenditures and reduce or reduce the tax rate for merchants under the Nanyang Trading Company to do business in various regions of Southeast Asia. They must not use various excuses to embarrass them.
Five million military expenditures!? Your Hainan Army is trying to steal money! As for the additional business conditions, Frese didn't care. He was just worried about his own money.
His idea went into the traditional misunderstanding. He thought how could Hainanese merchants surpass the French in commerce and trade.
In fact, this was a trap dug by Zhang Qishan. He deliberately raised the military expense compensation very high in order to attract Fries' attention and make him ignore the additional conditions.
You know, the French and Vietnamese troops have been restricting Chinese goods from entering Southeast Asia. They are worried that China's cheap products will impact their country's economic and trade in Southeast Asia.
But if this agreement is reached, then Nanyang Trading Company can purchase cheap products on the mainland and sell them elsewhere to earn high profits.
Regarding Frese's rebuttal, Zhang Qishan just said lightly: "Your Majesty the Governor! I personally think you should seriously consider it!"
Frese's reaction was completely expected. Zhang Qishan did not continue. He just stood up and walked around the exquisitely decorated reception room, picking up the antique bronze utensils on the table and playing with them.
"Mr. Zhang! You must also know that it is impossible for us to agree to such conditions. Negotiate! Negotiate! There has to be a negotiation!" Friese put down the negotiation document, took out a cigar and lit it.
"Sir Frith! Only a small part of this money is paid to us, and most of the rest is the ransom of prisoners of war. Prisoners of war also need to eat. Our Hainan Army family is poor and cannot afford the consumption! If there is no other way, we can only
Let them go mining!"
The Hainan Army now has nearly 20,000 French prisoners of war in its hands. In the Battle of Beiyue City alone, several thousand French prisoners of war were obtained, and this does not include more indigenous Vietnamese soldiers.
"And these frightened prisoners of war also have families, and their families must miss them very much! If they can return home safely...!" Zhang Qishan did not continue, he knew that Frese would definitely understand.
Frith's eyes suddenly lit up. He didn't care about the life or death of the Vietnamese, but he couldn't care less about the French prisoners.
And if he can find a way to redeem these prisoners of war, he can slow down the excitement of the domestic people. As long as the domestic political situation is stable, he doesn't have to worry!
As he spoke, Zhang Qishan narrowed his eyes out of habit and said: "Sir Fris! We are businessmen, so let's talk like businessmen! We can quietly release the French prisoners, and they have never been captured before.
You could say that all the losses in the North Vietnam War were indigenous soldiers!”
"God teaches humans how to endure temptation! I don't think there is such a good thing!" Friese said calmly, but taking several puffs of cigars proved his inner struggle.
After returning to his seat and sitting down, Zhang Qishan smiled like a pimp: "Of course, it depends on what price the Governor can offer? God doesn't mind humans doing business!"
Afterwards, Zhang Qishan took out another document and pushed it from the table to Fries.
[End of this chapter]
————The negotiations between the two parties written in this chapter are to pave the way for the next chapter. Hainan Army’s first unequal treaty with foreign countries is about to appear, so stay tuned!————