There were people sitting on both sides of a rectangular conference table. On the left side sat the Chinese representatives headed by Li Zhen, including Hu Linyi, Peng Yulin, Liu Jintang, Long Ao, Huang Qiang and others; on the right side sat the British Prime Minister Henry Tan The members of the negotiating team headed by Poole included Seward, Muravyov, Philip and others. People on both sides were smiling, as if they had forgotten their past grudges and were old friends who had not seen each other for many years.
Yesterday, Temple, Philip and others reached an agreement and then came together to see Li Zhen.
This time there was no obstruction and he entered the Presidential Palace directly.
The group of people was taken to the conference room. In less than five minutes, Li Zhen also brought a group of people to the conference room.
Then, the above-mentioned situation of sitting in rows occurred.
Temple coughed twice and took the lead in saying: "President Lee, the negotiation team came to China to deal with the captured commanders, envoys and soldiers of various countries, including British, French and American soldiers on the Hawaiian Islands. These soldiers are against As far as President Lee is concerned, not only does it have no value, but it requires President Lee to expend manpower and material resources to maintain it. Therefore, I implore President Lee to return the captured soldiers from various countries in a humanitarian spirit so that they can return to their hometowns. Meet family members at home.”
Li Zhen raised his eyebrows and said to himself, even humanitarianism is here, how shameless.
interesting.
Interesting.
Li Zhen seemed very calm and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone: "Among the countries today, China is undoubtedly one of the most vast places in the world, and China also has the largest population, and is even one of the richest countries in the world. , based on the situation in China, a person with less food to eat, less water to drink, and less clothes to wear can easily feed captured soldiers for decades. Prime Minister Temple's worries are overblown. Don't worry about China. We can't afford it. On the contrary, China is a hospitable country. I hope that guests who come to China can have a good life and stay in China for a longer time."
Liu Jintang sat next to him, snickering in his heart.
It was absolutely impossible for Temple to bring back all the prisoners without bleeding.
Liu Jintang changed his mind and interjected: "Actually, China also welcomes officials from the negotiation team to stay as guests, so that the commanders and envoys staying in China can have company to avoid loneliness."
brush,,.
When the members of the negotiation team heard this, their faces changed drastically.
Is this a threat?
Siward's face was dark, but he still smiled and said: "Thank you for your kindness, but we all have our own tasks, and there are many things that need to be dealt with in the country, so it is difficult to stay for a long time."
Philip gouged out Liu Jintang and felt very unhappy.
Muravyov said: "I haven't seen Mr. Liu Jintang for many years, but you are still outspoken."
Liu Jintang said: "I have this personality and I can't change it." After a pause, he said in a low voice: "Whoever wants to bully me must be prepared to be beaten. We are not the ones who take the initiative to cause trouble, and we are definitely not People who are afraid of trouble, that’s what the Chinese are like.”
Temple smiled and said: "Well said, this is how you should behave."
After a pause, Temple changed the topic and said: "Getting back to the subject, our purpose in coming to Beijing is to bring back captured soldiers from various countries. In the Battle of Hong Kong, China suffered losses, and other countries also suffered huge losses. In this battle, During the war, as a defeated country, we, regardless of our own losses, are willing to give China certain compensation to redeem all those captured in Hawaii and Hong Kong."
"Oh, tell me your conditions."
Li Zhen raised his eyebrows, finally reaching this stage.
At this moment, everyone around Li Zhen was in high spirits, and there was a faint light in their eyes. That gaze made Temple, Siward and others dare not look at him because their eyes were too aggressive.
Temple replied: "Each country will compensate one million silver dollars to make up for China's losses."
"Snapped,."
A loud noise suddenly came from the conference room.
Temple, Seward and others were caught off guard and shivered with fright.
Looking up, it was Liu Jintang standing up.
Liu Jintang had a dark face and stared at the officials from various countries with dagger-like eyes, and said word by word: "Is one million silver dollars just a way of sending away beggars? If you negotiate with this mentality, I won't judge. Directly allow the captured commanders and envoys, as well as the Governor of Hong Kong and officials to stay in China forever. I believe that China can still afford to support them and does not need your one million silver dollars."
"sit down,."
Li Zhen squinted his eyes and drank in a low voice.
Liu Jintang sat down sadly and still said: "It's too much to bully others."
Li Zhen turned to Temple calmly and asked, "Is this your sincerity?"
Temple shrugged and said innocently: "President Li, we come here with sincerity. One million silver dollars for each country is already a lot. With so many countries, the combined amount is close to one million dollars." Ten million silver dollars, this is a huge amount. President Li, please consider the situation of each country. At present, all countries are facing problems, large and small. Among them, Britain is in financial crisis and faces economic problems; France There are many domestic crises, and there are always people who want to overthrow the French regime; Tsarist Russia is not peaceful at home, and there are civil strife; there are also small groups of resistance forces in the United States, not to mention other small countries. We are really facing a big problem. Difficulties, otherwise it would not be like this. Please President Lee understand our difficulties."
Li Zhen shook his head and said: "I don't care, it's none of my business, I just want reasonable conditions."
His attitude was very firm and he would not give in at all.
Temple asked: "President Lee, please state your terms and we can discuss them."
Li Zhen chuckled twice and said: "Forget it, I will reluctantly state the conditions. Britain, France, the United States, and Russia, as the most important countries, have the greatest impact on China. Each country will compensate 30 million silver dollars, and other participating countries will pay compensation of 30 million silver dollars." Each of the small countries has ten million silver dollars.”
Brush, brush,,.
The faces of officials from various countries changed drastically, as if they were in the dark.
too dark.
Li Zhen is too dark.
Philip was the first to retort: "President Lee, you are asking for an exorbitant price. With the current situation in France, it is impossible to get 30 million silver dollars. Once this money is withdrawn from the national treasury, the country will collapse immediately. Without so much money, , it’s impossible to get so much money.”
Muravyov said: "Yes, I will never agree."
Temple said: "President Lee, if Britain forcibly collects thirty million silver dollars, the country's financial system will collapse."
Siward said calmly: "President Li always makes surprises. I'm sorry I can't agree."
People from all over the world were angry and wanted to give Li Zhen a beating. Unfortunately, Li Zhen was unmoved. He knew very well the value of 30 million silver dollars. If he said that giving out 30 million silver dollars would cause the country to collapse, It is absolutely impossible. Only the maritime merchants of Britain, France and other countries have more than this amount of money, let alone Britain and France who have been making profits at sea.
Li Zhen said: "No, it must be this much."
"If that's the case, there's no way we can continue talking," Temple said.
Philip said coldly: "If we are really desperate, we may leave the captured commanders and envoys alone. By then, President Lee will have nothing to gain from the bamboo basket, and there will be no benefits at all."
Seward said: "President Lee, please give us a reasonable condition."
"It seems there is no need for us to continue talking, please."
Li Zhen stood up and waved his hands. After speaking, Li Zhen took Peng Yulin, Hu Linyi, Huang Qiang and others out of the conference room, leaving behind the officials from various countries sitting in the conference room looking at each other.