The Dutch delegation's fleet encountered the Chinese army's patrol fleet on the sea about fifty miles away from Brunei City. After explaining the purpose of the visit, the Chinese army's patrol fleet had already received orders and did not stop it. He warned the Dutch fleet, such as not acting rashly, etc., and then led the Dutch fleet to the port of Brunei City.
When approaching the port of Brunei City, Matt Sokol and others looked on the deck and saw that there were seventy or eighty warships anchored in the port, large ships surrounded the city, small boats crossed the edges, and masts were like forests. The sails were as bright as the shade, and the soldiers were all trembling and excited, and Matt Sokol and others looked at each other. Judging from the size of the fleet alone, the Netherlands is far from the opponent of the Chinese army.
After the fleet docked, someone had already led them into the city to rest in the inn. The Dutch delegation finally received good treatment. Although they were not treated as guests, the minimum etiquette could be guaranteed. After all, China is etiquette. There is still a reason for the two countries to fight and not to kill the envoys. Moreover, Brunei is also a great power in Southeast Asia, and the conditions for the inn are still acceptable.
After Shang Yi left Brunei, the highest official of the Chinese army in Brunei is Cheng Gang. Of course, Cheng Gang could not live in the palace of Brunei, so he was given to Brunei Sultan Abdul Jariru Aba In my lifetime, Cheng Gang lived in a temple arranged by Brunei. Because Brunei is a country with a unity of politics and religion, the temples were built very luxuriously and not inferior to other buildings at all. In the afternoon of that day, Cheng Gang lived in The temple met with the Dutch negotiator.
The two sides first communicate with each other. Cheng Gang is the Navy Minister of the United Front Work Department of China and the commander-in-chief of the mixed fleet this time. Matt Sokol is the Governor of Badavi, which is equivalent to a chief official of the border. Of course, from the principle of diplomatic reciprocity In other words, the status of the two is roughly the same, so Matt Sokol was very satisfied and said: "General Cheng, China and the Netherlands have always had traditional friendship, and our Netherlands and the Netherlands East India Company have always attached great importance to it. The relationship with China, but before that, due to the incorrect collusion between each other, some misunderstandings also arise, which led to a military conflict between the two countries. However, the war did not match the national interests of China and the Netherlands. Our Dutch East India Company hopes to eliminate misunderstandings between the two sides and enhance friendship between China and the Netherlands through negotiations."
Cheng Gang snorted and said, "Mr. Governor's words are somewhat inconsistent with the actual situation. Since its inception, our Chinese Empire has always attached importance to the relationship with the Netherlands, and has also made a lot of efforts for China-Dutch friendship. The Netherlands was the first European country to engage in trade relations with China and the first to establish a shopping mall in China. It is even allowed to build a city on Taiwan, the territory of China. However, your Dutch East India Company destroyed the friendship between China and the Netherlands, and used to be secretly Supporting the Qing and Japan, which are enemies of China, sent a large-scale fleet to Asia this time and provoked the war, causing huge losses to China. Therefore, all the consequences that have caused all this should be by you, the Netherlands. The parties will pay full responsibility.”
Of course, what Matt Soko said just now is also a test. It is mainly to see how China reacts, so that it can also judge whether China's attitude towards this negotiation is moderate or tough, although Matt Soko I also thought that my defense would be refuted by China, but I did not expect that Cheng Gang's refutation would be so unlimited that almost all the responsibilities were put on the Netherlands, although this does not mean that China intends to be with the Netherlands. Clearing the old accounts, but this also shows that the negotiations will be very difficult.
Matt Sokol was about to argue for himself, but Cheng Gang didn't wait for him to speak, and said, "But we China have always loved peace and did not like war. Therefore, although the responsibility for this war is not in China, the war also gives China has brought huge losses, but based on the long-term principles of China-Dutch relations, we also hope to resolve the conflict between China and the Netherlands through negotiations. But I hope that you, the Netherlands, can show sincerity to negotiate, so there is nothing to do. Other ideas.”
Matt Sokol hurriedly said, "Of course, of course, we definitely hope for peace this time."
Cheng Gang also nodded and said, "Okay, you will have a day off in Brunei City today and start negotiations tomorrow."
Matt Soko was relieved and said, "General Cheng, I heard that our commander General Trump was captured by your army on the battlefield this time. I wonder how they are now."
Cheng Gangdao: "Governor General, please rest assured. Our China is still a country of etiquette and will never abuse prisoners. General Trump and other Dutch officers and soldiers are now captured by our army, but everything is in good condition now. .”
Matt Sokol said: "So can I meet General Trump?"
Cheng Gang nodded again and said, "This is easy to deal with, I will arrange it."
After hearing Cheng Gang's statement, Matt Sokol was a little relieved, so he said goodbye to Cheng Gang and went to Guanduo to rest with three other representatives. That night, Matt Sokol also had three people. The representatives discussed together what impact Cheng Gang's attitude today had on tomorrow's negotiations, and Robert X Black came to visit them.
Because the British side acted as an intermediary in this verdict, it was very reasonable for Black to visit the Dutch delegation, and it was not a conspiracy. Of course, from Black's heart, he still hoped that the negotiation would be successful, and the Dutch delegation would be successful. I hope to inquire from Black that the negotiation conditions of China are also very welcome to Black's arrival.
However, Black is not sure what conditions China has for this negotiation, but one thing is certain, that is, the Netherlands must make major concessions. However, Black also proposed that he hopes that an agreement between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom can be reached and strengthen the two countries. The relationship between them will share the trade interests in Asia in the future.
Matt Sokol is also a smart person, and there is no need to say much. Black's intention is obviously to unite with the Netherlands and jointly cope with China's expansion in the South China Sea in Asia. Matt Sok Cole can also understand that Britain is definitely unwilling to let China dominate the South China Sea, but its own strength is not enough to fight against China alone, so it wants to La Holland together, but for Matt Sokol and others, this is undoubtedly It is good news. When you return to the country, you can explain it to the parliament. This is also the first good news that the Netherlands has received after arriving in Brunei.
Therefore, Matt Sokol also immediately stated that after the negotiations are over, he would immediately propose a response to the domestic parliament, and then the two countries could start negotiations, reach an agreement, and establish an alliance between the UK and the Netherlands. At the same time, he also asked Black again and again to During this negotiation, we tried our best to deal with it and helped the Dutch negotiating team.
In fact, Matt Sokol's understanding is not completely correct. Black does not want to pull the Netherlands to fight against China in the South China Sea. Black sees this very clearly. The South China Sea is China's backyard, and China will never let it go. European countries are involved in this area, and it is too close to China and too far away from Europe. It is impossible for European countries to fight against China in this area. Even if the British and Dutch team up, it will not work. This time, the Dutch Expeditionary Force The disastrous defeat is a very obvious example, and China has only put out 50% of its strength at most. In addition, the trade between Britain and the region is also well underway. Black does not want to have conflicts with China here. The real purpose is to prevent China from further expanding to maritime, such as India, Africa, the United States and other places, which infringes on the overseas interests of Britain.
Of course, Black also said that he would do his best to help, but he did not say anything. He only said that his influence on China is limited, so he still had to make a concession to let China make a concession I think it is satisfactory.
The two sides had been in talks for about two hours before Black said goodbye, and the Dutch negotiating team also had a little foundation and could rest with peace of mind.
The next day, the two sides began formal negotiations, and the chief representative of the negotiations in China was Li Huamei.
Although the opponent in the negotiation was a woman, the Dutch representatives also knew from the UK that this woman was different. She was not only the commander of a Chinese squadron, but also the lover of the Chinese emperor. The Dutch representatives could do this. Understand that because Catholicism pursues monogamy, it is really normal for emperors from various European countries to have a few lovers. It seems that the Chinese emperors are also good at this.
Of course, with so many identities, the Dutch negotiator dared not underestimate Li Huamei, and did not think that sending a woman to negotiate with him was a contempt for him. Of course, the Dutch side was still Matt Sokol himself As chief negotiator.
After sitting down, the two sides were kind to each other, and said some unnutritious words such as China-Dutch friendship and maintaining peace, and then put them into the main topic.
Li Huamei first said: "Whether the Netherlands has a plan for this negotiation?"
Matt Sokol and others looked at each other and said, "We hope to first know the plan for this negotiation and see what China has to think."
Li Huamei nodded, took a booklet from her assistant and handed it to the Dutch representative, saying, "This is the condition for our China, please check it out."
The Dutch representative originally thought that China would swear, but he did not expect China to be so happy. He agreed immediately and first threw out his own conditions. Matt Sokol hurriedly took it and opened it to watch. The text was Written in Spanish, several Dutch representatives knew each other, but after reading it, the expressions of several representatives changed drastically.
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