The mage in the late Qing Dynasty

Of course Fales knew about the Tang Dynasty.

Hearing this, he was dumbfounded - is he still alive in Tang Kaiyuan? Why don't you say that you fought with Huang Di against Chi You?

He said angrily: "Based on national strength, our British Empire should be at the top."

Although it may only be a small seat, once it is published in the newspaper, its meaning will expand infinitely.

People at this time attached great importance to newspapers.

Zhao Chuanxin said disdainfully: "Okay, let's compare our national strength. From now on, the land you split up for me will be called Zhao Chuanxin Concession. I am a country per person, and the per capita GDP is not too much for you. It is calculated as 5 million." Let’s count the dollars, which country here can compare with you?”

After robbing the Japanese money and adding in compensation from various concessions, in early 1908, Zhao Chuanxin's "output value" was almost as low as 5 million, if not more.

How to compare?

Seeing that Fareis was speechless, Zhao Chuanxin pointed at the reporter: "Hey, what is that Hankou Chinese and Western News? Why don't you take pictures of you waiting for the banquet to begin?"

The reporter was obedient, "click"...

Reporters from various countries took pictures one after another, but the pictures were far less serious than those of Li Hongzhang...

After taking pictures, Zhao Chuanxin picked up his contract and left the venue.

At this time, French Consul General Du Lifang, who rushed to Shanghai from Shanghai, said: "Wait..."

Zhao Chuanxin paused: "But it doesn't hurt to talk."

Du Lifang said in French: "Mr. Zhao, I am Du Lifang, Consul General of France."

"speak English!"

The translator nearby was busy working.

"Is something wrong?"

Du Lifang said: "Mr. Zhao, please stay and continue discussing the French Concession."

Zhao Chuanxin glanced at Zhang Renjun vaguely, and Zhang Renjun nodded.

He sat down again: "Where's the money? Where's the contract?"

"Mr. Zhao, please take a look." Du Lifang took out the map of the French Concession: "It is sixty feet west from the official land to the railway, which is one hundred and eighty-five meters away. It is adjacent to the German Concession on the north side, and runs straight from the line connecting the German Concession to the railway line. It ended with the official land 60 feet away from the railway, and a straight line from the Russian-French border in the south to the official land outside the wall, 60 feet away from the railway. It was set up as a new French concession in 1902. The Qing Dynasty also kindly donated the foundation of the city wall. 3 feet, 5 feet of official land inside the wall, 5 feet of official land outside the wall, and 6 feet of the city moat are all included in the French Concession. This part will be used as our reserved land. We plan to set aside the part of the old concession One-half for you."

When Yuan Datou heard this, he was really guessed by Zhang Renjun. Tsarist Russia bowed its head, which really made other concessions anxious. France was also ready to follow suit and cede territory to pay compensation.

According to his thinking, this is enough. No matter how much land is cut or how much money is lost, he has earned enough face.

However, the expressions of the Japanese and British representatives changed drastically. Unexpectedly, they had agreed to form an alliance, but France suddenly turned against them.

Zhao Chuanxin couldn't help laughing and looked at Yuan Datou: "You are both generous and kind, rent one and get one free, right?"

Yuan Datou glanced elsewhere.

This has nothing to do with him.

It was just the shock in his heart that made Zhang Renjun right, Zhao Chuanxin was really not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

Zhao Chuanxin took the opportunity to secretly glance at Zhang Renjun. When Zhang Renjun nodded slightly, he sneered and said, "What a coincidence, that's the land I want."

At this time, before Du Lifang said anything, Frangi, the Belgian Consul General in Han, suddenly said: "No, absolutely not."

Zhao Chuanxin's face was full of questions: "Who the hell are you? Is it your turn to speak?"

Frankie was a little annoyed, but he suppressed it and said in a deep voice: "I am Frankie, Consul General of Hankou, Belgium."

Zhao Chuanxin secretly glanced at Zhang Renjun. Zhang Renjun's expression did not change, but Sheng Xuanhuai next to him shook his head slightly.

Zhao Chuanxin: "..."

Shall I wipe it?

The little demon in the temple is very powerful, and I don’t know how many interests are involved here.

Zhao Chuanxin asked Franji coldly: "Why do you refuse on behalf of the French Concession?"

Du Lifang glanced at Frankie and interrupted with an unusually firm attitude: "It's indeed inappropriate."

Just when Zhao Chuanxin was scratching his head, someone came into the conference hall and said to Yuan Datou: "The Governor of Huguang, Zhao Erxun, has arrived."

Yuan Datou nodded: "Let Mr. Zhao come in!"

Zhao Chuanxin was stunned.

Zhao Gongyi? Isn't that Zhao Erxun?

Zhao Erxun once went to the border to serve as General Shengjing. When he took office, Zhao Chuanxin and a group of insurance team were riding back to the border. They happened to meet him face to face. At that time, the old boy was very angry.

Unexpectedly, he would come to Huguang to become the governor a few years later.

Sure enough, as soon as the dry little old man came in, he saw Zhao Chuanxin.

He recognized Zhao Chuanxin, but he was not as fearful as others. Instead, he snorted coldly.

Zhao Chuanxin said with a smile: "Look at how stingy you are. After all these years, you are still angry?"

"..." Zhao Erxun remembered the purpose of coming here, coughed, and turned his eyes to Du Lifang: "I am here today to ask you to return the road built across the border to Dazhimen Station in the French Concession and return it to the French Concession."

Seeing this, Sheng Xuanhuai smiled happily.

Frankie and Du Lifang's expressions changed slightly.

Zhao Chuanxin rubbed his chin.

Haha, he asked the great powers to cede territory and pay compensation, but now the negotiation table has become a battlefield for multi-party games, which is a bit interesting.

At this time, he had roughly figured out the situation.

France, Russia and Belgium are the largest borrowers behind the Beijing-Hankow Railway. The French Concession secretly built a road leading to Dazhimen Station. The purpose of Belgium and France was to control the right of road, so Frankie opened his mouth to stop Zhao Chuanxin from occupying this land.

Sheng Xuanhuai must have known about France's road construction outside the border in advance, and had communicated with Zhao Erxun in advance.

Therefore, Zhao Erxun would appear at a critical moment, and his purpose was to remind Zhao Chuanxin of the importance of the land.

Zhao Chuanxin pretended to be savage and said rudely: "Zhao Erxun advises you, old boy, not to be disrespectful. That piece of land is already in Zhao's pocket."

Although this was somewhat inconsistent with his plan, and he had become someone else's tiger skin, but even so, the meat still had to rot in his own pot first.

Du Lifang had to find a sense of presence. He said: "First of all, the British Concession built a road across the border on Taiping Road without any opposition; secondly, our French Concession built the road not for the sake of public security and road administration on the road. , in the final analysis, it is for the overall benefit and convenience of all parties. Finally, and crucially, Article 6 of the "Articles for the Expansion of the French Concession in Hankou" that was signed stipulates that China should build a road from the railway station to the western boundary of the French Concession. The road at the midpoint is to facilitate communication between the station and the Yangtze River. You have not fulfilled your promise, so the French Concession has to handle it on your behalf."

Zhao Erxun was extremely angry in his heart, but like other high-ranking officials in the Qing court, he always dared to be angry but dared not speak out.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I am willing to compensate for the various expenses incurred in building roads, maintaining public security, providing lighting and road administration services, but the roads must be returned."

Du Lifang politely and firmly refused: "The treaty signed at the time made it very clear that both parties must exercise their rights within the road sections they built. Now that our French Concession has built the road, we have jurisdiction... "

Even though Zhao Chuanxin often acted like a child's play, in fact, during this period of history, which of the great powers was not ruthless and plundering?

They have played this seemingly outrageous and ridiculous word game too many times.

Zhao Chuanxin knocked on the table: "Hey, hey, what's going on? That road belongs to me from now on, no need to argue. Du Lifang, I need your answer before noon, otherwise I will treat you as a declaration of war."

Not to be outdone, Du Lifang raised his nostrils to the sky and said: "So, the 'Resolute' and the 'Entrecasteto' of the French Far East Fleet are rushing from Jiujiang to Hankou. Please be responsible for the consequences!"

Historically, Du Lifang used this method to threaten Zhao Erxun. The final result was that although the road was recovered, it was originally an illegally built road in France, but instead a high compensation fee was charged, with a total price of 16,900 taels. The Qing government also paid 15,000 taels to the French Concession as compensation for its previous construction costs, and also promised to pay 200 taels to the concession every year as road maintenance funds... This is outrageous.

As soon as Du Lifang said this, Frankie, Dabanov, Fareis, Yuan Datou, Sheng Xuanhuai, Zhao Erxun and others all looked at him, as if they were looking at a staff.

It's already 1908, are you, an idiot, still playing the "gunboat threat" game with Zhao Chuanxin?

Needless to say, Du Lifang never paid much attention to Zhao Chuanxin.

When Zhao Chuanxin heard this, he was happy: "The Resolute and the Entrecasto are in Jiujiang at the moment, right?"

Du Lifang felt a little embarrassed when everyone saw her, but her nostrils still turned upward: "Exactly!"

Zhao Chuanxin stood up and said to Zhao Erxun: "My lord, go and boil a pot of water for me and make a pot of tea. I will forgive you for your rudeness. I will be back before the tea cools down. Don't leave." Go high.

Let’s watch Zhao warm tea and sink the battleship! "