"Do you think this can scare me? Your Highness Yu, you and I represent our respective countries at this moment. Now we should......" Hussein still maintained his toughness, but Li Junwei said: "I don't mean to scare you. Do you know that when your Ottoman country completed the regime change, what I worry most is that Koprulu and the Guards have had an internal fight. Now the army is on the front line, obviously it has not happened.

The second worry is that the Kopruil family has an internal strife. You are the main one and your brother. I originally thought that when he had the title of Great Vizier and military power at the same time, you were the same, but now it seems that it is not. Mr. Hussein, please think about it. I have been to Xijin twice, once talking about borrowing military expenses, once talking about fighting for power and profit. You and I have had a great time talking about it. Why didn’t you even have the intention to negotiate this time?

Have you changed, or have I changed, or are the people around us changed?" Li Junwei asked back.

After hearing these words, Hussein fell into deep thought. He firmly believed that he had not changed, and the prince of the empire in front of him had not changed either. He was still so cunning, so cunning that he still hated him. But why didn't this time? Hussein calmed down and thought carefully, but Li Junwei did not issue the order to expel the guest again, but instead waited quietly for him.

Hussein recalled comparing his experience of diplomatic negotiations with the empire three times, and soon realized that he had made ample preparations in the first two times. The most important thing about this preparation was to have in-depth discussions with his brother Fazo, especially some clauses involving national interests. Fazo explained it untiringly every time? What is the core interest that cannot be sacrificed? What can be used for transactions, but this time it is different? Fazo's previous military situation is the reason for emergency? Fully entrusted, nothing was said.

At first, Hussein was proud? Although he did not compete for the position of Vizier for the overall situation? Maintaining the power stability of the Coplulu family? But it does not mean that he is an idle Yun Yehe. Hussein always feels that he is young and Fazo is older? His abilities are not inferior to him. He always has a chance, but now it seems that this is not the case. Fazo is older, but he is a person with a son.

This is very likely to be Fazor's conspiracy, using negotiations with the empire to seize his own authority?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

"Okay? Your Highness Yu? Let's stop today. I'll leave now. I wish you a happy time in Galata. If you have any needs, I can ask me at any time. I can solve any trouble for you." Hussein stood up and chose to retreat temporarily.

In the next ten days, Li Junwei traveled around Galata, and even pretended to be an army officer to visit Istanbul City and appreciate the style of this historical city. Hussein and Fazo used messengers to conduct frequent communications between Belgrade and Istanbul.

Hussein used a small trick, and he deliberately told Fazo that the negotiations with Li Junwei were very smooth, and the two sides had signed a treaty of intention. Hussein believed that if Fazo really targeted him, then he would be determined not to succeed from the beginning. Faced with the situation where he wanted to sign the contract, Fazo would either come back, lead the negotiations, share the fruits, or make trouble.

Soon, Hussein got news from the Jew Joseph, and Fazo asked the Sultan to order that Vizier, who was in charge of maritime trade, and some merchant representatives involved in the negotiations. The Vizier was a general who had just withdrawn from the Guards. This was to use a difficult conspiracy to undermine the negotiations. The reason was that the frontline war was tense, and Fazoer really couldn't leave.

After receiving this news, Hussein did two things: one was to select outstanding talents from businessmen and diplomats for his own use, and to provide advice for the Suez Canal negotiations as an aide. This was heard by Li Junwei, professionals did professional things, and after discussing with these people, Hussein realized how outrageous he was wrong.

The second is to tell Fazo that he had understood the wrong meaning of King Yu. The negotiations were very failed. The other party was playing with advance and retreating and wanted to continue the negotiations. In order to cooperate with this news, Hussein also ordered the Imperial Army Teaching Group to leave within a specified period of time and no longer allowed Chinese merchants to enter Istanbul City.

Because of these, Istanbul City was in a messy water. Hussein and Li Junwei, who were thinking about fishing in the muddy waters, thought of a new round of meetings at the Jewish synagogue in Galata. Li Junwei, who was known for his cunning, seemed to have forgotten his previous unhappiness and did not have Hussein's stupidity and arrogance last time, restarted the negotiations with a welcome attitude.

Hussein made sufficient preparations to deal with Li Junwei's challenge, but he had already failed at the beginning of the second negotiation.

Although both sides intend to open the Suez Canal as soon as possible, they both want to gain benefits in it. The Ottomans want to invest in the empire and eat ready-made things themselves, while the empire wants management rights and tolls. So Hussein and his staff team prepared many terms in advance, and even planned to add cooperation outside the Suez Canal to achieve balance of interests. However, Li Junwei did not give him this opportunity from the beginning.

"......You and I represent our respective countries, so the negotiations take the initiative to win more benefits for the country. However, based on our previous cooperation history, such a large cooperation project involves so many countries, I think we must consider the issue of feasibility." Li Junwei took the initiative from the beginning and said to Hussein.

This made Hussein, who had prepared a lot of conditions, fell into a big frustration. He frowned and asked, "What is the feasibility of what Your Highness said?"

"To give a simple example, suppose we promise to invest 20 million taels to dig the Suez Canal and obtain a certain proportion of the canal operation income. Both your country and our country agree, but after the excavation, we cannot afford 20 million, what should we do? Let's give up halfway, or join more partners?

Take you as an example. The canal is between Suez and the Port of Said. Obviously, the main manpower for digging the canal must come from Egypt. In the conditions you prepare, you must use this as a bargaining chip and require a certain profit sharing. So what should the Ottoman Empire fail to provide sufficient manpower?” In order to show respect, Li Junwei gave an example with the main bargaining chips, funds and manpower of the two countries, which left Hussein speechless.

Hussein also understood Li Junwei's intention. Today's verbal battles must be to win more benefits for the country, but both sides are not fools. The benefits are only paid except for exchanges. No one could have expected how much manpower, funds, and how many difficulties a large project like Suez would require. Even if they have won sufficient benefits today, they still have to take them out if they cannot do it. The two people face different difficulties.

The party represented by Hussein paid sovereignty and human rights. The former was the dignity of the Sultan and even the Ottomans, while the latter was life. The empire paid for funds and technology. If it failed, it would lose money. If a large project like the Suez Canal failed, the power of the Kopruli family would definitely be lost, and it might even destroy the country.

For the two people, the results of today's negotiations are different for the two people. The amount of benefits Li Junwei fought for does not affect his power. It is even said that the opening of the Suez Canal itself is a great achievement in the past. In terms of commercial interests, there will be more or less, and there will be no need to care too much about management and military garrison rights. It is also possible to fight slowly in the future.

But Hussein is different. If he cannot win sufficient benefits for the Ottoman, his authority may be lost at any time. Hussein realized a problem in a trance that his gain of dominance in the Suez Canal negotiations was itself a conspiracy of Fazo. If it fails, it will be successful. Even if it does not make a big profit, it will not work. He has been involved from the beginning.

Thinking of this, Hussein smiled helplessly. After working hard for more than ten days, he was useless. The dominance of negotiations had been taken away by the other party, and he even begged the other party to make concessions in terms of conditions so that he could maintain his authority.

"Please continue, Your Highness Yu." Hussein could only let Li Junwei continue to introduce.

Li Junwei said: "Your Excellency, in business cooperation, there is a contract called an intention contract. I think we have to negotiate now, and the final contract should be the same. Some things do not have to be specified, and give both parties space to operate. The more you pay, the more rewards you will get. Isn't that great?"

"Enter one point to gain something? It sounds beautiful, but how to do it?" Hussein asked.

"We must allocate the share of the opening factor of the Suez Canal, which will be used as the allocation standard for the Suez Canal in the future. What factors are required for the opening of the canal? Our advantage lies in the funds. The imperial official and private banks are definitely willing to invest and then distribute dividends from it. Your advantage lies in manpower. But the problem is that this is only an advantage, not all. We can also recruit workers to participate in the canal excavation, and you can also allow wealthy people in China to invest.

The question now is how much manpower and funds occupy all the costs of building the canal, and there are other cost elements, such as technology. Mr. Hussein, if the empire is willing to provide all technical services for the opening of the Suez Canal, how much profit do you think we can share with this item?" Li Junwei asked.

Hussein nodded: "Indeed, digging canals requires technology, but why do you provide it, can't we provide it?"

"Yes, I think technology alone can account for 10% of the canal's profits. However, if you are responsible, you must ensure that technical support can enable the canal to be opened and successfully opened. Mr. Hussein, can you guarantee it?" Li Junwei asked with a smile.

Hussein was speechless for a moment. Although the Ottoman spans three continents, the core area is Asia Minor. In water conservancy projects, irrigation canals are possible, but the Ottomans had no experience in building canals. What is more important is how to ensure it. He couldn't answer it, so he could only throw the question to Li Junwei. He knew that Li Junwei was prepared. He was confident that Ottoman could do everything China could do. In the same way, Hussein asked: "If you assume this, how do you plan to ensure it?"

"First of all, the Empire's Water Conservancy Bureau, the Royal Academy of Sciences, the Navy, the Army, and the official water conservancy, engineering and other schools will participate in the process of providing surveying, mapping, engineering and other technologies for the opening of the Suez Canal. This is obvious compared to yours. As for guarantee, it is very simple. Our country has insurance. We can insure the Suez Canal, or guarantee it in the form of a sovereign fund. Once the canal is opened due to technical problems, all investors will receive compensation, rather than being in a waste of money." Li Junwei said.

Hussein tried hard to remain calm, but he knew that he had failed. Ottoman had no technical ability and was even more unlikely to provide any protection for the canal. What is the insurance company? He didn't know, but Li Junwei understood what he meant. Whoever took the risk and who shared the profit, but Ottoman could not bear this risk because they could not afford it. But on the other hand, the partners were willing to bear it in this way, so it was determined that the Suez Canal would be opened. Compared with the 10% profit, the sincerity and confidence of the empire were more important.

However, Hussein didn't understand why the empire had so much confidence. Is it just because they secretly measured it when building the Suez Canal?

Just as Hussein was thinking, Li Junwei smiled and said to him: "We can promote externally, technology and guarantee terms are the conditions you, Mr. Hussein, have fought for the Ottoman."

"Oh, this..." This happiness came too suddenly. Hussein couldn't believe it, but it could be operated like this. Moreover, it was too beneficial for individuals. It could be said that Husse had won a stable profit and no loss because of Ottoman, which would shatter all the criticism.

"Okay, Lord Yu, you are really a magical person." Hussein said helplessly. Li Junwei's concept in the negotiations was also demonstrated, that is, to determine profits based on costs, rather than demarcating distributions from the beginning.

Hussein then proposed that labor costs account for 50% of all costs. Obviously this is Ottoman's advantage, but Li Junwei smiled and then proposed several other concepts that Hussein did not expect but could not avoid: risk costs, management costs, time costs, maintenance costs... Obviously, this is a cumbersome and complicated negotiation, which cannot be solved by two people. There must be a professional team.
Chapter completed!