He has been the Supreme Emperor in Jiaozhizhina for many years and has been used to pointing fingers. The question that Lu Mei just now was just a habitual way of thinking. Of course, he understood what Liu Shaoqing said that if everything here is reported to the country and the war continues to expand, no matter what the result of the war is, he will never be able to obtain more favorable conditions than now.

I believe that most people will choose the latter if they ask a country to divide up 10 billion francs and make themselves earn 100 million francs by themselves. What's more, their lives are still in their hands.

Paladin, Liu Shaoqing took back the topic. "Okay. Everyone, these days, we have traveled from Hanoi to Old Street, and from Old Street to Guangning, and we have walked along the way. I believe everyone has a rough understanding of the situation here. What you see is my sincerity. So now, should I let me know your sincerity?"

Lu Mei turned around and communicated briefly with the group behind her, then said, "Dear Liu, thank you very much for everything you have shown. Please rest assured that we will definitely come back as promised. However, before this, we need to bring these samples back to China for inspection to determine what kind of boilers and equipment to be used. However, in order to show our sincerity, we will write a letter to return to China before leaving and withdraw three million gold francs from China for infrastructure construction here, including the first phase of the expansion of port terminals, roads and iron plants in Hongji."

I got a positive reply from Lu Mei, and Liu Shaoqing's more than a month of traveling was not in vain. "Very good, dear gentlemen. Please believe that your investment will be used where it should be used. I plan to build a railway connecting Yongfu and Hongji through Beining. In this way, it will be more convenient for the future whether the refined steel is exported or the mining coal is transported to the iron plant."

Although Hongji has rich coal resources, there is no iron ore. Most of the iron ore in Tokichi is hidden in old streets, Anpei, Fushou, Yongfu and other provinces in the Honghe Basin. Among them, Guisha iron ore in Wenpan County in Baosheng has the richest reserves and is of good quality. The ore is mainly goiterite, with a content of between 43-55%, and the manganese content is generally 2.5-5%.

In addition to the old streets, Taiyuan's Penangzhai and Jinmen, the iron ore reserves in the middle places are also very large and have a higher grade. The iron content of a large number of magnetite is about 60%. The content of goiterite is also between 50-55%, and most manganese content is 3-4%. However, the iron ore here is more difficult to mine, and it is not as convenient as Guisha.

It is precisely because of the need to transport iron ore from Baosheng that Liu Shaoqing planned to set up his future iron plant in Yongfu. On the one hand, Yongfu is already on the edge of the mountains in northwest of Tonkin and is easier to build the road to Hongji. The iron ore mined from Baosheng can also flow down the Red River.

Hearing that Liu Shaoqing had plans to build a railway, He Luomang immediately said: "Liu, as far as I know, it takes about 15 million gold francs to build a 100-kilometer-long railway - well, if it is converted into silver, it is about 2 million taels - the money is too big. If we invest such a capital into the railway, it may be difficult for other aspects to turn over sufficiently."

Lu Mei, He Luomang, Poly and other senior officials and generals, have their own assets in France and other colonies. In addition, they have brought more than a dozen merchants they trust, and they can raise at most 20 million francs of funds through mortgages and loans. This is their limit. If the money is only invested in the first phase of the coal mine and iron ore construction, the funds are still relatively sufficient, but if the iron plant is considered, it is not enough. Now that there is another railway, the money is not enough.

"Don't worry, I won't force it." Liu Shaoqing had long been confident. "Since we have agreed before, you only need to be responsible for investing in the construction of coal mines, iron mines, and iron mines, and iron mills, I will naturally do it. I have also roughly calculated that the initial investment of coal mines requires about 600,000 taels of silver, and the investment required for iron mines is about 800,000 taels of silver. In addition, the machinery and equipment, factory construction, etc. required by the iron mill is about 800,000 taels of silver. In addition, the machinery and equipment required by the iron mill is about 800,000 taels of silver. In addition, some necessary barges, etc., 2.5 million taels of silver - that is, about 18 million gold francs are all."

Hearing that everything was as usual, Lu Mei and others were relieved secretly. Otherwise, if the funds were invested in in the future, they would be misappropriated to build the railway. So when will their investment be recovered?

Liu Shaoqing continued: "As for the railway... it is good, the funds for the construction of the railway are indeed very large, but we do not need to invest in the full amount of this capital. In fact, I only invested 30% of the funds in the construction of this railway, and the other large amounts were invested by the Qing court. To be honest, I have received the news that after the war, the Qing court will invest in the construction of a railway from Zhennanguan to Hanoi. I just made a slight adjustment and extension of the railway line during the construction of this railway."

Speaking of this, Liu Shaoqing added: "Since the court intends to build a railway, the progress of our mines and iron plants will be accelerated. Otherwise, if such a large order is cheap and cheap for outsiders, it would be really painful."

A railway from Zhennanguan to Hanoi does not include a bridge across the Honghe River, but also requires at least four million taels of silver. Since such a railway has been built, will it not continue to extend to Nanning? It will not extend to Guangzhou? How much money will it be?

Lu Mei and others seemed to see gold coins flying in the sky, waiting for themselves to capture them with a copy net. "Liu, don't worry, we will write a letter to the country tonight, asking our relatives in China to find the best designers to come to Tokyo to inspect and design the factory. At the same time, we also hope that you will help send the samples back to China for analysis as soon as possible so that relevant equipment can be purchased as soon as possible."

"Haha..." Liu Shaoqing smiled and stretched out his hand to Lu Mei, "Then let us take action. I wish us a happy cooperation."

Although the news of the secret negotiation of the contract between China and France was not known by the officers and soldiers who fought bloody battles in front of the army, the top officials had already begun to move. Germany, Russia, the United States, Japan and other countries naturally learned the news through various channels. As the news of the Sino-French peace talks was confirmed, all countries began a new round of diplomatic offensives.

In Germany, considering that the Qing court suffered losses in this war with France this time was all at sea, the German shipyard seemed to foresee that the Qing Empire would inevitably vigorously develop its navy in the future. Therefore, it became an urgent task to prompt the government to repair the relationship between the two countries that seemed a bit awkward because of the seizure of the "Ding" and the "Zhen" ships. The first thing to do is naturally to deliver the two first-class ironclad ships "Dingyuan", "Zhenyuan" and the cruiser "Jiyuan" as soon as possible.

On the other side of the ocean, the United States actively helps mediate and promote peace talks. As an emerging capitalist country, the United States' current strength is still a pediatrician. No matter who wins and loses in this war, it will be of no benefit to him. So why not negotiate earlier, and then everyone sits down and do business well together.

Russia has stepped up pressure on North Korea, hoping to get the coveted Far East unfreezing port before the signing of the formal contract between China and France; while Japan notified the Qing government to arrange Hirofumi Ito to visit China and discuss North Korea and the so-called security issues in North Korea and Northeast Asia.

Big people have national affairs that big people have to be busy with, and small people also have trivial things that little people have to consider.

Xu Wu finally coaxed the three children to sleep. Looking at the three little heads lined up on the bed, gently tucked the quilt and feet for the children, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his face. But soon, the smile was dispelled by the gradually frowning brows.

When he walked to the outer room, the head of the house was rubbing the pods silently. Xu Wu moved a stool and sat down, and rubbed them together. After rubbing them for a few times, Xu Wu couldn't help but raise his head and raised his words.

"His father, do you really want to send Shuiwa to that 'public school'?"

After hearing his wife's question, Xu Dashan silently put down the pod in his hand, pulled out the cigarette bag from his waist and put a bag of cigarettes. Xu Wu clamped a piece of charcoal on the stove and lit the cigarette bag for the boss. Xu Dashan sniffed a few bites and said slowly: "Shuiwa has grown up and eaten more and more. The gentleman from the county said that in the 'public school', he taught to recognize words. Not only does he not charge tuition fees but also food. Let Shuiwa go, he is enjoying his happiness. If you recognize a few words, you can also go to the city to find a living in the future, which is better than staying at home."

Xu Wu suddenly felt a little sore in his nose, and tears were about to fall. "There is no stuffed cake in the sky. There is such a good thing. Why don't the children in the city go there? I heard that the school is learning the things of foreigners. If... Shuiwa can't come back for at least a month, she doesn't know whether she is alive or dead. If there is a shortage of things..."

Xu Dashan was a little impatient with his wife's words, but he also knew that what his wife said was reasonable. From ancient times to the present, I have heard that my husband did not charge money for teaching and paid for it? How could he not hear about those rumors after hearing about Xu Wu? There are even rumors that there were foreigners in the school who wanted to abduct children to do some experiments.

Doing an experiment...it doesn't sound like a good thing. But Xu Dashan couldn't help but have no choice. The family couldn't raise three children. The water baby started to grow up and ate more and more, but he couldn't help with any work. If this continues, would he starve to death?

No matter how "public school" is, at least there is a notice from the county government. You can't really eat your children, right? Now many people in the village send their children to the city as apprentices, and they sign a ten-year contract for selling their bodies? It's not that they can't eat enough? Entering that "public school" just said that they can only take two days off a month, and it's not that they can't see them, but they just treat it as sending them to the city to apprentices.

Xu Dashan thought to himself that the worst thing is that he will take the child back in two or three months. But then he thought about what if he could take it back? Nowadays, the government taxes are heavy, and he can't afford to rent those acres of land. The poor are suffering. If there is a little solution, who would want to push the child into the fire pit?

"Oh..." Xu Dashan sighed long, and could only treat his wife's complaints and worries as wind in his ears and continue to rub his bean pods. These beans will be sold for money tomorrow, otherwise even the family will lose salt.

The Spring Festival in the 11th year of Guangxu came late. Just after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it was already March of the Gregorian calendar. Xu Shuiwa followed his father into the city in amid the tears of his mother and the confusion of his younger siblings. For him, a completely strange and brand new world is about to unfold.

At the same time, the capital thousands of miles away will also welcome two new visitors - Japanese Prime Minister Hirofumi Ito, who came to China for the North Korean issue to negotiate with the Qing court, and French special envoy Badno, who came to negotiate the Sino-French peace treaty.

In March, Emperor Guangxu appointed Li Hongzhang as the plenipotentiary ambassador and conducted diplomatic consultations with Hirobu Ito. At the same time, news came from France that the draft Sino-France peace talks were basically completed, and France will appoint special envoy Badno to Tianjin to sign a contract with Li Hongzhang. Before this, the Zongli Yamen will clearly send a letter of letter to Li Fengbao and Frenchman Bi Le to sign a "draft agreement".

The breakthrough of China-French peace talks lies in the fact that both countries hope to end this war that no one can win as soon as possible. Therefore, with the mediation of Britain and the United States, the Qing court issued an order to Tonkin during the Spring Festival. The Black Flag Army released more than a dozen French Jiaozhi officials and dozens of merchants, including Lu Mei; but continued to seize thousands of soldiers. France also ordered Courbet to withdraw the fleet from Taiwan and Penghu, but still occupied Nanding in Tonkin.

However, even so, at least everyone has taken one step and showed limited "sincerity". On this basis, after a new round of temptations, both sides agreed to take a step back again: China no longer insists on sovereignty over Vietnam and recognizes the fact that France has regained the existence of Jiaozhina; and France will also recognize the fact that China has in Tonkin.

Once the general direction was confirmed, the two sides quickly reached an agreement on trade and withdrawal: China agreed to France's trade request, but the conditions for trade need to be discussed separately and on the premise of not damaging the existing laws; in terms of withdrawal, the French army can completely withdraw from Tonkin - that is, north of the 20th north latitude line, but the Qing army also needs to withdraw from the pass. Tonkin can only retain an armed force of the "Black Flag Army", and the number cannot exceed 10,000.

Behind the military existence of the Black Flag Army in Tonkin, you can clearly see the shadows of Lu Mei and He Luomang, but this does not go against Zai Tian’s original idea. It is just that in terms of military strength, the Qing court said that 10,000 is absolutely not enough, and a force of 30,000 must be reached to ensure the "safety" of Tonkin.

As for the Qing court's request that "France needs to be responsible for rebuilding Fujian shipyards", the Qing court agreed to discuss in detail after Badno came to Tianjin, but at the same time stated that the conditions could be relaxed appropriately.
Chapter completed!