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Although the Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao has lowered the ransom to 250 million pounds, this is still an astronomical amount for Minister Putiyatin. Needless to say, it is certainly impossible for Russia to accept this amount. However, the attitude of the Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao was also very resolute, and no matter how much Minister Putiyatin pleaded, he was unwilling to reduce the share of the ransom.

As a last resort, negotiations can only be temporarily suspended. Minister Putiyatin needed to report the conditions proposed by the Chinese Empire to the country, and then the decision was made at home. However, he knew that neither Tsar Alexander II nor those high-ranking officials in Russia would have the same conditions as the Chinese Empire, and this was simply blackmail against Russia!

"Your Majesty, in today's negotiations, the minister has reduced the amount of the ransom from 400 million pounds to 250 million pounds. However, this amount of money is still a large amount for Russia. I'm afraid they won't accept that amount. Lin Zihao said to Emperor Long Yufei.

"Hmmm! Unless the Russians were kicked in the head by a donkey, they would not have been able to come up with 250 million pounds. Long Yufei said. Although, he very much hopes to be able to squeeze all the oil out of the Russians. 250 million pounds, equivalent to nearly 1,900 tons of gold. With this money, the empire will begin to take off once again. However, he knew that the Russians would certainly not agree. The reason why the amount is set so high is simply to leave a room for bargaining. As long as he can get another 100 million pounds from the Russians, Long Yufei will be satisfied. That's the case. The Empire's finances will become very rich. A series of plans can also be carried out smoothly.

Lin Zihao nodded. A rapidly growing empire. Spending money is like running water. In order for the empire to become strong, it is necessary to find a way to earn money. Now that the Russians are coming to the door, isn't this a great opportunity for the Empire?

"In the process of negotiation, don't forget to put a little pressure on the Russians so that they can give in as much as possible." Long Yufei said.

Lin Zihao frowned, as if he didn't understand what Long Yufei meant. Could it be that the Empire is going to war with the Russians again?

"Now. The Russians were at war with the Ottoman Turkish Empire. If those prisoners of war are redeemed, they will inevitably have an important impact on the situation of the war. If a high-ranking official of the Imperial Foreign Office has contact with the Ottoman Turkish envoy to China. And it happened to the Russian minister to see it, what do you think the Russians will think? Long Yufei smiled like a fox.

"Haha! 陛xià wise. If the Russians had learned of our contact with the Ottoman Empire, they would have hastened the negotiations. When the time comes, we will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to get more out of the Russians. Lin Zihao said with a smile. After all. On the side of the Russians. They were very worried that the Ottoman Turks would sabotage this prisoner of war trade. In this case, even by next spring, Russia will not have the strength to counterattack the Ottoman Empire, and it may even suffer an even worse defeat.

"In addition, we can provide some support to the Ottoman Turkish Empire. For example, we captured so many weapons in the war with the Russians. If the Ottoman Turkish Empire wanted it, we could sell some to them. The war between the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the Russians. It's better to be able to keep going. The longer this war is fought, the better it will be for the Empire. Long Yufei said. Russia. Undoubtedly, the enemy of the empire, and the security of the empire can only be guaranteed after the complete destruction of Russia. Similarly, as a great power in the Middle East, the Ottoman Turkish Empire will inevitably come into conflict with the empire in the future. Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, the Ottoman Turkish Empire, which dominates the Middle East, will pose a huge threat to the canal. In the future, this may lead to conflict with the Empire. The use of the Russians to weaken the Ottoman Turkish Empire would also favor the Empire's future expansion in the Middle East. What's more, Long Yufei knew that under those deserts in the Middle East, there were countless black gold buried. After the rise of the era of the internal combustion engine, that will determine the prosperity of the country.

Now, the empire has begun to exploit the oil fields in the South Seas in small quantities. However, because the internal combustion engine is still under development, the consumption of oil is not large. However, in a few years, with the maturity of internal combustion engine technology, after the promotion of automobiles in the army and society, the demand for oil will increase explosively. The empire will begin to extract oil on a large scale. The Middle East, especially along the coast of the Persian Gulf, will be an important direction for the future development of the empire.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lin Zihao nodded. He knew what Long Yufei meant, this was planning for the next step of the empire.

When the Russian minister to China, Putiyatin, sent the contents of the negotiations back to St. Petersburg, it was still 7 o'clock in the morning. Russian Foreign Minister Count Nesherrody hurried to Tsarskoye to report to Tsar Alexander II. At the same time, he also contacted the Russian political adviser Zhukovsky and the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov. He knew that Tsar Alexander II would be furious if he learned of the conditions put forward by the Chinese side. At that time, he will be the only one to bear the wrath of His Majesty the Tsar.

When Count Nesherrodi and others arrived at the royal village, Tsar Alexander II had just had breakfast with his wife and children and went to the office to prepare for the day's affairs. When he learned that Count Nesherrodi had come to meet him, he had to leave all other affairs to a small extent. At present, the ransom of those prisoners of war from the Chinese Empire, and then prepare to counterattack the Ottoman Turkish Empire, is Russia's top priority!

"Count Nesherro Die, have our negotiations with the Chinese Empire come to fruition?" Alexander II asked eagerly. Having already decided to bow to the Chinese Empire, he seems to have passed this hurdle.

"His Majesty, Minister Putiyatin, sent back the conditions of the Chinese Empire." Count Niechel Rodie whispered.

Seeing the expression of Count Neschel Rodie, Alexander II had a bad feeling in his heart: "What are the conditions of the Chinese?" ”

"Your Majesty, the Chinese demanded a ransom of £250 million for the more than 800,000 prisoners of war. Otherwise, they would not have returned the prisoners of war. Said Count Nieschel Rodie.

"What? £250 million. Those Chinese, why don't you grab it! Damn, those damned yellow-skinned monkeys, they don't have any sincerity at all and are bent on blackmailing Russia! I will never agree to such conditions! Tsar Alexander II said furiously. He did not expect that the conditions proposed by the Chinese Empire would be so harsh.

"Your Majesty, the initial condition proposed by the Chinese was 400 million pounds, and then it gradually dropped to 250 million pounds." Zhukovsky said.

"It doesn't matter if it's £400 million or £250 million, it's impossible. Russia will not pay so much ransom, let those Chinese die this heart! Alexander II said angrily.

Count Nescher Rodie and the others had to bow their heads and remain silent, they knew that Alexander II was angry.

"Let Putiyatin continue to negotiate with the Chinese, our bottom line is 10 million pounds. If it's higher than that, I won't agree to the deal! Alexander II said through gritted teeth.

"Your Majesty, if that's the case, then, this negotiation won't be successful!" Count Niechel Rodie said with great certainty.

"Then there is no need to negotiate. I believe that even if we don't redeem those prisoners, we will be able to defeat the Ottoman Empire. Alexander II said, tilting his head.

"Your Majesty, although we are confident that we will defeat the Ottoman Turkish Empire, I am afraid that this process will last for two or three years. What's more, in the next ten or even twenty years, we will not be strong enough to challenge the Chinese Empire. "said the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Duke Gorchakov.

Suddenly, Alexander II's roar was suffocated. If it will take another two or three years to defeat the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Then, the whole of southern Russia is estimated to be in ruins. More importantly, Russia will lose the opportunity to challenge the Chinese Empire. While Russia was licking its wounds, the Chinese Empire must have grown stronger. At that time, Russia was still no match for the Chinese Empire. This was unacceptable to Alexander II.

"Is it possible, there is no other way?" Alexander II asked.

"His Majesty, the prisoners of war in the hands of the Chinese, were very important for Russia to defeat the Ottoman Turkish Empire and restore its strength." Duke Gorchakov said with great certainty.

Alexander II's face was gloomy, and after a while, he said, "Let Minister Putiyatin talk to the Chinese again." Nearly the best efforts to bring the ransom down. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Count Niechelro nodded. He was also angry at the greed of the Chinese Empire. But now, they have no other way!

After receiving the order from the country, the Russian minister to China, Putiyatin, had to rush to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire again on December 28 to bargain with the Foreign Minister Lin Zihao, so that the Chinese Empire could lower the ransom. It's just that the effect is not great.

Unbeknownst to Minister Putiatin, Wei Yuan, the Vice-Foreign Minister not far from the office of Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao, was also meeting with Hassan, the Ottoman Turkish Minister's envoy to China. (To be continued......)