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For the Chinese Empire, if it were to land in North America, California was undoubtedly the best option. It was bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, making it a bridgehead for the empire's expansion into North America. Buying California for 50 million US dollars, or 40 million Chinese dollars, is actually not high, and it is even very cheap. After all, that's a land with a total area of 570,000 square kilometers. Of course, at this point in time, did the Chinese Empire buy these lands from Mexico in order to take advantage of the fire?

In addition, the Chinese Empire bought these lands, which for the Americans was simply a tiger's mouth. The Americans will certainly not agree. When the time comes, the Americans will definitely send troops to invade these lands. When the time comes, if the Chinese Empire wants to recover these lands, it will inevitably fight a war with the Americans. To cross the Pacific to defeat a country like the United States, the Chinese empire will definitely pay a big price. If a lot of money is spent on the purchase of land, then the final total price will definitely not be acceptable to the Empire!

"Your Excellency, how much do you think California is worth?" Minister Adalus asked.

"Ten million dollars, that's our bottom line." Lin Zihao said.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, this is a lack of sincerity! Ten million dollars is too far from the Mexican government's expectations. Minister Adalus said angrily. Although I know that the Chinese want to pick up the cheap, but. This price is too low!

"Your Excellency, the price of 10 million dollars is not low. California's location, while good, is still the same thing. It was about to be captured by the United States, and Mexico did not defeat the American power. Once the empire buys these territories, the Americans are expected to occupy them. In that case, the price to be paid by the empire to recover these territories would be very high. Therefore, the empire would not spend much money on the purchase of land. Otherwise, it would be very bad for the Empire. Lin Zihao said frankly.

Minister Adalus was silent for a moment. He knew that what Lin Zihao said was the truth. If Mexico had the ability to defeat the Americans, they would not have sold these territories. The same. If the Chinese Empire wanted to acquire these territories, it would have to defeat the United States in addition to buying them from the Mexican government. The cost of this will certainly be higher than the purchase of these lands. The Chinese Empire was strong though. But it's not a big deal. Mexicans can be left to extortion.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I can understand. However, I can't explain such a price to the country! Minister Adalus said.

"Your Excellency, the facts are in front of you, and you can report them truthfully to the Mexican government. If they think the price is too low, then we can't do it, they can choose to sell it. But. I would like to remind you that once the United States occupied these territories. If you want to take it back, it won't be possible. When the time comes, you won't get a penny. Lin Zihao warned.

Minister Adalus nodded, and then said, "Your Excellency, what if we reduce the price to forty million dollars?" ”

Lin Zihao smiled and shook his head, he still couldn't accept this price. 40 million US dollars, converted into Chinese dollars, is 32 million Chinese dollars. This is still a lot of money for the current Chinese Empire.

"All right, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. $30 million, this is the last bottom line of the Mexican government. Minister Adalus said helplessly. A one-time reduction of 10 million US dollars, such a price reduction is not small. It's a pity that it's still not the psychological price of the Chinese Empire.

"Your Excellency, two million dollars! The empire paid $20 million to buy ownership of California. If the Mexican government agrees, then it's a deal! Lin Zihao said. 20 million US dollars, or 16 million Chinese dollars. Buying a piece of land of 570,000 square kilometers at such a price is not a loss. If you want to immigrate, you can immigrate at least five million or even ten million!

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, how about five million dollars more?" Minister Adalus said.

Lin Zihao shook his head, five million dollars is also a lot of money. The Chinese Empire was obviously willing to pay so much more.

"Alright! Your Excellency the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. That's 20 million dollars. However, this will not have to wait until the consent of my Government. Minister Adalus said. This price is just the price negotiated between him and Lin Zihao, and if he really wants to reach the price of the transaction, he must obtain the consent of the Mexican government. Anyway, Minister Adalus has done his best, and if the Mexican government still agrees, then he has no choice.

"Your Excellency Foreign Secretary, is the Chinese Empire interested in any region other than California? Such as Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. If the price was right, Mexico would be willing to sell the land to the Chinese Empire, so that the Chinese Empire's lands in North America could be connected. Minister Adalus said. These are all areas bordered by Mexico and the United States. Either it has already been occupied by the United States, or it is about to be occupied by the United States. If the Chinese Empire were able to buy these lands, it would undoubtedly create a buffer zone between the United States and Mexico. This will be very advantageous for Mexico, which is weak.

"Nevada and Utah, what about the environment in these two regions! In addition to the tall Rocky Mountains, there is the Colorado Plateau and the desert. There aren't many places where people can live. Lin Zihao said. Although these two places together have a total of 500,000 square kilometers, the geographical environment is too harsh for even immigrants to be able to immigrate much. The Chinese Empire was not very interested in these two places.

"Your Excellency, these two places, which the Mexican government can sell to the Chinese Empire at a favorable price. Ten million dollars will do the trick if you want! Minister Adalus said. Underneath these two places is the Arizona region of northern Mexico. Compared to Nevada and Utah, Arizona is much better. However, there is a threat from the Americans. If the Chinese were in front, Mexico would have much less trouble.

"Your Excellency, the price of 10 million is too high." Lin Zihao shook his head. To buy 10 million dollars in a place with such poor geographical conditions is simply a money grab. Although the area is about the same as that of California, the usable area is not even half that of California.

"Your Excellency, after the Chinese Empire bought California and Texas, these two places are not adjacent to each other, and the Chinese Empire is not easy to manage. If Nevada, Utah, and Colorado can be bought, they will be able to join each other, and the Chinese Empire will be able to better manage this territory. Nevada and Utah, with a total price of ten million dollars, are not high! Minister Adalus explained.

"Two million dollars, if the Mexican government is willing to accept it, then we will buy it." Lin Zihao said.

"Two million dollars? Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, this price is too low. That's 500,000 square kilometers of land! What's more, those two places are also rich in resources. Nevada is rich in gold and silver, and Utah has staggering copper reserves. If the Chinese Empire buys it, it will not suffer a loss. Minister Adalus said.

If the Emperor Long Yufei was here, he would definitely agree to buy it without hesitation. If nothing else, Utah's copper mines alone are worth more than 10 million dollars. Bingham Canyon, more than 40 kilometers southwest of Salt Lake City, is home to the world's largest open-pit copper mine. Since mining began in 1904, by the 21st century, five billion tons of copper ore have been mined. And more than 100,000 tons of copper ore can be mined every day. Copper was a very important metal during this period. The shells of bullets and shells are made of copper. As the Imperial Army's weapons became more and more advanced, the demand for copper was also very high. If it weren't for the copper mines mined from Luzon, the empire wouldn't have had that much copper to use to make bullets and shells.

Of course, Imperial Foreign Minister Lin Zihao didn't know about this copper mine, so he was still lowering the price.

"Your Excellency, Minister. The price of two million dollars is not low. Of course, for the sake of the friendship between our two countries, we can add another million dollars. Three million dollars in total! Lin Zihao said.

After some haggling, the price was finally set at $5 million, equivalent to a quarter of the price that the Chinese Empire would pay for California.

"Your Excellency, according to what we know, Wyoming and Colorado are not completely under the control of Mexico. More than half of the area has already been annexed by the Americans. How much are you going to pay for these two places? Lin Zihao asked.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Wyoming and Colorado are also forcibly occupied by the Americans. If the Chinese Empire was willing to buy it, five million dollars would be enough. Minister Adalus said.

Lin Zihao nodded, Wyoming has an area of 250,000 square kilometers, and Colorado has 270,000 square kilometers. It's just that more than half of these two places have been annexed by the Americans. If the Chinese Empire had paid for these two places, plus California, Nevada, Utah, and Texas, which the Chinese Empire had decided to buy, the total area would have reached more than two million square kilometers. (To be continued......)