Obviously, the French already knew that the loss of the colony of Indochina was inevitable. Therefore, they simply stopped hoping to keep this rich colony, and focused their negotiations on the captured French* soldiers and the expatriates. In this way, we want to redeem those captured soldiers and expatriates at the lowest cost.

"If the Indochinese Resistance is willing to release the captured soldiers and nationals, the French government will declare its unconditional renunciation of colonization of Indochina. Isn't that what you want? Aristide Briand said with a smile. He believed that the leaders of the Resistance Army in Indochina would have a good chance of accepting such conditions. After all, this is exactly what these Resistance generals dream of.

The leaders of the Resistance Army in Indochina did not seem to have expected the French to cede their Indochina colonies so easily. After all, the Indochina colony was the richest of France's colonies! For a moment, they didn't know what to say.

Imperial Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi and Vice Minister Gu Shaochuan also had to admire the French's move of retreating. The French knew that they could not keep the colony of Indochina, so they simply gave it up in exchange for other benefits. France had many colonies, and although the Indochina colony was the richest, it was also the weakest French control. The colony of Indochina was too far away from France, and it was surrounded by ambitious countries such as the Chinese Empire. In the case that its own strength cannot suppress the Chinese Empire, it is almost a sure thing to lose the colony of Indochina. Therefore, the French gave up this colony cleanly and directly.

"What? Do you think, ladies and gentlemen, that this condition is not enough to express the sincerity of the French Republic? Aristide Briand asked, raising an eyebrow.

"This, Your Excellency, is not like this." In the face of the questioning of the French, the leaders of the resistance in Indochina were somewhat overwhelmed.

"Ahem!" Imperial Vice Foreign Minister Gu Shaochuan coughed twice, interrupting the leader of the Indochina Resistance Army. At the same time, it also defuses the pressure on them caused by French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand.

"Your Excellency, it is undoubtedly best that France is willing to give up its colonization of Indochina. In this way, it will contribute to the complete success of this negotiation. Since the French government is willing to take the initiative to abandon Indochina, it is natural that the Indochinese resistance army should also show its sincerity. The release of those captured servicemen and expatriates, this is a certainty. However, the French colonized Indochina since 1870 and brought great suffering to the people of Indochina. France plundered a great deal of wealth from the Indochina colonies. Shouldn't the Indochinese side be compensated for in this regard? Gu Shaochuan said with a smile.

Suddenly, Aristide Briand and his entourage all looked at Gu Shaochuan with murderous eyes. Seeing that they were about to force the leaders of the Indochinese resistance army to submit. As a result, he was stopped by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Empire. This undoubtedly made them very angry. If possible, they would like to give Gu Shaochuan a few slaps on the spot. Because, this will cost France extremely heavy losses.

Regarding the French's gaze that seemed to kill people, Gu Shaochuan was content, as if he didn't care at all.

The leaders of the Indochinese Resistance Army looked at Gu Shaochuan gratefully. If it weren't for Gu Shaochuan, they might have been taken into the ditch by the French.

"Your Excellency, during the French colonial rule of Indochina, countless people died tragically under the French colonial rule. The French colonies from Indochina also plundered a great deal of wealth. Therefore, we think it is reasonable for France not only to renounce its domination of the Indochina colonies, but also to compensate us for our losses. Pan Peizhu said.

Aristide Briand ignored Pan Peizhu's request and looked at Tang Shaoyi and Gu Shaochuan.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Your Excellency the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Chinese Empire, as the mediator this time, should remain neutral. In this way, we will be able to continue the negotiations. If the Chinese Empire had blindly favored the Indochinese Resistance, this would have caused misunderstanding in the French government. Aristide Briand said.

After all, the Chinese Empire insisted that it had nothing to do with the Indochinese Resistance Army. Of course, only a fool would really believe this. However, since the Chinese Empire said so, it must give an explanation to the whole world.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese Empire naturally remains neutral. However, compared to France, the Indochinese resistance was too weak. If we ignore it, the Indochinese resistance will definitely be completely suppressed by you in the end. In that case, the negotiation would be unfair. Tang Shaoyi said with a smile. The French wanted to get out of the Indochina colony without pulling out a dime, which was absolutely impossible.

"Humph!" Aristide Briand snorted coldly, very dissatisfied with this attitude of the Chinese Empire. However, he also knew that there was no other way than to verbally express his grievances.

"Mr. Pan, is the Indochina Resistance Army trying to blackmail the French government? Let's not forget that the decades of French rule in Indochina have led to great progress in industry and agriculture, education, and health care. This is our contribution to Indochina, and instead of being grateful to us, you are trying to blackmail us, which is clearly a desire for revenge. As for the people of Indochina who died under French rule, it was entirely self-inflicted. They were ignorant and backward, not only did they not accept the help of the French Republic, but they also targeted France everywhere in an attempt to subvert French rule. France took measures only as a last resort. Aristide Briand said. With a single mouth, all the blame was directly placed on Indochina. And, the Indochinese Resistance Army was charged with ingratitude.

The leaders of the Indochinese Resistance Army were dumbfounded, as if they had not imagined that the French would be so brazen as not only not to admit their crimes, but also to beat them up, which is simply too bad and too bullying.

"No matter how much the French government quibbles, it cannot change the fact that France enslaved the people of Indochina and plundered and exploited Indochina. France has to pay us reparations. Otherwise, we will not accede to all the demands of the French government. Pan Peizhu said firmly. He knew very well that if he wanted to argue with the French on these issues, they would not be the opponents of the French at all, and they would soon be overwhelmed by the French. Rather than this, it is better to insist on your own requirements. Anyway, those French* soldiers and expatriates are still under their control. If the French did not want to lose them, they had no choice but to accede to the demands of the Resistance in Indochina.

"Mr. Pan, you are clearly blackmailing France. Although France loves peace, it will never be insulted at will. I hope that your Excellency will be able to accept it as soon as you see it. Otherwise, you will pay a greater price. Aristide Briand threatened.

The threat of the French was of no use to the leaders of the Indochinese Resistance Army. They have been assured from the side of the Chinese Empire. In any case, the Chinese Empire will guarantee their safety. No matter how vicious the French are, that's just what they see.

"Your Excellency, we are not blackmailing France, but making legitimate demands." In the face of the threat of the French, Pan Peizhu did not budge.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the conference room became a little frozen, and the whole negotiation seemed to be in a stalemate.

"Well, in order to compensate you, the French government is willing to offer you ten million francs." Aristide Briand said.

"Ten million francs, isn't that a dispatch called Hanako?" Several leaders of the Indochinese Resistance Army said with some dissatisfaction. If they had cared about 10 million francs, it would have been 4 million Chinese dollars. But now they have long since stopped thinking about the ten million francs. They care more about it.

"What? Aren't you happy about that? Ten million francs is not a small amount. Aristide Briand frowned.

"Your Excellency, the difference between ten million francs and our request is too great. If this is the condition of the French government, we cannot accept it. Pan Peizhu shook her head.

"Okay, tell me, how much do you want us to compensate you? The premise is that the lion doesn't open his mouth. Because the French Republic is definitely not a wronged man to be slaughtered by you. Aristide Briand said.

"Your Excellency, we invite the French government to provide us with a compensation of one billion Chinese dollars to compensate for the losses incurred in Indochina over the years." Pan Peizhu suppressed the excitement in her heart and said this condition.

"Ten? Billion Chinese dollars? Aristide Briand and the rest of the French, one by one, were already wide-eyed. A billion Chinese dollars, that's Chinese dollars, not francs. Converted into francs, it is already two and a half billion francs. This is already equivalent to one-eighteenth of France's fiscal revenue last year. You know, this year, the French economy will be worse, and the fiscal revenue will be less. There's no way they're going to come up with this money so easily. (To be continued.) )