Chapter 553: The right to dig the canal
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On February 4, 1846, representatives of the Canal Company arrived in Alexandria. These included Guo Mingquan, the Imperial Chinese Ambassador to France, the French Foreign Secretary, the Count of Morlay, the British Ambassador to France, Sir Polk, and the Kingdom of Spain's Ambassador to France, Viscount Fernand. This time, they went to Egypt on a warship sent by the French Navy. These three warships, all of which are the most powerful warships in service in the French Navy, are imitations of the 'Xia-class' cruisers imported from the Chinese Empire, and their performance is comparable to that of the 'Xia-class' cruisers.
Governor of Egypt Muhammad. Ali's grandson, Muhammad. The Abbasids were greeted at the port. Several huge warships gave the Abbasids a great shock. Egypt's own navy collapsed in 1827.
In 1827 Muhammad. Ali sent his son Ibrahim to lead his new army to help Sultan Mahmud II deal with Greece in the Greek War of Independence. He also spent a fortune to build a navy, but this navy also led to a break between him and Mahmud II. At that time, Britain, France, and Russia all supported Greek independence. They sent a powerful combined fleet to Greece, deployed in Novarino Bay, waiting for the Ottoman fleet. Ali realized that his naval power could not defeat this united European fleet, so he asked the Sultan to recognize the independence of Greece and sign a peace treaty under the mediation of Austria. But Mahmud II refused to give up so many territories, and his insistence that the combined European fleet was nothing more than a lie. Ali very reluctantly ordered his fleet to engage the European fleet. At the Battle of Novarino on October 20, 1827, Ali's fleet was destroyed within hours. This is Muhammad. Ali sent troops to serve the Sultan on a large scale for the last time. Subsequently, Muhammad. Ali built a new fleet. Merely. This new fleet was soon destroyed as well.
In 1839 as a result of Muhammad. Ali was dissatisfied with the partial autonomy gained in Syria and began to move troops against the Ottoman Sultan. When Mahmud II's army reached the Syrian border, Ibrahim attacked the Ottoman army on 24 June at Nisibis, near Shangliurfa, and again defeated the Ottoman army. Constantinople was once again under a direct threat from Ibrahim's army. Mahmoud II died almost after the battle, and his 16-year-old son, Abdul. Mejid succeeded to the throne. At this time, there was a difference of opinion between Ali and his son Ibrahim. Ibrahim built an attack on Constantinople. Claiming to be the Sultan. Ali, for his part, made only numerous territorial claims, as well as political autonomy for himself and his family. On July 15, 1840, Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia reached a London agreement guaranteeing Ali's hereditary rule over Egypt and his lifetime administration of Acre, but requiring the withdrawal of his troops from the rear of Syria and the coastal areas of Mount Lebanon. Ali rejected these requests. Despite French opposition, the European powers organized a military expeditionary force a few weeks later. The British and Austrian navies blockaded the coast of the Nile Delta and shelled Beirut on September 11, 1840. After the surrender of Acre on 3 November 1840, Ali agreed to the terms of the London Agreement, relinquished his rule over Crete and the Hejaz, and reduced his navy. Reduced the army to 18,000 men at the cost of hereditary rule in Egypt for his descendants. This was an unprecedented privilege of the Ottoman governor.
"Welcome to Egypt, where you will experience a completely different scenery!" Although I hate these guys to death in my heart. But the Abbasids still had a smile on his face. Compared to these powers. Egypt is too weak. Egypt's army, navy is gone, and the army is only 18,000 men. This military power is simply not able to compete with the Western powers.
"Hmph, what scenery? Outside of the desert, there are only indigenous people. There is no sign of modern industry at all. Viscount Fernand, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to France, muttered quietly. He speaks French, though. Abbasid also happened to know French, which made him very dissatisfied with Viscount Fernand. If it weren't for the fact that I didn't want to experience another intervention from European countries. He might have gotten angry a long time ago.
"Thank you, Lord Abbasid, for the invitation!" Guo Mingquan, the ambassador of the Chinese Empire to France, said with a smile. He didn't want to stiffen his relationship with Egypt as soon as he came to Egypt. So how will the next negotiations go? For this. He also glared at Viscount Fernand, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to France.
Viscount Fernand hurriedly shut up and said no more. The current Kingdom of Spain is the spokesperson of the Chinese Empire. Although he is also the ambassador to France, he does not dare to be presumptuous in front of Guo Mingquan.
The group traveled from Alexandria to Cairo. Alexandria was a hundred and sixty kilometres away from Los Angeles, and it was not until the evening of the same day that they arrived in Cairo. Egypt's transportation infrastructure is relatively poor, with only simple roads and no railways.
At the royal palace in Cairo, Guo Mingquan and others met with the Governor of Egypt, Mohammed. Ali. Although Muhammad. Ali is already old, but at this moment, he is still the true character of a generation of heroes, and that kind of temperament makes people fall in love with it. Even if the Canal Development Company has to be represented, either as foreign envoys or foreign ministers of major powers, but in Mohammed. In front of Ali, he still maintained respect for him, not like he did with those small colonial countries. In this era, only the strong can be respected, and the weak are the objects of enslavement.
Governor of Egypt Muhammad. Ali prepared a welcoming ceremony for the arrival of the representatives of the Canal Development Company. The welcome ceremony was not grand, but it was grand. Egypt's top government and military officials participated in the welcoming ceremony. However, at the welcoming ceremony, there was no negotiation of the right to dig the canal. And the representatives of the canal development company are not in a hurry. This time, they went to Egypt and were determined to win the right to dig the canal. And, with the strength of China, Britain, France, and Spain, even the other European powers were forced to retreat, could the governor of Egypt have any other way than to agree to the demands of the Canal Development Company?
The next day, the Governor of Egypt, Muhammad. Ali's grandson, Muhammad. Abbasids began negotiations with the Canal Development Company.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I know what you are here for. Egypt has no objection to the opening of canals. After all, the opening of the canal will not only promote the development of the world economy, but also the development of Egypt itself. It's a win-win for us. "Muhammad. Abbas said. Although this is the case, it is actually a helpless move. Once the canal is opened, the countries will definitely increase their invasion of Egypt. Will Egypt be able to maintain its independence? It's just that there is no way now, and it can only strive for more benefits for Egypt.
Guo Mingquan and the others all nodded again and again, the Abbasids knew each other so well, which saved them from wasting their words.
"But, folks, what will Egypt gain when the canal is opened?" Abbasid asked.
"Your Excellency, Egypt will be able to get five percent of the shares of the Canal Development Company!" Guo Mingquan, the ambassador of the Chinese Empire to France, said.
"Five percent? Your Excellency, is this a little less? The canal was dug in Egyptian soil and will be almost 200 kilometers long. How much damage would it be to Egypt if such a large piece of land was dug into a canal? In addition, it would separate the eastern territories from Egypt. Therefore, five percent of the shares is too little! Abbas said.
"Haha, Your Excellency, you must be too whimsical, aren't you? Do you know how much it costs to dig the entire canal? At least fifty million pounds! Even one hundredth more is equivalent to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Viscount Fernand, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to France, said disdainfully.
"If you want the right to dig the canal, you have to agree to Egypt's terms!" Abbasid said forcefully.
"Your Excellency, the shares in the Canal Development Company that have been left to Egypt are only five percent. But you need not underestimate the five per cent shares, which will make a profit of £100,000 a year once the canal is opened. What's more, five percent of Egypt's shares were given away by the Canal Development Corporation. In other words, you will soon be able to earn 100,000 pounds a year without spending a penny! "said the British ambassador to France, Sir Polk.
Abbasid nodded, 100,000 pounds a year, which is already a lot. However, for Egypt, it is not enough. Egypt's external debt is already 80 million francs, which is 3.2 million pounds sterling when converted into pounds. The annual income of 100,000 pounds is not even a fraction.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this five percent of Egypt's shares is not for nothing. The canal, after all, was dug in the land of Egypt. There were other matters that had to be handled by Egypt. The Abbasids still refused to budge. After all, even one percent more of the shares you get now will definitely be worth a lot of money in the future. What's more, once the canal is opened, the shares of the canal will definitely be very valuable. Even if it sells its shares, Egypt will be able to make a lot of money in the future.
"Egypt can only use 5 percent of the shares, and there is no surplus stake in the Canal Development Company for Egypt. If Egypt refuses, we have no other way. The canal must be dug up, and if Egypt blocks it, it will mean a provocation against our four countries. When the time comes, Egypt will pay an unimaginably heavy price. French Foreign Minister Count Molay warned. Of the several representatives of the Canal Development Company, he was the only one who had a higher status in the country.
The other delegates did not resist the Count of Morley's warning. After all, the Abbasids' demands were a bit too much. (To be continued......)