Master Yuan, start!

“Gentlemen, such a commotion occurred in Guangzhou that even its original owner was lost, leading to a massacre.

I propose that we establish a four-nation administration consisting of France, Britain, Germany, and the United States to jointly manage Guangzhou, so that it will not continue to deteriorate to the point where it cannot be managed!"

The German consul had already received an order from Berlin asking him to collect food and supplies to the Imperial Expeditionary Force. Therefore, he knew that the British proposal was probably just to disgust the French and did not take it seriously.

The American consul was more concerned about whether his country's special interests in the Lingnan region could be protected.

For example, the Whampoa Naval Academy, a school built with the help of Americans, it is not clear who the current controller Ding Ruchang supports.

Therefore, the American consul did not intend to get involved.

Only the French Consul Fang Suya, after hearing what the British Consul Scott said, clearly expressed his refusal.

After entering, Fang Suya shook her head and said, "France has no interest in establishing such an institution. In comparison, it would be more appropriate to find a new ruler for the Lingnan region and let him take charge!"

"The new ruler?" British Consul Scott smiled maliciously and asked, "Who do you think is qualified to take on this important task?"

Fang Suya said bluntly: "Of course it is Zhang Peilun, the former governor of Guangdong and the successor of Governor Li Hongzhang's beliefs!"

"Oh?" British Consul Scott deliberately lengthened his tone and said, "Compared to Zhang Peilun, I have a more suitable candidate."

A more suitable candidate?

French Consul Fang Suya frowned upon hearing this and turned to ask, "Who?"

"I!"

A powerful response came from outside the meeting room of the French Consulate.

Amid the stunned expressions of the French consul, the smiling expressions of the British consul, and the surprised expressions of the German and American consuls, Yuan Shikai stepped into the brightly lit conference room.

After taking a quick look at the expressions of the people on the field, he said in a high voice:

"I, Yuan, am not a talented person, but I am willing to devote my life to the millions of people in Lingnan, even until my death!"

Chapter 418: Monarchy is still better

The sound of military boots hitting the ground was heard, and Yuan Shikai appeared in the French Consulate in Guangzhou in military uniform, followed by Xu Shichang and others.

"Sorry, I'm late." Yuan Xiangcheng bowed slightly and apologized to the consuls of Britain, the United States and Germany in front of him.

"Your Excellency, this is such a pleasant surprise. I was planning to visit you in Beijing after I left my post as Consul in Guangzhou, but I didn't expect to meet you at this time."

British Consul Scott specifically emphasized the word "at this time", as if it was the first time they met.

In fact, after Yuan Xiangcheng rushed to Guangzhou City overnight, the first foreigner he met was Scott.

However, Yuan Xiangcheng had no intention of exposing Scott's performance and just nodded as a sign of respect.

The American Consul, Pigel, was the second to come forward, extending his right hand and speaking closer:

"Mr. President, I am your big fan!"

Arthur Morgan reported news about Yuan Shikai in the Los Angeles Times over the years, making him well-known to many people in the American West.

It was because Pigel knew that there was such a legendary figure in the Far East that he volunteered to go to China to serve as a diplomat, wanting to meet him.

It's a pity that he was assigned to Guangzhou and couldn't get what he wanted.

Of course, these experiences are not enough to make Pigel Yuan Xiangcheng's big fan.

Pigel knew that as a diplomat, his career path was limited, and he would eventually have to find a path for advancement after returning to his country.

The US State Department in the 19th century was quite unprofessional.

Unlike countries like Britain and France, where most of their governments are traditional political bureaucrats, the United States, due to its unique national conditions, has a particularly large number of businessmen, scholars, and adventurers within the government who are not professional politicians.

The diplomatic department is naturally no exception.

Piggle is from Southern California, a traditional livestock farming area in the western United States with abundant cattle and sheep. He is also a farmer.

In addition to roughage such as grass and straw, the most important feed for cattle and sheep is concentrated feed that provides growth and development and controls meat yield.

Among concentrated feeds, soybean meal is the most economical option compared to cottonseed meal and peanuts, and it can also ensure sufficient nutrition.

Since finding China as a supplier of high-quality and low-cost soybeans, California's livestock industry has become increasingly dependent on soybeans from Northeast China.

Therefore, Pigel was a little excited when he met Yuan Xiangcheng today, because he had always wanted to discuss with Yuan Xiangcheng about expanding soybean exports.

If successful, he believed that he could use this achievement, with the support of his hometown people, to secure a state senator position and bring himself into the ranks of professional politicians.

Being a senator has far more prospects than being a consul abroad.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your generous donation to the United States and the supply of soybeans." Pigel expressed his gratitude.

Yuan Xiangcheng replied with a smile, "Don't thank me, Consul Pigel. Your country's new director of the Food Administration, Hoover, deserves your gratitude more. If you have the chance, you can visit him in Washington."

"I will, Mr. President."

Yuan Xiangcheng pointed out a clear way for himself to move forward, and Pigel naturally understood it.

"The Sino-American Concession in Manila." Pigel seemed to remember something and asked about the Philippines again.

"Rest assured, the agreement previously agreed with your country's envoy will remain unchanged."

After coming in, I saw Yuan Shikai having a pleasant conversation with the consuls of the United States, Britain and other countries.

This made Fang Suya, who always regarded herself as the first consul in Guangzhou, feel a little embarrassed.

The reason why Fang Suya was able to invite a number of foreign consuls to his French consulate was not because he had a good relationship with them, but because his status was essentially higher than that of the consuls of these countries in Guangzhou.

This is different from the practice of Britain, the United States and other countries to have one minister and multiple consuls in China.

France's diplomatic presence in China consists of only two consuls, one in Shanghai, acting as minister, and the other in Guangzhou.

The latter seems to be a simple consul, but due to the special status of Li Hongzhang's Lingnan Xinghan Grand Military Governor's Office, this consul is equivalent to an informal minister.

In other words, France had two consuls in China in name, but in reality it had two ministers.

In addition, there is another piece of evidence that is sufficient to prove that the work of the Guangdong Consul was independent of the French Embassy in China.

That is, Fang Suya’s diplomatic activities in Guangzhou do not need to be reported to the acting minister in Shanghai.

Because his superior was the Governor-General of French Indochina, Paul Dumay.

"Mr. President, if you don't mind," Pigel continued to talk with Yuan Xiangcheng, intending to get closer.

But the French consul Fang Suli, who had been ignored for a long time, directly stepped in between the two and interrupted the conversation.

Seeing this, Yuan Xiangcheng turned his head slightly and looked directly into Fang Suya's eyes.

"Why, Consul Fang Suya, do you think I, Yuan, am unworthy of being the protector of Lingnan's 40 million people?"

French Consul Fang Suya looked at Yuan Xiangcheng coldly. He knew that after Yuan Xiangcheng arrived in Guangzhou today, the ownership of this city would no longer be in doubt.

So, what he wanted to confirm was another thing.

"Mr. President, may I ask if that person has arrived in China?"

Yuan Xiangcheng thought Fang Suya was going to ask some tricky questions, but it turned out to be about this matter.

He simply shook his head and said, "Who is that person? Mr. Consul, you might as well explain your words more clearly."

"Isn't what I said clear enough, Mr. President?" Fang Suya gritted her teeth and said with all her might:

"Emperor Thanh Thai, the Emperor of Vietnam, you Chinese have kidnapped the monarch of the French colony. How are you going to be held accountable for this?"

"Mr. Consul, please allow me to correct a mistake in your words." Yuan Xiangcheng cleared his throat and replied:

“Since Emperor Thanh Thai is the king of Vietnam, he has the right to decide where he wants to go and where he doesn’t want to go.

French, no jurisdiction.

In my opinion, Emperor Chengtai's visit was clearly a secret diplomatic trip. How come you in France didn't get the news?"

"Pfft!"

Hearing this, the British and German consuls beside them couldn't help laughing out loud.

Even the American consul, who had no grudges against France, tightened his lips when he heard this.

"Very good." Fang Suya smiled and nodded, snorting coldly: "Mr. President, there is a saying in China that goes, "If you play with fire, you will get burned."

KouKou96101

Do you know how your country's current behavior will anger 3 French soldiers in Indochina?"

"Oh?"

Yuan Xiangcheng was calm and didn't take the threat from the French Consul Fang Suya seriously. He said slowly:

“As a republican country, France not only did not help the newly born People’s Republic of China, but also ignored the calls of 400 million Chinese people for progress and tried every possible means to curb the country’s development.

Can I consider this as a declaration of war from the French Republic against the Chinese Republic?

"Of course not. I haven't received authorization from Paris and I'm not qualified to declare war on other countries, but..."

Having said that, Fang Suya proudly put on her hat, walked out of the conference room without looking back, and headed towards the telegraph room in the consulate:

"Sir, in fact, the war between France and China has already begun after Emperor Chengtai disappeared."

As Fang Suya's back gradually disappeared, the consuls from various countries in the conference hall all put away their expressions of watching the show.

No one expected that France's counterattack would be so clean and decisive.

Moreover, the two republics at the westernmost and easternmost ends of the Eurasian continent would actually go to war because of a feudal emperor.

At this time, the term "republic" seems to be a bit of a misnomer.

“Monarchy is still better.”

After expressing their feelings, the British and German consuls looked at each other in tacit understanding and nodded in greeting.

Chapter 419: Eurasian Linkage

Paris France.

Nourished by the North Atlantic Current, Paris does not feel cold at all even in the winter in the northern hemisphere.

The plane trees on the Champs-Elysées have never turned yellow in their leaves, and still maintain their emerald green color.

On the morning of January 1898, 1, on the streets of Paris, France, a little Parisian newsboy was carrying a shoulder bag and shouting eye-catching news everywhere.

"A new war is about to break out! Jiu Si [Er Si San% Shan Ling AO:"

"The Governor-General of Indochina has submitted an application to the Colonial Ministry and President Francis, requesting a declaration of war on China!"

British journalists are well-known for their speed, but French journalists are actually not slow either.