Chapter 530: Britain also has its moments of giving in (Second update, please subscribe)

(I made a mistake in the chapter, I am so sorry... The content has been adjusted from the previous chapter. Those who have subscribed can check it directly. I will never make such a mistake again in the future!)

"Have you heard?"

“What did you hear?”

"Our Ming fleet is bombarding the palace of the local king in Kedah and fighting with the local king!"

"What? This is true. Isn't our Ming fleet too powerful?"

People smoking opium in Singapore's teahouses, taverns and even opium dens gave up their usual leisure and talked excitedly about the Ming fleet's bombardment of Kedah.

Almost everyone started asking other people questions in a mysterious but excited tone as soon as they met.

Their tone and expression were full of blue-eyed excitement, which came from the heart. Even when they were talking, everyone's lips were raised with a look of great joy.

For many years, they have been looking forward to this day, hoping that this dream can become reality.

Now, all this has become a reality. How can they not be happy after their dream comes true?

Of course, in addition to being excited, people still talked more about the British. Although the British warships seemed to be cowardly, for the more than 100,000 overseas Chinese in Singapore, they knew very well that the British would definitely not be so cowardly.

What will the British do next?

Soon, the British made their response - Governor Ward boarded the flagship of the British Royal Navy's "China Fleet", the "Odissa", to the Sultanate of Kedah. This ironclad battleship had a displacement of 3,774 tons and was equipped with fourteen Armstrong cannons. It was the most powerful ironclad battleship east of Malacca.

In addition to the "Odyssa", there is also the previously defeated cruiser "Talia" and three wooden-hulled gunboats. In terms of strength, they are far superior to the Ming fleet. However, Ward did not come here to start a war!

"The UK has special interests in the region and we firmly oppose any country interfering in Malaysia's affairs."

Ward, who was in the port customs building, spoke directly.

"In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts, I think we need to reach a consensus on certain issues! What do you think?"

When facing Zhao Fuyong again, Ward's mood was extremely complicated. He had never thought that this guy was so bold. Their fleet actually fired so close to Singapore, giving the British no face at all.

"Your Excellency the Governor, when I was in Singapore, I protested to you about the safety and rights of the Chinese workers. But how did you respond? This place has nothing to do with Britain. No matter what happens, Britain has no obligation to do anything. You never care about the legal rights and personal safety of Chinese workers. If it were British expatriates who suffered such unequal treatment in this area, and were even used by the natives to kill each other, what would you do? Just ignore it?"

Of course this is impossible, the British fleet will definitely speak, not only will it speak, but even those local kings will be completely solved! But Ward couldn't answer like this, he just emphasized.

"Our special interests in this region must be protected!"

"Our overseas Chinese must also be protected!"

Zhao Fuyong said directly.

"Since you cannot protect our expatriates, we can only protect them ourselves. This is in line with the principles of international public law!"

What is this “a hundred volumes of international law are not as good as a few cannons, a few friendly treaties are not as good as a basket of ammunition”? That is for the weak. For the strong, the so-called “international law” is also a tool to bully the weak and seek privileges.

"So you won't withdraw from here?"

Ward asked back.

"Mr. Governor, in the past ten years, more than 20,000 Chinese died in conflicts between the natives under the instigation of the local king. We can leave here, but we must get enough compensation, and the safety of the overseas Chinese must also be guaranteed! Is Britain willing to take the responsibility of protecting the safety of overseas Chinese? If you can treat them fairly and let all overseas Chinese enjoy the same rights as European expatriates, then I think we can definitely evacuate here!"

How is this possible? Ward refused without even thinking about it.

"Britain enjoys special interests here, but this is still a princely state. We cannot guarantee that the princely state will comply with our request and give the Chinese the same treatment as Europeans."

"Since you can't, then we can use our naval guns to force them to treat overseas Chinese the same as Europeans!"

Zhao Fuyong answered directly.

"That's why we signed a treaty of friendship with them now!"

What is a friendly treaty? Isn't it an unequal treaty? But so what? Does the loser have the right to choose?

Looking at Zhao Fuyong's smiling face, Ward wanted to overturn the table, loudly scold him, or even start a war.

But he couldn't, because London's attitude towards the princely states on the Malay Peninsula was very clear - it was not willing to annex the region, but had to safeguard British interests. London had even given a clear response to the shelling of the Sultanate of Kedah - asking him to resolve the differences through negotiations.

Differences, what kinds of differences?

Of course it is a difference of interests.

After a moment of silence, Ward said.

"Your fleet must leave here!"

"Yes, but the friendship treaty we have signed with the Sultanate of Kedah must be implemented!"

“You cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Sultanate of Kedah and the so-called ‘political guidance’ should be removed from the treaty.”

The British did not accuse them, so how could you? This is the most critical point. Concessions, extraterritoriality, and mineral mining rights are all the most common demands of the great powers. Those are not issues of principle.

What is the issue of principle? Of course it is "political guidance". The so-called "political guidance" is clearly to turn the Sultan into a puppet. Britain has done this a lot in India.

The so-called "political guidance"... is actually just Zhao Fuyong's exorbitant demands. A strong country can do whatever it wants, but that is for a weak country. Faced with the intervention of another strong country, everyone will of course solve the problem at the negotiating table. France is strong enough. Didn't it compromise in the face of the threat from Prussia during the "Luxembourg Crisis" four years ago?

If you want to eat meat from someone else's pot, you need to be skillful. It is definitely unrealistic to eat the meat all by yourself, so negotiations are necessary between the great powers!

And this was exactly Zhao Fuyong's purpose. He fired the cannons to tell the overseas Chinese that the Ming fleet dared to fire for the benefit of the overseas Chinese. It was also to tell the local chieftains that when they bullied the overseas Chinese, they should first ask the Ming fleet's cannons.

But none of this matters, what is important?

Of course it is the British attitude!

There is no way. In this era, Britain is the number one power and the backer of the Nanyang chieftains. Because of this, Britain's attitude is the most critical. The success or failure of this negotiation will directly send a signal - if you offend the overseas Chinese, even your master can't protect you!

This is the most important thing!

Now that you have asked for such a high price, of course you have to pay it back!

"But you have to ensure that the interests of overseas Chinese are protected under any circumstances. Even if the Kingdom of Kedah is destroyed!"

How will this world perish?

Everyone knew that his demise must have been caused by the British occupation, after all, this land was within the British sphere of influence.

Of course, all this is temporary, just a temporary compromise.

When you are poor, put aside the dispute; when you are rich, keep it as it is since ancient times.

When you are not as strong as others, making concessions does not mean being weak. Concessions today are just to get better revenge tomorrow.

But is this weakness? Of course not. The whole world will see it, especially the natives of Nanyang. Even Britain must consider the interests of the Ming Dynasty!

Even if they bombard you, what can you do? Even if the British take over, won't they still have to admit the fact in the end?

Beat you!

I'm not hitting you, I'm just hitting you for being blind!

"Of course, civilized countries will always protect the interests of civilized countries. In this regard, our interests are the same."

Ward said a little happily.

"Please believe me, we don't care about the interests of those barbarians at all. We will always only respect civilized countries."

Faced with such an answer, Zhao Fukuo was a little helpless. Although helpless, he knew very well that this was the principle that Europeans followed in dealing with other countries.

They will always only recognize the strong as civilized countries, and as for the weak, they are just fish in their mouths.

The so-called civilization is just lip service. In fact, they are more barbaric than anyone else, and this is the biggest characteristic of this era.

No matter which country they are from, they will never criticize your arrogance and tyranny. They will always try every means to bully the weak.

In their human resources field, doesn’t your weakness just leave you for them to bully?

A good man is often bullied, and a good horse is often ridden.

This principle will be the most universal truth on this little blue planet, whether now or in two hundred years.

You can satirize him, you can laugh at him, but you can't change the fact.

"Yes".

Although he was full of sarcasm in his heart, Zhao Fukuo still said it very happily.

"As much as we respect Britain, we don't want to get involved in this matter, but, you know, when we deal with barbarians, sometimes we just have to do this."

Who is the barbarian?

Everyone has an answer in their heart, but for Ward,

The so-called savages are the indigenous people.

At least before they fully demonstrated their strength, they were barbarians, but Ming Dynasty, now it is a conversation between civilized people!

(End of this chapter)