Chapter 1238: The oppression of the great powers is ongoing (first update, please subscribe)
"No, we will bring them freedom!"
Faced with the outside world's repeated claims that "the empire will use banks and railways to enslave the American people", the imperial officials immediately launched a propaganda machine and made their voices heard through newspapers, magazines and radio.
Of course there are sounds...
In fact, it is just for listening and should not be taken seriously.
The year 1886 passed quickly. In that year, the Pan-American Railway was finally built in Quito. To the world, this year seemed to be peaceful. However, contrary to expectations, the "Federal Unification War" that took place in Central America in that year had become increasingly brutal.
El Salvador is on the brink of national destruction and Honduras is in danger.
"Our goal is to build a modern, prosperous Central American Federation, where everyone in the Central American Federation will live in happiness and peace!"
Justo Rufino Barrios' speech in Congress naturally caused applause and cheers.
After all, they have successfully annexed El Salvador, and even with their army, they have approached the capital of Honduras. Now victory is just around the corner for them.
With victory came the rewards that belonged to generals and officers: land, wealth, and the same was true for politicians.
"The Central American Federation will once again stand tall on the American continent!"
Faced with victory after victory, Justo Rufino Barrios, the President of Guatemala, made such a confident declaration!
At the same time, Barrios announced a final attack on the capital of Honduras.
The destruction of Honduras seems inevitable.
Victory was just around the corner, and when Barrios was cheering for the resurrection of the "Central American Federation", Hernandez, president of the Central American Railway Company, met with Barrios again.
On the surface, the Central American Railway Company is an independent company, but in fact it is well known that the major shareholder of this railway company is the Mexican Railway Company, which is a publicly-funded enterprise.
However, on the surface, this company seems to have nothing to do with the Ming Empire. Even the general manager is Mexican. This is a typical Mexican enterprise.
This time he brought Barrios a gift - the Central American Railway Treaty that he and his company had drafted.
Barrios looked through the draft treaty. The treaty was not much different from the previous ones. It was nothing more than a railway construction contract and related content about the railway land grant. These contents did not seem to be a big deal.
What is the only difference?
"Mr. Hernandez, do you mean to obtain the railway construction rights of the Central American Federation? All of them! And you don't need official approval to build new railways."
After reading the contract, Barrios' face changed drastically. He knew clearly that agreeing to this treaty meant agreeing to the Central American Railway Company to control the railways of the entire country. As a sovereign state, they could not decide which railways they would build or not build, which was tantamount to handing over sovereignty.
Hernandez saw the embarrassment in Barrios's face and said with a smile:
"Mr. President, we are just a commercial company. What we pursue is commercial interests. We will optimize the planning of the railway route as much as possible, which is of course in the interests of your country. Moreover, Mr. President, since we reached an agreement, our company has provided your country with a loan of more than 5 million pesos and even introduced mercenaries to assist your army in the battle. It is with our support that your offensive has been so smooth, and this treaty is just the corresponding return."
Hernandez's words could not be more explicit. If they did not agree to the treaty, they would certainly not be able to continue to get the support of the company. What would happen if they did not have the support of the railway company?
It has to be said that sometimes help from the outside world is like drugs and is addictive. For Barrios, who is now in high spirits and is preparing to occupy Nicaragua, then Costa Rica and restore the entire "Central American Federation", he simply cannot quit the help from the railway company.
The railway company brought them not only loans, but also mercenaries from the "Black Warrior Company". Although there were only more than a thousand of them, they had always played an extremely important role on the battlefield. It can be said that it was with the help of those black warriors that he was able to sweep across the countries.
What's more, the railway company was backed not only by the Mexican Empire, but more importantly by the Ming Empire. The military strength of the Ming Empire was so strong that even Britain was very wary of it. Moreover, the Ming Empire had previously annexed Peru and Bolivia!
Barrios remembered the previous experience of Peru and Bolivia very clearly. Moreover, he knew very well that without the funding of the railway company and the mercenaries from Mexico, how would he unify Central America and rebuild the federation?
Can't offend them!
After weighing the pros and cons, Barrios made a decision quickly.
"Mr. President, we hope you can provide us with a new loan!"
Barrios said, staring at the other person.
"Two million pesos. In addition to using this money to buy weapons from Ming, we will also have another 500,000 pesos at our disposal."
"Borrowing money is no problem, of course. We are old friends after all."
Restaurant owners are not afraid of big eaters. For the Ming Dynasty financial circles that have always advocated using "gold and yuan" to sweep across countries, they have never been afraid of providing loans to foreign countries. After all, the returns on loans are extremely generous.
Hernandez said bluntly.
"Then the collateral is..."
"It's the same conditions as before. It's public land in the country. Well, it's public land in the Honduras department."
What is Barrios's plan?
This is completely a generous donation to others. Even if it cannot be repaid in the future, there will be no problem. After all, it is the land of the province of Honduras.
In fact, this is not important at all. After all, for the empire, the "Golden Yuan Offensive" is just a commercial means, and what is behind the commercial means? Of course, it is the empire's powerful military strength.
If one day the Central American Federation cannot pay back the money and wants to break the contract, the Empire's fleet will appear to force the Central American Federation to fulfill the contract.
"Two million..."
When getting in the car to leave the presidential palace, Hernandez, the president of the Central American Railway Company, raised the corners of his lips slightly, his face full of pride.
"It's another loan, but unfortunately the amount is a little too little. But it doesn't matter, they will continue to lend money in the future!"
(End of this chapter)
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