The consistent policy of the British is - balance.

The British are clearly aware of their shortcomings. Unless something is impossible, they will not easily launch military operations against a big country.

They prefer to support an enemy for their opponents, support Prussia to balance Vienna, causing the division of Germany, support Prussia against France, causing the division of the European continent.

In short, Britain will not end up in confrontation with others over "trivial matters".

Especially when Britain already feels that there are too many existing colonies, it will not really care about a concession that can't be found on the map and Nanhua.

This was just a trivial matter. On October 11, London gave Cyril a reply.

"In accordance with international practice, your country needs to ensure that the property of British citizens is not infringed upon. We can conditionally return the property belonging to the king's government in the concession." Cyril found Lin Anmin that day.

In the telegram sent to him from London, he was asked not to affect the relationship between the two countries because of a "small matter", to treat the matter coldly and not to expand it further.

"Return it with conditions?" Lin Anmin looked at Cyril doubtfully.

"After the British obtained the concession, they made infrastructure investments in the concession. These investments need to be paid by the South China Empire at market prices.

And British citizens should be able to continue to live, do business or conduct other legal activities in Tianjin Health.

Finally, Nanhua's army in Tianjin Guard should not exceed the number of one division." Cyril stopped playing Tai Chi.

"Yes, but our country will implement a comprehensive transformation of Tianjin Health. During this period, import and export activities will be subject to certain restrictions." Lin Anmin said.

"Yes, if there are no other questions, I think we can draw up a treaty and sign it after the final quotation comes out." Cyril said.

London hoped that Nanhua would stop hyping up the matter so as to maintain a "complete alliance" against the German-Austrian-Italian alliance.

South China and Italy reached an agreement in a short period of time, which made Britain wary and suspected that this was an attempt by the alliance to win over South China.

Recently, Germany has been engaged in many activities, trying to win over Spain, the Ottomans, and even trying to ease relations with the Russians. If the French had not controlled Russia's finances, it might have been possible.

Therefore, this time the two sides cut the knot quickly and ended the matter straightforwardly.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Cyril never mentioned the prisoners arrested by Nanhua.

That night, Lin Anmin spread the news to the French that Britain was about to hand back the concession...

…

"Britain has compromised." Vladimir looked at Xiaosong with an ugly expression.

"Nani? So fast? What conditions did Nanhua offer?" Xiaosong's eyes widened and he said in disbelief.

The two of them chatted for two days, but they still had no direction.

The British usually procrastinate for a few months, eating and wiping everything of value before asking for a "ransom" before returning it.

"This is exactly the problem. The news in our country is that it should be handled in accordance with normal international practices. This is really incredible." Vladimir rubbed his eyebrows.

The British and the Russians have one thing in common - greed.

It's just that the British are greedy for the market and money, and the Russians are greedy for land.

Although it is just a concession, the Russians, like the Japanese, regard the concession as their own territory.

"There are two countries. According to this progress, there will be a third one soon... No! There is already a third one. The American concession is with the British, so they have withdrawn."

"We must speed up and find a collaborator. How about Germany and Austria-Hungary?" Komatsu asked.

Vladimir glanced at Xiaosong with disdain and said nothing.

"Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire have close ties and strong influence, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire only has this springboard in the Qing Empire. They will definitely..." Komatsu became more and more excited as he spoke.

Komatsu completely took over as an ally. After all, this was the first time Japan had been "recognized" - Britain just needed to take advantage of it.

"Enough!" Vladimir shouted.

He really couldn't understand how this Japanese dwarf became a diplomat.

"Our government also intends to return the concession, of course, with conditions." Vladimir said angrily.

The smile on Xiaosong's face disappeared and he muttered twice, but in the end he said nothing.

Judging from Vladimir's attitude when he mentioned Germany just now, this is no longer an agreement between countries, but a tacit understanding between alliances.

Otherwise, the decision should be made by Vladimir, who is opposed to the return - he will only oppose this event.

In other words, France will soon withdraw. Correspondingly, Belgium, a small country, will definitely get some benefits and escape, and is unwilling to get entangled in this whirlpool.

But the more this happens, the more unwilling Japan becomes.

Tianjin Wei's foreign trade volume last year reached 80 million taels of silver. If the average tariff level is 15%, Tianjin Wei's annual tariff revenue would be 12 million taels of silver.

"It would be great if Japan got this city!" Komatsu murmured to himself.

Xiaosong went back and was kicked out by Vladimir because he was in a daze in Vladimir's office.

Then, Komatsu returned to his office and sent a telegram to Japan explaining the current situation.

"Your Excellency, Ambassador!" As soon as he finished writing the telegram, Ichiro Inukatsu, the first secretary of the embassy, ​​came to the door.

"What's the matter?" Xiaosong straightened his clothes.

"Just now, France submitted documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South China and discussed returning to the Tianjin Wei Concession." Ichiro Inukatsu lowered his head and bowed slightly.

"I understand." Xiaosong nodded, hesitated, and added his own views at the end of the telegram, hoping to follow Britain and France and return to the concession.

…

"I am very grateful to our allies for their understanding. We have considered some more appropriate ways to deal with it, but no one thought that our army was too reckless." Lin Anmin looked regretful.

"No, no, no, it was our negligence. I am very sorry, but the French government was too busy and did not pay attention to this matter. Otherwise, there would not be so many criminals committing such horrific crimes." Bi Sheng said.

Wave your hands.

Unlike other ambassadors who had to ask for instructions, Bi Sheng had been authorized early on and had full authority to handle the matter.

Return of the concession, compensation for expenses, punishment of criminals, anything is possible. The only requirement is to resolve this matter in the least influential way possible.

Don’t blame the government!! The Prime Minister doesn’t want to step down so soon!!!

Therefore, even if there was irony in Lin Anmin's words, Bi Sheng pretended not to notice it.

"But...according to Nanhua's consistent policies and legal provisions, about fifty-seven Frenchmen were sentenced to death at least..." Lin Anmin looked at Bi Sheng, observing his expression.

"Um...oh?! As an ally, France respects the laws of South China, but among these people are priests and other influential groups, so..." Bi Sheng winked at Lin Anmin, who was confused.

.

"If the condition for returning the concession is to violate the law, our emperor will probably veto this proposal. I think that for the sake of friendly cooperation between the two countries..."

"No, no, no! I mean, cough!" Bi Sheng interrupted Lin Anmin, looked at the secretary, stood up and ran to Lin Anmin's ear,

"That's not what I meant. They are just a group of despicable criminals. It's just that this matter cannot make a big deal. We can resolve it privately." Bi Sheng said quietly.

"Solve it privately?" Lin Anmin was stunned, then waved to the secretary.

The clerk got up and left, leaving only the two of them and the minister's secretary in the entire office.

"Pour Ambassador Bi Sheng a glass of wine."

"Go on, I don't understand. What does private settlement mean? We have arrested more than a hundred people, half of whom are not worthy of the death penalty. They will be released one day." Lin Anmin handed the wine glass to Bi Sheng.

"I hope Nanhua can conduct a closed trial and the execution will not be carried out in public. This is the French government's request for the return of the Tianjin Wei Concession." Bi Sheng took the wine glass.

He just needs to suppress this matter. As for how to suppress it? No one will care.

This group of people will be guillotined when they return to France and cause an uproar. They may be attacked by the opposition and lead to the resignation of the government.

It would be better to execute them secretly, and then drag the remaining Frenchmen from Tianjin Guard back in batches or to different parts of the world. As long as they are dispersed enough and the number of times is high enough, this matter can be covered up.

Shipwreck, indigenous attack, acclimatization, or simply the radio is broken. Just a few dozen people.

As long as this matter does not continue to be hyped up, well... this scandal does not continue to be hyped up, the current government will have no responsibility and will not collapse as a result.

As for the dead, Parisians may have a problem. They prefer to see the guillotine cut off a person's neck at once.

By the way, it was not until June 17, 1939, that France conducted its last public execution using the guillotine.

Then in September, Germany launched a blitzkrieg and attacked Poland. In May of the following year, the German army detoured through the Ardennes Forest and attacked France.

"We can execute it secretly, and we can even schedule the time to issue the statement at the same time. Let me ask Sir Cyril?" Lin Anmin asked.

"Of course! As allies, we should be united and express our unanimous will to the outside world." Bi Sheng responded enthusiastically.

This is considered news. If the Germans are mentioned again in the newspapers, it will definitely guide public opinion and shift the public's focus away from the scandal.

"Call Sir Cyril for me." Lin Anmin said to his secretary.

The two chatted and drank, and it was not until ten minutes later that the secretary told Lin Anmin that the call was connected.

"Hello Sir, I am Lin Anmin, this is..."

"well!"

"I think so!"

"I wish you happy."

Lin Anmin put down the phone and looked at Bi Sheng with a smile.

"Sir Cyril also believes that we should behave more like allies. He will help us contact the Russians..."

"Russians? I have already contacted them. St. Petersburg should have issued an order."

"In that case, in less than two days, we can set a time for a joint declaration of the four alliance countries?"

"Maybe Britain will pull Japan along? I think you should mention it to Cyril."

"Okay, I'll mention it, cheers."
Chapter completed!