New Shun 1730

Some things can be discussed before cooperation.

For example, complaining about France's wrong strategy, lack of determination, opportunism, blind command, being led by the nose, etc.

Once the cooperation is officially launched, it is best not to mention the old things in the past.

It would not be good to mention them at that time.

So before the official discussion of cooperation, the senior officers of the Privy Council of the Dashun envoys said all the complaints they had been holding back for a long time to Duke Choiseul.

As the complaints became more and more, Duke Choiseul gradually tasted some different tastes.

The more Dashun's attitude like "hate it for not fighting" was, the more it proved that Dashun's attitude did not seem to be so neutral.

Without jumping to a broader global perspective, Duke Choiseul found it difficult to understand Dashun's attitude, but he vaguely felt that Dashun seemed to have a very important self-interest in the victory or defeat of this war.

In fact, among the politicians above the level of Minister of State in European countries at this time, the ones who really have an international vision are the little patriots on the stage in Britain now.

It should be said that after William Pitt, there was a real political concept of "global empire" and "sun never sets".

Before that, Britain was similar to the situation before Dashun.

It was a standard that no poking and no jumping, and jumping was also blind jumping, a blind cat encountering a dead mouse, and sometimes jumping to the point.

The French can understand why Dashun got involved in the War of the Austrian Succession.

Obviously, it was for Nanyang.

Nanyang has spices.

Spices are very valuable.

Spices are also good things in France, good trade goods, and good things that the French East India Company can only encounter.

At this time, the French certainly cannot understand why Dashun wanted to get involved.

Because, if the French really understood or believed that "collecting taxes in India is a huge income, and given India's situation and historical tradition, it is not a fantasy", then France would not be reluctant to invest even one more fleet or battalion in India.

Because the French decision-makers did not believe Dupleix's judgment at all, the French did not understand what interests Dashun had in India.

In the eyes of the French, Dashun's industry and commerce are more developed than France's, and its mercantilism is more ruthless than France's: it is authentic mercantilism that can't sell anything except silver and gold.

So, what's the point of Dashun, an extremely mercantilistic country, wanting an India with developed industry and commerce?

Even under the guidance of French mercantilism, no matter how you look at it, the place that Dashun wants most should be the South American colonies: there are gold and silver, rich, and Spain and Portugal do not have enough industrial capacity, which is a typical colony that is most conducive to mercantilism exports.

And it is impossible to be India.

If India cannot be considered, then Dashun is now doing a good job in trade in Europe relying on its neutral status, so why should it participate in the war?

However, if Dashun had no personal interests in it, why would these people in the Dashun envoys have such an attitude of "hating iron for not becoming steel"?

This somewhat ambiguous attitude was fully demonstrated in the two contacts with the Duke of Choiseul.

Dashun was not polite and kept accusing France of mistakes in some policies and strategies.

But what's interesting is that after the Duke of Choiseul reported his contact with the Dashun envoys to the King of France, the King of France and Madame Pompadour seemed to have come to their senses and understood what Dashun meant.

So he instructed the Duke of Choiseul to continue to increase contacts with China, not to test Dashun's attitude, but to ask Dashun for help directly in private.

Before that, there would be no false news, such as using Dashun to scare Britain, saying that Dashun wanted to form an alliance with France, etc.

Because Louis XV had dealt with Dashun a lot in recent years, and many of his aristocratic circles had visited Dashun many times, so they understood the diplomatic style of the Celestial Empire to some extent.

At this time, doing something out of nothing is likely to make the Celestial Empire very unhappy.

Moreover, from the perspective of France, this kind of thing is meaningless.

If Dashun really has the intention, then don't play these tricks now.

If Dashun has no intention at all, then in the eyes of the British, Dashun's small support is at most to make some trouble in India and provide a small amount of gold and silver support to France, which is not very meaningful.

Moreover, it is obvious that Britain knows that Dashun has been maintaining trade with France under the banner of neutrality, and has not interrupted France's important source of trade silver, that is, ginseng and mink in North America.

Since it is very clear, but it does not take action, France is not naive enough to think that by publicizing that Dashun may help France, Britain will attack Dashun merchant ships and drag Dashun into the war.

Now Dashun has taken the initiative to bring up this topic that sounds like dissatisfaction, but is actually very ambiguous - if it is not related, then there is no dissatisfaction - then don't try it again, it is better to ask Dashun for help directly.

It was obvious that the Dashun group had clearly seen the weakness and predicament of France.

So, it was like showing off their underwear before the negotiation, and the test could be cancelled.

What made the King of France particularly embarrassed was that when the Dashun envoys came, they happened to catch up with the discussion on the taxation issue in Paris, as well as the back-and-forth battle between the High Court and the King of France. All of this was clearly seen by Dashun.

The people in Dashun have made the problems in France very clear, and they have a very clear perspective from the outside.

It's just that France doesn't know what Dashun wants.

Since it can't be guessed, it can't be tested, so it's better to speak directly.

Therefore, after two blendings, when the French court was in a state of panic due to the failure of the Hanoverian strategy, the Duke of Choiseul, the Minister of State, invited the Dashun envoy to his private salon for the third time.

Ordinarily, Madame Pompadour would also choose to participate at this time.

But Madame Pompadour still respects Dashun's tradition.

As a woman, she chose not to participate in this high-profile, small-scale private salon to avoid misunderstandings about cultural differences among the envoys of the Dashun Mission.

There were very few people attending this private party, and the Duke of Choiseul was actually the only one from France.

There are not many people here in Dashun, and they are all people who really have the power to negotiate and make decisions.

After being polite, Duke Choiseul got straight to the point and said directly: "The friendship between China and France is long-lasting. Since the time of the Sun King, the court exchanges between China and France have been very close. Of course, this is not the time to reminisce about the two countries. Time for friendship.”

"Gentlemen, to use your words, the onlookers will be clear and the authorities will be confused."

"Your country's understanding of this war and the difficulties we have experienced are higher than most of the nobles in the court."

"As you know, the new finance director has proposed his fiscal reform plan. The premise of this fiscal reform plan is to end the war before next winter and reduce additional fiscal expenditures."

"The universal twenty-one tax has caused dissatisfaction among the majority of nobles. People are eager to know how long this tax, which is open to almost everyone and has few exemptions and exemptions, will be levied."

"And the heavy interest has already overwhelmed France's finances. During the war, interest must be paid, otherwise the finances will collapse."

"France now desperately hopes that its allies in the east can lend a helping hand to France."

"Because, if your country does not lend a helping hand, then France will have to carry out a military adventure to land in Scotland, just like what your country has encountered. And this military adventure, from the professional perspective of your staff officers, has a very low success rate. It’s definitely low.”

The people from the Dashun mission did not raise any questions about this, but asked: "So, what kind of help does France need now?"

"The two countries are too far apart, and there are actually only three ways to support them."

"The first one is that China will provide certain assistance in India, but it will definitely be limited. At most, it will allow French warships to go to Malacca to replenish supplies and repair battle damage."

"Second, China will provide France with a certain amount of loans, and the interest on the loan cannot be lower than China's average interest rate."

"The third one is that China will provide all possible and comprehensive assistance to France, even if it falls into a state of war."

There was no denying that anyone from the mission could lend a helping hand, which made Choiseul breathe a sigh of relief.

Especially after hearing the third of the three aid plans, it was even more certain that Dashun was actually not unable to participate in the war.

Of course, the price has to be right.

Can or can't, that's the same thing.

If so, at what cost is another matter.

Duke Choiseul did not choose immediately, but asked sincerely, at least seemingly sincerely: "So, from the professional perspective of gentlemen and generals, what kind of assistance does France need?" At least a peace treaty on favorable terms for France?"

The people from the Dashun mission also answered very simply, directly denying the first aid plan.

Because if a peace treaty is to be reached under favorable conditions for France, then the first method of assistance is meaningless, and the Indian issue cannot determine the situation in Europe.

As for the second type, the people from the mission responded seriously: "The French mainland is not threatened, various factories and weapons yards can operate as usual, and the population of France is also much higher than that of Britain and Prussia."

"So, with enough money, of course the problem can be solved."

"As long as there is enough money, the government can continue to function, it can build more cannons, it can put more people into service and provide them with uniforms and weapons."

"However, according to the plan, if France wants to ensure that it exits the war with a favorable peace treaty, it will need at least 20 million taels of silver per year in support."

"Moreover, the war will have to last at least two to three years before the situation can really be reversed. This will require about 60 million taels of silver, equivalent to 420 million livres."

"The minimum interest rate for Dashun must be between 8% and 9%. If calculated as a ten-year special national bond... France must prove that France has the ability to repay the principal and interest of this special loan. "

"And obviously, with France's financial capabilities at this time, we are very doubtful."

"If you choose the second method of assistance... this is not that China wants to interfere in France's internal affairs, or that it treats France as a vassal state."

"Rather, as an explanation, France must come up with a comprehensive post-war financial reform plan to prove to Chinese businessmen that France has the ability to repay this loan."

"Moreover, this financial reform plan must be clear and must be approved by the Paris High Court before borrowing - or, according to your tradition, you can convene a three-level conference to determine the financial reform plan. And ensure that this financial reform can be passed."

"Moreover, this financial reform plan approved by the Paris High Court or the three-level conference can actually repay the principal and interest."

"Therefore, with the court of the Celestial Empire as a guarantee, such a loan is not difficult."

"Of course, the Celestial Empire has enough ability to send the silver for this loan to Paris. Even if France is willing, the Celestial Empire can also manufacture warships, cannons, military uniforms, leather bags, bullet bags and any other forms of military supplies for France."

"As long as France can come up with a practical financial reform plan that is approved by the High Court or the three-level conference. Money is easy to talk about."