Chapter 298: A Secret Talk

Chapter 298: A Secret Talk

Chapter 298: A Secret Talk

In Barcelona Harbor, the Qing-American joint fleet appeared from the sky and slowly approached. The city was in chaos, and the fleeing civilians crowded the streets.

No matter how poor Spain was, it still barely remained in the group of "advanced European countries". The domestic telegraph and railway networks were fully covered. The news of the looting of Las Palmas, Ceuta and Valencia had long been spread here.

Shao Quanzhong used a telescope on the flagship to observe the empty port and the fleeing people, and shook his head. "I don't want it to be like this. If I can get compensation through negotiation, why bother with bloodshed and make everyone look bad? Hmm? It seems that the slow-witted Spaniards have finally reacted."

A sloop of war flew a white flag and bravely sailed towards the fleet. A Spanish officer in a gorgeous uniform and a ribbon climbed up the ladder onto the deck.

Upon seeing Shao Quanzhong, the officer saluted gracefully, "Major Enrique Puig Morto of the Spanish Guards pays respect to His Excellency the Marshal."

Shao Quanzhong returned the greeting, and the Spanish interpreter brought by Luzon was interpreting simultaneously beside him.

"Her Majesty Isabel II has arrived in Barcelona by special train and will hold talks with you. She sent me to contact you first."

Shao Quanzhong took a look at the other person. The major was about 40 years old, with a straight back and handsome appearance, a typical handsome old man.

"Didn't they say she was deposed?"

"In order to negotiate with you, the Regency temporarily restored your Majesty's throne. The treaty she signed with you will be recognized by the Spanish government even if she is deposed again."

Well, the Spaniards brought the queen back to take the blame. That’s how Shao Quanzhong understood it.

Shao Quanzhong didn't care, he had the military force to ensure the implementation of the treaty.

He turned around and waved his hand, "Tell Liao Rong, Song Laosan, Zhang Hanchen, Yang Changjiu and George Dewey that the attack plan on Barcelona has been suspended and the fleet is docking."

Turning to look at Morto, he said, "Negotiations must take place on my warship. I have already prepared the treaty. There is no room for negotiation. You can only sign or not sign. If you don't sign, I will continue to fight."

"That's absolutely fine, sir. Her Majesty the Queen is prepared for this. I just spoke on behalf of the Regency. Now I will repeat what Her Majesty the Queen asked me to say. Please dismiss your attendants."

The other party was not carrying any weapons, so Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and asked the people around him to disperse. The guards also moved ten steps away, pointing their guns at the other party from a distance, leaving only the interpreter and Ping'er standing behind him.

Morto lowered his voice and said, "Her Majesty the Queen said that she can reward you personally with the expected cession of land and compensation, and make you the Duke of Spain, on the condition that these lands remain in Spain."

Shao Quanzhong waved his hand, "No. I am a prince of the Qing Dynasty. It is impossible for me to be bribed by a duke. Wouldn't I lose a lot of money?"

Shao Quanzhong only said that he would lose money, instead of opposing it on the grounds of national justice. Major Morto smiled smugly, "Then your majesty has another plan. She is willing to marry you, make you a prince, and rule Spain with you. If you are willing to be the king of Spain, we can also discuss it."

Shao Quanzhong shook his head without hesitation, "I heard that Queen Isabelle II is already thirty-seven years old, and her husband is still alive. Do you think I'm a rag collector?"

"Your Majesty has been separated from the Duke of Cadiz for many years, and she will not interfere with your taking other wives according to Eastern custom."

Shao Quanzhong still shook his head, "I won't marry you in name only. I can't have the reputation of a gigolo. And I can't betray my country. Don't think of that."

This condition is extremely tempting to ordinary generals, but it is completely unattractive to Shao Quanzhong, a warlord who has the ability to seize the throne of China.

It turns out that the queen’s husband is the Duke of Cadiz, which means that I have seized her husband’s territory, although I didn’t seize much in Cadiz…

After being rejected twice in a row, the major did not seem discouraged at all. "Then I will go back and report. The Queen will be on board the ship soon to talk to you in person. Please go ashore and be prepared to receive her."

Watching the major leave on the boat, Shao Quanzhong thought that it seemed that Isabella II was unwilling to be deposed and wanted to truly restore the throne on her own. This is possible, but the price has to be increased.

The Zhendong docked, and soon a four-wheeled carriage drove over. To Shao Quanzhong's surprise, the queen did not bring the royal guards on board, but followed two women. The younger one was very graceful, and the older one was actually a fat Chinese nanny. The fat Chinese nanny knelt down when she saw Shao Quanzhong, "Your humble concubine Wang is here to see His Majesty. I am a chef hired by the Spanish royal family from Manila, specializing in making Chinese food for the royal family. Your Majesty called me here to serve as a temporary translator."

Well, Spain’s territory in Luzon has been a neighbor of China for more than 300 years. Among the Western powers, its understanding of China is second only to the Portuguese. Of course, it knows that Chinese food is delicious.

"This is Her Majesty Isabel II, and this is Her Royal Highness Princess Maria."

Uh, why did the princess follow me? This princess is pretty, but she looks a bit like the old white-faced lieutenant colonel I just met? Oh no, the Duke of Cadiz is green on his head.

Well, in fact, the Duke of Cadiz's head is not only green, but also full of green light. It is certain that none of them belongs to the Duke of Cadiz.

Originally, she was not that promiscuous. When she first got married, she still wanted to live a good life with her husband.

But on the wedding night, she discovered that the Duke of Cadiz's clothes had more lace than her own.

The queen had never slept with her husband. After suffering such a blow, Isabella II let go all of a sudden...

The queen had seen Shao Quanzhong's photo in the newspaper. Now she saw that he was as handsome in person as in the photo. She turned around to look at her daughter, nodded with satisfaction, and swallowed her saliva.

Shao Quanzhong saluted Isabel II, and the queen bowed slightly and returned a half-salute. "Your Highness, I request that we have a small, private conversation."

That's no problem. The negotiating opponent is the Queen, whose status is basically equal to Shao Quanzhong's. Others are not qualified enough, so Shao Quanzhong has to receive her personally.

The Queen and her three companions were invited into Shao Quanzhong's cabin. Shao Quanzhong only brought Ping'er with him, and there was no need to bring even a translator.

The Queen took the Spanish version of the draft treaty from Apple's hand, read it carefully, and was not surprised.

She was a tyrant, but she was a queen with great manners and the ability to negotiate with others. "Shao, I can help you get what you want, but Spain needs to be respectable. So - we can follow the example of the Qinglu Tashkent Friendship Treaty."

Isabel II pointed at her daughter and said, "Our Spanish princess is much better than Princess Lucia in the wild land. I knew this day would come after I received the report sent by Manila Governor Navarro from Hong Kong. Maria was supposed to get married in May, but I stopped her in time. It's a pity that the rebels suddenly rebelled, otherwise there would not have been disasters in Las Palmas, Ceuta and Valencia."

Um, I want to marry a Spanish princess again? Well, the goods... ahem, I brought her here for me to see, it's not bad, this is much more sincere than Lucia. And it seems that I will have a chance to control Spain in the future...

All the mercenaries under my command have a connection with the Spanish girl, so as their leader, I must also have fun together with the people. The identity of a Spanish princess is also worthy of a position as a concubine.

That is - damn, next time I marry a concubine, I will have to have two again...

"Also, I would like to gain your military support for restoration."

"Okay, okay, but since you are my mother-in-law, you can't just use my son-in-law for nothing. You have to pay more."

"It's easy to talk about."

…………

The five people were locked in the VIP cabin for a secret talk. After two hours, the fat nanny left. Without a translator, was the talk over?

Then, the guards outside the cabin were surprised to find that Ping'er retreated mysteriously and closed the cabin door casually.

(End of this chapter)