Chapter 338 Qualifications for becoming a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty

10 Downing Street, London, UK.

British Foreign Secretary Grenville approached Prime Minister William Pitt with a telegram:

"The French don't want to continue the war. They want to draw us together to negotiate peace with Napoleon, and at the same time ask His Highness Prince Da Shi of the Ming Dynasty to mediate."

Peter was obviously shocked when he heard the news, but quickly regained his composure:

"They don't want to fight, and we don't want to fight either. This war has really exhausted our last strength. What are the conditions for peace talks proposed by the French?"

Grenville handed the telegraph paper to Peter:

"Abandon most of the land west of the Appalachians.

"France retained the original Canadian territory of Maryland and north, New York and east, and south and east of the St. Lawrence River.

"We in the United Kingdom retain five territories: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

"Napoleon gained Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and half of Pennsylvania west of Appalachia."

Peter took the telegram and asked subconsciously before he had time to check the details:

"Isn't this what Ming Dynasty proposed at the beginning, that Ming Dynasty's army directly participated in the war and served as the main force to help us suppress the rebellion, and the reward it asked for?"

Grenville nodded with a complicated expression and said:

"That's true, it's almost the same condition that Prince Dashi wanted back then.

"Now the land that should have been given to the Ming Dynasty has been changed to Napoleon to use it to establish an independent country.

“At the same time, we also sent extra items to the Chesapeake Peninsula and Long Island!”

"You have already said at the beginning that such conditions are impossible to pass in parliament, and we can only choose to fight on our own.

“So we fought like this for nearly three years, and after spending a lot of people and money, we finally created Napoleon’s kingdom!

"The land we left to Napoleon still covers nearly half a million square kilometers, which is almost twice the size of the British mainland.

"This is the iconic and beautiful result of the efficient decision-making method of our British civil service system!"

Peter listened to Grenville's complaints, looked through the details of the telegram, laughed dryly, shook his head and said:

"You don't need to be so anxious. This telegram is just a suggestion from the French. The final result may not be like this. Ming Dynasty may not allow Napoleon to become independent..."

Grenville seemed to suddenly react:

"What you mean is that we give up those lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to Ming Dynasty for disposal.

"Let Ming destroy Napoleon's kingdom and seize the areas now controlled by Napoleon.

"However, if we want to negotiate peace with Napoleon, we and Ming Dynasty must provide safety guarantees.

"Napoleon would not have accepted the terms of the armistice if he had not been allowed to retain the independence of those lands."

Peter said with a smile:

"Napoleon did not have to accept the terms of the armistice, but the Ming Dynasty could also directly join the war.

"We don't even have to go to peace talks with Napoleon, we can go to Ming Dynasty to negotiate directly.

“Transfer the land ownership west of the Appalachian Mountains to Ming Dynasty and let Ming Dynasty clean up the rebels on its own.

"Just like the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Nanyinzhou.

"Do you think that after Ming Dynasty gets the ownership of these lands, will it deal with Napoleon the same way it dealt with Bolivar and Martin Sun?

"Napoleon can fight more than Boliva and Martin Sun. He can consume some of the power of the Ming Dynasty."

Grenville understood what Peter meant, and then asked with some confusion:

"Is there any real benefit to the United Kingdom if we do this?

"The key is that three members of the royal family, including Princess Charlotte, are still in Napoleon's hands.

"If we don't give Napoleon a safety guarantee, we won't be able to get them to release the three members of the royal family."

When Peter thought of the three royal members, the smile on his face disappeared:

"Hey, let Prince Charles of France contact Prince Dashi to prepare for peace talks..."

…………

North Yinzhou, on the shores of Lake Ontario, Buffalo, the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Canada.

In the castle, which served as the headquarters of the kingdom's army and the residence of the imperial court, Napoleon was wrapped in fur and drinking soju.

Adams sat opposite Napoleon, talking to himself as if talking to himself:

"The latest news received is that there has been a heavy snowfall in Quebec, and coupled with the cold wave, the St. Lawrence River has frozen."

Napoleon took a sip of wine, grinning fiercely and gasping for air, the cold air trembling in the surrounding control:

"Hiss... we have destroyed all the roads on land, and now the rivers have frozen in advance.

“Inland transportation was completely blocked, supplies from the British and French allied forces could not be sent in, and there was no way to attack.

"This year's battle can be considered over, and we can relax a little for a few months."

But Adams couldn't be happy and said in a rather melancholy tone:

"When will this life end? The coastline has been completely abandoned, and the east of the Appalachian Mountains has gradually given up.

"What is your plan? How should we proceed in the future? Can we still win?"

Napoleon tried his best not to appear decadent and replied with a smile:

"It depends on what kind of victory you want.

"If you don't care about the size and nature of the victory, you may have it soon.

"Maybe even this winter."

Adams was obviously taken aback:

"What do you mean? You can't fight the war in winter, how can you still win?"

Napoleon continued to smile and said:

"Because this winter is very difficult, France and the UK have reached their limit. If we continue to fight, we may not lose the crown."

Adams reacted immediately:

“They were originally worried about not being able to control the domestic situation, so they negotiated a truce with Ming Dynasty.

"In the end, it stopped for less than a year, and they immediately continued fighting with us in Yinzhou.

"The French and British people's endurance must have reached its limit.

"If the royal families of Britain and France don't want to cause civil strife, they should have peace talks with us?

"The consequences we were expecting may come this winter."

As Adams talked about these situations, his spirit became particularly high.

As a result, Adams soon discovered that Napoleon was obviously not very happy:

"What's wrong? Isn't this the outcome you expected?"

Napoleon took another sip of wine, and in a tone without any fluctuations, he painted a rather exciting picture:

"I expect them to continue to hold on for two or three years until the citizens of Paris become angry and overthrow their king.

"Then we took the opportunity to counterattack, receive the remaining French main forces, and occupy the entire original United States and Canada.

"He was even invited to return to Paris and become the king of France."

Adams was struck by the possibility when Napoleon said:

"Is this... is this really possible?"

Napoleon said calmly:

"If there was no Ming Dynasty, it is certainly possible. Even if the French call us for peace talks, we can refuse.

"But Ming... will not allow that to happen...

"In fact, even if Britain and France are willing to negotiate peace, Ming Dynasty may not allow us to exist.

Adams was not brainless, and he quickly understood what Napoleon meant:

"Will Ming deal with us like Bolivar and San Martin in Nanyinzhou?

"Because in the eyes of the Ming royal family, Bosun and we are just rebels?

"Allowing us to be independent is tantamount to encouraging rebellion in disguise?"

Napoleon did not answer such an obvious question. He took a sip of wine and said loudly:

"If there was no Ming Dynasty, I would have a chance to become the king of France.

"Then I can use the power of France to try to unify the entire European continent.

"Build a new era of the Roman Empire and become a true Roman Emperor.
To be continued...