Chapter 403 Decent

After chatting for a while on the topic of "Princess Mi Yuan", Xin Changjun turned the topic to the Marquis of Winchester again, and he said carefully and carefully; "Yuan Ding, the goodwill we have released, I think the mediation team can clearly feel it. Others don't need to think about it, but how to handle the matter of Mr. Winchester Marquis still needs to be considered."

  He was referring to the £20,000 incident, and the other party would definitely not be able to get it out.

"This is easy to handle. Doesn't he have a castle. If he is willing to own shares, he can use the castle mortgage loan. I believe the bank will give a preferential interest rate or sell it directly, which can save a lot of interest. expenditure."

Li Fushou answered very easily. He leaned back on the palace-style sofa seat leisurely. He suddenly thought of something and continued with a smile; "If Mr. Winchester feels that he can't live up to his face, we can sign one. Secret agreement, the matter of helping him sell the castle is kept secret, and it can be repurchased first when the funds are abundant. After all, the fallen aristocrats only have the last trace of dignity."

Xin Changjun carefully considered it and said in agreement; "Yuanding, your opinion is very operative, so that we can always hold Mr. Winchester Marquis Little Tail. After all, once this secret agreement is exposed, it can be said to be a face. Lost, this is something he can't accept anyway."

   "Hehe... People are poor and short, and horses are thin and long. He will accept them. Southerners are not as generous as we are, and there is no suitable bargaining chip."

   "Seriously speaking, 20,000 pounds to buy a large historic castle building is indeed a good deal, but if it is completely repaired, 20,000 pounds may not be enough."

   "Let it be there. No one will live there, let alone repair it. After all, it is a castle in the West End of London. This location is very valuable."

  Speaking of which

Li Fushou woke up with profound meaning after a turn of his words; "On the one hand is the castle with continuous huge expenditures, on the other hand is the steady income of 2,000 pounds per year. Mr. Winchester has no choice. If he is not stupid, he knows what to do. manage."

   "Okay, just do what you want."

  Xin Changjun understood, Lord Earl, this is poison wrapped in sugar-coated cannonballs, and Mr. Marquis of Winchester wants to eat as much as he wants.

  For a down-and-out British nobleman, maintaining the glory and decency of the former family is the only remaining dignity, and they can even die for it.

  If a secret agreement can be signed, this decision must not be difficult to make.

As long as the shares of Fulinmen Gas Company’s joint venture sales company in the United Kingdom are obtained, a stable income of 2,000 pounds a year is extremely attractive, and Mr. Winchester Marquis’s annual income of more than 700 pounds can maintain a decent upper-class noble life. .

  One step further

  With money in his hands, Mr. Marquis of Winchester can seek more lucrative and decent positions, such as high-level positions in the Government House of India. It is self-evident how to operate.

Mr. Marquis of Winchester is 34 years old this year and is still unmarried. If he is willing to let go of the last trace of persistence in his heart, I believe that there are a lot of wealthy American businessmen who are willing to marry his daughter and bring a generous dowry to change the current situation quickly. The state of being down and out.

   But doing so will also be disgusted by the London aristocratic circle, which is exactly where Mr. Winchester struggled.

  The UK has a long-standing dowry system, and its existence has an ancient and reasonable explanation;

  Marriage is not a private combination to meet personal psychological and physical needs, but a system to ensure the perpetual survival of aristocratic families and property.

  From 1475 to 1725, the dowry of British nobles soared from an average of 600 pounds to more than 10,000 pounds.

  From 1725 to 1875, this figure once again increased to more than 65,000 pounds. In aristocratic marriages, it would be ridiculed to not get a generous dowry.

  Aristocratic marriage focuses on status, age and wealth. The most important factor considered is wealth. After all, there is not enough wealth to maintain a decent aristocratic life, and no one can ignore it.

  Mr. Marquis of Winchester is a poor ghost, even if he is handsome and talkative, he is still useless.

  The upper-class nobles in London knew that they were unwilling to step on this fire pit.

  It is indeed a shame to marry the "Dollar Princess", but there are still many London aristocrats who would make such a choice.

  For example, the famous Duke of Marlborough married the daughter of a famous American chain store tycoon, Cons Willow. This was a joke among the London aristocracy.

The Duke of Marlborough is also a role as a donkey shit. With the wife's strong financial resources, he finally revived the family glory. Not only did he renovate the magnificent Malheim Castle, but also used the woman's sufficient financial resources to help himself in the London government. Get a decent position and regain an upscale social life without shame or shame.

  Well, let’s not talk about him now.

  Just say what kind of life can you have in London for £2,700 per year?

  In the late Victorian era

Bank interest rates are generally between 6 and 8% (excluding risky war loans and other mortgages). If this money is deposited in the bank, the interest rate is about 200 pounds. Of course, Mr. Winchester would definitely not choose this way. .

  The annual income of £2,700 to £3,000 can maintain the daily expenses of a manor and a decent aristocratic life, with no more than 15 servants, including tutors, housekeepers, gardeners, grooms, cooks and cooks, and personal maids, etc.

There are also two carriages, one for attending solemn occasions, one for daily transportation, and at least four horses of precious ancestry (each horse costs no less than £100 a year). This is no matter what. Decentness that can't be missing.

  Because it is impossible for aristocrats to run on two legs to come to a banquet and participate in aristocratic balls, they will be laughed to death.

  So, Li Fushou’s proposal is irresistible.

  As for some of the current contradictions in Australia, Mr. Winchester from the Colonial Department of London and his mediation team will probably not care too much.

  Compared with the imminent things, those are just ball hairs!

Years ago

The Duke of Marlborough went to New York in person to marry the daughter of the famous American chain store tycoon, Cons Willow. He said on the spot; “I will never come to this ghost place in New York again. Anything that does not belong to Great Britain is a humble one. It affects my appetite."

  From this sentence

  It can be seen that the arrogance of the nobility of the British Empire has penetrated into the bones. They would rather endure the dense fog and choking air of London all year round than show a good impression of the bustling New York, let alone the remote colony of Australia.

  Li Fushou hoped that the British would continue to be arrogant, and his topic turned to the matter after the delegation led by Professor Glen Johnson arrived in London.

   "Professor Glen Johnson has any new news?"

"Yes, Mr. Professor Gulliver successfully met Lord Gulliver and was fortunate to have the opportunity to have a 10-minute private meeting. The result was satisfactory. Lord Lord accepted the souvenirs and kindness from Australia, although he did not express much. , But this behavior has fully illustrated the problem."

  "Very well, this government has more than a year to go. This means that we do not need to consider the North-South conflicts at least for now. Let's bear it for now and develop ourselves as soon as possible."

   "Understood, Yuanding-sama, the Autonomous Office will do it according to your intentions."

   "Oh... by the way, did Mr. Professor say when to go to Lisbon?"

"This is true. Professor Glenn Johnson is visiting London and making friends and conveying his intentions to Lisbon through London channels. This is much better than going to the door directly. There is no information about Lisbon yet. For the stale Portuguese kingdom, Efficiency is always a big problem."

   "Okay, let's not worry."

  "Professor Glenn Johnson meant that through powerful people in London's upper class, he made a straightforward transaction request, and waited until things became clear before heading to Lisbon. Those Portuguese are very difficult to deal with, but after all, they still have a trace of awe in London."

   "Hehe...British face is not easy to refute."

  Li Fushou said with deep sentiment that Professor Glen Johnson is an authentic Englishman and has a deep understanding of the psychology of Europeans. Using him to solve similar problems is much better and more effective than Chinese officials.

  He always does not value the process, only the result.

The delegation to Europe is a comprehensive delegation. Li Fushou’s Tang Shaoyi is also in the delegation, and there are several secretaries with outstanding talents. The mission of this trip is not just about African issues and transactions with Lisbon. They will also observe the process of the "Berlin Conference" closely and observe the dazzling diplomatic performance of the Belgian King Leopold in Europe. They learned useful nutrients from them and quickly grew up to become the backbone of Queensland's foreign affairs.

  Regardless of military, political or diplomatic aspects, Li Fushou has no ready-made capable talents to use, and he has to rely on his own hands and feet to train carefully.

  What he can do is to create the best training conditions. The so-called masters are recruited by the individual.

  Tang Shaoyi demonstrated extremely high diplomatic talent in the Singapore peace talks, especially his outstanding language communication skills, which attracted the attention of relevant parties in the Straits Governor’s Office.

  The success of the peace talks is of course inseparable from the overwhelming military advantage, but the eloquence on the negotiating table is also indispensable. The two complement each other and are indispensable.

  Diplomacy is the continuation of political, military, and economic power. This set of British Empire officials is very familiar with it and is the best teacher.

  Belgian King Leopold I is also a master, he is best at "taking advantage of the situation", performing the stunt of dancing on three eggs.

  The news from Europe shows that;

  Leopold took advantage of the stubborn situation where all major powers wanted to get involved in the Congo, and through various diplomatic means, urged the Berlin Conference to finally agree to the establishment of a "Congo Free State" and agreed to Leopold as the head of the state.

  Compared with the traditional colonial power of France, European countries are more able to accept the control of the Congo River Basin in the hands of the weak Kingdom of Belgium.

   at this point

  Germany, the United States, Spain and Italy are particularly firm. The United Kingdom is hesitating whether to agree to the Leopold plan. The two parties have conducted a series of close consultations in private, and it is not known what promises the United Kingdom has received.

  According to a recent report in The Times;

  The British Colonial Secretary Lord Gulliver said publicly, “Maybe the Congo River Basin is in the hands of the Belgians. It is not too bad nor too good.”

  Does this mean that the United Kingdom has retreated from its original position, and the two sides have reached some secret agreement or exchange of interests, which has become the focus of European countries...

  On the surface

  Leopold I promised that if Belgium obtains the "Free State of Congo" territorial sovereignty, it will sign agreements with relevant countries to recognize its "sovereignty" in Congo. The Belgian side will recognize the relevant rights and interests of the signatory countries and guarantee fair commercial interests and trading rights.

  According to this solution, France will be forced to cede the left bank of Lake Malebo to Belgium, and Portugal will abandon its requirements for the north bank of the Congo River in exchange for French support.

  France has always held a firm negative attitude towards this plan, but the opinions of European countries are biased towards Belgium. This is not a good thing for France, making them lonely in the European family, and the form of diplomacy is quite unfavorable.

  On this major issue

  Europe and the United States are conducting a series of off-table transactions, and diplomatic envoys shuttled back and forth, conveying the latest compromise plans and further discussing cooperation, staged a scene of diplomatic drama without African participation.

  The solution to the African problem has never been reached at a meeting, but a previous diplomatic mediation and compromise. As for the amount of dark insider involved, no one knows.

  (End of this chapter)