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Chapter 1480 We want Xi'er, and we also want Xi'er's mother!

In reality, it would be pointless to express their views. One is the prime minister of the Sun Moon Bank, and the other is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Taxation. They have too many secrets in their hands, so it's really not suitable for them to travel to unfriendly countries.

But things are different now. Ojani wanted to return to Florence rather than Spain because she was from a branch of the Medici family and had a family cemetery. Having spent most of her life wandering in foreign lands, it's understandable that she wanted to reunite with her family after death.

Besides, her current status is quite extraordinary, and she should also be thinking of her family to some extent. After all, the Medici family has contributed a lot of money and effort to Spain in this war, and if there is a reckoning after the war, he might be able to show some leniency because of her.

This isn't just idle worry; she's a very intelligent and understanding woman. After so many years of working together, she must be well aware of her own petty nature. Anyone who stands on the opposite side will eventually be dealt with; no one will escape.

As for the possibility of leaks, that's unnecessary. Given her current condition, she most likely won't make it to Europe. Even if she experiences a resurgence, she won't have the energy to provide much intelligence to certain individuals once she gets there.

"Yang Sichang, have the Ministry of Rites send an envoy to accompany the emperor on the ship, and have a grand funeral with an imperial archway, be held in accordance with the rites for the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. His deeds must be widely publicized, and there must be no error!"

Moreover, it wasn't just Ojani and her daughter who went to Florence; officials from the Ministry of Rites were also present. This was no longer a personal matter, but a state funeral. Not only did it have to be a funeral, but a grand one, on a scale that all the high-ranking officials in Europe had to know about.

Of course, Hong Tao didn't overlook his quirky sense of humor; he wanted to erect a Chinese-style archway in the cemetery of an old European family. These cemeteries are usually located near churches, and this fusion of East and West would likely turn them into tourist attractions centuries later.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Although the emperor's decree did not conform to the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, and it was unheard of for a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty to be buried in a foreign land and to be given such a high posthumous title.

This time, however, he didn't lead the opposition; in fact, he felt incredibly fortunate to have such an emperor. Human touch, even within the court, offered a degree of warmth, which was far more comforting than a world dominated by cold, calculating interests.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful... Long live the Emperor..." Silva's heart skipped a beat when Gulandam revealed Oya's wish. Even if it didn't come to a life-or-death situation, a scolding was inevitable.

To his surprise, the emperor agreed after only a slight hesitation, and bestowed upon him the highest honors. The thought that he would not become a lonely ghost in a foreign land after death brought tears to the old, fat man's eyes, and his legs went weak as he was about to kneel down to express his gratitude.

"Ah...ho..." But before Silva could finish his move, Wei San, who had received a signal from the emperor, rushed over and blocked his way. It seemed that Wei San was not having an easy time either; the 300-pound fat man was supporting himself entirely with his arms, gritting his teeth and glaring.

"As you just said, this is an imperial meeting, and national affairs should take precedence. Let's calm down and continue discussing war reparations. Your suggestion of installment payments is very much to my liking. This is not just a sum of money, but also a noose around the neck of Tsarist Russia, keeping it under long-term control."

But I feel that simply putting a rope around it is not enough to ensure safety. It is necessary to prepare a whip as well, so that it becomes a controlled hunting dog, which can bite whoever it is told to bite, and ensure that there is no peace in northern and eastern Europe.

Specifically, this means sending a permanent military delegation, whose members not only have observational responsibilities but also need to participate in military command, training, and combat operations, and at least have a sufficiently influential voice.

Hong Tao felt awkward about having an older man kneel and weep, whether he was a companion, friend, or enemy. So he simply skipped that part and continued the meeting.

With Silva's suggestion, a general outline had been formed regarding how to demand war reparations from Tsarist Russia. No money, huh? Fine, have the strength? Go serve the Ming Empire as its lackey for a few years. If they still don't accept such fair terms, then they don't want peace, and the only outcome will be renewed war. "Installment payments are a good idea, but what pretext should the military delegation use to propose this? Your Majesty, please advise!"

Yang Sichang was the first to express his opinion. He believed that it was only right to pay compensation, but sending officers to participate in the military administration of Tsarist Russia seemed a bit excessive, mainly because a suitable pretext could not be found.

I can't just say that because you've been defeated, I'll have to command your army from now on; that would turn us into a vassal state, and any king or noble with a shred of backbone would agree to that. At worst, we can just keep fighting; the worst outcome isn't that different anyway.

"Interest, war reparations are also included in the empire's revenue. Installment payments are equivalent to borrowing back a portion of the reparations, and interest must be paid. This is common practice in Europe!"

It's often said that the most dangerous enemy is one's own people. Silva has found the perfect excuse in a single sentence, and it's particularly in line with the current practices of various European countries.

Paying back debts is a matter of course. Such a large sum of indemnity, even without interest, would have to be repaid over ten or even several decades. If interest were added, Tsarist Russia would truly be like Yang Bailao, who couldn't even afford to have eight sons like Xi'er.

As the saying goes, poverty weakens one's will, and even a hero can be brought down by a penny. If even a hero can fall, what chance does a defeated nation have? Whether the Tsar and the Russian nobles liked it or not, they had no choice but to agree to the condition that the military delegation be stationed permanently and participate in military administration, which was nothing more than bargaining over the duration and degree of participation.

It's not impossible for someone to be forced to turn against you, but the probability is relatively small. After all, you're in debt; if you don't pay back the money and even attack the creditor, you're in the wrong no matter where you are.

The reason for starting a war is often irrelevant to the strong, but crucial for those of equal or weaker strength. Without a solid foundation, allies will dwindle, and many who want to help will find it difficult to act. If you're already weak and have few allies, what's the point of fighting?

"What Grand Secretary Xi said is absolutely right, and it can be a key point during the negotiations. However, even if Tsarist Russia really wants to be a dog, I cannot let the dog go hungry. If they are willing to agree to these conditions, we can get more aid, both economically and militarily."

For example, the Crimean Khanate and naval development! I believe the Crimean Peninsula should be considered part of Tsarist Russia, and I am willing to provide military support to help the Tsar completely rid himself of Ottoman harassment and achieve national unification!

Furthermore, Tsarist Russia was entitled to at least one outlet to the sea along the Baltic coast and possessed sufficient power to protect its merchant ships. Europe belongs to all Europeans, and Tsarist Russia was certainly a part of it!

But the conditions didn't end there. If Mikhail I had heard what Hong Tao said next, he would probably have been moved to tears. At this time, the Russian Tsarist Empire was in a similar position in Europe as a punching bag, ostracized by the whole class and forced to suffer alone in a corner, vulnerable to being kicked by anyone.

Finally, someone is willing to talk to you and even speak up for you, fighting for your rights. How delightful! But isn't it even more hateful that this person also beat you up and stole your money?

No, that's not true! People often don't hate the strong who defeat them through their own abilities, but rather those who gang up on them despite being clearly inferior. Besides, this beating was self-inflicted; who told him to be so easily swayed and short-sighted? Otherwise, he wouldn't have been beaten up, and could have even taken advantage of the situation.

(End of this chapter)