The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 286: Finally there is progress

Zhu Jianxuan basically did not consider the issue of installment delivery of the land. There is no substantial difference between installment delivery and direct delivery.

Zhu Jianxuan was not at all worried that the Spaniards would eventually be unwilling to hand over the land.

The Ming Dynasty is not trying to seize the land west of the Great River in North America now, simply because it does not have the name or reason to seize it directly.

Nor did they want to directly violate the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance signed with Spain.

That would damage political reputation.

As long as both parties signed a cooperation agreement, the Ming Dynasty built the canal.

If Spain does not voluntarily hand over the land, the Ming Dynasty's North American militia will directly cross the river to take over.

That would not be called a war, nor would it violate the treaty of friendship and alliance. It would just be taking back the compensation that one deserves.

Besides, by the time the canal was completed, the treaty would have expired.

Just don't renew.

Zhu Jianxuan discussed with the two cabinet ministers for a while, determined the direction and goals of the new round of negotiations, and asked the two cabinet ministers to meet Godoy again.

After both parties greeted each other and sat down, Liu Quanzhi was the first to speak:
"We will not compromise on the conditions we proposed in the first place. At most, we will allow you to replace the original conditions with other conditions.

“You want to deliver the land in installments, and you want Ming to organize its own workers, so you will have to pay an additional price for these demands.

"For our Ming Dynasty, as a large number of gold and silver mines have been developed at home and abroad, the value of the original precious metals is rapidly falling in the Ming Dynasty.

“So now the Ming Dynasty only accepts land ownership transactions, and you can only use land ownership to pay these costs.

"The conditions we agree on for trading are, first of all, the half of Haiti owned by Spain and the island of Jamaica that was traded in the past.

“In addition, the land ownership within 30 kilometers west of the future Panama Canal, starting from the center line of the canal’s navigation channel.

"That is to say, the future Panama Canal should be jointly owned and managed by Spain and Ming Dynasty.

“And associated with it is the unlimited use of the Panama Canal itself.”

Godoy was a little bit unbelievable after hearing this, wondering if he had heard it wrongly:

"Sir, we in Spain have taken the land west of the Mississippi River, from the northern glaciers to the Grande River.

“The land is enough to pay for the construction of the canal.

"How can we offer Jamaica, Haiti, and Panama as an alternative?

“The point is, we have already paid such a huge price, and the final canal we built still has to be shared with Ming Dynasty?
"This is simply impossible. It is absolutely not feasible..."

Although Godoy said it was absolutely impossible, he was extremely conflicted and worried in his heart.

The tougher the Ming Dynasty's attitude, the more it shows that it has no interest in the Panama Canal, or at least no interest in typical cooperation plans.

The Ming Dynasty must obtain sufficient conditions before it will be willing to participate in the canal project.

At the same time, Godoy was also worried that the Ming Dynasty really did not have the ability to build the canal, so it used exaggerated conditions to shirk its responsibility?

When this line of thought came to mind, Godoy suddenly figured it out.

If the Ming Dynasty really refused to make any concessions, he could go back and tell the king that the Ming Dynasty also had no ability to build a canal.

Now the king and queen believed that building the Panama Canal would be extremely difficult.

Therefore, this cooperation does not have to be concluded.

As long as the cooperation negotiations fail, the Ming people will have no way to prove that they have the ability to build a canal.

Of course, Liu Quanzhi's demands were too high, and the conditions he directly put forward had to reserve space for concessions, but the reserved space could not be given up easily.

So Liu Quanzhi continued to insist and explain as a matter of course:
“You should think about it this way. You are now asking for help from the Ming Dynasty.

“The great plains west of the Mississippi River only made our Majesty willing to send officials and technicians to guide you in completing the construction of the canal.

“The land we are asking for now in Haiti, Jamaica, and Panama is compensation for our workers.

"Our workers in the Ming Dynasty are all free people, not slaves.

“We must have enough land and wealth to ensure that our workers can enjoy the same living standards as the state-owned factories in Ming Dynasty while working in Panama.

“And your officials and project managers cannot possibly provide such conditions.

"So we asked for land in Panama to prepare our own living facilities, and so we asked for income from plantations in Jamaica and Haiti to offset our expenses.

"Do you know that the workers in our Daming government-run factories receive a monthly wage starting from ten gold notes, or ten grams of gold.

"If we arrange for 300,000 workers to work in Panama for ten years, the total wages will be 360 ​​tons of gold.

"According to the gold and silver prices of the Ming Dynasty, the silver content of your Spanish silver dollars is equivalent to 300 to 400 million silver dollars.

"With so many silver dollars, can you calculate whether it is enough to buy the lands of Jamaica, Haiti and Panama?

"As for the fact that the Ming Dynasty wants to acquire half of the ownership of the canal, it is only to ensure that the Ming Dynasty can always use the canal without any restrictions."

Godoy found it unbelievable. He felt that Liu Quanzhi was just talking nonsense and deliberately shirking responsibility:
“Three to four hundred million silver dollars is enough to buy at least five million black slaves, and this is the price at the time of delivery in America, not the purchase price in Africa.

"Now it's just used to hire 300,000 Ming workers to work on the construction site?

“This is absolutely impossible. Instead of hiring workers at such a high cost, it is better to buy slaves directly to work.

"The most Spain can do is... give Spanish-owned Haiti to Ming as construction costs.

"Spain can allow the Ming people to use the canal without restriction, but the land on both sides of the canal must always belong to the King of Spain.

"It is impossible for the ownership of the Panama region to be handed over to the Ming Dynasty."

Godoy made a final attempt to see if the Ming Dynasty could make even the slightest concession.

Normally, all negotiation conditions should leave at least some room for concession as a sign of sincerity in cooperation.

If the other party really does not make any concessions, it means that they have no sincerity and are not willing to participate in the transaction at all.

However...this negotiation logic does not seem to be useful to the Ming court.

Especially now the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty often proposes one-time deals.

The conditions directly proposed by the Ming Dynasty cannot be changed or negotiated. If the other party is willing to accept them, then cooperation will begin immediately. If not, then negotiations will be stopped immediately.

Godoy was now very nervous and conflicted, waiting for the answers from the two Ming ministers with mixed feelings.

Liu Quanzhi and Duan Yucai looked at each other and decided that the current conditions were probably unacceptable to Spain, so they began to make some concessions as planned:
"We can give up Jamaica, but we must obtain the land on the Panama Canal side to ensure that Ming can truly use the canal without restrictions."

When Godoy heard this answer, he was obviously stunned.

The Ming people actually gave in.

Godoy was surprised because it meant that the Ming Dynasty was really sincere about this cooperation and it was really possible to make it happen.

Godoy was also extremely surprised. Sincerity meant that Ming had confidence:
"No, does the Ming Dynasty really understand the difficulties of the Panama Canal? Does the Ming Dynasty really have the ability to build this tropical canal and open it to navigation?"

Liu Quanzhi and Duan Yucai were both a little overwhelmed. After understanding Godoy's mentality, they felt a little amused:
"What do you mean, you European barbarian? How can I, the great Ming Dynasty, play such a joke on you?

“Building a canal in Panama is difficult, but not a big deal.

"Let me tell you this, the way we Ming people think about doing this kind of big project is completely different from you European barbarians.

“You can just arrange a group of slaves to dig the river directly at the site.

"In places with better climates, we can still complete the project despite huge casualties and consumption.

"But it doesn't work at all in the tropical rainforest area. To do such a large project in such a place, there is a completely different system and skills.

"We need to build the port first and open up inland roads to ensure that personnel and materials can enter at any time." We need to clean up the construction site and ensure that the workers living locally do not lose their ability to work due to injuries or illnesses.

“We need to control local rivers and solve the problems of water sources and floods.

“We need to do a good job in project planning to ensure that there will be no major setbacks during the formal construction process.

“That is to say, in order to build this canal, we will first develop the land along the canal and turn the wild rainforest into habitable land.

"You know what cultivated land means; it means the most valuable parts of the colony.

“The value of the entire Canadian region is roughly equivalent to the value of the two city strongholds of Montreal and Quebec.

“Your entire La Plata province is basically equivalent to the value of the city of Buenos Aires.

"Panama will also have Ming ports, cities and railways.

“We need to prepare for the Panama region, which may have more residents in the future than the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River.

“The level of maturity of local facilities will be the highest in South America.

"We have built such a mature land, and it is impossible for us to hand it over to you, Spain, for no reason after completion.

"Your request is that Ming help you build a canal, but it does not include developing a city for you.

“That’s why we are demanding ownership of the land along the canal.

"I have put it so plainly and simply, can you, a European barbarian, understand?"

Liu Quanzhi had dealt with Europeans many times and knew that directly calling them barbarians would not often anger them.

Instead, it can allow them to calm down and think about the gap between them and the Ming Dynasty.

Godoy really didn't get angry, and he actually started thinking with a certain inferiority complex.

Then he found that what Liu Quanzhi said really made sense.

It is true that only with the development method of the Ming people could the Panama Canal be truly built.

When the canal is completed, the entire Panama will also be developed and become the most valuable colony in all of South America.

However, regarding the sovereignty of the canal area, it did not receive trading authorization.

Godoy said very seriously:
"I understand what the minister said, and we believe that Ming has such ability.

“However, we cannot trade ownership of the Panama region…

“How about this, the Ming Dynasty arranges for a member of the royal family to become a vassal of the King of Spain?

“The king granted the vassal land on his side of the canal.

“In terms of state-to-state relations, the land of the Panama Canal Zone belongs to the King of Spain, and in terms of wealth, rights and management, it belongs to this nobleman.”

As soon as Godoy finished speaking, Liu Quanzhi spoke up:

"It would be easier to have the King of Spain pay tribute and loyalty directly to our Majesty."

Godoy was stunned for a moment and then shook his head and waved his hands:
"This is impossible--"

Liu Quanzhi smiled and continued:
“It is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to arrange for nobles to pledge allegiance to foreign monarchs.

“You said that the transaction cannot be carried out. It is probably because you have not obtained the authorization from your king, right?
"You can go back and explain to your king the Ming Dynasty's plan to build a canal.

"I think your king should be able to understand and agree to this condition.

"What he paid for was just a piece of wild land, but what he got was the most valuable golden waterway in the New World."

Liu Quanzhi's words were a test.

Liu Quanzhi now judges that Godoy himself is able to accept the conditions of the Ming Dynasty.

Now it is up to Godoy to continue to judge whether their king can accept this condition and whether Godoy can convince their king.

Liu Quanzhi could now continue to make concessions because the only condition the emperor offered was ownership of the completed facilities.

There was no forced claim to sovereignty over a piece of land along the canal.

It could be to establish a Panama Canal Company, obtain civil ownership of land wealth within the framework of Spanish law, without involving the territorial sovereignty of local colonies.

However, you must play your best role and negotiate better conditions than the emperor requires in order to demonstrate your merit.

If Godoy directly shook his head to deny it, it would mean that Godoy judged that the King of Spain could not accept this condition, and he could only make concessions in a tactful way.

After Liu Quanzhi finished speaking, he took a sip of tea and waited for Godoy's answer.

Godoy still did not have enough experience, and he was entangled and thinking about this problem, which made Liu Quanzhi judge that he had accepted the conditions.

After a few seconds, Godoy spoke:

“I can go back and ask the king, but it is difficult to convince the king under the current conditions.

“So I hope the Ming Dynasty can make some more concessions.

“At least they should not interfere with the management of the canal, and the control of the canal should belong entirely to Spain.

“Otherwise we in Spain will suffer greatly.

"Of course, His Majesty the King will certainly agree to the Ming Dynasty's unlimited use of the canal."

Liu Quanzhi knew in his heart that the matter was almost done, but on the surface he showed no surprise. Instead, he seemed very conflicted and said:
"Regarding the management rights of the canal... I also need to ask for instructions again..."

Godoy then folded his hands:
“Please, Your Excellency.

"At the same time, I hope to meet with His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to discuss issues concerning the situation in France and Europe.

"Our King wants to know the attitude of the Ming Emperor.

“It will facilitate our future decision-making.”

Godoy now also feels that this thing can really be accomplished.

The more the two parties in a cooperation struggle and pull each other, the more it shows that both parties really have the intention to cooperate.

If one party holds on to exorbitant demands and refuses to give in, and only offers yes or no options, the negotiations may collapse at any time.

Liu Quanzhi nodded slightly:
"I can go and ask for your advice."

Today's negotiations end here, and both sides are relatively satisfied this time.

Liu Quanzhi and Duan Yucai went back to report to Zhu Jianxuan.

After listening to this, Zhu Jianxuan smiled and said:
“Of course it would be best if we could obtain colonial sovereignty over Panama.

“With colonial sovereignty, control of the canal is no longer important.

"Because we can dig another canal within our own land.

“Like the Suez Canal, it would be best if the canal had a double line.”

Duan Yucai and Liu Quanzhi also smiled and complimented:

"Your Majesty is holy."

Zhu Jianxuan continued to instruct:

“Since the chances of a successful collaboration are now high, I’ll also meet the Spaniard.

"Let the Honglu Temple prepare a banquet for the Spanish delegation in the Wenhua Hall."

(End of this chapter)