Chapter 1402: Action Against France

"Please, my lord, restrain your grief..."

Liu Zheng felt the warmth gradually fading from Wang Lin's body, and tears flowed from his tightly closed eyes.

"France!"

"Pass down my order: send General Wang Lin back to Longyan. The general died for his country; bury him with honors and comfort his family for me..."

"As you command!"

"Bring the map! Summon the generals for a meeting!"

Soon, someone placed a map before Liu Zheng, and the Longyan generals in Europe arrived here shortly after.

They had already learned the news that General Wang had passed away.

They also knew why Liu Zheng had called them.

To avenge General Wang Lin!

Liu Zheng looked coldly at the location of France on the map of Europe, as well as the current position of the Longyan army.

Attacking France by land was clearly a bit unrealistic, though if Liu Zheng insisted on doing it, it could be achieved.

But it would come at a great cost.

Although Liu Zheng was furious, he had not been blinded by rage.

He still knew clearly what should be done and what should not, and he stared at the area of the Mediterranean Sea.

"Intercept the French army in the Mediterranean Sea; Longyan declares war on France!"

"Cut off trade with France. From now on, we, Longyan, will sever diplomatic relations and impose sanctions on any country that trades with France!"

"Pass my order to Jiang Xuan: blockade the Suez Canal; only our Longyan fleet is permitted to pass!"

"Yes."

The crowd was shocked; these three orders essentially locked France down completely in terms of economy, military, and geography.

Even though the Industrial Revolution had been developing for some time, most countries in the world relied on Longyan's products.

And even on the armaments produced by Longyan.

If Longyan were to cut off supply, their countries would undergo earth-shattering changes.

France was now in decline, and although their products were also used by many countries.

If one were to truly weigh the options, these countries would definitely choose to abandon French goods.

And geographically.

The Suez Canal was the transportation hub connecting the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

As a Mediterranean nation, France could not do without the Suez Canal.

Whether it was transporting their own goods out or bringing things in from their Colonial Area.

It was impossible to avoid using the Suez Canal.

Moreover, France's largest Colonial Area was in Africa; although France still had port cities in Egypt, they could not overcome the fact that some places in Africa were simply too far away.

Land transport was both slow and unsafe.

It still had to be done via sea transport.

With these three orders issued, France was almost trapped on the European continent.

One urgent military order after another was immediately passed down.

After receiving the military order, Jiang Xuan also learned of the matter regarding General Wang Lin; his expression stiffened and his heart was filled with sorrow, thinking of how General Wang Lin had been chatting and laughing with him when they last parted.

He had not expected that meeting to be their final farewell.

The detestable French!

Jiang Xuan immediately blockaded the Suez Canal.

At the same time, he thought of the French port cities in Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

"That port city must absolutely not remain in French hands." Jiang Xuan's eyes turned gloomy.

Just at this moment, Nashadier ran in and said: "The people from Britain have arrived."

Jiang Xuan nodded and immediately said: "I will go over to negotiate right away."

The reason the British appeared was because Jiang Xuan was determined to sell the previously captured Egyptian port to the British.

He had let Nashadier contact the British.

Jiang Xuan prepared slightly and arrived at the conference hall, where he saw the people from the British side and was surprised to find it was an old friend of his.

Dike.

The British representative in Egypt; at this moment, Dike's expression was very displeased.

Looking at the conference hall in Cairo, he recalled that this place was originally their territory, but it had now become the Longyan's.

"Mr. Dike, we meet again." Jiang Xuan said indifferently.

He sat down next to Dike, and both of their expressions were quite heavy.

Dike spoke first: "Mr. Jiang Xuan, let's skip the small talk. Nashadier has already explained the purpose of your inviting me here today."

"We are very interested in that French Port city, but we need a Mediterranean port city; it doesn't seem to be of much use to us in Britain."

"Therefore, after our careful study and consideration, we have decided to give it up." Dike sneered coldly.

If one looked at a Mediterranean port city literally, it was indeed of little use, but if they held it in their own hands, they could blockade France's Colonial Area in Europe.

Although doing so would not be of great benefit to Britain, it would be of no benefit to France either, and would only bring them harm.

However, a single port city could not completely blockade France's transport lines in Africa.

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan smiled faintly and said: "Mr. Dike, what I am discussing with you today is not just this!"

"We both know that France has two most important port cities in Egypt, and I only have one in my hands."

Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes and said: "What I am discussing with you today is the transport route for all of France's Colonial Area in Africa!"

"Oh?" Dike's eyes lit up, and he became interested.

The French have very vast territories in America, but there are only three ports capable of exporting the resources from these vast lands.

One is the Suez Canal for maritime transport, which is currently in the hands of Longyan.

The other two are ports in Egypt; one of those ports is also currently in the hands of Longyan, leaving the French with only the last one.

"Do you mean to say that you want to capture the other port city the French have in Egypt?"

Jiang Xuan nodded; that was exactly what he meant.

As long as this port is taken, the lifeline of the French can be cut off.

The French would then be forced to decide to take a detour from the other end of Africa to get to Europe.

However, this would greatly increase the time and cost of transporting countless supplies, and at the same time, it would limit the development of the French.

"That port city is currently the most important place for the French in Egypt, and they have stationed countless troops there; even if we join forces, we don't have much chance of winning." Dike's eyes tried to see through Jiang Xuan's thoughts, but he could not read anything from Jiang Xuan's expressionless face.

Jiang Xuan also stared at Dike and said indifferently: "For us Longyan to cooperate with you Britain to attack their port city, there is not much profit to be gained for us Longyan; on the contrary, you Britain and the French have a hundred years of hatred."

"Taking that port city would benefit you far more than it would us."

Dike could not deny that Jiang Xuan was right.

However, it is also true that this port city cannot be easily captured; it is the last and most important port city of the French.

Moreover, the terrain of that port city is also unfavorable for an attack; if a fight were to break out, the chances of winning would not be high.

"Joining forces is possible, but this port city must belong to us Britain first."