Chapter 1572: Taking Advantage

Upon hearing this reply, Qingyang Shuo chuckled and said, "That is truly a clever answer."

"If it were a friend's request, I might have no Method to refuse."

Hearing these words, Qiaozhi felt a weight lift from his heart, his face filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, sir. Actually, I..."

Qingyang Shuo waved his hand to interrupt him: "I haven't finished speaking yet."

Qiaozhi's expression stiffened.

Qingyang Shuo continued, "But are Captain Gelin and you my friends?"

"You are British, not Longyan."

"You don't even address me as 'you' (honorific)."

Qingyang Shuo put away his smile and said indifferently, "Qiaozhi, you know that this matter is both simple and difficult for me."

"Even if I refuse you, or even insult you and turn you into my enemy, I wouldn't feel there is any problem."

"As you are now, you pose no threat to me whatsoever."

Captain Gelin's expression gradually returned to calm; Mr. Qingyang Shuo was right.

Even if he refused, there was no Method he could use.

Perhaps it would even be better for him if he refused.

After all, to discuss such matters with Kelinxi, Longyan City would inevitably have to pay a certain price, and given his current status and position, he simply could not afford such a cost.

"I understand..."

Qiaozhi exhaled, slowly stood up, and still bowed respectfully, saying, "I apologize, I have disturbed you."

After saying this, Qiaozhi turned to leave.

When Qingyang Shuo saw this, he snorted coldly: "A fellow who cannot listen to what others say."

Qiaozhi, who was just about to step out the door, heard this, pulled back his foot, and turned to look at Qingyang Shuo, his face blank.

Qingyang Shuo looked at him and said indifferently, "I can help you."

"But please forget the friendship between us and Longyan City today."

Qiaozhi was stunned, then immediately reacted, his face suddenly filled with joy; Qingyang Shuo had agreed to his request.

"Mr. Qingyang Shuo, I will absolutely never forget the friendship between us."

Qiaozhi hurriedly expressed his thanks.

Qingyang Shuo waved his hand and said, "As the price for rescuing Captain Gelin, I need you to do one thing for me."

"Sir, please speak."

"No matter what it is, I will help you," Qiaozhi said with a solemn vow.

Qingyang Shuo said, "Not now. When I need you, I hope you will not refuse."

At this time, Egypt.

In Africa, the French Colonial Area had launched several counterattacks to contend for the port city in Egypt, but each time they were repelled by Jiang Xuan.

Dike returned to the British Colonial Area and learned that the battle for the French port had ended, and Jiang Xuan had achieved final victory.

The Longyan side had won, and according to the agreement, the Longyan side was to use this port city as a bargaining chip to exchange for their own mining area.

At the thought of this, a smile appeared on Dike's face.

In this war, their Britain had only lost thirty thousand men, and that was due to a sandstorm.

If not for this sandstorm, Dike's troop losses might have been even smaller.

But thinking that he could exchange thirty thousand soldiers plus two mines that were nearly exhausted for two port cities on the Mediterranean Sea coast...

Dike was incredibly excited; this was definitely his great political achievement in Egypt.

Britain had wanted to obtain a Mediterranean port for a long time; through the Mediterranean, one could reach the heart of the European continent directly.

Through their naval superiority, they could deter France and most other countries in the Mediterranean.

But because the Suez Canal had previously been occupied by Longyan.

Other Mediterranean coastal cities were occupied by other European countries by coincidence.

They simply did not give Britain any opportunity.

But now, Longyan was actually cooperating with them.

They were even selling two Mediterranean ports at a price that seemed extremely low to them; this was simply profligate behavior.

However, the more Longyan acted this way, the happier they were.

Dike, who originally held no great hope for this war, now had eyes filled with greed upon hearing the news of Longyan's victory.

"Prepare the carriage; we are going to find Jiang Xuan to claim the portion of the spoils that belongs to us."

At this moment, Jiang Xuan was organizing construction work throughout the city; the former French Minister of War had already surrendered and become Jiang Xuan's subordinate.

Jiang Xuan stood on the city wall, looking at the flat plains outside, his eyes narrowed slightly.

He felt a thousand emotions in his heart.

To build a city wall on such a plain that almost no cannon could destroy was simply a sharp weapon for defending against enemy troops.

But it was a pity; he did not fancy this city.

Although a huge price was paid to take this city, its true purpose was to cut off the French African maritime supply line.

To ensure that materials in Africa could not be quickly transported to France, achieving the effect of containment.

Therefore, even for the repair work, Jiang Xuan only ensured that this city would not collapse at a critical moment; at the very least, it had to be able to withstand French harassment.

As for the port, Jiang Xuan never intended to leave any usable port for Britain.

The other city was already firmly controlled by Nashadier; Dike would run into walls everywhere in that city.

However, for this city, if Britain wants the port, they must pay a heavy price.

Just at this moment, Jiang Xuan saw a horse carriage bearing the Britain flag driving over.

He smiled slightly, having long guessed that this fellow Dike would certainly come to ask him for the spoils of war.

Soon, under Jiang Xuan's signal, Dike's horse carriage proceeded into the city.

Dike and Jiang Xuan met, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries without directly entering the main topic.

Seeing this, Jiang Xuan also dragged it out; in any case, the initiative was in his hands.

In the end, it was Dike who could not hold back, speaking first: "Jiang Xuan, the war is over now, and you have won; the things between us should also be honored."

Jiang Xuan looked at Dike with a smile.

"Are your Britain mineral deposits ready?"

Dike likewise looked at Jiang Xuan with a smile.

"Whenever you need them, you can take them; we have long since prepared them."

Jiang Xuan nodded and said indifferently: "The trade can continue, but I need to know what exactly your Britain was doing when we were attacking the city, why you didn't hold it, and why the French Army appeared on the battlefield."

Hearing the questioning, Dike said unhurriedly: "I didn't want this to happen either, it's just that we encountered a sandstorm at the time, and all thirty thousand of my soldiers were buried."

"It can be said that I was the only one who survived, and I no longer had the ability to block those French Army troops."

"Moreover, even I barely escaped with my life."

Jiang Xuan had sent people to investigate this matter, and it was not much different from what Dike said, but he still had to ask what needed to be asked.

Jiang Xuan sneered.

"Our Longyan deployed an army of nearly two hundred thousand on the battlefield, only then managing to take this city with great difficulty; now, before my chair is even warm, you come to talk to me about trade?"