Chapter 1662: Bilateral Tug-of-War

"General Weikeduo, in truth, it is we Longyan who are at a disadvantage."

Li Hongtian straightened his expression and said, "I think General Weikeduo should know how to weigh the pros and cons, right?"

General Weikeduo fell into deep thought; the steam train described by Longyan was indeed very tempting, but regardless of the current situation and the relationship between the two sides.

Austria could not cooperate with Longyan at this time.

Now that Longyan had paid a visit, his own agreement to it was already an extremely risky move.

The commoners of Austria were expressing extreme dissatisfaction with this move, which Weikeduo had to consider.

But a steam train, this kind of great killing weapon that could transport over a thousand people at once on land.

It was entirely possible that it would change the future landscape of the world.

Weikeduo did not want to just give up such an important invention.

A dilemma indeed.

Li Hongtian was in a leisurely posture at this moment; although he had initiated this matter, it was their Longyan that wanted to come and discuss cooperation.

However, Li Hongtian had no intention of being anxious at all.

Throughout the normal banquet, Li Hongtian did not mention this matter again.

He and Weikeduo were always talking and laughing, and every time Weikeduo hinted at this matter, wanting to know more, he was brushed off by Li Hongtian.

He simply would not bring it up.

Keeping Weikeduo hanging.

Having struggled in the political arena for so many years, Weikeduo naturally knew what Li Hongtian meant, so he did not continue to delve into the matter of the steam train.

But he kept it in his heart the whole time.

After the banquet dispersed, Weikeduo, who originally did not want to discuss cooperation with Li Hongtian, was now very hesitant.

To discuss or not to discuss?

If this were before Li Hongtian proposed the steam train, Weikeduo's thoughts would have been very firm: meeting was fine, but any talk of cooperation was out of the question.

But now, Weikeduo did not know how to decide this matter.

If he discussed cooperation with Longyan, the reactionary sentiment within the country would inevitably rise.

This was a matter Weikeduo needed to consider.

But if he did not discuss it, Austria might very well miss an opportunity regarding this kind of steam train.

Weikeduo was at his wit's end; after accompanying Li Hongtian to finish the talks.

Weikeduo immediately rushed to convene a meeting of the Upper House.

Hoping there would be a good Method!

Weikeduo engaged in an extremely intense discussion with the councilors of the Upper House; the councilors, who were originally considered united, had now actually split into three factions because of this proposal.

Weikeduo became the neutral faction.

The councilors of the other two factions, in order to prove that their own ideas were correct.

All listed countless types of conclusions.

In the next few days, Weikeduo was completely immersed in these opinions that were like snowflakes.

He could not find any time at all.

And Li Hongtian, who had stirred up this matter concerning all the high-level government officials of Austria, was still acting as if nothing had happened.

Without the accompaniment of Austrian officials, he went strolling around Austria by himself.

He did not take the cooperation he proposed to heart at all.

This matter was almost laughable to speak of; the cooperation proposed by Longyan, the specific content of the cooperation had not even been discussed.

Just to discuss cooperation with Austria, and Austria still could not make up its mind.

Li Hongtian, who held the initiative, now did not take this matter to heart at all.

Another three days passed.

General Weikeduo, this man who had been decisive in battle his whole life and never dragged his feet, had stayed up for three days and three nights for the sake of discussing cooperation with Longyan.

His eye sockets were slightly swollen.

He knocked on the door of Li Hongtian's temporary residence once again.

Li Hongtian's servant opened the door and welcomed him in; Weikeduo looked at Li Hongtian, who was now full of vigor and had a ruddy complexion, lying on a rocking chair with a roaring fireplace right beside him.

Extremely comfortable.

Looking at Weikeduo, who was already hunched over, his spirit was even more listless after staying up for three days and three nights, and his pale face had completely lost its color.

After seeing Weikeduo's mental state, Li Hongtian laughed and said, "Oh, honorable General Weikeduo, what have you been doing these past few days? Why do you look so haggard?"

Weikeduo snorted coldly; he sat to one side and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Li Hongtian, regarding the matter of cooperation between our Austria and Longyan, it can be discussed!"

"However, you must withdraw from the seaport of Austria."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongtian did not even lift his eyelids and said directly, "That seaport was lost to us Longyan by your Duke of Lorraine; it now belongs to our Longyan city, so withdrawal is impossible."

Weikeduo stared at Li Hongtian and said, suppressing his anger, "Our Austria can provide you with compensation, but we must take back this port."

"This matter is not up for discussion."

Weikeduo's expression became even gloomier: "This matter must be discussed."

Seeing Weikeduo so insistent, Li Hongtian looked at him extremely seriously: "General Weikeduo, this port was originally lost to us Longyan by you."

"It is not something you can discuss just because you want to now."

Weikeduo also looked at Li Hongtian, and the atmosphere was silent for a few seconds.

This port city actually did not have much use for Longyan; in that port city, there was not even a single Longyan person in the Mediterranean now.

Moreover, it was on the Mediterranean coast of Europe, far too distant from the Longyan mainland.

Longyan valued this territory now only because it provided a landing position for Longyan in the Mediterranean, which was conducive to the Longyan Fleet deterring various European countries in the Mediterranean.

It was precisely because Victor was very clear about the Longyan's intentions that he felt this matter had room for negotiation.

According to the latest intelligence, the Longyan have already occupied the Mediterranean Sea port from Poland, and from a strategic standpoint, that place is actually more suitable.

Victor said in a deep, angry voice: "We in Austria can allow you Longyan to temporarily borrow this port."

"But we absolutely will not allow the Longyan to possess this port permanently!"

"This is our greatest concession."

After hearing this, Li Hongtian could not help but find it somewhat amusing; was this Austria's way of compromising with the Longyan in disguise?

Li Hongtian also knew full well the importance of this port.

In reality, it was not that important at all.

However, to have the Longyan spit out the fat meat that had already reached their mouths—

no one would agree to that.

Li Hongtian smiled and said: "What the Duke of Lorraine lost to us back then was permanent ownership; for you to want to take the port back so easily, isn't that a bit too simple?"

Hearing this, Victor breathed a sigh of relief; this meant there was still room to talk.

If there were no room to talk, Li Hongtian would have long since shut him out.

Victor went straight to the point and said: "The terms can be negotiated, but we will lease this port city for a maximum of fifty years, and the Longyan must not interfere with the freedom of the Austrian residents on the island to enter and exit the port."

"The Longyan can develop here, but they are not allowed to build factories; they can have an army, but it cannot threaten Austria!"

Li Hongtian smiled: "These terms are acceptable, but, Weikeduo, what price are you prepared to pay for the conditions you have proposed?"

"To satisfy the Longyan?" The recent transcoding is severe; let us have more motivation to update faster. Please move your little hands to exit reading mode. Thank you.