Chapter 249 Just get the French

"Can you tell me in detail?"

Several big meals ensured that the meal was "delicious"... Santos knew very well what this seemingly hilarious statement represented. Just as Guo Jinzhang said at the beginning, the jungle law of weak and strong prey is still popular in the world. If the American politics were determined to get the canal, they would definitely do anything. If they had not faced France now, I am afraid the consequences...

"It's certainly not specific, but I can mention it one by one." Guo Jinzhang paused, "I won't talk about the troubles of railways for now, let's talk about the second one...Mr. Santos, how many places are suitable for building canals between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean?"

"…Four." Santos' heart rose.

"Yes, four." Guo Jinzhang smiled, "The Isthmus of Tevantepec in southern Mexico, a certain location near the Atlato River in northwestern Colombia, the Isthmus of Nicaragua and the Isthmus of Panama... This means that once the United States cannot get what it needs from Panama, their attention will definitely be thrown into another place. In fact, the Americans have sent people to conduct preliminary investigations on the Isthmus of Nicaragua."

"Nicaragua?" Santos' heartbeat couldn't help but speed up. "Have they decided to build a canal there?"

"Not yet. Because they have no intention of giving up Panama. After all, the design mileage of the Panama Canal is much shorter than the theoretical Nicaragua Canal." Guo Jinzhang said.

"That is, if Americans cannot obtain the Panama Canal, they will dig the Nicaragua Canal?" Santos asked again.

"That's right." Guo Jinzhang nodded, "but this is the last choice. However, even if it is the last choice, the American politics still has a considerable advantage... Don't forget that the operation rights of the Panama Railway are still in the hands of the Americans. As long as they do not cooperate, it will be enough to greatly delay the progress of the Panama Canal. In addition, there is only a 19-kilometer isthmus connected between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua, and the lake water flows into the Caribbean Sea through the San Juan River... As early as 1820

In 2018, someone proposed the idea of ​​digging and communicating the Atlantic and Pacific canals in Nicaragua, that is, from the San Juan River through Lake Nicaragua, and then digging through the Rivas Isthmus. Although this project is troublesome, it is not necessarily more time-consuming than the Panama Canal, because it has many ready-made rivers and lakes to be used. Once the Nicaragua Canal is completed, the status of the Panama Canal will decline accordingly, and it is difficult to say whether the French can raise enough funds from this."

"I admit what you said, but even if the Americans built the Nicaraguan Canal earlier than us, we will still insist on completing our canal. As you just said, our canal is much shorter in mileage than the Nicaraguan Canal." Santos said.

"This is indeed your advantage. But it is very troublesome for you to build a sea-level canal. Moreover, once the Americans successfully build the Nicaragua Canal, they will definitely not allow another canal to threaten their own interests." Guo Jinzhang smiled.

“You mean…”

"I also hinted to Pierre that there might be an independence movement in Panama. As a result, the guy thought I wanted to split Colombia, but I never thought so, because this was actually just an idea of ​​American politics, or an expected action." Guo Jinzhang said again.

"Split Colombia..."

If Santos could still be calm when facing the threat of the Nicaragua Canal, then after hearing Guo Jinzhang's words, he could no longer remain calm, because he knew very well about the situation in Panama... This is indeed an area where there is a possibility of division. Even without Americans, there are also a large number of separatists here.

In fact, Panama has long tended to be independent. In 1821, when Panama finally broke away from Spain's independence, it reluctantly became a member of the Federal Republic of Greater Colombia together with Venezuela and Ecuador. However, the British class in Panama lacked a sense of identity with this federal state that was pieced together purely by Bolivar's personal charm. For this reason, the central government of Colombia had to use force to suppress Panama's independence movement many times, which resulted in increased hatred and diaphragm.

In 1830, when the so-called Federal Republic of Greater Colombia disappeared, Panama became a province of the New Granada Republic. On the one hand, the British class in Panama complained that Colombia sold its interests in the treaty with the United States, and on the other hand, the city's economy benefited from the influx of American tourists. Later, with the construction of the railway and the upcoming canal project, the British class in Panama were full of fantasies about the future. But Santos also knew that in the face of the current situation, facing the United States and France, and Colombia rented the canal.

The Panama British class is actually very worried about the situation of letting the power issue become very irritating. Because these people realize that the overly angry patriotism in Colombia will make the prospect of successful digging of the canal, which will greatly threaten their future interests. This situation is obviously extremely beneficial for the United States to instigate Panama's independence. Once Panama is really independent, the canal will no longer be involved in Colombia, and the French have to renegotiate the previous agreements.

"Is there no other way?"

Santos scratched his head unconsciously. The original neat development had become a nest without feeling. Because, in the face of the possible actions taken by the American politics, he didn't know how to deal with it, and he also believed that there was no way for the entire Colombia to respond... They could send troops to Panama to suppress those independent elements who might respond to the Americans. However, if the American politics really did that, how could they allow them to achieve their goals? Faced with the Americans, their army was not enough. Even the more than 200 people from Guo Jinzhang in front of him were enough to block them outside Panama.

"Of course there is a way." Guo Jinzhang laughed again, "This way is to give up the French and work with me instead."

"Follow you?" Santos glanced at him, "Can you make Americans give up those bad ideas?"

"Of course." Guo Jinzhang shrugged, "I am an American now, this is a fact that the whole world knows."

"You are American... but so what? We all know that you are actually Chinese among Americans, and you are not the same at all." Santos said.

"But as long as we have us, the United States is actually equivalent to obtaining the Panama Canal. Moreover, facing the Tang and Hanzhou governments I represent, namely Washington and Alaska, the American government will definitely not have such a rough attitude anymore. Because they must consider our reactions when facing their rough attitude." Guo Jinzhang smiled.

"Yes, you do have the capital to challenge the American politics." Santos sighed. He didn't understand how a group of Chinese who left their country could win such a victory on the American land? He even forced the American politics to bow his head... Colombia's population is only more than the legendary Red Corps, and it must not be less, but why do they always be afraid of the Americans? Yes, they did not surrender. The people's patriotism is very high, but they all know that it is because the Americans have not taken action yet. Once the Americans really take action, even if only a few hundred people are sent, it is enough to make Colombia honest... But the Red Corps has forcibly eliminated 100,000 white soldiers on the American land. How could they do this?

"We are a local government in the United States, but our unique identity makes us and American government represent different interest groups. If you work with us, you don't have to worry about us treating you like American government, because we are not strong. In fact, we need friends very much, international friends." Guo Jinzhang said again.

"But we have signed an agreement with the French." Santos understood what Guo Jinzhang meant. As long as the Colombian government gave the Panama Canal to the Tangzhou government, or the Red Corps, then the Tangzhou and the Red Corps would become allies of Colombia. With such a friendship that dares to challenge the American government and can make the American government be careful to deal with, Colombia no longer has to worry about the threat of the only major power in the Americas. And similarly, because the Tangzhou government and the American government are both friends and sisters.

The relationship between them is very weak, or simply hostile, and they cannot bully Colombia completely like the Americans. Even if they cannot reach a completely equal relationship with Colombia, they cannot bully Colombia like the United States. Colombia can also gain more benefits in cooperation with Tangzhou. However, Santos also understood that if they choose to cooperate with Tangzhou at this time, the consequences will still be terrible... because they breached the contract, and the target of the breach was a powerful power that was not much weaker than the United States.

"I said that the French could not successfully build the Panama Canal. Not to mention anything else, the water level relationship between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean alone is enough to make them bear unimaginable losses... Of course, there is a premise. I think Mr. Santos, you will definitely keep this secret enough, right?" Guo Jinzhang looked at Santos with a smile and asked.

"This..." Santos hesitated for a moment, "our cooperation with France has entered the substantive stage, at this time..."

"Working with us, you will get more." Guo Jinzhang smiled. "For your cooperation with France, the French condition is that you must form a canal engineering company within five years and complete the survey of the canal project. The Panama Canal should be built within 12 years from the fifth year. After the canal is opened, the Colombian government can make a proportional commission from the canal company's income every year. The first 25 years are 5 per year, and the next three 25 years will be 6, 7, and 8 respectively, but the minimum number shall not be less than US$250,000 per year. The concession period is 99 years. After the expiration of the canal, the concession right can be transferred to other companies, but not to other major powers.

fu…and if you are willing to work with us, we will ensure that all survey and construction work will be completed within 12 years, that is, we will not let you wait longer than the French, and, in cooperation with us, the proportional commission that Colombian government can obtain from the canal company's income will become 8 per year for the first 25 years, and the three subsequent 25 years will be 10, 11 and 12 respectively, with the minimum number no less than US$350,000 per year... In addition to these, the most important thing is that the lease period we require is 80 years, which is 19 years less than the French demand... Similarly, we will not transfer the right to other major powers."

"You guys are really willing to cooperate with us with such conditions?"

Santos was almost unable to help but jump up. Since the idea of ​​the Central American canal was proposed, anyone who had the ability to dig this canal wanted to completely control the canal, and what was left to Colombian politics was nothing more than some leftover soup, and even the remaining soup was unwilling to keep it... For decades, the French had the most favorable conditions. But now, Guo Jinzhang's conditions were even more favorable, especially the conditions for the lease period, which Santos could hardly believe. You know, that was 19 years less than the French. What a 19-year lease period was, what a huge benefit does it mean? He could even believe that even the most advanced patriots in Colombia would not refuse such conditions, because this was definitely something that Britain, the United States and other countries could not give to Colombia.

"We are all poor people who are oppressed, and there is no need to fight for some interests. We should pay attention to winning both sides... Everyone has profits and benefits, so that there will be a basis for cooperation." Guo Jinzhang smiled.

"I believe that if President Morideo hears your conditions, he will definitely give up France... But," Santos hushed. He had completely tended to cooperate with the person in front of him, but he could not ignore other aspects. "We must first determine whether Tangzhou, or the Red Sè Corps, is capable of building this canal."

"I don't believe that the Panama Canal will be more difficult than the Pacific Railway." Guo Jinzhang smiled, "and, compared to France, we have more favorable conditions."

"Please speak" Santos.

"Our manpower is very cheap... Of course, this 'advantage' is not what I like, but it is the fact that we cannot deny it. In addition to cheap labor, we also have enough manpower... The Qing Empire on the other side of the Pacific Ocean is our natural labor market. Our Tangzhou means that we will transport 100,000 to 200,000 Chinese workers from the Qing Empire to complete the construction of the Panama Canal." Guo Jinzhang said seriously.

"Ten to 200,000?" Santos was shocked again. Ten to 200,000... What is this? France requires the completion of the canal test within five years. In the past five years, they have to recruit workers everywhere, and their goal within five years is 40,000 people... Compared with the Chinese, this is simply a pediatrician.

"It is not easy for Chinese people to live. We will provide them with enough daily necessities and a lower salary..." Guo Jinzhang sighed lonelyly when he said this, "This should make them happy."

"I'm sorry, it reminds you of something unhappy." Santos also sighed. He knew that China was being bullied by the great powers, and the same is true for Colombia. The only difference between the two sides is that Colombia has not been directly invaded by the great powers... because they are not qualified enough.

"This is nothing. It's all facts. Denying the facts, not telling the truth, and just using some lies to cover ourselves up is not the style of our Red Corps." Guo Jinzhang said.

"I believe you can raise enough workers, and the performance of Chinese workers in the Pacific Railway project is enough to make me believe that you are capable of completing the canal project... But, in addition to manpower, we also need a lot of material and funds. According to the information we know, the total amount of compensation provided by the US government to Tangzhou is only more than 10 million US dollars, and most of them will be paid in kind. However, before the canal is completed and opened to navigation, the French predicted that the funds for this project will be extremely huge. If exchanged into US dollars,

That would be close to or even more than 50 million US dollars..." Santos said carefully again. Why didn't Colombia build the canal itself? It's not that they have no one, nor that they are unwilling to build it. In the final analysis, the Chinese may be richer than them, but it may be difficult to get all the funds to build a canal. Especially in Tangzhou now, everything needs to start from scratch, which is also the most expensive time... The other party's conditions are good, but if this project is dragged down so continuously, they would rather choose the French.

"Money is not a problem. We have ways to get money. I guarantee that the canal will not stop due to funding problems..." Guo Jinzhang's face smiled again. What is money? What he lacks the most now is money. The gold mine in Alaska is still there, but it is a huge amount of property. In addition to the gold mine, he has other ways to make money. As long as it opens, there will be a lot of money coming... To be honest, who can know how to make money better than him these days? No, definitely not. If there is... as long as it is not a Chinese, he will definitely attack and kill that guy first, because that person must have traveled through time.

"Are you sure?"

"This article can be written into our treaty. If the canal project is stuck due to shortage of funds, it will take over a certain period of time. Colombia's political affairs can fully accept the project and transfer it to other companies or countries." Guo Jinzhang said seriously.

"Your confidence shocked me, but on behalf of President Morideo, I assure you that as long as you can handle the French, the Colombian political team will be the first to choose to cooperate with you," Santos said with a light breath and seriously.

"French..."
Chapter completed!