British Embassy.

British Minister Andrew Russell was listening to the report of his subordinates. Andrew Russell, who had been calm these days, seemed a little anxious because the news from the New World made him feel extremely uneasy.

With the outbreak of the war in the New World, the Spanish Navy's crushing defeat, and the loss of Manzanillo, the situation in the New World became a bit uncontrollable. Moreover, when the news reached the Ming Dynasty, the Ming government did not take decisive measures against Spain and France as Andrew Russell expected. On the contrary, it seemed that what happened in the New World did not exist at all.

Especially the ruler of the Ming Dynasty, one of the most powerful people in the world, the attitude of His Majesty Emperor, is even more difficult to understand. No one can guess the true thoughts of His Majesty. This also made Andrew Russell like a boxer who tried his best but was empty, and he couldn't hold it in his heart.

The development of the situation completely exceeded Andrew Russell's expectations. According to his idea, once a war broke out in the New World, the Ming Dynasty would definitely take measures against Spain and France with its usual strong attitude, such as directly expelling each other's diplomats, cutting off exchanges between the two countries, declaring the state of war between the two countries, and even cutting off trade with the two countries.

In fact, even the ministers of Spain and France felt the same way, so when the news came, the ministers of these two countries began to prepare and were ready to be driven out of the Ming Dynasty at any time.

But no one expected that although public opinion in the Ming Dynasty was booming and there were constant calls for war and punishment for Spain and France, the Ming government and the Ming emperor had never expressed their attitude. Even the trade between the two countries was as usual on the surface. This reaction made everyone unable to understand what was going on.

The British have always been the best at instigating and find ways to seek the best interests of themselves from the chaotic situation. But the current situation has left Andrew Russell unable to start, especially when he proposed the so-called "joint warfare" proposal to the Ming court on behalf of the British government, the Ming Dynasty was not as happy as he expected, but seemed very dull, which made Andrew Russell even more uneasy.

"That's all?" After the subordinate reported, Andrew Russell, who was distracted, asked in surprise.

"Yes, that's all." The subordinate expressed his affirmation.

He waved at his subordinates, and after he left, Andrew Russell stood up directly, with confusion and confusion in his expression, and couldn't help but walk around the house.

Just now, his subordinates reported to him about the situation of Iprakin, the envoy of the Ottoman Empire. The envoy of the Ottoman Empire came to the Ming Dynasty at this time, which was an accident for the British's previous layout, and what made Andrew Russell even more strange was the strange attitude of the Ming Dynasty towards the Ottoman Empire. As the first Western country to formally establish diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty, Andrew Russell knew very well that the Ming Dynasty had always been in the attitude and rules of overseas countries.

But this time the Ming Dynasty seemed to be a little different to the Ottoman Empire. If Iprakin submitted a letter of state to the Ming Dynasty on behalf of the Ottoman Sultan and requested the establishment of diplomatic relations, it was agreed to by the Ming Dynasty.

Since the failure of the Ottoman Empire and Russia in the war, the loss of Assyria after the war and was forced to sign the first defeated treaty since the founding of the Ottoman Empire, the current Ottoman Empire is in the forefront of reform.

News from Europe that His Majesty the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has reached an agreement with various factions in the country, intending to start comprehensive reforms from all aspects, thereby enhancing the strength of the Ottoman Empire and rejuvenating this old empire again.

On this basis, the Ottoman Empire had begun military reforms and diplomatic reforms. Not to mention military reforms, the Ottoman Empire had contacted Austria in diplomatic reforms and was preparing to set up an embassy in Vienna. This also proves that the Ottoman Empire sent envoys to the Far East to establish diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty, and its intention was to take breakthroughs in diplomatic areas.

In addition to diplomacy, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty also had business and political needs, which Andrew Russell knew very well.

As an empire spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, the Ottoman Empire was once extremely brilliant a hundred years ago, but now it has inevitably gone downhill over time. This not only has various reasons within the empire, but also the problem of the empire's financial exhaustion.

Regardless of whether it can obtain military or political support from the Ming Dynasty, at least as the Eastern Empire, the only country in the world that has a huge demand for various goods from Europe. With this alone, once the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty cooperate in commercial terms, the Ottoman Empire can gain great benefits from it.

The supplementary financial resources can greatly ease the conflicts within the Ottoman Empire and also enable the Ottoman Empire to implement domestic reforms.

Andrew Russell understood these issues after careful consideration, but what he did not understand was the Ming Dynasty's strange attitude towards the Ottoman Empire. In his subordinates' report, the Earl of the Ming Dynasty, Fernando, who was born in the Kingdom of Portugal, seemed to be extremely enthusiastic about trade cooperation between the Ming Dynasty and the Ottoman Empire, which far exceeded the enthusiasm of the Ming nobles and officials to treat foreign envoys.

Not only did Fernando take the initiative to contact Iprakin during the previous banquet at the British Embassy, ​​but he even brought Iprakin to almost all chambers of commerce in Beijing during these days.

In addition to these, Fernando also took Iprakin to important departments such as the Ming Dynasty's Commerce Department and the Maritime Department. Even the British did not enjoy such high treatment.

What Andrew Russell even more didn't understand is that although Fernando was an official of the Ming Dynasty and a nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, his identity was quite sensitive. It was true that Fernando's position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but in fact, this Minister of the Minister was not a real title. In other words, he, the so-called Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was just a name.

In addition, as an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is certainly his job to entertain foreign envoys, but his identity and status are personally recommended and participated in business communication and appear to be so enthusiastic. This is not within the scope of Fernando's rights. If Andrew Russell had a good understanding of Fernando, he would even think that these two people were brothers who had been separated for many years based on his current super enthusiastic care for Iprakin.

This situation is so abnormal that it is uncomprehensible.

Andrew Russell told him in his heart that all Fernando's actions were purposeful, but he could not find the answer to where this purpose was.
Chapter completed!