To drag the "Silly Eagle" into this as well, Zeng Cheng specifically sought out Adams and said with utmost sincerity, "Since your country is surrounded by allied territories, this matter is indeed quite troublesome. I believe that neither my Great Ming Emperor nor the other powers will hold any grudges because of this."
Adams didn't believe a single word of Zeng Cheng's statement.
You can't assume that I, Adams, am truly foolish just because I'm from the "Silly Eagle"—if you were all fighting, and we "Silly Eagles" didn't show any support, wouldn't you have your own thoughts about it?
If the roles were reversed, and we "Silly Eagles" were fighting, and you showed no support, we "Silly Eagles" would certainly be displeased.
Therefore, after sincerely thanking Zeng Cheng, Adams stated plainly, "Since we 'Silly Eagles' have joined the Little Broken Pot, we naturally must contribute our share—before I came to Great Ming, our Great Leader repeatedly instructed me, saying that we 'Silly Eagles' would be Great Ming's most steadfast ally. Therefore, I hope Prime Minister can help us think of a solution?"
Zeng Cheng mused that Adams shouldn't talk about allies or not, because even if the "Silly Eagles" called Great Ming "father," it wouldn't be of any use.
For the consequences of offending the Great Ming Emperor, please refer to the fate of Qian Long, the old dog.
Although he didn't know what offense the "Silly Eagles" had committed against His Majesty the Emperor.
Zeng Cheng smiled and said, "Actually, whether you 'Silly Eagles' participate in the war or not will have no impact on the current situation."
"Look, England and France can easily defeat the Habsburg family, and Great Ming can similarly easily defeat the Ottomans, not to mention that Tsarist Russia is also attacking the Ottomans."
"Wait a few more months, and the war will probably be over by then. By then, you 'Silly Eagles' can just prepare to become the five great benefactors of the Little Broken Pot."
Upon hearing Zeng Cheng say this, Adams immediately became anxious, "Oh, no, dear Zeng, this will severely affect our 'Silly Eagle's' status in the martial world of the Little Broken Pot—our Great Leader said that Great Ming is currently the most powerful country in the world, so Great Ming naturally should sit in the first chair. Even if France sits in the second chair, we have no objections, but we cannot accept those Rose Beef sitting in front of us."
"You know, we 'Silly Eagles' were once enslaved by those Rose Beef, just as your Great Ming was once oppressed by the Great Qing. We both have a painful past, don't we?"
Zeng Cheng thought to himself that Adams was really hitting a sore spot. Was he here to stab him in the heart?
He had even served as a prefect for the Great Qing!
After silently complaining, Zeng Cheng smiled and said, "How about this, since you 'Silly Eagles' are determined to join the war, I might as well show you a clear path."
"Either you 'Silly Eagles' send troops to Europe and fight the Habsburg family with France, or you come to Great Ming's side and fight the Ottomans with Great Ming. What do you think?"
Adams stated directly, "If we send troops to fight the Ottomans with Great Ming, can we 'Silly Eagles' sit in the third chair?"
Zeng Cheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course, I am personally optimistic about you 'Silly Eagles' and hope you can sit in the third or even second chair."
However, before Adams could be happy for three seconds, Zeng Cheng continued, "But you see, it's not just you 'Silly Eagles' who want to sit in the second chair. Tsarist Russia, England, and France all want to sit in the second or third chair. No one wants to sit in the fourth or fifth chair, do they?"
This was truly a case of "listening to your words is better than listening to ten years of study!"
While Adams was mentally complaining, he nodded and said, "Yes, that's indeed how it is. However, from a geopolitical advantage, it is most reasonable for us 'Silly Eagles' to sit in the second or third chair."
"I have to admit, Tsarist Russia is too close to Great Ming, and England and France are also too close to each other, and they even have some familial relations."
"Therefore, letting us 'Silly Eagles' sit in the second or third chair, and letting one of Tsarist Russia, England, or France sit in the fifth chair, would be most beneficial to Great Ming."
Zeng Cheng nodded and said, "What you say is true, but Mr. Adams, have you ever heard the saying 'virtue does not match one's position'?"
"If Great Ming is determined to let you 'Silly Eagles' sit in the second chair, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction from France and King Louis XVI. Please remember, France was the first to ally with Great Ming, and Great Ming cannot disregard the feelings of France and His Majesty Louis XVI."
"If Great Ming insists on letting you 'Silly Eagles' sit in the third chair, it's not that it can't be done, it can be done. But let's be honest, can you 'Silly Eagles' hold onto the third chair steadily?"
When Zeng Cheng asked this, Adams fell into silence.
Yes, Great Ming had the ability to elevate the "Silly Eagles" to the third chair, but by what merit could the "Silly Eagles" hold onto the third chair?
Don't forget, the reason the "Silly Eagles" were able to escape colonial rule from England was with the help of France—from this perspective, the "Silly Eagles" shouldn't even be competing with France for the second chair.
Zeng Cheng continued, "In my opinion, it doesn't matter whether we five great benefactors sit in the third or fifth chair of the Little Broken Pot."
"Don't forget, Mr. Adams, the five chairs of the Little Broken Pot are stable and permanent. Any increase or decrease requires the unanimous consent of the five great benefactors. Even if there is one dissenting vote, the matter cannot be concluded. This is already a guarantee of interest, isn't it?"
Seeing that Adams was about to be led astray, Zeng Cheng immediately added more force, "When my Great Ming's founding Emperor Hongwu started his rise, there was the saying 'stockpile grain, delay claiming kingship.' His Majesty, before ascending the throne, also hid in the mountains to accumulate strength, and finally, with one surge, successfully overthrew the Great Qing."
"Your 'Silly Eagles' situation is particularly suitable for slowly accumulating strength. When your strength becomes great in the future, you can then contend for the third or even second chair, and even the first chair is not without hope."
Adams quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, the first chair will always belong to Great Ming; this will never change."
After another long silence, Adams finally spoke, "Then how about this: we 'Silly Eagles' are willing to send ten thousand ground troops, plus a fleet, to attack the Ottomans with Great Ming. What do you say?"
Although he was not satisfied with the "Silly Eagles" only sending ten thousand troops, Zeng Cheng still nodded and said, "Of course, as long as you 'Silly Eagles' contribute to the Little Broken Pot, the other three powers will no longer look down on you 'Silly Eagles'."
...
Just as Zeng Cheng was fleecing Adams, Paul I, who had recently returned to Tsarist Russia, once again came to Great Ming, still in the capacity of the Tsarist heir, and immediately requested personal negotiations with Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of Great Ming.
This move was quite perplexing—Great Ming was currently at war with Gurkha and was about to face the Ottomans, while Tsarist Russia was at war with the Ottomans. What did Paul I want by coming to Great Ming now?
To discuss the division of the Ottoman Empire?
Furthermore, Tsarist Russia had an embassy in Great Ming, and Great Ming also had an ambassador in Tsarist Russia. Even if they were to discuss how to divide the Ottoman Empire, it shouldn't be discussed by Paul I personally, right?
After thinking for a long time without figuring anything out, Zhu Jinsong decided to meet with Paul I.
Upon meeting Zhu Jinsong, Paul I stated directly, "Will your Great Ming absolutely not give up Eastern Siberia?"
Zhu Jinsong's face darkened and he said, "If you are here to discuss this, then there is no need to waste any more words."
Paul I interrupted, "Wait, let me finish speaking—since you are unwilling to give it up, then we, Tsarist Russia, will abandon that territory. However, before we abandon it, we, Tsarist Russia, have one condition."
Zhu Jinsong asked, "What kind of condition?"
Paul I said, "Alaska—if you want Eastern Siberia, then you must buy Alaska from us."
"I know that your history books say that Eastern Siberia was a place where your marquis herded sheep, so you are unwilling to give it up. However, if Eastern Siberia is yours, then Alaska will become an exclave."
"So, for the price of ten million taels of silver, you buy Alaska from us, Tsarist Russia, and Eastern Siberia will also belong to you. We, Tsarist Russia, will directly withdraw our troops. How about it?"
However, to Paul I's surprise, Zhu Jinsong let out a cold scoff and said, "Not very good."
"As you said, the Northern Sea is where Su Wu herded sheep, and Nurgan Province is also a territory of my Great Ming since ancient times. Naturally, I must reclaim it."
"As for Alaska, if you wish to keep it, then keep it. If you do not wish to keep it, you can naturally sell it."
"However, for the price of ten million taels of silver, why don't you go and rob someone?"
Paul I also snorted coldly, "Then how much do you say?"
Zhu Jinsong said, "How about this, don't say that I am bullying you. I won't take Alaska for free either. It will be eighty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight taels of silver."
Paul I flatly rejected the price, "That's impossible, and you don't bargain like that—a direct hundredfold reduction is not a business attitude."
Zhu Jinsong laughed and said, "I never intended to do business with you—you tell me, was Alaska originally your land? This price is already given in consideration of you being one of the five great benefactors. Otherwise, I would have people dig through old documents, and perhaps that place would become my Great Ming's territory since ancient times?"
"Bang!"
Paul I slammed the table fiercely and said angrily, "You are going too far!"
Zhu Jinsong pouted and said, "Paul, you must remember, I do not fight you because I do not want to fight you, not because I cannot defeat you, understand!"
"It's eighty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight taels of silver. Take it or leave it! What cannot be obtained at the negotiation table, I will obtain on the battlefield!"
Upon hearing Zhu Jinsong say this, Paul I slumped onto the chair like a deflated ball.
Could Tsarist Russia truly not defeat the Great Qing's Eight Banners led by Prince Yongxuan?
Not exactly.
Given the combat effectiveness of those Eight Banners soldiers, Tsarist Russia could easily crush them with one hand.
However, Tsarist Russia's current energy was all tied up in the Eurasian region with the Ottomans, and they had no energy to deal with the Far East.
More importantly, through the Gurkha affair, Tsarist Russia had figured out Great Ming's tactics—when the time was right, Great Ming would definitely eliminate the Great Qing's Eighth Prince and take Eastern Siberia into its possession.
And when that time was right would depend on how much territory the Eighth Prince occupied and whether it could satisfy Great Ming's appetite.
Therefore, Catherine had once again dispatched Paul I to negotiate with Great Ming on the issues of Eastern Siberia and Alaska.