Chapter 176 Your Majesty, you are your Majesty (first update, please subscribe)
On March 24, the fleet finally arrived in Australia. When they arrived in Australia with the US Marines, they were greeted by thousands of people. Welcoming differences, Australians did not react much at all to the arrival of the Chinese.
Well, Old Bai Ao is almost always a racist at heart.
However, Australia is not the destination of the troops, it is just a docking place to replenish fuel and water on the way. While the fleet was replenishing oil and water, the officers and soldiers stayed in the camp near the port, which has been a U.S. military camp in the past few years.
After the troops were settled, Li Yi'an drove to visit a person, not an Australian official, but a king-King Brooke II of Sarawak.
Currently, the king is in exile in Australia.
"It's a bit interesting..."
On the way to the Sarawak Government-in-Exile upon invitation, Li Yi'an pondered in his mind the purpose of the king's invitation.
Actually, what Li Yi'an didn't know was that Brook II had been waiting for him, waiting to sell his country to him.
Although he is a king, life is not easy for Brooke II, Wayne Brooke, who lives in exile in Australia.
Although Weiner Brooke took 200,000 pounds from the national treasury three years ago before the Japanese army occupied Sarawak, during the days of his exile in Australia, the 200,000 pounds was not only needed to maintain the livelihood of him and his family; Bear social expenses. Socializing is very expensive, especially sending people to London for social events.
Why go to London?
As an exiled king, who wouldn’t want to return to the kingdom?
So he needs to know the attitude of London - whether it supports his return to Sarawak.
However, with the signing of the Atlantic Charter, the United States, in particular, became increasingly tough on its colonial attitude, and the Labor Party repeatedly promised to allow colonial autonomy - which was actually the first step towards independence.
The hope of returning to Sarawak became increasingly slim.
And what’s more troublesome?
At the end of last year, Brooke II found that he was going bankrupt, and the money he had brought out from the treasury had almost been spent.
Without money, he couldn't even pay the rent. The king slept on the street... It's exciting to think about it.
It was at this time that news came from London - the board of directors of the North Borneo Company changed hands.
This news is not a big deal for London, but for Brook II, it allows him to see an opportunity.
“Instead of waiting until after the war, when we are driven away as colonizers by the locals or forced to leave by the Americans, it is better to sell Sarawak to the North Borneo Company.”
As the King Brooke II has a fairly keen sense of smell. Just like in December 1941, on the day the Japanese army appeared in North Borneo, he immediately emptied the treasury and fled Sarawak. This sense of smell prevented him from being like the North Borneo Company. Like high-level officials, they were imprisoned in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps and did not know whether they would live or die.
However, Brook II's idea was immediately opposed by his nephew Anthony Brook, because Weiner only had three daughters. Anthony, as the heir to the throne, had always been eager to inherit the throne.
“Uncle, we must not sell our country to the Chinese!”
"It's not sold to the Chinese, it's sold to the North Borneo Company, which is a British company."
Brook II is still playing word games.
"Your Majesty, let alone a British company, even if it is sold to the British government, it is our country. After the war is over, we will return to Kuching!"
Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, and since his exile, Anthony has been eager to return to that city and become the lofty crown prince again.
“Go back, dear cousin, where are we going back to?”
Anna said from the side.
"Father has already said that we are destined to lose everything, so we need to protect our interests as much as possible when we lose the last chip."
Although it is the king's Daughter, but Anna is not the crown prince, because the natives cannot accept a woman inheriting the throne, so she and her sisters are more inclined to sell the country than to let their cousin inherit the throne.
"God, how can you sell our country? That is my country, and I am the king's crown prince..."
Before he could finish speaking, Anna looked at her father He glanced at his cousin and said.
"Dear cousin, I'm afraid you have forgotten one thing - you are no longer the crown prince!"
The cousin's counterattack shocked Anthony and made him dumbfounded. He had been talking to a man before The marriage of a commoner woman deprived Werner Brooke of his right to inherit the throne. Now he is not a crown prince at all.
Since he is no longer the crown prince, he naturally has no right to speak.
Thus, the last obstacle on the road to betrayal by the royal family of the Kingdom of Sarawak was cleared.
Now that there are no obstacles. So what’s next? Naturally, he had to go to London to reach a traitorous agreement with the Borneo Company.
Just as Brooke II was preparing to send someone to London, news came that the North Borneo Guard and the company's chairman would be passing through Australia.
God bless!
Now I don’t even have to go to England.
It is definitely God’s blessing, otherwise how could the road to betrayal be so smooth?
So on the day Li Yi'an arrived in Australia, Brooke II sent out an invitation, inviting him to his home to discuss some matters of mutual interest.
A skinny camel may not be bigger than a horse, but no matter how poor a noble is, he will try his best to keep up his face. The king's banquet is as luxurious as in the past. Although there are not many guests, the king's praise must still be there. of.
Actually, both parties' minds were not on the banquet. After chatting with Brooke's daughters about some news on the European battlefield, they entered the smoking room at Weiner's invitation.
After complimenting each other for a few times, Weiner said straight to the point.
“Li, the biggest difference between us is that I don’t have an army to support our return to Sarawak, and after experiencing this war, I have figured out a lot of things, and I am also fed up with Southeast Asia. Compared to the humid weather there, I prefer Australia’s tropical climate, so I give you a chance!”
It’s like giving the other person a great gift, Weiner said.
"An opportunity to expand the territory of the North Borneo Company to the southwest, I decided to sell the Kingdom of Sarawak to your company!" Oh!
So you invited me here to talk about treason!
Although it is very rare for someone to actively betray the country like this, but... this is just what he wants.
Some people are so proactive and willing to sell out their country. Of course, Li Yian is also willing to buy. The only problem is the price.
"Your Majesty, you should know that after the war, we all need to face the problem of reconstruction, which will inevitably cost a lot of money. My group has estimated that just the reconstruction of the North Borneo Company will require at least 100 million pounds. ! I think the reconstruction of Sarawak should be far better than this..."
Looking at Weiner, Li Yi'an said.
“After all, war will destroy everything. Well, when we fight in Europe, we will destroy everything. After all, compared to buildings and ports, the most important thing is the lives of soldiers. What do you think? Your Majesty.”
The seemingly light words are actually a threat, telling the other party that he will guarantee to destroy everything in Sarawak. After all, the task of recovering Borneo has fallen on him. .
If you don’t sell it, what you take back will definitely be ruins.
Of course, Weiner understood the potential threat in the words. Weiner, who had already made up his mind to betray the country, glanced at the other party and said.
“5 million pounds, Li!”
Although Weiner had already made an offer, Li Nian ignored him at all and continued:
“Rebuild Sarawak Vietnam needs at least 100 million pounds. If it cannot be rebuilt, it will inevitably cause local unrest, and post-war decolonization is also imperative. Your Majesty, in this case, what choice do we have? "< br>
Why did Weiner want to sell Sarawak? To put it bluntly, it was because of the dilemma - on the one hand, he had no money to rebuild, and on the other hand, the colony's uncertain fate. Not because of the uncertainty, so Even if he could raise reconstruction funds, he would not waste a single pound. After all, the uncertain future meant that he could lose Sarawak at any time.
Faced with Li Yian's rhetorical question, Weiner suddenly fell into silence, while Li Yian did not speak. The situation Weiner faced now was not much better than that of the North Borneo Company's senior executives, and they had no choice.
The reason is nothing more than one word - poor!
And what is the core?
It is because they all want to protect their immediate interests as much as possible. The uncertain future makes them pay more attention to their immediate interests. The most important thing is to put the interests in their pockets as much as possible.
After thinking for a while, Weiner said.
"4 million pounds! It can be paid in installments."
Faced with this bid, Li Yian thought for a moment and said.
“For £1 million, you and your daughters can get a lifetime pension of £50,000 per year.”
£50,000 per year!
It can be said with certainty that in 45 years, the exchange rate of the pound was still very valuable, but next year, it will double in value.
But even so, Li Yi'an's bid was still far lower than Weiner's price. After all, his price was at least 3.3 million pounds. Just as Weiner was thinking about it in his mind, he heard Li Yian say.
“I can pay you £1 million in cash at any time if you do the same, and I said cash!”
Cash!
Weiner's eyes couldn't help but light up, what does cash mean?
It means no taxes are required, damn Australians, even foreigners need to pay taxes on their profits here.
"1.2 million pounds in cash, the contract only states the lifetime pension for me and my daughters. No matter who of them or I is alive, as long as one of them is alive, we must pay this pension!"
Thought After thinking about it, Weiner added specifically.
“This lifetime pension must be guaranteed by North Borneo’s shares circulating in the London stock market.”
Obviously for Weiner, he does not believe in any simple treaty , he still needed some mortgage, to which Li Yian just smiled and agreed without thinking.
1.2 million pounds in cash… Bernhard managed to reduce the number of banknotes by 10%.
Soon, Li Nian signed the Treaty of Canberra on behalf of the North Borneo Company with Weiner Brooke, Brooke III of the Kingdom of Sarawak. In the treaty, it was agreed that Weiner Brooke would formally transfer his kingdom to North Borneo. The North Borneo Company paid him and his three daughters a lifetime pension of £50,000 per annum.
As for the 1.2 million pounds, it was a private and secret transaction. After receiving the 1.2 million pounds, Weiner, who was on the verge of bankruptcy, was able to continue his life in Australia and even spent 100,000 pounds to buy a manor outside Canberra.
After the treaty was signed, Li Yian said,
"Your Majesty, you have to believe that you have made a very good deal."
Weina, the Sarawakian The former king of the kingdom was silent for a while, and then said,
"No, I am no longer Your Majesty, Your Majesty, now you are the King of the Kingdom of Sarawak, my Majesty!"
What?
Hearing this, Li Yian couldn't help but be startled... What's going on?
I actually became a king, why didn’t I know?
Although Li Yian disdained the so-called throne, after the news of the deal came out, it aroused heated discussions from all walks of life in Australia. Naturally, it also encountered opposition from Anthony. Even Anthony, the former crown prince, He also told the outside world that he would never recognize this "absurd" deal, and that he would write to the Colonial Office to overturn the deal. And claimed that he also had "the unquestionable right to inherit the throne of Sarawak."
But the former crown prince obviously forgot one thing - this world is entirely based on strength. Don't say that Anthony is just a deposed former crown prince, so what if he is the crown prince?
The Crown Prince...how many divisions does he have!
And Li Yi'an has at least three divisions in his hands, and this force will even go to Borneo to regain Borneo, which is under Japanese occupation.
"Okay, now, we are going home..."
For Li Yi'an, who has just bought a country, all he cares about now is returning to Borneo. When the fleet set off again, Li Yian said to himself while looking at the vast Pacific Ocean.
"It's a small day, we are here..."
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(End of this chapter)