1890 King of Southeast Asia

"Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs of the South China Empire, Muhammad greets you." Muhammad was flattered and saluted Lin Anmin.

He was just a secret envoy, representing the Caliph, but since the Young Turk Revolution, the Caliph has lost his power and has become a symbol.

As an envoy, the status is directly linked to the status of the master. The Caliph lost his secular power, and the status of the Caliph's envoy was greatly reduced, not to mention the secret envoy.

Although he actually came to discuss government affairs, in name he was indeed just a secret envoy of the Caliph, representing the Caliph, not the government.

Is the Caliph honorable? Honorable, but what's the use? You arrived secretly.

The secret envoy sent by the Caliph to the United States set off earlier and arrived faster. In the United States, he only met a first-class secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the minister's secretary.

And he was received by the minister's private secretary as soon as he got off the ship. After arriving at the train station, the motorcade took him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met the Minister of Foreign Affairs directly.

"Mr. Muhammad, please sit down. This is not the first time we have dealt with each other. Don't be restrained." Lin Anmin smiled and asked Muhammad to take a seat.

"The friendship between the Ottoman Empire and the South China Empire..."

According to the process, the two began a lengthy flattery and lie to ease the tension, or should it be called "testing"?

From the friendship between the two countries to the world situation, and finally back to the ongoing Balkan War, it seems that they have talked about it, but Muhammad has not yet entered the main topic, so Lin Anmin had to forcefully cut in.

"Speaking of war, Muhammad, your situation does not seem to be very good. Excuse me, after experiencing two consecutive wars, can your country still withstand it?" Lin Anmin picked up the teacup and said casually.

"The continuous wars have indeed brought some pressure to the empire, but the warriors of the Caliph will destroy those invaders, for sure!" Muhammad thought about the meaning of "excuse me", he did not understand.

Idioms are a bit too difficult for him who is not good at Chinese.

Lin Anmin nodded in agreement, looked at Muhammad, and waited for him to continue.

Who knew that Muhammad changed his tone and began to complain about those evil invaders, emphasizing his righteous position.

After listening for a while, Lin Anmin was really bored. It was meaningless and worthless. He took time out to see Muhammad, not to listen to him say how just the Ottoman Empire was.

"Mr. Muhammad, I still have some things to do. If you are free, I will leave first." Lin Anmin was not sure what Muhammad was up to, and was ready to review it.

"Oh! No, Your Excellency, the Caliph and the Ottoman Empire need your and the South China Empire's help." Muhammad was about to send Lin Anmin away, but suddenly remembered the business.

He was so absorbed in complaining about the Balkan coalition that he forgot for a moment that this was not a coffee shop or teahouse in Istanbul, but a formal negotiation venue.

"Oh?" Lin Anmin replied in a flat voice without the enthusiasm just now.

"The long war has caused some difficulties in our finances. We hope to get some war financing. Please believe that we can give a considerable interest." Muhammad said stiffly.

He noticed the change in Lin Anmin's attitude, but he didn't know why it happened.

After all, he had never been busy.

"Financing... For the sake of our traditional friendship, I personally hope to help you and provide you with a considerable loan." Lin Anmin curled his lips and smiled.

"Then..." Mohammed also smiled when he heard this.

"But! This is just my personal idea. You know, we are a huge country. I am just a foreign minister and cannot decide everything."

"First, tell me how much you are going to lend, how much interest, and what to use as collateral. I need these to convince the parliament. Otherwise, if the parliament does not nod, I will not be able to fulfill my promises."

In Mohammed's eyes, Lin Anmin had a devilish smile on his face at this time.

"We hope to get at least 10 million pounds of loans, with interest at the highest international interest rate of 6%, but it needs to be paid in person." Mohammed said.

"10 million pounds? This is not a small amount, but for a country and a war, it can only be regarded as a drop in the bucket. Is it just that much?" Lin Anmin nodded, without saying that he agreed or said the conditions, and clearly expressed his dissatisfaction.

"You know, such interest is already usury, and our finances cannot bear too much." Mohammed asked tentatively.

"What if we can provide a three-year loan? 6% interest, three years is only 18%, it can't be any lower." Lin Anmin took a sip of tea.

"Three years? Are you serious?" Mohammed asked in surprise.

At this time, there was actually no fixed number for international loan interest rates. The interest rates for large loans were high and low. The so-called 4% or 5% interest rate only existed in long-term loans.

5% a year, what about ten years? What about thirty years? Don't think there is no such thing. The indemnity of 450 million taels of silver was paid in 39 years, and the principal and interest would be paid in total of 980 million taels of silver.

At this time, the currency was metal currency, even the British pound was the same. Paper money was just a "redeem", which stipulated the precious metal content and could be directly exchanged for gold and silver in banks. There was no inflation.

Therefore, long-term loans were a sure-win business in the eyes of everyone.

"The interest rate is 6%, and the total amount of 100 million South China dollar is equivalent to 20 million pounds, which is paid in three years. How about it?" Lin Anmin knocked the table gently.

"grateful……"

"Don't be excited first, I want to know what the country is preparing to use it as a mortgage? After all, this is 20 million pounds, and it is a large number in any country." Lin Anmin stretched out his hand to stop Mohammed's gratitude Dade.

"Mortgage?" Muhammad took a breath.

"We can use tariffs as mortgages," Muhammad said.

"Tariffs? Is there a pass in the Turkish Strait area?" Lin Anmin said with a smile.

The tariffs of the Ottoman Empire are not like the Qing Empire. Except for the core Turkish regions, Sudan, Emir, or Patham in other parts of Ottoman have the right to tax.

Many places simply implement the taxpayment system, and the tax rights are completely decentralized, including the tariffs and no unity.

Moreover, the nobility's goods are exempt from import and export tax.

For various reasons, the tariffs of the Ottoman Empire are not high, and at least they are not high compared to their trade volume.

The main source of tariff income is mostly concentrated in the Istanbul area, that is, the Turkish Strait, because the cost of through the Turkish Strait is also a tariff.

"The Turkish Strait is related to my country's security issues. We can guarantee that tariff income will not be reduced, but it cannot be mortgaged." Mohammed shook his head straight.

At this time, the mortgage is not as simple as later generations. After the mortgage, the lenders can send someone to check the accounts, participate in management, and even dominate the follow -up development of the mortgage.

For example, after the Qing Empire mortgaged tariffs, the customs gave it to others to manage it. In the nominal, several people went in to manage together. In fact, the rights were in the hands of foreigners.

Otherwise, where does the average 5%tariff or industrial products come from?

The Qing Empire did not think of increasing tariffs. In terms of tariff rights, the Youth Empire has been competing for many years. After all, the tariff income has a lot of income, and the highest time accounts for a quarter of the revenue of the Qing Empire.

However, foreign managers have greatly reduced tariffs in order to make the Qing Empire a qualified product dumping place, and by the way to crack down on the development of the Qing Empire's industrial development.

Muhammad does not care about the problem of tariffs. He cares about the Türkiye Strait, even if it is only three years, he cannot accept it.

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"Tariff income includes the gate of the Turkish Strait, or the land with land as mortgage, and is worth 20 million pounds. Think about it." Lin Anmin kept a smile and stood up.

"I still have some things to deal with. You also do the boat, rest first, experience the customs of South China, the scenery of tropical areas, and you are accompanied." Lin Anmin turned out of the door and did not give Muhammad a chance.

This is an expression of an attitude, either to take out the "equivalent value" land as a mortgage, or use tariffs, including the Turkish Strait as a mortgage.

Moreover, because tariffs were used as a mortgage, Muhammad proposed that Muhammad would subconsciously believe that this is no problem. Even if South China throws out the Turkish Strait, it is just to negotiate chips.

He did think so. In the telegram he issued to Harry, he attached his own conjecture.

"The South China Empire, just like the Russian Empire, has a greedy to the land. I think their goal is from the Suez Canal to the coast of Lebanon, so that their territory can directly reach the Mediterranean coast ..."

"The Turkish Strait is far from South China, and it is only three years. After expiration, we can master it again ..."

..............

"Your Majesty, it is much simpler than we think. They proposed to use tariffs as mortgage, but is there too much £ 20 million? Will it affect our development." After Lin Anmin bid farewell to Muhammad, he directly came to Liu Yiming to report the situation.

This loan was promoted by Liu Yiming, and the government was actually opposed.

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"How much? What is the interest they agree?" Liu Yiming asked.

"6%, 100 million yuan, but they may choose to exchange for metal currency." Lin Anmin said helplessly.

He was very happy to spread the paper currency, but Nanhua has not so strong credit capabilities.

"Limit the scope of their loans, such as military supplies procurement, machinery and equipment procurement, must be prioritized, otherwise they will not give money. There are so many British and American play. Want to take it away? Bring 30 % at most.

If you don't think they have to send troops, 30 % of Liu Yiming will not give them.

"As for the source of funds, don't worry. From the British, the French, or anyone else, borrow a 100 million, and the interest is 4%. I believe that there are great people willing to be."

After Liu Yiming finished speaking, Lin Anmin's eyes were bright.

"Then ... I think can let Muhammad borrow more."