Facing the kicked ball, Zhu Xianhai was silent for a while, and then he made a mental calculation. Although the place in Alaska was a loser to Russia, they would definitely not sell it if the offer was too low.
The reason why they want to sell Alaska is, to put it bluntly, they want to use that land in exchange for a sum of money to survive the current financial crisis.
If the price is too low, you will regret it if you miss such a good opportunity.
But the price is too high... I'm not happy about it either!
After thinking about it, Zhu Xianhai said.
"There have been examples of decent land purchases before this. For example, most of the territory of the United States was purchased. For example, Louisiana was purchased from the French. They paid 15 million U.S. dollars, and the United States purchased
After the Mexican War, although Mexico ceded most of its territory, the Americans still paid US$15 million for this and US$3.25 million for giving up claims. Of course, I personally know Louisiana as a reference.
, the United States purchased more than 529,911,680 acres, or 2,144,476 square kilometers of land from France at about three cents per acre..."
Before Zhu Xianhai finished speaking, Count Bruno said with joy.
"Sir, Alaska has nearly 1.5 million square kilometers of land. If we take this price as a reference..."
"Is there any comparative value?"
Zhu Xianhai didn't even bother to talk to this guy.
"What kind of land is Louisiana's 2.14 million square kilometers of land? It is fertile prairie, fertile soil that can be cultivated. As for Alaska, Mr. Earl, tell me what else is there besides icebergs? How much land can be cultivated there?
?What can be grown on that land? I’m afraid it can’t even grow potatoes!”
If they could survive, they wouldn't import food from Mexico and the United States every year. They actually have the nerve to compare the ice and snow in Alaska with Louisiana. I really don't know how they said this.
"Without the fur, it's worthless. Mr. Earl, we all know this! So, you can make a price! Then we can continue to talk. If the lion opens his mouth, I think
There is no need to negotiate!”
Zhu Xianhai, who took the initiative, had no intention of being polite at all. Historically, in 1867, the United States purchased nearly 1.5 million square kilometers of Alaska from Tsarist Russia for US$7 million plus a handling fee of US$200,000. It should be said that it was 1.7 million square kilometers.
Ten thousand square kilometers is correct, after all, it also includes 200,000 square kilometers of sea area.
This money is undoubtedly a very worthwhile investment, but Zhu Xianhai has no intention of paying this money. After all, Russia needs money more now, and besides Nanhua, they can't find any other buyers at all.
American?
They are at war, what a joke.
"Sir, four years ago, in 1859, U.S. Senator William Gwynn of California expressed his willingness to purchase Alaska to the Russian Ambassador to the United States. His asking price at that time was five million U.S. dollars."
Count Bruno's answer made Zhu Xianhai grin.
"In that case, you can go to California and find that Senator William Gwin and ask him if the United States is willing to pay $5 million!"
Let the current Americans pay $5 million to buy that piece of ice and snow?
is it possible?
Even if the United States is at war, even if it is not at war, they may not necessarily be willing to pay. The price is one thing, but whether they are willing to pay is another.
Of course, it is impossible for Americans to spend such a huge sum of money to buy Alaska now. Count Bruno thought for a while, and then quoted his reserve price.
"Mr. Zhu, 5 million is the bottom line that Russia can accept!"
William Gwynn's offer at that time was one of the reasons that made St. Petersburg's heart beat. So a piece of ice and snow worthless place could be sold for 5 million US dollars. This was definitely a very good deal.
"But who's willing to pay $5 million?"
Zhu Xianhai asked rhetorically.
"Even William Gwynn wouldn't be willing to do it. For 5 million U.S. dollars, Your Excellency, land as fertile as Louisiana is only worth 15 million U.S. dollars. How much is Alaska worth?"
Alaska is certainly not worth much.
Of course, Count Bruno knew this very well, but he knew even better why Russia wanted to sell it. The Crimean War not only cost Russia hundreds of thousands of troops, but also caused economic losses of hundreds of millions of rubles. It can be said that
, Russia was very short of money after the war. Therefore, it was forced to think of selling its territory to relieve financial pressure.
Therefore, he had to sell it at a good price. Only in this way can he please the Tsar. Isn't the reason why he came to the Tsar's door just to claim credit in front of the Tsar?
But what kind of bird place is Alaska?
Is that place worth five million dollars?
Not to mention other people, even Count Bruno himself did not believe that the place was worth so much money. In his opinion, the American offer... was just a false price, an offer that brought Russia to the negotiating table. In the end, they
I definitely wouldn't be happy to spend so much money on that piece of ice and snow.
Just as Count Bruno was thinking about it, Zhu Xianhai made an offer.
"One point!"
"What?"
"It's one cent per acre. On average, Americans buy Louisiana for about three cents per acre, but the ice and snow in Alaska is definitely not worth that price. It's one cent per acre!"
Zhu Xianhai gave a reasonable quotation.
"Well, it's about $3.5 million."
In another world, the best land king in history, the United States, bought Alaska for two cents an acre. However, Zhu Xianhai did not intend to pay that much.
"This is impossible!"
Count Bruno said loudly.
"3.5 million US dollars, this is simply a free gift! Mr. Zhu! If this is the case, I would rather negotiate with the Americans. They have already made an offer of at least 5 million US dollars."
"You can go to them. Let's not say whether the Americans are willing to pay 5 million, but the Americans who are fighting will definitely not, and they can't spend 5 million to buy that big refrigerator. Well, maybe three years.
Maybe five years, but after the war is over anyway, how much subsidy do you need to provide in the next few years? Half a million? A million? Or more? For sure, every day, in order to maintain Alaska
You are all spending a lot of money during my reign, but if you accept my offer now, not only can you get rid of this burden, but you can also get a huge sum of money!"
Looking at the frowning Count Bruno and the calm-faced Zhu Xianhai, he felt a little proud, where are the Russians? They have always taken advantage of others, and now it is his turn.
Although he was unwilling to admit it, Count Bruno knew that what the other party said was true. Alaska is consuming Russia's wealth bit by bit. Every day it is delayed, it is consuming one day. More importantly, there is a high possibility that there will be more wealth there in the future.
Occupied by the British and even the Americans.
“4.5 million pesos!”
Finally, after repeated weighing, Count Bruno made his final offer.
"This is the lowest offer that St. Petersburg can accept! If it is any lower, it is impossible for St. Petersburg to agree! Mr. Zhu, I hope you can understand that Russia may need money to alleviate the current situation, but it does not mean that the land will be wasted.
send out!"
After giving this final offer, Count Bruno had already made up his mind. If the other party refused again, there would be no need to negotiate.
After all, he knew very well what the bottom line was that the Tsar would accept.
Alaska may be a land of ice and snow that produces nothing and is worthless, but Russia does not have an inch of land that is too much.
Even selling now is just a last resort.
4.5 million!
This is the bottom line that the Tsar can accept! If it is any lower, it will be no different from giving it away for free.