In terms of population, the residents of the Tapi River Plains were bona fide Siamese, distinctly different from the people farther south who believed in the Arab religion.
As for trade, although the rise of the Strait of Malacca had greatly diminished the value of the Tapi River Plains, its importance remained immense.
After all, as long as this place remained in Siam's hands, no one could cut off Siam's trade with East and West.
At this point, the strategic value of the Tapi River Plains became obvious. This was in fact an important component of the previous life's proposed "Kra Isthmus Canal."
Rama VI said, "The Tapi River Plains cannot be handed over to your country. Aside from this place, the other southern regions can all be discussed."
At that moment, Sir Claire of Britain, who had been "watching the battle" all along, also jumped out and said, "Other than the Tapi River Plains, all other places can be given to East Africa. Lord Ander, I believe East Africa should also show more consideration for the Siam government. This is, after all, Siam's core region, and Siam still owes East Africa a large sum of money. If it loses this place, the amount of reparations must be recalculated as well."
Siam owed East Africa sixty million Rheinland Shields, and the Tapi River Plains were a major source of this country's tax revenue. Thus, Sir Claire's words appeared to make some sense.
But this was clearly not his true purpose. The reason Sir Claire had anxiously jumped out to obstruct Ander—
Was that, after analyzing the negotiations between the two from the sidelines, a bold idea had suddenly sprung from the depths of his heart.
Why were the East Africans so fixated on this piece of land? Combined with Siam's