Xia Bohai said seriously: "Li Zhongtang, we are not talking nonsense, we only know how to speak out, nor do we just use the big hat of morality and justice to suppress others. If the current situation is really unfavorable to China, then sacrificing some local interests to ensure China's overall interests is completely worthy, and we will support it with all our strength. But the current situation is clearly very beneficial to China. As long as we act tougher in the negotiations, we will definitely be able to force all countries to accept the negotiations and conditions we put forward and safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation. There is no need to cede land or pay compensation."

Li Hongzhang looked a little embarrassed when he heard this. Li Jingfang hurriedly smoothed out and said, "Commander Xia, don't misunderstand. This is not the Zhongtang's proposal. Zhongtang is just conveying the opinions of the court. Everyone knows that now the second palace is in the western tour and the capital is falling. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are also eager to return to the capital, so they hope to make some concessions so that the Second Palace can return to the capital as soon as possible. Of course, the court is just a suggestion, and it is not necessary to make concessions to all countries."

Xia Bohai's face was solemn and said, "We can understand that the court has such an idea. However, no matter how the Empress Dowager and the Emperor return to Beijing, we cannot sacrifice the interests of the Chinese nation. This time we return to China from overseas to safeguard the interests of the entire Chinese nation, rather than just protecting the interests of one family. Although the Qing Dynasty entered China by a foreign race, it has ruled China for more than 25 years. We can also regard the Manchus as a member of the Chinese nation. However, if the Qing Dynasty regards China as a private property of one family and even sacrifices the interests of the Chinese nation to safeguard the interests of one family family, we will never agree. Therefore, not paying compensation or cede land is the first principle of our negotiations with various countries. This is the bottom line and we must not shake it."

After hearing what Xia Bohai said, Li Hongzhang and others couldn't help but change their faces. Because Li Hongzhang even turned pale, because what Xia Bohai said could be said to be a ruthless person, and they could use crimes such as rebellion, rebellion, and disrespect to confiscate the family. But the Qing court now almost couldn't even protect itself, not to mention that the strength of overseas Chinese could not even defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance. The Qing court had no strength to do anything to them, let alone that the Qing court still wanted overseas Chinese. To put it bluntly, even if overseas Chinese are really accused of being king in China, the Qing court could only pinch its nose and recognize it.

After almost five minutes of the whole conference room, Li Hongzhang smiled and said, "Okay, I already know your opinion, but this matter is very complicated and I dare not make any decisions. I must ask the court before I can make a decision. Therefore, I would like to ask you to take some time to slow down."

Xia Bohai nodded. Li Hongzhang's request was not excessive. Although he had been granted full authority by the Qing court to negotiate peace with various countries, he was not able to truly be the home of the Qing court. Moreover, the communication technology in this era was relatively high, so it was possible to fully realize long-distance communication information. Therefore, the Qing court was finally able to make the decision. So Xia Bohai said: "Yes, after today's talks are over, please inform the Qing court of our attitude immediately, and let the court make a decision early, and let us talk again."

Li Hongzhang also nodded and said, "It's good that this is the case. I will end here when I see today's talks. I will immediately notify the court of today's talks. I will just wait for the court to reply. I will immediately notify you and hold the meeting."

Xia Bohai thought that he could only talk about this step today, and it would be better to end it like this. Anyway, his attitude had been told to Li Hongzhang. As for how Li Hongzhang conveyed it to the Qing court, it was Li Hongzhang's affairs, so he said, "Okay, let's arrange a vehicle immediately and take it back to the hotel to rest."

After Li Hongzhang and his party left the administrative building, Xia Bohai said: "It seems that we really need to be prepared to recapture Beijing by force."

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "Well! I thought so too. I didn't expect that the Qing court would be unable to support the wall. In such a favorable situation, he actually wanted to cede land from foreign countries and sell the country for peace."

Xia Bohai shook his head and said, "There is no way. Now the Qing court still regards this country as the private property of the Aisin Gioro family. Since it is a private property, of course, we will give it to anyone we want. We all overestimated the Qing court, or overestimated Empress Dowager Cixi."

Wang Yunpeng said: "I really don't understand. The current situation is obviously so favorable. Why did the Qing court or Empress Dowager Cixi dare not be tough and must have foreign countries cede land and make compensation and sell the country for peace? What are the benefits of this to them?"

Qin Zheng said: "The mentality of the emperor is difficult for us to understand, but according to my analysis, there should be three reasons. The first is that he has been kneeling for a long time and cannot stand up, because in the past few decades, the Qing court has almost never won the battle against foreign countries. Therefore, he has an instinctive fear of foreign countries. The second is that although the Qing court now relies on us to negotiate with foreign countries, it should also be guarding against us. We have defeated the Eight-Nation Alliance on the battlefield. If we are led to win again at the negotiating table, then we will be the greatest contribution since the Qing court started. What is Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and I cannot have with me.

Compared with us, after the Eight-Nation Alliance withdraws, we are the biggest danger to the Qing court, and the Qing court has to re-enforce us. It is best not to let us lead the negotiation. Even if we suffer a little loss in the negotiation, we cannot let us make this contribution again. The third reason is that the Qing court wants to return to Beijing earlier, and it is best to be able to enter Beijing before us, because Beijing is the capital of the Qing court and has great political significance. Whoever enters Beijing first will be able to take the lead in the future gambling game. Therefore, the Qing court will do whatever it takes, and will succeed in discussing peace with other countries as soon as possible, so as to return to Beijing as soon as possible."

Wang Yunpeng said: "But with us leading the negotiations, how could the Qing court negotiate with other countries to cede land and make peace with the country?"

Qin Zheng shook his head and said, "What's the point? Qingting can completely bypass us in this negotiation and directly reach an agreement with other countries to cede land compensation and sell the country for peace. But on the surface, we still negotiate with other countries. Therefore, if Qingting and other countries really finally negotiate a treaty for cede land compensation in private, then we will definitely take the blame for losing power and humiliating the country. You must know that the Qing court is very good at shirking responsibility."

Wang Yunpeng said: "So our next step is to consider regaining Beijing by force?"

Xia Bohai nodded and said, "Now the Eight-Nation Alliance hopes to gain more benefits in the negotiations, because they still occupy Beijing, which is their biggest bargaining chip. The Qing court will not hesitate to cede land and make compensation, sell the country for peace, and also to settle in Beijing before us. Therefore, Beijing has become the key to gambling. If we occupy Beijing, we can completely cut off their ideas and completely incorporate the situation into our control. Whether it is various countries or the Qing court, they can only follow the path we have drawn."

Xu Ji said: "If we send troops to attack Beijing now, will it be said by Qingting and other countries that it has disrupted the negotiations?"

Xia Bohai smiled and said, "I am not saying that we should send troops to attack Beijing immediately. We still have to participate in this negotiation. At the negotiating table, we must adhere to our principles, but at the same time, we must be prepared for both ways. Of course, there is nothing to say if the negotiation breaks down. We naturally do whatever we want. If Qingting really plans to bypass us and directly reach an agreement with other countries, then we will immediately announce our withdrawal from the negotiations and regain Beijing by force."

Xu Ji said again: "With our current strength, can we recover Beijing? Our strongest is the navy, and Beijing is not a sea-line city like Tianjin. Our advanced warships are basically useless."

Xiao Jianjun said: "Don't worry about this. In fact, our 6th Army also has several aces, one is armored troops, and the other is to use helicopters to conduct air strikes. So far, we have not used these two cards. Moreover, the Eight-Nation Alliance stationed in Beijing has actually been quite weak and is not difficult to deal with. Now our only trouble is that the expansion of the 6th Army has just begun, because it is to expand the camp into a regiment, which can easily cause chaos to our military dispatch. In addition, Beijing is about 150 kilometers away from Tianjin. Although it is not far away, for us, it can also be regarded as an expedition for us at present. How can we keep up with the logistics support?"

Xia Bohai nodded and said, "In this way, according to our original plan, we should first form three combat regiments. We can start to form these three regiments first. The forces of these three regiments attack Beijing, plus the armored troops and helicopter troops, it should be enough to conquer Beijing, and the rest of the regiments can take a temporary step. On the contrary, it is the logistics issue raised by Lao Xiao, which is really a big problem. After all, we do lack these experiences."

Wang Yunpeng said again: "If all these three combat-capable regiments are used to attack Beijing, what should I do if the guard work is done? Because it is the garrison of Qingdao."

Xiao Jianjun said: "I don't have to worry about this, because Qingdao is near the sea and can be within the protection range of our warships, and there is no real force that can attack us for the time being."

Xia Bohai said: "Lao Xiao, you immediately formulate a military plan to attack Beijing, including the plan to form three regiments and logistics support."

Xiao Jianjun said: "Okay, I'll prepare right away."

Xia Bohai turned to Qin Zheng and said, "Old Qin, you should be more responsible for foreign affairs. Now it is Li Hongzhang's activity in Tianjin, and the German envoy is coming soon. There is a next step to go to Shanghai to negotiate with other countries. Thank you for your hard work."

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "Don't worry, let me leave these things."

Xia Bohai said again: "Director Wang, you prepare and go out to Qingdao immediately to preside over the work there. Although you want to attack Beijing, other things cannot be delayed."

Wang Yunpeng said: "Yes, I'll prepare immediately and leave this afternoon."
Chapter completed!