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Chapter 74 Visitors (2)

The result of the negotiations of Sutaro Omura was passed back to China. After reading them, the Japanese government's Katsura cabinet was very satisfied because the two sides had reached a certain basis on the intention to cooperate. If the two sides could really negotiate cooperation, it would greatly increase Japan's confidence in the confrontation with Russia.

The conditions proposed by overseas Chinese are not unacceptable to the Japanese government, and these requests from overseas Chinese are just a sign of cooperation with Japan. If overseas Chinese do not mention any conditions, there will be problems. In addition, Japan's primary goal is to ensure its interests in the Korean Peninsula. As for China's Northeast region, the elites of the Japanese government now understand that Britain, the United States, Germany and France will not allow Japan to monopolize China's Northeast region. Therefore, if the Russian army defeats, Japan does not intend to seize China's Northeast region, but to ensure its garrison and commercial interests in the Northeast. In this way, not only does overseas Chinese have nothing to say, but also can guarantee Japan's existence and influence in the Northeast region, and then wait for the right opportunity.

Japan is not as crazy as the old time and space, and is wandering around. Although there are also desperate bets on the country, it is also based on careful planning and arrangement, and it is not betting randomly. In this regard, Japan is not strong at present. It just defeated the Qing court of the Paper Tiger 7 years ago. This victory can certainly boost the morale and people in Japan across the country, but the elite know that the persuasiveness of this victory is not Strong, Japan's status in the world can only be avoided from being strong and being a second-rate power, which is still quite far from that of Britain, France, Germany and Russia. On the other hand, most of the elites that emerged during the Meiji Restoration were still alive, and most of these people have a world perspective, and have experienced the process of Japan's weakening and becoming stronger. They have experienced 30 years of military and political experience. In terms of strategic vision, they must far surpass their descendants. They know that only by giving up can you gain something and stop when you see it.

Although at some times, some Japanese soldiers had loud voices and screamed fiercely, and wanted to fight the whole world, it was just a means of political bidding. In order to compete for the throne of the prime minister, the Japanese soldiers were still a little self-aware at this time. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Russia, France and Germany intervened and returned to Liao. Japan quickly became soft-subborn, and the military was honest and did not speak. No one dared to call for a war with Russia, France and Germany.

Overseas Chinese proposed that the two sides adopt the form of a secret agreement. After the Japanese government negotiated, it also believed that it was feasible. First, Japan and Britain formed an alliance, which aroused Russia's vigilance and strong backlash. They sent six battleships to the Far East at once, which made Japan suddenly feel under great pressure and also saw the powerful strength of a world-class power. Therefore, if Japan openly formed an alliance with overseas Chinese, it is not known that Russia will have more intense and crazy actions, and it is not impossible to start a war in advance. However, at this time, Japan is not fully prepared, so it is better not to stimulate Russia too much.

Secondly, even if it is a secret agreement, it cannot be made public, and it can be disclaimed if it is made public, which gives Japan a lot of room for activities. Although Japan does not intend to annex Northeast China after the war, if conditions permit, it will be good to cut a piece of meat from it to fill its appetite. Moreover, the location of Japan has been decided, which is the Liaodong Peninsula. In Japan's view, this is originally Japan's place, so it is completely reasonable to take back its own place after defeating Russia. Anyway, if you defeat Russia, you will not need overseas Chinese.

So the Japanese government immediately ordered Sutaro Komura to hold formal talks with overseas Chinese immediately and negotiated to sign an agreement with overseas Chinese in a private name.

After receiving the domestic order, Komura Sutaro immediately started formal negotiations with Li Sanjie. After several days of negotiation, the two sides finally reached four agreements:

1. Japan and the East China government respect their respective rights and interests. The East China government recognizes Japan's special interests on the imperial peninsula, while Japan recognizes the sovereignty of the Northeast region belongs to China and guarantees that it will never invade these areas;

2. The two sides share information on Russia, support each other internationally, and establish a mechanism for mutual notification before major actions;

3. When either side is attacked by Russia, the other side will send troops to participate in the war. When either side actively attacks Russia, the other side must send an invitation to the other side before the other side can participate in the war;

4. This Agreement is a secret agreement. Neither party shall disclose it to the outside world and may deny it to the outside world. Attachment: Since Japan and the United Kingdom have an alliance agreement, this article does not apply to the United Kingdom.

After receiving the terms of the agreement, the Japanese government felt very satisfied. The first two articles were mutual transactions between the two sides, and the focus was on the third article. Because overseas Chinese had no direct contact with Russia, Russia could only attack Japan first when it launched an attack. With this article, Japan would have a clear idea. If Japan actively attacked Russia, it could be determined according to the situation on the battlefield, whether overseas Chinese need to be invited to send troops.

Of course, Japan did not expect that overseas Chinese might have similar ideas, but the implementation of the agreement depends on the situation of the whole, but this is equal to both sides, and Guan Jian still depends on the government's diplomatic ability.

So under the instructions of the country, Komura Sutaro signed an agreement with Li Sanjie in a private name to the descendants called [Li Xiao Secret Agreement].

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Komura Sutaro took the signing of a secret agreement and rushed back to Japan to report. At this time, someone visited Qingdao again. The person who came this time was Yuan Shikai, the new governor of Zhili of the Qing court.

It turned out that Russia violated the [Treaty of the Treaty of the Three East Provinces in the Treaty] and put forward harsh additional conditions to the Qing court. At the same time, it sent the Qing minister Gerth to send a diplomatic note to the Qing court, hoping that the Qing court could agree to Russia's conditions and also issued a threat that if the Qing court refused to accept Russia's conditions, Russia would refuse to implement the [Treaty of the Three East Provinces in the Treaty of the Three East Provinces in the Treaty], and at the same time, it would send troops to capture the areas where it had withdrawn and march south again. If the Qing court accepted Russia's conditions, Russia would not only continue to withdraw its troops as promised, but also be willing to help the Qing court, such as providing loans, building railways, and fighting against Britain, Japan and other countries. It also met with some Qing court officials in private, bribed him money and asked them to speak out for Russia.

So some people spoke out in the court, believing that Russia's conditions should be accepted. Although these conditions are indeed a little harsh, they can be taken back after all. If Russia's conditions are rejected, not only will the Northeast not be taken back, but Russia will really send troops to war, then the Qing Dynasty will be really dangerous.

But at this moment, the envoys of Britain, the United States and Japan also sent diplomatic notes to the Qing court, demanding that the Qing court refuse to accept the conditions proposed by Russia, and at the same time support the Qing court's request to Russia to continue to implement the [Treaty of the Treaty of the Three Eastern Provinces].

At this moment, the Qing court was in a dilemma. After all, neither side could offend either side. Although most people prefer Britain, the United States and Japan, this is because the international image of Britain, the United States and Japan is better than that of Russia. And if Russia continues to implement the [Treasury of the Three East Provinces], of course it would be better. But now, Russia occupies the Northeast and will definitely not leave. The Qing court has no choice but to do anything about it. Although Britain, the United States and Japan say that it supports the Qing court, no one can guarantee that it can support it to that point. To be honest, the Qing court does not trust that country now.

Just when the court was in a state of confusion, Li Hongzhang suggested that people might as well send people to ask overseas Chinese to see their attitudes. If they really want to go to war with Russia in the future, the Qing court would have to rely on overseas Chinese.

So the Qing court issued an order to order the governor of Zhili Yuan Shikai to Qingdao to meet with overseas Chinese. The reason for this job was that the Qing court had issued an order to order Yuan Shikai to send troops to quell the rebellion of Jingtingbin, Zhao Sanduo, Li Zhuangyong and other boxing bandits in the south of Zhili. Since the quelling of the rebellion this time was at the junction of Zhili, Shandong and Henan provinces, the war might be led to Shandong Province. This is necessary to reach a certain understanding with overseas Chinese. On the one hand, it is convenient to quell the rebellion and suppress the bandits; on the other hand, it is also to avoid misunderstandings. Yuan Shikai could do both of these matters at will.

On the way back to Beijing from Xi'an, Jing Tingbin, Zhao Sanduo, Li Zhuangyong and others ambushed the Qing court's team halfway, which scared Cixi. However, this attack greatly increased the reputation of Jing, Zhao, Li and others. In addition, the Qing court was anxious to return to the palace at that time, and after arriving in Beijing, it took a certain amount of time to stabilize, so it delayed for another 2 or 3 months without action. This gave them sufficient time to develop.

As a result, the power of Jing, Zhao, Li and others expanded rapidly in the past 2 or 3 months. The troops had reached more than 70,000, and swept across Hebei, Henan and Shanxi, more than 20 prefectures, the Qing court's Henan Governor Zhang Renjun and Shanxi Governor Yu Xian all sent troops to fight twice, but they were all defeated by Jing Tingbin, Zhao Sanduo, Li Zhuangyong and others. Now they have captured 7 counties and 2 prefectures, and the momentum is quite amazing. The Qing court did not dare to underestimate the Yu Zhong, who was the boxing bandits anymore, so Cixi personally made a decision and ordered Yuan Shikai to lead the Beiyang New Army to attack and quell the rebellion.

At this time, Yuan Shikai had been training troops for five years, and the Beiyang New Army also expanded from more than 7,000 soldiers to more than 25,000 soldiers. During the Gengzi Reform, the Beiyang New Army did not participate in the war. Although Qingtingji no longer pursued the matter, it was also criticized. Therefore, Yuan Shikai also planned to take advantage of this opportunity to quell the rebellion and show the combat effectiveness of the Beiyang New Army to the Qing court. However, the first thing to do is to resolve the relationship with overseas Chinese. After all, this battle was carried out on the border of Shandong, and it is very likely to affect Shandong. Once the bandits were disbanded, they ran around.
Chapter completed!
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