Chapter 320: Delay him for a few days

"Beijing's population is known as two million, but in fact it is only less than eight hundred thousand. The number of families is about one hundred thousand. All are bungalows. There are two or three roads like Ueno Misei in Tokyo, and there are open-air shops on both sides of the road, so it is very narrow. This kind of road is divided into horse carriage lanes and sidewalks. The owner of the open-air shop stays there, so it's like a house at home. The road is still in its original state and never repairs, so it's difficult to walk."

"People who come and go don't like to be neat. As the rumors say, they urinate and defecate everywhere on the road, and smell stench. However, they are used to it and don't take it seriously. They can urinate everywhere in the river or pour it into the pool. If they are not careful when walking, they will step on the stool..."

"It won't stay there for a long time. The feces will be processed by pigs, dogs, and people. People drive dogs, dogs drive pigs, and compete with each other to see who gets more. Dogs are very cunning. When a child defecates on the road, it will wait aside and eat them all up immediately after the end. People will drive the dog away. People will carry baskets like our Tokyo pick-up waste paper, drive the dog away, then pick up the feces, carry them to the suburbs, and sell them as fertilizer."

"It's already so untidy. There are often thunderstorms in summer and windy after the rain. Basically, there will be sandstorms blowing from the desert once a week covering the sky and the sky is dark. So it's very stuffy. What's more unbearable than stuffy is a white bug. This kind of bug is similar to bed bugs. It's a small flying bug that is almost impossible to detect with the naked eye. After being bitten by this, sometimes you need to see a doctor. I've been bitten by myself, and I still have black bumps."

"The water quality is not good, so you can't drink it directly..."

When I was traveling to Dagu on the "Sakatsumaru", Kikujiro Ishii served as the second secretary of the Embassy in China 17 years ago and was later promoted to the first-class secretary. When the Boxer Rebellion broke out, he was trapped in the capital. He was a special envoy of the Great Japanese Empire who had suffered a lot in China. He looked through the information that was thrown at the bottom of the box. These records of Beijing were his achievements in the four years of his mission to China. However, when he took the train to the capital in Dagu, the embassy counselor Kohara Youyoshi, who picked him up at the dock, told him directly:

"In recent years, China has changed a lot. I hope you will not deal with the Chinese with old eyes."

Xiaoba Youji, who had been on a mission to China before the Xinhai Revolution, was personally in the midst of the great changes in China in the past three years. Of course, he knew about China's changes.

However, Kobayou Yoshi's words made Kikujiro Ishii feel the changes in this country at the first time. At least in terms of title, as Japanese, they often call China "China!" instead of "China". But now Kobayou Yoshi has only two people at the time. With such a title, it is obvious that his mentality has changed.

In fact, Kikujiro Ishii knew very well about this. At the beginning of the "Jiaoao Incident", China's international status was insignificant, and it was not qualified to have an equal dialogue with strong countries, and it was even less able to play a role in world affairs. Although China's population is large, it is still regarded as a weak country by the international community. However, after they defeated the Japanese Navy and Army, the situation changed fundamentally. China's international status has been naturally improved. Although it is still difficult for them to be regarded as a strong country and a big country, few countries now ignore China.

The status of a great power can only be obtained through war!

Kikujiro Ishii, who became a diplomat as early as 1891, has a deep understanding of this. He has experienced the changes in Japan from an insignificant small country to an important powerful country, and also has experienced the convenience that this change brings to diplomats. Now, the China he is facing is almost Japan after 1905.

A country that establishes its own status through the battlefield.

"Fortunately, their conditions are not harsh!"

Recalling several conditions proposed by Yuan Shikai, Ishii secretly thanked that his purpose of coming to China this time was to end this "conflict" and avoid further expansion of the conflict. Of course, he also wanted to save Japan's face.

For Ishii, what he was most worried about was not China, but the attitudes of the Western powers. The European envoys in China at this time were different from before the conflict broke out. At the beginning of the conflict, they all agreed to urge the Chinese government to accept Japan's conditions and withdraw troops from Jiaoao. British Minister Juerdian was said to have met Yuan Shikai in person, and persuaded Yuan Shikai to surrender as a 30-year-old friend, saying that he was busy building for 10 years before speaking. Although the US government was dissatisfied, it did not intend to stand up for China, and Rui Enshi had to just say no. As for Russia, it was only concerned about whether their interests in North Manchuria were harmed, and France did not intend to talk too much as long as Japan respected the treaty signed with Japan in 1907, and did not intend to talk too much. Compared with China, they valued more about their relations with Japan, because the European war was in a stalemate, so they did not have to turn against Japan.

In the end, after the full outbreak of the conflict, the Jiangsu Army gradually gained the upper hand and the situation became increasingly unfavorable to Japan, and the attitudes of the European powers also changed dramatically. Their attitudes ranged from being ambiguous at the beginning to being on the Chinese side later. The reason for this is very simple. The Chinese proved their value and strength through the battlefield.

In the jungle era, those with fangs only respect those with fangs. This is the basic rule of the country game between the country in the jungle era.

Now, the sudden increase of these fanged similar species, while making Japan extremely uncomfortable, the attitude of the great powers is particularly important. Unlike most domestic advocates using the European war to expand the sphere of influence as much as possible, Ishii supports prudent expansion and cooperation with Western countries.

But he knew that Japan, despite the initial opposition from various countries, took advantage of the European and European powers' time to look east and tried its best to expand China, which has deeply stimulated countries. Their previous compromise with Japan was due to strategic needs and had to sacrifice China's interests for their own interests.

Now, Japan's ambitions are completely exposed to various countries, but they are severely interrupted by the Chinese on the battlefield. In this case, Japan must consider the attitudes of the great powers, and their attitudes will directly affect whether Japan can end the conflict decently.

"Otto von Bismarck said when he established an international system: diplomatic balance sometimes requires a knight or a fool. The current Far East policy of European powers is balance. Now, what we need to do is to become a knight or a fool?"

When entering the embassy, ​​Kikujiro Ishii whispered to Koba Yukiyoshi.

Whether to become a knight in the balance game or a fool is a choice for Japan and also a choice for China.

"How is the weather in Qingdao recently!"

He picked up the white jade bowl and took a sip of the gas replenishing soup. Yuan Shikai sneered, but this question only made Lu Zhengxiang, who confirmed the bottom line of the negotiations to the president before the negotiations, was stunned. He didn't know why the president asked this question.

"Return to the President, according to the contents of the telegram I received today, the temperature in Qingdao dropped to zero last night!"

Liang Shiyi, the secretary-general of the president, quickly replied, but compared to Lu Zhengxiang's confused face, his face had a smile.

"Oh, it's not cold enough!"

Putting the bottom-down white jade bowl aside, Yuan Shikai responded in disappointment.

"What a pity. If Dalian and Qingdao were all transferred, maybe..."

Lu Zhengxiang was still confused, Yuan Shikaiyi was a little disappointed, but Liang Shiyi showed a pity, and the conversation was like a dumbfounded person, which made Lu Zhengxiang unable to hold on. The negotiations were about to begin tomorrow.

"The President and the Japanese Imperial Envoy Kikujiro Ishii have arrived in the capital and will hold formal talks tomorrow."

"Son!"

Yuan Shikai, who looked a little disappointed, spoke.

"If what you expected is not bad, tomorrow, Kikujiro Ishii will definitely request a full-line ceasefire. If you take it for a while, you can agree to him. This matter is not a big deal. Anyway, the ceasefire here and the fire can be opened again. Next, if you ask me what the president has to explain, there is only one word... drag it!"

drag?

What does the President mean?

If you remember correctly, the one who advocated negotiations as soon as possible to end the conflict at the beginning was not the president in front of you. Why did the president's attitude change again? Could it be that there was a new proposal in Lianyungang? No! Didn't Li Zhiyuan send a telegram to say that everything would follow the central government's instructions? If this is all powered across the country, what else might happen?

Seeing that Lu Zhengxiang seemed to not understand his intention, Yuan Shikai raised his eyes and a light flashed in his eyes.

"We still have tens of thousands of Japanese troops in Qingdao. We can afford to delay them, but they can't. The weather is getting colder and colder. Food, cotton coats, medicines, and the face of the Japanese army cannot be delayed. If you want the Japanese to make concessions, you have to ask him to beg us!"

"President, you mean through negotiations..."

When Lu Zhengxiang understood the president's meaning, he saw the president wave his hand and then said.

"Try to do it!"

The next day, the highly anticipated "Jiaoao Incident" negotiations began in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. However, the first day's meeting was not chaired by China, but was chaired by the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, the United States and France to China. In fact, both China and Japan have to succumb to external pressures now. Although this negotiation is needed by the two countries, it is not necessarily that the two countries are willing to intervene in the negotiations by foreign countries.

The long table in the Foreign Affairs Conference Room, where the Chinese personnel who were attending the negotiations were: Minister of Foreign Affairs Lu Zhengxiang, Deputy Minister Cao Rulin, Foreign Minister Gu Weijun, Secretary Shi Luben, Secretary Shi Luben, and opposite were Japanese personnel were: Japanese Special Envoy Kikujiro Ishii, Minister to China Hiroshi Hiroshi, First-class Registration Office Kohara Youyoshi, and Translator Takao Yuki.

Sitting at both ends of the conference table were the British ambassador to China Juerdian, the US ambassador to China Rui Shien, and the French ambassador to China Kant. After all the participants took their seats, Juerdian, the head of the ministerial delegation, spoke first.

"For this conflict between the allies, whether it is Britain, France, or the United States, they all regret that the "Jiaoao Incident" has to some extent destroyed the trust and friendship between the allies. Out of maintaining permanent peace in Asia and the trust between allies, London has made it clear that the "Jiaoao Incident" can only be resolved through negotiations. France and the United States have reached a consensus with the United Kingdom. This ambassador hopes that China and Japan can uphold the spirit of maintaining permanent peace in Asia and properly resolve disputes and disputes between the two countries."

In his opening remarks, Jurden turned his attention to Kikujiro Ishii. In order to facilitate this negotiation, London made it clear to Japan through his ambassador to Japan that Britain would never accept further expansion of the conflict, and even mentioned that "if Japan wants to maintain the existence of the British-Japanese alliance, it must return to the negotiating table." This directly led to the hostility of Japan toward Britain, but successfully brought Japan to the negotiating table.

Sure enough, when he said this, Kikujiro Ishii expressed his dissatisfaction with a light hum, and his "dissatisfaction" was limited to this. After the elders reached an agreement on a "diplomatic settlement", Prime Minister Okuma did not inform other countries at the first time, but discussed the increase in troops again in the cabinet to further expand the feasibility of the war.

At this moment, Britain took the initiative to jump out and resolved a big trouble for Prime Minister Okuma. After suffering such a crushing defeat, in order to give the people an explanation, any "diplomatic solution" that was proactively proposed was extremely unwise. After the ambassador to Japan proposed that Britain hoped to resolve the Sino-Japanese conflict with diplomacy, Prime Minister Okuma even simply expressed his rejection and said verbally.

"For the honor of the Great Japanese Empire, Japan must persist. If violent support cannot be severely punished, then the Great Japanese Empire will be discredited!"

Faced with Shigetsuno Okuma's insistence, the British minister directly equated the negotiations with the British-Japanese alliance and debt issues. The United States, France, and Russia also stood on the British side one after another. Under such multiple pressures, Prime Minister Okuma "has to surrender" to "pressure from other countries", and this news was promptly exposed to the press. Although the cabinet still under pressure and accused by the "boneless generation", he successfully turned the hostility of the people to the European and American powers and China.

Kikujiro Ishii naturally knew that Okuma's painstaking efforts were for his own political life, but it was also for Japan's reputation. Japan needed a step, and there was a step more appropriate than interference from the great powers. So at this time, he had to cooperate with Okuma's performance.

After Zhu Erdian's speech, Lu Zhengxiang, the director of diplomacy of the parties and host countries, spoke.

"First of all, I must make it clear that this conflict was imposed on China by the Japanese Empire. China was forced and helpless to choose to challenge rather than challenge. I hope that all countries will record this!"

At this time, Lu Zhengxiang's tone was extremely heavy.

"Yesterday, I read some newspapers, some newspapers published by Japanese newspapers in Japan!"

When Lu Zhengxiang spoke, he raised his eyes and looked directly at Ishii.

"They claimed in the newspaper that they lost how many warships and how many troops they lost, but they just ignored it. This war was initiated by them, and their losses were caused by their ambitions. They also ignored it. How much harm did this war cause to China and how much damage did it cause to China? First of all, before the negotiations begin, I hope to get a clear answer from the Ishii envoy, who is the initiator of the war!"

An unexpected question made Kikujiro Ishii and also made the British and French ministers who were in charge of the meeting stunned. When they were talking softly in French and were surprised by this change, Rui Shien threw admiration at Lu Zhengxiang. Before the negotiations were still in progress, he took the initiative in the negotiations.

If Ishii admits that it was a war initiated by Japan, then Japan, as a "loser" and "mobilizer", must bear all the responsibility. If Ishii does not admit this fact, then in the eyes of various countries, Japan has no sincerity to negotiate at all.

These Chinese diplomats!

Weak countries have no diplomacy! But in fact, we can only rely on diplomacy! The best diplomats are in weak countries because they do not have the country behind the diplomats of strong countries, and they only have diplomatic wisdom.

"this……"

Kikujiro Ishii was speechless, but he immediately looked at Juerdian, who was presiding over the meeting, and although it was Britain who "forced" Japan to the negotiating table, the British ambassador to Japan made it very clear that the UK would stand on the Japanese side as much as possible at the negotiating table to ensure that Japan's interests are not damaged.

"It was the first conflict initiated by Japan, and this is a consensus reached by all countries!"

Ishii's request for help pushed Juerdian to the front desk. Although he was not willing to stand on the Japanese side, he had to stand up and give Ishii some help after receiving instructions from London.

"However, China has not negotiated with all parties and accepted the Gangou-Au, which will invisibly add many misunderstandings. In London's view, this is a wrong conflict caused by a series of mistakes!"

"So, is the conflict that happened on the European continent now also a series of mistakes caused by a series of mistakes?"

Gu Weijun, who had been silent all the time, immediately fought back with sharp words.

"If the UK agrees with this, I think China will agree with it, it is a wrong conflict!"

"We are not pursuing the responsibility of war, but we hope to determine a fact that China has been forced to defend itself and has launched this war. Self-defense is the most basic state power. If self-defense to safeguard national rights and interests is also a mistake, then the European lights may have really been extinguished!"

When Zhu Erdian and others were silent, Gu Weijun stood up and said after obtaining Lu Zhengxiang's permission.

"After the outbreak of the European war, what position did China immediately take on the Allied side? It was precisely the basic position we firmly believe in, justice, whether it is France or Britain, that was the country's self-defense, and in this conflict, China was the party that was forced to take up weapons and exercise the right to self-defense!"

￥b
Chapter completed!