The Chinese were anxious. Before Japan made a statement on the Shandong issue, Ben also held relevant negotiations. According to Germany's idea, after the Russo-Japanese War, Japan and Russia were deeply rooted enemies, and they should stand against Russia. This caused the embarrassment of Berlin citizens who heard the rumors that Japan had declared war on Russia and rushed to the Japanese embassy to send flowers. If it was out of the prospect of Japan and Russia's war again, Jiaozhou Bay leased land, the Central Pacific islands and even recognized that Japan's occupation of the entire Northeast and the Russian Far East could be exchanged.

However, Japan, a country that is accustomed to taking chestnuts from fire, will not get what the Germans want. The Germans' idea went bankrupt - without causing Russia to fall into a two-line battle, he himself fell into a two-line battle.

After learning the reliable news, Ambassador Xin Ci sent a telegram to Berlin as soon as possible, asking the government to make concessions to China on the Qingdao issue, stabilize China's neutral position and ensure Germany's interests.

Faced with Japan's blackmail, William II was also furious, but now all Germany's energy and military strength are restrained in Europe and he has no time to compete with Japan in the Far East. He can only give up in disappointment and criticized a "consent" on Xin Ci's telegram and relevant report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When I received the reply, it was already late in the local time in China. In order to grab the time, Xin Ci didn't care about diplomatic practices and called at 1145. +.
"I just received a telegram from my country. Faced with the current situation in East Asia, we are willing to accelerate the resolution of the Qingdao issue, agree to respect the neutral status of the Chinese Empire, and no longer require the Chinese government to join the allied countries to fight, but hope that your country can effectively ensure that the interests of the despised country in China have substantial convenience..." Xin Ci said for a long time before finally talking. "We are willing to return the entire Jiaozhou Bay leased land to your country, but there are three conditions."

"Speaking."

"First, the expatriates and soldiers in the leased land of the country need to be properly resettled, and their lives and personal property must be respected; second, the various industries and investments in the leased land of the country need to be ensured; third, the Chinese government must promise to open up another leased land with our country in the future."

He asked for a price all over the place and paid the money on the spot. Liang Dunyan smiled: "The permission from this minister is that we can guarantee any legitimate interests of Germany. But the matter of opening up new leased land in the future will be left for future negotiations. It is too early to say this."

"So, what measures are your country planning to take to protect Germany's interests?" Xinci easily let go of the third article, "I am willing to listen to your great opinions."

"The emperor of the despise country believes that Germany, as a friendly country of the empire, played a positive role in the empire's national defense and industrial construction. When fulfilling its neutral position, it may be more important to Germany." Liang Dunyan smiled and raised his appetite. "We decided that we would protect all the personal lives and property safety of German expatriates and soldiers. Germany's various industries in China can be redeemed by our country - priced with marks."

"That's great!" Xin Ci couldn't hide his excitement and blurted out his praise.

"But the imperial government also has three conditions."

"Please speak." After all, the Chinese are not philanthropists. Xin Ci is also ready to listen to the other party's offer.

"First, the remaining compensation in the "Xin Chou Treaty" will be completely abolished, and included in the Sino-German Friendship Fund and fully managed by our country. Your country must also agree to give up the consular judgment at the same time; Second, all German troops in China must be disarmed in accordance with the neutral law. Go to the area designated by the imperial government, and all facilities, equipment and weapons in the direction of Jiaozhou Bay must be handed over to our country in full; Third, after returning the leased land in Qingdao, the Chinese government will purchase all German industries in the form of marks. The value is confirmed after the agreement between the two sides and provided by your country in the form of a loan. We will repay the principal and interest after the end of the war."

"I cannot respond to these conditions on the spot. I must ask the Berlin side." Xin Ci was also very straightforward, "But please allow me to make some suggestions. The second article requires the troops to disarm and deliver the entire defense system, which may attract the entire army to rebound."

"Mr. Ambassador, we have a good solution to the problem. Do you want to listen?" Liang Dunyan was confident.

"Of course, I am very willing to listen to the great views of your ministers."

"There have always been mercenaries in modern Europe, and we can make a formal change. If these soldiers are willing to put down their weapons and become civilians, we are unwilling to interfere. If they are still willing to become soldiers, His Majesty the Emperor of the Kingdom is willing to form a foreign imperial guards. The soldiers of your country only need to lift their oath to the emperor of your country and swear allegiance to our Chinese Empire. The military rank and military pay will be as usual and the wartime allowance will be issued 25% and all costs will be paid by the Kingdom."

"This?" Xin Ci was surprised by Liang Dunyan's imagination.

"You might as well send this suggestion together with Berlin, but I would like to remind your minister that the Japanese are pushing them very tightly, and their army and navy have begun to mobilize locally."

"I see."

"The defence force of the despised country will also start mobilizing and heading towards the Jiaozhou Bay area. I hope that Germany will not understand that this is an oppression of your country."

"I understand, understand." So what if I don't understand? After the Japanese side announced the statement, the Chinese General Staff Headquarters had ordered the entire army to mobilize. The so-called not oppression is just another euphemistic statement in Xin Ci's opinion - if the Germans disagree, the Chinese would take Jiaozhou Bay from land.

I wonder if the German instructors in the National Defense Forces can see this strategic intention. What do they feel when they point their guns at their motherland?…

"Your Majesty, this reply and request from China is worse than the best we can imagine, and better than the worst we may face." Tirpitz said in a tone of a politician rather than a military strategist, "I suggest that Your Majesty accept such requests, and the sooner the better."

"What will happen if you don't accept this request?"

"First, Britain and Japan launched an attack on Qingdao from sea; second,

Launching an attack on Qingdao from land; it doesn't matter who will fall into Qingdao in the end." Tirpitz said in a sad tone, "Your Majesty, imagine that the Japanese attack us with tactics learned from Germany and the army, and the Chinese attack us with arms and ammunition made by Germany - for example, those heavy howitzers made by Krupp."

"That's damn!" William II circled two times. "Then follow your suggestions and see if this emperor in the East can use his foreign mercenary corps well."

On the 821st, after several rounds of secret negotiations, China and Germany reached an agreement on relevant details, and the two sides issued a joint statement.

Germany stated that it was willing to take the initiative to return Qingdao to China to the leased land, German officers and soldiers would be disarmed in accordance with the neutral rules, Germany's corresponding property rights in Shandong were redeemed by China with a German loan, and Germany agreed to transfer half of the remaining German compensation in the "Xin Chou Treaty" to be included in the management of the China-German Friendship Fund Association. Germany supported China's request to abolish the relevant consular judgment rights.

China stated that China strictly abides by its neutral status, abides by the laws of the whole nation, and strictly prohibits all countries from using Chinese territory to do things that are contrary to China's neutral status. China ensures the safety of the lives and property of German expatriates. China will properly resettle the disarmed German officers and soldiers; in addition, although China has comprehensive management rights for the Sino-German Friendship Fund, it is still willing to negotiate with Germany on major issues and is willing to build the Sino-German Friendship Fund into the second formal diplomatic channel to maintain friendly relations.

After the joint statement was issued, the Japanese were furious.

"My government believes that if China accepts Jiaozhou Bay, it is equivalent to joining forces with Germany and destroying neutrality on its own..." Ridiculously became aggressive.

Liang Dunyan still said calmly: "Don't your country temporarily trust the Jiaozhou Bay leased land to be returned to our country after the war? Now, Germany will not have to worry about the need to hand over the custody of our country directly."

"My government insists that if the Chinese government takes back Jiaozhou Bay during the war, it will be an act of undermining peace and neutrality, and it will pay the price for it." Richiei said in a threatening tone. "At that time, the two countries may face a situation where no one wants to see it."

"This is a naked blackmail!" Seeing that the other party was still trying to argue, Liang Dunyan had already picked up the teacup without hesitation. "Send the guests!"

The imperial government's solemn position spread to all directions with the publication of the Imperial Daily. The two houses of the Imperial Congress passed resolutions overwhelmingly, granting the government the right to use all means to resolve disputes in Qingdao.

Although Germany faced an unfavorable situation in the Far East, the situation on the European battlefield was very good. On August 17, the Liège Fortress, built with huge sums of money, reached the Maas River and threatened Paris. In order to reverse the decline of the Belgians, Britain stepped up the dispatch of a large number of expedition forces to land at major ports in northern Belgium, but these reinforcements helped the Belgians more psychologically than they actually did. On the 23rd, the German army defeated the Belgians' stubborn resistance and conquered the capital Brussels. The Belgians fled to The Hague and Antwerp.

After Belgium suffered a major setback and the capital fell into an enemy country, all assets related to Belgium fell like a harrier on the road. The government bonds issued by the Belgian government fell by nearly 30% on the financial markets of various countries on the same day, and the exchange rate of Belgian francs was also lowered by more than 30%. Considering that the proportion of major currencies to gold was actually depreciated by nearly half less than three weeks after the war started, and there is room for further depreciation. In addition, the stocks of major European companies with loans and major cooperation projects in Belgium also fell sharply, especially in banks, insurance, etc., while stocks in the war-prosperous industries such as steel, chemicals, and arms were all in the red.

On the evening of the 24th Far East time, after holding an emergency cabinet meeting, Japan couldn't wait to make a statement about Ming Dynasty, and at the same time sent a 72-hour mourning US begging China to give up the withdrawal of Jiaozhou Bay, otherwise Japan would seize it by force.

825. Japan tore off its previous mediation and Gan Xuan's disguise and announced that the reorganization of the joint fleet was completed.

The First Fleet Yellow Sea Side - Protecting Navigation, Commander Lieutenant General Tomosabu Kato, with the following:

The first team: Battleship Katsujin (flagship), Hanoi, Anyi, Satsuma;

The third team: Battlecruiser King Kong flagship, Hiei, Sadma, Tsukuba;

Fifth Team: Light cruiser arrow flagship, Hirado, Xintao, Kashita;

The First Mine Team: Light Cruiser Yin-Fei Flagship, 4 destroyers of the 1st Destroyer, 4 destroyers of the 2nd Destroyer, 2 16th Destroyer, and 2 2nd Destroyer.

The Second Fleet Qingdao Strategy - Block Jiaozhou Bay, Commander

The second team: the battleship Zhou Fu flagship, Ishimi and Tango; the Russian coastal defense ship Okishima captured in the naval battle between the sea and the sea, Mishima;

The Fourth Team: Armored Cruiser Iwashou Flagship, Yakumo, Toshiba;

The Sixth Team: Light Cruiser Chitose Flagship, Akitsusu, Chiyoda;

The Second Mine Team: Light Cruiser Ligan Flagship, 4 Destroyers of the 9th Destroyers, 4 Destroyers of the 12th Destroyers of the 13th Destroyers of the 13th Destroyers of the 13th Destroyers

Fleet Direct: Spy Ship Takachiho, Songe, Kumanomaru, Sweeping Team A, Team B 13 torpedo boats

Fleet Air Force: Seaplane mothership Wakamiya Maru carries 4 Faman seaplanes

Special Forces: Working ship Kanto Maru, Hospital ship Hachiman Maru, Transportation ship 7, Handicap ship Old destroyer

The Third Fleet East China Sea - Alert
Chapter completed!