"Takahashi-kun, go to a bar tonight." After the cabinet meeting broke up unhappily, the Saionji Gongwang said to Takahashi Shikiyo. In recent years, Japan's political circles have been turbulent, and as the leader of the Political Friends Association, Saionji Gongwang has not been able to form a cabinet this time. The Politics Friends Association has confirmed that it will fully recommend Takahashi Shikiyoshi as prime minister.

"Xiyuan Temple-kun, then it's better to be respectful than to obey your fate." What Takahashi is Qing needs most is the support of the big guy, so naturally it is impossible to refuse.

In November, the weather in Japan was already quite cold, and the two took a car to a hotel in Ginza called Kikuwakamaru. Xiyuan Temple Gongwang is a frequent visitor here, and the boss respectfully opened the door for the two of them to welcome the two VIPs into the private room. Going to a hotel in Ginza for a drink and talking is already the most common move of Japanese politicians. The whole room is decorated in Chinese style, there are no tatami mats, tables and chairs are placed, and there are pools and cherry blossom trees outside the window, which is really a good place for conversation.

Seeing that Takahashi was full of thoughts and didn't say a word, he smiled and said, "What is Takahashi-kun thinking?" ”

"The streets are getting deserted." Takahashi sighed.

"It seems that Takahashi-kun must give priority to the economy." Saionji Gongwang replied. He didn't sit at the table, but sat comfortably on the soft collapse. Sitting in front of a cabinet meeting all day is really physically exhausting, and I feel very uncomfortable. It's a pleasure to be able to lie down and rest for a while.

Hearing that Saionji Gongwang fully understood his plan, Takahashi was very relaxed and leaned on the other soft collapse, "Saionji-kun, since the military department has brought things to the point where they are now, if Japan wants to recover, the only way to seize the opportunity of the current war in Europe is to seize the opportunity. With all due respect, the BJP is at such a point in trouble with Britain that it has never been willing to sabotage trade between the two sides. They are also preparing to make a profit from the war in Europe. We want to fight the BJP, but we can't shake the BJP's trade with foreign countries. Then it would be better for us to concentrate on solving the current economic problems. When Japan's strength is restored, we can still compete with the People's Party. ”

In response to such a statement, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang just smiled. Takahashi Shiqing clearly saw the objection of Xiyuan Temple, and he sat up from the soft collapse, "Xiyuan Temple-kun, please say anything clearly." ”

Saionji felt that the fatigue was slowly disappearing, he liked this shop, and he liked this room because he liked this soft collapse. Even if he tried such a layout at home, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang obviously failed to achieve such a feeling, which could not help but make Xiyuan Temple a little regretful. Not to mention the shisha and coffee provided by the store, which is a great treat. Hearing Takahashi Shiqing's question in this sense of comfort, Saionji had to regret it even more in his heart. As a disciple of Hirobumi Ito, as a bigwig of Japanese politics, and as one of the real masters of Japan who is as famous as Katsura Taro, a disciple of Yamaguchi Aritomo, Saionji likes Takahashi Isei very much, and there is no one in the entire Japanese cabinet who dares to sit on the soft collapse with him like this. However, Takahashi was too concerned about the domestic situation when he was considering the problem, and he was not sensitive enough to the changes in the world situation, and he was not sensitive enough to the changes and attitudes of other Japanese forces, and this cannot but be said to be Takahashi's fatal wound.

"Takahashi-kun, according to your idea, Japan will not be able to interfere in Chinese affairs at all in the next three or four years. When Japan gets through the current difficulties, what do you think will happen to China? Xiyuan Temple asked.

"Without the intervention of forces, there is no point in considering what China will become." Takahashi Kiyoshi has his own opinion on this.

Saionji Gongwang didn't say much, he didn't want to let his comfort disappear so quickly, "According to your plan, Japan will be able to regain its strength in four years." But at that time, the People's Party was in control of China, and Japan was facing a strong and unified China. At that time, was there any other option for Japan to be excluded from China? So what is the future of Japan? ”

"Xiyuan Temple-kun, do you also insist on conquering China?" Takahashi is Kiyoshi. With Japan's rise in power in recent years, the idea of conquering China has never lacked supporters in Japan. Hirobumi Ito, the teacher of Saionji Konobo, can also be said to be one of the supporters. Takahashi is the Qing Dynasty's economic plan, and Japan must not continue to invest in military operations in the near future.

As a politician, Saionji Gongwang is not a short-sighted person, "If we want to conquer China, we must rely on changes within China, and the rise of the People's Party has made us face a strong opponent, and we cannot ignore this factor." Takahashi-kun understands economics, and I am relieved that Takahashi-kun will be in control of the situation in Japan in the next few years. But after Takahashi-kun led Japan through the hardships of the past few years, what is the next step for Japan? It's important to focus on the near future, but you can't ignore the future. ”

"What is Xionji-kun worried about?" Takahashi knew that he was indeed inferior to Xiyuan Temple in politics, so he simply asked directly.

Saionji Konobo had recovered from his initial exhaustion, he got up from the soft collapse, and asked Takahashi to sit down at the table, "There are many Japanese in the People's Party, and we have received some information that the People's Party believes that it is necessary to overthrow the current regime in Japan and establish a socialist regime. Takahashi-kun, that's the way things are going on between countries, and nothing may happen at the moment, but when things do, you'll find that a lot of things have been decided a long time ago. If, after the current problem is solved, we find that we have to face a worse situation, do you think this is the real attitude to solve the problem? ”

Takahashi was not moved by the attitude of Xiyuan Temple at all, "The current problems can't be solved, how can you have the ability to compete for the future situation?" The People's Party will not be able to compete with the Japanese navy for the foreseeable ten years, and the war in Europe will be completely over within ten years. At that time, Britain and Japan continued to work together to control the situation in Asia, and Japan was still able to dominate the situation. But the result of our current forced war is the loss of the great opportunity in front of us. Even if Qingdao is blown to the ground, what can it do? Shall we send a few more divisions into China to fight? ”

Saionji Gongwang supported the navy, and he didn't care too much when he heard Takahashi Shikiyo directly accuse the Japanese army of defeat. If it was Katsura Taro, the representative of the army, I was afraid that he would have already jumped into a rage at this time. After the defeat of Shandong, the Japanese Army tried to shirk its responsibilities and summed it up in earnest. A division-sized Japanese army rashly entered the People's Party-controlled Chinese mainland and could only be completely annihilated. This is also the reason why Saionji Gongwang is no longer afraid of Katsura Taro now. If it is really as Katsura Taro shouted, send twelve divisions into China to fight against the People's Party. As long as Katsura Taro is appointed commander-in-chief, Katsura Taro will immediately refuse.

However, this does not mean that Saionji Gongwang can accept that Japan will stand by and watch when the situation in China changes greatly in the future, Takahashi is Kiyoshi is a rare economist in Japan, but this does not mean that Saionji Kowang has to support Takahashi is Kiyo. However, Takahashi is current performance still makes Xiyuan Temple Gongwang more satisfied, "Takahashi-kun, if you become the prime minister of the cabinet, I hope you must strengthen the navy." The lifeblood of the Great Japanese Empire is the navy, and as you just said, we can only establish our superiority by suppressing China through the navy. ”

"Saionji-kun, I know this very well. I think the repair of naval ships and the continuation of the work on the warships that have already begun should be given top priority. Takahashi replied that even if he wasn't a warmaker, Takahashi was Kiyoshi and supported a strong navy. Without a navy, there would be no reliable business, and Takahashi is well aware of this.

After the two sides reached a consensus, the scope and key points of cooperation were finalized in detail at the wine table. The position of the Japanese military department in politics is so important that the prime minister must either support the navy or the army, in short, he must step aside. Even during World War II, Japan could not get rid of this ridiculous problem. Takahashi was naturally unavoidable, and in his heart he actually thought that the top priority was to build up the Japanese economy first no matter what, so he had to choose a relatively civilized navy as his backer.

On January 4, 1915, Japan appointed a new Prime Minister, Takahashi Yoshikiyo, and immediately expressed to Britain that he would "respect Britain's position in Asia." Japan finally obediently obeyed the order, to the satisfaction of the British side. Negotiations between Britain and Beiyang to join the Entente are also progressing very well.

Naturally, Britain will not go into battle shirtless, and when Japan owes Britain a lot of debt, it will pay off its debts in kind, including weapons. The Beiyang Group had to ensure that preparations for war were completed by July 1915, and that the war would begin no later than September 1915. After eliminating the People's Party, Beiyang needed to fulfill its promise to Britain and send 800,000 troops to the Allied front. In return, Britain would agree to the resumption of sovereignty over Beiyang and the abolition of the concession. At the same time, Beiyang was exempted from the Gengzi indemnity owed to Britain and France. As for Beiyang's debt to the Allies, it will naturally be able to be forgiven.

Of course, Beiyang must admit that the debt owed to Japan in the Gengzi indemnity must be admitted, and the British will not do stupid things that meaninglessly offend Japan. At the same time, Britain still occupies a considerable position in the customs of Beiyang. At the same time, when the concession was abolished, Beiyang also needed to establish a new judicial system in Beiyang under the guidance of the British, especially the Criminal Law, Civil Law, Commercial Law and so on.

On January 26, 1915, Gu Weijun, a representative of the British, Japanese, and Beiyang representatives, determined the rights and obligations of all parties in the situation of the "Memorandum on War in the Far East", and the various forces in the Far East, with the People's Party as their enemy, finally temporarily straightened out their relations.

Yuan Shikai was very satisfied with this, because the British and Japanese representatives made it clear that "after the elimination of the People's Party, they will absolutely not interfere in China's choice of what system to adopt, and will unconditionally support the political system and system chosen by Yuan Shikai." This guarantee in the form of a document that Yuan Shikai could implement his ambitions after the war. Sticking a knife in the back to kill the Manchu Qing is not Yuan Shikai's glory, or even evidence of Yuan Shikai's "two-faced and three-knifed" crimes. But these will be in the past, and the feat of "dominating the world" is enough to support Yuan Shikai to become emperor. How great it would be to ascend to the supreme status and add a surname Yuan to the genealogy of Chinese emperors!

For Gu Weijun, who made a great contribution in this matter, Yuan Shikai was very satisfied. After the signing of the "Memorandum on War in the Far East", Yuan Shikai specially invited Gu Weijun to dinner. At the banquet, no one with bad intentions towards Gu Weijun was invited at all, but several core figures in Beiyang and Gu Weijun's father-in-law Tang Shaoyi attended the banquet. From the beginning of the banquet, Yuan Shikai was full of praise for Gu Weijun. The tone of the whole banquet was set.

With Yuan Shikai at the beginning, coupled with Gu Weijun's diplomatic ability, Xu Shichang, Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen and other loyal ministers of Beiyang are also full of praise. Once the concession can be canceled and sovereignty restored, the Gengzi indemnity will be exempted. This will completely determine the political status of Beiyang. Once decades of shame were cleansed, it was impossible for anyone to deny Beiyang's merits in safeguarding national sovereignty. As for the price of these conditions, the BJP is eliminated, and as far as the situation is concerned, the whole country is opposed to the BJP. Defeating the People's Party will not let Beiyang bear the charge of "colluding with foreign countries" at all. The face of the people has been preserved, and the benefits and prestige have been satisfied, such a situation was unattainable in the past.

Gu Weijun is a young man, and it is unprecedented to be so praised by so many high-ranking elders. Not to mention that he himself did know that he had achieved a major diplomatic victory, which was absolutely unprecedented. Xu Shichang even praised: "At present, the Republic of China is also a country equal to Britain and Japan, and after victory, it will definitely be able to maintain China's dominant position in Asia." "Listening to Xu Shichang's meaning, Japan is not in Xu Shichang's words at this time.

Some people constantly praise Tang Shaoyi for finding a good son-in-law, Tang Shaoyi originally didn't expect her son-in-law Gu Weijun to be able to do such a big thing, and she was surprised that the wine was dry, and at the same time she couldn't close her mouth with a smile.

Gu Weijun did not lose his humility, because he had actually talked to his father-in-law Tang Shaoyi about this matter. No matter how wonderful the future of the treaty is, it is the future, and in order to reach that wonderful future, we must overcome the obstacle of reality of the BJP. The treaty with Britain and Japan came at the cost of Beiyang's complete destruction of the People's Party. Although Gu Weijun has not dealt with Chen Ke much, it is only the last time he visited Chen Ke in Wuhan, Gu Weijun can be sure that Chen Ke is by no means a person who will give up his position, let alone a person who chooses to retreat in the face of the current situation.

In fact, the current situation is not so much the credit of Beiyang as the credit of the People's Party. Had it not been for the People's Party to turn Britain, Japan, and Beiyang into enemies, and skillfully strike at them, the three would not have been able to reach such a smooth agreement. If the BJP did not have such a design, then the BJP's actions would be enough to prove the BJP's bravery. If this is a well-conceived development of the situation by the BJP, then the BJP's trick can only be described as ingenious. Gu Weijun is not a soldier, he habitually uses the perspective of a diplomat to look at everything that happens, and if military action is also regarded as a diplomatic means, the People's Party shows the ability that only the top diplomats have. Chen Ke succeeded in establishing the camp of friend and foe. In other words, Chen Ke succeeded in forcing all the forces in the Far East except the United States into the camp of his enemies. As long as the BJP does not suffer a military defeat, Americans will not join the anti-BJP camp.

As a diplomat, Gu Weijun also understood one thing: the number of enemies of the People's Party is unprecedented, and these enemies may be able to cause a lot of trouble for the People's Party in some aspects, but the real force of interference in the People's Party is far from being as strong as imagined. The British refused to send troops, and Japan also said that it would not take military action, and the real military enemy of the People's Party was only the Beiyang family, which had been defeated repeatedly. The military threat to the People's Party was even smaller than when the Japanese first attacked Qingdao. At that time, it was really possible to form a coalition of British, Japanese, and Beiyang forces. But Beiyang refused to express his position at that time, and let this opportunity slip away easily.

Therefore, Gu Weijun was not fluttering in the praise of everyone, let alone getting carried away. There was even a fear in his heart that he could not expel it. Beiyang seems to be boiling oil and flowers at the moment, but in fact it is unprecedentedly isolated. Because Gu Weijun has exhausted diplomatic means, everything else has to rely on Beiyang itself. But whether Beiyang can really do big things on its own, Gu Weijun is also uncertain in terms of his current performance.

"Shaochuan, what do you think about the current situation?" After three rounds of drinking, Yuan Shikai asked with a smile.

Gu Weijun hurriedly said: "President, I'm just a scholar. I was ordered to negotiate okay, but I didn't understand anything other than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and everything was arranged by the president. ”

"Huh." Hearing this apt words, Yuan Shikai laughed. He turned to Tang Shaoyi, "Tang Gong, Shaochuan is a smart person, no less than you." ”

Tang Shaoyi laughed and said: "The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, with this child, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no worries." ”

Everyone is an old man, and Tang Shaoyi will never say anything wrong.

Xu Shichang said with a smile: "A few days ago, Yan Jidao resigned as prime minister on the grounds of physical illness, and the president has already agreed. Is Tang Gong willing to deign to the post of vice premier? ”

"It seems that I borrowed Shaochuan's light and ascended." Tang Shaoyi smiled extremely happily. This is indeed a happy thing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not a fat man, and it is still at the forefront of losing power and humiliating the country. If you have achievements, you will go to the president and the prime minister, and if you have problems, you will have to be scolded. Being able to be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister of the Cabinet is a real promotion. At present, Beiyang has reached an agreement with Britain and Japan, and there is still negotiation assistance after that, even if it is not deliberately blackmailed, all kinds of moisturizing pen ice charcoal filial piety or something is enough for Tang Shaoyi to make a fortune. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will definitely let Gu Weijun preside over it at the moment, and Tang Shaoyi's influence in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not be affected at all. How could he be upset?

Seeing Tang Shaoyi's refreshing answer, Xu Shichang turned to Gu Weijun, "Shaochuan, I originally wanted you to immediately succeed to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, but out of love, the President asked you to be in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with full powers as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is not that the president wants to deliberately suppress you, it is completely the president's love for you. You can't think about it. ”

Gu Weijun would never think about it, he hurriedly replied: "I am absolutely obedient to the president's arrangement, and I am deeply grateful for the president's love." ”