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For China, Tsar Nicholas II undoubtedly hated it terribly. Russia used to be one of the most important powers in the world, and although Russia's economy was bad, Russia's military strength was incomparably strong, and all countries in the world did not dare to provoke it. However, China defeated Russia, which not only suffered heavy losses, but also shattered the myth that Russia would not be defeated. The civil strife in Russia also occurred solely because of Russia's defeat in the war. Therefore, Tsar Nicholas II hated China so much that he never wanted to take revenge. I want him to put down his body now and go to China for help, how can they endure this breath.

"Your Majesty, state affairs are important! Russia, which had suffered a crushing defeat, could no longer allow the rebellion to continue to run rampant, and we must do everything possible to resolve the rebellion. Otherwise, if the rebellion continues, the danger to Russia will be even worse than if it lost to China in the war! Prime Minister Sergei Witt persuaded. He knew the thoughts of Tsar Nicholas II. However, now is the time to put the national interest first. Russia was defeated by China and lost most of its territory, but these territories, either steppes, mountains and ice fields, were of little value. But the southern part of Russia, where the rebellion was raging, was different. Both Ukraine and the Don region are Russia's main grain producing regions, and if Russia cannot recover these places, a severe famine will definitely break out in Russia in the coming year.

Tsar Nicholas II nodded, to be able to become the emperor of Russia, of course he is not a fool, he can naturally distinguish the important. The only thing that worries him, though, is that China will take the opportunity to open its mouth. When we first negotiated. The Chinese offered a high price of 100 pounds for American prisoners of war, and if they wanted to redeem all the prisoners of war, it would take 100 million pounds! The war reparations of 200 million pounds in compensation to China cost him 1,465 tons of gold, and the wealth accumulated by the Russian imperial family over the years shrunk by nearly half. If China extorts another 100 million pounds, then he will have to pay more than 700 tons of gold.

"Ransom prisoners of war, I have no opinion. However, the Chinese will definitely take advantage of this to extort a large ransom from us. And what to do with this ransom? Tsar Nicholas II asked.

Prime Minister Sergei Witt was silent. He is also the Minister of Finance of Russia. Russia's treasury is already empty, and the debt is high, where is the money to make up this ransom! He was just the idea of fighting the tsar's wealth again. After all, all of Russia belonged to the tsar. Now that this trouble is encountered, the tsar should find a way to solve them.

One look at Sergeivet's appearance, Nicholas II knew what he was thinking. Although he was a little dissatisfied, he also knew that there was no way to do it. After all, the state is his. If he doesn't want the country to be overthrown, then he has to take out the money.

"Alright! This ransom. The royal family will be burdened. However, when negotiating with the Chinese, you must keep the price as low as possible! Tsar Nicholas II said. Although, he also knew that it was somewhat impossible. The Chinese are even more stingy than Grande, and they will certainly not let go of this opportunity to cut a knife from Russia.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll instruct Cassini!" This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Izvorsky. Cassiny is the Russian ambassador to China. After the end of the Sino-Russian War, diplomatic relations were restored. And the diplomatic relations at the ministerial level have been raised to the ambassadorial level, which also means that Russia and the Western powers have recognized China's status as a great power.

In order to celebrate New Year's Day, government departments and factories were closed for three days, so that the Russian ambassador to China, Kasini, after receiving instructions from Foreign Minister Izvorsky, waited until January 4 to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang, although he was anxious like an ant on a hot pot.

"Your Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, hello!" After seeing Wu Tingfang, Cassini took the initiative to salute. Now, the ambassadors of various countries to China, in front of Wu Tingfang, are all respectful, and they will no longer be as arrogant as before. In the midst of the war, China used their strength to win the respect of all countries.

"Your Excellency, please be seated! I wonder what happened to Your Excellency the Ambassador this time? Wu Tingfang asked with a smile. Feeling Cassini's gesture made him very happy. Sure enough, in this era, big fists are the last word! China beat all these countries down at once during the war, and now they are all honest.

"Your Excellency Minister for Foreign Affairs, my country has received information that our prisoners of war have been unjustly treated in your country and that they have been forced to perform heavy physical labour, which has caused great harm to our prisoners of war. Therefore, on behalf of the Russian government, I officially lodge a protest with the Chinese government! Cassini said sternly.

Wu Tingfang's face sank suddenly: "Your Excellency, your Excellency the ambassador, these prisoners of war were given up by your country on their own initiative. In the armistice negotiations, your country is not willing to redeem these prisoners of war, and our country, of course, will not support them in vain, if they want to survive, they must work! ”

"Ahem!" Cassini blushed for a while at Wu Tingfang's accusation, but he did not forget his duty, so he said: "Your Excellency, Foreign Secretary, in order to prevent our compatriots from continuing to suffer. Therefore, His Majesty the Tsar instructed me to negotiate with your country to redeem these prisoners of war! ”

"Redeem?" Wu Tingfang was a little surprised, you must know that if all the millions of Russian prisoners of war are redeemed, it is not a small amount! Was Tsar Nicholas II that miser crazy? Or, what has happened in Russia?

"So, how much money is your country going to pay to ransom these prisoners of war?" Wu Tingfang asked.

"Your Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, you know that the situation in our country is rather dire. As a result, we don't have much money to come up with. A million prisoners of war, we are willing to pay ten million pounds to redeem it! Cassini said.

"Impossible! We will not accept such a price! Wu Tingfang directly refused. Joke aside, in the last negotiation, he offered a hundred pounds per prisoner of war, for a total of 100 million pounds. The Russians actually wanted to redeem these prisoners of war at a tenth of the price, which is wishful thinking.

"Then, Your Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, how much do you want us to pay the ransom?" Cassini asked.

"Well, this one!" Wu Tingfang was about to offer a hundred pounds each, but suddenly realized that Russia was in such a hurry to redeem these prisoners of war that there must be an ulterior secret. So, he said: "Your Excellency, this is a big matter, and it is not for me to make the decision, I have to ask His Majesty the Emperor for instructions!" ”

Hearing Wu Tingfang say this, a trace of disappointment flashed in Cassini's eyes, but he had no choice but to agree to talk about this issue tomorrow.

After sending Cassini away, Wu Tingfang immediately went to the palace and reported the incident to Wang Yuze.

"Your Majesty, the Russians suddenly want to ransom these prisoners of war, is there something wrong with them?" Wu Tingfang asked.

Wang Yuze also pondered, but then he figured out the crux of the problem. Two days ago, General Wei Zhiyong, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, had already told him that the rebels led by the Russian Democratic Labor Party had defeated the Russian army and captured Kiev. The rebellion had swept through southern Russia. The Russian army should be unable to deal with the current rebellion, so I remembered these prisoners of war who were still in the hands of China. Although these prisoners of war were defeated by the squadron, they were all veterans. Moreover, having experienced the brutality of war, once they recover, they will become an elite army, and it should not be a problem to defeat the rebels composed of rabble.

"Haha! Master Wu, we're going to make a fortune! Wang Yuze laughed.

"Majesty? Do you know why? Wu Tingfang asked puzzled.

"Two days ago, we had already received information that the Russians had suffered defeat in the south and that those insurgents had won a great victory. The Russians should have no choice, so they want to redeem these prisoners of war so that they can stabilize their positions and exterminate the rebels! Wang Yuze said very firmly.

"If that's the case, then we really shouldn't have agreed to them lightly." After Wu Tingfang figured it out, he also said.

"You can delay them a bit. In addition, in terms of price, it has doubled. Two hundred pounds for a prisoner of war. If the Russians don't agree, forget it. Anyway, after the beginning of spring, we need to build a lot of construction in Siberia, and these prisoners of war can come in handy! Wang Yuze said with a smile. He had been staring at the Tsar's treasury. In the last war, although more than a thousand tons of gold were taken from the Tsar, Tsar Nicholas II apparently still had a lot of stocks. China needs money at the right time, and this money comes at the right time.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I know how to deal with the Russians!" Wu Tingfang also said with a smile. Although such an approach is a little shameless, what can be done if it is shameless for the sake of national interests? A million prisoners of war, if sold for two hundred pounds each, would be another twenty million pounds! This is equivalent to the war reparations paid by Russia to China! With this money, many domestic constructions will be able to start.

The next day, the Russian ambassador to China, Cassini, went to see Wu Tingfang again, but was told that Wu Tingfang had gone on a business trip. I didn't see Wu Tingfang for two days, and there were frequent telegrams urging from Russia, which made Cassini anxious!