"In order to draw the empire into the camp of the Allies, these Germans are really willing to pay for it! However, this is nothing more than a blank check. These colonies belonged to the Entente and had nothing to do with the Central Powers. With the exception of the Germans themselves in the Pacific colonies, everything else was generosity. Tang Shaoyi thought secretly.

"Your Excellency Foreign Chancellor, the German Empire is very sincere. The Entente colonies spread all over the world and had a serious impact on the development of other countries. If we want to develop, we have to break the blockade of the Entente. Ambassador Hahausen said.

"Your Excellency, thank you for the trust of the German Empire in the Chinese Empire. It's just that the current Chinese Empire is in a stage of rapid development. If we participate in the war, then our development will be greatly affected. Therefore, the empire still wanted to remain neutral and avoid getting involved in war. Tang Shaoyi said. During these two years, the Chinese Empire played the role of a neutral country, and made a lot of profits by selling war materials between the Entente and the Central Powers. This enabled the Chinese Empire to rapidly accumulate a large amount of wealth, which greatly promoted the development of the industrialization of the Chinese Empire. At this rate of development, I am afraid that it will not be long before the Chinese Empire will become a real industrial power.

A hint of regret flashed in Ambassador Hahausen's eyes, and as ambassador to China, he was well aware of the pace of China's development. In particular, this world war has completely provided China with an opportunity for development. Taking advantage of the ongoing war in Europe, China has fully entered the fast lane of development. Any country certainly does not want its development to be restricted by war.

However, Ambassador Hahausen's responsibilities forced him to try his best to persuade the Chinese side. If the Chinese do not join the war, Germany will most likely lose the war. Once defeated. Then Germany will be miserable.

"Your Excellency Foreign Minister, relations between the Chinese Empire and the Entente are not harmonious. Especially this time, the Chinese Empire almost had a war with Russia and Britain. Once the Entente won the war, there would be no benefit to China. Even, the Entente may make a comeback. Re-invasion of China. Historically, the reason why China sank was entirely because of the large-scale invasion of Britain, France and other countries! Ambassador Hahausen continued.

"Humph! That's a nice thing to say. Britain and France were the main culprits in making China a semi-colony. But are the Germans a good thing again? When the Eight-Nation Coalition invaded China, the Germans were in the lead. Even the commander of the Eight-Nation Coalition was held by a German. Now, the reason why the Germans put forward this was simply to draw the Chinese Empire into the war so that they could win the war. Tang Shaoyi thought secretly.

"I'm sorry. Your Excellency the Ambassador. The Chinese Empire is a peace-loving country, and we do not want to be involved in war. However, if other countries think that we are easy to bully and must inflict war on us, we will not back down. The Chinese Empire is strong enough to defend our national interests. Tang Shaoyi said firmly. After all, China is not late in the Qing Dynasty. The Chinese Empire, both militarily and industrially, should not be underestimated. If you want to invade China, you can't do it unless the whole of the Western world unites. It's a pity. This will never happen again.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. If the German Reich and its allies lost the war, it would not be good for China. The Entente countries that won the war will definitely be China's next target. Only if China joins the camp of the Allies and defeats the Entente, then we will not only be able to divide up the Entente colonies. You can also truly become the master of the world. Hahausen refused to give up and continued to persuade.

"Your Excellency, I will convey the sincerity of the German side to His Majesty the Emperor. However, whether to go to war or not. Whether or not to join the Allied War is up to His Majesty the Emperor to decide. With no choice, Tang Shaoyi had no choice but to put all the problems on the Emperor Wu Haoxuan. After all, the Chinese Empire is still a **** country, and the emperor decides all national policies.

"All right, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. The German Empire sincerely wanted to be able to fight side by side with the Chinese Empire. Ambassador Hahausen said.

"Of course, maybe we'll have a chance like that." Tang Shaoyi said with a smile.

After seeing off Ambassador Hahausen, Tang Shaoyi went to the palace to meet Emperor Wu Haoxuan. The empire has indeed reaped a lot of benefits in the world war. However, as the European war becomes more and more intense, the situation seems to be becoming clearer. This led some to believe that the Empire could abandon its neutrality and join the fray instead. After all, this world war is a moment of major changes in the world pattern. If it cannot be joined, the Chinese empire will not have the right to speak in the establishment of the future world system. The Entente and the Central Powers were exhausted by this time, and if the Chinese Empire joined the war, it could obtain the maximum benefits at the minimum cost.

Of course, there are also many people who hope that the empire will continue to remain neutral and continue to make a fortune in the war. Although the Chinese Empire has achieved rapid development, it is undoubtedly far behind those old industrial powers. For example, the United States, which has always been regarded as the biggest rival by Emperor Wu Haoxuan, has two or three times the industrial strength of the Chinese Empire.

When Tang Shaoyi announced the invitation of the Germans to Wu Haoxuan, Wu Haoxuan also took the opportunity to convene a meeting of the emperor to discuss this issue.

"Your Majesty, the Germans promised that if we were willing to join the Allies in the war, we would receive the British and French colonies in Asia, including the Straits Settlements, the Indian colonies, the Indochina colonies, the Australian colonies, and the Russian colonies of Central Asia and Siberia, if we were willing to join the Allies in the war. In addition, we can also do not have to return the German colonies in the Pacific. Tang Shaoyi said.

"Humph! The Germans are really willing to spend their money! However, this is all generosity, and we don't need it. Wu Haoxuan snorted coldly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The more promises the Germans made, the more they showed that they were not sure of victory in the war, and that was in a hurry to pull the Reich into the water. However, once the Empire joins the Allies in the war, it will probably have to pay a heavy price if it wants to win the final victory. Marshal Shi Tianhan, Chief of the General Staff, said.

"Your Majesty, the Germans are obviously about to be cornered, so they are willing to spend so much money. In Yichen's opinion, it is better for us to continue to remain neutral. Over the past two years, we have amassed a great deal of wealth by selling war materials to the warring parties. Domestic industry and commerce are even more prosperous. Our second five-year plan is very likely to be completed ahead of schedule. Imperial Prime Minister Yang Du said.

Yang Du's view represents the view of the civilian faction of the Imperial Cabinet. Chinese, who have never wanted to fight, can live in peace and stability, and that is undoubtedly the best. However, without the ambition to expand outward, there is no motivation to move forward. Once you are satisfied with the status quo, it is very likely that you will be overtaken by the enemy and end up in a miserable situation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, though, we have made a great deal of war money in the past two years. However, this is not enough. After the end of this world war, the world pattern will undergo major changes. The victorious side will be the architects of a new world order. If we don't want to be left out, we have to join the war. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Your Majesty, is it inevitable to join the war? The current empire is strong enough. Even if we don't join the war, after the war is over, they won't dare to do anything to the empire. Yang Du said.

"The empire wants to grow, it wants to become strong. Closing the empire, that's not going to work. Didn't the Manchu Qing Dynasty practice seclusion and seclusion from the country, and live their lives behind closed doors? But what is the end result? With such lessons from the past, we must keep them in mind. Wu Haoxuan said.

The ministers all nodded their heads one after another, and almost all of them had experienced the late Qing period. Everyone no longer wants to live that kind of life of being oppressed by foreigners.

"Your Majesty, are we going to join the camp of the Allies or the camp of the Entente? Judging by the current situation, the Entente has a faint upper hand. If no other forces had intervened, the Entente would have won the war. War Minister Marshal Zhao Xifu said.

"It is true that the Allies were not able to defeat their opponents quickly in the early stages of the war, which put them in a difficult position. It was already very difficult for the Allies to win. Even if the Empire joins the Allies, the odds are not great. Especially when another powerful country has not yet taken a stand, the empire cannot afford to take risks. Wu Haoxuan said.

"When the situation is clear, let's decide whether to join the war or not. However, I hope you are prepared. Once we enter the war, our troops can be quickly dispatched to the battlefield and will be able to show our might. The better the army fights on the battlefield, the higher our status will be, and the greater our voice in the future international system. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The important ministers of the military all nodded their heads one after another. They don't want to live such a peaceful life for a long time, as long as they can participate in the war, no matter which camp they join, it doesn't matter which side they join. The important thing is that there is a war to be fought. (To be continued.) )

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