"What if Britain, France, and other countries also blockade Japan?" Du Yaquan of the Ministry of Commerce said. Finally, the war was about to end, but the army had to fight again, and he, Yu Huizu, and Xu Huafeng were all worried that the occupation of the Russian Far East would reduce the benefits of the European war.

"No, it won't." Yang Rui said, "First of all, it is not an ordinary commercial transaction, but what we sell is urgently needed materials for the war. The most important thing is that Japan will be completely neutral in this regard, and it can even send troops to occupy a certain territory to confront our army in the name of protecting Russian territory, and it is impossible for the Entente to push Japan to the side of the alliance. After we signed the armistice treaty with Japan, although there were appropriate restrictions on trade between China and Japan, it was also normal exchanges, and our country's goods were sold to Japanese foreign companies, of course, these foreign companies just hung up a Japanese signboard, and then sold them to Britain, France, and Russia. ”

He glanced at Yu Huizu at this point, and said: "Banks will also be opened in Japan by Chinese banks, and manufacturers, foreign banks, and banks are all our people, even including transporters, and we are controlling them." The pound will definitely be able to get it, but whether the gold can be obtained depends on whether the goods are hard or not, and whether the other party is in a hurry. ”

"Then I don't have a problem." Yu Huizu smiled: "But what about the compensation? Do we have a request from the Japanese? ”

"Now that the United States has changed its position, I think it will be difficult to get reparations." Yang Rui said, "The only thing I can get is the various expenses of the captured Japanese soldiers, and then the funds for some people to rebuild their homes, which is actually a disguise, and I can't get much money." In addition to these, we also have to pay economic benefits, such as the railway between North Korea and Northeast China. For example, there is no longer a boycott of Japanese goods, or the price of Japanese goods is one grade lower than that of goods from other countries. ”

He actually spit out such words from Yang Rui's mouth. Everyone present was in disbelief, and Qiu Jin said, "In the end, we lost." Or did Japan lose? He seems to have everything left except for the loss of Taiwan. ”

"Taiwan will also take into account Japan's previous investment interests, and the profits from the railways and factories built by Japan will also belong to them." Yang Rui looked at Qiu Jin's inexplicable smile, and when he saw her lips turned into an O-shape, his eyes were cold, "But!" All of this is within our jurisdiction, and once China and Japan become hostile, all of them will still be ours.

Actually, I think, in the last 20 years. The symbolic significance of Taiwan's recovery is greater than the actual benefits, and if it is not invested, how much can that island benefit? The same is true of North Korea, whose greatest significance is symbolic and strategic, not economic. But the Outer Northeast is different, in addition to cutting off the Russian threat to our country, it can also immigrate, especially the Amur region, and if you take it, you can directly fill in the past. There is still oil in the northern part of Sakhalin, not to mention minerals, there is a real interest in occupying this place. ”

"But what about the Western Regions?" Xie Zhangtai understands better than others the geographical shape of China and Russia, and China has an absolute advantage in the Far East. Russia, on the other hand, has an absolute advantage in the Western Regions and Central Asia. "If we occupy the Far East, then Russia will definitely send troops to the Western Regions. The previous times you actually meant that the Western Regions and Central Asia were more important than the Far East, how can you ...... this time?"

"Russia is bound to fall in this war. Now the Ministry of Transport has begun preparations for the construction of the railway from Xi'an to the Western Regions, which is not only long. And it's short, I'm afraid it won't be repaired in seven or eight years. Russia fought the European war for three or four years. If the internal revolution is chaotic for another two or three years, then the gap between us and Russia in the Western Regions will not be so big. Yang Rui said.

"In fact, from a historical point of view, Russia has not been very interested in the Western Regions, which are all deserts and Gobi deserts, and there is no sea, which is completely incomparable with the Far East. If we take back the Outer Northeast, it will be equivalent to the Russian double-headed eagle having a head cut off, which the Russians cannot agree to, whether it is the tsarist aristocracy or the Marxists, as long as they are Slavs, they will not lose the Far East and be taken back by our country. ”

"To say that the Russian Revolutionary Party is coaxing us?" Xie Zhangtai said.

"Hmm. Eighty percent is to coax us, Central Asia can be cut, but the Far East will certainly not sit back and wait for loss. In the event of the loss of the Far East, the whole of Siberia will be a dead land, and although we promise to lease the railway and Vladivostok, this is only a lease, and the revolutionary party will not agree to it as soon as the internal affairs of our country change, and the lease will expire when it is said to be due. Yang Rui said.

"I don't want to be at odds with Russia, whether it's the Tsar or the Revolutionary Revolutionaries who are in power. The Tsar's life is short, but if the revolutionary party really wants to come to power, it will have to deal with it for a long time. If we occupy the Outer Northeast now, then logically speaking, the Far East will not be lost in their hands, and if they fight a few battles and talk a few times, they will eventually acquiesce; But if we send troops to annex them when they are revolutionary, then the situation will be different, just like our country, when we lose Outer Mongolia when we raise righteousness, anyone here will be filled with righteous indignation, but in the northeast and Taiwan, who rarely places these birds don't, they are all lost by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and what does it have to do with us. ”

Yang Rui felt more and more that what Huizi said made sense, and unconsciously became a lobbyist, watching several other people pondering, he concluded: "What we have to pay is to return the economic benefits that Japan originally occupied, but as long as Japan is hostile to our country, we can take it back; In addition to economic benefits, captured Japanese soldiers could be repatriated after the contract was signed; The three fortresses should be considered, and I think that Penghu must take them back, and the other two can be kept if there is no way, depending on the specific negotiations; What North Korea wants is only to restore the country, but what is the process of resumption can be discussed, but Japan is not allowed to station troops in Korea, and China can not station troops in southern Korea; The Outer Northeast region can give Japan certain economic benefits, but territorial sovereignty lies with us. That's all. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that as long as the intervention of other countries has been repelled in the past few years, it is entirely up to me whether or not to turn the other cheek against Japan. ”

"If it happens, you can't fight the idea of the Far East after the European war?" Many of Yang Rui's ideas have the background of later generations, but these backgrounds are not understood by everyone, so everyone's understanding of his judgments is still a little wrong. Xu Huafeng heard him say so much, but after listening carefully, he still didn't understand why he was so anxious to take the Outer Northeast.

Xu Huafeng was old and respectful, and when he said this, Yang Rui only felt that his previous words were in vain, and he breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "Mr. Huafeng." Europe is not over yet, Russia will not be able to hold on to collapse, and I. I don't think that the revolutionary parties we are funding will honestly give us back the lost ground. We can fight a few battles with the country established by the revolutionary party, and finally regain the lost territory in the northeast. But don't think about it in Central Asia, and it won't do us any good if the two countries are at odds with each other. We occupy the Northeast, but they have the advantage in the Western Regions and Central Asia, if a million troops are pressed in the Western Regions, will we send troops or not? If you don't send troops to the Western Regions, the money for the country will run out if you send troops to win the battle, so how can we talk about construction?

As soon as the occupation of the Northeast during the Tsarist period became a fait accompli, the most important thing was to drive out the hundreds of thousands of Russian immigrants there and fill them with our people. When the Russian Revolutionary Party came back a few years later, it was completely under our control, and there would have been a war between the two countries, but the end result was more likely to be peace talks. If it is a peace negotiation, then Russia will not only have to recognize the land as our own, but they will have to exchange Central Asia in exchange for the Trans-Siberian Railway and Vladivostok, which is the only way to recover the lost land in both the east and the west! ”

"Then why should the revolutionary party also send troops to the Western Regions?" Xie Jintai said, "The Tsar will never sign a land cession treaty. Once signed, his downfall will be much faster. ”

"I know! I know! This topic has been entangled for so long, Yang Rui is a little excited, "I can't be sure whether the revolutionary party will send a million troops to the Western Regions." But if the Far East is lost from him, the sending of troops is certain, and it is lost from the tsar. There is a possibility that he will not send troops. All we do is make this possible! All we paid was to repatriate the Japanese prisoners to Japan. Those economic benefits given to Japan could be recouped at any time, as long as he joined the intervention forces of the Great Powers. Reparations. The Japanese will not give it, especially now that even the United States supports him. ”

"I'm not entirely sure that the U.S. supports Japan." Cai Yuanpei, who has been reading the briefing, said. "This time, we let go of the Bohai Sea and let the Japanese leave, and the reason why the United States did this is probably just because of the Xinchou Treaty, as reported by Minister Lu Zhengxiang to the United States. We occupy the Outer Northeast, and the United States should not find any other reason to block our trade routes, right? He's not a member of the Entente yet. ”

"The people should go and see more of the Warring States Policy or the Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Yang Rui only laughed angrily, and his words were strange.

"How?" Cai Yuanpei held his glasses and was puzzled, "Does this have anything to do with the Warring States Policy and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?" ”

"Brother Xiaomin, as far as the United States is concerned, it is China and Japan that are close to China, and Russia who is far away. And between China and Japan, there is a big and a small, so the final solution is to help the small one to grow up, and the distant one to get closer. Since the United States supports Japan, it will support Russia even more, and the Russo-Japanese negotiations presided over by President Roosevelt in the Russo-Japanese War are proof that the Japanese did not get anything. Before Yang Rui could answer, Qiu Jin spoke, and Yang Rui couldn't help but admire her very much.

"I'm done with what I'm going to say, let's think about what to do about it?" Yang Rui said: "This is the opportunity for the Outer Northeast, and the possibility of not having a bad relationship with the Russian Revolutionary Party, or less of it, is this time, and if you lose it, you really have no chance." Whether or not we can get along with Japan in the future is a matter for the future, and now I think it is worth exchanging those Japanese prisoners of war and the economic benefits of just a few years for such an opportunity. If we want to make money and regain the lost territory, I think Japan can only take advantage of it once. ”

In the dry mouth, Yang Rui poured several sips of tea before he felt better in his throat and eyes, and at this time in Yang Du's house, the Japanese lobbyist and former Tianjin Consul General Koike Zhang Zao also poured tea with a dry mouth.

"Koike-kun, you said don't go around in circles for a long time, what do you want from the Japanese government, what price can you offer, have a good time. What are the things that are always talking about Sino-Japanese friendship and rejecting the white race? Yang Du looked at the Japanese in front of him and blamed, "Do you know, for your business, I went to see the Prime Minister in the morning, and I was scolded by him." If you don't have to do some work, then please go back, I really can't help with this. ”

Guided by the Japanese friends during Yang Du's stay in Japan, Zhang Zao, a small pond in Zhinatong, touched Yang Du's mansion very smoothly, but Yang Du never saw him after receiving his greeting post and check, and was not notified by Yang Du's family to come to meet until today. Yang Du asked him about the conditions of the Japanese government at the beginning, but he didn't understand his own meaning at all, Xiao Chi could only keep playing round, and now seeing that Yang Du was annoyed and wanted to send off the guests, he had to say: "Lord Yang, our government can give up its rights and interests in Taiwan, and also agree to the restoration of North Korea, but ask China and Japan to jointly govern Korea." Not to be entered by third countries, especially the United States and Russia. ”

"That's all." Yang Du looked at him and smiled. "Koike-kun. Since you've found me, you have to trust me, you can keep a few cards in your hole. You can't just leave them all, or I'm going to help you convince the Prime Minister. You know that he has always lacked a good impression of Japan, and this war was also provoked by you Japanese, and now the revival army is about to enter Seoul, and there is no danger to defend in the south of Seoul, and if the Chinese and Japanese armies really face each other across the sea in the Tsushima Strait, then maybe the generals of the revival army will have a hot brain for a while and engage in several sea-crossing battles. That's not good.

China and Japan are separated by a strip of water, thousand-year-old friends, Ming Taizu once said that Japan is a country that is not conquered, in case the noble ** team does not hold it, let them go up, then this thing is ...... Once there will be a second time. Britain is now in charge of Europe again, and it is up to you...... If I help you, it will be until the end of the European war. If I were the Prime Minister of Japan, then in any case, this armistice treaty would be signed first regardless of the conditions. Europe is finished, and if the Entente wins and Britain supports it, then it will not be too late to go to war again. ”

Yang Du is rhetorical. Every sentence was said in Koike Zhangzao's heart, but after all, he was a diplomat, and his face was just panicked when he heard it. With a wave of his hands, he said hurriedly: "Lord Yang." This is a mistake, since there is an armistice, there is no reason to fight again. Japan is small. But keeping promises is like a mountain, and you must not make such assumptions. ”

"Xiao Chi Jun, I don't care about this, I just feel more and more, this land of Manchuria is like the Three Kingdoms, ten years ago, Russia was Wei, your country was Wu, and my country was Shu, but now, the situation is reversed, my country is Wei, your country is still Wu, and Russia has become Shu. Since your country has not gained benefits in our country, and you have lost troops and generals, why don't you turn the gun and give ......Russia to Russia together" Yang Du was serious, raised his hand and made a chopping gesture, which shocked Koike Zhang Zao from the heart, "If this is the case, then it is easy to say whether the two countries have a truce, or whether it is a joint management of North Korea." After all, my people have an explanation. The people said, "Why don't you go and fight the Japanese islands?" It's easy to say officially, it's useless for Japan to occupy it, it's better to fight Russia, and there are thousands of acres of fertile land over there. You see, that's the truth, right? ”

"Lord Yang, our country has declared war on Germany and Austria, and although it has not joined the Entente, it is the same as Lucia's position......" Koike Zhang Zao concealed the heat in his eyes, and he only now felt that the praise of outsiders for Yang Du was really worthy. Rilu attacked the branch, and he was persuaded by him to attack the dew of the day, which is really a good way for now.

"It's fine." Yang Du has already had a countermeasure, "Our ** team will attack the Russian Far East, and your ** team can also send troops into the Far East to resist our ** team in order to fulfill its alliance obligations, and everyone will just shoot them in the sky, the key is to drive away the Russian immigrants there." When the time comes, your country will be responsible for immigration in the places occupied by your country, and our country will be responsible for immigration in the places occupied by our country, and the white race in this place will be eliminated and shared by you and me in the future. Yang Du laughed like a singer after speaking, he finally knew what he should do.

"Ahh Koike Zhangzao didn't expect this battle to be fought like this. He was half shocked and said, "What about the Trans-Siberian Railway?" Also Which country owns the seaport of Vladivostok? ”

"The railroad passes through my land, it will naturally belong to me, and the harbor will be yours as long as you can occupy it." Yang Du flickered. "Judging from the momentum of the Russian Revolutionary Party 10 years ago, it is very likely that Russia will collapse in this war, and once it collapses and a new dynasty is established, then you and China will jointly send troops, negotiate together, and benefit from each other. Anyway, it's like doing business, the two raise stocks, advance and retreat together, and share profits and losses. If we make money this time, then we will partner to go south, there are so many colonies in the South Seas, but there is no place for you and me, after the war, Britain and France will be weak, and China and Japan will be horizontal, so isn't it just a hand-to-hand capture. ”

Yang Du pulled bigger and bigger, and Koike Zhangzao looked at his lips opening and closing as if in a dream, and after a while, he woke up and said, "Lord Yang, may I ask what your Prime Minister means?" ”

Looking at the Japanese who were stunned by himself, Yang Du said proudly: "Of course this is ...... It's not what the Prime Minister meant, but the Prime Minister's eyes haven't gone that far. Koike-kun, if you and I can connect horizontally, then it is easy to talk about it, after all, do you want to unite with the outside world, if your country is in the way of the useless Anglo-Japanese alliance and wants to oppose our country everywhere, then ......"

Yang Du said this, Xiao Chi Zhang Zao bowed his head, and after a while, he remembered what Yang Du said, 'Lian Heng', and said at the moment: "Lord Yang, if it is a partnership, which country is the main and which country is secondary?" ”

"Well...... the places connected to the mainland are mainly in China, and the islands floating in the sea are mainly in your country." Yang Du flickered again, and knocked on the fan very proudly, "Xiao Chijun, let's send a telegram back to China first, as long as your country has such a meaning, then we will continue to talk, if it doesn't mean this, then we will continue to fight." ”

"I understand below, I understand below." Koike Zhang Zao stood up and bowed to Yang Du, and then retreated.

A few hours later, Tokyo received his encrypted message. After reading it, Masayoshi Matsukata handed the message to the elders next to him, thinking about the contents of it while waiting for their reply. The telegram turned around in the hands of Inoue Xin, Yama County Youpeng, and Xiyuan Temple Gongwang and then handed it back to Matsukata Justice, several people had different expressions, and Yama County Youpeng was the first to speak, "Zhina Yang Huizi is really a genius!" Not to mention this conspiracy to rob Lucia of the Far East, that is, his idea of being an enemy today and a friend tomorrow is beyond the reach of ordinary people. As long as China agrees to the joint administration of Korea and Japan, I support his approach. ”

Yama Youpeng was the first to speak, but now his opinion is no longer important, and Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said: "Before the war in Europe is clear, our country must not reach this agreement with China. ”

"What about the achievement?" Inoue Xin came to say, "This is just a truce, Germany and Austria win, then according to Yang Du's policy, if it is the victory of the Three Kingdoms of Yingfulu, then withdraw from the Far East, and then look at Yingfulu's attitude towards China, if they interfere, we can also join, which is just right to take back the Taiwan that was lost before." ”

"But we don't have the money to send troops anymore." The public of Xiyuan Temple was very distressed when he saw the old god in Inoue, and fought against the support, not only emptying the treasury, but also impoverishing the people. There is no cheap rice import from North Korea and Taiwan, and now there are signs of riots everywhere, and if we send troops at this time, the country will really be in chaos.

"Why should we spend on the military?" Inoue Xin looked at him strangely, "At the beginning of the year, Lu Guo was invited to send troops to Manchuria, did they pay for the military?" This time it was the other way around, Lu Guo asked us to send troops, and of course the military expenditure was Lu Guo's expense. And Yang Huizi said that the main purpose of the two armies to release guns in the sky is to drive away the Caucasian people and immigrate to the Far East. Even if the Great War in Europe is won by the Entente, the interests of these immigrants in our country Lucia must be guaranteed. ”

Inoue Shin said that the Saionji Gongwang was speechless, he could only look at Matsukata Masayoshi who did not speak, "Your Excellency, this ......"

"Do you think that the Yang clan of China will agree to the joint management of Korea by China and Japan?" Masayoshi Matsukata didn't think about the Far East at all, he wanted to keep Korea at this time, especially the south.

"Yang Huizi is a close confidant of the Yang family, and it is for this reason that Koike-kun visits him. Now Yang Huizi's construction is very likely to be instructed by the Yang family. Yama Youpeng spoke again.

"The government was on the verge of a desperate emergency, and only Britain had borrowed 20 million yen to give the government a temporary loan. The monarchs of the Far East should not think about it, and Taiwan will not be able to recapture it in a short time. What needs to be done now is a decent truce. Who knows what will happen in the future? Masayoshi Matsukata said as he looked at a few elders. Xiyuan Temple-kun, let's change the content of the previous negotiations, since China has a request from us, then raise the conditions a little, Taiwan...... It can be returned to China, but the railways and coal mines in Taiwan are still owned by our country, and the same is true for North Korea, except for the two countries jointly managed; The Lushun Fortress can be returned to China, but the Kwantung Prefecture Concession, South Manchuria, Anbong and other railways must be returned to our country. In addition, our country will not pay reparations for defeat, but only the daily expenses of prisoners of war.

You send these to Koike. If the people of China agree, then we can secretly support them to occupy the Far East of Lu State, and whether our country will send troops depends on the attitude of the Lu State government, and if they invite it, then we will send troops; If you don't invite, then look at the final result of the European war, the empire is now very weak. ”

"Hey!" Xiyuan Temple Gongwang nodded and said, "I will immediately send these conditions to Koike-kun." (To be continued......)