When the angry telegram from Beijing reached Berlin, although it was less sharp and sharper after being polished by Lüte, the Chinese's 72-hour ultimatum could not be concealed; at the Charlottenburg Palace, the Kaiser, who heard the chancellor's report on this matter, touched his beard and looked very displeased, and he had high hopes for China, but he did not expect the Chinese to be so rude.

"So, what should be done about this matter?" The Emperor looked at Prime Minister Bateman and said. He himself did not know how to deal with the 'rude' demands of the Chinese, and if the two countries really wanted to turn their faces, then if a contract was signed between China and Russia, the only restraining force on the eastern front would be gone, and the marshals of the General Staff would certainly be extremely dissatisfied, but if they wanted to give up Qingdao, the only stronghold in the Far East, it would be difficult for them to accept that they were about to achieve victory.

"Your Majesty, although our army won the Battle of Tannenberg, but the Russian power cannot be underestimated, now the tsar has sent a new corps to the Far East, which is extremely beneficial to us, if the Chinese take Harbin, it will not only be able to contain the Russian ** team, but also cut off Russia's only foreign aid channel, the Russian ** industry production is insufficient, they will not have enough rifles to fight us. It would be wise to exchange one Qingdao for the entire Eastern Front. Bateman said.

"But what if after the return of Qingdao, the Chinese will also negotiate peace with Russia as they did with the Japanese?" The emperor was still a little uneasy, he was actually reluctant to Qingdao.

"No, Your Majesty. If the Chinese really only want Qingdao, then why not declare war on our country after peace talks with Russia, and finally take Qingdao back? Bateman asked rhetorically.

"But there are thousands of Chinese mechanics in Germany, so the Chinese will not declare war on us." The emperor smiled, something he didn't want to do before. Now it has become his biggest control.

"Your Majesty, why do the Chinese only send technicians to our country instead of the United States or France?" The Prime Minister asked rhetorically. "The fundamental reason is that the Chinese, from the military to education to industry, want to follow our example. That's why His Excellency Yang Rui sent people to Germany instead of France. 陛xià, recently learned the news. His Excellency Yang Rui was once saved by a French doctor, and his wife, the second wife, who had studied in Paris and was fluent in French. ”

"A second wife? Oh, what a savage yellow race. "The Emperor seems to have been persuaded by the Prime Minister that China does admire Germany, and that the friendly return of Tsingtao will give Germany a better impression among the Chinese people," and what about his first wife? The Emperor couldn't help but ask. He understood that unlike his own succession to the throne, the one in the east relied on rifles and cannons to get to where he was today, which couldn't help but make him a little more curious and respectful.

"His second wife was just a dancer, and because she had saved his life, he married her; And the first wife was his comrade-in-arms, an excellent sniper, who assassinated the Empress Dowager Cixi. Born in Honolulu, USA, she is an American and speaks English fluently. "There is good news on both the east and west fronts. This makes the prime minister have kung fu gossip about some boring stuff.

"Why don't we have a wife who speaks German fluently?" The emperor couldn't help but forget his own restraint on the polygamy system, and began to worry about the two wives of His Excellency Yang Rui.

"Your Majesty, the Chinese can marry many wives, and maybe it won't be long before he will have a third German-speaking wife." Beckman Road. He didn't want to gossip any longer, and said, "Your Majesty, I will personally summon the Chinese minister." Inform him of the news of the return of Qingdao. ”

"Okay. Just do it. His Majesty the Emperor recovered from his contemplation about Yang Rui's wife and agreed to the Prime Minister's request. But three hours later. The situation made him and the prime minister stunned.

"Your Majesty, this is the true purpose of His Excellency the Prime Minister. So thank you for your kindness and generosity, and please reject our ultimatum. Minister Shi Zhaoji bowed and said. Although the instructions from the country were unacceptable to him, the instructions were instructions.

"Is your prime minister crazy?" The emperor kept his mouth open for a long time before he spit out this sentence, which only made the prime minister next to him jump to his feet. This is not the first time that an emperor has caused a diplomatic dispute because of his unscrupulous words.

"Your Majesty, Your Excellency Yang Rui should have another strategy that we don't know about, and Oriental people are always extremely smart." The prime minister hurriedly interrupted the emperor's speech and added some kind words.

"Your Majesty, we do not believe that your country will be able to achieve victory in the short term, especially when shipping is still blocked by the British. Your Excellency the Prime Minister has always hoped that your navy would go to sea to fight a decisive battle with the British fleet, or that a complete blockade of Britain with submarines would be a sure way for your country to win. Repeating some topics that the Kaiser did not like to hear, Shi Zhaoji finally explained: "Your Majesty, our team will occupy the Russian Far East in three days......"

"What!?" Kaiser Wilhelm II jumped up from his chair and hurriedly asked, "Is this true?!" Is this true?! Beckman, the prime minister next to him, was also extremely shocked, this is something they wanted to do but could not do.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shi Zhaoji said. "The pressure on the government of the country is now enormous, and Britain, France, and the United States have joined forces to suppress our country's development in East Asia, and even if our country and Russia are at war, once they attack and occupy the Russian Far East and control Vladivostok, the three countries will be angry and take risks. In order to reduce the diplomatic pressure, I also asked His Majesty to order the defenders of Qingdao to resolutely resist our ** team, so that we can ...... diplomatically."

"That's so clever! That's so smart!! The Kaiser stepped down from the throne and grabbed one of Shi Zhaoji's hands with his right hand and shook it fiercely, "Your Excellency Chancellor is the smartest Chinese!" God testifies that the one he has done for Germany will surely be rewarded with the greatest reward from our country! ”

Shi Zhaoji was a man of letters, his face was pale when he was caught by Kaiser Wilhelm II, his head was sweating eagerly, and he stammered to express his gratitude before the Kaiser, who came to his senses, put his hand down. "Okay, I will immediately give the order for the Governor of Qingdao not to hand over the fortress, and then fight to the last man. Is that all right, dear Mr. Minister? ”

"Your Majesty, that's totally fine." Shi Zhaoji felt that his hand had been broken, and said with severe pain.

"But, dear Mr. Minister, what is to be done with my loyal soldiers. They both have wives and children? "The emperor sat back on the throne, and suddenly felt inappropriate. There were more than 4,500 soldiers in the Qingdao fortress, which is equal to more than 4,500 families.

"陛xià. The capture of Vladivostok would cut off the Russian Trans-Siberian Railway, which the Tsar and his courtiers could not tolerate, and our intelligence services believed that it was very likely that it would contain at least a million Russian troops. Even if all the more than 4,000 soldiers stationed in Qingdao were killed, they would still be glorious. Moreover, as long as our army occupied the outlying fortresses near Qingdao, then the governor who had no danger to defend could order the soldiers to abandon useless resistance. This can result in a maximum of a thousand casualties, or less. Shi Zhaoji said.

"Excellent! Germany could accept such losses. "If the war ends, Germany will support China's rise in the Far East and occupy French Annam." ”

"Your Majesty, Your Excellency the Prime Minister of our country believes that in order for Germany to win, it is necessary to break the blockade of the North Sea through a decisive battle with the Guò fleet, especially now that His Excellency Spee's Far East Fleet is pinning down the British Navy. This is the moment when the British navy is at its weakest and the gap with your country's navy is the least; And if you want to end the war in a draw, you can only blockade the Atlantic Ocean through unrestricted submarine warfare. His Excellency the Prime Minister also said that Britain would not surrender until the last Indian was gone. Shi Zhaoji said.

It's another fleet showdown. Marshal Tirpitz also often mentioned this within the Navy, but none of them understood the mind of the Kaiser, and England was a relative. In the end, Germany's allies were really defeated by both the fleet and the British. That can only end up cheapening the Americans and the Japanese. The emperor moved his buttocks and said immediately: "I will consider the proposal of Your Excellency the Prime Minister of your country." Whenever the opportunity is right, the Imperial Navy will have a decisive battle with the Royal Fleet in the North Sea. In addition, thank you for the information you provided this time, and I hope that your country will continue to provide information to our country in the future, and I will pay enough for this time, such as this ......"

The more the emperor talked, the more he sent off guests, and after he finished speaking, Shi Zhaoji got up and said goodbye. However, when he walked out of the palace, the eyes from the unknown corner looked at him carefully, and when he saw his pale face, he hurriedly withdrew his gaze. That night, in the London MI6 office by the Thames, Shi Zhaoji's expression was the focus of Spygate's judgment.

Like China's East Factory, which is responsible for internal security, and the West Factory, which is responsible for foreign countries, since the establishment of MI6 five years ago, the overseas intelligence network under the original jurisdiction of MI5 has been gradually absorbed by MI6, which is responsible for the security of the empire and colonies, and MI6 is responsible for spying on overseas intelligence.

After the revolution, the newly formed China was not only an uncontrollable state, but also a country bordering the colonies of the Far East and India, the crown jewel of Britain, and a very pro-German country, which was the focus of MI6. Unlike the old men in Whitehall judged, Mansfield, the head of the six. Colonel Cumming did not believe that the Sino-Japanese war would deplete China's strength and make it settle in the Far East, but would allow China to regain hegemony in East Asia and eventually threaten British interests in the region and its colonies.

However, the people of the Imperial Defense Committee believed that even if Japan could not defeat China, the empire could unite with France and Russia to carry out diplomatic mediation and intervention, so that the victory of the Chinese would come to naught and plunge into a financial crisis. But no one expected that before the East Asian war was decided, Europe itself would fight, and when Europe fought, the East Asian battlefield underwent great changes one after another, the Russian ** regiment was completely annihilated, Taiwan was landed, the main Japanese forces were besieged, and Korea was occupied......

This made Colonel Cumming regret that he had obeyed the Imperial Defence Council's group, James. Colonel Edmonds' opinion did not give a complete and formal warning to the Japanese about the inside story of the Sino-German submarine deal. Of course, this is also the reason why everyone underestimated the range of German submarines, and no one knew that German diesel-engine submarines could sail so far.

"The ministers want to know William Jr.'s final answer to the Chinese, you won't let us down, will you?" Colonel Edmonds of the Imperial Defence Council and MI5 Commander Vernon. Captain Kyle hurried to MI6, they were ordered by several nobles to find out the direction of Sino-German diplomatic relations.

"We are still analyzing and listening to the radio, but judging by the look of the Chinese minister when he walked out of the palace, William Jr. should not be too friendly to China." Colonel Cumming looked at them with his pipe in his mouth and said, "Gentlemen, is this important?" Perhaps in a few hours the Chinese or the Germans themselves will announce the outcome of the ultimatum. ”

"Are you sure? Is there any news from China? Colonel Edmonds asked. There were several gentlemen who wanted to know in advance the German reply. ”

"I can't be sure from the Chinese side for the time being, you know. Their secrecy is tight, and their passwords are very quirky. I said it a long time ago. We need sinologists, we need sinologists. But who did the committee find for us? Those ** elements are simply those who can't pass the exam, and they can't decipher the code of the Chinese at all. "Colonel Cumming is furious when it comes to Chinese codebooks, and these are extraordinary times, and the committee has banned MI6 from taking action to steal Chinese codebooks, believing that it will anger the Chinese.

"Don't worry, Colonel, there will be real sinologists arriving in London next month, who are the people who support the Qing Emperor, not the talents of the revolutionary party. Maybe they will have a way to Chinese ciphers...... "The head of MI5, Vernon. Captain Kyle said that he had been to China for a long time and knew Chinese, and that he knew more about Chinese than in six places. "Now gentlemen are concerned about the final direction of Sino-German diplomacy, and it would be best if we could drive a wedge between China and Germany, as we did in New York last month."

"China and Germany are very closely connected, but Yang is very clever and the best at taking advantage of the international situation. So this time I think his ultimatum to the Germans had another purpose. Of course, it is also possible that the spoils are just unevenly distributed. According to intelligence, they had an agreement with the Germans, although we cannot know the exact content. But what can be guessed is that China helped Germany drag the Russians in the Far East, and Germany returned the remaining torpedo boats of Qingdao, the concession, and the Far East fleet to the Chinese. Now the Chinese have done what the Germans want them to do. The Germans, on the other hand, have been delaying the return of Qingdao, which is the origin of their dispute. ”

Colonel Cumming's inference is basically the real situation of the Sino-German deal. As Colonel Edmonds and Captain Kyle nodded, he added, "The only thing the Germans can hand over to China is the Qingdao and Jiaoji railways." Besides this ......," Colonel Cumming guessed, "there is another possibility...... Like the Goburn, I was worried that the nowout Spee fleet would break through our blockade and suddenly return to Qingdao one day, and then, as William Jr. had done last month, announcing the sale of these ships to the Chinese. ”

"Is this possible?" Shocked by Colonel Cumming's analysis, Edmonds asked, looking at Captain Kyle. "Is it possible for the Chinese to join the Allies?"

"The situation is possible." "But it's just the fleet, not that the Chinese will join the Allies." Yang Jingcheng's judgment of the international situation is very accurate, which is why he was able to dominate China and defeat Japan. Gentlemen, do you think Britain is going to lose the war? ”

"But the Germans thought they were going to win the war." Colonel Cumming did not address his question but said another, "I think the Germans should agree to the Chinese's demand and return Tsingtao so that the Chinese can then be used; But the reality was confusing, and the Chinese minister's expression when he left the palace was obviously not pleasant, and if William had agreed to their request, he would have walked out of the palace with a smile. Gentlemen, why don't the Germans agree? ”

"William Jr. was originally a moody person, maybe the Chinese offended him in this way, maybe he felt that he was victorious, and he was about to occupy Paris, anyway, for whatever reason, the Germans and the Chinese had problems, and it might even cause a war, and this is our greatest gospel." Colonel Edmonds laughed. He felt that he had come to the right place today.

"So, gentlemen, may we discuss how to widen this divide? Is it possible to create some public opinion in China and stir up the anger of the Chinese? I remember that at the time of the Beijing incident, William Jr.'s speech could have triggered the anger of the Chinese, and after seventy-two hours, our reporters should fully focus on the battle in Qingdao, and show the most cruel side of the war, and even if possible, unite with the Americans, who accused many church schools, can they launch a lively march? Now that China has defeated Japan, Yang Jingcheng should be very proud......"

The more Colonel Edmonds spoke, the more he found that he could not get the support of the two intelligence directors, his excited voice became smaller and smaller, and Colonel Cumming said, "Sir, although China's Dongchang does not control the Concession, he has already controlled the postal service of the whole country, and newspapers that do not conform to the government's words cannot be mailed everywhere, and everyone there is a secret agent, and whistleblowing is commonplace, and no one believes anyone, I really doubt that out of the Concession, our news can be spread ten miles away." ”

After Colonel Cumming finished speaking, Captain Kyle said: "Sir, the Chinese are still a barbarian people, they never celebrate for killing the enemy, nor are they proud of killing the enemy, at least there is no official celebration of this." This was the case with the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty when the revolution was successful, and the same is probably true for this victory over Japan. ”

"Why? Why is this happening? Colonel Edmonds wasn't surprised by what Cumming said, but he didn't quite understand what Kyle was saying, and how could he overcome what he didn't celebrate.

"They think that the enemy is also a human being, and that the death of a human being is a sad thing rather than something to celebrate. There is no celebration of victory in Beijing, only a grand funeral. Kyle replied leisurely, his mind already running to the East.

The time in Beijing is eight hours ahead of London, and this day is the Midyear Festival. From the morning onwards, Beijing is all plain, with teahouses, brothels, wine shops, etc., closing all day long. Every household is preparing paper money and river lanterns, and Nanyuan and other temples have already begun to do things. Captain Kyle was right, it was a funeral.

Major General Matsuishi Yasuji, deputy chief of staff of the Naoli Dispatch Army, took the adjutant to get on the train to Beijing very early, and they were very eye-catching as soon as they got off the train in khaki Japanese military uniforms, and many Chinese looked at them, with surprise, disdain, resentment, and curiosity ......in their eyes, but this was just a look, and it was different from what I had imagined before, and no one went up to find fault.

"Excuse me......" As soon as he got out of the ticket gate, Adjutant Oda went to the pile of rickshaws to call for a taxi, but no one paid attention to them, and a few people were scolding from afar.

"Let's walk over there." Major General Matsuishi Yasuji understood that he couldn't call a rickshaw with this dress, so he stopped Oda at the moment, pointing to the huge map erected in front of the railway station square and the street sign erected on the side of the road, "We can walk." ”

"Your Excellency, this ......" Oda looked at Songshi very uneasy, he can walk, but the chief is not good at walking.

"It's nothing, just a march." Matsushi Anji sneered.

Two hours later, Lieutenant General Lei Yizhen, who was bored at the headquarters, received a telephone call from the Janissary Command, saying that a Japanese army officer had asked to see him, and that he had now been escorted to the entrance of the headquarters. When he was confused, the guards below had already brought the Japanese up.

"Contemptible Japanese Army Matsuishi Yasuji, I have seen His Excellency General Lei Yizhen." Songshi, who had been looking for a long time and couldn't find a place, was sent over by the Praetorian Guards, and he was a little surprised to see Lei Yizhen's young face, but when he thought that the Revival Army was originally a newly formed army, he was amazed and silent at the same time.

"No need to be polite!" Lei Yizhen looked at the Japanese who bowed and just saluted, he couldn't figure out what he was doing.

"Your Excellency, before the death of Marshal Oyama Iwa, I instructed the Chief of Staff, General Uehara Yusaku, to present his saber to Your Excellency, and before his death, Admiral Uehara left a letter asking the contemptible people to complete this mission." Matsuishi Yasuji took the long package from his adjutant's hand, untied the rope and revealed a blackened sword, which he held in both hands and raised.

When China and Japan concluded a peace treaty, the people of the country were very happy, but the officers complained a lot about it, not to mention the others, the war exploits were a lot less, but fortunately, the war exploits were less than each, and all of them were very young, and the prestige of the gentleman could be suppressed, which was what everyone muttered in private. Lei Yizhen, as the commander of the theater of operations, can understand Mr. Painstaking better than the generals below, and although he feels regretful, he does not complain.

At this time, seeing Japan entering Beijing to offer a sword, he was satisfied with what to do at the same time, he immediately took his saber and said: "Your Excellency Dashan is a senior member of the noble **, and it is the glory of my generation of soldiers to die in the army instead of lying on the couch." To be ashamed of his saber, he gave this sword to your army. ”

Matsushi Anji thought that Lei Yizhen would take it proudly and be proud of it, but he didn't think that he wanted to exchange a sword for a sword, so the only remaining thought in his heart of defeating the revival army was extinguished. If you don't rejoice in victory, how many generals in the world can do it? (To be continued......)