Beiyang 1917

"The combined indemnity share of Germany, Austria and Russia is almost half of the entire Boxer indemnity. It would not be a surprise if the Duan government could really come to an agreement with Germany, Austria and Russia under this trick of Wang Geng!" Zhu Erdian Obviously, the more I talked about it, the more I felt it was possible.

"Russia is in a mess right now. The provisional government wants to stay in the Allied Powers to carry on the war. That Bashevik doesn't seem to agree. Will this Wang Geng really do something?" Lin Quanzhu was actually a little worried.

"In order to maintain domestic stability, the Russian Provisional Government may be able to make peace with Germany and Austria. If they use the cession of the Far East as a bait to catch the Duan government, do you think the Chinese government can resist this temptation?" American Ambassador Rui Enshi said leisurely.

"Everyone! You have been fooled by that Wang Geng so that you can't find your way. I don't believe the terrible prospects you describe at all! Let's hurry up and discuss how to deal with the four conditions proposed by Wang Geng!" Kant said sternly. yelling, but in the end unconsciously showed timidity.

"Information shows that when the German Minister Xin Ci left China and returned to China, he went to Shanghai to meet the Sun in the south, plotting to overthrow the Duan government and re-establish diplomatic relations between China and Germany! What does this mean? My dear friends!" American Minister Rui Enshi said slowly.

"This means that the Duan government, which is blindly fighting, is still the No. 1 candidate we support and support! If the Duan Qirui government is overthrown, the European war may be over when the Chinese themselves win or lose. "How could Japan agree to replace Li Yuanhong or Feng Guozhang with the support of Europe and the United States after spending so much money on the Duan government?" Lin Quanzhu shouted, waving his arms.

"Okay, the first choice before you is to continue to support Duan Qirui's government, let him continue to become a military strongman in Beiyang and China, and promote China's participation in the war as soon as possible. Then, what do we do with the four conditions proposed by Wang Geng? Answer? It’s not China but us that can’t afford to delay! Boys from Britain and France bleed on the Western Front every day!” Zhu Erdian raised his voice.

"It's not a problem to exempt the German and Austrian Gengzi indemnity. The problem is the part of the Allies. The 15-year suspension is too long, just like what we discussed last month! The 5-year suspension is almost the same!" French Minister Kant said impatiently .

"That's definitely impossible. Wang Geng raised the condition to 15 years. I guess his bottom line is to suspend it for 10 years. If it is lower, he will definitely not agree!" American master Rui Enshi thought for a while.

"We definitely don't need to fight another five years in the European War. We just promise him to postpone it for 10 years, so what's the point? At that time, whoever has the biggest fist has the final say? No, let's have another armed intervention!" Japanese Minister Lin Quansuke looked at the people He is very gentle, and he is obviously a militarist who believes in the supremacy of force!

"Lin Sang, your ideas are going against the trend of the times. The result of the European War has proved that the world cannot conquer opponents by force alone. For a country with a population like China, the policy of softness is the kingly way in the future!" U.S. Minister Rui Enshi obviously felt that Japan's eager eating was too ugly.

In fact, the United Kingdom is not unwarranted by the increasingly powerful United States. It has long been an open secret that the British Empire supported Japan, a little brother in Asia, to restrain the great powers, especially the United States.

"A 10-year delay is better than pushing China to the side of Germany and Austria!" The envoys of Britain and France said in unison. The combined quotas of these two countries in the boxer indemnity are almost close to Russia's share. Apparently it was a tactic of delaying the attack.

"Minister Lin, what's Japan's attitude?" U.S. Minister Rui Enshi said nothing happened. Anyway, in 1909, the U.S. became the first country to exempt China from Boxer indemnity, so the U.S. attitude at the moment is very detached.

"Then put it off for 10 years! Of course, I have to report to the Prime Minister and then make a final decision!" Lin Quanzhu left himself some leeway.

"Okay, the Germany-Austria part of the Gengzi indemnity is exempted, and the Allied Powers part is suspended for 10 years. The next condition is that China's import tariffs will be increased by 10%. What do you think about this issue?" U.S. Minister Rui Enshi unknowingly became the subject of closed-door negotiations among the four countries leader.

"China's industrial base is so weak that there is almost no one, and raising tariffs will not protect their domestic market. I think it is acceptable!" British Minister Zhu Erdian said.

"The French government maintains the same position as the British government on this issue," Kant waved his hand.

"What about the Japanese government? Cotton yarn is the mainstay of Japan's trade with China. Is the Japanese government willing to make sacrifices and concessions for the common interests of the Allies?" U.S. Minister Rui Enshi's tone was relaxed but implied pressure.

"Cotton is the major part of the U.S. trade with China. If the U.S. government is not worried about harming the interests of American cotton farmers, the Japanese government will naturally follow!" Japanese Minister Hayashi Quansuke gritted his teeth.

"Okay, the answer to the second condition is that the import tariff can be increased by 10%. Everyone, it is better to look at the situation and not give China a little sweetness. How can he work hard when he is grinding! I appreciate your decision!" Rui Enshi said with a smile.

"The third condition is that in Tianjin, Shanghai and other places where there are concessions, troops are not allowed to be stationed within 21 kilometers. This line is pure rubbish. Garrisoning troops [-] kilometers away can guarantee the safety of the concessions? The safety of overseas Chinese and concessions depends on What matters is the strong military and economic strength of each country, not the distance between the other party's garrison and the concession! This is a direct promise to Wang Geng to pull it down, what do you think?"

Rui Enshi said lightly.

"Agreed!" Zhu Erdian blushed, he and Li Hongzhang wanted to come to this clause back then, and being ridiculed by Rui Enshi today, he really felt a little deceitful.

"Agreed!" The envoys of France and Japan also nodded in agreement.France is powerless, and Japan doesn't take the Chinese squadron seriously at all.

"Article 300 is obviously different from what Wang Geng said. If necessary, [-] million troops can be sent to the war. However, it is understandable that it is easier to convince the Congress and the President that it is easier to convince the other party only by sending labor and raw materials than directly sending troops to the war. What do you think of one?" Rui Enshi raised his eyes and looked at the ministers of the three countries and asked.

"The British government will maintain the same position as the American government on this point!" Zhu Erdian was scheming, and directly kicked the ball back to Rui Enshi. Obviously, the United States and Japan are the main contributors to the money. Can Britain and France finish the war now? Thank goodness for bankruptcy.

"The French government will maintain a unified position with the British government on this point!" Kant imitated the example, thinking to himself, who wouldn't do the same thing?

"What about Japan?" Rui Enshi frowned, obviously Britain and France didn't plan to pay for it themselves, these two brothers and sisters owed a whole lot of debt to the United States, even if they wanted to, they had to pay for it!

"Japan only undertakes its own obligations, and we don't need Chinese laborers to go to Japan to dig trenches!" Lin Quanzhu said that he and Japan were taken out at this moment, but he was telling the truth.

"This question is very troublesome. It is not too much to say that Wang Geng's request is not too much. Does the Lord say that all people are born equal? ​​I will take a look at this matter... I can agree to him first. Anyway, according to Wang Geng's intention, he wants to send troops to fight. This condition refers to labor, and does not mention the treatment of military expenses when dispatching troops, so it can be discussed separately at that time, what do you think?"

Rui Enshi is obviously not a simple master, and he came up with an expedient plan to take advantage of the loophole in a moment!

The United States is now the boss of the great powers and the biggest creditor. Since Rui Enshi said so, Zhu Erdian and Kant had no choice but to hold their noses and agree first.

"Okay, it seems that the harvest tonight is still not small. This Wang Geng is not easy to deal with. It seems that besides the dragon Xu Shuzheng, Duan Hefei also has the tiger Wang Geng! Everyone, the four conditions are as follows: After such a decision, each of them should ask the domestic government for instructions, the sooner the better! Who knows what kind of moth that Wang Geng will do if it is delayed for a long time, there are so many dreams in the night!"

Rui Enshi made a final decision.