Crimson Dawn

"We'll go back to China." When Shang Yuan said this to Zhang Yu, it happened on April 1919, 4.

For Shang Yuan, the biggest feeling is not anger, but exhaustion.If he was in China, Shang Yuan still felt that no matter how tired he was, he still had to achieve something.Being suppressed by the representatives of Britain, France and Japan all day long, Shang Yuan felt that this was murdering his own life.

"Why don't you go to Italy for a visit, Prime Minister Shang Yuan?" Zhang Yu was also very tired. He really admired Chen Ke's foresight in his heart. At least Chen Ke didn't even think about coming to this peace meeting, while other comrades Without exception, all of them are eager to write.

Italian Prime Minister Orlando left the conference on March 3 and returned to Italy, and the work at the Paris Peace Conference was handed over to the foreign minister.China was under siege, Italy was ignored.In view of the poor performance of the Italian army in World War I and the fact that Italy had no profit at all, Britain and France had no interest in Italy at all, and regarded Italy as a soy sauce follower.

However, the Italians still hope to make a good fortune at the Paris Peace Conference. I have seen more than once that when the Italians tried to fight for their interests, the British said "no! no! no!" in a contemptuous tone. The French "Tiger Prime Minister" even dared to scold the Italian Prime Minister loudly.In the end, the Italian Prime Minister simply returned home to express his dissatisfaction with this treatment.

After listening to Zhang Yu's suggestion, Shang Yuan also thought it was good.After sending a French telegram to the Italian side, the Chinese delegation quickly got a response.The Italian side welcomes the Chinese Premier to visit Italy.

The People's Party has already booked a cruise ship in the United States, and the Paris Peace Conference this time came in handy.Shang Yuan handed over the work of the delegation to Zhang Yu, and he and some members of the delegation boarded the ship in Marseilles and headed straight for Rome.

The welcome of the Italians is not warm at all, just quite satisfactory.On the second day after the Chinese visiting delegation got off the ship, they met with the King of Italy and talked a bunch of meaningless nonsense. It was Shangyuan who started negotiations with Italian Prime Minister Orlando on the third day.

Mr. Prime Minister had a sad face and no enthusiasm.Shang Yuan can fully understand the attitude of Mr. Prime Minister. On the way to Rome, there are refugees, beggars and veterans everywhere.Near the hotel where Shang Yuan stayed, the people were marching and demonstrating.The theme of the parade was probably anti-hunger and anti-unemployment.Under such circumstances, it is no wonder that Mr. Prime Minister can be proud of himself.

Under such circumstances, Shang Yuan felt that it was really inappropriate to say New Year's greetings. He said, "Mr. Prime Minister, if we scold Britain and France together here, I personally think that we should have enough common ground."

After listening to the translator's words, the Prime Minister first showed a sincere smile, but the smile soon turned into a look of vigilance.

The People's Party has actually reaped huge benefits in World War I, whether it is the actual control of national sovereignty, economic benefits, or even looted cultural relics.China is considered to have gained a lot.Being urged at the moment, it is just that countries such as Britain and France feel that they have lost too much and want to threaten China.Italy suffered heavy losses in World War I, but in the current situation there is no place to make money at all.There was nothing productive in the sterile colonies, and domestic unemployment was heinous.

After listening to Shang Yuan's speech establishing a common position, the Prime Minister intuitively believed that China was trying to pull Italy to fight against Britain and France.Of course it was impossible for him to accept such an attitude.Britain and France are hateful, but an alliance with a powerless China is an even worse idea.

Of course, Shang Yuan would not propose such a foolish suggestion as an alliance with Italy, "I am here this time to cooperate with your country. Our country has formulated a merchant ship manufacturing plan and is looking for partners. The level of your country's shipbuilding industry is not weak As for Britain and France, I wonder if your country has any intentions in this regard."

"Do you want to buy a ship?" The Italian Prime Minister's face turned cloudy immediately. This is the best economic news that the Italian Prime Minister has heard in the past few years. He asked eagerly, "How much do you want to buy?"

Shang Yuan smiled and said: "We want to build a large number of freighters, not only to buy, but also to obtain manufacturing technology. I wonder if you are willing to cooperate."

Seeing that Shang Yuan put forward his ideas very seriously, Italian Prime Minister Orlando immediately began to brag about how the Italian shipbuilding industry is unparalleled. Let the British, French and Americans kneel down.

Firstly, Shang Yuan didn't know how to build a ship, and secondly, he was not in charge of the details at this level of talks.After the two parties have roughly reached an agreement of intent, they will hand over the work of specific discussions to specialized personnel.After discussing the possibility of business cooperation between China and Italy, Shang Yuan was ready to leave.

The Italian Prime Minister originally thought that Shang Yuan was here to win over allies, but seeing that Shang Yuan hadn't done so from the beginning to the end, he tentatively asked about China's plans for the future.

"I'm going to go to Persia again." Shang Yuan gave the Italian Prime Minister an answer.

"To Persia?" The Italian Prime Minister didn't understand what Shang Yuan wanted to do at all.

"I want to go to Persia to discuss oil business." The People's Party has been importing a large amount of oil, and Chen Ke is going to discuss oil sales with Persia, so Shang Yuan decided to go to Persia, which is not too far from the Mediterranean Sea.

"Has China given up on this peace conference?" Prime Minister Orlando was even more surprised.

"You have also seen that Britain and France treat us like a defeated country. Instead of being angry there, I might as well spend my time talking about business. At least when talking about business, no one will laugh at us." Shang Yuan replied.

The Prime Minister of Italy deeply sympathizes with this. Even if Italy has been defeated repeatedly, it has been defeated repeatedly.From Italy's point of view, the practice of the Allied Powers to kill donkeys is really too much.When parting with the Chinese delegation, the Italian Prime Minister had a good impression of China without saying anything.

In fact, the delegation did not go to Persia completely, but some representatives went to the Czech Republic.The Czech Republic was a very industrially powerful area of ​​the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was about to lose the Czech Republic.The People's Party believes that contacting the Czechs at this time is also a good choice.

When the United Kingdom, France and the United States pointed out the future division of the world, the Chinese delegation visited, contacted and negotiated with various industrial countries in Europe, especially those whose future was uncertain.Many negotiations were conducted on the purchase of machinery and equipment, the purchase of industrial technology, and even possible future industrial cooperation.

On May 5th, Shang Yuan and the King of Persia completed the initial intentional plan for investment in oil exploration in the Persian region, and finally rushed back to Paris.

The Paris Peace Conference is still in chaos. In order to share the spoils, all countries are using their mouths.The biggest change in the Chinese delegation is not any agreement reached, but a better understanding of the world situation.Even Tang Shaoyi, who is afraid of the great powers in his heart, has made great progress, at least he is no longer afraid of the Japanese.

The Japanese have been trying to suppress China's concessions. When they were still far away, the Japanese representative finally mustered up the courage to have a one-on-one meeting with the Chinese representative. Tang Shaoyi participated in the meeting.

The atmosphere of the meeting was of course extremely unfriendly. Fortunately, after the nonsense from the Japanese side, Zhang Yu tore his face, and he said to Makino Shinxian with arrogance: "If you think we will make concessions, then you might as well adopt your courageous ones." All means adopted. Can you declare war if it really doesn’t work?”

The Japanese side did not expect Zhang Yu's attitude to be so overbearing, but in view of the current balance of power between the two sides, Japan would not dare to declare war anyway.

Seeing Makino Shinobu's angry and wronged face, Zhang Yu sneered and said, "Aren't you convinced? Or do you think we insulted you? Then you can find your British father and hold your British father's thigh Crying and saying, Dad, you have to make the decision for me! Dad, you can’t leave me alone!” At this point, Zhang Yu waved her hand to Mu Ye contemptuously, “Go! Go! Hurry up and cry to your father go!"

Tang Shaoyi, who was present at the meeting, was frightened by Zhang Yu's actions, but he saw that the two young comrades Li Runshi and Wu Xiangyu who were also present at the meeting had already burst into laughter.Looking at the distorted face of the Japanese man and the trembling lips, Tang Shaoyi was really frightened, for fear that the Japanese who had been so insulted would really declare war.

The Japanese representative left angrily, and later did not speak to the Chinese representative at any meeting.But half a month has passed, and the Japanese representative has not made any remarks or gestures to declare war.

After being so insulted on a diplomatic occasion, Japan dared not declare war at all.Even though Tang Shaoyi could see the weakness of Japan, he still discussed the matter with his son-in-law Gu Weijun.

Gu Weijun said in a clear tone: "Father-in-law, a weak country has no diplomacy. If Japan declares war on us, if we invade North Korea, can Japan resist it?"

"This..." Tang Shaoyi already understood that there was no way Japan could win the war between China and Japan.Still, he felt uneasy. "How will the British react?"

Gu Weijun replied: "Father-in-law, Minister Zhang's words are not rough. Britain is Japan's father, and Japan is not Britain's father. Britain has a lot of trade with us. If the United Kingdom and China go to war because of Japan, these trades will be lost." It is interrupted. Britain will suffer great economic losses. How can Britain pay any price for Japan when it is still waiting for Japan to pay tribute to Britain?"

"But..." Tang Shaoyi still felt very unaccustomed to this way of thinking.

After all, he is a young man, and Gu Weijun got used to the latest situation earlier. He explained proudly: "We have always said to accept the status quo, what is the status quo. The status quo is that China has actually taken back most of its sovereignty and interests. What we need is Foreign countries openly recognize this status quo. To change this status quo, the Japanese have to fight us. Since Japan and the UK are not sure of defeating us, they can only accept the status quo. The UK is willing to let Japan change the current status quo, but That is to use Japan like a dog. Japan is not stupid, so they will not fight a war that has no chance of winning."

After hearing this, Tang Shaoyi was able to confirm the current situation by contacting the reality again.He almost struggled to ask: "What if the Japanese call over? Will the central government not hold Minister Zhang accountable?"

Gu Weijun smiled and said: "We will fight the Japanese when they come. What does this have to do with Minister Zhang? Could it be that Minister Zhang is still the emperor of Japan? What does Minister Zhang tell the Japanese to do? Does the Japanese know what to do? Besides, the Japanese don't want to Fight us, we still want to fight the Japanese!"

Looking at her son-in-law's confident demeanor, Tang Shaoyi finally found out where her biggest discomfort came from.Whether it was the Manchu Qing era or the Beiyang era.Once a Chinese official who is tough on the outside world triggers a strong posture from a foreign country, the domestic government will use this Chinese official as an excuse.However, when the People's Party was in power, officials with a strong attitude were backed by the state.This world of difference is the change that Tang Shaoyi can't adapt to the most.

Shang Yuan’s actions after his return convinced Tang Shaoyi of his son-in-law Gu Weijun’s judgment. Shang Yuan only asked if there was any content aimed at China in the recently reached agreement on world norms. strive for reason.If not, the Chinese side can accept it.

Tang Shaoyi is mainly engaged in this aspect. He reported some situations, and a considerable number of international organizations established under the new norms actually have to pay membership fees.

"Should we pay them a reasonable fee? What we have to do is to integrate into this world instead of closing ourselves off. The key is the implementation of this agreement. We must find out whether there is any explicit or implicit targeting of China in the agreement. Terms. We can't be calculated by others." Shang Yuan replied.

Tang Shaoyi was even more unaccustomed to Shang Yuan's calm attitude. In the Manchu Qing Dynasty, as long as money was paid, the court would not consider it at all.The attitude of the People's Party to try to integrate into the world is completely opposite to that of the Qing Dynasty.

In the negotiations related to individual countries, the Chinese delegation upholds the position of defending national sovereignty and will not give in at all.China's position in the entire international framework is also clear, and the Chinese government firmly supports normal economic activities.And it has been repeatedly reiterated that even if China lacks funds at this stage, in principle, the trade is to adopt the method of reciprocal trade amount.However, China will not take this approach as an unshakable position, so China welcomes the establishment of normal banking exchanges with other countries in order to make the renminbi a world currency as soon as possible.

This kind of statement, especially China's view of the globalization of the renminbi, has made many countries laugh at it.Chinese banks do not have branches overseas, and the renminbi is used as a "legal currency" and there is no precious metal as collateral at all.The Chinese actually hope that their "paper money" will become a global currency. Isn't this an international joke?

Taking a series of targeted actions to protect its own interests, China has not participated in various ambitious actions of various countries.In addition, China does not sing high-profile, but confidently announces to all countries in the world that China is very confident in its own development, and welcomes all countries to fully cooperate with China in trade and technology.

At the Paris Peace Conference, which was full of greed and ambition, China had a "little fresh" taste of peace.

According to the tacit agreement between the two sides, the United States has received China's open support.However, President Wilson began to doubt whether it was the right choice to pull China as a small partner.The reason why the United States takes a fancy to China is not only its size, but also China's combat effectiveness.As a result, China was like a harmless little white rabbit at the Paris Peace Conference, soliciting relations and negotiating business everywhere.In the face of blackmail from Britain, France and other countries, China can never give in face to face, but it does not mention this matter at all on other occasions.

This mature diplomatic style is certainly commendable, but it makes China's image too weak.Japan is so weak that it dares to openly put forward a motion to "require China to implement international treaties" at a conference attended by representatives from all countries.

Although the Chinese side raised objections that this is a "problem between China and Japan", Britain and France took the lead, and many countries temporarily expressed their positions by selling out China's interests.

Of course, this was originally an issue between China and Japan, and all countries abstained in the actual vote.Only the representative of Poland expressed his support for Japan with a strong attitude on this matter that has nothing to do with him.The U.S. representative was stunned.Poland has not really become independent, but it is trying to show its own existence.What exactly is this trying to do?

Anyway, the representatives of most countries know very well not to participate in things of no benefit, and China has expressed its opposition very strongly, and suggested that this matter can be negotiated separately after the Paris Peace Conference.The motion of the Chinese representative was supported by representatives of various countries, and this matter was excluded from the scope of discussions at the Paris Peace Conference at the international meeting.

This was originally a matter of only two countries, and it will eventually return to its true colors.Let the two countries involved, China and Japan, discuss it individually.Anyway, after the Paris Peace Conference, this matter will be forgotten by all countries.

However, the Chinese delegation breathed a sigh of relief. In the eyes of the Chinese delegation, this matter was not so simple.Because I have suffered enough from the "principle of unification of great powers".The Chinese representatives are very sensitive to such Chinese concessions.It is finally a great breakthrough to finally eliminate the threat of "unity of great powers".

China finally got rid of the blow of the "principle of unification of great powers", but this must mean that the "principle of unanimity of great powers" has gone bankrupt.In terms of attacking Russia, China has finally received the notice of the joint meeting of the six major powers.

In fact, countries have long had their own ideas and actions.After the Russian Revolution, the Russian Communist Party led by Lenin resolutely withdrew from the war. It first negotiated with the Allied Powers, but the Allied Powers did not discuss this matter with Russia at all.So Lenin simply reached an agreement with the Allies, made major concessions and withdrew from the war.The Allies were extremely dissatisfied with the treacherous actions of the Russian Communist Party.Moreover, the world war did not bring any war benefits to the countries at all. If Russia can be divided up, it can be regarded as some territorial benefits for the countries.

Therefore, the Allies have decided to jointly attack Russia.

The representative of Japan is really impatient, Japan is next to Russia.Now that it has suffered a great failure in China, it will naturally be a great thing for Japan if it can bite off a few bites of meat from Russia and occupy a large area of ​​territory.

The United States is holding the mentality of hugging grass and hunting rabbits. It is naturally the best to take advantage of it, and it is nothing if it cannot be taken advantage of.

The Chinese representative put forward the condition of not recognizing the old territorial agreement with Russia, which is an official statement that China will take action against Russia.However, the Chinese representative stated that China can only respond to the actions of other countries of the Allied Powers on the Sino-Russian border, and is not prepared to send troops to participate in combat in the European part.

Britain and France have some doubts about China's attitude, while Japan is very disturbed by China's statement of sending troops, but Japan has no way to oppose China's sending troops.

The United States supports China's attitude, so this matter is so determined.