Open an aircraft carrier to fight against Japan

Lin Yuan then said: "Let the ministers of various countries go to the auditorium of the Yamen of the Ministry of War. I will meet them there." His subordinates went to prepare, and soon came back and told Lin Yuan: "The ministers of various countries are already waiting for you in the auditorium."

Lin Yuan came to the auditorium to meet the ministers. Lin Yuan had dealt with many ministers from various countries when he was in the capital. He thought he would meet many familiar faces this time, but he did not expect that he knew none of the ministers. After asking, I found out that the ministers of various countries have been transferred back to China during the period when I went to Gansu, so all the ministers who are here now are new ministers.

Someone introduced Lin Yuan one by one, and Lin Yuan thought: "How can I remember so many names?" So he asked his attendants to write down these names, and after the introductions were over, Lin Yuan asked, "Ministers are so busy. Come to me, do you know what's going on?"

The British Minister first said in Chinese: "Since the Qing court announced your intention to rebel until now your troops have entered the capital and the emperor's whereabouts are unknown, our British Empire has been paying attention to the situation in Beijing, so we want to know what your actions are now. What exactly is it? Is it a plot to usurp the throne, or is it just a military remonstrance against the Qing emperor? We found the words 'Qing Emperor's side' on your army's propaganda materials, so we thought of the possibility of military remonstrance?"

Lin Yuan smiled and said: "I heard you talking to me in Chinese. I admire your understanding of Chinese culture, but I can't accept what you said about usurping the throne. Seeking to usurp the throne means replacing one emperor with another." One emperor, we overthrew the rule of the Qing court not to change another emperor, but to completely eliminate the emperor and let the common people become the masters of the country."

The British envoy asked: "So your country is going to completely abolish the monarchy and move towards a republic?"

Lin Yuan smiled and nodded, and then saw that everyone was stunned. Lin Yuan knew that among the countries present, only France and the United States were republics, and the other countries were monarchies, so it was not surprising to see them surprised.

At this time, the British minister said with a smile: "We don't want to interfere too much with your country's choice. We want to know something about our vital interests. What we care about most is: We have signed a series of economic and trade agreements with the Qing emperor before. Don't know what your new government will do with these agreements?"

Lin Yuan smiled and said: "The new government will definitely participate in world trade with a more open mind, so we will treat them differently for economic and trade agreements with other countries, and we will keep those that are beneficial to the people of both sides. , unfavorable, we must modify it."

The British envoy smiled slightly and said, "Well, I have nothing else to do. May I ask Mr. Lin Yuan to answer the questions of other envoys?"

The German envoy stood up and said, "Mr. Lin Yuan, I have some personal opinions that I would like to share with you."

Lin Yuan pointed to the chair and said with a smile, "Mr. Minister, please sit down and talk."

The German envoy laughed and said: "The people are extremely stupid, how can the fate of the country be entrusted to them, so a republic is not a good idea, I hope Mr. Lin Yuan thinks twice."

Lin Yuan felt a little displeased when he heard this, not because the German envoy said "the people are so stupid", but because the German envoy was completely condescending when he said this, Lin Yuan was naturally unhappy, but In front of so many people, Lin Yuan did not embarrass the German envoy, but smiled politely and said, "Thank you for your suggestion, I will consider it."

The German envoy said immediately: "Mr. Lin Yuan, I hope to have a private meeting with you!"

Lin Yuan thought: "This German minister's attitude is very arrogant. It seems that it has something to do with Germany's status in the world. Now Germany is trying to catch up with Britain and become the most powerful country in the world. Moreover, Germany's economy is in the Driven by a series of new technologies, it is taking off majesticly."

Thinking of these, Lin Yuan laughed secretly, and thought: "I have already hired the scientists who can make breakthroughs in basic disciplines, and your science and technology can't make much progress. You should be proud slowly." So Lin Yuan Yuan said: "Okay, I can have a private meeting with you. What about the ministers of other countries? Do we also have private meetings?"

Everyone nodded, and Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Let's discuss it. Whoever talks to me first, I will wait for you in the reception area." Lin Yuan came to a smaller reception room. After walking in, the British envoy put on a straight face after the two exchanged greetings for a while, and said, "Mr. Lin Yuan, I know that the Qing emperor has already fled to the south. I guess he will make a comeback. A civil war in your country is imminent."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan thought to himself: "He must have come to rip me off! Let me hear how he wants to rob me." So Lin Yuan asked: "We also know this, but I don't know if the British Empire will embrace it." With what attitude?"

The British Minister smiled and said: "If Mr. Lin Yuan is willing to become friends with our British Empire, we welcome it naturally. Our British Empire is willing to help our friends with the greatest sincerity."

Lin Yuan thought: "Being friends? It's definitely not easy to be your friends! You will definitely put forward a lot of conditions for me to agree to. These conditions will either harm China's interests or make me betray the country! Whatever, I'll just see. What kind of conditions can you British devils come up with!"

So Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Aren't we still friends with the British Empire?"

The British Minister said with a smile: "We are friends with Mr. Lin Yuan, but Mr. Lin Yuan used to be a courtier of the Qing court, but now he is an opponent of the Qing court. This matter is a bit troublesome."

Lin Yuan smiled and said: "Mr. Minister, we don't have to go around in circles anymore, just tell us what conditions you want to put forward!"

The British minister said with a smile: "It's like this. We want to continue to strengthen trade with your country. For example, we want to buy more Chinese goods, but the prices of your country's goods are too high. Think carefully, so that more ordinary people in our country can afford your country's products."

Lin Yuan sneered in his heart, and thought: "If you want to spend less money to buy our things, you still talk so high-soundingly, foreigners dare to show some face!" Lin Yuan suppressed the anger in his heart, and said: "If we cut the price of the goods , there will be no profit for our producers.”

The British Minister smiled and said, "If you agree to our terms, we, the UK, are willing to provide you with 5 rifles, which is enough for you to arm an army of [-] people. How about this condition?"

Lin Yuan asked, "Gun? What kind of gun?"

The British Minister said with a smile: "Of course it is the standard rifle of our British Army, the Martini-Henry rifle, and we are willing to provide a lot of ammunition!"

Lin Yuan thought to himself: "What are the British doing? The Martini-Henry rifle is a single-shot large-caliber rifle. In my era, this kind of gun was replaced by the Enfield rifle with medium-caliber bullets two years later. Yes, but the early models of Enfield rifles are also single-shot, which is incomparable with the bq-95 automatic rifles we are equipped with now, and the British bullets are still using black powder as the propellant. Our bullets have long been used Nitrocellulose, do the British want to exchange a bunch of old antiques for our good things?"