Expedition to Europe

As early as Lanfang annihilated the Japanese northbound fleet and southbound fleet, Japan expressed its willingness to negotiate peace to Lanfang Foreign Minister Lu Zhengxiang through the US Ambassador to Lanfang, Glinton Augustine.

The reason why Japan had the confidence to declare war on Lanfang was because of their "Eight-Eight Fleet". The Japanese "Eight-Eight Fleet" was undoubtedly invincible on the seas of East Asia. Even Britain, the United States, and France The world's powerful countries must also recognize the status of the Japanese navy in East Asia.

Needless to say, the new Lanfang Navy was not qualified to compare with the Japanese Navy.

It's a pity that Lan Fang found another way. Since he can't fight on the sea, he will not fight you from the sea. Instead, he will open the battlefield into the air and eventually send all Japan's huge fleet to the bottom of the sea.

No one expected that the "naval battle" between Lanfang and Japan would end like this. It ended before it even started.

Without the warships, the Japanese also lost their biggest support. Coupled with the steady retreat on Sakhalin Island, the three divisions could not withstand Lanfang's two ordinary divisions. This made the Japanese completely see what they were doing. The gap between the army and Lanfang, and the cruel reality finally made the Japanese emperor and cabinet begin to face reality and prepare to sue for peace through the Americans.

Since it is asking for peace, there must be a posture. The Japanese posture is very low, expressing their willingness to start peace talks based on the current actual control areas of Lanfang and Japan.

This is wishful thinking. Lanfang currently only occupies the entire Sakhalin Island. Other areas have not yet been occupied. Even the Kuril Islands have not been included in it. Japan has no intention of negotiating based on the existing occupied areas. think.

In fact, Qin Zhiyuan's requirements are not high. When Lanfang lands on Yingzhou and the Ryukyu Islands, and then drives away the Japanese forces from outside the Republic of China, it will be considered as completing the scheduled combat mission.

In Qin Zhiyuan's original plan, Qin Zhiyuan didn't even bother to take care of the affairs of Goryeo.

Looking at the faces of the Korean people in the 21st century, Qin Zhiyuan doesn't want to talk to them and just let them fend for themselves.

Since the war started, Lanfang's army has progressed much more smoothly than planned. Qin Zhiyuan has also begun to revise the combat objectives and include Goryeo and Hokkaido as strategic objectives.

In Qin Zhiyuan's plan, Japan will be controlled within the four islands on the mainland, and Hokkaido will also be under Lanfang's supervision. Only in this way can the Japanese be weakened to the greatest extent.

So when the U.S. Ambassador to Lanfang, Glinton Augustine, found Lu Zhengxiang, Lu Zhengxiang proposed Lanfang's armistice conditions to the Japanese: Japan ceded the Japanese territories of Yingzhou and Sakhalin Island, the Penghu Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, Thousand Islands to Lan Fang, and at the same time compensate Lan Fang for military expenses of 200 million yuan...

To be honest, this condition made Glinton Augustine feel a bit excessive, not to mention the Japanese who were not completely desperate.

So the war continued.

Just two days ago, when the three Japanese divisions on Sakhalin Island had been annihilated by the Lanfang Northern Xinjiang Military Region, when Xie Rundong led the Northern Expedition Fleet to launch an attack on Yingzhou, and when Liu Zizheng led the Vladivostok coalition forces into the Republic of China, the Japanese Requests for peace were again made through Glinton Augustine.

Lan Fang is indeed peace-loving. If the Japanese want a ceasefire, Lan Fang will definitely agree.

Of course, because this war caused huge losses to Lanfang and seriously affected Lanfang's ongoing domestic construction, Lanfang must provide conditions for an armistice. Only by meeting Lanfang's requirements can the armistice be realized.

This time, Lu Zhengxiang added Korea to the conditions offered by Lu Zhengxiang on the basis of the first time, and at the same time, the amount of compensation increased to 500 million yuan.

Well, this time too, Glinton Augustine felt like it was too much.

Is it too much?

uncertain.

If Japan agrees to Lanfang's conditions, then all the achievements made by the Japanese since the Meiji Restoration will be in vain, and all the spoils obtained by the Japanese through previous wars will be forced to be handed over.

Look carefully at the conditions. Japan acquired the Yingzhou and Penghu Islands through the Sino-Japanese War. The Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Islands were acquired through the Russo-Japanese War. Korea and the Ryukyu Islands were annexed by Japan on its own initiative. Lanfang It has made many territorial claims against Japan, but not an inch of those territories belongs to Japan.

At the same time, regarding the compensation of 500 million yuan, this figure seems to be very large, but if you consider that after the Japanese-Qing War, the Japanese extorted 200 million taels of silver from the then Qing Empire, which was equivalent to three and a half years of the country's income, this figure cannot be said to be high. big.

Besides, with the world war that just passed as a reference, and with the Germans’ 226 billion mark of treasures in front of them, it seems that 500 million yuan is not too much.

Of course, this is only what Qin Zhiyuan thinks. Glinton Augustine and the Japanese do not think so.

But at the same time, Glinton Augustine also knew that if the war continued, Lanfang would continue to improve his conditions as Lanfang's military progress. If the Japanese do not agree now, Lanfang may raise conditions next time. Plus Hokkaido.

There is no limit to human desires. Before Lanfang went to war with the Japanese, Qin Zhiyuan only wanted a peaceful development environment. After the war started, what Qin Zhiyuan wanted was to defeat the Japanese. But when the "Battle of Ningbeigang" and "Battle of Ningbeigang" After the "Battle of Cam Ranh Bay", Qin Zhiyuan began to want more.

What Qin Zhiyuan wants now is to beat the Japanese to death with a stick.

Before the war between Lan Fang and Japan, Qin Zhiyuan really wanted a "peaceful" development environment, but when Lan Fang's national strength developed to a certain extent, Qin Zhiyuan would also declare war on the Japanese, no matter what the reason.

When Lu Zhengxiang first proposed the conditions, the Japanese refused firmly.

This time, the Japanese did not dare to refuse firmly, but said that the conditions could be negotiated.

Then the talks began.

With each passing day, the pace of the Lan Fang army's advance would accelerate. Japanese Prime Minister Hara Takashi did not dare to delay, and immediately took the American warship with Army Minister Tanaka Giichi to Lan Fang, preparing to start negotiations with Lan Fang to cease fire.

Of course, the war would continue before the conditions were agreed.

Just as Hara Takashi went to Lan Fang, Xie Rundong was heading to Tokyo Bay, Zhang Tianshou had already landed in Keelung Port, Liu Zi was on his way to Kuanchengzi, and Ge Lifu was preparing to land in Hokkaido.

The original text is available at Liu # 9 @Shu/Bar!

The current situation is beyond everyone's expectations. Even Qin Zhiyuan, who advocated war before the war, did not expect the war to go so smoothly.

So Qin Zhiyuan was in a good mood these days, and he was smiling when chatting with Lu Zhengxiang: "Don't be polite to the Japanese. Think about how Ito Hirobumi forced Li Zhongtang back then. You can force Hara Takashi in the same way. It doesn't matter if it takes a little longer. It's not us who are anxious now, but the Japanese. You should put on airs when you need to."

Say such words with a smile, why does it sound a bit creepy.

"Actually, Hara Takashi is a pretty good person. He is the first prime minister of Japan who was born as a commoner. Some time ago, he announced on behalf of the Japanese government that some of the terms of the "Treaty of the Fourth Civil War" were withdrawn, and Qingdao was returned to the Republic of China. I really can't bear to be the villain..." Lu Zhengxiang also smiled.

When the Japanese proposed the "Twenty-One Demands", Lu Zhengxiang was the negotiating representative of the Beiyang government. In the process of the "Twenty-One Demands" becoming the "Treaty of 1914", Lu Zhengxiang also made outstanding contributions.

Of course, many hooligans who are dressed in the guise of patriots probably don't think so.

"... But I am now the foreign minister of Lan Fang. From the perspective of the Chinese, it is reasonable to avenge the Chinese. Hara Takato is indeed a good person, but he should not become the Prime Minister of Japan at this time. It is Hara Takashi's bad luck to be involved in this matter." Lu Zhengxiang's buttocks can still sit upright.

"That's right. Of course, there are "good people" in Japan, but the "good people" in Japan can never be in power. What's the use of these "good people"... Our requirements are not high. How much did the Japanese take away from the Republic of China through the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" and the "Xin Chou Treaty"? Now we just need to return it with interest. Of course, it would be good if it could be a little more, but it can never be less." Qin Zhiyuan set the tone for the upcoming negotiations.

"Hehehe... Your Majesty, please rest assured. If our Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot strive for the greatest interests for Lan Fang under the current situation, then I should also be the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Look at the present, and think about the past in the Republic of China. Alas, it is really hard to describe..." Lu Zhengxiang's bitterness was beyond words.

For a diplomat, it is very important to have a strong motherland. Only when the country is strong can diplomats stand up straight and strive for greater interests for the country.

Without a strong motherland, even if the diplomats are the reinforcements invited by Monkey King, there is no way to talk about a relatively satisfactory result.

"Just do it to the end. You can't always be the Minister of Foreign Affairs. You have to move to another place when it is appropriate. Otherwise, when will the young people in your Ministry of Foreign Affairs grow up?" Qin Zhiyuan pays attention to the cultivation of talent echelons.

The current situation of Lan Fang is still lacking capable officials. This problem in governance is actually not a big problem. After all, Lan Fang is a country ruled by law. As long as it strictly follows the provisions of the law, even if there will not be a huge leap, there will not be too much chaos.

"This... Your Majesty, rest assured, I will naturally retire in a few years." Lu Zhengxiang looked stunned.

"Hahahaha... Zixin, you've got it wrong. Asking you to move is not about retiring. Don't you think that if I wanted you to retire, why would I let you be responsible for the negotiations with the Japanese this time..." Qin Zhiyuan laughed.

"Talk... Negotiate..." Lu Zhengxiang looked stunned, and then fell into ecstasy.

The Japanese came this time with the Prime Minister. According to the principle of reciprocity, it should be the Prime Minister of Lanfang, Huang Bohan, who should go to negotiate, but now Qin Zhiyuan asked Lu Zhengxiang, the Foreign Minister, to negotiate, which is enough to explain many problems.