Super Dictator

"How is the public opinion in the Qing Dynasty?" Ito Hirobumi asked again. Mutsu Munemitsu's face was a little ugly, and he said bitterly: "The Qing people thought that Song Qing could defeat the Japanese Empire with a small victory. It is really ridiculous. Some officials even wrote to Guangxu, requesting a war, and the Qing people also called for war. Soaring." Ito Hirobumi rubbed his temples with a headache, and then said: "Send a telegram to the base camp and ask the naval fleet to cruise in the Bohai Sea and bombard the Takukou to warn the Chinese not to let them get too carried away. "Should the peace treaty be revised?" Mutsu Munemitsu asked with some uncertainty. "Let's look at Li Hongzhang's reaction first. The two ceded territories of Liaodong and Taiwan must not be withdrawn. This has been the empire's long-cherished wish for many years. Even if we agree, the generals in the base camp will probably be dissatisfied. As for the compensation, it can be reduced appropriately. "Ito Hirobumi half-squinted his eyes, paused, and continued: "China is like a virgin waiting to be exploited. After acquiring Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula, it is like binding a woman's hands, and then she can invade at any time. "Ito Hirobumi is a womanizer and once wrote a poem: "Awakening to hold the power of the world, lying drunk on the knees of a beautiful woman." Mutsu Munemitsu thought his metaphor was wonderful and said with a smile: "Others need money from whoring, but we don't. If you can get money, Ito-kun is really superior. "Jieyin Temple is where Li Hongzhang stayed. Li Jingfang, Luo Fenglu, Wu Tingfang, Ma Jianzhong, Luo Gengling and other Chinese representatives were sitting in Li Hongzhang's room plotting. The expression on Li Hongzhang's face was obviously a little excited, and there was a hint of joy in the gloom, and he said: "This victory comes in time, and it will definitely add a lot of weight to tomorrow's negotiations. Moreover, when the Military Aircraft Department called, both the Queen Mother Yan and the Emperor were a little moved. If the negotiation fails, we will be ready to fight again. Therefore, when we have peace talks tomorrow, we should not be too weak. Even if the talks fail, the whole court will not be blamed." Counselor Luo Fenglu said with some worry: "That said, but. The Japanese troops are still much stronger than ours. What if the Japanese refuse to give in tomorrow and China and Japan start a war again?" Wu Tingfang interrupted: "Xiaguan has made inquiries in many places in the past few days and learned about the Japanese army. Although they are tough, their country is no longer able to support a long-term war. If the Japanese continue to fight, it will be extremely disadvantageous if they cannot win in a short time. Therefore, I think it is appropriate to make some requests." Li Hongzhang nodded slightly. The next day, China and Japan held their last peace talks at Chunfan Tower. After the Chinese and Japanese representatives took their seats, they exchanged greetings for a while and then officially started the confrontation. Ito Hirobumi first asked: "Why did your army tear up the armistice agreement between the two sides and attack our army? Do you want the two countries to continue the war?" Li Hongzhang said calmly: "Why did your minister say this? This matter is all expensive. It was caused by the Chinese army's attack on Gaiping, but our army was forced to fight back. It was not our army that tore up the armistice agreement, but your army." Ito Hirobumi said displeasedly: "This matter was caused by your country's Wei Jichen assassinating me. It was caused by the officer Kanjiro Nishi. I hope your country can severely deal with the person who caused the trouble and apologize to the victims in our country." Li Hongzhang was shocked. This was the first time he heard that the death of Kanjiro Nishi was related to Wei Jichen. , but when he took a closer look, he found that although Ito Hirobumi shouted ferociously, there was a trace of uncertainty in his eyes. "How can your minister slander our generals at will? If there is evidence, just bring it out. If not, wouldn't it be ridiculous?" Li Hongzhang refused to admit his accusation. "The truth will come out one day." Ito Hirobumi picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip, and changed the subject: "How is your country considering the contract?" Ito Hirobumi knew that this matter could not be discussed for the time being. Clear, let’s get straight to the topic. Li Hongzhang sighed and said: "I am afraid that if the superiors disagree with such harsh terms, they will have to make several changes to the original agreement. Please think carefully for me, where can I make concessions?" Ito Hirobumi knew that Li Hongzhang had some changes in his mind. However, he could not just give in casually, so he said categorically: "I made it clear at the beginning that it was extremely difficult to think that negotiating a peace is not a market transaction. It will be useless to compete with each other." Li Hongzhang thought to himself: What does this have to do with doing business? The difference is that each other is a bargain. "There are loud calls for war in our country right now. Even if I agree to the pledge, I won't be able to get back to China. Why not give in a little and let the two countries become friendly again." Li Hongzhang said with a hint. Ito Hirobumi took a slow sip of tea and said unhurriedly: "My naval fleet heard that your country tore up the armistice agreement and has set off from Weihaiwei to Dagukou. It must have bombarded Dagukou by now. Li Hongzhang said angrily: "Why should your country be aggressive? If the negotiation fails, we will only move the capital to Shaanxi and fight with your country for a long time. Your country will not be able to conquer China. China can resist indefinitely, but your country will eventually be defeated and seek peace." "As soon as Li Hongzhang finished speaking, the atmosphere at the negotiation table immediately became tense. Ito Hirobumi said quarrelsomely: "What do you mean by your minister, do you want to continue the war?" "I came to negotiate peace with great sincerity, but your country's conditions are too harsh and no one can accept it. A lot of land will be ceded, and the compensation will be huge." Li Hongzhang said calmly. Ito Hirobumi pointed to the documents brought by Li Hongzhang and said: "Why don't you take out the draft of your country's commercial reform treaty? We will discuss it after reading it." Li Hongzhang asked Li Jingfang to hand it over to Ito Hirobumi and others. After the Japanese took a look, their expressions were not very good. They saw that China's treaty had two main modifications: first, the compensation was reduced to 100 million taels, and second, the territory of Taiwan was ceded. These were the demands Li Hongzhang made last time. Ito did not expect that the Chinese side would not give in at all after they went back to discuss it.

Ito put down the document and said dissatisfied: "Nakadō Nakatō can think deeply about the current situation between the two countries, that is, the fact that Japan is the victor and China is the loser. Because China asked for peace and Japan agreed, today's peace talks are possible. If unfortunately If this negotiation breaks down, I will order sixty or seventy transport ships to carry the additional troops to the battlefield, and the safety of Beijing will be difficult to say. Whether the Chinese plenipotentiary minister can return to Beijing safely is not guaranteed. " Li Hongzhang. The others couldn't help but change their expressions. Ito changed his tone again and said softly: "Taiwan must be surrendered to our country, and the compensation can be reduced to 120 million taels. This is the biggest concession of the empire." Li Hongzhang knew that the Japanese were going to take Taiwan, so he had to start with the compensation: " We have to pay compensation and cede territory. We are too harsh and the compensation is expected to be reduced by another 50 million taels." The Japanese representative was silent for a long time. Ito Hirobumi sighed and said, "The compensation cannot be less than 80 million taels." Li Hongzhang was overjoyed, thinking that he had finally won the battle, but fortunately he did not live in vain for so many years. His expression remained unchanged and he said dissatisfiedly: "Such a tight mouth will be remembered in the future. The compensation will not be reduced, and the interest will always be It can be waived." Ito Hirobumi knew that Li Hongzhang had agreed and was only looking for problems in this detail, so he then replied: "If you pay it off within three years, the interest will be waived." The biggest items have been negotiated, and the subsequent negotiations will be easy. If there are too many, the Japanese will station troops in Weihaiwei until China pays off the treaty indemnity before withdrawing the troops, so they ask for the cost of keeping the troops. In short, the Japanese will not pluck out as many hairs from the Qing Dynasty as possible, and they are unwilling to do so. By the time the contract was almost negotiated, the lights were dimming, and the two parties agreed to sign the contract the next day. "I hope your country can cooperate with our country in investigating the assassination case of Nishi Kanjiro. If China provokes trouble again, it will bear the consequences." When representatives of both China and Japan stood up and were about to leave, Ito Hirobumi reminded Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang was also afraid that Wei Jichen and other warring factions would ruin his peace talks, so he replied: "Minister, please rest assured that before the contract is renewed, I will suggest that our emperor recall Wei Jichen." The plenipotentiary minister pledged and handed over the contract to the two parties. The Emperor approved it, and finally he had to find a place to exchange the contract. It would take at least a month to come and go. During this period, there would be new changes at any time, so Li Hongzhang felt that it was better to let Wei Jichen go back and rest during this period. It's best to wait until all the dust has settled before letting him return to Liaodong.