Super Dictator

After several discussions, the Tsar decided to deal with China with a stick in one hand and vodka in the other.

On the same day, Russian Finance Minister Witte met with Minister to Russia Xu Jingcheng.

Xu Jingcheng was one of the veteran diplomats of the Qing Dynasty. He had served as envoy to France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Austria. He inspected and accepted the warships such as Dingyuan and Zhenyuan.

Since 1891, the Russian army has entered the Pamir-China border area for the unreasonable and ridiculous reason of "safari". After that, it even attempted to encroach on the entire Pamir area. Xu Jingcheng was ordered to negotiate. In order to maintain territorial integrity, They persisted for three years without giving in. In the end, due to the weakening of China's national power, in 1894, they had to accept Russia's proposal to maintain the status quo and not enter the army.

However, he had long understood the vicious nature of the Russians, and he foresaw that after the Three Kingdoms returned to Liao, the Russians would have their own agenda, and the Germans would have the intention of retribution.

This time, Witte invited him to meet, and Xu Jingcheng probably guessed what was going on.

Xu Jingcheng sat on a chair in the Russian diplomatic office, drinking the bitter coffee on the table, quietly waiting for Werther's arrival.

"Mr. Xu, the Russians urgently invited us to meet. What's the matter?" Seeing that Witte never came, Xu's attendant asked in a low voice.

Xu Jingcheng said with a worried face: "In the past, Russia, France, and Germany forced Japan to return our land in Liaodong. Do you think it was that simple? Although Russia intended to ask the Japanese to withdraw their troops, it also intended to let Japan delay time in an attempt to Our country borrows money from it.”

Although Japan had promised Russia, Germany and France to give up the territory of Liaodong at that time, the three countries never let the Qing government know the specific situation. On the one hand, the Qing government was afraid that the Japanese would be too lazy to leave, and on the other hand, it was afraid that the three countries would take the opportunity to carve up this area.

If China hadn't been clamoring for a war, and the Japanese would have taken advantage of it, notified the Qing government, and left after getting the money, the Russian conspiracy might have succeeded.

China spent 10 million taels of silver to take back these places, which was 20 million taels less than in the original history. Although it was financially strapped, it was still able to make up the money without borrowing.

As for the 80 million taels of compensation from the Shimonoseki Treaty, it can be paid back over several years, which is not so urgent.

In the original history, the Russians used the Japanese army's withdrawal from Liaodong as a threat to explain that if they did not borrow money from them, it was still unclear whether the Japanese could withdraw their troops. In the end, China had to compromise. It was borrowing anyway, and it didn't matter which country it borrowed from. There's a solution.

The attaché was also worried and said: "Do the Russians still want to talk about borrowing money? Isn't the imperial court already leaning towards German, American, British and other banks?"

Banks in other countries are eager for China to borrow money from them. Not to mention other things, they can earn a lot of money from economic benefits and interest, and the loans also need guarantees. The Qing government usually uses various taxes, such as customs taxes, as guarantees. The great powers can legitimately intervene in China's finances.

Therefore, there is no worry about not being able to borrow money, but the worry is that each country uses various means, either coercion or inducement, to get the Qing government to borrow money from it. Russia is trying to force the Qing government to submit through coercion.

Xu Jingcheng shook his head helplessly and said no more. Weak countries have no diplomacy. Even if it is a sure thing, if it involves the great powers, things will change.

Xu Jingcheng and others waited for a while before Werther walked in calmly.

"Xu, I kept you waiting for a long time." Werther said calmly. Werther played the role of Vodka when Russia dealt with China. He was a conspirator. He always appeared in front of the Chinese with a charitable face.

Xu Jingcheng said pointedly: "Your minister is busy with affairs, so it is reasonable for him to be late."

Vit sat down without changing his expression.

He first took a slow sip of coffee, and then said calmly: "I heard that your country is now going to build its own railway to connect with our country's Siberian Railway?"

Xu Jingcheng rolled his eyes and replied with a smile: "In 1891, our country had already established the Qing Dynasty Railway Administration. For the convenience of transportation, it had decided to build a railway from Yingkou to Hunchun. Now it is just based on the original It’s just a plan.”

When the Russians built the Siberian Railway, insightful people in the Qing court realized that their intention was to encircle the Northeast, so they proposed a countermeasure, which was to build a railway to strengthen control over the three northeastern provinces.

However, firstly, Hanyang Iron Works has never produced qualified rails, and secondly, Japan invaded eastward not long ago, so this railway is still under planning and has not had time to be built.

Witte also knew that the Qing government built this road to compete with the Siberian Railway, but he could not tell the truth.

He smiled faintly and said: "Your country's idea is good. Building railways is indeed conducive to transportation and promotes economic development. However, our country is acting on behalf of your country. Firstly, your country may not have the funds at present, and secondly, it is not familiar with the project." Please handle the air disaster quickly. Our railway will be able to reach your country's Heilongjiang border by next year. If your country's railway construction has not yet been completed, our country's railway will still not be able to reach Vladivostok, which will be very detrimental to our country."

Xu Jingcheng was secretly annoyed and said casually: "Why does your country have to go through our country's railway? Your country can just go around and build it in the Khabarovsk area."

Witte pretended to be surprised and said: "Why did Minister Xu say this? If our country's railway can be connected with your country's railway, it will not only save a lot of trouble, but also facilitate the trade between the two countries, which will be beneficial to both parties."

Xu Jingcheng could only say: "Don't worry, our country is fully capable of building a railway on its own."

Witte glanced at Xu Jingcheng lightly and said with a smile: "Your country is borrowing money from everywhere now, and I'm afraid it doesn't have enough resources. It would be better for the Russians to raise funds to set up a company to build this road and sign a contract with your country. As long as the charter does not interfere with the country's affairs." "We have no other concerns in your country. Please let your envoy call the country first, and our department will discuss the draft of the contract and submit it to your country for approval."

Xu Jingcheng, a vicious old man, even though he understood the sinister intentions of the Russians, thought in his heart: "Russian businessmen are definitely incapable of doing such a big thing. What Werther means is a business operation in name, but then the Russian government must be doing it on its own and harboring evil intentions. The same thing It's just borrowing land to build roads, and it's just a little packaged, just to prevent other countries from being jealous and deceiving us.

Xu Jingcheng suppressed the annoyance in his heart and had to smile and said: "Your minister said that the company's road construction theory is different from the self-made theory in our country's teachings. There is no need to call for a draft."

Seeing that Xu Jingcheng refused to accept the offer and had a resolute attitude, Werther had no choice but to think of another way. All roads lead to Rome. If this road does not lead, there are other roads. So he said indifferently: "Since your minister cannot make the decision, then I will For the company to undertake the construction of this road, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of my country ordered the Minister to China to negotiate the matter in Beijing."

Werther was extremely contemptuous of Xu Jingcheng, but Xu Jingcheng's expression only changed slightly and he left in a hurry without saying much.

After Xu Jingcheng left, a Russian official said: "Xu Jingcheng is a tough guy. He is really a strong opponent for us."

Witte said nonchalantly: "So what if he can't get in any more? The Chinese people's strength is there, and they're not just for us to knead."

"Your Excellency, due to the instigation of the Japanese, there is an incident in the North Korean palace, the North Korean princess was killed, and there is a strong anti-Japanese atmosphere in South Korea. The North Korean royal family asks for our blessing. If they can obtain the railway construction rights from China, they can extend the railway. To suppress the Japanese forces in North Korea, it would be a great blessing if this can be accomplished," the Russian official said with a smile.

Witte nodded and said: "Whether it is political conditions or geographical conditions, North Korea is part of the territory of the Russian Empire, so its fate has been decided a long time ago. If the Japanese want to win North Korea from our country, they must be prepared to endure it." Live the anger of our country.”

Witte went on to say: "Now that the railway has not been repaired, it is not appropriate to use troops. We can first use peaceful means to gain supreme control of Korea. Your Majesty has already discussed this matter with Lobanov and me. We can move the King of Korea from the palace." to our embassy, ​​and at the same time send a financial adviser to North Korea to start building the railway, and I have recommended this person to you. "

"Thank you for your consideration," the official said with tears in his eyes.

After Xu Jingcheng returned to the embassy, ​​he immediately telegraphed the information about his meeting with Witte back to China, and pointed out that the Russians had evil intentions and that Russia was not trustworthy.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Russian Minister to China, Cassini, to go to the Chinese Prime Minister's Yamen to discuss the matter.

In the Prime Minister's Office, the Japanese Prince Yi Kuang of Liuheqing, Weng Tonghe, and Li Hongzhang were all there. They were very worried after receiving a call from Xu Jingcheng.

Guizi Liu looks like a dying man, and he doesn’t know how long he can survive. Guizi Liu is not smart in other aspects, but when it comes to dealing with Russia, because he has suffered so much from the Russians over and over again, he can clearly see that the Russians are really Cunning people.

When the British and French allied forces invaded China in the past, the Russians pretended to be the savior, cursed Britain, France and other countries, and said that they could help train soldiers and provide guns for the Qing Dynasty to resist Britain, France and other countries. Who knows, in the end, It was the Russians who benefited the most from the troops sent by Britain and France. Not only did they cut off a large area of ​​land to the Russians, but the Beijing Contract signed also included the Russians. This shows that the Russians took advantage of the situation and did a lot of things.

Not counting this, when Zuo Zongtang regained Xinjiang, the Russians were even more cunning. Their country had just suffered a lot in Europe and was unable to deal with China, so they conspired to collude with the German Bismarck, claiming that they wanted to support the peacemaker. Li Hongzhang and others stood on their own to attack the peace faction and maintain the interests of various countries in China. In the end, the Qing government was so frightened that even Yili was not taken back.

In short, the Russians' methods are to resort to rogues and thieves, to use cleverness and robbery. When they have the ability, they will attack directly, and when they don't, they will take advantage of the situation. In short, they will not give up until they completely cede China's territory.

This time coincided with the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War, and China was even weaker. If the Russians missed this opportunity, they would not be called Russians. Not to mention that they took advantage of the Sino-Japanese War when the Qing court had no time to look west. He has openly torn up the agreement and secretly divided the Pamir with the British. Even now, he is forcing China to allow him to park his fleet in Jiaozhou Bay.

Why did the Russians anchor their ships in Jiaozhou Bay? That was because they had ulterior motives. Jiaozhou Bay was not a treaty port. Yantai and other treaty ports could allow them to be anchored for a long time. However, ships from various countries could enter and exit treaty ports at will, and Russia could not monopolize it. That's why he chose Jiaozhou Bay. Now that Lushun has been taken back by the Chinese, Lushun's geographical location is better than Jiaozhou Bay. Therefore, the Russians are interested in Lushun again.

If there are no Beiyang ships guarding Port Arthur now, the Russians will probably try their old tricks again. They will first sail the fleet into the port and play rogue, and then talk to you.