The road was sprayed with saliva, and the contract was signed along the way. After signing in, the delegation did not know how many times they signed. However, several members were clever and paid attention to the data along the way. After counting for a long time, he said: "I'm afraid there are already 3 marks."

"What?" Wei was shocked. According to the exchange rate of 1 customs two is about 3.06 mark, almost ten million taels of silver have been out.

"Uncle Qi, is this OK?" Wei did not dare to ask Yinchang, so he could only discuss with Zaitao. "If the foreign devils come to the door with the contract, what money should we use to fulfill it? If a diplomatic dispute occurs again, we will have to peel the emperor's cramps and skin."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. The great policy is the emperor's opinion, and it's not our own decision if something happens. Besides, before leaving, the emperor repeatedly told Lord Yin to take responsibility. Let's not be arrogant, and it's thankless to make trouble at that time."

"I said this, but I always feel like I'm upset. I haven't seen any movement in Berlin for more than a month. I'm afraid that people will be kidding us. Even if I have heard it, I'll count it! The emperor's plan to remove the firewood from the cauldron is wise, but after all, it's thousands of miles apart and cannot adapt to the situation. We who are working in the job must have a problem. Is it OK? We must have a certain idea in our hearts. Even if foreigners don't come to cause trouble, it's a shameful thing to pass on these contracts back to China... I don't dare to sign again."

After being persuaded by him, Zaitao couldn't sit still and was anxious to go to Yinchang to discuss. The latter was as if nothing had happened and just laughed: "Our errand is almost done, and we can devote ourselves to the mountains and rivers next."

"You are very interested, but this package?"

"The opera we should sing has been sung. The fire we should lit is also lit. Whether this pot of water can be turned on depends on the fire of Sa Zhenbing." As he said that, Yinchang handed over a telegram from Berlin.

It turned out that Sa Zhenbing, the starting point of the hind feet, had led a naval inspection team to Berlin. Seeing his embroidered appearance, Zaitao felt relieved and couldn't help but be surprised: "Didn't Lao Liu come out to go abroad? Why didn't he see his name?"

Yinchang was perfunctory and thought to himself: Fortunately, he didn't come, otherwise these 3 marks would have lost after he tossed them up and down!

There is a good impression of the Imperial Guard Expedition. The Chinese Navy Expedition was also warmly received by Germany. Sazhenbing and Tirpitz had only met in China before and were not familiar with each other. However, due to the vague joy of the package, the admiral who was eager to find out the truth and the facts simply condescend to accompany the delegation to inspect the situation.

Sazhenbing intentionally or unintentionally avoided Tirpitz's indirect attacks, and only directly proposed that he hoped to order 4 fast cruisers from Germany, and put forward a principled requirement - the tonnage is on the right, and the size is closer to the recently put into service of Germany's "Emden". However, the details are quite different. China requires the use of the latest oil-fired boiler and steam turbine, with a speed requirement of more than 2 knots. The latter still uses coal-fired power, with a maximum speed of only 23.5; in terms of layout, China requires the equipment of 56-inch guns. Before adoption

The 3 triple-mounted rear 2 double-mounted configuration can be fully turned to the same side. However, the latter uses a 10-door single 4-inch gun distribution, and the firepower is not concentrated enough; in terms of protection, the hundreds of tons of tonnage that China has more than the latter will be used to strengthen protection, especially the armor thickness in non-critical parts must be strengthened from 18mm to more than 25mm and still remains unchanged in key parts; in terms of underwater firepower, the Emden uses a 2450mm torpedo launcher, and China changes it to 3, and the caliber is increased to 533mm.

What Tirpitz is more concerned about is China's port construction. China decided to open a commercial port Qinhuangdao Port into a military-civilian dual-purpose port, mainly building a 1,500-meter-long pile dock on the southeast side outside the original breakwater, and build nine new berths that can park more than 5,000 ships, and build five more berths outside the original breakwater. At the same time, the water depth of the berth front and waterway will be further deepened... After all the projects are completed, the total berthable tonnage of the port will increase to 100,000 tons, the most

The large single berth can be docked with about 12,000 tons of steamers. In addition to Qinhuangdao, the Chinese Navy will build the first naval base near Huludao and the second naval base in the Zhoushan Islands on the surface of Zhejiang. In the future, it plans to build the third base at the port south of Mawei. Sa Zhenbing vaguely mentioned: If the German Navy is willing to promote a package of plans, all these port projects and coastal defense fortifications can be entrusted to the German company to preside over the construction. China's own ports, regardless of military and civilians, can be opened to the German Far East Fleet in peacetime.

What a big deal, what a big temptation!

The Guard

The delegation did not know, the naval delegation did not know, and seemed to be free and at ease, but the unmoved senior executives were actually under pressure from all sides. After learning about the entire package, the first reaction of the German giants was incredible, and the second reaction was to strive to achieve it. Krupp Company pointed out in a close conversation with the representative of Mauser Company: "This actually means that the German business community will monopolize the Chinese market, especially the high-profit market, in the next 20 years. Whoever does not agree to such an obviously profitable plan will be the sinner of Germany."

As for the risks, industrial giants disagree. The German government has enjoyed great achievements and should be endorsed for it. As for diplomatic disputes, the giants who are used to taking millet from fire shrugged. If we are obstructed by other countries through such a "peaceful" method, we must also use our sword to defend our plows, and our cannons are not vegetarians.

At the government cabinet meeting, Tirpitz has been "conquered" by the East's activity base and interest space. Representatives of Volkeng Shipyard and Germanic Shipyard were looking forward to the order of the 30 million mark, and could not wait to start designing cruiser drawings, so they naturally agreed. Moltke Xiao has no deep friendship with Yinchang and others, but Krupp, Mauser, and Rheinmetallurgical giants are too big, and the chief of staff feels that they cannot lose the support of these German arsenal pillars. Although the Junker landlord class behind Prime Minister Bilo is out of the way, financial oligarchs and industrial tycoons have been twice in three days.

When I visited the door, I vaguely mentioned that if a politician could not achieve the greatness of Germany, he would not deserve the threat of the honorable position of Prime Minister. Some even pointed out directly that "if Prime Minister Bismarck was here, this package of plans would have been realized long ago." The poor Prime Minister was in trouble with internal and external affairs, and without Bismarck's courage, so I could only agree. William II was originally an endorsement of the package plan. The previous meeting was restricted by pragmatic officials with various practical difficulties. Now he has received strong support from the Army and Navy and the Prime Minister. Even if the Minister of Foreign Affairs strongly opposed it, he still approved the principled agreement.

430. After Germany formed a consensus, the Sino-Germany Friendship Agreement was officially signed, and Yinchang transformed into the ambassador of the special order and plenipotentiary of the Chinese emperor.

Article 1 of the treaty stated with a high sound: The Friendship Agreement is a friendly treaty signed by China and Germany to maintain stability and peace in East Asia. It does not target third parties, nor does it seek to form a military alliance to undermine the current equilibrium in the region - the finger is directly aimed at the British-Japanese alliance.

In order not to stimulate the United States, Article 2 of the agreement specifically reiterates: respect the "open door" policy of all countries in China and do not touch on the relevant commercial interests and most-favored-nation treatment that all countries have already enjoyed in China.

Article 3 stipulates that the Sino-German Friendship Fund is used to assist China in progress in many fields such as culture, science and technology, education, and military. It is also a reward fund to fund Chinese students studying in Germany. The use method is decided after consultation between China and Germany. As for the number of people and the scale, it has long been dissolved in the secret "Appendix".

Literally, it was impossible to see any conspiracy or bad intentions, but it was like a follower of the United States' return of the Boxer Revenue. The German ambassador to China openly claimed that this was an agreement of pure friendship, mutual assistance and peace.

—

Who believes it?

The Chinese believe it! After the Imperial Daily announced the content of the agreement, telegrams from all over the country flew into the newspapers like snowflakes, either vigorously praising the emperor's foresight or strongly praising the imperial diplomats' conflicts~3 After China and Germany issued an announcement, deciding that bilateral relations were promoted from minister to ambassador level, this enthusiasm became more and more intense.

The Japanese don't believe it! The Russians don't believe it! The French don't believe it! The British don't believe it!... Except for the Americans who conditionally expressed their praise for the unprincipled support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, almost all the signatories of the Treaty of Xin Chou watched the development of the situation. British Minister Jurden wrote in a telegram report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "China and Germany signed such an agreement in a sensitive period. I personally intuitively believe it was a conspiracy and the beginning of Germany's attempt to dominate China. The British Empire should strive to seek countermeasures..."
Chapter completed!