The midsummer sun is scattering through the floor-to-ceiling glass on the British Embassy in Dongjiaomin Lane. The faint smell of Havana cigar spreads in the air. Then under the sunlight, it turns into a curling blue smoke and rises into the air. Then, another stream of...

From morning to now, Juerdian has been standing in front of the window for an entire hour. His whole expression seems comfortable and easy-going, but in fact he is full of tension. Just looking at his right hand, it is impossible to tell the name of his right hand, because only when he shifts his cigar, he will only find that the palm of the hand is tightly clutching a telegraph paper.

The telegram signature is very prominent, and it was taken by Sir Grey, the Foreign Minister of the British Empire. Although the content is only a few lines, Juerdian has a shocking feeling - "First the Sino-Germany Friendship Agreement, then the Sino-German Navy Agreement, and finally the Sino-German double emperor bonds. In just two months, German diplomacy opened a huge gap in China, and the British Empire's influence in China is in danger..."

There is no accusation or a slight complaint, but as the highest diplomatic chief of Great Britain in China, Juerdian is very clear about his responsibilities and goals. This is a kind of depression that is depressing, suffocating, and difficult to breathe, as if he is whipping him with a braid. In a seemingly calm situation, there are crises and conflicts that may break out at any time. Who can know that such earth-shaking changes will occur in just over two months?

After thinking about it, he never felt any grievance or injustice, because he knew that he should bear great responsibility for analyzing the situation and the direction of diplomacy. After the Chinese emperor regained supreme power, he wrote a special report and reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meaning that although the supreme ruler of China has changed, the diplomatic line he carried out will never be changed. At most, it would be a minor repair.

Less than half a year after the special report, the situation had changed so drastically before it could be completed. He knew that his reputation and analysis should be the laughing stock in the London diplomatic circle. Sir Grey always supported himself, and the current telegram sent such a message shows the pressure he was under.

What went wrong?

Didn’t this old empire always claim to be slow, low-efficiency, and long-term disputes? How could it be better than many European countries in response to this matter? If we compare the past of the government, there is a world of difference. Juerdian frowned and had already taken off two cigars, but he had not found a satisfactory answer.

There was a kind of thought in his mind, and he felt as if he had grasped it. He seemed that he hadn't recognized what it was at all. Although the feeling of wandering between illusion and reality was intoxicating, it could not make people feel at ease.

After the 12-nation ministers joined forces, he vaguely made a judgment that the rule and ruling ability of this old empire were changing quietly. Although it was not significant, it contained amazing power and unexpected mutations. He originally planned to look far away for a while before making a judgment, but unexpected events suddenly exceeded his expectations.

He regretted it a little - he should have been vigilant and strictly guarded against it after China-US relations were promoted to ambassador, but out of the arrogance of the old empire and the condescending nature of the Chinese issue, he lost his keenness and impeccableness. Zhu Erdian, who was accustomed to using secret diplomacy, was hit hard by two delegations sent by Lin Guangyu with secret diplomacy. It is a kind of irony.

He also thought of the situation after the incident with a little frustrated - it was not that he had not gone to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest, but Ministers of the Ministry of Administration Yikuang and Na Tong replied to him with a gloomy face. Like him, they also learned the news from the announcement and the newspaper.

China and Germany played the diplomacy of the higher diplomacy? This imperialist flag bearer who was always at the forefront of China. He always showed his old qualifications. He suddenly found sadly that there was almost no effective channel to find out the news. Yuan Shikai passed away in an unknown way. The rich pro-English atmosphere in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had become much dimmed. Liang Dunyan was pro-American. Zhu Erdian knew that he wanted to continue working on Yikuang and Natong. Looking back, he was so wrong.

In fact, he has not been sleeping lying down for the past six months. All his attention has been focused on Yuan Shikai's abnormal death and the intrigue between the top leaders of the Chinese government. He has fallen too deeply into a country's internal affairs, which in turn has affected his interpretation and foresight of the direction of diplomacy - this is really deadly!

How to deal with and remedy?

"Dongdongdongdong" three consecutive knocks pulled him back from the edge of contemplation.

"Please come in."

"Your Excellency..." Christopher, the third secretary of the embassy, ​​pushed the door and said respectfully, "Duke of Japan"

Mr. Yuan just called and hoped to visit you."

Zhu Erdian was wondering why the other party didn’t call him directly, but then he felt relieved when he thought about it. Today he told me to think calmly and not to answer the phone. I guess he would call the phone down there every day, no wonder this is the case.

"When exactly?"

"If it's convenient, he proposes to be two o'clock in the afternoon." Ristor added in a low voice, "I have checked it, and you have not arranged any activities during that time."

—

"I understand, just arrange it."

"Yes, then I'll go and answer him right away."

Yijiyuan was coming, what was his intention? What was his purpose? Zhu Erdian fell into deep thought again. The only thing that was certain was that the other party was definitely not here to have tea for him.

Although both sides concluded that they were not here to drink tea, the topic started from tea. Ijiyuan boasted about Japanese tea ceremony culture, and Juerdian was addicted to British tea tasting methods. Neither side could convince anyone. After a speechless embarrassment, the two laughed tacitly.

"China has made great efforts recently, I wonder what your judgment is?"

"There are many judgments and many ideas. I wonder which aspect you are referring to?" Zhu Erdian shrugged and took a sip of black tea mixed with milk and said, "If you talk about Sino-US Hejianjin>: I do have a lot of ideas."

Old fox! Yi Jiyuan cursed in his heart, but his face was smiling: "I am very happy to listen to your great opinions on this issue."

"Obviously, this is a show of goodwill by the Chinese government to the actions of the United States... But if we only keep our thinking at this level, I think it is too shallow. The Chinese people's minds may not be able to escape the 'using barbarians' they have always advocated. I hope that other countries can be introduced to fight in the Manchuria region..."

"Yes, the same is true for the country. China completely ignores the special interests of the Great Japanese Empire in the Manchuria region, which is a challenge and destruction of the existing order in the region." An angry expression, "We are looking forward to your government supporting our country on this key position."

"I'm afraid it's difficult. Although Britain and Japan have allied, their friendly relations do not exist to fight against the United States. In fact, from an economic perspective, your country cannot withstand the capital pressure of this railway in a short period of time." Juerdian said the truth. After the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese government's finances were almost bankrupt and relied on borrowing to survive Japan. It did not have the conditions for large-scale capital exports. "And although the despised government expressed sympathy for Japan, this railway could not intervene - otherwise it would be given a handle. Since Great Britain can intervene, why can't America do it?"

"Since that's the case, let's talk about the three agreements that China recently signed with Germany..." Jiyuan knew that Britain was not willing to make a strong move for Japan on the Northeast issue, so he had to pretend to be deaf and kick the ball back.

"Any cooperation between China and Germany, as long as it is not targeted at a third country, on the surface, we do not have sufficient reasons to refute. But the only thing that makes me worried is whether Germany will use this to control China and then dominate China's internal and diplomacy. Although the "Shuanghuang Bond" claims to only use the credit and annuity of the Chinese emperor as guarantee and does not use any bulk taxes as collateral for China. But I still think this is a conspiracy and trap set by Germany. You and I know that China's finance itself has problems of insufficient income, and I doubt China's debt repayment ability..."

"You mean that Germany's motivation for borrowing money to China is not simply, but hopes that once China's credit collapses, they will seize their targets?"

"It is true in logic and reasoning, otherwise it would be difficult for me to explain why William II was willing to endorse such terms - no good but risky thing is something that no smart person would have to do with it."

"But even now that the Chinese people don't listen, they are fascinated by the little profit of returning the Boxer Constitution every year. They don't understand at all that the Germans only paid a few coins, but in the end they can reap the principle of gold coins from such large-scale loans..." Indignant, "The Chinese emperor's perception of politics is as naive as he was 10 years ago 10 years ago

"The key now is not how to comment, but to come up with effective solutions." Zhu Erdian raised his head and looked at the other party dissatisfiedly - what's the use of these unnutritional ones?
Chapter completed!