Of course, the top brass of the Russian army will not believe in any so-called monster theory, and even if there is, it is impossible to block the bullets and cannons, believing that this should be an illusion generated by soldiers in extreme panic. However, the brave and belligerent warriors were frightened by the enemy, which also reflected the strength of the KPA in another way.

The Russian military did not report the details of the first battle of Shanhaiguan and the results of the battle to China, only saying that it was blocked by the People's Army and retreated to Jinzhou. However, the military did not dare to underestimate the combat effectiveness of the People's Army, because the East China government and Japan had joined forces, and there was also a British support behind it. Therefore, he suggested to the country that every effort should be made to break up the cooperation between the East China government and Japan by diplomatic means.

After all, Russia is one of the top players in the game of international powers, and soon found a loophole in the [East China Government-Japan Government Mutual Defense Cooperation Treaty], that is, the two sides did not have an agreement to jointly declare war, so this is not an alliance treaty, which also shows that the East China Government and Japan are not monolithic, there are many differences between each other, and even a conflict of interest, so it seems that it is quite feasible to divide the two sides. Although Russia gives people the impression of being rough and aggressive, in fact, it is not blindly reckless and belligerent, and it should be used by diplomatic means. Therefore, the Russian government immediately entrusted France to convey to the East China government its intention to hold a dialogue and set up a consulate in Qingdao.

According to the thinking of the Russian government, it is of course very good to be able to break up the cooperation between the East China Government and Japan through dialogue and exchanges, and even if this goal cannot be achieved, the establishment of a consulate in Qingdao can also establish a channel for contact and dialogue with the East China Government, and to keep abreast of the policy developments of the East China Government in a timely manner.

After receiving the notification from the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Executive Yuan unanimously agreed that Russia could set up a consulate in Qingdao, because contact and dialogue are two-way, and the East China government also needs a channel of communication with the Russian government. However, with regard to the dialogue between the two sides, the East China government insisted that Russia implement the [Treaty on the Settlement of the Three Eastern Provinces] and not engage in other negotiations. The East China government immediately conveyed its opinion to the French consul, who conveyed it to the Russian side, and at the same time, in accordance with the principle of the treaty of cooperation, informed Japan, and the Japanese government quickly expressed its understanding, after all, the establishment of a consulate was a normal diplomatic activity.

The reply from France was swift, and only a day later, the French Consulate informed the Foreign Affairs Committee that Russia had sent a representative to Qingdao in the hope of immediately negotiating with the East China government. As a matter of fact, the Russian representatives had been living in the French consulate in Qingdao all along, so as soon as they saw that the East China government had agreed to the establishment of a Russian consulate, they immediately put forward a request for negotiations.

Of course, this representative is not the original consul of Tianjin, but a new person, named Nemanja Oleg Antonov, now 45 years old, who studied in Britain when he was young, and later served as a diplomat in Britain, Belgium, Spain and other countries, has rich diplomatic experience, and has a considerable vision, belongs to the emerging bourgeois faction of Finance Minister Sergei Witt in Russia, advocates social reform, implements constitutional government, etc., and previously served as a counselor in the Far East Governor's Office, and has a certain understanding of the situation in Asia and China.

Since the Russians came, the East China government did not delay and immediately began negotiations. In fact, there is nothing to talk about between the two sides, after all, there are international conventions to be found in diplomatic relations, and Russia does not have any special requirements, until the East China Government proposed to Russia that when the time is right, it will set up an office in Russia, and request the establishment of a commercial hall in Lushun, allowing East China government personnel to do business in Lushun, and opening a route from Qingdao to Lushun.

Both of these requirements are reasonable, and the opening of an office in Russia is a diplomatic reciprocal relationship and a condition that every country that has a consulate in Qingdao must accept. Of course, since the East China Government has not been established for a long time and there is a lack of sufficient diplomatic personnel, it has only set up an office in Germany to take care of the affairs of all European countries, and now the East China Government is preparing for the establishment of an office in the United States. But this condition will be determined first.

Doing business in Lushun and opening up Lushun's air routes is also a very normal requirement, and this can also develop the economy of the Lushun area and increase tax revenue. Although Russia is now a politically extremely authoritarian country, and by this time Russia did not have its own constitution and parliament, after Alexander II carried out the reform of serfdom, Russia began to really embark on the capitalist road, and a part of the bourgeoisie arose, and commercial interests were very important. Therefore, Antonov agreed to these demands.

The negotiations ended in just one day, and Antonov had even chosen the address of the consulate, which was opposite the French consulate, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters, and of course it would take time to build the consulate, and before that, he would rent another house for official business.

Antonov expressed his concern about the signing of the [East China Government-Japan Government Mutual Defense Cooperation Treaty] and hoped to hold talks with the East China Government on the peaceful settlement of the issue of the three northeastern provinces; this request was sternly rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Li Sanjie directly said that the reason for the signing of the [East China Government-Japan Government Mutual Defense Cooperation Treaty] was Russia's invasion and occupation of China's northeast region without reason, as long as Russia respects [ The withdrawal of troops from Northeast China can ease the tension in the region, and the East China government will not enter into any negotiations with Russia until Russia fulfills the [Treaty on the Delivery of the Three Eastern Provinces].

Seeing that the East China government did not accept the soft and hard, Antonov had nothing to do, but he finally designed the consulate in Qingdao, which can be regarded as completing a task. The Japanese government, on the other hand, expressed its gratitude to the East China government.

The next day, a report came from the Beijing office that the Qing court would send Yuan Shikai and Li Jingfang to Qingdao to discuss the affairs of the three eastern provinces.

It turned out that Russia's diplomatic breakthrough was not only from the direction of the East China government, but also from the Qing court. After all, legally speaking, the Qing court was the owner of the three eastern provinces, and if the Qing court had no opinion on Russia's occupation of the three eastern provinces, or if it had reached a separate treaty with Russia on the sovereignty of the three eastern provinces, or even ceded the three eastern provinces to Russia, then neither Japan nor the East China government would have any reason to accuse Russia. Moreover, in the eyes of Russia, it was much easier to negotiate with the Qing court, and it could be done by force and intimidation and money to buy it.

Of course, Russia also knows that even if the Qing court is settled, it may not be able to avoid war, and neither Japan nor the East China government is the kind of country that can be restrained by legal principles, but after all, this can allow Russia to occupy the initiative in public opinion and morality.

Therefore, the Russian minister to the Qing court, Ressar, immediately came to the prime minister's yamen and proposed to Li Hongzhang that the previously signed [Treaty on the Delivery of the Three Eastern Provinces] was unfair to Russia, and demanded that the Qing court renegotiate with the Qing court on the issue of the three eastern provinces, or that the Qing court allow Russia to station troops in the three eastern provinces and exclusively enjoy the power to operate mines, build railways, and open banks, and that Russia could implement the [Treaty on the Delivery of the Three Eastern Provinces].

At the same time, Resal also issued a threat of force: if the Qing court rejected Russia's conditions, the consequences would be very serious, and Russia would not only not withdraw its troops from the three eastern provinces, but would also wave its troops south and enter the Guannai; and Resal hinted to Li Hongzhang that if Li Hongzhang could push for a renegotiation or agree to Russia's terms, Russia would repay Li Hongzhang heavily.

At this time, Li Hongzhang, of course, did not dare to accept money from Russia, and immediately notified the envoys of Britain, Japan, the United States, and Germany, asking them to coordinate with them. The British minister Ernest Mason Satow and the Japanese minister Yasuya Uchida both expressed their support for Li Hongzhang, demanding that the court reject Russia's demands and insist that Russia must unconditionally implement the [Treaty of Delivery of the Three Eastern Provinces].

After having this foundation, Li Hongzhang's heart was also much more steady, so he made a report like other ministers of military aircraft.

In fact, after returning to Beijing, the Qing court was not idle, except for ignoring what the travelers did in Shandong, the Qing court's own new policy reform has been steadily implemented. First of all, Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Liu Kunyi were led by three old ministers, who played the "Three Folds of the Law" to the Qing court, and put forward a complete set of reform plans, which was actually equivalent to the roadmap for the reform of the New Deal. The main contents include three parts: cultivating talents and revitalizing learning, rectifying Chinese and French, and absorbing Western law.

The main purpose of cultivating talents and revitalizing education is to reform the imperial examination system and the education system, to establish a modern school education system in imitation of Western countries, and to give graduates corresponding fame, such as high school graduates to be promoted to be scholars, and university graduates to be jinshi, and so on, instead of selecting talents in the imperial examinations; in terms of teaching content, a large amount of Western studies should be adopted, and at the same time, it is also necessary to reward study abroad, especially self-funded study abroad, and for those who have real talent and real learning, they should be given the same background as those who have studied abroad.

The rectification of the Chinese law refers to the internal affairs reform of the Qing court, such as the establishment of a police system to replace the errand service, the reform of the judiciary, the improvement of prison administration, the abolition of redundant departments, and the permission of banner men to earn their own livelihood.

The assimilation of Western law is actually about military and economic reform, which requires the complete adoption of Western-style methods for military training, the establishment of military academies and military management, the improvement of agriculture, the development of modern industry, and the formulation of economic laws and regulations to protect industry and commerce.

In all fairness, the content of the "Three Fold of the Reform Law" is a reform plan based on the actual situation of the current Qing court, which is very feasible and far more reliable than the Wuxu Reform Law.

However, in October 1902, Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangjiang, died of illness, leaving the Qing court without an important minister who was highly respected and supported reform. And only a month later, Li Hongzhang also fell ill, this month was more than 3 months, and it didn't get better until after the New Year, but Li Hongzhang's illness was just right, and Rong Lu fell ill again, and he was even more sick than Li Hongzhang.

Rong Lu is the most trusted minister of the Empress Dowager Cixi, his illness made the Empress Dowager Cixi very uneasy, and at the same time found that the age of the current military aircraft team is too big, seven military ministers, 5 people over 60 years old, 2 people over 70 years old, and in 1903, Li Hongzhang was already an old man who had reached the age of 80. It looks like it's time to onboard some new people.