After listening to Qin Zheng's speech, although Zhang Peilun felt that this history was incredible, he also believed seven or eight points, in fact, Zhang Peilun and Li Hongzhang also discussed the origin of this group of overseas Chinese, and they did not suspect that the traveler was from overseas, after all, except for overseas places, they had nowhere else to come, so it would not appear out of thin air. They are just suspicious of the motives of this group of overseas Chinese who came to the Qing Dynasty, what is the heart of China and returning to their homeland, this kind of talk is okay to coax ordinary people, but it is impossible to get past Li Hongzhang and Zhang Peilun.

However, although the history of overseas Chinese mentioned by Qin Zheng is a little too bizarre, it makes it very clear why overseas Chinese came to the Qing Dynasty, and in Zhang Peilun's view, this is a reasonable reason.

In addition, the sinking of the island caused by a volcanic eruption is not a fantasy for those who have gone through decades of Westernization, and judging from the composition of overseas Chinese, the proportion of the military is too large, and the number of women among the civilian population is too small, which is also in line with the theory of natural disasters.

Therefore, Zhang Peilun did not doubt Qin Zheng's statement, and at the same time secretly rejoiced in his heart, but inquired about the ins and outs of the overseas Chinese, so this trip to Tianjin was not in vain, in addition, this group of overseas Chinese is just a group of orphans, the original overseas Chinese country no longer exists, and Zhang Peilun is also relieved a lot, just like five or six thousand people, more than ten ships, it should not be a substantial threat to Dachun, on the contrary, if Daqing really appeases this group of overseas Chinese, it can indeed become a big help to Daqing.

Thinking of this, Zhang Peilun's expression also softened, and said: "Political Commissar Qin, I am deeply sympathetic to your country's suffering, although the ancestors of your country are enemies of the Qing Dynasty, but they are also loyal and righteous people, I have always admired loyal people, after recovering Taiwan, still in Taiwan to worship the god of the country surnamed Ye, that I feel the loyalty of the country surnamed Ye, not to mention that I have been founding the Qing Dynasty for more than 250 years, and the previous things will never be investigated. The brave generals, and the great achievements of themselves, will be honored in the future, and it is only a matter of time. ”

Qin Zheng said: "We don't ask for a bow when we arrive, we just want to have a foothold in our homeland, and it is enough for us to live and work in peace and contentment." Moreover, although the Eight-Nation Alliance was defeated, Beijing was still in their hands, and the Queen Mother and the Emperor were still hunting in the West, so it was still a top priority to focus on the overall situation and make the countries withdraw first, so that the Queen Mother and the Emperor could return to Beijing. ”

When Zhang Peilun heard this, he also nodded again and again, and said: "What the political commissar Qin said is true, it is not a secret, this is also what Li Zhongtang meant, now we should focus on the overall situation and strike the army twice as soon as possible, so that the queen mother and the emperor can return to Beijing to stabilize the overall situation." ”

Qin Zheng said: "Then I don't know what Li Zhongtang thinks, what should be done now?"

Zhang Peilun said: "Li Zhongtang hopes that your people can make peace with other countries as soon as possible. ”

Qin Zheng said: "Peace?"

Zhang Peilun said: "Yes, although the nobles have won the Eight-Nation Alliance, and recovered Tianjin, and defeated the German fleet, but after all, the Eight Nations are strong, and although the nobles are strong, but after all, they are alone, helpless and helpless, and if they continue to fight, they are afraid that the overall situation will be unfavorable. ”

After finishing speaking, Zhang Peilun glanced at Qin Zheng, and was a little nervous in his heart, not knowing what Qin Zheng's attitude was.

Qin Zheng said: "It is naturally a good thing to be able to deploy troops at the two sides and negotiate peace, but when we met with the consuls of various countries in Tianjin a few days ago, we said that peace is not a matter for one side, and it requires the joint efforts of both sides, but I wonder if the countries are willing to negotiate peace."

When Zhang Peilun heard this, he couldn't help but feel happy in his heart, and hurriedly said: "All countries are naturally willing to make peace, before coming down to Tianjin, I met with the British consul in Shanghai, Huo Biqi, who personally told me that all countries also hope to end the current war peacefully, and convey to you that they are also willing to negotiate with you." ”

Qin Zheng said: "So Mr. Youqiao's visit to Tianjin this time is not only to represent Li Zhongtang, but also to represent the attitudes of various countries?"

Zhang Peilun hurriedly waved his hand and said: "When I came down to Tianjin, I was just entrusted by Li Zhongtang to convey Li Zhongtang's suggestions to you, which has nothing to do with the countries, but just to bring words for the countries by the way. ”

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "I don't know under what conditions the countries want to negotiate. ”

Zhang Peilun shook his head and said, "I don't know about this, but the British consul Huo Bilan wants to know under what conditions you will negotiate with other countries?"

Qin Zheng thought for a while before he said: "This matter is not something I can decide alone, so let's do it, tomorrow we will officially meet Mr. Youqiao, and we will definitely give Mr. Youqiao an answer at that time." ”

Zhang Peilun naturally knew that Qin Zheng naturally couldn't express his stance at the dinner table on such a major matter, so he didn't ask any further, and then the two talked about some other things, Zhang Peilun asked about overseas Chinese, and Qin Zheng asked about some historical clouds, or things about the Westernization Movement, to help him further understand the situation of this era.

This time, both sides took what they needed and left happily. After the banquet ended, Zhang Peilun immediately rushed to the telegraph office regardless of the rest, sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang, and informed him of his harvest for the day.

And Li Hongzhang has been waiting for Zhang Peilun's news in Shanghai, and after receiving Zhang Peilun's telegram, his heart has settled down a lot, but he doesn't know what kind of conditions the overseas Chinese will put forward tomorrow, so he still can't be completely relieved, but he can only wait until tomorrow to know the result, so he replied to Zhang Peilun, after receiving the reply from the overseas Chinese tomorrow, don't express his position lightly, but immediately send it back to Shanghai to Li Hongzhang for a look.

Just when Zhang Peilun and Li Hongzhang were communicating with telegraph, Qin Zheng also rushed back to Gordon Hall, although it was already more than eight o'clock in the evening, but the other four members of the provisional executive committee, Xia Bohai, Xiao Jianjun, Wang Yunpeng, and Xu Jichao, had not rested, but were waiting for Qin Zheng's return.

After listening to Qin Zheng's account of receiving Zhang Peilun, Xiao Jianjun first said: "The foreigners don't talk about their conditions, but ask our conditions first, what does this mean?"

Wang Yunpeng said with a smile: "This is to touch our hole cards, and then decide not to negotiate with us, although they entrusted Zhang Peilun to us to negotiate first, but Zhang Peilun did not have a formal authorization, and there is no written document, once our conditions are too high, they can refuse to negotiate with us." ”

Xiao Jianjun said: "Isn't that just right? Anyway, we don't plan to negotiate with the foreign ghosts now, and we will attack Shandong next, so it can't be better." ”

Xia Bohai said: "Things are not so simple, as soon as our asking price is too high, then the foreigners can blame us for the fault of refusing peace, on the one hand, the hardliners within the Eight-Nation Alliance can take the opportunity to make trouble and force the main peace faction to abandon the negotiations, increase the number of troops to China, and expand the scale of the war; on the other hand, they can also make the officials of the Qing court who participated in the southeast mutual insurance blame us for sabotaging the negotiations, thus dividing the relationship between us and the Chun court." ”

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "What Lao Xia said makes sense, so if we want to put forward conditions, we must consider it carefully."

Xiao Jianjun said: "How can you be cautious? I think it's okay not to mention the conditions at all, and let the foreigners put forward the conditions first." ”

Xia Bohai shook his head and said, "No, we should put forward our conditions first, and they should be fully announced. ”

Xiao Jianjun was stunned and said, "Why is this?"

Xia Bohai said: "First of all, the internal of the Eight-Nation Alliance is not monolithic, some countries are the main war, some countries are peacemaker, and some countries are wavering, so as long as the negotiation conditions we put forward can be accepted by the main peace countries, there can be a split within the Eight-Nation Alliance, on the other hand, we must also let the officials of the Qing court accept our conditions, so that we can occupy a high point in domestic public opinion, then our next attack on Shandong, we can put the responsibility for the war on the Eight-Nation Alliance, and we can't blame us." ”

Wang Yunpeng said: "However, I see that the officials of the Qing court also have different attitudes, some people are relatively weak, such as Li Hongzhang, he may accept more concessions to foreigners and end the war as soon as possible, but there are also people who have to be a little tougher, and they can't suffer too much loss, I'm afraid it will be difficult to reunify." ”

Xia Bohai said: "This is not a big problem, the officials of the Qing court are easy to deal with, as long as our conditions occupy a big name, even if they oppose it in their hearts, they dare not say it." Now Guan Jian is whether we are ready to attack Shandong, after all, there will not be too much time left for us, and this time the battle cannot be delayed for too long, we must fight quickly, and after the countries react, we have captured Weihai and Qingdao, and have gained a firm foothold in Shandong, and all countries can only accept this fact. ”

Xiao Jianjun said: "Don't worry, the preparations are almost over, as long as it takes about two weeks, we can launch a battle to attack Shandong, and according to the reconnaissance during this time, the troops and defenses of Weihai and Qingdao are not strong, so according to my estimate, within one to two weeks, the battle can be ended." If it goes well, a week will be enough. The battle plan of the club will be completed in two or three days. ”

At present, Xiao Jianjun is mainly responsible for formulating a plan for the battle in Shandong, and some time ago, he personally took a boat to the waters of Weihai and Qingdao to reconnoiter the hydrological and coastal defense situation, so he got his assurance, and everyone also had a little bottom in their hearts.