Li Sanjie said: "Germany is willing to mediate, of course we welcome it, but Your Excellency the Prince, I think now is not the best time for mediation, our conditions have not changed, Japan and Russia must make reparations in order to restore peace, and this condition, I think Britain and France will not accept, at least at present, so Your Excellency the Prince thinks, mediation will be useful now?"

Heinrich listened to it and smiled bitterly, in fact, he also knew that now was not the best time for mediation at all, but this was a request made by his imperial brother Kaiser Wilhelm II, so he could only grit his teeth and propose it to the East China government.

It turned out that the report written by Ludendorff was transmitted back to Germany through Qingdao, which attracted great attention from the German General Staff Headquarters. Power aircraft technology and armored train technology have also been supported by the vast majority of people in the General Staff Headquarters, because before that, the East China government and the German military had several technical cooperation, such as providing the German Army with 75 mm rapid-fire gun technology (in fact, French technology), mortar technology, and the German Navy to cooperate in the development of steam turbines, integrated fire control systems, and help Germany to design warships, all of which were successful。

This time, Ludendorff really saw the new weapons or technologies of the People's Army, among which radio technology is being developed in Germany, and the German General Staff Headquarters can also imagine the application of these two technologies in military warfare, so the General Staff Headquarters also reported to Wilhelm II and suggested that these technologies be purchased from the East China government.

However, the thinking of military personnel is always direct and simple, and the consideration of politicians is much more detailed, and Prime Minister Bilow believes that military technology is high-tech in that country, and it cannot be bought with money. Previously, Germany obtained some military technology from the East China government, but that was because the East China government had just been established, and the channels were limited, and Germany needed mature technology and equipment, so it had to come up with some military technology for exchange, and now the East China government has not yet completed the initial industrial layout, but it can obtain machinery and equipment through economic and trade channels, and then carry out reverse research and development, and there is no need to exchange military technology at all. The only way for Germany to obtain these military technologies was to immediately form an alliance with the East China government and help the East China government deal with the British and French expeditionary forces, in exchange for these military technologies.

In fact, before the Portsmouth talks, there was a high demand for an alliance with the East China government in Germany, but after Britain and France announced that they would organize an expeditionary force to participate in the war, this call immediately stopped dumbly, because everyone knew that an alliance with the East China government at this time would be tantamount to being enemies with Britain and France, and would immediately enter a state of war, so this was obviously not in line with Germany's interests, and even if it could obtain these military technologies, it would not be worth the loss.

The most ideal way for Germany is to wait for the end of the war, and then negotiate with the East China government to form an alliance, but in this way to obtain these military technology, it is not easy, it depends on the outcome of the war and the changes in the current situation, on the one hand, it depends on the East China government's demand for Germany, on the other hand, Germany can not only obtain these military technology, and get involved in the war or directly hostile to Britain and France, Bi Jing is now Germany and France and Britain Although they are not in harmony, but they have not completely and completely opposed, it is a relationship with Britain, there is still a lot of room for redemption。

However, Wilhelm II had a whim, believing that if Germany could mediate the contradictions between the East China government and Britain and France, it could obtain these military technologies by mediation. Wilhelm II was not optimistic about the East China government from the beginning, so in his opinion, Germany's mediation was a lifesaver for the East China government, and the East China government would definitely accept any conditions and be grateful to Germany.

And for the emperor's habitual whimsy, the prime minister could only smile bitterly. Although Bilow's political skills were not as good as those of his predecessor Bismarck, he was also an experienced politician, and of course knew that mediation could not succeed now, and that the East China government would not compromise easily. But Bilo also knew that the emperor was not a person who could listen to advice, and that it was when he thought it was right, but even if the mediation failed, it would not have much substantive impact on the German state, so there was no obstruction. It's just to disgrace Prince Heinrich, but after all, the prince is the emperor's younger brother, and he should lose face for his brother once.

So Heinrich stood up and said, "Okay, the attitude of the East China government, I will truthfully convey it to His Majesty the Emperor." Disturbing Mr. Commissioner's business, I will take my leave. ”

Li Sanjie said: "Prince, don't be busy leaving, I still have something to negotiate with the prince." ”

Heinrich was also a little stunned, but he sat down again and said, "What is the matter, Mr. Commissioner?"

Li Sanjie said: "Originally, I wanted to negotiate this matter with the prince later, but since His Excellency the prince is here this time, then it is okay to talk about it first." ”

When Heinrich heard this, he couldn't help but be solemn and said, "I'll listen to you." ”

Li Sanjie said: "Actually, we really need Germany's mediation, but not now, but after the end of the war between us and the British and French expeditionary forces." ”

When Heinrich heard this, he also understood a little, and said: "After the end of the war, do we need our German mediation?"

Li Sanjie nodded and said: "If we lose this war, of course, we don't need to mention anything, but if we win this war, we hope that the German government will come forward to mediate at an appropriate time to urge Britain, France, Russia, Japan and the Netherlands and other countries participating in the war to accept our conditions and negotiate." ”

War is a continuation of politics, and a wise politician has thought about how to end the war at the beginning of the war, because unless it is aimed at destroying the country, any war has an end, how to maximize one's interests after victory, minimize losses when defeating, and when to end the war is one of the important factors.

Of course, the East China government has full confidence in victory, but after defeating the British and French expeditionary forces, the war can no longer be expanded, and the East China government should consider negotiating with the countries participating in the war to get the greatest benefits at the negotiating table.

Heinrich certainly understood the truth of this, and he also agreed that the end of the war was the best time for Germany to intervene in mediation, but what he didn't understand was that from Li Sanjie's attitude, he seemed to be full of confidence in the victory letter of this war, which of course also represents the attitude of the East China government, but the strength of the expeditionary force, from the strength of its navy, is not to be underestimated, where does the East China government come from?

Li Sanjie said again: "Of course, we will not let Germany do this favor in vain." I remember that after we occupied Tsingtao, we signed an entente with Germany, and one of the clauses was that in due course we would help Germany to obtain a port in the Far East. It's time for us to deliver on that promise. ”

Heinrich listened, and couldn't help but feel moved, the agreement signed by the two sides did have this article, but one did not agree on the time, and the other did not agree on the specific situation, it was just empty words, and Germany was unable to retake Qingdao at that time, it was originally signed by the alliance under the city, and this article was just a psychological comfort, so no one took this article seriously, if Li Sanjie didn't mention it, Heinrich wouldn't even think about it,

But if the East China government finally wins the battle against the expeditionary force, it can indeed help Germany to obtain 1 or 2 port cities in the Far East, because Germany intermediates, and the losing side will have to thank Germany for its mediation, and it is bound to express its gratitude to Germany, Russia's location in the Far East is remote, and it can be ignored, but Japan is an island country, and Britain, France, and the Netherlands have a large number of colonies in the Far East, so it is entirely possible to get a few cities from this country. Acquiring a port in Asia had always been a German dream, and if Heinrich had brought the news back home, Kaiser Wilhelm II would have forgotten the military technology he had wanted.

Of course, the East China government asked Germany to mediate and promised to help Germany obtain ports in the Far East, and it was also intended to draw Germany into the post-war negotiations and exert pressure on the other side in order to gain more benefits at the negotiating table.

However, the premise of all this is that the East China government wins the war with the expeditionary force, and it must be a comprehensive victory, and it must defeat the navy of the expeditionary force, and the German General Staff is not without military chess deduction on this war, and the conclusion is that the East China government is not without a chance to win, but it can only take advantage of the disadvantages of the expeditionary force to drag the expeditionary force to death with a long-term war of attrition, and it is simply impossible to defeat the expeditionary force and navy in a naval battle, but the war of attrition itself is a lose-lose situation, so in the post-war negotiations, each other has bargaining chips, or both want to end the war as soon as possible, so that Germany's role is not so great。 So the question goes back to the original starting point, can the East China government win this war?

Heinrich pondered for a moment before he said, "Mr. Commissioner, I am very interested in your proposal, but I would like to know how sure the East China government is of victory over the expeditionary force?"

Li Sanjie hesitated for a moment and said, "I can tell Your Excellency the Prince that we are completely sure that we will defeat the expeditionary force, but I will not give His Excellency the Prince any explanation. However, it doesn't matter if Your Excellency doesn't believe it or not, even if you don't believe it at all, we can understand it. In the end, we can prove our self-confidence with facts. ”

Heinrich smiled bitterly, because this was tantamount to not saying it, although he personally believed that Li Sanjie's attitude was by no means a bluff, but he couldn't say it to Wilhelm II, so he had to say: "Okay, your attitude, I will truthfully convey it to the country." ”