Not long after the departure of the Tsarist Russians, Tan Sitong, a close confidant of Emperor Guangxu, came to Zhou Ding's warship and said to the people guarding the passage: "Please report to the master of the ship, Tan Sitong has come to pay a visit!" ”

Zhou Ding was thinking about the problem of 'chicken ribs', and when he heard the return of his subordinates, he was both surprised and delighted!

Tan Sitong is one of the "Six Gentlemen of Wuxu" and was born in Beiping. At the time of his birth, his father was the governor of Hubei.

When he was six years old, Tan Sitong faked his death for three days, and then miraculously resurrected, hence his name; Back.

Zhou Ding hurriedly ran off the boat and said enthusiastically: "I have heard the name of resurrection for a long time, like thunder, and when I see it today, it can be said that I am fortunate to have three lives!" ”

Everyone knows that 'thunder fills the ears, three lives are lucky' is a commonly used polite saying, however, this polite sentence came out of Zhou Ding's mouth, which seemed very sincere!

Zhou Ding said in his heart: Can it not be sincere? Tan Sitong's three words are really 'thunderous' to me, and I really want to see him!

Tan Sitong didn't expect that this 'former Song Dynasty relic' would hear his name, and he was very happy, and he hugged his fists and saluted: "Mr. Zhou's name is like thunder, and the person who is fortunate enough to live three lives should be me!" ”

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Zhou Ding pulled Tan Sitong to the boat, took out the wine and food in reality, and entertained him warmly.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, the two have been brothers, Tan Sitong and Zhou Ding's prestige have reached a friendship from neutrality.

"I don't know what the virtuous brother thinks of the form of the dynasty?" Tan Sitong asked tentatively.

Zhou Ding knew that the 'reform and reform' was imminent, and although he had no intention of helping Guangxu, he was willing to make friends with Tan Sitong and this person.

Smiling slightly, Zhou Ding replied: "The existing system of the Qing Dynasty has long been unable to keep up with the pace of the world's progress, if it continues and does not change, sooner or later it will become a colony of the world powers, and at that time, it will be too late to regret it!" ”

As soon as these words came out, Tan Sitong was very satisfied: "Brother Virtuous, I don't know if you are willing to contribute to the strength of the country?" ”

Zhou Ding smiled casually: "Brother Fusheng, but there is an invitation, Zhou Ding will do his best to help!" ”

Tan Sitong was very satisfied with Zhou Ding's attitude and asked: "I heard that the virtuous brother won the city of Arthur in Tsarist Russia, I don't know if this matter is true or false?" ”

"It's true!"

"Brother Xian, Brother Fool has a reluctant request."

"Brother Fusheng, but it's okay to talk about it!"

Zhou Ding's attitude, Tan Sitong was a little difficult to speak, but in order to change the law, he could only put his mind sideways and said: "Is it okay for the virtuous brother to be...... Can ......"

Zhou Ding listened to what he said, and said for him: "Return Lushun to the imperial court?" ”

Tan Sitong nodded with a blushing face, feeling guilty in his heart; Tan Sitong, Tan Sitong, people respect you as a brother, you actually seek to steal other people's things, what face do you still have to sit here......

"It's not impossible!" Zhou Ding continued.

Tan Sitong looked at Zhou Ding with a surprised face, but he didn't expect him to really agree.

Before Tan Sitong arrived, Zhou Ding was struggling with Lushun's problem:

When he just won this territory, Zhou Ding was very happy!

After planning for a long time, Zhou Ding found that Lushun was very important to Tsarist Russia, and it did not have much benefit for himself.

Don't say that Tsarist Russia will not let go so lightly, even if Zhou Ding grabs it, he will be constantly retaliated against by Tsarist Russia, and he will be annoyed.

What's even worse is that not long after, the Eight-Nation Alliance attacked the Qing Dynasty, and Lushun was the main sea route.

At that time, there are many countries that have friendships with Zhou Ding and will definitely borrow from Lushun, even if you tear your face and don't lend it to them, people can still bypass you.

To care or not to care when the time comes?

In spite of?

The people in China are likely to regard Zhou Ding as a real coalition party, which is not good for Zhou Ding's reputation!

Tube?

Don't forget the Empress Dowager Cixi's proposition: 'Rather be friends than domestic slaves'.

If she knew that 'the Zhou family was at war with the countries of the world', not only would she not buy Zhou Ding's good, but she might fall into the well and stab her in the back.

Typically thankless.

However, you can't just let it go!

If you didn't win this territory at the beginning, it would be enough, after you won it, if you return it to Tsarist Russia, Zhou Ding, a big hero, will immediately become a traitor who 'resists the wind and stinks for ten miles'.

The difference is that if this hot potato is returned to the Qing Dynasty, not only will the reputation be harmless, but after the Chinese people know about it, they will definitely add a prestige to Zhou Ding.

Of course, it can't be a cheap court for nothing, Zhou Ding said slowly: "There is a small condition!" ”

Tan Sitong said: "Brother Xian, please speak!" ”

"Honestly! A few years ago, the people of my Zhou family heard that the imperial court ceded Taiwan to Japan, and they were all angry!

The small island country of Japan not only dares to call itself the emperor, but also dares to offend our China, which is simply unbearable!

Therefore, as one of the candidates for the head of the house, I was given an assignment ......"

Speaking of this, Zhou Ding quietly glanced at Tan Si.

The reason why Tan Sitong risked his life to advocate changing the law is rooted in the Japanese.

In the Sino-Japanese First Sino-Japanese War, China was defeated and the Beiyang Naval Division was annihilated. The Qing Dynasty was forced by Japan's military pressure, humiliated and sued for peace, signed the "Treaty of Shimonoseki", ceded Taiwan, and compensated 200 trillion taels of silver for military expenses.

Tan Sitong was deeply concerned about this, and later wrote the book "Renxue", which is called "a book written by Taiwanese".

Zhou Ding's hatred of Japan aroused Tan Sitong's hatred of the same enemy.

Tan Sitong asked; "Brother Xian said this, Brother Fool deeply sympathizes, I don't know what is Brother Xian'......s task?"

Zhou Ding stood up, pointed his finger through the window of the boat, and said: "Conquer Taiwan, instead of letting the people of Taiwan live under the enslavement of the Japanese, it is better to let my Zhou family be the master of Taiwan Island!" ”

Tan Sitong hurriedly said: "Brother Xian, isn't your condition to let the imperial court help you subdue Taiwan?" That's impossible! If the imperial court can defeat Japan, it will be your turn to ......"

Zhou Ding waved his hand to interrupt Tan Sitong and said, "Naturally not, although my Zhou family has developed science and technology, the population is not much.

The reason why he went to great lengths to seize Lushun from the Tsarist Russians was precisely to use it as a base to recruit soldiers and wait for an opportunity to deal with Japan.

The imperial court can take Lushun away, my conditions are; Appoint me as the prefect of a place, preferably the prefect of Qiongzhou (Hainan Island), for a period of three years, I borrowed Qiongzhou to train soldiers and horses, and after three years, the troops will be sent to Taiwan! ”

After listening to Zhou Ding, Tan Sitong fell into deep thought.

Zhou Ding's conditions are undoubtedly favorable for the imperial court!

The matter of changing the law is imminent, if it is the beginning of the change, it will be announced to the world in a high-profile manner; The imperial court took back Lushun and abolished the "Luda Land Lease Agreement", which was a shot in the arm for the whole of China.

Zhou Ding was not from the Qing Dynasty, and it was impossible for him to give Lushun to the imperial court for nothing.

If it is a reciprocal exchange, even if Qiongzhou is exchanged for Lushun, the imperial court will not suffer, not to mention, Zhou Ding only asks for a Qiongzhou prefect, and it is only for three years.

In this way, not only the dignity of the imperial court is preserved, but also the icing on the cake!

After thinking about it again and again, Tan Sitong nodded and said: "Brother Fool's intentions, Brother Fool already knows, but Brother Fool is only an alternate prefect now, and he can't make such a big decision, and this matter needs to be reported to the emperor!" ”

"That's nature! After the resurrected brother returns to the court, it is enough to report the matter, whether it is successful or not, and it depends on the will of God! "What Zhou Ding means is that it doesn't matter if it succeeds or not, leave it to luck!

In Tan Sitong's understanding, the sentence 'and look at the will of heaven' is to look at the meaning of the emperor. Xindao: Zhou Ding still respects the emperor a lot, this person should be able to make friends!

The two drank a cup of wine, and Tan Sitong asked: "Brother Xian, the ugly words for my brother are ahead, and Brother Xian must let Tsarist Russia withdraw from Lushun, otherwise it will ......."

"Brother Fusheng, don't worry, you stay in Lushun for three days, and by the way, take a look at my Zhou family's methods!"