"Our country is building heavy cruisers, and Britain has begun to develop plans against our heavy cruisers...... "The Russian foreign minister and Chinese counterpart Li Xin shared some information, according to the Russians, Britain has accumulated experience through naval warfare, and they have made full use of these experienced warships to threaten the coastal countries of the European continent.

Although Li Xin listened seriously, he may not really believe it in his heart. Russia and Britain have always had major contradictions, and now that China has driven Russia out of the Pacific Ocean and carved up Central Asia with Russia, there are not many points of conflict between Britain and Russia. Britain only needs to focus on these conflict points, don't listen to what the Russian foreign minister said seems to be wronged, as long as Britain can target the heavy cruisers that suppress Russia, Russia will have no chance to do anything at sea. In terms of overall benefits, the British simply chose the most efficient way.

The foreign minister's task is to listen, in addition to speaking, and listening is even higher than speaking. Li Xin listened carefully, silently calculating in his heart. The Russian foreign minister first talked about the British in the western Pacific, and the topic suddenly turned to Central Asia. "Didn't your country face opposition from the British when it built a railway in Iran?"

Li Xin had a feeling that he could not understand this reversal of black and white, and the Russians tried to compete with the British for Persia, with Russia in the north and Britain in the south. China had built a railway to the Ottoman Empire in northern Iran, even though China had no intention of opening a new front on the Iranian side at this time, a move that had already affected Russian interests. Moreover, the last of China's stocks of old firearms were sold to the Iranian government, which the Iranians hoped to use against the Russian cavalry from the north to the south.

With the current balance of power between China and Russia, Li Xin did not have to pretend to understand, he replied bluntly: "We have not encountered actual opposition from the British. ”

"If the British object substantially, what will China do?" The Russian Foreign Minister asked.

"Go to war." Li Xin gave the standard answer, the means to solve the problem in this era is basically war.

The Russian Foreign Minister smiled sincerely, and said: "Then I am sure that your country will soon learn that the British want to interrupt your country's railway transport." ”

Li Xin resisted the impulse and held the words of inquiry back into his throat. The Russians, of course, wanted China to fight with Britain in Persia, but what China really wanted was to be able to build railways throughout Iran and thus control Iran economically. This, of course, would have been in conflict with the British, but simply the Northern Railway, which the Russians had more reason than the British to cut off.

Seeing that Li Xin ignored this, the Russian foreign minister changed direction again, "Britain is trying to propagate that your country is colluding with the peoples of the Iranian border and trying to support them to break away from Iranian control. Some of the top officials in the Iranian royal court also supported the views of the British. ”

Since the Russian foreign minister has said this, Li Xin said with a smile: "If Russia wants to attack India beyond Iran, our country will definitely not interfere in the slightest. However, our country's railways in Iran are an important channel for communication with the Ottoman railway network. Whoever sabotages this railway, we will not let it go. ”

China's bottom line is that Russia cannot sabotage the Central Asian Railway that China has worked so hard to build, and China has no demand for other parts for the time being. Iran should have oil, China already has Kuwait at this time, and there are prospecting rights in the Basra region, and Iranian oil is already dispensable for China. At least not in the near term.

"Isn't there any intention for China to intervene in Iran?" The Russian foreign minister replied with some surprise.

"Now it is Russia that lacks access to the Indian Ocean, which we in China do not lack at all. So we can fully understand the urgency of the Russian side. Based on the position, it is impossible for our country to support such actions by Russia. Again, on the basis of our position, there is no need for our country to prevent Russia from acting in this way. As I said earlier, China is a country that attaches great importance to peace. Li Xinyi said sternly. As long as Russia does not go to war with China in the near future, China does not care which great power Russia is going to compete with.

Listening to Li Xin's words, the Russian foreign minister said casually: "What if we want to attack the Ottoman Empire? ”

Li Xin didn't show the slightest expression of surprise because of these words, "Russia and the Ottoman Empire have already fought ten wars, and we won't be surprised if the eleventh war breaks out." For the time being, we have no intention of intervening in the war. ”

The Russian Foreign Minister hurriedly asked: "What about the future?" ”

"It is the present that determines the future, and China now wants to maintain a lasting peace. If nothing else, when the future becomes the present, we will think about it the same. Li Xin expounded China's diplomatic attitude in a philosopher's tone.

The Russian Foreign Minister was silent, not because Li Xin's words moved him, but because he felt an unspeakable threat from Li Xin's words. Russia is also a European power, and they do not lack the idea of solving internal problems kingly. In fact, the whole of Europe is aware of the problem, but the distance between it and what can be done is like that from the Earth to the Moon. There are three impressions that China has on Europe: the first is that it is particularly rich, the second is that the navy is particularly capable of fighting, and the third is that the Chinese government is particularly capable of execution. Countries around the world feel that the Chinese government can do whatever it wants. If it weren't for the Chinese Navy's crushing of the British Royal Navy, the rest of the world would have thought that China's government was bragging.

Li Xin continued at this time: "We want world peace, especially peace with Russia. As long as the war does not involve us, we will not be antagonistic to Russia. ”

"Can you give an example?" The Russian Foreign Minister asked.

"If you defeat the Ottoman Empire, we don't care. If you try to destroy the Ottomans, we will not accept it. And it is completely unacceptable. Li Xin gave a seemingly clear but very vague example. However, this example is also the norm in this era, and it is very difficult to unilaterally change the situation in a certain place without the unanimous consent of the great powers.

At this time, the Russian Foreign Minister had already determined China's attitude on the issue of China between Russia and Turkey. He brought the topic to the upcoming meeting of the great powers. Russia was also invited to the African Conference convened by the German Chancellor Marquis Bismarck, but the Russians themselves laughed at themselves that Prime Minister Bismarck did not want Russia to get African land as he hoped that Russia would help Germany get African land. The Russian foreign minister said to Li Xin with envy that China will certainly be able to gain a lot from this international conference.

Li Xin laughed dryly a few times, and Li Xin didn't bother to respond to Russia's gloating congratulations.

After the discussion with Li Xin came to an end, the Russian foreign minister immediately rushed to the Tsar's court. Seeing the real power in the Tsar's court, the foreign minister said: "I think China wants Russia to defeat the Ottoman Empire." ”

This statement surprised many of the real authorities, and the Russian foreign minister continued: "Although it is not yet known what the Chinese want from the Ottomans, I believe that China hopes to benefit from the Ottoman Empire when it intervenes in the truce." Although the Chinese Foreign Minister did not say it explicitly, I believe my feelings. ”

The words of the Russian foreign minister have made the Russian upper echelons very excited, and the Russian industry has developed very rapidly in recent years, and the path they have taken is the common way of Europe, and it is also the path that has been verified by the major industrial countries of the world. Develop the steel industry and build railways. After the rise of the iron and steel industry, many industries, especially the arms industry, also developed. In the 10th Russo-Turkish War, which ended five years ago, the Ottoman Empire relied on advanced weapons purchased from China, Germany, Britain and other countries to deal a head-on blow to the Russian army. Now Russia itself has finally copied the repeating rifle, capable of creating artillery with a larger caliber. Preparations for the 11th Russian-Turkish war have been completed, and the next thing to do is to look for a suitable external opportunity.

War Minister Dmitry 61 Alexievich 61 Milyutin, who was the chief of staff at the time, asked: "Can you be sure of China's attitude?" ”

Now not only Russia, but the whole of Europe thinks that the Ottoman Empire is the darling of Britain and China, and the two great powers are serving the Ottoman Empire as a country, and the Ottoman Empire is so happy. If the Ottoman Empire is beaten too hard, these two countries will have to come forward if they can't keep them. This was the case in the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, when the Russians were unable to capture the city of Plevin, and after two years of survival, the British intervened to "mediate" and forced Russia to withdraw its troops.

The Russian foreign minister did not dare to make an extremely certain judgment, he could only say: "I will make another determination of this matter, and for now, China has no intention of sending troops." ”

War Minister Miryutin waved his hand, "They definitely won't want to send troops at this time." Now it is necessary to make sure that China will not give more weapons to the Ottomans after the outbreak of war, and only by this can we determine the war plan. ”

For both China and Britain, it was good to weaken both Russia and the Ottoman Empire. If the Russian army fought desperately, and the Ottoman Empire received weapons from China and Britain, this battle was good news for both China and Britain. Russia needs to prepare for the worst-case scenario. As long as Russia gets the Balkan sphere of influence they desire after the victory, it has nothing to do with Russia how the Ottoman Empire will be blackmailed by China and Britain.

As a result, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Xin was entertained by the Russians with a Russian style of flower wine. The girls who accompanied the wine included the ladies of the court and the actresses of the ballet troupe.

Li Xin drinks well, he doesn't like Russian Maozi's vodka, and he is happy to fight when it's time to drink. When the Russian girl came to accompany her, Li Xin worked hard to maintain his rationality. At this time, he suddenly felt that he understood why foreign diplomats should bring their wives with them when they visited, and at such times, if there was a wife to stop the wine. It's really the most convenient option.

So Li Xin made a decision in his heart, the next time he visited, he would bring his wife out no matter what.