The British ambassador to China was eventually assured by Weeser that if Britain had any specific needs, he could inform China. The Chinese side will seriously discuss this with the British.

Sending off the British ambassador, Weeser informed the Politburo of this time. In recent years, the Politburo has gradually understood some of the world situation, but in everyone's opinion, foreign devils are all the same looks, and they are not very clear about their internal disputes, and they are not very interested in it.

Weeser explained a little, "Britain and Russia are a great power game!" In other words, the contradictions and struggles between the two countries are not war and peace, but a long-term relationship of struggle and cooperation. In dealing with the Manchus, Britain cooperated with Russia. As soon as the interests of the two countries were involved, they immediately began to fight. ”

"Then how can we in China deal with the possible cooperation between Britain and Russia against China?" There is more interest in this issue within the Politburo.

Wei Ze calmly replied: "Iron also needs to be hard. China has a population of 500 million, and the rest of the world's industrial countries together do not have a population of 500 million. Build us into the most powerful country in the world, even if the industrial nations of the world join forces, and we will still let them die without a place to bury. Moreover, it is impossible for them to really join forces, can you imagine that Germany and France are sincerely united? ”

The last example of this passage is so apt that there was a laugh of understanding from inside the Politburo.

Of course, there could be no real peace between Germany and France, and Chancellor Bismarck knew this very well. The British claimed to have nothing but hope for the continent to remain balanced. This also means that the British want countries to contain each other, so that Britain can exert great influence in a position of transcendence and advantage. Since Britain's attitude is like this, Prime Minister Bismarck is not worried about Britain and France colluding for the time being. If France wants to overthrow Germany, the only powers that can really rely on it are Russia and Austria-Hungary. The prime minister immediately began to engage in diplomatic activities, hoping to form an alliance with Russia and Austria-Hungary. Once the three countries were aligned, France lost all opportunities to bring down Germany and could only bite its fingers and lick its wounds.

February 9, 1872 was the Spring Festival, and according to tradition, Goryeo sent a delegation to celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Chinese emperor during the Spring Festival. This year, the Goryeo envoys still want to talk about the same question, since the Chinese army has cleared the remnants of the Hunan army in Goryeo, when is it ready to withdraw from Goryeo?

If there are no financial problems in China now, it is estimated that the mainstream attitude of the Guangfu Army is to simply annex Goryeo. But now the situation is not so optimistic, so the idea of complete control of Goryeo has taken over. At this time, it is really pointless to let Goryeo cut a piece of land.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry made a condition to Goryeo, and China was willing to lease Geomun Island for 30 years to build a Chinese naval base. Geowen Island is known as the Gibraltar of the East by Europe. In fact, Weeser himself did not know about this matter, this was the intelligence collected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Europe. The North Sea Fleet put its home port in Vladivostok, but Vladivostok has a freezing period every year. By winter, the North Sea Fleet returned to Port Arthur. When he returned in 1871, he also investigated Juwen Island.

Juwen Island is composed of West Island, East Island and Ancient Island, also known as Sanshan Island or Three Islands, the three islands stand on their feet, forming a natural harbor in the middle that can moor large warships, and it does not freeze all year round. Located between the Goryeo Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago, Geomun Island is not only a sea route between the two countries, but also an important route for Russia to the south, and has important strategic value. With China's current strength, Weeser did not believe that it would be able to monopolize Russian land in a short period of time.

Wei Ze originally thought that he had to get some benefits from Goryeo, but after learning this information, he was sure that Juwen Island was the benefit.

Of course, the Goryeo envoy did not dare to make a decision on his own, and he returned to Goryeo after determining the conditions of China. In early March, the Goryeo envoys arrived in Nanjing again. They said that as long as China withdrew from Goryeo, they were willing to lease Jumundo Island to China.

This is easy to say, the Chinese garrison in Goryeo also costs money, and the troops in Goryeo were quickly withdrawn to the country. In April 1872, the Chinese flag was planted on Juwen Island. The North Sea Fleet finally got the harbor of its dreams.

With this good start, China and Goryeo negotiated and signed the "Chinese Goryeo Security Treaty", which was later known as the "Seoul Treaty". The treaty stipulates that China has the obligation to protect Goryeo's territory from foreign invasion, and at the same time, Goryeo has the obligation to provide all-round support to China in ensuring the security of Goryeo. This included allowing China to build railways, set up businesses, and mine deposits in Goryeo. China supported the establishment of a new armed force in Goryeo, which would be subject to the command of the Chinese Goryeo Joint Military Command in wartime.

Of course, Wei Ze knew that Goryeo would not really submit his army to the command of China, but in this era of wild beasts, especially in the era when the Meiji Restoration began in Japan, the Goryeo people had a relatively modern army, and there were many uncertainties in the future. Wei Ze actually didn't believe that Goryeo would honestly use it for defense after having such an army, and the chance of taking the initiative to start a war with Japan was not small.

After the agreement was signed, the matter was left here. The border between China and Goryeo began to be clarified again, but the border between the two sides had already been measured, and China only used this to prohibit the Goryeo from entering Northeast China.

China was moderate to Goryeo, but not to Russia in the north. The plan for 200,000 new immigrants is well underway, and there is a huge amount of developable land between Changchun and Shenyang. At this time, some of them had already been developed, and they were still sufficient to accommodate immigrants.

In 1871, the vanguard of the Liberation Army finally arrived 200 miles away from Qiqihar, and after a winter of training, the troops began to march towards Qiqihar in May.

At this time, more than a dozen fortresses were erected outside the city of Qiqihar, and the appearance was in the style of Europe at a glance. In the past two years, the Liberation Army has not been defeated, but the Russians have not been idle. They desperately repaired the city defense system, hoping to use the recovery army to block the city of Qiqihar. For the Chinese army, Qiqihar is an extreme northern city, but for the Russians, Qiqihar is undoubtedly a warm southern city. The frost-free period can last more than half a year, which is a real warmth for the Russians.

Of course, Russian merchants who have been further south will talk about southern China with only two or three months of winter, and that "southern China" may not see much snow during these two or three months. But for ordinary Russians, who have lived in snow and ice for generations, summer is the shortest season of the long winter. It is already a wonderful thing to be able to live in Qiqihar.

In less than two years, Qiqihar has gathered 50,000 or 60,000 Russians. They also took matters into their own hands, and they even went all out to drive the Chinese in Qiqihar and the local natives captured from the surrounding areas. A total of 100,000 people have built a fairly complete defense system.

"As long as they can hold out until October when the snow starts, the Chinese from the south will be caught in a dilemma in the heavy snow, and eventually have to choose to retreat." The longer we stay in Qiqihar, the harder it will become. Finally, we can build a new frontier of Russia with Qiqihar as the center! "The Commander of Defense is here agitating vigorously.

The officers below also responded loudly, and this response was heartfelt. Since last year, the Chinese navy has sunk Russian ships all over the coast and has also sent troops to land and attack Russian strongholds. The Russians are "killing" the local inhabitants in this land. Therefore, the Chinese army killed all the people in the Russian strongholds wherever they went, and the Russians were not surprised.

There are so many resources available on the ice field, and dying one person means that the living person can get rid of the food, clothing, and shelter that person would have consumed. Although the Russian government claimed in Europe that the Russian inhabitants of the Far East had been massacred by the Chinese, it tried to gain sympathy and support in European public opinion. But the Russians, who were really in the Far East, did not want to complain about anything. Not only in the Far East, but also from the west of the Volga River to the Pacific Ocean in the Far East, they slaughtered them along the way. In the face of the natives, who were weak, the Russians did not have the slightest mercy. When they may be in a position of weakness, they know that of course they complain, but that complaining is a complete "egg".

This was the first time that the Chinese army had engaged in a large-scale land war with a European army, and the troops were also very cautious. The vanguard did not attack immediately, but waited until May 15, when the follow-up troops arrived, and the 30,000 troops of the two armies approached Qiqihar in two directions.

The Russians were more familiar with Qiqihar, and on May 16 they sent troops around the rear of the Chinese army to harass the Chinese logistics line. This unit is still a cavalry unit, and they fight if they can win, and run away if they can't. As cunning as a loach.

With such an arrangement, the Liberation Army greatly dispelled the contempt for the Russians. Up to now, China has not had much experience in fighting with foreign armies, and its operations are still at a combat level. The two sides lined up for a bloody battle in a short period of time. There has never been a battle that can truly be called a campaign-level battle. As for the war in the country, the march is more difficult than the battle.

In the early days of the war with the Russians, China also used its naval superiority to carry out a war of annihilation of its strongholds, and now it has really fought a battle of 100,000 people, and the Russians have made the troops of the Liberation Army feel that the exercises they once had become a reality.

"When will the follow-up troops arrive?" The front-line commander asked.

"The telegram says it will take another five days." The communications staff officer replied.

"Tell them about the Russians sending cavalry to our rear?" The commander continued to ask.

"It's been said, and it's been confirmed." The communications staff officer replied in the affirmative.

30,000 troops fought at home, and it was not a problem to fight 100,000 enemies. The 30,000 Guangfu troops who could reach the city of Qiqihar were only the vanguard. A total of 150,000 troops were mobilized for this attack on Qiqihar, and everyone originally thought that with such a force to launch an attack, victory should be within reach. Now it seems that the mobilization of 150,000 men was just enough to ensure victory in the war.