Because of the embattled international environment, the Soviet Russian government desperately wanted to open the door to China, a big country in the East, after all, the long Sino-Soviet border and the identity of being bullied empathized, huddle together to keep warm is the instinctive reaction of people in the bitter cold. However, since the Beiyang government, Fuzhong, and central government have always taken the principle of first resolving the issue of returning Kulun and Cha (Ketu) as the basis, and then holding a meeting to discuss Sino-Russian relations, Yulin, the representative of the Soviet Russian Far East, came to Beijing to negotiate fruitlessly, so he went to Shenyang to discuss with Zhang Zuolin.

In the official history, this matter was stopped because the five conditions put forward by Youlin were unacceptable to the central government and the local government. As a far-sighted statesman, Zhang Hanqing tried his best to promote peace in the three eastern provinces and Soviet Russia. So when Youlin came to Shenyang, he only met one more person than Zhengshi, but he got the domino bone effect.

This person is Zhang Hanqing.

Yulin still stubbornly put forward five conditions that seemed unacceptable: the Sino-Russian-Mongolian Treaty remained in force; Russia sent 500 troops to Kulen (note: now Ulaanbaatar); Mongols related to independence are not prosecuted; China compensated Russia for 6 million troops sent to Kulen; The China Eastern Railway is jointly protected by troops from both countries.

To sum up, these five points actually have only two meanings: Russia's interests in Mongolia must be maintained, and Russia's interests in the Middle East Road must be satisfied.

It seems that the economy of Soviet Russia has indeed been affected, so much so that it has not forgotten the lucrative Middle East Road in the face of extremely difficult circumstances, but it has not given up on continuing its attempts to divide Mongolia, and has not cared that it is still surrounded on three sides. Sometimes Zhang Hanqing also thinks that this is where Lao Maozi's ambition is not the same as others: one word "ruthless!" ”

However, Zhang Hanqing was the first and probably the only "Soviet-knowing" faction in the whole of China. His "knowledge" not only knew the ins and outs of the entire period from the birth to the demise of his regime, but also knew very well that the Soviet Union was facing a huge political and economic crisis at this time.

The Soviet power, which had just been established, was faced with the threat of the White Bandit Army, which was unwilling to withdraw from the stage of history, and the foreign intervention army, which was composed of Britain, France, the United States, Japan, Italy, Belgium, and other countries that could not tolerate the birth of a socialist country. Whether it could win the final battle was not fully determined at that time; Economically, the Soviet Union also reached the point of almost destitude, and almost all the people were lost.

During the Russian Civil War from 1918 to 1921, Lenin, in order to ensure the maximum supply of sufficient material supplies to the Soviet Russian regime, and at the same time tried to make a direct transition to a communist society, sent telegrams to all parts of the country: "There is no food. The red capital is on the verge of extinction due to famine ... In the name of the SSR, I ask you to support Petrograd without hesitation. ”

Thus, in June 1918, the Supreme Council of National Economy adopted a policy of implementing "war communism". The policy mainly included: compulsory expropriation of all grain for the peasants except for subsistence (i.e., surplus grain collection), nationalization of all large and medium-sized enterprises, state monopoly of all foreign trade activities, prohibition of commodity trading and the introduction of planned rationing, strict management of workers, and immediate execution of strikers.

The policies of wartime communism soon led to economic collapse, and by 1921 Russia's heavy industry output was only 20% of what it had been in 1913 before World War I, and between 1918 and 1920, Petrograd had lost 75% of its population, while Moscow's population had decreased by 50%. The surplus grain collection system also seriously undermined the peasants' enthusiasm for farming, and became the main cause of famine in the future.

Soviet Russia, which was already on the verge of collapse, was still demanding the last benefits from China in such a state as it is now, which shows China's position in the hearts of the great powers at that time! However, Zhang Hanqing did not care about his indignation, and he would be beaten if he fell behind, which is a historical fact. To get out of this predicament, only China can become stronger. According to the current situation in China, its main task is how to make the Feng system strong as soon as possible.

With regard to the representatives of the Soviet Russian government, Zhang Hanqing did not need to be false at all, and he pointed out bluntly: "Since Soviet Russia has expressed its desire to abandon all invading territories and unequal treaties, then:

1. It is necessary to abolish the original unequal treaty, the Sino-Russian-Mongolian Treaty, and the two sides may conclude a new treaty on the basis of equality and reciprocity. However, the stationing of troops in Kulen violates China's sovereignty and cannot be discussed;

Second, Soviet Russia's dispatch of troops to Kulen is also a need to rectify the security of its borders, and the Chinese government has also spent money and money in order to clear out the White Russian army in China.

3. The Middle East Road is under the jurisdiction of China, and the Fengjun has the ability to ensure the normal operation of the railway, so there is no need to worry about it. However, it also guaranteed that 'the Governorate of the Eastern Railway shall be liable for the debts of the shareholders of the railway, the holders of the bonds of the company, and the foreigners who have debts against the company'.

4. As soon as the two sides sign an agreement, the Feng army will guarantee strict neutrality in the conflict between the East and the West and Soviet Russia. ”

In this regard, Yulin objected, saying: "When the Soviet Union and Russia were under serious pressure, the government first forcibly conquered the Middle East Road, and then demanded the Hanqi coast, and for the sake of the friendship between you and us, we almost unconditionally agreed. But Mongolia is the lifeline of our Soviet Russia in the Far East, and we have traditional interests in Mongolia, I hope Mr. Marshal understands. The current unfavorable situation in our country is only temporary, and we do not want to engage in a set of expedient measures in order to deceive your government. For the sake of the long-term peace and stability of both of us and us, we can take a step back on the Middle East Road issue, but Mr. Young Marshal must also let me not return empty-handed on the Mongolian issue. After all, Mongolia is not under the control of your government. I fear that if we anger our government because of this, the gains we have made in our previous efforts will be undone, and our long-standing attitude of support for your government will change. ”

This is coercion and gali temptation, with Zhang Hanqing's shrewdness, he will not fail to hear it. On the surface, Youlin gave very good conditions and recognized the ownership of the Middle East Road, which was good news for the Northeast Autonomous Government; And the Mongolian issue, anyway, is not his Zhang Hanqing's! As long as the Northeast Autonomous Government takes the lead in recognizing Soviet Russia's interests in Mongolia, it is equivalent to driving a wedge between the Central Government and the Autonomous Government of the Republic of China. With this reason, in the future, the Russians will definitely have a way to have some kind of story with the central government.

But Zhang Hanqing will not be Li Hongzhang, although the evaluation of this person is quite controversial in history.

"Mr. Youlin, after listening to your high opinion, I can't help but want to refute a few words: Are you negotiating over and over again? Don't you think it's ridiculous that the Middle East Road and Mokowei issue has been concluded, and you're still here to make a deal with me? Lenin of your country has repeatedly declared that he wants to abandon the unequal treaties imposed on China by Russia, and the "Sino-Russian-Mongolian Treaty" has seriously harmed China's sovereignty, so it should naturally be abolished. Is it questioning your sincerity? ”

In the face of the aggressive Zhang Hanqing, Yulin had no way to refute it even if he spoke like a lotus, and besides, the instructions he received were to try to reach an understanding with China, and all kinds of rhetoric that would fight for every inch of territory were nothing more than Russian habits and duties as a diplomat. Under Zhang Hanqing's toughness, he was ready to compromise: "The Soviet Russian government has no intention of imposing the Old Testament on the young marshal, we are just a preventive countermeasure to defend Siberia..."

Zhang Hanqing blurted out: "We have countermeasures for the stability of Mongolia, I think it won't be long before the Feng army can stabilize the situation in Mongolia and thus defend the stability of Siberia!" ”

The government of Soviet Russia was pragmatic. In the face of opposition from all sides, the key is that the government of Zhang Zuolin, which has mastered the military and political forces in the northeast, has carried out a thorough sweep of the interests of old Russia in the northeast, so that neither the new party nor the old party in Russia will have a chance to rise, and in fact it will gain full control of the North Manchurian Railway. In the face of a substantial threat from foreign intervention forces, it is not appropriate to rush into conflict with the strong military forces in the region.

Therefore, before coming, the Russian government had instructed Youlin: "The fact (of negotiations) itself may be used by hostile groups as evidence that there is still some contradiction between Soviet Russia and China." So, at some point, you can make some concessions. ”

So, Yulin gave in.

In line with the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, Zhang Hanqing proposed: "At present, China and Russia are both in the midst of division and threat, and they should move forward hand in hand and rely on each other. The Sino-Russian border, especially the northeastern and Far eastern borders, should be a mutually beneficial channel for peaceful development and trade, so that Soviet Russia could obtain grain and other primary raw materials from China, and China could also obtain the equipment and machinery needed for industrial development. In addition, the Northeast Autonomous Government will urge the Central Government to open up normal trade relations with Russia as soon as possible. ”

In fact, after the return of the Soviet Union to the coast of Mokowei, they were much more closely connected with the Feng family. Politically and militarily, because they are both facing pressure from Japan, they have exchanged ideas and have begun to promote each other economically, and negotiations are already under way to reopen border trade, and the feelings between the two sides are deepening day by day.

This statement moved Yulin and gave hope for the relief of the predicament of Soviet Russia, whose Far East and Siberia, because of their proximity to the northeast and also under the constant threat and economic control of Japan, were particularly fond of easing relations with China and developing Sino-Russian border trade.

Therefore, at the beginning of 1919, the Northeast Autonomous Government formally signed a peace agreement with the Soviet Russian representative in the Far East, which was abbreviated: Russia was willing to renounce the treaties concluded between the former government and China; The land and concessions obtained by the invasion will be returned to China free of charge. However, China is subject to the condition that it will not assist the counter-revolutionary party and cease its activities in China, disarm it and return it to the Russian government at the time of the conclusion of the treaty.

Nothing else was said of the return of the Middle East Road---- which was a wedge left by the Russian government to revisit its interests in Northeast China at an appropriate time in the future.

Zhang Hanqing knew this, but he wanted to eliminate the unstable factors in the north as soon as possible, and believed that he had already obtained the right to occupy the possession in substance, and there was no need to dispute such things when the national strength was not yet strong.

Because of the withdrawal of the old Russian forces from Harbin, the Northeast Autonomous Government gained control of the Harbin Customs. Today, China's economic center of gravity is in the south, and its importance is not felt; However, at that time, Harbin Customs was one of the most important sources of tax revenue in northern China, and its influence in the national economy was not inferior to that of Shanghai and Tianjin.

The acquisition of the Middle East Road by the Feng Department is a great source of wealth; Obtaining Harbin Customs is another important cash cow. It is unthinkable that it would be unthinkable to stand out among the Beiyang warlords who "changed the banner of the king at the head of the city" and enter Beijing and unify the whole country according to the ambition of Lao Zhang Xiaozhang. The plan for the economic development of the Northeast and the first pot of gold were mined from here.