The full text of the last part of the book of Medun, which has become the eternal sorrow of the nation, is as follows:

"Imperial Politics. In view of the Chinese government. In such an attitude, the government regretted that there was almost no room for further negotiations, but in the end it was attached to the maintenance of peace in the Far East, and hoped to conclude the negotiations satisfactorily in order to avoid disputes in the current situation. In the unbearable, more discretionary neighbor politics. The affection of the government will be the imperial government. Item No. 5 of the amendments proposed by the government last time, except for the exchange of official documents in Fujian Province by the two countries. In addition to the agreement of the government representatives, the other five items can be recognized as dissociating from this negotiation and will be negotiated separately in the future.

"Hence the Chinese government. The government should also forgive the imperial government. The Friendship of the Government shall make any changes to the other items, namely those No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, as well as the documents concerning the exchange of official documents of Fujian Province in item 5, as recorded in the amendment proposed on April 26, without any changes.

"Imperial Politics. The government hereby reiterates its advice and hopes that the Chinese government. Until 6 p.m. on May 9, in order to satisfy the reply, if the reply is not met by the due date, the Imperial Government. The government will insist on the means necessary to consolidate the declaration......"

This "ultimatum" has a very strong flavor, and the war is about to break out.

After receiving the Japanese ultimatum, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately reported to President Yuan.

At 5 p.m., Yuan Shikai summoned all political leaders. At the meeting, with the exception of Army Chief Duan Qirui, the rest advocated a peaceful settlement.

The so-called peaceful settlement means, of course, the acceptance of the Japanese side's conditions.

Previously, Yuan Shikai had asked Duan Qirui uneasily: "If my country fights with the Japanese, how long can it last?" ”

Duan Qirui replied: "I'm afraid it can only be supported for a week." At this time, Duan Qirui did not know about the "Twenty-one Articles".

At the meeting, after Yuan Shikai announced Japan's "21 Articles", he asked everyone at the meeting, how should they respond to Japan? After Duan Qirui heard this, he was furious.

With tears in his eyes, he said: "Those who attempt to undermine China's security will be rejected with dead force." Although China is weak, the people will be martyred en masse! ”

As the country's army chief, Duan Qirui could not accept surrender without a fight, which was a shame for Beiyang soldiers and a great shame for Chinese.

Although Duan Qirui knew that the losses in the war with Japan would be amazing, he still said to Yuan Shikai: "President, the country has raised troops for many years and has not had a foreign war. ”

It is said that after listening to Duan Qirui's words, Yuan Shikai also had tears in his eyes. The other participants also looked at each other with a heavy heart.

Yuan Shikai knew that this matter was very important, and changed his style of acting in the past.

He convened a series of meetings at 10 a.m. in August at Chun Lotus Zhai and at 1 p.m. in Chun Yi Zhai, which were attended by Vice President Li Yuanhong, Secretary of State Xu Shichang, Zuo Cheng, Chief of Staff, Chiefs of Ministries, Presidents of Houses, Chairmen of the House of Councillors, and Vice-Ministers of Political Affairs and Foreign Affairs. Repeatedly listened to everyone's opinions, but he himself never expressed his attitude.

At noon on the same day, the British Minister to China, Zhu Dianer, hurried to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find Lu Zhengxiang and asked him to tell Yuan Shikai: "China is facing a serious juncture of life and death. I have been in China for 40 years, and I have had a friendship with President Yuan Da for 30 years.

"Japan's ultimatum this time can only answer yes or no, and there is no room for bargaining. At present, the European countries are too busy with the European war to look eastward, and China has no other way to improve itself than to accept Japan's conditions. ”

On the same day, the U.S. Minister to China, Reinsch, also advised Yuan: "We should avoid formal conflict with Japan." ”

At this time, Ou Zhang Zheng was indistinguishable from the winner. Although China was very close to the Entente, it did not formally join the Entente after all. Besides, who would offend a militarily powerful Japan for the sake of a China that anyone can bully?

It is not surprising that Britain and the United States, from the standpoint of the Entente and proceeding from their own interests, acted as lobbyists for Japan. It can even be said that Japan has no fear of holding on to this. It is to understand the psychology of Britain, the United States and other countries.

Many people say that at this time, Yuan Shikai was sitting on the dream of becoming an emperor, and he, like all Chinese dictatorial rulers, always regarded "internal control" as the biggest priority. What he wanted to deal with with all his might was the Kuomintang and all the anti-Yuan forces, and how could he have the heart to resist Japan.

Since both the United States and Britain persuaded him to accept Japan's terms, he could borrow the slope to get off the donkey.

Some people also said: If there is any other choice, who would like to sign this contract and become a traitor to the country referred to by Wanfu?

Some people also said: At that time, the Republic of China was too poor and had to bend to surrender to Japan, and it was impossible to fight to the death with Japan as Duan Qirui said. On the one hand, Yuan Shikai pretended to agree to the Japanese, and on the other hand, he made the Japanese conspiracy public, causing an uproar in international public opinion. In the end, the Japanese plan to force China to become a protectorate failed, and they had to be replaced by the Treaty of the Fourth Republic of China.

Of course, there are other sayings, the so-called benevolent see the benevolent, and the wise see the wise.

How should we look at this historical event? The author believes that no matter whether it is good or evil for Yuan Shikai and his person, historical events still have to return to the original appearance of history.

In any case, the final result was that at 8 p.m. on May 8, at a meeting held in Junyisai, Yuan Shikai delivered a tearful speech, announcing that he had accepted the Japanese ultimatum; He boasted that Japan's No. 5 demand, which was discussed separately, as the result of "fighting to the death." He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the British Minister Zhu Erdian for his persuasion.

At the meeting, it was discussed how to reply to Japan, and the initial comments were answered in a long text, describing the negotiation process, the controversy that took place, and the revisions that had been made.

On the evening of the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepared a reply overnight, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Counselor Yukichi Fuhata argued for a long time on the phone about the phrase "separate consultations in the future" in Fujian Article No. 5. The Japanese side demanded that Yuan ** disclose the draft of China's reply to the Japanese envoy in advance.

Foreign Ministry Secretary Shi Luben personally took the draft of the reply to the Japanese embassy to show it to Minister Zhiyi, who had recently fallen from a horse and was injured.

After seeing the palindrome, Rizhiyi lost his temper because "No. 5 broke away from this negotiation" and did not indicate "separate negotiations in the future".

He resolutely said: "I am not comfortable accepting this reply!" ”

Shi Luben had no choice but to hurry back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the manuscript and ask Cao Rulin for instructions.

Cao Nai added the words "tolerant of Japanese consultations" to the manuscript of the reply, and still ordered Shi Zhiben to send it to the embassy in the past for review. In accordance with his own intentions, Rizhi Yifu made some corrections to the palindrome, and it was not completed until 1 o'clock in the evening of the 8th.

Yuan Shikai learned about it the next day and made some humiliating concessions, which made him very angry. I don't know whether it was sincere or pretentious, of course, or it was an excuse to play and anger with others, and immediately scolded Cao Rulin for not making an assertion without asking for instructions, and immediately temporarily revoked an order that had been prepared to award him three honors.

At 1 p.m. on 9 May, China's reply was personally sent to the Japanese Legation in China by Lu Zhengxiang, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Cao Rulin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"The Japanese minister took matters into contact with Japan at 3 p.m. on 7 May. The book of Medon was sent to the Chinese government. house, and attached to the instructions of the seven articles. The concluding cloud of the book of Metham:

"Japanese politics. The government looks forward to the Chinese government. The government shall give a satisfactory reply at 6 p.m. on 9 May. The government will apply the Japanese government. The government thinks it is necessary. Politics of the present China. For the sake of maintaining peace in the Far East, the government recognizes the paragraphs of No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, except for the agreed exchange of official documents on the question of Fujian in Article 5, in accordance with the amendment proposed by Japan on 26 April and Article 7 of the Explanatory Note attached to the Book of Mourning, with the exception of Article 5, which shall be discussed separately in the future.

"China Politics. The government's immediate recognition today is nothing more than the hope that the outstanding case between China and Japan will be resolved from now on, and that diplomatic relations between the two countries can be consolidated. The government asked the Japanese minister to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as soon as possible to draw up the article and formally sign the agreement. ”

After receiving an official reply from China, Hichiki telegraphed the Japanese emperor, reporting that he had won a brilliant diplomatic victory without bloodshed, and congratulated his emperor on the one hand.

On 10 May, Minister Nichiki came to the Chinese Foreign Ministry to express his gratitude to the Chinese side on behalf of Japan.

On the 11th, the Japanese Embassy sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, sending four official documents, (1) the terms and conditions submitted by Japan**; (2) China's answer to the original bill after the meeting; (3) the second amendment; (4) China replied to the original case for the second time.

At the same time, it was agreed that the official meeting would be held at the State Guest House on the 14th.

On May 25, Yuan Shikai. After the government formally signed this treaty with Japan, it sent a telegram to the civil and military governors of the provinces, saying: "Since Japan has made concessions that will not affect China's sovereignty, it has been decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reply on the same day." The case has been closed, and China and foreign countries have made peace with each other. ”

At the same time, Yuan Shikai personally wrote two secret edicts, warning the civil and military governors of all provinces not to forget the day of May 9, a day of great shame and humiliation.

Afterwards, he instructed Ding Foyan to write a book entitled "History of the Failure of Sino-Japanese Negotiations", which printed 50,000 copies and secretly stored them in Shandong Model Prison.

He gritted his teeth and said, "This time we suffered a big loss, and one day in the future we turn over, and this book can be released publicly." ”

In the animal kingdom, the prevailing rule of survival is that the law of the jungle is the jungle. Man also came from the animal world, and human society has also followed this principle for a long time. In state-to-state relations, whoever has a hard fist has the final say. There is no reason to talk about, there is nowhere to reason. For example, what happened between China and Japan this time, where is the dispute between the two countries! It's just that the Japanese side ran to the territory of the Chinese side to bully people. When you are bullied, you can only blame yourself for not having a hard fist. If you want not to be bullied, you can only make yourself strong,

Under such conditions, when a country is controlled by one or a group of extremists and careerists, or when the mainstream public opinion of the country is swayed by a narrow nationalism and narrow patriotism, the more developed and powerful such a country is, the more likely it is to bring greater disasters to the world.