I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional or inexperienced, the ministers and attachés of the five countries who came to visit were placed in the same elegant courtyard and waited, which could not help but make several ministers feel embarrassed, the war in South Africa has not yet ended, but one by one they have come to negotiate an armistice, although everyone tacitly knows, but still a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, after a few simple and polite greetings, several people quickly chatted about the weather in Shanghai, the urban layout of Shanghai, and the newly opened Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway and other innocuous topics.

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a cyan robe walked into the hall, this is Zheng Fujun, the chief concierge of the palace, and he is called the director of the reception office to the outside world. ”

Watching Murmo and Knappe walk out of the hall, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the English Minister Wittoma, Yi Zhizhi actually saw the German minister first, he faintly smelled a smell of conspiracy, and his heart suddenly became vigilant.

In the living room of Changle Book House, seeing Mu Mo and Knapé coming in, Yi Zhicontentment and Zhao Liewen stood up and greeted them twice, with a faint professional smile on their faces, they shook hands with the two and greeted each other.

However, His Majesty is quite worried, worried that after the purchase of these warships, he will suffer retaliation from England and France, and His Royal Highness must be very clear that the navy is different from the army, and our navy was established relatively late, and the scale is not large, even if it suddenly has a large number of warships, it cannot compete with Britain and France. ”

Speaking of this, he stopped talking and looked at Mu Mo, the meaning was very clear, the conversation opened and looked at you next, Mu Mo knew that the other party's time was very tight, and there were several ministers waiting to meet him at the back, so he didn't go around in circles at the moment and said directly: "His Majesty the Emperor of our country means that I hope that His Royal Highness can provide some new naval weapons while providing a large number of warships, such as torpedoes, torpedo boats, submarines, and new mines, only in this way can we compete with the British and French navies." ”

Listening to the translation, Zhao Liewen secretly laughed, this German really dared to speak, the Qing Navy was able to suppress the navies of European countries relied on new naval weapons such as torpedo submarines, which had been kept secret all these years, once sold to Germany, how to maintain an advantage? It's really whimsical!

Yi Zhishu didn't think much about it, and said slowly: "As long as your country is willing to pay for it, my country can transfer the patented technology of torpedoes, submarines, and anchor mines." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen couldn't help but be stunned, once Europe was allowed to master torpedo, submarine, and anchor mine technology, how could the Qing Navy maintain its superiority?

The torpedo can be called the killer weapon of the Qing Navy, and the Qing Dynasty has kept the torpedo technology secret in every way over the years, and European countries have been working hard to develop it, but they have not been able to develop a torpedo with actual combat value.

Originally, both of them thought that this condition proposed by China was too harsh, and it was impossible for Qing Guo to agree, but they didn't expect that the other party actually agreed to transfer, not only torpedoes, but also submarines and anchor mines!

When he came back to his senses, Mu Mo was afraid that the translation was misunderstood, so he immediately ignored the etiquette and looked directly at the translation he brought, "Are you sure there is no misunderstanding?" ”

The interpreter who listened to the translation softly, Yi Zhixiang smiled and said, "Tell him, I heard it right." ”

Sure that the other party was serious, Mu Mo was a little incredulous, and hesitated: "I don't know what conditions His Highness has?" ”

"There are no conditions ........" Yi Zhishu said and stretched out his right hand and shook it, "Fifty million pounds!" Patented technology for torpedoes, submarines, and anchor mines is packaged and transferred. ”

Fifty million pounds? Mumo was speechless for a long time, but this asking price is not enough to describe even the lion's mouth, Germany's annual naval military expenditure is not even 5 million pounds, which is equivalent to the total naval military expenditure of more than ten years. Swallowing his saliva, he said with some difficulty: "Your Highness, this price is ....., and my country can't afford it at all." ”

"Then there's no need to talk about it." Yi Zhizu showed a helpless expression, slowly lit a cigarette, and then changed the topic, "What is your country's attitude towards the war in South Africa?" ”

"The joint invasion of the Transvaal was entirely instigated by England behind the scenes." Without hesitation, Mu Mo put the blame on England, "Your two countries have always been friendly, and His Majesty the Emperor has ordered the immediate termination of all military operations in South Africa...... ”

Yi Zhixiang said slowly: "It is reported that the five countries jointly sent troops to the Transvaal, and your country monopolized forty percent of the shares of the Transvaal gold mine........ ”

"It's completely blinded by England." Mu Mo muttered, not knowing how to explain for a moment.

"In this South African war, your country suffered heavy losses, all because of the instigation and deception of England, and I think it should be hated to the bone." Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "If you are given a chance to take revenge, I wonder if your country is interested?" ”

A chance to take revenge on England? Mu Mo couldn't figure out the other party's purpose for a while, but subconsciously felt that there would be nothing good, most of them wanted to use Germany as a gunman, but now it can be said that he is under the roof, so he had to follow the words cautiously and tentatively: "Please also ask Your Highness to speak clearly." ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him, and said in a very flat tone: "The reason why your country was instigated and deceived by England is nothing more than hoping to obtain South Africa's gold. However, South Africa has not only gold, but also diamonds, and the Kimberley diamond mines produce millions of pounds ....... a year. ”

Was this to instigate the German army in South Africa to seize the Kimberley? Mu Mo's face suddenly became bitter, this is not just to offend England in Germany, but to let the two countries not die! He immediately said euphemistically: "The stakes are very high, and we must report to the country for instructions." ”

"I don't mean the Kimberley." Yi Zhizhi glanced at him, "South Africa is not only rich in diamonds, but also in the Bechuana Reserve, which has only recently expanded in England, but it has not been discovered yet.

For the sake of the safety of the Transvaal, our country proposes to make the Bechuana district a colony of your country, and I believe that England will not and dare not oppose it. ”

This is simply a sharp turn, Mu Mo didn't react for a while, there is such a good thing? He looked at Yi Zhixin in disbelief, and subconsciously asked, "What are the conditions for Your Highness?" ”

Yi Zhizhi looked at him with a smile and said: "With Bechuana, your country can justifiably expand from the east coast of Africa all the way to Bechuana, this is a great favor, what conditions do you want me to propose?" ”

What do you mean? No conditions? Mu Mo thought quickly in his mind, but he really couldn't figure out the other party's intentions, so he had to ask: "Bechuana really has a diamond mine?" ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded, "It's bigger than the diamond reserves in Kimberley!" ”

Coming out of the courtyard of Changle Library, Mu Mo felt as unreal as a dream, he couldn't understand why Qing Guo wanted to give Germany such a big benefit, what was the other party planning? To provoke hatred between Britain and Germany? This move is inevitably too generous, I don't understand that he is too lazy to think about it, and this kind of thing does not need him to decide at all, "Send a report to Berlin immediately." ”

In the living room, Zhao Liewen said suspiciously: "The big shopkeeper really plans to sell patents for torpedoes, submarines and new mines to Germany?" Fifty million pounds is a lot, but losing the advantage of the navy for fifty million pounds is not worth it no matter how you look at it. ”

After being silent for a while, Yi Zhizhi said, "Wouldn't Huifu plan to rely on torpedoes, submarines, anchor mines and other technologies all the time to maintain naval superiority?" ”

After a pause, he continued: "It is already very good that China has been able to use torpedoes to maintain naval superiority for ten years, and the major powers in the world have been constantly conquering torpedo technology in recent years, and it is estimated that in a few years, various countries will be able to develop torpedoes with actual combat value one after another."

The reason why we insist on fighting this war with European countries in South Africa is to consider that the advantage of torpedoes will soon catch up with all countries, and the same is true for submarines, Britain, France, and the United States started the research on submarines earlier than China, but they are not as concentrated on manpower, material and financial resources as China.

To be precise, China's existing submarine technology is not much more advanced than that of Britain, France, and the United States, and what we are proud of is nothing more than a periscope, and as for anchor mines, it is not worth mentioning.

It is a good thing for our country to be able to convert these patented technologies into huge amounts of money, the navy is a very money-burning service, and every upgrade requires a huge amount of money, and I can have a hunch that the ironclad ship is about to enter a new era, and the existing ironclad ships will face elimination.

In order to maintain naval superiority, we must grasp every replacement of warships, instead of clinging to the existing technological superiority, and only by constantly mastering new technologies can we maintain superiority for a long time. ”

"The big shopkeeper is so bold!." Zhao Liewen sighed with heartfelt emotion, and then asked: "The big shopkeeper is so difficult that he is not worried about the Europeans beating him?" ”

"If I'm not sure, how dare I sell it?" Yi Zhishu said with a smile: "Torpedoes, even if they are sold, we will not be stupid enough to sell the most advanced, for torpedo boats, we also have countermeasures, as for submarines, the equipment for reconnaissance and search submarines can be developed soon." ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen secretly laughed at his worries, and then said worriedly: "Germany will spend such a huge amount of money to buy these patented technologies?" ”

"Didn't you just throw a bait at Germany?" Yi Zhishu smiled: "As long as they are willing to take the bait, they will inevitably buy it, and as for the price, it is not that it is not negotiable." The most important thing is to shift the attention of England to Germany. ”

"Will Germany take the bait?" Zhao Liewen said: "Does Bechuana really have a diamond mine with larger reserves than the Kimberley? ”

"How can this be a joke? Of course. Yi Zhizhi smiled and said: "As for whether Germany will take the bait, that is certain." ”

There is no doubt that Yi Zhizhi dug a huge pit for Germany, Zhao Liewen secretly mourned for Germany in his heart, and muttered for a while before he asked: "There are also ministers of the four countries, who will you see?" ”

"I'm gone." Yi Zhizhi said: "Call Yan Yangtian, the two of you will talk to them first, it is okay to stop the war, and pay compensation!" Otherwise, not only our naval fleet does not mind doing a European cruise. After a pause, he admonished: "The price is sky-high." ”

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany.

"Good news." Bismarck smiled and handed over a long telegram, "Qing agreed to sell patented technology for torpedoes, submarines and anchor mines, and also gave a big gift. ”

Qing Guo actually agreed? Kaiser Wilhelm wondered if he had misheard, and after taking the telegram and reading it carefully, there was no smile on his face, "What is the intention of the Qing people?" ”

"It is nothing more than to provoke contradictions between our country and England." Bismarck said disapprovingly: "Once our country's naval strength is enough to threaten England, the other side will definitely shrink its forces and focus on Europe, so that the Qing people can take the opportunity to expand or bury their heads in peace of mind." ”

William was silent for a long time before he raised his head, "Don't be an honest agent anymore?" ”

"Honest broker" This is a diplomatic idea that Bismarck proposed. To put it simply, Germany does not claim territorial and security interests for itself, but is eager to act as an arbiter and intermediary for other countries, making these countries trust and even rely on Germany. In this way, any major territorial change or security matter in Europe would require Germany's participation in coordination, and a coalition of great powers with Germany as an enemy would never emerge.

Unified Germany, with its large population and strong industrial and military power, broke the equilibrium in Europe, and because of its unfavorable location in the middle of Europe, Germany was also in a situation of encirclement.

In order to resolve this dilemma, Bismarck put forward the diplomatic concept of "honest broker", collected his own ambitions and minions, carefully compiled a chain of interests, and tried to weaken the hostility of neighboring countries towards Germany.

"Germany can't be an honest broker forever." Bismarck looked at each other calmly, "It's not that we can't hear the voices of industrial and commercial owners, it's just that before this, for the sake of national security, we have to restrain our steps towards the world." Now, here's your chance!

After all these years of hard work, at present, the biggest threat to our country are three countries, France, which is an enemy that cannot be resolved, and the other two are Russia and England, these two countries, as long as we win one, there is no need to swallow our anger! ”

William raised his eyebrows, "You want to fight for Russia?" ”

"Yes. I think the Congress will help us win over Russia. Bismarck nodded: "While defusing the threat from Russia from the north, it has also sharply increased our naval strength, and our country has enough strength to fight with Britain and France, so as to move towards a wider world!" ”