On December 22, the sun was shining in Tianjin, and the blue sky was like a wash. Pen ~ fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info shortly after sunrise in the morning, the delegations of China and Japan came to the negotiation venue in Haiguang Temple one after another.

The venue is arranged according to the plan of the Chinese side, a long table is placed in the center, the horizontal head is facing the east and west, the long side is facing the north and south, and a green tweed tablecloth is spread on the table, which is very solemn. On the north and south sides of the long table, there are rows of wooden chairs with backrests, although they are a little old, but the style is simple, but it looks very sturdy. Behind the backrest chairs, a row of slightly narrower tables and chairs rested against the wall for the attachés on both sides.

The Chinese representative was led by Wang Chonghui, and after he walked into the venue, he walked straight to the north of the table, chose the back chair in the middle, and began to sit down in the north and south.

Shin Makino, who had just entered the door, saw this, and the anger in his chest suddenly began to surge. The people of China set up the negotiation venue here, and in the headquarters of the former Imperial Tianjin Garrison Army, they were already deliberately humiliating themselves and others, and now they are still so arrogant and rude? Everyone knows that in the cultural tradition of the East, sitting facing south is regarded as a venerable or victor, and the people of China really feel that they are victors now?

Makino wanted to have a seizure, but thinking of his own decline on the battlefield, he had to suppress the anger in his heart and walk towards the south of the table.

When the translators, assistants, and recorders behind the representatives of the two sides gradually sat down in turn, Makino Shinsen, whose face was already extremely gloomy, preemptively spoke: "The Japanese Empire hopes that the two sides can negotiate an armistice as soon as possible, and in order to show its sincerity, we suggest that from now on, the two sides should suspend all military operations. ”

Wang Chonghui saw Nobuaki Makino speak first, knowing that he wanted to strike first. I thought he was going to refute the terms he had made one by one, but I didn't want him to disappear after he finished speaking. Therefore, after waiting for a moment, he cleared his throat and said, "We agree with you in principle. ”

Nobuaki Makino is a master negotiator, and he is cunning. He spoke first with the intention of gaining face and taking the initiative. Now that I heard the reply from the Chinese side, although I did not understand the strict difference between consent in principle and consent, I hurriedly continued: "China and Japan are separated by a strip of water, and the past is very close. This military conflict was really an accident. Therefore, in the spirit of good-neighborliness and friendship, and in order to reduce the loss of more lives of the soldiers of the two countries, the Empire of Japan hereby proposes that the two sides adopt an agenda, cease all military conflicts, and immediately withdraw China's troops from Korea and Taiwan, so as to respect the legitimate interests of the Empire of Japan in the past in your country. ”

Wang Chonghui sneered immediately, such an incompatible suggestion is also a loss to the Japanese to be able to come up with? He raised his eyelids and said, "Since you have no sincerity in peace talks at all, then in my opinion, it is better to continue to see the truth on the battlefield!" ”

"Now, I suggest, adjourn the meeting!" As soon as Wang Chonghui's words fell, without waiting for Makino Shinxian to react, he got up and closed the document in front of him and walked out of the venue.

Makino's face was red and white. He had thought about all the possibilities after this remark, but he didn't expect that the people of China would be so strong and domineering. At the moment, I was helpless, so I had to watch Wang Chonghui lead the Chinese representative to leave.

……

Tokyo, Japan.

The Prime Minister's official residence was packed with people, including the Army and Navy, and all the cabinet members were all present at this time.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister......"

Prime Minister Takahashi is Kiyoshi, bowed to Yamamoto Gonbei, then looked at all the cabinet members, and said in a low voice: "Britain and the United States have privately warned us that if the empire is still asking for a real price, they will completely withdraw from the mediation between the two sides, and let the people of China do it." ”

"I think it's time to end the war! If Britain and the United States withdraw from mediation and do not reduce the debts of the empire, then it will not be long before the empire is dragged down by the war. ”

"Fighting in winter is already difficult. At present, the army in Lushun is short of clothing and food, and the transportation line in the Tsushima Strait has been repeatedly attacked by the submarine ships of the China Navy, and the subordinates of the Korean general Terauchi have basically not been replenished. If this war cannot be ended as soon as possible, then the bitter cold will surely make the losses of the empire even greater! ”

"The people of China have only landed in Taiwan now, and if they wait until Lushun and Korea attack again, then the empire will be ......."

In the midst of everyone's words, Gonbei Yamamoto in front of the desk took out his pocket watch, looked at the time, and then picked up the peace treaty book proposed by the Chinese and read it several times. Although Taiwan and Korea are constantly failing, and there is no international support, and if they continue to fight, the whole of Japan may be at the end of the road, but at present, he is still unable to make up his mind to accept the contract.

Takahashi could see that Prime Minister Yamamoto was still struggling with his political future. So, he continued: "Your Excellency, please forgive me. It is not surprising to believe that under the mediation of the British and American powers, the Chinese will also make appropriate concessions. But now, the Japanese Empire can no longer afford to continue the war, so I think it's time to end the war and give the country a quiet time to develop. Only by overcoming the present difficulties can the empire continue to embark on the path of prosperity and prosperity. ”

Bustling? Wealthy?

When Hasegawa heard about it, he couldn't help but scoff. Now the attitude of the patriarch of the county is still unclear, although he also realizes in his heart that the war must end, but he is still very dissatisfied in his heart. Therefore, at that moment, he snorted coldly and said, "Takahashi-kun, you are too optimistic, right? In fact, it is impossible for the empire and China to coexist. If a peace treaty is signed on this issue and this best opportunity to contain them is missed, then the dream of the empire to dominate Asia and prosper together will be completely wiped out! Therefore, I still say that we, the Army, will never approve of this peace treaty. ”

"However, the empire has now completely lost the strength to contain China!" Minoru Saito snorted coldly. He was also a little angry when he saw that the army was still so arrogant even though it was clear that it couldn't fight: "Then in your opinion, don't sign it, and your army will continue to fight!" Don't beg the Empire to support you. ”

"You!!" Although Hasegawa Yoshimichi was angry, he lost his temper when he heard this. No matter how crazy the army is, it also knows that without the full support of the whole country in this situation, it will definitely not be able to win.

"Two, please stop. Remember, it's just a truce! and not a final peace agreement. Therefore, I hope that everyone can work together in the future and wait for the glory of the empire to come again in the future! Takahashi spoke again at the right time. Although he also advocated peace talks and ended the war, in the face of the harsh terms of the Chinese, he could not help but feel angry from the bottom of his heart, and naturally looked forward to the reappearance of the glory of the empire. However, there must be a process and a period of time to regroup.

The Japanese political scene during the Taisho period was a rare period of democratic politics in history. Not only are politicians more intelligent and rational, but even the military is not all paranoid and crazy. Therefore, at this moment, after hearing what Takahashi Shiqing said, everyone stopped saying more, and all bowed their heads and began to ponder.

Seeing that there was no difference between the people, Yamamoto Gonbei raised his head and said with a tired face: "In this contract, the first, second, and fifth articles have all been obtained by the people of China, and there is no need to stick to it now. It's just that the land reparations in the third and fourth articles are extremely difficult for the empire to agree! ”

That's right, Korea and Ryukyu are really the territories of the Japanese Empire, and if they are ceded and reparations are paid to the Shina people, then he Yamamoto Gonbei will not be able to step down, and I am afraid that even seppuku will not be able to atone for his sins.

"I can only ask the great powers to come forward and try their best to maneuver in it!"

When Yamamoto Gonbei heard this, he was only silent: "I hope our descendants can understand that this contract is for the greater future of the empire." ”

……

On December 24, the negotiation delegations of the two sides returned to Haiguang Temple again.

Compared with the last time, this negotiation is much more realistic. Although there were still repeated disputes between the two sides, the three agreements on the negotiation agenda were finally reached for the first time that night. First, China and Japan abolished all unequal treaties signed in history; Second, Japan will return Lushun, Taiwan, and other inherent territories that originally belonged to China, and renounce the illegal legal rights and interests it has acquired in China over the years; Third, Japan promised to severely punish several Japanese officers and soldiers who provoked the war, and apologized to China for the incident. Of course, the Japanese side was slow to agree to China's next request to allow the independence of Korea and the Ryukyus and to pay China $200 million.

Since the initial agreement on the three agendas, the negotiations have been going on for several more days, but there has been no progress, but disputes have begun. Even though the Americans came forward and promised to provide loans to the Japanese side, the Chinese side gave up the Ryukyus independence and reduced the amount of compensation to $100 million, but the Japanese side still refused to sign the agreement.

When the news reached Beijing, Xiao Mubai personally gave instructions and sent a telegram to Zhang Xiaohuai, asking the officers and men of the Northeast Military Region to give full play to the revolutionary spirit of the People's Army that they are not afraid of death and hardship, and to organize one or two campaigns again, to deal a severe blow to the Japanese army, and to cooperate with the diplomatic negotiations from the outside line.

After receiving the telegram in the headquarters, Zhang Xiaohuai thought carefully about it, and then ordered the front-line troops to prepare sufficient food and ammunition to replenish the troops. He also summoned Yin Changheng, commander of the 4th Army, and Cao Kun, commander of the 16th Army, and issued a combat mission in person.