In the Le Shou Hall of the Summer Palace, Cixi was listening to the performance of Prince Qing Yixuan.

"Lafayette, this morning, the minister of the Tsarist Russian Empire to our Qing Empire, Berlansun, handed over a letter from their Emperor Nicholas II to our Qing Empire, and told me that if the Qing Empire continues to encircle and suppress the rebels in Guangxi and the Chen father and son in Hainan, it will be tantamount to declaring war on Russia."

Cixi, who was squinting and lying on the dragon chair, suddenly opened her eyes when she heard this, and said unhappily: "Hey! These Russians and Japanese are really troublesome, you can fight and fight, why do we put down a traitor by ourselves in the Qing Dynasty, which is equivalent to declaring war on them? Could it be that the father and son of the Chen family in Hainan are the father of his Nikolai! Don't pay attention to him, the counterinsurgency of our Qing army in Guangxi is our own business, and it has nothing to do with them! ”

"Back to Lafayette, the Russian Minister Blanson also said that their emperor said that if the Qing Dynasty did not cooperate with the Tsarist Russian Empire and continue to encircle and suppress Guangxi to help the Japanese, Tsarist Russia would come to Beijing!"

"Presumptuous! I'm not easy to mess with! Tsarist Russia said that the army is coming to Beijing, then we will start a war against them! Wang Wenshao and Lu Chuanlin passed on the edict of the palace, and immediately dispatched military horses to start a war with these Russian fanatics! ”

"Galeries Lafayette is angry, the Russians are just talking, we don't need to stir up this bowl of muddy water, let them fight with the Japanese. Moreover, the rebels in Guangxi and Hainan will not be able to become a climate for a while. Hasn't Chen Chuwang been in Hainan for more than 30 years? Haven't you been at peace with us for more than 30 years?

Lafayette, besides, there is no need for us to stop the imminent war between the Chen father and son with the Japanese, let them fight, so as to save trouble.

If the Chen father and son defeat Little Japan, our Qing Dynasty will have nothing to lose, in this way, Hainan Island is still the Qing Dynasty, but he Chen father and son help us to guard the Qing Dynasty temporarily, and when the time is ripe, it is not too late for my Qing Dynasty to solve them.

Weichen thought that the Japanese were now at war with Russia in the northeast, and they could not spare the energy to seize Hainan for the time being. Lafayette, let them go, we can't be guilty of confrontation with Russia now. ”

"It's still Lu Aiqing who said it clearly, and when she said this, Bengong understood. Yiqiao! ”

"The minister is here!"

"Go back to that Tsar of Nicholas and Nicholas for me, just say that I agreed to the Qing Dynasty, let them fight by themselves."

"Huh!"

"Wang Wenshao!"

"The minister is here!"

"Quickly spread the spring of the king of Guangxi, Cen Chunxuan of Guangdong, and the soldiers who encircled and suppressed the rebels in Guangxi, temporarily rest on the spot, and no longer attack the rebels in Guangxi and Hainan! Disobedient, slash! ”

"Huh!"

"Lafayette, there is a rumor from Cen Chunxuan in Guangdong, saying that the rebels in Yulin have infiltrated in the direction of Guangdong, but they do not seem to have the intention of attacking us, according to analysis, their target may be the British army in Hong Kong."

"Hey, this Hainan rebel really doesn't stop! Why mess with those Britons again! Tell Cen Chunxuan to pay attention to their movements, leave them alone for the time being, don't clash with them, and save the Russians from making trouble again! ”

"Huh!"

"Hey, if my Qing Dynasty's Li Zhongtang is still here, I don't have to worry so much! Okay, this palace is tired, you all retreat! ”

"Huh!"

Prince Qing Yixuan and Lu Chuanlin looked at Cixi's helpless back, and gradually disappeared into the Leshoutang of the Summer Palace, sighed, and left separately.

In the British royal family, they were discussing the attitude of Tsarist Russia to the situation in the South China Sea.

British Foreign Secretary Landsdos said: "I have described our relations with Russia, Japan and Germany the year before last. Although the Anglo-Japanese alliance did not instigate the Japanese government to go to extremes, it would inevitably lead to the consequences of making Japan feel that it could compete with the great enemy in the Far East.

After our reconciliation with France, the Germans must have known that if Britain and Russia wanted to confront each other, this would be of special value to them. I heard that German Foreign Minister Pirlov said during his visit to China that all of Germany's hopes depend on their belief that Britain and Russia are approaching conflict.

However, the French ambassador to Britain at that time believed that a conflict between Britain and Russia would be a great disaster, and the only benefit from such a consequence would be Germany.

Therefore, Your Majesty, the consolidation of relations with Russia is of particular importance to our British Empire, and the interests of this great power are closely linked to our relations in Eurasia.

Therefore, Your Majesty the King, I believe that we should be sensible in this matter of the South China Sea and not get involved in war, and this is not a violation of the Anglo-Japanese Covenant. ”

King Edward VII pondered, and did not immediately answer the Foreign Secretary's opinion. Although he had verbally agreed to the invitation of the Japanese envoy to join the war, and had also ordered Admiral Philmantle of the Far East Fleet to move the fleet closer to the South China Sea, he had not made this decision, and he was still hesitating.

At this moment, in the Palace of Versailles in France, King Charles XI was also discussing with his courtiers the attitude of the Russian tsar towards the South China Sea.

France believed that the Anglo-Japanese alliance was to use Japan to contain Russia's threat to British interests, and that Japan was to expand its aggressive rights and interests in the Far East with the support of Britain. At the same time, Germany preferred a conflict between Britain and Russia.

The reason why Germany hopes for a conflict between Britain and Russia is that it hopes that Britain and Russia will lose both sides, which will be conducive to its own struggle for world hegemony.

In France's view, they did not want a situation of Anglo-Russian conflict to arise at this time. Because, in the event of a conflict between Britain and Russia, Germany would benefit from it, and thus directly threaten the interests of France. Therefore, they hope that Britain and Russia will eventually compromise with each other and make concessions to each other.

Therefore, in the eyes of the French, it will be what they need to work on now to prevent Britain from participating in the war in the South China Sea and avoiding a conflict between Britain and Russia.

In the competition between major powers, it is clear that Hainan, an extremely inconspicuous island, has leapt onto the international stage overnight and has inevitably become the focus of conflicts of interests between major powers.

At this moment, the conference hall of the Hainan Royal Mansion was still brightly lit at night, and Chen Zhong was explaining Zhang Tong's work on Hainan's military preparations in the past few days.

"Father-in-law." Chen Zhong called Zhang Tong like this for the first time.

Zhang Tong was a little overwhelmed by this abrupt title, and said: "Lord, I am more used to calling me by my official title." ”

"It's nothing, now that we are two people, this king will still call you like this. After Ru Ru got married, this king has been busy with official business, and he has not even fulfilled the etiquette of returning to the door, this king is very apologetic! ”

"Lord Wang, these days, there have been so many changes in Hainan, and there is no need to be rigid about these small gifts."

"Father-in-law, this king is going to Guangxi early tomorrow morning, go out in micro-service, don't make a noise. During this trip to Guangxi, there are important things to deal with and to keep secrets. Hainan affairs will be left to you. If someone asks about this king, they will say that I have something important to deal with, and it is inconvenient to meet him! I'll be back on time in two days. ”

"Yes! Please rest assured, before you come back, you will ensure that Hainan is safe! ”