The sun shines on the street after the second day, and it is warm. In this season. This is the most pleasant time of the spell, there are not many vehicles on the street, and there are not many pedestrians, and the people walking on the street at this time show a little laziness.

At the corner of the street, a rickshaw came by, and the driver was walking slowly, looking around as he went, and the empty body showed that the rickshaw was soliciting passengers.

When the rickshaw passed by an antique shop, a man walked out of the shop, beckoned the driver to stop the rickshaw, and then the man lifted the hem of his shirt and sat down in the body.

"Go to Liulichang."

The passenger in the long shirt whispered a command, and the driver answered, pulled up the rickshaw, turned around, and ran briskly.

The passenger in the long shirt was Wang Yitang, who was not only the president of the Sino-Japanese Association for the Promotion of Friendly Relations, but also a senior adviser to the Presidential Office. As a semi-politician with a special allowance from the Presidential Palace, Wang Yitang does not have much government affairs on his shoulders, but he has plenty of time, so when he is usually fine, Wang Yitang always has to go to the antique shops everywhere to look for some antiques, calligraphy and paintings, on the one hand, he can cultivate his sentiments, and on the other hand, when necessary. These antiques, calligraphy and paintings may also come in handy, and in these years, officials and businessmen who like antiques, calligraphy and paintings are everywhere.

Today is Sunday, Wang Yitang did not go to the headquarters of the Sino-Japanese Friendship Promotion Association, still wandering on the street as usual, just got the news in the antique shop, saying that a batch of jade has appeared in the glass field recently, which has some treasures, but the antique shop does not dare to accept it, because the law prohibits the resale of antiques of unknown origin, so, can only be traded on the black market, the shopkeeper suggested that Wang Yitang personally rushed to the glass field, and pointed out the doorway, so, Wang Yitang, who was eager to ask for treasure, quickly left the shop, Stop a rickshaw and rush to Liulichang.

By the time Wang Yutang arrived at Liulichang, the sun was already in the west. Gave the coachman the money, Wang Yitang rushed to the shop specializing in black market transactions according to the instructions of the shopkeeper of the antique shop, but when he arrived in front of the shop, the shop did not open, Wang Yitang did not give up, walked forward and patted the door, but no one answered. After waiting for a while, no one came to open the door, and I knew that the shop would not open today. So I had to walk around the glass field first. See what other antiques, calligraphy and paintings are worth paying attention to.

After turning around, Wang Hangtang found nothing, went away in a huff, called a rickshaw, and told the coachman to take him to the tavern he frequented, and he would answer tonight

But as soon as he walked far, Wang Yitang heard someone calling him.

"Wang Sang! Wang Sang! ”

Wang Yitang turned his head to look and saw a person's head poking out of the rear window of the oncoming domestic sedan, it was none other than the Japanese politician Nishihara Kamezo, although this person could not speak Chinese. But now he can already call Wang Yitang's name

Wang Yitang instructed the rickshaw driver to stop the car, get out of the car, catch up with a few steps, walk to the car, and look into the car. I saw that in the car sat Nishihara Kamezo and his doctor, and there was an empty seat in the front row. Look at Nishihara Kamezo's meaning, he wants to invite him to get in the car and talk.

Wang Yitang was not polite. Got in the car. Sitting next to the driver, then Kamezo Nishihara instructed the driver to drive. After the car started, Nishihara Kamezo talked to Wang Yitang with the help of Tsusawawa.

"Mr. Wang, I went to the house just now, and I heard that you were in the antique shop, and I rushed to the antique shop, but the shopkeeper told you that you were in Liulichang, so I chased after me, fortunately we met on the road, otherwise, I would have to pounce again

"Mr. Nishihara, why are you looking for me in such a hurry?"

Wang Yitang was a little puzzled: Only yesterday did he attend the "Sino-Japanese Friendship Night" held by the Japanese Legation in China. At the ball, at the ball, Nishihara Kamezo also specially introduced a Japanese Kabuki to him, and at that time, Nishihara Kamezo did not have anything important to discuss with Wang Yitang.

"That's right, just this morning, Mr. President of your country invited Mr. Minister of the Imperial Government of Japan to go to the Presidential Palace with me, and we discussed the current situation in Nanyang, and we also had a very cordial conversation and consultation on the matter of upgrading diplomatic relations between China and Japan. It is aimed at further enhancing the enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Last time in Tianjin, Mr. Meng Wang introduced, I had a very meaningful conversation with the former president of your country, Mr. Xu, Mr. Xu also agreed to consult with his subordinates on the financing of the Butterfly Charcoal Syndicate, and submitted his opinions to Mr. President, for this kind of friendly cooperation between China and Japan, the Japanese business community is very satisfied, so I hope to be able to hand over to Mr. Xu a formal draft of the contract, which has now been sent to the Japanese Embassy, if it is convenient for Mr. Wang, you can go to the embassy with me to pick it up, and then we will send it to Xufu in Tianjin

Nishihara Kamezo explained a few words, and Wang Yitang realized that the other party still wanted him to be a middleman, so as to catch the line of the Beiyang Consortium and lay the foundation for capital cooperation between China and Japan.

Wang Yitang is also happy to participate in it. He knew very well that as long as he seized the opportunity to promote economic cooperation between the Beiyang Foundation and the Japanese chaebol, the future Beiyang Foundation would definitely look at him differently, so he agreed to come down and rushed to the Japanese Legation in China with Kamezo Nishihara in a car.

When I arrived at the Japanese legation, I was just in time for the new Japanese ambassador to China to take up his post, and the new Japanese ambassador to China was named Hichi-yi, a seasoned diplomat, who arrived by train from Shenyang at noon. After handing over the task, I will rush back to Japan.

As soon as they met, they generously gave Wang Yitang a gold watch and a gold pen, and repeatedly praised Wang Yitang for making "outstanding and very important contributions" to Sino-Japanese friendship. "In the future, the Japanese government can award a medal to Wang Yitang. He was even invited to Tokyo as a guest.

In fact, the reason why Rizhiyi values Wang Yitang so much is because of his identity, which the Japanese know. Wang Yitang currently has a relatively high status in the presidential palace and is often close to the president himself, so he can directly make suggestions to the president, so before rushing to China to take over as ambassador, the Japanese Government specially reminded Japan to strengthen ties with Wang Yitang.

Wang Yitang was also flattered, and there was really no gift in return, so he simply exchanged posts with Rizhiyi, and wanted to worship this Japanese diplomat, and Rizhiyi also agreed, but under the pretext that the schedule was full, he postponed the date of worship by a few days, and in Jiangchuan", the draft contract of the Japanese chaebol brought by the second Xi to the Beiyang Foundation was handed over to Wang Yu and personally sent Wang Yitang and Nishihara Kamezo out of the embassy, and stood at the door of the embassy, watching the car leave.

"Your Excellency. This Chinese is very easy to buy, and perhaps the empire will soon be able to establish closer relations with China

A military attache of the Japanese embassy stood beside Hichiyi and muttered a few words.

But Rizhiyi shook his head slightly. did not agree with the opinion of the military attaché.

"You're wrong, and you're very wrong. Now, it is not this political opportunist who determines Japan-China relations. It's the president of China. Therefore, for this Wang Yitang, as long as you envelop it well, you can do it, but you don't have to bet too much on him, what we need to buy is not this group of mediocre Chinese politicians, but the unfathomable "mad president"

Rizhiyi said it from the heart, before coming to China. He had carefully studied this "mad president." He insisted that there seemed to be a very mysterious color in this Chinese president, but what kind of color it was, Rizhiyi couldn't grasp it at all.

Perhaps, this is the genius who is not born in the world, who can firmly grasp every strategic opportunity. This kind of talent was not available even in the Meiji era in Japan, and the fact that there is such a leader in China now is indeed a frightening blessing for the country, but at the same time, it is also not involved in the Japanese Empire. There is no way. The only way to do this is to strengthen relations with China, which is both Asian countries and has a strong interest in changing the white-dominated order of the world today

Hichiki sighed, shook his head again, and walked back to the embassy to continue studying the work schedule, which were all unfinished tasks left by the previous minister. Rizhiyi must complete all these tasks, and the most important of them is the current crisis in the South Seas.

Rizhiyi is very excited right now, because it was just yesterday. The central government of China has decided not to accept the mediation proposal proposed by the British, but under the pretext of "Java." The sinking of the civilian ship caused the death and injury of Chinese nationals and formally lodged a diplomatic protest against the Dutch government, and at the same time urgently met with the Japanese minister and suggested that the Chinese and Japanese navies hold joint military exercises in the South China Sea to intimidate the Dutch and British governments.

As far as the Japanese government is concerned, there is no news more exciting for them than this news, since Japan participated in the Allied group's combat operations against Germany, Japan has made a strategic breakthrough in the Pacific direction, and now many Japanese politicians have clearly defined Japan's strategic direction, that is, the Pacific direction, that is, the southward strategy, and those diehards who still have a long-term obsession with the so-called "northward strategy" have also changed their stance and begun to adhere to the idea of southward expansion. The Japanese Government instructed its envoy to China to make a proposal to the Chinese side and ask the Chinese and Japanese navies to hold joint military exercises to demonstrate the rise of Asian power.

In the past, the Japanese government was worried that the Chinese government would not dare to agree to such a blatant display of Asian power because of its concerns with European countries. But now it seems that all the problems have been solved with the tension between China and the Netherlands. China needs Japan's naval power, and Japan needs China's enormous war potential.

Imagine a country with the largest army strength in the Far East and the largest naval strength in the Far East. Now that Europe is still at war and the United States is about to go to war against Germany, the Western world has no way to curb the "free movement" of China and Japan in Asia. This rare period of strategic opportunity is not exactly the "Greater East Asia Holy War" that Japanese politicians dream of. A good opportunity?

It was precisely for this reason that the Japanese Government, upon learning that the situation between China and the Netherlands was ready to go, immediately telegraphed to the Minister in China, ordering that every means be done to induce the Central Government of China to resolve to wage war against the Netherlands. And then. The Japanese government will also declare war on the Netherlands under the pretext of collusion between the German diaspora in New Guinea and the Dutch colonial authorities! Once the war against the Netherlands began, the small Japanese combined fleet would attack the Dutch East Indies with lightning speed!

This is the Southeast Asian ambition of the Japanese government! For many years, Japan has been struggling to find an opportunity in the cracks of the Western powers, and now, the opportunity has arrived! The Japanese government will not allow opportunities to slip away. Even if Britain is firmly opposed, Japan will not give in?

In the present situation, if the Netherlands wants to avoid a joint attack by the Chinese and Japanese fleets. The only way was to join the Entente bloc to declare war on Germany, and only then would Japan lose the justification for declaring war on the Netherlands, but the problem was that. Does the Netherlands now have the courage to declare war on Germany? I'm afraid not. Compared to the German military machine, the poor army strength of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was simply not enough for the German army. More importantly, after several years of torment in the European war, and the ensuing "economic blockade of the maritime strategy" implemented by the British Navy and the unrestricted submarine warfare of the German Navy, the Netherlands now relies entirely on smuggling copper ore and oil to Germany to maintain its national economy, in this case, how could the Netherlands declare war on Germany?

So, the Japanese government insists. As soon as China declared war on the Netherlands, Japan could immediately declare war on the Netherlands, and then rely on its great naval power to eat New Guinea and the other Dutch-occupied possessions of the East Indies.

It's not about how you eat it, or how you excuse it. The point is, how to distribute the spoils with China after eating the Dutch East Indies? In the last Sino-Japanese war, Japan has realized the awakening of China's leading forces, and in the face of such a land military beast, the Japanese government has no confidence in winning the victory on the land battlefield, even on the ocean, the Japanese navy can not forget the great pain of the wounds that were bitten out by the beasts. Therefore, in addition to instigating the war between China and the Netherlands, Rizhiyi's main task now is to scare and secondary tasks, that is, to negotiate with the Chinese side on the issue of disposing of the spoils after the war. It is necessary to make it clear which Dutch territories belong to China and which belong to Japan before the war breaks out, so as to prevent China and Japan from starting out again because of the uneven distribution of spoils.

To use a Chinese idiom, the Japanese government's policy is called "preparing for a rainy day."