September 2, 1900, 9 a.m.

Shanghai Mansion, Li Mansion.

Li Mansion is the residence of Li Hongzhang, a famous minister of the Qing Dynasty, in Shanghai.

Li Hongzhang, a famous minister in the late Qing Dynasty, one of the main leaders of the Westernization Movement, a native of Hefei, Anhui Province, is known as Li Zhongtang in many people in the world, also known as Li Hefei, his real name is Zhang Tong, the word gradually Fu or Zihuang, the number Shaoquan (Quan), in his later years, he called himself Yisuo, alias Worry, and Wenzhong.

As the founder and commander of the Huai Army and the Beiyang Naval Division, the leader of the Westernization Movement, the official to the governor of Zhili and the minister of Beiyang Commerce, he was awarded the Wenhuadian University Scholar.

Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi regarded him as "the only person in the Qing Empire who had the ability to compete with the world powers", Cixi regarded him as "the person who recreated Xuanhuang", and was called the "Four Famous Ministers of Zhongxing" together with Zeng Guofan, Zhang Zhidong, and Zuo Zongtang, and was called "the three great men of the world in the nineteenth century" together with Bismarck and Grant.

Some people sing praises for Li Hongzhang, and naturally some people scold Li Hongzhang, such as "Qin Hui, a traitor, Li Hongzhang, a miscountryman", "a pastemaker in the autumn wind all his life", etc., the merits and demerits are left for future generations to say, we still get back to business.

The outbreak of the Gengzi national disaster, in fact, had a chance to avoid it from the beginning, because when the Boxers arose, Li Hongzhang played and asked the imperial court to resolutely suppress it.

Therefore, when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in the north, the British and French and other eight-nation coalition forces officially went to war with the Qing court, the Qing court was defeated, Cixi fled west with Guangxu, and the situation in the north was chaotic.

Although Cixi reappointed Li Hongzhang as the governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang on 16 July, the day when the Qing government ordered the cessation of the attack on Dongjiaomin Lane, and summoned Li Hongzhang to Beijing several times, Li Hongzhang replied that he would "immediately follow the order and go north," but he did not leave Guangzhou.

It was not until the fall of Tanggu that Li Hongzhang, then 77 years old, boarded a ship from Guangdong and headed north, and when Li Hongzhang arrived in Shanghai, his itinerary suddenly stopped, on the grounds of physical discomfort, he said that he was sick and needed to recuperate, and the actual reason was that he was worried that Cixi's attitude would be repeated, and second, because of the persuasion of his subordinates and relatives, he hoped to take Maguan as a lesson from the past, so as not to be called the scapegoat of the imperial court.

In fact, one of the most important reasons is that he has not received any reply to his requests for peace talks to various countries in the name of Minister Plenipotentiary, and even if Li Hongzhang visits the ambassadors of various countries in Shanghai in his personal capacity, he will eat a nail that is neither soft nor hard.

It should be said that Li Hongzhang's life in Shanghai was not easy, and in such a hazy day, the Russian ambassador to Shanghai, Dmiev, actually came to visit in person, you know, just the day before yesterday, Li Hongzhang ordered someone to visit with a post, but they were all politely refused, and today Demiev actually came to ask for a meeting, which made Li Hongzhang very surprised.

"Youqiao, did you hear him mention a few words?" Li Hongzhang stroked his white beard, his face was suspicious, Youqiao, his full name is Zhang Peilun, is Li Hongzhang's son-in-law, a minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and now Li Hongzhang's curtain, just now Zhang Peilun led Dmiyev to the living room to wait.

"Lord Zhongtang, although Demiev did not say a word, but his face was anxious, his face was tired, and his attitude towards Youqiao was not half arrogant, and Youqiao thought that Demiev must come with a request." Zhang Peilun analyzed.

"Oh, come with a request?" Li Hongzhang paused and chuckled: "In this way, it seems that there is hope that the peace talks will break the ice." ”

"You Qiao thinks, but also." Zhang Peilun nodded and replied.

……

A few minutes later, the living room of the Li Mansion.

"Ambassador Dmiev, welcome to the Humble House." Li Hongzhang said.

"Don't dare, the day before yesterday, I happened to go out, and I couldn't see Li Zhongtang's prayer post in time, so I came to visit today." Dmiev has been in China for several years, and he does not dare to say that he is proficient in Chinese official dialect, but there is basically no problem in communication.

Although Li Hongzhang had not yet guessed the reason for the change in Dmiev's attitude, this was obviously a good thing, so he was not in a hurry to raise the issue of his own peace talks, but chatted with Dmiev.

Obviously, in this respect, Dmiev is definitely not as good as an old fox like Li Hongzhang, and after chatting for a while, Dmiev finally couldn't help but start to say bluntly: "Lord Li, this envoy came today for the friendship between our two countries and for the peace of your dynasty, I don't know if Lord Li has any intention to talk about it." ”

Hearing that Dmiev finally spoke, Li Hongzhang was also secretly relieved, in fact, he was also anxious, just the way of negotiation, if he spoke first, he would definitely fall into the disadvantage, and the other party would definitely be able to occupy the initiative in the next negotiations or exchange of interests.

"Of course, now that the north is in chaos, and the people of the Qing Dynasty are struggling to make a living, and their lives are miserable, if Ambassador Dmiyev is here for peace, Li, I am grateful." Li Hongzhang must not be able to hold it anymore, although he knows that the other party must be asking for himself, but he still knows what he is asking for, but he is really asking for the other party.

"Well, since that's the case, the envoy has made it clear." Dmiev was quite satisfied that Li Hongzhang did not continue to make a score, so he continued: "For the battle of the Eight-Nation Alliance, our Tsarist Russian Empire is willing to cease fire first and then negotiate peace, and even, is willing to promote a ceasefire for other countries for your country to cease fire first and then negotiate peace. ”

In fact, in history, it was Tsarist Russia that first agreed to negotiate peace, because Tsarist Russia wanted the three eastern provinces, and an important intention of Tsarist Russia's negotiations was to solve the border problem of the three eastern provinces that could not be resolved in the Sino-Russian secret treaty in 1896, so when I heard that Li Hongzhang was going to come to peace talks, Tsarist Russia was the first to support it, of course, the time was far from so early.

Moreover, whether it is Tsarist Russia or other countries, they all advocate peace first, and then cease fire, because the time for peace negotiation is certainly not short, and during this time, their armies can wantonly burn and loot everywhere, enclosing territory everywhere, and the larger the territory they have laid, the more favorable the process and result of the negotiation will be to them, and in the end, it is indeed the first to negotiate peace and finally cease fire.

And right now, the attitude of the Russian ambassador has changed so much, which really makes Li Hongzhang feel surprised, of course, more surprises, despite this, Li Zhongtang's face is still indifferent, this kung fu to nourish qi is indeed perfect, even Zhang Peilun on the side admired, and asked himself that the gap is not small.

"What are your country's conditions?"

Li Hongzhang asked lightly, not only did he not show any joy, but asked about the other party's intentions, obviously, it is impossible to drop pie in the sky, for the greed and cunning of Tsarist Russia, Li Hongzhang has a deep understanding, of course, if it is someone else, although he can also think of it, but I am afraid that he wants to be grateful, and then he is willing to be a son of a cow.

Li Hongzhang's reaction surprised Demiev, but he didn't bother to think about it, so he just said bluntly: "I need all the Qing soldiers in the three eastern provinces of your country to fully cooperate with our Tsarist army and exterminate the stubborn bandits in the three eastern provinces." ”

"Bandits? Cooperate with the bandits? Boxer? Li Hongzhang wondered.

Not only Li Hongzhang was puzzled, but even Zhang Peilun was puzzled, although the imperial court had not yet issued an all-out order to exterminate the Boxers, but basically it was already being implemented, but the Boxers in the three eastern provinces were actually not as numerous as Shangyanjing, Hebei and other places, not to mention that all the Qing troops needed to cooperate with the Tsarist army to be able to exterminate them, so if it weren't for the Boxers, what bandits would there be in the three eastern provinces and have so much energy?

In the face of Li Hongzhang's doubts, Dmiev also showed disdain in his heart, despising the Qing Dynasty and not even hearing of Aihui's Black Dragon Army, you know, in Aihui, Tsarist Russia and the Black Dragon Army have fought several times, and Tsarist Russia has lost tens of thousands of soldiers.

Li Hongzhang really didn't know, first, he was in southern Guangdong, and his main concern was also the Eight-Nation Coalition Army in Yanjing, and the war between the Qing army and Tsarist Russia in the three eastern provinces, he had paid attention to it, but this war was basically over, and the Qing army had surrendered and sued for peace, so Li Hongzhang almost no longer paid attention to the affairs of the three eastern provinces.

Secondly, because of Tsarist Russia's intention to block the news, the Black Dragon Army also deliberately kept a low profile, but it was only publicized in Aihui, or among the green forests and people of Heishui Province, and externally, especially for the Qing court, it was basically in a state of strict defense, plus Yang Fengxiang's previous cover, etc., so Li Hongzhang didn't know, it was too normal.

"Yes, it is indeed a bandit, there is a stubborn bandit in Heishui Province, who live deep in the Buren Mountains, and they are not short of money and food, and their weapons and equipment are also very sophisticated, our Tsarist Russian army has fought with them several times, and has not gained much advantage." When Dmiev told a lie, his face was also not red and his heart was not beating.

Although he knew that what Demiev said was watery, it was really nothing compared to the peace talks of the Qing Dynasty, so Li Hongzhang no longer held it, but asked directly: "I don't know, ambassador, how do you want us to support, how many troops do you need to send, and when will you send them?" ”

"Support, naturally, is full force, full force is the Qing troops of the entire three eastern provinces, they must unconditionally support us to suppress bandits, and even accept our command, as for the time of sending troops, it is immediately." Dmiev said bluntly.

"What?" Li Hongzhang stood up directly in shock by Dmiev's words, frowned and then asked: "I have 40,000 or 50,000 troops in the three eastern provinces of the Qing Dynasty, what kind of bandits need our 40,000 or 50,000 troops to cooperate with your army to fight, do you know how much military money and food are needed for the 450,000 army to move?" ”

"Hehe, Master Li doesn't have to be excited." Dmiev finally saw Li Zhongtang, who was as immobile as a peak, showing such an excited look, and his heart was somewhat happy, so he continued: "What kind of bandits, Li Zhongtang doesn't have to care, you just need to know that if you let this bandit grow, I am afraid that it will be much bigger than the current Boxer Rebellion, and I, Tsarist Russia, am willing to take action for your country to solve this big tumor." ”

Li Hongzhang was still immersed in digesting the thoughts of how powerful the bandits were, and then he heard Dmiev continue: "As long as Li Zhongtang responds to this matter and immediately telegraphs the three eastern provinces, as long as the generals of our Tsarist Russia in the three eastern provinces see the courageous cooperation of the troops of the three eastern provinces of your country, then the army of our Tsarist Russia around Zhili and the army of the three eastern provinces will immediately stop all military operations and come forward to mediate for your country and strive to reach an armistice agreement as soon as possible." ”

"Okay, I'll play it right away."

…… (To be continued.) )