Samuel. When Bush came in, Qin Lang was reading the comments in the newspaper, concentrating, and didn't seem to notice that there was an extra senator in the room. Pen ~ fun ~ cabinet www.biquge.info but Bush didn't care—he knew that Qin Lang knew he was in—to the senator's surprise, the newspaper was actually from 1896.

And it's a French newspaper.

"What are you looking at?" He asked curiously.

"The Dreyfus Case."

The answer was simple, but Bush knew what it was: In October 1894, French Army Captain Alfred Bush was a French Army captain. Dreyfus was arrested on suspicion of selling military secrets to Germany and sentenced to life imprisonment and exiled to "Devil's Island" off the coast of French Guiana – a small incident, but Dreyfus's family, convinced that it was a false verdict, demanded a retrial of the case, contacted many lawyers, journalists and writers, and finally made the entire case public in the newspapers, leading to an uproar in French public opinion and a demand for the court to revoke the verdict.

But this was two years ago, and while it is certain that Dreyfus's family and their allies are still working tirelessly to change the outcome, Bush doesn't think there is anything else worth paying attention to in the case, and Qin Lang's current behavior is too strange.

"Why do you suddenly care about this, Qin?"

"Because it's funny, Senator"—Qin Lang gestured to Bush to sit down—"and it is certain that Captain Dreyfus will be the most famous Frenchman at the turn of the century, and that his case will eventually be retried." ”

"Do you think he will be acquitted?" Bush doesn't believe it.

"The French War Department and the counterintelligence department should be very clear that the real traitor is not Captain Dreyfus, in fact, the former Colonel Picard, who is in charge of the counterintelligence department, has confirmed that the traitor who sold intelligence to Germany is another army major, the only problem is that for the sake of his own face, the War Department will insist on mistakes, but in the end," Qin Lang shrugged, "in the face of strong public opinion pressure and more evidence, mistakes will be corrected." ”

"If that's the case, it's going to be a political earthquake." However, this has nothing to do with the United States, and it has nothing to do with Qin Lang's business, and Bush still does not understand why he wastes his energy on caring about it -- it is completely unbelievable to just say that it is "interesting," and the senator does not believe that Qin Lang cares about it just because it is interesting.

There must be other reasons.

But before Bush asked the question, Qin Lang had already revealed the answer. "The case of Captain Dreyfus, in addition to the deliberate false accusations of the traitor's friends and the stupidity and stubbornness of the War Office, is more important because it is an explosion of anti-Semitic sentiment in France and throughout Europe, so that in response Zionism will flourish and spread among the Jews......"

"Zion...... Ism? It took Bush a while to come back to his senses, but he still didn't know what Qin Lang meant: What is "Zionism"?

His performance alerted Qin Lang to a mistake that could have been serious: it was not until 1882 that Zionism officially became the dominant trend of thought among the Jews, the Jewish State had not been published for less than two years, the First World Jewish Congress had not yet been convened, and the World Zionist Program still did not exist, so as a proper noun, Zionism – Zionism – in fact had probably not yet been created, and certainly no one knew about it.

Mentioning it now may cause some unnecessary trouble and speculation, such as his connection to the Zionist movement, but this is a situation that Qin Lang does not want to see.

And he hates Jews.

Of course, Qin Lang didn't show his emotions, and shrugged his shoulders to bypass the embarrassment, explaining: "Zionism, I use it to call the Zionists among the Jews. ”

"Ahh Bush nodded, indicating that he had understood.

So Qin Lang continued. "Dreyfus's case will lead to a surge of Zionist elements among the Jews, especially if the case is finally clarified, and the Jews will choose to establish their own state to escape the persecution of anti-Semitists in Europe, which will become one of the sources of world instability in the next century."

"What do you mean......"

"It's just that I think that the only option for the Jewish Restoration will be the seat of the ancient State of Israel, the area of Palestine. But it was under British control and surrounded by Arabs. Neither the British nor the Muslims would tolerate dozens or even millions of Jews establishing a state under their noses. He smiled, "Conflict will be inevitable." ”

Bush secretly guessed what he meant. Conflict? Of course, conflicts and wars are important events to watch, both for arms dealers and mercenary leaders, but the rise of the Zionist movement in the Middle East can be seen in a case of espionage that is considered to be wrong...... The senator began to wonder if Qin Lang had an overdeveloped intelligence network or if he was just too imaginative—although he preferred to believe the first speculation, it would be a very terrifying thing.

Not only the United States, but also the intelligence agencies of many countries may not reach such a level, but Qin Lang is just an ordinary arms dealer and mercenary leader...... But even if it was just his imagination, according to Qin Lang's consistent correctness, his imagination was also extraordinary.

Bush suddenly began to consider whether he should recommend Qin Lang to incoming President McKinley, who needed an adviser like him, even though he was most likely reluctant to work in Washington......

"Senator, what are you thinking?"

Bush came to his senses. "I'm considering your prediction and, I must say, I'm taken aback." After a pause, he continued, "Of course it has nothing to do with what I'm here for. ”

Qin Lang blinked. "And what is your purpose here?"

"To the general public, I'm just on vacation in California, and to the Foreign Affairs Committee, I'm here to inform you of the Senate's decision to punish Umbrella and appease you, but to a very small number of people, I'm here because of the letter you wrote to me." Bush leaned forward, "What is your view on the situation in China?" ”

He didn't plan to tell Qin Lang about the Senate's decision to punish Umbrella, because he already knew about it. Nominally as punishment for the military operation of the "McBride Volunteer Infantry Regiment" in Canton Bay - and on the grounds that Lieutenant Colonel Yi Shui did not inform Washington before the operation, and not that he did it - but in fact because the parliamentarians felt that the cost of mercenaries was a little higher, the Senate decided to reduce the number of mercenaries to less than nine hundred, that is, a brigade, obviously, Qin Lang did not lose anything.

Moreover, Bush knew that he had signed an agreement with the French to send mercenaries to the Indochina region to suppress the anti-French forces there, and that the mercenaries who had been relieved of the mission could be sent there.

Qin Lang has nothing to complain about, if there is, it is only because the Congress did not award Lieutenant Colonel Yi Shui, but everyone knows that awarding a Chinese under the current situation will be a very troublesome thing and is destined to cause a storm, so he will not really care about this matter, of course, there is no need to appease.

Bush only needs to do one thing: find out Qin Lang's views on the situation in China.

He had predicted a noticeable change in the situation in China, and now it was happening, and in the wake of the Canton Bay incident, thousands of Chinese officials and students submitted reports or wrote letters to their emperors, demanding large-scale and comprehensive reforms in China, reviving the country and freeing it from being bullied by the West, while arguing fiercely with conservative officials who opposed the reforms. The minister's report to Washington, detailing the situation in Beijing, was a massive petition that was growing louder, and inside sources from the Chinese government suggested that the Chinese emperor seemed ready to accept the pleas of officials and students to overhaul his country.

Nothing has been more concerning in Washington, where the federal government and the Senate hope that China will improve a little bit to better balance the interests of the West, and that a prosperous China is a potential market for American companies to look out for, but on the other hand, ministers and lawmakers are concerned about the impact on American interests after China's renaissance is completed.

This is not without precedent. Japan was a poor and backward country when Brigadier Perry entered Tokyo Bay, but only forty years later, the country dared to send warships to interfere in U.S. activities in Hawaii. While the United States has so far gained more from Japan's rise than it has costed, no one can predict what the future holds—perhaps if Japan is not careful, it will become a serious threat to the United States in the Pacific and East Asia.

Of course, there is not much value in talking about Japan now, but China must not become another Japan.

"In my personal opinion, Washington was worried too soon." Qin Lang smiled, but in Bush's opinion, there was a bit of mockery; Worried too soon? Why?

"Whatever happens to China, it's always the UK that responds first, because it has a bigger stake there, and the US...... If we behave too aggressively, then Washington will have to worry not about Beijing's attitude, but about London's attitude. He tapped lightly on the table, "Senator, is Washington clear about where it stands?" ”

"Of course." Bush frowned: not everyone is completely aware of the situation of the United States, such as Qin Lang's Democratic friend Mr. Dierman, who firmly believes that his new warships can defeat the Royal Navy, and all day long in the Naval Affairs Committee to make waves and demand the construction of more warships, and every speech always begins with "The Navy must regard the Royal Navy as its main enemy and always be ready to destroy it......", maybe the German Emperor Wilhelm II would like him, but the Senate did not intend to be as stupid and brute as His Majesty Kaiser Wilhelm, So Mr. Diellman became a headache.

And he's not alone...... Of course, they are neither mainstream nor the focus today.

Today's focus is on Qin Lang.

He is continuing: "As long as Washington is clear about its position, the United States can benefit enough in what happens next without taking responsibility and without paying too much price-"

Bush interrupted him that now is not the time for a tirade, and there is only one main point. "What happens next?"

"To put it simply, the emperor will order the beginning of reforms, but they will never succeed." Qin Lang shrugged, "It will also trigger a fierce conflict between him and the Empress Dowager, and eventually lead to a palace coup." ”

The senator's eyes widened in surprise. China's reforms will not succeed, he can predict that; The conflict between the emperor and the empress dowager is not uncommon in such a feudal dictatorship, and it is not surprising...... But a palace coup? While palace coups are also common in feudal dictatorships, will the situation eventually deteriorate to such a point?

"Washington still knows too little about China, senator." That smile like a knife came again - Bush's heart contracted suddenly, "The contradiction between the Chinese emperor and the empress dowager had become very acute a few years ago, the emperor did not like the empress dowager's intervention in him, and the empress dowager did not want to give power back to him, so when the emperor was forced to marry the empress of the empress dowager's choice for him and the empress dowager was forced to return most of the power to him, the war between them began, and it would not end until one of them fell." ”

"But it's ...... with reform"

"The emperor's reforms were destined to harm the interests of many, which is why he would not succeed. And among those whose interests have been harmed, the vast majority are ministers loyal to the Empress Dowager, which will make her feel that the emperor has officially attacked her, and in order to protect her interests and power, she will not hesitate to abolish the emperor and replace it with a new one. ”

"Of course," he said after a pause, "this is an opportunity for the United States." ”

"Opportunity?" Bush repeated the word, but he was very confused: Qin Lang warned Washington to pay attention to his position only a few minutes ago, why is he mentioning opportunities now?

And, what chances?

"The British," Qin Lang explained, "will not agree to the abolition of the current emperor by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, because on the one hand they like the current emperor, and on the other hand, they do not want to see the situation in East Asia change." But the problem was that, due to the troubles brought about by the Republic of Dewaziland, Britain did not have the spare forces to interfere in China's affairs. Of course, at this time, the United States can help a little. ”

"But we don't have troops involved in the operation either, and Congress won't ......" Bush stopped suddenly, he knew what Qin Lang meant: Yes, the United States does not have enough troops and Congress will not agree to send troops, but the mercenaries of the Umbrella company are not restricted, but does it have so many soldiers?

"Your mercenaries are going to Indochina, Qin." He reminded.

"That's not a problem, Senator. I am recruiting and training new mercenaries, and in a few months, a new brigade will be formed. Qin Lang smiled and said, "And we have a lot of time." ”

He believed that he still had a lot of time, and although the historical reform movement only lasted one hundred and three days, this time it could last longer, months, or even a year—because Prince Gong was not dead. Although His Royal Highness had not done much for many years, as a politically experienced veteran who had supported the Westernization Movement, Yi could minimize the overly radical reform line pursued by Tan Si and others, and avoid completely angering the conservative ministers in less than a hundred days.

And not even just conservative ministers. Yi Shui sent back to San Diego the political ideas of some of the reformist students in a telegram long enough, and the result almost made Rachel and O'Connor laugh: it was suggested that Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, and Mongolia should be sold to Britain and Russia in exchange for the necessary funds to implement the reform laws, and he estimated a price of at least one billion taels of silver based on fifty taels per mu of land...... [Note]

That's a good price.

To be honest, this was the most creative political proposition Qin Lang had ever seen, even more creative than the conditions that Dr. Sun would later propose to Japan—the most barren region of China anyway, and since Russia could sell Alaska and France could sell Louisiana, it didn't seem much ...... for China to sell millions of square kilometers of land Of course, the young man who made the suggestion must have forgotten that he was in China, not Russia or France, so he was doomed to nothing more than fists and saliva, and the title of "traitor".

After all, that kind of overly radical proposition is unacceptable even to the Restorationists, conservatives? They don't get angry, because it's a brilliant target that might even turn the tide completely.

Conservative ministers will go crazy with laughter.

However, Qin Lang didn't think that he was very wrong, young people would always make some strange mistakes, because they were too impulsive and inexperienced. However, it is always dangerous to put young people in the hands of the supreme power of a country, and it is a serious disaster for radical young people to hold state power, of course, if the young people who hold state power are both radical and "patriotic...... The Japanese Empire 20 years before the Showa era was the best example of this, and the army captains who were busy "punishing the country" or igniting the flames of war all day long probably never imagined that the ghost animals of the United States would eventually drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

It's a pity that young people are always impulsive and inexperienced—but on the other hand, an unsuccessful reform movement is also what Qin Lang needs, but before he is fully ready, he needs someone to help him hold the reins of the wild horse.

That's Yi.

"Hopefully," Qin Lang muttered to himself, "Our Royal Highness Prince Gong can control the situation as I expected, otherwise there will be problems in my business." ”

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Note: Maybe it's because I read too little, but I don't see this statement anywhere else except for "Tiangong Silent vs. Dry Chess" by Joint Publishing - but I still borrow it here. (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in to the www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!) (To be continued.) )