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【This chapter is the occupation of Indonesia (2)】After Wu Tingfang negotiated with the Dutch minister to China, the Netherlands really refused to sell Indonesia to China for three million silver dollars, which was also expected by Song Xiaofei. The Americans had not completely extricated themselves from the economic crisis at home in 1902, and their main diplomatic interests were in the Americas, so they had no objection to China's preparation to send troops to Indonesia to protect overseas Chinese. Britain's attitude is unpredictable, neither for nor against. Song Xiaofei knows that the country's diplomacy is, in the final analysis, nothing more than the word interests, and the UK has not expressed its support for China, which means that the interests have not been fully met. Song Xiaofei sent someone to summon the British ambassador to China, Zhu Erdian, and asked him to come to the presidential palace.

Song Xiaofei and Zhu Erdian are old friends, and their relationship can be traced back to Song Xiaofei's tenure in North Korea. In the living room, Zhu Erdian arrived first, Song Xiaofei walked in, greeted him politely, saw that Zhu Erdian's beard was thicker than before, and joked: "Old friend, your name is very Chinese, is your beard also going to be Chinese?" ”

In 1902, the British Minister to China, Sir Jurbert, turned 50 years old. As an Englishman, he spent more than half of his life in China, so much so that there are many traces of China on his body. For example, his name "Zhu Erdian": Zhu Yan Hefa Zhu, outstanding Er, graceful and elegant Dian, although it is a transliteration, it is full of Chinese flavor, both up and elegant. Zhu Erdian admired Song Xiaofei very much, and felt that there was nothing wrong with him saying this. He touched his upturned beard and laughed, and said in fluent Chinese: "The president has a lot of opportunities, and he still has time to meet me, which is really brilliant." ”

Song Xiaofei smiled and said, "Recently, Chinese has improved a lot, and idioms are used." But you're not using this 'fluffy and shining' correctly, I should use it." ”

Zhu Erdian said, "Oh, thank you for the advice. But the president came to me. There must be something good again. ”

Song Xiaofei said: "Of course, without a big gift, I don't dare to alarm you." To be honest, what do you think of China's relationship with Britain right now? How is my support for your work? ”

1902 year. More than seventy percent of China's imported products come from Britain, and more than 40 percent of foreign companies in China are British or British shares, and since the sixties and seventies of the nineteenth century when the United States implemented tariff protection, and the European powers followed suit, Britain's export trade has been seriously challenged, so the eastern market is more important to the empire, and from 1894 to 1902, HSBC and other British banks lent 206 million taels of silver in China. The British "real estate speculation group" invested $51,005,000 in real estate in China, and as of 1902, Britain held $100,000 million in bonds from the Chinese government. Moreover, China's six 15,000-ton warships were also purchased from Britain, and this large order allowed Zhu Erdian to earn a lot of kickbacks. It is precisely because Song Xiaofei vigorously developed relations with Britain that Zhu Erdian, the ambassador to China, not only made a fortune himself, but also received a knighthood from the Queen of England.

The sun never sets on the empire in 1902. Although it cannot be said that it is declining, it is not what it used to be compared to the heyday of the Victorian era. The rise of the United States has the potential to catch up with Britain in terms of economy, and it is not optimistic in terms of diplomacy, and Germany is becoming more and more aggressive, in the Balkans, North Africa, and Palestine. Constantly causing trouble. In the UK, Parliament is arguing over a Budget Bill to raise taxes on the wealthy. So for China, Britain is trying its best to win over. Therefore, Zhu Erdian replied to Song Xiaofei and said: "The great president attaches great importance to the relationship between the contemptible people and the British Empire, and our two countries are naturally very good friends. The British government is also interested, and it is estimated that soon China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy will be able to sign cooperation agreements. ”

Song Xiaofei said, "Among the four countries of Germany, France, Russia, and Spain, Germany is the most difficult to deal with, and you know it." The Germanic people were warlike people by nature, and I dare to boldly predict that in the future, the whole of Europe will be dragged into the war by the Germans, so we should cooperate vigorously with China and Britain to prepare for it in advance. ”

The German emperor, Wilhelm II, was born with a breech birth, which caused him to suffer from Elb's palsy, which caused his left arm to shrink. In many cases, he deliberately tilted his body sideways when taking pictures, subtly highlighting his functioning right hand and concealing his defective left hand. In many photographs, Wilhelm II often wears gloves on his left hand to make his left hand look more slender, and he also likes to use his left hand to lean on a sword or a cane to make himself look more decent. Because of a serious illness that leads to brain function problems. His health problems made him ambitious and reckless, as well as conceited and arrogant in his dealings with others, and he ascended the throne in June 1888, and by March 1890 he had dismissed Bismarck, the "iron-blooded chancellor" of Germany and a general of the army. Germany and Austria-Hungary were allied, and both pursued a policy of active foreign expansion at this time. Although Britain and Germany have conflicts in the Balkans, North Africa, Palestine and other places, they have not yet reached the point of war. ”

Song Xiaofei said: "I won't hide it from you Britain. China was not afraid of an alliance of Germany, France, Russia, Austria-Hungary. Their alliance was very shaky, and although Kaiser Wilhelm II did not continue Bismarck's policy of isolating France, France, which had been greatly humiliated by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War, was not necessarily in league with Germany, and Germany and France had conflicting interests in Morocco. Russia was also wary of the Germans. China was ready to turn against Germany and immediately take back Jiaozhou Bay, which was leased by the Germans, by force. If the British government could help, China was prepared to take back the Jiaoji Railway built by the Germans and hand it over to the British to continue building. ”

Jiaoji Railway, also known as Jiaoji Line, east from Qingdao, west to Jinan, was founded in 1899, the length of the business line is 384.2 kilometers, is to connect Jinan, Qingdao two major cities, is the transportation artery across Shandong, Li Hongzhang was president, allowed Germany to build the Jiaoji Railway, at this time has been half completed, and Jiaozhou Bay is Germany borrowed the Seven-Nation Coalition to invade China, forcibly occupied, nominally leased, did not say when to return.

Only then did Zhu Erdian understand that Song Xiaofei not only wanted to send troops to Indonesia, but also wanted to drive German forces out of China after canceling the French concession. Germany could not yet afford to take care of the Jiaozhou colony, which was far from its homeland. Zhu Erdian was surprised that Song Xiaofei knew so much about the general situation in the world, but it was in the interests of the British to drive the German forces out of China, and Zhu Erdian said, "I can persuade the British government to help China recover Jiaozhou Bay." ”

Song Xiaofei said, "China and Britain can also sign a secret agreement for the British navy to blockade the Strait of Malacca to prevent the fleets of Germany and France from rushing from Europe to support." At that time, after the Chinese occupation of Indonesia, the islands near the Malay Federation and Singapore could be handed over to the British administration. ”

With a total length of about 1,080 kilometers, the widest part of the northwest is 370 kilometers, and the narrowest point of the southeast is only 37 kilometers, and it is an important passage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, connecting the world's three most populous countries: China, India and Indonesia, and is also an important passage from West Asia to East Asia. Therefore, the Strait of Malacca is an important international waterway, both economically and militarily. Comparable to the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal. Once Britain blockades the Strait of Malacca, it will be difficult for warships from European countries such as Germany and France to come to the aid of the Netherlands, and China will take Indonesia like a bag.

"In this way," said Jurdian, "Britain would have completely offended Germany." ”

In the early 20th century, the rapid development of the German economy, which was inherently unfavorable to the British, was born in 1867, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was born, which advocated cooperation with Germany and established the Central Powers, which aimed at external expansion, which was already a headache for the British. Song Xiaofei knew this, so he said: "To be honest, I don't think the relationship between Britain and Germany is very good now." I have heard that Germany has been vigorously developing its navy in recent years, in order to catch up with and surpass the British navy. There is an old saying in China, "strike first is strong", and I hope that you will communicate more with the British government, brother. ”

"I tried my best to find someone to convince the MPs in London. However, it is still the old rule that China must give priority to cooperation with Britain in the case of war arms and loans. ”

"Of course." Song Xiaofei said that when he saw the back of Zhu Erdian's departure, he thought, "Drive the Germans out of Jiaozhou, occupy Indonesia, and then take back Macao, and then we will have to take back Hong Kong, and all Chinese territory will be recovered." ”

Zhu Erdian really lived up to Song Xiaofei's expectations and persuaded the British government to support China. China, Britain, the United States, and Italy soon signed an alliance treaty. On November 3, 1902, China broke off diplomatic relations, China officially declared war on Germany, and then mobilized Wang Shizhen's First Army of more than 50,000 troops, including 2 British brigades, 1,682 people, 12,000 horses, ready to attack Jiaozhou, and more than 70 ships of various types, ready to carry out naval operations.

Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany was under the influence of the German Governor of Jiaozhou. After Wadeck's telegram, he was furious and immediately declared a state of military martial law in Jiaozhou Bay. Many of the German diaspora in the Far East were replaced by Meyer. Wadeck was drafted into the army, or made a reservist, and declared war with China.

On November 5, the Chinese government ultimatum to the German government that the Jiaozhou leased land should be temporarily handed over to China for the time being, and that all German ships in Chinese waters should be immediately withdrawn or disarmed. The Germans ignored it and actively prepared for war.

On November 7, twenty ironclad warships of China's First Fleet arrived in the waters of Qingdao and blockaded Jiaozhou Bay. At the same time, Wang Shizhen led the siege heavy artillery and infantry along Laizhou and Pingdu to Jimo, until Jimo, two British brigades also landed in Laoshan Bay, and the Sino-British coalition army completed the encirclement of the German army in Jiaozhou.