It's another day, St. Petersburg's night, no need for street lights, in Nevsky Prospect, which St. Petersburg people call the bustling street that represents everything, although it is night, but the street is still crowded, on one side of the street, there is a three-storey villa-style building, here is the "Qing Consulate General in St. Petersburg". Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

In the past few years, similar legations have been opened all over Europe, and in this era, the Qing state sent ministers often concurrently served as ministers to many countries, and in this special diplomatic situation, the Northeast authorities, who have been seeking diplomatic breakthroughs, have obtained the authorization of foreign ministers through bribery and other means to open consulates general in non-minister countries.

The consulate general in St. Petersburg was also part of the Northeast diplomatic system, and unlike the Manchu envoys who rarely participated in social events, the consul general in Russia often attended various events and held executive banquets in the consulate.

It was nearly ten o'clock in the evening, and the sky was slowly darkening.

"Well, then, I'll tell the Count for you later."

Nikolayevich, who was personally sent by the Consul General, politely bid farewell to the Consul General.

Ten minutes later, Nikolayevich got into a carriage and left. Lin Yuqing hurriedly glanced outside, and now the days are getting shorter and shorter. This symbolizes that summer is coming to an end.

Returning to the consular office again, Lin Yuqing wrote down a number in the notebook, which was a message that was inadvertently revealed by the other party in a previous conversation, according to the Minister of Transport's prediction that the Trans-Siberian Railway was very likely to be completed in the next 50 to 60 months.

"The Trans-Siberian Railway will bring huge economic benefits to Russia. Amid the roar of trains, Siberia, which had been deserted, quickly prospered. The first change that changed here after it opened to traffic was the rapid growth of the population...... The arrival of a large number of immigrants. It has effectively alleviated the shortage of labor in Siberia. With the rapid growth of the population. On both sides along the Great Railway. Cities have sprung up......"

Thinking of the information collected by the intelligence officers, Lin Yuqing's brows were tightly locked, as the consul general in Russia, he has been paying attention to the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, after all, for the Northeast, this railway means too many things, and the same intelligence collection for Russia makes him very clear. In the Russian War Department, the Russian generals calculated the projection capacity of the Trans-Siberian Railway, as well as the generals' ambitions for the Northeast China, Xinjiang, Mongolia and other lands outside the border.

At this moment, the phone on the table rang suddenly, and when he took the phone, listening to the voice on the other end of the phone, Lin Yuqing couldn't help but be stunned.

"Why, what time is it?"

In doubt, Lin Yuqing pressed the rattle, quickly. His secretary walked into the office.

"Boss, do you have any instructions?"

"Inform the restaurant to prepare tea and refreshments. A distinguished guest will come to visit the museum in a moment! ”

Opening the gate, the curtain was getting darker outside, and a luxury carriage was parked outside the door of the consulate, and a man had just stepped out of the carriage.

"Hello, always ahead of the class!"

A deep voice sounded, and the indescribable dullness attracted Lin Yuqing's attention unconsciously.

The man who had just dismounted from the carriage was none other than Baron Sergei, Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire, who was very familiar to the diplomatic circles of St. Petersburg, and walked towards him solemnly.

"Welcome, Your Excellency!"

Bow politely, shake hands, and then invite him into the Consulate General, which is the most prominent visit of the Russian Empire since the establishment of the Consulate.

In short, he himself accompanied Werther cautiously, and Werther's attaché followed closely behind the two.

The group of three people soon entered the main living room on the second floor, which is a Russian-style living room, in fact, the three-story building where the Consulate General is located, once belonged to a viscount, and was purchased as a Consulate General three years ago, and because of this, this living room has a "home" feeling.

Everything came naturally, and in a simple politeness, tea and snacks were brought into the living room, and soon, Lin Yuqing realized the problem - Werther's visit was obviously something to discuss, not just a "courtesy visit".

What could it be?

Lin Yuqing also calmed down, although he didn't know what was happening, he could vaguely guess that it might have a lot to do with the current situation.

In the past few months, the Russian Empire has been stirred up by the word "tropical colony" in the wake of the Borneo Incident, and for these Russians near the Arctic, they have a natural desire for land and a greater desire for sunshine.

However, do they know that from the time the first article was published in the newspaper, an invisible hand has been manipulating all this?

At the same time, a question sprung up in his mind, apparently it was Werther's visit, and what was it for?

Three years ago, Lin Yuqing, who had just arrived in St. Petersburg, had been trying to get in touch with the tsar's favored retainer in front of him through some channels, so as to bring the two sides closer and finally ease the current situation.

Unlike the Russian War Ministry's group of lunatics who wanted to push the border to the Great Wall, he believed that the Chinese population in the northeast was too large and powerful, and it was undoubtedly a burden for Russia, just like Japan today, so his opinion was to occupy only sparsely populated Mongolia and Xinjiang.

Of course, even this kind of "prudence" is not in China's interests, and not giving up an inch of land is a principle that must be observed in the course of going from state to country.

Lin Yuqing tried to shake away these thoughts, and tried to focus on the figure in front of him who single-handedly promoted the reform of the Russian Empire. It is thanks to its efforts that the Russian Empire has undergone very different changes over the past few years.

When he was the head of the Russian Railways, he fully promoted the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and after he became the Minister of Finance, he implemented the gold standard in Russia. In order to attract foreign capital and help support domestic capital to expand the economy. Russia has become a magnet for investment. This is especially true in France. It also encourages the development of technical colleges and universities to provide Russia with much-needed talent. It is precisely because of Werther's efforts that Russia is rapidly getting rid of obsolescence and moving towards industrialization.

However, at this time, looking at the seemingly stubborn and most prominent minister of the Russian Empire in front of him, Lin Yuqing knew that today maybe. There will be some kind of breakthrough, otherwise it will never visit itself at this time, but what kind of thoughts does the other party think?

"Always ahead of the class, I think, now ......"

After a slight pause, Witt bluntly turned the topic to the purpose of his trip.

"We should have some kind of consensus with you, after all, for us, I think. What we need most is trust! ”

Looking directly at the nominal consul general in front of him, in fact, he represented the interests of the local authorities in the northeast. Werther said slowly.

"Trust? Your Excellency, I think, on this issue, it seems that Russia needs to pay more responsibility! ”

His heart trembled slightly, and Lin Yuqing said in extremely cautious words.

"We did not show any ambition or desire for the territory of the Russian Empire, and all our actions were based on one principle, that is, on the principle of self-preservation......"

"The result?"

Witt asked rhetorically with a smile.

"As a result, it seems that we are all going in the opposite direction!"

Sometimes, some secrets, not really secrets, when Russia shows its ambitions for the Northeast, the Northeast is also making its own response.

"Yes, so,...... We need to build some kind of trust......"

Pointing in the direction of the War Department, Lin Yuqing said helplessly.

"Your Excellency, I think the premise of trust is that there are no more expansion plans against us!"

All right!

Finally got to the real topic, looking at Werther, Lin Yuqing was a little puzzled, why did Werther want to establish some kind of trust with the Northeast? And what is the so-called trust in his mouth?

Is it a delaying tactic? Still is?

"I think another place, maybe be able to stop this!"

Werther's finger pointed in the other direction, just looking in that direction, Lin Yuqing also knew what place he was referring to, it was the naval headquarters at the end of Nevsky Avenue, but his words evoked new unease.

"Now, so to speak, Russia's expansion into the East has reached its limit......"

Werther, who has always been expressionless and impeccable, revealed his true thoughts to outsiders for the first time.

"Actually, now, the annexation of Japan, for the Russian Empire, is a place of indigestion, always ahead of the living, I think, you know this very well!"

Werther's words made Lin Yuqing look at him with a strange expression, what did he mean by that?

"40 Million People ...... the Peace"

After a slight pause, Werther asked rhetorically:

"If you add tens of millions of Chinese, how can the Russian Empire rule over so many Asian peoples."

Yes, it was a yellowed Russia, and in a few decades the Russians would even have to face the fact that more and more inhabitants of the Viceroyalty of Nikolai would appear in Europe, and there the Russian Empire would be radically changed.

"Your Excellency."

At this time, Lin Yuqing seemed to have a lot of effort to even say these words.

"It's this that we are trying to prevent this from happening......"

What does vague words mean? Werther had already heard that what they were trying to stop was the Russian occupation of the Northeast, and after a while he added:

"There is no one here – at least no brains – to occupy Xinjiang, Mongolia and even Northeast China...... What can we expect? Expand your territory, oh my God! Isn't His Majesty's empire big enough? Don't we already have ...... Large areas of unexplored territory? ”

People are always changing, especially for the thoughtful Werther, the annexation of Japan made him realize that the expansion of the empire had reached its limit, and in any case, the old mentality had changed radically at this time, especially now, he needed to divert Russia's attention from expansion.

"So, we have to put an end to these stupid things as soon as possible and build trust between Russia and China."

Just when Lin Yuqing tried to speak, Werther preemptively said in an interrupting tone:

"I can guarantee that in the future, we will do everything we can to stop the Army's ambitions in Xinjiang, Mongolia and Northeast China, and I think this will help us build the most basic trust!"

"Your Excellency, is this a diplomatic endorsement?"

Lin Yuqing replied a little stiffly, what's going on? The diplomatic endorsement of the Russians? Is it credible? Could it be that this is a new conspiracy?

"No, it's a promise."

Witt said in a not too low voice.

"Oh?"

Lin Yuqing raised his eyebrows and looked at Werther, can this so-called promise be believed?

"Your Excellency, as far as I know, the policy of eastward expansion exists not only in the War Department, but also in the palace!"

The meaning of his words could not be clearer, perhaps as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Witte could influence the Army, but how could he influence the will of the Tsar?

This is the most important thing, for Russia, the will of the tsar determines everything, the current Tsar Mikhail III, is undoubtedly a supporter of Eastern policy, of course, this also has a lot to do with the fact that Russia's expansion in Europe and Central Asia was stopped by the British.

What does Werther's statement mean now? Is Russia really ready to abandon the "eastward expansion"? Could this be some new conspiracy?

Dozens of minutes later, when Werther left the Consulate General, he looked at Lin Yuqing again and said softly:

"I think that perhaps, in the future, we can see the railroad as an economic link between Russia and China, and not as a war machine, and I ask you to convey this to Your Excellency the Governor!"

Then, Witt took the lead and walked downstairs like a young man, followed closely by Lin Yuqing and others.

Coming to the door, Werther suddenly stopped and shook hands with Lin Yuqing at the stairs to say goodbye. Soon, the carriage left the consulate general, but Lin Yuqing was still in a certain shock.

"Boss, do you believe him?"

The inconspicuous secretary beside him looked at the carriage in the distance with a strange expression.

"Convinced?"

Lin Yuqing did not answer directly, but raised his head and glanced at the moon,

"Rather than believing his words, I believe that it is very likely that Russia's policy will change in the future, but what it will be, is not something we can predict!"

Lin Yuqing's voice was not loud, he was just thinking about the multiple possibilities of the future, what is the so-called trust? Why does Russia need China's trust?

Could it be that the bait is starting to have an effect, and if it does, why would Werther be advocating trust-building? (To be continued.) )