Chapter 242: The Deal Behind It

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Ogna, the British minister to China, had a haughty smile on his face. The British Empire is the largest in the world, and the navy of the British Empire cruises on the world's major oceans, safeguarding the interests of the British Empire, and no country dares to provoke the great empire on which the sun never sets. Liang Xingrong's answer made Ogener very satisfied. Even though China has begun to rise, Britain still has the final say in the Far East.

Although Liang Xingrong was very aggrieved and angry in his heart, he had to compromise. Tearing the face with Britain does not have the slightest benefit for China now. In the event of a war, China's navy will be destroyed, and coastal cities will be reduced to ruins. Although China's army is powerful, it can't fight all the way to the British mainland. Without the strength of an all-out confrontation with Britain, China can only temporarily forbear.

The British navy is extremely strong and deservedly the first in the world. Although the Kawanishi Navy had four battleships, four heavy cruisers that could barely serve as capital ships, and the four heavy cruisers of the second batch were about to enter service, this was not even a fraction in the face of the huge British Navy.

The current capital ships of the British Navy, including the Ravages class (Ravage, Roar, Dreadnought), Ajax-class (Ajax, Agamemnon), Giant-class (Giant, Edinburgh), Admiral-class (Collingwood, Rodney, Howe, Camper, Anson, Ben Bauer), Nile-class (Nile, Trafalgar), a total of 5, are all 10,000-ton battleships. The Pre-Dreadnought Sovereign class (Sovereign, Emperor of India, Hood, Lamiyi, Counterattack, Resolve, Dreadnought EX Revenge, Royal Oak), Pavrell class (Pavrel, Captain Hundred), Prestige (Prestige, under construction, unfinished), Majesty (Prestige, Noble), a total of 2 ships, not including the unfinished Prestige, in addition to the Majesty class, a total of 9 battleships will be built, and the next 7 have been launched one after another.

The British Royal Navy is so strong that the fledgling Chinese Navy does not dare to twist its edge lightly. For at least the next five years or more, the Chinese Navy will not have the strength to compete with the Royal Navy. China could confront Britain head-on unless its navy was capable of defending itself and defending its coastal cities. Otherwise, China would do well not to tear its face with the UK.

"Everyone, I don't want to adjourn the meeting today, everyone calm down, and the peace talks will be held tomorrow!" German Minister Marcos said.

"Well, I agree!" Liang Xingrong said.

After that, today's negotiations are temporarily closed. The ministers of various countries left one after another, and Japanese Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito and Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu also left with Ogna in their arms, as if they were doglegs raised by the British. However, the German minister to China, Marcos, stayed.

"Leung, I have to say, it would be unwise to tear your face with Britain now. Now China, especially the navy, has no strength to compete with Britain at all! Marcos said.

"If we go to war with the British, will Germany be on that side?" Liang Xingrong asked.

"Unfortunately, Germany may provide some necessary support to China, but we will not enter the war. Germany is not ready, the German navy is far from being a match for the British Royal Navy, and even if the navies of our two countries are combined, the British navy will be able to defeat us lightly. So, during this time, we need to be as patient as we can! Marcos said.

"I know, but the British deceive too much. We have won this war with great difficulty, and it is impossible to give up these interests! Liang Xingrong said firmly. Today's statement of the Japanese representative made him very dissatisfied, and he also recognized the Japanese people's faces, and he very much agreed with Wang Yuze's viewpoint of weakening Japan as much as possible. Japan, with the support of the Western powers, is definitely a huge threat to China. If we can take advantage of this war to get a little more benefit from Japan, we will be able to make China more powerful, and the possibility of defeating Japan again in the future will also increase.

"Beam! China is the victor, and it is a completely just act to demand war reparations from Japan. However, you need to pay attention to the way. I think you can get rid of Japan and negotiate with Britain and France alone. As long as these two countries nod their heads, Japan will not have the slightest room for resistance. The British and the French just want to use Japan to counterbalance you, and they will not really go to war against China for the sake of the Japanese. Moreover, aren't British Burma and India, and French Indochina, also your bargaining chips? Marcos, the German minister to China, said with a smile.

Liang Xingrong and others were all bright-eyed, they seemed to have entered a misunderstanding before, thinking that this was a negotiation between China and Japan, but they did not expect that a weak country has no diplomacy, and now Japan has no strength at all, if it is not for the support and help of the great powers, it can only be slaughtered by China. If China wants to get enough benefits from Japan, it will have to reach an agreement with Britain, France, the United States, and other countries behind Japan. It will be much easier than China negotiating directly with Japan.

"There was no problem for us to capture British Burma and India and French Indochina. The army only needs to concentrate 0 divisions to achieve this goal! Cai Yun said. The forces of Britain and France in the Far East are not strong, and if it were not for the fact that the navy is now weak and cannot withstand the retaliation of the British navy, where would China be as inferior as it is now!

"Thank you, my friend, your advice is very good, we will adopt it!" Liang Xingrong said happily.

"We are best friends, the interests of our two countries are in line with each other, and Germany sincerely hopes that China will become strong!" German Minister Marcos said.

"After the negotiations with Japan are over, we need to import a large number of machinery and equipment from Germany, and we will need a lot of help from His Excellency the Minister at that time!" Liang Xingrong said. Wang Yuze's plan is to invest one billion yuan to develop heavy industry, and there are many machines and equipment that China cannot produce yet, so it needs to rely on imports from abroad. Germany will undoubtedly be China's largest importer of equipment. Of course, China needs not only equipment, but also technology. Through guò thoroughly understand these technologies, and finally form their own research and development capabilities!

"Absolutely. German equipment, the best in the world! Marcos said confidently.

In the afternoon of the same day, Liang Xingrong, Wu Tingfang, and Cai Yun went to the British Legation in Dongjiaomin Lane to visit the British Minister to China, Ogna, and exchanged views with him on the negotiations, hoping to get Ogen's support.

For the visit of Liang Xingrong and others, Ogna was not surprised. Because, if China wants to complete the negotiations with Japan smoothly, it must have the nod of Britain. If Britain continues to support Japan, Japan is likely to remain tough.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Minister, Your Excellency the Chief of Staff, please be seated. This is black tea from India, so please try it! In the reception room of the British Legation in China, Ogner said with a smile on his face.

"Thank you!" Liang Xingrong and others all picked up teacups and drank tea. Although they preferred clear tea, the owner's hospitality was difficult, and they had no choice but to follow the local customs.

After that, everyone had more scenes, and Liang Xingrong began to go straight to the point.

"Your Excellency, I think Your Excellency has already understood the meaning of our visit. In the war between China and Japan, China has won a decisive victory, and Japan has no chance of turning the tables. If time drags on, it will only be even more detrimental to Japan! Liang Xingrong said straight to the point.

"Of course, Japan has already been defeated. I am very much in agreement that the vanquished should pay reparations to the victorious countries. However, from the point of view of justice, the conditions put forward by the Chinese side are too much! This will lay the groundwork for peace in the Far East. So, it is incumbent upon the British Empire to stand up for justice! British Minister O'Gner said brazenly.

"Bullshit justice! After the end of the two Opium Wars, didn't Britain also impose a large number of unequal treaties on the Manchus, and then grabbed a lot of wealth from China? Now it's time to jump out and say that it is just or unjust! Liang Xingrong and the three of them couldn't help but scold in their hearts. This is completely typical of both being the * son and setting up the archway!

"What, then, does Your Excellency think is reasonable?" Liang Xingrong suppressed the anger in his heart, and said with a smile on his face.

"First, Japan admits defeat, and there is no problem at all. The next few are still up for discussion! In particular, China was too strict with Japan on war reparations and land cession. In my opinion, five million pounds sterling is enough for the war losses that Japan pays to China. As for land cession, Japan has a small territory, so forget it! Let the Japanese troops withdraw from Korea and it will be enough! Ogna said unashamedly.

A trace of anger flashed in the eyes of Liang Xingrong and others, the Chinese side proposed a war reparation of 500 million pounds, but Ogener said 5 million pounds, which is a hundred times different from China's demand! Cutting the ground, I want to completely exempt this article, how is this possible.

"Your Excellency, my country has also paid a great price for this war. Military spending alone cost hundreds of millions of pounds, plus other war losses, and crimes committed by Japan in the Liaodong region of northeastern China, 500 million pounds in war reparations is not much. However, since Your Excellency the Minister has spoken, we can reduce it appropriately. In order to show our sincerity, Japan's reparations for the war military expenses can be lowered to 400 million pounds. Liang Xingrong said sincerely. That's a £100 million reduction in one fell swoop, which is a huge amount indeed.

PS: The third update is here! It's the last day of April, book friends check if there is a monthly pass, if you don't vote, it's a waste! (To be continued.)