Chapter 161: Sino-British Negotiations

In mid-May, Wang Yuze returned to Chengdu from the plateau. After the great defeat of the British and Indian armies, there was no longer a threat to the plateau areas of western Sichuan. Coupled with the arrival of the 13th Division, western Sichuan had sufficient troops in the plateau area. At the same time, the training department and the logistics department are also making large-scale replenishment of the troops on the plateau, striving to restore them to their previous level as soon as possible. Therefore, it is useless for Wang Yuze to continue to stay on the plateau, it is better to return to Chengdu and continue to familiarize himself with the handling of government affairs and prepare for negotiations with Britain.

Negotiations between Kawanishi and the British side have not yet begun because of the collapse of the cabinet of the British Marquess of Salisbury. How to deal with the conflict between the Far East and the West of Sichuan fell on the new cabinet. The British minister to China, Ogna, also arrived in Chengdu, and there is no doubt that he will represent the British side in this negotiation. However, when will the negotiations begin, and what is the bottom line on the British side? This will have to wait for a decision from the Cabinet.

After returning to Chengdu, Wang Yuze first went home to meet his father Wang Xiao. I haven't seen her for almost two months, and Wang Xiao is even older. It seems to have reached the point where the oil has run out. This made Wang Yuze very sad in his heart. Although his soul is no longer Wang Xiao's son, since his rebirth, Wang Xiao's care for him, his teaching and expectations have made Wang Yuze completely integrated into this body, and he has completely treated Wang Xiao as his father.

After meeting Wang Xiao, Wang Yuze went back to his small courtyard to see the three ladies. The eldest lady Xiong Menghan has been pregnant for 7 months, and her belly has already bulged, although the child has not yet been born, it has already made Wang Yuze feel the excitement of being a father and the responsibility.

It was also during the period when Wang Yuze returned to Chengdu that the political situation in Britain stabilized. The new William? Gladstone has formed a cabinet that has taken over power in Britain in its entirety. And, stabilize the political situation. However, the first thing they have to deal with is the conflict in the Far East and Western Sichuan. Although the fighting is over, tens of thousands of British soldiers, including a duke and four brigadier generals, are still being held in prisoner-of-war camps in western Sichuan, and their families are holding daily protest demonstrations that make the government anxious. Of course, the captured Indian soldiers have not been questioned for the time being. If in the end, the British side ignores them, then it is estimated that West Sichuan will have to get them to build roads or mine. After all, Sichuan West will not raise these useless wastes in vain.

On the evening of May 7, the new Prime Minister William? Gladstone summoned key members of the Cabinet at the Prime Minister's Office to discuss how to deal with the Far East. Queen Victoria summoned him today and asked the government to do everything in its power to properly handle the conflict in the Far East. Which makes William? Gladstone felt the pressure.

After nightfall, the new foreign secretary, Earl Roseberry, rushed to the Prime Minister's Palace, he is also an important figure in the Liberal Party, his family, is an old British aristocracy, has a strong influence in Britain, to his generation, is already the fifth generation of Earl Roseberry. This time, the Liberals defeated the Conservatives and won the general election, thanks to his help. You know, after the Liberal Party began to fall in the thirties and forties of the nineteenth century, the position of prime minister has been held by the Conservative Party. This is the first time in 20 years that the Liberal Party has formed a government. If they fail to properly handle the problems of the Far East, it is estimated that they will have to step down in disgrace.

The Lord of the Admiralty is still Anthony? Sir Hoskins. This is also Prime Minister William? In order to stabilize the situation and gain the support of the military, Gladstone asked Anthony ? The reason why Sir Hoskins continued to serve as Lord of the Admiralty. After all, in Great Britain the Navy is very powerful. If any party wants to come to power, it cannot do without the support of the navy.

As for the army, it was replaced. by Field Marshal John? Linton? Arabin? Sir Simmons presides over the British Army. This field marshal is also a member of the party himself, and his coming to power is also very important for the Liberal Party to govern.

Prime Minister William? Gladstone only summoned these three people, although there were other cabinet members, but these three people were the main ones. As long as the four of them can come to an agreement, then they can basically get through guò, regardless of the other cabinet members.

"Gentlemen, the Marquis of Salisbury has left us a mess, and now, how do we want you to clean it up? Her Majesty the Queen has already taken this seriously. If we can't handle this matter properly, we will be in power for a very short time! "Prime Minister William? Gladstone said directly.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, now that the war is over. Then, it's time for us diplomats to step in next. I believe that it is time to appoint Minister Ogener and the Kawanishi side to start negotiations with full powers. Said the Foreign Secretary, Count Roseberry.

"I agree! It was a false war in the first place. The war broke out at the wrong time, and then ended in an absurd shape, giving our British Empire a big set! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said.

"I have no opinion on ending the conflict in the Far East. However, I only hope that the western Sichuan side will not be too arrogant. Don't think that if you defeat the colonial army, you can't ignore our British Empire! "Field Marshal John? Linton? Arabin? Sir Simmons said. The army's cousin made him, the field marshal, very embarrassed. However, he believes that the British Army would have had no problem. The reason why he was defeated by those yellow-skinned monkeys was entirely because of the problem of command. Henry? Wellesley's guy is a stupid pig at all. If it weren't for him, the British Army would not have suffered such a crushing defeat. If it weren't for Henry? If Wellesley had been held in a prisoner-of-war camp in the Western Sichuan Army, he would have been court-martialed. Because of his misdeeds, tens of thousands of British soldiers were taken prisoner, and thousands of British young men died on the plateau. This is an absolutely unforgivable mistake.

"Well, the Prime Minister's Office will give full authority to negotiate between Ogna and Kawanishi. But what's our bottom line? "Prime Minister William? Gladstone asked. There is no doubt that the British side must not admit defeat in the war, otherwise, where will the face of the British Empire, the world's most powerful country, be placed?

"First, it was just a skirmish on the border, and although we lost for the time being, we were not defeated. Therefore, there is no question of the defeat of zài. Nor can we apologize to Kawanishi for this, as well as any kind of apology. Second, we can't give any reparations to the western Sichuan side, because this is the act of a defeated country! "Field Marshal John? Linton? Arabin? Sir Simmons said directly.

"I agree! The western Sichuan side should not think that a small victory can underestimate us. Once the British Empire is in full force, it is definitely not something they can deal with! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins also said. On this issue, the views of the Royal Navy and the Army are unanimous. Although, now the British Empire simply cannot afford to wage a large-scale war in the Far East.

"And what about our captured soldiers and generals? If they don't give Kawanishi any benefits, how can they release them? Earl Roseberry, the Foreign Secretary, said with a frown.

"It's just the opinion of our military. The specific aspects will be discussed in detail between your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the western Sichuan side! However, I don't think that with the influence of our British Empire, Britain will not make any excessive demands on the western Sichuan side! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said.

Field Marshal John? Linton? Arabin? Sir Simmons nodded in agreement.

"Well, so be it! Let's talk about Ogner and the western Sichuan side first, and then find out the bottom line of the western Sichuan side! "Prime Minister William? Gladstone said.

Subsequently, he asked the Prime Minister's secretary, Deem, to report his decision to O'Gner, the British minister to China. Diem, who was originally the secretary of the previous prime minister. But because of his outstanding ability, this Prime Minister William? Gladstone still chose him as his secretary.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Prime Minister!" Dim nodded, and immediately went to draft the message.

Because of the time difference, when Ogener received the telegram in Chengdu, it was still two o'clock in the afternoon. He and the British consul in Chengdu, Zhu Erdian, immediately went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in western Sichuan to meet with Minister Wu Tingfang and convey the decision of the British cabinet.

Wu Tingfang did not dare to slack off, and after sending away Ogener and Zhu Erdian, he immediately met with Liang Xingrong, the prime minister of western Sichuan, and then went to see Wang Xiao. Wang Xiao agreed to negotiate with the British side, and Wu Tingfang was one candidate for negotiation, and the other was Wang Yuze.

After that, Wu Tingfang immediately sent a note to the British side. Negotiations between Kawanishi and Britain took place in May in a hidden office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because the British side demanded to save their lives, this time there were no reporters to cover the interviews, and the requests of ministers and consuls of other countries to observe the negotiations were not granted.

"Your Excellency, Young Marshal, congratulations on your victory!" Before the negotiations began, the British minister to China, Ogner, said to Wang Yuze.

"Your Excellency, this is nothing more than luck. I have to admit that although the combat effectiveness of those Indian natives is extremely low, the soldiers of your country are still very good at fighting, and they have caused me a lot of trouble! Wang Yuze complimented without moving.

"Of course, our soldiers of the British Empire, that's the best. It's all because of the indigenous Indians, that's why they lost! Ogna said hatefully. It seems that all the blame is placed on the Indian Ah San.

In this regard, Wang Yuze just smiled and didn't say anything.

At 0:00 a.m., the negotiations officially began.

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