After the end of the war with Japan, it was also necessary for the country to recuperate and recuperate. This period of time will be a very valuable time for development. After all, China's enemies are not only the old Maozi of Tsarist Russia, but all the powers that have humiliated China. In order to defeat them completely, Huaxia also needs more powerful forces, so vigorously developing and accumulating strength is the most important thing at present. In the future, if you want to deal with these foreign devils, you will have a chance.

"Looks like you already have a plan in mind?" The elf said with a smile.

"Don't you know how to read minds? It's not that I don't know what I'm thinking. Let the old Maozi of Tsarist Russia be bouncing for a few years! The most urgent task at present is to first stabilize the situation in Japan and vigorously develop and strengthen its own strength. Ren Chao said with a smile.

"It seems that you have not been completely carried away by the victory." The elf said with a smile.

Ren Chao smiled slightly, and casually picked up a copy of the article on the table, which was an analysis report on the total output of China's iron and steel in China for the past year just calculated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce. In 1902, the steel output of the Chinese Empire exceeded 5 million tons, surpassing Russia and France, approaching the United Kingdom, and becoming the world's fourth largest steel-producing country. Judging from China's current development rate, it will be able to catch up with Britain in one year, and catch up with Germany in two years at most. However, compared with the United States, the world's largest steel-producing country, there is still a big gap, the current steel mill volume in the United States is more than 13 million tons, and the development is rapid, China wants to catch up with the United States but there is still a long way to go.

Modern warfare is fought on the overall strength of a country, and steel production, as an important indicator of industry, can reflect a country's war potential to a large extent.

It was already 1903, and according to the ten-year development plan formulated by the Chinese Empire, by 1912 it was necessary to achieve an annual steel output of 30 million tons, surpassing the United States to become the world's largest steel-producing country. Now the steel output of the Chinese Empire is only 5 million tons, and there is still a long way to go from the goal of 30 million tons.

According to the trajectory of history, by 1914 the First World War was about to break out. And this war will be a golden opportunity for China's rise. Only by completing the industrialization of China before this can we seek greater benefits for China after the outbreak of the war, so this decade is undoubtedly very important for China.

In March 1903, the domestic situation in Japan was basically stabilized, and the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expeditionary Army of the Chinese Empire led the officers and men of the Eastern Expeditionary Army to return to Korea in triumph. Ren Chao, the Shengwu Emperor of the Chinese Empire, personally went to Tianjin Port to welcome the soldiers and returned triumphantly.

On the same day, a huge celebration party was held, and the Eastern Expeditionary Army swept Japan in one fell swoop, with outstanding meritorious achievements, and Ren Chao ordered Jin to be crowned the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expeditionary Army, Wang Jing, as the Duke of Yasukuni, and Hu Guangde, Hao Guanqun and other ten people were promoted to marquis. All meritorious soldiers were rewarded, and Ren Chao personally awarded medals to more than 300 meritorious soldiers with outstanding military achievements.

The war against Japan basically ended, and after about half a year of war, the Chinese Empire successfully pacified Japan and made Japan one of the vassal states of China.

At this time, the world situation underwent tremendous changes, and the era of imperialism began, and new changes took place in the balance of power among the great powers. Germany, whose economic strength is expanding rapidly, wants to share the "territory under the sun" with Britain and other old capitalists. Germany, with its powerful army, was expanding its navy vigorously, causing Britain to be very worried about the security of the Reich. After the Anglo-Boer War. Britain abandoned its traditional policy of "glorious isolation" and gradually approached France. The contradictions between France and Germany also prompted France to move closer to Britain. In the spring of 1903, King Edward VII of England visited France, which was the beginning of the goodwill between Britain and France. July. French President Emile? Lubet returned and the foreign ministers of the two countries began negotiations aimed at resolving the colonial issue that had set the two countries apart.

On April 8, 1904, the British Foreign Secretary, H.C.K. Fitzmaurice, Marquess of Lansdownne (5th), and the French Ambassador to Britain, P-P. Cambon, signed a treaty in London for the partition of the colonies. Its main contents: (1) France did not interfere in British operations in Egypt, and Britain recognized France's power to maintain tranquility and assist in reform in Morocco; (2) the delimitation of the two countries' spheres of influence in Siam (present-day Thailand); It is bounded by the Mekong River. the western half is the British sphere of influence, and the eastern half is the French sphere of influence; (3) France relinquished its exclusive fishing rights in Newfoundland, and Britain ceded some French colonies in West Africa. Secret clause stipulates. One of the two governments could also change the status quo in Egypt or Morocco if "circumstances compel" it. However, the principles of free trade, free passage through the Suez Canal, and the prohibition of fortifications on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar have been maintained. Once the Moroccan Sultanate was terminated, part of its territory, Gibraltar.

Although Britain and France are said to have formed an alliance, the historical Triple Entente group has not yet been formed. Because Britain and the Near East, Central Asia, and the Far East have conflicting interests, Britain and Russia have not yet formed an alliance. However, at this time, the development of the contradictions between Britain and Germany had surpassed the contradictions between Britain and Russia; The contradictions between Russia and Germany and Austria in the Near East and the Balkans also exceeded those between Russia and Britain. In order to join forces against Germany and Austria, Britain and Russia also began to make secret contacts, seeking an alliance. On August 31, 1907, Russian Foreign Minister A.P. Izvalsky and British Ambassador to Russia H. Nicholson signed an agreement in Petersburg to divide the colony. Main contents: (1) The southeastern part of Persia (present-day Iran) was demarcated as the British sphere of influence, the northern part was the Russian sphere of influence, and the area between the two was a neutral zone, which was open to Britain and Russia on an equal footing; (2) Russia recognized Afghanistan outside its sphere of influence and promised Britain to manage Afghanistan's diplomacy. Britain has stated that it will not change the political status of the country.

At this point, the Triple Entente was formally formed, and the British and French Entente and the Anglo-Russian Entente, together with the Franco-Russian Alliance, formed the "Triple Entente" or "Entente". Unlike the Triple Alliance, the three Entente countries did not sign a common treaty, and only Russia and France were allies with military obligations, while Britain refused to assume military obligations. The Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance (1882) were engaged in a frenzied war of military expansion. At this time, Europe was like a huge powder keg, only one spark was needed to ignite this powder keg, and once this powder keg was detonated, its power could not only destroy the whole of Europe in a war, but even affect every corner of the world.

For the European powers, this is undoubtedly a huge crisis, but for the gradually rising China, it is an opportunity, a good opportunity to rise rapidly, and even dominate the world. (To be continued......)

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