"Do you think I'm crazy?" Tang Zhidao asked with a smile, Tolistan's reaction was completely expected, on the contrary, if he didn't jump, Tang Zhidao would have to worry about whether he was crazy.

"If you weren't crazy, how could you make such a ridiculous and nonsensical request!" Tolistan laughed angrily: "Do you think German diplomats are a bunch of fools!" ”

"Your Excellency!" Tang Zhidao stood up and bowed slightly and said, "I want to correct your two mistakes, first of all, this is a transaction, not my unilateral request; Secondly, in my eyes, German diplomats, especially you and Ambassador Keats, are extremely intelligent and excellent people, and only people like you can trade with me. ”

"Tell me your reasons!" Tolistan quickly adjusted his emotions, which is what a good diplomat must do, even if the other party makes even the most rude requests.

"This deal is neither ridiculous nor nonsense, first of all, it is feasible, the subject matter of the deal is in China, and there is no need for your country to risk the blockade of the British fleet from its homeland; Secondly, as long as our country breaks off diplomatic relations with your country, it will be confiscated by our government, and the personnel will either be overloaded or dismissed, and it will not be a loss to your country to hand them over to me; Thirdly, although the transaction has no immediate benefits for your country, it can contribute to the future Sino-German diplomatic relations. Tang Zhidao told the story eloquently, pointing out the possibility of transactions between the two sides one by one.

"With all due respect, your proposal is a good one, but your status is too low for you to deserve or deserve to trade with the Empire." Tolistan calmed down and thought for a while and said: "Wouldn't it become a laughing stock in the diplomatic world to make a deal with a regimental leader!" ”

"Haha, I was still locked up in the Beijing Division Detention Center at this time last year, and this year there is already a mixed regiment of more than 3,000 people, maybe this time next year, I can command a brigade or even a division." Tang Zhidao said with a smile: "I am only twenty-four years old this year, as long as your country invests a little in advance, the future benefits may be infinite, unless Your Excellency can't believe in my ability and character." ”

"I can trust your ability and character, but your request is not something I can agree to." Tolistan shrugged his shoulders and pretended to be helpless, but he was already a little moved in his heart. Originally, the German embassy planned to give up public relations with the Beiyang government and turn to powerful local warlords, but for a while no suitable person was found.

"I can meet with Ambassador Xin Ci in person, and I will talk about the old Chinese saying: ask for a price in the sky, and pay back when you land." Tang Zhidao saw that Tolistan was relieved, and pressed step by step.

"Well, I'll ask Mr. Ambassador if he's interested in meeting you." Tolistan turned and entered the confidential room in the inner room.

After a short while, he walked out with a smile on his face, patted Tang Zhidao's shoulder and said, "Mr. Ambassador really wants to see you, listen to your thoughts." ”

The Ambassador's Mansion is just behind Tolistan's office, and the two are just separated by a large garden, three to five minutes away.

"Welcome, Mr. Tang!" Xin Ci actually took the initiative to wait at the door of the mansion.

"Mr. Ambassador, it's an honor to see you again." Xin Ci's enthusiasm made Tang Zhidao a little flattered.

"I heard you have an interesting suggestion?" Xin Ci said straight to the point.

"Yes, Your Excellency, a deal, to be exact." Tang Zhidao was led by Xin Ci to the living room of the mansion.

"Mr. Tang, do you drink coffee or tea?" Xin Ci came to China alone through the blockade of the British and French fleets, and there was only one Chinese cook and a German secretary in the official residence. …,

"Let's have a cup of coffee!" Tang Zhidao has been in Saibei for so long, and he hasn't had the opportunity to drink this foreign thing.

"Xin Ci, I'll go clubbing, the coffee you brewed is too bad." Tolistan took the initiative to take the job.

"Okay, I'll leave it to you, remember to put me some more sugar." Xin Ci said heartily that he and Tolistan had been friends for many years, and they were also from a family of Junker landlords.

"Captain Tang, do you want one for this?" Xin Ci took out a Cuban cigar and shook it in front of Tang Zhidao and asked.

"The taste is too rushing, I'll smoke this anyway." Tang Zhidao took out the three forts in his pocket, lit a Meimei and smoked it.

"Tell me what you think, try to be brief." Xin Ci looked at your watch and said, "I have a reception at half past three." ”

"Hmm." Tang Zhidao glanced up at the wall clock on the meeting guest Qiang, it was just after half past two, and an hour was definitely enough, so he recounted what he had just said to Tolistan. Xin Ci only listened quietly from beginning to end, occasionally using a pen to write something on the paper.

"Young people are really bold and bold enough!" After Tang Zhidao finished speaking, Xin Ci's first reaction was to give a thumbs up and say, "I was still working as a chief engineer on a destroyer when I was your age. ”

"Thank you for the compliment, I wonder what you think of my proposal?" Tang Zhidao was most concerned about whether he could get tangible benefits from the Germans, rather than verbal praise.

"It's okay to provide you with appropriate assistance, and it's within my purview." Xin Ci smiled and said, "But these requests of yours are too child's play, and I can't agree to them." ”

"Mr. Minister, please be specific!" Tang Zhidao was secretly happy when he heard that he could get some assistance, but he still didn't relax and said: "These are all carefully prepared by me, and they should be beneficial to both parties." ”

"The first is to hope to obtain 50 German officers as military advisers, but there are only 2,000 or 3,000 troops stationed in China and they are scattered in Hankow, Tianjin, and Beijing, so it is very difficult to find so many officers who are suitable to be instructors." Xin Ci pointed to the terms drafted by Tang Zhidao and said: "We can provide no more than five officers to help you train the army, and these five people must be voluntary and quit the active service of the German army, otherwise I don't think your country will let you go." ”

"The second is to get a loan of three million marks, and even if the bank can get this loan, it is impossible to lend it to you, unless you come up with sufficient collateral." Xin Ci continued to smile and said, "I myself am willing to lend you three months' salary. "This second article itself was added by the head of the Tang regiment like a vexatious mess, and I never thought that people would consider this matter, but I just felt that Dehua Bank was about to be taken over by the Beiyang government, and it would be too much of a loss not to squeeze some oil from it.

"The third one wants to get arms, which is quite appropriate, but the amount you want is too large to fully satisfy you. As for whether there is stock on the side of Lihe Foreign Bank, I don't know, and besides, you have to spend money to buy it there, and the price can be discounted. When it comes to arms, Xin Ci can actually say that he is the truth, which really makes Tang Zhidao secretly admire, these diplomats are indeed all dragons among people.

"Article 4 wants to buy part of the property of German expatriates, I raise my hands in favor, but you have to communicate with the owner, and the embassy can help you make peace."

…………

Xin Ci sketched on the paper as he spoke, and quickly broke down the several trading requirements put forward by Tang Zhidao.

"Thank you for your advice, and please give us more assistance." Tang Zhidao was said to have no temper at all, and he could only swear and promise: "The friendship between the Chinese and German peoples will not end with the severance of diplomatic relations, but will sweep away all the previous haze and start anew." ”…,

"Commander Tang, Colonel Tolistan will discuss the specific details with you tomorrow!" Xin Ci took a sip of coffee and said, "It's up to you today, I hope you won't forget the promise you made in the near future." ”

"Of course not, greet General Ludendorff for me when you return home." Tang Zhidao took out a letter from the pocket under the coat and handed it over, saying, "Help me forward this letter to His Excellency the General." ”

"No problem, I should go back too." Xin Ci said infinitely melancholy, how high-spirited he was when he broke through the layers of blockade and came to China more than two years ago, but in front of him, it was a complete failure.

"Xin Ci, did you really agree to Tang's request?" After Tang Zhidao left, Tolistan anxiously asked, "He's just a little leader." ”

"What about the regimental commander, maybe in the future he will be able to dominate this ancient country!" Xin Ci said with emotion: "If you weren't optimistic about his prospects, how could you bring him to see me." "Yes, after many years, it was none other than an Austrian corporal who ruled the Mother Country of Sinci.

"I don't deny this, but it's still too risky to invest these materials and industries on him." Tolistan said as he cleaned up the cups on the table, "And it's basically free of charge." ”

"If he has the strength, I don't mind transferring all German industries in China to him!" Xin Ci sighed and said, "We can't bring these things back to Germany, so why not do some favors." ”

In fact, Germany's greatest possession in China was the Tsingtao and Jiaoji railways, which were now in the hands of the hateful Japanese, and there was not much left to trade, but even so, it was more than enough to deal with a Chinese commander.

"It's just that these five instructors are decided?" Tolistan nodded and said that if it weren't for the special circumstances of the war and China's extremely special national conditions, it would be absolutely impossible for the German legation to deal directly with a regimental-level officer.

"It's your business, I don't care." Xin Ci spread his hands and pouted: "Before the end of the war, except for diplomats like you and me, the rest of the garrisons in China may be imprisoned, which shows that someone should be willing to go to this point." ”

"Well, that's all it takes!" Tolistan said helplessly, and at the same time his heart was full of longing, this time he should be able to fight for the German Empire when he returned to Germany. (Recommended pictures on the classification, brothers support a lot, don't forget to vote for recommended votes)