When the sun shone on the spire of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg on March 10, 1939, the autocratic monarch of the Russian Empire, Empress Anastasiania, had just woken up from a sweet sleep. She opened her beautiful eyes that revealed a little mystery, and glanced at a handwritten letter written by Luo Yaoguo from Wuhan spread out on the writing desk by her bedroom window, and a sly smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

In his letter, the marshal dismissed her, the towering and invincible Empress Majesty, and in particular, expressed great indignation at her act of taking the initiative to bring the United States and Japan together without the consent of the marshal himself! Well, you can't use the word indignant, it sounds like diplomatic rhetoric. The relationship between that generalissimo Luo and her empress was not so obvious...... The other party directly said that he couldn't wait to beat her hard! It is also not known whether such an act counts as a violation of the sovereignty of the Russian Empire?

Of course, Anastasia's reply would not ask such a question, and her reply had already been written, and it was placed next to Luo Yaoguo's letter. In the letter, she expressed her understanding of Luo Yaoguo's "indignation" and apologized for her unauthorized act of advocating mediation between the United States and Japan, and then explained in a wordy manner why she had done President Roosevelt this small favor and why she concluded that Roosevelt's move was to convey some important information to China and Germany through her. In the letter, she triumphantly boasted about the $20 million in cash she had received from the diplomatic mediation. Of course, she was not at all worried that Luo Yao would expose her "bribery crime" to the General Procuratorate of the Russian Empire, because she was now a "dictatorial monarch" and was not bound by secular laws at all!

In the final part of the letter, she also asked Luo Yaoguo to take time to visit Petersburg, and she told Luo Yaoguo that the city and the entire Russian Empire had been revitalized over the past few months. The land in the countryside had been allocated, and soon sowing would begin to be sown, and most of the dilapidated factories and shops in the cities had found White Russian capitalists willing to take over, and most of them began to resume production. The rest, including the oil fields in Baku and Grozne, will be managed by a foundation owned by her for the time being, and those will resume production by the end of the year, with most of the production going to Germany and Poland...... As for the Bolsheviks, who still persisted in their rebellion against the Romanov dynasty, most of them were duly punished in the coming winter.

After writing this letter and praying for the Bolshevik rebels who had been killed by the cold winter and the encirclement, she went to bed. When I woke up, it was already three poles of the sun. The Empress pressed the bell on the bedside cabinet, and two maids-in-waiting, dressed like noblewomen, brought in the undergarments and court dresses that the Empress was going to wear, along with the schedule of events drawn up by Countess Pushkina, the court secretary.

Anastasia, as usual, lazily flipped through her day's schedule while enjoying the attentive dressing service of the maids.

After a few glances, the empress's eyebrows frowned. As an empress, she doesn't have much time for herself, especially these days, and I don't know what's going on, there are always a few single princes from all the declining royal families in Europe who come to Petersburg without anything......

"Miss Aligena!" The Empress shouted the name of her female secretary. She knew that the old White Russian girl in her forties was outside her bedroom door at the moment.

Sure enough, as soon as the door opened, Aligena. Countess Pushkina walked in with graceful steps. Seeing the empress, she gently lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed down, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, your complexion is really good, you must have had a good night's sleep last night, right?" ”

The empress smiled faintly, sat down in front of her dresser, opened a jewelry box, took out a diamond necklace and played with it in her hand for a while, and said with a light smile: "My young lady (referring to Pushkina), except for accompanying those empty princes from Germany to visit Petersburg, can't I, the Russian empress, do something other interesting?" ”

Pushkina only smiled when she heard the empress's complaints, and took out her notepad and said to the empress: "At ten o'clock in the morning, Prince Ludwig of Württemberg will arrive in Petersburg on a special plane, and His Majesty will personally go to the airport to meet him, and then have lunch with him and the German ambassador Schulenburg, during which he will show a trace of affection for His Royal Highness and a sense of identification with the Aryan race. ”

The Empress frowned and muttered, "Well, then this prince is also a fanatical Nazi, and Hitler is really ......"

Pushkina nodded helplessly, and then continued: "The afternoon event is a bit interesting. Both Hopkins and the Japanese envoy Yoyoshi Matsuoka will arrive in Petersburg in the morning. In the afternoon His Majesty should invite them to the Smonnier Palace for afternoon tea and to reconcile the contradictions. Ambassador Stanlid has already told me that if Your Majesty can use your special influence to bring about an early peace agreement between the United States and Japan, the United States is willing to pay a sum of money. ”

"What a special influence! Hum! The empress smiled coldly and said to Pushkina: "You go and tell Ambassador Stanlid that I will write a letter to Marshal Luo Fuwen, and as for the remuneration, the Americans will pay half of it first." ”

She watched Pushkina salute and leave, leaned back in her chair, and looked at her somewhat emaciated figure in the mirror in a daze. For these months, sitting on the throne of the Russian Tsar has really felt like walking on thin ice! Although on the surface it seems to be a beautiful scenery, in fact, it is moving and seeking balance between various visible and invisible forces and between the intricate international situation. If you're not careful, this throne might become a guillotine! But the taste of holding power is also intoxicating, and once you master it, you are reluctant to give it up.

……

On the afternoon of March 10, the atmosphere in the Smonier Palace was surprisingly solemn. For the first time in the short history since the restoration of the Russian Empire, he participated in the mediation of international affairs as an international mediator. Although the Russian Empire's voice in this international mediation cannot be compared with that of the empire before the First World War. However, in the eyes of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries of the empire, this always represented the growing importance of the Russian Empire, and perhaps the beginning of the restoration of its former status as a world power!

Empress Anastasia I sat on the throne in the middle of this splendid hall, with the graceful smile of the European court, and looked with the most casual eyes at the two American and Japanese envoys, Harry, sitting on the left and right sides. Hopkins and Matsuoka right.

The two envoys came to Petersburg only to attend a tender for the development of the Volga-Ural oil and gas region in Russia. Of course, that's just a makeshift excuse, after all, this negotiation is "secret"! Although China, Germany, Great Britain and France, the major powers of the world, already know it. At this moment, both envoys looked a little tired. Hopkins was pale, and he sat there yawning. Although the younger Matsuoka also had a tired face, he couldn't hide his excited look, and he seemed quite confident that he could cut off a large piece of meat from the United States!

However, neither envoy spoke at the moment, but only sipped there with the best Indian tea, as if they had really just been invited by the Empress of Russia to drink tea at the Smonnir Palace. Seeing this scene, Empress Anastasia smiled slightly, put down the teacup in her hand, and broke the silence with a fluent mouthful of American English.

"I think everyone who has ever lived on the soil of the United States of America knows the desire for peace of the American people and their determination and ability to defend the security of the country. As a member of the United States who has lived and accepted asylum, I very much hope to use my current influence to do my part to help the American people return to a peaceful and peaceful life as soon as possible. Saying that, the empress glanced at Matsuoka with some curiosity, it is said that this little devil was abandoned in the United States by his uncle, and then raised by kind American adoptive parents.

This statement is obviously somewhat inclined towards the United States! After listening to the opening remarks of the Russian Empress with a frown, Matsuoka nodded slightly, and replied loudly in Japanese: "Your Majesty, the Emperor and the people of the Japanese Empire are equally eager for peace!" It was this desire that prompted him to come to Petersburg. However, what the emperor and the people of the empire want is a truly fair peace that reflects the value of the sacrifices that the empire has made for this war...... The current international situation and the series of victories achieved by the Imperial Army and Navy in the Pacific Ocean should be compensated accordingly, and only such a peace can be accepted by the Imperial Emperor and the people, otherwise, 70 million people will be kamikaze! The Japanese Foreign Minister, known as the "Oregon Boy Servant", spoke directly enough, and expressed his opinions and opinions at the beginning, although a little aggressive, but it was better than wasting everyone's time in beating around the bush.

Harry. Hopkins smiled slightly, looking a little sarcastic. This little Japan seems to have lived in the United States for more than ten years, thinking that the Americans are the kind of fools who "complain with virtue"? With everything Japan has done to the United States, the fate of the destruction of your country is already irreparable! It's just that you, a yellow-skinned monkey, can think of the wisdom of President Roosevelt. All right! Let's make you happy for a little longer.

Thinking of this, Hopkins' old face was already full of smiles, "Of course, of course, Japan will certainly be able to get a truly fair peace from the United States, I want you to assure, Mr. Chancellor." However, no peace negotiation in history can reach a result in a very short period of time...... Negotiations tend to go on for a long time. But every day the war lasts, hundreds or thousands of innocent lives will be lost. Therefore, the usual international practice is to first cease the war and then negotiate. I think that since both of our countries are ready to choose peace, why not let the officers and soldiers on the front line stop this senseless fighting? ”

Matsuoka listened quietly to Hopkins' words, his eyebrows still slightly furrowed, and he seemed very dissatisfied with the other party's suggestion. As soon as Hopkins's words were finished, he immediately began to retort: "Mr. Hopkins, I hope your country can figure out a little bit, now it is your country that needs peace!" The initiative in the war was entirely on the side of the Japanese Empire. If you want an imperial truce, isn't it the same as giving up the initiative in the war? It's impossible...... If the United States really wanted to prevent her soldiers from being killed and wounded by the Imperial Army, it should immediately agree to the terms of the armistice proposed by the Empire. ”

Harry. Hopkins glanced at the Russian empress, the empress shook her head a little embarrassed, and Hopkins sighed lightly: "Then please ask your country to propose the conditions of an armistice." ”

The surprise on Matsuoka's right face flashed, and he immediately twisted his eyebrows and said loudly: "The requirements of the empire are very simple, there are only the following ones:

1. The United States ceded the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Wake Island, and Midway Island to Japan.

2. The United States paid $3 billion in war reparations to Japan.

3. The United States completely withdrew its troops from Australia.

4. The United States lifts all trade embargoes against Japan.

5. Within one month of the signing of the peace treaty, the United States must pay all war reparations.

6. Within three months after the United States had paid all war reparations, the Japanese army would withdraw from the Americas. ”

Matsuoka's request is only a measly $1 billion on top of Roosevelt's conditions through informal channels! In his opinion, such conditions are really very favorable, and the United States should not refuse, right? After saying these conditions, he squinted at the somewhat aged Harry on the other side. Hopkins, waiting for the other party to nod and agree to this treaty of "loss of power and humiliation of the country". At this time, Matsuoka Yoyo felt that no matter how the old man on the other side looked at it, he had a bit of the meaning of Li Hongzhang, a powerful minister of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and of course he was the Ito Hirobumi of contemporary Japan!

It's a pity that the United States is not Manchu after all! It was the number one industrial power in the world. Although the United States had realized that it was impossible to defeat the alliance between China and Germany, Japan ...... And that's not a problem!

So Hopkins' answer was: "I'm sorry, Mr. Chancellor, these conditions are completely unacceptable to the United States!" ”

"What!" Matsuoka stood up abruptly, glared at the other party, and just wanted to ask why the United States had gone back on its word. The Russian empress, who was sitting in the middle, said with a smile: "Mr. Matsuoka, you should first listen to the conditions of the American side, right?" Negotiating, of course, is about bargaining. ”

Matsuoka glanced at the empress, and scolded the prostitute in his heart, before he suppressed the fire a little and sat down slowly.

Harry. Hopkins nodded at the empress, didn't look at Matsuoka, and said: "The condition of the U.S. government is that Japan must return the Hawaiian Islands and withdraw its troops from the Americas!" The United States, on the other hand, will simultaneously withdraw all troops stationed in Australia, lift sanctions against Japan, and provide Japan with a government loan of no more than $500 million.

In addition, before the end of the year, the US government can also provide a complete set of samples and drawings of the isotope gas diffusion machine, all the technical data of 50 kilograms of uranium-235 with 90% abundance, refining and separating uranium-235, as well as a full set of drawings and design materials for the design of the US atomic bomb!

Mr. Matsuoka, do you think these things can be exchanged for the Hawaiian Islands from Japan? ”

With that said, Harry. Hopkins gave the Russian Empress Anastasia another meaningful look. Then he stood up and went away with his entourage, ignoring the thunderous protest of Matsuoka Yoyo--this man did not understand at all how tempting the conditions put forward by the Americans, but there were people in Japan who understood. And although the empress sitting on the throne doesn't quite understand the atomic bomb or anything, she will also inform Luo Yaoguo and Hitler of these conditions of the Americans as they are!

So on the night of March 10, 1939, or in the early morning of March 11, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, the Office of the Chief of General Staff in Wuhan, China, the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japan, and even 10 Downing Street in London, England, and the Martignon Mansion in Paris, France, were all brightly lit. All sorts of information and technical experts were brought in from all over the world to share everything they knew about the atomic bomb and uranium-235 with their political leaders, who were all considering the real purpose behind Roosevelt's move and the series of changes it would entail......

In Luo Yaoguo's General Staff, several responsible persons of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Armaments, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Navy, the General Administration of the Air Force, and the Military Intelligence Bureau, as well as several deputy chiefs of general staff of the General Staff, were all summoned. After listening to the head of the U Engineering Committee, Lieutenant General Lu Min, Leo . After the explanations of Dr. Szilard, Dr. Wei Bojian and others, they began to urgently discuss the changes in the situation that they were about to face. To be honest, Roosevelt's ruthless move greatly exceeded Luo Yaoguo's expectations.

This US President Roosevelt is actually involved in the proliferation of nuclear weapons! And we must hand over this dangerous weapon of mass murder to Japan! Wasn't he afraid that the Japanese would drop atomic bombs on San Francisco, Los Angeles, or something? Could this Roosevelt be possessed by some Japanese soul in the 21st century?

At this time, there was a buzzing noise in the conference room, everyone was talking about each other, everyone's expressions were different, some were worried that Japan would use this superweapon to avenge the 9.18 battle, some didn't care, and some were fierce and advocated a preemptive strike!

And Luo Yaoguo himself was sitting in the middle of the top of the long table at the moment, with a gloomy face and a wordless to everyone.