A train with a unique shape roared in the direction of Dalian, this is an express train, just look at the streamlined front of the locomotive, you can recognize. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

On the railway line in Northeast China, only Dalian to Tianjin has an express train, using the streamlined locomotive manufactured by Dalian Shahekou Manchurian Railway Rolling Stock Factory, and the fully enclosed air-conditioned carriage. The train is organized into 6 cars, followed by a luggage car, two third-class cars, a dining car, a second-class car, a first-class air-conditioned box car and a streamlined first-class observation car. There are two sets of trains, which run from Tianjin and Dalian every morning, to complete the 920-kilometer operating mileage between Dalian and Xinjing, with a time of only 12 hours and 30 minutes, and an average operating speed of 73.6 km/h.

This is to meet the needs of the development of commerce and trade between the Northeast and Tianjin, and specially developed express train, of course, this is also based on the progress of diesel engine technology in the Northeast, not so much to adapt to the increasingly close business ties between the Northeast and Tianjin, but rather to be a bold technical attempt by the Shahekou Locomotive Factory in order to achieve a technological breakthrough.

Of course, it is not only businessmen who take the express train here, but also some officials, such as Kaneko Kentaro, who was in the first-class observation car at this time, and he was a diplomat of the Beiyang Yamen.

Unlike the Northeast which always tried in every possible way to naturalize these Japanese officials in exile in China as Chinese, the Beiyang Yamen did not seem to have any interest in this area, just like Kentaro Kaneko, who had been in exile in China for ten years, but still had not become a naturalized Chinese.

Of course, this is because of the policy of the Beiyang Yamen, and unlike the Northeast which upholds the principle of not using suspicious people and employing people without suspicion, many Japanese officials in exile in China have only been appointed in some respects.

Kentaro Kaneko's diplomatic talents have not been displayed much over the years, more often than not. It is taught as a professor with Peiyang University.

But now, unexpectedly, he received an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Northeast Governor's Office to participate in foreign affairs as an adviser.

A deceptively simple invitation, but also a private one. But Kentaro Kaneko saw a glimmer of hope...... Hope in the midst of a big event.

As a diplomat, Kentaro Kaneko knows very well that the most important thing for Tohoku now is not actually war, but the search for a diplomatic breakthrough.

"Where will they break through diplomacy?"

Looking at the dreary twilight outside the car window, Kentaro Kaneko silently thought that after the outbreak of this war, she had been paying attention to Tohoku's diplomatic moves, but unexpectedly, Tohoku did not seem to have any more attempts in diplomacy. Why is that?

"We'll get the answer soon!"

Kentaro Kaneko thought so, he knew very well that it was only a few dozen kilometers away from Dalian, and soon the train would arrive in Dalian, and then it would be able to meet the foreign minister of the northeast.

"Maybe you can get an answer from him......"

"Kentaro Kaneko is coming today, right?"

Late at night, on the way home, Tang Zhaoyi, who was sitting in the car, looked at the city outside the car window, and her brows furrowed. He clearly knows that the biggest issue right now. Is it through diplomacy to end this war and achieve a diplomatic breakthrough?

"Kentaro Kaneko!"

On the car, Tang Zhaoyi muttered a person's name, and the reason why he invited Kentaro Kaneko to come to the Northeast was very simple. Last September, U.S. President McKinley at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo. He was shot and wounded by an anarchist and died shortly thereafter. Vice President Roosevelt was then succeeded as President of the United States.

Kentaro Kaneko had a natural advantage over any other diplomat, he and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt were both classmates and friends. Perhaps he should be sent as a minister to the United States.

Of course, the Northeast authorities do not have the right to send ministers, but on the other hand, the Northeast has all consuls sent abroad, for example, there is a consulate in the northeast of New York, a consulate established in the name of the Qing Dynasty.

"I just don't know if Beiyang will let people go!"

muttering so much in his heart, the Tang Dynasty and now are a little worried that Beiyang will not be willing to release them when the time comes.

"After Kentaro Kaneko arrives, please come directly to my house, and I will entertain him at home,"

Tang Zhaoyi instructed the attaché.

Kentaro Kaneko is a legal scholar who studied law at Harvard University in the United States for seven years, and is also a law professor at Peiyang University, and because of this, he has been to Northeastern University many times as a visiting scholar, and has also had many contacts with Tang Zhaoyi.

After arriving at Tang Zhaoyi's mansion located on the street, Kaneko Kentaro entered his study casually, and when he entered the study, he saw Tang Zhaoyi sitting on the comfortable chair next to the table with his arms crossed, as if he was thinking about something face down.

The reason why he came here was because he didn't let the servant report it, and when Kaneko Kentaro came in, Tang Zhaoyi didn't seem to notice it.

"Tang Jun, why are you so worried? Did you run into any trouble? ”

Kentaro Kaneko spoke in fluent Beijing dialect, but Tang Zhaoyi didn't seem to notice him, but frowned and continued to think about the question.

In this way, Kaneko Kentaro stood silently for two or three minutes, and then asked again.

"Tang Jun, it seems that you must have some problem to solve, right?"

This time, Tang Zhaoyi was stunned for a moment as if he had just discovered the gold, and then quickly stood up and bowed to him to apologize.

"Why didn't anyone inform me? What a faux pas! ”

"It's me who didn't let people know, Tang Jun, you are too polite!"

"Well, you don't need to be so polite between you and me!"

Then Tang Zhaoyi pointed to the opposite side again.

"Jinzi, you sit down first, and we'll eat later."

After Kentaro Kaneko did it, Tang Zhaoyi asked bluntly.

"I heard that you have a good relationship with President Roosevelt of the United States?"

"Yes, good friends, we used to be classmates. How did Tang Jun think of it and ask this. ”

Kentaro Kaneko nodded and said, although his expression remained unchanged, his face was somewhat proud, his old classmate and good friend was the president of the United States, which won him more respect in Tianjin.

Now Tang Zhaoyi asked. Now it is useful.

"How intimate is it?"

"We were classmates at Harvard. To put it simply, the relationship between "you kid" and "me" is commensurate with each other, in short, it is very intimate. ”

Kentaro Kaneko said with certainty that he and Roosevelt were not as simple as good friends, in addition to studying and exercising together, they even had prostitution together. The experience of prostitution.

It can be seen that the relationship between them is not just as simple as being close.

"Do you have any other friends in the U.S.?"

"Yes, Your Excellency, I have spent my time in the United States, from elementary school to college, and I have many friends in the United States, most of whom are now important members of American politics."

Kentaro Kaneko affirmed, and until now he is still in business keeping in touch with his American classmates. Especially those who are in a prominent position.

"Really? In that case, I sincerely ask you for one thing......"

After hearing his answer, Tang Zhaoyi breathed a sigh of relief and became a little excited.

"Let's talk while we eat."

After that, Tang Zhaoyi called a servant, and then gave an order, and the maid served the meal after a while. When I brought it up, there was only a bowl of clear soup and a fried pork slices. A sweet and sour carp, a sweet and sour pork ribs, and a plate of greens. It was a very simple meal, far from being comparable to the luxury of Kannai.

If you don't know about the Northeast, you may feel that you have been treated slowly, but in fact, the reception in the Northeast is very simple, and the official reception is often a simple working meal in the canteen of various government agencies.

In addition to simplicity, there are strict reception standards, and the reception at this time. But it was Tang Zhaoyi's personal hospitality.

"I'm a little slow to treat you, but I have something very important today."

Tang Zhaoyi personally poured a glass of sake for Kentaro Kaneko, and then said:

"You should know that the ultimate solution to this war lies in diplomatic, military victory. It must be consolidated by a diplomatic victory. ”

"Yes, Tang Jun, you are very good at letting the British stand on the side of the Northeast, it can be said that the Northeast won this war and your Excellency's diplomatic activities, there is a fundamental connection!"

"Britain, it's more of a strategic need, I don't dare to take credit, now for the Northeast, the United States is the most important problem!"

"Huh? Indeed it is! After all, the influence of Hawaii has always affected Sino-US relations. ”

Kentaro Kaneko nodded, China's annexation of Hawaii is certainly a great thing. On the other hand, it has been influencing the relationship between China and the United States, and even the reason why the United States is now an imaginary enemy of Northeast China is rooted in Hawaii.

Hawaii is so important, it's true for the United States, it's true for China, and that's why the two sides won't make any concessions on Hawaii.

"yes, our relationship with the United States has always been influenced by Hawaii, but now."

Nodding, Tang Zhaoyi said further earnestly.

"At this point in the war, it can be said that the possibility of separate peace talks between the Northeast and Russia has been lost, and the two sides will be calm on the battlefield, and the last trace of strength, before the final victory can not be decided, foreign mediation will be the best choice. From now on, that's the only thing you can rely on. Although the world is large, the only one willing to mediate is the United States. France is Russia's ally, Germany has shown signs that it is instigating Russia in order to drain their strength, Britain and I are allies and it is inconvenient for the United States to intervene, and the only one who is truly neutral and powerful is the United States. ”

Listening to Tang Zhaoyi's words, Kaneko Kentaro vaguely guessed the purpose of his summoning himself here, could it be......

In such a situation, the best thing to do is to ask President Roosevelt to intercede. You had contacts with President Roosevelt's former classmates at Harvard University, and I hope that you will immediately go to the United States to carry out activities, and I want you to leave for the United States immediately. We should mobilize powerful figures in political circles, led by Roosevelt, and let them direct American public opinion to the favorable side of the Northeast. Also, see the opportunity, make representations, and ask the United States to come forward to mediate peace?"

Tang Zhaoyi put down his chopsticks and looked at Kaneko Kentaro seriously, with a sincere expression and even a hint of pleading.

"That'...... It's hard for me to do such a big task. ”

Although he was excited, Kentaro Kaneko hesitated again when facing this burden.

His hesitation, Tang Zhaoyi saw it.

"Really? You don't want to accept it because you don't have much hope of success, right? ”

"That's right, Your Excellency."

Kentaro Kaneko nodded, friends are friends, but interests are interests. The divergence of interests between the Northeast and the United States is too great, and in his opinion, it is already the luck of the Northeast that the United States has not been involved in this war, and now he still wants the United States to lean towards China, is this possible?

"To be honest, no one dares to say that they can defeat it now, but the commander has no doubt that in the next few months, we will win the absolute advantage of the land battle!"

Tang Zhaoyi's words continued.

"Most of you also think that this work is too difficult, there is little hope of success, and you feel that you can't make a deal if you fail, and your face is gloomy, so you resign. In this war, it doesn't matter whether it is successful or not. Everybody's out of the way. The Northeast will mobilize every ounce of its strength! To win and seize all the advantages of the moment, but victory requires the consolidation of diplomacy, and we must end this war before the vast empire of Russia mobilizes its forces, and of course, the army will create good opportunities for you......"

Tang Zhaoyi looked extremely confident when he spoke, as if he was convinced of the victory of the war, of course, this is also because he was allowed to participate in the military conference, and now the Northeast Army is planning a military operation of unprecedented scale, once successful, the situation on the battlefield will be fundamentally reversed.

By that time there will no longer be anyone who doubts that the Northeast Army will be able to win the war.

He continued.

"Let's talk about you. Because of the importance of the mission, if you think of the disgrace and shamelessness when you can't finish it, maybe it's wiser to resign. But now is no longer the time to think about personal reputation and responsibility. I need you to provide your knowledge, friendships, and all other abilities to help me get through the difficult times in front of me. You have a lot of friends in the United States, and that's an extremely important asset. If you throw all of this out and do your best for our East Asian nation, you know, it's also for Japan! Isn't it possible? ”

Kentaro Kaneko was moved by Tang Zhaoyi's words, but because the matter was too important, he still lowered his head and hesitated for a while.

"Your Excellency, I ...... I wish I could consider a night before replying. ”

This night, Kentaro Kaneko, who was in the hotel room, thought a lot. There is a conflict of interest between the United States and Russia, and there is also a common interest, and the contradiction between the United States and the Northeast is deep.

"As far as the United States is concerned, what he wants to see is a lose-lose battle between China and Russia, but he never wants one side to lose miserably......"

Thinking of Tang Zhaoyi's words, Kaneko Kentaro frowned slightly, and sighed heavily when he looked out the window.

"Hey, I hope everything goes well......" (To be continued.) )