"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, war will not solve the problems that China and the United States are facing today. I think it would be better for us to solve the problem through peace talks. It's just that the conditions put forward by your country are difficult for some strong people. If these conditions can be lowered a little, it may be more conducive to our agreement! Sherlock, the former U.S. minister to China, said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo glanced at each other, and then Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said: "So, I don't know what kind of conditions your country can accept?" "In fact, the longer it drags on, the worse it is for the United States. But China will also expend more of its national power for this. It would undoubtedly be better if we could reach an agreement with the United States as soon as possible and reap huge benefits from the United States. Of course, they also know that the conditions put forward to the United States are indeed a bit harsh. China does not expect the United States to really agree to those conditions.

Hearing Wu Tingfang's words, US Secretary of State John? Sherman couldn't help but rejoice, as long as the attitude of the Chinese delegates changed, it meant that those harsh conditions were not non-negotiable.

"Your Excellency the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Government can agree to the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the protection of the interests of the Chinese in the United States. However, the cession of Alaska and California, as well as war reparations, were difficult for the U.S. government to accept. California and Alaska are both U.S. territories, and ceding these territories to your country would make U.S. security unsafe. In addition, the United States is in the midst of this war. There were also huge losses. A billion pounds of war reparations. The United States simply can't take it out! "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman said. At present, the differences between the two sides are mainly focused on land cession and war reparations. In fact, these two points are the two most important points in this negotiation, the United States desperately wants to reduce its losses, and China wants to extract greater benefits from the United States as much as possible.

"Your Excellency, Secretary of State, these territories. It didn't belong to the United States in the first place! California, which was seized by the United States after the massacre of the Indians. Alaska, on the other hand, was bought by the United States from Russia for $7.2 million. In exchange for the end of the war, it is already very cost-effective for the United States! Minister of State Jiang Xingguo said.

"Your Excellency the Secretary of State of Defense, at least, both California and Alaska are de jure territories of the United States. The United States has no intention of giving up these territories! "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman continues to persevere.

In the end, the two sides argued for a long time. But none could agree on this issue. Considering the need to end the war as much as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang took the initiative to give in a little.

"Your Excellency, Secretary of State. In this way, if the United States can agree to one condition for our country, our country can give up California, as long as Alaska! Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.

U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman's heart was overjoyed, and he continued to say something. However, Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo said impatiently: "Your Excellency, this is already our bottom line, if your country still does not agree, then we can only declare the negotiation break down and continue the war!" ”

U.S. Secretary of State John? Although Sherman was a little annoyed, but there was no way, he knew that it was already very good to be able to get the Chinese to give up California. After all, California is much more important than Alaska. Besides, this is also US President Garrett? The bottom line proposed by Hobart, Alaska can give to the Chinese, but California must hold on.

"Well, Your Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, what are the conditions for your country?" U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman asked.

"Our conditions are simple, the U.S. government must commit to no longer deploying large warships on the West Coast, mainly battleships, and warships with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons, such as armored cruisers or heavy cruisers! If your country says yes, then we can give up California! Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.

"What? This will not work! The deployment of the US ** team on the US mainland is the freedom of the United States, and no other country can interfere. "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman said dissatisfied.

"Your Excellency, just as our occupation of California would pose a serious threat to the United States. The deployment of a large number of warships by the United States on the west coast would also pose a huge threat to China. Therefore, China will never give in to this condition! Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo said coldly.

U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman sensed the insistence of the Chinese side, but he could not decide on this issue. So he said, "Both, I can't give you an answer to this question now, and I have to consult the government." Let's put this issue aside and discuss the other conditions first! ”

Neither Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang nor Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo had any objection to this.

"Two, the current financial income of the United States is only 140 million pounds, which is much lower than that of your country. Ask the United States for a billion pounds in compensation at one time, and the United States will go bankrupt directly! "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman said.

"One billion pounds is only equivalent to six years of your country's financial revenue, and your country can be divided into twenty or thirty years to pay off, and we only need to charge a little interest!" Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.

"No, this amount of compensation is too much, and the United States cannot afford it!" U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman wasn't fooled. With the national strength of the United States, although one billion pounds is much, it will take ten or twenty years to pay it off. It's just that China is already very terrifying now, and if it gets so much war reparations, then China will definitely develop into the world's first power. At that time, it will be even more impossible for the United States to make a comeback.

"So, how much war reparations can your country accept?" Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang asked.

"Your Excellency, our country can compensate your country 100 million pounds, which is already the greatest capacity of the United States. After all, in this war, our losses are also very large! "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman said.

"No! 100 million pounds is too little, and our country has also spent a lot of money in this war. In this way, China is giving in, and the United States will pay China 800 million pounds in war reparations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said.

"800 million pounds is still a sky-high price, and the United States can't afford that much money. In this way, the United States is willing to raise the amount of reparations to 150 million pounds, which is already twice the amount paid two years ago! "U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman said in pain. The annual fiscal revenue of the United States is only so small!

"No, 150 million is too little! At least £700 million! ”

"No, £700 million is too much. Up to £180 million! ”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and U.S. Secretary of State John Thanh Fong? The Shermans, like the merchants of the market, began to bargain for a long time on the issue. However, on the whole, the amount of the two sides is still getting closer. In the end, the United States was willing to pay 250 million pounds in compensation, and the price proposed by Wu Tingfang was indeed 400 million pounds. After this amount, the two sides are no longer willing to make concessions.

"So be it, and the amount of compensation will be reduced to £300 million. This is already the bottom line that our country can accept. However, the U.S. government must pay it all within three years, or else it will be paid according to the interest! Chinese Defense Minister Jiang Xingguo said.

U.S. Secretary of State John? Sherman hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Your Excellency, I need to ask for instructions from the country, and I can only reply to you after there is a reply from the country!" ”

In this regard, Wu Tingfang and Jiang Xingguo both agreed. After all, this is a big deal, obviously not John? Sherman alone can decide.

When U.S. President Garrett? After Hobart got the final conditions, it was already early in the morning Washington time, but he immediately summoned the Minister of Finance, Lehmann? J. Gage, Secretary of War Russell? A. Alger and Secretary of the Navy Theodore? Roosevelt.

"Ladies and gentlemen, cede Alaska to China, and promise not to deploy large warships with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons on the West Coast, compensate 300 million pounds for war expenses, pay off within three years, repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act, and guarantee the interests of the Chinese in the United States. This is the final condition put forward by the Chinese, and it is also the last condition that the Secretary of State has worked so hard to obtain! "U.S. President Garrett? Hobart said. This condition, although still a bit harsh, is no longer as scary as the previous one offered by China.

"Your Excellency, is it possible for the Chinese to continue to lower their requirements?" Treasury Minister Lehmann? J. Gage asked.

"The secretary of state said that this is already the bottom line of the Chinese, and the Chinese will no longer back down." If you continue to insist, it is likely that the negotiations will break down completely! "U.S. President Garrett? Hobart said.

"Your Excellency President, if we are not allowed to deploy large warships on the west coast, won't the entire Pacific Ocean become completely the territory of the Chinese? Moreover, the security of the United States is not guaranteed. If the Chinese can revise this article, I think we can sign an armistice treaty with the Chinese! "Secretary of War Russell? Alger said.

U.S. President Garrett? Hobart shook his head, and then said: "The Chinese are asking for this in exchange for them giving up California!" (To be continued.) )

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