On July 18, 1854, the foreign ministries of Great Britain, France, and the Kingdom of Prussia issued statements demanding that both the Chinese Empire and Russia exercise restraint, stop war mobilization, and settle the dispute through peaceful negotiations. At the same time, the envoys of Britain, France and Prussia to the Chinese Empire and Russia also jointly met with the foreign ministers of the Chinese Empire and Russia to express the attitude of their three countries.

Huaxia City, the capital of the Chinese Empire, in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In front of Wei Yuan, the Imperial Foreign Secretary, sat the British Minister Sir Bonham, the French ambassador Bourblon, and the Kingdom of Prussia Ambassador Klaus.

"Your Excellency, the situation is already very tense, and the mobilization of the Chinese Empire has added fuel to the fire, making the situation even more tense. If a war breaks out between the Chinese Empire and Russia, it will inevitably lead to a large-scale war. When the time comes, the whole world will be dragged into the war. The British Empire hoped that the Chinese Empire would give serious consideration to the need to stop mobilization and settle the problem through peaceful negotiations. Sir Bonham, British Minister to China, said.

Wei Yuan frowned and replied coldly, "Is Sir accusing us?" ”

"No, I didn't mean that at all!" Sir Bonham replied hurriedly. The current Chinese Empire is not the small country it used to be, even the powerful British Empire has to be treated with caution, where does he dare to accuse the Chinese Empire?

"Humph! You know very well the causes of this conflict. The Russian mob attacked the imperial embassy in St. Petersburg, causing injuries to embassy staff and property damage. But. The Russians, instead of apologizing to us, shifted the blame to us, which is simply an insult to the Empire. This qiē is all caused by the Russians! Wei Yuan said angrily. Russia caused this crisis, but these guys did not go to the Russians to trouble, but came to put pressure on the Chinese Empire, which is simply infuriating.

"Your Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we have come this time mainly to mediate the contradictions between the Chinese Empire and Russia. We do not want to see the outbreak of war. Who is right and who is wrong can be resolved by peaceful negotiations. French Ambassador to China Bourblon said. Of course, everyone actually knows that. The embassy of the Chinese Empire in St. Petersburg was attacked. However, the damage was not severe, only the gate was damaged, and there were also minor injuries to the staff and guards. Russia, on the other hand, attacked the mob of the embassy. It came under heavy machine-gun fire. More than one hundred and fifty people were killed and wounded. If you do the math. It was clearly the Chinese Empire that took advantage. But. In fact, the Russians are really not reasonable. Anyone storming another country's embassy can be shot by the embassy guards. This is something that can be understood by any country.

"Our demands are clear, and if Russia accepts our terms, then we can stop mobilizing. However, if Russia does not accept it, then war may be inevitable! "Wei Yuan's attitude is very tough. Especially when it comes to dealing with the French ambassador to China, Bourblon. Previously, when France was an ally of the Chinese Empire, the relationship between the two sides was very good. However, after France betrayed the Chinese Empire and joined the North Atlantic Military Alliance, relations between the two countries took a sharp turn for the worse. If war breaks out, the two countries will become enemies.

"Your Excellency, the Kingdom of Prussia does not want war to break out now, and I ask the Chinese Empire to consider it carefully. Of course, on the Russians' side, we will also make our attitude clear. This matter was originally Russia's indiscretion. The Kingdom of Prussia will support the Chinese Empire! Klaus, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Prussia to China, said. As an ally of the Chinese Empire, the most powerful country in the entire Eurasian military alliance except for the Chinese Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia has its own small calculations, but it is still consistent with the Chinese Empire on key issues. It's just that the Kingdom of Prussia is not ready for war now, and they hope that war will break out later.

Wei Yuan nodded, the attitudes of Britain, France and the Kingdom of Prussia did put the Chinese Empire under a certain pressure. However, he also knew that the Empire would go to war with Russia, which was already inevitable. Not only the military forces of the empire have begun to mobilize, but even the troops on the front line are ready to attack. Once war is declared, Russia will surely be greeted by a stormy blow.

"The empire also does not want war to break out. However, the premise is that the dignity of the empire needs to be preserved. The Russians, you have to give an account to the Reich! Otherwise, the empire will have to use force to maintain the glory of the empire! Wei Yuan said.

Sir Bonham, Bourblon and Claus all agreed. If the embassies of the three countries were attacked, and the other party still did not admit their mistakes and did not admit their mistakes, their reaction would definitely not be much better than that of the Chinese Empire.

The three of them left the Imperial Foreign Office, and they needed to report the results of this meeting to the country immediately, and then listen to the instructions of the country for the next step.

After the three of them left, Foreign Minister Wei Yuan rushed to the palace to report to Emperor Long Yufei.

"Your Majesty, England, France, and the Kingdom of Prussia have all expressed their willingness to mediate in this conflict. I insist, however, that if Russia does not accept the terms of the Empire, no mediation will be effective. Wei Yuan said.

"Aren't the Prussians allies of the Reich? They are now on the side of Britain and France. Could it be that they want to betray the Empire? General Sun Hao, Chief of the General Staff, said with some anger. If the Kingdom of Prussia also betrayed, it would be a severe blow to the empire, and the entire European war situation empire would not have the slightest chance of winning. Those allies in Europe may defect one after another. Even the Empire's hardcore allies can't guarantee it. Even if they continue to support the Empire, what awaits them may be their destruction.

"No, the Prussians did not betray us. It's that they are not ready and do not want war to break out now. Of course, if war broke out, the Prussians would have no way out, and they would have to join the Reich to fight! Prime Minister Lin Zihao said.

"That's pretty much it!" Admiral Sun Hao was relieved.

"Since Britain, France and Prussia want to mediate this conflict, then let them go! Anyway, there is only one condition for the empire, and that is that Russia must give an account to the empire. Otherwise, prepare for war! Long Yufei said.

"So, Your Majesty, are we going to stop our mobilization?" Admiral Sun Hao asked.

"Why stop? Mobilization continues. Even when negotiations begin, mobilization cannot be stopped. Just enough time to give the empire enough time to mobilize. In addition, it is also capable of paralyzing our enemies. Long Yufei said. The newly mobilized thirty infantry corps of the empire may take more than two months to prepare for war. The supplies on the front line are also being desperately mobilized, and these will take time. The mediation of Britain, France and Prussia can just give the empire some time.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Admiral Sun Hao nodded.

At the same time that the envoys of Britain, France and Prussia were putting pressure on the Chinese Empire, the ambassadors of the three countries to Russia also urgently made an appointment to meet with the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Nesher Rodie. During the meeting, the ambassadors of the three countries also expressed their desire to mediate the dispute.

The ambassador of the Kingdom of Prussia to Russia spoke in the strongest tone, directly demanding that Russia agree to the conditions of the Chinese Empire on this matter, otherwise war would be inevitable. After all, the embassy of the Chinese Empire in Russia was stormed, and there was also damage to personnel, which was originally a mistake of the Russians. As for the mob that was shot, they simply died innocently.

The statement of the ambassador of the Kingdom of Prussia to Russia made the Russian Foreign Minister Count Neschel Rodie very dissatisfied, believing that the Kingdom of Prussia was favoring the Chinese Empire. In any case, more than 150 civilians were slaughtered in Russia, and the Chinese Empire was supposed to compensate Russia for its losses.

The two sides struggled over this point, and the meeting almost reached an impasse.

Britain and France were allies of Russia, so they were not tough, but the meeting was deadlocked, and if the Russians could not be forced to bow their heads, then war would inevitably break out. For this reason, they had no choice but to express their position.

The British ambassador to Russia said that the British Empire did not want war to break out and demanded concessions from Russia. They also believe that the main responsibility this time lies with the Russians. If Russia had been able to protect the embassy of the Chinese Empire in St. Petersburg, then this would not have happened.

The opinion of the ambassador to Russia, who bypassed it, was exactly the same as that of the British ambassador to Russia, who also blamed Russia.

The British and French ambassadors also stated that if Russia did not accept mediation, then Britain and France would consider stopping their support for Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Count Nesher Rody was very angry, Britain and France are allies of Russia, but now they are helping outsiders to bully Russia, is this obviously a betrayal of the alliance? However, if Britain and France stop supporting Russia, it will be a heavy blow to Russia. If nothing else, even after Russia completed its mobilization, it did not have enough weapons to equip its troops. You can't send those bare-handed troops into battle, right? Then it's not about fighting, it's about going to die. Then, let alone winning the Chinese Empire, Russia will even lose again. If Russia loses the war, it will pay an even heavier price, and even the country will no longer exist.

Faced with pressure from Britain, France, and Prussia, the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Neschel Rodie, had no choice but to say that he would immediately report to the Tsar. (To be continued......)

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