In the luxurious restaurant of the Liuguo Hotel in Beijing's Dongjiaomin Lane, dozens of leading foreigners in Beijing have gathered together. All of them were ministers, counselors, military attachés of the great powers, as well as the commanders of the armies stationed in China and their charming wives or lovers. Wear the signature tuxedo of diplomats of this era, or the military uniform with many medals, and evening dresses that show off a large area of snow-white skin. Three, five, one archipelago is talking about something. And the waiters of the Six Nations Hotel are also very attentive to entertaining these God of Wealth, all kinds of famous wines, all kinds of Chinese and Western delicacies are sent up like water. It's just that the diplomats and military personnel of these powers don't seem to have much appetite today, and a large number of delicious food and wine are placed there, but few people taste one or two.

The oak door of the dining room was pushed open. Kudashev, the Russian Imperial Minister to China, and the British Minister to China, Zhu Erdian, walked in side by side. The eyes of the people turned to them, and they saw that the gloomy Russian minister was almost out of the water! And the British minister's face seemed to have a layer of frost.

The British Minister, Jurdian, said in a loud voice in English: "Distinguished gentlemen and ladies. Because of a shocking incident, I had a brief meeting with Count Kudashev, so I came a little late, and I apologize most sincerely for the long time you have took. ”

Someone in the crowd asked aloud: "Is something happening in Russia again?" The rebellious Bolsheviks were overthrown again? Or has the Russian Civil War already broken out? ”

There was a buzz from the crowd. The face of the Russian Minister Kudashev became a little more gloomy, and he removed the politeness from his head and nodded slightly towards the crowd.

In fluent English, he said: "Distinguished colleagues, I am grateful for your interest in some of the turmoil that has taken place in our country, but I am convinced that it is only temporary...... The Russian Empire will soon be restored to its former glory! But before that, the Russian Empire and I need the help of our friends from the civilized world to safeguard the interests and dignity of the Empire in China! At the same time, this is also to maintain the prestige of the entire civilized world in China! ”

The U.S. Minister to China, Rains, laughed loudly: "What happened? Could it be that those Chinese want to take advantage of the civil unrest in Russia to deprive you of your privileges in China? If that's the case...... I don't think Mr. Earl needs to worry at all, as if our legation comes forward to exert some pressure, they will definitely back down immediately. ”

British Minister Zhu Erdian glanced at the American ambassador's ruddy face with some disgust, this guy's complexion was really good. It seems that the prosperity of the United States is all on the face. He grimaced and said lightly: "My American friend, if things are really that simple. Then Count Kudashev and I won't be so embarrassed! Now we have a very embarrassing problem, that is, the newly elected Russian Bolshevik authorities have agreed to give up all their privileges in China, return the Eastern Railway, and return the concessions. Withdraw all the troops stationed in China! ”

The American minister interjected unwittingly: "So what else can we do?" Your Excellency Zhu Erdian, Your Excellency the Count, the Russian Government has agreed to renounce their rights, what can we, as foreign diplomats, object? What can such an opposition do? ”

His voice fell, and the one was dressed in a white navy uniform. The Russian minister, with a beard like horsehair, burst into a rage and shouted: "No! Those Bolsheviks were not qualified to represent the Russian Empire! They are just a bunch of rebels, villains, hypocrites, traitors to the Russian Empire! Soon, each of them will be sent to the gallows, and the Chinese and the qiē treaty they have concluded will be null and void! It's a piece of waste paper, a challenge to the entire civilized world! ”

"Wait, wait......" American Minister Raines interrupted the thunderous Russian with a wave of his arm: "I remember that the Russian Empire in your mouth had fallen a few months ago!" You are now a diplomat of the Russian Republic, right? And the Bolsheviks happened to be the rulers of the Russian Republic. This was recognized even by their reactionary Social Revolutionaries and Mensheviks. ”

The Russian minister's face was so blue that it was about to turn black! The Russian Empire was gone. And the government of the Russian Republic is now called the Soviet government! Moreover, this government does not recognize him, the faithful servant of the former Tsar, as the Russian minister to China! Well, in fact, he's pretty much self-appointed as a minister......

At this time, Zhu Erdian tapped the floor tiles lightly with his cane, and said in a flat tone: "Mr. Rains, Count Kudashev, we are not talking about the survival of the Russian Empire...... It's not our turn to think about that question. It is not that those Bolsheviks should be hanged or not, but the collective interests of the entire civilized world in China! The whole civilized world's special interests in China are like a set of dominoes. If one of them falls, there will be a chain reaction! If today we allow China to take away its rights from our Russian friends. Then the Chinese who will be encouraged tomorrow will definitely find ways to seize rights and interests from other civilized countries!

If we do not unite and act in unison, what happened to our Russian friends in Outer Mongolia will soon happen to us! Gentlemen, China is a big country after all, and if our civilized country cannot become a whole and advance and retreat together, then the rights and interests in our hands will definitely be taken away little by little by the Chinese, and finally driven out of the Chinese land by those barbarians!

In addition, I would like to remind you of one more point. The Bolshevik regime in Russia was the most dangerous enemy of the entire civilized world! Although the top of our country has not yet made the final decision to intervene in the Russian Revolution...... But that's only a matter of time! At that time, we will need to set out from the territory of China to destroy the most dangerous enemy of all mankind! So, we can't let China and this dangerous Soviet Russia become friendly countries! ”

Saying this, he took a sharp breath and said loudly: "I propose here that the ministers of all civilized countries act together to put pressure on the Chinese government in the name of the legation to abandon their attempt to conclude a treaty with the Bolshevik government in Russia!" ”

"But what if the Chinese ignore our pressure?" U.S. Minister Raines interjected again.

"No, it won't!" Zhu Erdian said coldly: "The Chinese government will never dare to say no to the joint pressure of the legation!" On this issue, as long as our civilized countries show a sufficiently united attitude, those Chinese can only obediently bow their heads! Saying that, he glanced at the Japanese minister on the side: "Mr. Lin, civilized countries should appear in front of the Chinese as a whole, but civilized countries can still exchange their interests in China, don't you say?" ”

Lin Quanzhu set his sights on the Russian minister Kudashev. Unlike the great powers such as Britain, the United States, and France, which were beyond the reach of China, Japan did not fear that their interests in China would be touched by the Chinese authorities, and therefore welcomed the withdrawal of Russian influence from North Manchuria. Of course. If Russia could transfer their special rights and interests in the Middle East Road and North Manchuria to Japan, they would welcome it even more! Is it just that Kudashev can transfer the Middle East Road to Japan on behalf of the already extinct Russian Empire?

Kudashev naturally understood what the Japanese minister meant, and he took a deep breath. It seems like a lot of determination.

"The Russian Empire can transfer her interests in China to a civilized country like Japan, but only if Japan supports our cause against the Bolshevik bandits!"

……

Beijing, Zhongnanhai Huairen Hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this 'Sino-Russian New Covenant' is a matter between China and Russia. It will absolutely not harm the interests of other countries in China, and it has nothing to do with other countries...... The treaties signed by various countries with us are still in force, and the annual Gengzi indemnity will not be paid less than a penny. This protest you are now making is really against the public law of all nations! ”

It was Cao Rulin, the foreign minister of the Beiyang government, who spoke, these days. This Foreign Minister Cao is in a mood of joy and sorrow! I am glad that the Russian Soviet government is really so good at talking, and has agreed to a series of special rights and interests proposed by the Chinese side to return the Middle East Road, stop paying Gengzi indemnity, and give up unilateral most-favored-nation treatment in China! And the condition is simply that China will ensure that the anti-Russian forces do not use Chinese territory as a base for attacking Russia...... This result was a surprise to all the top levels of China's Beiyang government, including Cao Rulin, who, although the treaty had not yet been signed, was already touting a "diplomatic victory" in the newspapers.

As for worry, it is naturally the attitude of the great powers! Cao Rulin, of course, knew that these Russian Bolsheviks were not very popular with Britain, the United States, France, and Japan. To tell the truth, what kind of "dictatorship of the proletariat" is theirs. Cao Rulin doesn't like it either! Sounds a bit like the Red Brigade! And what kind of "Red Army aiding Russia" is there in Russia. It seems that it is also the same chaotic party as the Red Brigade.

In addition, Foreign Minister Cao Da, Premier Duan Da, and Chang Ruiqing's "Engong" Xu Shuzheng all have a little luck. After all, the British and American powers have not completely torn their faces with the Russian Soviet government, they still maintain diplomatic relations with each other, and they also recognize that this government represents Russia. That being the case, the signing of a treaty between China and Soviet Russia does not violate public international law, and besides, this treaty does not involve the interests of the great powers in China. They probably won't interfere much, right?

But now, that bit of luck has completely come to naught! Britain, France, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy have made it clear. They were against the signing of any treaty between the Chinese government and Soviet Russia! The Chinese government is required to immediately suspend the signing process and punish those responsible. And promise the legation that it will never happen again! Oh, by the way, there was actually Russia's own minister who came to protest! The Chinese government signed a treaty with the Russian government, and their own Russian minister actually came to protest! What's going on?

After listening to Cao Rulin's explanation, the Russian minister Kudashev was the first to burst out of breath: "This "Sino-Russian New Covenant" is illegal, and it seriously harms the rights and interests of the Russian Empire in China!" As the representative of the Russian Empire in China, I would like to make the strongest protest! If the Chinese government does not immediately suspend the signing process, we, the Russian Empire, do not rule out a further reaction! ”

Duan Qirui's face also turned cold at this time, if the ministers of Britain, France, the United States and Japan said this, it would be okay, but what are you still angry about as the minister of the Russian Empire? The Russian Empire is now the same as the Great Qing State, what further reaction can it take? If you want to have that strength, you should first find a way to free your emperor from the Bolsheviks!

He smiled coldly and began to speak, but with a bit of playfulness in his tone: "This matter has been settled between our country and your country's People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Trotsky!" Didn't he sue you, Mr. Minister? Or are you not the Minister of the Republic of Russia to our China at all? ”

Kudashev's face turned blue all of a sudden, and he struck the floor of the living room with his cane, and just as he was about to have a seizure, he heard a sneer from the British Minister Zhu Erdian beside him.

The British minister's tone was still very flat, and he said lightly: "Opposition to the "Sino-Russian New Testament" is not only the opinion of Count Kudashev personally, but also the opinion of the British Empire!" Mr. Prime Minister, the British Empire would like you and the Chinese Government to seriously consider your relations with the Bolshevik Government in Russia! This government is only a temporary government, and they will not be able to save zài for more than three months. Perhaps only two months later, when the results of the Russian Constituent Assembly elections are in, there will be a new government that can truly represent Russia. When the time comes, they will not recognize the Sino-Russian New Covenant that you signed with the Bolsheviks. Instead of apologizing to the Russians then, it's better not to make mistakes now! ”

Japanese Minister Hayashi Sukequan interjected: "According to the results of the study of our Japanese government's experts on Russia, the support rate of the Russian Bolshevik Party in the country will never exceed 30 percent, while the support rate of the Russian Socialist-Revolutionary Party will definitely exceed 50 percent. So there will be no surprises in the election of the Constituent Assembly. If your country wants to adjust its treaty with Russia, it can wait until after January next year to negotiate with the new Russian Government, and we, the Imperial Japanese Empire, are willing to mediate and guarantee China's interests to the greatest extent. ”

Duan Qirui glanced at the expressionless Japanese minister. He smiled stiffly: "Mr. Minister, on behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to thank the Japanese side for its kindness, but this "Sino-Russian New Covenant" has been announced to the outside world, and if it is withdrawn now, I am afraid ...... Otherwise, we can wait until January next year, when the new Russian government comes to power, to revise the treaty! Even if the new Russian government wants to deny all the provisions of the "Sino-Russian New Covenant", we will admit it, and we signed the treaty before that. But not fulfilled. The Eastern Railway is still controlled by the Russian side. I wonder what you think, Mr. Ministers? ”

Duan Qirui, Xu Shuzheng, and Cao Rulin are also all like human beings, and of course they are also planning ways to deal with the interference of foreign powers these days. In the end, they really figured out such a method, of course, the "Sino-Russian New Testament" must be signed, and the good things that fall from the sky must not be let go, even if this pie is a pie!

However, the great powers cannot ignore it, and there is no courage to say no to the great powers here in Beiyang. However, if you sign a contract, you can leave it on for the time being. The Middle East Road will not be taken over, and the Russian concessions in various places will not be recovered for the time being. As for the Gengzi indemnity. The 1917 payments had already been made, and the 1918 payments would not have been made in January. By the time it was time to pay the Geng money, the general election in Russia should have ended, and the result of whether the Bolsheviks could still be in power or not had been decided.

If Russia falls into the hands of some Socialist-Revolutionary Party, then even if we are unlucky in China, we will do what we should do, the "Sino-Russian New Testament" will not count, and the amount that should be compensated will also be compensated! However, if those Bolsheviks still hold the power, then we China will not be welcome, the Middle East Road and the concession will be recovered, and the money will not be compensated, anyway, the British, American, French, and Japanese powers do not like the Bolsheviks, and when they see that Russia is completely returned to them, it is estimated that they will not be fed up and supported, so let's take care of this kind of idle matter again, right?

Hearing this compromise plan proposed by Duan Qirui, the eyes of several foreign devils in the living room began to roll.

US Minister Raines' attitude was the first to loosen, and this matter has little to do with the United States, and the Americans' national policy is not colonialism but an open door, and even if China recovers all the concessions, as long as American goods and capital can be allowed to flow unimpeded on China's territory, the United States will not oppose it. And he came to protest with him, but he didn't want to offend Britain, which still maintains a lot of power in China!

He smiled and nodded at Duan Qirui: "The United States thinks this plan is acceptable, after all, the results of the Russian election have not yet come out, and the Bolsheviks also have the possibility of victory, and then they will be the legitimate representatives of Russia, and of course they are qualified to conclude a treaty with China." ”

"Japan also supports this plan." Lin Quanzhu followed up and also expressed his position, in fact, he had received instructions from the Japanese cabinet, asking him to affect the "Sino-Russian diplomatic case" depending on the situation of the general election in Russia. If the Russian Bolsheviks won, they should try to keep the Middle East Road under the control of the Russian royalists! On the contrary, it is better to use the "Sino-Russian diplomatic case" to exclude Russian forces from Manchuria!

Zhu Erdian looked at the two disobedient "little brothers" with some dissatisfaction, and finally nodded lightly, and said in a flat tone: "Okay, although it is a little troublesome, it is not unacceptable." As he spoke, he looked back at the Russian Minister Kudashev: "Count, the decision is now in the hands of the Russian people, I think they will make the right choice, right?" ”

The Russian minister sneered: "Of course! After saying this, he glared at Duan Qirui fiercely, then turned around and walked out without looking back.

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