Chapter 123: Transformation in the Far East
(Thanks to the book friends for the tip of the command gun!) )
The armistice treaty was signed, and Kawanishi held an open-air reception outside the negotiation pavilion to celebrate the end of the war and the return of peace. Ministers from all over the world attended the meeting. Only the three representatives of the Manchu Qing Dynasty had a bad face, because this reception was more like a celebration banquet in western Sichuan. In this battle, the Qing Dynasty lost all its face and lining.
Prince Li Shiduo is the most depressed person, originally he was expecting to be able to get in touch with Sichuanxi, but he didn't expect to be recognized by the Empress Dowager Cixi, but let the junior of King Dingjun take advantage. Puyi, the king of Dingjun, was a marginal figure in the clan of the Qing Dynasty. But once they marry Sichuanxi, it is estimated that no one in the entire Qing Dynasty will be able to despise them!
"Congratulations to Kawanishi for winning this war!" German Minister Marcos walked towards Wang Yuze with a wine glass. There is no secret of envy for western Sichuan in his eyes. Not long ago, the total value of the fleet ordered by Kawanishi from Germany did not exceed 10 million taels of silver. And now, Kawanishi directly received 120 million taels of silver, and if all this indemnity was invested in the navy, it would be enough to create a fleet that Britain had to fear!
"Thank you, Your Excellency, Minister for your help to Kawanishi." Wang Yuze replied. Although Germany has been very limited in helping Kawanishi in this negotiation. But in other respects, Germany has played a huge role.
"Haha, we're friends. Helping each other is naturally the way it should be! German Minister Marcos said.
"Yes, we are friends. Now it is, and always will be! Wang Yuze said sincerely.
Wang Yuze's answer made Marcos very satisfied. In his arrival, this heir of western Sichuan is also pro-German, which is very good. It won't be long before Germany will be able to gain a strong ally in the Far East.
"Your Excellency Ogner, the entire Far East has changed dramatically, and it is no longer what it used to be!" French Minister Tian Chun said. There is no doubt that Kawanishi became the biggest winner of this war. With the speed of development in western Sichuan, they will inevitably usher in a blowout.
Ogna nodded, if before Sichuan was just a local power of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Now, then, Kawanishi has enough strength to step onto the world stage. Although their navy is still zero, their army is already world-class. No country can be taken lightly. After regaining a few provinces, the area of control in western Sichuan has been greatly increased, almost half the size of Europe. But fortunately, these territories are some barren areas, if they are like the Chengdu Plain, then the western Sichuan will become a world powerhouse is just around the corner.
"On this issue. I think we in Britain and France have common interests, and we need to work together to maintain peace in the Far East! Ogener said. Chuanxi's strength is increasing faster and faster, and he has to guard against it! Britain's strength in the Far East alone would make it difficult to curb the ambitions of western Sichuan, and it was necessary to unite with other countries.
"I think so, Lord Ogna! However, I think it seems that we can bring Russia in as well! French Minister Tian Chun said. Russia, known as the steam roller, still has a very strong strength.
"Russia? I'm afraid they hope more than anyone else that the Manchus will fall quickly! That's the case. They will be able to quickly occupy northern China. Realize their plans for Yellow Russia! Ogna said disdainfully. At this time, Britain and Russia had irreconcilable contradictions in Central Asia. Russia wanted to go south to gain access to the Indian Ocean. However, Britain tried every means to encircle Russia, and the contradictions between the two sides were very deep.
The French minister, Tian Chun, smiled and stopped continuing the topic. However, France and Russia do not have this contradiction. On the contrary, France has a large investment in Russia. They can use this to cooperate.
U.S. Minister Tian Bei and Prince Gong Yixin were talking, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty opened its market in an all-round way this time. It means huge business opportunities, and the United States, which has always been heavily profitable, will certainly not give up such a large piece of fat. Tian Bei hopes to have a good relationship with Yixin and strive for greater interests for the United States.
The Japanese minister, Taro Kawaguchi, was drinking alone, he was simply an uninvited person, and although Japan had developed rapidly after the Meiji Restoration, their international status could not even catch up with the Manchu Dynasty. Therefore, naturally no one will pay attention to him in the meeting.
Taro Kawaguchi's gaze at Wang Yuze was also full of jealousy. In this battle, Sichuan West Tongguò seized more than 2.5 million square kilometers of land, which is seven or eight times the size of the Japanese mainland. How can this not make the Japanese elite, who have been constantly struggling to find a living space, not be jealous? In addition, the war indemnity of 120 million taels of silver made Taro Kawaguchi almost drool with envy. 120 million taels of silver, converted into yen, is almost 400 million yen, and Japan's current fiscal revenue is less than 100 million yen! If this war reparation belonged to Japan, how much could they do?
"Come, the Qing Kingdom has really declined. So, can the empire also bite off a piece of fat on the Qing State? Taro Kawaguchi said secretly. At this time, the powerful country, in his eyes, is completely like a terminally ill and dying person, but with huge wealth, how can he not let the evil wolf of Japan be tempted? However, Taro Kawaguchi was still a little hesitant, although the Qing army's army failed, but they had the first navy in Asia and the sixth in the world, which was far from being able to deal with Japan. Japan is an island nation, and if the navy cannot win, then they can only be trapped in the Japanese archipelago.
Once ambition grows, it grows wildly. Taro Kawaguchi has been completely seduced by the huge benefits. After the meeting was over, he sent a long telegram like the Japanese government, detailing the war between Western Sichuan and Qing Guo. It also focuses on the weakness of the Qing state and the benefits that can be achieved after defeating the Qing state. His telegram attracted the attention of the Japanese government, which quickly deduced it and finally came to the conclusion that although there was a great risk of war with the Qing state, the possibility of their victory was extremely high. If it wins, Japan will receive enough development funds from the Qing state, and Japan will take off in full swing at that time.
"Young marshal, congratulations! It won't be long before the young marshal will become my forehead in the Qing Dynasty, and then we will become a family! Prince Li Shiduo found Wang Yuze with a smile on his face. Although he can't be a son-in-law with Wang Yuze, it is still very necessary to maintain a good relationship. In this way, at least after the Qing Dynasty was destroyed in western Sichuan, he could still leave a way out with this little incense!
"Thank you, Prince Li!" Wang Yuze said indifferently. He didn't care about what kind of stuff or anything like that.
"Alas! Originally, this king wanted his youngest daughter to marry the young marshal. But Lafayette had other arrangements and chose the daughter of the king of Dingjun. It's a pity! However, the daughter of the king of Dingjun is just Dorogge, at best she is just a county lord, and it seems that the imperial court has not yet promoted her title, how can she be worthy of the young marshal? This king also disagrees with this very much. But if Lafayette and Prince Gong oppose it, this king has no choice! Prince Li said.
Wang Yuze still knows the secret for the first time, it turns out that it is not the princess who married him, but just the county lord, this difference is too big! However, fortunately, he doesn't care much about this, all he wants is an identity. As long as he becomes the forehead of the Manchu Qing, he will be able to dictate to the Manchus at that time. However, this Prince Shiduo seems to be interested in moving closer to the west of Sichuan! And Sichuanxi, in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, really needed such an agent. Wang Yuze is still very satisfied with Shiduo's initiative to get closer.
"Thank you Prince Li for telling me this, we will be much closer after we come!" Wang Yuze said.
"Haha, then the king is better to be respectful than to obey his fate!" Prince Li Shiduo laughed. He knew that his efforts had not been in vain.
It won't last long, and it won't be over by noon. After receiving the indemnity, the army in western Sichuan will withdraw from the Beijing division. However, Song Zhengping would stay and continue to negotiate with the Manchus about the follow-up. After all, there were still hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war of the Qing army in the hands of western Sichuan. Including tens of thousands of Mongol cavalry. If the Manchus want to redeem it, then I'm afraid they will have to blood hard.
In the afternoon of the same day, Prince Gong Yixin held talks with Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and the United States, and the two sides signed the "Beijing Friendship Treaty." The treaty stipulated that the Manchus would fully open their markets to all countries, including the construction of railways and the exploitation of various mineral resources. Of course, the countries had to pay a considerable amount of money for the Manchu Qing Dynasty. At the same time, various countries will provide low-interest loans worth 200 million taels of silver to the Manchus to pay the Manchus' war reparations against western Sichuan, rearmament, and so on. Countries will also sell all kinds of weapons and equipment to the Manchus to rearm them.
However, with the signing of this treaty, the Manchus inevitably became colonies of various countries in China. The influx of foreign capital, although it accelerated the economic development of the Manchus, made the Manchus completely dependent on the foreign powers. Although the armament of the Manchu Qing was re-established with the support of the great powers, its military strength did not improve significantly, so that in the war a few years later, it was still defeated again and again. In addition, in order to compete for greater interests in the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the struggle was also very fierce.
PS: The second update is here! Regarding the issue of updates, this month is still updated three times a day, so if book friends vote for updates, please vote for three more 9k words! I still don't recommend it next week, running naked, and the enthusiasm is Yan zhòng, ah! ……)