Because the Longhai line has not yet been broken through, and the exploration of the Lanxin line has not yet been completed, China does not have the strength to move troops in the northwest at all, but in the Pacific coastal areas and Sakhalin Island in the Far East, the British want to see China's power revealed. For this reason, they are willing to make concessions on the Japanese issue!

Poor little Japan, the Tokyo government did not yet know that the British had sold them. The Southwest Army also didn't know that although Liu Xian fought for a large piece of fat for them, Japan's future would be completely wiped out in the confrontation between the east and the west!

Yuanbian Gaozhao is still grateful to Liu Xian and China! This is really an irony.

……

"The new Tsar Alexander III is a freak!"

Liu Xian never let down his guard against the Russians. He learned about the assassination of Alexander II on the morning of the fourth day after the incident. For the new Tsar Alexander III, 'freak' was his first impression of him these days.

Alexander III was afraid of the shadow of his father's assassination, so he did not live in the winter palace and summer palace in St. Petersburg since he succeeded to the throne, but hid in the suburban palace Gatchina and was called "the hermit of Gatchina in Europe" in just three months.

As the thirteenth emperor of the Russian Empire, as the head of an autocratic empire, Alexander III had no intention of establishing a new policy or interfering too much in actual government affairs. He adopted a method of governing the country similar to that of the chairman of a consortium: the organization appointed a group of capable people, formed a circle of think tanks, and asked these people to study the affairs of the state first, come up with several solutions, and then report to the emperor himself before making a final decision.

This seems very similar to a model of the 'cabinet', but there are a thousand differences between the two. The bureaucracy here was appointed, dismissed and deposed at will by Alexander III. It is only a manifestation of his personal will. In fact, this group of staff also completely killed the seedlings of the Russian people and lords that Alexander II had raised.

Due to the lessons of Alexander II's repeated assassinations [not the first assassination], and finally the death of the bombs of the People's Will. Alexander III and the thinkers around him agreed that the Russian monarchy should be strengthened to stem the tide of social liberalization.

At the beginning of the succession of Alexander III. The edict laid down a series of measures to strengthen public order and strengthen the absolute monarchy, and clearly declared several situations in which a state of emergency would enter the country. In addition, the punishment for strikes, demonstrations and other activities has been increased. Given that educational institutions, especially universities, were the birthplace of free thought, Alexander III revoked the autonomous status granted to universities by Alexander II. All this actually reflects the will of the ruling clique of the bureaucratic aristocracy.

He made certain adjustments to the reform measures of his father, Alexander II. Alexander III abolished the original system of joint management of the Council of the Gentry. Originally in Russia, the gentry councils belonged to local self-government bodies, absorbing social strata such as intellectuals, merchants, squires, workers, craftsmen, peasants, and Cossacks, in addition to the nobility and bureaucracy. The joint management of the chief officers of the gentry councils of various departments has a certain amount of power to deal with government affairs. However, under Alexander III, the joint system of gentry councils was replaced by the district courts, which acquired executive power in addition to judicial power, and the police were placed under the jurisdiction of the district courts. In this way, the judicial system basically controls local self-government.

After the abolition of the system of liaison between the gentry councils, Alexander III further began to abolish the system of gentry councils and replaced them with the direct administration of the governors, extending the authority of the governors to oversee the military and political affairs of one side. Originally, as a local self-government body, the Gentry Council was also tasked with supervising the implementation of government affairs, such as participating in and discussing government affairs. Much like Parliament, now with the coming to power of Alexander III, the local governors have the power to overturn or change the decisions of the Gentry Council, which has effectively lost its value.

Alexander III single-handedly strangled the 'democracy' of Russia. At the same time, the bureaucracy and the aristocracy were fused to create a powerful force that he could not control himself, and who could hollow out the foundations of the Russian Empire.

It's like the combination of China's civil bureaucracy and honorable nobles. That's completely unstoppable. Although I can't see it yet. But will Liu Xian not know. What caused the crushing defeat of Russia in World War I is all too clear.

It may take less than 10 or 8 years. Tsarist Russia would become as rotten as the current Austro-Hungarian Empire. It's just because it 'fell' a little later than the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the Tsarist Russian army can still press the Austro-Hungarian army to fight during World War I!

That's all for later.

At present, Russia is not yet that Cheng dù.

"Your Majesty. Today's Tsarist Russia is not only in a period of weakness after the Great War, but also in the throes of social change. It's good that ten percent of the strength can exert three or four achievements. It is very, very debatable how much of this strength can be applied to Central Asia and the East.

So now China is provoking Russia, and there is not much of a threat. The only thing to be wary of is the aftermath.

Both China and Russia are in the period of recovering their strength, and even if they see the soldiers now, they are still making a small fuss. What is terrifying is what kind of hideous face Russia will show when its strength recovers in three or five years. ”

Liu Xian summoned his important ministers to discuss this matter, and although Wang Minyun was a close minister, he was not qualified to participate in a meeting at this level. But he is one of Liu Xian's think tanks, and according to the information and information provided by Liu Xian, he said the above words.

The real threat is three or five years later!

As the lord of China, does Liu Xian have the confidence to fight a real national war with Russia in three or five years? Still fighting and winning?

It has been five days since the British Prime Minister's special envoy,, arrived in Beijing and held two confidential talks with the Foreign Office. Britain threw out a piece of Japan's interests, and while inducing China to come into conflict with Tsarist Russia, they also hoped to get a guarantee from China that the Lanfang Special Zone was confined to Borneo and could not continue to develop southward.

Since last year, sporadic Chinese businessmen have appeared in the Philippines, Batavia and other places, most of them have money in their hands, set up merchant houses and inns, and cooperate with local Chinese to buy land and build plantations, involving maritime ......

This year, it's only the first half of the year. There are more Chinese businessmen in Manila and Batavia than in all of last year. With China's unification and growing strength, China will inevitably set foot in the South Seas.

The Dutch are the younger brothers of the British. Relying on the Dutch, Britain could contain part of the strength of the French. But at the same time, Britain also had an obligation to protect the Dutch colonies. This Nanyang is the top priority. The coachman of the sea. Now Batavia is the only straw left.

The Netherlands is very vigilant against the threat of China! More than one time he has hinted at Whitehall, hoping that Whitehall will take seriously China's momentum in the South Seas and that Britain will give China certain restrictions.

Whether it is the incumbent British Prime Minister, the Cabinet Minister, or the Empress Elizabeth, who has become a symbol of the empire on which the sun never sets, no one thinks that the two giants of China and Russia will decide the winner in the short term.

They think that this is the beginning of the next 'Hundred Years War'! As long as this battle can really be fought!

The British acquiesced in the existence of the regime in southwestern Japan, which was tantamount to saying that the strategy of containing China with Japan was abandoned. This is very important for China. In the future, as long as the southwestern Kagoshima regime exists, China will be able to ignore Japan's voice.

This is a bait that Liu Xian covets. He must eat!

To support the regime in the southwest, China's cost is also enormous. Keep fighting. I don't know how many of the current Chinese navies can be built with all the cost of adding a piece.

So the British don't worry about Liu Xian not taking the bait. And they also take it for granted that after China feels the power of Tsarist Russia, it will naturally put its power wholeheartedly in the barren north, rather than in the rich South Sea. It's just that now the negotiations are being made, and the British are playing this as a card.

Liu Xian walked into the Qingyun Hall with a relaxed smile [the east side hall of the Hanyuan Palace, the main building of Yingtai], and Fan Debang and other cabinet ministers greeted Liu Xian, and then sat down left and right.

A few polite nagging, quickly get to the point. Liu Xian's considerations are really different from those of his ministers, and the two sides look at the problem from different angles. Fortunately, however, the goals are broadly unified. They were all receptive to the 'thorny roses' thrown by the British.

Fan Debang, Zhang Shouyan, Shen Guifen, Li Hongzhang and others also think. Since China has Britain as an ally, and the Qin army has defeated the French army head-on, it is not a big problem to deal with a Russia.

This is the most mainstream thinking of cabinet ministers.

It is true that Tsarist Russia itself is a world power. However, the name and deterrent power of China are far inferior to those of Britain and France. Moreover, the future of China and Russia towards war is also in line with China's long-term plan.

Liu Xian's attitude towards the outside world has always been to revitalize China and reshape the Celestial Empire. If the land taken by the Russians is not returned, then what is the 'Celestial Empire'?

Guo Songtao's eyes narrowed slightly. It's like a hunter who has already set his sights on his prey. In the two contacts between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cork, it was obvious that Cork's attitude on the Nanyang affair was not very firm. Guo Songtao thinks this is a place to go:

"Your Majesty. Courke's attitude was not firm. Perhaps the British thought that as long as our country was in the war with Tsarist Russia, it would no longer be able to make waves in the South Seas. The minister thought that he only needed to grind one or two more times. Caulk relented. ”

Treaties are very little in the face of real interests. But this is the rule of the 'game', and it is unethical to tear up the treaty without authorization. It's better not to sign or not to sign! And......

"And Tsarist Russia is, after all, one of the great powers of the time. If our country fights with us, the British should make a promise to our country. ”

The British don't meddle in the business, but they have to make a note anyway.

Liu Xian's eyes are not only picky, but Guo Songtao can still think of this trick? Very good, very nice. But would the British be willing?

"It's man-made. If you don't give it a try, how can you know if it doesn't work? ”

Fan Debang's eyes flashed with a light at this time, and he arched his hand and said, "The minister seconded the proposal." ”

"Tsarist Russia, a powerful country today, a world power. Our country is at war with it, and since the British are unwilling to contribute, they should make a promise. ”

A group of ministers seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden, and suddenly their expressions were much more relaxed, and they were like the joy of finding the baby, and they breathed a big sigh of joy in their hearts.

Only Liu Xian's brows furrowed, this is still the country's cabinet ministers, none of them have confidence, so how can the country have confidence? (To be continued......)