Upon his arrival in Beijing, Smith refused the Foreign Office's offer of accommodation, and instead moved into the British Embassy. With the exception of a brief meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the next day, in which he conveyed the British Prime Minister's greetings to the Chinese leaders, he did not make any substantive diplomatic requests or requests to meet with China's highest leadership. The Chinese side is not in a hurry and allows it to hold private meetings with the diplomatic missions of Russia, France, and other countries.

On April 23, Envoy Smith met with Morrison at the British Embassy in China. Smith first presented Morrison with the Order of George in recognition of his outstanding work in China. Then to get to the point, I asked Morrison, with your experience working in China for so many years, do you think China will join the side of the Entente? If it joins, how will China help the war situation?

Also present at that time was Ambassador Zhu Erdian. Morrison pondered for a moment, then said to Envoy Smith, "Allow me to answer your second question first. If China joins us, it can play a two-pronged role. First, it can support Russian armaments and materiel in the vicinity. Everything from food to weapons is okay. In recent years, the Chinese have done a very good job in reclamation in Manchuria, especially in North Manchuria, and Heilongjiang is becoming China's granary, which is really an incredible miracle. And Russia's food supply is currently very tight. If China can provide food to the Russians, I think it will be very significant. There is also something incredible in terms of weapons, the Chinese light weapons are quite good, according to professionals, the Chinese rifles, light machine guns, mortars are the most advanced, considering that those weapons are developed by China itself, this is really unimaginable. Their military-industrial capabilities exceed estimates. It was tested in the war against Japan. The caliber of their bullets is exactly the same as that of the Russians, and the arsenal in Shenyang can already produce shells of 150mm caliber. The second is to directly participate in the war, China can directly send its army along the Trans-Siberian Railway to support the Russian front. Recently, the Chinese Army is being reorganized, and the movement is quite large. The 2nd Division, which had achieved very good results in the war against Japan, oh, has now been reorganized into the 2nd Army, and has been transferred back to Zhili to defend Beijing. It is said that the strength of the Northern Military District, which defends the north, continues to be strengthened. If they wished, these troops could be thrown along the railway line. ”

Russia is in dire need of assistance, and now they lack everything...... Smith kept rubbing his big nose, "Very good. So. Do you think they will join us? ”

"With all due respect. Hard. Morrison and Smith stared at each other. Because of Germany's good relations with the current regime, and because of Japan, the Chinese military and people are very hostile to us. Because of my profession, I have a close relationship with the cultural community in Beijing. The higher-ranking Chinese were reluctant to go to war. They are more obsessed with what has already been achieved. The views of these people will influence China's decision-making. And the call for the military to join the German-Austrian Front has been incessant. You must know that due to the background of the current Chinese regime, the role of the military in the country's major politics cannot be ignored. ”

"But. I've heard that China's foreign affairs are actually in the hands of one person, and that person has a super-strong grip over the military. Smith lit a cigar.

"You're absolutely right, that's exactly what happened. However, he will ask for a very high price. It must be admitted that his knowledge of the world situation is very good. In many ways, even career diplomats are not comparable. ”

"You mean it's better to see him directly?"

"Yes."

After some consideration, Smith made a formal appointment with Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi and asked Foreign Minister Tang to meet with the president.

But Long Qian went out on patrol. The Foreign Office does not have access to the president's itinerary. At the urging of China, Smith met with Fang Shengyuan and formally proposed that China join the Entente and declare war on Germany and Austria.

"So, what do we use to convince the people? You must know that in the history of the Republic of China, Germany has helped us a lot. Fang Shengyuan said to Smith. China's attitude towards the European war has been repeatedly negotiated at the highest level, and Fang Shengyuan is aware of Long Qian's hole cards.

"For justice." Smith restrained the desire to rub his big nose, "Is there any other purpose?" The ferocity shown by Germany in the war has become the great enemy of the civilized world, and civilized countries, including the United States, have fully seen the Germans as they are. This duel with Germany is related to the future and destiny of all mankind, and China, as a major country in East Asia, should stand on the side of justice and give full play to its role. ”

"Justice?" Fang Shengyuan sneered, "Just two years ago, Japan brazenly invaded our country, and except for Germany and the United States, no country came forward to openly condemn Japan's atrocities. Could it be that Mr. Special Envoy would think that Japan's armed invasion of our country is also within the scope of justice? Mr. Special Envoy just now also mentioned the civilized world, do you think that the many unequal treaties brought to China by the so-called civilized world led by your country in recent decades have also demonstrated peace and justice? ”

"Well, as you know, the Anglo-Japanese Treaty has not ended, and the British Empire has many restrictions on its relations with Japan. As you can see, the British Empire did not invoke the Anglo-Japanese Treaty to give Japan any military assistance in the military conflict between your country and the Japanese Empire, which is enough to express the position of the British Empire. Smith is also a veteran of diplomacy and has punched back forcefully. It's just that I didn't expect this prime minister, who is said to be insignificant in China's power structure, to show his toughness.

Fang Shengyuan thought for a while, "China is willing to do its part for world peace. China expressed regret and concern about the ongoing war in Europe. But China has ended the imperial system, and the parliament is the highest organ of power in the country. The Government must give a strong explanation to the members and gentlemen of both houses of parliament as to why it opposes the countries that have greatly assisted our country, and why it stands with our enemy, the Imperial Japan. Mr. Smith, do you understand what I mean? ”

The contemptible Chinese are so naked and coerced. Smith pondered silently. He was visiting China for the first time, and his impression of the cowardly and incompetent Chinese had not changed because of what he had expected, but the Prime Minister's task was clearly explained, and Foreign Minister Gray had to bow to the Prime Minister's decision. Behind it, of course, is the grim situation and the helpless choice. Before making this decision, Sir Grey had Japan in mind first. If Japan can play the role that the British Empire wants, why bother to turn to China? But the Japanese were so disappointed in the civilized world that they refused to send troops to Europe, and of course their poor army was now unable to send troops and was licking their wounds. Instead, they offered to consider supporting Russia, and the conditions were so high that the British Empire did not even dare to announce its demands to its Russian allies. The cession of Sakhalin is something that Russia must not agree to. Offering interest-free loans of up to £300 million is also too harsh.

"Mr. Prime Minister, what are your requirements?"

"Waiver of the payment of the balance of the Treaty of Xincho; Abolish extraterritoriality and unreasonable treaties imposed on our country, including concessions. You know, the German government is clearly committed to doing this. Other than that. Declaring war on Germany meant a direct military conflict. China's industrial base is still very weak, and it needs the support of your country and other allies, and the demands in this regard need to be calculated, all for the sake of justice and justice. ”

Smith ignored Fang Shengyuan's sarcasm. "If the British Empire grants your request. What actions will your country take that will help defeat Germany? Smith thought. At least the demands of the Chinese are not as shameless as the Japanese.

Fang Shengyuan did not give a direct answer, "It is the instinct of the Chinese to abide by their credits. As long as China joins one of the Entente parties, it will naturally do its duty. But first and foremost, we must meet the demands of the population. What I just said should be the minimum requirement, and it is also the minimum guarantee that President Long Da will convince the parliament. Mr. Special Envoy, have you and your allies promised to satisfy China's self-esteem? ”

Despite the authorization, Smith was reluctant to turn over the cards, "Those treaties are officially signed, they are history. Your country should respect history. Respecting the history that has already happened is the best way to keep your word. ”

"If your country's attitude is like this, it's a pity, then it's hard to talk about. Treaties represent history, and that's right. However, history is a process, the world situation is undergoing profound changes, and the European war will completely change the world pattern, and it is difficult for China to stay out of it. Let me tell you the truth, China is undergoing an unprecedented economic revival, and war will disrupt our plans. We feel a lot of pressure on the attitude of the military and the people...... Why should governments take huge risks to support losers? At least I don't know how to explain it to Congress. ”

"The Entente will not fail!" Smith shouted.

"The most convincing thing is not the mouth, but the facts! China has an observation mission in Europe, and it is not ignorant of the war. Verdun could no longer hold on, and if the Germans occupied Paris and drove the Anglo-French forces out of the mainland, I don't know where the victory you were talking about would be. Fang Shengyuan said coldly.

Fang Shengyuan's first contact with Smith played a tough role. The negotiations did not lead to anything. Smith urgently needed to meet China's top leaders in person, but Long Qian was slow to return to Beijing. On April 25, Smith received unconfirmed information that the Chinese military had strongly proposed an alliance with Germany and Austria to flank Russia and force Russia to withdraw from the war in the first place. A fact has been proved that the 4th Army stationed in the eastern part of Zhili has already moved north to Manchuria, and on the 24th alone, the Beijing-Shenyang Railway drove 11 military vehicles northward, loaded with soldiers and artillery. France and Russia could not sit still and strongly demanded that Britain do its best to implement China's position and never allow China to fall to the side of the Allies.

On April 26, Envoy Smith met with Fang Shengyuan again and asked Premier Fang for an explanation on the movement of Chinese troops. Fang Shengyuan said that the movement of the army is completely a normal defense adjustment, and there is nothing to make a fuss about.

On the same day, Smith made a request to meet Long Qian and asked the Chinese side to make arrangements. This request was fulfilled, and on April 28, Smith was accompanied by Zhu Erdian and Gu Weijun to Xi'an to meet Long Qian. They went from the Beijing-Guangzhou line to the Longhai line, and a special car was added to the ordinary ticket car from Beijing to Xi'an. The passenger train stopped in the Luoyang area for a long time, and the ticket car was forced to give way to the military train, and Smith, who was sitting in the box, saw the canvas military train heading west. In fact, this is a normal military transfer after the adjustment of the army establishment, because the strength of the Northwest Military Region has been greatly strengthened, and another railway division has been transferred to the northwest to step up the construction of the railway from Xifu to Lanzhou. The survey work from Lanzhou to Xinjiang is nearing completion, and the Lanzhou-Singapore line is one of the priorities of China's next phase of railway construction.

Smith's blockade in Luoyang was not a pre-engineered performance, much less an attempt to subdue the British. But the scene in front of them shocked Smith and Zhu Erdian, but Gu Weijun couldn't explain the purpose of the troop movement. This naturally added to the apprehension of the two Britons, who were very worried that China had decided to go to war against Russia -- attacking the Far East and Central Asia from both sides, and that a weak Russia would not be able to resist China's attack at all. Next, it will inevitably lead the eastward transfer of the Russian army to deal with its own more urgent crisis. If the Russian army suffers an even more severe defeat than last year, it is possible that Russia will withdraw from the war. In that case, Germany would free up 1 million troops, and the sight of those 1 million troops crushing Western Europe made Smith shudder.

In fact, as long as you have some understanding of China's transportation situation and have rough military knowledge, you will not think that China is using troops in the northwest. The western section of the Longhai Road has only been repaired through Xifu, and Lanzhou has not yet been opened to traffic, and Xinjiang is even more distant, and it is unimaginable that a large number of troops will be sent to Xinjiang to attack Russia without the support of a railway line. (To be continued......)

PS: An elder died unexpectedly and was delayed for two days, apologize!