The Chinese can wait, but the Japanese can't afford to wait. The Japanese troops in the two encirclements of Changyi and Gaomi could not afford to wait. Even the cost of the 9th and 11th Divisions of the Japanese Army, which was temporarily safe and secure on the southern flank of Jiaozhou Bay (the 11th Division had taken over the defensive line of the 9th Division), was enough for Japan to drink.

Before the meeting of the Qinzheng Palace, Zhu Erdian urged China to do its best. From the British side, they did not want Japan to be weakened by Yanzhòng. After all, Japan had an alliance with Britain, and in this life-and-death duel with the Germans, Japan had sided with Britain, while China was still vacillating.

On November 3, Zhu Erdian and Rui Enshi, who were urged by Lin Quanzhu, visited Tang Shaoyi again, hoping that China and Japan would start formal negotiations as much as possible. Zhu Erdian said that the lack of action by the Japanese landing force is enough to show Japan's sincerity for peace, and he hopes that the Chinese side will take note of this.

Tang Shaoyi made it clear that the Chinese government agreed to end the war through peace talks, but how? On the battlefield in Shandong, the two armies were still facing each other. Second, the question of responsibility for the war must be clarified, because this is a war of aggression that Japan has flagrantly violated justice and justice, and it is impossible to explain this point to the people of the whole country. Third, the aftermath of the war. The Battle of Shandong has been going on for more than a month, causing huge casualties and property losses among the Chinese military and civilians, and this account must be settled.

"Since it is the Japanese side that seeks peace, there should always be a charter, right?" Tang Shaoyi can now stand tall, there is no mystery in diplomacy, and if the battle ahead is won, it will be much easier to negotiate.

Russia refused to mediate, and they were happy with Japan's defeat. Although now everyone is a comrade-in-arms of the Entente. However, the hatred of the Russo-Japanese War was not eliminated, and Kosovitz naturally did not join the mediation team headed by Zhu Erdian. Zhu Erdian looked at Rui Enshi, who was sitting on the other side, and hoped that Rui Enshi would speak first.

"The specific conditions can be negotiated directly with Japan." The U.S. government was optimistic about Japan's fiasco and that weakening Japan was the strategic goal of the U.S. government, but unfortunately the war did not cause much damage to the powerful Japanese navy.

"Oh well. Doesn't Japan send a delegation? Tang Shaoyi finally expressed his willingness to make formal contact with Japan.

After being criticized by Long Qian, Fang Shengyuan quickly organized foreign affairs, finance, civil affairs, industry, transportation and other departments to study the key points of the negotiation. In particular, I asked for the opinion of the Senator Yang Du,

Fang Shengyuan felt aggrieved by Long Qian's "difficulty" at the Qinzheng Palace meeting, because Long Qian did not inform the Qinzheng Palace meeting to ask him to report on the negotiation plan. There is a taste of a surprise attack. Previously it was just said to be researched. The commanders of the major military districts were also recalled. Fang Shengyuan thought that Long Qian, like before, would use a rather "free" meeting to fully discuss and then form a centralized opinion, who knew that he would suddenly ask the government system? For almost a year. Fang Shengyuan felt that Long Qian had changed a lot. The "lord" who he followed with all his heart became unfathomable and profound. There is a growing tendency to play with power. But calmly think that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the department under its own jurisdiction, for post-war issues. At the very least, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take the lead in studying one opinion. It is indeed unreasonable to oppose the interference of military personnel in politics and the government not taking the initiative to act. We can't let the military come forward to talk to Japan about the aftermath, right? Thinking of this, Fang Shengyuan felt a little more comfortable.

His wife, Zhao Tao, has some talent for politics, and once said to him in private, as far as the Mengshan Army is concerned, in fact, your merits are not outstanding. Even if you have the credit of guarding Shandong after Long Qian led the army south, it is not easy to say that you are as big as Shi Jun and Ye Yanbing. The reason why he sat in his current position after the founding of the People's Republic of China is mainly because he lacks outstanding civil officials in his hands, and the Beiyang Department has, but it is not very easy to use, and it is not recognized by the military system, at least you are still from the Mengshan Army. In fact, Fang Shijun can completely abandon martial arts and follow literature, but this person is going to engage in the navy, which is cheap for you.

Fang Shengyuan admitted that his wife saw it very accurately. True, before the founding of the state, he did not have much to boast about. Therefore, the government is not qualified to argue with the president, and can only succumb to the president's coercion.

Now it is not a bad thing for Long Qian to let the government take the lead in the aftermath negotiations with Japan. Fang Shengyuan's economic achievements in the years since the founding of the People's Republic of China have boosted Fang Shengyuan's confidence, and he hopes to conclude a lasting peace with Japan in this regard. The war devastated the economy too severely, but fortunately, the elite area of Shandong was not affected this time, and the damage was limited. However, according to the estimates of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, the pre-war additional budget is definitely a breakthrough, leading to an increase in the fiscal deficit this year. There is no way around it, but fortunately, the war is won, and at least some losses can be recovered from the Japanese.

What will be Japan's attitude? Fang Shengyuan found Yang Du for consultation. This person has some unique research on the international situation, especially in Japan. Fang Shengyuan thinks that Yang Huizi is talented and can be reused. He had intended to hold a key position in the government. Yang Du also expressed to him that he was willing to undertake some practical work. But Long Qian was not so interested in this person, saying that this person was a figure like a Warring States strategist, and his empty talk was misleading the country, and he was not even as good as the likes of the top party. Therefore, Yang Du, who had "helped" in the formulation of the constitution and the Ministry of Justice, has never been given actual power. Remaining in the congressional system, although clear, has no real power.

Yang Du analyzed the reasons for the resignation of Okuma Shigenobu Uchi, and believed that the feudal forces represented by Yama Prefecture Aritomo were forced to make concessions under pressure, and according to his understanding, Yamagushi Aritomo's appearance in this great change in Japan's political situation did not seem so normal. He couldn't say what was so funny in it. Yang Du affirmed that although Saionji was one of the patriarchs, its prestige could not compete with Aritomo Yamaguchi, the representative of the Japanese Army, and could not be compared with Hirobumi Ito at all. It is said that Ito is seriously ill, and Ito has withdrawn from politics, and I am afraid that there will be no one to control the prefecture.

Yang Du believes that the coming to power of the Xiyuanji cabinet will have an effect on limiting the power of the Japanese military and will be beneficial to Sino-Japanese peace, so China should promote the stability of the Xiyuanji cabinet in power, so it should not force Japan too much on the post-war issue, so as to lead to a backlash of the military forces.

Yang Du said to Fang Shengyuan that looking at the politics of various countries, especially in the eastern countries, the struggle between the military and the civilian system is universal. The military's main war is to bring disaster to the country, but the civilian government is to be patriotic. China has been weak for a long time, and it has finally been able to obtain a good opportunity for construction. It is the lower-level officers and soldiers who sacrifice in the war, and the high-ranking generals who benefit. For example, General Feng Guozhu has made such a great contribution, I'm afraid he is going to be promoted to marshal, right? This is a reminder to the generals who follow the president that if they want to be promoted, they must fight. But ask yourself, has our country's national strength really reached the point of being invincible across Asia? If it is forced ruthlessly, it will inevitably lead to another great change in Japan's political situation. Not good for our country. A comprehensive analysis of the political and military economies of China and Japan. I dare not say that my country has overwhelmed Japan. At least there is a gap in the industrial base and the national prime.

Fang Shengyuan thinks that Yang Du's opinion is right.

Fang Shengyuan acted quickly after the meeting of the Qinzheng Palace, and it took less than a day for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draft a draft and come up with an outline for peace talks. It includes the use of the balance of the Gengzi indemnity to deduct the war reparations, the recovery of the three concessions of Hankou, Guangzhou, and Shashi (all Japanese capital in the above three places was confiscated), and Japan's public apology to China. But there is no public punishment of war criminals.

The core is reparations.

Japan's share of Gengzi's compensation is 7.73%. The total amount of silver was 3880 taels, since 1902, thirteen years. With the customs silver and salt taxes as collateral, 11.9 million taels have been repaid, and the remaining 26.9 million taels are roughly 27 million yuan at the exchange rate of the Chinese dollar (roughly equivalent to the yen). There is no accurate figure of Japanese investment in Hankou and other three places, and it is estimated that the maximum is only 3 million yuan, and the total is 30 million.

There is a gap of at least 50 million yuan from the projected war expenditure.

This figure was set by Fang Shengyuan, and was questioned by Zhou Xuexi and Duan Qirui, thinking that this was too cheap for Japan. But Fang Shengyuan asked whether Japan's finances could afford to pay 80 million yuan or more. Zhou Xuexi asked rhetorically: At the beginning, Japan forced China to compensate 200 million taels of silver outside the cession of Taiwan and other places, and the great powers including Japan forced China to compensate 300 million taels of silver in the Xinchou year.

Fang Shengyuan believes that it is okay to recover the three concessions and exempt the Gengzi indemnity of about 1.04 million yuan per year, but if it is forced too tightly, it will lead to a strong backlash from Japan, just like the Russo-Japanese War back then, if we can't get a penny, wouldn't we lose too much?

Fang Shengyuan really didn't want the war to continue.

On the evening of November 3, Fang Shengyuan first asked his secretary to call Haiyantang as usual, and then took Tang Shaoyi to report the government's official opinion to Long Qian.

It is generally believed that the president and the prime minister both live in Xiyuan, and they should meet every day. The prime minister wants to meet with the president, so why do you need to call first? Wrong! The reality is that these high-ranking officials have very little contact with each other, and apart from important official duties, the general exchange of opinions on official affairs is carried out through official documents and telephones, let alone private matters. As the temporary official residence of the president, Haiyan Hall is rarely visited for personal matters. There are very few people who can enter Haiyan Hall at will to "visit the door", which is a special honor. This kind of person is not divided by official position, but by personal relationship with Long Qian. In 1914, the fifth year of Long Qian's presidency, only Chen Chao, Chen Xian, Ouyang Zhong, Li Wenxiu, David, Zhang Yuanzhe and a few others could enter Haiyantang without notification. Needless to say, Chen Chao and Chen Xian are the director of the president's general staff, and they can be regarded as the "general manager" who meets every day, and Li Wenxiu is the widow of Lu Shan, who has moved to her hometown in Shandong and does not usually come to Beijing. American David. Di Wen's identity is the most special, half public and half private, and he was also Zhenhua's English teacher for a time. Nowadays, most of the time in the United States to manage the business of Huamei Machinery, rarely meet. There is only one "Zhonghua Daily" reporter Zhang Yuanzhe is special, in 1909 after Long Qian entered Beijing, he met Zhang Yuanzhe, became a friend, and specially explained to the general office, and reporter Zhang did not need to be informed. The rest of the people are absolute henchmen like Wang Mingyuan, Situ Jun, and Jiang Yun, and they need to be agreed in advance to report to Haiyantang for instructions. Last year, Admiral Ye Yanbing, commander of the Southeast Military Region, came to Beijing and was blocked by guards, which made Admiral Ye very unhappy, but Long Qian did not issue a "special pass" to his brother-in-law afterwards.

The initiator of the establishment of this system was Ouyang Zhong. Among them, Long Qian is clear, he understands a truth that he didn't understand before, that is, what is a "lonely person", the president is not the emperor, but in the eyes of the vast majority of Chinese people, he is the emperor. As long as he opens his "Chrysostom", there is nothing that cannot be done. Therefore, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Haiyantang found a lot of his old subordinates, which made him very annoyed. There was no time to reminisce about the past, and he couldn't agree to ask for private matters, so he had to instruct Ouyang Zhong to keep the door open. Those who didn't want to see it were blocked by Ouyang Zhong. In order not to make his old friends and subordinates embarrassed, Long Qian had to invite some people to Haiyan Hall for dinner regularly and irregularly, and every time he got together, he had to spend a lot of brains. On the whole, Long Qian invited many guests from outside the Mengshan military system, and invited many old subordinates with low positions, but there were very few senior officers above the minister and division commander. The banquet is simple, mainly to reminisce about the past, and this kind of private banquet has always been paid for by him. Unless on official business, such as inviting visiting foreign dignitaries such as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Lansing, the president's entertainment expenses are used.

Officials admit that the officialdom after the founding of the republic was very different from that of the late Qing Dynasty. This has something to do with Long Qian's "unkindness".

On the way to Haiyan Hall on foot, Tang Shaoyi said to Fang Shengyuan, I feel that our opinion is a little weaker, and I am afraid that we will not be able to satisfy the president. Fang Shengyuan said: The president often stresses the need to seek truth from facts. Do you think Shandong can get back more benefits from the first war? Brother Shaochuan, to be honest, I will be Amitabha Buddha if I can achieve this goal.

Sure enough, when the plan was submitted to Haiyan Tang, it was immediately opposed by Long Qian, "If it's the bottom line, it's okay." However, the resumption of Hankou and other three concessions is of little significance, it is better to focus on Tianjin and the Chinese garrison, and the importance of reparations is not as good as solving the problem of elbows and armpits. Long Qian said softly, "Minggao, considering national defense and security, the Tianjin-Shanhaiguan railway must be completely controlled." Even with the new Beijing-Shenyang line, it cannot completely replace this railway. Of course, the final payment of Gengzi is absolutely not given, and if we give it again, we will be the Manchu government. As for negotiations, to put it in layman's terms, the so-called sky-high asking price, pay back the money on the spot, at least of course we have to keep our mouths open. The cancellation of the final payment of Gengzi, the recovery of Taiwan, the banning of the concessions, the confiscation of all Japanese-funded enterprises to offset the war expenses, the withdrawal of the Chinese garrison troops, and the punishment of the commanders of the invading army who brutalized the common people. ”

Fang Shengyuan thought for a while, "President, I consulted Yang Huizi on the Japanese issue, I am worried that the Japanese military will rebound and China and Japan will fall into a long-term war." China's coastal defense is extremely weak, if the Japanese navy attacks Shanghai and Hangzhou and destroys the southeast in the flames of war, will the gains outweigh the losses? Long Qian talked about the saying that the sky-high price and the payment on the spot made him feel a lot more relieved. At least Long Qian did not lose his mind because of the victory, but he was still worried that Japan would not accept the demand to evacuate the Chinese garrison and recover the Japanese concession in Tianjin.

"Then I'll be allied with Germany." Long Qian sneered, "I said that the current situation is special, and the British will never watch us fall to Germany." In Europe, although Germany did not defeat France, it had the upper hand. In such a situation, how could Britain, France, and Russia want to see the emergence of a great enemy in Asia? Rest assured, the British have it in their hearts. Long Qian thought for a moment, "Didn't Japan send a negotiator to China?" ”

"Nope." Tang Shaoyi replied.

"Then let Gu Weijun come forward. The assistant minister to his ambassador was enough to give them face. (To be continued......)