Sun Wen was silent for a while, and then said in a very smooth tone: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, how we get along with the Germans is a matter for the Chinese government, and no country has the right to interfere. Even if we wanted to end the war, we could not accept such conditions. There is no such precedent in any international diplomacy. ”

Jurdian looked at Conger and saw that the American was now sitting there with his eyes lowered and putting on a posture that he didn't care about.

There is no such precedent in the international community, but Zhu Erdian believes that this is not a problem, the strength of the British Empire cannot be challenged by China, and if it has the strength, it can make rules. Even if they are unable to take care of Asia because of their current difficulties, it does not mean that they will allow the Chinese to go against their will and stand with the Germans.

Or what I said before, it is terrible for China to stand up, and it is even more terrible for Britain to stand up for a pro-German China!

In the imminent outbreak of a major war, the Chinese are fully capable of dragging the Russians to death in Asia, so that Germany and Austria can pounce on Britain and France without any worries. Even, it is quite possible that the Chinese will stand with the Germans.

This speculation is not unfounded, in the eyes of the British, the German Emperor Wilhelm II, like Yang Dagui, was a madman!

"Mr. Sun Wen, I am just making a suggestion that the conversation we have today is completely informal, and I ask you not to take this as a request from the British Government. I think it's an opportunity at best. ”

Zhu Erdian sat there and took a sip of coffee and said.

Sun Wen nodded: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, I really want to seize this opportunity to normalize the relations between our two countries." It is pointless to hold anyone accountable for the way things have developed today, and President Yuan Shikai has sometimes been very remorseful, and he has repeatedly told me that Mr. Sadaoyi is his good friend and that the British Empire is a trustworthy partner of China. ”

Although Mr. Sun is a gentleman, he will lie, which is half true and half false. However, Lao Yuan does often regret that his relationship with Britain is so stiff, and it is not wrong. Yuan Shikai often said that he was too impulsive when he declared war, and if the wording could be tactful and only aimed at the Russians, there might be room for détente with the British.

Zhu Erdian smiled: "I hope so." ”

Mr. Sun was clearly very positive: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, there are still many unresolved matters between China and the British Empire, such as the issue of the treaty between the Manchus and the British, and the debt problem between us, and I hope to renegotiate these historical issues with the British government. ”

Zhu Erdian didn't say anything, he knew that Sun Wen wanted to establish a dialogue channel. Either way, the two sides will talk first.

For this, the British Empire has not yet determined. Zhu Erdian came to Beijing this time only to explore the way, and did not get any authorization. The British also wanted to see how things would develop, and if the Russians could take the city of Peking, it would be ideal for the British.

If the Russians do lose, the dialogue that Sun Wen hoped for will be possible. Zhu Erdian's contact with Sun Wen this time is to prevent Britain from appearing too hasty in case it really happens, and at the same time, it also gives the two sides a logical reason to contact.

"Oh, Mr. Sun, I was really touched by what you said. It's just that I don't think the timing is right. So be it. I'm going to make some effort in London, and I can only promise you that, sorry. ”

Zhu Erdian stood up, assuming the posture of ending the talks. Sun Wen seemed to have something else to say, but he didn't open his mouth in the end.

Mr. Sun knew that he could not be as stubborn as he was with the United States. The reason for pestering the United States is that the attitude of the Americans is ambiguous and there is hope for it. Hopeful. You can keep sticking it up.

But Britain is different, and it is likely that sticking it up is just a humiliation.

"Well, I hope Mr. Jurdian will make some effort. Let our relations return to normal. If you have any needs in Beijing, you can come to me at any time, and I will be happy to serve you. ”

After Sun Wen finished speaking, he left the American Legation, Conger sent Sun Wen out of the door and turned back, and saw Mr. Zhu Erdian sitting on the sofa and pondering, knowing that the Englishman must be thinking about something, maybe he was recalling every word of Sun Wen, and diplomats are like this, to hear from the other party's words what the other party did not say.

Conger didn't bother, he went to the wine cabinet to open a bottle of wine, and before he could pour it, he heard Zhu Erdian talking in the back: "Conger, as the master, I think you should bring me a glass first." ”

Conger and Zhu Erdian have known each other for a long time, so after Zhu Erdian finished speaking, Conger came over with a wine glass and poured him a glass first: "French brandy, do you know how much this wine sells in China now?" Because of your British blockade, you drank a tael of gold in this cup. ”

Zhu Erdian smiled: "Really? Conger, you've been staying in China, and I'd like to know what you think about the current war situation? Will the Chinese win, or will the Russians win? ”

Conger didn't even think about it: "I think you asked the wrong person, Mr. Zhu Erdian, I don't know much about war. The reason why I'm still here to be honest is because I want to take a break for a while, and if it weren't for that annoying Sun Wen, my time here would have been like a vacation. ”

Zhu Erdian shook the wine glass slightly: "Don't say that, I know you very well." Tell me an answer, China, or Russia. ”

Conger looked at him for a moment: "China." ”

Zhu Erdian didn't ask him what he was doing, but suddenly leaned all his body back on the chair behind him, and the whole person let out a sigh.

This answer was apparently expected by Mr. Jurdian, and the performance of the Russians was too disappointing. Although they said they were advancing every evening, the Chinese declared their counterattack successful every morning, and so on, and the Russians remained where they attacked.

Conger said: "Mr. Juerdian, I think your British government should adjust its strategy in Asia, the current problems in Asia are very troublesome, and the rise of China will bring about a major change in the situation here, but there is another very unstable factor, which worries us more than China. ”

Zhu Erdian said: "Are you talking about Japan? ”

Conger nodded: "Yes, the Japanese have recently expanded their shipyard and started to build warships desperately. After this month they are planning to build two cruisers, and I think you should know where their resources come from! During this period of time, there have been Japanese expatriates making trouble in Indonesia, and I think you should let the Japanese restrain a little! ”

Zhu Erdian knew that Japan's naval expansion had clearly stimulated the United States and the Netherlands, especially the Netherlands, and that Conger's tone of speech today was polite, and that the Dutch had already made representations to the British side and asked the British Empire to stop Japan's actions.

However, the words of the little Japanese were reasonable, and the Japanese admiral Heihachiro Togo explained to the British government that the reason for their expansion of the fleet was because the Chinese side had formed a navy. And it is no secret that in Qingdao there is a submarine research institute in which China and Germany cooperate, and the Japanese say that they must have absolute maritime superiority over China, not only for Japan, but also for the sake of the British Empire.

If the British did not want China to be killed on land in the future, they were not to stop the expansion of the Japanese navy, unless the British Empire could send more fleets to Asia. The British really couldn't do it, so they didn't say anything about the Japanese to expand their navy.

Zhu Erdian's face smiled bitterly, in fact, he felt the helplessness of Britain. The British no longer have the same ability as they did half a century ago, when the British flag was planted in every corner of the world, and they could win any war if they wanted to. No matter where it is.

But now, even a Boer war they won so hard. The Germans began to challenge them in Europe, and the situation in Asia, from China's loss of control to Japan's disobedience, showed that the British Empire was actually losing control of Asia.

The hegemony they have built over hundreds of years seems to be dangerous. That's why they need a war, a large-scale war to defeat those who want to challenge themselves.

The look on his face made Conger see the obvious answer, and Conger shook his head in disappointment and said, "Zhu Erdian." I can assure you that within a year the Japanese will definitely set foot in Indonesia, and if they succeed, the next target will be the Philippines! By that time, our American fleet may not be able to hold back the Japanese. ”

Although Japan at this time was a second-rate country, the United States was the same, and without the baptism of the two world wars, if the United States and the newly rising Japan fought in the Philippines, they would really lose more and win less.

Zhu Erdian said: "No! Believe us, such a thing will not happen, and we will definitely not allow the Japanese to touch the Philippines. Believe us, Conger, that in the next three years we will be able to defeat the Germans who want to challenge us, and the order of the world will soon be restored, and the same will be true here in Asia. ”

It is useless for Conger to say too much, the British really have no ability to stop the Japanese now, and to what extent things will develop here in Asia, Conger does not know how far apart he is. As a diplomat, he just needs to talk to Zhu Erdian about this problem, and there is no need to keep dwelling on it, it is pointless, because the matter is not something that the two of them can solve.

"Okay, Zhu Erdian, let's not talk about these unpleasant topics, how is the situation in Africa? Has the revolt subsided? ”

The Americans had no colonies in Africa, but this African revolt affected them as well. Because there are many black people living in the United States, during this period of time, those black people actually formed an organization to provide material assistance to their compatriots in Africa.

The U.S. government banned the group and arrested several of its leaders, but the blacks provided more covert assistance to the resistance and held mass demonstrations in the United States.

Zhu Erdian immediately said: "It is almost calmed down, although the Italians can't fight, but after the French and Germans attacked, those guys were quickly dispersed, and then one by one they were exterminated." I passed through there when I came to China. There were less than a thousand of them left, and they had withdrawn from the populated area, all of them fleeing into the Atlas Mountains. ”

Zhu Erdian raised his glass: "I believe that they will not cause trouble in the future, the French and Italians are suppressing those who support the riot, as long as those guys do not get support, it will not be long before they will be completely destroyed." Even if they can hold on, they will be a bandit at best, and there is nothing to fear. ”

Zhu Erdian said with confidence, but Conger stared at his eyes and suddenly said: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, don't underestimate bandits, especially those who hide in the mountains. (To be continued......)