In late July, inside the Ministry of National Defense in Beijing, President Deng Zixuan stared at the map of Germany on the side wall and was silent. is also contemplative Chen Jintang and Pei Gejin accompany the side. Pei Gejin broke the silence and said: "The German military attache has sent a new battle report, and the German armored division has advanced to Bialystok. The Russian troops, who defended about a brigade of Bialystok, retreated towards Lithuania with a little resistance. The German Panzer Division attacked Diawistok without bloodshed, and the Germans achieved the goal of the campaign ahead of schedule. ”

"According to the report of the German military attaché, on the way of the German Panzer Division to Biavitok, the defeated Polish cavalry surrendered one after another, and the powerful Polish odd army collapsed." Chen Jintang said: "After the victory of the German army on the Haag River, the Russian cavalry units on the front line of Sertsev quickly withdrew their troops, and it is estimated that they have retreated to the territory of Ukraine. The victory on the Haag River shook the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They immediately made peace with Germany, declaring their withdrawal from the traditional territories of Polish history in order to seek German tolerance. ”

Chief of Staff Pei Gejin continued: "Russia has not yielded, according to the German report, Russia is deploying troops to prepare to resist the Russian army. Deng Zixuan said: "The Russians are not fools, he concluded that the German army could not escalate the war with its current strength. Although Russia was pinned down by us on the Eastern Front, Russia's vast strategic depth was the bottleneck for the Germans. Napoleon's bitter lesson, the Germans will not be unclear. In the present state, the German army did not have the strength to launch a large-scale offensive into Russian territory. ”

Deng Zixuan continued: "But Austria-Hungary is short-sighted, they think that if they submit to Germany, Germany will forgive them, which is extremely stupid. In the next step, after the German army takes over Poland, it will definitely move south. I estimate that the 2nd Panzer Division will appear in the Germans before the end of the year. The power of a tank fighting vehicle. It would have made the Germans speed up the pace of the war. Southern Europe was rich in oil, which was a strategic resource that the Germans had to seize. At present, the Russians are also discovering oil in the south, and I estimate that after the German high command completes the southern European strategy. The next target will definitely be the southern regions of Russia. ”

Chen Jintang and Pei Gejin thought that Deng Zixuan's analysis was reasonable, and at this time, a subordinate hurriedly came in and said: "Guangzhou is calling, the French have already gotten on the bus and gone straight to the capital." Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "It seems that the French are in a hurry, although France and Germany are feuding and incompatible." But in the present state of affairs, it was impossible for Germany to launch an attack on France. The war was driven by profit, and France was relatively poor in resources, especially without oil, at least for a few years. Germany will not fight the idea of the French. ”

Deng Zixuan continued: "The French are already panicking in the face of the rapid rise of Germany. Historically, France was humiliated by Germany, and its inner fear made them lose their correct judgment. In the past, it was backed by Russia, Austria-Hungary and the British Empire. The French were not afraid of Germany. Now the situation has completely changed, and the French are alone, and no one can count on them, so they have to rely on us. So we're going to hit them hard. This is the time. ”

On the Beijing-Guangzhou train, French Prime Minister Inge and his subordinates were silent, and the depressed expressions on their faces represented everything. After the French negotiating delegation landed in Burma, it received a telegram from the national government, and the French delegation could see the living conditions of the French prisoners of war along the way. There was no rush in the negotiations, and they were given more than a month to learn about the situation of the French prisoners of war. The telegram was signed by the president and was intended for the two countries to formally begin negotiations in late August. However, during their stay in Canton, the French were shocked to learn that the Germans had launched an attack on Poland.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister. We did not expect Germany to prepare for war so quickly, and it seems that we made a mistake in judgment. Unexpectedly, moving steel chariots appeared in the German army. This is by far the most formidable land weapon in the world. In the Battle of the Haag River, an armored division of the German army, with less than 10,000 troops, defeated nearly 60,000 powerful Polish cavalry, which is unimaginable. It seems that the German army dared to attack, relying on the might of tanks and fighting vehicles. With tanks, combat vehicles, the Germans will be invincible. Foreign Secretary Fernando was remarkable.

Inge said depressedly: "Obviously, the Germans had premeditated and seized the historical opportunity. The tanks developed by the Germans were certainly a factor, but the main reason was that the situation in the world was too favorable for Germany. I propose that a negotiated agreement be reached with the Chinese Empire as soon as possible, especially on the question of war reparations and prisoners of war, and that we must make significant concessions and conclude a bilateral agreement as soon as possible, for it is our sacred duty to benefit the French nation as a whole. The crowd agreed.

When the train arrived at the Beijing Station, Prime Minister Jang Zhidong and Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Li Hongzhang greeted them at the station. After the courtesy greetings and normal diplomatic greetings between the two sides, Ying Ge said bluntly: "Your Excellency, Your Excellency, at present, the war in Europe is raging, and we demand that negotiations be concluded as soon as possible and a Sino-French good-neighborly treaty can be concluded as soon as possible. In addition, we ask your country to provide communication channels so that we can easily communicate with the country. We demand direct negotiations with the President of the Reich. ”

After the interpreter explained, Zhang Zhidong and Li Hongzhang briefly discussed a few words and said: "We will arrange for you to meet with the president as soon as possible, don't be impatient." Since the Empire has proposed to reconcile with France, we will, in the greatest sincerity, promote the signing of a treaty between the two countries as soon as possible. Subsequently, Inge and his entourage were arranged to stay at the Beijing State Guesthouse. On the same day, with the consent of the national government, Inge summoned the French envoys and personnel of the Qing court who were under house arrest at the state guesthouse. As for how sentimental they are, do not show it.

That night, Deng Zixuan discussed with Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang, and Hu Xueyan at the official residence. Deng Zixuan said at the wine table: "My preliminary assumption is that the French government sent troops to invade China, causing heavy losses in China's economy, property and life, and demanded that the French government pay 100 million silver dollars in compensation, and the ransom for each prisoner of war is 50 gold coins. Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang, and Hu Xueyan couldn't help but widen their eyes when they heard this, and their surprised expressions seemed to be stupid. Deng Zixuan knew that in the First Sino-Japanese War in later generations, the war reparations paid by the Manchu government to Japan reached 200 million taels of silver, which was far from it. The British Empire was even more insatiable, and after the Gengzi Change, they controlled the salt tax in the coastal zone, which was even more astronomical.

"President, at present, the French government is in a difficult situation at home and abroad, and the domestic economy is rotten, and they simply can't come up with so much money." Zhang Zhidong almost didn't say that this was a lion's big mouth. Hu Xueyan said: "President, 100 million silver dollars is equivalent to 600 million legal currency, and the French will never agree." Li Hongzhang said: "President, I guess you are not a lion with a big mouth, I'm afraid there is a bottom line." In addition, the French can't come up with so much money at once, so what kind of strategy we will take, you must have already figured it out. ”

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Remember that in this world, the rules of the game are formulated by the strong. At the moment the mighty Germany is showing its fangs, and the French face a great threat. The Germans were armed with terrible chariots, and the French were afraid that they had only the option of surrendering. Go? If enslaved by the Germans, the French nation would fall into ruin. At this critical moment, the French must have demanded that France be included in the list of the Imperial Chinese Protectorate, so that all other issues are secondary. However, the French must be pitiful, and we can make a slight concession, but the bottom line of the war reparations cannot be less than 80 million silver dollars, and the ransom for prisoners of war cannot be less than 40 gold coins. In addition, the French can't come up with so much money at one time, and we can set a period of 20 years and pay the reparations in installments. ”

"President, Germany provoked a war, and you calculated the weakness of the French?" Li Hongzhang was overjoyed. Hu Xueyan shook his head and said: "Ha Luha, pay compensation in installments, this method is too wonderful, I believe that the French will definitely give in." In this way, our treasury is richer. Zhang Zhidong said: "I suggest that war reparations be included in the overall plan of the national economy. "No, war reparations and ransoms for prisoners of war must be earmarked."

Seeing the three of them confused, Deng Zixuan said solemnly: "The imperial warriors threw their heads and spilled their blood for the rise of China, we must think about them." The families of these fallen warriors have the right to a stable and happy life. In addition, after the end of the war, a large number of active military personnel need to be resettled, and we must create conditions for their future lives. Especially the disabled warriors, the empire has an obligation to let them live out their old age without food and clothing. In addition, I have another idea to use the war reparations to set up a special foundation, and if the conditions are met, we can increase the welfare benefits for officers and soldiers, so that we can reduce government expenditures. ”

Deng Zixuan's shrewdness once again taught the three of them what a long-term strategy is. The next negotiations were really as Deng Zixuan analyzed, and the French were almost led by the nose. After several rounds of negotiations, the two sides formally reached an agreement that the war indemnity would be 85 million silver dollars and the prisoners of war would be ransom 40 gold coins. War reparations and ransom were repaid in 10 instalments for a period of 20 years. One of the most important aspects of the agreement between the two countries was the signing of a security treaty between China and France, and France was included in the protectorate of the Chinese Empire.

After the treaty between the two sides came into effect, Deng Zixuan asked the French government to announce it to the public at the end of the year, but the French could not afford to wait. The day after Inge reported the treaty to China by telex, the French government announced the treaty between China and France, and said nothing about the war reparations. Since the French government had announced the treaty in advance, the Chinese Empire could not remain silent and announced it immediately. The effect of the shock is concave, and a shock wave on the Western world will be staged again. (To be continued......)

PS: The 1900 that subverted history, is it a coincidence in the dark?