In St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, the British ambassador to Russia officially rejected Russia's request for a loan. Moreover, a request was made to Russia to mediate the war. The British side demanded that Russia take into account the current international situation and put an end to this meaningless war.

Not only did the British side reject Russia's request for a loan, but the French government also rejected Russia's request for a loan. At the same time, the French side also demanded that Russia proceed from the overall situation and not waste the country's strength.

"Damn! Those damn British and French. They simply did not take into account the feelings of the Russian Empire and demanded that we give up the interests of the country. Nicholas II roared angrily. Although, Russia and Britain and France have already signed the Covenant. However, Britain and France did not see Russia as an ally at all, but as a pawn. This was a great blow to Nicholas II, who had a lot of self-esteem.

The Russian ministers also had a bitter look on their faces. Britain and France not only did not lend to Russia, but put pressure on them, which is not what allies should do at all!

However, they had to admit it. Russia is indeed under tremendous pressure. Without the support of Britain and France, Russia would not have been able to carry the war on at all. Unless, Tsar Nicholas II paid out of his own pocket and used the wealth accumulated by the royal family over the centuries to pay for the expenses of the war. Nicholas II, for sure, would not have agreed to such a request.

In addition, after the defeat of hundreds of thousands of troops in the Eastern Siberian Governorate and the Far Eastern Governorate, the Russian army had little hope of winning the war. This makes Russia's situation even more difficult.

"Guys, tell me what we should do?" Nicholas II's face was furious.

"Your Majesty, the Empire must consider the demands of Britain and France. Europe was the foundation of the Russian Empire. Since both England and France want us to be able to cease the war. So. If the interests of the empire were not harmed, a truce could have been made. Prime Minister Kokoftsev said.

"The interests of the empire are not harmed? Is that possible? The yellow-skinned monkeys have already occupied large swathes of the Viceroyalty of the Far East and the Viceroyalty of Eastern Siberia. Will they give us back these territories? Nicholas II frowned. If the Northern Army can return these territories and compensate Russia for its losses. Well, it is not impossible to stop the war. Now, too, Nicholas II realized that the war had been waged too hastily. Russia is not ready at all. was caught off guard by the Northern Army. Otherwise, the Russian Army would never have failed. Next time, once Russia is fully prepared, it will definitely be able to defeat the Northern Army, and it will be a shame.

"Your Majesty, we can make an effort, since Britain and France want to mediate, then they should ensure the interests of the empire." Foreign Minister Izvorsky also said.

Nicholas II nodded: "In that case." Then make peace with those yellow-skinned monkeys. However, I have only one request, and that is that the interests of the Russian Empire must not be harmed. They must withdraw from the territory of the Russian Empire and pay us another billion rubles for losses! ”

Nicholas II's request left the ministers speechless. Don't forget, it's Russia that is at a disadvantage in the war right now, not the Northern Army. Nicholas II seems to have forgotten this! It is conceivable that as long as the heads of the leaders of the northern government are not caught in the door. They would never agree to such a request. However, Nicholas II has already set the tone. They have no choice, and it is worth complying with.

"In addition, the dispatch of troops to the Governorate of Eastern Siberia cannot be stopped. Those yellow-skinned monkeys are marching on the Viceroyalty of Eastern Siberia and plundering our territory, which is unacceptable to the Russian Empire. "Nicholas II especially emphasized this. The Russians take territory very seriously. Not an inch of the country should be lost.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" War Minister Sukhhomlinov nodded. However, with the current strength of the Russian Army, it wants to send troops to the Eastern Siberian Governorate on a large scale to defend the territory. It's a difficult task!

Beijing, Dongjiaomin Lane, British Legation in China. The British Minister to China, Sir Juledian, has received a letter from the Foreign Secretary, Edward Edward. Sir Grey's order required him to mediate the war on behalf of Great Britain.

"Pathetic Russians, for whom this war is a joke! A powerful country that shook Europe, in just a few years, was successively beaten down by the Orientals. It seems that this country, which once made the countries of Europe tremble, has lost its former glory. Sir Jurdian sighed.

At the outset of the war, he anticipated that Russia might lose again. Although the rise of the Northern Army was short, the momentum of development was not weak. In comparison, Russia is already a decadent and backward country. In particular, the Russian Army's operations in the Far East, thousands of miles away, put them in a disadvantageous position. Therefore, it is understandable that the Russians lost this war.

It's just that, after all, the Russians are allies of Britain. So, Edward. Sir Grey instructed Jurdian to ensure Russia's interests as much as possible in the peace talks. A Russia that has been greatly weakened is not what Britain wants to see. In addition, it is not possible to excessively persecute the northern government, so as to prevent the northern government from completely falling to the British.

If the British were not willing to look at the northern government with a straight eye before, now the British need to look at the northern government squarely. After defeating the Japanese Army and the Russian Army successively, the combat effectiveness of the Northern Army was already among the world's first-class. If the northern government completely fell to Germany, it would be a disaster for Russia and the entire Entente.

It is necessary to ensure the interests of Russia as much as possible, and at the same time to avoid provoking the northern government. Such a request really made Sir Jurdian feel a little embarrassed.

"Come, go and invite His Excellency Pasteur and His Excellency Ronsovici to the Legation, and I will consult with them again. Remember, first His Excellency Pasteur, and then Ronso Vice. Zhu Erdian commanded.

This time, Britain and France jointly intervened in the mediation. He believed that Pasteur, the French minister to China, had also received orders from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two of them need to discuss it first. Then, after finding out what exactly the Russians are asking for.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The secretary of the legation nodded, and immediately went to make arrangements.

Half an hour later, the French minister to China, Pasteur, arrived at the British legation. Sir Jurden and Minister Pasteur exchanged views. For this mediation, the two also felt great pressure. It is foreseeable that the greedy Russians will definitely not think that they have lost the war and will definitely make some unrealistic demands. And the government in the north will also be not to be outdone. As a result, mediation will be very difficult. The government in the north is not a Qing government, and it is weak and can be bullied. At the same time, they had to guard against the Germans' co-optation of the northern government, so as to avoid a situation in which the northern government completely turned to the Germans.

Sir Jurdian and Minister Pasteur deliberated for a while, but could not come up with a practical solution. Therefore, they had to understand the requirements of the Russians first, and then think of a targeted solution.

Soon, the Russian Minister in China, Ronso Vetz, also arrived at the British Legation.

"Your Excellency, you must have received an order from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country. For the sake of peace in the Far East and in the interests of the Entente, Britain and France were to mediate the war between Russia and the northern government. We hope that Your Excellency will cooperate with us. Sir Jurdian said with a smile on his face.

"Your Excellency, England and France are allies of Russia, and although Russia is not willing to end the war now, we are willing to give our allies face. We hope, however, that Britain and France will need to secure Russia's interests as much as possible in their mediation. Ronsovicz said.

The corners of Sir Jurdian's and Minister Pasteur's mouths twitched, and they secretly cursed in their hearts that these Russians really did not look like vanquished, as if they were victors.

"Your Excellency, what about Russia's specific requirements?" Sir Jurdian asked.

"Russia has not asked for much, only two. First, the Northern Army must withdraw from Russian territory and return the Middle East Route to us. Second, the government of the North must compensate Russia for its losses, amounting to a billion rubles! Ronsovicz said.

Sir Jurdian and Minister Pasteur were speechless for a moment. Such a request, not much? It's just a lion's mouth! They could even expect that the northern government, knowing that the Russians would make such demands, verbally refused to negotiate.

"Okay, Your Excellency the Minister, then we will set off for Shengjing and negotiate with the northern government." Sir Jurdian said a little speechlessly.

He doesn't know where the confidence of these Russians is? Hundreds of thousands of troops have been lost, and victory is hopeless, and most of the territories of the Far Eastern and Eastern Siberian satrapies have been lost. How dare they make such a demanding request! From the standpoint of the northern government, it is absolutely impossible for them to accept such conditions. In peacetime, Britain and France might still be able to put pressure on the northern government without conscience to fight for more interests for Russia. However, this is not the case now. The Germans were desperately trying to win over the government in the north.

On August 16, 1908, the British Minister to China, Sir Jurdian, the French Minister to China, Pasteur, and the Russian Minister to China, Ronso Victor, arrived in Shengjing by train. Sir Jurdian and Minister Pasteur, under the guise of preserving peace in the Far East, formally made a request to mediate the war between Russia and the northern government. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update is here, Nima, next week will be naked again, Xiaoyu has been crying and fainting in the toilet, and he is not in the mood to code words at all. Thank you for the book friend Feng Yuezheng, Kojima 001, and the next stop ★ for the reward! Thank you book friends for the real No sigh ‰, Cang. Hao, Book Friend 140821073559778, Lingxu Shangren, cao20704, and a monthly pass for traditional Chinese passwords!