"Find a way to borrow another sum of money from the French or the British. We need enough money to fight this war! Nicholas II said through gritted teeth. Although, he knew it was a bit difficult. Britain and France have always opposed the Russian investment of too many troops in the Far East.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be in contact with Britain and France. But whether they will agree to lend us money, it's hard to say. Foreign Minister Izvorsky said.

"Do your best!" Nicholas II said. However, he had already made up his mind to fight this battle. This is true even without the support of Britain and France. Although Russia's finances were empty, Tsar Nicholas II himself was one of the richest men in the world. The wealth accumulated by the royal family over the centuries is staggering. It's just that Nicholas II will not easily use the wealth of the royal family.

Izvorsky nodded.

"We need to mobilize more troops to win this war! The War Department planned the mobilization of the army and sent troops to the Governorate of Eastern Siberia. In any case, the Governorate of Eastern Siberia cannot be occupied by those guys, it is Russian territory. Tsar Nicholas II emphasized. Russians have a greed for territory that comes from their bones. They would never want to lose territory that was already theirs.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Sukhhomlinov couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. From now on, it seems that Nicholas II did not have the intention of removing him. He knew, however, that if the war ended in defeat for Russia, Nicholas II would definitely replace him.

"Your Majesty, there is a problem now, and that is that our forces in the Viceroyalty of Eastern Siberia are very empty. His Excellency Governor Anucchin did not have enough troops at his disposal to withstand the attack of the Northern Army. We have to find a way to hold back the Northern Army. Said the head of the General Administration of Orthodox Affairs, Pobedonoschev.

Nicholas II's brow couldn't help but furrow. If the commander of the Northern Army drove straight in, especially the cavalry of the Northern Army, launched an attack on the Governorate of Eastern Siberia. They simply couldn't resist. It also took a lot of time to transport troops by rail to the Viceroyalty of Eastern Siberia. And now, what they lack most is time.

"Do you have any suggestions?" Nicholas II asked.

"As Your Excellency the Prime Minister said before, we can stabilize the Northern Army through diplomatic negotiations and buy time for us to mobilize our troops. Of course, the northern government will not accept it. It's hard to say. We may be able to ask Britain and France to mediate the war. Although the Northern Army was strong, it did not dare not to give face to Britain and France. Pobedonozev said.

"What if they refuse?" Nicholas II asked. He knew that if it were him, he would definitely not agree to peace talks at this time. Fools know that this is simply a delaying tactic by Russia.

"If they refuse, then we can show the British that it's not that we don't want to end the war, it's that the government in the North wants to keep fighting. As allies of Russia, Britain and France should naturally stand with us. Pobedonozev said.

Nicholas II nodded: "Your Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs." Contact Britain and France, and ask them to mediate the war when you ask them for a loan. Let them know that the Russian Empire wants peace. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Izvorsky nodded.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that we can contact the Japanese side. Let the Japanese join us in attacking the Northern Army. Previous wars have proven that the Northern Army is stronger than we expected. Relying on the power of the Russian Empire alone, it was even a defeat of the Northern Army. We will also pay a heavy price. If the Japanese had joined in, it would have been different. Izvorsky said.

Before the outbreak of war. Japan had proposed a joint attack on the Northern Army with Russia. It's just that the arrogant old Maozi thought that the Japanese wanted to take advantage of it, and resolutely rejected the Japanese request. Now, after they clearly knew the strength of the Northern Army, they couldn't help but think of the Japanese. Although, there is also a deep hatred between Russia and Japan. But. For the sake of interests between countries, enemies can also be friends. If Japan could launch an attack on the Northern Army from the east, it would undoubtedly be beneficial for them to defeat the Northern Army.

"Joining forces with the Japanese?" A hint of shame flashed across Nicholas II's face. The crushing defeat of the Russo-Japanese War kept Nicholas II haunted him. He also made Japan a target that he had to bring down. It is a pity that the Anglo-Japanese alliance has already been signed. The Japanese had long been allies of the British. With the signing of the Anglo-Russian Treaty, Russia and Great Britain also became allies, which made it impossible for them to find a reason to go to war with Japan for the time being. In addition, the Trans-Siberian Railway has not yet been fully connected, and the Far East is too far away from Russia. In the event of a war with Japan, Russia may suffer another defeat. Therefore, Nicholas II was only able to bury his anger deep in his heart. But if he was to unite with the Japanese, he was still a little reluctant in his heart.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is a good way for us to get out of the crisis at hand. Of course, we are just using the Japanese. Let them go and hold back the main forces of the Northern Army and create favorable conditions for us to defeat the Northern Army. Izvorsky hurriedly said. Naturally, he knew that Nicholas II had never had a good impression of the Japanese.

"Those Japanese dwarfs, are they the opponents of the Northern Army? They had already lost once two years ago. This time, they certainly won't be able to win. Nicholas II said disdainfully.

"Your Majesty, it doesn't matter whether the Japanese are opponents of the Northern Army or not. As long as they can hold back a part of the northern army for us, they can also reduce our pressure. Especially at this juncture, we need the help of the Japanese even more. Although, we all hate the Japanese. However, if the Japanese were able to hold back the Northern Army for us, it would be beneficial to us. We need to forget that hatred for a moment. Pobedonozev said.

The other ministers also said that it was very cost-effective to draw the Japanese into the war at this time. Even if it is a little bit of a benefit to the Japanese, it is acceptable. After all, if Russia loses the war, not only will it not gain any benefits, but it will pay a huge price. From this point of view, the entry of the Japanese into the war would undoubtedly be very beneficial to Russia.

Despite some reluctance, the tsar knew that everyone's opinion was correct.

"Well, let's get in touch with the Japanese and see how they react. However, the most we can accept is the restoration of Japanese interests in the Northeast, as provided for in the Portsmouth Treaty. All other interests belonged to the Russian Empire. Nicholas II said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Izvorsky nodded.

In the afternoon of the same day, Izvorsky made an urgent appointment to meet with Ichiro Honno, the Japanese ambassador to Russia. After receiving the notice from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ichiro Honno immediately laughed.

"Damn old Maozi, did they finally ring the Great Japanese Empire this time? However, it was not so easy for the Japanese Empire to intervene in this war. Ichiro Motono suddenly had a feeling of raising his eyebrows. Before the outbreak of the war, he went to Izvorsky and proposed to join forces with Russia to wage war against the Northern Army. However, he was mercilessly ridiculed by Izvorsky, which made him lose face.

Fortunately, the performance of the Northern Army on the battlefield was very strong, and the Russians who beat them were full of fart, which also made the Japanese, who were rejected by the Russians, breathe a bad breath. Of course, now that Russia is completely at a disadvantage, it will not be so easy for them to draw the Japanese into the war at this time. The Japanese are not stupid, and the Russians clearly want them to come to the rescue. If the Russians do not pay the price that satisfies Japan, Japan will certainly not agree. In addition, the Northern Army has now won a decisive advantage, and more than 700,000 Russian troops have either been annihilated or surrounded. Even the Russians still have hundreds of thousands of troops. But if they want to win, it's not easy. Will it be beneficial for Japan to enter the war at this time? This is something that the Japanese side needs to think about as well.

"Come on, prepare the car, go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!" Ambassador Ichiro Honno commanded.

In less than half an hour, Ichiro Honno's carriage appeared at the door of the Russian Foreign Ministry. When the carriage with the plaster flag appeared, many Russians looked at the carriage with mixed eyes. There is anger, but more often than not, there is helplessness.

The secretary of the Russian Foreign Minister Izvorsky was already waiting for Ichiro Honno at the door. Now it was the Russians who wanted the Japanese, so they kept their posture very low.

"Your Excellency the Ambassador, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary is already waiting for you in your office. Please go this way. The secretary smiled.

Ichiro Motono nodded, his expression a little arrogant. The performance of those Russians was seen by him. This feeling made him very happy. Even though it was a little hot, he didn't care about it at all.

Under the guidance of the secretary, Ichiro Honno strode into the Russian Foreign Ministry with his head held high. Although, he is short. However, he held his head high. This made the Russians who saw his arrogant expression along the way eager to rush up and give this little man an old punch. Of course, now the Russians have a request from the Japanese, and no one dares to do this. (To be continued......)

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