"Your Highness, Britain and France propose that negotiations be entered into between us and the Russians to end this war. Although the Russians have not yet taken a position, we expect that they will eventually accept negotiations. Prime Minister Yang Du said.

"Well, this war has already accomplished our initial goal, and there is no need to fight any further. It would undoubtedly be great if our interests could be clarified through peace talks. Wu Haoxuan nodded. After the war is over, it will eventually come back to the negotiating table. Through negotiation, the benefits to be gained in the war are clarified.

"Your Highness, are we going to respond to the British and French now?" Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi said.

"Reply to the British, we are willing to make peace. However, the interests of the empire must be secured. Wu Haoxuan said.

Now, the Imperial Army is still fighting Lao Maozi in Eastern Siberia. The Imperial Army's attack on Vladivostok also continued, although Vladivostok was still under the control of Lao Maozi. However, under the heavy artillery of the Imperial Army, most of the fortifications of Vladivostok had been destroyed. In addition, all kinds of materials in Vladivostok are consumed very quickly, and it is expected that in a short time, the Imperial Army will be able to take Vladivostok.

"Your Highness, what is the bottom line we should have in this negotiation?" Tang Shaoyi asked. It's a question of what kind of strategy the empire should adopt in the negotiations.

"First of all, the Far East, which the Russians have taken from us, must be returned to us, including Vladivostok. The region of Eastern Siberia, which can be bounded by the Selenga River and Lake Baikal, belongs to us to the east and the Russians to the west. As for areas such as Irkutsk, they can be temporarily returned to the Russians. Secondly, in terms of war reparations. As much as you can. We spent a lot of military money on this war, and we also needed a lot of money for domestic construction. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Your Highness, in terms of war reparations, I'm afraid Lao Maozi will not agree to pay. After all, even at this moment, they are still holding on and refusing to admit defeat. Yang Du said. Lao Mao Zisou did not admit defeat. Not to mention the payment of war reparations to China.

"Lao Maozi doesn't agree to pay war reparations, it doesn't matter, you can change your name. For example, the ransom of prisoners of war. There are now more than 400,000 Russian prisoners of war in our hands. If Russia is not willing to ransom these prisoners of war with money, then we will have to use them as coolies. Wu Haoxuan said. Next, the empire will carry out large-scale infrastructure construction, which will require a large number of labor. And the strong old Maozi prisoners of war are undoubtedly an excellent labor force.

"Yes. Your Highness. Yang Du nodded. If all the Russian prisoners of war were to be used as coolies, this would undoubtedly greatly save the cost of infrastructure construction. Of course, if Russia was willing to pay the ransom, the empire could use the money to hire its own labor.

"Your Highness, will there be any opposition from the military to abandon the Irkutsk region?" Tang Shaoyi asked.

"Give up that piece of land, and the military will definitely have a different opinion. However, this is the most powerful for the Empire. From Irkutsk to Omsk. More than two thousand kilometers. If the Trans-Siberian Railway were destroyed, this distance would become an impassable moat. We want to expand further in the direction of Siberia. It's going to be very difficult. The return of Irkutsk to the Russians is not only to give the Russians a step down, but also to prepare for the future. In order to keep Irkutsk, the Russians will definitely deploy a large number of troops here. In the next war, once we annihilate the Russian army deployed in Irkutsk, we will be able to drive straight in. It's like no one. Wu Haoxuan said.

Wu Haoxuan also considered for a long time whether to return Irkutsk to Russia. After much consideration, he decided to return Irkutsk to the Russians. On the one hand, this will make it easier to negotiate, and on the other hand, it will also create favorable conditions for the Imperial Army to fight in the next war.

Yang Du and Tang Shaoyi. I have to admire Wu Haoxuan's foresight. This war has just ended, but Wu Haoxuan is already preparing for the next one. As for whether permanent peace can be achieved between the empire and Russia, Yang Du and Tang Shaoyi will never believe it.

"In addition, Russia's privileges in China must be completely waived. The Russian concessions in Jinmen and Hankow must also be returned to us. Wu Haoxuan said. Now that Russia has been defeated, it is unrealistic for them to continue to enjoy privileges in China. Wu Haoxuan wants to abolish the privileges of various countries in China step by step, and the first solution to the Russians is an opportunity.

Yang Du and Tang Shaoyi nodded heavily. For more than half a century, the Manchu Qing Dynasty sold off the country's sovereignty step by step. And now, the empire needs to take back all these sovereignty step by step.

Imperial Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi summoned the British Minister to China, Zhu Erdian, and the French Minister to China, Pasteur, and formally replied to them that the Chinese Empire was willing to enter into peace negotiations with Russia. But the premise is that the legitimate interests of the empire must be guaranteed.

Britain and France were very satisfied with the statement of the Chinese Empire, no matter what interests the Chinese Empire demanded. But the Chinese Empire's willingness to accept peace talks was undoubtedly a good start.

After receiving the reply of the Chinese Empire, Britain and France intensified their pressure on Russia, which came under great pressure. The stubborn Tsar Nicholas II, although extremely unwilling to end the war now. However, under the strong pressure of Britain and France, there seemed to be no other way. On the other hand, even if the war continues, they will not be able to win this war.

For this reason, Tsar Nicholas II specially convened a royal council to ask his ministers what should be the choice?

"Gentlemen, I want to know, if we continue to fight, can we defeat those hateful yellow-skinned monkeys and win the war?" Nicholas II asked. Although, the media in Russia have been claiming that Russia has not lost the war, but is only temporarily retreating. But the ministers knew what Nicholas II meant by these words. What Nicholas II needed was a hearty and real victory. It's just that the Russian Army obviously has no way to fulfill the wishes of His Majesty the Tsar.

"Your Majesty, it is a pity that, judging by the current situation, we cannot defeat those hateful yellow-skinned monkeys. Many of the bridges and tunnels of the Trans-Siberian Railway were blown up by them, and we were not able to transport troops and war materials by rail. The original plan for a counterattack this spring could only be postponed further. War Minister Sukhhomlinov said with his head bowed.

The distance of more than 2,000 kilometers from Omsk to the east seriously constrained the offensive of the Russian army. It was very difficult for them to attack further eastward. If they want to launch a large-scale attack, the long logistical supply lines alone will be enough to collapse them.

A flash of anger flashed in Nicholas II's eyes, but he did not burst out. He knew that the ministers had done their best. The reason for this result is entirely because the Chinese are too despicable and shameless. If the battle is dignified, the final victory will definitely belong to Russia. It's a pity that now Russia has to bow its head for the time being.

"Your Majesty, our allies strongly demand that we negotiate with the Chinese. If we continue the war, they threaten to cut off aid to us. Foreign Minister Izvorsky said.

"Damn, they dare to threaten us!" Nicholas II scolded. He was very angry and dissatisfied with the treachery of the British and French. It's just that now that Russia is tied to Britain and France, it is impossible to get off the ship.

"Your Majesty, since we cannot win the war, then it has become the only option to ensure our interests as much as possible through peaceful negotiations." Prime Minister Kokoftsev also said.

There is no doubt that these are words of inconsistency. It's just that Nicholas II is still very aggrieved in his heart.

"Well, since everyone has agreed to negotiate with those yellow-skinned monkeys, let's negotiate. However, I hope that the interests of the Russian Empire must be ensured. We can't cede an inch of land to those yellow-skinned monkeys for even one ruble in war reparations. Nicholas II said through gritted teeth.

The ministers all looked at each other, and now it was clear that the Chinese Army had the upper hand, and if negotiations were carried out according to the requirements of Nicholas II, it would be impossible to reach an agreement in the negotiations.

However, they had no choice but to nod. As for what can be negotiated, only God knows.

As the Russian side has also expressed its willingness to hold peace talks, it has been decided that China and Russia will hold peace talks. However, as for the choice of the location of the peace talks, Britain and France originally decided to hold peace talks in Yanjing, which would also be more convenient. However, the Russians raised objections. They hoped that the venue for the negotiations would be placed in the Russian concession of Jinmen, in an attempt to save Russia's face in this way.

The Reich government accepted the demands of the Russians. After all, in this peace talks, the empire will demand the return of Russia's lease in China. The Russians' desire to save their last face with the help of the concession is completely wishful thinking.

On April 5, 4607 (09), representatives of the Chinese Empire and Russia began peace negotiations in the Russian Concession of Jinmen. (To be continued......)

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