Piaotian Literature "When the special envoy of the Japanese Empire, Ishii Kikujiro, and the plenipotentiary representative of the Republic of China, Lu Zhengxiang, signed each other's names on the peace treaty, as a journalist, I discovered with excitement that I was in the middle of a history, and this history is based on The end of the old era announces the beginning of a new era.

For any European, they cannot understand the meaning of the peace treaty for China, which means that there is no compensation, no cession of territory, and even they have not been able to recover the lost rights and interests. It means that since the United Kingdom used warships to knock on China's door After that, the Chinese signed a treaty of "Wait for Me Equally" for the first time. To a large extent, this treaty meant a new beginning for China.

Maybe we can't understand it, maybe we can still look at this oldest country in the East with old eyes, but soon we have to face a real problem: what kind of mentality should we use when dealing with this country? To be precise, how should we face changes in the Eastern world?"

January 3, 195 George Ernest Morrison "Changes in the Oriental World" in Beijing

Negotiations that lasted for several months finally reached the last moment. On the issue of Article 3, Japan's apology to China for invading Chinese territory, after lengthy discussions, with the mediation of Britain, France and the United States, China finally agreed. The request for Japan to send a special envoy to the Chinese government to issue an official apology was abandoned, and instead Kikujiro Ishii, as Japan's special envoy for negotiations, apologized to China at the negotiating table. At Japan's request, China abandoned Article 3 of the treaty.

In any case, for Japan, this means a victory, at least a diplomatic victory. Just as Japan requires, Japan's face is saved to the greatest extent, but China also gains to some extent. Get what you need.

In Mang Shijo, the issue of the extension of the South Manchuria Railway and the lease of the Kanto Prefecture was just negotiated, and Kikujiro Ishii spoke up.

"This negotiation is about resolving new issues between China and Japan, not old issues! Whether it is the South Manchuria Railway or the Kanto Prefecture, it is an established fact that Japan received it from the Russians ten years ago. Power, this clause should not be included in today’s negotiations!”

Tokyo has a tough attitude towards the Kanto Prefecture, especially the military insisting that "if the Chinese want to take back Kanto, at least one million people will have to shed their blood!", so Ishii Kikujiro will not make any moves on this matter. Any concessions.

"I think……"

After the translator translated Ishii's words, Lu was stunned and smiled slightly, then pointed to the text of the peace treaty and said.

"I think you have misunderstood what our country means!"

"Misunderstand?"

When everyone was surprised, Lu Langsheng replied.

"At the meeting of the three eastern provinces that year, regarding the lease of Kanto State, your country's ambassador plenipotentiary had already agreed to inherit the Russian Empire for a period that had not yet expired. Therefore, our country has no intention of making changes to the lease period, but only hopes that your country will agree again to this peace treaty. Heir to the Russian Empire has not yet expired!”

According to Yuan Shikai's request, Lu did not have any dispute on this issue, and Ishii Kikujiro did not have any dispute. Since the Chinese had no intention of taking back Kanto State now, and he did not make other concessions, he had already completed Tokyo's explanation. , so the two sides only had a brief debate and agreed to pass this item. When passing this item, Ishii Kikujiro even said with satisfaction.

"I really hope the remaining items can be agreed upon so happily!"

Neither Lu nor Ishii knew why Yuan Shikai proposed such an "unnecessary" clause. For Yuan Shikai, he had his own plans and thoughts. The aftermath meeting of the three northeastern provinces was when Yuan Shikai became the Minister of Beiyang.

As signed, the negotiators he directed at that time tried their best to save the country's rights and interests. However, he knew very well that the Kanto Prefecture and South Manchuria Railway, which had only been obtained at the cost of 100,000 casualties, had a high status in the hearts of the Japanese. Therefore, that year

He just insisted that the Japanese continue the Russian rule.

However, the Three Eastern Provinces Conference that year was agreed upon by China and Japan. If China was weak, the so-called extension of Russia's remaining period was just a literal statement. However, this negotiation was different from previous negotiations. Britain and France wanted to ensure that

The Far East Bureau agreed to be attached to the text of the peace treaty. In other words, Britain and France would use the credibility of both countries as a guarantee for the implementation of the treaty.

As long as the terms of the Kanto Prefecture are added, after eight years, when the lease expires and China takes back the Kanto Prefecture and the South Manchuria Railway, it can use this treaty to threaten Britain and France. At least then they will not be able to blatantly support Japan, and

This treaty has the United States as witness. Neither Britain nor France will completely make fun of their country's credibility.

It is precisely based on this consideration that Yuan Shikai insists on proposing this "unnecessary" clause. Since it is just to let the Japanese "trap", there is naturally no need for too much debate, and this idea is even just

Only Yuan Shikai knows this.

Outsiders didn't know it, so they naturally received praise from Ishii Kikujiro. After Ishii praised him, he looked at the clock again, then looked at Lu and said.

"Your Excellency, there is still one hour left, I think we have time to discuss the remaining terms!"

At this time, Ishii Kikujiro seemed a little anxious. What is the remaining clause? The fifth clause is also the last clause of the entire negotiation. At this time, for Ishii, the biggest New Year's wish is to end the negotiations as soon as possible.

Likewise for Zhu Erdian and Ruien Shikant, they also hoped that this negotiation would end as soon as possible. Almost as soon as Ishii finished speaking, Zhu Erdian spoke loudly before Lu wanted to speak.

"We believe that for the long-term interests of China and Japan, negotiations should continue now!"

Facing Zhu Erdian's words, Lu just smiled without comment, and then nodded.

Article 5 is the final article of this negotiation. Once this article is passed, it means that China and Japan can sign the peace treaty. At the same time, Japan will also begin to withdraw its troops from Shandong. This article is very simple.

"As a diplomatic commitment, the Japanese Empire will never invade China for the sake of peace in the East! As for matters in the East, whenever China's interests are involved, it should be negotiated with China, otherwise it will be invalid!"

This seemingly simple clause was actually not entirely from Yuan Shikai's hand. The first half of it was from Zhu Erdian. The reason why this clause was proposed by Zhu Erdian was that when Japan wanted to get involved in Jiao'ao, Zhu Erdian urged Yuan Shikai to make concessions.

At that time, China guaranteed China's security in the form of concessions on the Jiao'ao issue and Japan's "security endorsement."

When he heard this clause, Zhu Erdian looked at the Chinese and Japanese representatives at the negotiating table, but he kept lamenting the vagaries of the current situation. The purpose of making this suggestion to Yuan Shikai was to ensure China's

Security, why do the Chinese propose this now?

Is it for the sake of Japanese people’s face?

Or for...?

Countless thoughts surged in Zhu Erdian's mind, but Ishii Kikujiro showed a heartfelt smile for the first time in the entire negotiation. The fifth and only the fifth could allow him to regain the former glory of the Japanese Empire.

.

"As a diplomatic commitment, the Japanese Empire will never invade China for the sake of peace in the East!"

Just such a thing is enough to make the Chinese lose half a head in aura. Thinking of this in his mind, Ishii Kikujiro looked towards the landing, trying to find some strange look on his face, but what disappointed him was that

, there was no emotion at all on Lu's face, and even the young translator Shi Luze was only interpreting seriously, as if this article had no impact on them at all.

"The Empire of Japan is willing to make a diplomatic commitment to never invade China!"

A somewhat disappointed Ishii Kikujiro puffed out his chest and said loudly.

"At the same time, we believe that if China's interests are involved and China is not consulted first, then all agreements will be invalid. The Empire of Japan agrees to this clause!"

When Kikujiro Ishii said this, Lu just raised his eyes and glanced at him, and then said seriously.

"Your Excellency, Special Envoy, can we sign this article now?"

"sure!"

When Ishii answered readily, Lu suppressed his inner excitement. Originally, he thought that this article would be discussed for at least a month, because it involved the "Japanese-Russian Secret Treaty" and the "Anglo-Japanese Treaty". What did Japan mean by agreeing to this article?

What? Ishii may not realize it, but Lu can realize it, and so can Yuan Shikai!

"This is not a peace treaty, but an eight-year armistice!"

Putting down the telegram in his hand in the large office of the Huaihai Economic and Strategic Affairs Office, Li Zicheng said in an unusually sure tone.

Signed!

After lengthy negotiations, the negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing ended. China and Japan signed a peace treaty that "saved Japan's face and took care of China's emotions." According to this peace treaty, except for the so-called recognition of China

Apart from the power over Jiaoao and 12.8 million yen in private compensation, China received almost nothing. Even the 12.8 million yen in compensation was paid in the name of "prisoners' food expenses" and "Red Cross aid"

.

The relatively important Kanto ownership in this treaty was pushed by the Japanese to wait for negotiations after the treaty expired. This meant that eight years later, China and Japan had to conduct another negotiation, and that negotiation could happen at any time.

It could turn into a war.

"The Japanese believe that they took away Nanman with 100,000 lives, so if we want to take it back, I'm afraid we can't do it without bloodshed!"

"After careful envoys, the treaty has been signed!"

Zhang Yilin reminded the manager that he is more concerned about the present than what will happen eight years later. The present is the most important thing. He has eight years to plan for what will happen eight years later, but the things in front of him have already arrived.

An imminent situation.

"Everything has been decided. I don't know when the general will arrive in Beijing!"

Looking at the Economic Envoy, Zhang Yilin's tone was slightly reluctant. In fact, in the entire Economic Envoy's Office, not many people were willing to see the Economic Envoy go to the capital to take up a post. Compared to working in the capital,

They prefer to stay in Lianyungang as a strategic envoy and concentrate on developing Longhai and Jiangsu.

And among the senior staff in the Economic and Strategic Envoy's Office, when the overall situation of the "Jiao'ao Incident" was initially determined, they had already begun to plan for future development. According to their plan, this year the Longhai Autonomous Association will send representatives to Jiangsu and Anhui.

, the provincial councils of the four provinces of Henan and Shaanxi, thus paving the way for seizing control of the provincial councils of the four provinces. The ultimate goal of doing so is to control the four provinces, with the Jiangsu Army as the backing, and parliamentary struggle as the weapon, to carry out "peaceful

seize power".

And this is only the short-term goal. In the plan of Zhang Yilin and others, once they control the provincial councils of the four provinces, they will organize "United Provinces" through joint actions and form a "United Council". Zhang Taiyan even plans to

After the establishment of the "United Province", it will continue to penetrate into each province and make full use of the advantages at hand to penetrate into each province through the industrial circles of each province. Through the preferential treatment of the industry by the "United Province", it will promote changes in the industrial circles of each province and win over the provinces.

The parliament voted to join the United Provinces to expand its strength. In that process, if the governor of that province attempted to rape the "public opinion", then the Jiangsu Army, reorganized into the United Provinces Autonomous Army, would enter the province in the name of "maintaining public opinion."

, it is logical to include the province into the "United Provinces".

However, this plan was suppressed after it was presented to the Minister of Economic Affairs at the end of last year. Even if the Minister of Economic Affairs did not express his agreement, he also did not express opposition. It seemed that he had never seen the "United Provinces Plan"

generally.

"When will you enter Beijing?"

Looking at Zhang Yilin with a smile, Li Zicheng knew that he had some complaints in his heart. The "United Provinces Plan" was created by him. If he did not have the opportunity in front of him, or if the time was 1916, then he would definitely choose

That "United Provinces Plan", choose that plan, it will take at most three years to achieve the unification of the country.

But things are different now. At least there is still a central government with certain authority. Yuan Shikai can live for more than a year. The two powers are harmful to each other. Compared with "taking necessary force" in the "United Province Plan", he himself

I prefer to "go to Beijing" to fight without losing any blood, and I am sure of my future, so I can only choose to "go to Beijing". As for "joining the provinces", that is a backup plan.

"Inform everyone to hold a meeting!"

Hold a meeting, communicate with each other, and at the same time arrange the next step of the work. At least before you go to Beijing, you must complete all the preparation work, and the beginning of this preparation is at this meeting to communicate with each other and communicate with each other.

It is precisely because of this that Cheng Dequan and others came to Lianyun from Nanjing yesterday.

"This is a whole new battlefield!"

Facing the people sitting in the conference room, Li Zicheng deliberately increased his voice.

Now, as the dust of Sino-Japanese negotiations has settled, a new era has begun. An unprecedented era and opportunities are unfolding for Li Zicheng and also for China.
To be continued...