Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, was full of momentum. He looked at Karl Novikov, the special envoy of the Russian Tsar, who was sitting opposite, and said in an unquestionable tone:
“I want the Great China Empire and Russia to end the state of war and restore peace between the two countries.
Russia must meet several conditions for the Great China Empire.
The first condition is that Russia cedes the Ural Mountains and the area east of the Ural River.
Recognize the hegemony of the Great China Empire in this region.
The second condition is that Russia compensate the Great China Empire for its war compensation of five million taels of silver coins.
The third condition is that Russia opens its treaty ports to the Great China Empire and allows merchants from the Great China Empire to do business freely in Russia."
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, proposed three core requirements for the Great China Empire: cession of territory, indemnity, and trade.
These three core requirements were the three basic requirements determined by Chu Sheng after discussions with Emperor Su He and consultation with other officials of the Ministry of Rites.
The most basic requirement is to cede territory. The area east of the Ural Mountains and the Ural River has been occupied by the Royal Army of China.
It is impossible for the Great China Empire to return to Russia the land that its soldiers took away with their lives.
Reparations are a condition that Russia must meet if it wants to cease the war.
This war was relatively short, lasting only about four months.
The cost of this war was approximately four million taels of silver coins.
This military expenditure cannot be borne by the Great China Empire itself. Since Russia was defeated, it must compensate for its military expenditure.
Chu Sheng wanted more silver coins, and ten million taels of silver coins was a better choice.
But he had to consider Russia's ability to bear it.
He and many officials from the Ministry of Rites speculated that the maximum compensation Russia could bear was about five million taels of silver coins.
They demand more reparations, which Germany simply cannot afford. It is very likely that Germany will break the bank and no longer want to negotiate a solution to the war.
As for trade, this is mainly to obtain the origin of industrial raw materials and the dumping ground of industrial products.
The Dahua Empire is developing rapidly and has a strong military. They all have one of the most stable reliance, which is the growing industrial strength of the Dahua Empire.
While the great development of industry brings great benefits, it also has some side effects.
There are two biggest side effects: a large amount of materials are consumed to manufacture industrial products, and a large amount of industrial raw materials are consumed every day.
Factories produce industrial products just for people to buy them.
This requires huge raw material supply areas and product dumping areas.
The industrial products of the Great China Empire could still be exported to vassal countries in the first two years.
Now the vassal country has a preliminary industrial system and uses tariffs and other means to prevent products from other places from entering the country.
There must be a place to digest the extra products produced by the Dahua Empire.
Otherwise, it will cause a chain reaction. Many factories will close down due to overproduction and debt problems, and a large number of workers will lose their jobs.
Russia is relatively poor, but it is rich in products and has a large population.
Once the Russian market is opened, the crisis that the Great China Empire is facing will definitely be solved.
Karl Novikov, the special envoy of the Tsar, heard the conditions of Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Great China Empire.
Sweat dripped from his face, this condition was too harsh.
Karl Novikov knew very well that even the Tsar agreed to the conditions of the Great China Empire because of too much pressure.
When he returns to Russia, the nobles whose interests have been harmed and the angry people will definitely tear him apart.
What's more, in order to evade responsibility, the new tsar will inevitably throw all the faults on his head.
Karl Novikov even knew that he was taking the blame for the Romanov family.
As long as he can safely bear the blame, the Tsar will definitely give preferential treatment to the descendants of the Novikov family.
If the tsar did not do that, the tacit understanding between king and minister would be destroyed.
From now on, no minister will ever take the blame for the Romanov family.
As long as the tsar received a complete court education and learned how to use power, he would not destroy the tacit understanding between the monarch and his ministers.
The conditions of the Great China Empire were too harsh: cession of territory, indemnities, and trade.
The last condition for trade has no status at all compared to the previous two conditions.
The word "cede land" is full of edge.
The area east of the Ural Mountains is the land that the Russian ancestors spent hundreds of years plundering as they marched eastward little by little.
As soon as the Great China Empire took action, he directly took the fruits of Russia's hundreds of years of expansion as his own.
Just this one condition can at least make everyone in Russia heartbroken from top to bottom for hundreds of years.
The second condition of the Dahua Empire was to pay compensation, which was a request that even Karl Novikov could not agree to.
He doesn't know what the current situation in Russia is exactly like?
But he knew that the current situation in Russia was very bad since the new tsar was eager to stop the two armies.
In such a large country, let alone 5,200,000 silver coins, even 500,000 taels of silver coins may not be available.
The third condition was trade. Karl Novikov couldn’t understand why the Great China Empire proposed this condition.
The Great China Empire valued commerce, but there was no need to attach such importance to it.
As a group of businessmen, as long as they dare to go to Russia, they cannot be manipulated at will.
Karl Novikov knew that this peace negotiation would be difficult. He did not expect that the difficulty would reach this level.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief, suppressed his anger, and said in a calm tone: "I think the scope of each place can still be discussed.
The Central Asian grasslands in the southeastern region of the Ural River have not yet been occupied by our country.
The Dahua Empire controls this grassland, and our country can recognize the authority of the Dahua Empire in the local area.
But the Ural Mountains and the areas east of them are lands that our army has snatched from local Mongolian tribes at great cost.
This area has nothing to do with the Great China Empire, and we are willing to pay a certain amount of compensation to redeem the area east of the Ural Mountains."
Chu, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, slapped the table angrily and said loudly: "How come Mongolia has nothing to do with the empire.
Throughout Mongolia, it was the dowry of benevolent concubines, and His Majesty the Emperor of Great China was the Heavenly Khan of all Mongolian tribes.
If Russia seizes the territory of the Mongolian tribes, Tian Khan's army will definitely help the Mongolian tribes to drive away the bandits.
I put forward these three conditions as the basis for negotiations between the two countries.
If Russia wants to negotiate with our country, the prerequisite is that Russia fully agrees to these three conditions.
These three conditions are indispensable. If Russia cannot meet them, then the war will continue.
When the conditions for peace talks come to pass, we will not only want the area east of the Ural Mountains.
The Empire has troops stationed in the Ural Mountains should our negotiations break down.
His Majesty the Emperor sends a telegram, and tens of thousands of troops will attack the Russian hinterland."
Karl Novikov seemed like a primary school student being scolded by his teacher, bowing his head and listening to Chu Sheng's words.
He knew that the Great China Empire had an extremely firm attitude towards these three conditions.
Especially the condition of ceding land has almost no room for negotiation.
Karl Novikov felt extremely bitter in his heart, but he still said with a smile on his face: "Master Chu is so resolute. On behalf of the Tsar, I agree to the first and third requirements of the Great China Empire.
But for the second request, we really cannot agree to it.
Our country simply cannot raise such a huge sum of money now.
To put it bluntly, if our country has this money, it will not be used for compensation, but to arm the army and fight your country to the end."
Karl Novikov knew he couldn't be submissive.
Now that Russia is weak, there are some clauses that it cannot shake.
But he cannot fully agree to all the requirements of the Dahua Empire.
He must show his worth so that he is worthy of the Tsar, his motherland, and his ambitions.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, glanced at Karl Novikov. The performance of the Russian Czar's special envoy surprised him.
"We, the Great China Empire, will not force your country to immediately cough up five million taels of silver coins.
Your country can use tariffs as collateral to repay part of the compensation and interest every year.
The specific amount can be negotiated later."
When Karl Novikov heard about the reparations system of the Dahua Empire, he knew that reparations could not be avoided.
But the compensation of five million taels of silver coins is too high.
Karl Novikov frowned and said: "Five million taels of silver coins is too high. Our country can only compensate two million taels of silver coins."
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, insisted on five million taels of silver coins, and Karl Novikov, the tsar's special envoy, insisted on two million taels of silver coins.
The two delegations argued for a day without either side giving in.
The first day of negotiations was stuck on three core conditions and the specific amount of compensation.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, had been prepared for it. He knew that negotiations involving the fate of the two countries could not be settled in a few words, and would inevitably involve a long period of competing interests.
The newspaper reporters who were squatting outside saw people from the Ministry of Rites coming out and immediately came forward to interview.
When these reporters learned that the peace talks had reached a stalemate, they were extremely excited and reported the matter at large.
Now the whole people are paying attention to the peace talks, and if newspapers report on it, they won't worry about sales.
After tea and dinner, the common people discussed the deadlock on the peace talks line.
On the morning of September 10th, Chu Sheng and the Dahua Empire delegation came to Honglu Temple again.
He said in an unhappy tone: "Mr. Karl Novikov, you don't have to think about delaying time, and you don't have to ask the empire to lower its demands.
The Metropolitan Government informed me last night that there is still no progress in the peace talks between the two countries, and the frontline troops will be dispatched in five days.
If the frontline troops can reach Moscow before winter, I think there is no need for our two countries to continue peace talks."
When Karl Novikov heard what the Dahua Empire official said, he suddenly felt weak and slumped in his chair.
He knew clearly that the Great China Empire was trying to scare him, but he didn't dare to bet on whether it was true or not.
In the telegrams sent a few days ago, he could infer from just a few words from his friends that Russia had reached its end.
The Imperial Army of Great China is aggressive by nature. If they stop attacking, they must have encountered some problems.
Karl Novikov believed that the Chinese Empire should have the strength to continue attacking the Russian hinterland regardless of the cost.
Once it reaches this level, it is really not Russia's decision whether the war can end or not.
Karl Novikov said weakly: "As for the reparations, I agree on behalf of Russia.
We will pay a certain amount of compensation every year in accordance with the arrangements of the Dahua Empire.
We only accept compensation in installments, but we do not accept the payment of interest after the compensation is installed.”
Karl Novikov proposed not to pay interest, which was his last act of stubbornness.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, saw Karl Novikov's determined look.
He would rather continue to waste time here than to negotiate this matter.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, was involved in the officialdom, and he also understood the hardships of ministers.
He knew that Karl Novikov had to get a little benefit before all other matters could continue to be discussed.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, agreed with a heartbroken face: "Since Mr. Karl Novikov is so insistent, I will give you a favor.
If Russia pays reparations in installments, we will not ask for interest, but the reparations must not be less."
Karl Novikov replied stubbornly: "The Chinese Empire has troops on the border and can attack our country at any time. Of course we will not take the initiative to violate the treaty."
The three core requirements must be recognized by both parties, and the things discussed after that are all small matters.
After the signing of the treaty, the two countries ended the state of war and restored peace.
The merchants of the Great China Empire conduct business freely in Russia. If they violate Russian laws, they cannot be tried by Russia and must be extradited to the Great China Empire.
The exchange ratio between the currencies of China and Russia, and Russia's redemption of captured officers and soldiers.
The two countries confirmed the new border and stipulated the number of troops stationed near the border.
The delegation of the Great China Empire and the Russian delegation reached an agreement on three core clauses and dozens of minor clauses.
The contents of the treaty were compiled several times and written in triplicate.
Chu Sheng, representing the Great China Empire, and Karl Novikov, representing Russia, signed the treaty respectively.
These three signed treaties will be handed over to the Emperor Su He of the Chinese Empire and the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
They each stamped their seals on the treaty, and the treaty would not officially take effect until the two countries exchanged the treaty.
4342 (1645 AD) was the year of Yiyou, and this treaty was also referred to as the Sino-Russian Yiyou Treaty.
The Sino-Russian Yiyou Treaty was signed and presented to Emperor Su He.
He looked at this treaty with emotion. The Great China Empire he created could already force other countries to sign unequal treaties.
When Emperor Su He saw this treaty, he was completely relieved that his life had not been in vain and it had truly changed the destiny of China.
Unequal treaties will never harm the people of China again.
Emperor Su He looked excited and his body was shaking a little. He stamped all three treaties with jade seals.
Chu Sheng, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, was praised by Emperor Su He and he was very happy.
He handed all three treaties to Karl Novikov.
"The two countries have reached a draft treaty, and His Majesty the Great Emperor has stamped the treaty with his jade seal.
The Tsar who is only waiting for you will also stamp his seal and return one of the treaties to the empire. The empire will implement the contents of this treaty without compromise.
Considering the long distance to Russia, Mr. Karl Novikov has a long way to return home.
We have informed the troops on the front line to temporarily end the war and stay where they are.
We won’t see your country’s response at the end of this year, and we will launch a direct attack on your country next year.”
Karl Novikov took over the treaty that the Chinese Empire had signed and sealed.
He walked to the train station with a lonely look on his face, took the treaty with him, took the train to the northwest region of the Great China Empire, and returned to Moscow in person.
Karl Novikov knew he would end badly.
The Sino-Russian Yiyou Treaty allowed Russia to cede territory and pay indemnities, which touched the interests of many people.
As a person who has taken the blame, he doesn't know what kind of fate he will usher in.
The only good news is that the two countries have reached a phased ceasefire.
The soldiers on the front line do not need to use flesh and blood to fight against the firearms of the Great China Empire. (End of this chapter)