When Sir Walter took Li Hongzhang back to the small living room, Otori Keisuke was whispering with his entourage in a corner of the living room.
As soon as he saw Sir Walter and Li Hongzhang back, he immediately returned to the opposite side of the sofa and the negotiations between the two parties continued.
Li Hongzhang looked at Sir Walter and finally said to Keisuke Ohtori: "Thanks to Sir Walter's mediation, we agree to put the Ryukyu issue on hold for the time being."
After listening to Li Hongzhang's words, Ohtori Keisuke smiled, "We, the Empire of Japan, fully agree with Mr. Li Hongzhang's proposal, and the Ryukyu issue is temporarily put on hold."
Next, Li Hongzhang said: "Since the Ryukyu issue has been shelved, we hope to receive compensation elsewhere. For example, the nutritional compensation will increase from 10 million taels to 20 million taels."
When Keisuke Ohtori heard this, he immediately became furious. Japan's current annual income is only a small amount. If these 20 million taels are given to the Qing Dynasty, Japan will not have to do anything in the future.
"Mr. Li Hongzhang's conditions are really too harsh. Our Japanese government is a small country and its people are weak, so we simply cannot afford such heavy compensation. I hope that the total compensation this time will not exceed 5 million taels."
After hearing the other party's amount, Li Hongzhang already wanted to laugh. He said to Sir Walter on the side: "Sir, if the Japanese government only agrees to this amount of compensation, I think there is no need to continue the negotiation.
"
Sir Walter also felt that Japan had gone too far. He had forced Li Hongzhang to agree and removed the most stringent conditions. They should relax it in other places. Unexpectedly, not only did they not relax, but they also reduced the original 10 million taels.
5 million taels.
"Minister Big Bird, I hope you can recognize the facts. If your country is still so stubborn, then the British Empire may not be able to complete this mediation mission."
What Sir Watson means is that if the Japanese government does not increase the amount of compensation, then the British Empire will not be able to control you. It is up to you whether you live or die in the end.
Keisuke Ohtori is a little anxious now. He originally wanted to save money for the country as much as possible, but seeing Sir Walter's attitude, he knew that if the negotiations broke down because he was too harsh, the country would never let him go, so
All we can say is: "If the Qing government is not satisfied with this number, then we can increase the number, say 8 million taels."
After Sir Walter finished speaking, he looked back at Li Hongzhang. In fact, he felt that this number was already very huge for Japan.
In fact, Li Hongzhang felt that this number was adequate. If he used this number to buy ironclad ships, he could buy five.
Moreover, the main thing this time was caused by Liu Hai's Nanyang Navy. Now that they have benefited, it does not fall on their Beiyang Navy, so Li Hongzhang does not want to continue to have any conflicts with the British Empire because of Liu Hai.
"Okay, then it's 8 million taels of silver, but I hope I can pay it all in one lump sum."
"This is impossible. With Japan's financial resources, we simply cannot compensate such a large amount of silver within one year."
After hearing what the other party said, Li Hongzhang was really unhappy. He kept giving in again and again, but the other party refused to give in. If he continued to negotiate like this, it would be meaningless.
So Li Hongzhang set his sights on Sir Hual Shen.
Sir Walter also felt that the Japanese were too troublesome. He only talked to Li Hongzhang once before he completely backed down. Moreover, even the final compensation of silver, plus the compensation for the Ryukyu issue being shelved, the total was only 8 million.
Two, which is much worse than the originally requested compensation. Japan is still not satisfied. What do they want?
"Minister Keisuke Ohtori, I think Mr. Li Hongzhang's request is very legitimate and reasonable. I hope the Japanese government can consider it carefully."
After hearing what the other party said, Ohtori Keisuke felt in his heart that the British government was already a little impatient.
But this is not his fault. He is well aware of the domestic economic situation. The economic crisis has not yet passed, and domestic funding has been greatly reduced. How can he afford such a large sum of money?
Sir Walter was silent when he saw the other party, and finally came up with a solution on his own, "If the Japanese government's funds are tight, I think there are many big banks in the UK that can afford the compensation. As long as the Japanese government lends to them,
The trouble will be solved soon."
After listening to Sir Watson's words, Ohtori Keisuke felt numb. Is the money of the great powers so easy to borrow? Japan has borrowed money from the great powers several times now with sovereignty as collateral. If it continues to borrow money like this, it will defeat the Qing Dynasty.
, Japan has nothing left.
But with Sir Walson and Li Hongzhang watching at the scene, he had nothing to say. Now he could only reluctantly agree. As for the future, we will talk about it later.
As a result, the Qing Dynasty and Japan reached a "Beijing Treaty" at the British Legation.
There are only two main contents of the treaty. The first is that Japan recognizes that the small islands near Baodao are the inherent territory of the Qing Dynasty. The second is that Japan apologizes to the Qing Empire for its continuous harassment and pays 8 million taels of silver.
.
After the treaty was signed, Otori Keisuke immediately asked Li Hongzhang to issue an order to the Qing fleet to withdraw from the waters off Ryukyu.
Li Hongzhang did not shirk the matter, and directly told the other party that when he went back and reported it to the court, he would have the Imperial Navy Department issue an order.
Then Li Hongzhang left the British Embassy. After he came out, he let out a long breath. He originally wanted to pay a visit to Sir Walter in advance, but unexpectedly he was forced to sign the treaty. Fortunately, this time it was not
There is no loss of power or humiliation of the country.
Li Hongzhang took the treaty and did not dare to neglect it. He hurried into the palace and came to the military aircraft.
Qingjun Wang Yikuang already knew that Li Hongzhang had entered the capital. When he saw him hurriedly entering the military aircraft office, he immediately greeted him with a smile.
"Governor Li was so exhausted all the way, he came to the military aircraft office without taking a break."
Li Hongzhang sighed and handed the treaty in his hand to Qingjun Wang Yikuang.
Wang Yikuang of Qing County took over the treaty and his face became serious. He opened it and saw that it was the final understanding reached between Japan and the Qing Dynasty regarding this incident. When he saw that the Japanese finally agreed to compensate 8 million cars of silver, his face showed a smile.
smile.
"This agreement was signed well. The imperial court also received several million taels of silver for free. The other party also agreed that these islands are our territory. I think both the South and North Yangtze will be satisfied."
Li Hongzhang looked at the smile on Qingjun Wang Yikuang's face and shook his head. This was just the beginning, the difficulty was still to come, so Li Hongzhang immediately poured cold water on him.
"Your Majesty, how does the court plan to use the final silver from the negotiation?"
Prince Yikuang of Qing County was amused after hearing this, and then looked Li Hongzhang up and down, thinking to himself, do you still care about this? The silver obtained by the imperial court will naturally be useful.
Seeing that the other party did not respond, Li Hongzhang could only explain to him: "Your Majesty, we in Beiyang have nothing, but what are you going to explain to Nanyang? They have contributed money and effort. In the end, if the court does not give them a penny, you
Do you think Liu Hai will retreat?"
After listening to Li Hongzhang's words, King Yikuang of Qing County immediately realized that now Nanyang and Beiyang are almost two warlords. Now they two warlords are attacking Japan together, and finally got the silver. If the imperial court embezzles it, will these two warlords give up?
If these two warlords disobey the imperial court's orders and refuse to retreat, the imperial court will be embarrassed in the end, and then the imperial court's foundation will be exposed to the world.
So Wang Yikuang of Qingjun thought for a while, then looked at Li Hongzhang and said: "How much will Beiyang prepare for?"
Li Hongzhang shook his head and said: "Don't worry about the imperial court in Beiyang. Now think about Nanyang."
The reason why Li Hongzhang doesn't want money is to set a trap for Nanyang. You see, in the face of national events, we in Beiyang take the overall situation into consideration and do not ask for money from the court, but you Nanyang are different. For the sake of your own small family and small profits, you put the court in trouble.
land.
At this time, Prince Yikuang of Houqing County was thinking exactly what Li Hongzhang was thinking. He was very moved by Li Hongzhang's consideration of the overall situation, and at the same time, he increasingly hated Liu Hai, the admiral of the Nanyang Navy who provoked this dispute.
What Prince Qing wants to do now is to calm Liu Hai for the time being, and then give him a big blow when the matter is over.
So Wang Yikuang of Qing County walked around on the ground a few times, and then asked Li Hongzhang tentatively: "What do you think of giving Liu Hai 2 million taels of silver?"
Li Hongzhang thought about it and it was okay. The imperial court had never done so much blood. This time it gave 2 million at once, and Liu Hai should be satisfied.
"I thought that was what the prince said."
Wang Yikuang of Qing County breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Li Hongzhang agreed with him. As long as Li Hongzhang agreed, coupled with the prestige of the court, Liu Hai would not be able to act arbitrarily with such pressure.
After the matter was decided in this way, Prince Yikuang of Qing County exchanged a few words with Li Hongzhang, then sent him out of the military aircraft office again and asked him to go back to rest.
After Qingjun Wang Yikuang returned to the military aircraft office, he reported the incident to other military aircraft ministers. Everyone felt that Qingjun Wang Yikuang handled it appropriately.
So they wrote a memorial together and sent it to the Empress Dowager Cixi.
After receiving the memorial from the Military Aircraft Department, Empress Dowager Cixi looked at it and was quite satisfied. It would be a beautiful thing to end the conflict like this. However, the only thing she was a little unhappy about was that she had to give the Nanyang Navy 2 million for the bangs.
Two pieces of silver.
However, the Empress Dowager Cixi has seen through this incident that Liu Hai has great ambitions. Now she can only comfort him on the one hand, and suppress this man through various other veterans on the other. As time goes by, he will slowly weaken his power.
right.
As for now, give him a sweet date temporarily to make him give up his guard.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager Cixi approved the treaty at that time and ordered it to be sent to Emperor Guangxu, who asked him to seal it and then send it back to the military aircraft.