So Cixi recruited civil and military ministers to discuss whether to accept the conditions proposed by overseas Chinese. In fact, she wanted someone to stand up and suggest that the court would accept it, and she could go on a step further. However, no minister came forward to suggest that the Qing court accept the conditions of the East China government, and the whole attitude was "only based on the empress dowager". On the contrary, a few Manchu powerful people spoke against the conditions of the Qing court accepting the conditions of the East China government, and they also clamored to fight to the end with the East China government.

It turned out that one of the conditions for peace talks by the East China government was that the Qing court must severely punish officials who advocated the launch of attacks on rivers and lakes. This expedition was led by a group of unwilling Manchu powerful people. Therefore, once the Qing court accepted the conditions of the East China government, it meant that these Manchu powerful people would lose their power. At the least, they would lose their official positions and give up their posts, and at the worst, they would be exiled. Only when the Qing court and the East China government continued to fight, they could they be exonerated.

Although Cixi's face was so dark that it was about to storm, unfortunately no one brought a ladder for Lao Fu. At this time, Wu Changjue, the commander of the Fifth Beiyang Town stationed in Zhuozhou, and Wang Shizhen, the commander of the Sixth Beiyang Town stationed in Bazhou, jointly handed it to the Qing court, claiming that the Volunteer Army had entered Dingxing County at this time, less than 10 kilometers away from Zhuozhou. Moreover, the Volunteer Army's troops were grand, and both Beiyang troops could hardly resist, so the Qing court asked to send reinforcements as soon as possible.

Cixi couldn't help but panic. If she dragged on, it might be possible to really lead to the second Gengzi Rebellion. Therefore, she could only ignore the court's face and finally issued an official edict to Yuan Shikai, saying that the court was willing to accept the conditions proposed by the East China Government, asking Yuan Shikai to come to Beijing to quickly perform his duties, and then rushed to Qingdao to negotiate and sign a contract with the East China Government. At the same time, the Qing court issued an order to dismiss the two people on the grounds that Tieliang and Liangbi's army were unfavorable to govern the army, and served in Zhangjiakou for three years, and dismissed more than 10 Manchu powerful people who supported the dispatch of troops, which was also considered to be a response to the request put forward by the East China Government.

However, the Qing court is anxious now, but Yuan Shikai is not anxious because he has already negotiated with the East China government and it is not a short time for two days, so he still imagines that the Qing court will have more benefits. Therefore, Yuan Shikai recommended a group of personnel to the Qing court. One is to place party members for himself in the court; the other is to let those who depend on him know that as long as he follows him, he will eventually make a fortune.

At this time, Cixi was not even in a bargaining mood, so she did not even give up the list of personnel issued by Yuan Shikai at all, and accepted all the orders, and each had different titles. So Yuan Shikai's power in the court increased greatly. Yuan Shikai was also very satisfied with this result, so he left Tianjin, came to Beijing, met Cixi and Guangxu, and accepted his position, and then left Beijing and rushed to Qingdao to negotiate with the East China government.

In fact, there is nothing to talk about, because the East China government has set all the conditions and the Qing court accepted them all. Therefore, the two sides mainly talked about the procedures and time of fulfilling the treaty and then signing the contract. It is not difficult to transfer out of Henan. After all, the river and lake bases have occupied most of the areas in Henan Province, and the remaining areas can be sent directly to receive them. The river and lake bases have to be returned to the Hebei prefectures and prefectures of the Qing court. However, the compensation of 60 million taels of silver is not a small amount. The Qing court has just recovered from the Gengzi Kingdom, and its annual fiscal revenue is less than 90 million to 100 million silver. Excluding various expenses, it is a very good result. It is indeed difficult to ask the Qing court to take out 60 million taels of silver at once.

After several days of negotiations, the two sides finally agreed to hand over the land to the other party within one month to the other party. At the same time, the Qing court first paid 20 million taels of silver to the East China government, and the remaining 40 million taels of silver will be fully paid within this year. The East China government did not ask the Qing court for mortgage because it was unfair to the Qing court.

After the negotiations ended, the East China Government officially announced that from then on, the word "China" was added to the government name in various documents, that is, "China East China Government". In the past, it was to not stimulate the Qing court. Although the East China Government was an independent political body, it still had a vague treatment on the government name and only replaced it with a geographical name. Now that it has completely unveiled the last layer of fig leaf with the Qing court, there is naturally nothing to worry about, so it can also use the name "China" openly.

Of course, in order to show the goodwill of the East China government, a group of Qing army officers were also released, most of whom were Yuan Shikai's subordinates, including Duan Qirui, who were directly handed over to Yuan Shikai to take back to Beijing. This is also the result of Yuan Shikai's trip to Qingdao. At least let Yuan Shikai go back and give an explanation.

Although he was only a prisoner's house for one month, Duan Qirui felt ashamed and ashamed after seeing Yuan Shikai. He thought about how confident he was before the troops were sent. He thought that he was obsessed with the official position and was blinded by the power of the army. He did not obey Yuan Shikai's instructions, and ended up losing his troops and being defeated. Yuan Shikai did not take any grudges and saved him. Therefore, Duan Qirui knelt down on the ground and said, "Wu Shuai, the sign is under the heavy trust of Hui Shuai, and the wounded soldiers and generals are really shameless to comfort Shuai."

Yuan Shikai felt secretly happy. Such a consequence should be for the ungrateful person. However, there is no need to put down the wrong person at this time. On the contrary, he should be more generous. Therefore, he helped Duan Qirui up with both hands and said, "Zhiquan, there is no need to be like this. Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. Moreover, you cannot blame you for defeating this battle. It is Tieliang. Liangbi is jealous of the virtuous and capable, and he intends to harm each other. I will definitely defend Zhiquan in front of the court."

Duan Qirui was even more grateful after hearing this and said, "Wu Shuai, mark..."

Yuan Shikai said: "This is not a place to talk. Let's talk about it when you return to Beijing."

After the negotiations were over, Yuan Shikai indeed sued the Qing court and defended Duan Qirui. In the end, Duan Qirui was dismissed, but was exempted from investigation and punishment. Yuan Shikai recruited Duan Qirui to Baoding Soldiers School and served as an instructor, which could be considered a job that could support his family. Duan Qirui was grateful to Yuan Shikai, and others praised Yuan Shikai for being magnanimous and treating others with sincerity.

Of course, the negotiations with the Qing court were just a small episode. At this time, Will Jackson, the US Consul in Qingdao, conveyed to the East China government that US President Roosevelt's desire to mediate the Far East War.

The war in the Far East has almost come to an end. Without external interference, there is no suspense that the East China government will win. President Roosevelt believes that now is the best time to mediate the war, so he has expressed the intention to mediate to all the parties participating in the war and test the attitudes of the three parties.

After receiving the US consul's relay of President Roosevelt's intention, the military working group also believed that this was in line with the overall plan of the East China government. Now the People's Army has achieved great results on the battlefield, and to transform these results into actual benefits depends on the performance at the negotiating table. However, the negotiations cannot be proposed by the East China government. Therefore, the mediation intention proposed by President Roosevelt is exactly what the East China government needs, and it can respond to Roosevelt's intention with a positive attitude.

So Foreign Affairs Commissioner Li Sanjie immediately met Consul Jackson and held talks.

Li Sanjie first said: "Mr. Consul, first of all, thank President Roosevelt for his concern for the situation in the Far East and for our East China government."

Jackson hurriedly said: "Mr. Member, the president has always been kind to China and has always attached great importance to the relationship between the United States and the East China government. He also hopes that the Far East can restore peace as soon as possible. This is not only in the interests of the United States, but also in the interests of China."

Li Sanjie said: "Our East China government in China has always been peaceful and hopes to restore peace in the Far East as soon as possible. Therefore, we thank President Roosevelt for his efforts to make the Far East peace and are willing to accept President Roosevelt's mediation."

Jackson couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard this. If the East China government accepted the mediation, he would certainly have made a contribution. Therefore, he hurriedly said: "That's great. Thanks to the East China government for its efforts for peace. I believe President Roosevelt would be very happy after receiving this news."

Li Sanjie said: "But sir, you should know that peace cannot rely solely on one side of effort, but requires two or even three sides of effort together. Although we are willing to accept President Roosevelt's mediation, Russia and Japan's attitude is not yet certain."

After hearing this, Jackson hurriedly said, "Mr. Member, please don't worry. I think the President will be able to convince Russia and Japan will also accept mediation. I think now, Japan may hope for peace more than the East China government, right?"

Li Sanjie nodded and said, "That's great, but Mr. Consul, although we love peace, we will never beg for peace. Therefore, we have conditions for peace."

Jackson was not surprised when he heard this, because it would be strange if the East China government did not have the conditions, so he said: "Mr. Committee member, then what are your conditions?"

Li Sanjie said: "Russia and Japan must admit defeat and promise to compensate us for our losses. Only under this premise can we accept peace."

Jackson understood that Li Sanjie's meaning was Russia, and Japan had to agree to pay compensation to the East China government in order to start negotiations. However, this condition did not exceed the expectations of the United States. After all, the East China government won the battle and paid a considerable price to win the battle. The United States alone issued a debt volume worth 30 million pounds, and the difference between capital and interest was less than 40 million pounds. Therefore, if you don't look for Russia, Japan would ask for compensation, and the money came out. So Jackson nodded and said, "Okay, I will report the conditions of the East China government to President Roosevelt truthfully. I believe President Roosevelt will also convey it to Russia and Japan."
Chapter completed!