"How sure will this kind of mediation be?" Yang Rui took a deep look without hesitation. "If Britain declares war on our country, then the entire foreign trade will be interrupted. You must know that more than 80% of my country's foreign trade merchant ships are British ships.≧ Although I am not worried about imported goods, as far as China's current situation seems, the less imports, the better, so that the trade deficit will be reduced, but I am worried about exports. Once Britain declares war, even if my country has merchant ships, they will block the trade channels, so..."

He looked at Wilson, Brian and Colonel Edward M. House who had not spoken, he was Wilson's friend and confidant. During the World War, he frequently moved in Europe as Wilson's personal representative. Yang Rui said again: "I hope that the war and blockade of your country can provide convenience for our cargo ships so that they can hang your country's flag under legal procedures. And if these cargo ships enter the coast of the Philippines, I hope that your country's Asian fleet can protect them. Of course, this only ensures the safety of sea freight. If you fight with the United Kingdom, I also request that in trade with Europe, your country can allow our country's goods to be re-exported through your country. Your country's customs will facilitate the sale of these re-exported goods and do not charge import and export tariffs."

Yang Rui’s request was not excessive, but Secretary of State Brian said: “But how can we ensure that these goods are only transited and not sold in the United States? In addition, how do they ship to the United States?”

"They did not ship to the United States, but re-exported in the Philippines, and then shipped to Europe or somewhere else." Yang Rui explained that this is how artificial oil sent to Europe is operated, but it is illegal, and it costs nearly one million US dollars a year.

Considering that the Philippine market cannot digest much Chinese raw material, Brian glanced at Wilson, and Wilson glanced at Edward M. House. Colonel House asked, "How long does this bell re-export trade take? If it was only in the war, it was not a big problem."

"It is not only during wars, but also before the agreement is signed," Yang Rui emphasized. "Considering the variability of the war and the long-term nature of the blockade, I don't think this time will be less than four years. So I hope that Chinese goods can be re-exported through the Philippines within five years. In order not to cause turmoil in the Philippines, those goods can be left without leaving the ship, just by changing the documents."

"Is this the only help your team needs to enter North Korea?" Colonel House said.

"This is just one of them." Yang Rui smiled. He knew that he didn't have many requirements. "In addition, if the Japanese army entered Tianjin, I hope your country could support our team to enter Tianjin to garrison. After our country finally won the victory, I also hope that your country could support us to abolish the unequal treaties signed during the Qing Dynasty. In today's China, every country has a sphere of influence, which not only affects our country's national affairs, but also hinders the implementation of the policy of opening up the door.

British goods and his allies Japanese goods flooded in the Yangtze River Basin, German goods occupied Shandong, French goods sold all over Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi, and Russians occupied Xinjiang, Mongolia and Northeast China. Merchants in these countries did not pay taxes at all, and did not abide by local laws. Even if merchants did not buy their goods, they often coerced those timid and pitiful shop owners to buy those unaffordable goods. This is sales, and the same is true for acquisitions. Compradors were rampant in the countryside, always suppressing prices to the farmers without profit until the brink of bankruptcy.

What supports all this is the tariff system, the concession system, and the extraterritorial legal system. These things are iron chains for China, which separates the markets of this country and the open door policy cannot be implemented. If China wants to open up, these iron chains need to be removed. After all, China is an independent country, and every people pursues freedom and democracy, which is the same as the great people of your country who pursue independence and freedom more than a hundred years ago. In my opinion, even if these clauses cannot be abolished immediately after the war, ten years later, twenty years later, one day they will be abolished."

"Dear Prime Minister, I also deeply agree that your country becomes an independent country and that the people enjoy freedom and democracy, but as you said, it will take ten or twenty years to abolish these things, which is a long time. The United States will support your country in achieving this goal from beginning to end, and will help you to the best of your ability at the right time." Yang Rui's lyrics excited Wilson a little. He is actually an ideal democrat. In his opinion, it is the most proud thing for America to be able to push the American democracy concept to China and even the whole world. Fortunately, he died early and did not understand that his approval today will cause the United States to suffer more than 20 years later.

The newly built Oval Office presents a classic Baroque style. Yang Rui and Wilson sat on the sofa in the center of the office, looking at the old presidential desk. The light-filled floor-to-ceiling windows can see the American Garden of the White House. Many TV speeches from later American presidents use this as the background. Yang Rui did not respect this office too much. He only felt that this office was much more modern than his own office, especially the light. The light in Yin'an Hall was insufficient, so it would be better to have a few pieces of glass.

Given that Yang Rui had very few requirements for the United States, he only needed to ensure smooth foreign trade between merchant ships flying the American flag and registered with American companies. As for the abolition of the unequal treaty, it was just hope. He only needed to make a statement without any pain. Therefore, the talks throughout the morning went very smoothly. However, as the end was approaching, Colonel House introduced Yang Rui to Yang Rui a revolutionary: "Prime Minister, the secret envoy of the North Korean emperor, Syngman Rhee, is a real patriot. He has been running for the freedom and independence of the North Korean people for many years. I hope you can meet him at the right time."

The Americans finally started their own conditions, that is, the half of the North Korean revived should be President of Seung-man. Yang Ruiqiang smiled and said, "Mr. Lee and I met in the United States several years ago, and I am honored to see him again."

Wilson is the president of Princeton University, and Syngman Rhee is a PhD at Princeton University. Both of them are majoring in political science and are both presbyterians. As a naturalized citizen, Syngman Rhee was familiar with Wilson several years ago. I heard that Yang Rui and Syngman Rhee met. Wilson said happily: "Then there is no difference between us! The North Korean people have the right to pursue independence and freedom. I hope to see that under Lee's leadership, they can enjoy modern civilization and happiness..."

The two-hour meeting ended soon. During the pleasant conversation, the first framework of the secret agreement between China and the United States was finally born. The obligations of China and the United States were mainly three points: considering that the United States would declare war, the United States would ensure the safety of Chinese merchant ships in the United States and the smooth trade in Europe within five years; be responsible for negotiating with the United Kingdom, try to prevent it from participating in the war, and mediate in the post-war negotiations to fight for the greatest interests of China; if the Japanese army landed from Tianjin and launched an attack, it would support the Chinese team to enter Tianjin. It also promised to issue a statement after the war to support China in abolish all unequal treaties.

For China, it is required that after the Northeast defeats Japan, it will attack the 38th parallel region of North Korea at least and consolidate it; after the restoration of the northern North Korea agreed to be led by Seung Wan as the government, but it must also follow the local public opinion; after supporting China's abolition of the unequal treaty, China should implement an open door policy and do not discriminate against goods from all countries, but in order to protect local industry and commerce, there can be a five to ten-year easing period, during which period, the average tariff shall not exceed 30%, and after the easing period, the average tariff shall not exceed 18%, and the existing domestic likin system must be abolished.

After the White House talks were finished, Yang Rui, accompanied by the ambassador to the United States, went to the Embassy in the United States, accompanied by Lu Zhengxiang, the ambassador to the United States. However, several people in the office were still discussing the Far East issue.

"It seems that the Chinese don't want much," Wilson said with satisfaction. "I thought he must have us send troops to fight. Or ask for a large loan."

"He is a powerful man, and he is convinced that his army can defeat the Japanese and British people." Brian smiled. "I appreciate this confidence, which saves us a lot of trouble."

"This is where he is dangerous. Although China claims to be democratic, the revival will control everything in the entire country." Colonel House is also a democrat like Wilson. He is a little worried about the Far East: "Maybe in a few years, he will become a dictator."

"Edward, as a country that has been enforcing imperial power for thousands of years, it is good that they can do this. Not every country can be like the United States, and Asian countries, like European countries, have emperors and magistrates, and the magistrate system there is deeper than Europe. They implement British constitutional monarchy much better than our presidential system." Brian said good things to China, "Also don't forget that even if China has submarines, there is no powerful navy. His largest warship is only 2,000 tons... It's a pity that they can only deal with the Japanese army and cannot weaken the Japanese navy."

"No, they also built a strange ship of more than 10,000 tons in New York." Colonel House corrected Brian's mistake, but he added: "But that ship was not equipped with a large caliber gun. I really don't know what the Chinese think."

The Americans are following the strange ship, and Yang Rui is also paying attention, but although he is not available now, Lu Zhengxiang is detailing the situation in the United States with him. "Mr. Brian is a pure Democrat. He hates trusts and all big companies. As President Wilson's partner, he is vigorously promoting the new freedom plan..."

"Let's talk about Edward M. House. Who is he? It seems very important." Yang Rui asked absent-mindedly.

"He is a close friend and supporter of the president. They have established a very close relationship since Wilson ran for president in the first year of Shenwu. After Wilson took office as president, his trust in him has increased day by day. It can be said that the entire US foreign policy has been influenced by him, and he is an extremely influential person."

Along the way, Lu Zhengxiang was thinking about Yang Rui's introduction to the political situation of the United States. Although he didn't listen too carefully, he found that Wilson and Colonel House had one common feature, that is, they were completely democratic, especially as a scholar from political science and a politician, Wilson, who always advocated the democratic system of Britain, believed that it was a model of a democratic government, and did not like the German emperor's dictatorship. This was something Yang Rui didn't know before, but obviously, a pro-British American president, plus a large number of capitalists who profited from trade with the Allies, would prevent the United States from participating in the First World War, especially when Britain and France were weak and were about to fail. After the Lusitania incident in history, Secretary of State Brian, who resigned because Wilson completely favored Britain.

If the United States cannot be stopped from participating in the war, Germany will definitely fail. And how can China obtain the best interests in its failure? Yang Rui was thinking about this question. When he was talking to Wilson at the White House just now, he did not mention Europe at all, nor could he mention it. It was a war between white people, and yellow people were not qualified to participate. In addition, it would not be possible to mention this issue too early. He believed that once Europe started the war, Americans would take the initiative to talk to themselves. The most likely requirement was that before the United States joined the war, Wilson asked China to strictly adhere to neutrality. When the United States participated in the war, he would ask China and the United States to declare war on Germany together.

Excluding the relationship between Chiang-man Lee and the United States in terms of policy towards North Korea, if China is consistent with the United States in European affairs, there will be two problems: one is how will China win Germany's favor after the war? After all, the next industry focus is on large-scale introduction of German technology; the other is the recovery of the foreign Northeast. If the army is sent to Europe and sign the agreement to withdraw the foreign Northeast with the Bolsheviks, under the agitation of Belarus, Britain, France, and even the United States will definitely prevent China from taking back the foreign Northeast. If hundreds of thousands of people are sent to Europe to participate in the war, wouldn't they become hostages?

As he became more and more aware of the international situation, Yang Rui admired Lenin more and more. As soon as he came to power, he signed a ceasefire agreement with Germany, delivering goods and cutting land. He tried every means to prosper Germany's life. From the national level, this was a traitor, but at the level of the ruling party, this country sold the best! Only when capitalist countries were restrained by war and weakened by war can the Soviet regime be established; and in Asia, Lenin's abacus was also beautiful, promising to give up the territory occupied during the imperial and Russian era, which would allow these nationalists who were not in the land controlled by the Bolsheviks to fight with the Belarusian army. This involves a problem of border selection. If you want to take back the foreign northeast, the premise must be to recognize the Soviet Union and recognize the Soviet Union, which is on the contrary to Europe, because the foreign northeast cannot be transferred by the Soviet Union after the Soviet Union cleared Belarus and then transferred it. When taking back the Far East, the Belarusian army must be eliminated in this area.

In general, there are two ways to regain the foreign northeast. One is to sign a treaty with the Soviet Union and then eliminate the Belarusian army that wanted to regain the area, at the cost of being hostile to the West; the other is to take the initiative to send troops to the foreign northeast while taking the Russian civil war, and then sign a ceasefire treaty after fighting the death of the Soviet Red Army. During World War II, we took advantage of the German invasion to sign a recovery treaty, at the cost of another national war. The Far East may be able to win, but what about Central Asia?

If the Northeast had not originally belonged to China, Yang Rui had no interest in it. Strategically, the ten Northeasts in the United States were not as important as Central Asia. Even if the three small Khanate countries were retained, they could push the border to the Black Sea and border Persia. This is something that I would laugh out loud in my dreams in later generations. In addition, unlike imagination, even if China abolished unequal treaties and did not make a feud with the West, then China's industrial products could be sold abroad? There was no General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in this era, and there were only colonies. If Japan had not formed an alliance with Britain, could its goods enter the Yangtze River Basin?

After the end of World War I, who can the inferior finished products of China's industry be sold to after meeting its own market? European countries and their colonies should not be considered. Even if China and the United States compete fairly in the reciprocal open market, when the scale, technology and funds have not accumulated to a certain extent, the competitiveness of Chinese goods will be extremely weak. On the contrary, the Soviet Union is more suitable for the test field for Chinese industry. Of course, this test field is also temporary. Once the Soviet industrialization construction is completed, its autistic economic system will expel foreign goods in large quantities, and at this time, war will start to fight for European colonies.

On the car back to the embassy, ​​Yang Rui repeatedly thought about these two ways of departure. This way is to learn from Japan, recognize the United States as the boss, and work hard to gradually abolish the unequal treaty, develop in the cracks of foreigners' alms. After World War II, it became a regional hegemony and became the tool for the United States to restrict the Soviet Union. However, with China's size, it would be impossible. One day in the future, there would be a square agreement; the second way is to disregard the master, turn against Britain, France and other countries, and force the abolition of the unequal treaty. This is equivalent to blocking bullets for the Soviet Union and sharing the firepower of Britain and France. However, if it can use German technology and the Soviet market, China's industry will develop rapidly, dominate the Asian order after the war, and be on par with the United States. Of course, this has a premise: Britain and France must carry out strategic bombing on Germany during World War I, causing serious losses to Germany's industry. At the same time, China's education must keep up and cultivate enough technical talents after the end of World War I.

The embassy in the United States is different from the surrounding European-style buildings in Washington. The embassy that spent two years to renovate is completely Chinese-style architectural. After the completion of this building with a strong oriental charm, the Japanese also wanted to renovate its embassy, ​​but because of its advocacy of westernization, this is said to be just a proposal and has not been implemented.

After entering the office that had been prepared, Yang Rui gave up his mind and asked Li Zilong, "Are there any details about the Russian army in the Far East? Is there any report from Chen Qubing?"

"The telegram was sent by Lord Chen. It is said that it was a careful reminder from a friendly person to China that he only learned about Russia's desire to launch a war in the Far East." Li Zilong said, "Lord Chen believes that these friendly persons to China should be pro-French officials."

"Pro-just judge?" Yang Rui had some differences, "Why did France emerge? Why do they tell us this?"

"Prime Minister, Lord Chen said in the telegram that since France and Russia formed an alliance, Russia's democrats have become active. They hope that Russia can implement democratic politics like France so as to gain power from the Tsar. Many officials are pro-French. Before the last Russo-Japanese War, France tried its best to prevent Russia from fighting against Japan, but the war still started. After the war, the French believed that the weakness of the Russian army and navy made the Germans even more rampant, which is also the reason why the Germans dared to be tough on the Moroccan incident. The French believed that if Russia joined the Far East again, the Germans would likely attack France."

Li Zilong said what the telegram meant, and then handed it to Yang Rui. After reading it, he suddenly said angrily: "The last time Japan and Russia started war, it was Germany that supported Russia's expansion eastward. This time, it was not Germany that was always making tricks again, right? They can do this so that we can fight with Russia to relieve their pressure in Europe?"

Li Zilong was speechless when Yang Rui’s question, but since Russia will increase its troops in the Far East, it must be related to Germany. As well as the British, this messenger, is probably worthy of it. No wonder Britain is so old-fashioned to take control of its own railways. It turns out that it is here later!

With a "bang", Yang Rui slapped the table. He was betrayed twice in a row by the Germans. What was his face to meet those time travelers who kept playing with German marks and playing with Germany as monkeys? Could it be that the IQ of a German when he met other time travelers was negative, and his IQ was instantly more than 15 when he met his own? This is not too bad to treat himself as a pig's feet!

After walking around the room with anger, Yang Rui said: "Give the intelligence agency and the General Staff a telephone call to judge Russia's intention to increase troops. The 1st Armored Division prepares for war and divides a tank battalion to air transport it to Mongolia, and there is also an air force. All dive bombers are transferred to the Northeast and Mongolian airports. As long as Germany... it is wrong, as long as the Russians dare to start a war, they will kill the tanks to Russia!"

"Yes! Prime Minister." Li Zilong was shocked when he heard this. The Prime Minister must have been confused. When he went out with a slap, Yang Rui called him.

"The previous ones have been cancelled." Yang Rui said. He smoked his cigarette and his heart had settled down. "First send a telegram to Chong'an, let him mediate between Russia and France, and use France's influence in Russia to dispel Russia's idea of ​​going to war again in the Far East. The General Staff and the Intelligence Agency asked them to analyze Russia's strategic intentions. If Russia dares to attack, then the first battle must be concentrated to concentrate superior forces, fight steadily! Win! Fight harshly! Let Russia know that it is really about to start a war, even if they can win, they will have to pay no less than the price of the Russo-Japanese War."
Chapter completed!