Super dictator.

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"What is the public opinion in the Qing Dynasty?" Ito Hirobumi asked again.

Mutsu Munemitsu's face was a bit ugly, and he said in a hateful voice: "People in the Qing Dynasty think that Song Qing can defeat our Great Japanese Empire with a small victory. High."

Hirobumi Ito rubbed his temples with some headaches, and then said: "Send a telegram to the base camp to let the naval fleet cruise in the Bohai Sea, bombard Dagukou, and warn the Chinese not to make them get too complacent."

"Do you want to revise the peace treaty?" Mutsu Munemitsu asked with some uncertainty.

"Let's look at Li Hongzhang's reaction first. Liaodong and Taiwan must not be withdrawn. This is the long-cherished wish of the empire for many years. Even if we agree, the generals in the base camp will be dissatisfied. As for the compensation, it can be reduced appropriately."

Ito Hirobumi squinted his eyes halfway, paused, and continued: "China is like a virgin waiting to be developed, taking Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula is like binding a woman's hands, and then it can be invaded at any time. "

Ito Hirobumi is very feminine, and once wrote a poem: "Wake up and take power in the world, and lie drunk on the knees of beauties."

Mutsu Munemitsu thought his metaphor was very good, and said with a smile: "Others need money for whoring women, but we can get money for whoring women. Ito-kun is really superior."

Jieyin Temple is the place where Li Hongzhang stayed.

Li Jingfang, Luo Fenglu, Wu Tingfang, Ma Jianzhong, Luo Gengling and other Chinese representatives were sitting in Li Hongzhang's room plotting.

The expression on Li Hongzhang's face was obviously a little excited, and there was a hint of joy in the gloom, and he said: "This victory came in time, and it will definitely add a lot of weight to tomorrow's negotiations, and the call from the military aircraft department, the empress dowager Yan and the emperor are a little bit excited, If the negotiation fails, we will prepare to fight again, so when we talk about peace tomorrow, don't be too weak, even if the talk collapses, the whole court will not blame us."

Counselor Luo Fenglu said worriedly: "Although this is the case, the Japanese are still much stronger than our country. What if the Japanese refuse to make concessions tomorrow and China and Japan start a war again?"

Wu Tingfang interjected: "I have inquired many times in the past few days, and learned that although the Japanese army is tough, the country is already unable to support a long-term war. If the Japanese continue to fight, if they cannot win in a short period of time, it will be extremely disadvantageous. So the next The officer believes that some requests can be made appropriately."

Li Hongzhang nodded slightly.

The next day, China and Japan held the last peace talks in Chunfan Building.

After the Chinese and Japanese representatives took their seats, they greeted each other for a while, and then officially began to confront each other.

Ito Hirobumi first asked: "Why did your country's army tear up the armistice agreement between the two sides and attack our army? Do you want the two countries to continue to fight?"

Li Hongzhang said calmly: "Why did your minister say this? This incident was caused by your army's attack on Gaiping. Our army was just forced to fight back. It was not our army that tore up the armistice agreement, but your army." National Army."

Ito Hirobumi said unhappily: "This incident was caused by the assassination of our officer Nishi Kanjiro by Wei Jichen of your country. I hope your country can severely deal with those who provoked the incident and apologize to the victims of our country."

Li Hongzhang was taken aback. It was the first time he had heard that Wei Jichen's death was related to Nishikanjiro, but when he looked carefully, he found that although Hirobumi Ito was screaming fiercely, a trace of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

"How can your minister slander our generals at will? If there is evidence, just take it out. If there is no evidence, wouldn't it be ridiculous and generous." Li Hongzhang refused to admit it.

"The truth will always come to light one day." Ito Hirobumi picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and changed the subject: "How is your country thinking about the contract?"

Ito Hirobumi knew that this matter was not clear for the time being, so he went directly to the topic.

Li Hongzhang sighed, and said: "I'm afraid the superiors will disagree with such a fierce clause. I have to modify the original agreement a few places. Please think carefully for me, your minister, where I can make discretion."

Hirobumi Ito knew that Li Hongzhang had changed his mind, but he couldn't just give in at will, so he said firmly: "It was explained at the beginning that it was extremely difficult to let go. Negotiating a peace is not a market transaction, and it is not a matter of bargaining with each other."

Li Hongzhang thought to himself: What is the difference between this and doing business? Both are bargaining.

"There is a lot of fighting in our country now. Even if I agree to draw a bond, I can't go back to the country. Why not give in a little bit, and the two countries will be friendly again." Li Hongzhang said pointedly.

Ito Hirobumi took a sip of tea slowly, and said unhurriedly: "Our naval fleet heard that your country tore up the armistice agreement, and has set off from Weihaiwei to Dagukou. It must have bombarded Dagukou by now."

Li Hongzhang said angrily: "Why should your country be aggressive? If the negotiation fails, you can only move the capital to Shaanxi and fight with your country for a long time. Your country will definitely not be able to conquer China, and China can resist for an endless period. Your country will eventually lose and seek peace."

As soon as Li Hongzhang finished speaking, the atmosphere on the negotiating table immediately became a little stiff.

Ito Hirobumi confronted each other and said, "See what your minister means, is the war going to continue?"

"I came here to negotiate peace with great sincerity, but your country's conditions are too harsh, no one can accept it. There are a lot of land ceded, and the compensation is huge." Li Hongzhang said lightly.

Ito Hirobumi pointed to the documents brought by Li Hongzhang, and said, "Why don't you take out the draft of your country's commercial reform treaty? Let's talk about it after reading it."

Li Hongzhang asked Li Jingfang to hand it over to Ito Hirobumi and others.

After the Japanese glanced at it, their faces were not very good. I saw that there were two main amendments to the Chinese treaty: one was that the compensation was reduced to 1 million taels, and the other was that Taiwan was cut off from the territory.

These are all the demands Li Hongzhang made last time. Ito did not expect that after the Chinese side went back to discuss, they would not give in at all.

Ito put down the document and said displeasedly: "Shangxi Zhongtang can deeply consider the current situation between the two countries, that is, the fact that Japan is the victor and China is the loser. Because China asked for peace and Japan agreed, there is today's peace negotiation. If unfortunately If the negotiation breaks down this time, if I order [-] or [-] transport ships to carry the additional troops to the battlefield, it will be difficult to say whether Beijing’s safety will be safe. I am afraid that there is no guarantee that the Chinese Minister of Plenipotentiary will return to Beijing safely.”

Li Hongzhang and others couldn't help but lose face.

Ito changed his tone again, and said softly: "Taiwan must be handed over to our country, and the compensation can be reduced to 12 billion taels. This is already the biggest concession of the empire."

Li Hongzhang knew that the Japanese were going to rule Taiwan, so he had no choice but to start with the indemnity: "I have to lose money, and I have to cede land. I have to do both. If the shot is too harsh, I hope that the indemnity will be reduced by another 5000 million taels."

The Japanese representative was silent for a long time, and Ito Hirobumi sighed after a long time: "The compensation is 8000 million taels, no less."

Li Hongzhang was overjoyed, thinking that you had won a battle by himself, but fortunately he did not live in vain for so many years, his expression remained unchanged, and he said dissatisfiedly: "If you are so tight-lipped, you must remember it in the future. The compensation will not be reduced, and the interest will always be paid. It can be avoided."

Knowing that Li Hongzhang had agreed, Ito Hirobumi was just looking for problems in this detail, and then replied: "Pay it off within three years, and the interest will be waived."

After talking about the biggest items, the negotiation will be much easier later. The Japanese will garrison troops in Weihaiwei, and they will not withdraw until the Chinese side pays the treaty indemnity. One hair, they are unwilling.

When the contract was almost negotiated, it was already time for the lights to dim, and the two parties agreed to sign the contract the next day.

"I hope that your country can cooperate with our country in investigating the assassination of Nishi Kanjiro. If China provokes the incident again, it will be at its own risk." When the representatives of both China and Japan stood up and were about to leave, Ito Hirobumi reminded Li Hongzhang.

Li Hongzhang was also afraid that Wei Jichen and other main fighters would disrupt his peace talks, so he replied: "Your minister, please rest assured, before the contract is renewed, I will advise my emperor to recall Wei Jichen."

The Minister of Plenipotentiary has signed the pledge, and the contract must be handed over to the emperors of the two countries for imperial approval. Finally, they have to find a place to exchange the contract. It will take at least a month to come and go. During this period, there will be new changes at any time, so Li Hongzhang felt that it would be better to let Wei Jichen go back to rest for a while, and let him return to Liaodong after all the dust settled.