The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Listening to these words, Lin Chengdong suddenly remembered an article written by Chairman Zhang Yinghao before: "As long as there are exploiting and oppressing classes in the world, they will continue to scold us and speak ill of us to prove that their theory of exploitation and oppression is the real truth. They must tell everyone that the exploiting and oppressing classes are the real ones.

In fact, the proletariat and the exploiting class have no common reason to talk about. They will definitely oppose each other until one side disappears completely, or until the world is destroyed. Of course, when material wealth is extremely abundant,

At the time, this opposition may not be a life-and-death struggle, but it is still inevitable and cannot be eliminated..."

Listening to the man in front of him talking nonsense, Lin Chengdong finally decided to fight back, "You keep saying so much, so let me ask you, are you afraid of death in the revolution?"

"Hmm? Of course I'm not afraid of death, I..."

"Haha, since we revolutionaries are not afraid of death, why should we be afraid of the hostility of imperialism? Lao Tzu said: The people do not fear death, so how can we scare them with death? These threats of world hostility cannot actually scare the Chinese people. The Chinese people will definitely fight to the end for their complete liberation. Since our Forward Party has the courage to smash

If we can build an old world, then we have the confidence and ability to build a new world. Why should we be afraid of the hostility of imperialism?"

"You, you are too extreme. It's totally unreasonable. You should know that you can't use strong medicine for serious illnesses..."

"Haha, we don't want to save the Qing Dynasty. It would be better to use some drastic measures to kill it off sooner rather than later. And you, on the other hand, say that as long as we establish a republic, we can save China. I really don't know what you mean by a republic. Do you mean that as long as we establish a republic, the great powers will automatically abolish the unequal treaties they signed with the Qing Dynasty? Will they be able to return the land ceded by the Qing Dynasty without fighting?"

After hearing Lin Chengdong's question, even Li Shengnan couldn't stop shaking her head, knowing that this was impossible.

"This can always be resolved through diplomatic negotiations. Shouldn't the great powers take into account the opinions of the Chinese people?"

"Haha, it seems you treat the great powers as good children, completely unaware of the true nature of imperialism. You can make them do whatever you want, and you can spit out the fat meat in your mouth with just a word. That's just dreaming. You want the great powers to consider the public opinion of the Chinese people, but then don't they need to consider the public opinion of their own countries? If these great powers dare to return an inch of ceded land to China, they will be removed from power. Will they take such political risks to consider the so-called public opinion of the Chinese people? It is simply wishful thinking.

Therefore, the ideal republic you dream of can neither abolish all the unequal treaties signed by the great powers in China, nor recover an inch of the country's lost territory. Naturally, you cannot develop industry, and thus you cannot allow the Chinese people to enjoy the same life brought by industrial civilization as the people in Western countries. Without the ability to build industry, you also have no ability to defend the country, so what you establish is bound to be a traitorous government. Perhaps those in power can make a lot of money, but what benefit will it bring to the vast majority of people?

“But, but…”

Lin Chengdong didn't need him, but he knew that abolishing the treaty and reclaiming the land would anger the imperialist powers. Unfortunately, the Progressive Party didn't care about the attitudes of the powers. Chairman Zhang Yinghao had repeatedly emphasized that on Chinese soil, the working people were the only people the Progressive Party could rely on. As for the exploiting classes, if they obeyed, they could still survive. If they didn't, they would be overthrown or even physically eliminated.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Besides, Mr. Liu, China isn't uncivilized right now. It's just that the productivity adapted to China's current civilization can't match that of industrial civilization. That's a fact! This is a question of productivity and production relations, not a question of backward or advanced civilization. The essence of Chinese civilization won't be outdated even a thousand years from now, so this isn't the same thing at all. In this era, might is truth. There's nothing wrong with us learning from the great powers. We're learning scientific truth, not anything else. It would be a grave mistake to copy and paste everything."

Liu Dehai thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Lin, you have a point. We naturally feel humiliated by the unequal treaties imposed on us by the great powers. However, revolution cannot be achieved overnight, and maintaining national sovereignty requires strategy. We can negotiate step by step. If we fall out directly, the Boxer Rebellion is still imminent, and the day of the Republic will be even more distant."

"Haha, in the final analysis, you're still afraid. You're not fighting for the liberation of the people of the country. All you want is to take over the power from the Qing Dynasty, to bring about a dynastic change, so that you can become the masters and continue to rule the people of the country. Our Chairman has long said that this is a rotation of power, not a revolution. You have gained benefits, but what have the people gained? The republic you promote? To drive out the Qing imperial family and welcome in revolutionary aristocrats like you?"

Liu Dehai finally couldn't hold it in any longer and became furious: "You peasant party members in Sichuan are so unreasonable and stupid. You just like to argue. What good does it do you? There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. Those peasants are ignorant and backward, without any knowledge. They can't even read a single word. What do they know about revolution? You teach them about the republic, but do they know what a republic is..."

Lin Chengdong felt relieved when he heard these words. If he had not personally gone to the countryside to work, perhaps his understanding would be the same as Liu Dehai's. Or they thought exactly the same as he did before. But since he came into contact with the poor people in the liberated areas and participated in the fight against the landlords and the distribution of land, he was moved to tears by the simple ideas of the Chinese people. The people's demands

Are they asking for high hopes? They just want a bite to eat and warm clothes. These ideas are not high at all, but the Qing Dynasty still does not give the people any hope. I used to think that the common people did not understand what revolution was. But later he realized clearly that

The common people may be limited in their knowledge, perhaps truly unaware of the meaning of the word "revolution," and they haven't spontaneously initiated a revolution. However, the people who truly need revolution aren't this artistically minded revolutionary party, but rather the 400 million ordinary Chinese people. While the common people certainly don't know how to make a revolution, or even understand the principles of revolution, they're not ignorant of the hardships of their own lives, nor are they incapable of learning and mastering the principles of revolution. Those who say the common people are ignorant simply haven't experienced the plight of the masses, haven't considered educating them through hard work. Without mobilizing the masses, how can such a revolution truly succeed?

This revolutionary, perhaps truly feeling the pain of oppression by the great powers, only looks upward, never downward. They believe that all they need is a revolution and a republic, and then they will be on equal footing with the great powers, and their own pain will naturally disappear. How ridiculous!

Lin Chengdong looked at Liu Dehai with pity and continued, "...After implementing constitutional education, the people will naturally understand the principles of a republic. They will naturally work hard to build a prosperous and strong republic, just like the European and American powers. Then, those powers that bully us will naturally recognize that we are a civilized country like them, and they will naturally leave. This is the bright path to national prosperity and national rejuvenation, not like you, inciting mob uprisings and then dividing up land. In the end, your actions will only give the powers an excuse to invade..."

"Haha, so you're scared to death?"

When Liu Dehai heard him say he was afraid of death, he immediately shouted, "You, you are simply unreasonable. Your heads are like stones in the toilet, smelly and hard. Just like granite, why can't you open your mind? Strategy, strategy, you don't understand. Everything can be discussed after the republic is established."

"Haha, the Republic is your banner. Without this banner, you are nothing. We are members of the working people. This is the most essential difference between us. We, like the people, need to eat, drink and live. We stand with the poor people, so I'm sorry, we can't listen to you, haha..."

"Those Chinese people don't know a single word. What do they know about revolution? Your revolution is now at the forefront of the storm, like a raging fire boiling oil. It seems prosperous, but in fact it is like a rootless duckweed, unable to withstand the wind and rain..."

The noise of the quarrel grew louder and louder, and many people nearby were already paying attention to them. Seeing that they were about to quarrel, Lao Fu and Xiao Yu stood up and tried to stop Lin Chengdong and the others from quarreling any further. Lin Chengdong waved his hand and smiled and said: "I heard a story and I want to share it with you today. When Zhuangzi was a child, his family was very poor. One day, when it was time to eat, there was no rice in the pot. Zhuangzi had no choice but to bite the bullet and borrow food from the Jianhe Marquis family, which was the closest to his home.

The Marquis of Jianhe was a high-ranking official in charge of the county's waterways. Every year, the people of the city paid him taxes and rent. He had so much grain that it wouldn't last three years, and his granary was practically overflowing. But he was a stingy man. When he heard Zhuangzi wanted to borrow some grain, he slyly said, "No problem. It's my duty to help my neighbors. But wait until the end of the year. By then, I'll have received all the taxes and rent from the people, and you can borrow as much as you want!"

Zhuangzi was furious when he heard this and said, "Just now on my way here, I heard an urgent cry for help. I looked carefully and found a fish crying for help in the dry wheel ruts by the roadside. It must have been out of the river for a long time and was almost dead."

The Marquis of Jianhe hurriedly asked, "How did this gill fish end up in the dry wheel rut?" Zhuangzi replied, "I asked it too, and it said it was a small water official under the Dragon King of the East China Sea. A few days ago, when it rained, it swam into the wheel rut for fun. Now that the rain has stopped, the water in the rut has dried up, and it can't get back in. When it saw me approaching, it begged me, "Can you give me a liter and a half of water to save me?"

The Marquis of Jianhe then asked, "Did you save it? How did you save it?" Zhuangzi rolled his eyes at him and said coldly, "It looked so pitiful, so of course I agreed to save it. I told it that I was going south to lobby the King of Wu and Yue, and that I could bring water from the West River to meet you, okay?" Unexpectedly, the gill fish flew into a rage upon hearing this...

Before Zhuangzi could finish his words, the Marquis of Jianhe shouted, "Of course Kanyu is angry. You're just talking nonsense! He needs just a dou and a half liters of water to survive. You're so slow to go south to fetch water. By the time you return, he'll have become a dried fish in the fish market."

Zhuangzi's anger turned into laughter: "So you also understand this principle!" Jianhe Hou was speechless. Thinking about his conversation with Zhuangzi just now, he lowered his head in shame.

Not only did Jianhe Hou lower his head, but Liu Dehai opposite him also lowered his head with a red face.

Lin Chengdong continued, "So, Mr. Liu, we have different ideals and cannot work together. You want to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and continue to rule the country. You want to continue to ride on the heads of the people and act like masters. The ignorant and foolish people at the bottom have nothing to do with you. We work together with the people. For us, our ultimate goal is not to overthrow the Qing Dynasty or to drive out the foreign powers, but to lead the people to live a happy and peaceful life. If the Qing Dynasty stands in our way, we will lead the people to overthrow it. If the foreign powers stand in our way, we will lead the people to drive out the foreign powers. For this, we will not hesitate to sacrifice our lives, that's all..."

Hearing Lin Chengdong say this, Lao Fu, Xiaoyu, and Li Shengnan all looked at each other and felt goosebumps all over their bodies. These words were so shocking!

After Lin Chengdong finished speaking, he didn't want to waste any more time, so he turned around and said, "You three already know my address. Please arrange a time to come to me as soon as possible. We need your help. You can call as many students as you can, and we will also pay the corresponding fees."

After saying that, he took out a large paper bag from his pocket and said, "This is a little money for the event. It's very difficult in our liberated areas right now. It's not much. Please don't despise it. It's just a token of my appreciation. If it's really not enough, you can always come to me."

After saying that, he stood up and left without waiting for them to speak. "Huh, this revolutionary from Sichuan is really good at talking..."

"Senior Liu, regardless of whether he can say it or not, one thing is true: China without industrialization cannot resist the invasion of the great powers, and morality and righteousness cannot drive them away. Let's go back and make arrangements and contact some classmates..."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Li Shengnan. Li Shengnan quickly said, "I'll make arrangements and ask a classmate to come over to take my place. I can't lose this part-time job, otherwise..."

Lao Fu nodded, drank the rest of the coffee, then turned around and left.

Comrade Lin Chengdong wasn't the only one recruiting people. Other comrades who went to Germany with Lin Chengdong also separately sought out Chinese students and overseas Chinese in Germany, seeking their help. Of course, they also used their own connections, especially those like Hans, a German who did business in the liberated areas. Through these connections, they gained countless unexpected benefits...

Chapter 589:

The "Six Degrees of Separation" theory states that there are no more than six people between you and any stranger, meaning that you can establish a connection with any stranger through at most six people. While the exact truth of this theory is unknown, it does suggest that getting to know someone is actually not as difficult as you might think. Nothing is difficult for those who set their minds to it!

Moreover, due to the PLA's series of victories in China, all countries were now considering their relations with the liberated areas. No one believed the Progressive Party could not unify China anymore, but instead speculated about when the Progressive Party would unify China. The interests involved were truly enormous, not just a little bit.

Although the Forward Party currently adheres to a policy of trade balance, it has been desperately expanding its export quota. Germany's import and export trade has seen a significant increase, and this increase is mainly due to trade with the Liberated Areas. Moreover, the Liberated Areas contain many resources and commodities that are indispensable to Germany. This situation naturally attracted the attention of German officials and high-level officials.

The news that the Forward Party had sent so many business people to Germany naturally spread to higher authorities, and the business delegation began its busy life with welcoming and seeing off people. The business people were here to do business, to bring benefits to Germany, and even to make money. How could they not be welcome?

Germany was currently undergoing its Second Industrial Revolution, its productivity had reached extreme levels, leading to severe overproduction. Germany, lacking many colonies to dump its goods, naturally sought to expand trade with the Liberated Areas. However, the Liberated Areas were limited in what they could export. Any more from one side would be less from the other, leaving little room for export to Germany. For Zhang Yinghao, this was a happy dilemma. It was like a boar bristle brush: seemingly insignificant, but without it, nothing could be done. It was essential for applying paint, oil, dirt, and so on.

Zhang Yinghao knew that selling pig bristles directly wouldn't bring in much profit, so he naturally needed to establish a processing plant to produce primary industrial products for sale, which would have a much higher added value. Germany needed large quantities of these products, as well as tungsten ore and other materials, which gave the Liberated Areas bargaining power. The comrades of the business delegation also did their best to collect the latest German technology and information.

In fact, as Westerners of this era, our impression of the East was similar to Zhang Yinghao's later impression of Africa: chaos, poverty, backwardness, and contempt were common. If someone later told Zhang Yinghao that Africans wanted to industrialize and establish an industrial system, Zhang Yinghao would probably treat it as a joke. Most Chinese people would also be indifferent. Even if Africa did achieve industrialization, would it have any impact on China? Would China fear industrial competition from Africa? The answer is obvious.

Zhang Yinghao certainly knew this understanding was wrong, unmaterialistic, unrealistic, and unscientific. Africa could certainly develop industry, and it could be very successful, with significant implications for China. Yet, China had no intention of stopping it.

European and American countries currently share this mentality: they don't believe that backward China can build an industry, or even fear it if it does. Of course, this is more of a sentiment shared by ordinary people; politicians, focused on their own interests, naturally don't think this way.

In this era, racism remains politically correct and a universal value of the Western world. It's not just a slogan; it's a weapon of moral justice used by the West to colonize the East. Racists believe that some races are inherently stupid and inferior, and therefore the West must save and lead them. If the British enslaved a German or French person, they would be condemned. However, if Westerners enslaved or colonized people of color in the East or Africa, it became a symbol of civilization. This was the value of the British, American, and other Western countries of this era.

Completely different from Western values, Chinese values ​​emphasize repaying evil with virtue, advocating for a change, emphasizing karma, and fearing destiny. If someone in the East bullied another country, the Chinese would immediately consider what would happen if those countries retaliated in the future. Chinese people prioritize life over anything else.

Western nations, however, are completely different. They impose oppression and slavery on people of color, or massacre pagans, as a display of God's glory. If the Chinese people were to sell opium to other countries, harming the people there, they would certainly feel guilty. But Western nations have no qualms. They trade opium and slavery; as long as they can make money, they display God's glory. That's enough, because in their worldview, the world cannot judge a person's sin; only God can judge good and evil. Therefore, Western history is filled with countless massacres of pagans. Killing pagans was seen as a way to display glory and express boundless loyalty to God, and was therefore approved of.

Even in the capitalist world, the people of color that Westerners respect are those who are wealthy. And what they respect isn't the person themselves, but the money they represent...

With a global perspective, Zhang Yinghao knew that Germany also hoped China would become stronger, thereby further constraining the power of Britain, France, and Russia. Perhaps by the time the People's Liberation Army defeated the British invading forces, Germany would have already caught their eye. Although Zhang Yinghao envied Germany's industrial manufacturing technology, he remained convinced that as long as the Progressive Party could manage China's own affairs and avoid problems within the liberated areas, the Western powers would eventually come to him for help. Flowers never speak, but once they bloom and emit fragrance, butterflies and bees will naturally come.

Zhang Yinghao felt that if he were in power in Germany, he would naturally provide considerable assistance to the Liberated Areas to alleviate his own pressure. This was a choice a wise man would inevitably make. In fact, Zhang Yinghao was right. The Liberated Areas' ability to tie down the energy and even the military strength of countries like Britain, France, and Russia in the Far East had long been assessed and confirmed by Germany. The German upper echelons believed that appropriate support and even aid for the Chinese rebels could greatly reduce the pressure on Germany from both the east and the west.

Finally, Lin Chengdong met with the German Emperor, Wilhelm II. Logically, such a small matter was not something the German Emperor should have worried about. However, Moltke the Younger had just become the Chief of the German General Staff and naturally needed to have some "political achievements." For Moltke the Younger, the PLA's successive victories over the British in the Far East and its campaigns to drive the Japanese out of the Northeast were a revelation.

Anyone with even a little political sense knew that the next move of the Forward Party would be either to destroy the Qing Dynasty or to go to war with Russia in the Northeast. This was the inevitable result of irreconcilable interests. But no matter which option was chosen, it would be beneficial to Germany overall.

Declaring war on Russia would alleviate military pressure on western Germany, while the destruction of the Qing Dynasty would significantly constrain the power of nations like Britain, France, and Russia. If Germany were to go to war with Russia after the Qing, or vice versa, the benefits it could gain would be enormous. Beyond Germany's limited interests in Qingdao, Germany and China were naturally allies. By this time, the liberated areas were already facing off against Britain, France, and Russia, and their interests were aligned with Germany. A joint Sino-German alliance could shatter this old world.

When Lin Chengdong was about to meet William II, William was not dealing with his endless official business, but was talking to his new Chief of General Staff, Moltke the Younger.

When talking to others, William II always turned sideways, facing the guests with his right half of the body and speaking with his head tilted to hide his disabled left hand due to the disease.

"Little Moltke, do you think those yellow monkeys can really hold the British back in the Far East? Will our helping them cause the British to be angry with us?"

Moltke the Younger was silent for a few seconds before saying, "The General Staff has conducted several simulations and concluded that the Qing rebels are a group of nationalists. They possess a certain level of military strength and are now fully capable of containing the British. They can also divert Russia's attention to the Far East, which is very beneficial to us. As long as we do not take extreme actions to support them and simply trade with these rebels, the British will at most condemn our country rather than declare war. As long as war breaks out in the Far East, we will actually welcome it."

“So how much money do you think we need to help them?”

"Perhaps direct aid isn't necessary at all. This rebel group has the resources we need, and they're also doing business everywhere. All we need to do is expand trade with them. Our industries are in dire need of upgrading and overseas markets. Since someone is willing to take on these outdated industries, why not join us? Things will eventually become obsolete, and we can still trade them now, which makes for a very good deal."

William took a breath after listening to this. Moltke the Younger continued, "However, in order to strengthen these rebels' strength against the British, we need to increase trade volume. We can allow these rebels to issue some bonds in Germany to purchase our products and provide more funds for our factories to upgrade. However, this is the bankers' business."

William II glanced at the portrait of his idol, Frederick the Great, behind him, took a deep breath, and said, "So, if I meet this Chinese, what do I want?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, the Forward Party, formed by this group of rebels, will become the ruling party of the new country after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, necessary friendship is still necessary. What is the Forward Party's attitude towards Qingdao? And when will they prepare to mobilize troops to unify the country..."

William II once again looked at the portrait of Frederick the Great on the wall, then at the world map and the current situation of the Qing Empire in the Far East. He took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "I understand. Let's do it this way."

Historically, Europe has experienced three major invasions. The first occurred in the 5th century AD, when descendants of the Huns, who had vanished from Chinese history, suddenly emerged as powerful European invaders. Attila, known as the "Scourge of God," turned the continent's peoples upside down, leaving the powerful Western Roman Empire in name only, with only the so-called Byzantine Empire lingering on. This, in turn, contributed to the decline of classical European civilization.

The second invasion occurred in the 10th century AD, when the Western Turks, defeated in a major battle against the Tang Dynasty, fled to Asia Minor and established the Seljuk Dynasty and the Ottoman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire was severely defeated during the Crusades, and at its peak, the Ottoman Empire encompassed Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The third invasion was the famous Mongol Empire's three westward expeditions, which left countless people dead and rivers of blood flowing along the way, once again allowing Europeans to experience the power of God's scourge. The Black Death, which ravaged Europe for hundreds of years, was also related to this Mongol invasion.

Under the shadow of the past, a fear of the East spread across Europe, ingrained in its very bones and genes. China, an ancient Eastern nation with a 5,000-year-old civilization, brought silk, tea, and exquisite porcelain to the West. This envy and jealousy were compounded by a strong sense of fear, giving rise to the "Yellow Peril" theory.

The "Yellow Peril" theory originated from the Russian Bakunin. As a notorious founder of anarchism, Bakunin began to advocate the "Yellow Peril" theory in his book "State System and Anarchy" published in 1873. He said:

"Some estimate the population of China at 400,000,000, others at 600,000,000, all crowded within the empire, and now increasingly and irresistibly emigrating in great numbers... Such is the almost inevitable danger that threatens us from the East. It is a mistake to despise the Chinese. The Chinese are formidable..."

At the end of the 19th century, the yellow race gradually rose to prominence in Asia. Japan's Meiji Restoration attempted to "separate itself from Asia and integrate itself with Europe." The Qing Dynasty also launched a fleeting Westernization Movement, resulting in the so-called Tongzhi Restoration. This revived Europeans' fear of being dominated by Asians. During the Russo-Japanese War, Japan's repeated victories over the Russian army, including the destruction of Tsarist Russia's naval fleet, further awakened the West to the power of the East, further fueling this sentiment.

In the late 19th century, German Emperor Wilhelm II presented Tsar Nicholas II with an oil painting titled "The Yellow Peril." The painting depicts the Archangel Michael holding a sword, while the Buddha and dragon behind him represent the yellow race of the East. Wilhelm II inscribed the following inscription: "European nations, unite to defend your faith and your homeland," urging European powers to join forces to resist the yellow race.

In the early 20th century, especially after the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the Qing Dynasty fell and Japan established itself as the dominant power in Asia. The "Yellow Peril" theory gained even more traction. However, it is an indisputable fact that the rights of the yellow race remain unprotected internationally.

Chapter 590:

Lin Chengdong finally met the legendary German Emperor. Although he was a little excited, he didn't think there was anything special about Wilhelm II. The liberated areas naturally provided some training for these German comrades who came here, and they had all read the information about the German Emperor. Lin Chengdong himself understood this, and his power was not particularly great, so this meeting was not so much a meeting as it was just a walk and a chat with Wilhelm II.

William II thought he was being quite friendly to the yellow-skinned man in front of him, but Lin Chengdong could still detect a hint of racial superiority in his tone. Perhaps this was William's ultimate form of friendliness. Lin Chengdong had anticipated this, so he initially offered only bland remarks.

Lin Chengdong had heard from Chairman Zhang Yinghao in his lectures that the imperialist policies pursued by Wilhelm II served the interests of the current German ruling class. His active pursuit of a world policy was strongly militaristic, seeking a "place in the sun" for Germany through colonial expansion.

Relations between Britain and Germany had long been strained by the arms race. Under Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany began mass-producing battleships in the 1890s, a move Britain viewed as a challenge to its naval supremacy.

Germany has always been unwilling to lag behind Britain in navy and has actively strived for maritime hegemony. Therefore, in 1897 and 1900, it passed a new naval plan and implemented the Tirpitz Plan to accelerate Germany's naval expansion and catch up with the naval power of the British Empire.

When the British discovered the German ships had arrived at Agadir, they mistakenly believed that Germany wanted to use the port as a base for German forces in the Atlantic. This further strained relations between the two countries, and the British, under the Anglo-French Treaty, were inclined to support France against Germany.

In a speech to the German Parliament, Wilhelm II said with great enthusiasm: "Bismarck's continental policy was very narrow, but now I am pursuing a world policy. Berlin should be 'Berlin, the world city', and German trade should be 'German world trade'. Germany and the world have the same meaning, because German policies should be reflected everywhere in the world..."

His speech, driven by his fanatical militarism and expansionism, was met with thunderous applause in the German parliament. Not only were Waldersee, Alfred von Tirpitz, and Holstein enthusiastically cheering him on, but a large number of bourgeois industrial giants, represented by Stum, were even more ecstatic, their eyes drooling over overseas markets.

At a rally celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the German Empire, the German Reich Radio in Berlin broadcast Kaiser Wilhelm II's passionate congratulatory message: "The German Empire will become a world empire. Our compatriots will live everywhere in the remotest parts of the earth. German goods, German knowledge, and German diligence will travel across the oceans..."

The whole world, especially Britain, France and Russia in Europe, listened to this declaration of world domination in horror, feeling that a huge powder keg was right next to them, which could explode at any time and bring disaster to themselves.

In 1904, Britain and France reached a Cordiality Agreement. That same year, Britain and Spain recognized French interests in Morocco, a move Germany felt was undermined and, as a result, Germany launched a diplomatic challenge to France. Consequently, Kaiser Wilhelm II sought to invite a conference of European nations, attempting to provoke and test the Quadruple Entente's strength.

On March 31, 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II visited Tangier, Morocco, and expressed support for Moroccan independence, openly challenging French influence in Morocco. The Kaiser's remarks sparked widespread outrage among the French public. With British support, French Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé advocated for the establishment of a protectorate in Morocco and urged the government to take a tough stance. However, France, fearing war with Germany, opposed his proposal and forced him to step down. The crisis reached its peak in June. Although it has now passed, the irreconcilable tensions between Germany and France have left Germany in even greater need of allies.

Lin Chengdong also knew that after Kettel's murder in 1900, Kaiser Wilhelm II, determined to retaliate against China, dispatched a German expedition of over 2 troops, commanded by Field Marshal Waldersee. However, the war ended before this force even reached China. It could be said that Kaiser Wilhelm II was also a vanguard of the invasion of China, harboring unparalleled ambitions for China. However, Lin Chengdong still remembered Chairman Zhang Yinghao's words: For the sake of China's rise and the interests of the Chinese people, if necessary, we would not hesitate to make deals with the enemy, or even with the devil, as long as it could bring development to China and strengthen its strength...

The content of the conversation between William II and Lin Chengdong seemed to have been carefully prepared. William II only asked Lin Chengdong some procedural questions. Lin Chengdong knew how powerful, how strong their sense of superiority and how conceited people like William II were, so he also answered William II's questions respectfully.

William II knew he was only human, so he preferred to plan everything beforehand and then follow it. He believed that as long as he followed the plan, nothing would go wrong. He hated the unexpected, because without it, he wouldn't have to make decisions in a hurry and make mistakes. This way, he wouldn't make mistakes, and would even be infallible. He could continue to act inscrutable, maintaining a sufficient level of secrecy to safeguard his rule.

Perhaps it was Lin Chengdong's submissive attitude that satisfied William II, so after chatting for a while, William II asked: "The German Empire wants to become a world empire. In your distant East, there should be German compatriots living there. German goods should be shipped across the ocean to your East. I wonder what you think about this? And Qingdao, that is the Empire's leased territory, what do you think about it..."

"Your Majesty, the East is constantly changing. As for German scholars and businessmen, as long as they are not disruptive, we welcome them to our country without any obstacles. We also welcome Germany to do business with us, and naturally, German products are also welcome. We will do our utmost to expand our trade volume. As for the Qingdao issue, Qingdao does not yet border the Liberated Areas, and the Liberated Areas have no plans to liberate Shandong for the time being, so our current policy is to maintain the status quo..."

Of course, William II was not satisfied with this answer. He hoped that the Qingdao enclave would become German territory, permanently occupied, and become a bridgehead for Germany's expansion into the Far East. However, the German Emperor knew that this would not be easy, so he put it aside and asked again: "I heard that you are expelling foreigners from your territory?"

"That's absolutely not the case, just like we had to get permission to enter Germany. Those we asked out were foreigners who entered illegally, and we simply sent them to the consulates of their respective countries. Our Forward Party is not the Boxer Rebellion of a few years ago, so we naturally won't adopt a blind xenophobic policy toward Western countries. We even welcome all countries to our liberated areas. So as long as foreigners entering our base abide by the laws of our liberated areas, there will be no problem at all."

After Lin Chengdong finished speaking, he changed the subject and said: "In the Far East, the countries with the greatest interests are actually Britain, France, and Russia. If Germany wants to become a great world empire, break through the land and sea blockade, go out of Europe, and go to the world, it will inevitably have to confront Britain, France, and Russia directly, and even go to war. Therefore, you and I have a common enemy and are natural allies. We can contain some of the power and attention of Britain, France, Russia and other countries in the Far East, but it is undeniable that we are still too weak and are not valued by Britain, France, and Russia. Therefore, we hope to get some help from the German Empire and contribute a little to the realization of the dream of the great German Empire! The stronger we appear, the more we can contain the power of Britain, France, and Russia, and the more beneficial it will be to Germany. Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, William II was delighted, but he suppressed his emotion and nodded slightly, his mind unsettled. Then he suddenly asked, "After you overthrow the current Qing government, how will you treat the current Qing emperor? Will you adopt an empire or a republic?"

Lin Chengdong was stunned for a moment. He didn't understand why the Kaiser would ask this question, but he couldn't help but answer it. Perhaps after all this time, this question was the one that Kaiser Wilhelm II cared about most and wanted to ask the most. As the saying goes, when a rabbit dies, the fox mourns. It's like this, isn't it?

"Your Majesty, the Kaiser, thank you for your question. However, you think too highly of me. I'm not qualified to answer your question personally. I'll use our Chairman's words. He said: Every country is different, and each case must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Countries like Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom have imperial traditions and relatively short histories, so an imperial system might be better. France has a republican tradition, so perhaps a republic would be more suitable for them. The United States simply doesn't have the soil for an imperial system, so they can only be a republic."

As for China, since the first emperor, there have been over 500 emperors. On average, each emperor reigned for only about five years. Therefore, every time a dynasty fell, brutal wars ensued, all for the throne. We Chinese have a tradition of rebellion. There's a saying that goes, "The emperor takes turns. Next year, it's my turn. I'll risk my life to dethrone the emperor. Are there any kings, princes, generals, or ministers who are not of the same race?" So, our Chairman said, since everyone wants to be emperor, then the position shouldn't exist. This would prevent endless fighting and strife, which is not good. We're all family, so we should just sit together and take a seat.

So I think after we destroy the Qing Dynasty, we should establish a republic. As for the current Emperor Guangxu, he is now under house arrest by Empress Dowager Cixi. He is a complete puppet and has no power that an emperor should have. The actual emperor of China is actually an old lady in her seventies or eighties. But whether it is Emperor Guangxu or Empress Dowager Cixi, we have never intended to do anything to them. We are not changing the dynasty, but a republic. If these Qing royal family members can receive national education, we can still accommodate them..."

Lin Chengdong's response left Emperor Wilhelm speechless and helpless. It was truly fucking awful. China's history was so long it was unimaginable for a country like Germany. Just hearing that there were over 500 emperors was astounding. Its history stretched uninterrupted for 5,000 years, a feat unparalleled in the world. No other country could rival China's resilience.

After William II finished answering the question he wanted to ask most, the next thing was unplanned. He had no intention of continuing the conversation and ended the meeting hastily.

However, for Lin Chengdong and his comrades, the gains were immense. With the tacit approval and even support of the powerful above them, the negotiations progressed very quickly and smoothly. In fact, when the Ministry of Commerce sent a delegation to Germany, countless German factory owners had already taken action. In this situation where there are too many wolves and too little meat, if you eat more, others will have to eat less.

In order to survive and develop the factory, it was natural to mobilize all possible forces to obtain a ticket to trade with the mysterious East. The Eastern world was a huge market, which was known to everyone, and all merchants were salivating over it.

The market that the British had just opened up through naval guns was now open to the Germans. How could this not be exciting? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were ecstatic!

So German factory owners and capitalists also acted quickly. Since both parties had the same intention and shared common interests, with the help of relevant people, they were able to meet quickly. In today's era, doing business requires finding people from the relevant departments, discussing their respective needs, and then negotiating the price.

The talks between the two sides went very well. The liberated areas developed industry at all costs and wanted to empty Germany. At this time, it was natural to exchange bristles, tung oil, Glauber's salt, tungsten ore and other commodities for German machinery, equipment and machine tools.

In the end, I don’t know whether the Germans felt that the trading volume was too small or wanted to make a big profit, but they actually raised the question about bonds.

The Germans proposed that if the liberated regions were willing to issue bonds, German banks would be willing to underwrite at least 800 million gold marks. After detailed investigation by the Kadima Party, they learned that the bonds issued by the Kadima Party were not publicly available but were black market bonds. Of course, the funds raised could only be used to purchase German goods.