The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

"Your Excellency seems to have forgotten that Russia is our French ally. Our country can provide Russia with everything they need," said French Minister Lupin.

He was very dissatisfied with the Forward Party's attitude of taking advantage of Russia. Although they regarded the Russians as barbarians, that was only relative to the Western world. When did the yellow race become able to defeat the white race and impose harsh conditions?

"Indeed, you can do this. This is France's freedom, and we have no way to stop it. However, it is meaningless. We cannot reach the core areas of Russia, and similarly, Tsarist Russia cannot reach the core areas of the liberated areas. In reality, both sides can only fight in the northern wilderness. For Russia, bloodshed and sacrifice are meaningless. The more France invests, the more Russia will invest in the ice sheet. This will not benefit Britain and France in any way, and may even harm the interests of both countries."

"Mr. Director, no matter what, we still hope that the Forward Party government can stop while it is ahead and not make the situation more complicated. Otherwise, for the sake of our own interests, we will have to choose to support the Russian government. We don't even rule out direct military intervention." Sir Jordan also issued a disguised threat.

"Of course, thank you Sir for your reminder, but I think our request is reasonable. By the way, Sir, the American Minister to China, His Excellency Rocky, and the German diplomat to China, His Excellency Lakes, as well as diplomats from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire have also received our invitation. When the time comes, they will join our negotiations."

Zhu Erdian and Lu Ban exchanged a glance, a flicker of panic in their eyes. If countries like Germany and the Ottoman Empire joined in, the situation would become even more complex, with many more variables involved. If they supported the Kadima government, they would no longer be able to put pressure on it. Especially, they couldn't force the Kadima government into the arms of the Germans.

Zhu Erdian and Lu Ban also left angrily. They needed to negotiate with the Russian envoy, Chicodi, and ask the Russians to give up their unrealistic demands. The participation of other powers would definitely not be a good thing for them. The principle of unity among the powers regarding China was something that all powers had to abide by. If their interests towards China were inconsistent, they would have to compromise with each other.

"Humph! These foreign devils are really bullies who only care about the strong."

Looking at the backs of Zhu Erdian and Lu Ban as they left, a young comrade couldn't help but curse.

"Haha, haven't these foreign devils always been like this? As the Chairman said, imperialism is a paper tiger. They appear aggressive and imposing, relying on verbal intimidation to force their opponents into submission. But in reality, imperialism is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. As long as we dare to fight, their weak nature will be exposed before us."

"The Chairman said that our national bourgeoisie is compromising and weak, but the people don't fear death, so how can we scare them with death? I think the bourgeoisie of the great powers is also compromising and weak, just as the Chairman said. If it doesn't make money, the bourgeoisie won't do it. Humph, once we become strong, we won't have to act according to the wishes of these foreign devils."

The next day, American Minister to China Rockefeller, German diplomat Rex, and diplomats from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire arrived in Wuhan. Shen Ruo, Director of the Liberated Areas' Foreign Affairs Office, personally greeted them at the train station and accommodated them in a dedicated guesthouse. This treatment was a stark contrast to the treatment the British, French, and Russian ministers received when they arrived in Wuhan. This greatly displeased the British, French, and Russian ministers, who had been closely monitoring the movements of the Forward Party government.

"Sir Shen Ruo, the German Empire congratulates you on your victory on the battlefield. You did a brilliant job, exceeding everyone's expectations!"

Rex had a smile on his face. Through the series of victories of the People's Liberation Army, the German side finally believed that the Forward Party government was an object worth spending a lot of money to win over. The initial investment could be said to be completely worthwhile.

"Yes, sir, your victory has shocked the whole world." Minister Rocky also congratulated.

The PLA's decisive victory greatly exceeded the US government's expectations. The US government predicted that the Progressive Party would quickly unify China. This represented a massive market of over 400 million people, a market the US government could not afford to lose given the Liberated Areas' proactive approach. Therefore, Rockefeller received instructions from the US Secretary of State to provide greater support to the Progressive Party government on behalf of the United States.

At this point, the great powers, with the exception of Russia, were unaware of the specifics. This defensive system, comprised of tunnels and trenches, reinforced concrete bunkers, light and heavy machine gun firing points, rifles, outposts, and barbed wire, was the nemesis of modern infantry attacks. This fortress design had long surpassed the concept of traditional firepower point defense, becoming a combat defense system capable of both attack and defense. As long as a large supply was stockpiled within the fortress, even a partially fortified city like Kulun could withstand a siege ten times its strength for months or even years. With adequate preparation, even a 30,000-man army facing a 300,000-strong enemy could easily hold out for two or three years.

Diplomats from the Austro-Hungarian Empire also offered congratulations, while those from the Ottoman Empire pledged support for the liberated areas' war against Russia and promised to send more "talented" people to work in China. Shen Ruo, realizing that these "talented" people referred to political prisoners, humbly said, "Thank you for the support from all countries. Without your support, we would not have been able to achieve victory."

Indeed, support from various countries, particularly Germany and the United States before the war began, provided the Forward Party government with substantial loans. These loans were also used to purchase a large amount of supplies, which undoubtedly played a significant role in the victory over Japan and Russo-Japanese. However, at this time, the liberated areas had to undergo a rigorous screening process for political prisoners sent by the Ottoman Empire, especially for those who were Muslims, for whom the requirements were even stricter.

In fact, over time, especially after the liberation of Gansu and the borders with Mongolia and Xinjiang, the liberated areas have learned a great deal about history and come into contact with many figures. Now, it is even more clear that the Ottoman Empire had significant ambitions for Xinjiang. As early as the mid-19th century, it supported Yakub Beg's activities to split Xinjiang. Now, for the purpose of spreading religion, Russia and Germany have extended a helping hand to the Ottoman Empire. They delusionally hoped to use religion to control Xinjiang, making it a vassal state within their own religious world.

To this end, they colluded with each other to establish schools in Xinjiang to promote pan-religious ideology. Furthermore, students from Xinjiang who were sent to Turkey were also influenced by pan-religious ideas and, upon returning home, devoted themselves to spreading them. Taking advantage of students' lack of historical knowledge, Turkey even taught them the idea that "our ancestors were Turks." Therefore, the ideological infiltration in Xinjiang at this time was no less severe than the impact of the war.

The Kadima Party has already formulated countermeasures to the serious impact of pan-religious ideology. After Xinjiang is liberated, all Turks promoting this ideology must be expelled to prevent religious infiltration. In fact, this pan-religious infiltration continued throughout history, only truly stopping after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Therefore, the liberated areas now view both the "talents" sent by the Ottoman Empire and the intentions and assistance of the imperialist powers with a dual perspective, and must remain vigilant.

Shen Ru shook hands with Rex again and expressed his gratitude. "Haha, we are friends. It's my duty to help you."

Rex laughed. The Germans were eager for the Chinese to defeat the Russians in one fell swoop, severely depleting Russia. That way, the pressure on their western front would be greatly reduced, and they wouldn't even have to worry about fighting on two fronts. Solving the problem on the western front with just a small investment was a steal.

"Although we have won on the battlefield, our interests are not guaranteed. Certain countries are pressuring us to give up the victory that was won with the sacrifice of countless soldiers!"

Rex, Minister Rocky, and the others exchanged glances; they all understood Shen Ruo's intentions. They had already heard about the British and French mediation; otherwise, they wouldn't have arrived in Wuhan so immediately. They could guess that Britain and France must have exerted pressure on the Forward Party government during the negotiations.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured that the German Empire will stand by you and fully support you in obtaining your legitimate interests. This world can no longer be dominated by a single country," said Minister Rex.

The Ottoman Turkish imperialist diplomats also said immediately: "Yes, our country will also strongly support you in resisting the invasion of Tsarist Russia."

Turkey was eager for the war to continue. Its orders were to assist the Kadima government as much as possible and weaken Tsarist Russia. If the field army was willing to continue fighting, that would be even better. Of course, Germany did the same. The Kaiser even promised to provide the Kadima government with more loans and even weapons and equipment. During negotiations, he would also do his utmost to help the Kadima government suppress the Russians, Britain, and France. The more the Russians were suppressed, the deeper Russia's hatred for the Kadima government would grow. A weak Russia, with most of its military strength deployed in Siberia, would pose no threat to Germany and Türkiye.

As for whether this would make the Forward Party government too powerful, Germany was completely unconcerned. After all, Germany had absolute confidence in its army. Moreover, even if the Forward Party government did become powerful, without a sufficiently strong navy, it would pose no threat to Germany. Germany had no interests in the Far East or the Pacific, only Qingdao at most. At this time, trade with the Liberated Areas completely outweighed the benefits of Qingdao. As long as trade continued, even if Qingdao was abandoned, it would not be a pity.

Minister Rockefeller hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in support of the Progressive Party government.

"The US government will also support the legitimate interests of the Progressive Party government," said Minister Rocky.

While the United States hopes to enter China's vast market of 400 million people, it also worries that if the Progressive Party government grows too powerful, it will pose a threat to the United States. After all, the United States' original intention in supporting the Progressive Party government was to have it contain the Anglo-Japanese alliance, not to create a powerful opponent for itself.

"Thank you for your support. The liberated areas will never forget the help you provided at the critical moment!"

With the support of the great powers, the pressure on the Forward Party government would be much less. Although Britain, France, and Russia were very unhappy with the participation of the United States, Germany, and other countries, they had no choice. After all, the United States and Germany were now the two most powerful industrial nations in the world. This era was no longer a time when old colonial powers like Britain and France completely dominated the world.

This negotiation then turned into an eight-party talk. In addition to the two parties involved, the Forward Party government and Russia, there were also six countries acting as mediators: Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Austria and Turkey.

Inside the conference room, representatives of the Progressive Party government sat on either side of a long table, along with representatives from the seven nations of Britain, France, Russia, the United States, Germany, Austria, and Turkey. Negotiations between the two sides officially began, with Zhang Yinghao leading a group of comrades once again participating.

Originally, the Japanese ambassador to China, Hayashi Gonsuke, also clamored to participate in this negotiation, claiming that this war was related to Japan's peace in the Far East. As a powerful country in the region, Japan should participate in the peace negotiations. However, the Progressive Party government directly rejected the Japanese request, so that the Japanese were ultimately unable to participate in this negotiation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this war has killed too many people and caused a serious humanitarian disaster. The Far East longs for peace, the world expects peace, and a peaceful Far East is very beneficial to all our countries. Therefore, we hope that the Forward Party government and Russia can reach a peace agreement as soon as possible to end the war." said the British Minister to China, Sir John Jordan.

He keenly sensed that after diplomats from the United States, Germany, and other countries stationed in China joined the negotiations, the atmosphere of British and French dominance had disappeared. In this case, it would be impossible for Britain and France to put pressure on the Progressive Party government.

"Yes, Sir, you are absolutely right. The Forward Party government also desires peace, and peace is beneficial to all parties. But Russia does not understand the situation, and we have no choice." Shen Ruo said to Zhu Erdian.

"You are dreaming. The Great Russian Empire has not lost the war yet. We still have millions of troops. If necessary, we can immediately recruit millions of soldiers. So you should agree to our conditions!" Russian Minister Jian Kedi was furious.

Tsar Nicholas II may have been somewhat confused about the situation, but as the vanguard of the invasion, he himself was unwilling to accept defeat. Furthermore, the conditions proposed by the Kadima government were truly horrifying. They clearly demanded Russia withdraw from the entire Far East and Eastern Siberia! This would undo over two hundred years of Russian efforts, and the Russians would certainly not agree to it. Anyone who agreed to such conditions would be nailed to the pillar of shame in history.

Furthermore, the Russians couldn't pay the three billion in reparations even if they agreed. Even if they could, they absolutely wouldn't hand it over to the Forward Party government. Rather than paying three billion in reparations, it would be more practical to use it to continue conscription and waging the war. There was no way they could get reparations.

"Russia was the first to instigate this war, but now we have the upper hand. Our country will surely achieve the final victory, and it is just around the corner," Shen Ruo emphasized.

The field army's performance on the battlefield gave the Kadima government a significant advantage in the negotiations. No matter how tough the Russians might talk, their military performance was woefully inadequate. What they couldn't achieve on the battlefield, they couldn't expect to achieve at the negotiating table. Therefore, it was unlikely that the Russians would be able to preserve their interests in the negotiations.

Moreover, Russia and Turkey have fought ten wars, and the Ottoman Empire has always wanted to recover its territory and restore its former glory. If Russia withdraws too many troops, it is hard to guarantee that the Ottoman Empire will not take advantage of the situation.

Of course, the liberated areas would not place their hopes on Ottoman Turkey, the "sick man of West Asia", but they were also able to take advantage of the contradictions between the great powers, especially when the Forward Party government was supported by the two major powers, the United States and Germany.

As emerging powers, the United States and Germany have long surpassed Britain and France in industrial output. Although there may still be some gaps in comprehensive national strength, the United States and Germany have long wanted to challenge the world system established by Britain and France. As industrial powers, the United States still has a vast territory and a large number of countries in the Americas to trade with, but Germany is in a miserable situation. Most of the time, it can only suck its own blood. Therefore, if the colonial system does not collapse, there is actually no way out for these two countries. In both world wars, Germany played the role of destruction, while the United States played the role of savior. In the end, it was the United States that inherited Britain's legacy around the world, and Germany was defeated and castrated.

"I think the demands of the Forward Party government are very pertinent. Russia was the first to declare war on the Forward Party government. Since Russia is about to lose this war, it must have the awareness of a loser," said Rex.

His attitude was very firm, which also meant that Germany was determined to support the Forward Party government. In addition, Germany really wanted this war to continue. The more the Russians were beaten, the happier they would be.

"The Russian Empire was not defeated! The small number of troops lost is just a drop in the bucket for the empire."

Minister Chikodi gnashed his teeth in hatred. He knew the Germans were eager to see Russia defeated, as this would greatly reduce the pressure on Germany. Although Wilhelm II and Nicholas II were still related, the conflict of interests between the two countries did not decrease just because they were relatives.

"It was only a matter of time. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that even if Russia insisted on its own defense, it wouldn't be able to change the outcome."

"The US government also believes that since Russia has already lost the war, the best way is to admit defeat and end the war." American Minister Rockefeller also said.

The United States and the liberated areas now have huge trade. They have also provided a large amount of loans to the liberated areas. Naturally, they also hope that the liberated areas can win this war so that the United States can recover the loans and conduct more trade.

The US economy, the last to emerge from the crisis last year, has rapidly entered a period of growth and prosperity. The main drivers of this boom remain railroad and heavy industry development. Over 10,000 kilometers of railways were built, over 3 million tons of rails were used, and tens of thousands of steam locomotives and over 200,000 railway cars were produced. During this period, a number of emerging industries, such as electricity, automobiles, and chemicals, emerged. Large amounts of European capital provided short-term credit to finance entrepreneurial speculation, driving up raw material prices. This was a golden opportunity for business and profit.

The successive statements from Germany and the United States made Jian Kedi's face turn pale. He looked to Zhu Erdian and Lu Ban for help, hoping that they could speak for him and provide some help.

At this point, Jourdan and Luban also felt that the situation was becoming increasingly difficult. They hoped that the war would cease. The Russians had clearly lost hope of victory. Further fighting would only lead to greater losses for Russia, which would be detrimental to their future battles against the Allies. However, it was clear that Russia was being stubborn abroad and did not intend to concede defeat.

"Although Russia is at a disadvantage in this war, Russia still has its strengths. Once Russia completely unleashes these strengths, it will not be easy for the Forward Party government to win. What's more, Russia is an ally of France after all. If the war continues, our country will probably have to provide Russia with all possible help due to the alliance relationship." said French Minister Lubin.

"Mr. Luban, do you mean that France will join this war?"

Chapter 687: First update!

If possible, the British and French envoys really wanted to re-form the "Eight-Nation Alliance" to attack the liberated areas. However, the "Eight Nations" were now full of contradictions. Germany might not join the alliance, Russia was no longer able to participate, and Japan was still licking its wounds. If Britain and France were willing to pay, Japan would certainly be very happy, but Britain and France were not happy.

By this point, the liberated areas had already demonstrated the combat effectiveness of their troops, so even the British and French were unsure of defeating the PLA if they advanced deeply inland. The Russian troops currently surrounded near Kulun were a vivid example. During the spring and summer, dikes collapsed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Huai River basin, and across Hunan, causing floods that killed tens of thousands and affected millions. However, it was this flood that demonstrated the strength of the Forward Party and the PLA, and deepened the Party's influence among the people.

"No, no, Mr. President, that's not what I meant. France is a peace-loving country. However, if our allies are in need, we can provide them with some help, such as loans!" Minister Luban smiled.

France is now a country that lends money at high interest rates. Many countries around the world owe them money, especially Russia. It can be said that France is now a wealthy country. However, due to his past life, Zhang Yinghao sincerely despises the French army's combat effectiveness. The Qing army was so weak, but it could still defeat the French army if it dared to fight to the death. Moreover, when New China fought against the French and aided Vietnam in his previous life, it didn't even send regular troops. It only sent General Chen Kang and a few other commanders to drive the French away.

Russia's finances were on the verge of collapse, and revolution was brewing within the country, presenting a grave threat to the imperialist government. Of course, if France had provided Russia with loans, Russia might have had the financial resources to continue the war, or even expand it to secure victory. The Kadima government had only just begun industrial development, and the war would have severely hampered its progress. The longer the war dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would have been for the Kadima government.

Pukodi's eyes lit up, however. Almost all Russians didn't want to be defeated by the yellow race. Russia had nearly been defeated by Japan. Because of the field army, the Russo-Japanese War ended without a treaty. Both sides were now claiming victory. Perhaps the dispute over who was victorious would linger for centuries. If France could provide Russia with loans to keep fighting, perhaps Russia could turn the tables. In that case, would they even need to negotiate in Wuhan? At least they could negotiate on Russian soil! They could even ally with the Qing government to directly destroy the Forward Party government.

"We, the German Empire, can also provide large loans to the Forward Party government." Rex also said.

"The United States has huge interests in the Far East. If the war needs to continue, the United States can also provide loans to the Progressive Party government." Minister Rockefeller also said.

The statements made by Ministers Rex and Rockefeller immediately made Pu Kedi and Lu Ban's faces turn pale. Germany and the United States are emerging powers, especially the Americans, who are wealthy and powerful. France really can't compare to them at the moment.

"Okay, everyone, we sit down to negotiate today not to expand the scale of the war, but to strive to end it as soon as possible."

Jordan hurried to smooth things over. If the war not only did not end but instead became larger in scale, it would be extremely detrimental to British interests.

Pukodi closed his eyes and said with a constipated look: "Russia can give up its interests in Northeast China, and it does not require your party to return the concession. However, both sides must immediately cease fighting, and your army must withdraw from the territory of the Russian Empire. In addition, compensation for Russia's losses is necessary, but the amount of compensation can be reduced to 500 million rubles."

Pukodi once again lowered Russia's conditions, but such conditions still could not satisfy the Kadima government.

Zhang Yinghao shook his head: "Your Excellency, the conditions proposed by the Russian side are too harsh and cannot be accepted by the Forward Party government. Not to mention that we are about to achieve a greater victory now, even if we fail, we will not accept such conditions. However, in order to achieve peace in the Far East, the Forward Party government is willing to make efforts. We demand that Russia return all the territories of the Far East Governorate to China. In addition, the territories east and south of Chita will be transformed into neutral zones, and the boundary between our two countries can be slowly redrawn. Of course, although these lands originally belonged to China, you also built a railway and constructed related infrastructure, so we can use fifty tons of gold to buy all these facilities and equipment! Of course, in order to prevent Russia from using this money to arm the army, we have to pay you the full amount in installments over twenty years."

After hearing Zhang Yinghao's words, everyone's eyes lit up. Fifty tons of gold equaled five hundred thousand taels of gold. Based on the current gold-to-silver ratio of ten to one, that was ten million taels of silver. While the Forward Party's demands for territory and goods were considerable, few people knew the value of this land. If a piece of land on the ice sheet could be exchanged for fifty tons of gold, it wouldn't be unacceptable. Furthermore, the People's Liberation Army had already effectively acquired ownership of these lands, and all the facilities and equipment had been seized by the liberated areas. Whether Russia agreed or not, the end result would be the same.

However, Germany and the Ottoman Empire were uncomfortable with this proposal. After all, if Russia received so much money, it would have the money to arm its army, and all their efforts would be in vain. However, this was the home ground of the Kadima Party, and this was just a meeting to mediate the war. Even if Rex and the others were uncomfortable, they couldn't say anything.

Actually, Zhang Yinghao had just come up with the idea of ​​using money to purchase land. Regardless of the Russians' reaction, or the reaction of the Western powers, it was rare for the Forward Party to resort to a trade to resolve this issue. Moreover, fifty tons of gold was no small sum. Considering the US purchase of Alaska cost only $720 million, or roughly 11 tons of gold, Zhang Yinghao was willing to pay the extra money, believing it was well worth it.

At this stage, it would be extremely difficult for the Liberated Areas to swallow up the entire Far East and East Siberia Governorates in one fell swoop. Furthermore, the Western powers would certainly not readily agree to such a large amount of territory. Zhang Yinghao would be satisfied as long as he could publicly recover the territories ceded after the Treaty of Nerchinsk; he could slowly pursue other territories. Furthermore, settling the Sino-Russian border issue now held significant practical significance, as it would prevent a future direct clash between the Forward Party and the Bolsheviks. Of course, the People's Liberation Army would only grow stronger. By then, even if the Soviets wished to retake these territories, it would be impossible. However, Zhang Yinghao did not believe that Russia currently possessed a decisive decision-maker capable of forging a quick and painful agreement to end the war. The conditions for the Liberated Areas had already been set; the precise course of action Russia would take, and whether or not it would ultimately agree, was not for Zhang Yinghao to decide.

As expected, as soon as Zhang Yinghao finished speaking, Pu Kedi roared angrily: "Impossible! The Great Russian Empire will never agree to such harsh conditions."

Pukodi knew that the Russians had a history of selling land, and that Alaska in North America was sold by Russia to the United States. However, there was a reason for selling Alaska. They were worried that Britain would seize Alaska from Canada, which would result in the loss of both people and money. Therefore, they planned to sell Alaska to create conflicts between Britain and the United States.

However, the Far East's value to Russia far surpasses even Alaska's. This is especially true as it relates to Russia's access to the Pacific Ocean, a pursuit pursued by Tsarist Russia for centuries. But now, the Forward Party chairman has proposed a sale—Kodi didn't know what he meant, but instinctively felt uneasy. As a diplomat, bargaining was a necessity, and opposition was the norm.

He had to say that the conditions proposed by the Progressive Party government were still very harsh, in order to win the sympathy of the great powers. Of course, whether to agree to the Progressive Party's disguised request to purchase land was not something Xi Kedi could decide.

"This is our bottom line, and our concessions are already very large. Although we were able to defeat Russia, we did not ask Russia for a penny of compensation. If the Russian side still does not agree, then we have no choice. I believe everyone can understand that the victorious country has the right to obtain sufficient benefits." Zhang Yinghao said with a helpless look on his face.

The ministers present were all silent. In the capitalist world, it was perfectly natural for the victorious nation to plunder the defeated. If they had defeated other nations, they would undoubtedly have demanded similarly harsh conditions. The conditions imposed by Japan after the Sino-Japanese War were undoubtedly harsh, and the rewards these powers received from their victories against the Qing Dynasty were undoubtedly lucrative.

If the Russians defeated the Kadima government, the conditions they would propose would definitely be ten times more harsh than those proposed by the Kadima government. They might even directly destroy the Kadima government and establish the Yellow Russia that Russia has always dreamed of.

Although both the Russians and the Forward Party government had lowered their demands, the gap between their demands remained significant. This involved the ownership of millions of square kilometers of land, a matter that would certainly not be resolved overnight. Even Britain, France, and other mediating powers were unable to immediately narrow the gap. While Zhang Yinghao's proposal of fifty tons of gold was indeed a very good solution, the Forward Party's abrupt proposal necessitated consultation within Russia.

However, for a poor country like Russia, territory and gold are extremely important to them. So it is hard to say how this matter will be handled. No one knows whether the Tsar will ultimately agree to the conditions of the Forward Party.

At this time, Lu Ban suddenly said: "No matter what the final outcome of the negotiations, both sides hope for peace in the Far East. Therefore, I propose that the soldiers on the front lines of both sides should immediately stop fighting, refrain from active attacks, and immediately restore peace. As for the negotiations, we can take our time."

Zhang Yinghao, upon hearing Lü Ban's words, thought he was dreaming! Only the French could bring up armistice negotiations. Zhang Yinghao knew full well that the Korean War had been fought and negotiated simultaneously. Thinking of resolving the issue solely through negotiation was simply playing the game of roguery. Can war be fought and stopped whenever you want? If a ceasefire order reached the front lines now, it would immediately confuse the soldiers and their combat effectiveness would plummet. Furthermore, if they didn't seize this opportunity to eliminate more Russian forces, it would be difficult later.

With the Forward government supported by the United States, Germany, Austria, and Turkey, Britain and France did not dare to overtly exert pressure to prevent the Forward government from completely falling in line with Germany. The final result was this negotiation, because the two sides had too many differences. Although the talks did not completely break down, the war still had to go on.

"Sir, it seems that we are in trouble. Neither the Forward Party government nor Russia is willing to give up the land on the ice field! I am afraid that this war will continue." Minister Luban said.

After the meeting, the two of them got into the same carriage and continued discussing the mediation meeting.

"The Forward Party government has the firm support of Germany, the United States, Austria and Turkey, which is the most difficult thing," Zhu Erdian replied.

The great powers had already held numerous discussions. Due to internal divisions and sharp contradictions, the principle of unity with China was rendered meaningless. Otherwise, Britain would have long ago threatened to put pressure on the Forward Party government. But now, they could not do so. Otherwise, they would have completely forced the Forward Party government to side with the Germans.

Minister Lu Ban nodded. "The trouble is, Russia has no sense of defeat at all. Looking at the conditions they've proposed, I thought they were the victors!"

"Since Russia has not yet woken up, let it wake up first. After Russia suffers even more serious losses, I believe they will face the reality." Zhu Erdian said helplessly.

This mediation attempt was undoubtedly a complete failure. It also made Britain and France somewhat hesitant. The Russians' stubbornness, coupled with the disruptions from Germany, the United States, and other countries, made it impossible for them to control the situation.

"Yes, judging from the current situation, it is almost impossible for the Russians to win the war," said Minister Luban.

"Russia has been at war with both countries for over two years now, losing 500,000 to 600,000 men and expending countless sums of money and supplies. Yet, even now, the Russians are unwilling to concede defeat. If this continues, there will be no hope of mediation until a major shift on the battlefield occurs, until they suffer even greater losses."

Both Britain and France hoped that Russia would shift its focus to Europe. After all, the increasingly aggressive Allied Powers were their greatest enemy. However, the stubborn Russians, eyeing these desolate lands of the Far East, were willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of troops, which greatly displeased both Britain and France. Therefore, they would absolutely not provide the Russians with even the slightest bit of assistance. They even hoped that Russia would be quickly defeated in Asia so that they could concentrate their strength on Europe.

Between nations, there are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Russia is merely a pawn used by Britain and France to contain Germany. Since this pawn is disobedient, Britain and France will naturally teach Russia a lesson.

"Do you think Zhang Yinghao's story about fifty tons of gold is true?" "It should be true. If fifty tons of gold were paid over twenty years, one year wouldn't be much. But this proposal is a good one, and it's a good solution. The Russians would gain both face and substance. They'd just lose some useless land on the ice sheet, so it wouldn't be a big loss at all!"

Russia is on the gold standard. If they could get 50 tons of gold, they could print ten times more paper money. This is really not a small amount!

"Then let's put more pressure on Russia and get the Chinese to pay more gold to get them to agree to this solution. Unless the Russians can turn the tide of the war, this may be the best option."

By this time, Zhu Erdian was already deeply wary of Zhang Yinghao, the Forward Party he led, and the People's Liberation Army. He knew that he couldn't just force Russia. After thinking for a while, he suddenly had an idea and said, "It's okay to put pressure on Russia to make concessions, but we must also put pressure on the Chinese and force them to make concessions. Otherwise, the armistice will still be a long way off."

"What to do?"

Zhu Erdian deliberately pondered for a moment and said, "Our country has contacted some Tibetan lamas. We can immediately let them cause trouble in Tibet, which will tie up the energy of the Forward Party. At the same time, our country can also conduct some military operations in northern Burma. And you, France, should also create conflicts on the northern border of Vietnam. In this way, the Chinese will at least face a three-front war, forcing them to sign an armistice agreement."

Hearing the British instigating France to declare war on China, Lü Ban was instantly excited. The Vietnamese governor had already reported back home, intending to march north to teach the Chinese a lesson, opening up the markets of Guangxi and Yunnan, and reap the benefits. If the previous war against the Qing hadn't toppled the French cabinet and weakened France's confidence, war would have likely begun long ago. Now that Britain was on board, perhaps France could once again reap the benefits of China.

Lu Ban's eyes rolled, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Siam is now bordering China, and they have a considerable trade in rice and other goods. Therefore, we must not only stop Siam from trading with China, but also have it send troops north from the Menghen area to assist us in the war..."

After Luban finished speaking, Jourdan fanned the flames again, saying, "These interests in the Far East are but a drop in the bucket for France itself. As long as Russia can cease hostilities and deploy its forces on the Western Front, the pressure on France will be reduced. As long as we can quickly achieve victory over Germany, even a small loss in the Far East will be worth it. Furthermore, do the Chinese dare to invade Vietnam? Once France focuses its full attention on Vietnam, will the Chinese still be a match for the French Army?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ban was instantly immersed in the era of Napoleon's sweep across Europe. Like a proud Gallic rooster, he stretched his neck and said, "Of course, France is the world's strongest army. We can send troops to invade Guangxi and Yunnan without any problem. If necessary, we can also order the armies and warships of various countries in Shanghai to go up the Yangtze River and capture Wuhan, taming these ignorant yellow monkeys of the Forward Party in one fell swoop..."

"Yes, there is also the Qing government, not the Beiyang government..."

Chapter 688: The First Major Update

Even as the British and French envoys discussed how to resolve the situation in the liberated areas, the Battle of Kulun was drawing to a close. The Russian troops trapped near Kulun were now in dire straits. After initially surrounding them, the field army had launched no offensive, aside from artillery bombardment. Given enough time, a simple siege would have effectively driven the Russian troops within the encirclement to death, either from thirst or starvation. However, given the need for a quick victory, a complete siege was untenable.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The field army's artillery continued to roar. The artillerymen barely needed to aim, simply firing shells into the encirclement. A single shell would likely kill or injure the Russian soldiers inside. Although the Russians had improvised some simple fortifications, it was undoubtedly difficult to completely withstand the artillery fire. They could only pray to God that the shells would not fall on their heads.