Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> chinese fourth empire

Text Chapter 241 War Threat

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    (Thanks to book friend ** for the reward, and to book friends zengzhichaoo, Werewolf Yellow, Purple Camellia, and windofdream for their monthly passes!)

    "Everyone, please calm down. We are sitting here today to bring peace to the Far East again. Any differences can be resolved through negotiation! Your Excellency, Prime Minister Liang, now China can put forward its conditions!" Britain  Ogna, the minister to China, quickly came out to smooth things over.  Although he promised that he would try his best to prevent Sichuan from weakening Japan too much, this was not the trump card that made Japan so arrogant and arrogant.  Japan's approach made him very dissatisfied.  In his words, it can be regarded as an admission that Western Sichuan has obtained the central power of China.

    Ito Hirobumi and others were a little embarrassed, but they did not dare to refute.  Now Japan has to look to Britain to a large extent.  If they offend Britain, they will not get anything good to eat.

    Liang Xingrong nodded, and then said: "According to Japan's request for peace talks, and with the consent of the commander-in-chief, we approved Japan's request. In response to the crimes Japan committed in China during last year's war, China proposed the following  A few demands. First, Japan admits defeat and apologizes to China! Second, Japan compensates China for war reparations and losses to the country and its people of 500 million pounds!"

    "Five hundred million? Or pounds? Oh my God! What are the Chinese doing?" Organizer, the British Minister to China, exclaimed.  No wonder he was so rude, China's asking price was really too harsh.  You know, the tax revenue in the UK last year was only 120 million pounds.  The war reparations demanded by China are actually four times the total annual income of the United Kingdom!  This made Organa think, are these Chinese people crazy about money?  You know, the Japanese have already emptied all their national income for last year's war.  Several years of war were like borrowing money from various countries to raise military expenses.  Even if all the Japanese were sold, they wouldn't be worth so much money!

    The other ministers were all stunned by the amount of compensation.  Five hundred million pounds, this is definitely a huge sum of money.  This is more than the five billion francs Germany demanded from France in compensation during the Franco-Prussian War.  You know, this compensation played a very big role in Germany's rapid development.  Now, China's asking price is much more severe than this.

    The Japanese representatives, Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi, Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu, and Japanese Minister to China Taro Kawaguchi, almost fainted.

    "Impossible! Prime Minister Liang, your asking price is too high. It is absolutely impossible for the Empire of Japan to pay such a large amount of war reparations!" Taro Kawaguchi, the future minister to China, roared, with blazing anger in his eyes, almost as if he was ashamed.  Last year, Japan's tax revenue was only more than 130 million yen. Based on the current exchange rate, it was only more than 13 million pounds.  Japan simply cannot afford the 500 million pound war compensation, and with interest and the like, the Japanese may never be able to pay it back for generations to come.

    (As for the exchange rates between various currencies in the book, I didn¡¯t find the specific exchange rates before, so it was a bit confusing. After searching online for a long time today, I finally found a more reliable exchange rate at the end of the 19th century. From now on, the exchange rates in the book will be  According to this setting, appropriate adjustments will be made based on economic development. One pound is equal to 7.32238 grams of gold, one franc is equal to 0.2903225 grams of gold, one dollar is equal to 1.50463 grams of gold, one German gold mark is equal to 10 German marks, which is equal to 3.58425 grams of gold.  One ruble is equal to 0.774234 grams of gold, one yen is equal to 0.75 grams of gold, one kupin and two silvers are equal to 37.3 grams, which is equal to (the ratio of gold and silver during the Sino-Japanese War of 1884 to 1895: 1:20) 1.865 grams of gold, and one peso is equal to 0.507816 grams of gold. The above figures are rounded.  After that, one pound was equal to 25 francs, equal to 5 US dollars, equal to 2 German gold marks, equal to 20 German marks, equal to 9 rubles, equal to 4 Kuping taels, equal to 14 pesos.)

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister Liang, your conditions are too harsh and we cannot agree to it!" Japanese Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito's face was so gloomy that he could almost shed tears.  He didn't expect that China's asking price would be so cruel. 500 million pounds was equivalent to 2 billion taels of silver, which was three times higher than the 700 million taels of silver he offered.  Moreover, there was no objection to his price.  The price China is asking is real war reparations!

    "Prime Minister Ito, let's hear the following conditions before we talk!" Liang Xingrong glanced at Ito Hirobumi expressionlessly, and then said.

    "Third, Japan cedes Kyushu Island and its affiliated islands to China. Including Tokara Islands, Osumi Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Hachijo Island, etc.! Fourth, Japan must return Ryukyu King Shoutai. Ryukyu has always been a vassal state of China.  , how can Japan be allowed to occupy it? Fifth, the Japanese army withdraws from the Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula. Sixth, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nagoya and Yokohama are opened as treaty ports. The Chinese want extraterritoriality in these treaty ports. Seventh, Japan must  Restrict armaments, the army must not exceed 100,000 men, and the navy must not build battleships exceeding 10,000 tons!" Liang XingrongHe quickly read out the remaining requirements. At this time, the three people on the Japanese side, including the translators and the secretary, all had faces as dark as the bottom of a pot.

    "Prime Minister Liang, I very much doubt your sincerity. The Empire of Japan will never agree to your demanding request!" Ito Hirobumi said coldly.  If he agrees, I'm afraid he will be torn to pieces by the angry people when he returns to Japan.

    "If you don't agree, then I'm sorry, we have to continue the war with your country!" Liang Xingrong replied forcefully.

    "Everyone, stay calm. In my opinion, Prime Minister Liang, China's requirements are too harsh. Although Japan was defeated, it should not be punished so harshly. I think many of the conditions proposed by China have to be discussed!" Britain  Minister Organa stood up.  If Japan is dealt with in full compliance with China's requirements, then Japan will have no chance of getting ahead at all, and their strategy of using Japan to contain China will not be effective.

    "China's demands are too barbaric. Although Japan was defeated, it deserves to be forgiven! God teaches us to be kind to those who have the courage to admit their mistakes!" French Minister Tian Chun also jumped out.  What happened in Japan reminded him of France more than 20 years ago, making him feel that he was in the same boat.  For the sake of France's interests, he should support Japan, both emotionally and logically.

    ¡°The Russian government also believes that China¡¯s demands are too excessive!¡± Russian Minister Cassini also said.  If China really gets war reparations worth 500 million pounds, what kind of development will China have?  Hundreds of battleships and the like can be built, and the army can be armed to the teeth. In this case, Russia's plans for the Far East may no longer be realized.

    ¡°The U.S. government also opposes China¡¯s doing this!¡± U.S. Minister Tian Bei also said.  A rising power in the Far East will pose a serious threat to U.S. interests in the Pacific region.  If China receives huge reparations, these threats will be exacerbated.  Therefore, the United States is not willing to see China excessively weaken Japan.

    "My Excellencies, ministers, everyone seems to have forgotten that we are just here to listen. This is a matter between China and Japan. I think it is better to leave it to them to resolve it themselves!" German Minister Marcos suggested.  He has nothing to do with the life or death of the Japanese.  Although I am somewhat envious of the huge reparations in Western Sichuan, for the sake of Germany's interests, a strong Far East ally is very much in line with Germany's interests.

    "China is a victorious country and should enjoy these rights over the defeated countries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire supports China's legitimate demands!" Anton, the Austro-Hungarian Minister to China?  Huber said.

    "As a world power, the British Empire has the responsibility to uphold justice and maintain world peace!" British Minister Organa said forcefully.  The rise of China has alarmed the UK.  Supporting Japan is exactly one of Britain's strategies to check and balance China.  For this reason, China must be prevented from weakening Japan excessively.

    "For its own legitimate interests, China will not hesitate to fight. No matter who the enemy is!" Liang Xingrong said righteously.  In response to the toughness of the British Minister Organa, a confrontational response was adopted.

    "The Chinese army and navy are ready for battle and are ready to deal with the upcoming battle at any time. For the benefit of the country, even if they all die in battle!" Cai Yun, who participated in the negotiations, also expressed his opinions on behalf of the military.  Wang Yuze once said that no matter how much war military expenditures are obtained from Japan, all will be invested in the army.  Cai Yun, as the current number two figure in the military, is naturally eager to let Japan fully allocate 500 million pounds in war compensation.

    "So, I can understand that China wants to provoke British coercion?" British Minister Organa said with squinted eyes.  Although the strength of western Sichuan makes it difficult for the British side.  But if Britain is willing to pay a certain price, it can still win.  At least on the naval side, Britain was 100% sure of victory.  If the army is not as good as the Chinese, the worst possible outcome is not to engage in landing operations.

    "The French Republic will work with the United Kingdom to uphold justice!" French Minister Tian Chun said.

    Russian Minister Cassini and American Minister Tianbei did not speak.  Russia borders China, and Russia's military strength in the Far East is very weak. In addition, it is not known when the Trans-Siberian Railway will be opened. If they start a war with China now, it will not benefit them at all.  As for the United States, if it follows the United Kingdom in waving flags, there will be no problem, but if they are allowed to participate in the war, then forget it!

    "China has no intention of provoking Britain's majesty, it is just to protect the country's interests from harm!" Liang Xingrong said.  Although I feel a little aggrieved, I still have to say this.  It will take a lot of time for China to truly rise. China currently does not have the strength to confront the United Kingdom.  At least in terms of the navy,Still far behind the UK!

    PS: The second update is here!  Please subscribe, please give me a monthly pass!  (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to become a registered member of Piaotian Literature to recommend this work. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report