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Text Chapter 299 Abolition of Unequal Treaties

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    One week after the signing of the Sino-US Beijing Treaty, the United States paid 80 million pounds in war reparations to China, and China also handed over thousands of captured US Navy officers and soldiers to the United States.  After the signing of the Beijing Treaty between China and the United States, the hostility between China and the United States was lifted. However, the United States, which suffered a disastrous defeat, hated China even more and actively reduced all exchanges with China in economic, cultural and other aspects.  Chinese people and assets in the United States have also been severely damaged.  In the next two years, more than 200,000 Chinese returned to China from the United States.  These Chinese who returned to China not only brought a large amount of capital, but also brought a lot of advanced technology, which effectively promoted China's development.

    In order to calm down the domestic anger, US President William?  McKinley delivered a speech in Congress, asking the United States to regard the naval defeat as a shame, use the power of the entire United States to build a more powerful navy, and strive to avenge its shame as soon as possible.  During the speech, William?  McKinley clearly expressed his hostility to China and his hope to defeat China.  William?  McKinley's speeches and lobbying among Congress and the people achieved very good results, which allowed him to survive this crisis without any danger.  Moreover, it has shifted the attention of most Americans to their hatred of China.  On this basis, the U.S. government announced an increase in taxes on the wealthy to repay reparations to China and build a more powerful navy.  William?  McKinley assured the people that as long as China can be defeated, the United States will make China repay the benefits it has taken from the United States. Moreover, the United States will gain a huge market of more than 400 to 500 million people, and the U.S. economy will enjoy unprecedented prosperity as a result.  .  William?  The blueprint drawn by McKinley deeply attracted the industrial and commercial class of the United States. These factory owners donated generously and purchased government bonds, so that the United States could soon collect enough funds to develop its navy.  The construction of the 'Maine-class' battleships and the 'Virginia-class' battleships led by the Department of the Navy has begun and is expected to be in service around 1900.

    At the same time, the United States purchased new power technology and naval gun technology from the United Kingdom, and hired senior British warship design engineers to design new warships for the United States.  In the end, a battleship named the 'Connecticut Class' was designed, and the U.S. Navy ordered six ships at one time. Construction began in the first half of 1898 and was expected to be in service in mid-1901.  Including the 'Kishach-class' battleships and 'Illinois-class' battleships that are almost completed, the total number of battleships under construction in the United States has reached 19.  If these battleships can be put into service, the U.S. Navy will become one of the world's naval powers.

    However, judging from the current time, before 1900, the U.S. Navy only had at most two 'Kishach class' and three 'Illinois class' battleships in service. If a war broke out with China at this time, their chances of winning would be  Not big!

    After the signing of the Sino-US Beijing Treaty, the U.S. Minister to China, Tian Bei, was recalled to the country, and the new Minister to China was Sherlock, the former U.S. Consul in Chengdu.  At the same time, the British Minister to China, Ogna, also resigned and returned to China. The new Minister to China was appointed by the former British Consul in Chengdu, Juldian.  Immediately afterwards, other countries also replaced their ministers in China. The French minister in China, Tian Chun, returned to China, and the new minister in China was replaced by Pierre, the French consul in Chengdu.  The Russian minister to China has not been changed, and Cassini is still in charge. However, the Russian consul in Chengdu, Sergei, was transferred to Beijing to serve as the counselor of the embassy.  Since Beijing is the political center of China, all countries have withdrawn their consulates in Chengdu, except Japan.

    Finally, the German Minister to China Marcos also resigned and returned to China, and his post was taken over by the German Consul in Chengdu, Lucas.  Compared with Marcos, the relationship between Lucas and Wang Yuze is more advanced.  In addition, Germany elevated its minister to China to ambassador, becoming the first country to elevate its diplomatic relations with China to ambassador.  Subsequently, the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed suit and raised its external relations with China to the ambassadorial level.  However, other Western countries still maintain diplomatic relations at the ministerial level.

    Before Marcos returned to China, Wang Yuze held a grand farewell banquet for Marcos at the palace.  As the minister to China, Marcos provided great help to China's rise, which Wang Yuze was very grateful for.  Without Germany's financial and technical support, it would be a delusion for China to build its own industrial system.  Now, although China's five-year plan has only reached the second thought, its effects in many aspects have already been reflected. China will basically complete the establishment of its own industrial system, which will make China's strength greatly increase.  Of course, in terms of high-precision technology, China still cannot do without the support of Germany. This situation will last at least several years, and it will not be alleviated until China has cultivated its own talents and enough skilled workers.  However, even so, China is many times stronger than before. At least in the military industry, China is no longer inferior to Western powers.

    October 31, 1897, afterAfter more than a month, the enthusiasm of the Chinese people finally cooled down, and Beijing and even the whole of China once again returned to their original lives.  People are busy with life. With the development of industry and commerce, everyone's life is getting better and better, which makes everyone more and more motivated, and the entire empire is full of vitality.

    On the morning of this day, Wang Yuze held a semi-monthly court meeting. In fact, the only participants in the court meeting were cabinet members and military officials.  The court meeting was held in the Qinzheng Hall. It was different from the court meetings in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties. Except for Wang Yuze who sat on the dragon chair, the other ministers also had their own seats. They did not have to stand or kneel all the time like in the Manchu and Qing Dynasties.

    "My dear friends, next, I want to talk about a big thing. I hope the cabinet will work hard to complete it in the next period of time!" Wang Yuze sat on the dragon chair, glanced at the ministers sitting below, and then said.  After all other political matters had been dealt with, Wang Yuze brought up what he had been thinking about in the past few days.

    "Since the decline of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, foreign powers have invaded China. The Manchu Qing Dynasty has been defeated in every battle. It has signed a series of treaties with the foreign powers and has lost too many national interests. But now that the empire has risen again, it is time to regain these interests.  Next, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact the envoys and governments of various countries in China to discuss matters related to the abolition of the unequal treaties signed by various countries and the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The cabinet and the military will provide full support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!" Wang Yuze said.

    "Your Majesty, the Manchu Qing government has signed too many unequal treaties with the great powers, which have given all countries too many interests in China. If we rashly abolish them, it will inevitably trigger a counterattack by the great powers. Especially Britain and Russia. The former through various  This unequal treaty has seized a series of powers such as "consular jurisdiction", concessions, customs, etc. in China. The latter has seized more than 1.5 million square kilometers of land in northern China. We want to abolish the unequal treaties  Otherwise, you have to defeat them!" Wu Tingfang said with a frown. There is no doubt that this is an extremely difficult task.  Although the current empire is no longer what it used to be, it is basically impossible for the powers that are hostile to the empire to expect them to spit out those benefits.  In order to take back these rights and interests at once, unless China can defeat them in an upright manner on the battlefield, there is absolutely no other way.  And can China defeat so many Western powers at once?  No one can guarantee this!

    ¡°Your Majesty, this matter is no small matter, we must take a long-term approach!¡± Cabinet Prime Minister Yang Hua also said.

    "I know that I did not say that all unequal treaties should be abolished at once. I also know that unless we can defeat them on the battlefield, we will not be successful. What I mean is to negotiate with all countries first.  Recover other benefits besides the lost territory. For example, we can completely exclude Russia, and after the empire defeats Russia in the future, we can directly announce the abolition of all unequal treaties against Russia. As for the rest, such as 'consular jurisdiction',  The 'one-sided most-favored-nation treatment', concessions, customs, etc. must be taken back as soon as possible." Wang Yuze explained.  In terms of territorial issues, apart from Hong Kong and Macau, the most important one is Russia.  Russia, on the other hand, has an innate greed for land. If they want to get back the land that Russia has swallowed, they can only defeat them on the battlefield.  Therefore, Wang Yuze did not expect to solve the problem with Russia through negotiations.

    "In this case, we can give it a try. But what should we do if the great powers remain tough and do not agree?" Wu Tingfang asked.  After China defeated the United States, it has aroused the vigilance of the great powers. If it regains the various interests of the great powers in China, it will definitely cause a strong backlash, and maybe a war will break out.

    "Don't worry, as long as we stay tough, they will not go to war with us. In addition, when negotiating, we also need to adopt strategies, easy things first and then difficult ones. For example, attack the French concession in China, and finally take back Russia and the United Kingdom  Concession in China. However, the customs must take it back as soon as possible. The current customs is still under the control of foreigners, which is extremely detrimental to our development of industry and commerce!" Wang Yuze said.

    "Yes, Your Majesty, I will try my best to handle it!" Wu Tingfang said.

    "The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of War must fully support the actions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If there is resistance during the process of recovering the concession, the police and the army can be dispatched when necessary!" Wang Yuze said, the great powers are in the concession, but  If you have a small army, you have to defend it.

    "Yes! Your Majesty!" Interior Minister Lu Zhengxiang and Army Minister Cai Yun replied immediately.

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