Of course, the top leaders of the Russian army would not believe any so-called monster statements. Even if there is one, it would not be possible to stop the bullets and cannons. They believed that this should be an illusion arising from the soldiers in extreme panic. However, the warrior, who has always been brave and warlike, was actually scared out of an illusion by the enemy, which also reflected the strength of the People's Army from another perspective.

The Russian military did not report the detailed process and results of the Battle of Shanhaiguan to the country, but said that it was blocked by the People's Army and retreated to Jinzhou. However, the military did not dare to underestimate the combat effectiveness of the People's Army. It was a joint force between the East China government and Japan, and there was a British support behind it. Therefore, it suggested to the country that it would try its best to break up the cooperation between the East China government and Japan by using diplomatic means.

After all, Russia is one of the top players in the game of international powers. It soon found loopholes from the [East China Government-Japanese Government Joint Defense Cooperation Treaty]. Since the two sides did not have a joint agreement to declare war, this is not an alliance treaty. This also shows that the East China Government and Japan are not a monolithic deal. There are quite a bit of differences between each other and what is a conflict of interest. It seems that it is quite feasible to divide the two sides. Although Russia gives people a rough and aggressive impression, it is not just a blind act of being strong and wary. It should be used by diplomatic means. So the Russian government immediately entrusts France to convey the intention of the East China government to the dialogue of hope and set up a consulate in Qingdao.

According to the Russian government's idea, it is of course best to be able to disrupt the cooperation between the East China government and Japan through dialogue and exchanges. Even if this goal is not achieved, setting up a consulate in Qingdao can also establish a channel for contact and dialogue with the East China government, and to understand the policy trends of the East China government at a very high speed. This is also very important.

After receiving the notification from the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Executive Yuan agreed that Russia could set up a consulate in Qingdao. Because the contact and dialogue were two-way, the East China government also needed a channel for communication with the Russian government. However, for the dialogue between the two sides, the East China government insisted on Russia to implement the [Transfer Treaty of the Three East China Provinces] without other negotiations. So the East China government immediately conveyed its opinions to the French consulate and passed them to the Russian side. At the same time, it also informed Japan in accordance with the principle of the Treaty of Cooperation, and the Japanese government quickly expressed its understanding. After all, setting up a consulate is a normal diplomatic activity.

France's reply was soon. Just one day later, the French Consulate informed the Foreign Affairs Committee that Russia had sent representatives to Qingdao, hoping to negotiate with the East China government immediately. In fact, the Russian representatives have always been in Qingdao and live in the French consulate. Therefore, when the East China government agreed to establish a consulate in Russia, they immediately put forward the negotiation request.

Of course, this representative was not the original Tianjin consul, but another new person named Nemania Oleg Antonov, who was 45 years old. He went to study in the UK when he was young. Later, he served as a diplomat from Britain, Belgium, Spain and other countries. He has rich diplomatic experience and has a considerable vision. He belonged to the emerging bourgeois faction of the Minister of Finance Sergei Vette in Russia. He advocated social reform and implemented constitutionalism. He had previously served as a counselor at the Governor's Office in the Far East and had a certain understanding of the situation in Asia and China.

Since the Russians came, the East China government did not delay and immediately started negotiations. In fact, there was nothing to talk about between the two sides. After all, diplomatic relations were found in international practices, and Russia did not have any special requirements. When the East China government proposed to Russia that when the time was right, it would set up an office in Russia and demanded that the establishment of a shopping mall in Lushun, allowing East China government personnel to do business in Lushun, and open a route from Qingdao to Lushun.

Both requirements are reasonable. Opening an office in Russia is a diplomatic reciprocity and a condition that every country that sets up a consulate in Qingdao must accept. Of course, since the East China government has not been established for a long time and lacks sufficient diplomatic personnel, it has only established an office in Germany to manage all European countries' affairs. Now the East China government is preparing to establish a US office. But this condition will be determined first.

It is also a normal requirement to do business in Lushun and open a route to Lushun. Moreover, this can also develop the economy of the Lushun region and increase taxes. Why not do it? Although this can collect intelligence in the name of business and engage in sabotage activities, commercial interests are still big after all. Although Russia is an extremely politically authoritarian country, by this time, Russia did not have its own constitution and parliament, after Alexander II carried out the serfdom reform, Russia began to truly embark on the road of capitalism. A part of the bourgeoisie emerged and commercial interests were attached very seriously. Therefore, Antonov agreed to all these requirements.

The negotiations ended in just one day. Antonov had even chosen the address of the consulate, just opposite the French consulate, covering an area of ​​about 1,000 square meters. Of course, it will take time to build the consulate. Before that, another house will be rented for business.

Having just discussed the establishment of diplomatic relations, Antonov immediately had a dialogue with Li Sanjie on the issues of the three northeastern provinces. Antonov expressed his concern about the signing of the [East China Government-Japanese Government Joint Defense Cooperation Treaty], and hoped to negotiate with the East China Government on a peaceful resolution of the three northeastern provinces. However, this request was rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Li Sanjie directly stated that the reason for the signing of the [East China Government-Japanese Government Joint Defense Cooperation Treaty] was that Russia had no reason to invade Northeastern China. As long as Russia respected the agreement of the [Terms of Delivery to the Three Easters of China] and withdrew troops from the Northeastern region of China, the tension in the region could be alleviated. Moreover, before Russia fulfilled the [Terms of Delivery to the Three Easters of China], the East China Government would not have any negotiations with Russia.

Seeing that the East China government was not good at soft and hard, Antonov had no choice but to design a consulate in Qingdao, which could be considered a task. The Japanese government expressed his gratitude to the East China government.

On the next day, the Beijing office reported that the Qing court would send Yuan Shikai and Li Jingfang to visit Qingdao to discuss affairs in the three eastern provinces.

It turns out that Russia's diplomatic breakthroughs were not just from the East China government, but the Qing court was also a key breakthrough for them. After all, from a legal perspective, the Qing court was the owner of the three northeastern provinces. If the Qing court had no objection to Russia's occupation of the three northeastern provinces, or had reached an agreement with Russia on the sovereignty of the three northeastern provinces, and whether it was the Japanese or the East China government, there would be no reason to accuse Russia. Moreover, in Russia's view, negotiating with the Qing court was much easier, and it could be done by intimidation by force and money.

Of course, Russia also knows that even if the Qing court is settled, it may not be able to avoid war. Japan and the East China government are not the kind of countries that can be restricted by legal principles, but this will allow Russia to take the initiative in public opinion and morality.

So the Russian Minister to the Qing court, Resar, immediately came to the Zongli Yamen and proposed to Li Hongzhang that the previously signed [Terms of Delivery to the Three East Provinces] were unfair to Russia, and demanded that the Qing court renegotiate with the Qing court on the issue of the Three East Provinces, or that the Qing court allowed Russia to station troops in the Three East Provinces and exclusively enjoy the power to operate mining, railway construction, and open banks. Russia could implement the [Terms of Delivery to the Three East Provinces].

At the same time, Resal also issued a forceful threat to intimidate if the Qing court rejected Russia's conditions, the consequences would be very serious. Russia would not only not withdraw its troops from the three northeastern provinces, but also urged its troops south to advance to the pass; Resal also hinted to Li Hongzhang that if Li Hongzhang could prompt renegotiation or agree to Russia's conditions, Russia would repay Li Hongzhang heavily.

At this time, Li Hongzhang certainly did not dare to collect Russian money, and immediately notified the ministers of Britain, Japan, the United States and Germany, asking them to deal with each other and coordinate. British Minister Ernest Masonsatow (old translated as Sa Daoyi), Japanese Minister Yasuya Uchida expressed his support to Li Hongzhang, demanding that Sudine reject Russia's request, and insisted that Russia must unconditionally implement the [Treaty of Delivery to the Three East Provinces].

After this, Li Hongzhang felt much more at ease, so he made a notice like other military ministers.

In fact, after returning to Beijing, the Qing court was not idle. In addition to ignore the things that time travelers did in Shandong, the Qing court's own new policy reform has been steadily implemented. First, three old ministers, Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Liu Kunyi, took the lead and submitted a full set of reform plans to the Qing court, which was actually equivalent to the roadmap for the new policy reform. The main contents include cultivating talents and promoting education, rectifying Chinese and French, and absorbing Western and French.

The cultivation of talents and education is mainly a reform of the imperial examination system and education system. It imitates Western countries to establish a modern school education system and give graduates corresponding fame, such as high school graduates as juren, university graduates as jinshi, etc., to select talents instead of the imperial examination. In terms of teaching content, a large amount of Western learning content is used, and study abroad must be rewarded, especially for self-study. For those who study abroad with real talents and knowledge, corresponding juren and jinshi must be given the same origin as jinshi.

Reorganization of China and France refers to the internal reform of the Qing court. If the content is to establish a police system and replace the servants, improve the judiciary, improve the prison administration, lay off excess departments, and allow the bannermen to make their own livelihoods.

The absorption of Western law is actually about military and economic reforms, requiring the complete use of Western methods to train troops, establish military academies, and military management; improve agriculture, develop modern industry, formulate economic regulations to protect industry and commerce industries, etc.

To be fair, the content of the [Three-fold Reform] is a reform plan based on the current actual situation of the Qing court. It is very feasible and is much more reliable than the Reform of 1898. Therefore, Empress Dowager Cixi was also very satisfied after she became the queen and immediately accepted Guangxu's famous proposal to issue an edict to the governors and governors of all provinces, requiring them to make all plans and hold them in a practical manner.

But on October 1902, Liu Kun, the governor of Liangjiang, died of illness, which reduced the Qing court a respected and important official who supported the reform. Just one month later, Li Hongzhang also fell ill, and this month lasted more than three months, and it did not improve until after the New Year. However, Li Hongzhang's illness happened to be right, and Ronglu fell ill again, and he was even more ill than Li Hongzhang.
Chapter completed!