Chapter 038 stolen goods

Shao Youliao and Zhang Menghuan both know that under the circumstances of the favorable situation of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty and Japan signed an agreement on land ceding compensation, and cooperating with the Japanese army to encircle and suppress Zhang Jun, who made contributions to resist Japan, such an agreement is bound to cause strong indignation among the Chinese people. Moreover, no one has this conscience to say such a humiliating condition!

Shao Youliao kept silent, and Zhang Menghuan had no choice but to take out a piece of letter paper from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Ao Zongguang.

Lu Ao Zongguang took it over and looked at it, and he was overjoyed!

"Is this your condition?" Lu Aozong asked with strong joy.

On this paper, it is written about the armistice conditions of the Qing Dynasty. The conditions are really too superior, which is greatly beyond the expectation of Lu Ao Zongguang. Lu Ao Zongguang thought he was dreaming!

"This is what the Empress Dowager means." Zhang Menghuan said.

"Is the Empress Dowager in power?" Lu Ao Zongguang was a little worried: "I heard that Emperor Guangxu is seriously ill?"

Zhang Menghuan nodded to express his approval.

Lu Aozong was full of joy, but his face remained calm: "The Japanese Empire thought that it was difficult for us to accept the conditions of the Qing Dynasty!"

"What!" Shao Youring was shocked. The Japanese didn't appreciate such a favorable condition!

"What else do you want!" Zhang Menghuan said angrily, "Don't forget that the Qing Dynasty was not defeated in this war!"

Lu Ao Zongguang smiled and said, "Lord Zhang is angry. There is no other meaning. The armistice conditions in your country show that your country is indeed sincere. However, the joint statement of Russia, Germany and France. What's going on again? I hope Lord Shao can give me an explanation enough to convince the emperor and the Japanese people.

The intervention of Russia, Germany and France in Liaodong is the victory of Li Hongzhang's diplomatic war! Throughout the Qing-Japanese War, the Qing army did nothing militarily, but on the diplomatic front, it was remarkable. Russia and Germany did not want to see Japan rise in the Far East, let alone Japan's power expand to mainland China. In the eyes of Russia and Germany, the northeast region is their natural sphere of influence. Li Hongzhang skillfully took advantage of the contradictions between Germany, Russia and Japan to mediate between countries, and finally lured Russia and Germany to stand against Japan. France is an ally of Russia, and the French also have their own interests in southwest China. Finally, the three countries issued a joint statement.

This statement clearly emphasizes that the three countries will never recognize Japan's occupation of Liaodong. Now, the most important condition of the Qing Dynasty is to cede Liaodong to Japan, which is equivalent to roasting Japan on the fire! With Japan's national strength, it is impossible to go to war with Russia, Germany and France at the same time.

Shao Youren hurriedly said, "The statement of the Three Kingdoms was made by Li Hongzhang, not the meaning of the Empress Dowager. Well, Li Hongzhang is no longer the minister of Beiyang, and this statement naturally has no practical significance."

"Is that so?" Lu Ao Zongguang shook his head: "How can the official statement of the Three Kingdoms be invalidated because of the change of an official in the Qing Dynasty! You two should understand this truth!"

Shao Youling's speech is blocked.

Lu Ao Zongguang said, "Japan and the Qing Dynasty were originally friends and neighbors. It is also the responsibility of our Japanese Empire to help the Qing Dynasty clean up the rebels in Liaodong! However, Japan's occupation of Liaodong will inevitably cause dissatisfaction from Russia, Germany and France, and may cause unnecessary international disputes.

Zhang Menghuan said, "So, what does Japan mean?"

Lu Ao Zongguang said: "The conditions put forward by your Qing Dynasty are nothing more than three. First, ceding Liaodong, second, recognizing the Japanese occupation of southern North Korea, and third, compensating for the defeat. Of these three, we have no objection to the last two. As for Liaodong, we mean that once the Japanese army helps the Qing army eliminate the Zhou Charter stationed in Lushun, it will immediately withdraw from Liaodong, and the Qing Dynasty can pay 30 million taels of silver to the Japanese side as a ransom for Liao.

"This is true!" Shao Youliam was overjoyed. Japan actually wants to give up Liaodong, although it wants 30 million taels of silver, which is a great thing compared with ceding the land. The compensation is not terrible, the most terrible thing is to cede the land.

"Real!" Lu Aozongguang nodded: "However, the Qing Dynasty should admit that the responsibility for causing this war should be borne by the Qing Dynasty! Japan has made great sacrifices for this war. Now, according to your empress dowager, the Japanese army will continue to fight for the destruction of Zhou Charter, which means that Japan will continue to make sacrifices! Therefore, if Japan abandons Liaodong, the Qing Dynasty should make corresponding compensation for this. The Japanese government believes that Taiwan should be able to compensate equivalent to Liaodong!"

"Taiwan!" Shao Youliao was shocked. The Japanese don't want Liaodong, they want Taiwan!

Zhang Menghuan said harshly, "Your Excellency, Taiwan has nothing to do with Liaodong, all over the world. Without your soldiers there, isn't your request too much!"

Lu Ao Zongguang smiled and said, "Lord Shao misunderstood that Japan's request is to solve your problems in the Qing Dynasty."

"Please make it clear." Zhang Menghuan said hurriedly.

"Liaodong has always been China's inherent land. Since the Tang Dynasty, this area has not been separated from the center. Liaodong is only a short distance from Manchuria, the land of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty. If your court ceded Liaodong to Japan, how do you tell domestic officials and people? After returning to China, I'm afraid they will be drowned by the saliva of the people! At that time, your Empress Dowager Cixi will never admit it. She will definitely come to a car commander, put all the responsibility of cession to Liaodong on the two of you, and let them be her scapegoats!"

Shao Youlia and Zhang Menghuan suddenly sweated profusely!

The errand of the two is a thankless job in itself. The princes and ministers in China are hiding far away for fear of being called traitors and traitors. If Liaodong really cedes to the Japanese in their hands, once the domestic crowd is excited, the Empress Dowager will definitely turn her back and not admit it. This old woman has this means!

Lu Ao Zongguang continued: "Taiwan is different. This island has always been regarded as a foreign land by China. Your Kangxi Emperor defeated Zheng Chenggong's descendants, which included Taiwan in China for more than 100 years. Moreover, because Taiwan is far away from the mainland, it is difficult to manage, and the gains outweigh the losses. Since the day it was included in China's territory, some people in your court have suggested giving up Taiwan. To put it bluntly, for the Qing Dynasty, the status of Taiwan and Liaodong is not the same. The Qing Dynasty lost Taiwan, but lost a piece of land, while Liaodong lost the foundation of its ancestors! Which of the two is lighter or heavier?

Shao Youran and Zhang Menghuan were speechless.

Lu Ao Zongguang continued: "If the two are willing to sign an agreement with Japan to cede Taiwan, the evaluation of the two is definitely better than the cession of Liaodong, and the situation of the two is much better than the cession of Liaodong. Moreover, I'm sure that your Empress Dowager Cixi will also praise you for doing things! At that time, you will be the meritorious officials in the heart of the Empress Dowager!"

Shao Youlia looked at Zhang Menghuan and whispered, "Lord Zhang, look..."

Zhang Menghuan still didn't say anything.

Lu Ao Zongguang suddenly aggravated his tone: "Since the two adults are in a dilemma, the Imperial Japanese army can immediately march on Taiwan, resulting in the fait accompli of the occupation of Taiwan. In this way, the two adults can go back and explain to your court. In Taiwan, no one can stop the Japanese army from moving forward. Your Excellency, Taiwan does not have Zhou Charter!"

Lu Ao Zongguang suddenly talked about Zhou Charter, and Shao Youlia and Zhang Menghuan suddenly felt ashamed.

Everyone knows that the reason why the Japanese are willing to sit down and negotiate is that Zhou Charter has firmly defended Lushun. However, the Empress Dowager Buddha actually wanted to join hands with the Japanese to destroy Zhou Charter! Even the Japanese can see the absurdity, and even see the decay of the Qing Dynasty!

Based on this, the Japanese are qualified to remain arrogant in front of the representatives of the Qing Dynasty!

The meaning of the Japanese is very clear. Without the Zhou Charter, Taiwan is Japan's pocket! The Qing Dynasty doesn't want to defend Taiwan at all!

Zhang Menghuan sighed: "Your Excellency, is this what Mr. Ito means?"

"This is what His Majesty the Emperor means!"

"Well, it's a deal!"

Zhang Menghuan said, stood up and was about to leave.

"You two, wait." Lu Ao Zongguang pointed to the two ancient paintings and said, "Please bring your things."

Shao Youliai leaned over to take the ancient painting. Zhang Menghuan rushed to Lu Ao Zongguang and arched his hand: "Your Excellency, please ask the Japanese government to hand over these two ancient paintings to our government through normal diplomatic channels. This should be stolen goods stolen from China by your country's thieves!"

Lu Aozong's face turned red.

......

February 3, 1895, the eighth day of the battle.

The Japanese army in Shandong retreated from the position of Jiangjiakou and retreated to the east of Rongcheng County. The skyscraper fort, Zhaobeizui fort, Xiejiazuo fort, Longmiaozui fort and Ridao fort are all calm.

In North Korea, the Japanese army crossed the Linjin River and occupied the Wenshan ferry. According to the order of the base camp, the First Army stopped moving forward. According to the secret agreement between the Qing Dynasty and Japan, the matter in northern North Korea was handed over to the Qing army. The task of the Japanese army is to block the escape route of the remnants of the Zhang army to the south of North Korea. Yejin Daoguan is willing to carry out this order, because he really doesn't want to touch Zhangjun's iron stone again!

The battlefields of Shandong and North Korea have calmed.

However, in Lushun, the war is getting more and more fierce.

There are more and more Japanese ships on the sea. In addition to eight warships such as Yoshino, who arrived earlier, three large warships led by Hashidate were added, and the number of Japanese warships outside Lushun Port reached eleven.

The bridge is a large gunboat with a displacement of 4,000 tons. This time, it and two other warships sent another 2,000 troops. This was extracted from the Shandong battlefield. After the Shandong Armistice, the pressure of the Japanese army plummeted, and they could withdraw troops to Lushun.

In addition to the casualties in the battle, the strength of the Japanese army attacking Lushun increased to 6,000.