Chapter 270 British Coordination

Hu Chuyuan is a very cunning politician.

At this time last year, he had not thought about occupying Russia's Siberia. At that time, he was convinced that this was an impossible goal. The most likely was to let China get all the areas on the south side of the Far East Railway and take Omsk as the dividing line between China and Russia. Siberia is still inseparable from the Russian Empire. Part of it.

In fact, as long as he can actually occupy the city of Novosibirsk and Kazakh region and withdraw the Russian forces from Central Asia, he will be very satisfied.

During that period, he also considered that Britain, the United States and the United States would inevitably implement intervention policies to prevent China from being too powerful.

But now he has finally understood that Britain, the United States and the United States are all paper tigers. They have no practical intention of imposing sanctions on China at all, and pinning all their hopes on political mediation.

Hope China's "conscience" to find and face up to "international morality"?

Save it!

Hu Chuyuan cheated the people very hard. After raising the new 3.5 billion yuan of war treasury bonds, he couldn't wait to continue to recruit, and transferred 600,000 people from the reservists in various provinces to continue to expand two armies, led by Feng Guozhang and Wu Peifu. Wu Peifu's mission was to expand to Central Asia. Feng Guozhang's mission is to participate in the Battle of Yekaterinburg.

Duan Qirui was responsible for staying in the Far East, and some of the main forces of the Jianghuai Corps were also transferred to Omsk to join the war against Russia at any time.

Throughout the Russian battlefield, Hu Chuyuan gathered up to 1.97 million troops, with 7 armored divisions, 5 light mechanization divisions and 11 cavalry divisions, and formed four large armies around these main forces.

The first army is under the command of Li Kaiye, the second army is under the command of Yang Zongli, the third army is under the direct jurisdiction of Lu Guangquan, the fourth army is under the command of Feng Guozhang, the commander-in-chief of the war zone is Lu Guangquan, Lu Guangquan's rank is also promoted to general, Li Kaiye and Yang Zongli are lieutenant generals, and Feng Guozhang is promoted to the rank of major general.

The power of the commander-in-chief is still in the hands of Hu Chuyuan. Every large-scale combat plan is organized and planned by the National War Commission.

The Russian army urgently dispatched 1.7 million troops to carry out a tenacious defensive battle in Yekaterinburg and the Ural Mountains.

I have a hunch that it will be very difficult to attack Yekaterinburg. Hu Chuyuan adjusted his strategy to let the whole army enter the winter preparation area, turn the attack into defense, defend along Chelyabinsk, Tyumin, Kurgan and Omsk, and establish large-scale fortifications.

In China, a large number of materials were mobilized for winter resupply, and the road from Semikinsk to Omsk was completed to form a new supply line. At the same time, efforts were intensified to build a railway from Zhangjiakou to Ulaanbaaru and from Ulaanbaaru to Ulan-Ude to ensure the formation of Xinjiang-Omsk roads and railwaysk next year. Road, four supply lines of Liaodong-Ulan-Ude and Zhangjiakou-Ulan-Ude.

On December 19, 1902, the new British Prime Minister, Sir Henry Bannerman, visited China. Among the team were Sir Dou Nale, who was familiar to Hu Chuyuan, and Lieutenant General John Fischer, the First Secretary of the British Navy, who had always had a good personal relationship.

Their mission is very clear. They try their best to mediate to make a truce between China and Russia and at least reach a temporary truce agreement.

Prime Minister Bannerman is a very good person in financial management. As the leader of the Liberal Party, he also firmly supports classical free trade. It is under his insistence that China and Britain can reach the Sino-British Colonial Cooperation Treaty in 1898.

Hu Chuyuan received them at the newly built Yingtai State Guesthouse. They are all old friends. No matter what the current international situation is like, everyone is very happy to meet.

In fact, Hu Chuyuan has changed the fate of many people, especially John Fischer, who can now become the most influential and powerful person in the British navy. In the final analysis, he is also influenced by the development of the Chinese navy, and he is regarded as the modern enlightener of the Chinese navy internationally.

Everyone sat together and talked about a lot of things. Hu Chuyuan and John Fischer were particularly happy to talk about their previous things in Fuzhou.

Starting from the past of the navy, slowly, several people talked about the current situation.

Because the relationship has always been good, and they wrote letters of condolences to each other some time ago, John Fischer first asked Hu Chuyuan, "Huther, how does your country plan to end this war at present? Does it really want to capture the whole of Russia?"

Hu Chuyuan did not hide it. He shook his head and said, "It's unnecessary and unlikely. I still know this very well in my heart. I once told you that Russia has a long-term invasion of China for 213 years, and now is the time for us to settle accounts with Russia. Russia does not want to return all the land they have gained from their years of aggression to us, so we can't accept any form of armistice. Not to mention ten years, even if it is a hundred years, all Chinese have this determination and will not waver. Even if I can personally agree to the truce, the whole country will not agree.

John Fischer was speechless for a moment, but nodded slightly, as if he agreed.

His task has been completed, at least let Hu Chuyuan start talking about this issue.

Prime Minister Bannerman immediately said, "Mr. Hu, my visit to China this time... is actually to talk to you about Hong Kong and deepen the new cooperation between our two countries in the colonies and the international world. I am very happy to see that China, an ancient country with thousands of years of history, has become a powerful country in the world again. This joy comes from the bottom of my heart. It is a tribute to ancient civilization and modern civilization. For me personally, I like China very much, and I hope to promote China and Britain with you during my term of office. The cooperation between the two countries continues to develop.

Bannaman is still very good. Now he is actually 66 years old. He looks like a very kind old gentleman, and he also has a good reputation in the international community. He is very good at financial management and diplomacy.

Bannaman's words were also very interesting, and he inadvertently gave a bait.

Hong Kong issue.

Hu Chuyuan thought for a moment and said to Bannerman, "The Hong Kong problem can indeed be solved. From the perspective of the whole Chinese society, Britain is still occupying Hong Kong, which is actually not conducive to the long-term cooperation between China and Britain, let alone the investment of British capital in China. I have a suggestion, that is, our political axe funds to redeem Hong Kong. Of course, the price should not be too high. For China and the United Kingdom, this is also a better way. As a compensation, China and Britain can completely increase military cooperation. For example, our military ports can be reserved and open to each other to facilitate the berth and maintenance of each other's fleets.

Bannaman immediately became interested and said, "Regarding the proposal of strengthening cooperation between China and Britain in the military, we are a very good idea and future. Combined with the results of several naval battles between China and China and France, the British Admiralty is building a new dreadnought-class battleship with a larger tonnage. Due to the use of a large number of new technologies, the cost may be very high. Our two countries can continue to use the method of joint shipbuilding to jointly complete and install new battleships of this class. Moreover, in this joint shipbuilding plan, China does not need to order separately in the United Kingdom. Of course... Britain also needs some guarantees and some other matters!"

Hu Chuyuan immediately asked, "What's the matter?"

John Fischer said, "In fact, we now want to know the long-term plan of the Chinese navy to facilitate Britain's appropriate adjustments to naval policy."

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "There is no need for Britain to worry too much about this. On the basis of long-term stable cooperation between China and Britain, there is no need for China to expand its navy on a large scale. China's core interest is Asia. As long as Britain recognizes this, it is absolutely necessary for China and Britain to have an arms race in the navy. In Asia, if Britain is willing to take China as the lead and respect China's position and decisive position in Asia, in the Middle East region of Asia, the two sides can maintain equal cooperation, then in the whole international world. In the world, China will be completely dominated by the United Kingdom and cooperate with Britain's international policy. Considering these problems, China must be a major army. As long as the size of the navy remains at 50% of the level in the same period in the United Kingdom, it will be enough.

Bnerman was relieved to hear what he said.

With China's current national strength and war strength, if China and the United Kingdom can form an alliance and maintain long-term close cooperation, then... the world is completely in the hands of China and the United Kingdom.

Of course, the bottom line of the United Kingdom is that the world leader must also be the United Kingdom. As a concession, it is also possible for China to dominate the Asian region, especially East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia.

Thinking about this question clearly, Bannerman replied to Hu Chuyuan bluntly, "There is no problem for China and Britain!"

The meaning of this word is quite deep.

Hu Chuyuan said: "Because of the Far East War, the scale of our navy has expanded so much that it cannot be reduced quickly for the time being. In recent years, the total tonnage of the Chinese navy will be about 70% of the British level in the same period, and then gradually reduced to 60%. Britain can quickly reduce this proportion to 60% by adding new warships, but I don't think it's necessary. Regarding the issue of the navy, we should consult closely with each other and not fall into an arms race. If the total tonnage of the British navy increases too much and other countries begin to increase, we can only be forced to continue to increase the tonnage... This is unnecessary.

Bannerman nodded and agreed, and then asked, "In addition, on the issue of submarines and armored vehicles, I personally believe that there is room for further cooperation between China and Britain."

Hu Chuyuan said, "That's true. The Chinese navy actually suffered some losses in the submarine war, but we have been hiding it and avoiding the crazy construction of submarines. However, we have mastered the submarine technology of both countries and France, and we can fully share it with Britain. Armored vehicles are not a major problem. Of course, before larger-scale in-depth cooperation, it is indeed necessary for China and the United Kingdom to form further alliances. The problem is that it cannot trigger hostile alliances of other countries at the same time, which will only put us in unnecessary trouble.

"Yes!"

Benerman did not deny it.

The technical advantage of the submarine has not been completely exposed. This is still the trump card in Hu Chuyuan's hand. He can't really take it out. As for the technical advantage of armored vehicles, as long as Britain tries to track it, it can catch up in three or four years, at least there won't be a big gap.

If the UK wants to cooperate, then cooperate. Of course, the specific conditions will be discussed slowly.

It's not easy for me to get your technology. I spent a lot of money at the beginning. Now that you want to get my technology, you have to give the right price.

Berman came to mediate for China and Russia, but before that, he had to determine the scope of cooperation between China and the United Kingdom and the tone of the future. These things were discussed clearly. Bannerman also understood in his heart how to mediate.

The two continued to talk about Sino-British and the colonial cooperation between the two countries for nearly an hour before Bannaman reopened the issue of the Sino-Russian armistice.

Considering that Britain is indeed the first choice for long-term cooperation, Hu Chuyuan's answer is still very sincere.

He gave Russia three choices.

The first choice is to take the Ural Mountains as the boundary. The Asian region east of the Ural Mountains is all owned by China. At the same time, Russia recognizes the reading of the Kazakh region, recognizes China's suzerainty over the Kazakh Khanate, and recognizes that the Hahan and Braha regions are owned by China. China no longer asks Russia for war compensation, and Willing to provide a national debt guarantee to Russia; the second option is to use the main road of the Lena River as the dividing line, from Ustikut and Bratsk as the dividing point, and then take the Yenisei River and the middle and upper reaches of the Obi River as the dividing line. The eastern part of the Western Siberian Plain and Omsk are all owned by China, which is recognized by Russia. Kazakh region reading and other Central Asian terms, at the same time, pay China about 170 million pounds of war compensation, China uses the western part of Tyumin and the Western Siberian Plain as collateral to provide state debt guarantee to Russia; the third option is to still take the main road of the Lena River and the upper reaches of the Ob River as the dividing line, Kirinsk, The territories including Novonyse-Yenissk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Barnaul were transferred to China. Russia recognized the reading power of the Kazakh region and other Central Asian terms, and paid China about 270 million pounds of war compensation. China continued to occupy the Western Siberian Plain and Omsk until Russia paid it back. Debt, if Russia is unable to repay its debt within ten years, the region, including the Chelyabinsk region, will officially become Chinese territory.

Hu Chuyuan is not too cruel to Russia.

In private, he still made some other bottom lines with Bannerman. Kazakhs can be unreadable, but China's territory in Xinjiang Province and Central Asia must be restored to the situation in 1758, including the later Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which continued to be under the jurisdiction of China's Xinjiang. The west bank of the lake is the boundary between Semipalatinsk.

In addition, Hu Chuyuan and Bannerman also re-dged negotiations on the Kashmir region, hoping that Britain would completely transfer the region to China, so that China could effectively ensure a long border with Afghanistan, so that China and Britain could take advantage of the Chinese army to control Central Asia.

The current Afghanistan and later Turkmenistan belong to Persia.

In terms of the Persian issue, Hu Chuyuan and Bannerman also made a division. The two countries jointly protect Persia, control the economic and political situation of Persia together, and avoid the intervention and intervention of other countries.

After the two reached these consultations, or the agreement between China and Britain, the task of Bannerman's trip was basically completed. Before arriving in China, he had negotiated with the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Russia could generally make great concessions.

(to be continued)