Chapter 229 Authorization

What worries Balaofu is that Lushun, including Jinzhou and Dalian, which will pass through the Nanman Railway, and the entire Liaodong Peninsula, fell into the hands of the Japanese.

Japanese people don't easily spit out the meat they eat in their mouths.

What further frustrated Balafu is that the Qing court still firmly controlled the northeast region of China, which is the place of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty and the location of the ancestral tomb of the royal family of the Qing Dynasty. According to the strange way of thinking of the Orientals, the location of the ancestral tomb cannot be disturbed by the roar of the train.

Even if the Qing government agrees to borrow land to build roads, local officials will stop it.

What's worse is that even if the railway can be repaired, the ownership of the railway is still a dead knot that is difficult to solve.

According to the Russian government's vision, in order to firmly control the railway and give full play to the expansion role of the railway, the Russians will have actual control over the stations along the railway and within one kilometer along the railway, that is to say, with the railway as the center, a series of Russian spheres of influence, thus radiating the surrounding areas, the most Finally complete the colonization of Northeast China!

This is the true meaning of the Middle East Railway.

However, the northeast is too vast. The Middle East Railway is 2,000 kilometers long and its branch Nanman Railway is 900 kilometers long. It is impossible and unable to exercise practical control over this area.

"Sir, they are coming." Palau's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of his secretary Yemen Liaoko.

Baraufu slowly raised his head, and his secretary Yemenliko stood opposite him.

Yimen Liaoke is 38 years old and a capable retired major in Russia. Yemenliko said without hesitation that he came to work on behalf of the Russian government. His identity did not affect his cooperation with Palau in any way. After all, the Middle East Railway is a community of national and family interests.

Baraofu nodded: "Then, just invite them in... No, wait a minute, Yemen Liaoke, first talk about what kind of person Zhou Charter is?"

Baraufu has seen countless people in the Qing Dynasty, from officials to ordinary people. In his view, the officials of the Qing Dynasty are all those who lack foresight and quick success, while the people of the Qing Dynasty are slow-minded and ignorant. Palau is contemptuous of the people of the Qing Dynasty, and he can always have an absolute psychological advantage in his interactions with the people of the Qing Dynasty.

However, the Zhou Charter that will face makes you feel a little uneasy, which is a strange feeling.

Russian spies sent back a large amount of information from North Korea, Liaodong and Shandong. Intelligence shows that the Qing army is not a modern army, or it will take at least 50 years for the Qing army to achieve modernization. The Japanese army's equipment, combat ability, cultural literacy and troop formation are completely comparable to any European army. Even intelligence personnel warned that with the existing logistical support capabilities of the Russian army in the Far East, it may be difficult to compete with the Japanese army.

Russian intelligence services believe that the Qing-Japanese War will end with the complete victory of the Japanese army. After the war, the Japanese army will firmly control North Korea, Liaodong and even Shandong. At that time, Russia will have no chance in the Far East.

It is frustrating that with the existing capabilities of the Russian army, it could not intervene in the direction of the Qing-Japanese War. I can only watch the Japanese army move forward step by step. The Qing Dynasty lost North Korea, and the Russians also lost North Korea.

However, there was a man named Zhou Charter, who led a medieval army, defeated the Japanese, recaptured half of the country in northern Korea, and won a face for the Qing Dynasty.

The Russians took a long breath.

The Russian government believes that the occupation of North Korea by the Qing Dynasty is equivalent to the occupation of North Korea by the Russians, because the Russians believe that the corrupt and incompetent Qing government can't stop the Russians infiltration of North Korea at all.

However, the optimism of the Russian government did not infect Palau.

Will a person who can defeat the Japanese army easily bow to the Russians?

"Sir, Zhou Charter, like most Orientals, has black hair and yellow skin, is not tall and healthy. The only difference between him and other Qing people is that he doesn't have braids. Ye Menliaoco said.

"No braids? What does this mean? Palau was very surprised.

"In my opinion, an oriental man without braids should not be regarded as a Qing Dynasty!" Ye Menliaoco said.

"You mean that his loyalty to the Qing government is questionable?"

"At least, the Qing government will doubt his loyalty!" Ye Menlioco said, "Sir, this may be our opportunity."

"What you said makes sense." Balaofu nodded: "However, I'm afraid a person with an independent personality is more difficult to control."

"That depends on our skills." Ye Mian Liao said in a low voice.

"Okay, you can invite him in."

......

Under the guidance of Qian Yougui, Zhou Charter, Guo Erzhuan and Zhang Zuolin walked into Balaofu's living room.

Baraufu stood up from his chair, opened his arms, and greeted Qian Yougui with a smile on his face: "Old friend, I haven't seen you for a long time. I went back to Moscow to raise money. I just returned to Zalantun and snold my old friend. It's very rude. With that, he hugged Qian Yougui.

Zhou Charter was secretly surprised that this Palau spoke Chinese very fluently.

Qian Yougui and Balaofu said a few cold words before turning to Balaofu: "This is the general of Yizhou, Zhou Charter, the Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty in North Korea."

Baraufu hesitated and stretched out a hand: "Mr. Zhou Charter, who defeated the mixed brigade of the Japanese army, is so young! It's really unexpected. In the words of you Chinese, heroes come from ancient times!"

Zhou Charter shook hands with Palau: "Mr. Palau is honored. Zhang Jun's ability to gain a firm foothold in North Korea is also thanks to Mr. Balaofu's generous help. Zhou, on behalf of Zhang's soldiers, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Balaofu.

"Where is it? It's just a transaction. Both sides have a clear and real price, and each of them takes what they need." Palau smiled and said, "Please sit down."

Both sides came to the fireplace and sat down. Zhou Charter and Palau sat on both sides of the fireplace, Qian Yougui, Zhang Zuolin and Guo Erpa stood behind Zhou Charter, and Ye Menliaoco stood behind Balaofu.

After the two sides exchanged names, Zhou Charter said, "Mr. Balafu went all the way to Moscow. It's presumptuous for Zhou to come."

Baofu smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou is polite. Zhou Charter came all the way from North Korea. It's not easy to think about it. I think it should be historic for you and me to meet here!"

"What does Mr. Palau mean by this?" Zhou Charter asked.

Baraufu smiled and said, "A few days ago, I met with Mr. Qian, which was purely commercial business, without any political color. Today, my meeting with Mr. Zhou will go further.

"Mr. Palau, please make it clear."

Baraufu looked at Yemenko and said, "I returned to Moscow this time and was honored to be summoned by His Majesty the Tsar. Therefore, my current status is the representative of the Russian government in the Far East. As the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty in North Korea, Mr. Zhou also represents the Qing government. Therefore, our meeting can be understood as an informal meeting between the representatives of the governments of Russia and Qing.

"It's a pity," Zhou Charter shook his head: "I haven't met the emperor and received any authorization from him, so I can't represent the Qing government."

"Real?" Ye Mian Liaoke suddenly said, "As far as I know, the foreign affairs of the Qing Dynasty are generally the responsibility of the Minister of Trade of the Northern Ocean, and, as far as I know, the Beiyang government is generally responsible for the war between the Qing Dynasty and Japan. Legally speaking, Mr. Zhou and the Zhang Jun you lead belong to the unified control of the Beiyang Minister. If the Beiyang government authorizes Mr. Zhou, I think this problem can be solved easily!"

Zhou Charter laughed and said, "What Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke said is reasonable, but Zhou came to Zalantun without the authorization of the Beiyang government. Speaking of speaking, if the court knows, Zhou will also bear the responsibility of unauthorized duty. I hope that Mr. Balaofu and Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke will keep their mouths shut."

Baraufu smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou doesn't have to worry too much about this, and Mr. Yemen Liaoke and I don't have to keep our mouths shut about it!"

Yemen Liaoco took out a file bag from his leather bag and handed it to Zhou Charter.

Zhou Charter was full of suspicion and opened the file bag. He couldn't help but be shocked.

In it is the ultimatum of the Minister of Trade of Beiyang: "Zhang Jun, Zhou Charter, the plenipotentiary of Beiyang, went to Zarantun to be responsible for consultation and cooperation with representatives of the Russian government."

The official seal of the Beiyang Minister is on the back of the ultimatum.

Zhou Charter stared at the official seal.

Baraufu smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou, Chinese culture has a long history. Take this seal as an example. Westerners can't learn it anyway!"

Baraufu told Zhou Charter that this official seal is true, that is to say, this ultimatum is by no means fake.

Zhou Charter couldn't help but be very frustrated. He thought that he came to Zalantun this time without knowing it. In order to hide his ears, he also made a fake wife and pretended to be a rich businessman and chattered all the way. Now it seems that Li Hongzhang knows his whereabouts like his hand!

Li Hongzhang knows it, how can the court not know it!

I'm afraid that the killing of Jia Shanren, the new governor, has reached the ears of the emperor and the empress dowager.

And this power of attorney is even more incredible.

The power of attorney given to him by Beiyang government was brought by the Russians!

Moreover, what worries Zhou Charter more is that this power of attorney is unclear and does not explain what he is authorized to talk about with the Russians at all! Its only function is to legalize Zhou Charter's trip to Zalantun.

However, its legacy is very huge, because no matter what deal or agreement Zhou Charter has reached with the Russians, Li Hongzhang can say that this is not within the scope of the authorization!

The old treacherous and slippery Li Hongzhang is a loach. He pushed Zhou Charter to the front desk, but he slipped without a trace!