Chapter 233 Military Presence

Baraufu smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou, there is no problem with that 300,000 taels of silver. You can take it away at any time. However, I can't agree with your proposal to negotiate with the court of the Qing Dynasty. You have seen that the Minister of Commerce of Beiyang has authorized you. Now, you represent the court of the Qing Dynasty. In other words, you are now the negotiator sent by the Qing Dynasty to Zhalantun.

Is that right? Do you recognize my representation? Zhou Charter laughed.

"Of course."

"However, I can't see your respect for the negotiators of the Qing Dynasty!" Zhou Charter sneered.

"I don't understand what Mr. Zhou means." Balaofu shrugged his shoulders: "We have given Mr. Zhou and your entourage a sufficient standard reception. Of course, now Mr. Zhou has come to Zaratun in secret, so we can't receive you with official etiquette."

"Mr. Balaofu, you are avoiding the important and taking it lightly." Zhou Charter said, "You should be clear that the so-called courtesy is not only expressed in etiquette, but in your attitude."

"My attitude is very frank."

"No, you are not frank at all! At least in terms of Russia's interests, I didn't get your frank answer.

Baraufu's face darkened, looked at Ye Men Liaoke, and then smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou is indeed a shrewd negotiator. In this case, let's enter the frank talks from now on!"

The two sides returned to the negotiating table.

Baraufu coughed gently, glanced at Ye Menliaoco and said, "Mr. Zhou, the interests of Russia are in Lushun!"

"I would like to hear more about it!"

Palau said: "Russia needs a strong fleet in the Pacific, and the Russian government believes that the existence of this fleet is in the interests of Russia and the Qing Dynasty! Because the current war shows that the Beiyang Marine Division has greatly declined, and it is not the opponent of the Japanese Combined Fleet! And the Russian Pacific Fleet can curb Japan's expansion in the Far East, especially the expansion of the Qing Dynasty!"

"Aren't you in Vladivostok?" Zhou Charter asked.

"The geographical and climatic conditions of Vladivostok are not ideal. Judging from the map, the fleet from Vladivostok must cross the Tsushima Strait to reach the Sea of Japan. Moreover, Vladivostok freezes in winter, which is not conducive to fleet assembly, and Lushun is a natural unfrozen port. Therefore, the Russian government believes that the best way to curb the Japanese joint fleet and quickly provide military support to the Qing Dynasty at sea is to establish a naval base in Lushun. On this point, the Russian government has reached an intentional lease agreement with the Qing government. At the same time, in order to ensure the implementation of the Lushun base plan, Russia needs a railway connecting Vladivostok and Lushun. This is the Nanman Railway!"

Zhou Charter was secretly surprised. Russians have too much appetite! Originally, they thought that the Russians just wanted to control a railway, but now it seems that the real purpose of the Russians is more than a railway!

"But, Mr. Zhou, you know, because of the failure of the Qing army, Lushun fell into the hands of the Japanese! Mr. Zhou should understand what the Japanese own the natural port of Lushun means to the Qing Dynasty!" Palau said.

Zhou Charter sighed secretly in his heart that the Japanese occupied Lushun and the whole Liaodong, which means that Japan has a bridgehead in mainland China! The Japanese can launch a full-scale attack on the Qing Dynasty from land and sea as a base. It won't be long before the whole Northeast will be included in Japan's territory! Next, it is North China, Central China and even the whole China!

The Russians can see this situation clearly.

However, what will happen if Lushun falls into the hands of the Russians?

In fact, whoever occupies Lushun, whether it is Russian or Japanese, has the ability to capture the whole of China!

For 200 years since the Qing Dynasty, the polar bear has not stared at the oriental giant around it all the time. Once the time is ripe, they will extend their bear claws to the Qing Dynasty!

And now, the time is finally ripe! The opportunities they face are even better than the Japanese!

Before the war, the Japanese faced the Qing Dynasty, which was a strong and middle-aged man. At least on the surface, the Qing Dynasty was still very bright. Now, the Qing Dynasty faced by the Russians has no hidden face and is unreservedly displayed in front of the Russians.

However, the Qing Dynasty, which retreated in front of the Japanese, is really going to fall to the Russians!

Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, even put forward a high-priced proposal to induce the Russians to send troops to North Korea. Although this proposal was shelved by the court, it resonated with a considerable number of princes and ministers, and Li Hongzhang seemed to be moved.

Now, the Russians have proposed to use the railway and Lushun Port in exchange for support for the Qing Dynasty. It seems that the court does not object.

The imperial court of the Qing Dynasty tried to introduce the military presence of the Russians to curb the Japanese, which was purely an emergency medical treatment!

Zhou Charter seems to see a terrible prospect - today in North Korea is the tomorrow of the Qing Dynasty!

"So, what does the Russian government mean?" Zhou Charter asked.

Baraufu looked at Yemen Liaoko, who said, "The Russian government does not recognize Japan's occupation of North Korea and does not recognize the Seoul puppet government supported by Japan!" The Russian government believes that North Korea is under the actual control of Zhang Jun, and its legitimate government should be the prime minister's government of Pyongyang. Liaodong is adjacent to North Korea. From the perspective of political geography, the Russian government believes that Liaodong belongs to Zhang Jun's sphere of influence!"

"Do you mean 'Zhang Jun'?" Zhou Charter asked.

"Yes!" Yemenko said, "In fact, the Russian government entrusted me with Mr. Balaofu not to have a dialogue with the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty, but with Mr. Zhou Charter, the commander of Zhang Jun!" Mr. Zhou can understand the difference.

Zhou Charter realized that since he entered the door, the Russians have not called him as an official title. Whether it is the prime minister or the general soldier of Yizhou, they were sealed by the court of the Qing Dynasty. The Russians are deliberately avoiding the court of the Qing Dynasty!

What on earth do these Russians want to do?

Zhou Charter did not show his face: "Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke, Zhang Jun is the army of the Qing Dynasty!"

Ye Mian Liao Ke smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou, I really can't see any connection between Zhang Jun and the Qing Dynasty!" The court of the Qing Dynasty did not provide you with any salary and logistical supplies. Your base is not on the boundary of the Qing Dynasty. Your soldiers have no braids. Even your staffing is completely different from the Qing army. You are the division commander of Zhang Jun. As far as I know, the Qing Dynasty does not recognize your position at all!"

Zhou Charter smiled bitterly: "It seems that Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke knows Zhang Jun very well."

Ye Mian Liaoke laughed and said, "Also, more importantly, the tactical literacy and strong combat effectiveness shown by Zhang Jun are not comparable to those of the Qing army! As a soldier, I can tell you frankly that the Qing army is a medieval army, which is completely out of touch with this era! However, Zhang Jun is a truly modern army, which only lacks modern equipment. However, its command system, military sense of honor, combat will, tactical level and combat concept are all modern! It is no worse than any European army, or even higher than the European army in a sense. This also proves that Zhang Jun is not the Qing army at all!"

"Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke is flattered."

"No, I didn't win the prize! What I said is not my imagination. This passage is quoted from the report of the Russian Far East Command. This report is an analysis report of the Far East Command's comprehensive evaluation of the Anzhou Campaign. In this report, there are also such comments: In the Anzhou Campaign, the Supreme Commander of Zhang Jun has amazing vision, and the strategic command is unprovoked. However, this is only one aspect of promoting the victory of the battle, and on the other hand, the tactical literacy and fighting will of Zhang Jun are the most important factors supporting the Battle of Anzhou. If other armies of the Qing Dynasty are replaced to complete the battle in full accordance with the ideas of the commander of Zhang Jun, the battle will be Another result!"

"So, the Russian Far East Command is very interested in Zhang Jun?" An ominous foreboding surged in Zhou Charter's mind.

The Russians are full of confidence in this dialogue and are obviously prepared. This shows that they, like Li Hongzhang, have fully grasped the whereabouts of Zhou Charter in advance.

Zhou Charter has always suspected that it was Li Hongzhang who told the Russians his whereabouts. And Li Hongzhang placed his people in the Zhang army!

Now, Yemen Liaoke's evaluation of Zhang Jun made him suddenly realize that the Russians have their own intelligence system, and their tentacles have already penetrated into Zhang Jun, even earlier than Li Hongzhang!

Zhang Jun was sandwiched between the Japanese and the Qing Dynasty, and his situation was already extremely embarrassing. Now, the Russians have intervened, and Zhang Jun's situation is even more dangerous.

"Mr. Zhou, as a powerful military presence in the Far East, Zhang Jun is bound to receive strong attention from all parties concerned, which is not surprising!"

"Thank you, Mr. Ye Mian Liaoke for his praise of Zhang Jun, but Zhang Jun is not a modern army, and my soldiers are still using big knives and spears. Your Far East Command should be very clear about this!" Zhou Charter laughed and said that the Russians placed inside Zhang Jun would not miss this information.

Ye Men Liaoke laughed and said, "Mr. Zhou, the Russian government is willing to provide Zhang Jun with all the equipment it needs. I promise that it is not second-rate, but first-class equipment. We can even provide your favorite German Krupp wild cannon."

Russians also have to admit that their weapons are inferior to Germany.

What are the conditions? The Russian government is not out of international morality, is it?" Zhou Charter laughed.

"Why not?"

"Mr. Yemian Liaoke, are you sitting in the ice and snow in Zhalantun just to tell fairy tales?" Zhou Charter sneered.