After returning to the palace, Zhang Yunfei immediately attracted Zhang Si and asked about the purpose of several big crabs coming to Hawaii.

Now Zhang Si is already the number one intelligence leader under Zhang Yunfei. With Zhang Yunfei's key financial support, Zhang Si spent a lot of money to set up an intelligence network in various countries, code-named Wolf Knot, which has now begun to take shape. In the world's major countries, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, the United States, Japan, and Qing dynasties have established intelligence liaison offices in these countries under various names.

Zhang Si was not clear about their purpose, but told Zhang Yunfei what happened recently in various countries.

The British shipyard has indeed slowed down the construction of its own battleships and provided Japan with a loan of 10 million pounds. It is estimated to support Japan's post-war reconstruction and shipbuilding plan. At the same time, the German emperor in Europe publicly despised the British Army and made bold statements to form the world's second navy. As for the sudden visit of the new German Navy Secretary Alfred von Tirpitz, he was not clear about his purpose. Roosevelt of the United States should have come as the special envoy of the Republican candidate William McKinley to thank Zhang Yunfei for his strong support.

After learning about some situations, Zhang Yunfei felt a little relieved. Out of dissatisfaction with Britain, Lord Fisher was arranged to be the last one.

First of all, Zhang Yunfei met with the new German Navy Secretary Alfred von Tirpitz. This guy dared not neglect.

A great German man!

"Dear Count Tirpitz, thank you for your support in Hawaii. I would like to express my deepest gratitude here!" Zhang Yunfei first slapped Tirpitz with a brick and felt very comfortable.

"Hehe, Lord Duke, you are polite. His Majesty William admires Lord Duke very much and hopes that Lord Duke will have the opportunity to visit Berlin!" said Count Tirpitz.

"Oh! His Majesty William really said that? Then I'm so honored!" Zhang Yunfei said with some surprise.

"It is indeed so. At present, Mr. Li Hongzhang of your country is being invited by His Majesty William to come to our Germany to negotiate the arms business! But he is obviously not as generous and generous as His Majesty William is very disappointed!" At this point, Earl Tirpitz sighed.

Seeing Tirpitz sigh, Zhang Yunfei certainly wouldn't really believe that it would be a business dissatisfaction. He must have offended William somewhere, or had not agreed to William's unreasonable request.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yunfei said:

"Your Earl is probably not sincere! His Majesty William cannot be unhappy because of Li Hongzhang's stinginess!"

Faced with Zhang Yunfei's doubts, Tirpitz had no choice but to say:

"Your Excellency the Duke is worthy of being a smart person. Yes, Your Majesty William is not because Mr. Li's military purchase business is small, but because Mr. Li actually went to visit His Excellency the former Prime Minister, Duke Bismarck, regardless of Emperor William's response."

Tirpitz paused for a moment and continued:

"A few years ago, because Duke Bismarck and His Majesty William had dismissed his views, he was dismissed by His Majesty William. He still opposes His Majesty William's opinion. His Majesty is very dissatisfied with him, but Mr. Li of your country insists on meeting Duke Bismarck. Therefore, His Majesty is very dissatisfied."

You are dissatisfied with Li Hongzhang, so there is no need to send a Navy minister to me to express your dissatisfaction!

"In my impression, Germans are straightforward people. You don't have to go around the corner anymore. Let's talk to me about the main topic! I think His Majesty the German Emperor would not send a naval minister to me for tea and chat!" Zhang Yunfei said with a smile.

Seeing Zhang Yunfei say this, Tirpitz no longer beat around the bush.

"His Majesty William had previously talked with Lord Li Hongzhang of your country, hoping to open a port for the German Far East Cruiser Fleet in your country as a supply base, and promised to give him generous rewards. For this reason, we chose Xiamen, Sanmen, Zhoushan, and Jiaozhou Bay. Li Hongzhang refused that the previous places were not under his jurisdiction and were under the jurisdiction of the Nanyang Navy. He had promised to Russia for Jiaozhou Bay, but our commander of the Far East Cruiser Fleet, Major General Ditlich, went to Vladivostok in person. He successfully talked with Alexeyev, commander of the Russian Far East Fleet. The conversation turned to the naval base that the German Fleet might have obtained. Alexeyev pointed out the Zhoushan Islands, and Ditlich shook his hand.

The veto said that it might arouse opposition from third parties. Alexeyev proposed Xiamen, and Detlichi said it was an open trade port. Alexeyev then proposed Jiaozhou Bay, but Detlichi said it did not agree because Jiaozhou was frozen, the harbor was too large, the water was shallow, the cost of building a port was too large and there was no trade at all. Alexeyev believed that these defects were not important and advised Detlichi to personally understand the value of this harbor. Therefore, Detlichi concluded that Li Hongzhang deceived Germany's feelings on the Jiaozhou issue. His Majesty William was very annoyed and decided to go to Moscow in person to visit Peter's mansion as a guest of Tsar Nikola to confirm the content of the China-Russia secret agreement."

Damn, it turned out to be to find a military port! Zhang Yunfei understood it. It seemed that Germany occupied Jiaozhou Bay in mid-November 1897.

Discovering a port that can achieve economic and military purposes in China has proved to be a difficult task.

This port must be located where commerce is possible, and the dead port where commerce is impossible is considered worthless.

This port should be on the main trade route, but it cannot be too close to the ports of other countries. Furthermore, the location of this port must prevent Germany from disputes with other great powers. It has been recognized by Germany that it must not disturb the sphere of influence of any great power.

Salisbury did not object to Germany's capture of a port, but he pointed out that trying to seize a treaty port would be dangerous. The treaty port would cause Germany to be involved not only in conflict with China, but also in conflict with other powers. Certain natural conditions were also seen as essential. The harbor must be large, sheltered from the wind and easy to enter. The harbor should not have insurmountable difficulties in building necessary port equipment, docks and warehouses. Naturally, no port can fit all these conditions, but Jiaozhou Bay is barely feasible.

Except for Jiaozhou Bay, which is a closed port, other ports will conflict with the great powers, especially the British forces in Zhoushan. Although Germany has called the British with the British, Germany still dares not mess with the British.

"So you chose Jiaozhou Bay?" Zhang Yunfei asked.

"Not bad! But it's too close to the Beiyang Navy's base Weihaiwei, and Li Hongzhang did not agree," said Earl Tirpitz.

"Well! Yes, Weihaiwei will turn a corner to Jiaozhou Bay, and they will not agree!" Zhang Yunfei answered with certainty. It is not that easy to get Jiaozhou Bay! After all, you have to worry about the Beiyang Navy!

"Hehe, that's why His Majesty William sent me to have a good talk with you!" Earl Tirpitz said with a smile.

"I don't seem to be able to help me! My current official position in China is to continue to think about my mistakes!" Zhang Yunfei scratched his head embarrassedly and said.

After seeing Zhang Yunfei's expression, Count Tirpitz smiled and said:

"You won't stay here forever!"

Oh my god, tempt me.

"You see, I'm not growing my hair? When my hair grows and I can tie my braids, I will be able to go back soon!" Zhang Yunfei said with a smile.

"I don't think so! Your country's ministers are waiting to impeach you!" Earl Tirpitz looked at Zhang Yunfei with interest.

Do you know a lot?

"Uh! OK! I admit that it is a bit difficult. I don't know what your country has to think. Can you please discuss it?"
Chapter completed!