A rickshaw stopped at the door. A middle-aged man wearing trousers, vest, small glasses, and a mustache came down and rewarded the driver with some money. The driver bowed his head in thanks, pulled the cart and trotted away.
Carrying his briefcase, the man strolled to the door of an embassy, showed his ID to the Japanese military police standing guard at the door, and then walked into the gate with his head lowered. The sign on the gate of the courtyard read: Embassy of the Qing Empire in the Empire of Japan.
This man's name is Kondo Kogoro, and he is a senior employee of Tokyo Oyama Co., Ltd. Tokyo Oyama Co., Ltd. is a tea trading company. It imports tea from the Ming Dynasty all year round and then sells it to the Northern and Qing Dynasties at high prices. The Ming and Qing Dynasties divided China into north and south.
Each has its own needs that the other does not produce but needs
But because the two sides are in a hostile state, it is impossible to do business directly, so a middleman is needed. Japan plays the role of this middleman. There are many companies in Japan like Oyama Co., Ltd., which specialize in doing business between the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Second-hand dealers in the world make huge profits.
But what is different from other companies is that although Oyama Co., Ltd. is a company registered in Japan, its legal person is also Japanese in name, and its employees are all Japanese, but it is a company with a Ming Dynasty background. Its real boss behind the scenes is
At the Daming East Factory, almost all of the company's top executives are from Daming, but they are all Japanese. Kondo Kogoro, who just joined, is actually also from Daming.
24 hours after Xiang Xiaoqiang spoke in front of the official residence of the Chief Minister, Daming took the initiative to contact the Beiqing through this company in Tokyo. Now the relationship between the Ming and Qing Dynasties, neither side recognizes the other, so any official or public
Contact is impossible.
24 hours, this is the time that the Ming Dynasty set aside for Emperor Guangwu of the Northern Qing Dynasty. These 24 hours were enough for the Northern Qing spies in Nanjing to respond to Xiang Xiaoqiang's speech and spread it to Emperor Guangwu layer by layer. Or it should be
Faster, if the stick office in Beijing does their job, they will listen to it on the radio while talking to Xiaoqiang. Either way, Emperor Guangwu will have at least 12 hours to think about it.
An hour after Kondo Kogoro entered the Embassy of the Northern Qing Dynasty, an "employee" from another company with a Northern Qing background in Tokyo also entered the "Embassy of the Ming Empire in the Empire of Japan" with a bag under his arm and his head lowered. Very soon
Come on, he's out. He's not here for negotiation or "return visit", he's just for confirmation.
As a result, the Embassy of the Northern Qing Dynasty in Japan confirmed the identity of "Kondo Kogoro" and that he was indeed sent by the Ming Dynasty, and then began to talk to him with confidence. At the same time, a string of encrypted radio waves flew from the air to Beijing.
Two hours later, Kondo Kogoro came out of the Peking Embassy with his head lowered, still carrying his purse. This contact was completed.
…
Beijing, Forbidden City, North Study Room of the Qing Dynasty.
Emperor Guangwu was lying in a cool Ming-style rosewood armchair, enjoying the air-conditioning that had just been installed this year. He was holding a small cup of ice-cold sour plum soup and sipping on it. His whole body was immersed in the pleasant air-conditioning.
Private air conditioning is the most luxurious enjoyment in summer in this era.
But his thoughts did not wander around in the air-conditioning, but were all focused on a wire recorder behind his head.
The tape recorder on the small shelf behind him was rotating slowly, and the two coils of steel wire were rotating, releasing sound signals.
That was Xiang Xiaoqiang’s voice:
"...Your Majesty the Emperor, this is boring, really boring. What's the benefit of doing something that harms others but does not benefit oneself? Apart from venting your frustration about not being able to invade the south and making us suffer, what else can you get...
"...Your Majesty the Emperor, if I were you, I would think about it. If you have such a good deck of cards in your hand, you should play it well and don't waste it. If you lose the opportunity to make better use of it in a short time, then what?
It's not a pity...
"...Really, His Majesty the Emperor, please be more pragmatic. If everyone is more pragmatic, this matter should be able to get a result that both parties are satisfied with... There will definitely be thousands of results that will make you more satisfied.
I think there must be a lot more things that the Qing Dynasty needs...
"...As long as he offers a price, for the sake of our family's safe return, no matter how high the price is, it is easy to negotiate..."
Emperor Guangwu stared at the sour plum soup in the cup, listening to the "legendary" Xiang Xiaoqiang's voice.
...This is the guy who captured all of my 150,000 troops and sent them to Nanming at the beginning of the year... Earlier, this guy had the guts to go to the hinterland of my Qing Dynasty, wash my sticks and trains with blood, and even
They abducted my cousin to Nanyang...
...But from the sound of his voice, this guy doesn’t sound like a very capable person! He speaks an authentic Lunan accent, which doesn’t look like someone he’s learned from. He’s definitely from the Qing Dynasty! Why do I, the Qing Dynasty, have some ability?
People will end up running to Nanming?
well……
He put the porcelain cup in his hand on the table with a bang. The two military ministers behind him shivered in fright, looked at each other, lowered their heads even lower, and did not dare to raise their eyes.
Emperor Guangwu didn't have a seizure. He just stood up expressionlessly and walked slowly to the small red sandalwood stand where the tape recorder was placed. He raised his hand and flicked the casing of the tape recorder with his fingers. Slowly, he started to move.
He became more cruel every second, and his face became more gloomy every second.
The recorder played it repeatedly, and Xiang Xiaoqiang's arrogant voice kept coming out:
"... So, the anti-Qing patriots in exile in the Ming Dynasty, the writers who wrote articles exposing the darkness of the Northern Qing Dynasty and criticized the Northern Qing Dynasty, the Dongchang commissioner who organized and led the Northern Qing resistance organization, and even our cabinet ministers, Princess Liaoyang, and even the chief minister
And His Majesty himself... As long as the Qing Dynasty kidnaps enough people and has enough weight, who can't be blackmailed?... So, this is not a matter that can be discussed at all!"
Emperor Guangwu listened to these words that irritated him: the anti-Qing patriots in exile in the Ming Dynasty... the writers who wrote articles exposing the darkness of the Northern Qing Dynasty and criticizing the Northern Qing Dynasty... and the so-called "Princess of Liaoyang", and the former
Pu Heng Baylor, who just defected a few days ago, that tank expert... these are all from my university
Those who defected to Nanming from the Qing Dynasty... From the peasants at the bottom to the Heshuogege at the top, my cousin... From low to high, from all walks of life, there are everyone... Nanming is like a magic power,
Let everyone run there as hard as they can... If this continues, one day, all the people in the Qing Dynasty will be gone!
He suddenly raised his hand and was about to slap the recorder to the ground.
However, with his palms hanging in the air, his eyes fixed on the tape recorder and the slowly rotating steel wire above, he hesitated again.
"...If I were you, I would think about it. If I have such a good deck of cards in my hand, I should play it well and not waste it. If the opportunity to make better use of the game is lost because of the speed of the game, wouldn't it be too bad?
pity……"
The two military ministers behind him lowered their heads desperately, shrunk their necks, and were too frightened to breathe. They half-opened their eyes and glanced at the emperor's raised palm.
However, Emperor Guangwu's hand slowly fell. The almost volcanic eruption of rage just now disappeared without a trace within two seconds. He smiled, patted the recorder lightly, and said with a smile:
"Interesting. Haha, a bit interesting."
After a while, he turned around and asked calmly:
"So, the Nanming representative in Tokyo begs for my permission to negotiate?"
The two military ministers behind them looked at each other, they both let out a sigh of relief, the color returned to their faces, and they laughed together:
"Your Majesty, that's right."
Emperor Guangwu flicked the recorder again and said with a smile:
"Yes. Let's arrange it with someone."
…
In Tokyo, the "Japanese employee" of a company with a background in the Northern Qing Dynasty quietly walked into the Ming Dynasty Embassy again. Soon, a string of encrypted radio waves flew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanjing.
In the imperial study room of the Forbidden City, Shen Rongxuan, Xiang Xiaoqiang and several ministers were gathered here to wait and discuss. Zhu Yourong was taking a nap in the palace. Once there was an echo from Beiqing, they would immediately wake Zhu Yourong and start a small
Imperial meeting.
Several ministers and Xiang Xiaoqiang were all smoking cigarettes without saying a word, each looking at the various newspapers in front of them. People outside would continue to buy newspapers with relevant news and send them to the palace. Moreover, the palace
There are also dedicated personnel listening to radio stations from various countries 24 hours a day to listen to the latest international public opinion on this matter.
Views. What’s more important is the domestic radio stations in the Ming Dynasty. These radio companies have political commentary programs, and each of them invited famous political activists and celebrities as guests to discuss and comment on this matter between the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Ming Dynasty listeners
When sending letters to broadcasters, they will also select representative ones.
All of this is what Ming Dynasty’s decision-makers need to know around the clock.
The Minister of Information walked in quickly. All eyes in the imperial study were looking at him.
"Everyone," the Information Minister said with a slight smile on his face, "Beijing has agreed to arrange secret talks."
The imperial study room was suddenly filled with an atmosphere of joy. Everyone showed a relaxed smile and took a cup of tea to drink. Because the decision-makers of the Ming Dynasty have reached a consensus: I am afraid that the Beiqing will not talk to you at all. As long as the Beiqing is willing to sit down
Come down and talk, then you won't be afraid of the lion opening its mouth. Anyway, Beiqing will be operated on in two months. Whatever it eats now, it will have to be vomited out twice as much.
"Wake up your majesty."
The Home Secretary said with a smile.
Soon, Zhu Yourong was dressed neatly and walked into the imperial study room with a smile. She had already heard from Wei Zijin and knew that good results were coming from there.
Several people immediately began to discuss what conditions the Beiqing might propose, and what conditions the Ming Dynasty could promise to the Beiqing.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is somewhat worried:
"What if the Puppet Qing Dynasty makes demands that we cannot accept? For example, it requires us not to organize southward escapes in the future, not to continue to support the Taihang Mountain Column, and to repatriate important southward escapees, such as the Princess of Liaoyang... How should we respond?
"
Shen Rongxuan shook his head and said with a smile:
"Emperor Guangwu is relatively wise and would not make such a request. You can think about it, if he asks us not to continue to organize an escape to the south and not to continue to support the Taihang Mountain Column in the future, then in addition to a piece of treaty, he will have What means can ensure that we will not continue to do these things in the future? We are now regularly organizing southward escapes and regularly supporting the Taihang Mountain Column. The Peking Qing Dynasty can't do anything to us. So even if we continue to do it in the future, it will still be unable to do anything to us. As for the treaty, The whole world knows that the Beiqing used despicable means to coerce us into signing it. Even if we tear it up afterwards, there will not be much moral obstacle.
"Actually, even if we really abide by the treaty and no longer organize southward escapes or airdrops to the Taihang Mountains, it doesn't matter. We will start the Northern Expedition in October, which is only two months. We will tear it up then. What's more? The Taihang Mountain Column is now basically self-sufficient. The only thing that needs regular airdrops is ammunition. Now that they have enough ammunition, it doesn't matter if they are separated by two months. As for the repatriation of important southward escapees... I don't think Emperor Guangwu will be confused. When it comes to making such a request, what is the root cause of this incident? It is that we are not willing to hand over people to Beiqing. Guangwu should be very clear. For the Ming Dynasty, handing over things and money can be negotiated, but handing over people is not. Talk. For us, this is seeking skin from a tiger. He should know."
…
After discussing for an entire afternoon, at dusk, news came from the Ming Dynasty's Embassy in Japan that the Beiqing side had decided on a negotiation location. Beijing rejected the Ming Dynasty's proposal that "each side would send a cruiser to the high seas, and then in the middle The plan of "negotiating on a civilian yacht" undoubtedly stated that the negotiations must be on land, and it must be on the land of Beiqing. Moreover, the other party specified that there must be Xiang Xiaoqiang in the Nanming delegation.
After the Foreign Secretary read the telegram, everyone was stunned.