Part 6 Chapter 22 The Early Russian Revolution

On the speeding train, Xiao Moltke met Chen Congyun, the dictator of the Chinese government for the first time. After getting on the train, he immediately got to the point. Xiao Moltke proposed it. Everyone has arrived in China. Even if he is reserved, it is redundant. Pretending to bargain, it is just a laughing stock. Xiao Moltke is not a politician, but he can see through the essence of the matter at a glance. What is the purpose of the German government sending him and Kerze to China secretly? He is to take China on the ship at all costs. At this time, as long as China can participate in the war, it is worth it to take action against Russia and Britain and France from behind.

The reason is simple. More than two years of war has exhausted Germany's national strength. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is almost impossible to hold on. So Moltke doesn't want to pretend, and there is no need to do it. If we negotiate the conditions one minute earlier, China will send troops one day earlier. This is what Germany needs most now, and everything else is false.

"Dear President, I must tell you frankly that Germany is currently facing a serious crisis and urgently needs the help of Chinese friends." Looking at Chen Congyun's smiling expression, Xiao Moltke directly spoke. This attitude surprised Chen Congyun a little. After thinking about it slightly, he couldn't help but smile, thinking that in fact, this way of communication may be the most practical way for Germany to communicate at the moment.

Chen Congyun looked at the serious little Moltke in front of him with interest. This was an amazing person with a very strategic vision and extraordinary insight. As early as before the war broke out in 1914, Moltke predicted that the future war would never be a battle. Only when the power of a country's people was weakened can a country's failure be confirmed. It is obvious that he is right, but correct opinions often may not attract the necessary attention.

"Dear Mr. Moltke, thank you for your frankness. The people of our country attach great importance to friendship with the German people, but there is a question I hope you can consider it from my perspective." At this time, Chen Congyun didn't want to hide it anymore and decided to express his concerns bluntly.

Little Moltke turned his head and glanced at Keze who was sitting in a dangerous position. It was obvious that Keze had no reservations before and told Xiao Maoqi everything he could think of. At this time, Keze was difficult to guess what Chen Congyun wanted to say.

"Please speak with your Excellency President."

"The United States on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean mainly focused on solving the prosperity of its domestic economic department in the early stages of the war. During this period, the Americans pursued the so-called isolation policy, but one thing I want to admit is that the Americans have escaped the domestic economic difficulties by using the war after the war. The reason is that the United States sold a large amount of military supplies and supplies to the Allies. According to the information obtained by our reliable channels, the British government has exhausted their form of repaying American supplies. If the United States continues to remain neutral, the Allies will not be able to continue the war. Therefore, the Allies' ability to win and repay war loans can only be achieved through the United States' participation in the war." Chen Congyun said it very slowly, Keze's translation was also very slow, and Moltke's face became increasingly serious.

Moltke was silent for a long time, and what Chen Congyun said was absolutely unquestionable. If the huge war machine of the United States started and China continued to remain neutral, the end of this war would become without suspense; joining China and the United States to join different camps to fight, then the war would be an extremely risky act for China, the war would become more complicated and the ending would be more confusing.

So, what does the Chinese government under the dictatorship of Chen Congyun hope to get from this war? Moltke has always believed that Chen Congyun would join this war for the so-called friendship between the Chinese and German peoples. The only thing that can touch this dictator is only a sufficiently tempting interest.

After thinking about it, everything became simple after the war. Little Moltke smiled with difficulty and said, "Dear President, I have given His Majesty the Emperor full authority to entrust him to be responsible for this secret talk. I think I can make decisions on many things."

Speaking of which, it is already a limit. It is very simple. If the conditions are set, I will satisfy them to the greatest extent within the scope of the authority.

Of course, Chen Congyun understood what Xiao Maoqi meant and knew very well that it was the time to ask for a price at will, but Chen Congyun understood one truth better. Even if the other party agreed to some things now, whether they could be fulfilled in the future is completely different. Everything needs to be done, and Chen Congyun is very clear about this.

"Haha, the conditions of the Chinese government are very simple. They take over the interests of Britain and France in Asia in full. After the war, China has the final say in the affairs of Asia. China supports Germany in Europe and Africa. The interests of Britain and France in China intervene, but the interests of other regions are shared by China and Germany. In addition, China and Germany jointly manage the Suez Canal after the war. The two countries jointly work together to suppress the expansion of the United States internationally."

Xiao Moltke thought he had heard it wrong, just this condition? Xiao Moltke even looked back at Kze and hoped that he would continue to translate, but Kze did not say a word again. The thing that Xiao Moltke was most worried about did not happen. Chen Congyun did not speak up in a greedy lion, and basically the conditions offered were in line with the principle of equal interests. With these conditions, Xiao Moltke felt that he could agree to Chen Congyun now, and it could even be said that he did not need to think about it. Although China occupied the majority of India's interests among these conditions, it was a huge gap from the bottom line of the German government.

"Dear President? Are you sure there are no other conditions?" Xiao Moltke added a little worriedly, and Chen Congyun smiled and shook his head, "I'm sure!"

Little Moltke never expected everything to go so smoothly. He stood up excitedly and bowed slightly to Chen Congyun and said, "On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, I will pay the highest respect to the noble President of the Republic of China, Mr. Chen Congyun."

Xiao Moltke's actions were undoubtedly sincere and from the heart. Keze, who was temporarily as a translator, stood up excitedly at this time, and then bowed to Chen Congyun and couldn't help but applaud. At this time, aftershocks and others in the carriage also stood up and applauded fiercely.

On New Year's Day 1917, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement hoping that the European warring parties would adopt a restrained attitude and adopt a ceasefire and peace talks to resolve the dispute. On January 4, Chen Congyun urgently summoned the US ambassador to China, hoping that while conveying his greetings to President Wilson, he expressed concerns about some of the current remarks in the United States that encouraged the United States to participate in the war.

Chen Congyun urgently summoned the US minister, and combined with the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he revealed a strong message to the outside world that the Chinese government does not want the war to continue to expand.

Stephen almost ran into Chen Congyun's study, sweating profusely. Chen Congyun saw Stephen's appearance without any surprise expression, but smiled and pointed at the seat and said, "Sit down, I know you will come."

"Shen, why do you do this? Why transfer the United Fund's funds in the United States back to China in a large amount? Why do you sell off corporate shares and government bonds owned by the United Fund in the United States? Are you not going to ask for the business we worked hard in the United States?"

Stephen asked very urgently, and was quite subtle. Of course, Chen Congyun could guess what was hidden in the words, so he smiled calmly: "Stephen, don't be excited. I have a premonition that the United States will join the war in Europe." Chen Congyun said very subtlely, and Stephen's face changed instantly. He stared at Chen Congyun's face and asked word by word: "Chen, have you decided to join the war?"

Chen Congyun raised his hand to signal Stephen to sit down, and then smiled slowly and said: "Stephen, I can understand your mood. However, I must let you understand one thing. China's principle of being based in Asia has never been shaken, but now in Asia, there is no place that has no footprints left by Britain and France? I think you should understand what I mean, and the US government should also understand what I mean. If they still insist on doing it alone, they can only meet on the battlefield."

Stephen's face suddenly changed drastically, his whole body trembled suddenly, and he looked at Chen Congyun in disbelief and asked, "Chen, how do you know that the US government's attitude towards whether to participate in the war has been shaken?"

Chen Congyun smiled faintly and said, "It is not difficult to understand this point. The US national system determines this. Interests! Everything is for interests! In fact, the US government, which is manipulated by the oligarchs of the consortium, considers any issues based on interests. The United States joins the war in line with the principle of maximizing interests of the oligarchs. Similarly, the Chinese government joins the war in line with the principle of maximizing interests of China. I think it is not difficult to obtain some accurate information from the United States as your identity, right? In fact, to be honest, Russia has basically collapsed. Without the participation of the United States in the war, Britain and France will have no support. Once Britain and France are defeated, the British and French government bonds in the hands of international bankers will become worthless."

Chen Congyun explained very clearly, and Stephen also understood what Chen Congyun meant, but Stephen asked the last question: "Chen, have you never worried that this move will undermine the good friendship between China and the United States? Are you so confident that you will win this war on the premise that the United States participates in the war? Do you think it is worth it to risk going to war with the United States?"

Stephen's words are undoubtedly the most thoughtful question in recent times. If Stephen asked this question half a year ago, Chen Congyun's answer might be completely different, but now Shen Congyun just smiled faintly and said, "Stephen, there is a saying in China that one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Since the United States occupied the Philippines, its ambitions in Asia have become increasingly greater. If China indulges the United States to join the camp of the Allies, Americans' ambitions in Asia will directly collide with China's interests in the next twenty years. Although the Pacific Ocean is broad, it cannot stop the conflict between China and the United States. The powerful China and the powerful United States will inevitably conflict for the interests of the Pacific in the future. This is inevitable. Since it is inevitable, why can't I take the lead?"

Stephen was speechless after hearing this. The trade between China and the United States was almost a bit of a simple seller's market. At least in the past twenty years, China has been the largest buyer of the United States' mechanical products, and China is also the largest agricultural product sales market in the United States. Stephen could not imagine what kind of dilemma the US economy would face once it loses the Chinese market. As a buyer, China, mechanical equipment that cannot be obtained from the United States can be introduced from Germany. What's more, in the past twenty years after the war, China has basically completed the construction of its own industrial system, and its dependence on American mechanical products has almost no longer exists.

"Okay! I think I understand what you mean. Then, I will follow the ancestral teachings of the Rothschild family and serve the place of nationality." Stephen said it very clearly. Currently he has Chinese nationality. In order to serve as the Minister of Trade in China, Stephen had already given up his American nationality.

Stephen's attitude made Chen Congyun very satisfied. It was precisely because he knew that the Rothschild family had this tradition that Chen Congyun dared to say everything with confidence before declaring war. Of course, even if Stephen had already expressed his opinion, Chen Congyun would not easily believe it or relax his control over him. This is politics and has nothing to do with private friendship. In the position of Chen Congyun, Chen Congyun would give up his private friendship with Stephen without hesitation for the benefit of the country. This has been shown very clearly in many previous Sino-US cooperation processes, and Stephen was also very clear in his heart.

Therefore, before leaving, Stephen finally asked Chen Congyun: "Shen, do you need me to resign from my position as Minister of Trade?"

Chen Congyun admires Stephen very much. Stephen is undoubtedly a very smart person who knows how to advance and retreat. This may be the main reason why Stephen, a former American citizen and a person with close relationships with those Jewish bigwigs in the United States, has been able to stay in the position of Minister of Trade for twenty years.

"It's a waste!" Chen Congyun smiled faintly, gave Stephen the highest affirmation, and then smiled and watched Stephen's slightly swaying figure disappear outside the door.

There were many things that happened in January 1917, and the most eye-catching thing was that Chen Congyun repeatedly rejected the British and French ministers' request for advice. The reason was very simple. Britain, France and Russia responded coldly to the proposal of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the armistice negotiations.

This was nothing in the past, and it seemed so meaningful in this delicate historical moment. Throughout January, the US minister frequently visited the presidential residence and met with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs three times. What was discussed in this way, and outsiders could not know.

Petersburg, Russia.

It is too cold in Russia. After the night falls, it is rare to see half a person on the street.

In an inconspicuous bar, the smell of inferior tobacco burning; the unrestrained laughter of the prostitute who showed most of the breasts; the curses of the guests who were gambling filled the entire bar.

Several men dressed as workers, surrounded by a man with a slightly bald forehead, walked in and slowly walked to the door in the bar. The man raised the curtain and entered one after another. The others quickly dispersed and sat down everywhere, staring at the gate.

The bar owner who was looking at the account book under the dim light, looked up and saw the man coming in, and couldn't help but smile: "Hi, friend. Please go out if you want to drink. This is the place where people live."

The man slowly lowered the curtain and turned around, smiled at the bar owner and said, "What? Dear old friend, don't you know me anymore?"

"Oh my God, it's you? Vladimir!" After a warm hug, the two separated.

"It's great, it's so wonderful that you can come back and lead us."

"The situation is getting worse and worse, and the Tsar has ordered a move to suppress the workers' strike movement at all costs."

"What should I do?"

"You go and contact our people immediately and hold a meeting with you tomorrow morning. I have an important decision to announce it to everyone."

The next morning, people quietly touched the bar one after another.

"Have everyone arrived? Then now I will announce the meeting."

Before this, a large number of Russian radicals trained in China sneaked back to Russia in various ways with the help of China. Lenin, who was sure to receive help from the Chinese government, was confident. Coupled with his position in the Communist International, Lenin easily gained the leadership of the Bolshevik Party. A revolutionary movement aimed at overthrowing the rule of the Tsar quietly unfolded before New Year's Day in 1917.
Chapter completed!