At this time, Komura Sutaro said again: "When regarding our negotiations with Russia, the United Kingdom suggests that we make concessions to Russia and return Fengtian to Russia. As long as we agree to this condition, they are willing to deal with us and Russia."

The convention hall was immediately infuriated again, and several people slapped the table and started to curse.

Masayoshi Matsukabata shouted, "What kind of ally is this? He actually forces us to surrender to Russia."

Shikiya Kawayama said: "Yes, damn British people, will they abandon our Japan after they have used it?"

Amidst the slandering and indignation, only Hirofumi Ito and Akito Yama Prefecture maintained a calm attitude and said nothing. After everyone vented, Hirofumi Ito said: "Everyone, please calm down, I understand the intention of the UK."

After hearing this, the others stopped venting meaninglessly and focused their attention on Hirobuki Ito.

Hirofumi Ito said: "First of all, everyone should understand that Britain and our Japan have signed an alliance treaty, and in the first few years of war against Russia, they have provided a lot of help to Japan. In essence, it is for the interests of Britain. It is hoped that Japan can curb Russia's expansion in the Far East and protect Britain's commercial interests in the Far East. After all, Britain is too far from the Far East. Even if the national strength is strong and the military strength is strong, it is beyond its reach. Of course, for Japan, we also face the Russian threat. We need to use the power of Britain to fight against Russia. Therefore, our relationship with Britain is to use each other and hope that one side will make full efforts to rescue at the other side's critical moment. For example, now that Britain and France are going to war in Europe, will we send troops to Europe to assist the British in the war? Don't complain that Britain abandons Japan."

After hearing Hiromitsu Ito said, everyone lowered their heads. In fact, Hiromitsu Ito was clear that the truth that Hiromitsu Ito was said was that due to the intervention of the East China Political Department, Japan's situation suddenly reversed. It was like a gambler who had won a lot of chips at the gambling table. As a result, when he was betting for the last time, he not only lost all the chips he had won before, but even his own capital. Anyone would inevitably lose his mentality at this time.

Kanetaro said: "According to Ito-Kun's statement, Britain has believed that Japan has no value and plans to give up on Japan. Is it hopeless for us, Japan, to be betrayed by everyone now?"

Hirobuki Ito shook his head and said, "Of course not, and I don't think the UK has given up on Japan yet."

Kanetaro immediately said, "Oh! Why?"

Hirofumi Ito said: "Britain has huge commercial interests in the Far East, but its local area is too far from the Far East. Therefore, in order to protect its interests in the Far East, it is necessary to support an agent in the Far East to assist the UK in maintaining peace in the Far East. This agent is only Japan. Russia and overseas Chinese have too great ambitions, and the Qing court is too weak. This determines that Britain must not give up on Japan."

Shiki Kawayama said: "So why did Britain ask us to give up Fengtian to Russia?"

Hirobuki Ito said: "This is exactly the wisest thing about Britain. The purpose is to bring Russia into war. Now Russia can put strict conditions on us. The main reason why Russia has given us strict conditions is that they have not directly conflicted with overseas Chinese. Once Russia also goes to war with overseas Chinese, I am afraid they will beg us to unite. If we give up Fengtian to Russia, then Russia can directly contact overseas Chinese, and then Russia will not be able to maintain such an attitude of being out of the way."

As he said that, Hirobuki Ito asked someone to take out the map of Northeast China. He saw that Liaozhong, Shenyang and Liaoyang almost formed a triangle. Liaoyang is located about 50 kilometers southeast of Liaozhong; and Shenyang is located about 70 kilometers northeast of Liaozhong. If Russia occupies Shenyang, then the three parties of the Russian, Japanese and East China governments will form a triangular structure. Even if the East China government will not go to war with Russia immediately, it will at least be restrained by Russia. In this way, Japan will be much less pressure, and Russia will no longer be so arrogant. It can be said that Britain's move is indeed very exquisite.

In fact, Britain is also very troubled now. They are very dissatisfied with the participation of the East China government in the war, but they feel helpless. Britain supports Japan as its agent in order not to be dragged into the war. The Biyibule War left too much shadow on Britain, and now Britain has to face the aggressive Germany in Europe. Therefore, Britain will never send warships to the Far East, and it is no different from participating in the war.

It is also unrealistic to impose an economic blockade on the East China government, because the trade volume between the UK and the East China government is not large. The East China government's foreign trade is first recommended by Germany, followed by the United States, and Britain can only rank third. On the one hand, the East China government intends to do it and does not want to get too close to Britain; on the other hand, Britain accounts for more than 70% of China's overall foreign trade, and it no longer has the same trade deal with the East China government.

However, what the UK did not expect was that Germany and the United States had increasingly frequent trade exchanges with the East China government in recent years, and with the help of the East China government as a springboard, it expanded to the mainland of China. Therefore, the trade volume between the two countries and China has risen sharply, and they are developing new markets. As a result, although the total trade volume of Britain in China has not decreased, its proportion has dropped from more than 70% to more than 65%.

If an economic blockade of the East China government is to be carried out, it must be supported and cooperated by Germany and the United States, but this requires Britain to pay a lot of price and diplomatic resources. Because before the East China government joined the war, both of the United States issued 15 million pounds of bonds in Germany, and the funds raised were used to purchase goods from the two countries, which also made the economies of the two countries and the East China government closer. The United States is even better. Although it is a bit troublesome, Britain can still find some solutions, but Germany is quite troublesome. The relationship between the two sides has developed fierce confrontation due to the Moroccan crisis. Therefore, the price that Britain needs to settle Germany is simply impossible for Britain to accept.

In addition, the economy of the East China government is not mainly foreign trade. Most of their products are actually sold to mainland China. Therefore, even if the UK pays a significant price and receives support and cooperation from Germany and the United States, the results can be achieved are still very limited. However, Britain is an old player after all, and soon discovered the key point in this card game, that is, Russia has not yet played, but is watching Japan struggle to support it. Then we must find a way to pull Russia into the card game and make the card game balance.

After listening to Hirobu Ito's split, everyone suddenly realized and finally saw a little hope.

At this time, Yuto Yama Prefecture, who had not spoken, spoke: "Everyone, I also admit that this suggestion from Britain is a great move, and it is probably our only chance. But have you ever thought about what kind of reaction would be in Japan if we reach such an agreement with Russia?"

Hirobu Ito was stunned for a moment, his face changed a little. The domestic reaction was indeed something he had not expected, but after Yama Prefecture Akito, Hirobu Ito immediately understood that the domestic reaction was indeed annoying.

Before the East China government joined the war, Japan was very successful on the battlefield and won consecutive victories. Many of the victories were deliberately exaggerated by the domestic market. Although it boosted the morale of the Japanese people and supported the war, it also increased the appetite of the Japanese people. At the same time, its contempt for Russia increased greatly, and the media continued to copy it. Therefore, all sectors of society believed that Japan would gain much more benefits from this war than the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Under this optimistic sentiment, Japan should make peace with Russia, and it can also use the participation of the East China government in the war to make excuses, but it also has to return the Shenyang that the Japanese army has occupied to Russia. This is an absolutely unacceptable result in Japan. As a winner, how can it be handed over the occupied areas to the losers? And Hirobuki Ito is very clear that once the people in the country get angry, they will do something terrible. Hirobuki Ito did not forget that 10 years ago, when Li Hongzhang was assassinated during negotiations in Japan, he did not want to be "sincerely punished" by such so-called patriots.

Hirofumi Ito could think of it, and naturally others could think of it, so the chamber became silent again. Seeing that there was a way of life, I found that this road could not be taken at all, and many people almost collapsed. Hirofumi Ito was still calm and said, "Yama Prefecture, do you have any good solutions?"

Youpeng from Shan County said: "Yes."

Kanetaro hurriedly said, "What is it?"

Yama Prefecture Akito said: "We should refuse to make peace with Russia now, but we can take the initiative to withdraw from Fengtian and induce overseas Chinese and Russians to fight for Fengtian. As a result, no matter which side wins Fengtian, it is beneficial to us. In the country, we can claim that Fengtian was lost under the attack of overseas Chinese and Russians, so that we can explain it. After Russia is also dragged into the war, we will decide the next plan depending on the situation."

Hirobu Ito let out a long sigh, nodded, and said, "Yama Prefecture, this is really a good idea, it's really clever."
Chapter completed!