After both sides were polite, they sat down in the reception room, and someone poured them coffee.

Prince Heinrich said first: "Political Commissar Qin, our country is very interested in the cooperation plan proposed by you. However, before we hold the formal talks, we hope to do another appraisal of the three-type British ship drawings you provide, and this time, General Tirpitz will preside over the appraisal. I hope you can understand."

Qin Zheng laughed and said, "Of course, we can understand your country's prudence. In fact, we will be the same if we do."

At this time, Tirpitz said: "Political Commissar Qin, I hope to see these drawings immediately."

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "Of course, we have prepared the room and drawings for you." After a pause, Qin Zheng shook a bell on the coffee table, and saw that the door of a side room opened and a young soldier walked out.

Qin Zheng said: "This Second Lieutenant Huang Zhe is our technical soldier. He has a deep study of warship design, and he is responsible for explaining the design ideas of these drawings for you." He also said to Huang Zhe: "These two are German special envoys, Prince Heinrich and General Tipitz."

Huang Zhe subconsciously stretched out his hand, but immediately took it back, instead saluted him and stammered: "Hello, Prince, General Tirpitz, hello."

Prince Heinrich first returned a military salute and nodded slightly. Tirpitz looked at Huang Zhe in confusion, feeling that this young man looked more like a student than a soldier, and his military rank was just a second lieutenant. He knew how many warship designs could be understood. Qin Zheng asked him to explain these drawings for himself. Do these overseas Chinese plan to perfunctorily treat him? However, out of politeness, Tirpitz also raised his hand to return a gift.

Huang Zhe was much more excited than Qin Zheng, because as a fan of heavy ships and giant cannons, it was impossible not to know the name of the father of the German High Seas Fleet. Moreover, in the old time and space, Huang Zhe was just an otaku who loved military and battleships. He was only absorbed into the army because he collected a large amount of warship information in the old time and space. After the rank of the entire army was greatly upgraded, he was promoted to a second lieutenant, but he did not have the psychological quality as good as Qin Zheng, so when he saw Tirpitz, he was inevitably a little nervous.

At this time, Qin Zheng said: "Person Huang, take General Tirpitz to identify the drawings."

Huang Zhe then calmed down and said, "General Tirpitz, please come with me."

Tirpitz nodded, then got up and walked out of the reception room with Huang Zhe. Qin Zheng and Prince Heinrich were still staying in the reception room for chatting.

However, before Tirpitz read the three sets of drawings, the two sides could not hold formal talks. Although Prince Heinrich was the official envoy to visit Qingdao and was able to make a decision, the cooperation talks between the two sides ultimately depend on Tirpitz's appraisal results of the drawings. If Tirpitz believes that these three sets of drawings are fake, then the two sides will have no basis for negotiation and cooperation.

During this period, Qin Zheng and Prince Heinrich mainly chatted casually. Of course, both of them hoped to understand each other's attitude, goals, and bottom line of negotiations through chatting, and prepare for the next formal talks.

Prince Heinrich said first: "I have a problem that I have never understood. I hope I can ask Political Commissar Qin for advice."

Qin Zheng said: "Please say it."

Prince Heinrich said: "Why did you take the initiative to cooperate with us in Germany? Strictly speaking, we are now hostile sides, and you have also captured Jiaoao, our colony." After a pause, Prince Heinrich said: "I do not want to argue with the Qin Political Commissar about the sovereignty of Qingdao and the legality of the loan contract signed by our country with the Qing Dynasty. Instead, it was said that before that, our country actually controlled Qingdao, and your side captured Qingdao by force. After occupying Qingdao, you proposed to cooperate with our country, which really made me very confused."

Qin Zheng laughed and said, "Your Excellency the Prince asked this question very well, and I also appreciate your frankness very much. This frankness is very important for our meeting, so I can also answer your prince frankly."

Prince Heinrich nodded, sat on the chair and bowed, saying, "I'll be polite."

Qin Zheng said: "Although we have achieved some victories on the battlefield and have the initiative, frankly speaking, our overall strength is not strong and it is impossible to continue to fight with the Eight-Nation Alliance for a long time. This war must be ended as soon as possible, so we are willing to participate in negotiations with various countries. But we cannot cede land and pay compensation for compensation from other countries like the Qing government. This will make us lose our moral advantage. Only by fighting against the weakness of the Eight-Nation Alliance can we completely defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance and end this war. We believe that the biggest weakness of the Eight-Nation Alliance is that internally do not unite, all parties have their own ulterior motives, and each has its own interests, so we need to find a partner among the Eight-Nation Alliance, so that we can disintegrate the Eight-Nation Alliance from internalization, and we think this partner is Germany."

Prince Heinrich frowned and said, "Political Commissar Qin, your frankness makes me very happy. And I also admit that what you just said is the facts. The Eight-Nation Alliance is actually a group of collectives that have different ideas and different purposes and only want to fight for their own interests. Therefore, your idea of ​​dismantling the Eight-Nation Alliance from the inside is completely correct, but why do you choose Germany as a partner, not Britain, France, Russia, the United States, and Japan? Although I am a German, I think these countries are actually more suitable to be your partners than Germany. Russia and Japan are both neighbors of China and very close to China; Britain and France have huge interests in China and even the Far East; and the United States has no ambitions for China's land, these are advantages that we Germany do not have."

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "Your Prince is right, but there is one thing that the Prince did not say. In fact, Germany also has its own unique advantages."

Prince Heinrich was a little confused and said, "I really don't understand what unique advantages Germany has? I am willing to ask Political Commissar Qin for advice."

Qin Zheng said: "That is the conditions we can provide, which is exactly what Germany needs."

Prince Heinrich said: "Does the Qin Political Commissar mean these three sets of drawings of the British ships? These three sets of drawings are indeed what we Germany needs, but for other countries, this is also a generous condition. I think France, Russia, and Japan will be interested in these three sets of drawings."

Qin Zheng smiled and said, "Prince, you misunderstood that these three sets of drawings are only part of the conditions we can provide, but not all. And I mean, if you want to become a partner, you must show each other what they need most, but not something that is not necessitated. Only in this way can you impress the other party. Britain has a wide range of commercial and political interests in China, and in terms of security, Britain has the world's most powerful fleet. The benefits we can provide to Britain can only be considered small and small, which is less than a single argument; France's interests in China are second only to Britain, and it may be

I am afraid that I don’t look down on the benefits we can provide. In terms of security, France’s biggest enemy is your country, so they form an alliance with Russia. We cannot help France in this regard. Russia and Japan have great ambitions for China’s territory, which is far from meeting the drawings of these three sets of warships and general economic cooperation, but this is something we cannot give. The United States has no ambitions for China’s territory, but what they need is a comprehensive free trade with China, and we cannot meet the United States. Therefore, we have no basis for comprehensive cooperation with these countries at all."

Heinrich said: "So where is the basis for your cooperation with Germany?"

Qin Zheng said: "First, Germany has not much interests in the Far East. Since it lost Qingdao, Germany has almost no foothold in the Far East. Therefore, if Germany still wants to maintain its existence in the Far East and wants to gain some benefits from it, only by cooperating with us, although we will not give up Qingdao's sovereignty, it is completely possible to carry out economic cooperation, mutual benefit, and help Germany expand its interests in the Far East. Secondly, we know that Germany is now aiming at Britain to build a long-distance navy, and we have a little ability to move in the UK. For example, the drawings of the three-type British ship this time are exactly what Germany needs most.

Yes; finally, please be honest, the current situation in Germany in Europe does not seem so optimistic. After France and Russia formed an alliance, Germany has fallen into an unfavorable situation of fighting on both sides. We know that Germany is trying its best to get rid of this situation, but war is always an essential option. Although we and Germany cannot form an alliance like France and Russia, in terms of military technology, we should be able to provide some help to Germany, which can increase the chances of victory in future battles. In the next few days, we will give the Prince a demonstration. I think these should be the basis for our cooperation."

After hearing Qin Zheng's words, Heinrich was silent for a long time before saying: "Political Commissar Qin, I admit that the cooperation between Germany and you is indeed more than other countries, but you have thought that in this war, you have caused the greatest harm to our Germany. Qingdao has been occupied by you, and the German Far East Fleet was also destroyed by you. It can be said that in this Eight-Nation Alliance, only Germany has suffered the greatest losses. And you believe that under such circumstances, will we, Germany, still accept cooperation with you?"

Qin Zheng smiled. Heinrich's words made him feel relieved. At least for Heinrich, the cooperation with Germany has been determined. Although Heinrich's words just now seemed very tough, they were actually hard and soft, with advance as a retreat, deliberately pulling high-profile points, just hoping to win more benefits for Germany in the formal talks. If Germany does not have the intention to cooperate with time travelers, why should two heavyweight figures send such a heavyweight to Qingdao?

Qin Zheng said: "I believe Germany will definitely cooperate with us."
Chapter completed!