Xia Bohai said: "I agree with Lao Qin's opinion, so our statement should accuse Japan and Russia of both countries. The heavier the words, the better, and the stricter the words, the better."

Li Sanjie said: "Of course there is no problem in provoking Russia, but is it a bit too much to provoke Japan? At least we still have a cooperative relationship with Japan. Although it is just a fake cooperation and the agreement is not made public, at least for this year, we must stabilize Japan. If we provoke Japan, will it arouse Japan's suspicion?"

Wang Jun said: "If you only blame Russia and not Japan, you will not be able to escape the suspicion of stolen country. After all, this time two countries are fighting in our territory. We can't say that Japan is helping China when fighting Russia, right? Why not make a statement?"

Qin Zheng said: "I thought I didn't have to worry about Japan's reaction. One is that Japan still needs our help now. The other is that Japan made us a little while ago? Even if it was a retaliation for us, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed our statement to Japan through private channels only the need for the government's image. The attitude of cooperation has not changed. I guess Japan can only accept it. I was worried that after I issued the statement, I would arouse the public's emotions and really ask us to send troops to rescue the Northeast. Our government was threatened by public opinion and was forced to send troops in advance, which disrupted our plan. Therefore, this level must be grasped."

Xia Bohai said: "This is easy to deal with. We can push the court to the front as a shield, such as asking the Qing court to express its opinion in a statement, or asking the Qing court to order it, so that the ball can be kicked to the Qing court, and we ourselves can be picked out."

Ye Yanfu said: "This is probably not great. What if the Qing court really ordered us to send troops, wouldn't it be a mistake? Did you dig a hole and bury yourself?"

Qin Zheng laughed and said, "Don't worry, this is absolutely impossible. First of all, countries will not allow the Qing court to send troops, so they will naturally put pressure on the Qing court. Secondly, even if we ask us to send troops, it is not enough to say a word. At least we should give us a famous discussion, and at least we have to give us some military and political power. It is said that the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 was a battle between Li Hongzhang and one country, but in the famous discussion, Li Hongzhang controlled most of the resources of the country, but Li Hongzhang could not mobilize other local forces, but do you think the Qing court would hand over most of the military and political power to us? We can mention it in the statement."

Xia Bohai said: "We don't need to mention this in the statement, but we can let the public cooperate, find a few Shanghai newspapers, conduct joint recommendations and other actions, and require the Qing court to activate us and hand over the military and political power to us, so that we can send troops. This will be better."

Qin Zheng also nodded and said, "Well, this operation is indeed better. You might as well make a bigger momentum, and let us take charge of the military aircraft."

Xu Jichao said: "But we have always appeared in the name of an independent political body. Those who understand know that we do not listen to the Qing court at all. This time, we pushed the Qing court forward, probably many people can see that we are making excuses."

Qin Zheng said: "This is always inevitable. We cannot be perfect and satisfy everyone. There will always be people who have doubts about us. But with the Qing court blocking us, our pressure will be much less. And as long as we survive more than a year, when we really send troops, our doubts about us will disappear."

Xia Bohai said: "This principle is not wrong, but we cannot be too perfunctory. I think so. Adding the statement to the 'we will reserve the right to take all actions', so that it is easier to say in public opinion."

After hearing this, no one had any objections, so the general framework of the statement was determined. On the next day, the East China government issued its own statement, with very strict words, and severely punished both Japan and Russia, demanding that both sides stop the war immediately and withdraw from Chinese territory, and not harm Chinese civilians. At the same time, it also demanded that the Qing court make a statement as soon as possible and take effective measures to protect Northeast China. Finally, it was mentioned that the East China government would reserve the power to take all actions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a private announcement with the Russian consulate in Japan, saying that the attitude of the East China government to cooperate with Japan remains unchanged, and the statement is only for the purpose of the government's image; and although his attitude towards Russia is tough and requires Russia to protect Chinese residents, it also stated that the East China government has no intention to join the war immediately, and both Japan and Russia expressed their understanding of the statement of the East China government.

After the statement of the East China government was released, it was indeed a national public opinion, and they demanded that the Qing court express a tough attitude towards Japan and Russia, and that it would send troops to expel Japan and Russia. Several newspapers published editorials, believing that the only overseas Chinese could expel Japan and Russia. Therefore, they asked the court to activate overseas Chinese to use military power. Some newspapers even asked the court to dissolve the Military Affairs Office and use overseas Chinese as military ministers to take charge of the court. They could not only expel Japan and Russia, but also lead the court to implement new policies to enrich the country and strengthen the army.

This wave of public opinion came very turbulent. A day later, many officials wrote to the court, asking the court to use overseas Chinese to send troops to the Northeast, expel Japan and Russia, and defend the strong land. Although there were a few oppositions in this wave of public opinion, such as thinking that Japan and Russia were too strong and the court was unable to deal with it; overseas Chinese were hiding evil intentions and could not be used for it, etc., it could not change the general trend of public opinion this time.

This suddenly pushed the Qing court to an extremely embarrassing level. On the second day after Japan and Russia broke off diplomatic relations, Japanese ambassador Yasuya Uchida would meet Prince Kei and advised him that when Japan and Russia went to war, the Qing court should remain neutral. After Japan declared war with each other, Japan officially sent diplomatic notes to the Qing court and other ministers to the Qing court, again demanding that the Qing court remain neutral in the Russo-Japanese War. And Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Italy and other countries were also very distributing to Japan, and they demanded that the Qing court remain neutral and set up war zones.

In fact, the Qing court had noticed the evil diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia. As early as December 27, 1903, the negotiations between Japan and Russia had reached a deadlock. Yuan Shikai filed a lawsuit against the Qing court, believing that there would be a war between Japan and Russia. "If the Russian side is attached to Russia, Japan will disturb our southeasternness, and if the Japanese side is attached to Japan, Russia will disturb our northwest. Not only will China be in danger, but it will also affect the world. Japan and Russia will break up and I will be outside the bureau." Of course, Yuan Shikai was just talking in general at this time. If the battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War was not on China's territory, it would be wrong to strictly maintain neutrality.

After entering 1904, a war between Japan and Russia was about to break out, and the battlefield was definitely in China. The Qing court also began formal discussions. Yuan Shikai once again made a decision and divided the situation. He believed that if the Qing court wanted to defend the entire northeast, it would require at least 300,000 troops, and even if it only defended a few major cities in the northeast, it would require 100,000 troops. Now the new army of the Qing court has not been completed, and it is also the place where the Rong guards the capital, so the maximum number of troops that can be used in the northeast is only 20,000 to 30,000 people is simply unable to defend the northeast.

On February 8, after the Russo-Japanese War officially broke out, Yuan Shikai once again urged the Qing court to declare neutrality. Of course, Yuan Shikai repeatedly asked the Qing court to remain neutral in the Russo-Japanese War, which did not mean that it was Yuan Shikai's personal behavior, but that it represented a large number of Qing court officials. However, Yuan Shikai belonged to local officials, and these matters should be reported by local officials.

Of course, from an objective perspective, the Qing court at this time was not only neutral, but also determined that there was no better choice. Therefore, after a few days of negotiation, the Qing court was preparing to declare neutrality, but at this time, the East China government issued a statement, pushing the Qing court to the forefront. If neutrality was announced at this time, the court would probably be drowned by saliva. In addition, there was no idea what overseas Chinese planned to do this time, and would they take this opportunity to really rebel. After all, Japan and Russia were at war and there was no time to take care of others, while other British, American, French and German countries were far away and had limited intervention. If overseas Chinese really wanted to raise troops to raise an uprising, it would be a good opportunity.

Originally, the Qing court planned to send troops to suppress Henan bandits in February, and the preparations were almost done, so they were temporarily stopped. First, although the Russo-Japanese War was outside the pass, the Qing court had to guard against it. Second, overseas Chinese suddenly made such a move, so it was necessary to clean up the attitude of Chu and the others first, maybe it was for the Henan bandits.

So Cixi and Guangxu hurriedly recruited military ministers to discuss countermeasures, and this time they pulled Li Hongzhang out from the beginning. At the same time, at the suggestion of Li Hongzhang, they also specially recruited Yuan Shikai to Beijing to attend the court meeting.

At the beginning of the dynasty meeting, Tieliang offered a plan, suggesting that the court might as well order overseas Chinese to send troops to resist Russia and resist Japan, recover the Northeast, and let overseas Chinese fight against Russia and Japan to fight both sides, so the court could reap profits. In fact, Tieliang's suggestion represented the ideas of many Qing court officials, so Tieliang thought he was very proud.

After listening to Tieliang's suggestion, Cixi remained calm and Guangxu looked a little eager to try. However, seeing that Cixi's eyes were slightly closed and her face was expressionless, she did not speak for a while, but Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong's faces all showed a very obvious disdain.

A group of young and strong Manchus represented by Tieliang and Rongqing were hostile to Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong, and they were not very polite in their daily words. Therefore, Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong naturally would not give them a good face, but the two of them valued their identities and would not argue with them. Of course, some people would stand up.

Sure enough, after a little cold, Yuan Shikai said: "If overseas Chinese are asked to send troops outside the pass, military power will be granted, and the center also needs overseas Chinese to be dispatched in the center. Should two overseas Chinese be selected to come to the Military Affairs Office?"

Tieliang was stunned and couldn't answer for a moment.

Yuan Shikai said again: "If the overseas Chinese really expelled Japan and Russia and took to the Northeast, how should the court put it?"

At this time, Cixi's slightly closed eyes suddenly opened, but then closed immediately. However, Guangxu's whole body shook, as if he was moving, while Tieliang was speechless, and he couldn't even say a word.
Chapter completed!