Although Sun Yuanqi and Zhu Erdian had some verbal conflicts, this did not affect the warm atmosphere at the airport. Officials, big and small, gathered around Sun Yuanqi and tried their best to flatter him. Some were disgusting, some were funny, some were eloquent, some were concise. All in all, they had one purpose: to make the Prime Minister happy. Sun Yuanqi also knew that this matter was inevitable, so he had to restrain his temper and try his best to deal with everyone. One party tried its best to welcome and the other responded diligently. With the joint efforts of both parties, the welcome ceremony was naturally enjoyable for both guests and hosts.
The ceremony was delayed until after one o'clock in the afternoon. Sun Yuanqi was so exhausted that he couldn't even say a word after climbing into the car. I used to think that staying up late writing papers would be physically and mentally exhausting, but I didn¡¯t expect that putting on a smile and telling lies would be even more tiring!
After the car left the airport, it went straight to the headquarters of the New China Party. The headquarters of the New China Party was first baptized by artillery fire during the recent siege, and then ransacked by the Beiyang Army. There are still many bullet holes and traces of smoke on the walls. Fortunately, the main building has not suffered any damage. It was too damaged, but it was put into use again after some repairs. It's just that the surrounding guards are obviously much tighter than before. Fortifications built with sandbags and steel plates are visible. The barrels of heavy machine guns protruding from the fortifications are aimed at each entrance and exit. With just one order, intruders can be torn into pieces.
Sun Yuanqi had just taken a breath when he returned to the headquarters of the New China Party. Before he finished his cup of hot tea, he heard an announcement from a doorman: "Your Excellency, the German Minister to China, Mr. Harhausen, is here to visit!"
When he was at the airport just now, Harhausen looked calm and relaxed. Why did he come to the door in such a hurry in the blink of an eye? Sun Yuanqi steeled himself and said, "Please!"
Harhausen hurried in and said to Sun Yuanqi without any regard for politeness: "Mr. Johnson, I hope you can forgive me for being presumptuous, but the matter is already very urgent. Please allow me to waste a few minutes of your precious time. I would like to come now, Your Excellency Have you learned that the Japanese Minister to China, Mr. Yamaza, committed suicide by taking poison this morning due to the huge domestic pressure? I wonder what you think of this matter?"
Sun Yuanqi said: "Although Minister Shanzuo's sudden death in the embassy in China is not pleasant news, it is not only for your government, but also for us in China. Isn't it the best way to solve the current Shandong problem?"
Harhausen shook his head: "If this move can dispel the Japanese government's covetousness of the Jiao'ao area, it will undoubtedly be a good solution. But frankly speaking, Prime Minister, do you think this is possible? I think a few hours The former British Minister to China, Mr. Juldian, can already illustrate this problem very well with your inquiry, that is, the United Kingdom supports Japan in pursuing German interests in the Far East, even though China strongly opposes this!
"According to the information we have just received, yesterday your country's former interim president, Mr. Sun Yat-sen, who is in exile overseas, wrote to Japan's new prime minister, Mr. Shigenobu Okuma, requesting the Japanese government to actively support the Chinese Revolutionary Party to overthrow the existing domestic regime. Reform internal affairs in order to Save the crisis in East Asia. After receiving this letter, Japan has sent people to conduct secret consultations with Mr. Sun Yat-sen on this issue!"
Sun Yuanqi secretly resented in his heart: I used to think that Sun Yat-sen was quite majestic and upright. If he hadn't been interested in politics at that time, he would have almost taken the initiative to bow down to his elder brother and step onto the ship of the Democratic Party. How could this be the case. In order to make good friends with the forerunners and leave a way out for the future, a farce involving a dog-headed military advisor was staged during the first meeting. Unexpectedly, Sun Yat-sen and the revolutionary party have not made any progress over the years, but have become more and more ineffective. Now they are even changing their methods to commit suicide, as if they are afraid that they will not die in a fancy way!
Seeing that Sun Yuanqi was silent, Harhausen thought that he had already been moved. He quickly advised in a low voice: "Now, both in public and private matters, the Prime Minister should be incompatible with Japan. And Japan is so arrogant because the United Kingdom is supporting them behind the scenes. Therefore, on behalf of the German government, I would like to invite your country to join the ranks of the Allies and cooperate with the United Kingdom." , Japan, Russia and other axis of evil to fight to the death and completely defeat their control of the world!"
If Sun Yat-sen¡¯s attempt to commit suicide is at the advanced level in China, then Germany undoubtedly represents the world¡¯s highest level of suicide attempt in the first half of the 20th century, even ranking among the top three in the thousands of years of recorded human history. It is estimated that the only one that can compete with him in the past hundred years is our neighbor Japan, because they still show no signs of repentance. Let's run wildly on the track of the death-defying competition.
As for the current China, let alone participating in the death-defying competition, even the qualifications to watch are questionable. How can they dare to mess around? So Sun Yuanqi immediately refused and said: "Sorry, Mr. Harhausen, Sun still said the same thing. Although our country recognizes and appreciates your country's courage and determination to challenge the great powers. However, due to limited national strength, it is a pity that we cannot join the Allied camp and your country." The country is fighting side by side. In addition, I personally want to ask your country a question. I wonder if I can give you some advice?" Sun Yuanqi saw that there were only two people in the room, himself and Harhausen, and decided to ask the question that he had not thought about enough in his heart.?.
Although Harhausen was greatly disappointed. But he still politely replied: "Please speak!"
Sun Yuanqi asked thoughtfully: "The current situation in Europe has the meaning of 'the storm is about to come'. I can roughly guess that the reason for today's situation is that there are not only the interest disputes between military alliances, but also the military-state Socialism, nationalism, economic imperialism and other ideological trends, as well as news and propaganda from various countries that demonize the empire, have made it out of control. However, as far as your country is concerned, it has been actively preparing for war in an attempt to rely on iron and steel. To resolve all disputes with blood, do you really think that you can start a war on both the east and west fronts at the same time and defeat the British, French, Russian and other great powers on your own?"
Harhausen smiled bitterly and said: "Germany has never believed that it can defeat Britain, France, Russia and other great powers on its own, so it has always been trying its best to find allies around the world that can cooperate, including now! In fact, no country in Europe We are willing to go to war, because the emperors and ministers of various countries can foresee that this will be a terrible war. Although the political results are still uncertain, it will cause huge economic and property losses, humanitarian Disasters and industrial and commercial destruction are indeed conceivable.
"And whether this war breaks out or not is not decided by Germany alone. At the beginning, each country had its own demands. For example, we in Germany wanted to strive for economic benefits and restore the Three Kingdoms Alliance. The balance of power in Europe changed with the weakening of the Three Kingdoms and the strengthening of the Triple Entente; the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted to restore its declining status as a great power and curb the national movements that threatened its survival. France, on the other hand, wanted to take back Alsace by defeating Germany. Sri Lanka and Lorraine established their hegemony on the European continent; Britain wanted to strangle the naval development of our country and maintain their maritime hegemony.
"To use an inappropriate metaphor, countries such as Britain and France are like cylinders storing compressed gas, and Germany is like compressed gas trying to break free from the constraints of the cylinder. The cylinder wants to maintain its original rights-defending rule by expanding its military power, and the gas will strengthen accordingly. The military tried their best to break free from the shackles of the cylinder. The more compressed the air, the stronger the resistance. The stronger the resistance, the thickness of the cylinder will naturally increase. In the end, when both sides feel that the cost of maintaining the status quo is higher than recasting a cylinder, The fragile balance is broken, the cylinder explodes, and war becomes inevitable!"
From the perspective of a science student, Harhausen's metaphor can be described as profound and easy to understand, and Sun Yuanqi suddenly understood it.
Harhausen seemed to feel that he still had more to say, so he changed his metaphor: "In other words, the great powers such as Britain and France are like the brutal and stupid rule of your country at the end of each dynasty, while Germany is like trying its best to resist oppression and strive for survival. The new forces in space, in this life-and-death struggle, will ultimately have to rely on force to complete the rotation of old and new rule. Although we in Germany do not believe that we can challenge the great powers such as Britain, France, and Russia on our own, we do I won¡¯t sit still and wait for death!¡±
¡ª¡ªHaving said that, no matter from the perspective of the number of participants from the major participating countries, the areas involved, or the property losses and casualties caused by the war, the Great War of World War I was equivalent to the entire country during the change of Chinese dynasties. In a big melee, at most the weapons are more advanced and the warlords are promoted to kings and emperors.
Sun Yuanqi asked again: "Have your country ever thought about how the war should end?"
Harhausen said: "The most ideal situation is of course to defeat the Allied Powers such as Britain, France, and Russia, lift their shackles on Germany, and force them to recognize our rise and existence. However, once the war breaks out, all participating countries will try their best to Striving to realize pre-war expectations will also be mixed with many other interests and irrational factors, making the final result very unpredictable. If the war falls into a quagmire, it is likely that everyone will be exhausted and use up their last hope. We have no choice but to maintain the current status quo.¡±
Sun Yuanqi thought: In the end, everyone was indeed tortured to death. No matter Britain, France or Russia, they did not get much benefit. Instead, they gradually slipped from the top of the world; Germany, especially, lost its bottom. Only the United States, which was watching from the sidelines, stepped in when the final situation was stalemate and became the biggest winner!
Of course, Sun Yuanqi did not want such a brave Germany to be defeated soon. If he could make Britain, France, Russia and other countries so obsessed that they would have no time to look back in the next twenty or thirty years, then Even better! So Sun Yuanqi asked with concern at this time: "The conflicts among European countries have not intensified yet. Everyone maintains basic etiquette. There is no embargo on various strategic materials, and water and land transportation channels are basically kept open. If your country needs anything, If so, please hurry up and purchase transportation, and the Chinese government will try its best to provide convenience. Once this war breaks out, it will not end in a short time!"
Harhausen's eyes lit up: "When it comes to general strategic supplies, we have already started to reserve them earlier and have basically completed them now. But as you said, our country is facing a two-front war against powerful countries such as Britain, France, and Russia. We are not too sure, because apart from the heroic German soldiers, we have no other weapons worth relying on. If your government can provide our country with appropriate assistance in new weapons and equipment, we will definitely be able to gain a greater advantage on the battlefield! "
Sun Yuanqi hesitated and said: "China may not be unable to provide appropriate assistance to your country's national defense construction, of course, if the conditions are right."