Taft looked at the surprised expression on Roosevelt's face and said: "Teddy, look, since it can be solved through diplomatic negotiations, why should it be solved by force? The people don't want the United States to be involved in the war. China, our main target for prevention is Europe.¡±
Roosevelt put down the document in his hand and asked: "President Taft, you think that someone has taken away your bread, but you still expect him to return it to you intact? Stop being naive, those yellow-skinned Chinese This is not a good thing. There must be some conspiracy in the negotiation at this time."
"What do you mean? Teddy" Taft blew out a smoke ring
"Let's go to war and teach these treacherous yellow-skinned monkeys a lesson," Roosevelt said through gritted teeth.
Taft finally couldn't help it, put down his pipe, and said angrily: "Teddy, you are really stubborn. This is a period of peace talks. If you don't open your mouth or shut up, you will start a war. The president represents the will of the American people, not the United States." the will of the militants¡±
"Militants?" Roosevelt sneered: "Well, I ask President Taft to allow me to form a crusade, and I want to participate in the war in my own name."
"Teddy, you are no longer young. Do you still think about the glorious record you commanded the U.S. Army in Cuba against the Spanish? Now you are just an ordinary American citizen." Taft's face It's getting uglier and ugly. His former boss showed no mercy to him and didn't regard him as the president.
Although Taft¡¯s term as president will soon expire, this does not mean that Roosevelt can have any say in his decision-making, even if he is a former president.
Taft said coldly: "Teddy, the future of the United States is not decided by you."
Roosevelt heard the meaning of Taft's words and his face paled. Roosevelt snorted: "The future of the United States is not determined by you. I hope you will not regret the decision you made today. Those yellow-skinned monkeys can It¡¯s not as simple as you think¡±
"These issues should wait until you succeed in the election and become the next president," Taft said.
This conversation ended unhappily like this
At the invitation of the President of China, Republican presidential candidate Wilson will leave for Guam, a U.S. colony in the Pacific, to participate in negotiations with China in three days. The news that Wilson is about to leave for Guam has spread throughout the United States, and many people have taken to the streets holding slogans. , supports Wilson¡¯s pacifist proposition and hopes that Wilson can bring peace back to the United States
Regarding China's strength, many American people have seen from China's performance in the war with Russia and the war with Japan that China's military strength is accelerating to catch up with the United States. Once the United States has an armed conflict with China at this time, even if the United States In the end, victory was achieved, but the price of victory was too high. Moreover, the situation in Europe was tense, and the American people hoped that the United States could survive the coming storm. Therefore, many American people pinned their hopes for peace on Wilson.
Wilson also gave a public speech in San Francisco, an important city on the west coast of the United States, stating that he would definitely bring peace back to the United States, and would take up foreign weapons to bring back the Hawaiian Islands.
Wilson's pacifist rhetoric received full support from the majority of the American people. On the contrary, the tough foreign policy that Roosevelt's Buck Party had been promoting was scorned by many Americans. Many people labeled Roosevelt a "warmonger." title
For a time, Wilson's public support increased greatly, and the Republican Party was determined to win the next president. Wilson's photos began to appear on the front pages of many major newspapers in the United States. Next to Wilson's black and white photo, a line of eye-catching fonts read Author: Bringing Peace to the United States
Guam
This time, in order to show China's sincerity, Chinese President Tang Jian personally went to Guam to negotiate with Wilson. Tang Jian arrived in Hiroshima one day earlier than Wilson. After learning that Wilson's passenger ship would arrive at the Guam pier an hour later, Tang Jian took him with him Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi and a group of foreign officials arrived at the pier early. Soon after, above the sea level, a passenger ship flying the American Stars and Stripes slowly sailed towards Guam.
Tang Jian looked at the Guam pier while waiting, and said to Tang Shaoyi: "The geographical location of Guam is really good. If you go west, you can enter the Far East, go north to Japan, go south to Indonesia, and east to Hawaii. If Hawaii is As a nail in the Eastern Pacific region, Guam is a springboard in the Western Pacific region. If it is used as a naval base, it can basically radiate the entire Asia-Pacific region."
Tang Shaoyi glanced at the Governor of Guam and the US officials stationed in Guam not far away, and whispered: "President, don't you have a crush on Guam?"
Tang Jian sneered and said, "What do you think I'm attracted to?"??Guam, I have noticed it for a long time, but the Americans started earlier. They captured Guam from Spain in 1898. If the United States had been slower for a year or two, Guam would have belonged to China. With Guam, you can It forms a triangular military defense zone with the three islands of Hainan Island and Taiwan Island. If Luzon is included in the future, think about it, starting from Sakhalin Island and Japan in the north, going south to Luzon and Borneo, and then to Guam and Hawaii, by then, China will be able to own the entire Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea Islands. If China develops on this basis for another 20 years, it is not impossible to become a world-class power."
After listening to Tang Jian's words, Tang Shaoyi nodded slightly, but she was very excited in her heart. Making the country rich and powerful has always been the goal that every person with lofty ideals strives for throughout their life. If it really develops according to what Tang Jian said, then China Will eventually become a world hegemon like Britain
"Mr. Wilson is here," Tang Shaoyi said, pointing to the passenger ship slowly moored at the Guam pier in the distance.
With a long whistle, the passenger ship flying the American Stars and Stripes anchored at the pier. Several Americans in suits and good-talking people got off the gangway one after another. Tang Jian and a group of Chinese foreign officials stepped forward and faced One of the leading elegant Americans said: "Welcome, Mr. Wilson", and Tang Jian stretched out his right hand.
Although Wilson knew that Tang Jian would speak fluent English, he did not expect that Tang Jian's English was so fluent, just like a native American. Wilson was just surprised for a moment, and politely extended his right hand and said: " Dear President Tang Jian, hello¡±
Tang Jian knew that Wilson had the title of Doctor of Philosophy and had been a university president and governor. He was a very knowledgeable and gentle American. It was his character and experience that led to his political opinions when he participated in the U.S. presidential election. At the same time, many people in the Republican Party regarded Wilson as a moderate reformer, which clearly distinguished him from Roosevelt.
After welcoming Wilson at the pier, Tang Jian took Tang Shaoyi and others to a banquet hosted by the Governor of Guam. Although Tang Jian was not very fond of such banquets, in order to convince the Americans of China's sincerity in this negotiation, Tang Jian went out of his way to He attended the banquet in formal attire, was courteous at the banquet, and drank and drank with many American officials, including Wilson and the Governor of Guam, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Wilson came to Tang Jian with a glass of whiskey and said politely: "Dear President Tang Jian, you are not a military president who likes to use absolute force as the outside world spreads. On the contrary, in this short period of contact, Here, President Tang Jian gave me a more realistic understanding.¡±
"Oh, what do you know?" Tang Jian said with a glass of 1892 Lafite gently shaking in his right hand, and replied with a smile.
Wilson said with a smile: "I think President Tang Jian is a very elegant man. If he didn't know that President Tang Jian once personally commanded the Beiyang Fleet to defeat Japan, defeat Russia, eliminate the old establishment, and establish the Chinese Republic, no one would He will regard the gentleman in front of him as a general galloping on the battlefield and looking down on the world."
Tang Jian said meaningfully: 'Mr. Wilson, are you praising me? "
"Of course" Wilson raised his glass and touched it with Tang Jian, then took a sip of whiskey and said
"As far as I know, Mr. Wilson is a knowledgeable gentleman? In addition, I seem to have heard that Wilson is a hot candidate for the next presidential election. The next president of the United States is none other than Mr. Wilson. ?" Tang Jian asked tentatively
"Haha, President Tang Jian made a ridiculous compliment. The United States has always been a country that promotes peace and democracy. Whether I am elected president or not is not my decision. It is the American public who have the final say. I'm afraid it's me. That's a strong statement," Wilson said modestly.
"However, I come to Guam this time with an important responsibility. I want to talk to your country about the South China Sea disputes," Wilson said, staring into Tang Jian's eyes.
Tang Jian sneered in his heart. After talking nonsense for so long, he finally got to the point.
Tang Jian said: "Actually, it was just a misunderstanding. When I went to Huangyan Island for inspection, I happened to encounter your country's Far East Fleet patrolling Huangyan Island. Our South China Sea Fleet immediately protested solemnly. Huangyan Island has been owned by China since ancient times. Territory, your Far East Fleet not only entered our waters without prior notice, but also ignored our protests. This is obviously a provocative act."
"But, according to General Brand's report, it seems that your South China Sea Fleet was the first to launch the artillery attack?" Wilson asked rhetorically
"This, I said, is a misunderstanding. It is the duty of the navies of all countries to suppress pirates in the South China Sea and maintain smooth navigation. However, Huangyan Island is within my country's territorial waters. The pirates on Huangyan Island should be suppressed by our fleet. It is valuable. General Brand of China wants to enter our territory Huangyan.The island was cleared of pirates. On that day, a gunner from our fleet drank some wine without permission and accidentally fired a cannon. I wanted to explain, but I didn't expect that the returning Far East Fleet fired back violently. In order to defend themselves, there was no other way. I had no choice but to order to fire back in order to protect myself," Tang Jian said shamelessly.