Chapter 377 Don’t leave without giving money
When the Russian Empire invaded Kanto State, George reminded little Nicholas to be careful of becoming the target of public criticism.
Little Nicholas was so confident at the time that he didn’t take George’s reminder to heart.
The Qing Empire had no strength in Guandong, and the Russian Empire had indeed successfully achieved its strategic goal and captured the entire Guandong.
The subsequent development of the situation gradually escaped Nikolai's control.
Nikolai's wishful thinking was to imitate Muraviev after occupying Guandong and force the Qing Empire to sign a treaty and cede the entire Guandong to the Russian Empire.
But the Qing Empire now is no longer the Qing Empire in 1860.
When it comes to being naughty, the Qing people can beat the Russians ten times.
After learning about the Russian Empire’s request, the Qing Empire did not rush to reply. Instead, it secretly disclosed the Russian Empire’s request to the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States.
This is a big deal.
The British and Japanese had a stranglehold on the Russian Empire's forced lease of Dalini.
Now the Russian Empire is targeting the entire Kanto region.
This is awesome!
The next step for you is to annex the entire Qing Empire?
Nicholas said that was not the case. He only wanted to annex the north of the Great Wall and establish the so-called Yellow Russia.
While in St. Petersburg, Nikolai described his "Yellow Russia Plan" to George.
George believes that Nicholas’s current ambitions indeed only stop at the Great Wall.
After achieving this goal, no one can say whether it will continue to expand in the future.
There is no need to worry about this, because Nikolai's so-called "Yellow Russia Plan" has no future at all.
After learning that the Russian Empire wanted to annex the entire Kanto region, Britain issued a war threat to the Russian Empire and demanded that the Russian Empire withdraw from Kanto. Otherwise, Britain would join forces with other countries to intervene with force.
Nicholas never expected that the Three Kingdoms intervention in Liaoning that he led would be repeated just 6 years later.
But Nicholas is not worried either.
Because Britain currently does not have the ability to wage war.
Russia is not the Qing Empire. With only 3,000 people, let alone St. Petersburg, it is a dream to land in Amur.
It was impossible for Britain to declare war on Russia before the Boer War was over.
Otherwise, when East India annexed Sabah and Sarawak one after another, the British would take action.
George also did not expect that his unification of East India would actually become Nicholas's confidence.
But Nicholas is not arrogant. Even if Britain wants to form a coalition, except Japan, no one will respond.
It is no longer the period of the Ninth Russo-Turkish War. After 20 years of dormancy in the Russian Empire, the international environment has greatly improved.
The Ottoman Empire has been in a state of decline since its defeat by the Russian Empire.
France is now an ally of the Russian Empire. Although France also has some complaints about Russia's occupation of Kantung, it is certainly not to the point of giving up the alliance and breaking up.
Shortly after the death of Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II sent an invitation to Nicholas, hoping to form an anti-British alliance with the Russian Empire and bring France into it.
Nicola agreed in principle, but said that France must first agree.
Germany and France are feuding. William II’s original intention was to ease the conflict with France through the Russian Empire, first form an alliance with Russia, and then bring France in.
If France were invited to form an alliance from the very beginning, it would be impossible for the French to agree.
William II was very dissatisfied and complained that Nicholas had become too spineless because he owed money to the French.
Based on this premise, it is impossible for Germany to form an alliance with Britain.
If France and Germany do not respond in this matter, the so-called coalition cannot be built.
So Nicholas was very confident and decisively refused to withdraw his troops.
Only at this time did Britain find out embarrassingly that the situation was indeed as Nicholas expected. Britain was simply unable to curb the expansion of the Russian Empire in the Far East.
Since Britain was mired in the Boer War, it was unable to take care of East Asia as well.
So Britain turned its attention to Japan, which had just defeated the Qing Empire.
The Japanese also have the same appeal.
On April 17, the Japanese Minister to the UK, Mr. Lin, personally proposed the idea of an Anglo-Japanese alliance plan to the British Foreign Secretary Langston, and received a positive response from Langston.
On May 15, British Prime Minister Salisbury summoned Director Lin and expressed that the British government was willing to establish an alliance with Japan.
Almost at the same time, the third "Shikishima" class battleship "Hasuse" ordered by Japan from the United Kingdom was completed and put into service.
At this point, Japan's "Six-Six Fleet" plan has been completed more than half, with six heavy cruisers and six battleships. Only the "Mikasa", which is still under construction, has not yet been commissioned.
The Pacific Fleet is not slow either. After receiving the three sisters, the Pacific Fleet successively received the "Perithwaite" with a displacement of 12,683 tons, and the "Letvizan" with a displacement of 12,900 tons.
The "Perithwaite" is faster, reaching 18.5 knots, but the main gun has a small caliber, only 254 mm.
The "Letvizan" was built in the United States, with relatively good performance and quality. It is one of the most outstanding warships in the Pacific Fleet.
In addition to battleships, the Pacific Fleet has also added two new heavy cruisers, and there are two more heavy cruisers under construction at the Vladivostok Shipyard.
In addition to the two heavy cruisers of the Pacific Fleet, the Vladivostok Shipyard is also building heavy cruisers for the US Navy and the Siberian Fleet respectively. The keels of the two "Borodino" class battleships of the Pacific Fleet have also been laid. , it won’t be launched until the end of next year at the earliest. The Vladivostok Shipyard no longer accepts ship orders except for large warships.
Even so, the orders from the Vladivostok Shipyard have been scheduled for two years, and the keels of the all-heavy artillery battleships will not be laid until at least the end of 1903.
George is not in a hurry. The Siberian fleet is still dominated by destroyers and cruisers, and the need for battleships is not urgent.
Peter was anxious. On his way back to Vladivostok from Jeju with the cruiser "Amur", he ran into the three "Shikishima" sisters who were out for routine training at sea.
The 5,500-ton light cruiser is as weak and weak as a toy in front of the 15,000-ton "Shikishima" three sisters.
The three "Shikishima" sisters still traveled in formation, and there were two heavy cruisers and three light cruisers in the formation.
With this comparison, "Amur" becomes increasingly lonely.
The "Yoshino", which went to sea with the "Shikishima" three sisters, took the initiative to approach the "Amur" and shouted to the "Amur" to avoid colliding with the Japanese naval formation.
"Tell those bastards that this is the Siberian Fleet of the Russian Imperial Navy. Please keep them out of the way and not affect our normal travel."
Peter is not afraid and wants the Japanese Navy to keep out of the way.
The "Yoshino" accelerated, apparently trying to force the "Amur" to turn.
Peter laughed, and the "Amur" moved forward at full speed.
The "Amur"'s firepower and armor are indeed weak.
But compared to its speed, the "Amur" is not afraid of anyone.
Although it is fast, facing the 15,000-ton "Shikishima" three sisters, the "Amur" still has to get out of the way.
If there is a real collision, the three "Shikishima" sisters will of course have to return to the factory for repairs.
The "Amur" will probably be hit and sunk.
However, the Japanese do not have to be proud for too long. Once Amul explodes with all his strength, the Japanese will only be envious.
Vladivostok's current shipbuilding capabilities are actually quite strong. Building ships for the U.S. Navy and Pacific Fleet is a good practice. When the full-heavy artillery battleship comes out, who will be dumbfounded?
Although Peter did not say some words, he may not have no expectations in his heart.
Based on the population of the Qing Empire, the coalition proposed a compensation of 450 million taels of silver to the Qing Empire, which was to be repaid in 39 years, with 980 million taels of principal and interest.
The Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China, with a total of 517.55 million troops and 51 warships participating in the war. The Qing Empire's compensation was theoretically distributed according to the number of troops sent by each country.
Japan sent the largest number of troops to the Eight-Nation Allied Forces, with a total of 20,840 navy and army personnel.
The Japanese were very proud of this, thinking that they could get the most money, and then they could go to Britain to order warships.
The Russian Empire had a backup plan. Counting the 135,000 people who invaded Kantung, its total military strength instantly ranked first among all countries.
Little Nicholas was shameless. After adding up the total number of Russian troops, he demanded 80% of the 450 million taels.
Generals from various countries immediately turned against each other.
We all work for your Russian Empire!
Little Nicholas refused to give in, claiming that the Russian Empire would never withdraw its troops without paying him.
Now it was Seymour and Waldersee's turn to scratch their heads.
No one wants to see the Russian Empire occupying Kantung.
With the arrogant character of Russians, little Nikolai is really capable of doing this kind of thing.
If money is used in exchange for the Russian Empire giving up Guandong, Seymour and Waldersee think it is still a good deal.
After bargaining, the Russian Empire received approximately 30%, totaling 285 million taels.
Now that the money is given, it’s time to withdraw, right?
George can only say that Seymour and Wadesi still underestimated the thickness of little Nicholas's face.
The money must be taken.
Since Kanto has been occupied, the Russian Empire will never spit it out.
It doesn't matter whether he vomits or not, it doesn't matter to George. Anyway, it's not George's turn to make the decision in Guandong.
Nearly 300 million taels of silver. If it is a "big navy plan", there will be no problem with three more. Now it must be the turn of the Siberian Fleet.
Witt said not to even think about it. Although the money has not been received yet, it has all been arranged and the Navy has not got a cent.
George was very unhappy, why!
Witt replied to George with an order, part of which was used to pay Amul's advance logistics costs.
Another part was distributed to the War Department as a reward for sending troops to Guandong.
Another part was used to repay bonds issued for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Witt asked George at the end of the telegram: Which one do you think can be exempted from payment?
George has nothing to say, he can’t save any money, and whoever dares to say no will be the first to fall out!
On May 26, the Qing Empire agreed to pay compensation and the coalition forces evacuated in batches.
The Russian Empire also began to withdraw its troops, but only those who joined the coalition began to withdraw, and none of the Kwantung garrison troops were withdrawn.
Little Nicholas has a good reason: he will never leave until he has the money!
(End of this chapter)