Beiyang reactionaries

"Yes, we are friends."

"General Duan, but many people in your country are very unfriendly to the empire. This is especially true when it comes to the Shandong issue. Therefore, the empire hopes that General Duan can help solve the Shandong issue."

Duan Xun sighed inwardly.

Sure enough, the Japanese are uneasy and kind.In the past few years, it should be said that after the Paris Peace Conference, the Chinese people have always hated Japan.The spearhead of the student movement at the beginning was directed at Japan.At that time, whoever was friendly with Japan was a traitor.None of the pro-Japanese factions under Duan Qirui's hands were said to be traitors.

Even more powerful are those businessmen.

Regardless of whether those businessmen are really patriotic, or they are doing business to make money.Anyway, they encouraged many people to support domestic products, and after the movement against Japanese products, it dealt a heavy blow to Japanese products.Even the burning of Japanese goods broke out in many cities, and conflicts between Japanese and Chinese broke out in many cities.

Anti-Japanese sentiment among the people is great.

Now China's academic, business, and newspaper circles regard Japan as the number one enemy.

The Shandong issue is the top priority.

"Ambassador Pan, how does your country want to solve the Shandong issue?"

"Recognize the terms of the Paris Peace Conference. As long as General Duan recognizes the terms of the Paris Peace Conference, the imperial government will go all out to support General Duan in everything he does in China."

Little Pan Youji stated his purpose.

However, Duan Xun's expression changed instantly, and then he shook his head directly and said, "Ambassador Pan, this is impossible, and it is absolutely impossible for me to agree. Ambassador Pan, you are too strong. If I really admit that Paris and Regarding Shandong's terms, tomorrow I will immediately become a "traitor" that everyone in the country will call and beat. I am a person who wants to save face, and I will never do this kind of thing, because this kind of thing will definitely make me notorious forever. Even my ancestors would be ashamed. This kind of thing can't be done."

Little Pan Youji smiled slightly.

He was actually testing to see Duan Xun's reaction.Seeing Duan Xun's reaction so fiercely now, little Pan Youji knew Duan Xun's bottom line.Under the current circumstances, any Chinese government that dares to recognize the Paris Peace Conference will be under tremendous pressure.Even Duan Qirui did not dare to let the delegation sign at the Paris peace conference, let alone Duan Xun, who is currently not firmly established in the Beijing government.

"General Duan, we have been friends for many years."

"Yes."

Duan Xun nodded.

Then he said: "Ambassador Pan, we have been friends for many years, and our friendship has lasted for many years, so your country should not force me like this. I value face the most, and I have never dared to be labeled as a 'traitor'." It's on your head. But because we're friends, I think there's a lot of workarounds."

"General Duan, please speak."

"Your government gives me face, and I can give face to your government."

"General Duan, I don't quite understand."

Little Pan Youji frowned.

He didn't really understand Duan Xun's meaning.Although little Pan Youji had lived in China for some years and knew Chinese, he still didn't understand what Duan Xun said.What face, Lizi's.

Duan Xun said with a smile: "If your government returns the rights and interests in Shandong to me, including the Jiaoji Railway and Shandong mines, then I will guarantee the special rights and interests of your government in Shandong and the business of your businessmen in Shandong."

"What about the Jiaoji Railway and the Shandong mine?"

"Both of us can sign a contract and buy it with money. Of course, you know, Ambassador Xiao Pan, that our country's financial situation is very bad now. We will not be able to buy the Jiaoji Railway and the mines in Shandong in a short period of time. That is to say Your government just returned the Jiaoji Railway and the Shandong mine to our government in name. This way I can explain to all Chinese citizens that this is the face I want. I like others to praise me and like to be a hero, so I I like others to give me face. And this contract is signed, but I use another way to protect the special rights of your government in Shandong. As long as your government withdraws its troops, then for the benefit of your businessmen, I can still legally agree , the government of your country can have its own police station in the territory where businessmen in your country do business."

Little Pan Youji didn't expect it at all.

Duan Xun's suggestion turned out to be this.

"Ambassador Pan, I gain face, and your government benefits. Isn't this the best of both worlds? At present, the domestic public opinion is so serious, and your government can make a little concession, which can greatly improve the relationship between the two countries."

"interesting."

Little Pan Youji thought about it, and Duan Xun's proposal was really good.

The only requirement for the current Japan is that the troops should leave Shandong, and the rights and interests of Shandong should be returned to the Chinese government in name.But what Duan Xun meant was very simple.

Duan Xun will never cancel the many powers that Japan now possesses.

Of course, this is just a simple proposal, and there are many things that need to be negotiated in order to be completed.But little Pan Youji is really interested, because this proposal is really good.

Seeing little Pan Youji interested, Duan Xun smiled.

What Duan Xun wants now is to take back certain rights and interests in Shandong as soon as possible, and to drive away the Japanese troops stationed in Shandong.As long as these are completed first, other things can be recovered slowly.

What makes Duan Xun most thorny is the Japanese army in Shandong.

No matter what method is used, the most important thing is to drive away the Japanese army.As long as there is no Japanese army, Duan Xun can take back all the rights of Japan in Shandong whenever he wants.

Hence the proposal.

"Ambassador Pan, I would like to discuss one more matter with your government."

"General Duan, please speak."

"A question about customs."

"Please."

"I am going to increase our country's tariff rate. Raise the customs tax rate to 15.00%."

"General Duan, this is not easy."

Little Pan Youji answered very seriously.

Duan Xun wants to increase the customs tax rate, which is a very normal thing.After all, China's current tariffs are indeed too low, and they are all tariff rates stipulated decades ago.At present, the tariff rate evaluation of most countries in the world exceeds 20.00%, and the tax rate of some important materials even reaches 40.00%.But China is pitifully low.

But this is stipulated by the cooperation of several powers.

More importantly, this does not seem to be good for the Japanese government.

"It's the same as the last time I negotiated with your government on the ownership of customs surplus. I used all the increase in customs duties for cooperation with your government. I borrowed money from your government, and then used these loans to buy your government's goods. Machinery, equipment and goods, and then use customs duties to repay your country’s loans. I can guarantee that all the customs duties I can get are used in this area. If you need to use them in other areas, you must discuss with your country’s government. In this way, there will be more and more cooperation between our two countries. And as long as your government helps us on the issue of customs tax rates, I will give the most favorable treatment to many materials that your country needs. Such as coal, steel, tungsten In the export of materials such as mineral ore, antimony ore, and tin ore, priority will be given to your country."

"I need to report."

Little Pan Youji became very serious.

Because it's no small thing.Duan Xun means to continue to cooperate with Japan.Moreover, the scope of cooperation is much larger, and the amount involved is even more astonishing.

"of course."

Duan Xun is very calm.

Japan?

Duan Xun doesn't want to turn against Japan yet.Duan Xun is waiting, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for an opportunity that can completely turn against Japan without affecting him too much.The current planning time of Duan Xun is 1923. At that time, there will inevitably be issues about the South Manchuria Railway and various aspects of Kanto Island.

Sino-Japanese relations will fall to the bottom again at that time.

Of course, the bigger problem is that the Great Kanto Earthquake will occur in Japan that year, which is the best opportunity for Duan Xun, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.The Great Kanto Earthquake hit Japan very hard because it directly affected Japan's industrial base.At that time, Japan would definitely not return Guandongzhou to China, so Duan Xun also had enough excuses to take back Japan's domestic power.