“Your Excellency, these are our conditions. If Qing agrees to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula, cede it to us, and pay us fifty million taels of silver as military expenses, we are willing to send troops to help them suppress the Beiyang Army rebellion!”
Okuma Shigenobu, the Foreign Minister of the Japanese Empire, laid out Japan’s conditions in his meeting with Sir Claude Macdonald, the British Minister to Japan.
“Minister, your country's conditions are quite harsh. However, I will relay your conditions to Sir John Walsham, our Minister to China, and let him discuss them with the Qing government. Or, let your Minister to China participate and negotiate with the Qing people together.” Sir Claude Macdonald said.
“Your Excellency, that is indeed a good idea. However, please consider our relationship with your Empire and exert pressure on Qing to get us the best possible terms.” Okuma Shigenobu pleaded.
“Of course, Minister. The Empire is very optimistic about you. This time, we will absolutely not let you suffer a loss!” Sir Claude Macdonald answered immediately.
Upon receiving the telegram, Sir John Walsham, the British Minister to China, met with Prince Qing, Yikuang, immediately and informed him of the British Empire's decision.
“Your Highness, the Empire has warned the Germans and demanded that they stop selling weapons and equipment to the Beiyang Army. The Germans have also promised that they will not sell weapons and equipment to the Beiyang Army again until the war is over. Furthermore, the Royal Navy will deploy a fleet to blockade the coast of Shandong Province to ensure that the Beiyang Army will not receive weapons and equipment from overseas. Now, you can rest assured!” Sir John Walsham said.
“Thank you for the support of the British Empire, Your Excellency. You have also taken the trouble. However, when will your country send troops to assist us in fighting?” Yikuang asked.
For the high-ranking officials of the Qing government, requesting the British Empire to directly send troops to participate in the war was undoubtedly the most important thing.
“Your Highness, the Empire will not directly send troops to participate in the war. However, the Empire has persuaded the Japanese Empire, if the Qing Dynasty is willing to pay a certain price. Then, the Japanese Empire can send an army to help you deal with the Beiyang Army.” Sir John Walsham continued.
“The Japanese? Those short and squat fellows can defeat those rebels?” Yikuang looked disdainful.
Obviously, Yikuang simply did not take the Japanese seriously.
The Qing Dynasty was indeed in decline, unable to compete with the Western powers.
But they felt superior to the Japanese dwarfs.
“Your Highness, you must not underestimate the Japanese. At least their army, after twenty years of development, has fully adopted Western weapons and training methods, and their combat effectiveness has been greatly enhanced. Even compared to the Beiyang Army, they are no worse, and may even be stronger!” Sir John Walsham said with a very confident tone.
Although Yikuang was still skeptical.
But he couldn't offend the British.
Since the British had already decided not to send troops to participate in the war themselves, it was naturally the best option if the Japanese were willing to help them suppress the rebellion.
If they rejected the Japanese, wouldn't they have to face the Beiyang Army themselves?
“Alright, Your Excellency. What conditions do the Japanese need to be willing to help us suppress the rebellion?” Yikuang asked.
“Your Highness, the Japanese require your country to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula and cede the Kingdom of Korea, your tributary state, to the Japanese Empire. In addition, they require a war expenditure of fifty million taels of silver. If the Qing Dynasty accepts these conditions, the Japanese Empire will send a force of no less than 150,000 elite troops to help the Qing Dynasty suppress the rebellion.” Sir John Walsham said.
“Your Excellency, this is a matter of great importance, I need to report to the Empress Dowager.” Yikuang obviously dared not make a decision on his own.
Sir John Walsham expressed his understanding.
Then, Yikuang immediately went to the Forbidden City and reported the news to Empress Dowager Cixi.
Although Empress Dowager Cixi was unhappy that the British were unwilling to send troops to help them suppress the rebellion personally.
But the British were willing to warn the Germans and prevent the Beiyang Army from obtaining weapons and equipment. At the same time, they were also willing to help them find the Japanese.
Empress Dowager Cixi also held a skeptical attitude towards the Japanese fighting ability.
But with no other choice, they had to make do.
However, Empress Dowager Cixi pointed out that the Japanese were too greedy.
They could cede the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese, but the war expenditure of fifty million taels of silver was too high.
After all, the Qing Dynasty's annual fiscal revenue was only over seventy million taels of silver.
If they accepted the Japanese conditions, wouldn't the Qing Dynasty have to tighten their belts from then on?
Under the instructions of Empress Dowager Cixi, Yikuang started to bargain with the Japanese.
Finally, both sides reached an agreement.
The Qing Dynasty would cede the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese Empire and pay a war expenditure of thirty million taels of silver.
The Japanese Empire would then deploy an army of over 150,000, namely six fully equipped infantry divisions, to help the Qing Dynasty suppress the Beiyang Army rebellion.
However, Empress Dowager Cixi added a requirement, that is, the Qing Dynasty would only accept these conditions after the Beiyang Army was completely defeated.
The Japanese Empire naturally had no objections to this.
Under the witness of Sir John Walsham, the British Minister to China, both sides signed the agreement.
For Empress Dowager Cixi, as long as the Beiyang Army rebellion could be suppressed, they could accept any price.
What's just a tributary state and some silver? These are minor matters!
A classic case of "Rather give to a friend than to a servant!"