Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Beilongcheng Government Affairs Center Building, 2pm.

Sergei and the new ambassador Andrei stood in the waiting area outside the presidential office. The foreign minister of the Russian Empire was waiting patiently like an ordinary visitor.

"Mr. Minister," Zhang Luanyu came out and said calmly, "I'm sorry, but the president is currently hosting an important meeting on the Southern Special Economic Zone. He has two more appointments later, so he may not be able to make time until the evening."

The president's secretary general paused and said, "If you find it inconvenient, we can make an appointment another day."

Andrei was getting a little impatient: "Secretary General Zhang, but Minister Sergei came all the way from Moscow..."

Sergei raised his hand to stop Andrei: "It's okay, we'll wait." He smiled peacefully, "The president's work is very important, we fully understand."

Zhang Luanyu nodded: "Then I'll have someone prepare some refreshments for you."

Watching Zhang Luanyu leave, Andre whispered: "Minister, this is obviously..."

"I know," Sergei said calmly, "this is their attitude. China is no longer the country that can be bullied by others."

He looked around: "Look at this building, look at this city. They deserve it."

Time passed by minute by minute.

At three o'clock, a group of business representatives came out of the conference room.

At four o'clock, several military generals came in and out.

At five o'clock, the foreign envoys ended their meeting.

But no one came to inform them.

Sergei remained calm and looked through the documents in his hands from time to time. This foreign minister, who was a big shot in the European diplomatic scene, showed rare patience at this moment.

"This is a psychological war," he told an agitated Andre. "Since we lost the military war, we have to learn to live with it."

It was not until the lights came on that Zhang Luanyu appeared again: "Minister Sergei, the president can see you now."

Sergeimo stood up and straightened his suit: "Thank you for your arrangement."

When he walked into the president's office, Su Zhengyang was reviewing documents.

"Minister Sergei," Su Zhengyang said without even looking up, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"No," Sergei smiled, "It's worth waiting any longer to see the President."

Su Zhengyang then put down his pen and raised his head: "Then let's talk about the future of the Far East."

The atmosphere in the president's office was subtle.

Su Zhengyang took out a pack of "Beilong" cigarettes from the drawer and gently pulled out a cigarette with his slender fingers. Before he could pick up the lighter on the table, the tall Sergei Mo walked up quickly.

The Russian Foreign Minister, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, bent down like a servant and respectfully lit a cigarette for Su Zhengyang.

This scene is full of irony. Not long ago, the Russian diplomats were arrogant on Chinese soil, but now, their foreign minister is lighting a cigarette for the Chinese president.

Su Zhengyang took a sip and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Thank you."

He turned to Zhang Luanyu who was standing nearby and said, "Old Zhang, make Minister Sergei a cup of tea."

"Yes, President." Zhang Luanyu walked towards the tea set.

Sergei Mo sat back in his seat and watched Su Zhengyang slowly exhale smoke rings. In this spacious office, the balance of power has changed dramatically.

No one spoke, only the sound of tea being poured into cups echoed in the room.

This brief silence is worth a thousand words. It heralds the arrival of a new era and the end of an old order.

"Minister Sergei," Su Zhengyang exhaled a puff of smoke and said directly without waiting for the other party to speak, "I know the purpose of your visit very well."

He stood up and walked to the window: "Half a month ago, in this office, we put forward a very simple request - to take back the land that originally belonged to the Shuiqing Empire. This is historical justice and international legal principle."

Turning around, Su Zhengyang's eyes were as sharp as a knife: "But what is your response? Tanks, cannons, and those arrogant threats. Do you think that this is still a hundred years ago, and you can use force to bully China?"

Sergei lowered his head, his tall figure looking unusually humble at the moment: "Mr. President... you are right. This is indeed a big mistake on our part. We... we misjudged the situation."

"Mistaken estimate?" Su Zhengyang sneered, "No, it's your arrogance. Now that you've tasted the bitter fruit, you're in a hurry to negotiate?"

Sergei smiled bitterly and nodded: "Yes... This is all our fault. We paid a heavy price for it."

&34；代价？&34；苏正阳走回办公桌前，&34；64装甲师的覆灭只是个开始。你们应该庆幸，我及时叫停了北地师的进攻。否则...&34；

He didn't finish his words, but Sergei was already sweating. He knew too well the strength of the terrible Northern Division. If they were allowed to continue advancing, the entire Far East would change hands.

"Mr. President," Sergei said with difficulty, "We are willing to admit our past mistakes and are ready to make corresponding concessions..."

"Concession?" Su Zhengyang interrupted him, "No, Minister Sergei, now is not a question of concession. Instead, you must accept the new Far Eastern order."

The office was terribly quiet, with only the sound of tea cups being gently placed on the table. Sergei felt an unprecedented humiliation, but he knew that this was the price of defeat.

"Mr. President," Sergei said carefully, "Russia is willing to return the land it obtained from the Qing Empire. We hope to end this war as soon as possible. In fact, Russia has always been against China..."

&34；友好？&34；苏正阳突然打断他，语气中带着明显的嘲讽，&34；谢尔盖部长，你确定要用&39；友好&39；这个词？&34；

He stood up and walked to a map hanging on the wall of his office: "Let's review this 'friendly'. In 34, you threatened Shuiqing with force and forced him to sign the Far East Treaty. In 39, you forced him to sign the Beijing Treaty. For more than 39 years, you have occupied these lands and oppressed the people here. Now that you have failed at the negotiation table, you say you have always been friendly? "

苏正阳的手指在地图上划过：&34；还是说说1900年时你们的&39；友好&39；？当时你们的军队在东北烧杀抢掠，那也是友好的表现？&34；

He turned around, his eyes sharp: "Or maybe more than a decade ago? When your tanks crossed the border, when your shells landed on our territory, was that also a gesture of friendship?"

Sergei was completely speechless. This foreign minister, who was a powerful figure in European diplomatic occasions, now lowered his head like a student who had done something wrong.

"So, Minister Sergei," Su Zhengyang sat back in his seat, "please don't use the word 'friendly' to insult our intelligence. You are not friendly, you are just scared. If it weren't for the Northern Division making you suffer, would you still be sitting here to negotiate today?"

Zhang Luanyu refilled Su Zhengyang's cup of tea at the right time, and the atmosphere in the office became more solemn.

"Mr. President is right," Sergei finally admitted with difficulty, "I apologize for my choice of words."

"Apologize?" Su Zhengyang chuckled, "It's too late to say that now. Let's talk about the real issue - what the new Far Eastern order should look like."

Outside the window, the lights of Beilong City were just coming on, and in this office, seventy years of shame were being settled. This time, it was the turn of Tsarist Russia to experience what humiliation was.