World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Chapter 93 We Accept the Invitation

As they were talking, the train began to slow down. It wasn't arriving at the station, but making a temporary stop—the signal light ahead was red.

"What's going on?" Wang Wenwu frowned.

Li Mingyuan got up to look. Footsteps came from outside the carriage, and the train conductor was explaining something in German. A few minutes later, he returned with a strange expression.

"Minister, someone wants to see you. The train stops at the next station, Potsdam, with only a ten-minute stop."

"Who?"

"Count Arshavin, the Russian ambassador to Germany. He said... there was an emergency."

Wang Wenwu's and Tirpitz's telegrams arrived almost simultaneously.

He glanced at his pocket watch: 9:20 a.m. The special train to Paris departed at 1 p.m., so there was still time.

"Inform the train conductor to stop in Potsdam for ten minutes."

Potsdam station is a small station, usually only used by local trains. Today, however, there were three black cars parked on the platform, with several people standing in front of them, all wearing thick, dark coats—June in Germany isn't cold, so this attire seemed a bit deliberate.

As Wang Wenwu got out of the car, a tall man came up to him. He was in his fifties, with neatly combed gray hair and a face with the angular features typical of Eastern Europeans.

"Mr. Wang, I apologize for disturbing you." Arshavin extended his hand, speaking in German with a heavy Russian accent. "I am Pyotr Arshavin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Empire to Germany."

"Your Excellency," Wang Wenwu shook hands, his grip neither too firm nor too loose, "Is there anything that can't be discussed in Berlin?"

"Berlin...too many eyes." Arshavin looked around. "Shall we take a walk?"

The two walked along the platform towards the station exit. Their bodyguards followed at a distance, while Li Mingyuan remained at the carriage door, observing warily.

"Mr. Wang's trip to Europe was very successful," Arshavin began, his tone casual. "A memorandum of understanding was signed in London, and a new warship was ordered in Berlin. Next stop, Paris? And then? Back to the Persian Gulf?"

"Your Excellency, please speak frankly."

Arshavin stopped and turned to look at him: "His Majesty the Tsar asked me to convey a message. He invites you to visit St. Petersburg." (The Imperial Army asked me to pass on a message to you, hahaha)

The platform was quiet for a moment. Birdsong came from afar, and the June sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the station canopy.

"Russia?" Wang Wenwu raised an eyebrow. "I remember that Lanfang had no diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire."

"That's why we need to build it," Arshavin said. "His Majesty is very interested in your country's 'Restoration' ship... and also admires your country's operations in Java."

"A compliment?"

"Yes," Arshavin said meaningfully, "The Russian Empire understands a nation's determination to pursue dignity and homeland. Because we ourselves... are also pursuing it."

Wang Wenwu understood the underlying meaning. The Russo-Japanese War had just ended, and Russia had suffered a crushing defeat in the Far East, with its Pacific Fleet completely destroyed. The Tsar's most urgent need was to rebuild the navy. (Nikolai found the junk sold to him by the Germans quite an eyesore.)

"Your Excellency, my schedule for this trip to Europe is already full," he declined. "After Paris, I will be heading back."

"It can be adjusted," Arshavin said directly. "The special train from Paris to St. Petersburg takes only three days. His Majesty is willing to meet with you privately at the Summer Palace, without making it public. The content of the meeting will be known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."

The terms were very tempting—a private meeting with no record, meaning anything could be discussed and anything could be denied.

"I need to consult with the authorities back home," Wang Wenwu said.

"Of course." Arshavin pulled an envelope from his pocket. "This is His Majesty's handwritten invitation. It contains the Winter Palace's secret code, so you can contact His Majesty directly."

Wang Wenwu accepted it. The envelope was thick, sealed with wax, and bore a double-headed eagle emblem.

"Furthermore," Arshavin lowered his voice, "His Majesty has asked me to convey that the Russian Empire has some... special interests in the Far East. But we believe that we can find common ground with emerging powers like Lanfang."

Special interests in the Far East—referring to Lushun, Dalian, and railway rights in Northeast China. Russia lost southern Manchuria in the Russo-Japanese War, but still wanted to retain northern Manchuria and the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Wang Wenwu understood. Russia wanted to win over Lanfang to counterbalance Japan, and even to counterbalance Germany and Britain's expansion in the Far East.

"Your Excellency, Lanfang's position is very clear," he said. "We are only concerned with the rights and interests of overseas Chinese. We have no intention of interfering in the conflicts of interest in other countries."

"I understand." Arshavin nodded. "That's why His Majesty wishes to speak in private. Some things cannot be said in public."

The whistle blew. The train was about to depart.

"Mr. Wang," Arshavin concluded, "Russia is a great power, but also a... wounded great power. We need friends, true friends. And friends can help each other."

He extended his hand: "I'll wait for your reply in Berlin. Three days, is that enough?"

Wang Wenwu shook hands: "That's enough."

Back in the carriage, the train restarted.

Li Mingyuan closed the door and asked anxiously, "What do the Russians want?"

Wang Wenwu opened the envelope. Inside were two pages. One was an invitation in Russian, written in an ornate courtly style, signed "Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia." The other page contained a codebook and communication frequencies.

"The Tsar wants to see us." Wang Wenwu put the documents away. "We'll meet in private."

Why?

"Three reasons," Wang Wenwu said, holding up a finger. "First, their navy is finished and they need new ships. Second, they've been terrified of Japan in the Far East and need a counterbalancing force. Third..."

He paused for a moment: "Third, they saw that we were getting too close to Germany and were worried that we would completely side with Germany. The relationship between Russia and Germany... is very delicate."

Li Mingyuan, who studied international law, immediately realized: "So they're here to win us over?"

"We're also here to test the waters," Wang Wenwu said, looking out the window. "To see just how much influence we have and whether we're worth investing in."

"Shall we go?"

"Please consult the Commander-in-Chief."

The train had a radio transmitter, but Wang Wenwu dared not use it—the Germans were definitely listening. He waited until noon, when the train stopped in Hanover for twenty minutes to resupply, before sending Li Mingyuan to the station post office to send an encrypted telegram.

The telegram was simple: "The Tsar invites you to St. Petersburg for a private meeting. Please give your instructions."

The call came back at 3 PM. The train had already entered France, and the scenery outside the window changed from the orderly landscape of Germany to the relaxed atmosphere of France.

Chen Feng's reply was even more concise: "Agreed. Probe is acceptable, but no promises should be made. Note: Russia is bloated, but resource-rich. It can be utilized."

In just a dozen or so words, the strategic intent is made clear.

Wang Wenwu burned the telegram and watched the ashes drift out of the car window.

"Inform the French side," he told Li Mingyuan, "that the Paris trip will be shortened by one day. Then... contact Arshavin; we accept the invitation."