People are irritable but also easy to be deceived. Especially before the Internet, information was very closed to the people, and they could only passively accept it.
Not to mention that in an era when newspapers dominate the media, people can only listen to what is written in black and white in newspapers!
But any newspaper is written by people, so people will definitely be controlled by power and money!
After being angry for a while, the British newspapers suddenly changed their tone. Many reports began to favor the Japanese, and what they said was quite reasonable.
They have already started a war, why don't you, the British captain, avoid suspicion? Why do you want money rather than your life? During the war, if the enemy hits you, you can't blame anyone else, right?
Anyway, no one would tell them when the actual declaration of war was, and the backward Qing Empire did not understand the power of the media at all, and they could not influence the pens of European newspapers at all.
A lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. Gradually, the people's protests weakened, and the members of Congress began their performances again.
For various purposes, these congressmen began to advocate that Britain should support Japan, because Britain's strategy in the Far East at that time was to restrict the expansion of Tsarist Russia.
For this grand strategy, Britain was very good to the Qing Dynasty during that period, especially in the establishment of the Qing Dynasty's navy. Britain made a lot of efforts and did not hide its selfish interests.
At that time, the British strategy was to make the Qing Dynasty stronger and block the expansion of Tsarist Russia. East Asia could not allow the Tsarist Russians to expand any more.
But the Sino-Japanese War changed everything. Japanese diplomats began to lobby British politicians. They kept slandering the incompetence of the Qing Dynasty and believed that they were not a civilized society at all.
If you want to stop the expansion of Tsarist Russia, you still have to rely on Japan. You, the UK, should support us!
After money lobbying and propaganda and brainwashing, the conflict on the Gaosheng was actually suppressed in the end. The British government made it clear that the Japanese were not responsible for the Gaosheng incident.
The shipping company where the Gaosheng was located knew that it couldn't afford to offend the Japanese, but someone had to compensate for its own losses. As a result, it went to the Qing Dynasty to compensate!
When the Qing Dynasty saw this, how could they make sense? Why should we pay for the ships that Japan blew up? Bullying!
But there was nothing they could do. People just bullied you, tried to pick on you, or used forceful words to make things difficult. After nine years of negotiations, the Qing government couldn't stand it any longer, and finally paid a compensation of 33,000 pounds.
The Gaoshenghao incident has finally come to an end!
But there is a little tidbit in this matter. In 2001, a South Korean shipwreck salvage company began to salvage the Gaosheng and actually found 600 tons of silver ingots on it, worth US$88 million.
And who exactly do these silver ingots belong to? Is it Beiyang’s military expenditure at that time or the British ship’s own goods? No one knows about it, and it has become a historical mystery.
Xiao Letian still remembers this period of history, so of course he will follow the same example, and he is still sure of bullying the Spaniards!
When he and Bismarck left the station and returned to the Palace of Versailles, Xiao Letian immediately issued a series of orders and was ready to suppress public opinion in Spain.
The day I received the telegram was January 7th, four days after the Battle of Manila. I believe the Spaniards will soon receive the battle report. At this time, it is a race against time!
The benefits of spending money can be seen at critical moments. Xiao Letian has continued to invest in the European newspaper industry over the years and continue to expand its shares.
Chinese capital has controlled a large number of European mouthpieces, and there must be brave men under heavy rewards. What's more, Xiao Letian is also the boss behind their salaries. Of course, these pens will be biased.
Needless to say, newspapers in Germany, those at the ally level will of course favor Xiao Letian, and the British mouthpiece is the most critical!
From ancient times to the present, the public opinion of powerful countries has always dominated everything. This is related to national strength. The United States in the 21st century and the sun never set in the 19th century are all leader-level countries that overwhelm the great powers.
The public opinion in these countries is more dominant. It can be said that if you control the newspapers in London, you can control the mouthpiece of the world!
Don't worry about money at this time. Xiao Letian's capital allies began to take action. Chinese diplomats and business partners like the Duke of Newcastle began to run up and down for the head of state.
On the night of the 7th, no one knew exactly how much money the Chinese CIA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had siphoned off. This was top secret. However, according to unofficial records, even CIA Director Wang Huaiyuan, who had seen the world, shed tears of distress and even lowered his teeth. They all got angry and swollen as high as steamed buns.
Late at night, Prime Minister Gladstone held an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the latest war report in East Asia. However, the four-hour meeting did not produce any meaningful decision!
Gladstone's cabinet originally focused on domestic affairs but was weak on diplomacy. Judging from the historical evaluation of Gladstone, the prime minister was indeed a good hand in domestic affairs.
Promoting compulsory education for all, easing the feud with Ireland, investing heavily in infrastructure, and increasing internal employment... these are his historical achievements.
But this person and a group of his subordinates are not very sensitive to diplomacy, and there are not many deep colonialists. More importantly, many people here have indirectly received political donations from the Chinese!
Don't think that these people are all corrupt officials. They can reach such a high level and all of them are as smart as ghosts. How can they be caught?
The methods of giving away money and bribing women inside the Manchu and Qing court are absolutely invisible!
The methods of bribery that are prevalent in Europe are hidden within the capital world, such as stock markets, futures markets, original shares of companies, and some special business approval documents for Chinese ports... If you really want to give benefits, there are some hidden methods.
Don’t forget, the banking industry in Switzerland has risen in this era, and this is an excellent place for the secret circulation of funds!
Eaters have short mouths! Of course, these British officials will not support Xiao Letian unequivocally. After all, they are not of the same nation, and Europeans have to maintain a noble face.
But He Xini remains neutral for the time being. These people can still do it. There is no problem in buying Xiao Letian some time!
What we need is this neutral attitude, and what we need is the buffering opportunity!
By the early morning of January 8th, newspapers all over London were already filled with news about the Philippines!
The gentlemen sitting in the cafe were shocked when they saw the bold words in the Times!
"Spain's main fleet in the Philippines came out in full force to attack Brunei at night? Did the Spaniards declare an undeclared war against the Chinese?"
"Oh God! Isn't today April Fool's Day? Is the Governor of the Philippines a stupid pig? Is he going to provoke the Chinese at this juncture?"
"Fake news, it must be fake news! Check if there is a statement from our government!"
