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

Chapter 1157 Anger from Tsarist Russia

St. Petersburg's mainstream media, Imperial Gazette and Russian Morning Post, published strong condemnations of China on their front pages for several consecutive days.

Under the title "Barbaric Acts: China's Atrocities against Diplomats", the Imperial Gazette angrily wrote:

"This is a provocation to the civilized world! At the sacred negotiation table, Chinese President Su Zhengyang actually used violence against our respected Ambassador Romanov. This barbaric behavior, this trampling of diplomatic norms, fully exposes the true face of China - a barbaric regime in civilized clothing!"

The article describes the situation at the negotiation site in detail:

"When Ambassador Romanov insisted on the legitimate rights and interests of the Russian Empire, the so-called 'President' suddenly jumped up and grabbed the ambassador's neck. The English and Portuguese representatives present were stunned by this sudden violence. How could this be a diplomatic negotiation? This is clearly a robbery!"

The Russian Morning Post commented in even more drastic terms:

"A truly civilized country would never use such barbaric means in diplomatic negotiations. This fully shows that China is still that barbaric Eastern country. They don't understand what modern diplomacy is and what international norms are!"

The report continued:

&34；更令人发指的是，在对我们的大使实施暴力后，这个苏正阳还威胁说：&39；要么签字，要么死在这里。&39；这哪里是外交谈判？这分明是土匪行径！难道这就是他们所谓的&39；新时代&39；吗？&34；

The Moscow Daily criticized it from a historical perspective:

"A century ago, we came to the Far East with good intentions and helped this backward country modernize. And today, this is how they repay us? Treating diplomats with violence and using threats to get signatures? Is this what they call 'civilization'?"

These reports all call on the international community to condemn and sanction China's "barbaric behavior." But anyone with a discerning eye can see that behind these angry words lies the helplessness and fear of an empire.

Especially when these reports mentioned China's military strength, the tone became obviously cautious:

"We must be vigilant against China's ambitions. They have built up a strong military force in just a few years, and their northern divisions are gathering towards our Far Eastern border. This newly rising Eastern power is threatening world peace with the most primitive jungle law..."

However, these impassioned condemnations were met with cynicism from the Chinese media. In a commentary, the Huashang Daily wrote: "Why didn't they talk about 'civilization' when they used their powerful ships and cannons to blast open our door? Now that we have used their own methods to treat them, they are complaining bitterly instead."

The Imperial Gazette published an editorial titled "The Civilized World Should Jointly Resist China's Barbaric Behavior" in an attempt to arouse the sympathy of the international community:

&34;This is not only a provocation to Tsarist Russia, but also a challenge to the entire civilized world! We call on all peace-loving countries to stand up and jointly condemn China's barbaric behavior...&34;

However, this impassioned appeal was quickly met with merciless ridicule by the media in the Bird Empire.

The Berlin Observer published a sharp commentary entitled "Ridiculous Double Standards":

&34；真是讽刺啊！当年沙俄用炮舰轰开远东大门的时候，怎么不讲什么&39；文明&39；？当他们在远东肆意掠夺的时候，怎么不讲什么&39；国际准则&39；？如今不过是尝到了自己种下的苦果罢了。&34；

The Deutsche Zeitung was even more blunt:

&34；看看这些俄国佬，被华国掐住脖子的时候，就知道喊&39；文明&39；了？当年他们在东欧耀武扬威的时候，可没见他们这么&39；文明&39；。这就是典型的强盗逻辑——打得过别人的时候就是&39；文明开化&39；，打不过的时候就喊&39；国际公理&39；。&34；

The Berlin Express's comments were even more incisive:

"Is Tsarist Russia calling on the international community to fight against China? Not to mention who has the time to care about the Far East now, the proposal itself is ridiculous. How can an empire that is losing ground on the European battlefield call on the "civilized world"? "

Faced with the ridicule of the media in the Byrd Empire, the newspapers in the Tsarist Russia seemed somewhat exasperated. The Imperial Gazette published an editorial in response:

"The Bird Empire's gloating will only make the barbaric forces more rampant. Can't they see that once China succeeds in the Far East, this barbaric behavior will sooner or later spread to Europe?"

However, the response from the Berliner Observer was even more pointed:

"You are right. The barbaric behavior will indeed spread to Europe, but it is not China that is taking the lead, but you, Tsarist Russia. Now you are just reaping the fruits of your own labor. This is the dialectics of history - you must use the same means to deal with others in the past."

Behind this war of public opinion is the complex relationship between the European powers. The Byrd Empire took the opportunity to ridicule its old enemy, Tsarist Russia, while Tsarist Russia became increasingly isolated internationally.

As a commentary in the Huashang Daily said: "This is the reality of international politics. When you are strong, you are 'civilized'; when you are weak, no one will pay attention to you even if you shout at the top of your lungs."

The front page of Zhenxing Daily published an article signed by Yang Qiyue titled "The Robber Cries Thief: Refuting the Shameless Cry of Tsarist Russia". This article with sharp wording and rigorous arguments quickly attracted widespread attention from the international community.

&34；可笑！实在可笑！&34；文章开篇就直指要害，&34；沙俄居然有脸指责我们&39；野蛮&39；？这让我想起了一句老话：贼喊捉贼。&34；

"Let's review history: the Far East has been China's territory since ancient times. How did Tsarist Russia acquire these lands? Was it through peaceful negotiations? No, it was through powerful ships and guns! It was through unequal treaties! It was through naked armed plunder!"

Yang Qiyue's writing style became sharper and sharper:

"Now, when we use tough measures to take back the plundered territory, they shout "barbarism" and "violence"? How ironic. It's like a robber accusing the victim of "using violence" when the victim resists. This logic is ridiculous!"

"They say our president 'used violence' at the negotiating table? Well, let me ask you: What about when their warships were pointed at our coasts? What about when they blasted open our doors?"

The article continues:

"Yes, we admit that we did use tough tactics at the negotiation table. But is there anything wrong with that? It's just giving someone a taste of their own medicine. We will take back what you took away from us!"

Yang Qiyue specifically emphasized:

"Let's be clear: these lands are ours! We are just taking back what was ours. If this is considered 'barbaric', then what was it when you took these lands?"

The end of the article is even more deafening:

"The Tsarist Russia said we don't understand 'international norms'? Well, then let's talk about what real international norms are. Is it the law of the jungle? Or is it fairness and justice? If it's the former, then the current situation is nothing more than a repetition of history, except that the roles are reversed this time. If it's the latter, then the looted land should be returned to its real owners!"

&34;Finally, I want to tell those Russian nobles who are still immersed in the glory of the past: Times have changed! This is not the era of a hundred years ago when you could bully China at will. Today's China has the ability and determination to take back everything that belongs to it! &34;

Once this article was published, it immediately caused an uproar internationally. Many international media praised it as a "sharp and powerful" article that fully demonstrated the confidence and toughness of Xinhua State.

What is even more remarkable is that this article was written by the first lady, showing the firm determination of the top leadership of China to recover lost territory. As an international commentator said: "When the first lady of a country can write such a sharp diplomatic article, the rise of this country is unstoppable."