1908 Far East Madman Chapter 170 The Pivot and the Fang (II)

Duan Rui appreciates Xu Shuzheng. ==First. Fa == is because the two have the same spleen. One is talented, and the other is admonished. It can be described as "the lord and the minister". But this does not mean that the Chinese people in Beiyang are optimistic about this Xu Xiucai, who joined the army halfway. Beiyang. It has always been a party of seniority. The kind of commander in his twenties in the Southern Army would never appear in Beiyang. Seeing Xu Shuzheng stand up and speak. Yuan Shikai frowned slightly. Leng Leng said: "The Hubei Provincial People's Army claims to be 200,000 people. Bing jīng weapon foot. Do not be humiliated. As for that Zhao Bei. Cloth cloth origin. But it can take advantage of the situation. The strength should not be underestimated. Until now. Already on one side. Tens of thousands of soldiers under his command. Look at its history. Shouyi Anqing. Turning yellow mud port, Jiujiang Yizhi, and recovering Hubei. All of them are impressive. This man can be described as scheming. Is it easy to match? Again. Your experience is too shallow. Some things can't be solved with fists. If the Beiyang Army and the Republican Army are fighting. Isn't it cheaper for others? It's okay if the pivot wins. But if defeated. Isn't it even more imposing? ”

For Xu Shuzheng, this. Yuan Shikai was a little unaccustomed to it. In his opinion. This man has some talents. But xìng Ge Gang. Proud of talent. and Zhao Bei is half a catty. Not reusable. What Beiyang needs most is not ministers. but loyalty.

"The Great President." Xu Shuzheng shook his head disapprovingly.

"Now the republic is established. The war continues. People in the world are at peace. The big trend. As soon as the central order was issued. Who would dare not obey? If the Republican Army dares to fight by force. That's the rebels. Hugh said the North at that time. Even the revolutionaries in the South would not agree. But if the center is indecisive, it can't be suppressed by the powerful faction. Only from then on. Pivotal authority rì decay. The forces that ordered not to go abroad were too big to fall. I am afraid of brewing the scourge of five generations of warlords. ”

"Again. You only think of one side. The other side didn't think of it. Now the Republican Army is marching west to Sichuan. It's a fight for the republic. If the center rashly threatens it with force. I'm afraid that the people will not be convinced, and besides, this time the Republican Army is under the banner of "defending Sang" and rì Ben-right. The people's hearts and minds are on their side. Even if they dare to stand up to the center. I am afraid that most of the people are applauded. The great powers pressed China so much. Finally, a tougher and more powerful person came out. The people breathed evil breaths. At this time. It is really not advisable to go against the will of the people. ”

Yang Du interrupted Shu Zheng's words. As Yuan Shikai's staff. He could be regarded as a broken leg after the start of the Constituent Assembly, and he had planned to stay in Shanghai as a delegate to the Constituent Assembly. But Yuan Shikai made an order. He was transferred back to Tianjin to serve as a member of the Presidential Office. It's also very beautiful for a while.

I heard what Yang Du said. Yuan Shikai's face pulled. He asked, "Skinny." Are you complaining that I didn't send a telegram to protest rì Ben? "A few days ago, when Zhu Erdian prevented Yuan Shikai from sending a telegram to condemn him. Yang Du didn't think it was a sign of weakness, and it was very unfavorable to Yuan Shikai's letter. However, the British minister had a tough attitude, and at that time there was no country to have relations with the republic. Yuan Shikai did not adopt Yang Du's opinion.

"Don't dare."

Yang Du shook his head. said: "But." The telegram of the army is wonderful. A few pieces of paper pulled the hearts of the people over. Now the whole country is shouting and beating. zhōngyāng can't help but express it. ”

"Hmph. The things that pick up strong neighbors and do the boxing as early as possible. Everyone saw the result. Now China is weak. How can you confront the great powers? Light start the war. Then the scourge of partition will appear again. Who can afford it? This Zhao Bei opened his mouth. He shouted "defend the national right". How can he not count how many rifles and cannons China makes every year. How many rifles and cannons does this make each year? rì Ben even defeated Russia. Just rely on our Chinese soldiers. How to fight with rì Ben? Now I can't borrow foreign debts. Even the Beiyang Army is about to lose its salary. What to take with rì Ben? If Rì himself really called. Didn't you fight the Beiyang Army first? Will it be difficult to really transfer his Commander-in-Chief Zhao's team to Beijing and Tianjin at that time? He's going to come. Is it to hit me or Ben? ”

Shi Kai's words are heartbreaking. At the moment, everyone is eyebrows. Shaking his head secretly. The Republican Army didn't say that it was going to fight the president. And it didn't seem to mention much about the war in the telegram.

Yang Du said: "Du was also deeply surprised. When Zhao Bei was in Jiujiang, he sent an anti-British telegram. It's a bit overdone. But it's still systematic. This time the anti-rì was energized. But it is a posture of not hitting the south wall and not looking back. It's puzzling, I don't know where he got the confidence? Isn't it. Is there a strong country that supports him? ”

"Which country is strong?" Yuan Shikai was stunned when he heard this.

"It's just speculation. What kind of idea did Zhao Bei have? I don't understand either. ”

Yang Du swallowed back the words that came to his mouth. For the topic of the Great Powers. Yuan Shikai is very sensitive. In case this leads the Beiyang Army to fight in the south. In any case, it is not what Yang Du wants to see. China. There can no longer be a civil war. Yuan Shikai's prestige can no longer be weakened. China in this era needs a strongman to lead. Yuan Shikai is the strongman in Yang Du's mind. A strongman who turns the tide. His imperial skills can only be achieved in this person. So. Yuan Shikai can't fall.

"Is it Germany?"

No matter what Yang Du is worried about. Yuan Shikai changed his mind.

Germany was a rising power. China is the weakest. But investment in China is second only to the UK. In order to compete for the raw material market in China. The competition between the two countries is all-encompassing. Germany has long looked at Britain unpleasantly. The current Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente

I want to do a big job. So. It cannot be ruled out that Germany intends to support the republican forces in resistance. rì was originally an ally of the United Kingdom. The Yangtze River valley was again the British sphere of influence. Use the IRA to take advantage of Germany's fire. It's a good deal.

Shikai's concerns are understandable. Because just in the last few days. As the mouthpiece of the Republican Army. The Pioneer newspaper is writing a great story about the history of the rise of the Gothic Empire. Celebrating the national consciousness of the German nation. Touted that Germany Jane had reached the pinnacle. I'm afraid that even the German newspapers have not boasted so shamelessly. This seems to be a sign that Zhao Bei is moving closer to Germany.

As a matter of fact. British Minister Zhu Erdian was also worried that Hubei had always been regarded by British politics as "the soft underbelly of the Far East strategy." Here the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. The powerful British Navy could not send the main battleship here. The army could not be transferred here in large quantities because of the constraints of various countries and the tense situation in Europe, but Huchuan is the heart of Central China. To control this place is to control the southwestern half of China. If there is a big anti-British force here. In any case, it is not something that Britain's own forces can solve. If put it before. Britain could join forces with other powers to intervene. But now. However, because of the existence of two opposing military blocs in Europe, it does not have the ability to cāo as xìng. Who can guarantee that there is no German shadow behind the anti-position of the Republican Army -

If the Republican Army gains the support of Germany, it will pose a serious threat to the Beiyang forces. on this. Yuan Shikai does not raise jǐng ti. Bully people by flaunting one's powerful connections. Relying on the support of the great powers, he ascended to the throne. This is the secret of his officialdom. You can't ask others to learn from it.

But if you want to get closer, you have to distance yourself from Britain. It's really hard to choose between stepping on two boats, which seems to be a no-brainer. It's also delusional.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany, the first major diplomatic event was the right to borrow and build the Han Railway and the Sichuan-Han Railway. Yuan Shikai has sent special personnel to hold many secret talks with diplomats of the two countries, but he has never been able to come up with an idea. Britain is the most powerful power in China. Moreover, rì was originally an ally of the United Kingdom. It's so close to China. It can be said that the evening is coming. There are these two countries watching. If you want to deal with Yuan Shikai behind the scenes, you can imagine the degree.

However, the British government also granted diplomatic recognition to the Republic of China in the form of a declaration of contingency to the situation. This made it even more difficult for Yuan Shikai to make up his mind to throw himself into the arms of the United States and Germany.

Zhao Bei is just a small Fang powerhouse, and he can take care of the overall situation. But Yuan Shikai is a dignified president. occupies the position of the center. The "big picture" must be taken into account. To play a balance between the great powers. This difficulty can be imagined. If you don't get it right, you will become a rat in the bellows.

It would be nice if the United States and Germany had a clear-cut position on President Yuan and dismissed Zhao from his post. However, the attitude of these two countries is ambiguous. Apparently also planning to be a fisherman. See which side is the better investment in this central vs. central struggle. Before the actual benefits given by President Yuan. These two countries isolated by the Entente bloc may not fully support the powerful faction suppressed by President Yuan.

But to give these two countries an advantage would mean to sin against the Entente group. The sin of the United Kingdom. Britain could have supported him and Yuan to take the throne. Then you can also remove him from power in the future. Beiyang Group is certainly his home to Yuan. Yes, this group is by no means monolithic. There are too many talented people in this group. The entanglement of interests is also complex. President Yuan Da is certainly their current co-leader. But if the interests of this group are threatened by President Yuan's insistence. They don't necessarily have to nominate another trusted co-leader.

Officialdom is like a theater. If you want to sing well in this play. By no means an easy task.

Just when Yuan Shikai was thinking nonsense. Sa Zhenbing posted a request to see.

Since leaving the fleet. Sa Zhenbing ran to the north. Yuan Shikai appointed him a presidential senator. Tell him to rebuild the Beiyang Sailor School. But allocate a copper fund. It's purely an idler. Sa Zhenbing is full of resentment'. Run to the presidential palace all day. Ask Yuan Shi for funds. It gave President Yuan a headache.

"Dingming. If you still come to ask for funds. , opened his mouth. Now Rì himself is clamoring for war. Where does the central government have the money to run a school for you? In order to expand the Beiyang Army. I'm still looking around for money. Yuan Shikai saw Sa Zhenbing. Be the first to complain.

But Sa Zhenbing is not here to fund. walked up to Yuan Shikai with an iron face. With a trembling hand, he handed over a telegram. said: "Just now an old family sent a telegram. The naval river defense fleet stationed at Gaochang Temple made a noise. The excuse is too much to deceive people. The sailors shouted that they would go west to Hubei. Respond to the IRA. Defend Sangzi. Tang Xiang couldn't hold it down. He has led his fleet to the west. ”

“|？”

Not only Yuan Shikai was stunned. All present were amazed. Haigaochang Temple is stationed at one of China's main fleets. In addition to a couple of large ships. Almost all the new gunboats were in that fleet. Tang Xiang succeeded Sa Zhenbing as the commander of the army. Just a transitional figure. Yuan Shikai planned to send his confidant Liu Guanxiong to command that fleet. Take it for yourself. But before Liu Guanxiong could leave for the south. The fleet turned out to be farewell.

The fleet set sail without the approval of the president. Is it because you want to rebel?