In the early morning of December 23, 1917, at the Xigang Wharf in Xiamen, a ferry docked at the wharf in a gray and dreary weather. The atmosphere on the wharf was both depressing and gloomy, and Bai Chongxi, commander of the Second Division of the Fujian Army, and more than a dozen officers stood on the wharf, watching the ferry dock, all silent.

The entire wharf has been completely under martial law, only five or six hundred heavily armed soldiers have formed three cordons, and not a single passenger can be seen, and the west port of Xiamen is now empty, and as soon as the incident on the 21st came out, all the merchant ships docked here have left, and even the Second Fleet of the Navy of the Beiyang Government has already set off for Shanghai north. So Chang Ruiqing could only rush to Canghai Town in the west of Xiamen Island by land, and then take a ferry to the island.

Chang Ruiqing stood in the cabin of the ferry. He looked a little excited, and he didn't seem to be worried at all about the catastrophe he had just broken through, and the Australian journalist Duan Na was by his side. The hatch door was knocked gently, and Adjutant Xu Haoyu pushed the hatch open, and said in a low voice: "Supervisor, the dock has arrived, and Master Bai and they are all waiting on the dock." ”

Chang Ruiqing responded lightly, turned back to Duan Na and smiled: "Mr. Duan Na, let's take a look at Xiamen, she is a very beautiful coastal city...... Maybe in a little while, the British Empire's naval guns will raze her to the ground......"

Having said that, he was not at all worried about the reaction of the British, not because China was still a member of the Entente and was an ally with Britain, but because of the "upheaval" that would take place in Petrograd on January 5 next year, in which the Bolsheviks would use force to disperse the Constituent Assembly that had just been elected! The Peace of Brest with Germany will soon be signed. This would mean that the Germans would be able to devote their forces to the Western Front!

After the signing of this peace treaty in history, Germany launched five large-scale offensives on the Western Front in a row! In that case, how could the British send their forces to Asia again to find trouble for themselves? Unless that Lloyd's. Prime Minister George really wasn't worried about the Germans taking Paris in one go......

So in this "unplanned" conflict, he is actually invincible, and now all he has to think about is what Cheng dù should be tough!

The Fujian Customs, which had just been seized by himself, was the largest money-collecting yamen in the entire Fujian Province, and there were always five or six million tariffs in the account a year, and with this windfall. I have a lot more money on hand, and if I save a little money, I can raise two divisions of soldiers! This yamen said that he couldn't hand it over!

As for the British concession in Xiamen, it could not be returned to the British. It's not just about the business tax, it's about your own prestige! If he could recover the concession from the number one power like the British Empire, he would surely become an idol admired by all patriotic youth...... This is "Five. Four Generations" of youth! Who can have them. You can have an entire era!

When Chang Ruiqing stepped off the springboard, he had already made up his mind to fight imperialism to the end! His complexion is heavy, his eyes are full of sharp murderous aura, and he looks like an iron-blooded tough guy!

Bai Chongxi greeted him, although he also participated in the matter of recovering the British Concession, but now when he thought of the British Empire's retaliatory methods, his scalp was a little numb.

However, in terms of face, he and the officers he brought were still full of soldiers, and when they saw Chang Ruiqing walking down, they snapped. All stand and salute.

Chang Ruiqing also stood up and saluted solemnly, and then nodded heavily at everyone: "Everyone, your expulsion of the British and Indian military and police who slaughtered my innocent civilians and the recovery of the British Concession in Xiamen are very right!" That's exactly what my people should do! This time, we can't return customs and concessions to the British anyway. Then I will be sorry for the compatriots who sacrificed their lives to recover the customs and concessions! ”

After saying this, Chang Ruiqing and Bai Chongxi boarded the car and drove to the headquarters of the Second Division in Xiamen City, while Duan Na had his own personnel from the Fujian Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs and arranged for him to stay in the hotel.

As soon as the car door was closed, Bai Chongxi began to introduce the latest situation in Xiamen to Chang Ruiqing. He said: "Yaoru, we have kept the scene of the 'British Concession Bloody Case' as you wanted, and now most of the Chinese and foreign journalists and friendly people on Xiamen Island have visited it. The Bishop Dupaul also issued a public statement condemning the atrocities committed by the British and Indian military and police, and Mr. Moore, a reporter for the Associated Press, sent photos of the scene of the murder back to the United States...... I guess we won't lose in public opinion. In addition, the British consul in Xiamen, Fletza, sent people to me several times, saying that he was willing to negotiate a settlement of the conflict, and asked us to clean up the scene of the bloodshed first......"

"Don't clean up!" Chang Ruiqing shook his head: "That's why they want to destroy the evidence!" However, it is possible to negotiate, and it is okay to ask him to come to Xiamen Island to talk to me, or to ask Mr. Wang to go to the Gulangyu Public Concession to talk to them. ”

"Oh, the naval personnel on the Hulishan Fort in Xiamen told us that they did not want to participate in this turmoil and wanted to withdraw from the fort." Bai Chongxi frowned and said, "Yaoru, do you think we are going to take over the fort?" ”

Chang Ruiqing waved his hand: "Take over!" Those Fujian navies have British phobia, and I don't feel at ease with letting them manage the Hulishan Fort. ”

Bai Chongxi nodded, and said: "Yaoru, the Chinese and foreign reporters in Xiamen heard that you were coming, and they all wanted to interview, do you see if it is ......?"

"At a press conference, we have to make our position clear to the press! It is also very important to enlist the support and sympathy of the international press, which is very important for our struggle! ”

……

Just when Chang Ruiqing was about to make a generous speech at the press conference. Feng Guozhang, President of the Republic of China, Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen, and Xu Shichang were sitting in the spacious and luxurious living room of Zhongnanhai Juren Hall, smiling and chatting with the visiting British Minister Zhu Erdian and Counselor Eston.

Although the city of Beijing was now in an atmosphere of anti-imperialist struggle, full of students and citizens marching in protest, the working class in Tianjin also launched a general strike under the leadership of the Red Trade Unions to protest against the atrocities of British imperialism in Xiamen! The Red Brigade, the initiator of this conflict, issued statements in newspapers in Beijing and Tianjin, declaring that it would turn the targets of the attack to British institutions and personnel in China. In retaliation for the tragedy that occurred in Xiamen on December 21!

However, in the presidential palace of the Republic of China, the atmosphere of the meeting between the representatives of the interests of the British Empire and the Chinese leaders was remarkably harmonious.

Seriously, Jurdian and the British Empire he represented had no further ambitions for China. They are not Japan, and for the qiē they are now grabbing from China, the British are fully satisfied...... The goal of the British Empire in China was only to maintain the status quo, including the maintenance of a situation of internal friction in China, and to maintain a weak but obedient center. And to maintain the Chinese people's reverence for the great powers!

This Beiyang government is indeed the most suitable agent they can find, and they really have no reason to force the Beiyang government to a dead end.

And those in Beiyang have now realized how ridiculous their previous idea of rebelling against the British Empire was...... After all, the British Empire still supports them!

Forehead. The previous bit of conflict was completely the flood that washed the Dragon King Temple! It's all out of misunderstanding, and there are also Red Brigade elements to sow discord! Now that both sides have recognized each other's goodwill. All that remains is to find a decent solution to China's current mess.

Of course, it is the British Empire that needs to be decent, and the Beiyang government does not want any decency.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Zhu Erdian, on behalf of the British Empire, put forward several demands for the settlement of the Sino-British conflict.

First, of course, the Chinese side should bear full responsibility for the Xiamen incident! The British concession in Xiamen was returned to the British side, and the Chinese side compensated the British and Indian military and police personnel who were killed and injured in the conflict, as well as the British foreign companies that suffered losses in the conflict. In addition, a special person should be sent to the UK to apologize.

The second is that the Min Customs was handed over to the personnel appointed by the British for management, and the qiē system was restored to the state it was in before the incident.

Third, of course, it is to deal with the person responsible for the accident, Fujian's overseer, governor, and military affairs supervisor Chang Ruiqing have all stepped down! The 2nd Division of the Fujian Army, which participated in the capture of the British Concession, was all dismissed! Officers above the battalion level of the division must be punished by military law!

The fourth is about the Red Brigade. The Chinese Government must pledge in writing to the legation that it would do its utmost to eliminate the Red Brigades.

The fifth is the customs surplus, after the Chinese government has fulfilled the above four requirements, Britain can return most of the customs surplus to China. However, 3 million yuan needs to be deducted from it every year to form the International Merchant Group to defend the concessions in various places, and at the same time, the terrorist activities of the Red Brigade have caused losses to the institutions and individuals of the foreign powers in China. It is also necessary to compensate with the balance of the guan.

For these five "not excessive" requirements, the answer of the four Beiyang leaders present here was only a sigh.

Duan Qirui looked at the other three Beiyang leaders, and said to Zhu Erdian with a wry smile: "Your Excellency Zhu Erdian, to tell you from the heart, your request is not excessive, not excessive at all...... Whether it is the Red Brigade or the customs incident or the Xiamen incident this time. The cause is on our side, and we should pay compensation and take responsibility. It's just that...... We can't do what you're asking for right now! Duan is really ashamed, really ashamed, this prime minister or army chief, Duan may not be able to do it. ”

Zhu Erdian was stunned when he heard this, frowned, and asked rhetorically, "Why?" You can tell me any difficulties, I have been in China for so many years, what is my attitude towards China, don't you still understand? ”

Duan Qirui sighed again: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, don't say anything else, if you want the Fujian Military Affairs Supervisor to step down, and you also want to dismiss the Second Division of the Fujian Army and punish the middle and senior officers of the division, the old man will be powerless!" ”

"How so? Isn't that Chang Ruiqing your Anhui people? Zhu Erdian asked.

Duan Qirui shook his head slightly: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, the old man has the grace to support Chang Ruiqing, but his Fujian Army is self-contained. To say that I'm not afraid of your jokes, his Chang Ruiqing's control of the Fujian Army is much stronger than that of our control of the Beiyang Army! If you just ask him to go out into the wilderness to avoid the limelight, the old man can do it. However, it is absolutely impossible to dismiss the troops and punish the officers under him...... If you insist on doing that, then you have to use the knife soldiers, and this knife soldiers are indispensable for a large amount of military spending, and we have no money in Beiyang now! ”

Zhu Erdian and Aiston glanced at each other, and Aiston said slowly: "Since you admit that the responsibility for the Xiamen incident lies on your side. It is only right to punish those responsible, so be it...... The dismissal of the Second Division of the Fujian Army can be suspended, but the division commander of the division, the brigade commander, and the regiment commander of the unit that caused the accident must be punished by military law, and we do not ask for too severe punishment, as long as the military rank is deprived and the military is expelled, right? ”

Feng Guozhang, Wang Shizhen, and Xu Shichang all set their eyes on Duan Qirui with anticipation, probably wanting him to agree, right?

Duan Qirui frowned. I thought about it for a long time. Since he heard that Chang Ruiqing's army had taken over the British Concession in Xiamen, he knew that things were out of control! It is difficult for Chang Ruiqing to go into the wilderness, let alone dismiss his army...... However, the request made by the British is indeed not excessive, and any further refusal may further escalate the situation. Now it seems that Chang Ruiqing can only be compensated elsewhere, such as the candidates for the next Fujian overseer and governor will be nominated by him, so that he can continue to manipulate Fujian's military and political power behind the scenes!

Come to think of it. As soon as Duan Qirui wanted to say yes, he heard a rush of footsteps outside the door, and then the door of the conference room was met by one of Feng Guozhang's staff, who saw this person holding a telegram and shouted loudly: "Oh no! Oh no...... Chang Ruiqing held a press conference in Xiamen and announced that he would never return the Fujian Customs and the British Concession in Xiamen! It also demands compensation from the British side for the tragedy of 21 December......"

Wang Shizhen knew a little bit of the inside story, and as soon as he heard the news, he looked at Duan Qirui with a puzzled expression and asked loudly: "Zhiquan!" What's this, this, what's this? ”

Duan Qirui's face was already cold, this Chang Ruiqing really looked different! He slammed the table: "How do I know!" I'm not a roundworm in the belly of this kid! ”

Xu Shichang stomped his feet: "Then what should I do?" So how? ”

Duan Qirui arched his hand at Zhu Erdian: "Mr. Zhu Erdian." What do you think is going to happen to this? ”

Zhu Erdian's face was also completely gloomy, he was really a little irritated by our Changda warlord. He felt that it was really an unforgivable mistake for a small medium ** valve to dare to challenge the authority of the British Empire!

Eh, this mistake Chang Ruiqing made before is already unforgivable! However, out of the consideration of calming the situation, he was still ready to give him a chance. But I didn't expect that this damn warlord would actually launch a further provocation, if he didn't beat his arrogance, how would the British Empire rule Asia in the future!

Thinking of this, Zhu Erdian's face actually showed a smile, and he laughed a few times: "Okay, I didn't expect that the dignity of the British Empire would be trampled on again and again by an insignificant little warlord!" This mistake is absolutely unforgivable! ”

Several Chinese in the room knew that Zhu Erdian was really angry this time. This time it's all about it!

"Mr. Minister, you are angry, you are angry...... I will issue a presidential decree to remove Chang Ruiqing from all positions, and then let the Fujian overseer Sa Zhenbing arrest him and bring him to Beijing, what do you think? ”

The big president Feng Guozhang on the side was also at a loss, and actually proposed to let Sa Zhenbing, who was born in the navy and only had a company of guards, go to capture Chang Ruiqing, who had three divisions of soldiers!

Zhu Erdian looked back at the Chinese president with an honest face, and said coldly: "If the Sadu army can get rid of Chang Ruiqing, Britain is willing to make him a friend, and the request to remove him from the Fujian overseer will no longer be raised." But what if the Sadok army can't catch Chang Ruiqing? ”

Several Beiyang leaders looked at each other, and no one knew what to do? Chang Ruiqing has three divisions of soldiers, and if he wants to defeat him, he needs at least six divisions of Beiyang soldiers, right? And Sun Yat-sen of Guangdong will definitely join forces with him...... Ten divisions may not be able to defeat it in this way, but how much does it cost to pay the Beiyang soldiers of these ten divisions? Without tens of millions of silver dollars, this battle can't be fought at all, so where is the money?

At this moment, Duan Qirui actually laughed out loud, and he said to Zhu Erdian while laughing: "Mr. Minister, we don't care about Fujian's affairs, and we can't manage it...... If you want to manage Fujian, you have to fight, and if you want to fight, you have to spend money, and we have to keep this money to deal with the Red Brigade! Otherwise, you Britain will go to Chang Ruiqing to negotiate and see if he is willing to bow to your British Empire! ”

Zhu Erdian really pulled down his face completely, he let out a contemptuous snort from his nose, stood up and squeezed the top hat in his hand, and nodded with a sneer: "In this case, then the British Empire can reserve the right to take a measure to force the Fujian side to submit!" As he spoke, he took another deep breath: "As for the Chinese government, I advise you to organize as much as possible, the British Empire is still looking forward to cooperating with the responsible Chinese government." With that, he and Eston walked out, one after the other.

Seeing the huffing Zhu Erdian leave, the four Beiyang leaders in the room looked at each other, all with a wry smile and helpless expressions.

Xu Shichang sighed and was the first to speak: "Okay, let's talk about the formation of a pavilion." Zhiquan, Pingqing, who will be the prime minister of this angry bag? ”

Duan Qirui shook his head: "I won't do it, I'll come to the army chief!" ”

Wang Shizhen smiled bitterly: "I have a good temper, I'll do what I am angry about." But Zhiquan, do you really let the British figure out how to do it themselves? ”

Duan Qirui spread his hands: "What else can I do?" He had three divisions...... Anyway, there is still a sign of Beiyang, and if we really want to turn our faces and vote for Sun Yat-sen, isn't our trouble even greater? Let's let the British discuss their brains on their own, in case they can't deal with Chang Ruiqing, let's come forward to be good people. ”

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