Greenwich Mean Time, 3 October 1918, morning.

London, Whitehall.

The cramped conference room was packed with people, including not only Lloyd. British officials led by Prime Minister George, as well as representatives of France, the United States and other countries in London, oh by the way, and the new ambassador of the Russian Provisional Government in London, Ilivodsky, also came to the chamber of the British Foreign Office.

The reason why they came here was because of the "Harbin Incident" that had just happened, and the army of the weakened and almost ruined country actually attacked the colony of Tsarist Russia on the territory of the Chinese country, which had already perished! As a result, the two countries, both members of the Entente, were already on the verge of war!

First of all, of course, the Russian Ambassador Iliwodsky made a statement complaining about the aggression of the Chinese, the 206th Middle East Road War, the Seven Gangs, these hateful yellow-skinned monkeys invaded the Russian Republic on their own soil, and in view of Russia's alliance with Great Britain, France, and the United States, the Russian Ambassador strongly demanded that the above three countries act together with Russia to make the strongest protest and exert the greatest pressure on the governments of the Chinese countries!

Is it just an outcry and pressure?

When the officials and diplomats of Britain, the United States, France, and other countries heard the request of the Russians, they could not help but wonder if there was something wrong with their hearing. When will dignified Russia respond to someone else's military attack with protest? Haven't they always followed the principle of beating and talking? What's more, this time it's just those Chinese who can only smoke big cigarettes and have pigtail-like pigtails on the back of men's heads!

You know, that Russian Empire over the past few decades. They once cut more than one million or perhaps more than two million square kilometers of land from the people of China, and if it weren't for the interference of the people themselves, they would have probably swallowed the entire northeast of China, right?

That's right, the "day" book! Why didn't the Japanese ambassador to the UK attend today's meeting? Now that the Seven Bandits of the 206th Russian Middle Road War are no longer good, I am afraid that Japan is already the master of the entire Northeast Asia!

While listening to the Russian ambassador's complaint about the atrocities of the Chinese, the British and American judges in this room had in mind. But it's another country for the yellow race! What role did they play in this "Harbin Incident"? The Beijing government in China seems to be presided over by a group of pro-Japanese factions, right? Without the support of Japan, how dare they infringe on Russia's special rights and interests in China? Moreover, this time, the Russian ambassador only proposed to protest and put pressure on China. I didn't mention the war, I'm afraid it was also taking into account the attitude of the "Japan", right?

Ili Wattsky's speech has just ended, and British Prime Minister Lloyd. George stood up. His gaze swept over the vacant seat reserved for the Japanese ambassador, frowned, and said, "Gentlemen, those Chinese people obviously want to take advantage of the difficult situation of our Russian friends to seize some benefits!" This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated by our great powers, even if those interests belong to China in the first place! ”

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, do you mean that China can't take back what belongs to them?" The American ambassador seems to have some incomprehension of Lloyd. George's words. At this time, the United States was still a country that had just become a world-class power, and it did not know much about the rules of the game for certain powers to rule the world.

Lloyd's. George smiled and nodded at the Americans, and said with a smile: "Dear Mr. Ambassador, of course the Chinese people can take back what belongs to them, but they should not use force. Rather, it is necessary to negotiate and negotiate and solve problems in the way of civilized people! Even if it's for a hundred years. ”

The American shrugged his shoulders: "But the Chinese people are obviously not very well-behaved now, before it was the customs and the Xiamen concession, and now it is Harbin, how are we, civilized countries, going to teach these unruly barbarians?" Wage a war to punish the barbarians who have taken their possessions back? ”

Lloyd's. Prime Minister George didn't have a penny of affection for the Yankees, especially after President Wilson started shouting about a "just peace." He nodded stiffly at the American ambassador. said lightly: "The Chinese people will definitely have to pay the price for their reckless actions, this is a must!" As for whether or not to punish them by means of war, it still depends on the attitude of our Russian friends, because the Chinese are now infringing on their interests, and I think it is not realistic for you to ask the United States to send troops to defend Russia's interests in China, right? ”

Speaking of this, there was a hesitant look in his eyes: "In addition, the growing situation of the revolution in China is also something that our powers must consider!" I wonder if all of you here have noticed the recent rise of the national government in the south of China? Compared to their Beijing government. This government seems to be the common enemy of us civilized countries with interests in China! If we rashly use force against the Beijing government now, it is very likely that this fragile legitimate government of China will collapse and be replaced by a national government that is clearly hostile to civilized countries! ”

Hear Lloyd's. Prime Minister George's speech seemed a bit of a dilemma, and none of these diplomats and British officials here did not understand that the British Empire actually supported the Beijing government in China! Compared with the gloomy government of Beijing, the new regime of the southern and central countries, although it does not rule over a large territory, has already shown the potential to threaten the central government in Beijing, and the attitude of this regime towards the foreign powers, especially Britain, is still very unfriendly.

In Britain's view, the position of the government in Beijing must be maintained, and the rise of the Nationalist government in the south must be contained. However, Britain's China policy during this period was contrary to the goal they were pursuing, and Britain adopted a strategy of compromise and concession to the Nationalist Government that dared to challenge Britain's interests in China. And for the Beiyang government, which obeyed Britain and curried favor with Britain, the British continued to oppress!

What the British Empire's China policy is now showing is a kind of bullying the weak and fearing the hard, and it seems that this is also a manifestation of the British Empire's weakening national strength in foreign policy, right? And this time, the Beiyang government, which swallowed its anger, also became unexpectedly tough. also captured the Russian concession in Harbin by force! In the face of the two hard-line "China" governments in the north and south, Britain is really at a loss, not to mention that there is a group of terrorists of the Red Brigade who cannot be seen or touched.

What can't be as tough as the British Empire is Russia, the "bitter master" this time. The Russian Civil War is now at its hottest, and the offensive of the "Volunteer Army" commanded by Denikin against Moscow has reached a stalemate. However, the 400,000 White Russian troops advancing westward from Siberia were unable to launch a real and powerful onslaught against the Red Army because of the lack of ammunition and supplies.

In addition, the current situation in Belarus is somewhat similar to that of the Beiyang government in China. Although Kolchak is known as the co-leader of White Russia, there are not many White Russian generals who really obey his orders! Now in Belarus, there is also a situation in which the warlords are in their own hands, and Kolchak is, after all, only a former admiral. And not the Tsar of Russia.

Therefore, after the "Harbin Incident", Kolchak's provisional government vetoed the proposal of Horvat, who had fled to Vladivostok, to mobilize troops to attack Jianyì in the northeast of China, and instead instructed the ambassador of the provisional government to Britain to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. If you can exert pressure and negotiate through guò to force the Chinese people to spit out the fat meat to their mouths. Russia was satisfied, but it really couldn't, and Russia was willing to return the leased land. In order to preserve the property rights of the Eastern Railway, of course, this is the final bottom line, and Ilivodsky has not yet revealed it in front of the British.

The former foreign minister of Tsarist Russia is now intent on fighting for the best of his ruined empire! Ambassador Ilivorsky stood up and bowed slightly to the British Prime Minister: "Your Excellency, the Russian Republic is now in great need of the friendship of the British Empire, and we hope that the British Empire can exert maximum pressure on China!" ”

Lloyd's. Prime Minister George frowned slightly: "Mr. Ambassador, can you give me a hint of how much pressure there is on this maximum limit?" ”

Ilivorsky spoke in a heavy tone to Lloyd. George said: "The Russian Republic wants to expel China from the Entente!" ”

Manzhouli, Office of the Eastern Railway Administration.

Bang. Horvath smashed an Italian-made glass. He didn't seem to understand his hatred, and threw out a French * coffee cup. The floor was littered with slag of porcelain and shards of glass. The staff officers and officials of the Middle East Road Guards and the Eastern Railway Administration all stood aside in frustration, and they didn't dare to come out.

The telegram from the provisional government in Ufa had just arrived, and it immediately made Horvat jump. This Kolchak is too weak! How could such a coward be the supreme leader of the Russian Empire? Even countries like China are now bullied by the Russian Empire. He still doesn't dare to go to war, and he still wants to solve the problem by diplomatic means. If diplomacy can solve such a problem, then what is the matter with this European war that has been fought for so many years and tens of millions of people have died?

He threw things in a rage. Russia's concession in Harbin and its special interests in North Manchuria were all spent by him in Horvat for more than ten years. Little by little, it was fought for from the Chinese people! These things are not only the hard work of his own for many years, but also the basis of his position in the future Russian government! If there is no Middle East Road, no Harbin leased land, no road guard, the future of this old royalist aristocrat in the future Russian government will be bleak!

The more Horvath thought about it, the more angry he became, and all kinds of years were intertwined. He finally roared and jumped: "This matter can't just be left at that!" For the sake of Russia's ease, we must fight back! Pass my orders and assemble the Protectors! Let's call back! ”

Several staff officers of the Protector Army stubbornly agreed. Turning around, he was going to give the order to assemble the few convoys that had withdrawn to Russian territory. The chief of staff Livyev, who had kept Horvat all the way to Manchuria, did not move, but leaned over to Horvat and reminded in a low voice: "Your Excellency, my troops are too small to defeat the Chinese!" ”

"If you can't beat it, you have to fight! The warriors of Russia would rather die in battle than live in humiliation! Horvat's anger was immediately spread on the chief of staff who persuaded him to flee Harbin.

However, the chief of staff's mind is still very calm, and he does not plan to follow this dizzy commander-in-chief to go to China to die. He rolled his eyes around, and then he thought of a way: "Your Excellency, don't forget that this is General Semenov's territory!" He is with your support. It was only from the North Manchurian army in China that Chita became the commander-in-chief of the 'Transbaikal Provisional Government'! If you must fight back to Harbin, it is better to borrow troops from this General Semenov! ”

Horvat calmed down a little, and a guy with a mustache and a fur hat that looked a bit like a Cossack appeared in his mind. This guy seems to be Semenov, who was originally a small person, and he can't be compared with himself as a big nobleman at all. It seems that at some point last year, this Semenov was expelled to the territory of China for his opposition to the Soviet government, and he himself gave him a sum of money and some weapons to help him raise four battalions of troops. Unexpectedly, he seized the opportunity of the rebellion of the Czechoslovak Legion to seize Chita, and now he is the self-proclaimed commander-in-chief. However, he, the commander-in-chief, has not been recognized by the Ufa side, and he is almost a bandit warlord on one side! I don't think it's appropriate to ask him for help myself, right?

But he figured it out in a blink of an eye. Now the situation in Russia is similar to that of China, and it is also a troubled era when there is a gun and the king of grass! And what if Ufa does not recognize Semyonov? Or can you just watch him reign in Chita? Even if the [Japanese] Intervention Army stationed in Chita has to win over this lawless bandit?

This gun. It's the root of troubled times! Wasn't it because there were not many guns that he was driven out of Harbin by China? This time, I borrowed Semenov's troops to fight back, and when I returned to Harbin, I must try my best to expand the army, I have the road money for the Middle East Road, as well as the taxes of Harbin, are you afraid that you will not be able to pull out a team?

Thinking of this, Horvat already had an idea in his heart, and lowered his head emphatically: "Livyev, you're right, let's go ask Semenov for help!" I'll go to Chita in person, and Manchuria will be handed over to you to guard! Up to a week. I will be able to bring Semenov's reinforcements, and during this time, you must hold Manchuria! ”

With that, he strode out, like a firefighter, and he didn't want to delay a minute

As an important chess piece deployed by Chang Ruiqing in the Northeast. The Red Brigade Northeast Revolution Army that created the "Middle East Road Robbery". At a time when the situation in the Northeast and even the entire country of China has changed dramatically because of this robbery, they are also in full swing in their calculations - Zhao'an!

A small village called the Lu family's shack near the county seat of Wangqing County has been stationed in a team under the banner of the Revolutionary Army since the beginning of August, which is probably the bandit that occupies Wangqing County, right? However, the discipline of these bandits is obviously better than that of those bandits in Wangqing County, they do not disturb the people much, but only occupy the mansion of the Lu family. The house is surrounded by armed bandits patrolling, and the villagers are not allowed to approach, probably some important people live inside, right?

In addition, in the dark of night, the dogs in the village often barked fiercely and urgently, and there was no time to stop. The villagers all know that this is a living person who has entered the village at night.

That night, the dog barked wildly, and in the night, a carriage rumbled into the village and stopped at the door of the Lu family's house. The patrolling bandits immediately surrounded them, and when they saw the driver of the car, they all stood up and saluted. It turned out that the coachman was the head of the Northeast Red Brigade!

Hu Roller Shutter lifted the curtain behind him, and said respectfully to the people inside: "General Ziyu, we have arrived!" ”

The person sitting in the carriage turned out to be Wu Peifu, the national hero who commanded the army to capture the Russian concession in Harbin and recover the Eastern Railway! At present, he has been awarded the official title of Governor of Heilongjiang Province and Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East Road Escort Army by the Beiyang government. This time, in the name of the commander of the Middle East Road Escort Army, he went deep into the tiger's den to negotiate with the leader of the Red Brigade Northeast Revolutionary Army.

Wu Peifu jumped out of the carriage, looked around, and saw that the gate of the courtyard had been pushed open, and there were lanterns and torches hanging inside, and it was full of foreigners. Sitting or standing, they all looked haggard, and when they saw Wu Peifu in a straight uniform, they all spontaneously approached him. A few who could speak Chinese also asked loudly: "General Wu, General Wu, when will we regain our freedom?" ”

Wu Peifu's stern and rigid thin face also showed a rare smile, nodding frequently at a foreigner, and replied in stiff English: "Soon, quickly, you will soon be free." ”

After saying these words, he strode into the hall under the guidance of Hu Roller Blinds, where a few dim oil lamps were lit, and several men and women were sitting on the ground, led by Guo Songling and Mama Zhao. The two of them were discussing something in a low voice, and when they saw Wu Peifu and Hu Rolling Blind walking in, they immediately stopped discussing and stood up to salute and greet them.

Wu Peifu was obviously not in the mood to talk to them, so he went straight to the point after a few greetings: "General Guo, Zhao Da is in charge, we have complied with your request, the Middle East Railway and the Harbin Russian Concession have been recovered, and I will also ask for the establishment of a division you asked for for you, and it will be arranged under my road protection army, and Wang Qing, Mudanjiang, Suifenhe and other places will also be stationed for you." Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise, release the hostages, and accept the adaptation, right? (To be continued......) !!