"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, I have a proposal that you may wish to consider." Sir Jurdian's said suddenly.

"Your Excellency, please speak." Xu Shichang said.

"With the current strength of the Beiyang Army, if you want to defeat the Northern Army, it is no longer possible. Even with our help, the most we can do is maintain the status quo. Therefore, I think you might as well negotiate with the Northern Army. The two sides can take the Yangtze River as the boundary and row the river to rule! Sir Jurden said.

In this way, the goal of splitting China and weakening the Northern Army will undoubtedly be achieved. A divided China would undoubtedly pose a much smaller threat to Britain. Most of Britain's interests in China are located in the Yangtze River basin, and even if the north of the Yangtze River is abandoned, the loss to Britain will not be too great. In addition, Britain was able to use the Beiyang government to contain the northern government. After Britain settled the German-led Central Powers, and then slowly tried to do so, there would always be a chance to destroy the Northern Army.

"That's right, the Beiyang Army and the Northern Army are undoubtedly the best way, and the only choice for the Beiyang Army to get out of the current predicament." Japanese Minister to China Hayashi Gonsuke also said. A unified China is undoubtedly a great threat to Japan. With a population of more than 400 million and a rapidly developing industry, Japan's expansion into the mainland will be cut off forever. If China is divided and the North and the South are hostile to each other, then there is undoubtedly hope for Japan. Therefore, the Japanese side also strongly agreed with this suggestion of Sir Zhu Erdian.

"Divide the river and rule?" Xu Shichang and Tang Shaoyi were both stunned, they didn't expect Sir Zhu Erdian to make such a suggestion.

However, after careful consideration, if they could divide the river with the northern army and keep the territory south of the Yangtze River, this seemed to be a good proposal. After all. After losing most of China, there is still a small half, which is also very good. For many people in the Beiyang government who are getting by, it is already very good.

"Your Excellency, the area we can control at the moment is only a small part south of the Yangtze River. The rest of the provinces. Hunan was already under the control of the Northern Army, and the others were under the control of the local powerful factions. Xu Shichang said.

"Those local powerful factions are not strong. Although the Beiyang Army was not the opponent of the Northern Army, it seemed that it was not impossible to defeat the armies of other governors. What's more, we will fully support the Beiyang Army. Sir Jurden continued.

"Your Excellency, even if we agree with this proposal. But will the Northern Army agree? If they had to unify the whole of China, this plan would not have been possible. Tang Shaoyi said.

"Over there in the North. We'll talk to them. According to the information we have received, the major commander of the Northern Army is currently in Pukou, north of the Yangtze River. If you have no opinion, Minister Lin Quanzhu and I will leave for Pukou as soon as possible to negotiate with the major marshal of the Northern Army. I believe that he will give the British Empire and the Japanese Empire this face. Sir Jurdian said confidently. The UK is now in the ascendant of the day. The prestige of the world hegemon still exists, and even if the Northern Army is dissatisfied with Britain, it must not dare to openly offend the world's number one power.

"There was joint oppression by the British Empire and the Great Japanese Empire. The Northern Army will definitely compromise. Minister Lin Quanzhu also said.

Xu Shichang and Tang Shaoyi hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded: "We need to tell Your Majesty." However, I think His Majesty will not refuse this proposal. ”

Sir Zhu Erdian and Minister Lin Quanzhu both nodded, believing that Yuan Datou would accept this suggestion. After all, this is undoubtedly the last straw for the Beiyang government, which is already on the verge of desperation. If you can't catch it. Then they're finished.

Xu Shichang and Tang Shaoyi hurriedly went to Yuan Datou's bedroom and told him about Sir Zhu Erdian's suggestion.

"Divide the river and rule? Will the entire north of the Yangtze River be handed over to the Northern Army? The expression on Yuan Datou's face was constantly changing, cloudy and uncertain. Losing most of his territory made him a little unwilling.

"Your Majesty. Not only north of the Yangtze River, but also Hunan was under the rule of the northern government. Xu Shichang reminded.

If it is counted as Hunan, then the remaining territory of the Beiyang government will be a small half. What's more, a lot of this small half of the territory is still in the hands of local powerful factions who oppose Yuan.

"Your Majesty, the British and the Japanese have offered to help us in our crusade against the governors of the south if we accept this condition. On the side of the Beiyang Army, they also went to talk. Tang Shaoyi said.

"You say, 'What should we do?' Accept their terms? Yuan Datou asked.

"Your Majesty, although the advice of the British is to harbor evil intentions, they do not want China to become strong and threaten them. However, from our standpoint, this is already the only way. The Northern Army was aggressive and aggressive, and without the support of the British and Japanese, we probably wouldn't have lasted long. Being able to temporarily maintain the rule of half of China can always keep a trace of fire for Beiyang, and wait for an opportunity in the future. Xu Shichang said. His attitude was inclined to accept the advice of the British.

"Your Majesty, the present international situation is dominated by the confrontation between the Entente of Great Britain, France and Russia and the Allied Powers of Germany, Austria and Italy. The contradictions between the two sides had become more and more intense, so the British could only focus on Europe and had no time to pay attention to the Far East. But once the Allies and the Central Powers were divided, the British would have come back. They would never allow a government that was unfriendly to Britain to exist. When the time comes, that's our chance. Tang Shaoyi said. As foreign secretary, he naturally has more knowledge of the international situation than anyone else.

Yuan Datou thought about it for a long time, and finally nodded: "Okay, since you all think that this is more beneficial to Beiyang, then do it!" ”

Yuan Datou knew that the current Beiyang was about to reach the point of exhaustion, and it was just a matter of lingering step by step. But even so, he didn't want Beiyang to fall.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Shichang and Tang Shaoyi nodded.

Soon, the British Minister to China, Sir Zhu Erdian, and the Japanese Minister to China, Hayashi Quansuke, received a reply from the Beiyang side, and Yuan Datou had agreed to their agreement.

This made both of them smile, but there was another problem in front of them, that is, they had to make the northern army compromise as well. The current Northern Army is at the height of its momentum, and it is very difficult for them to stop north of the Yangtze River. But even so, Sir Zhu Erdian and Minister Lin Quanzhu believed that under the oppression of the two world powers, Britain and Japan, the Northern Army had no other way but to compromise.

"Your Excellency, Minister, why don't we cross the river tomorrow morning and meet the young marshal of the Northern Army." Sir Jurdian said.

"Absolutely." Minister Lin Quanzhu nodded. Japan and Britain are on the same page in this matter. Even, Lin Quanzhu also hoped that the Northern Army would be a little tougher and reject their proposal. In this case, will the British, who are embarrassed and angry, directly go to war against the Northern Army? At that time, Japan will be able to join in and launch a full-scale war against the Northern Army. In order to win, the British will certainly support Japan with all their might. After defeating the Northern Army, Japan could complete its expansion in the continental direction.

As to whether this will harm Britain's interests in Europe, it is none of Japan's business. Although Japan was an ally of Britain, or rather a lackey of Britain. But they don't listen to the British for everything. The main thing is that they are still working for the interests of their own country. Willing to act as a lackey of the British, there is no way to do it. Japan, which is weak and weak, needs financial and technological support from Britain.

The next day, January 1, 1909, the first day of the new year, the British Minister to China, Sir Zhu Erdian, and the Japanese Minister to China, Hayashi Quansuke, boarded a British destroyer at the Shimonoseki Pier in Jinling. The destroyer sounded its whistle and headed directly to the north of the river.

When the destroyer was less than a kilometer away from the north bank of the Yangtze River, an alarm sounded on the positions of the Northern Army. The artillerymen rushed to their gun positions, and one by one 155mm heavy howitzers, 105mm light howitzers or 75mm field guns were already aimed at the advancing destroyers. In the face of a destroyer with a displacement of only a few hundred tons, these guns can completely sink it.

"It seems that our arrival has caused panic in the Northern Army." On the destroyer, Sir Jurdian's face hung a smile.

"Your Excellency, shall we warn those yellow-skinned monkeys?" The captain asked.

"No, let's show us why. Don't clash with them at this time! Sir Jurdian shook his head. Although he wanted to express his toughness, the destroyer under his feet was too weak, but if he went to war, he might not have the slightest advantage. The Northern Army attaches great importance to artillery, and he does not want to risk his life. If the British Navy's cruisers, especially armored cruisers, were able to sail into the Yangtze River during the Yangtze River flood period, it might be different. The defense and firepower of an armored cruiser are not comparable to that of a destroyer. It is almost impossible for the army artillery of the Northern Army to want to pose a threat to it.

"Yes, Sir Sir." The captain nodded.

Subsequently, a white flag was raised over the destroyer and slowed down.

After feeling that the destroyer had no malicious intent, the Northern Army did not take further action. Soon, the destroyer was docked at the Pukou pier. (To be continued......)

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