Cao Kun said these words as if he had exhausted all his strength, and gasped sharply: "Xiaoyi, you go and talk to the Russians, just say that I want to talk to them." Brothers, don't worry, I, Cao San, promise to find a way out for you. ”

Zhong Xiaoyi stood there without moving, and none of the more than a thousand soldiers spoke. Cao San was about to urge Zhong Xiaoyi, but a man covered in blood next to him suddenly stood up and picked up the rifle beside him: "Brother of the First Mixed Association, assemble!" ”

A dozen of the 1,000 people stepped forward and stood beside him, and then slowly the people who were not the first to mingle also stood up.

The muscles on Cao Kun's face shook a few times: "Xiao Li, ......"

Li Bingzhi turned his head to look at Cao Kun: "Third master, to be honest, you are really not a soldier. I've been following you for more than a year, and I feel like you're quite a gentleman in the past two days. You don't have to think about our way of life, put on a military uniform and wait for this day, you don't understand. ”

Li Bingzhi smiled when he said this, and the blood on his face made his smile look a little terrifying: "Zhong Xiaoyi, you rush out with the third master on your back for a while, leave us alone." Now it's going to be dark, and there's still a chance for one or two people to go. If the third master really wants to surrender, you will listen to him. ”

In fact, the battle has been fought so far, and those who are a little timid have fled, or have already died in the hands of the Russians. The people who are still alive on the mountain are basically the same as Li Bingzhi. So at this time, as long as they can still move, all of them are standing by his side.

Li Bingzhi looked at this team, and the smile on his face was even bigger: "Brothers, this is a charge for us, even if we fall, we have to be like a soldier, we have to tell the Russians that we are an army!" Battle Flag! Carry our battle flags! ”

Cao Kun suddenly cried, a man in his forties, and the tears rolled down from his eyes.

"Brothers! Ready to get started? ”

"Ready!"

"Charge with me!"

March doesn't seem to be a season of good news. The foreigners' newspapers reported on the war there in the Northeast. The troops of the Beiyang Army in Jinzhou were all wiped out, the main general Cao Kun was not known for his life and death, and only Wu Peifu fled to the north with less than 6,000 men and horses of the 100,000 army, and the Russian army was pursuing and suppressing them.

The piles of corpses in the newspapers and the photos of the prisoners caught by the Russians walking under the bayonets of the Russian soldiers deeply stimulated every Chinese.

It was the same with Yang Dagui, who was forced to cross the Yalu River on the night Cao Kun's troops were wiped out. Although they passed, from the photos sent by the Japanese war correspondents, it can be seen that the corpses all over the river seem to be blocking the mouth of the river! The Japanese said that the battle annihilated more than 30,000 volunteers and their militia.

The Mongolian Beyler also suffered a series of defeats after the successive victories in the early stage, and the Mongolian resistance army of more than 10,000 people suffered heavy losses, and no one knows where it has run now. The Russians said Zaitao had given up the fight.

These news really poured cold water on the heads of the Chinese! Those enthusiastic young people who were very passionate some time ago unconsciously had a question in their hearts at this time, can the war be fought?

And some of the remarks that did not dare to come forward some time ago have also come out, and many so-called elites have expressed their views on the war, they believe that China now wants to fight with Western countries because it is simply beyond its own strength, and what Yuan Shikai wants to do is to cooperate with foreigners in an all-round way, and only by cooperating with foreigners can we avoid extinction.

Some people even shouted the slogan that the Manchu Qing Dynasty once shouted, raising China's material resources and forming the favor of the great powers!

Lao Yuan put down the newspaper in front of him. Now someone in the newspaper finally spoke for him, and someone began to excuse his non-resistance, but Yuan Shikai was not happy at all!

He really wanted to see the Volunteers killed, but when Yang Xiaolin was really facing a desperate situation. Lao Yuan felt the extreme loss in his heart again. He hated Cao Kun very much, but when Cao Kun's army was destroyed, Lao Yuan was very sad and angry. Anyway, those 100,000 people in the Beiyang Army, no matter what, Cao Kun is his brother for decades!

In Yuan Shikai's official residence, all the important officials of the Beiyang government gathered. After the Russians killed Cao Kun, they had continued to press up on Jianchang's defensive line, and Rangnick also issued an ultimatum to Yuan Shikai if Yuan Shikai did not agree to the Russians' conditions. Then the Russian army will launch an attack on Jianchang in two days.

The Beiyang government is now also very divided, and the main battle is facing the main peace, and after Cao Kun's defeat, the main peace faction obviously occupies the absolute peak.

"Zhiquan, do you think if the Russians attack Jianchang with all their might, can Lu Jianzhang stop it?"

Lao Yuan's eyes looked at the Jianchang defense line of the Beiyang Army on the map, on which the Beiyang Army had 50,000 soldiers, and Lu Jianzhang was the main general. Regardless of the strength or firepower, this line of defense could not be compared with Cao Kun's Jinzhou defense line.

Duan Qirui's eyes were a little evasive, as if he wanted to avoid this question, but after finding that Yuan Shikai was always waiting for him to answer, he could only say softly: "Three days, it will be broken." ”

Yuan Shikai didn't have much surprise, stared at the map and exhaled: "These lines of defense were set up by Jiang Baili for us, and they were originally intended to resist the attack of the volunteers, but I didn't expect the Russians to come." If we had fought according to Jiang Baili's jihua when we were in Jinzhou at the beginning, the situation would not have been as good as it is today. ”

Jiang Baili was preparing to resist step by step, Jinzhou had the most troops, the strongest firepower, and the most complete fortifications, because he was ready to fight the volunteers in Jinzhou for a while, in order to achieve the goal of thwarting its sharpness.

Only by thwarting the enemy's sharpness can the rear lines of defense achieve the tactical intention of delaying time and resisting step by step. But Lao Yuan gave up Jinzhou at the beginning, and now Jiang Baili has resigned again, what to do next Yuan Shikai really doesn't know.

It seems that the fight is really unbeatable.

Mr. Li walked up from behind and said carefully: "Yuan Gong, let's talk." The British have made it clear that they do not support us in a war with Russia now, and if we insist, they will not give us any support, and they will consider cooperating with Sun Wen, if that is the case, we will be very passive. ”

That's what Sa Daoyi said to Yuan Shikai, so Lao Yuan is very angry now, the British asked him not to choose war, but Yuan Shikai felt as if he didn't choose war! It's like two people fighting, obviously the other party punches themselves, and there are people next to them who warn themselves that if they dare to be rough, they will do anything.

Lao Yuan's hand clenched tightly into a fist, and his beard trembled a few times: "What is Sun Wen doing now?" ”

Duan Qirui immediately said: "After we stopped the military attack, Sun Wen continued to contact the foreigners, and he had very close contacts with the Russians and the Japanese during this period of time. ”

Yuan Shikai frowned: "I know!" I want to know what conditions he reached with the foreigners! ”

Duan Qi Ruinuono said: "The condition offered by the foreigners is that if Sun Wen agrees to cooperate with them, they will support Sun Wen's Nanjing government, help Sun Wen unify the whole country, and at the worst let him be able to rule the river with us." I heard that the two sides are negotiating, but Sun Wen has not yet agreed. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Shikai angrily swept all the teapots and teacups on the table to the ground with his cane: "Row the river and rule?!" Mongolia is lost, the Northeast can't get it back, if Sun Wen rules by rowing the river, what will we have left! ”

Feng Guozhang immediately stepped forward: "Big brother, let's fight!" If you don't fight, you can't do it! ”

Yuan Shikai slapped him with a stick: "Fight!" You know how to fight! ”

Lei Zhenchun pushed open the door and walked in at this time: "Master, the British Minister Sa Daoyi just called, saying that they are about to convene a ministerial meeting on the China issue, and the meeting will make a clear statement on the current situation, please be sure to attend." ”

Lao Yuan's hands trembled very much, he knew that this was an ultimatum from the British to him, did he agree? That means that you have to give up Mongolia and give up the Northeast. The most important thing is that his Beiyang government may be far inferior to the original Manchu Qing in the minds of the common people in the future!

But what can you do if you don't promise yourself? He was sure that if he shook his head, the foreigner would definitely choose Sun Wen! In that case, he Yuan Shikai will also face failure!

His eyes scanned everyone in the room, and everyone's eyes were different, and everyone must have different ideas for him. Lao Yuan found that he had no choice now, and it seemed that he was wrong no matter how he went.

He was confused and terrified.

Before he could make up his mind, a noisy shout suddenly came from outside: "General Cao Kun is back!" ”

Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment, Duan Qirui was the first to react, and rushed out: "Cao San! Cao San! ”

Cao Kun is really back. He was now humanoid, there was no blood on his face, and the wounds were beginning to inflame and suppurate. The doctor of the old Yuan family just used scissors to cut open Cao Kun's bloody clothes, and after taking a look, he gave up treating his injuries, turned his head and shook his head gently at Yuan Shikai, signaling that Cao Kun was no longer good.

Yuan Shikai stared at the doctor and asked softly, "Is there really no way?" ”

The doctor didn't speak, but Cao Kun, who was lying there, said softly: "Big brother, don't worry about your brother, it's useless......"

Feng Guozhang walked up to Cao Kun and held Cao Kun's hand: "Three, why don't you wait for me to go before fighting?" What are you capable of doing on your own?! ”

Cao Kun forced a smile on his pale face, and his eyes stared at Yuan Shikai on the side: "Big brother... When my brother comes back, I just want to see you again, and if I can see my eldest brother, I will be content, do you still recognize me as a brother? ”

Yuan Shikai stood there with emotion in his heart, and after a sigh, he finally recognized Cao Kun: "Three! You can run with your legs, why fight with the Russians? Look at the way you are now, why are you bothering? ”

The smile on Cao Kun's face slowly bloomed: "If my eldest brother can still treat me as a brother, I will be content." Big brother, I don't want to fight either, really. But my brother understands one thing now, and there is a sentence I want to say to my eldest brother, if it's wrong, don't mind. ”

Yuan Shikai nodded: "You can say it." (To be continued......)