On the third day of the fourth month of the ninth year of Shenwu, May 20, 1920 in the Jesus calendar, Thursday, this day is the day when the peace treaty is signed. The Germans had obtained the peace treaty from Clemenceau fifteen days earlier, but they were greatly disappointed that Poland had been propped up to the east by England, France, and the United States and had annexed some German territories; Although the Rhine region did not become independent, Lorraine and Alsace were ceded to France without a referendum; The merchant fleet was lost, and the reparations were set at 138 billion marks; Germany would lose 13 percent of its territory and 10 percent of its population.

As for the Germans' impression of Yang Rui, on the morning of going to Versailles Hall of Mirrors, Yang Rui asked Yang Du and Xie Jintai: "Are the Germans also scolding me?" ”

"They ......" Xie Jintai was honest, he was interrupted by Yang Du as soon as he said two words, he said: "There are some opinions in the newspapers, but more Germans know that we don't have much say in European affairs, and Ottoman, isn't it because we strive that we have not been completely divided?" Now that the food donated by China is constantly being shipped into Germany, Germany can't eat our food and scold us for being ungrateful, right? The war was caused by the Kaiser's instigation of the Tsar's invasion of the East......"

What Yang Du said was a high-sounding reason, and the reason why China really declared war was not the Tsar's invasion at all, Yang Rui frowned when he heard this: "What about my itinerary?" Can Germany go? ”

"It's better not to go." Xie Jintai was not interrupted by Yang Du this time. "There is chaos in Germany right now, especially after learning that the treaty is so disposed of itself, it is likely to be self-defeating to go."

"Is that really the case?" Yang Rui said: "I still want to go and see ......"

"Your Excellency, the time is almost up!" The French pilot, who was waiting at the inn early in the morning, politely reminded that this person was dressed up and all the French people knew it. Today is a holiday in France.

"Okay, let's go." Yang Rui put on the black gauze hat, and the delegation did not pay attention to the euphemistic request of the French, wearing a black tuxedo, a white bow tie, and a black top hat, all of which were Ming-style official robes.

The Palace of Versailles is twenty kilometers west of the city of Paris, except for China and North Korea. Several other delegations had already stayed at the Fountain Hotel next to Versailles, so the Chinese and North Korean delegations needed to travel by car to Versailles, 20 kilometers away. When Yang Rui and his entourage went down to the first floor of the inn, they found that from the inn hall to the entire street, it was crowded with overseas Chinese and students in France, and they were also like the French, wearing their most decent clothes, as if celebrating a festival. As soon as Yang Rui and these people showed their faces, the overseas Chinese applauded and cheered vigorously. Then these people excitedly shouted, 'Long live China, long live the emperor'.

In the face of such a happy expatriate, Yang Rui could only wave his hand, but the reporters crowded at the front seized the opportunity to ask questions. "Prime Minister, what do you think of this peace treaty?" Huang Yuanyong, a reporter for the Imperial Daily, seized a rare moment.

"People shouldn't be so happy." Yang Rui said as he walked, "There is no real winner in the war, and neither is the peace treaty. ”

"Your Excellency...... Prime Minister" When the other reporters were about to ask, Yang Rui had already been escorted into the car, and they had to grab the ambassador to France, Shi Zhaoji, to ask questions.

"Hey......" Yang Rui was also surprised by the performance of overseas Chinese just now. When I got into the car, I kept shaking my head. Next to him, Xie Jintai said: "No way, after all, we won." In their opinion, this is a time for a surge in national morale. ”

"Hehe, Dachang Ethnicity?" Yang Rui sneered, "A few people beat up one person, and the battle line is not even next to the side of Germany, this is also called winning?" Want me to say. It's a shame to win! The same was true of our battle against the Bolsheviks, and only the battle against Japan was really won. The quality of Chinese people is really worrying! ”

After saying this, he said to Li Zilong: "Remember to send a telegram to China, and let the Ministry of Rites publish an article according to my wishes, and ask for a headline on the front page." The war against Japan took into account Sino-Japanese relations. Cryptically written. ”

"Hehe, it's too serious for you." Seeing Yang Rui arrange it like this, Xie Jintai really didn't know what to say.

"I'm not more serious, I just think that the people who cheered for the victory today are very ......" Yang Rui couldn't find the right words, but he said an inference that everyone couldn't imagine: "...... If one day we are defeated by other countries, I think many of these people will become traitors. Only spineless people cheer for victories that are not victories, and because of this, they are the easiest to succumb under the bayonet, don't look at how patriotic they are now. Li Zilong, I also want to add this sentence! ”

"Understood, sir." Li Zilong has been remembering.

"It makes sense." Xie Jintai finally nodded; Yang Du said: "Unless this article is signed by the prime minister himself, it will be ineffective, and many people in China are indeed spineless, including me." ”

Yang Du's last sentence filled the car with laughter, and Yang Rui couldn't comment on it anymore, so he had to shake his head while laughing. By this time the convoy had left the city of Paris, the spring suburbs were full of life, rhododendrons and other unknown wildflowers were in full bloom, and on the road two kilometers from Versailles, French cavalrymen in blue uniforms and steel helmets stood quietly, white pennants fluttering in the wind on their spears; Near the Palace of Versailles, the French Janissaries were all dressed in white trousers and black boots, dark blue uniforms, and shining silver steel helmets with long horsehair.

The peace treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, more than 70 meters long and 10 meters wide, located in the main palace of Versailles, and was its most splendid hall. It has 17 floor-to-ceiling glass windows on the side facing the garden, and 17 large mirrors on the inner side, so it is called the Hall of Mirrors. All the countries involved in the peace treaty have a place in the Hall of Mirrors, and China's seats are fifty as Britain, France, the United States, and Japan.

As soon as Yang Rui stepped out of the car, he was dazzled by the flashing lights of a bunch of reporters, who tried to get closer to ask a few questions, but he didn't want to speak, and walked straight to the large conference table at the other end of the Hall of Mirrors. Clemenceau, Lloyd, George, Wilson and the Japanese were already there, and he was the last to arrive.

In addition to the large conference table, there is a small table from the time of Louis XV under a huge portrait of Louis XIV hanging high. The leather box on the top contains the original copy of the contract, which must be signed and stamped by all participating countries. It seems that considering that the Chinese seal is very large, the paper of the original peace treaty is wider than the ordinary paper.

When Yang Rui's eyes swept over the original contract, the representatives of several countries present saluted him, the Japanese were waving, and the foreigners were waving. This is a compromise that does not shake hands or make a compromise; And Yang Rui, Xie Zhangtai and others were against them, even Shi Zhaoji, the ambassador to France who was already in Western etiquette, had to do so.

"Are the Germans coming?" Yang Rui's position was arranged by the Japanese Nobuaki Makino and Lloyd. George Middle, Lloyd. Next to George was Clemenceau, and beyond that was Wilson. He asked Makino, a Japanese, who spoke Chinese.

"It's coming soon." Nobuaki Makino glanced at the beaming Clemenceau and replied in a low voice in Chinese, "I don't know if they won't be brought in until we finish signing." ”

"Bring ......it in," Yang Rui smiled, and then said, "We have decided." Leave Paris tonight. ”

"Ahh Nobuken Makino sighed in surprise, "Didn't you participate in the celebration banquet in the evening?" ”

"I didn't participate, it's been more than half a year since I came out, and there are a lot of domestic things. I will not say goodbye to His Excellency Saionji, but please tell him that when I visit Japan in a few months, he remembers to invite me to drink. Yang Rui said in a low voice.

"Understood. I'll tell you. Makino nodded vigorously, Yang Rui's visit to Japan is extremely much expected by the Japanese government and the opposition, and it is indeed rare to agree to him so readily as soon as he is invited this time.

There are more and more people in the Hall of Mirrors, and they will wait until half past eight. The signing ceremony began with Clemenceau's lengthy welcome speech, and Yang Rui had no interest in it. He only watched the two eunuchs who came out of the Forbidden City carefully grinding the ink. Nearly half an hour later, after his speech, Clemenceau said to the officers on one side: "Bring the Germans in." ”

After a while, a French soldier brought in two German delegates, dressed in black tuxedos and white bow ties. But there was no hint of joy in their faces, and in the words of the newspaper afterwards - their faces were as pale as death. Clemenceau looked at them proudly, and spoke in French, and then, under the gaze of everyone. The German took out the prepared pen from his bosom and signed it tremblingly on the small table of Louis XV under the huge portrait of Louis XIV, and there was no expression after signing.

The Germans were so calm, but the French were ecstatic, the French in the Hall of Mirrors applauded and cheered loudly, and the guns outside the Hall of Mirrors rang out one after another, if you could look down on the whole of France in the sky, the guns of all France would fire in unison at this moment.

After the Germans had signed it, Clemenceau strode forward and was the first to sign and seal the original peace treaty, followed by Lloyd's. George, and then Wilson, when it was Yang Rui's turn, the eunuch had already prepared the brush and the national seal. Raise the pen and bend the wrist to write the word 'Yang Rui' in the blank, and the big seal of the treasure of King Min is covered on the melted fire paint, so that China's world war journey has come to a successful end.

"My lord......" The national seal was covered in the fire paint and never mentioned, and the palm print eunuch next to it reminded him in a whisper.

"Hmm." Yang Rui was distracted at this time, he thought of the German real mother's sorrow, and then thought again: the Germans will eventually be Anglo. The Saxon conquest is really not a good thing for China and the whole East, but if Germany is not sad, China will not be able to rise, everything is predestined.

Yang Rui picked up the national seal and handed it to the palm seal eunuch who was waiting on the side. They hurriedly used the prepared white silk to wipe off the fire paint stained on the seal, and then reloaded the national seal into the vermilion lacquer gold cloud dragon treasure chest, the box is three-layered, the small box containing the national seal is first loaded into the middle box, and then into the big box, and finally the big box is wrapped in yellow cloth, and held in the arms of a eunuch.

After each Entente representative signed and sealed, the participants in the Hall of Mirrors would applaud fiercely, and when Yang Rui got up, the applause rang out warmly, but the spirit of Zhonger in his heart drove him to do something unwise: after waving his hand to suppress the applause, he said to everyone: "Gentlemen, please don't congratulate me." I am very dissatisfied with myself, and I am even deeply ashamed of what I have done, please save the applause for others. ”

The French used some conditions to silence China in European affairs, but Yang Rui's title of 'fifth head of state' is well known to everyone. When he expressed his 'deep shame,' the zombie-like German delegates looked at him as if they had instantly gained some anger, and the British looked at him, while the flesh on Clemenceau's mouth twitched and Wilson was embarrassed. Fortunately, Yang Rui has already finished speaking. The applause resounded among the British, and the loudest applause was Keynes of the British Treasury, who was totally opposed to the mistreatment of Germany because it would provoke another war.

Although Yang Rui vaguely condemned the treaty, it was difficult to say anything about this kind of confessional condemnation of the French, when the Italians signed the agreement. The atmosphere of the Hall of Mirrors has returned to its previous liveliness and joy. After forty-five minutes of silence, Clemenceau officially declared the ceremony over, the Germans were escorted out, and the French invited the delegates to a celebratory banquet in Paris.

"You can't go to Germany again and not attend the dinner in the evening!" When he learned that Yang Rui wanted to go to Germany immediately, Xie Jintai objected loudly: "Actually, we are one of the founding countries of the League of Nations, and we are also one of the Entente countries, we can't help but give face to the French and Americans!" What you said just now is already very shameful to them. Germany is important, but France and the United States together are more important than Germany! ”

"I understand! I just ...... "When you think simply, you can be as shameless as you want, but when you don't think, he knows what is honor and what is shameful," Forget it, go back to China immediately." He sighed.

"Good!" Xie Jintai and Yang Du nodded together, "I think it's best to go tonight." This will not offend France, nor will it make Germany hostile. At least what you just said has indicated that we are not in the slightest pleasure about the signing of this peace treaty. In fact, killing people does not necessarily produce hatred, and if you kill someone, you have to pee on the corpse, which will make people hate it. All that Clemenceau has laid out today is an act of stirring up hatred in Germany. ”

"He's dying!" Yang Rui was disgusting when he thought about the whole ceremony. "I'm gone, who's going at night?"

"If you leave, I must go, and Huizi, Mr. Hua Feng, and Shi Zhaoji also have to go." Xie Zhangtai said. "What else do you have to explain to the Germans?"

"What else can you explain?" Yang Rui thought about things on the German side. "Go to Leo's tomb and lay flowers on my behalf. And Rebecca, do everything you can to find her and bring her back. ”

"What if she doesn't want to come back?" Xie Zhangtai asked, "The last time our people found her, she said she didn't want to go back to China. ”

"Then ......" Yang Rui was speechless about this. Since Germany is in chaos, let's try to protect her, and meet her as long as she needs it, whether it is money or anything else. ”

"I see." Xie Jintai nodded. He was very emotional about Leo's encounter, and he died before he left the school, which is the best portrayal of Leo, a true patriot.

At noon on the same day, after bidding farewell to the local overseas Chinese representatives, Yang Rui arrived in Marseille under the escort of the Air Force. Of course, it is now just the royal yacht Shenmu, with a golf course on the flight deck and an entertainment city in the hangar. Vice Admiral Liu Guanxiong, commander of the Navy, has been waiting here for a long time.

"The lower officials have seen the Prime Minister." Liu Guanxiong and his officers waited on the deck.

"What about the German battleships?" Yang Rui asked after returning the salute. The German Navy's Operation Rainbow Yang Rui did not interfere, and China was given a Helgoland-class battleship and a number of cruisers and destroyers.

"Back to your lordship, the Qingyuan has returned to China, and we have only accepted this ship, and we need to train day and night to form combat power." Liu Guanxiong followed Yang Rui quickly, saying as he walked. He knew that the current dynasty was different from the previous dynasty, and the funds for the fleet of the previous dynasty were fixed, or contracted to the captain. Since it was a contract, the captain tried his best to avoid training and exercises, so that not only would the funds not exceed the standard, but the saved part could be privately shared with the officers on board; However, this dynasty has enough funds, and does not take ships and coal seriously at all, and even the secondary artillery shells other than the main gun are extremely sufficient, in order to 'form combat power'.

"Has the Caspian Flotilla been formed?" Yang Rui walked and thought of his own itinerary, he was going to return from the Western Regions.

"My lord, the Caspian Flotilla was formed last month. But they are all small boats and small submarines that can be transported by rail. Liu Guanxiong said, "The navy also wants to build a naval ship repair yard there." ”

"Let's build a small shipyard. You go to the Ministry of Works, they have a plan. Yang Rui said.

"Xia Guan understands." Liu Guanxiong was overjoyed when he heard this. He now has four fleets in the Caspian Sea, the Bohai Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, and two battleships of more than 10,000 tons, Qinghe and Qingyuan, and three aircraft carriers, Shenwu, Changning, and Yongning. In addition, the keels of four aircraft carriers have been laid in the docks of the Nanjing Naval Shipyard and the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, and together with the planned 18 10,000-ton cruisers, 48 2,000-ton destroyers, 54 large submarines, and eight 15,000-ton supply ships, the tonnage of the fleet has rapidly increased from 50,000 tons to more than 800,000 tons.

"Only build aircraft carriers, not battleships. The officers below you will have an opinion. After entering the lounge inside the ship, Yang Rui said to Liu Guanxiong. This time, he wants to make all the things about the navy clear.

"This ...... It is true that there are a few people who have opinions. Liu Guanxiong didn't dare to hide it, "But the lower officials are comforting these people......"

"Does it mean that the purpose of building an aircraft carrier is to exclude the Min people?" Yang Rui asked again.

With a 'huh', Liu Guanxiong immediately stood up in surprise and said hurriedly: "The navy has never said such words, please be aware of it." ”

"It doesn't matter if you check it or not. Before the above is not convincing. It's understandable to think this way. However, if they fail to realistically recognize that the pattern of naval warfare has changed in the future, and blindly emphasize how battleships should be, then their hearts will be punished. Yang Rui sneered.

"There was a rejection of the Min system before, but this kind of exclusion is nothing more than to give other people some opportunities, since it is the country's tax to build warships, then the whole country is qualified to be a navy, and the examination is treated equally, and it will not be hired because it is the Min department; As for the dead rule that the captain of an aircraft carrier must be a pilot. I decided that the purpose was to get the Navy accustomed to another mode of naval warfare as soon as possible. Speaking of this, Yang Rui thought of another question and asked, "Did the General Staff inform you to participate in flight training?" ”

"Yes, it has been notified." Liu Guanxiong was sweating on his head, and he couldn't figure out why the General Staff Department had notified him to participate in flight training.

"Any idea why you were notified?" Yang Rui asked while picking up the teacup very leisurely, opening the tea leaves with the lid of the cup and starting to drink tea.

"Xia Guan doesn't know." Liu Guanxiong didn't dare to wipe his sweat.

"That's because I don't want to remove you." Yang Rui put down the teacup, "As an old man in the navy, if you can't apply the new war model. Then it will be eliminated. As soon as the word elimination came out, Liu Guanxiong's body trembled obviously. You are the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Therefore, it must be understood that in future naval battles, the navy will no longer fight with ships carrying gun barrels, and the navy will fight with aircraft in the future. Regardless of whether you will actually command the battle in the future, this common sense must always be known.

In the future, we will have six regular aircraft carriers, and the captains of these aircraft carriers have not yet been determined. The problem now is that pilots don't know how to sail. What should I do if I don't know how to fly if I was born in a seafaring background? Now we can only mess up two groups of people, mix them together, and then take the exam after three years, and the items of the exam will be announced before that. Who can do it and who can't it depends on their own ability, and in addition, psychological quality and personality tests also account for points, which are all for future naval battles, not specifically for whom. ”

"Your Excellency is wise!" Liu Guanxiong really didn't know what to say about this, so he had to praise his wisdom.

"Alright, don't stand still, sit down." Yang Rui's expression relaxed at this time, and said to the restless Liu Guanxiong. After he sat down, he asked again: "What are the difficulties of the navy now?" ”

"Back to my lord, the subordinate is worried that there are not enough qualified officers." Liu Guanxiong's biggest concern is manpower. The expansion of the navy like a balloon is far from enough not to mention the officers, not even the sailors. "Without qualified officers, combat effectiveness cannot be guaranteed."

"Hmm." Yang Rui nodded. Although he does not understand the navy, it is difficult for officers in the army, especially senior officers, to be cultivated, and the same should be true for the navy.

"My lord, if it is feasible, can the speed of building the ship be slowed down?" Liu Guanxiong said.

"How fast to build a ship?" Yang Rui thought of the Washington naval treaty that was likely to come soon, shook his head and said: "The aircraft carrier must not be delayed, and all of them must be launched next year, and other cruisers and destroyers can be delayed, but no matter how slow it is, the entire fleet will be equipped within ten years." Ten years is not enough? ”

"Ten years ......" thought that the current surface fleet of 6,000 people would expand to 60,000 or 70,000 in ten years, and ten captains would become more than 70 captains; Thinking of Yang Rui's emphasis on combat effectiveness, Liu Guanxiong's scalp was a little stiff, and he reluctantly said: "Ten years is enough." (To be continued......)