Xia Bohai said: "There is nothing strange about this, isn't it just for teammates to sell? In this era, countries turn their faces faster than turning books, so on the one hand, they join forces with us to confront Russia, and on the other hand, they move knives behind our backs, and even in the old days, isn't the United States the same as cooperation and containment with us? It is the alliance between the United States and the European Union and Japan, but when it is time to shear the sheep, the United States will not be soft. Therefore, the only criterion for dealing with countries is our interests, we will do what is beneficial to us, and we will never do anything that is not beneficial to us, and if it harms our interests, even if it is our allies, we should immediately turn our face. ”

Qin Zheng also nodded and said, "Didn't we just eliminate a Japanese intelligence base in Shanghai? So it should be normal for the Japanese to have such actions." ”

Shang Qisong said: "However, we believe that if this landlord alliance has the participation of Japan, then their goal should be to provoke a conflict between us and Yuan Shikai, preferably a large-scale war." ”

Xia Bohai nodded, of course he knew that if the traverser really went to war with Yuan Shikai, of course it would not be a problem to win, but even if it was a victory, it would still outweigh the losses for the traversal group, because it would cause the pass between the traversal group and the Qing court to completely break down, and the enlightened, fair, and patriotic that had been established with great difficulty Most of the image of defending national righteousness will also be destroyed, so if this is really Japan's goal, then it can be said that the intentions of the Japanese are quite sinister, but it is also true that they have found the weakness of the crossing group.

At this time, Qin Zheng said: "From this point of view, fortunately, Yuan Shikai is still a smart person, so he didn't start a full-scale war with us." ”

Shang Qisong said: "But these are our speculations, and there are no facts as a basis, and we can't be sure what the real result is, because under the current circumstances, we have no way to confirm it." ”

Qin Zheng said with a smile: "But now is an opportunity, isn't Yuan Shikai coming to Qingdao? ”

Xia Bohai also nodded, and said: "This is a good opportunity, since Yuan Datou is soft, we should also receive him well, not to mention that this time he also sent us 100,000 taels of silver, as the saying goes, if you don't hit the giver, Lao Qin will be responsible for this matter." Of course, this place in Shandong, we are determined to win, if Yuan Datou fantasizes about being able to share Shandong with us equally, then this time he must let him dispel this illusion, although a war with Yuan Shikai is not good for us, but if Yuan Shikai still fantasizes about keeping a part of Shandong, then we have no choice but to use war to solve it. ”

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "Of course, for us now, seizing the Shandong region is the biggest goal, and the other interests are secondary." But I think Yuan Shikai is a person who understands, and he should know that we are determined to win Shandong, so I don't think he should have any illusions, which is the benefit of dealing with people who understand, so I don't think there will be a war, and if it really starts, although it is not good for us, but it is even more unfavorable to Yuan Shikai, and his new army in Beiyang will inevitably be buried here, which will be a devastating blow to Yuan Shikai, and with Yuan Shikai's shrewdness, he should make a correct choice. ”

Xia Bohai said: "If that's the case, of course it's no better. ”

Qin Zheng said again: "Minister Shang, when you meet Yuan Shikai, you and I will meet him together, and by the way, you can also observe Yuan Shikai's attitude up close." ”

Shang Qisong said: "Yes." ”

―――――――― Divider ――――――――― Dividing Line――――――――

Yuan Shikai and his entourage set out from Jinan, all the way to the east through Qingzhou Prefecture, Weixian, turned to the southeast, and after marching for 6 days, entered the boundary of Gaomi County, and also encountered the forward outpost of the People's Army.

At this time, Wang Sheng, Gao Jun, Gao Mingde and others stationed in Gaomi County had already received a notice from the Executive Committee, so after asking their identities, they were allowed to enter the territory of Gaomi County. After Wang Sheng, Gao Jun, and Gao Mingde received the notice from the outpost, they led a battalion of troops to line up outside Gaomi County to meet Yuan Shikai and his party.

After the two sides met, they were polite to each other, Yuan Shikai didn't have any local officials, and he had a complete relationship with Wang Sheng and others on an equal footing, including Gao Jun, who was very respectful, and did not despise her at all because she was a woman. And Wang Sheng and others' attitude towards Yuan Shikai is neither humble nor arrogant, etiquette is very thoughtful, after the cold announcement, Gao Mingde accompanied Yuan Shikai for a military parade.

The Beiyang New Army was basically formed in accordance with the model of the German Army, and was close to the German Army in terms of weaponry, organizational establishment, composition of officers and men, military training, rules and regulations, and logistical support.

After comparison, Yuan Shikai believes that the Beiyang New Army may be better than the People's Army in terms of neat ranks and military appearance and military prestige, after all, the Beiyang New Army has been established for five years, even if it is expanding the army in Shandong, it has taken more than a year, and the People's Army has been established for less than a year, so it is reasonable that it is inferior to the Beiyang New Army in basic training.

However, Yuan Shikai also noticed that the soldiers of the People's Army had sharp eyes and full of momentum, far from being comparable to the Beiyang New Army, after all, Yuan Shikai was a person who had rolled on the battlefield, and knew that this was only an army that had experienced regular battlefield experience to have such momentum, and in contrast, although the Beiyang New Army had been formed for a long time, it had not really experienced many battlefields, and it was basically a domestic suppression of peasant uprisings, riots and other battles, which was incomparable with the People's Army.

And I don't know if it's a psychological effect or other reasons, Yuan Shikai always feels that the other soldier seems to have a look of disdain in his eyes, as if in front of the People's Army, the Beiyang New Army is simply vulnerable. And looking at the soldiers of the Beiyang New Army, although they are also lined up and the lineup is neat, there is a feeling that they can't raise their heads in front of the other party, Yuan Shikai even has such a feeling in his heart, if these two armies meet and fight on the battlefield, the Beiyang New Army will definitely be defeated. But for a while, I didn't know where the reason was. This is because the soldiers of the People's Army that we see now are also composed of ordinary people, and they are no different from the Beiyang New Army, and the weapons they use are similar, so how can there be such a big difference? If it is a foreigner's army, it is understandable, after all, in the past few decades, the Qing court has almost always lost a foreign war, so the soldiers have developed a habitual fear of foreigners, and it is a matter of course that they feel that they are inferior to foreigners.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai's mind flashed and understood where the problem was, because since the landing of overseas Chinese, almost all of them have fought with foreigners, and every battle must be won, and the sea and land lines have achieved brilliant results, so they have basically eliminated the fear of foreigners, and naturally showed a strong self-confidence, and this is also the biggest gap between the Beiyang New Army and the People's Army.

Thinking about this, Yuan Shikai felt very frustrated, because Yuan Shikai knew in his heart that this gap could not be bridged, don't look at the time in Jinan, Duan Qirui shouted very high, saying that the Beiyang New Army can also defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance, but the imperial court does not use it, but Yuan Shikai knows in his heart that if the imperial court really orders the Beiyang New Army to face the Eight-Nation Alliance, he will do everything possible to prevaricate, and he will never really fight against the Eight-Nation Alliance.

After the parade, Yuan Shikai ordered the Beiyang New Army to be stationed outside the city, and strictly ordered the soldiers to respect military discipline, and those who violated the order were immediately beheaded, and he only took Tang Shaoyi, Liang Ruhao, Cai Shaoji and more than 20 guards into the city.

When he was in Jinan, Yuan Shikai already knew that the current Gaomi County was actually controlled by the People's Army, and the county government was just a decoration, and after entering the city, Yuan Shikai also paid attention to observing the style of the city, only to see that the city was in order, pedestrians on the streets, and shops were open to welcome business, even if the People's Army entered the city, it did not cause any chaos, people just consciously dispersed to both sides of the street, allowing the army to pass, and even many people greeted Wang Sheng and Gao Jun, and Wang Sheng and Gao Jun also responded one by one, as if they were seeing acquaintances. This also surprised Yuan Shikai. It is very good that the army of the Qing Dynasty can do not disturb the people, and it is absolutely impossible to get along with the people in such a friendly way. It seems that overseas Chinese really have some means.

However, after entering Gaomi County, Wang Sheng and Gao Jun did not bring Yuan Shikai to the county office, but received the office of the traveler in Gaomi County, which was the original residence of Wan Yufu, and Zheng Daiyuan, the magistrate of Gaomi County, was also waiting for Yuan Shikai here, after all, everyone understands people, and there is no need to play the false set at this time. At the same time, he also told Yuan Shikai that Gaomi County was now completely controlled by the traversers.

To tell the truth, Yuan Shikai has been the governor of Shandong for two years, Zheng Daiyuan has only seen Yuan Shikai, or when Yuan Shikai first took office, he personally went to Jinan to see the governor frequently, at that time the two simply said a few polite words in the officialdom, if it is in peacetime, the governor comes to Gaomi County, but Zheng Daiyuan is a great honor. I saw the current situation, but it was very embarrassing.

But Yuan Shikai looked at ease, and in front of Wang Sheng and others, he praised the traverser's exploits, and asked Zheng Daiyuan to fully coordinate the traverser's actions, and fully complied with the traverser's request. Zheng Daiyuan was also taken aback, and he fully understood in his heart that this Lord Fu Xun did not want to offend overseas Chinese, and at the same time, he couldn't help but secretly get lucky, his original choice was really right, if he really listened to Wan Yufu's words and became enemies of overseas Chinese, I am afraid that he would have been ruined a long time ago.