The beginning of the war in Europe seems to have brought restlessness and unease to the newly established government of the Republic of China. In the Presidential Palace, Liang Shiyi, Secretary General of the Presidential Office, Sun Baoqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tang Shaoyi, Premier of the Cabinet, Duan Qirui, Chief of Army, and Yang Du, Senior Staff of the Presidential Office, were respectively summoned by Yuan Shikai in the face www.biquge.info of such a situation. Foreign Minister Sun Baoqi said: "President Yuan, the German envoy to China is willing to return Jiaozhou Bay to China, but Germany has put forward conditions for the concession of Jiaozhou Bay before the expiration date. ”

Yuan Shikai pricked up his ears, and Sun Baoqi continued: "The German government demands that China should compensate for all the expenses incurred in Jiao Austria, and that Germany will be given more suitable points." Liang Shi sneered: "The Germans have made a very good calculation and returned Jiaozhou Bay to China in order to retain their privileges in China. "My lord, the lower officials suggest that they use force to seize Qingdao?" Duan Qirui spoke. Liang Shiyi shook his head and said: "The German fortress in Qingdao is very strong, and it is not advisable to use military means. Xia Guan suggested that a compromise could be used. ”

"What kind of compromise, please call a spade?" Yuan Shikai's eyes widened. "Xia Guan suggested that the Germans hand over Jiaozhou Bay to the United States for trusteeship, and then let the United States return it to our country." Tang Shaoyi praised: "My lord, the lower officials agree with this suggestion!" "Others also find this suggestion feasible." Mr. Sun, you immediately announced the consultation in the United States. A few days later, the situation took a turn for the worse, the American minister refused, and the Japanese came out to kill them, and assumed the posture of savior.

Yuan Shikai summoned several ministers to discuss: "We had secret contact with the Germans and were discovered by the Japanese. The Japanese are very dissatisfied, Chief Sun, you would like to introduce the situation of the consultations with the Japanese minister. Sun Baoqi said with a gloomy face: "The Japanese proposed to declare an ultimatum to the German army in Qingdao in the name of the Entente, demanding that the German army surrender unconditionally to the Japanese army, if the Germans do not agree, the Japanese army will send troops to occupy Qingdao by force, and then return Qingdao to our country." ”

"How can this be true, Sima Zhao's heart is known to passers-by. The Japanese have always coveted the interests of Qingdao and even Shandong, and will never allow the Japanese conspiracy to succeed. The Japanese could not be allowed to send troops to Shandong, and Xia Guan meant to immediately deploy defenses along the northern coast of Shandong! Duan Qirui was indignant. Chief Duan, the Japanese threaten to support the Southern Revolutionary Party if we don't agree, do you want to see civil strife? In addition, Britain, France, and Russia are also pressuring, and I have to weigh the pros and cons. In addition, the Japanese government promised to launch an attack only on Qingdao. ”

Duan Qirui's face turned pale and said: "The Japanese have always been untrustworthy, and if the president compromises, the lower official will decide to resign from the post of army chief." ”

Under the stunned gaze of everyone, Duan Qirui left angrily. "Chief Duan is a soldier, and he is self-willed, please don't mind." Yang Du said: "Since the president has decided, the lower officials will immediately declare war on Germany and Austria and join the Entente camp." If the Japanese army captures Qingdao, it can also be justified to come back. "I know that the national system is unstable, and we must have an overall concept. Agreeing to the conditions of the Japanese, a war zone was carved out in the eastern part of Shandong, and China remained neutral. ”

Yuan Shikai did not dare to offend the true purpose of the Japanese, and tried to rely on the support of the Japanese to consolidate his dominance. However, Yuan Shikai and the ministers of the state government did not expect that the Japanese army did not abide by the agreement at all and brazenly landed at Longkou.

The next development of events, as if nothing had happened to the Chinese government, Japan unilaterally issued a final document to the German army in Qingdao, and pretended that if Qingdao was captured, Qingdao would be returned to China intact. The Japanese foreign minister openly said: "If Germany does not allow it, war will start immediately." This is to ensure peace in East Asia forever, and to have no ambition to occupy the land, and to express sincere friendship with China. However, if China's own internal strife cannot be peaceful, Britain and Japan are willing to help each other put down the chaos in order to maintain peace in East Asia! ”

Another meaning of the Japanese government is that if the Japanese army is resisted, it must be a civil strife in China, and they have the responsibility and obligation to quell the rebellion. The Beiyang government was deceived by Japan's diplomatic tricks, but it did not know that Japan had already laid a trap and the danger was approaching step by step. Japan's real intention in forcing China to maintain neutrality was to take advantage of the fire to seize all the interests of Germany in Qingdao and replace it with the new colonial hegemon.

Because the truth was deliberately concealed, the media did not get the news at the first time, but the news about the European war was hyped. At this time, Jinan, the capital of Shandong, appeared very calm and did not have any special restlessness. At this time, in the Jinan Provincial Government, Governor Song Shiyuan said with a depressed face: "Governor Ge, President Yuan Da has called, and an agreement has been reached with Japan to maintain neutrality for the Japanese army to send troops to Shandong, and strictly order the Chinese army not to intervene. ”

Song Shiyuan continued: "What does President Yuan mean, let the Japanese army send troops? Ge Yunfei said calmly: "A weak country has no diplomacy, and maybe President Yuan has no choice." "Ge Yunfei's secret arrangement, Song Shiyuan didn't know. Nowadays, the artillery regiment (in fact, the strength is an artillery division), the guard regiment, the 6th Brigade Hu Wannian's division is stationed in Jinan, He Zhi's 2nd Brigade is stationed in Dezhou, and Wang Jiefang's 1st Brigade is stationed in Binzhou. There is no sign of redeployment in the ministries.

"Brother Ge, to be honest, I feel very aggrieved, I am so cowardly in my big country!" Song Shiyuan sighed. "Brother Song, if you want to open something, maybe it's not as bad as you think, maybe there are unexpected surprises." "It's all this time, and I'm surprised that you're still so calm!" "Report, call from the War Department!" A subordinate reported. Ge Yunfei took the telegram and glanced at it, and said without shock.

"The War Department called, the east of Weifang is divided into a war zone, and our department is ordered to transfer out of the Weifang garrison!" "The Japanese have to make inches! Could it be that the Japanese army landed in the north? Song Shiyuan's face turned red. Send a report to Wang Kun, and the department immediately retreats westward! After Ge Yunfei finished speaking, he glanced at Song Shiyuan, raised his legs and walked out of the room. Song Shiyuan sat on the chair, his face pale.

Soon, Ge Yunfei drove back to the General's Mansion and went straight into the courtyard of the Intelligence Bureau. Shan Feng saw Ge Yun flying in and hurriedly greeted him, "Overseer, I sent the second telegram to Wang Kun, their destination is Daze Mountain, and they are on standby there!" Shan Feng's cheeks were dark, but he could see how hard it has been to travel for the past few months.

"How's the situation with the Japanese army?" "The Japanese army was transferred from China, and the specific number is not clear. At present, the Japanese fleet has blocked Jiaozhou Bay! A large number of Japanese fleets appeared in the Bohai Sea. "How did the Germans react?" "At present, the German diaspora is concentrating on Qingdao, the main warships of the German Navy have left Qingdao, and the German army in Qingdao has entered war preparations. The Chinese team was sent to the Fushan defensive line, which is in line with your judgment. The two talked and walked into the room, and Ge Yunfei looked at the military map.

"Send a report to Wang Jiefang, and secretly transfer to Shouguang from Penn tonight, and strictly order him not to expose the target." "Yes!" Shan Feng asked his subordinates to send a report: "Overseer, the air team asks to participate in the war? "Nonsense, the air team can only attack when it is critical, and they are strictly ordered not to act rashly." Ge Yunfei didn't want to expose the aviation team, and good steel had to be on the blade. At present, the air force already has 20 combat aircraft, which are on standby at the Taean alternate airfield.

Ge Yunfei pondered for a while and said: "Send a report to Nian Qicheng, order the Jilin Fox Clan, cross the border to launch an operation at the end of August, our first shot will be fired in North Korea, and I will drag the Japanese army living in North Korea." "When will the Bai Yong detachment start operations on the Liaodong Peninsula?" "After we started in Shandong, they will act again, and the choice of timing is very important." Then Ge Yunfei made an explanation to Shan Feng, loose on the outside and tight on the inside, step by step, and asked Shan Feng to strictly implement it.

Ge Yunfei walked into his courtyard and saw Li Jiakai coming out of the room. It has been three days since Li Jiakai came to Jinan with his family, and three days ago Ge Yunfei took Li Jiakai back to the general's mansion at the station, and after a short conversation, he did not meet again because he was too busy. "Father-in-law, is it a habit to live in the house?" "Overseer, how can the old man be your father-in-law again, they are all little girls who are willful, and they have lost such an excellent virtuous man." "I don't blame Mo Xin, in my eyes, you are still my father-in-law!"

Entering the house, Wen Qing greeted him and said, "Yunfei, I have to talk so badly to keep Uncle Li!" "Father-in-law, because of the relationship between you and me, once I fight against Japan, not to mention the Japanese, even other forces in the country will fight your attention, so your safety is very important. The south cannot go for the time being, because there is no security. "Overseer, I know it's powerful, and there's no way but to bother." "That's right, I've informed Captain Ying of the Mine Protection Team to take over the gold mine."

Ge Yunfei continued: "I asked Captain Ying to bury the boilers and machinery and equipment of the gold mine, and organize absenteeism to protect the mine, even if the Japanese army occupies the gold mine, it will not be able to produce." Also, I have been prepared for a long time in the gold mine, where the Japanese army will not be able to gain a foothold, and it will become a cemetery for the Japanese army. "Overseer, the old man admires your courage, I have donated all the 5 million silver dollars from my family, and the old man can only do this." "Father-in-law, the next step is to call on the military and civilians of Shandong to defend their homeland and territory from violation."

"I hope that my father-in-law will organize industrial and commercial people in Jinan, launch fundraising activities, and support the front-line operations, our slogan is to protect the family and defend the country, all for the front!" "The old man is duty-bound, I'm going to do it?" "Wait! Don't be impatient, it's not too late to launch a fundraiser after our ministry starts. During this time, my father-in-law was first in Jinan City, and extensively contacted people in the business circles, and when the time was ripe, I would publicly announce a letter to Shandong compatriots, calling on the Shandong military and civilians to fight against Japan, and openly form an anti-Japanese alliance. ”

"What the Overseer said is very true, the old man is going to prepare!" At the moment of national crisis, Li Jiakai did not hesitate to stand on the position of opposing aggression, which made Ge Yunfei very pleased, and thus strengthened his confidence in defeating the Japanese army.