The-for-tat military action in Shandong by the Chinese and Chinese [***] teams finally frightened the European and American powers, and the European and American countries, which had gathered in Paris, France, to fight for their own interests, suddenly found that the rapid deterioration of the situation in China had jeopardized their own interests in Chinaand make every effort to mediate.

Zeng Chaoran, who was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, had already led a powerful staff team to Linyi, Shandong Province at this time, and commanded Xiao Fei's 53rd Division, Chen Lanting's 55th Division, and two artillery regiments to march towards Zhucheng and Yuezhao, echoing Wu Peifu's two-way army in the direction of Jinan, and exerting tremendous pressure on Yueben's army.

Xiao Yimin and Yang Du also ended their inspection of Wusong Fortress and Jiangyin Fortress, returned to Nanjing to command the overall situation, and held sincere talks with the envoys of European and American countries who visited the country, and very euphemistically informed the bottom line of China's political axe: The army must obey the just ruling made by most countries in the world at the Paris Peace Conference and unconditionally withdraw from China's Shandong region, otherwise, the Chinese [***] team will not hesitate to fight to the death for the sake of sovereignty and dignity!

Perhaps under the increasing pressure of world public opinion, the two-way army of the Chinese [***] team stopped advancing when it reached 20 kilometers outside Jinan and 30 kilometers west of Qingdao, forming a confrontation with the army that was waiting for battle.

In the face of the aggressive 70,000 Chinese troops on the north and south routes, the army was also very scruples, not only did not dare to fire the first shot, but also stopped plundering and expelling the Chinese people along the Jinan and Jiaoji railways under tremendous pressure, but the frenzied clamor of the political axe and the army and the threat of declaring that they would launch an all-out war against China further escalated.

Originally, the Chinese people from all walks of life were extremely indignant at the barbaric act of forcibly announcing at the Paris Peace Conference that they would fulfill certain articles of the "21 Articles" signed with the Beiyang political axe, and then hearing the arrogant clamor of the political axe and the army on the Shandong issue and the frenzied massacres in Jinan, Qingdao, and other places, the long-suppressed anger finally broke out in an all-round way, and the patriotic students and intellectuals initiated a tour from Yanjing first. The campaign of denunciation spread to the whole country with the momentum of a prairie fire.

On 2 May, just when the lieutenant general was depressed and surprised by Xiao Yimin's delay in conveying further orders, people from all walks of life in Nanjing traveled. Exemplary. Xiao Yimin enthusiastically met with more than 10 representatives of intellectuals, business circles, and social organizations without any hesitation, and after open and honest discussions with everyone, he agreed to a tour of 100,000 people from all walks of life in Nanjing. Exemplary. Wei application.

In the evening, Ma Gang, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, entered Xiao Yimin's office again and presented Xiao Yimin with a detailed investigation report that was 15 pages thick:

"Nanjing is still relatively stable, and there are no strings from the north for the time being. But the situation in Shanghai is very complicated, the student He Baoren who returned from Nanyang to study at Fudan Public School was elected president of the Shanghai Federation of Students, according to the investigation, this person has a close relationship with Fang Hao, the leader of the Yenching academic circles, has been in frequent correspondence recently, and has also entered the Russian consulate in Shanghai three times. Judging from the current situation, I am worried about the tour of Shanghai. Exemplary. The power will get out of control. ”

Xiao Yimin suddenly felt a headache: "Swim." Exemplary. Wei is not terrible, but it is a rare patriotic action, and if used well, it can not only enhance the cohesion and sense of distress of the people, but also have a positive impact and effect on the ongoing Paris peace. The reason why I didn't let Wu Peifu and Zeng Chaoran continue to put pressure on Yue himself and force Yue himself to fire the first shot was because I was worried that these two things would come together. ”

"I see...... I understand. ”

Ma Gang suddenly realized, and then thought of why Xiao Yimin allowed a large number of Chinese and foreign reporters to follow Wu Peifu and the troops commanded by Zeng Chaoran all the way to cover the news.

Xiao Yimin said worriedly: "There is another thing, I have never mentioned it to anyone before, and now I think I should let you know, the identities of professors Li Shouchang and Chen Qingtong of Yenching University are very complicated, and they have the support of the Red Russian Embassy in China behind them, and they have begun to gradually accept the Bolsheviks' system and advocate the use of violence to achieve revolutionary goals, which is quite terrible, but fortunately, the Russians are now under the joint suppression of European and American countries, and they have no energy to spread their revolutionary ideas and means to China, But we need to be vigilant and must not allow the Russians to engage in conspiracy in our country. ”

Ma Gang nodded thoughtfully: "Since this is the case, shouldn't we report the situation to Duan Zhiquan?" I estimate that the situation in Yanjing is even more severe, and there will be serious confusion at that time. ”

"Yes, and I also have to remind them that from now on they must be prepared for contingencies, and it is best to have police and military police to maintain order, and there must be no fatalities, otherwise the good reputation that has been built up so hard will be over." Xiao Yimin added.

"Okay, I'll do it right away!" Ma Gang immediately stood up.

"By the way, help me call Mr. Huizi, he is working overtime in the office downstairs." Xiao Yimin commanded.

More than ten minutes later, Yang Du, who was wearing a literati robe and a hand-cranked folding fan, pushed the door in, saw the exquisite tea set that had been placed on the coffee table, sat down with a slight smile, picked up the freshly brewed hot tea, and tasted it comfortably.

"Spring tea has just come out, where did you get the Junshan Maojian from my hometown?"

Yang Du was very surprised after tasting the tea, and his heart was moved, Xiao Yimin can always inadvertently bring him a trace of warmth, so that he has the urge to die for his confidant.

Xiao Yimin said with a smile: "Yesterday, Tan Zu'an sent someone to send it, saying that the second phase of the Shaoyang Iron and Steel Plant project was successfully put into operation, congratulations." ”

Yang Du couldn't help but wonder: "I'm afraid it's mainly thanks to you for helping him establish the Hengyang Arsenal, right?" It's a little confusing to say, Tan Zu'an and Cheng Songyun should both be people who know soldiers, but why are they so short-sighted and so busy taking over the long rifle production line that we have eliminated? ”

Xiao Yimin shook his head and said: "They are not stupid, the two imitation Mauser rifle production lines we replaced have not been used for a few years, eighty percent new, it can be said that it is the most advanced production line in China at present, compared to the production line we assisted in the installation of the Hanyang factory, if we didn't quietly get back two more advanced production lines from Belgium, I would not be willing to transfer it to them." ”

Yang Du pursed his mouth disdainfully: "Come on, you, you always get cheap and sell well, they got the production line, and they still have to buy parts from Sichuan?" Besides, if it weren't for the rifles that we've mass-produced in recent years that shoot with a loud flame and too loud, would you change the design and then introduce two more advanced production lines? ”

Xiao Yimin smiled again, skipped the question, and got down to business: "Did Tang Shaoyi reply to you?" ”

Yang Du sighed: "I replied, I really didn't expect him to be the agent of the Freemasonry in China, when he and Wu Tingfang established the Chinese Freemason in the Shanghai Concession the year before last, I still had a supportive attitude, where would I have thought that the Freemasonry would be so insidious and evil?"

"Hmph, let them join the two opposing political axes of the north and south of our country respectively, how much effort and capital will it take to do it! Before, Sun Baoqi and I still wondered why a talent like Tang Shaoyi couldn't get into your eyes, it turns out that you have long doubted his identity, which is emotional! ”

"Not only the two of them, but also two of them in the Chinese Youth Christian Association in Shanghai, it is estimated that they noticed that I knew their details, so they did not sharpen their heads and squeeze into our Nanjing camp." Although Xiao Yimin behaved more relaxed, he was still a little scared in his heart until now.

"Weird, how do you know?" Yang Du asked curiously.

Xiao Yimin had no choice but to say nonsense: "The Yankees told me that a few years ago, I expelled several foreigners who established Freemasonry in Tokyo, because I also know very well what kind of organization Freemasonry is, so we also have to be vigilant...... Although we can't do anything about the two Freemasons in Shanghai and Canton due to the current situation, one day I will drive them out of China! ”

Yang Du nodded silently, and after a long time, asked in a low voice, "How to deal with the application handed over by the Russians again?" They did not mention the matter of the Hankou Concession and the consulate again, and it seemed that they were pinching their noses and admitting it, and they only wanted to restore the old consulate in Nanjing. ”

Xiao Yimin said cautiously: "Promise them, it's good to have one more channel of communication, didn't they mention that Xu Shuzheng led his troops to enter Kulun in the conversation?" ”

Yang Du lifted the teapot, filled the teacup in front of him, and then said: "I mentioned it, but there is no diplomatic protest that we are worried about, we just hope that we will expel the remnants of the former Tsarist Russian troops gathered in the area of Kulun and Jiuyuan, so that these White Russian troops will no longer damage the interests and reputation of Russia, and at the same time, he also talked about the more than 10,000 White Russians stranded in Shanghai as political asylum and refugees, and I hope that we will not give these [***] elements who hate the Russian political axe the right of residence, I replied that I would wait until formal diplomatic relations had been established. ”

Xiao Yimin nodded: "What I'm worried about now is not Shandong, but Mongolia and Northeast China, according to the analysis of the report sent back by Wang Zhengting and Gu Weijun from Paris, European and American countries, especially the United Kingdom and the United States, are very interested in us opening up the investment market and mineral resource exploitation rights in the three eastern provinces.

"The British have been trying to expand their sphere of influence to the three eastern provinces for more than a decade, but they can't do it because of the alliance with the Americans, who are anxious to open up the Chinese market and establish their political influence in Asia, and in addition to the desire for monetary reform that I revealed in my last conversation with the American minister, they are even more enthusiastic and want to participate in our monetary reform program, and they do not hesitate to provide us with financial help for this."

Yang Du pondered for a moment: "In this case, the Shandong issue needs to be more cautious, I am afraid that the current confrontation situation will have to continue to maintain for a period of time, but we must strive for the initiative to break the situation." ”

Xiao Yimin asked: "If the situation is broken, you say, what if we come to Shaanxi?" Anyway, Deng Xihou and Chen Shufan were ready for a counteroffensive, so they simply helped them fight a big battle, and then let the Tenth Army, which was mostly composed of refugees from Ganshan and Western Henan, go north to Jiuyuan to completely stabilize the situation in Mongolia. ”

Yang Du looked at Xiao Yimin in surprise, fortunately, he had gradually adapted to Xiao Yimin's leapfrog thinking, and immediately connected Mongolia, Northeast China, North China and Shandong together, and finally found that Xiao Yimin had laid out a big chess game at some point.

(To be continued)