Chapter 329: The End is also the Beginning (End of Volume 3)

The great inertia of the wheel of history is still continuing in this time and space. On November 30, 1918, the war in Europe ended. The German Emperor Wilhelm II left, and Hindenburg temporarily assumed the position of national leader.

Also on this day, the American delegation arrived in Shanghai. In order to show the importance of the US delegation, Premier Tang Hualong personally greeted him at the Shanghai wharf.

After the expansion, the port of Shanghai opened a large battle, and the local garrison sent a brigade of troops to ensure safety. As the figures of the two escorting cruisers on the sea became clearer and clearer, the salute sounded on the pier.

Looking at the crowd of people on the pier, US Secretary of State Robert and Lansing waved their top hats, deeply satisfied with this high-level reception, and full of confidence in this visit to China.

Tang Hualong accompanied Robert and Lan Xin to board the train that rushed north, and he didn't even mean to take a break. This abnormal behavior was entirely due to the sudden news that the war in Europe was over.

During the war, many contradictions between allies can give way and can be put aside. Once there is no common foreign enemy, the contradictions between the allies will inevitably rear-rise.

Today's world pattern has always been a pattern in which Britain is the boss. Although the United States has the largest economic strength, its intervention in the war at the end of Europe has demonstrated the strong mobilization capability and national strength of the US military, but it has also exposed many US military shortcomings. Especially in the US Army, not to mention a large number of aircraft and tanks, even if it is large-caliber artillery, there were few before the war. Forced to import the technology of 155 howitzers from China, this is the reality of backwardness. The process of converting industrial power into military power has not been as smooth as the US government had expected. In the case of rifles, the United States in parallel time and space. In 1918, the annual output was 200,000 pieces. This time and space are a little better, because of the receipt of China's purchase orders, the production capacity was expanded more than a year in advance, and in 1918 it reached the level of annual output of 700,000 pieces.

At the same time, many problems have been exposed, such as some infantry tactics, infantry and artillery coordination, air-ground coordination, and so on, and the US military has great shortcomings. Forced to ask for help from the Chinese Expeditionary Force and learn tactics.

Lack of overall comprehensive strength. It is extremely difficult for the US government to try to shake Britain's hegemony in the world. After World War I, successive U.S. administrations have been trying to break the Versailles system. It was not until the end of World War II that Britain and France were completely finished, and the United States stepped into the position of the leading dancer on the stage of history.

Objectively speaking. Britain was still the strongest in this period, and even if the economic strength of the American team caught up, it could not be shaken. Wilson's attempt was doomed to failure. It is precisely because the US Government has realized the inadequacy of its overall strength that it wants to win over China and embark on the road of jointly confronting Britain. Britain's position as world hegemon should not be shaken, at least in the Pacific, and a situation of parity should be achieved. Robert, Lansing. It is with such a mission that China has come.

When the news of the end of the European war arrived, both China and the United States seemed less calm. For China, the best stage of development has passed, for the United States. It also faces the problem of post-war economic transformation.

When he learned the news of the end of the European war, Fang Jianxiong was in the office of the chairman of the National Defense Military Commission, standing in front of the window and subconsciously looking west, and all he saw was the red bricks and green tiles of the Ministry of Defense in the courtyard next door. Parallel history of the world pattern after the end of the European War and the development process of the following two decades. Constantly tumbling in my head.

"Call the allies and congratulate the end of the war. And build yì to treat the defeated Deao well. According to this meaning, a telegram was drafted, submitted to the President for deliberation, and sent in the name of the government of the Republic of China. Fang Jianxiong explained, and Alice, who had hurriedly recorded, repeated it, and turned to go out.

The curve of the future development of the world, no one knows better than Fang Jianxiong. In order to break the Versailles system, the U.S. government used abundant money to stir up the entire world after the end of World War I. Britain and France in Europe also paid a heavy price for their greed and weak appeasement. Since then, Europe has been overtaken, and the United States has dominated the world.

The purpose of the US Secretary of State's visit to China was quite clear to Fang Jianxiong. It is precisely because I know in my heart that I can't dance according to the baton of the Americans. The current Republic of China is still too weak, and in any respect, the best choice is to swing between the great powers to take advantage. The general direction is to get closer to the United States. This is a historical necessity.

After the end of World War I, the strength of Britain and France was sharply reduced, and then a global economic crisis broke out, which made the situation even worse.

These are all things in the future, what should China do in the current world situation? This urgent task, although Fang Jianxiong has long had an idea, but there is still no clear conclusion.

"The president is here." The voice sounded behind him, Fang Jianxiong was stunned for a moment, immediately straightened up his military uniform, and when he strode out of the door, he glanced at Yin Ruizhi who came to report, and said with a smile: "Why are you here?" "Yin Ruizhi is just a name in the chairman's office now, and he has been getting together with Tang Qunying and the others, engaging in feminist movements, and he usually doesn't come to work, and he takes care of his children when he goes home.

Yin Ruizhi hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Chen Qimei is dead, and she was stabbed in San Francisco, USA. Fang Jianxiong was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then returned to normal: "I know, I'll talk about it later, see the president first." ”

Striding out, Sun Baoqi had already entered the courtyard, and Fang Jianxiong stepped forward.

"Fuguo, there is a truce in Europe, and the news is known, right?" Sun Baoqi spoke eagerly, Fang Jianxiong smiled and nodded, waiting. Sun Baoqi said again: "Supporting the country, this matter can't be careless, there must be a saying in Europe soon, the post-war pattern needs to be divided, and how much benefit the Republic of China government can get from it, these need to have a quasi-spectrum." Just now at the door, I saw Alice, and she showed me what you asked me to give. I think it's okay, but there are some things that you have to prepare in advance. ”

"Teacher, foreign devils are greedy, and their attitude towards China and Japan in Asia will not change much. When you need it, give some benefits, and throw it aside if you don't need it, this is the norm. Don't be blinded by the benefits gained during the European war, the distribution of benefits after the war, don't think too much, just focus on Asia. Fang Jianxiong said unhurriedly, Sun Baoqi frowned incomprehensibly when he listened, and after a pause, he sighed and shook his head.

"The blood of 100,000 soldiers of the expeditionary force is unwilling." Sun Baoqi's implication was that Fang Jianxiong's attitude was not appropriate. At the same time, it is also a kind of self-confidence in the strength of the Republic of China itself.

Fang Jianxiong's reaction to this was diametrically opposed, and he shook his head with a wry smile and said: "Teacher, through the First World War, the economy of the Republic of China has made great progress, and in the past five years, especially the four years of the European War, the total economic output has increased by more than five times, and the national fiscal revenue has tripled. These numbers look good. But in reality? China is a country with a large population, and it is more than twice as bad as a day when everyone is evenly divided into heads. Let me put it this way, China has only laid a weak foundation for industrialization, and the main economic body is still agriculture. After the European war, the eyes of the European powers will inevitably turn, and the wartime economy will inevitably make adjustments. The foundation of the Republic of China is weak, and the primary development is to adhere to the road of industrialization. Only when the foundation has achieved industrialization can China be regarded as a world power, and the current Republic of China is called a great power, and physical development is a military deformity. I have some ideas here, just to share with the teacher. ”

Walking to the door of the office, Fang Jianxiong made a gesture of please. After entering the door, Fang Jianxiong waited for the tea to be served, and said with a smile: "Teacher, the end of the war in Europe, if Britain and France do not know how to converge, for the world, it will only be twenty years of peace." But I don't have much hope for Britain and France, so I have to seize the next twenty years. Vigorously develop national industry and reserve talents. Waiting for the next war. ”

Fang Jianxiong's words were in a fog, and Sun Baoqi looked confused. Seeing this, Fang Jianxiong couldn't help but secretly say that his mouth was fast, and he didn't stop. Talking to Sun Baoqi about this, it was too difficult to make him understand.

Looking at Sun Baoqi's expression, Fang Jianxiong sighed leisurely in his heart, the backwardness of the Republic of China is the backwardness of an whole, and the end of the European war is the end of a note and a new beginning for the Republic of China.