In the living room of Duan Qirui Mansion in Fuxue Hutong, Beijing, there was a twinkling of stars, and the creaking sound of leather boots on the floor. In the entire hall, there are generals of the Beiyang system wearing blue-gray military uniforms and carrying Western-style command knives. These generals are all division commanders and brigade commanders of the Beiyang garrison near Beijing, and there are also representatives of warlords stationed in Beijing, and Chang Ruiqing is also among them.

Today, these martial arts leaders of the Beiyang Army seem to have encountered some troubles, and they all drooped their heads and did not speak, and a few of them were pacing in the hall with their hands behind their backs, and they couldn't help shaking their heads and sighing.

These people are basically people on Duan Qirui's line, which is the so-called "Anhui line" in later history books. Now that Duan Qirui is in the wilderness, of course they won't be happy. However, what can make them so restless is not only Duan Qirui's downfield, but the oppression of imperialism!

Well, although they are warlords, it doesn't mean that they don't have a little patriotism! Moreover, this time, the imperialists have indeed deceived people too much, and directly stuck the biggest source of wealth of the Beiyang government -- the customs surplus! That's the lifeblood of the more than 100,000 or 200,000 Beiyang Army!

A warlord like Chang Ruiqing, who has land to scrape, may not care about Guan Yu, but those division commanders and brigade commanders who have no land and rely on the Ministry of War to fund their support will have to suffer from poverty, and even have to go home to eat old rice with them. If you have a military salary, you are your father and mother, and you have no military salary! I'm sorry, mutiny is nothing new in Beiyang!

If you don't do it well, I'm afraid you'll have to pay for even an old life.

This bleak future lies ahead. Can you not let this group of Beiyang military leaders say a few anti-imperialist words out loud?

Duan Qirui's number one henchman, Xu Shuzheng and Xu Dastrategist, sat on the side, and did not complain with these military leaders, but just looked at the generals in the field with a light smile. Especially looking at the two biggest lieutenant generals in the room.

One is Feng Yuxiang, the commander of the 16th Mixed Brigade of the Beiyang Army, and Lu Jianzhang, who is with him, is now helping Feng Guozhang in the presidential palace, but he came to Duan Qirui's mansion! The other is Chang Ruiqing, although he is a rising star. But he is the one with the most troops among all the military leaders here! And there's a whole province of territory!

The table of these two people is also very interesting. Chang Ruiqing was still a little reserved, sitting there without saying a word, as if he didn't care much about the current crisis. Probably because there is ground to scrape, right? I don't know if I can use it for myself and Duan Zhilao?

And Feng Yuxiang was the loudest one in the room, almost jumping to his feet and scolding imperialism, but who didn't know that he himself was fighting with the church of American imperialism with his help. There was also a church built in Kulen! I just don't know if US imperialism will be able to come out and say a few words for him at a critical moment?

The two of them may be the key people who can make Beiyang get through the current hurdle!

Footsteps could be heard in the hallway. The head of the Beiyang army in the room suddenly quieted down, Feng Yuxiang no longer snorted, but stood upright, Chang Ruiqing also stood up from the chair with a snap, and the other Beiyang generals also returned to their positions one after another, standing according to their respective official titles and qualifications.

Although Duan Qirui is now in the wilderness, these Beiyang military leaders still regard him as their master, at least in terms of face! As soon as he stood up, he saw Duan Qirui walking in from outside the door with a cold face. The generals snapped up again, and their faces were a little indignant. Just looked at Duan Qirui.

Duan Qirui smiled faintly at the generals under his command, and nodded slowly: "Everyone is my old man in Beiyang, some of them have followed Li Zhongtang and Yuan Gongbao, after a lot of winds and waves, I believe that you are here this time." Beiyang can always get over this hurdle this time, I believe everyone already knows, the foreigners are bullying us too much, we have no way to make concessions, if we want to let it again, the big guys will not have a good life! You say it's not true! ”

The old man's words are heartfelt. The generals in the room also had solemn faces. Everyone knows that the current situation is critical, there are red brigades in rebellion, there are foreign powers persecution, and Sun Yat-sen in the southwest has already controlled a province in Guangdong! It's in the city of Beijing, and at this time, Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang are still making trouble! How do you look at the future of Beiyang?

Duan Qirui looked at everyone with blazing eyes, and stretched out his hand to point at Chang Ruiqing, who was standing in the back seat: "Yaoru"

Chang Ruiqing was stunned, he didn't expect Duan Qirui to be the first to find him, he was busy standing upright, and said loudly: "My subordinates are here!" ”

Duan Qirui said with a smile: "You are the youngest and the least qualified here, but the official has risen rapidly, and he is already the military affairs supervisor of a province." Old man, I want to borrow you today, Yaoru, do you dare to do something that offends foreign devils? ”

There was a burst of exhalation at the bottom, it turned out that Duan Qirui was looking for someone to come out, fortunately, it was this kid surnamed Chang who was in the top tank, and it seemed that his Fujian military affairs supervision was almost over!

"Why don't you dare!" Chang Ruiqing replied loudly with an indifferent face.

Duan Qirui smiled and nodded: "Your Fujian Army has three divisions, and there should be sixty battalions including the artillery cavalry and supplementary battalions, which is almost 40,000 people, which is the most troops here, so you are the only one who can afford to offend the foreigners, and others are afraid of eating the worst!" ”

Chang Ruiqing said lightly: "My subordinates understand. ”

Duan Qirui sighed softly, and a trace of helplessness flashed on his face: "After this incident, I'm afraid you will have to go to the wilderness for a while, but the old man promises you that at most three years, the old man will give you back an overseer!" ”

As soon as these words came out, a room of Beiyang generals looked at Chang Ruiqing's eyes again, and they were both envious and jealous.

Chang Ruiqing still looked indifferent: "Please ask Old Zhi to command." ”

Duan Qirui walked to the top seat and sat down, and said to everyone: "Sit down." He raised his hand and pointed at Xu Shuzheng: "Another Zheng, come on." ”

Xu Shuzheng stood up unhurriedly. looked at Chang Ruiqing and said slowly: "Yaoru, this time, the powers used tariffs to jam our necks, we have to fight back, the most direct way is to move the customs!" As you know, our customs in China have always been controlled by the British! This is unique among the sovereign countries in the world, and this time after you return to Fujian. Just find an excuse to send troops to expel the foreigners of the Fujian Customs and take over the Fujian Customs! Saying that, his eyes were fixed on Chang Ruiqing, and he said in a deep tone: "There is no order from the central government in this matter. It's up to you to take responsibility afterwards, you know? ”

Hearing these words, a room of Beiyang generals all looked at Chang Ruiqing with sympathetic eyes. Sent troops to expel the customs officers. Blatantly took over the Min Customs controlled by the British Empire! This is to offend the British Empire to death, such a big thing, can a Shimono deal with it? Why don't you have to go to a court-martial?

Chang Ruiqing still didn't seem to care at all, smiled faintly, and asked rhetorically: "Gong Zheng, do you want to take back the British Concession in Xiamen?" Fujian Customs also has an organization in the British Concession in Xiamen, and more than half of Fujian's imports and exports also go through Xiamen. ”

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the room, and everyone looked at Chang Ruiqing with extremely surprised eyes. Isn't this kid crazy? Blatantly send troops to recover the British Concession! Don't poke a hole in the sky

At the same time as Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng gathered the generals and deployed the "anti-imperialist operation". In the British Empire's legation in Beijing, there was also a meeting of the legations that had just begun.

However, it was different from the calmness and even coldness of the previous meetings of the legations. The current British minister, Zhu Erdian, was shouting in a rage: "How dare these sick men of East Asia make such rude representations to the representatives of the world's leading powers!" In any case, we can't bow to them! Otherwise, in this third-rate country in the East, the prestige of our civilized countries will be tarnished! There is no way for our policies to continue in this country! ”

The American minister, Rainnes, looked indifferent, he smiled and picked up a cup of coffee on the coffee table, lowered his head and took a sip. And there is no indication of it. To his left and right, the French minister, Le Berber, and the Japanese minister, Hayashi Quansuke, both frowned, but did not speak.

Zhu Erdian slightly controlled his feelings: "Do we allow those Chinese to extort us with terrorist means?" Why can't we expand our merchant groups, give them the power to defend the concessions of various countries, and turn them into a powerful force to fight the terrorists of the Red Brigades? ”

Regarding the proposal that Zhu Erdian is proposing now, American Minister Raines just thinks that this guy is really a bit old and confused.

"Mr. Zhu Erdian. Don't you know that now we are fighting a world war in Europe? All the young men of your country and France who are capable of going to war have been conscripted into the army, is there still enough men here in China to form a merchant group? Minister Rains said slowly.

"Moreover, there are many concessions in China by the great powers, except for the Kanto Prefecture, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shanghai and Hankou concessions, which are relatively large, the other concessions are very small, and there is no possibility of forming a merchant group at all, should we give up there?"

He finished slowly, bowed his head and continued to drink his coffee.

The French Minister Leber also shook his head in embarrassment, although France's foreign policy is now almost following the British, but this does not mean that he can transform into a strong French man to join the merchant group!

The Japanese minister Lin Quansuke did not squeak, the Japanese expatriates in China are the largest among the powers, but they have already formed the Japanese Overseas Chinese Volunteer Corps, and there are enough Japanese garrisons in the Japanese concession in Tianjin, there is really no need to form this international merchant group that is not under the command of Japan, after all, the formation of a merchant group is not just a human being, and a lot of funds need to be spent. Besides, isn't the spearhead of the Red Brigade's struggle now aimed only at the forces of Tsarist Russia in China?

"It's all a bunch of old foxes!" Zhu Erdian gritted his teeth and thought, these guys are also the same as that damn Chinese Premier Duan Qirui, they will only shirk responsibility!

He forcibly suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart and nodded at Ryans: "Mr. Ryans, there is always a way to solve the manpower problem, we can recruit some people from India, the Philippines and Annan, there are enough young and middle-aged people. As for the expenses, we can deduct them from the Chinese's surplus, so that even the smallest concession. I can have enough defense! ”

This is to use Chinese money to hire soldiers from colonies of various countries to form an army to defend the concession!

The envoys of the United States, France, and Japan looked at each other, and they all felt that this method was not very good! US Minister Raines put down the coffee cup in his hand and shook his head: "After all, those Guan Yu are the property of the Chinese, if we embezzle them like this, will it cause a more fierce reaction from the Chinese?" ”

"Reaction?" Zhu Erdian snorted contemptuously: "What else can they react to?" At most, no one has come out to be prime minister! As long as we can ensure the safety of the concession, we can consume it with them, and see who can't hold their breath first! ”

"What about the rest of the guanyu?" Japanese Minister Hayashi Gonsuke asked, "Is it going to be handed over to the Chinese?" ”

Zhu Erdian sneered: "Unless there is a responsible Chinese politician who can come out and form a government that can protect the interests of the great powers in China!" Otherwise, we will continue to detain the surplus! ”

After saying that. A smug expression appeared on his old face. He believed that as long as he had a way to defend the concession, as long as he held Guan Yu, Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui would soon completely succumb to him.

He must let China know. Who is the real master of this country!

With a snap, a white chess piece landed lightly on the chessboard. A chess game is playing to the point where it is difficult to solve.

The two people who played chess were Duan Qirui and Wang Shizhen. The attention of the two old men seemed to be really on this chess game, and the two pairs of old eyes were also staring at the chaotic chess game. I don't know how long it took for Wang Shizhen to gently put a black chess piece on the chessboard. Then he sighed softly: "Zhiquan, forget it, we can't fight foreign devils!" ”

Duan Qirui raised his eyes and looked at his old buddy, and said with a wry smile: "Pingqing, you should want to fight with them!" In the current situation, shouldn't we fight? The Red Brigade has no way to eliminate the legation, and Sun Yat-sen in Guangdong is also getting bigger every day! ”

Wang Shizhen smiled faintly, and his tone was full of twilight: "It's a day to mix it up!" Shiba Springs. You are always like this, you know that you can't do it, if the situation in our Beiyang is mixed like this, it will always be able to support you and me and Feng Huafu for a day when they close their eyes. ”

Duan Qirui snorted: "What about in the future?" What will China do in the future? If the three of us can't unify China, we will flatten the strong vassals. By the time we kick our legs, the country will not be torn apart? Won't the great powers break our China and swallow it in one bite? ”

Wang Shizhen shook his head. How many years has he and Duan Qirui been friends, and he still doesn't know what the other party thinks in his heart? He really wants to unify China and save China! But the problem is that many things don't work out just by thinking about it! The hearts of the people of Beiyang had been dispersed when Yuan Shikai wanted to be the emperor, and the army of Beiyang had long become the private property of generals from all walks of life. Moreover, the great powers are trying to find ways to weaken the authority of the central government, and now there is another lawless red brigade with internal and external troubles, and this situation is that there is no way for the gods to descend to earth, and it would be good to be confused.

He sighed again: "I know you want to get things done and want to clean up this mess again, but you have to fight with the powers! We haven't taken advantage of it since the Qing Dynasty, and we can't fight! ”

Duan Qirui gritted his teeth: "If you can't fight, you have to fight, otherwise you won't have a way to live!" He reluctantly smiled at Wang Shizhen: "Pingqing, you don't have to worry about this, I will control the measure." I'm not the Empress Dowager of the West, I won't really tear my face with the foreign powers, let the local people make some trouble, and the troops around Beijing City will make another fuss, and we will come out to clean up the situation again at this time Tianjin I want Feng Huanzhang's troops to be stationed, he has a good relationship with the American church, as long as the Americans are willing to help say a word, let his people be stationed in the name of the security police, surround the Tianjin concession, and don't let the people of the Red Brigade enter? ”

"And what about Fujian? If they really want to move their concessions and customs, won't the British send troops to China immediately? Wang Shizhen asked in a calm voice.

Duan Qirui frowned: "Who did you listen to?" Who let Chang Ruiqing move the concession? I have already reprimanded him, the British Concession in Xiamen cannot be moved at will! You can only move the customs in Fuzhou. When the time comes, I will ask him to apologize to the British, and Shimono will avoid the limelight for a while, as long as the anger of the British people is smoothed out, and the matter will be fine. ”

Wang Shizhen shook his head slowly: "I see this matter hanging, now these young people think differently from us, they are newborn calves who are not afraid of tigers!" I don't know how powerful the great powers were, weren't there many students in Beijing and Tianjin organizing some 'anti-imperialist patriotic demonstrations' during this time? I heard that there is another Chinese GCD fanning the flames, and that red brigade seems to have something to do with them! Zhiquan, do you think we should immediately give an order to ban this GC chaotic party? ”

Duan Qirui waved his hand: "I'm not busy with this, now that we're all in the wilderness, how can we give such an order?" Let them make trouble first, and when the powers can't sit still, they come to beg us, and it's not too late for us to make a move! ”

Wang Shizhen just smiled bitterly: "The great powers came to beg us?" There's something you don't know, right? At this afternoon's legation meeting, British Minister Zhu Erdian proposed a method for forming an international merchant group, and another sum of money should be deducted from our customs surplus to build an armed force to defend the concession! ”

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