Chang Ruiqing and his entourage came to Beijing on the third day of the "October Revolution" in Russia. Although he is a junior in the Beiyang system, he can be regarded as a prince of a town, and he has three divisions of soldiers under his hands! Therefore, Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng were very polite to him. hung a float for him in Tianjin, and sent Chang Ruiqing and his party to Zhengyangmen Railway Station.

Outside the train station, a convoy of cars imported from the United States and guards on tall horses were also prepared. Xu Shuzheng himself also took time out of his busy schedule to drive to the train station, waiting under the platform with a few staff and guards. Seeing Chang Ruiqing's tall man getting off the train, he greeted him with a smile.

"Yaoru, you king of Fujian deserve to be moisturized! In just a few months, he has changed from a mixed brigade commander to the lord of a province! By the way, two days ago, Fujian also reported that it had recovered Zhangzhou and Xiamen, and now Fujian Province is completely under your control, right? Okay, you're such a character! By the way, if the central government wants you to go to Pingliangguang, do you have confidence? ”

Chang Ruiqing stood upright and respectfully gave Xu Shuzheng a military salute. At present, he and Xu Shuzheng are both big lieutenant generals on one side, and their positions are almost the same level, but the grace of knowing and the seniority of the Beiyang system are there, and Chang Ruiqing can only regard himself as a student at any time.

"Gong Zheng, the fact that the students can have today is not the result of your old man's cultivation and promotion." Saying that, he did not answer the question of attacking Liangguang directly, but turned back and pointed to an old man behind him, and said with a smile: "This is Mr. Xiaozhai (Wang Shouchang), the director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs. ”

"Mr. Xiaozhai, I've admired my name for a long time." Xu Shuzheng also knew Wang Shouchang, but he didn't have any contact, so he just bowed his hand politely.

Wang Shouchang suddenly asked: "General Youzheng, has the Central Committee noticed the revolution that took place in Russia three days ago?" What are you going to do? His tone was solemn, so that Xu Shuzheng couldn't help but glance at him, and said in his heart: "Chang Ruiqing has always paid more attention to Russian affairs. Before that, he also encouraged himself to recover Outer Mongolia, and what kind of anti-Russian alliance did he advocate with Japan...... Today, Mr. Wang Xiaozhai mentioned the Russian Revolution as soon as they met, I'm afraid it is also what Chang Ruiqing meant, right? Mo is very ruiqing and wants to take advantage of the opportunity of the Russian Revolution to make a profit? ”

Although he always thought that he had to settle down first in the outside. Now that I haven't solved my own problems, I am really happy to set my sights on foreign countries. However, Chang Ruiqing's attitude of being able to plan for the country at all times is still very appreciative, and he is a person who pretends to be the country and the overall situation in his heart. In the current troubled times, it is very rare.

Thinking of this, he nodded at Wang Shouchang and said with a smile: "Elder Duan Zhi has instructed Foreign Minister Cao Runtian (Cao Rulin) to study this matter, and also ordered Minister Liu Jingren in Russia to always pay attention to changes in the domestic situation in Russia and inform the country at any time. ”

Wang Shouchang listened to Xu Shuzheng's words. Smiling and asking, "General Youzheng, have you and Duan Zhi studied the "Letter to Workers, Soldiers and Peasants of the World" issued by the newly established Soviet authorities in Russia? ”

Xu Shuzheng was stunned when he heard this, blinked his eyes, and asked rhetorically: "What are you suing the workers...... Farmer's book? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't report it, so it shouldn't have been for us, right? ”

Wang Shouchang just smiled faintly, turned around and took a copy of the text from the secretary. handed it to Xu Shuzheng. Smiled: "This is the general content of the "Letter to Workers, Soldiers and Peasants of the World" that the old man asked him to sort out and transcribe from the foreigner newspapers in Tianjin, which is very interesting. General Zheng, the idea of this Russian Soviet government is a bit strange, and it is different from the powers we have learned about before. We should do a good job of studying the things we have to deal with them. ”

Xu Shuzheng took Wen Jiàn and hurriedly glanced at it, and his eyebrows couldn't help but twist up: "The tone of their speech sounds a bit like the Red Brigade!" The Red Brigade and the Russian Soviets must not be in the same group, right? ”

Chang Ruiqing took over the topic with a smile: "Gong Zheng." The Russian Soviet was in power by the Bolsheviks, whose scientific name was the majority of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. He is a member of the Socialist International, based in Paris, France...... The members of the Socialist International were very large, including many of the major parties in the great powers of France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, etc. Maybe the Red Brigade is also a member of them? ”

"I see." Xu Shuzheng nodded, and said in his heart: "No wonder this red brigade is so arrogant, it turns out that there is a backstage!" ”

Chang Ruiqing smiled, and then said: "Gong Zheng, the students feel that this time the Russian Bolsheviks came to power, which is a rare opportunity for us, and the central government may be able to make some breakthroughs in diplomacy with Russia, which is beneficial to improving the prestige of Zhilao and China's international status." ”

"What do you mean?" Xu Shuzheng frowned and asked puzzledly: "What does their Russian revolution have to do with our diplomacy?" Could it be that the new Bolsheviks were particularly good at talking? ”

Chang Ruiqing waved his hand again and again: "Of course they can't talk well, it's just that Russia is tossing and turning like this, and its national strength has been greatly damaged, and the Russian Bolsheviks announced the "Peace Decree" on the day they took power, and they are determined to withdraw from the Entente and negotiate peace with Germany!" In this way, Britain, France, the United States, and Japan on the side of the Entente had no reason to support Russia anymore. If we ask the Russian Soviet authorities, who have just come to power, at this time, to suspend the payment of Gengzi indemnities, to take back the China Eastern Railway and all Russian leased land in China, and to suspend Russia's unilateral most-favored-nation status to China. It is quite possible that the Russian side will agree to it all! ”

After listening to Chang Ruiqing's analysis, Xu Shuzheng took a deep breath, frowned and pondered for a long time, and finally nodded noncommittally: "Yaoru, let's talk about these things slowly after meeting Duan Zhilao, he is waiting to see you at the War Department in Iron Lion Hutong." ”

……

In the living room of the War Department of the Beiyang Government, a few cups of tea wafted with a rich fragrance. Duan Qirui wore a long shirt and sat on the upper seat leisurely. smiled and beckoned Chang Ruiqing and Xu Shuzheng to sit down. Seeing Premier Duan's easy-going appearance, Chang Ruiqing was no longer cautious, and also found a seat at random and sat down, laughing and chatting with Duan Qirui.

Fu Liangzuo, Duan Zhigui, and Army Chief Wang Shizhen are also in this room, all dressed in civilian clothes, shaking fans, and looking chic who doesn't talk about business and only talks about Fengyue.

Chang Ruiqing knew that the scene in front of him was the pattern of communication between those big military leaders in the Beiyang period. Although Duan Qirui kept a stiff face all day in front of those middle and low-level civil and military bureaucrats, he was in contact with those big warlords who dominated one side with heavy troops. Still very accommodating.

After talking for a while, I saw Xu Shuzheng suddenly cough lightly, revealing a stern expression: "Yaoru." On the way here just now, I talked to you about Russia, and I forgot to tell you about the latest changes in Guangdong...... Sun Yat-sen's soldiers suddenly drove to the city of Guangzhou by land and sea three days ago! Lu Rongting and Chen Bingkun fled in panic, and now Guangzhou is already Sun Yat-sen's world! What do you think about this? ”

Chang Ruiqing smiled and waved his hand indifferently: "I don't care whose world Guangzhou is!" As long as Zhi Lao and Zheng Gong order together. I'll take my third division of the Min army to fight over! Turn Guangzhou into the world of our Beiyang! ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone smiled and nodded. Seemingly in a harmonious mood, Duan Qirui touched his beard and smiled: "Okay! It's rare for my brother to have such ambitions, so let's talk about it...... The War Department and the General Staff have already drawn up a plan for the all-out capture of Liangguang! Again, let's talk about the plan in general. ”

Xu Shuzheng took over the topic. said: "The plan is like this, and now the relationship between Sun Yat-sen and Lu Rongting is close to breaking down. We are going to adopt the method of pulling Lu to fight Sun, and give Lu Rongting the Yunnan-Guizhou patrol envoy and the Yunnan overseer. In this way, the Gui army will stand on our side of the Beiyang, and the war in Hunan will be expected to end within the year. The attack on Liangguang began in January next year, and the planned troops were divided into three routes, with Cao Zhongshan commanding the Central Route Army to attack from Hunan; Lu Rongting commanded the Gui army on the western route to attack the west of Sun Yat-sen; Yaoru, your Min army is the East Route Army, and all three divisions are dispatched. Attack Guangdong from the east. After victory. The Guangxi Overseer is yours! ”

Chang Ruiqing stood up suddenly, his face full of joy: "My subordinates, thank you for the cultivation of Zhi Lao and Zheng Gong!" ”

Duan Qirui smiled and pressed it with his hand, motioning for Chang Ruiqing to sit down: "As for the military salary, the War Department will allocate 300,000 yuan to you at a time, and you will raise the insufficient part by yourself in Fujian...... Maybe you intercept the balance of Fujian Customs, so it should be enough, right? ”

Chang Ruiqing gave a military salute to Duan Qirui: "That's enough." Enough, you can rest assured. The subordinates will find a way to solve the problem of military salaries in Fujian. ”

Duan Qirui clapped his hands: "That's good!" That's good! Hire Brother Qing, and Zheng. The Eastern Route Army will be handed over to Chang Yaoru, and you will quickly urge Cao Zhongshan to defeat Hunan. ”

Wang Shizhen and Xu Shuzheng both smiled and nodded. Beiyang sending troops to fight has always been particularly expensive, not to mention three divisions, not to mention three divisions, even a mixed brigade can't support it for a few days! At present, Chang Ruiqing can not care about military salaries, they are naturally very happy, after all, the central government's books are not rich at the moment, as for how Chang Ruiqing scrapes the land in Fujian, then they can't care.

At this time, Chang Ruiqing's voice suddenly sounded again: "Elder Zhi, on the way to Beijing, my subordinates heard that there was also a turmoil in Russia three days ago, which is a rare opportunity for us in China!" ”

"Russia?" Duan Qirui was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look at Xu Shuzheng. Xu Shuzheng frowned slightly, took over the topic, and explained: "Yaoru means that we can take advantage of the chaotic situation in Russia to propose to them to revise some unequal treaties between China and Russia, take back the Eastern Railway, exempt Gengzi from indemnity, cancel unilateral most-favored-nation treatment, and so on. ”

"This thing...... Will the Russians be able to agree? Duan Qirui sneered and shook his head, of course he wouldn't believe that the Russians were so easy to talk to, but it was inconvenient to say it on his lips, after all, Chang Ruiqing was also a strong party now, and he had just agreed to help the central government fight.

Chang Ruiqing smiled faintly: "Can the Russians agree, let's give it a try?" Didn't Zhi Lao give the following order to the minister in Russia and ask him to go to the Russians to test it? ”

Duan Qirui glanced at Xu Shuzheng, Xu Shuzheng smiled: "Just give it a try, at most, it will not be successful, and we will not have a hair." ”

Duan Qirui was right when he thought about it, and just wanted to nod his head in agreement, Wang Shizhen on the side suddenly interjected: "Zhiquan, before we negotiate with the Russians, should we ask for the opinions of Britain, France, the United States and Japan?" ”

"The subordinates thought there was no need to solicit." Duan Qirui hadn't answered yet, but Chang Ruiqing interjected: "Old Zhi, old hired, negotiations with Russia are a matter between China and Russia, what does it have to do with Britain, France, the United States and Japan?" ”

Duan Qirui and Wang Shizhen's faces flashed with a trace of unhappiness at the same time, but the two Beiyang bigwigs finally had the measure and did not bother with Chang Ruiqing, a junior. Duan Qirui picked up the teacup and took a sip, and said lightly, "Okay." Let Liu Jingren touch this matter, maybe there will be a good thing about pie falling from the sky. ”

……

"Mr. Minister, please immediately make representations to the Soviet Government for the revision of a series of unequal treaties between China and Russia!"

At the same time that Chang Ruiqing lobbied Duan Qirui, Xu Shuzheng and others. In the living room of the Chinese Legation in Russia in Petrograd, several young Chinese men dressed as Russian Red Guards loudly proposed their proposals.

And they propose to build yì objects. It was Liu Jingren, the Chinese minister to Russia.

He is just one of the most typical diplomats of the Beiyang system, graduated from the Tongwenguan in Beijing, went to France to study, and after returning to China, he worked as a translator in the Prime Minister's Yamen. Later, he was sent to Russia as a diplomat, and worked diligently for almost 20 years before he became a minister to Russia.

A diplomat like him cannot be said to be incompetent, but after so many years of diplomacy in a weak country, it is inevitable that he will suffer from foreign-phobia. Look at him. Foreigners are always big, especially such a first-class power as the Russian Empire! Even if there is some chaos in the other side's country, it is not something that a weak country like China can compete with... Russia is in turmoil, and China is not at peace!

Besides, such a major national matter as diplomacy can only be handled by the order of the central government and the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and only by him, the minister, can do it! How can we listen to the commands of a few "chaotic parties" such as political commissars of the "Red Army Aiding Russia"?

If it weren't for the fact that this group of people would seem to be in league with the Bolsheviks, who now hold power in Russia. He Minister Liu has already given the order to kill people!

It turned out that today he was spitting in front of Minister Liu. It is Huang Baopei, Zhang Guotao, and Liu Shaozhou, the president of the Chinese Federation in Russia, who is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party and director of the Political Department of the Red Army Aiding Russia.

According to them, they had already agreed with the leaders of the nascent Russian Soviet power that the Chinese government would not allow the opposition forces of the Soviet power to use the territory of China for activities against Soviet Russia. They agreed to revise a series of unequal treaties between China and Russia! It is possible to return to China all the Russian concessions in China, including the Middle East Road, and agree that China will stop paying Gengzi indemnities. renunciation of Russia's unilateral most-favored-nation status and other special rights and interests in China...... In short, it's like pie in the sky. It doesn't sound like it's true!

After listening to the words of several people, Liu Jingren smiled a little embarrassed and nodded slightly: "Everyone." Diplomatic negotiations still have to be arranged by the central government, and it may not be easy for a minister to make a decision in the lower districts......"

With a bang, Zhang Guotao slapped the mahogany coffee table in front of him fiercely, and stood up suddenly: "What's the bad decision?" It's not that you want to betray the country! Now is the great time to restore the power of the country, and we in China have already agreed with Comrade Lenin and Comrade Trotsky! As long as you sign it, we will Chinese be able to justifiably recover the Middle East Road, recover all the Russian concessions, and stop paying reparations to Russia...... Do you think such a good thing came for nothing? That's what we got from the birth and death of the Red Army to Russia and help the Bolsheviks fight the world! If you dare to do it, you are betraying the country! It's a betrayal of thousands of Red Army soldiers who came to aid Russia, believe it or not, Lao Tzu will kill you now? ”

As he spoke, he took out a **** from his pocket and shook it in front of Minister Liu!

Seeing the muzzle of the black hole, Minister Liu only felt dizzy in front of him! I've been doing diplomacy for half my life, and it's the first time I've encountered such a thing! The things that the other party proposed, to be honest, are really good things......

Thinking of this, he squeezed out a smile and arched his hand at the three young people in front of him: "Ladies and gentlemen, this diplomatic consultation always has to go through the guò government, should you discuss it with Beijing again and make a decision?" ”

The three young men looked at each other, and Liu Shaozhou nodded slightly, probably agreeing with each other's statement. Huang Baopei's expression did not move, today's this is being done according to Chang Ruiqing's instructions, although Chang Ruiqing will be active in Beijing, but no one can guarantee that he will be able to convince Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng. So I prepared this coercive Chinese minister to sign with the Russians...... The second option of the Equal Treaty!

Zhang Guotao's reaction was the most intense, gritting his teeth and loading the ****, just about to open his mouth to say a few threatening words. There was a sharp knock on the door of the parlor, followed by the voice of the Counsellor of the Legation.

"Mr. Minister, I just received a telegram from the ministry, telling us to go and negotiate with the Russian government immediately about amending the treaty......

Hearing this, Zhang Guotao hurriedly put away the **** and arched his hand at Liu Jingren: "Mr. Liu, I was offended just now, since Beijing has already given instructions, then let's hurry to the Smonil Palace to see Comrade Trotsky." ”

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