Chapter 168 Return to Qingdao

Chapter 168 Return to Qingdao

Hahausen came to the Liwang Mansion again, this time accompanied by the chargé d'affaires in China, Marshen. At the same time, the Japanese Minister Ijiin urgently asked to see President Sun Baoqi, and it was also early in the morning.

It is rare that Yijiyuan did not maintain the so-called extravagant politeness, stood in front of Sun Baoqi with an ugly face, and said loudly after bowing habitually: "Your Excellency President, it is rumored that China and Germany are negotiating on the return of the Qingdao Concession by Germany, and this is true, and our government advocates that your government should refuse the return of the Germans, because this is a trap aimed at destroying the friendship between China and Japan." ”

Sun Baoqi was really a little lacking in confidence at the beginning in the face of the menacing Yijiyuan, but he was mentally prepared and replied with a tough attitude: "Qingdao is China's territory, and the Germans rushed to lease it when China was weak." Now that Germany is facing a European war, it has taken the initiative to demand the return of Qingdao, which is a matter between China and Germany. When will it be the turn of the Japanese government to guide the government of the Republic of China on what to do? I would also like to advise Your Excellency that China is still a neutral country. ”

"Your Excellency the President, it is necessary to remind you that the fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy has blocked Jiaozhou Bay. The Japanese government declared war on Germany and attacked Qingdao not for the purpose of encroachment, but to do its part as a member of the Entente. Ijiin looked hideous and threatened loudly. By the way, the Entente countries were also pulled.

"I'm curious, the main battlefield is in Europe, why don't your country's troops go to Europe to participate in the war? On the contrary, when the Germans returned Qingdao, they demanded that the Chinese government not accept it, and said that it was not for the purpose of occupation. Your Excellency, please explain why in your government's ultimatum there is a talk of unconditional transfer of the Qingdao concession? Gu Weijun, who was beside Sun Baoqi, opened his mouth, and he couldn't help it. Ijiin glared at him, who do you mean? Sun Baoqi glanced at Gu Weijun with a smile, and said lightly: "This is also what this president means, Qingdao is China's territory, in order to maintain the country's territory, any threat will not work, and the squadron will not hesitate to fight for the sake of national interests." ”

Such a tough attitude greatly surprised Ijiin's expectations. looked at Sun Baoqi incredulously, his pupils contracted sharply, as if he wanted to see through this old bureaucrat of the former Qing Dynasty, how could he be so tough.

"In that case, I can only express my regret. At that time, if there is a conflict between China and Japan, the Chinese side will be responsible for the consequences! Ijiin dropped a hard word, turned around and left, what politeness and impoliteness were thrown aside, and he was angry!

The Japanese government was shocked to receive the news, when did the Chinese government become so tough? Why? Just with a few small warships built by the Americans, just with those dozens of divisions of rabble? At this time, Japan really didn't take China seriously.

The Japanese cabinet urgently informed the Ijiin and asked him to go to see Sun Baoqi again, and made solemn representations, saying that once the Chinese government received Germany and returned Qingdao, it would be a stern provocation to the dignity of the Great Japanese Empire, and the Chinese government would be responsible for any consequences arising therefrom! It was already noon when Ijiin asked to see him again, and before he could go out, he received the news. The Cabinet of the Republic of China held a press conference to officially inform Germany of the return of Qingdao.

The press conference had just begun, and there were two people sitting on the stage, one was Foreign Minister Wang Zhengting, and the other was Jiang Fangzhen, chief of the General Staff of the National Defense Forces.

"Dear journalists, today's press conference! ……。 Wang Zhengting was speaking, and Yijiyuan was almost in his throat: "You are not allowed to accept the return of Germany to Qingdao!" Otherwise, it will be regarded as a declaration of war against the Japanese Empire! ”

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere of the entire press conference was reduced to minus 80 degrees! Wang Zhengting's face was sad and indignant, Jiang Fangzhen's face was indifferent, and he slowly stood up and looked at Yijiyuan, his eyes showed a fierce light, and his tone was sonorous: "So, the Japanese government has decided to declare war on China?" If so, will the Chinese government have no choice but to accept and declare war on Japan? ”

Wow......! There was a commotion at the scene, this news was too exciting! A reporter fell directly out of his chair, Jiang Fangzhen is the chief of the general staff, representing the military. This can speak in a small voice, but the tone is firm, and the eyes are fire. Jiang Fangzhen, who usually has the style of a gentleman, treats people like a drizzle, and can't see the hideous side. At the moment, he was angry, and the killing side of the soldiers was exposed. As long as Ijiin answers positively, it is tantamount to declaring war on China.

Ijiin was in a hurry just now, and this will reflect that he was reckless just now. Declaring war on China was not decided by him, a broken minister. That would have to be the decision of the Japanese Cabinet, which would have made the Japanese military department not yet mad and would not coerce the government.

"Your Excellency General has made a serious statement, the Japanese Government has always attached importance to the friendship between China and Japan, and what I mean is that I hope that the Chinese Government will not fall for Germany and be provoked to become enemies of the Japanese Government." Yijiyuan can only soften, in front of so many reporters, if it continues to be tough, maybe it will become a fake, after all, this is the scene of the press conference of the Republic of China government.

"Whether the government of the Republic of China is an enemy of the Japanese government, Mr. Minister will know after patiently listening to the press conference." Wang Zhengting felt a burst of happiness in his heart, but he didn't expect the Japanese to have times of cowardice. In fact, he was also very worried, in case Yijiyuan insisted, Jiang Fangzhen's temper was forced into a corner, and he could only declare war.

Ijiin snorted twice and said, "So bothered, I will leave first, please continue!" Ijiin turned around and left without hesitation, but Shao Zuo Shizhong, who had been following him and didn't say much, stayed behind and continued to listen to the press conference with an expressionless face.

Jiang Fangzhen sat down with a grim face, Wang Zhengting coughed, looked at the reporters and said, "Everyone, there seems to have been some accident just now, now continue." According to the results of the Sino-German emergency consultations, the German government decided to unconditionally return Qingdao to China in exchange for the guarantee of the safety of its personnel in China. At present, the outbreak of war in Europe, our country, as a neutral country, will not intervene in the disputes between the warring parties. On behalf of the Government, I hereby solemnly pledge that foreign companies and personnel on both sides of the war will remain treated in China unchanged. The German garrison in Qingdao was to lay down their arms and, under the arrangement of the Chinese government, to remain somewhere in China until the end of the war. The Chinese government will ensure the livelihood and security of these people's lives and property. ”

After Wang Zhengting finished speaking, he sat down, and Jiang Fangzhen stood up and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, entrusted by Mr. Fang Fuguo, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, on behalf of the National Defense Forces, I declare that from now on, the National Defense Forces will officially enter Qingdao, and any country that continues to attack Qingdao under the banner of fighting against Germany will be regarded as a war against the Chinese government. ”

Shi Zhong, who had not spoken all this time, turned around and walked slowly, with a very slow pace. While walking, Shi Zhongbu kept thinking in his heart, that Fang Jianxiong must have seen the intentions of the empire, so there was such a press conference. At present, the Imperial Navy and Army are already assembling, how can there be any shame at this time? In the war with China, victory is assured, but the price paid will also be very staggering. Only a few years after the Russo-Japanese War, Japan's economy has been struggling to recover. For the sake of foreign exchange, hundreds of thousands of women in Nanyang are selling their bodies to do their best for the restoration of the empire.

As for the combat effectiveness of the squadron, Shi Zhong is not worried too much, don't look at Fang Jianxiong defeated the Beiyang Army, that is also the apprentice taught by the Japanese who was defeated. Besides, Japan's help to the Beiyang Army is not so much an infiltration. After the defeat in Beiyang, all the Japanese instructors were dismissed, which was a big blow to the Japanese intelligence agencies. Fang Jianxiong's resolute refusal to use Japanese instructors and advisers has always been a strong signal of hostility towards Japan.

Shizhong is not from the Japanese Army, and in the Japanese Military Department, the Army has always been pressed by the Navy and cannot raise its head. A little good money, all filled into the bottomless pit of the navy. Compared to the navy, the Japanese army is a beggar!

The Chinese government's toughness was not annoyed, but rejoiced. China is a land power, no matter how powerful the navy warships are, can you sail ashore? Don't you have to rely on the army? As long as there is a war with China, the good days of the army will come. Shi Zhong wanted to transmit this information back to China as soon as possible, and use this as an opportunity to push Japan to fight against China.

Although he has a certain understanding of the squadron, Shi Zhong has never felt that China and Japan are opponents of equal strength, and the Japanese Imperial Army is invincible in the world, which is probably an idea rooted in the depths of his mind, at least now Shi Zhong Bu is determined to be so.

Outside Pingdu City, a newly built airfield was guarded by Li Daxiong's subordinates, and one plane after another roared and landed. Li Daxiong stood on the airport and watched the planes land. The treatment of the aviation brigade was the first of its kind within the Wehrmacht. Many people are not convinced by this, and Li Daxiong is not convinced. But after the last battle of Xuzhou, the voices of disbelief disappeared a lot, and after the last exercise, Li Daxiong lost his temper.

As the name suggests, Li Daxiong, who has a tiger's back and a bear's waist, does not look like an officer, but like a mountain king when he goes to that station. In the past two days, planes have been flying from Jinan, and it is roughly estimated that there are at least 60 planes.

So many planes were parked at the Pingdu Airport, which was backed by the Jiaoji Railway, and the location was very hidden, and a regiment of troops was stationed nearby to guard it, and the idle people could not enter within a radius of 20 miles. Look at the meaning, it's going to be a war.

Just thinking about this, a colonel who got off the plane strode over, saluted Li Daxiong and said, "Is it Master Li Daxiong?" I am Feng Hua, the captain of the First Air Wing, and here is an order for you. ”

Li Daxiong took the letter handed by Feng Hua, opened it and hurriedly looked at it, and said: "It's hard work, the military region orders our department to immediately take over the railway garrison points in Pingdu to prevent anyone from sabotaging." It's up to you to do it all from now on. (To be continued.)