A hint of iron blue flashed on Zhu Erdian's face, but he covered it up in a blink of an eye.

He smiled slightly: "Your Excellency, it is the responsibility of your government to exterminate the Red Brigades, not me, the Minister of the British Empire. As the political leader of a big country, he should not shirk his responsibilities under any circumstances! We must not leave our posts without permission and bring the whole country to a state of anarchy! ”

Duan Qirui smiled faintly, beckoned Zhu Erdian and Xu Shuzheng to sit down, and ordered the servants to bring refreshments, and then said slowly: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, now the person in front of you is no longer a prime minister, but an ordinary Chinese citizen. If you want to protest and pressur, you can go to the State Department and the Presidential Palace. When I came to the old man's Fuxue Hutong, I am afraid I am looking for the wrong place. ”

Although he said this, he still had a smile on his face, Zhu Erdian glanced at Xu Shuzheng, and found that he was also wearing a loose Chinese robe, and it seemed that he was also in the wild. Zhu Erdian muttered: "Your Excellency, the decision of the legation to use China's customs surplus for the police cause this time is also for the sake of China...... An organization like the Red Brigade is in fact the same as the Russian Bolshevik Party, and if it is not exterminated and allowed to grow bigger, it will be a disaster for the country in the future! As a friend of China, I really don't want to see China perish one day! ”

Duan Qirui still smiled and said nothing. Xu Shuzheng interjected in an indifferent tone: "Mr. Minister, things are not as strict as that, even Russia is not dying now?" Isn't that Soviet government of the Bolsheviks, recognized by your country and the other powers? You didn't withhold Russian tariffs and withhold them from them? As Your Excellency said, the Red Brigade in our country is not only the same as the Bolshevik Party in Russia, but also directly receives the support of the Bolsheviks! Their attack on the remnants of Tsarist Russia in China must have been instructed by the Bolsheviks, so in order to eliminate the Red Brigade in China, it is necessary to trace back to the source and exterminate the Russian Bolsheviks first...... It really has little to do with China's police career. ”

Zhu Erdian's expression was slightly gloomy, he has been in China for so many years, and he has always threatened Chinese politicians, and it is the first time that he has been coerced by Chinese politicians in turn!

He said coldly: "We don't need to worry about Russian affairs. After the election of the Constituent Assembly, the Bolsheviks were naturally going to step down! The current situation in China is very worrying...... How can a country be without a government? If the country's political leaders are unwilling to take on the responsibility of governing, then the great powers will have to reluctantly replace them to govern the country! ”

This time it was Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng's turn, and their faces changed slightly. Zhu Erdian actually said in front of them that he wanted the great powers to be in charge! The two of them are not Chang Ruiqing after all. They have long seen through the essence of the paper tigers of British and French imperialism, but they are not frightened.

Duan Qirui glanced at Zhu Erdian, who was sneering there, and said lightly: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, what you said is on behalf of the British Empire, right?" As he spoke, he pointed at Xu Shuzheng: "Another Zheng." Call the newspaper and tell them that the British Empire is ready to turn China into a second India, and let the left people of the Red Brigade quickly surrender to the British! ”

At this time, Zhu Erdian's face completely darkened: "Mr. Duan, don't you really want to take a little more responsibility?" Are you ready to watch China fall into the abyss from which it will never recover? ”

Duan Qirui smiled bitterly and waved his hand: "It's not that I don't want to be responsible." But the current situation is no longer something that Duan can deal with. ”

Of course, Zhu Erdian knew what the other party meant, and it was nothing more than for the tens of millions of silver dollars that year. It's not that this money cannot be put at the disposal of the Chinese themselves, but will the Chinese use this money to exterminate the Red Brigade? If you think about it on your heels, you can understand that for them foreigners, the Red Brigade is undoubtedly a huge threat, but for the Beijing government, Sun Yat-sen in Guangdong is a big problem!

It turned out that when Sun Yat-sen did not directly control the territory army under his control, it was enough of a headache. Now he has taken control of China's richest province, Guangdong. There are still 40,000 or 50,000 troops on hand...... If he were Duan Qirui, he would definitely be so anxious that he couldn't sleep.

But from the interests of the British Empire in China, he did not want to see Sun Yat-sen's power wiped out by Beiyang, because that would mean that the Beiyang government could potentially unify China! A completely unified China will still be left to the fish and flesh of the great powers as it is now?

Uh, no. Now China is not left to the flesh of the great powers, because they have the Red Brigade!

Now it seems to be in a dilemma. A weak central government like the Beiyang government. There is simply no way to afford to exterminate the Red Brigade! This is clear to any European diplomat, who knows how difficult the anarchist and socialist terrorist organizations in Europe are! It is already a miracle that a broken government like Beiyang will not be wiped out by the Red Brigade in the future!

If you want to let the North Ocean wipe out the Red Brigade. The best thing to do is to strengthen them. For example, they should support their reunification of China, return their tariff autonomy to China, and return the concessions of the great powers in China to the Beiyang government...... But in that case, how can the interests of the great powers in China be protected?

Moreover, if the British Empire made so many concessions to the Chinese because of a fledgling Chinese terrorist organization, how would the Indians react?

So it is impossible to make concessions to the Chinese! The Japanese proposal to invest China's limited financial resources in the "eradication of the Red Army" is still correct in the general direction, and the question now is only how to persuade the Chinese leaders to accept it.

"Your Excellency, we can leave the surplus at the disposal of the Chinese government, but you must ensure that you devote enough resources to the fight against the Red Brigades!"

Zhu Erdian thought for a long time, but still gave a small step, oh, maybe in his opinion, such a concession is already a big one. After saying this, he raised his chin high, waiting for the overjoyed Duan Qirui to thank him for his kindness.

But after waiting for a long time, Duan Qirui didn't speak, just picked up the teacup and drank it slowly with his head down. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward, and after a while, it was Xu Shuzheng who coughed lightly and reminded: "Mr. Minister, the places where the Red Brigade is making trouble now are mainly concentrated in the concession...... It's not something that the Chinese government can control, and no matter how many police we have, it won't work! Mr. Minister, can you agree to our military police patrolling the concession? ”

"Nope! That's absolutely not going to work! For such a suggestion, Zhu Erdian didn't even think about it. He immediately objected: "The British Empire is capable of protecting her overseas possessions from infringement!" You don't have to worry about that. ”

Xu Shuzheng nodded, and then said, "What about the Russian Concession?" Their barracks were bloodied by the Red Brigades, and Petrograd made it clear that it would not send Russian military personnel to Tianjin......"

"This ......" Zhu Erdian is in trouble. The Tianjin Russian Concession is the largest concession in Tianjin, and now it has almost become the territory of the Red Brigade! The Russian garrison and police died and ran, but the Petrograd side ignored them...... Belch. In fact, they are not completely ignoring, but they want to send 5,000 Chinese GCD militants to aid the Russian Red Army to the Russian concession in Tianjin! Just listen to the name, these people are in league with the Red Brigade!

Zhu Erdian frowned: "Then let the Chinese government temporarily take over the security of the Russian Concession in Tianjin." ”

"Still won't work." Xu Shuzheng shook his head, looking embarrassed: "According to the "Xinchou Treaty", the Chinese government can only station 300 soldiers in Tianjin, and these soldiers can't even take care of the Chinese community in Tianjin. How to manage the affairs of the concession? If we want to take over the security of the Russian Concession in Tianjin, we must send at least 3,000 soldiers into Tianjin, and this "Xinchou Treaty" must be revised! Moreover, the Russian Concession in Tianjin should be managed by the Russian side, and now that we are asked to help maintain law and order, should this cost be borne by the Russian Concession? ”

"Send the police!" The anger on Zhu Erdian's face could not be concealed at all, these Chinese actually wanted to revise the "Xinqiao Treaty" inch by inch, and also wanted to garrison 3,000 troops in Tianjin! What wishful thinking!

"The police don't dare to go!" Xu Shuzheng cried with a sad face and said with a wry smile: "Mr. Minister." This army is governed by military law. Even the sword mountain and the sea of fire have to be rushed. But the police are different, the top of the sky is to roll up and go home...... There is no reason to shoot. They earn 6 yuan a month, where can they not earn it? Who is willing to fight the terrorists of the Red Brigade for the sake of these little money? ”

Yes, this problem has been around for a long time and there is still no solution! The squadron could not enter Tianjin, and the Chinese police were afraid of death...... As for the revision of the Treaty of Xincho, it is even more impossible. Isn't this tantamount to giving in to the Red Brigade? Based on the experience of the European "anti-terrorism", it could not be more stupid to make concessions to terrorists. Those terrorists will not only not relent, but will be even more aggressive!

Since Duan Qirui has no solution here. Zhu Erdian didn't waste any more time, he stood up and bowed slightly to Duan Qirui, then said goodbye and left, ready to try his luck at Feng Guozhang of Zhongnanhai Jurentang.

Just when he walked out of the Duan Mansion in Fuxue Hutong, he suddenly found that this small alley was already full of cars and carriages, and there were many Beiyang soldiers with shell guns on their backs patrolling everywhere, it seemed that the commander of the Beiyang garrison near Beijing had come to visit Duan Qirui's mansion.

Although this Duan Qirui stepped down, there are still many people in the Beiyang Army who recognize him as the boss!

……

"Duan Zhiquan still didn't agree to go out of the mountain?" Feng Guozhang asked the people around him in a low voice, and everyone nodded silently, unlike the people around Duan Qirui, most of the people here had beaming expressions on their faces.

Feng Guozhang turned his eyes to Lu Jianzhang, and Lu Jianzhang smiled and said: "President, after Zhu Erdian's car left Fuxue Hutong, he did not return to Dongjiaomin Lane, but came to Zhongnanhai. ”

Hearing the news, Feng Guozhang sighed softly: "I don't know that firewood and rice are expensive...... How much does it cost to spend such a big stall in Beiyang every month? Do you know how much money there is? ”

This question seemed to be asking everyone in the room, but President Feng's eyes were on a short and fat middle-aged man in his 50s in a suit and leather shoes in the corner. This person is the famous Beiyang God of Wealth, the head of the "old transportation department". When Yuan Shikai was proclaimed emperor, he once helped raise a huge amount of money, and almost caused the two banks of the CCCC to go bankrupt! After Yuan Shikai failed, he also became the culprit of the imperial system, and lived in seclusion for a while. I actually appeared in Feng Guozhang's presidential palace today, and I don't know what good ideas I can give President Feng?

"President, the main financial sources of the central government are a total of three pieces, one is Guan Yu; the second is the salt tax; The third is the railway revenue under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Communications. In addition, the commercial tax in Beijing and Tianjin has always been at the disposal of the central government. After deducting the repayments due to the banks of the great powers, there will always be 70 or 80 million yuan a year. If the North and the South can achieve peace and no more fighting, they will be able to meet the daily expenses of the central government. ”

Feng Guozhang snorted: "What if Guan Yu is used for 'slashing red'?" ”

Liang Shiyi smiled and said: "This request of the foreigners is completely unoperable, and at present, the police in various places are run by themselves, and the Ministry of Police cannot control the local police at all...... If they give the surplus of 30 or 40 million to the Ministry of Police, they will have no way to spend it! ”

Feng Guozhang's secretary general, Yun Baohui, reminded: "The legation also proposed that the foreign powers send advisers to help us run the police, perhaps to prosecute the police in the whole of China, right?" ”

"That can't be." Feng Guozhang smiled and shook his head: "Those foreign devils think too easily. It would be good if they could prosecute the local police in Beijing and Tianjin, but who would sell their accounts at the local level? He paused, and then asked Liang Shiyi: "Yan Sun." If you were to be the Minister of Finance and Minister of Transport, would you have a solution to your financial difficulties? ”

Liang Shiyi was slightly stunned, his face did not show surprise, but showed worry: "President." If the legation withholds the balance and doesn't give it to us......"

"No, it won't." Feng Guozhang waved his hand and sneered: "At most, they want us to intensify the fight against the Red Brigade, so they will allocate 10 million from Guanyu as a special fund for 'eradicating the Red Brigade', and then invite senior police officers from Britain, France, the United States, and Japan to serve as advisers to the Ministry of Police, so that they can cope with it." ”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Wang Shizhen, who was sitting next to him. smiled: "Appointment Secretary, or you will be the prime minister?" In a country as big as ours, there always needs to be a government, right? ”

Wang Shizhen shook his head slightly. Feng Guozhang's thoughts, can he still understand? Duan Qirui's control of the cabinet and the behavior of overthrowing the president have long been extremely dissatisfied. Now that there is finally an opportunity, Duan Qirui fell out with foreigners because of the problem of the Red Brigade, and he stepped down, and he didn't hurry up to seize the power in his hands? But how can this prime minister be so good?

If nothing else, the calamity of this red brigade is not so peaceful! If you can't put the red brigade on the table. Foreigners still have to exert pressure every once in a while. Come and protest! Maybe I'm going to use that bit of balance to get stuck in my neck again...... Where is this to be the prime minister, it is simply to be a gas bag!

Moreover, where can Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng be willing? They were in control of the Anfu Congress, and most of the troops in Beiyang also listened to Duan Qirui.

Thinking of this, Wang Shizhen said in embarrassment: "Huafu, I can't do this prime minister." I can't be sorry for Shibaquan, so you might as well ask for another skill. ”

Feng Guozhang snorted: "Hire a secretary." Duan Zhiquan's prime minister was not removed by me, it was because he didn't want to do it! What can I do? Now our Republic of China has no government. The departments under the State Council can't open it, how can it go on like this! ”

Wang Shizhen thought about it and felt that it made sense, he sighed: "Huafu, it's okay if you want me to be the prime minister, but I also have one condition, Duan Zhiquan wants to be the Minister of the Army!" Moreover, the crusade against the southwest cannot be stopped immediately. ”

Feng Guozhang also knows that his old friend is the temper of his friend who refuses to be sorry for his friend, but at present, the post of prime minister is not something that everyone can do. He nodded heavily and promised, "Good! The Minister of War asked Duan Zhiquan to come out, and I will go back and come to the door with you in person! Pingqing, that Zhu Erdian will be coming over soon, do you have any other conditions to mention? ”

Wang Shizhen sighed again, as if Feng Guozhang didn't want him to be the prime minister, but wanted him to go to prison! He thought for a while and sighed: "Of course there are conditions, first, Guan Yu must be at our own disposal, otherwise this prime minister has no way to do it." Second, the burden of exterminating the Red Brigade cannot all fall on us, because at present, we are full of concessions in China, we have no law enforcement power in the concessions, and our military and police cannot enter...... The Red Brigade there can only be exterminated by the Great Powers themselves! Third, the legation can no longer interfere in the issue of the "Sino-Russian New Testament", and the Russian concession and the Middle East Road must be immediately allowed to be recovered. If they can agree to these three articles, our Beiyang may be able to sustain itself, otherwise I won't be able to do this prime minister. ”

Feng Guozhang smiled and said: "That's it, Zhu Erdian can agree, let's continue to mix in Beijing, if he doesn't agree, I, the president, won't do it!" I will resign from the National Assembly and ask Li Yuanhong to be this unlucky president! ”

When Zhu Erdian heard the three conditions proposed by Wang Shizhen, he was really a little crying and laughing! In the past, it was those Chinese who accepted all kinds of harsh conditions put forward by the great powers in order to become president, prime minister, and emperor. How did it turn out that they were in turn making conditions to the Great Powers? It's as if the Great Powers are asking them to be prime ministers!

Isn't it just a gang of terrorists who have targeted the great powers? Without these Chinese bureaucrats, would the great powers have no way to safeguard their interests in China?

Fastest update, please.