"Mr. Jurdian." This time, U.S. Minister Reyns was the first to come out in support of Zhu Erdian's opinion: "I have been instructed by the U.S. State Department to urge the Chinese government to shift their main focus from the civil war to maintaining domestic order...... As I think you know, the Chinese government's financial and military resources are quite limited, and it is impossible for them to accomplish both the task of suppressing the Red Brigade and the crusade against the southwest at the same time. ”

There is a rare agreement between the Americans' thoughts and those of Jurdian. The British minister also showed a rare smile at the Yankees: "Mr. Raines, your idea of building yì is completely consistent with that of the British Empire. The Chinese government must put the interests and safety of our people in China first, and their limited financial and material resources should be used first to eliminate the Red Brigades, not Sun Yat-sen's army. Of course, we cannot allow Sun Yat-sen to take advantage of the Beiyang government's suppression of the Red Brigade to expand its territory, and the two sides should reach an armistice...... Then negotiate to resolve the issue of China's reunification. I don't know if you guys have any opinions on this? ”

Japanese Minister Hayashi Quansuke and Aoki Nobujun and Sakanishi Rihachiro who accompanied him talked in a low voice, then stood up and bowed slightly to Zhu Erdian: "Your Excellency, we believe that the army currently in the possession of the Beiyang government is used to conduct regular warfare, not to deal with urban terrorists like the Red Brigade. ”

Zhu Erdian frowned: "Mr. Minister, do you mean to let the Japanese army deal with the Red Brigade?" ”

"No, no, no, of course not." Lin Quanzhu hurriedly shook his head and smiled: "What we mean is that it is not the responsibility of the regular army to deal with an organization like the Red Brigade, but the responsibility of the police department...... But at present, it is really difficult for the Chinese police to take on such a difficult task, and they need more investment, better equipment and more rigorous training. ”

Only then did Zhu Erdian sigh softly: "Your construction is very good, we should ask the Beiyang government to increase investment in the police department." ”

As long as the Japanese did not think about sending a large army to China, all other construction companies would be willing to obey, and it was still very reasonable to ask China to strengthen the construction of the police department.

"Your Excellency, I'm afraid that just asking for it won't have any effect, right?" Lin Quanzhu smiled coldly: "The Chinese government has such a huge army to support, and their income is so limited. Even if you want to allocate more money to the Ministry of Police, you are powerless, right? ”

Zhu Erdian nodded slightly: "Then what should we do?" Should they be allowed to increase tariffs? ”

"Of course not!" A hint of dissatisfaction flashed in Lin Quanzhu's eyes, because of the First World War, British products are now almost withdrawn from the Chinese market. In addition to Chinese goods, Japanese products are replaced! Isn't allowing Chinese to increase tariffs crowding out Japanese goods?

Lin Quanzhu took a deep breath and said with a smile: "We all know that the Chinese government's ability to manage its finances is very poor, even if it gives them more money. It's hard to make sure they're spending their money where it should be! The only way to do this is for us to help them manage some of their income...... For example, the customs said that the money was originally directly handed over to the Ministry of Finance of the Beijing government, and we can now transfer the money to their police department and designate the purpose! At the same time, we should also send advisers to the Chinese police. Help them capture Red Brigades terrorists. ”

"That's the case......" Zhu Erdian frowned slightly. To tell the truth, the revenue of the Chinese central government is already very small, the provincial land endowment, gold and commercial taxes are all self-financed, the central government's revenue mainly depends on customs duties and salt taxes, and the two taxes on customs and salt have long been used for the mortgage of various foreign debts and indemnities, and there is not much money that can fall into the pockets of the Beiyang government every year. Can you survive on those few salt taxes?

Lin Quanzhu took two steps forward. Approached Zhu Erdian. In a sincere tone, he said: "Your Excellency, we should let the Chinese government know what their duties are!" It is not to maintain a large army for civil war, but to effectively protect the interests of various countries in China...... Therefore they do not need to raise such a large army for civil war, which will not do the Chinese people or us any good! ”

Zhu Erdian was silent for a long time, knowing that the Japanese would further weaken the strength of the Chinese central government and make China's scattered sand even more scattered...... But. Using the money to raise soldiers to support the police seems to be the most effective way to deal with the Red Brigade!

……

Beijing. Fuxue Hutong Duan Qirui Mansion.

Before noon today, Premier Duan and his henchman Xu Shuzheng returned to the mansion together. Then he plunged into his study, took a copy of the Legation's note, and looked at it over and over again, panting quietly as he went, and the trademark crooked nose appeared on his face. Xu Shuzheng was walking around in the study, jumping and scolding as he walked.

"Excessive! It's too much! These foreign devils still don't let people live? Let no one live! How much money do we have a year? So the big government, and more than 200,000 Beiyang troops are all pointing to eat...... These eight lambs are for our lives! ”

Duan Qirui didn't say a word, and after a long while, he shook his hand, threw the note on the table, and let out a long sigh: "They made it clear that they didn't want us to have a good time, and they didn't want China to be reunified...... We are not allowed to raise soldiers, but we are required to invest all our money in the police, and we also have to send consultants to guide us to eradicate the red! This is to arrest the police, this is to treat us as their colony! ”

Listening to Premier Duan's tired and desolate tone. Xu Shuzheng's heart was even more uncomfortable, his eyes were sour, and he actually cried. He couldn't figure out why Duan Qirui and himself should bear the burden of those madmen of the Red Brigade who were in trouble? Originally, the plan was to take advantage of the internal strife in the southwest to use troops in Hunan on a large scale, and strive to defeat Hunan in one fell swoop, and then gather the main forces from all sides to attack Guangdong in January next year......

But now this "red disaster" suddenly appeared, first assassinating a Russian minister, and then killing people and setting fire to the Tianjin Concession! As a result, those foreign devils couldn't find the red brigade leader Zuomin, so they knew that they were forcing the Beiyang government, and they were not afraid of forcing Beiyang to death and letting the surnamed Zuo sit in the world!

Xu Shuzheng took a deep breath, picked up the note and tore it up a few times: "Zhi Lao! Let's quit! We can't be this family, whoever likes to be them, they will be it! ”

When Duan Qirui heard this, he looked at the other party in surprise: "It's Zheng again!" ”

Xu Shuzheng said coldly: "Old Zhi." We can't do this, and others can't do it! I see who dares to pick up the picks we left behind! When the time comes, we will make it impossible for the Chinese government to open up, and these foreign devils don't like to protest. Do you like to put pressure on you? Without the government, who else can they send their notes! ”

Duan Qirui got up and poked Xu Shuzheng: "Xu Youzheng! Are you crazy? Are you going to kill our Republic of China? Now the generals everywhere are no longer very obedient to the central government. We don't have a government in the central government anymore, and they don't make a fuss about independence one by one? At that time, our China will be divided! Although China is weak now, it is a big country after all, a hundred-legged insect. Dead but not stiff. If it splits into a bunch of small countries, it will really be slaughtered! Your idea is to destroy our Republic of China! Destroy our Beiyang! ”

Xu Shuzheng's expression did not move, and he retorted coldly: "The country can't die, let's pick a child." Isn't there still Sun Cannon in Guangdong, and Zuo Min of the Red Brigade, I heard that there is still a 'Red Army Aiding Russia' in Russia? When the time comes, the world will be theirs, just let those foreign devils go to Zuomin to protest! ”

Duan Qirui's eyes widened, and he just looked at Xu Shuzheng. Xu Shuzheng's face was full of sneers, and he talked eloquently: "Old Zhi, don't think that those powers are all looking forward to the division of our China, except for Japan. None of those powers came near us. And most of them are stuck in the European war...... Will they watch Japan swallow a divided China piece by piece? So as long as we pick and choose, and no one is willing to come out to preside over the situation, these powers will definitely come to us! ”

"What if they don't come?" Duan Qirui looked at Xu Shuzheng fiercely: "Don't forget Feng Hejian!" He's the president! ”

Xu Shuzheng gritted his teeth: "Let him do it!" Just let him do it! I don't believe that he has a way to maintain the situation in Beiyang with so much money, he has a way to hold Zuo Min and level the Red Brigade! ”

……

When Chang Ruiqing learned the news of Duan Qirui's cabinet resignation, he was in his mansion in Beijing with his good brother Zhao Zhen. Entertained two "Japanese friends", one was Chang Ruiqing's military adviser Okamura Ninji. One is the "mainland ronin" Kawashima Naniwa, who has just arrived from Manchuria.

Okamura Ninji was very enthusiastic about facilitating the marriage of Zhao Zhen and Yoshiko Kawashima. In the eyes of the Japanese army elite like him, it is not feasible to rely on the completely decayed Mongolian aristocracy to promote "Mongolian independence"! Unless Japan is ready to send troops directly. However, that would be to use the Manchurian aristocracy as puppets, and the current Japanese authorities would not agree to such a radical mainland policy.

At present, the focus of Japan's "mainland policy" is to weaken the Chinese central government, foster local pro-Japanese forces, and maximize economic benefits. And isn't this Zhao Zhen an ideal object of support? It is much better to support such a small warlord with a certain strength and some new ideas and styles than to support those old Mongol nobles...... Those Mongol aristocrats can't do anything at all, and supporting them is just spending money indiscriminately!

Moreover, Mongolia does not share a border with Japan after all, and even if Japan's "mainland policy" turns radical, the settlement of Mongolia will definitely be after the settlement of Manchuria, so it is not ideal to support a small pro-Japanese warlord at the moment.

As for Kawashima Naniwa, his face was gloomy and a little terrible at this time, and it was estimated that he couldn't look down on Zhao Zhen, his son-in-law. However, his face is ugly and ugly, but his mouth is full of promises to this marriage contract, and I don't know if the Kwantung Army is exerting its strength in the back?

After talking about the marriage of Warlord Zhao and the little witch of Kawashima, the atmosphere in the room became relaxed. A few people gathered around a small coffee table, drinking tea and gossiping there, only chatting for a while, they saw Chang Ruiqing's staff, Wang Shouchang, director of the Fujian Provincial Negotiation Department, running in angrily, the old man was not even angry, so he shouted loudly: "Yaoru! Something big, something big! Duan Qirui's cabinet resigned! Duan Zhi is going to pick a son and quit! ”

With a bang, the warlord Chang jumped up violently, accidentally knocked over the coffee table, and the teapot and bowl shattered to the ground!

"What's going on? Why did Duan Zhi Lao pick a child? Did President Feng Da force him? ”

Wang Shouchang panted and waved his hand: "No, it wasn't forced by Feng Hejian, he is also an ant on the hot pot now, I don't know what to do!" It was the foreign devils who killed a thousand knives who forced Duan Zhi to go into the wilderness...... "Speaking of which, the old man just remembered that there were two Japanese devils in this room!" hurriedly arched his hand at them awkwardly: "The old man lost his words for a while, and lost his words for a while." ”

Chang Ruiqing hurriedly waved his hand and interrupted: "Old man Wang, hurry up and tell me what's going on?" Those foreign ...... How could friendly people force us Duan Zhi to step down? ”

Saying that, he turned his puzzled gaze to Okamura Ninji, Okamura shook his hand, and said with a surprised expression: "I don't know, I haven't heard of it...... Old gentleman. In the end, which power forced Premier Duan? ”

Wang Shouchang stomped his feet and sighed: "Who else can there be?" The Legation, of course! Isn't it the Red Brigade that has been making trouble these two days? Those foreign ...... The friendly people couldn't catch Zuo Min, the leader of the Red Brigade, so they forced us Duan Zhilao! Demand that we cease war with the Southwest. also detained Guan Yu and said that it was going to be used to do a big job for the police to suppress the red! Without Guan Yu, what money does our Beijing government have to spend? How can you eat enough to rely on that salt tax! What else can Duan Zhi do if he doesn't go into the wilderness! ”

"Oh, I see!" Chang Ruiqing smiled bitterly, and said in his heart: "It turns out that this matter was caused by myself!" But this Duan Qirui is really interesting. I actually quit picking a child, and I don't know who will pick up this unlucky prime minister? ”

He glanced at Wang Shouchang: "Mr. Xiaozhai, who is in charge of the Beijing government now?" ”

Wang Shouchang spread his hands: "No!" ”

"What?" Chang Ruiqing was stunned: "There is no government?" ”

Wang Shouchang nodded: "No, Duan Zhi resigned and went out of the door, and the ministers and deputy ministers of various ministries also picked their heads together!" Start today. The ministries under the State Council closed their doors and closed their doors! We in China will have no government from now on! ”

China now has no government! Chang Ruiqing and Zhao Zhen glanced at each other, he smiled bitterly, and said to Zhao Zhen: "Brother Lin, you hurry up and pack up and go back to Mongolia, it's best to take today's train to Zhangjiakou, don't rush Ming'er Even the railway will be suspended." Then he hugged the two Japanese devils again: "It happened suddenly, my brother wanted to go to Zhilao's Mansion to meet him, so he could only be lost." ”

The two Japs also glanced at each other. The turmoil seemed to have been unexpected. Kawashima Naniwa didn't know anything about the matter of holding Guan Yu for "suppressing the red", but Okamura Ninji knew about it, but Duan Qirui actually picked on his son and didn't do it, which greatly surprised everyone.

Including the British Minister Juerdian, who single-handedly contributed to this.

When Chang Ruiqing and Wang Shouchang rushed to Duan Qirui Mansion in Fuxue Hutong in a hurry, Minister Zhu Erdian was already there.

Now it was the turn of the minister of the British Empire, and the Emperor Taishang of Beijing City could not hold his breath. As soon as he heard the news of Duan Qirui's cabinet resignation, all ministries in Beijing had closed their doors. I know I've messed things up this time! China is not India after all! The Republic of China was a sovereign and independent state, although its central government had been more deferent to the legations of the great powers than any other colonial government in those years. However, the British Empire's Colonial Office had no way of appointing a Chinese prime minister to manage this huge sprawling. A country with hundreds of millions of people!

Moreover, the country has recently seen the emergence of ultra-nationalist and anarchist terrorists......

Whitehall gave him very clear instructions to do everything possible to safeguard the interests of the British Empire in China. Protecting the safety of the British diaspora, and ...... Help the Chinese government restore order and stability in China.

It's not about ousting the Chinese government from power!

Maintaining the status of the central government in Beijing has been at the heart of Whitehall's China policy! Even at the time of the "Gengzi Change", the British Empire was resolutely opposed to the overthrow of the Chinese government...... If such a big country does not have a central government, the consequence can only be complete chaos and civil war! At that time, all British interests in China will be in the crosshairs, not to mention that the British banking industry is actually the largest creditor of the Chinese government! If the Chinese government is gone, who will the British bankers turn to for debt?

Of course, he Zhu Erdian is not a three-year-old child, and he knows that Duan Qirui's move is mostly just a "passive protest", a protest against the "threat" of the legation to use Guan Yu as a special fund for the suppression of the Red Army. If the legation ignores it, Duan Qirui will definitely not be able to hold back in the end, or other giants in Chinese politics will come out to form a cabinet. But the problem is that Duan Qirui picked his pick, and the Zuo Min comrades of the Red Brigade will not resign and go into the wilderness together! These terrorists are not taking advantage of China's "anarchy" to rapidly expand their power!

If Whitehall knew that it was his stupidity that gave these terrorists a chance to grow, his diplomatic career would end there......

Compared with Zhu Erdian's impatience, Duan Qirui is very leisurely at this moment, he is lying on a recliner with a blanket on his legs, his eyes are closed, he seems to be taking a nap, and the people outside are all around, which should have nothing to do with him, an unofficial and light "ordinary person".

The door of the study knocked lightly, and he saw Xu Shuzheng leading Zhu Erdian in, which woke Duan Qirui up at once, he sat up, glanced in the direction of the door, and did not stand up to greet him, but rushed to the person on the recliner and hugged his fist: "It turned out to be Mr. Zhu Erdian, I don't know which gust of wind blew you here?" Yo, you look very good today, has Zuo Min, the big leader of the Red Brigade, been caught? ”

Fastest update, please.