On the edge of the Yangtze River, Pukou, here is only a river away from Jinling. It's just that the Yangtze River is a moat, and it is difficult for the northern army to cross it at this time. This is especially true when warships flying British and Japanese flags have already appeared on the river.

By the end of December, the Northern Army had advanced to the Yangtze River. Plus the region of the Two Lakes declared its acceptance of the rule of the northern government. It can be said that, with the exception of the northwest region, the entire north of the Yangtze River fell into the hands of the Northern Army. It's just that it will take a long time to digest these areas. The northern government is also busy trying to take over these areas.

"The foreign devil finally intervened." Wu Haoxuan and Vice Admiral Shi Tianhan stood on the edge of the Yangtze River, looking at the British and Japanese warships running rampant on the river, and their faces were a little unpleasant. Although it was a dry season at this time, most of the destroyers entering the Yangtze River were destroyers with a displacement of only a few hundred tons. However, unless the Northern Army is determined to start a war with Britain and Japan, there is no way to use these warships, let alone cross the Yangtze River.

"Young marshal, should we let the artillery prepare and knock out a few of their warships." Lieutenant General Shi Tianhan asked. The 155-mm heavy howitzers and 105-mm light howitzers of the Northern Army were no less lethal to these destroyers with a displacement of only a few hundred tons. If the two sides go to war, the Northern Army may not be able to win. It's just that we have to think carefully about what kind of consequences that will cause.

Wu Haoxuan shook his head: "Now is not the time to go head-to-head with the British and the Japanese. ”

Although, the Northern Army has already achieved a decisive advantage. However, as the battle line lengthens, the logistical supply line also becomes vulnerable. In addition, the current navy of the Northern Army is still in a blank. It is expected that the warships ordered by the Northern Army in Germany will be delivered at the end of next year or the beginning of the next year, and the officers and men of the Northern Army and Navy will be able to deliver. to be able to return to China.

The fact that British and Japanese warships were rampage on the Yangtze River was undoubtedly an infringement of China's interests. However, the previous Qing government had already completely lost these interests. Foreign warships have long been given the right to navigate China's inland waters.

"Soon, I'll get all these rights back." Wu Haoxuan said in a low voice, as if talking to himself. It's like you've made up your mind.

Jinling and Pukou are only separated by a river, and after a large number of northern armies appeared north of the Yangtze River, the people in Jinling City were panicked. Especially the magnates who had just moved from Yanjing City to Jinling, they almost didn't pack up and run away. It's just that further south, those local governors and Yuan Datou's Beiyang government can't deal with each other, and they have no place to run anymore.

As a last resort, Yuan Datou deserved to ask Britain and Japan for help. Britain and Japan also showed their support for Yuan Datou. In total, the two countries sent more than a dozen destroyers. From the mouth of the Yangtze River, it went upriver and appeared on the river near Jinling, directly blocking the idea of the Northern Army trying to cross the river, which made the magnates of the Beiyang government in Jinling City finally breathe a sigh of relief. Although they don't know what the future holds, at least it's safe for now. There are foreigners' warships guarding the river, and the northern army obviously can't get through.

On December 31, Yuan Datou held a banquet in the imperial palace in Jinling. Celebrating the farewell of the old and welcoming the new, it also celebrates that the Northern Army was blocked north of the Yangtze River. Ministers of various countries who followed the Beiyang government to the south. Also invited. Yuan Datou hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to show his gratitude to the ministers of various countries.

Yuan Datou now knew that with the north of the Yangtze River already lost, if his rule wanted to be maintained, it would be inseparable from the support of foreigners. If there were no foreigners, the Northern Army might have already crossed the Yangtze River. So. Yuan Datou now almost treats foreigners as his ancestors.

Yuan Datou's current imperial palace was originally the palace of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in Jinling. It's just that it is now requisitioned by Yuan Datou. Yuan Datou didn't plan to build a new palace, on the one hand, because this palace was very good, and it was enough to make do. On the other hand. After losing the entire north, the Beiyang government's financial resources have been greatly reduced, and the remaining money has to be used for the development of armaments, so naturally there will be no money to build large-scale construction. Yuan Datou is also a hero, he knows the importance of the army to him, and naturally he will not do anything to destroy the Great Wall.

However, the current situation is already very unfavorable for the Beiyang Army. The Northern Army has completely gained the upper hand, and under such circumstances, it will be very difficult for the Beiyang Army to continue to maintain it.

"Thank you ministers for your support to the Beiyang government, if it weren't for your help, maybe Beiyang would have perished." Yuan Datou said sincerely. The protection of the great powers has now become his talisman.

"Your Majesty, the Beiyang government is our friend, and now that our friend is in trouble, we will naturally not sit idly by." Sir Jurdian smiled.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Now the Beiyang government is only temporarily at a disadvantage. I believe that soon the Beiyang Army will be able to regroup and regain control of all of China. Japanese Minister to China Hayashi Gonsuke also said.

Although, the great powers are no longer very optimistic about the Beiyang government. However, they seem to have no choice but to support Yuan Datou.

Under the deliberate maintenance of both parties, the atmosphere of the banquet was very harmonious. Yuan Datou was at the banquet and didn't stay long before leaving. After going south from Yanjing, his health is getting worse and worse. It seems that the current Beiyang government and the Beiyang Army have reached the point of being terminally ill. It's just that he knows that he can't fall yet, and once he falls, the entire Beiyang Army will inevitably collapse. Therefore, Yuan Datou can only hold on.

At the end of the banquet, the Prime Minister of the Beiyang Government, Xu Shichang, the Foreign Ministers, Tang Shaoyi, Sir Zhu Erdian, and Minister Lin Quanzhu all disappeared from the banquet hall. Now that they have arrived in a hidden meeting room of the palace.

"Your Excellencies, the current situation is very unfavorable to Beiyang, and we hope that the two countries can increase their support for us. It would have been great if Britain and Japan had been able to send troops directly to war against the Northern Army. Xu Shichang said. Now, they already have to believe that the Beiyang Army is not an opponent of the Northern Army at all. If there is no external force, let alone defeat the Northern Army, even if it is self-preservation, it is absolutely impossible. Therefore, they can only target Britain and Japan for help.

Sir Zhu Erdian and Minister Lin Quanzhu both frowned, the British side absolutely tried to avoid getting involved in the Great War in the Far East. Britain's focus is on Europe, and the most important thing now is to contain the Central Powers led by Germany, rather than fighting a large-scale war in the Far East with a country with a strong army, which is very detrimental to Britain's global strategy.

Although Japan wanted to join the war, they were just a dog raised by the British. Britain did not let go, and they had no choice. What's more, now that the Northern Army has achieved a decisive advantage in China, even if Japan joins the war, if it wants to win the war, the price it will pay will be staggering.

"Your Excellency, Britain has no plans to get involved in the war, and we do not want a large-scale war in the Far East." Sir Jurdian said.

Minister Lin Quanzhu also nodded, in this regard, they must be in line with the British.

Xu Shichang was suddenly a little disappointed, the British and Japanese refused to directly participate in the war, so if the Beiyang Army wanted to win, it was undoubtedly impossible.

"Your Excellency, two ministers, are you willing to watch the destruction of the Beiyang? Once Beiyang is destroyed by the Northern Army, this will definitely not be of any benefit to Britain and Japan. The attitude of the Northern Government and the Northern Army towards Britain and Japan has always been very tough. Moreover, they had a very close relationship with Germany. Germany, on the other hand, is Britain's biggest rival in Europe. Tang Shaoyi said.

Sir Zhu Erdian nodded involuntarily, he admitted that Tang Shaoyi was telling the truth. A pro-German China is undoubtedly a disaster for Britain. However, China is too far away from Europe. Moreover, China is so poor and backward that there is nothing to fear Britain except for a population of more than 400 million. Therefore, even if China were to be close to Germany, the threat to Britain would not be too great. In addition, Sir Jurdian believed that although the Northern government had a close relationship with Germany, if Britain was willing to put down its position and extend an olive branch, the northern government would not refuse.

Therefore, if Beiyang wants to threaten Britain with this, it is simply impossible. However, the emergence of a strong government that unified the whole of China would indeed pose a great threat to British interests in the Far East and even in Asia. This is especially true when the government has a strong army and strong ambitions for industrial development and foreign expansion. The UK's next focus will be on Europe, and there will be no too much investment from Asia. Therefore, if the government in the north is weaker, it will also be very advantageous for Britain.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, Britain will not be involved in a war in the Far East, it is our fundamental national policy. However, we can provide more help to Beiyang. Sir Jurden said. Supporting the Beiyang government to contain the northern government was a good way for Britain to maintain stability in the Far East. And now Beiyang seems to be able to only be a pawn of the United Kingdom.

Britain's clear attitude of avoiding entering the war disappointed both Xu Shichang and Tang Shaoyi, but they had no choice. (To be continued......)

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