Since the death of Lao Yuan, Beiyang has been completely torn apart, and the open and secret struggle between President Li Yuanhong and Premier Duan Qirui has become more and more obvious, especially around the issue of participating in the war, the contradictions between the two sides are very acute, and Lao Duan has also tried these local powerful factions many times, especially Lao Zhang, who defeated the Russians and was in the limelight, is the most important thing.

In exchange for Lao Zhang's support, Xu Shuzheng had to throw out an olive branch: "Soldiers are also members of the country, and they should express their views on politics, Yu Shuai single-handedly recovered the Middle East Road, which is a rare feat since the Republic of China. ”

Xu Shuzheng couldn't have made it clearer than what he said, as long as Lao Zhang can support Duan Qirui, Lao Duan will allow the Feng army to expand its armaments, although the expansion of the Feng army is not something that Duan Qirui can oppose, but if Lao Duan can support it, the army will be able to justify it, and there are still a lot of benefits.

These military leaders of the Feng army were also thinking about it, and Zhang Jinghui also asked: "Secretary-General, after entering the war, does China need to send troops, if it wants to send troops from various provinces, or reorganize and train, where will the salaries and ordnance come from?" ”

Zhang Jinghui is usually confused, but at this time, the problem is indeed quite weighty, and it is what the big guy cares about, if Duan Qirui transfers the troops from all over the country to Europe in the name of participating in the war, and goes to act as cannon fodder, in the name of participating in the war, the big guy will definitely not agree.

"The prime minister has already negotiated with the foreign powers, China does not need to send troops to enter the war, as long as it sends a part of the laborers, and it will not cost a single shot to get the status of a victorious country, which is a very cost-effective thing."

"Secretary General Xu. Since there is no need to send troops, I don't think there is a need to go into war with great fanfare. Zhang Tinglan said with a smile on the side: "Germany is a powerful country on the European continent, even if it is defeated, their science is still leading in Europe, and they are also very influential in Shijie, we don't have to offend the Germans." Therefore, I suggest that the provinces may jointly form a labor export company, and we will provide as many laborers as the great powers need, so as to achieve the best of both worlds. ”

Zhang Tinglan's words came out. Lao Zhang listened to the string song and knew the meaning of elegance, and immediately said with a smile: "The humble suggestion is very safe, it is really unwise to offend Germany, I think it is better not to declare war!" ”

How shrewd Lao Zhang is, after Zhang Tinglan's words were finished. A hint of discoloration flashed in Xu Shuzheng's eyes, and Lao Zhang quickly caught it. My mind was clear in an instant. Lao Duan is still ready to take the opportunity to participate in the war to expand his armaments, in fact, the reason is obvious, there is no benefit, will Lao Duan be in a hurry to participate in the war.

Fengjun is now a prince, of course, he doesn't want Lao Duan to become bigger, so Zhang Zuolin deliberately followed Zhang Tinglan's words. is to force Xu Shuzheng into a corner.

When Xu Shuzheng heard this, his expression changed a little, and he pondered for a long time before he said, "Yu Shuai." After the declaration of war, we are the victorious country with righteousness and brightness, able to regain lost sovereignty, able to abolish all kinds of treaties, and to lift all kinds of restrictions, and there are so many benefits that if we do not enter the war, these benefits will be gone. ”

"It is still Secretary General Xu's high opinion that if the country's sovereignty can be recovered, it is also a good thing to participate in the war." Zhang Tinglan continued: "Then I don't know how the negotiations with the Great Powers were, whether an agreement was signed, and what privileges they were ready to use in exchange for our participation in the war, whether it was a tariff, or a concession, a railway, or a garrison?" If the South Manchurian Railway can really be recovered, I think all the soldiers of the Fengjun Army will be willing to obey the Prime Minister's orders, even if they really go to the battlefield and bury their bones in a foreign land, they will never give up! ”

Zhang Tinglan's words are righteous and awe-inspiring, similar words Zhang Zuolin also mentioned last time, the matter of recovering sovereignty must be implemented in the treaty, otherwise empty words will be meaningless.

This point once again hit Xu Shuzheng's life, the idea of reclaiming sovereignty is just wishful thinking on the part of Beiyang, Britain and France and other countries did not agree at all, Xiao Xu's heart was also churning for a while, the Feng army was really difficult to deal with, and his rhetoric was invincible to other warlords.

As soon as the big guy heard that he didn't need to send troops himself, he could still take back his sovereignty, so he nodded without hesitation, and the overseers of the northern provinces also formed a superintendent army to wave the flag and shout for Lao Duan. But when he arrived in Fengtian, the loophole was firmly caught, and Lao Zhang was not fooled at all.

Xiao Xu looked a little passive, and Yang Yuting on the side suddenly smiled: "Dashuai, Zheng has just arrived in Fengtian, let's take the wind and wash the dust first, and let's talk about big things tomorrow!" ”

Yang Yuting and Xu Shuzheng are both students of the Japanese Non-commissioned Officer School, they can be regarded as classmates, one of them has been reused by the prime minister, and the other has been trusted by the king of the Northeast, which can be regarded as a good story, Yang Yuting took the initiative to help Xu Shuzheng resolve the embarrassment, and Lao Zhang simply did not talk about business, but held a feast to entertain Xu Shuzheng.

After the banquet was over, Yang Yuting took the initiative to find Zhang Tinglan, and said coldly as soon as they met: "Humble words, I think that participating in the war has many benefits to the country, I don't understand that you are hostile to Youzheng?" ”

"Lingge, you only know one thing but you don't know the other, you haven't seen through this problem yet!"

Yang Yuting said with a puzzled face: "Clumsy words, Germany's defeat is a foregone conclusion, you also said this, let's beat the water dogs, pick up a cheap, even if the tariffs can't be recovered, at least Germany's privileges in China will be abolished, which is equivalent to unlocking a shackle, no matter how I look at it, it's a good deal." ”

"Neighbor, you only talk about the one shackle that has been unbroken, but you don't count the other chains that may be added."

As soon as Zhang Tinglan said this, Yang Yuting suddenly frowned and said, "Clumsy, how can you say this?" ”

"Although Xiao Xu said that he would not send troops to the war, I dare to say that Lao Duan must take the opportunity to expand his armaments, and he may not dare to take over the power of the provinces, but it is inevitable to train another army."

Yang Yuting lowered his head and thought about it, and nodded, as the saying goes, it is not early if there is no profit, Duan Qirui is so anxious to participate in the war, most of them have this consideration.

"Humble words, are you worried that Beiyang will become bigger because of this, which will threaten the interests of the Feng army, so you oppose sending troops?" Yang Yuting said: "Although I am a member of the army, I still think that this country is good, and now I can't lose it!" ”

Yang Yuting's words are actually a bit out of line, obviously accusing Zhang Tinglan of ignoring the interests of the country for the sake of Fengjun's selfish interests, and also faintly accusing Zhang Zuolin, if it weren't for the deep friendship with Zhang Tinglan, believing in Zhang Tinglan's character, Yang Yuting would never say this.

"Lingge, you misunderstood, I am not so petty, especially in the face of national interests, I will not be confused, but there is one thing that you need to think about deeply, Lao Duan wants to expand his armaments, will these armaments come out of thin air? And what did he get in exchange? ”

Zhang Tinglan's continuous rhetorical questions made Yang Yuting feel shocked, and his thoughts opened up in an instant, and he also understood Zhang Tinglan's concerns. Since the expansion of the army requires weapons and military salaries, and it also needs to bring in foreign instructors, the amount of money required is quite staggering, so how to get the funds?

The Beiyang government will definitely not be able to take it out, so it can only borrow from the foreign powers, and then think about the loans since the late Qing Dynasty, Yang Yuting still has something to think of, and he definitely needs to exchange more economic and military interests.

When Xu Shuzheng lobbied the Feng army, he only said that he could recover sovereignty, but he did not say how much sovereignty he would lose because of this.

"Lingge, it was the United States that initially encouraged Beiyang to enter the war, and it is obvious that the Americans also saw this move, as long as they encouraged Beiyang to participate in the war, they could use the two chains of loans and armaments to lock Beiyang. As a result, the Japanese also saw this move, and they turned to support Beiyang, and at this time the Americans went back on their word and opposed China's entry into the war. ”

Yang Yuting has only woken up from a dream now, he has only seen one step, while Zhang Tinglan has already seen three or five steps away, and the problem of participating in the war is indeed not so simple. The Japanese are instigating behind their backs, the little devils have been focusing on the three eastern provinces, will Lao Duan sell the interests of the three eastern provinces in exchange for Japan's support!

Now it seems that it is not Feng Jun who disregards national sovereignty for his own selfish interests, but Lao Duan may betray the three eastern provinces for his own interests.

It is true that Duan Qirui's funds for training the army to participate in the war were obtained by selling the railways and mines in the northeast, and it was the famous Xiyuan loan in history, which paved the way for the Japanese to further get involved in the three eastern provinces, which can be described as an endless disaster.

Zhang Tinglan relied on a little understanding of history, coupled with the facts he now understands, and after telling Yang Yuting the truth, Yang Yuting also woke up like a dream, and only then did he understand the hidden crisis.

Originally, he still cared about his friendship with Xu Shuzheng, and wanted to help Xu Shuzheng speak, but now that he saw that it was completely a fire pit, Yang Yuting stood up and bowed respectfully to Zhang Tinglan.

"Humble words, if you hadn't woken up, I would have almost made a mistake!" Yang Yuting said: "According to the meaning of the humble words, we are going to oppose participating in the war?" ”

Zhang Tinglan shook his head again and said with a smile: "With the current strength of Fengjun, we should pursue our own line, and we don't have to follow behind Beiyang and act as a follower." If Feng Jun does not come out to oppose it, it is the greatest support for Lao Duan, and it is worth paying enough price for him, otherwise our army will go south directly to support Li Yuanhong, so that Li Bodhisattva will have the status of president and military support, but he will not be afraid of Lao Duan! ”

Zhang Tinglan showed a sneer on his face: "Neighbor Ge, you leaked the news to your old classmates, Lao Duan must recognize the border guards, and at the same time promise the Feng army to expand the two divisions, and the Feng army will remain neutral, they can fight as much as they want, otherwise we also have the ability to make Lao Duan fall." (To be continued......)