The herald first delivered the good news, and then the anxious news, and the voice of the news was quiet: "General Wu said that the Russian army is probably coming tonight, and the construction of the position must be accelerated. ”

Zhong Wanquan heard this, and without saying a word, he rolled up his sleeves: "Folks! Don't go back from now on, put down your body and work hard to help the army dig the mountain! When is the digging done, when will we go again! ”

After the villagers helped, the progress really became very fast, and not only Linghe Town, but also the villagers in other towns were also rushing to hear the news, and there was always a steady stream of young people who wanted to stay and fight with the Beiyang Army.

Cao Sanye really couldn't understand what was going on, he knew how difficult it was to levy food and soldiers before, and now these people have changed their attitude? And the Beiyang Army soldiers next to them are the same, they suddenly became polite to the people, and those soldiers who talked about women were more obscene than the other, but now they are all more honest than one in front of women!

Looking at these villagers, and then looking at the soldiers of the Beiyang Army now, the third master vaguely understood that the weishenme Yang fighting ghost beast could repeatedly kill a way out of desperation, and the weishenme volunteers did not pity their lives so much.

Last time, Lei Zhenchun said that this was the kind of people who would run, and the third master thought it was like that at the time, but now that he thinks about it, Lei Zhenchun is not completely right.

Cao Kun left both men and materials behind and did not refuse them. Whether it can be used or not, the third master will keep it. This is Cao Kun's principle, he has always believed that you must not refuse to give something to others, it is very impolite.

Just when Cao Kun sighed in his heart, Qi Kunyuan walked over from behind: "Third master, Beijing telegraph." ”

Cao Kun reached out and took the telegram. The telegram was sent by Lao Yuan, with only four words: Good for yourself!

From these four words, Cao Kun seemed to see Lao Yuan's gritted teeth. The third master knew that the decades of love between him and Yuan Shikai might be gone. But there is really no way to turn back when things come to this point, there is no way back, you can only continue to move forward. Maybe it will be bright.

Cao Kun put the telegram in his pocket and said to Qi Xieyuan: "Take out some of the military rations and hand them over to the villagers to bring back. ”

Qi Xieyuan's face was a little embarrassed: "Third Master, our own rations are only enough for the army for a month, and they don't have it." ”

Cao Kun smiled, January rations? Can I still eat food for a month? From the four words Cao Kun sent to him by Yuan Shikai, he knew that Uncle Yuan would not send a single soldier to support him! Even if you win, it's best to run away!

"Give it."

"Yes."

Beijing.

Uncle Yuan is conducting diplomatic mediation. A rectangular table Yuan Shikai sat at this end. The Russian minister, Lanniko, sat at the other end. The ministers of Great Britain, France, the United States, and Japan sat on either side.

There was an angry and serious expression on Lanniko's face, as if they Russians had been greatly wronged: "Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday we have held negotiations, and on the issue of the conflict between the Russian troops and the Beiyang Army, I have already expressed to you the position of the Russian side, and I have made a commitment to stop military operations. But just as our agreement was reached, we were attacked by the Beiyang Army! Five thousand four hundred Russian servicemen died at the guns of the Beiyang Army. I know it's an honor to die on the battlefield as a soldier, but I want to say that when they're ready to lay down their arms! We Russians reserve some right to pursue this matter, and we will see that sneak attack as a declaration of war by you! ”

Lao Yuan couldn't say anything. Sa Daoyi on the side glanced at Yuan Shikai, and then handed over a small note: "Old friend, if you want to fight, we can support you to fight, and if you want to talk, we are willing to help you talk." But you can't just say you want to talk about peace and fight at the same time. This makes us very passive! Even if it's smoke on the battlefield, you should at least let me know in advance. ”

Lao Yuan took a look at it and put the note away.

He really felt aggrieved, Cao Sanye shot Uncle Yuan into a deep pit! And the people of the land scolded him. said that his Beiyang army was vulnerable and was defeated by a few thousand Russians to defeat a hundred thousand troops, but how did they know that it was the result of Cao Kun's improper command?

The foreigners also didn't understand themselves, just like Sa Daoyi said, they thought that it was obviously unacceptable for them to come out to mediate on one side but attack the Russian troops on the other side, and Lao Yuan wanted to tell them that it was not his own idea, but Cao Kun's unauthorized action.

But Lao Yuan didn't explain anything, and he didn't want to explain even more. Tell Sa Daoyi that he can't control Cao Kun anymore? Those foreigners will only look at their own jokes, and no one will sympathize with them.

He looked at Lannico: "Minister Lannico, yesterday's incident was just an accident, and I hope that we can continue to follow the pace of our consultation, and ensure that peace is good for both you and me." ”

Lannico lifted his chin: "Tell you frankly, because of this sneak attack by the Beiyang Army, many people in our army are very emotionally out of control. Yesterday I was able to promise you to communicate with the military, but this morning I sent four telegrams without getting a reply, and I can no longer promise you anything. ”

Lao Yuan's mouth squirmed a few times, and he didn't speak again. Sa Daoyi on the side glanced at him, and then said to Lanniko: "Minister Lanniko, I still stick to my attitude yesterday, the Russian army must immediately withdraw to the east of Jinzhou. Let me remind the Russian side that we are providing you with supplies to let you fight the beast in the northeast, not to let you clash with the Beiyang Army! If the Russians don't think about it, I don't guarantee that our government will still support you. ”

As soon as Sa Daoyi's words were finished, Abu Shoutaro stood up: "Minister Lannico, our battle in western Liaoning is very tight, just this morning, Yang Xiaolin launched a fierce attack on our Third Army, although through the heroic battle of the Japanese Imperial Army, we crushed his attack, but the first division has suffered more than half of the casualties so far!" We urgently need the support of our allies, and we ask the Russian side to attack Liaoping in accordance with our pre-war deployment, and not to make any extraneous complications. ”

Japan is now the most loyal little brother of the British big brother, and they firmly follow in the footsteps of the British in international affairs, not to mention that this battle is really a life-and-death battle for Japan. The British provided them with a lot of aid, and with this money Japan started the war. The war also stimulated the development of local industry and agriculture.

What the Japanese need now is victory, as long as Yang Dagui is killed, the economy of small Japan can be raised to a higher level, they can get the benefits of the Northeast, and the army of the Great Japanese Empire can open a way out again. Now the Japanese on the battlefield have begun to gradually reverse the passive situation, they are very afraid that Yang Xiaolin will invest in new military liliang, especially if the Russians and the Beiyang Army really start a full-scale war, Japan will be forced to face the volunteers alone.

Lannico's eyes swirled, "Well, I can assure you that I will do my best to convince our military. But I hope that the Beiyang side will make some concessions, so that I can calm the emotions of the military. ”

Sa Daoyi knows. This is what the Russians are going to offer: "What kind of concessions does Minister Lanniko think the Beiyang side will make?" ”

"All disputes arose because of the Mongolian problem. Once again, I would like to state here that we in Russia have no intention of Mongolia in the slightest, but only fear that the instability of Mongolia will affect our Russian interests. Therefore, I hope that Beiyang will make a statement and promise to resolve the Mongolian issue by peaceful means. ”

After Lao Yuan heard this, his beard turned up. The Russians have no intentions towards Mongolia? There was no intention for them to react so violently! I just said a word, they killed 200,000 people, is this called no intention?

Pledge yourself to use peaceful means? This means that he wants to negotiate with Guangxu's gang. Even if Lao Yuan is a bastard, it is impossible for him to sit down and negotiate with Guangxu about Mongolia at this time! That was tantamount to acknowledging the actual control of Mongolia by Guangxu's gang.

"Minister Lannico, don't you think your request is excessive?"

"I think it's very reasonable! Of course, you can also refuse, but all the consequences will be there. It will be the sole responsibility of your Beiyang side. ”

When Lannico said this, the faces of Sa Daoyi and the others immediately changed color. Lannico himself was stunned for a moment, this sentence was too strong. He is also a habitual export, and in the past few years in the Northeast, this sentence has been heard the most in diplomacy with the Volunteers.

Yuan Shikai's face became a little pale. Everyone can see that Lao Yuan is very angry now! It's also very scary!

"Then, let's talk about it here today, and I'll go back and think about what the Russian side said."

After Lao Yuan got into his car, he couldn't control his emotions anymore, and he ripped open his collar and gasped: "Da my mother!" It's too much of a bully! It's too much of a bully! ”

In fact, Yuan Shikai had been wanting to ask Lannico just now. Even if you sneak up on the Russian troops, so what? Was it a robber who broke into my house and robbed me of my things, did I beat him with a stick or was I wrong?

He just didn't dare to say this, and when he said it, the negotiations broke down. Duan Qirui has already returned from the southern front. Now sit in the passenger seat. Lao Yuan really needs to be brothers with one heart now, Feng Guozhang and Jiang Baili are both the main battle faction, when the Russians sent troops to Jinzhou, Jiang Baili was fighting Jihua a day, and Feng Guozhang was also shouting to continue to send troops to Kulun.

Lao Yuan couldn't stand being annoyed by them, and he was afraid that the soldiers in the army would not be able to control it under the leadership of the two of them, so he urgently transferred Duan Qirui back from the south.

Duan Qirui saw that Lao Yuan's face was not good, and he knew that the conditions proposed by Lao Maozi this time might be quite excessive, so he turned his head and said, "Big brother, no, let's fight, I looked at Jiang Baili's several copies of Jihua just now, and it is indeed feasible." ”

Lao Yuan glared at him: "Do you even want to fight?" ”

Duan Qirui really wanted to say yes, but when he saw Yuan Shikai's face as if it was not good, he immediately said, "No, I listen to my eldest brother." ”

These words really made Yuan Shikai feel a little more comfortable: "Zhiquan, our brothers' decades of hard work are in this situation, and we must be stable and steady." You have nothing to do to talk to the paparazzi these days, the paparazzi are very emotional about me regardless of Cao San, I know that you have a good relationship with him, but this time I really can't help it. ”

Cao Kun is really popular in the Beiyang Army, the third master likes to give gifts, every New Year's holiday, not only to Shangfeng to express it, even his colleagues he also has to visit one of them, and even the subordinates whose official positions are lower than him, the third master also has to invite him to have a meal. This is also the reason why Cao Kunweishenme's ability is not very good, but he can mix a good position in Beiyang.

Lao Yuan's anger gradually subsided, and after a sigh, he said, "I don't know how long Cao San can hold out this time, do we still have a chance to meet zaijian?" ”

Duan Qirui didn't say anything, he really wanted to say that if Yuan Shikai didn't go to support, Cao Kun would hold out for ten days at most, but he really didn't know if there was a chance to meet Zaijian. According to Cao Sanye's personality, even if he wins, he will run far away and no longer appear in front of Yuan Shikai.

The car was moving, and a procession of marchers happened to come to them, and those people didn't know that the car was sitting in Lao Yuan, and he was carrying a portrait of Yuan Shikai from a distance, and there were a few big words under the portrait "The first person in the world." ”

Lao Yuan was very surprised, is there anyone who supports him at this time? When the portrait came to him, Yuan Shikai saw clearly that there were two lines of small characters next to the big characters on it: "The tree has no bark, it will definitely die." People are shameless, invincible in the world! (To be continued......)