In the headquarters, Cai Ye and Jiang Baili were still taking stock of the troops and various equipment in their hands.

Since they were the defenders, it was obviously impossible for Cai Ye and Jiang Baili to concentrate all their forces in Linglong Town, so that if they landed from other directions one day, the result would be unimaginable.

Therefore, in addition to the necessary troops, the two also deployed a lot of troops in some other places in Shandong, for example, there is a whole infantry division stationed there in Qingdao Fortress, with the strength of Qingdao Fortress, plus more than 18,000 people stationed there, there is no need to worry about security—————— in fact, after the outbreak of the war in Shandong, the Germans also made a request for them to wear Type 11 military uniforms to help the Wehrmacht fight.

The reason for this request was simple, because after Japan joined the Entente, they were already equivalent to enemies of Germany. Then it became a matter of course for them to go to the battlefield to help the Chinese fight the Japanese.

Of course, the Germans also have a little personal idea in this, that is, if the fact that China and Germany are fighting on the battlefield at the same time is exposed, then even if Yan Shao's relationship with France is good, I am afraid that he will fall into a diplomatic crisis, and if he does not get it right, he may even turn against the Entente and eventually join the camp of the Allies...

To be honest, at the beginning, Germany somewhat despised the combat capability of the Chinese troops, but after the outbreak of the Shandong War, Germany began to look at the combat capability of the Wehrmacht. It is believed that although these troops are not yet able to reach the first-class level in Europe, they have the advantage of equipment. Second-rate is still no problem, and individual units can even reach the quasi-first-class Cheng dù.

If China can be drawn into the camp of the Allies, then whether it is to attack Siberia in the north. Either attacking India or French Indochina and Burma from the south would be of great benefit to the Allies.

And at this time, China's fleet led by three dreadnoughts can be said to be undamaged in the war, if China is willing to put this fleet into the Pacific Ocean or even the Indian Ocean, wantonly intercepting the merchant ships of the Allied countries—————— at present the dreadnoughts of the Allied countries are basically concentrated in Europe, and there are only a few cruisers in Asia...

Although the training level of the Chinese fleet is very poor, with the superiority of three dreadnoughts in combat capabilities, if it really engages the ships of the Entente. It's like a tiger entering the flock.

In order to avoid the severance of contact with India, Britain will definitely send some dreadnoughts back to Asia, so that the balance of power at sea will change. The pressure on Germany will also be greatly reduced ...

If China does attack India, it may even be able to turn the tide of the entire European theater, after all, India is too important to Britain.

Therefore, the Germans not only made a request to Yan Shao to let the German officers and soldiers in China participate in the war. China was even invited to join the Allies—————— for which Germany put forward some very favorable conditions. But on the whole, most of them were generous, after all, they really had no power in Asia, and almost all of those places in Asia were Allied countries, so Germany was very generous in this regard.

In short, they just wanted to take this opportunity to drag China into the water, just as they dragged Turkey in the first place—————— the reason why Ottoman Turkey entered the war was in addition to being closer to Germany. This was particularly important because the British seized the battleships they had purchased from the British, which eventually led to the outrage of the whole Ottoman Empire. This is similar to the fact that Britain and France acquiesced in Japan's attack on Shandong at this time, and the whole country of China was dissatisfied.

In this regard, although the vast majority of people in the Nationalist government were inclined to Britain and France, because of the position of Britain and France at the outbreak of the war in Shandong, many people began to be disappointed with Britain and France, and turned to have a slight favor for Germany.

In fact, Germany's influence in China is already very large, otherwise China would not have been able to establish a new army according to the German military system, and even many of the equipment are German, of course, there are also Japanese systems, but many of Japan's equipment are according to the German style, so the difference between them is not very big.

In addition, the depiction of Germany is also very attractive, so some people are very attracted to it.

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For the future depicted by Germany, in fact, even Yan Shao is a little moved.

But in the end, he refused, because it conflicted with his plan.

First of all, his aim was to use the opportunity of the First World War to strengthen the country, develop industry, and then watch the Europeans fight on the Old Continent.

As for friendship with France? He cherished this friendship, after all, he had many friends and acquaintances in France, such as the Tharis couple, and the friends he had made in Marseille at that time. But he is more concerned about the interests of the whole country, and if he forgets this point for the sake of personal friendship, then he probably will not be able to sit in this position for long.

And then...

If China enters the war, it may really be able to play the role portrayed by the Germans, and Yan Shao is even confident that it can play better. The navy is also counted, but he is still very confident in the combat capabilities of the army. What's more, in addition to the Japanese army in Asia, there seems to be no country's troops that can be taken seriously by Yan Shao, those colonial troops? In China, that is, the level of the militia.

But if it really fights, first of all, Yan Shao will definitely not be able to take the opportunity to develop industry.

After all, in Yan Shao's plan, he took advantage of the urgent need for materials in Europe to export a large number of various materials to develop industry. If there was a war with the Entente, with the capabilities of the Entente at sea, Yan Shao did not think that he had the ability to send supplies to Germany—————— even the United States could not do this, if it was not so, why would the United States intervene in World War I in history? Isn't it because he invested too much in the Entente, and in the Allied countries due to the naval blockade of the Entente and almost no investment, in order to avoid losing all his money, he could only participate in the war to help the Entente win.

In other words. Industry certainly doesn't have to think about it.

However, it seems that it would be good if we could make up for the losses from other directions.

The question is whether Germany will be able to achieve the final victory. The Germans are very capable of fighting, and Yan Shao is also very clear about this. But he is surrounded by pig teammates, which shows that the German really doesn't know how to choose teammates at all.

If you win, you're happy, but if you lose...

Then the problem is troublesome...

After the end of the war, Britain and France may not have the ability to retaliate against China, but they have the ability to support Japan, if that is the case, then Yan Shaoke will have to 'hehe'...

And the problems of the United States cannot be left unconsidered. After all, this war is due to the naval blockade, and the United States can only bet on the Entente. If the Entente fails, he will have to face the fate of losing all his money. Therefore, as long as the Entente countries show the slightest possibility of failure, I am afraid that the United States will be eager to help.

In the face of this behemoth...

Let Yan Shao develop for a few more years, Yan Shao is confident to have a fight with the United States, but now...

Let's wash and sleep...

In addition to this, ammunition replenishment is also a problem. At present, the Wehrmacht is equipped with a large number of light and heavy machine guns, as well as artillery and other equipment. The consumption of ammunition is significant. And with the current domestic production capacity, I am afraid that before the end of the 'Seventh Five-Year Project', I am afraid that we will not be able to supply the ammunition needed by the Wehrmacht...

Now the reason why Jiang Baili and Cai Ye can fight so happily in Shandong, in addition to Yan Shao's transportation of all the ammunition produced by the national arsenal to Shandong, the most important point is that he has long hoarded a large amount of ammunition for this war, of course there is no problem in a short period of time, but if it is a long time...

For Yan Shao, the end of this war should be within half a year. The optimal is 3 months. If this war is really turned into a war that lasts for several years, then it will not be able to run out of ammunition and food. With the domestic industrial capacity, life will also become tight, it is impossible to be as 'American' as it is now, and the army is equipped with a large number of machine guns that cannot give full play to the advantage of firepower, so...

Although Yan Shao was also a little unhappy with the position of the Entente in Shandong, he had no intention of joining the Allies, let alone let the Germans help in Shandong.

First, there is no need, after all, there are already 150,000 people in Shandong, and Yan Shao will be reinforcing some later, although the Germans are fighting a strong war, but three or four thousand people will not play a big role.

It's too troublesome again, after all, Yan Shao still plans to join the Entente and make a fortune...

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Although Yan Shao did not intend to join the Allies, this did not mean that the Entente was not worried about this.

Especially in Jurdian and Ray? When Koppa learned that the German minister Marzan had been going to the presidential palace a lot recently, and that discussions had begun to arise within the Nationalist government to join the Allied camp, the two were even more anxious.

And after this news was transmitted back to London and Paris, it also caused panic in both countries.

If the battle of Longkou Bay can be regarded as a sword that has gone sideways, and it basically did not happen again, then the one that happened in Linglong Town cannot help but change the views of the two countries.

After all, the Japanese had suffered more than 8,000 casualties in a single day, while their own casualties were pitiful, and after the results were transmitted back to Europe through the observation mission, the two countries could not help but improve the combat capability of the Wehrmacht.

Moreover, judging from the current situation in Shandong, it is impossible to expect the Japanese to defeat China in a short period of time, and if it is not done well, it is very likely that Japan itself will be defeated.

If that's the case, the situation will be troublesome, it will be troublesome ...

At present, excluding Japan, the Allied forces in Asia are very small, Russia has transferred almost all the main forces to the Eastern Front, and Britain and France have only some colonial troops in Asia, such as India.

If China really joins the Central Powers, then whether it goes north or south, it will cause great trouble for the Entente. In particular, the fleet of three dreadnoughts and a number of cruisers and destroyers, the Allies had no other fleet in Asia, at least on paper...

If war breaks out between the two sides, unless Britain is willing to send some capital ships from its fleet to India, China can easily cut off India's ties with Britain and Europe.

And if he really did this, then the disparity between the forces of the Entente and the German High Seas Fleet would probably not be so great—————— in fact, Britain's advantage over Germany was not particularly exaggerated, as the British themselves said. As long as a few mines, or some mechanical failures, can easily destroy this advantage. Otherwise, they wouldn't have seized the Turks' 'Seven Turret Relic'...

It is only now that Britain and France have discovered that China is so important that it may affect the balance of the two camps. Although China was still very weak compared to the Entente and the Allies at this time, sometimes it only took a little weight to tilt the scales, and China is now just that little bit of strength...

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Out of fear that China might join the Allies (which they felt was not unlikely. After all, China had done such a 'feat' of declaring war on the whole world), so London and Paris demanded that Zhu Erdian and Lei? Kopa made some reassurance to the Chinese government, if necessary...

It was even promised to mediate the conflict between China and Japan in Shandong. and after the end of the conflict, admit China as an Entente power. Naturally, after joining the Entente, China will definitely have to make some contributions, but contribution also means benefits.

According to Herbert, as long as the Chinese do not join the Allies. And willing to shed blood for the cause of the Entente. Then they can give the Chinese something ...

In fact, there was no need for Herbert to talk too much, and after reacting to the London side about the matter, Jurdian and Ray? Kopa had already gone to Yan Shao to be a guest.

Naturally, Zhu Erdian came up with a set of lobbyists, mainly coercion and temptation. However, there are not necessarily few ingredients, more of an inducement. Although he didn't believe that Yan Shao would join the camp of the allies, he was still afraid of a chance after all.

And Ray? Kopa, on the other hand, played the friendship card. Starting with the relationship between each other and between China and France, I talked a little bit about something else.

In general. There is no need for Yan Shao to make the wrong choice.

As for Yan Shao? Although he really didn't plan to join the Allies, it was still very refreshing to see these two countries anxious, not to mention that he could take this opportunity to ask these two countries for something. So he didn't clarify, but handed over the matter to Li Liang and Gu Weijun, and as for himself, he went to Tianjin to see the garrison there...

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As for the bit of collusion between China and the Entente, Okuma is so trustworthy that he can't say that he doesn't know it at all, because Ri Zhiyi has truthfully reflected this qiē back to China—————— which can't blame the Japanese for having too smart noses, it's really Zhu Erdian They have to go to Yan Shao every once in a while, unless Ri Zhiyi's eyes are blind, otherwise it is impossible to ignore this abnormal situation...

But for this, Okuma Shigenobu and the others didn't pay much attention to it, because at the moment they were more concerned about the war in Shandong.

It was once said that Japan's finances were very difficult, especially during the Russo-Japanese War, when it owed a lot of money to the British. As a result, although Japan was the victorious country, it basically did not reap any benefits.

This time, they have exhausted the last bit of yen in the treasury in order to send troops to Shandong, and if this war is not won...

Not only will the entire Okuma cabinet step down, but even Japan will be shaken.

So the most important thing for them at the moment is how to win in Shandong, as for the deal between China and Britain and France. As long as they can win, whatever they achieve is useless, and vice versa...

"At the moment, if you want to reinforce Shandong, I'm afraid you can only start from the country..."

Sitting beside Shigenobu Okuma, Okaichi Nosuke's face was a little ugly.

Obviously, the news coming back from Shandong in the recent period of time has dealt a big blow to him, the minister of war.

"At present, the Empire's forces in Korea and Northeast China must not be moved, and these two places already occupy at least two divisions, so if you want to reinforce Shandong, you must start from within the country..."

"Not necessarily," the other minister shook his head. I'm afraid that a division will not work, but what about a brigade? In the northeast and North Korea, it seems that there are too many two divisions and regiments stationed, and if we can draw a brigade from these two divisions, it will add up to more than half a division, and if we also draw troops from the country, we will be able to reinforce a lot of troops in Shandong..."

"It's definitely not going to work." Okaichi Nosuke shook his head. "If we draw troops from the northeast and North Korea, what if the Chinese suddenly launch an attack on these two places? With such a small number of troops, it will be very difficult to defend the interests of the empire in Northeast China and Korea..."

On the other side, listening to the conversation between Okaichi Nosuke and them, Yashiro Rokuro on the side kept his mouth closed tightly, without the slightest intention of interjecting.

In his heart, although the fate of Japan was at stake in this war, perhaps he was more looking forward to the defeat of the army. After all, the army and navy are a pair of rivals, and now the navy has not only failed but also suffered heavy losses, if the army's appearance is better than the navy, then where is his position...

The debate at the meeting continued, but in any case, reinforcements to Shandong were already a sure thing. Although the expansion of the war was very stressful for Shigenobu Okuma, he could not afford to lose...

Therefore, he would rather suffer more losses than want the empire to lose the war in Shandong.

If that happens, his political career can basically be declared over, and even the interests of the entire empire will be...

He didn't think that the Chinese would let go of such a great opportunity.

At the same time, in Tokyo, the people of the Special Affairs Bureau began to be active frequently... (To be continued......)