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Text Chapter 337 Turning point

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    September 2, Shanghai.

    It¡¯s time to get off work again in the metropolis of the Far East. Children straddling their schoolbags huffing and puffing out of the school gates like doves in the wind. Workers stretched tiredly and walked out of various workshops. Rickshaw drivers put on uniform yellow vests and became a flow in the city.  landscape.

    ??The Fourth Avenue connecting the Chinese District and the Public Settlement is particularly busy. Many people who live in the concession but work in the Chinese District have to pass by here. Taking advantage of the crowds of people coming off work, the vendors took this opportunity to shout at the top of their lungs.  Women were bargaining while passing by, and men would sometimes stop to pick something to take home for their families to try. Children after school were even more crowded with various snacks and candy stalls, and couldn¡¯t stop looking at the crystal clear goods.  Slobber.

    In the three years since the Republic of China, Shanghai has experienced countless ups and downs. Ever since Chen Qimei led the Youth Gang gangsters to shout revolutionary slogans and seize the city without bloodshed, the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East has become the focus of world attention.  Major events such as the North-South peace talks and the abdication of the Qing Dynasty are inextricably related to this place. It has the largest shipyard, the largest number of textile factories and the largest number of foreign businessmen in the country.

    According to incomplete statistics from the UK, the total investment in Shanghai from European and American countries alone exceeds US$500 million.  Although 1914 has not yet passed, the trade and total output value here in the first half of the year exceeded 11 US dollars, more than double that of Yokohama, Japan, which is also a national industrial city.  Even the current young vice president, who started his career in Hubei and has an unparalleled domestic position and owns the largest private industry in the country, said in an interview with a French reporter that "the whole country looks at Shanghai, and Shanghai determines the Republic of China." This shows that Shanghai is in  How important is the status of the Republic of China?

    Bernard stood at the window, and various urban projects were under construction in the distance. Sewer renovation, road widening, etc. all showed that the Republic of China government was pragmatically building its long-term goals here. This seemed to remind him of what he had done during the Industrial Revolution.  With the construction boom breaking out across the UK, I have to admit that Yang Qiu has indeed brought something new to the country. At least with his extremely powerful army and gunpoint, no one in the government officials across the country dared to stand up and point fingers.

    How strong was the Democratic Party in 1911?  How glorious was Beiyang in 1912?  But now it has almost disappeared.  The eight southwestern provinces, Henan, Shaanxi and other places' straightforward land reform suppression games, as well as the northeastern purges that are destined to take place through war, are all telling uncooperative officials to either be obedient or disappear completely!

    "Is this land suitable only for strongman politics?"

    Bernard frowned. Strongman politics is not good news for Britain¡¯s Asia policy, especially since the strongman doesn¡¯t seem to like Britain.  Judging from many contacts, if the war had not broken out, perhaps he would rather fall into the arms of Germany than estrange himself from the most powerful country in the world.  There are many reasons for this situation, including Zhu Erdian's mistaken support for Yuan Shikai, the British government's connivance of Japan's aggression, and the tariffs and non-recognition policy that it still holds in its hands.

    A knock on the door interrupted Bernard's thoughts. He turned to look at Zhu Erdian and his assistant John Moen, who rarely came to the south, walking in.  Bernard didn't like this fat guy very much, not even the parliament, because it was his error in judgment that almost caused China and Germany to come together, and also caused China and the United States to quickly come together. If it weren't for the war, maybe the British Empire would be in the Far East.  The forces will be destroyed by all three families.  But considering that he had finally helped the country maintain its dominance for more than ten years, he still greeted him with a smile: "Welcome to Shanghai, both of you."

    Zhu Erdian¡¯s expression was full of fatigue and loss. This old man who had been in China for decades and had the power to influence the country¡¯s political direction knew that his political career had come to an end.  After bowing politely, he asked: "Your Excellency Bernard, I heard that you are preparing to start recognition negotiations with the Republic of China government?"

    Bernard asked someone to pour coffee for them, and handed over the Cuban cigars that Zhu Erdian loved. After sitting down, his face suddenly became solemn, and he touched his forehead with his hand and said bitterly: "You two may have been away from Europe for too long, I might as well tell you  , This time England is in big trouble! Two weeks ago, the German army officially entered the French Plains after defeating the French army on the Belgian border. Their speed was very fast, and they have now advanced to the Marne River not far from Paris. Two weeks ago, the German army defeated the French army on the Belgian border.  Our country and France have lost more than 400,000 soldiers in total! The French government has moved to Bordeaux. They are ready to lose Paris!"

    "God!" John Moen stood up in surprise. As an active British colonel and military attach¨¦ in China, he knew the importance of Paris. If Paris was lost, the war would be over!

    Bernard seemed to think that the news was not shocking enough and sighed: "Our Russian allies are also in big trouble. They lost two armies in Tannenberg overnight with a total of more than 300,000 soldiers! Nicholas II has already  He sent us for help and asked us to immediately find a way to stop the Sino-Japanese War so that he could withdraw the 300,000 elite army stationed in the Far East.

    whiteThe office also told me that they found a large amount of standard equipment of the Chinese Army in the German army. These equipment unexpectedly strengthened the combat capabilities of the German Army and the Austro-Hungarian Army, especially a light machine gun that can fire continuously (  submachine gun) can easily clear any trench we deploy.  "Then why are we still negotiating with the Chinese? We should send a fleet to attack their seas! Wouldn't it be better to help Japan win?" John Moen was a little excited. He couldn't imagine that the situation that he said was stabilizing two weeks ago would change overnight.  Such a major turning point occurred.

    Bernard glanced at him and sighed deeply in his heart. These English diplomats stationed in the Far East were really spoiled. They simply didn't understand that now they were no longer punishing China, but were following Japan's stupidity in opening a second front.  time, but to win over China to obtain the same equipment from that damn Yang Qiu, and quickly ask Nicholas II to withdraw the 300,000 elite Far East Army, otherwise the entire Russia may collapse!

    "There is one more thing." Bernard persisted and took out an urgent telegram and shook it: "Two weeks ago, the German company Bayer announced that they had successfully copied a magical prescription purchased from China before the war. It can solve the problem.  Inflammation and other symptoms that occur after soldiers are injured. Whitehall Intelligence has confirmed the effectiveness of the new drug. This is a telegram from them, asking us to bring back the same prescription at any cost, even paying a tariff!"

    "No!" Zhu Erdian's fat body trembled: "Your Excellency, Special Envoy, tariffs are an important means for our country to contain China. If we lose it, even if we win the war in the future, we will have to pay a high price to return our goods!"

    "Your Excellency Zhu Erdian, I know all what you said, but do you think what would happen if the government sacrificed thousands of soldiers who could have been saved for this trivial tariff became known to the public?

    "We still have Japan. China and Japan are at war, and we can fight." Zhu Erdian still refused to give up, but his words were quickly interrupted by Bernard reaching out: "This is the clear code telegram that was just received."

    Just as Zhu Erdian¡¯s fingers touched the telegram, a burst of firecrackers suddenly sounded outside the window. The firecrackers became more and more dense. In the blink of an eye, the whole of Shanghai seemed to explode. Several naval warships on the Huangpu River also fired salutes at the same time.  "What happened? Today is not a Chinese holiday." John Moen walked to the window a little stupidly, and saw that the public concession and the Chinese District in the distance were already full of heads, and countless people waved their arms happily.  Shouting and jumping, the overflowing excitement and excitement were even more enthusiastic than the overthrow of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China three years ago.

    "Japan lost one" Bernard stood up and put out his cigarette butt: "They lost more than 30,000 people in Qingdao and Shandong! The Second Fleet also lost four battleships." After putting on his hat, Bernard  He glanced at Zhu Erdian, who was already turning gray on the sofa. Although he couldn't bear it, he still said: "I'm going to Nanjing. You two should go back as soon as possible to prepare. The telegram from Downing Street asking you to return to China to report on your work may be on the way."

    The moment Bernard opened the door and walked out, the telegraph newspaper slipped from Zhu Erdian's trembling hands. His era was over.

    "Great victory in Qingdao!"

    "Great victory in the north!"

    "Long live the Republic of China, long live Commander Yang!"

    Shanghai has completely gone crazy. The streets and alleys are full of heads. Even ordinary people who don't care about the country are attracted out of their homes by the sky full of firecrackers and fireworks, and then shout a slogan like "Don't forget to report family sacrifices to Nai Weng".  .  Countless young people climbed up high and waved the Flying Tiger flag vigorously. Students rushed out of the classroom, and teachers also joined in the cheering frenzy.

    If time could stop, then the land of China would be completely boiling at this moment. Millions of people who got the news would walk out of their homes and cheer. Maybe they only account for a small part of the total population of the country, but under the influence of their enthusiasm, the news would be like  It flew across the land of China like it had wings.  How many people have been bullied by their Japanese neighbors since the Sino-Japanese War?  How many times has this evil neighbor threatened the Chinese people with bayonets and spears taller than men, and bought resources that originally belonged to China at a price cheaper than cabbage?

    But now they are defeated!

    This is not just a regiment on the Motian Ridge, nor is it a one-stop coverage of the Yalu River bank in Jiuliancheng. These are four 10,000-ton iron-armored giant ships that scare the Chinese people. They are a complete army division and a half, including more  The Japanese Ninth Brigade who personally caused the Lushun Massacre!

    The soul of Wan Zhong is in Wan Zhong¡¯s tomb!  Although Port Arthur has not been recovered today, the heads of more than 30,000 Japanese soldiers are undoubtedly the best memorial.

    It¡¯s boiling, the whole country is boiling!

    Amid the sky full of firecrackers and ribbons, Gu Weijun, a rising star of the National Socialist Party, stepped onto the parliamentary podium for the first time and formally submitted to the parliament on behalf of Yang Qiu the proposals for "recovering all Japanese concessions and revoking all unequal clauses against Japan" and "implementing news control during national emergencies".  of the draft.

      The latter one is nothing, but the former draft for the recovery of the concession was sent to the hands of the congressmen, and the entire political arena of China and even the Far East was shocked!  What is a concession?  What will be the impact of canceling the concession?  How would countries with huge interests in China such as Britain and France understand it?  !  When the German army was ravaging France and Russia, when Britain, France and Russia lost a total of 700,000 soldiers in two weeks, the Far East, a region that was already inconspicuous in the eyes of Europe and the United States, began to undergo a major turning point!  .

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