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Volume 2 Beijing Story Chapter 56 Don¡¯t belittle yourself, let alone be blindly arrogant

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    Update time: 2012-06-27

    "The United States is going to join the war?!" Duan Qirui was overjoyed and stood up from behind the large desk with a look of surprise on his face!  The reason why it has been so difficult for the cabinet to push forward the resolution to sever diplomatic relations and declare war with Germany is that, in addition to the constraints of domestic opposition with different political views, the unclear prospect of the European war is one of the most critical factors.

    "Please take a seat!" "Serve tea!" Duan Qirui asked Wang Geng to take a seat and rang the bell to ask for tea.

    Damn it, are you so excited when you hear that the United States is joining the war?  Then when I come up with plans to deal with Li Yuanhong and the Congress for you, you will faint from joy!  Wang Geng secretly smiled inwardly, taking his seat while taking a seat, and habitually took out a cigar from his pocket and gave it to Duan Qirui.

    "Here, young man, you can do it yourself, I don't smoke!" Duan Qirui waved his hand, and came out from behind the desk and took a seat on the side of the coffee table.

    "Hey, this junior has forgotten that you have the reputation of being a bad prime minister. It's really disrespectful!" Wang Geng bowed to apologize and put away his cigar. If he hadn't seen the ashtray on the coffee table just now, this guy wouldn't have been there either.  It would be so rash.

    Soon a pretty young maid came in, served hot tea, and went out with her head lowered. Wang Geng was not polite. She came to the Duan Mansion in Cangnan Hutong without even taking a sip of water after getting off the train. Her voice was full now.  It's smoking!

    The guy picked up the hot tea and started to drink it while blowing on the tea leaves. Although the newly brewed tea was hot, the guy was blowing it in a circle while sipping it with a sip. He actually didn't get burned and drank it.  He frowned, smacked his lips and said,

    "Prime Minister Duan, the tea you serve here is not very good. I think it is no better than the big bowls of tea on the roadside. It is only useful for quenching thirst. If you want to taste it, you will really suffer!"

    "Young man, the country is in crisis and troubled times, but I, the Prime Minister and Chief of the Army, have the best of both worlds. If you want to vote for me and enjoy happiness in the future, I think it is best for you to vote for Feng Guozhang. His family  The gold mountains and silver sea are magnificent, and it is said that one tael of tea costs 10 yuan!¡±

    Although Duan Qirui was anxious to know about the United States' participation in the war, he was afraid that he would look ugly and lose his image as the prime minister of the Republic of China, a big boss in Beiyang, so he joked calmly.

    "Prime Minister, your nephew must have introduced my background just now. I studied in the United States for 6 years. I came back at this time without even getting a diploma from West Point Military Academy. I really want to do something for the country!" Wang Geng  Putting down the tea cup, he looked at Duan Qirui who was sitting in the seat seriously and said.

    "Not that you're busy, let's talk about the United States' participation in the war first. Gu Weijun, the minister to the United States, still said in the telegram yesterday morning that there is no conclusion. If you come back by cruise ship, you have been away from the United States for at least 20 days and nearly a month. How can you know that the United States  Are you participating in the war?" Duan Qirui obviously grasped the key to the matter.

    "You are right. I left the United States in early March and took an ocean cruise for more than 20 days. I arrived at the Shanghai pier four days ago, changed ships from Shanghai to Tianjin, and then changed trains to Beijing. No, I just left the station.  I just picked up my luggage and rushed to you!" Wang Geng nodded.

    "Then how do you know that the United States has decided to join the war?" Duan Qirui looked at Wang Geng suspiciously and thought to himself, this kid, don't just brag and make me happy for nothing, right?

    "Before I left the United States, I went to Washington and personally visited President Wilson and his Secretary of the Treasury! Of course, I have to say that the Chinese food cooked in the White House tastes very unauthentic!" Wang Geng said with a smile.

    "Have you met President Wilson before returning to China?" Duan Qirui said in surprise. Even if the minister to the United States wants to meet with the President of the United States for a week, he may not be able to meet him in person. At most, the Secretary of State will come out to meet and receive him.

    "Yes, I made a special trip from New York to Washington to see the President of the United States, but I stayed at the home of Gu Weijun, the minister to the United States. You know, during the holidays in recent years, I spent most of my time at Brother Gu's house. They are  The person I was closest to when I was in the United States," Wang Geng said.

    Duan Qirui was greatly surprised that the young man in front of him could meet the President of the United States. He also said that he had a close relationship with Gu Weijun's family. Duan Qirui instinctively felt that this guy was not bragging, but Gu Weijun wanted to meet the President of the United States.  It¡¯s not easy. How can Wang Geng meet the President of the United States?

    As if seeing the hesitation in Duan Qirui¡¯s eyes, Wang Geng smiled and explained,

    "Premier Duan, after I graduated with a BA from Princeton University in 1915, I was admitted to the West Point Military Academy under special circumstances. I started studying directly from the second grade at West Point. I was supposed to study for three years and graduate next year. However, because of the European War, my third grade at West Point this year and  The fourth grade graduated together, and this will probably happen again next year.¡±

    "Then, what does this have to do with your meeting with the President of the United States?" Duan Qirui did not rub sand in his eyes.

    ¡°The two years I was at West Point were also the third and fourth years after the outbreak of the European War. At West Point, I advocated that the United States should enter the war as soon as possible.Extremists, you know that the mainstream of the military actually wants to participate in the war. After all, for soldiers, the battlefield is the best place to establish merit!  "Wang Geng explained.

    "Because you are a militant from West Point Military Academy, you can meet President Wilson?" Duan Qirui still didn't believe it. There were so many militants in the United States, how could a single person be able to meet the president?

    "That's not true. I was invited to Washington by the little girl's parents because I saved a little girl by diving on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York! Of course, I also wrote something and made some preparations!" Wang Geng laughed.  said.

    "The little girl's parents are senior officials in Washington?" Duan Qirui now felt that what Wang Geng told might not be a story, but the truth.

    "It just so happened that the little girl I rescued, her father was Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo in Wilson's cabinet! It was he who repeatedly invited me to Washington as a guest. Of course, because of saving the little girl, I was awarded the New York Honor by the mayor of New York.  The title of citizen, you see, is this card."

    Wang Geng casually took out a copper medal from his pocket and handed it to Duan Qirui. The Prime Minister of the Republic of China took it and took a look. The workmanship was very exquisite. The words "Honorary Citizen of New York 1917" were clearly legible. The background pattern was the Brooklyn Bridge and Liberty.  Statue of goddess.

    Duan Qirui nodded, returned the medal to Wang Geng, and said happily, "Children of China must act bravely wherever they go. Wang Geng, you have brought glory to the country! Not bad! Very good!"

    "So, it was Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo who introduced you to President Wilson?" Duan Qirui said with a smile. Since the young man in front of him has connections with the families of the US cabinet members, there should be something he can use in the future.  This is really pleasing.

    "That's not true. President Wilson was originally the little girl's grandfather, and McAdoo was the president's son-in-law. Wilson originally wanted to meet me, the New York hero who saved his granddaughter, so I went to the White House as a guest!"  Wang Geng's expression remained normal, and he obviously didn't think it was such a big deal to see Wilson.

    "Wang Geng, you are a bit extraordinary. It seems that going to the White House to meet the President of the United States is not a big deal for you? If someone else would tell you, you would be so happy and complacent!" Duan Qirui looked at Wang Geng and said.  It's a bit strange to put it lightly at the time.

    "When it comes to being worried, I am more worried when I come to see you, the Prime Minister of the Republic of China, than when I am meeting President Wilson!" Wang Geng said with a smile, taking out another cigar from his pocket and putting it under his nose to smell it.

    "You can smoke. Except for myself, most of the guests in my study are heavy smokers, so you only have a few ashtrays to look at. By the way, why are you more nervous when you see me than when you see Wilson?"  Duan Qirui was obviously intrigued by Wang Geng.

    "You are the prime minister of a country. If China is a family, then you are the head of this family now. We, the people, are all children. It is normal for children to feel uneasy when they meet their parents. What's more, what if the parents don't want to recognize children who have returned from overseas?  Where¡¯s the wanderer? That¡¯s why I¡¯m getting more and more worried!¡±

    Wang Geng said this, but there was no worry on his face at all. However, Duan Qirui was obviously coaxed by the title "parent" that Wang Geng said, and he thought to himself, this child can really talk!

    "No matter how great Wilson is, he is only the president of the United States with three years left in his term, and the United States produces a president like him every four years. There are many more capable American politicians than him!"

    "Besides, the United States only has a population of 98 million at full capacity, not to mention that Wilson is just the temporary parent of a neighbor across the ocean whose population is only a quarter of ours! You are the parent of China's 400 million compatriots, and China is like you, Premier Duan.  You can¡¯t find another politician like him!¡±

    Wang Geng's metaphor is very vivid. Although the balance of power between China and the United States is completely reversed at this time, it is true that what he said is very popular among the people. Of course, Duan Qirui is in a good mood because of this flattery.  It¡¯s certain!

    "The difference in strength between China and the United States is exactly the same as the population. First of all, we in China should not belittle ourselves, and secondly we should not be blindly arrogant!" Although Duan Qirui was happy in his heart, he had to say a few words of advice.  .
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