Beiyang 1917

"Brother Ting Zhai, look at the tone of your supervisor Wang, you can be regarded as the home of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Why is Premier Duan so appreciative?" Japanese Minister Lin Quanzhu asked Xia Yiting aside in a low voice.

"Brother Zhuyin, don't underestimate this Wang Geng. I don't know what kind of tricks he has given Prime Minister Duan. Anyway, he became a national policy advisor and diplomatic and military secretary as soon as he returned to China. In addition, he is also a major general of the Ministry of War. Supervising the handling, Premier Duan obviously wants to train him to be a good military and political leader who can take care of himself! Maybe the foreign minister will fall on his head in the future, we don’t know.”

Xia Yiting's personal relationship with Lin Quanzhu was very good, and when he talked about Wang Geng, he consciously or unconsciously showed a sour expression.

Xia Yiting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, served as the secretary-general of the Political Research Association a few years ago. This research association was originally a transformation of the Progressive Party formed by Li Yuanhong, Tang Hualong, and Liang Qichao. After the resumption of the Congress last year, it split into three factions. Xia Yiting Yi Ting belonged to the direct lineage of the Constitution Research Association headed by Tang Hualong, then Speaker of the House of Representatives.At the same time, Li Yuanhong, Liang Qichao, Duan Qirui and other factions are actively wooing them.

Although the previous heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the Republic of China have basically been held by members of the Southern Party or pro-Southern Party, in the past two years, only the 39-year-old Xia Yiting has actually presided over the affairs of the Ministry. Like Tang Hualong, he was inclined towards China's participation in the war. In the past six months, he has given Duan Qirui's cabinet a lot of support in terms of whether to participate in the war.

"Suoga! Supervise the preparations for joining the war? It's amazing!" Lin Quanzhu squinted his eyes, thinking of the information sent by the Banxi Mansion today. Escorted a whole regiment of equipment to Nanyuan, I don't know if it has anything to do with the war supervisor!

"Brother Tingzhai, the only mixed brigade among you was transferred from Langfang to Nanyuan yesterday. The empire expressed great concern. May I ask why your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't notify us in time?" Lin Quanzhu asked Xia Yiting in a low voice.

"Minister Lin, when the Chinese army is moving in your own country, when do you need to inform a mere Japanese envoy?" Wang Geng, who was chatting with the envoys of Britain, France and the United States, couldn't help but turn around when he heard Lin Quanzhu's words. Came over and asked.

"Supervisor Wang, the mission and the government of your country have reached a tacit agreement. There are concessions from various countries in Tianjin, an important place in Beijing, Tianjin and Jingji, and there are diplomatic missions and troops from various countries in Dongjiaominxiang, Beijing. The transfer of your troops in Gyeonggi needs to be notified to the mission in time. Only in this way can we avoid causing unnecessary disturbance and misunderstandings to other countries!" Lin Quanzhu blushed, still insisting.

"Hey, Superintendent Wang, Minister Lin probably has no other intentions. He just cares about the relationship between China and Japan, and he is just chatting with me. Don't get me wrong!" Xia Yiting hurriedly tried to smooth things over, but Lin Quanzhu was not They intentionally wanted to bully him, the vice minister of foreign affairs of China. The private conversation between the two of them was actually a joke just now, but Wang Geng caught him by the tip of his ear.

"Deputy Chief Xia, as diplomats, our words and deeds represent the dignity and image of the country in public places like diplomatic receptions!" Wang Geng said solemnly.

Xia Yiting's face was embarrassing, and he slandered in his heart, Wang Geng, why are you more arrogant than Xu Shuzheng?If China wants to be strong, do we need to rely on others?

"Deputy Commander Xia, why has your work of recruiting labor to support European countries stopped? The merchant ships transporting people on the wharves of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin have been stopped for two days! What's going on?" the French envoy changed the subject , asked about labor recruitment.

Xia Yiting took out a handkerchief and wiped his sweat. The labor recruitment was a tacit agreement between the Chinese government and the governments of Britain, France and Russia. Before China officially entered the war, they signed five-year work contracts with the recruited Chinese laborers in the name of private companies from various countries. Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is just pulling the strings, and the actual implementation is a matter for the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of War.

"In view of the fact that the United States is about to join the war, and China will soon join the war, the labor recruitment work has been put under the overall management of my War Participation Preparation Office, and I ordered it to be suspended! Deputy Chief Xia is not clear!" Wang Geng continued on the sidelines Let me talk.

As soon as Wang Geng said this, the British Minister Zhu Erdian and the American Minister Rui Enshi's eyes lit up. The oldest and most experienced Zhu Erdian couldn't help saying,

"Everyone, there are a lot of people here, and it's not a good place to confide in your heart. I suggest that we find a quiet place to sit down and have a good chat. Obviously, we are very concerned about the information brought by Supervisor Wang!"

As soon as Zhu Erdian's words came out, the ministers of the United States, Japan and France all nodded. At this moment, Wang Geng's weight in their hearts obviously surpassed that of the Deputy Foreign Minister Xia Yiting. However, although Xia Yiting, the deputy minister, is not a member of the Southern Party, he is just a member of the House of Representatives Speaker Tang Hualong's faction.

This Wang Geng was obviously a close friend who was single-handedly selected and built by Prime Minister Duan Qirui after Xu Shuzheng. He also had the experience of studying in the United States. He suddenly wore so many titles on his head.

"Brother Wang, what do you think?" Xia Yiting asked for Wang Geng's opinion. In fact, Wang Geng and American Minister Rui Enshi are the protagonists tonight. The diplomatic corps handles representations.

Wang Geng pondered for a while. The diplomatic missions of various countries have their own long-term private rooms in the Liuguo Hotel for discussion, negotiation, and diplomacy. The question is whether to go to the private rooms of the other party or the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' own?

"Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have its own room here?" Wang Geng asked Xia Yiting in a low voice.

"Of course there is, why don't you invite a few ministers to our private room to sit down and chat casually?" Xia Yiting said.

"No, it's better to go to the private room of the American Mission. I think other people's security measures are better than our own!" Wang Geng pondered for a while but made the opposite choice.

Although Xia Yiting was a little surprised, he was not surprised. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a mixed bag. Xia Yiting dared not to let Xia Yiting guarantee that the private room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Liuguo Hotel was safe and reliable without the eyeliner of various forces.

"Tonight is a critical moment for the United States to decide to join the war. Minister Rui must be anxiously waiting for the news from the United States as soon as possible. Why don't I go to the private room of the American Mission at the Liuguo Hotel?" Xia Yi said. Seeing that Wang Geng had made up his mind, Ting turned around and suggested to the ministers of the four countries with a smile.

"I want what I want, but I dare not ask for it!" U.S. Minister Rui Enshi was overjoyed when he heard the words. He raised the champagne glass in his hand, and said in Chinese with a slight voice.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and a group of people followed Rui Enshi out of the lobby, took the elevator to the 4th floor, walked through the maze-like corridors, and entered the luxury private room of the American Legation in the Liuguo Hotel.

Luxurious and spacious living room, with rooms on both ends of the living room. Before entering the door, I thought it was a suite. After entering, I found that maybe half of the floor had been rented out by wealthy Yankees and transformed into a secret stronghold.

Zhuer Dian Kant, Lin Quanzhu and even Xia Yiting were obviously regular customers here. They found a sofa in the living room and sat down. The beautiful waitress quickly served champagne, whiskey, and rum according to personal orders. .

When Wang Geng walked in the door, the two strong men in suits saw that Wang Geng was an unfamiliar face and wanted to come up and search him. Wang Geng sneered and stood with arms folded. Lengtouqing.

After everyone was seated, the impatient French Minister Kant couldn't help asking,

"Supervisor Wang, the Allied Powers and your government reached a tacit agreement at the beginning of the year to allow labor to be recruited in the name of British, French and Russian private companies to contribute to peace in the European battlefield. Deficiency! I can’t wait for this!”

"Minister Rui, there is no problem with the security and confidentiality here. I am impatient and like to be straightforward. Since I have the opportunity to sit down and talk, I have no intention of chatting and coughing with you!" Wang Geng ignored Kant and asked first. The owner of this room is American Minister Rui Enshi.

"Don't worry about safety, without the permission of the U.S. government, not a single fly can fly in here, let alone fly out!" Seeing Wang Geng's seriousness, Rui Enshi waved the waiters and bodyguards in the room to leave. Hall, said with a smile.

"That's good!" Wang Geng nodded with a smile, and then turned to the French Minister Kant,

"Mr. Minister, I have already answered your question just now. Given that China is about to follow the United States in declaring war on Germany, the veil of private company labor contracts is no longer suitable for the future situation. Of course, it must be stopped!"