Beiyang 1917

"Brother Gu, what do you think of the domestic situation? Should you stay on the sidelines and be your professional diplomat?" Wang Geng felt that the time left for him was very tight, so he asked straightforwardly.

Gu Weijun smiled wryly, "What else can I do? I was favored by President Yuan, and after graduating from Columbia University, I was directly hired as the President's English secretary to enter the center. Of course, Baoyue's father treated me with great kindness. !"

Taking a puff of cigarette, Gu Weijun continued, "Gu Weijun is nothing without the support of my father-in-law, but you also know that my father-in-law is close to people in the south, and has an extraordinary relationship with Mr. Sun, and now The center is the world of Beiyang, I am the envoy sent by Beijing to the United States, what do you want me to do?"

"Brother Gu, then you are still a professional diplomat impartially? Let me say something that may not be appropriate. Brother, deep down, you don't seem to agree with your father-in-law and Mr. Sun's proposition?" Wang Geng looked into Gu Weijun's eyes seriously the way.

"If there hadn't been a second revolution in the South a few years ago, President Yuan might not have expanded himself to the point of restoring the monarchy. China was already on the right track at that time, but now it has evolved into a contest of guns and fists. Great sight!"

Gu Weijun sighed, and continued,

"As you once said, Beiyang can really unify the whole country by guns and force. First unify and then build. As a result, once President Yuan established the monarchy and then went on like this, no one can calm down the situation. Beiyang himself will be torn apart. Li Yuanhong has a bad temper, Duan Qirui is not a good-tempered master, Feng Guozhang is thinking about making money all day long, and the warlord army has become a weight in each other's hands, and there are shadows of great powers behind them."

"Brother Gu, you really want to kill thieves and have no way to recover. I can't even convince my father-in-law. What else can you say I can do! I just want to be ashamed of my heart! Being a minister in the United States is just to avoid the circle of right and wrong It's all about being clean!" Gu Weijun obviously didn't hold anything back in front of Wang Geng.

Wang Geng didn't expect Gu Weijun's mood to be so depressed, he was speechless for a while, and didn't know how to relieve this fellow.

"It's you, Wang Geng, you are graduating from the third and fourth grades at the West Point Military Academy this year. What are your plans? Should you return to China or stay in the United States? What did you say to invest in the company?"

Gu Weijun raised his head and looked at Wang Geng. Wang Geng is the little brother of the couple. He is cautious and meticulous, soft on the outside and strong on the inside. future development.

"I still say the same thing, the war in Europe is a huge opportunity for the United States, and it is also a huge opportunity for China. The sooner China and the United States join the war, the better!" Wang Geng said with a chuckle.

"I'm asking about your personal plans. Although it's good for passionate young people to care about national affairs, I, the minister in the United States, find it difficult to do anything in the face of domestic and foreign situations. Could it be that you, a future West Point graduate, can turn the tide? ?” Gu Weijun said disapprovingly.

"It depends on human effort, I plan to go back to China!" Wang Geng said truthfully!While looking at Gu Weijun's expression.

"I'm not opposed to your return to China. I said last time that the government sends outstanding students like you to study in Europe and the United States. It is hoped that you will serve the country after you complete your studies. But now the domestic situation is complicated. Have you thought about what to do when you return to China? If you don't think about it, I suggest you stay in the United States, you can come to Washington, and you will definitely be able to do it as my assistant!"

Gu Weijun looked at Wang Geng with shining eyes, obviously it was the best choice for Gu Weijun to bring a young man like Wang Geng who was capable of writing and martial arts to be his assistant.

Wang Geng smoked a cigarette and did not speak. He had never thought about staying in the United States. Of course, he was very grateful for Gu Weijun's love and respect, but this guy is now aiming at one country, and he only wants to return home as soon as possible. Unify the whole country and drive the old Maozi and the little devils out of China.

Staying in the United States is tantamount to staying away from the center of power, and the envoys themselves do not have much influence on the country's foreign policy. rulers.

"Brother Gu, do you think that if a certain force in the country receives the full support of the US government, will there be a chance to unify the country?" Wang Geng did not answer Gu Weijun's question, but instead asked tentatively.

"If the country is not strong, no one of the big powers will take you seriously. Behind the warlords, there are indeed shadows of the powers of the big powers. Of course, the United States is a good target. Its politics are relatively democratic, its society is relatively enlightened, and its economy and military strength are strong. But the empire -ism's position on aggression and plundering China is similar, even if the United States has a relatively moderate policy towards China, it is very difficult for the United States to gain unreserved support!"

Gu Weijun's mind is still quite clear. In fact, this guy is almost the best Chinese diplomat in this era. He has a thorough understanding of the psychological activities of the great powers, and he also knows the policies of the great powers toward China like the back of his hand!

"Brother Gu, I definitely want to go back to China. I'm a high-achieving student at West Point Military Academy. If I stay in the peaceful world of the United States, I won't have a chance to show my ambitions. Brother, who do you think I will have a better chance in the future?" Wang Geng went straight to the point. asked.

"Are you sure you want to go back?" Gu Weijun asked disappointedly.

"Sure!" Wang Geng nodded without hesitation.

"You must join the army when you go back. Although I am also optimistic about your potential in diplomacy, there is no way to talk about everything without a gun. If you join the army, it is nothing more than the Beiyang or the South, the center or the place. You don't use it to test your brother. You If you want to go over there and tell me, I will help you with the details!"

Gu Weijun temporarily gave up his plan to keep Wang Geng in his heart, and turned to check for him, lest the little brother went back to the country, but went the wrong way, and ended up with half the effort or even a failure!

"How about the south? My sister-in-law's father is a former prime minister and has a very good relationship with Mr. Sun, and she is also your father-in-law. If your son-in-law recommends me, a West Point graduate, to vote for the south, senior Tang should be able to protect me." ?”

Wang Geng deliberately talked about this connection first. Tang Shaoyi is a close friend of Sun Dapao. He has always agreed with Nanfang's proposition, and he is his father-in-law who has supported Gu Weijun. Chance.

Gu Weijun glanced at Wang Geng, didn't speak, and thought that my son-in-law didn't follow the old father-in-law to go to the south, so what's the fun for you kid to go to the south?

Seeing Gu Weijun groaning and not speaking, Wang Geng knew that he did not approve of his going to the south, so he tried again,

"Then how about going to vote for Feng Guozhang? He is the vice president and the governor of Jiangsu. My eldest brother also has friendship with him. It is not an exaggeration to recommend me, a fellow from Jiangsu, to serve as a parent officer in my hometown?"

For Gu Weijun, Wang Geng's ancestral home is Wuxi, Jiangsu, and returning to China to vote for Feng Guozhang is also a good opportunity to serve his hometown. The problem is that Gu Weijun's lofty and self-sufficient spirit of intellectuals has not yet been smoothed out. When the second revolution broke through Nanjing, Feng Guozhang's subordinates and Zhang Xun's braided soldiers burned, killed, raped, raped and looted in Nanjing, and their reputation was bad.

So regarding Wang Geng's return to China to vote for Feng Guozhang, Gu Weijun felt conflicted in his heart, this fellow pondered for a while, and said slowly,

"Old Feng is so greedy for money. Although his public reputation has improved a little in the past few years, this mercenary problem is hard to change. Wang Geng, are you sure you want to find a job under him? Although he is the governor of Jiangsu, his subordinates use all They are people from Baoding, Zhili, and Cao Kun and Wu Peifu are not easy-going lamps. I am afraid that a passionate young man like you will ruin his innocent life in that big dye vat!"

"A gentleman loves money, and he gets it in a proper way, but Lao Feng is too selfish at both ends. The master who has always been reluctant to spend money can't make a big deal, so... only Duan Qirui and Duan Prime Minister are left? At least he has six He doesn’t have the reputation of being a prime minister, he once created the Republic twice, and his subordinates are not guilty of the Nanjing Massacre, so do you suggest that I vote for him?”

Wang Geng smiled and said, in fact, he knew that Gu Weijun's perception of the big guys like Beiyang was average, but when it comes to personal integrity, that Feng Guozhang must not be able to compare with Duan Qirui.

Now Feng Guozhang is the vice president in name only. Although he has a territory in Jiangsu, he is still inferior to Duan Qirui, who controls the central government and the cabinet!

"If you insist on returning to China, you must follow the route of joining the army. Duan Qirui lacks military talents and generals, and you will have a lot of room for development in the future. Moreover, he has always appeared strong in Beiyang, and he controls the cabinet. With the support of the Legion of Warlords, it is most appropriate for you to return to China and vote for him!"

Gu Weijun told the truth, he actually vaguely knew Wang Geng's own calculations, the old Duan lacked military talents, Wang Geng, a high-level West Point student, still has a lot of room to use when he goes back, it depends on how far he can go in the future.

"Wang Geng, Xu Shuzheng, Duan Qirui's confidant, has been a child prodigy since he was a child, and he can be regarded as an all-rounder in civil and military affairs. It is not easy to deal with. If you want to win the favor of the old Duan, you will definitely fight with Xu Shuzheng." Are you mentally prepared to form a conflict of interest?" Gu Weijun said earnestly.

"A good man needs three helpers. Premier Duan has a right-hand man to walk steadily. Just listen to my elder brother and write a recommendation letter for me. Let me go back and get a job in the Ministry of the Army. I will do the rest of the way." Figure it out yourself!"

Seeing that Wang Geng's tone was very firm, obviously coming prepared, Gu Weijun shook his head, nodded at Wang Geng's head and said,

"You, you! Okay, I will write a few letters for you, so that you, a Princeton University bachelor of arts and a talented student at West Point, will have no problem with a leisurely job in the Ministry of War or Foreign Affairs!"

"It's a deal!" Wang Geng held Gu Weijun's hand tightly, and the matter was settled!