Beiyang 1917

"The United States is going to join the war?!" Duan Qirui was overjoyed, and stood up from behind the large desk with surprise on his face!The cabinet’s decision to sever diplomatic relations with Germany and declare war has always been so difficult. In addition to the domestic political differences and opposition constraints, the uncertain future of the European war is one of the most critical factors.

"Please sit down!" "Tea!" Duan Qirui invited Wang Geng to his seat and rang the bell to call for tea.

Nima, you are so excited when you hear that the United States has joined the war?Then wait for Lao Tzu to come up with a plan to help you solve Li Yuanhong and the National Congress, you will faint from joy!Wang Geng secretly smiled inwardly, while taking his seat, habitually took out a cigar from his pocket and gave it to Duan Qirui.

"Well, young man, you can do what you want, I don't smoke!" Duan Qirui waved his hand, and at the same time came out from behind the desk, and took a seat at the main seat on the side of the coffee table.

"Hey, this junior forgot that you have the reputation of Prime Minister Liubu, what a disrespect!" Wang Geng bowed his body to express his apology, and put away his cigar. would be so rash.

Soon a pretty young maid came in and served hot tea, and went out with her head bowed. Wang Geng was not polite, and came to Duanfu in Cangnan Hutong without taking a sip of water after getting off the train. It's smoking!

The guy picked up the hot tea and started drinking it while blowing the tea leaves. Although the freshly brewed tea was hot, the guy blew it in a circle while drinking it, but he drank it without getting hot. He frowned and smashed his mouth and said,

"Prime Minister Duan, the tea served in your house is not very good. I don't think it's much better than the big bowl of tea on the side of the road, so it's good for quenching your thirst. If you want to drink it, it's really a crime!"

"Young man, the country is in crisis and troubled times, but I, the prime minister and chief of the army, have nothing to do. If you want to vote for my thick legs and enjoy happiness, I think you'd better vote for Feng Guozhang. His family Jinshan Yinhai is magnificent, and it is said that one or two tea leaves cost 10 yuan!"

Although Duan Qirui was anxious to know about the United States' participation in the war, he was afraid that he would lose his appearance as the prime minister of the Republic of China because of his unsightly appearance, so he joked calmly.

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

"Let's not be busy, let's talk about the US's entry into the war first. Gu Weijun, the Minister to the United States, said in a telegram yesterday morning that there was no conclusion. If you came back from the cruise ship, you would have left the United States for at least 20 days and nearly a month. How could you know that the United States entered the war? What about it?" Duan Qirui obviously grasped the key point of the matter.

"You are right. I left the United States in early March. I took an ocean cruise ship for more than 20 days. I arrived at the Shanghai pier four days ago. I changed ships from Shanghai to Tianjin, and then changed trains to Beijing. No, it was dusty as soon as I got out of the station. The servant came straight to you with the luggage!" 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, don't this kid just blow his air and make me happy for nothing?

"I went to Washington before leaving the United States and personally visited President Wilson and his Secretary of the Treasury! Of course, I have to say that the Chinese food made by the White House is not authentic!" Wang Geng said with a smile.

"Did you meet President Wilson before you returned to China?" Duan Qirui said in surprise, even if the envoy to the United States wants to meet the President of the United States, he may not be able to meet the real person for a week, 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 meet the President of the United States, but I stayed at the home of Gu Weijun, the ambassador to the United States. You know, in recent years, I have spent most of my holidays at Brother Gu's home. They are The person I was closest to when I was in the United States." Wang Geng said.

The young man in front of him was able to see the President of the United States, which surprised Duan Qirui. He also said that he had a good relationship with Gu Weijun's family. Duan Qirui instinctively felt that this guy was not bragging, but Gu Weijun wanted to see the President of the United States It was not easy, how could Wang Geng meet the President of the United States?

As if seeing the hesitation in Duan Qirui's eyes, Wang Geng explained with a smile,

"Prime Minister Duan, after I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in 1915, I was admitted to the West Point Military Academy with an exception. They graduated together in the fourth grade, and it is estimated that they will continue to do so next year.”

"Then, what does this have to do with your meeting with the President of the United States?" Duan Qirui didn't rub the 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 Military Academy, I was an activist advocating that the United States should join the war as soon as possible. You know that the mainstream of the military wants to join the war. After all For soldiers, the battlefield is the best place to make achievements!" 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 are so many militants in the United States, how could it be possible that an individual can meet the president?

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

"The parents of the little girl are high-ranking officials in Washington?" Duan Qirui felt that what Wang Geng said might not be a story, but a fact.

"It's also a coincidence that the little girl I saved, his father is the Secretary of the Treasury of the Wilson cabinet, McAdoo! It was he who repeatedly invited me to Washington as a guest. Of course, because of saving the little girl, I was awarded the honor of New York 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. goddess statue.

Duan Qirui nodded, returned the medal to Wang Geng, and said happily, "Chinese sons and daughters, you must do what is right for you wherever you go. Wang Geng, you have won glory for the country! Not bad! Not bad!"

"So, it was the 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 contact with the family of a member of the American cabinet, there should be something he can use in the future. That's really pleasing.

"That's not true. President Wilson was originally the little girl's grandfather, and that McAdoo is the president's son-in-law. Originally, Wilson was going 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 was normal, and he obviously didn't think it was a big deal to see Wilson.

"Wang Geng, you are not simple. 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 might say it, you will be elated and complacent!" Duan Qirui looked at what Wang Geng said. Sometimes it's an understatement, but it's a bit strange.

"Speaking of apprehension, I am a little more apprehensive to meet you, the Prime Minister of the Republic of China, than President Wilson!" Wang Geng said with a smile, taking out a cigar from his pocket and sniffing it under his nose.

"You can smoke. Except for myself, most of the guests in my study are addicted to cigarettes, so you can only look at the ashtrays. By the way, why do you feel more nervous when you see me than Wilson?" Duan Qirui was obviously aroused by Wang Geng's curiosity.

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

That's what Wang Geng said, but he didn't look worried at all, but Duan Qirui was obviously coaxed by Wang Geng's title of "parent", 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 who has three years left in office, and the United States has a president like him every four years. There are many American politicians who are more capable than him!"

"Besides, the population of the United States is only 9800 million. What's more, Wilson is just a temporary parent of a neighbor whose population is only a quarter of ours! You are the patriarch of [-] million compatriots in China. China is like you, Premier Duan. The same politician can't find another one!"

Wang Geng's analogy is very vivid. Although the power comparison between China and the United States is completely reversed at this time, it is true that this man's statement can lift the hearts of the Chinese people. It's for sure!

"The difference in strength between China and the United States is exactly the same as the population. We in China should not underestimate ourselves first, and secondly, we should not be blindly arrogant!" Although Duan Qirui was happy in his heart, he still had to preach a few words .