Beiyang 1917

The Prime Minister waved his hand, "Let's have a meeting first. If you are interested in everything about Wang Geng, you will know about it in the future. Anyway, he lives in my Duanfu. You can come to him anytime!"

Everyone found their seats and sat down. In fact, there were only a few people in front of the large conference table, and the secretaries of the cabinet members sat on the chairs behind their respective bosses.

"Wang Geng, please sit beside me!" Duan Qirui signaled Wang Geng to sit beside him, and this special treatment caused the chief executives below to whisper to each other.

"Brother Jing, this Wang Geng who fell from the sky is not simple. What is it that the Prime Minister is picking a son-in-law?" Chen Jintao, the Chief Financial Officer with a round face and wearing a suit, and Xu Shiying, the Chief of Internal Affairs next to him, whispered to each other. .

This guy graduated with a Ph.D. from Yale University in 1906. He is considered a good financial manager. He was appointed as the supervisor of the Qing Dynasty, the director of the budget of the Du Branch, the director of the Statistics Bureau, the director of the Printing and Minting Bureau, the chairman of the Currency Improvement Committee, and the Minister of Finance. Even though he is from Nanhai, Guangdong, he has earned Duan Qirui's trust.

Xu Shiying, the traffic chief with a thin face and wearing a mandarin jacket, shook his head when he heard the words, and said,

"Brother Lansheng, the second girl of the prime minister's family is only under 16 years old. If this Wang Geng was sent to study abroad by the graduate officer of Tsinghua Academy, he would be in his early 23s now. It doesn't look like it, the age difference is a bit big !"

Xu Shiying, a native of Qiupu, Anhui Province, once sworn brothers with Duan Qirui, can be counted as one of Duan Qirui's hard-core confidantes in Anhui. He used to be the dean of the Dali Yuan, the chief justice, and the chief of the interior, and now he is the chief of transportation.

To say that China's lawyer system was established by this Xu Shiying, he also initiated the organization of the "National Art Advancement Association" with Chen Jintao and Xu Qian, so the relationship between the two has always been very close. Above is the Lord who sits together and advances together.

Among the cabinet ministries of the Beiyang government, the ones with the most power and wealth are actually Chen Jintao’s Ministry of Finance and Xu Shiying’s Ministry of Communications. One is in charge of collecting money and the other is in charge of spending money. Both are extremely rich Yamen.

In fact, Wang Geng's ears were sharp, and he had heard the two of them having a small meeting there.

This guy couldn't help laughing in his heart. Whether Chen Jintao or Xu Shiying, they all resigned in April and May 1917 because of allegations of corruption. He was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison, but Xu Shiying escaped a catastrophe because he was Duan Qirui's direct descendant.

Thinking of this, Wang Geng felt happy. Damn, it's time for me to spend money for the supervision of the war preparation department. Then I'll see how I can sell my favors and get some money from these two silverfish to supplement the military expenses!

On the opposite side of the conference table is Xu Shuzheng, who is sitting in front of his lapel, and next to him is Wu Tingfang, the oldest minister of foreign affairs in the entire cabinet. The old master is 75 years old, with white beard and hair, and he looks energetic in a long robe and mandarin jacket. From just now to now, the only The one who didn't chirp with everyone was the old gentleman.

It is said to be a state affairs meeting, but in fact it is just a meeting between Prime Minister Duan Qirui and several major cabinet members, such as Chief Minister of Agriculture and Commerce Gu Zhongxiu, Chief of Justice Zhang Guogan, Chief of the Navy Cheng Biguang, and Chief of Education Fan Yuanlian were not even notified to come to the meeting .

"Young man, let's talk about your diplomacy first! Is there any latest news from the United States?" Duan Qirui cleared his throat. He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so in every state meeting, his Ministry of Foreign Affairs is basically the first to speak and report.

The old master was not polite, he took out a pair of presbyopic glasses from his pocket and put it on the bridge of his nose, opened the briefcase in front of him, coughed, and reported everything,

"For the United States, Gu Weijun, Minister to the United States, sent an urgent telegram last night, saying that today, the President of the United States will deliver a speech in Congress!" The old master is actually very serious in his work. Although he speaks Cantonese with a strong accent, everyone present is acquaintances except Wang Geng. , but still understood what he meant.

"Did the telegram say the theme and content of the speech by the President of the United States?" Xu Shuzheng, who was beside Wu Tingfang, asked anxiously.

"Gu Weijun's speculation is that the United States is about to declare war on Germany, so President Wilson will deliver a speech in Congress. We will know the specific content of Wilson's speech in another 12 hours!"

Duan Qirui remained calm. When Wang Geng came yesterday, the first thing he said was that the United States was going to declare war. Now that this news has been confirmed through Gu Weijun's diplomatic channels, it is clear that this Wang Geng is really not a bluffing guy!

The following chief ministers talked a lot. Obviously, the US declaration of war is good news for Duan Qirui's cabinet to promote China's participation in the war, although the 75-year-old foreign minister is the only cabinet member who insists on opposing participation in the war.

"What's the latest news from Britain, France, and Russia?" Duan Qirui asked unhurriedly.

"Britain and France are stepping up their mobilization, because the situation in Russia is out of control. After the Tsar abdicated in mid-March, the new government announced that it would continue the war, but the opinions of the Bolsheviks and the door gods were not unified. In fact, Russia is very likely to withdraw. War!" Wu Tingfang was growing old and strong, and he spoke in an orderly manner.

Opposite Chen Jin-tao and Xu Shiying were smoking a cigarette and thinking about their own affairs. The two of them have never had a say in the diplomatic field and it is not their scope of responsibility. They are just listeners.

"Prime Minister, according to my analysis, even if the new Russian government announces the continuation of the war, in fact Russia will no longer be able to play a role on the Eastern Front, and Germany is likely to have already deployed troops to the Western Front, which is why Britain and France are so nervous!" Xu Shuzheng's analysis Obviously hit the nail on the head!

"Grandfather, seeing that the United States is about to join the war, do you still think that China should join the war as soon as possible?" the Prime Minister asked abruptly.

In fact, Wang Geng was also puzzled. He never understood Wu Tingfang’s anti-war motives. This is because the old man’s relationship with the British Hong Kong government has a long history. He and others founded China’s first Chinese newspaper "China and Foreign News". Yes, and he is also a doctor of law, the first Chinese lawyer in Hong Kong to be qualified to practice law, and the first Chinese justice of the peace appointed by the Governor of Hong Kong.

Back then, Li Hongzhang and Shen Baozhen offered him an annual salary of 6000 taels of gold to recruit him, but this fellow refused to agree. Now, in front of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he firmly opposes China's participation in the Allied Powers. What is the reason?

"Quan Gong! Although Wu grew up with the support of the British Hong Kong government, Britain has the most colonies in the world now. If the Allied Powers win, how long will it take for Hong Kong to return to the motherland? I have said this a long time ago. , might as well say it again today!

I firmly oppose China's participation in the war. On March 3, I submitted my second resignation letter. Today, taking this opportunity, I am here to submit my third resignation letter! "

Wu Tingfang's tone was heavy, and there was a kind of unbearable sadness on his face. The old man took out a resignation letter from his briefcase and put it on the table, and said to Duan Qirui sincerely while looking up,

"Quan Gong, Wen Jue never compromises. Please approve my resignation. The cabinet can only play a better role when it is united. Perhaps history will prove that you and everyone are right, and I am wrong! But today, I am still firmly opposed to joining the war, and I will not hesitate to resign to show my position!"

Wu Tingfang knew that once the United States joined the war, it was only a matter of time before China joined the war. In the old man's view, the result of Britain's defeat was more powerful to China than Germany's defeat, but he alone could not influence the decision of the Prime Minister and the cabinet, so he insisted on resigning.

"Ting Zhai, I invite you, the undersecretary of foreign affairs, to participate in the following meeting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ladies and gentlemen, I am leaving!" Wu Tingfang packed up the folder, and while instructing the undersecretary of foreign affairs, Xia Yiting, to continue the meeting, he stood up and was stunned. The cabinet members bid farewell, and got up to leave.

"Grandfather! Why are you doing this! Everything is negotiable. If our cabinet is not united, how can China be united?" Chen Jintao stood up and persuaded him to stay.

Xu Shuzheng and Xu Shiying, the two backbones of the Anhui Clan, didn't speak, they only watched Duan Qirui's eyes and acted, especially Xu Shuzheng, who was most annoyed by these old masters who were holding big hats everywhere and trying to force them to resign!

Duan Qirui frowned, his thoughts flashed, everything is nothing more than three, the old man has always treated you Wu Tingfang courteously, you really don't give face, so don't blame the old man for not keeping you!

"Since this is the case, the old man can't force it. You should rest for a while, Mr. Xia Yiting, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lan Sheng, please send the Mr. Duan for me!" Once Duan Qirui made a decision That was decisive and tight.

Seeing that Duan Qirui accepted his resignation on the spot, Wu Tingfang felt sour for no reason. The old master swung Chen Jintao's helping hand, and angrily walked out of the conference room on crutches.

"It's good to let Jueong take a break, but again, after the meeting, we will draw up a motion to approve Wu Tingfang's resignation as the foreign minister, and Xia Yiting to act as the deputy minister. It will be approved by the Congress in the afternoon!"

Duan Qirui had no expression on his face, but he dealt with it cleanly and without dragging his feet.