Crimson Dawn

After Yan Fu, the Minister of National Defense, took office, he found that the Ministry of National Defense had been axed and there was only one post of Minister of National Defense left.And the most interesting thing is that according to the document Yan Fu received, the position of Minister of Defense is even ranked below that of the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese People's Party.There is no impenetrable wall in the world. Yan Fu heard that Xiong Mingyang proposed to draw lots to decide the Minister of Defense.Now that the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have become one team and two brands, the Minister of Defense has become an external agency.This position has become a title that compares seniority and foreign exchange level.This is also a true acknowledgment of Yan Fu's ability.

This time Chen Ke asked Yan Fu to return to Wuhan to discuss work. Yan Fu didn't care about his so-called reputation at all. Whether he added the title of Minister of Defense was no longer important to Yan Fu.What Yan Fu cared most about was that in October 1918, the international situation for the Navy had suddenly become severe.

After meeting Chen Ke, Yan Fu first asked about the central government's plans for heavy industries including shipbuilding.

Chen Ke said with a smile: "Mr. Yan thinks our industry is developing too slowly?"

Yan Fu shook his head slightly.The industrial construction of the Qing Dynasty has basically fallen into the hands of the People's Party, and this precious wealth has expanded rapidly under the management of the People's Party.However, no matter how China's industry expands, its meager accumulation is not enough to meet Yan Fu's expectations.As a scholar, as a naval expert, Yan Fu is very clear that the process of accumulation and construction cannot be avoided.But as an ordinary human being, even though he knew that his thoughts were too anxious, he couldn't restrain his desire for dreams.

"Wen Qing, I'm 65 years old this year. At this age, I shouldn't be so ambitious. People live to seventy, and I don't know if I can live to that day. But I just want to see three years before I die. One thing, the [-]-ton ship built by China itself, China can take back North Korea, and China can take back all the lost old land from Russia. If I can see these three before I die, I will die without regret.”

"Isn't the ship commissioned by the United States almost finished?" Chen Ke laughed.

Yan Fu replied: "But our war with Japan is also imminent. The world war is coming to an end soon, how many years will it take for the Sino-Japanese war? One year? Two years?"

Chen Ke stopped talking for the time being, the First World War was indeed coming to an end.The world situation is about to change dramatically.

Germany launched five major attacks beginning in March 1918.The German army, which used the tactics of the Storm Commando, seemed unstoppable from the beginning of the battle, and it was very likely to fight all the way to Paris.

Facing the sharp tactics of the German army, Britain and France also found a way to deal with it, which is to desperately extend the combat time.In every new battle on the western front, the German army relied on tactics to tear apart the British and French defenses. After the British and French saw that their positions had been breached, they first used indiscriminate artillery fire to block the German attack. The British judges and soldiers relied on "magic body protection pills" to stimulate Nerves, a large number of tanks and infantry were scattered to the infantry combat team to launch counterattacks day and night.The military observers of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army couldn't even describe the brutal fighting.The account of the battle was supposed to be an expository text, but it was almost written as a lyrical prose.

France sent all the soldiers who could be drawn to the front line to the front line, and Britain pulled cannon fodder troops from various colonies into this flesh and blood mill.Even though the British and French were fighting with energy beyond human normality, the German army still relied on tactics to advance towards Paris.Until the end of June, the U.S. troops who finally arrived in France were immediately thrown into the battle to close the gap.

Throughout July, with the help of 7 new American troops sent to France by the United States, 50 Chinese laborers working in France were in charge of industrial and agricultural production, and 90 TCM nurses helped implement treatment.Coupled with the assistance of 5 tons of magic body protection pills urgently provided by the People's Party, the German offensive finally failed. In August, the German army retreated all the way to the Hindenburg line of defense and passively held on.

Before Britain and France had time to prepare to attack Germany, the worst phase of the Spanish flu broke out.The whole world is caught in the infection of influenza virus.This wave of influenza has a particularly high mortality rate among young and middle-aged people aged 20-35. In addition to high fever and headache, symptoms include blue complexion and hemoptysis. Influenza often leads to complications and death, and pneumonia is the most common .A large number of soldiers fell ill and died in the harsh environment on the battlefield.

Even in the safe rear, many cities in Europe and the United States have restricted citizens from going to public places, and cinemas, dance halls, sports venues, etc. have been closed for more than a year.Seattle tram attendants deny rides to passengers without masks.

The "Revelation" in the New Testament of the "Bible" contains the so-called "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", which probably means that before the end of the world, death, war, plague, and famine, the four knights will bring things with their corresponding attributes to the world. Come up, and then there is the destruction of the world.

War, death, and the lack of food supply caused by war have made all countries feel fear. The plague that caused a large number of young people to die has completely activated the panic of the end of the world in Europe and the United States.All kinds of horrible rumors spread in Europe and America.The bells of churches everywhere are ringing almost day and night.

Of course, European and American countries cannot rely on praying to God to solve practical problems. Countries also have some experience in dealing with epidemics. The cremation site where the corpses of the dead are burned is full of thick black smoke every day. The description sent back by the People's Party in Europe is " Gray snow fell from the sky."

The People's Party attaches great importance to the training of doctors. In addition to the 90 military doctors sent to France, there are also about 5 doctors among the [-] laborers sent to France.These [-] doctors have done the hard work.Not only did they have to take care of the Chinese workers, most of the doctors from Britain and France were taken away by the war, and the French could only find Chinese doctors for treatment.Where there are Chinese people, there are Chinese doctors, and with doctors, there is hope of survival.

The French are better off. At any rate, with these 2 "flying in" doctors and nurses, the flu mortality rate has dropped below [-]%.The situation in Britain is made worse because the People's Party does not provide Britain with labor and medical personnel.Desperate Europe is calling for doctors. At this time, China is the only country that can provide a large number of doctors.

The British and French envoys found Zhang Yu with the Chinese government work report. They pointed to the column in the People's Party work report on the training of medical professionals and nurses and asked Zhang Yu to confirm whether it was true.By 1917, the People's Party had as many as 120 million doctors and nurses who had graduated and were in school.Regarding the life and death of its own people, the British minister was a little calmer. He solemnly stated that if China is willing to send doctors and nurses, the UK sincerely expresses that during the period when these doctors and nurses work in the UK, the UK is willing to provide them with the same treatment as British citizens.And if there are deaths of doctors and nurses, the British side is willing to pay financial compensation.The British minister can immediately sign an agreement with the People's Party on behalf of the British government, and accept people from the People's Party to form a supervisory committee with the United Kingdom.

The French are romantic, and the envoy shed tears to tell Zhang Yu that [-] Chinese doctors and nurses have given France great help.For the Chinese doctors and nurses who have unfortunately died of the disease, the French side has prepared compensation, which can be handed over to the Chinese government at any time.However, now France needs more help. They apply to China for [-] doctors and nurses, even if they are students.

France needs at least 10 doctors and nurses, and Britain has also requested 20.The People's Party convened the Central Committee of the People's Party. After five days of hard discussions, it finally agreed to provide these medical staff to work in Britain and France.Britain and France immediately sent a fleet to China to pick up the people. After harsh disinfection, the fleet carried [-] urgently called Chinese doctors and nurses, a large amount of sulfonamides, and loquat drugs for clearing the lungs and relieving coughs to Europe.

After the bloody battle of 1918, and the ravages of this pandemic.Yan Fu already understood that the First World War was finally coming to an end.Once World War I was over, there was no room for any buffer between China and Japan.Even if Chinese doctors and nurses can establish China's image, for the rulers of the Allied Powers, realistic political considerations will not be mixed with personal feelings.

The Anglo-Japanese alliance in the Far East cannot be dismantled. Britain needs Japan, and Japan needs Britain even more.The Japanese fleet has an overwhelming advantage over the People's Navy in the ocean.World War I temporarily contained the escalation of the Sino-Japanese conflict.Once World War I was over, war between China and Japan was inevitable.Yan Fu was worried about this.

Chen Ke's strategic arrangement is not in the order that Yan Fu hoped, "I hope that the first thing to be resolved is Mr. Yan's third wish, which is to take back the homeland occupied by Russia first. Therefore, I hope that Mr. Yan can go to Shan County to host the meeting with Duan Qirui. Negotiation. If you need someone, you can ask for it."

"Wen Qing really wants to let Duan Qirui go temporarily?" Yan Fu was a little surprised by Chen Ke's point of view.

Chen Ke shook his head slightly, "If the Northwest issue can be resolved without war, at least not in the near future, the central government believes that it is best to shed unnecessary blood. Of course, you can also explain it to Duan Qirui. Let him give up the idea of ​​splitting the land and dividing the territory and becoming the emperor of the Northwest. We really don't want to add any trouble to the recovery of the homeland. If Duan Qirui must obstruct our actions, let him wash his neck and wait for the punishment. death. Based on his collusion with foreigners before his death, we can definitely let him wear the hat of a traitor after his death. And this case, we will definitely close the iron case. Although Duan Qirui's reputation will not be as good as that of Qin Hui , but it is enough to compare with that Shi Jingtang who sold Yanyun to the Khitan people."

Yan Fu had never seen Chen Ke utter a threat, let alone such an "arrogant" attitude, so he didn't want to criticize Chen Ke at all.Moreover, Shi Jingtang's metaphor is unexpectedly in line with reality.During the Five Dynasties, Shi Jingtang was attacked by Li Congke when he was a minister in the Later Tang Dynasty.Seeing the soldiers approaching the city, Shi Jingtang asked for help from Yelu Deguang of Khitan as planned, and promised traitorous conditions: cede sixteen prefectures to Khitan, pay a large amount of property every year, and call himself the kingdom of children.Later, the Northern Song Dynasty was still unable to restore the Yanyun Sixteen States, resulting in no danger for the north to defend.

The People's Party is trying to take back the northern homeland at this time. If it is because of Duan Qirui's factors that it cannot achieve its strategic goals, it is not an exaggeration to call Duan Qirui the contemporary Shi Jingtang.

"Then I'll go to Beijing first." Yan Fu said.

A few days later, Yan Fu appeared outside Wang Shizhen's house, and it happened that it was Wang Shizhen's turn to perform community obligations. Yan Fu ignored Wang Shizhen's broom to sweep the floor, and he dragged Wang Shizhen back into the house. .

After hearing Yan Fu's retelling of Chen Ke's words, Wang Shizhen sneered and said, "If Chen Wenqing can't take back his homeland, Chen Wenqing will blame Duan Qirui instead of saying that he is incompetent. Isn't that a joke?"

Yan Fu was not moved at all, and he said loudly: "If you say incompetent, later generations can say that Wen Qing is incompetent, but those of us who have been civil servants and generals in the Qing Dynasty are not qualified to say that Wen Qing is incompetent. Hiring brother, you Straight up, to help or not to help."

Wang Shizhen sneered, "If you want my help, you Yan Jidao can't stay out of it. You have to go to Xi'an with me to meet Duan Qirui."

"No problem, I'll go with you to see Duan Qirui." Yan Fu answered neatly.

Wang Shizhen frowned slightly, seeing that Yan Fu didn't care about his own life and death at all, and that he had an attitude of not caring for the country, which Wang Shizhen thought was pretty good.Duan Qirui has various personal problems, but there is one good thing, he cares about his reputation very much.If the People's Party only fought against Duan Qirui for the sake of world hegemony, Duan Qirui might persist stubbornly to the end.But the main conflict at the moment is the conflict between China and Russia. If the People's Party can save Duan Qirui's face a little bit, the matter in the Northwest will probably be settled.Anyway, as Yan Fu said, no matter whether the homeland occupied by the Russians can be recovered, Duan Qirui has no chance of winning.

"Then how about we leave now?" Wang Shizhen asked.

On October 10, under heavy siege by the Beiyang Army, Yan Fu and Wang Shizhen entered the Prime Minister's Office of the "Republic of China" in Xi'an.

Duan Qirui greeted Wang Shizhen with a very enthusiastic attitude, but was quite indifferent to Yan Fu.Wang Shizhen didn't mean to overwhelm the host, but just casually said a few words to Duan Qirui, and Wang Shizhen said to Duan Qirui: "Zhiquan, I'm here this time to let you have a good talk with a few elder brothers. If you ask How should I do it, I think you might as well just listen to a few words from big brother."

Everyone was sensible, and after the three of them sat down in the room, Yan Fu told Duan Qirui Chen Ke's thoughts and demands in unambiguous terms.

"What if I have to resist?" Duan Qirui asked.

Yan Fu didn't say anything tactful, and he said seriously: "Wen Qing thinks highly of Zhiquan, so he threatened someone for the first time. Wen Qing promises that after you are defeated, you will definitely let you leave Shi Jingtang in the history books." Two's reputation."

Hearing this, Duan Qirui was furious at first, but soon recovered, he couldn't help laughing, "Comparing me with that emperor, you really think highly of me."

Wang Shizhen didn't wait for Duan Qirui to say anything else, so she interjected, "Zhiquan, Wen Qing has come to your door. Why do you have to be so self-deprecating?"

"Brother, it's true that Wen Qing hit my door!" Duan Qirui sneered.

"If Wen Qing invades, there will be complete chaos in the Northwest. It will take a year or so until he clears up the mess. If the two sides negotiate peace, Wen Qing can send troops to compete with the Russians for the homeland of China. He is not asking for your door now, But why did you come here?" Wang Shizhen replied.