Chapter 161: The Eve of the Battle (Three)

Crawford has felt a little proud recently. His performance in China over the past few days has completely overwhelmed the US Ambassador Mr. Cooper, who also wants to gain the greatest influence in this country that shows the rising scene. How can these cowboy nouveau riche have the experience of balancing the situation in the British Empire for hundreds of years? China has ended its short honeymoon with Germany, reaffirming the British Empire's dominance in China's interests. Most importantly, it has stabilized the colonial system in the Far East. President Yuchen also informally told him that the rising China

They will not seek their national interests in Indochina and Southeast Asia. Some issues in Tibet and Xinjiang are not unrelated. Although he does not fully believe in the president's guarantee, do you have any promises to believe in political matters? Especially for politicians in Eastern countries. However, the empire has a system of British-Japanese alliance in the Far East that can balance and restrict China's development. Is there any more ideal situation? China and Japan restrain each other, and both require the support of the British Empire. This is the empire's foundation in the Far East for a hundred years!

Whitehall repeatedly praised the young gentleman diplomat, and wrote a written commendation for his successful achievements in Far East diplomacy and some layouts that can be considered very detailed and deep. Back to the UK, medals and promotions, and taking on more important tasks, they were just something that could not be escaped! But this young man still maintained his usual attitude towards life, to be precise, a British gentleman's cold and calm attitude. He did not show any pride. He still maintained his working rhythm between Nanjing and Shanghai, and handled and coordinated the work tasks assigned by Whitehall to stabilize the situation in the Far East. Whitehall's principles were also issued to important ambassadors of China and Japan, specifically two points. Neutralization of the Far East and deneuterization of the Pacific.

The Far East wants to maintain the existing system, neither Japan nor China want their strength to expand too quickly. For Japan, they just hope that they will be the reserve for the power of the Old Continent. The German islands in the Pacific are coveted by the Commonwealth countries. They hope to seize them into the hands of the British Empire as soon as possible. As for the United States? Now that President Wilson is in power, his policies are not as aggressive as Taft on the stage at that time, including Assistant Secretary of State Lan Xin, who is responsible for Far East affairs. They all believe that they should not expand their own power in the Pacific, and while maintaining the isolation of the New Continent, they will devote more energy to the Atlantic direction of the Old Continent. The situation here has a situation where Britain is dominant for a while. In addition, Japanese ambassador Maxson is also a fool. Sometimes Crawford even conceited that the situation arrangements in the Far East are all in his hands.

On the lawn of the British Consulate General in Shanghai, it was now a fragrance of a summer night. The commander of the British Far East Fleet Lieutenant General Huatower, who was already in the old British Far East Fleet, came to talk to him about the situation facing the German Far East Qingdao base. The gray-haired Lieutenant General sat on a Chinese-style chair, just kept drinking black tea. Judging from his performance, he did not seem to take the young master as anything.

Crawford smiled secretly in his heart. His father was also a major general of the British Royal Navy. He knew the mentality of these old sailors too well! They thought they were experts in the sea and were not very happy to get guidance from laymen. But the problem in Qingdao in the Far East was a complex political issue that had been entangled with Britain, Japan and China. Of course, this matter requires people with diplomatic vision to make the decision! I believe that he should have received the order from Fleet Street to this lieutenant general. Seeing the order, he asked him to fully respect him before the official war began.

The opinions of the ambassador, was the old general so angry that he burst into anger? Of course, Crawford did not show this smugness on his face. Instead, he broke the silence between the two in a diligent tone: "Lieutenant General, I heard that you sent an officer to inspect Qingdao and Jiaozhou Bay some time ago... There was also a communication with the General Cai E who now controls the entire reserve army. What do you think about the fate of the German Far East Squadron? What do you think about the fate of Qingdao? Do you think China can participate in this game before Japan responds to joining?"

Huatower raised his eyes, as if satisfied with his humble attitude of inquiries, nodded and said solemnly: "Hissue Spey is a respectable naval general. The German Far East Squadron and the two powerful armored cruisers, the German Far East Squadron, are also the most important troubles in the future of the Pacific! The main ships of the Far East Fleet are not their opponents. Only by hoping to get reinforcements from the local fleet during wartime! Fisher's treasure (referring to the battle cruiser) can come over, can this fleet be hunted on the entire vast Pacific Ocean. Because the time for the war is not in the hands of the peace-loving British Empire, but in the hands of Germany. Their squadron can quietly leave Qingdao and sail into

Ocean. Unless we maintain sufficient strength outside Qingdao at any time, this is impossible, you and I know. I have no unrealistic hope for blocking Count Spey in Qingdao... As for Qingdao's land base, leaving the fleet, it does not pose any threat to the Imperial Navy and shipping, so I did not pay much attention to it. The Chinese army did have strong troops outside Jiaodong and was equipped with certain heavy artillery. However, they did not cooperate with the strong maritime forces and wanted to conquer Qingdao, a fortified base. According to my inference, it still requires the cooperation of the Japanese navy. But these issues are not something that I, a soldier, can be considered. Mr. Ambassador, this is your scope of work."

Crawford smiled reservedly, Huatull's judgment was not very different from his judgment. It seems that the Chinese army cannot defeat the German fortresses in Qingdao without the cooperation of the navy. Japan still has to intervene in this piece of fat. At that time, it will be for the sake of Qingdao, Germany, and let these two countries stalemate and consume each other first! This is more in line with the interests of the British Empire. Talking about this matter with the old general is just to allow the navy's opinions to support his views. He has already conceived his report in his heart. The feeling of smooth work is really good.

At this time, while these foreigners were drinking tea leisurely, the system of the Shandong Preparatory Army was carrying out the most difficult pre-war training. Especially the training of combat engineers as a brand new soldier was more concerned by senior generals such as Cai E. Yuchen's army has always had the tradition of using a large amount of explosives to blast and destroy the enemy's solid fortifications. When our army cannot have enough heavy artillery, it can only use human flesh and blood to transport explosives upwards! The combat engineers are such pioneers. They inherited the

Carrying the combat mission of the large army's combat pioneers, eliminating landmines and blasting enemy fortifications, are all about to work hard on the line of fire! The Second Combat Engineer Regiment is such a heroic team. Their source is a battalion of the 50th Regiment of the 17th Brigade of the 9th Division, including the "Guzhen" Company of the hero company, and an infantry battalion of the 35th Brigade of the 18th Division. The history can be traced back to a company that started with the Second Detachment of the Suzhou-Shanghai Revolutionary Army, plus a hero battalion, including Dongshan Company, which was drawn by the 3rd Regiment of the Third Regiment. This vanguard team was formed.

Over the past few days, in Rizhao, the nearby hill fortifications have been transformed into the terrain of core fortifications such as Bismarck North Fort, Ilchis North Fort, Ilchis East Fort, Zhongjiawa Fort, and other core fortifications established by the German Army on the mountain. In addition, a series of infantry fortresses guarded by Xiao Zhanshan, Xiao Zhanshan North, Central, Taitung Town, Taitung Town North, and the coast fortress have also been modeled as everything. All combat troops came here to participate in rotation training. The Second Regiment of the Combat Engineers did not take down every exercise.

Signal flares of different colors rose and fell in the night. Cai E looked at the preset enemy position opposite in the artillery mirror. In such a dark night, he could only see a vague figure walking agilely through the imaginary fire gap. The combat engineers were carrying heavy blasting tubes with yellow explosives of more than 40 pounds, and they exploded one by one, and the cover of the iron turtle was also lifted! Not to mention that these turrets also had ventilation outlets and shooting ports where explosives could be placed! The staff around him were busy. According to the signals transmitted by the signal flares, they issued a loud order to the artillery troops: "The side fire of the Bismarck North Fort is resurrected! The second cluster of field artillery cannons, fire covers the cover!"

"Xiao Zhanshan Blue Army Infantry tries to counterattack, the first cluster of heavy artillery, covering firepower!"

"The artillery escorts another route! The artillery is escorting a route! The rate of fire must be fast, and the range must be maintained!"

Cai E knew that while these telephone orders were issued, there were four or five artillery groups around him performing all artillery movements meticulously. Except for the instructor bullets in the gun barrel, the rest were exactly the same as on the battlefield. When the war really started, his powerful running group and brave soldiers would throw deaths at the enemy and carry out the most courageous assault. This battle that will definitely be carried out in the future has completely deviated from the war form that had existed in China. It is a competition with steel.

For a soldier who came from the old era, he was sincerely relieved that the army he participated in was developing and growing to this point? Looking at the red signal flares representing victory on the forts such as "Bismar North", "Ilchis East", etc., he took his eyes away from the front of the artillery mirror and rubbed his hands with satisfaction: "It is not easy for our president to accumulate this amount of property. It is all for the sake of fighting the war. The more we train, the more confident we are, the fewer people will die!"

The Chief of Staff of the Reserve Army, who was also a famous instructor in Baoding, was specially dug out by Cai E from the Jiangbei Official School. Tang Zaili, the chief instructor of the Artillery Department, who was dug out from the Jiangbei Official School. He graduated from the Japanese Lu Shi with Cai E and had a very good relationship. Because of the joint sponsorship of Cai E and Jiang Baili, Yuchen was appointed as the acting chief of staff of an important unit of the Reserve Army by Yuchen. He also valued his profound attainments in the artillery major. He smiled and handed Cai E a hot towel. Both of them were supervising and observing for more than ten days, and they were exhausted. Let's go around.

The eye socket suddenly became much more energetic. He smiled and said, "I have never been so generous. Four 280mm super-heavy artillery, twenty-four 155mm heavy ditches, twenty-four 150mm heavy ditches, and the mountains and fields of each division. About ten bases of ammunition......... With these brave combat engineers, if we can't fight a good battle, we should pee and die. Germany has less than 6,000 troops in Qingdao, and a hundred cannons are certain to overwhelm them. What we consider is to shorten the time as much as possible according to the president's requirements."

He paused for a moment, and said with a little doubt: "We trained so tightly, we just prepared for the war. After a long time, our morale will decline. Has the president already expected that Europe would start fighting recently? Is it Liuren or Zhuge Wenwang's previous class?" He was half-joking when he said these words, and his foresight of Yuchen's future affairs and good luck in gambling had long become a natural belief in their hearts. Since the schedule set by the above requires the strengthening of the army's training in this way, they will follow the implementation. Cai E just said no, pointing at his head with his finger: "A lot of reading

Only by reading materials and carefully analyzing can you make a correct judgment. You need to know how many hours the president works every day, and you will know if he is in Bu Liuren Fengjiao... Europe is expected to start fighting recently. It is a million corpses and bleeding thousands of miles away. It is our opportunity......" He was chatting with Tang Zaili, and he heard the officers and soldiers of the Second Combat Engineers' Regiment singing military songs, and walked down from the hill with great enthusiasm. The majestic military songs even floated to this cover. Cai E frowned and said, "What? I ordered the military academy officials to withdraw from the internship position of the Second Combat Engineers' Regiment. Has this order been issued?"

Tang Zaili was stunned by his question, and immediately remembered this incident and said with a wry smile: "Songpo, I have conveyed this order. But those school officials have rebounded greatly. The instructors of the military academy also came to plead for mercy. I came from the military academy. Seeing the school officials surrounding me, I really don't know what to say. They said they would ask you for instructions and war. They said that the school officials are also soldiers, so why can't they be in the combat engineering regiment? They are not assigned the same after graduation. They had to open their eyes. Anyway, the head of the army reported that they asked them to withdraw from the combat engineering regiment as soon as the war started. I could only do this.

Listen. Morale is so strong!” He said with a helpless look on his face, but he still couldn't hide his pride for his students: "These young officers can be said to be the cutest and most promising group of people in China now! The Second Combat Engineer Regiment was originally scheduled to dispose of 34 academic officials, but now it is better. Each position has double insurance, which is 68! The black market has also offered a bid. The second Combat Engineer Regiment's internship was short of half a dozen good wines! Although it was a joke, it also shows that they were eager to fight. The first time they took the initiative to regain the territory we were ceded out, and these good young people refused to come to their future generations."

Cai E didn't say anything more. The spirit of these young officers being brave enough to sacrifice and even willing to sacrifice on the road of national rejuvenation has always touched him. But for some reason, Yuchen's words came to his ears: "The prosperity of the motherland and the rejuvenation of the nation, I hope that just one generation will be sacrificed..." In the war in the future, the blood of the sacrifice will bloom even brighter. We are just the later dead.

The singing echoes the mountains and valleys in the night, and at this time and in the future, there is an ideal. The snow is clearer and the frost is brighter.

In the northeast of China, the country that rose through the Meiji Restoration and won victory in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and Russo-Japanese War several times, establishing his status as the No. 1990 million yen in the Far East, the country was at its lowest point before the outbreak of World War I. The interest on borrowing during the Russo-Japanese War of 90 million yen per year, coupled with the huge construction funds of the two armies of the land and navy, put the country's finances on the verge of collapse. The export of traditional raw silk and other industrial products also suffered the greatest shrinkage in the past decade. The Japanese people had already borne extremely heavy taxes. Since the Meiji Restoration, they have contributed almost everything to the ideal of a vague and ethereal eight-pearl. Groups of girls worked as prostitutes in Nanyang, earned foreign exchange to provide blood to the empire, and finally became a homeland.

Ghost. Groups of young peasant families joined the army and navy, fighting for the empire with their minds full of barbaric Yamato, and finally became dry bones on the snowfields in the northeast. In addition, the tax that made people breathless, the rice price that was more than a day, and the depreciation of the money. The empire expanded, but the people did not get any benefits. Instead, they fattened up the chaebols, warlords and politicians. The trend of dissatisfaction brewed in Japan. After Emperor Meiji, a figure who had been lost by mythology, Taisho did not have the authority of his father, and these trends suddenly broke out in the past few years. Kanetaro and Yamamoto Homoe were washed away by the trend one after another. The new cabinet of Shigetsu Okuma Okuma was also helpless and felt very difficult.

At this time, the tense situation in Europe and the dense war clouds saved these shaky Japanese elite rulers. European countries could only relax their control over the Far East at this time. Japan had the opportunity to dominate China and transfer the political and economic crisis. If the Kanto Army defeated the Liaohe Battle. It was Britain and the United States who used the annual capital input to Japan to force Japan not to further expand the situation. Now as the United States turns to isolation, although Britain is still calling checks and balances, it lacks sufficient strength in the Far East. This opportunity is almost "the blessing of the destiny of the country in the Taisho era". This sentence is also the catchphrase of the Meiji veteran Inoue Kin's past these days.

They were originally wary of the rising Yuchen regime, and now they are facing this great opportunity. In addition to the situation of public and private relationships in China, the entire public opinion is turning sharply towards dominating China. They believe that at least Japan must fully grasp the entire Northeast and North China. They use the resources and market there to solve Japan's current problems. A year ago, Japan's central public opinion was still lamenting that "the poor Japanese cannot vigorously expand their rights in China at this time, which is due to the number of days. They can only endure for the time being and wait for the opportunity to develop again." And now they are already excited about the arrival of this opportunity.

Originally, it was a group of army staff officers who declared war on Germany and the army's plan to attack Jiaozhou Bay. As the situation developed, it had been put on the table and became a rare joint combat plan by the army and the navy. Especially after knowing that Yuchen had arranged heavy troops in Shandong, this sense of urgency doubled. Shandong is where they are in a must-fight!

Rex, the German ambassador to Japan, has now become the most pitiful person in Japan. China is still under the banner of maintaining national neutrality within its territory. Japanese public opinion simply traces the hatred of the three countries including Germany interfering in Liao, which is equivalent to making naked war clamor! When did Germany suffer such anger in Europe? He met Prime Minister Okuma several times and tried to negotiate to resolve the problem. However, he was rejected by Shigetsu Okuma several times, so he had to leave it to fate.

The focus of Japan now is Shandong. The most unfavorable situation is that Cai E's reserve army has completed its development. The second fleet of their navy and the expected mobilization of 100,000 troops across the sea will take time. The mobilization is too early, the financial support is difficult, and the Japanese who are very well-planned do not want to waste this money. If the mobilization is too late, it will be difficult for the navy to gain benefits without the army and the navy! The dead end of this problem has finally been solved by the joint understanding of the army and the navy. The solidity of the Qingdao Fortress Base in Germany and the bravery and good at fighting in the German army. The degree of the Iranian Army has not been long.

We can't eat Qingdao, and in just one and a half months, our mobilization will be completed. We can eat Qingdao while driving the Chinese army out of the Jiaodong Peninsula to avenge the Fifth Division of the Kwantung Army! After the army occupied the entire Jiaodong Peninsula, we can cut off the Jinpu Road and swallow half of North China into our mouths depending on the situation. Retreat Qingdao and Lushun also become a horn. With the room for maneuvering in Kanto Prefecture and Jiaodong Peninsula, these places are the stable bases for Japan's future progress! Japan's forces will undoubtedly infiltrate and even control the entire Northeast and half of North China! At that time, if you want to deal with Yuchen, you have too many choices.
Chapter completed!