Chapter 173: Battle

The news of Qingdao's victory broke through the uneasy air of China's current period like lightning. In addition to Yuchen's presidential office system and military system, out of almost blind trust in him, he had unwavering confidence in winning under his leadership. The government also has the people, although the national spirit was also rising for a while. However, he was still a little confused about the future. In front of him was the German fortress, and the Japanese army that was about to take advantage of the situation. At this time, various countries acquiesced to Japan's actions. In the eyes of the great powers, the strong Japanese army prepared and strong will definitely defeat the Chinese army in Shandong. Anyway, Japan has already guaranteed them that it will never involve the traditional interests of various countries in China. When Japan needs Japan to help them stabilize the Far East situation, and even their strength may even need their strength to participate in European wars. Isn't it the most natural choice to sacrifice a little Chinese interests to appease Japan? Anyway, China is in Japan

Before the army, there shouldn't be too strong resistance. The turmoil in the Far East will soon settle down. Since this is the case, it would be better to acquiesce to Japan's actions. Although the people in China are angry, most people are not very confident in their psychology. They will almost have conflicts with the two powerful countries at the same time. If the Qingdao Fortress cannot be defeated and the Japanese army lands on legitimate reasons, what should they do in Shandong? The newspapers have filled Japanese news and make the people feel more concerned.

The turmoil and uneasy were added. The Japanese army's covetousness for Shandong and the scale of the army's mobilization were all spread to the country. In the eyes of many people, a year after the establishment of this new government, it is now dark clouds and the future is uncertain. Some people still pessimistically believe that why is the road to national rejuvenation so difficult? In the almost certain international order of the great powers, backward countries are absolutely not allowed to challenge their status! The status of a strong country will always be the thing in the pocket of those countries that take the lead!

But after the news that Qingdao was conquered by the National Defense Force within three days came, the whole country suddenly became excited. They did not understand the heavy sacrifices made by attacking the Qingdao National Defense Force. They just knew that the Qingdao Fortress, which was known as the one who could hold on for three months, and the army of the European No. 6,000 strong army. In 72 hours, their commander handed over his command knife to General Cai E! The photo of Wadek bowing his head and handing over the saber was put on the front page by every newspaper. The mentality of the Chinese people who had been weak for a long time went to another extreme. We are so powerful! Even the Japanese approached the seaside and the soldiers pressed over the country before the country was over. In public opinion, there was another article asking: "Where is our navy?" He believed that the army had defeated the army of the world's No. 1 power, why could not the navy give any invasion?

The Japanese Navy, which is threatening our country, took a heavy blow? At the end of the article, he said heroically: "………… The German Army guards the most powerful fortress, with far more heavy artillery and machine guns than our army. However, under the attack of our Chinese warriors for three days, this fortress, which claims to never fall, was already flying the flag of the Republic of China. At this time, at the sea, the Japanese fleet had approached the national gate. Where is our navy at this time? Even if the Japanese fleet has an advantage, this

The comparison of strength is just a ratio of the gap between the German army and our army. It is possible to launch an attack with the spirit of victory, and there may not be no possibility of victory. The naval soldiers with pearls and jade in front, and the salary is more than 10% higher than that of the army officers and soldiers on average. Where are the naval soldiers now? The country raises troops, but when Japanese warships were rampant in front of them, it is impossible to find the army to face the threat of the enemy's sea and land joint threats independently. Although I still have the confidence to win, the naval soldiers would rather not be ashamed of themselves?"

They did not know that Qingdao was the National Defense Army, which used ten times the strength of the troops, slightly superior artillery, and the infantry firepower far exceeding the German army, and it only took three times the price of Germany's casualties. The strength of the navy and the Japanese navy was far different. Wars could not be won by slogans. However, after suppressing inferiority for hundreds of years, the national people's spirit, at this time, a not-so-big victory over the great powers, suddenly made many people in the country crazy. Under such circumstances, Yuchen and his team still had to maintain a calm judgment on the situation.

The Army made such heavy sacrifices to win Qingdao in order to gain a strong position in diplomatic efforts. Although it is ready to fight with Japan, the best result is a political solution. China's vitality needs to be retained at this time. The four years of opportunity in the first battle are the golden period of national industry and national strength development. You cannot miss this opportunity no matter what! If Qingdao does not fight for it and throw it to Japan, it will be a huge threat to our country's local security and national integrity. If security is not discussed, what else can we say about development? In this case, if we do not show the ability to be self-reliant, how can we expect the great powers to allow you to participate in international games?

But if the situation is out of control and delays the golden development time of these four years, it will be more than worth the loss. Yuchen's Qingdao strategy is to maintain a balance between these two different paths, not only to ensure the interests of the country, but also to maintain the peaceful pattern of the Far East in these four years. His strong position he has worked hard to create finally came in handy at this time. Other people's opinions cannot stop his decisions, and his decisions often win blind support. Although he cannot fully understand the future situation at all, he still firmly follows his established strategy.

The victory of the German army in Qingdao also alarmed the eyes of the great powers. The long-standing discourse and even prejudice against China in their minds were violently oscillated. The Far East strategic experts of the great powers began to carefully evaluate China's power for the first time, and the impact of their actions on the geopolitical pattern of the Far East. It has to be said that the analysis and evaluation of these experts of the great powers is much more scientific than those in China with only patriotic enthusiasm. They have long investigated the defensive power of the German army fortress in Qingdao. The real strength of a military port lies in the warships that are anchored in the port, and the power that supports these warships to continue to fight.

After the cruiser squadron in the Far East left, Qingdao had become a dead place with a lame leg, without much threat, and could also be captured. The fortifications in Qingdao were strong enough, although not as strong as some famous European fortresses. However, this degree of solidity was beyond the Lushun in the Russo-Japanese War that year. There were 6,000 German soldiers guarding them. Britain had planned to attack Qingdao. It believed that with the cooperation of a Japanese strengthening division of about 30,000, plus three to four battalions of British soldiers and a certain naval force, it was estimated that Qingdao could be captured within half a month. This is still a relatively optimistic estimate.

But they never expected that with only three days, just three days, the Chinese army completely wiped out the infantry fortress at Qingdao Fortress Base without the support of naval artillery fire, and approached the fortress that had no resistance to infantry. Even if the famous elite highland divisions in the British Empire were transferred, they would not dare to say that they would have achieved such results in the fortress fortifications guarded by the Germans! The 9th Division, the 18th Division, the 1st, 2nd, and 21st Divisions under the An Meng Army, as well as the backbone troops such as the instructor, had fully equipped and combat power at the level of European powers. Because of this strength, China's political territory in the Far East

The above position seemed to have become more important overnight than before. These researchers even found out that they were just used to balance Japan's ambitions and allow them to calm down in the Far East. They were fully capable of resisting the invasion of the Japanese army! The three divisions mobilized by Japan this time, first of all, from a legal perspective, because the German army in Qingdao was disarmed and the leased land was forcibly taken back by China, there was no excuse to continue to advance. Secondly, even if they continued to stubbornly implement their military policy, they would not be able to win quickly, and it was very likely that they would evolve into a long-term and lasting war between the two countries!

Thinking that when Europe begins the war, fierce and long-term conflicts will break out in the Far East. These two countries are not only objects that the Allies can use. The interests of the Allies will also be fundamentally affected. The most important thing is that such a situation in the Pacific is very likely to attract the United States to turn its attention to Asia and ignore the Old Continent! The Allies are very familiar with their domestic isolationist thoughts. They try their best to avoid disputes in the Old Continent, and they attach great importance to commercial interests in the Pacific. The most important thing is that they have a Philippines there. If this situation really happens, it will be a nightmare for the Allies!

An argument was almost immediately raised. The Allies forced to mediate the dispute between the two countries. They took advantage of the fact that they both seek the Allies. They also needed to restrain each other, so they could easily tie them to the Allies' chariots! China could provide some army and their resources. The Japanese navy was also very needed by the Allies! At this time, they could not foresee the terrible casualties in the European war. The huge need for infantry in the frontline trenches, and at that time, Chinese soldiers had such an important position in their minds. However, at this moment, they had vaguely foresaw this possibility.

Because of the victory of the war in Qingdao, the international situation changed again. However, the Japanese army, a war machine that had begun to operate, did not stop so easily. They were also burned by the huge interests in front of them. The army, which spent a lot of money to mobilize, did not have the need to stop due to the subtle changes in the psychology of the great powers! How could such an opportunity encountered in the Taisho era give up so easily? And China also needs to continue to show the strength and new appearance they have now in order to win more respect and possible peace. The situation is still moving towards the direction of war. The huge inertia of the two countries' policies cannot be stopped due to changes in certain situations.

On August 10th, British Ambassador to China Crawford initiated a good office in his private name. However, in the British documents released in 1950, it was discovered that this good office was ordered by British Foreign Secretary Gray. The scribbled font written by Grey himself said in the scribbled font written by Grey himself: "……Mr. Mark, can we do something before China and Japan collide head-on? If we express our opinions after the two countries fight and are exhausted,

That would be too stupid. They must know that the British Empire has been paying attention to them... In this way, when both sides feel that there is no decisive result, the first reaction is probably to look for the goodwill of the empire. Of course, you know, for some reason, now we cannot (the important line is drawn under the words that cannot be used here) to violate the sensitive self-esteem of the Japanese Empire, and we still need them. Please do this in your private name, and I believe in your ability……”

The mediation was undoubtedly ultimately failed. The Japanese representative Japanese island minister proposed the excessive demands of the Okuma Cabinet, and Jiaozhou Bay was sublet to Japan. The loans and mortgages of interests during the Yuan Shikai government must be recognized by the new government. The private representative of Yuchen government, his secretary-general Chen Qun, rejected Japan's proposal with a proud attitude. They claimed that the bottom limit of the Chinese government was to return the loan of 17.5 million yen that the Yuan Shikai government had obtained from Japan, without interest. The sovereignty of Jiaozhou Bay cannot be discussed. The interests of Manchuria cannot be discussed. For this reason, the Japanese Okuma Cabinet issued a statement on August 10, claiming that Japan had already paid tribute to Germany.

In the war, Germany's base in Jiaozhou Bay must be under the control of Japan. At the same time, it is the collateral for the final implementation of the Chinese government's implementation of the 19 Articles signed by Yuan Shikai. China, as a country that signed a treaty of friendly cooperation with Germany, must be under the surveillance of the Great Japanese Empire to prevent them from destroying the interests of the Allied countries in the Far East. In the statement, he also ensured that the actions of the Japanese Empire would not affect the great rights and interests of the British Empire on the Yangtze River. This is also the beginning of the Japanese Empire's full participation in the war against the Allied Powers. They conducted private negotiations with the United States to ensure that the status of the Yuchen government would not further shake, and that the US's commercial interests in China could be fully guaranteed.

This announcement, known as Okuma's declaration on China in 1914, was equivalent to giving actionable orders to the Japanese fleet that had arrived outside Jiaozhou Bay and the first batch of Japanese troops who had already arrived one after another, carrying 30,000 Japanese troops from the Kumamoto Sixth Division. The Japanese fleet immediately began the clearing of the waterway outside Jiaozhou Bay. The artillery of the Chinese army, who took over the German coastal defense fort, immediately launched the torpedo destroyers sent by Japan with 210 mm heavy artillery artillery. The war between the two countries began without declaring war on both sides. In the summer of 1914, the test faced by the Yuchen government was one after another. Finally, this final and most sinister test was ushered in.

The newly built four-story Western-style building of Congress also emits the smell of paint. In the conference hall, all the members of parliament sat there nervously, looking at the empty podium. Today, reporters and group representatives were also allowed to enter the venue to listen and interview records. Outside the Congress building, the serious and neatly armed military and police arranged cordons and checked the documents of every person entering the venue. The turning point of the country is today. Every person wearing uniforms has something called a sense of mission.

The side door of the venue opened, and then I saw Yuchen wearing military uniforms and frowning appeared in everyone's sight. Everyone stood up at the same time. The applause began to sound from the first moment he stepped into the hall. Until the young president and soldier walked onto the podium, it had not calmed down. Some of the MPs and gentlemen who had always disagreed with Yuchen were also applauding vigorously at this time. At this moment, Yuchen was everyone's hope, everyone's support, and the representative of the indomitable national spirit. At this moment, everyone's minds were concentrated in one place, that is, unity and anti-aggression.

Yuchen stood on the podium, waiting quietly for the applause to calm down. At this moment, his expression seemed very calm. Only the eyes like lightning under his thick black eyebrows revealed the huge waves in his heart. The applause lasted for a long time and finally calmed down. Yuchen looked at everyone and finally spoke.

"Just today, the government's diplomatic efforts were finally declared a failure. The Japanese fleet began to invade Jiaozhou Bay. Our army's artillery in Qingdao counterattacked. A war between the two countries seemed inevitable.

This war was initiated by Japan for their ambition to annex China in the future. After my brave National Defense Force captured Qingdao for three days, the Japanese army had no excuse to send troops. Qingdao is now under the legal power of the government. Instead of the German military base, all German soldiers have been disarmed! But in this case, the Japanese Okuma Cabinet still brazenly insisted that they would put Jiaozhou Bay under their control. Today, Prime Minister Okuma himself issued an announcement that actually called their operation the collateral for the 19 secret contract for the stolen country signed by Yuan Shikai's provisional government. It was called the surveillance action of the Chinese government that had just fought a bloody battle with the Allied Army, defended the rights and interests of the motherland, and restored the motherland's territory. This is their robber logic!"

Yuchen's eyes shot out a terrifying light at this time, as if he was declaring his determination: "Our National Government can only decisively safeguard the fundamental interests of our country and our nation at this time. Resist to the end! They provoked this war, and we will stay with us until our opponents admit defeat! The Chinese nation is a great nation, and the government finally established since the restoration will no longer be weak outside the government. We have a strong army, patriotic people, and the trace of blood that has been passed down by our ancestors to maintain our Chinese nation for thousands of years! The current world is a world where the strong prey on the weak. We can only fight to the end, restore the honor of our nation, win the respect of the world, and establish our status!

If Japan was allowed to occupy Jiaozhou Bay, the entire North China would be their next spoil. With their ambitions even more expanded, they would not give up any opportunity to continue to eat us. Until our entire country becomes their colony, the entire Chinese nation will become their slaves! At this moment, if we give in, we will completely lose the opportunity for our national rejuvenation and will make Japan a country grow uncontrollably. Perhaps in the near future, our nation will make ten times more efforts and a hundred times more sacrifices before resurrection will be reborn! "At this moment, he seemed to remember the blood and fire of another eight years in time and space, and the sacrifice of 35 million people. His tone became doubled and deeper.

"Now our defense force has concentrated 150,000 main army in Shandong, and 80,000 troops on the Yangtze River are guarding along the river. In Northeast China, there are 160,000 troops monitoring the movements of the Japanese Kwantung Army and the Korean army. I have no doubt that in this most critical moment of the nation, our army will fight to the end and play their consistent glorious traditions. Let the Japanese army receive heavy lessons. I also have no doubt that the MPs here, representatives of the group organs, and the people of our country will fully support the National Defense Forces.

The battle. At this moment, we only have one common name, that is, the Chinese! No matter how much sacrifice or how difficult it is, we will win the final victory! As for diplomatic negotiations, treaties and secret treaties, let’s talk about everything after our army wins! Now there is only one word, war!" The word war is so deafening that a hundred years later, the aftermath of the Yuchen at that time can still be heard. A country that truly enters the world and embarks on the road to power is born after the word war.

"This President will be ordered to go to Shandong to command the entire army in person to carry out this war of resistance against aggression. The ancestors of the Xuanyuan Hua tribe are the heroes of the country and nation. In this war, the President vows to deal with the enemy until the final victory! In this crisis, the people of our country should unite and fight against foreign aggression together! You and my dear citizens and compatriots, please wait for me to come back to inform you of the news of our army's final victory! I will tell you this!"

He stood attentively and saluted, looking around the audience. History was frozen at this moment.
Chapter completed!