1890 King of Southeast Asia

"The Qing Dynasty was just destroyed, and the whole country was in chaos. It was difficult to get government orders. Now I heard that military and civilian representatives from various provinces wrote to consult about the state system, saying that this is the top priority.

However, the world is in ruins, and the demands of representatives of various ethnic groups and classes are different. For the sake of comprehensiveness, we should take it slow.

The revolutionary military and political meeting decided not to determine the state system for the time being. After stabilizing the world, we will discuss the state system again."

In mid-July, the revolutionary military government was reorganized into the Huaxia Provisional Government in Jinling and issued a public statement.

In the eyes of many people, this life is just a delaying tactic by Sun Zaizhi who wanted to ascend the throne, but his prestige was not enough to balance the forces of all parties.

In history, such things are not uncommon, and there are even many, such as the strategy of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, to delay the kingship, so most Chinese people can understand it.

But Westerners who don't understand Chinese history did not relax their vigilance, because this is not normal.

"We can't establish a brand new diplomatic relationship with a country that doesn't even have a formal name. No country can do that." Jordan played with the civilization stick and frowned at Yuan Gongbao.

"Mr. Yuan, in your opinion, what does the provisional government mean? Is there some conspiracy behind it?" The Russian envoy speculated on the side.

Of course, he didn't predict anything in advance, but just made malicious guesses about China.

At first, the Russian Empire didn't care about the coup in China. Even if the coup was successful, they just thought about how to get some benefits.

But now, the situation has changed.

Because China ignored the warnings of the Russian Empire and sent troops into the grassland to regain control of Kulun.

Moreover, the Qing Empire has very few troops stationed in the grassland, mainly relying on the leadership of the Eight Banners of Mongolia. In the final analysis, it is a force composed of local people in the grassland, with only a small number of foreign troops stationed.

And looking at the appearance of the provisional government, it seems that it will continue to increase the number of troops stationed in the grassland, which is very, very bad news for the Russian Empire.

The border between the two sides is tens of thousands of kilometers long, and the pressure on border defense is not only China, but also the Russian Empire.

Even because the main forces of the Russian Empire are concentrated west of the Ural Mountains, the border areas are all barren and uninhabited, and it is difficult to mobilize various supplies. The Russian Empire is even more afraid that the Qing Empire will attack them.

Tsarist Russia is planning a "punitive war" to "eliminate China's greed for the grassland."

"Conspiracy? What conspiracy can there be? It's nothing more than being unable to balance the interests of all parties, and not wanting to call the republic a republic and let the power fall into the hands of others." Yuan Gongbao smiled confidently and drank a sip of tea.

"Yuan, we are friends." Jordan touched his smooth civilized stick expressionlessly.

"Minister Jordan, I know what you are worried about, but I can't give an answer to this question!"

"This is no longer the Qing Empire. I am no longer the powerful Yuan Gongbao. I am just a former criminal waiting to be dealt with." Yuan Gongbao looked at the two with a sad face.

The two obviously didn't believe this statement.

Yuan Gongbao was one of the actual controllers of the Qing Empire's military power at the time, and he controlled half of the empire's experienced troops. This kind of person would be liquidated by the revolutionary army no matter how you look at it.

However, after the city was broken, the revolutionary army did not touch him. During this period, the revolutionary army arrested people everywhere, but the Yuan Mansion has been very quiet.

And it is said that Yuan Gongbao is about to take up a post elsewhere.

Various situations indicate that Yuan Gongbao also has his own connections in the revolutionary army, and the level of this relationship is not low.

Therefore, before officially contacting the provisional government, the two chose to come to Yuan Gongbao to test the waters, and it would be best to get the policy of the provisional government.

Of course, Zhu Erdian has more ideas. What is the attitude of the provisional government towards the treaties signed between the Qing Empire and the Qing Empire?

Not those unequal treaties, but other "contracts", such as customs management rights, financial priority, preferential treatment for imports and exports, etc.

"I do have a suggestion, Lin Pingzhi, do you know it?" Yuan Gongbao picked up the teacup and didn't put it down. Seeing the two sitting there motionless, he said helplessly.

"Lin Pingzhi, the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nanhua Empire, who was sent by Nanhua to the Qing Empire to be in charge of industrial construction?" Zhu Erdian frowned and immediately let go.

"Yes, I have inside information that he will become a special adviser to the provisional government. This adviser has considerable power and can have a say in industry and commerce."

"If you really want to know, why not visit him? He is still in the capital." Yuan Gongbao put down the teacup, tired of holding it for a long time.

"This..." Jordan looked ugly.

The first frown was because the provisional government was too pro-Nanhua, and the loosening was because they didn't care.

Compared with rights and interests, the friendship between the same clan is fragile. Jordan believed that the two sides would not be so close forever-because the British Empire would not stand idly by.

This time he looked ugly because if these things were discussed with someone who knew the business, they would not hand them over.

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When the Qing Empire handed over the customs, it was also beyond the British's expectations.

At first, this was not a request from the British, but because the customs were too corrupt and inefficient. After the British protested, the Qing Empire made reforms to the customs.

The focus of the reform is personnel, but no one in the Qing Empire understands what a modern customs looks like, so the Qing Empire hired foreigners at a high price...

When the British heard that the Qing Empire wanted Britain to help find someone to manage the customs, they were stunned, and then they used various visible or covert means to firmly control the customs.

With the control of customs, British goods can enter the Qing Empire market unimpeded, but can secretly exclude goods from other countries, allowing British merchants to take the initiative.

There is no need to tamper with the tax rate. Just add some steps to the inspection and taxation procedures for goods from other countries and reduce the steps for British goods, and the British can gain an overwhelming advantage.

And now, this advantage may be gone forever...

Will Lin Pingzhi agree to the British continuing to control the customs? Zhu Erdian didn't know, and he couldn't talk to Sun Zaizhi directly, that was after establishing diplomatic relations.

Establishing diplomatic relations is also a bargaining chip. Zhu Erdian didn't plan to use this bargaining chip so early, so he came to Yuan Gongbao.

What are the Russians doing here? Don't get me wrong, the Russians are not interested in these, they just come here to sow discord.

Provoke the relationship between Yuan Gongbao and other former ministers and the interim government, hoping that they can tie up the energy of the interim government.

It won't take long, when the Balkan war is over and the Russian Empire can focus on the Far East, it will be fine.

After all, no matter how many battle plans there are, the Russian Empire will not open the battlefield in the east before the end of the Balkan War.

This is also the reason why all the Russian troops retreated when the Third Regiment attacked Kulun.

The Russian Empire's investment in the Balkans requires them to keep most of their energy in Europe, and in the Far East, they also need to guard against the Japanese.

It is extremely unwise to confront the provisional government head-on at this time. If something unexpected happens, it will be a two-front or even a three-front war.

Moreover, the battle broke out in the border area where the empire's control ability is weak, and the logistics transportation alone can cost the Russian Empire half its life.

The Russian Empire, which is full of disadvantages and poor, cannot afford such a war.

Therefore, the Tsarist Russian Empire hopes to stabilize the provisional government, at least to make them unable to take further action. This is the purpose of the Tsarist Russian envoy's visit.

…………

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At the end of July, after the initial arrangement was completed, Sun Zaizhi first made military preparations.

The British actions in the plateau area had been reported to Bashu. At that time, Bashu was negotiating with Jinling about the treatment. After receiving the news, they sent out 2,000 people at the first time.

It was not that they did not want to send more people, but the Governor's Office of Bashu and the various offices had no money. No matter how many more people they sent, they could not even guarantee food.

Bashu was a province with a large tax burden, so why did it have no money?

Bashu was indeed a land of abundance, and its annual surplus was second only to that of Liangjiang and Liangguang, but Bashu was not only responsible for Bashu.

Yunnan and Guizhou were relatively poor, with great pressure on border defense and insufficient military pay. Every year, Bashu had to help pay the military pay, not to mention the plateau. All expenditures were allocated by the Governor's Office of Bashu.

It was not the autumn harvest yet, and the taxes collected in the first half of the year were not enough, and many expenses were still owed.

This time, the arsenal of Bashu was almost emptied.

The plateau matter was urgent. Sun Zaizhi thought it was not very optimistic that the Sichuan army, which could not guarantee the logistics supply of 2,000 people, would climb up the plateau.

In order to send troops to the plateau as soon as possible and drive out foreign enemies, Sun Zaizhi requisitioned a large number of small-tonnage steamships to transport food, wages and supplies to Bashu, and boldly used important officials of the Qing Empire.

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This alone is not enough, the country is too big.

"Huang Zhengfang is hereby appointed as the commander of the grassland border defense army headquarters, fully responsible for the grassland and western border military and civilian affairs..."

"Zhao Erfeng is hereby appointed as the commander of the plateau border defense army headquarters, responsible for the plateau border military affairs."

"Huang Keqiang is hereby appointed as the commander of the Guangdong-Guangxi border defense army and concurrently the admiral of the Nanyang Navy, in charge of the navy and army affairs of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian provinces..."

The actual controller of the grassland border defense army headquarters is Wang Xu, but Wang Xu is too famous, a true South China man, and can't hide it from anyone.

Unlike Huang Zhengfang, who made up a random background for him, saying that he was born in a small mountain village in Bashu, no one knows whether it is true or not.

So Wang Xu carried out activities under the name of the military adviser of the grassland border defense army of the provisional government.

Huang Zhengfang, the former deputy chief of staff and chief of staff of the Second Army, is young, but he is not unacceptable to a new regime.

As for Zhao Erfeng...

...

Bashu, Chengdu.

Because there was no road protection, there was no movement in Bashu, and it was very stable overall. Even if there was a dog brain outside, Bashu still maintained its past comfort.

But today, Chengdu is bustling.

Since the Bashu Governor's Office sent out 2,000 green camps two days ago, Zhao Erfeng summoned 5,000 patrol camps, 3,000 green camps, and 5,000 civilians today, and prepared enthusiastically.

"Father, where are you going? To be an officer in the revolutionary army?" Zhao Erfeng's son just received the news and hurried home, and saw the old man in military uniform preparing to go out.

"Suppressing the rebellion and eliminating foreign enemies is the proudest thing in my father's life, and it is also my father's lifelong career."

"The court is gone, and I thought my career would end here. Who knew that I was ready to retire and return to the countryside, and I was caught doing this." Zhao Erfeng smiled and shook his head.

"Father, this is not your responsibility alone. At your age, this is a plateau, and autumn is coming soon. You..."

"No need to say more, I will definitely go." Zhao Erfeng shook his head.

"Gossip can melt gold!" His son persuaded.

"I, Zhao Erfeng, have never let down the court, but now the court is gone and the country is in trouble. I am grateful for the trust of the people of the world to let me go on this journey."

"My father made his fortune on the battlefield. Even if he dies, it is a worthy death. I can't let the British take my territory for nothing, right?"

"Jinling sent four million taels and it has been delivered through the bank before I agreed to be the commander."

"Trust your people. His Sun Zaizhi has such a broad mind. Should I be afraid of putting so much money in my hands? I am already in my seventies and eighties, which is just a joke."

Zhao Erfeng knew what his son meant. After all, he was an old minister of the Qing Empire. He was bathed in the emperor's grace and promoted by Mangui all the way.

Helping the provisional government would make him look like a traitor.

But he had his own ideas.

The Qing Empire was gone. What he was worried about was the future of his descendants. He was not worried about earning a future, but was afraid of being liquidated.

He had been an official for many years, but he only made his fortune in recent years. His foundation was not stable.

He climbed so fast, so he would have many enemies.

Even if the provisional government did not liquidate him, who could say whether his enemies would gain power?

You know, there are many local famous families among these people, who hold the people in their hands, just like the aristocratic families. The change of dynasties has no effect on them at all.

He was still hesitating whether to hold the army and be self-reliant, or to kill people in large numbers - the military power was firmly in his hands.

Just as he was in a dilemma, news came from the plateau that the British came in, and the 13th Emperor killed the minister in Tibet and responded to the British.

He immediately sent troops to fight and sent a telegram to Jinling, saying that he had experience and could help with this matter.

Unexpectedly, Jinling sent him money and a letter of appointment directly. Sun Zaizhi also told him that a batch of weapons and ammunition had set sail from Sanzhen, and a division of the Plateau Frontier Defense Army had also set off from Shandong.

Zhao Erfeng was a Han army bannerman, an important official of the Qing Empire, and his father and brothers were all important officials. This is a well-known fact.

"With such courage, I am far inferior to him..." The moment Zhao Erfeng got the money, his mood was very complicated.

From a standpoint, he was a member of the ruling class of the Qing Empire and should hate the provisional government very much.

But in fact, since the death of the old witch, the entire empire has been like turning on the accelerator, losing control of the local areas, and the contradictions between the nobles and the literati have become increasingly prominent.

As an important official serving in the local area, Zhao Erfeng has a deep understanding of this, so he is mentally prepared for the fall of the Qing Empire.

Not only him, most people, including Yuan Gongbao, Prince Qing, etc., are mentally prepared for this.

So Zhao Erfeng did not have any resistance to serving the provisional government, but was shocked by Sun Zaizhi's courage to use people without doubt. If he put himself in his shoes, he would definitely not be able to do it.

"Report! Marshal, food, wages and supplies have been purchased, and military equipment and ammunition are scarce, but I heard that the ships carrying military equipment have passed Yichang and will arrive in ten days.

"Arrived in ten days? So fast?" Zhao Erfeng was shocked.

"I heard that they are all steamships, working day and night, and can travel hundreds of miles a day. They have passed Baidi City, and these river sections are much easier to travel. "

"Pass my order to prepare for war. "Zhao Erfeng nodded when he heard this.

(Ten days)