Respectfully

Early morning, February 1916, 2

On the battlefield on the Western Front in Europe, there was a deafening sound of artillery.

The German army filled the twelve-kilometer-long front with more than 1000 cannons and began a six-hour bombardment.The shells hit the defensive positions and field fortifications of the French army at a rate of [-] rounds per hour. The French border town of Verdun was shrouded in terrible smoke and raging fire.

This small town with only [-] residents is known as the gateway to Paris and the only part where the Allied forces broke into the German positions. Its strategic significance is very important.

The Germans knew this, and so did the Allied forces.

But at the beginning of the war, the leaders of the Allied Powers had a quarrel over whether to send more troops to Verdun. At the time of their uncompromising debate, the 20 French troops in Verdun had already exchanged fire with more than [-] German troops. , the casualties of the French army are increasing at an alarming rate.

The tactics adopted by the German army when they attacked Verdun were simple and brutal.That is to use large-scale shelling to destroy the enemy's defensive positions and defensive will. After the shelling is over, the infantry immediately launches an attack to occupy the enemy's position.

This kind of cannon bombardment and infantry occupation tactics was repeatedly adopted in World War I, and the German frontline commanders also developed the "barrage slow advance" based on this

Tactics, the artillery shells are pushed forward almost in rows, further clearing the way for the infantry to attack and occupy.

After a long period of bombardment, most of the French field fortifications in Verdun were destroyed, but the French army defending here showed a strong will to fight, just like the British army in the Battle of Ypres, Stand firm on your own ground and never retreat a step.

Bombardment, charge, and hand-to-hand combat were staged many times.

The Germans waved their butcher knives, and they wanted to cut off the neck of the Gallic rooster. The French also waved their weapons. They vowed that unless the Germans ran over their corpses, they would never move forward!

The war has been anxious from the very beginning. Here, the concepts of justice and evil are completely blurred. People are dying every minute. No one cares who is dying, whether it is their comrades in arms or enemies, because the next moment, the bullets are fired. The one in it will be yourself.

The battle lasted for three days. The French army in Verdun was surrounded by the Germans on three sides and was about to collapse. The leaders of the Allied Powers finally made a decision that Verdun cannot be lost to the Germans!

At this time, it was only one step away from the German army's capture of Verdun.

The Chinese Military Observer Group in Europe sent everything that happened on the Western Front to the country by telegram.Even seasoned generals, after witnessing the battle at Verdun, used the word "terrible."

"It was a massacre, massacring the enemy and massacring myself."

Due to the sudden outbreak of the Battle of Verdun, the members of the observation team who were supposed to return home were stranded in Europe, and the boarding of the new batch of members could only be postponed. The young military cadets who were full of expectations were very disappointed.Perhaps only young men who have never experienced a real battlefield will be full of expectations for such a war, but any soldier who has personally walked through the **** hell can predict the outcome of this war just by hearing the strength of the two sides in the battle. Tragic.

On the battlefield, the death of a soldier is always just a cold number on the battle report.

The Huaxia Military Observation Group sent back more and more telegrams. One of the telegrams made President Lou Da and Marshal Lou frowned. Three members of the observation group took up weapons without authorization and joined the battle.

When Huaxia did not intend to participate, or was about to participate in the European war, the behavior of these three members was likely to cause trouble for Huaxia and become an excuse for the Europeans to pull Huaxia into the battlefield.

"They are fighting for the French." The same piece of information was sent to Li Jinyan. Looking at the contents of the telegram, Li Jinyan's face also became serious.

These three people are different from the Chinese pilots who joined the French Foreign Legion. Their actions may affect China's neutral position. Don't they think about it before doing things?

"Is there anything more specific?"

"French newspapers have already reported on this matter." Adjutant Liu said: "The President ordered the members of the military observation group to return to China immediately, and the time for the next group of observation group members to go abroad has also been postponed."

In the newspaper?

Li Jinyan looked up in astonishment, the reaction of the Europeans was faster than he expected.

Just as Li Jinyan thought, before the members of the military observation team boarded the ship, envoys from Britain, France, Germany and other countries came to the door one after another.

The purpose of Britain and France is very clear. Now that the Chinese have taken up arms, they should try their best to draw them to their side.

The purpose of the Germans is also very clear. They must find out whether China intends to join the Allied Powers?If not, can Huaxia be pulled into his camp?

Even the blacks in Africa are armed, and the red-eyed Europeans will not give up whatever power they can use.

Both sides are sparing no effort to persuade the Chinese government. The Germans not only listed their various "cooperation" with China, but also pointed out that they, together with their allies, can completely return the concessions that are jointly managed with China to the Chinese government, and at the same time give up all Boxer indemnities , and dispatch technical experts to support Huaxia's industrial development.

The conditions were very exciting, but Zhan Changqing, who was in contact with German Minister Xin Ci, knew very well that the German and Austrian concessions, called joint management, were actually controlled by China. As for Boxer compensation, the customs also controlled In the hands of the British, the Germans are at war with the British, and they can't even get a hair, which is also a blank check.Only dispatching experts has some practical significance.But the Germans are now mobilizing the whole country to go to war in Europe. Even if they can fulfill their promise, they have to wait until the end of the war or after they gain an absolute advantage on the battlefield.

Once Huaxia agrees to the conditions proposed by the Germans, it will definitely pay much more than it gets!From the beginning to the end, this is a business that is hyped, but destined to lose money.

After Xin Ci left, British Minister Zhu Erdian and French Minister Kant came hand in hand.

Britain and France have also paid a lot of money this time. They proposed more favorable conditions than the Germans. The concessions are jointly managed, the customs will be handed over to the Chinese government within five years, and more boxer indemnities will be refunded for China's education.

The two countries also proposed that the land "occupied" by China in countries such as Myanmar and India can be formally ceded to China.Anyway, it's all about being generous to others. When it comes to the interests of the native and colonial countries, of course the colonies of the two countries will be sacrificed.

Zhu Erdian, who is old and mature, has other thoughts. Once these lands are ceded to Huaxia, they can completely divert the disaster and draw the anger of the colonial resistance forces to the Huaxia people. Even if the two sides cannot fight, it is enough to destroy their previous relationship. some kind of covenant.Huaxia people are indeed very smart, but sometimes, smart people are blinded by interests.

Buying the Chinese people and weakening the Chinese people at the same time, if the British Empire wants to maintain its interests in China, it must disrupt the pace of China's development. This is Zhu Erdian's original intention.

After seeing off Zhu Erdian and Kant, Zhan Changqing closed his eyes slightly, and wiped the rim of the teacup with his finger again and again. He was indeed moved by the conditions of the British, but it was only a heartbeat.

President Lou Da's attitude is very clear, Huaxia will never get involved in the European war at this time.Once mixed in, 1916% will be consumed as cannon fodder.This is why Li Jinyan tried every means to avoid China's involvement in the European war.If you want to send troops, you can't wait until the Verdun and Somme battles are over in [-]. Europeans will really face difficulties. By then, their conditions will be hundreds of times better than they are now.

"Concession, Customs, Customs, Border Territory." Li Jinyan sneered, "It was originally a Chinese thing, but it was used by these bandits as an exchange. It's really a beautiful idea."

Young Master Lou Er, who was putting together a puzzle at his desk, raised his head and asked in puzzlement, "Brother Yan?"

"It's okay." Li Jinyan put down the telegram, hugged Lou Ershao to his lap, picked up a piece of jigsaw puzzle, and placed it on the half-formed horse map.

Only when the strength of the country is strong, other countries will look at you.Otherwise, it can only be regarded as a big cake, or a fat little sheep, waiting for these robbers to eat with a knife and fork.

Even the sage Confucius once said, how can you repay a grievance with virtue?Repay grievances with straightness, repay virtue with virtue!Li Jinyan is not a saint, but an ordinary person. What he believes in is that people don't deceive me, I don't deceive others, and if people deceive me, I will pay back double!

Never have mercy on a robber who breaks into your home.When someone slaps you, do you still have to smile and put your face close together to slap you?That's not being kind to others, that's committing crimes.

The lessons of history are right in front of us. The most important thing is always the interests of our own country and people.

On February 2, Mrs. Lou took Er Shao Lou to leave Guanbei by train and return to the capital.

Before leaving, Mrs. Lou and Li Jinyan had a long talk.

Although he had expected it in his heart, Li Jinyan still hesitated when Mrs. Lou formally proposed to entrust Lou Er Shao to him to "raise".

In the end, Li Jinyan was really uncertain about whether he could take on the responsibility of being the second youngest in the education building.He knows how weak he is, and even with the experience of two lives, he is not enough to look at in front of the elites of this era.For this reason, he is also constantly learning. The more he learns, the more he can discover his own shortcomings.

With him like this, can he really teach Second Young Master Lou well?

What if the provision is crooked?

What if he grows up to be like him, with all his heart and eyes full of Brother Kong Fang?Or what should I do if I was influenced by Mr. Lou, a cool guy with an expressionless face at a young age?

It's not that Brother Ku is bad, but that such a doughnut turned into a hard rock in a blink of an eye, no matter how you think about it, it's not right.

There are a lot of problems before us, none of which can be easily solved.

"I've seen how you and Rui'er get along these days, and I believe you can take him with you. He's still young, and when he's six years old, I'll send him to Guanbei." Lou Madam didn't give Li Jinyan a chance to object, and made a decision in a few words.

After finishing speaking, Madam Lou got up and left, leaving Li Sanshao sitting alone in the room for a long time, speechless.

Originally thought that Marshal Lou's arrogance was inherited from President Lou Da, but now it seems that it is somewhat different from what he thought...

Standing on the platform, watching the train leave, Li Jinyan couldn't help thinking of the little leopard who hugged him and never let go. Is this the so-called "long-term love"?Regardless of whether the words are used correctly or not, his feelings for this little leopard are indeed different from those for other people, just like the fat boy on the fifth floor and the little girl on the sixth floor, they are equally beautiful and lovable, but in them, Li Jinyan seldom has the patience and care for Lou Er Shao.

The fate between people is so strange, I can't figure it out, and I can't find the reason.

As everyone left one after another, the Marshal's Mansion, which had been bustling for a first month, finally calmed down.It seems that Bai Lao will stay in Guanbei for a long time. Now he writes and writes every day, listens to the radio, plays Tai Chi, occasionally gives advice to Li Jinyan, sees old friends again, drinks tea and plays chess.

Li Jinyan practiced Tai Chi twice with Bai Lao, and it was interesting, but Li Jinyan couldn't get up early every day like the old man.When Marshal Lou is in the mood, Li Sanshao will be bedridden for at least half the morning.

On February 2, the coalition government officially sent a note to the ministers of Britain, France and other countries, stating that China will continue to remain neutral to the European War.

On the same day, the Verdun battlefield on the Western Front of Europe finally ushered in a turning point. The 60-year-old General Petain was appointed by the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces Joffre as the commander-in-chief of the front line and went to Verdun to organize the battle.

Before the beginning of World War I, Petain was just an unknown brigade commander. He commanded a few small battles at the beginning of the war, but he was appreciated by Joffre by chance. The brigade commander was promoted to the commander of the group army. This promotion speed can be described as riding a rocket.

Later facts proved that his ability to command combat was not inferior to his promotion speed.

The first thing Petain did when he arrived in Verdun was to draw a supervisory line in front of all French officers and soldiers, declaring that no one, including himself, would be allowed to retreat beyond this line.

Better to sacrifice your life than give up your position to the Germans!

This move boosted the morale of all the French troops. When they resisted the German attack, they behaved more bravely, and carried out Petain's words throughout.

After the morale was boosted, Petain immediately started to deploy and replenish the army personnel and materials.

At this time, Verdun was besieged on three sides, and the only access to the outside world that was not cut off by the German army was a secondary road less than six meters wide.If he wanted to defend Verdun, Petain had to find a way to gather at least 20 troops and more than [-] tons of supplies within a week, which was almost impossible.

But miracles always happen under the most unlikely circumstances.

All vehicles in Paris were conscripted, including all private cars and taxis. These cars lined up in long queues, going back and forth between the front line and the rear day and night. On both sides of the road, torches were set up for these drivers and taxis. Vehicles show the way ahead.This road became the lifeline for the French army to persist in Verdun, and it was also called the Holy Road by the French of later generations.

Without this road, the Battle of Verdun would not have been the turning point of the First World War. The winner of the European War might still be the Allied Powers, but the price they paid for the victory would be several times higher.

Pétain, who commanded the Battle of Verdun, was also regarded by the French as a national hero. Unfortunately, this hero died late and surrendered to the Germans during World War II, becoming a "traitor".

At one stop, he led the French army to fight against Germany for ten months and saved Verdun.

During World War II, he surrendered to the same opponent and became the head of the French puppet government.

The same person has made two completely different choices. It is difficult for anyone to explain why, perhaps even Petain himself cannot explain clearly.

The battle in Europe is getting more and more fierce. The French, Germans, British, Austria-Hungarian Empire... Countless soldiers fell on the way of charging, and died in the defensive positions under the enemy's shells and muzzles.

The cruel side of the war was finally fully exposed, and the blood began to stain the entire continent of Europe.

At the same time, two countries are quietly rising, China, and the United States.

As for Japan, the Okuma cabinet has internal and external troubles. Although the domestic economy has been relieved by the European War, life is still quite difficult for both the government and the people.Even if there is still a certain distance from being unable to wear a loincloth, it is no longer possible to use the power accumulated in the European War to divide up China's interests at the Paris Peace Conference as in history.

After Huaxia issued a statement of neutrality, the Europeans still refused to give up. Zhan Changqing had his own way to deal with them. Congress and members, democracy became the best excuse.

"The two houses voted, and more than 70.00% of the members opposed participating in the exhibition. The president has nothing to do about it." Zhan Changqing sighed, "Although it is regrettable, there is nothing we can do."

The signal has covered more than half of China's radio stations. After the news was broadcast, it also aroused extensive discussions among the people.

At this time in China, there is no such phenomenon as "don't talk about politics".The people's speech is very free. In the restaurant and teahouse, you can often see someone talking loudly, or getting a response, or being scolded. As long as the speech does not involve traitors and betray the interests of the country, no one will care about these people. say something.

"The wisdom of the people has been developed, and it is like flowing water. It cannot be stopped, let alone blocked. It can only be dredged and guided."

This is Lao Bai's suggestion to Young Marshal Lou.

In Guanbei, quite a few people also paid attention to this matter.All the colleges and universities in Guanbei, from the teachers to the students, held different opinions. Some students even organized speeches and debates, just on the side of the street, attracting many people to watch.

Some support participating in the war, claiming that it can be used to promote the country's prestige, and some do not support participating in the war, thinking that this battle has nothing to do with China. There are also people who hold the view that interests come first, and believe that only when sufficient benefits are obtained can it be worthwhile to participate in the war.

Everyone expresses their own opinions, but they all have their own reasons.

Under the deliberate guidance and subtle influence of the students and educated youths in Guanbei, the way of thinking and dealing with problems is very different from before.

Enthusiasm and passion are still there, reason and discernment coexist. They will no longer beat people who disagree with them to death, but will think and debate on the opinions of both sides, and the final conclusions are often completely different from the original opinions of both sides. Different, but the most feasible and persuasive.

In this debate, the three military schools in Guanbei did not stay out of it.

It is the bounden duty of soldiers to obey orders. These young military cadets also have their own ideas, but they are more restrained. When the instructor asks, they will express their opinions. When the order is issued, the only thing they will do is to implement it.They are the sharp weapon of the country, and their highest belief is to serve the country and the people.

Shen Heduan was transferred from the Army Military Academy to the Air Force Academy, and his position was also promoted from a deputy in the teaching office to a full-time post. He proposed at the school meeting that a speech and debate could be held inside the military academy to allow students to express their views.

"The truth becomes clearer and clearer. The bounden duty of a soldier is to obey, but an army with ideals and beliefs is far better than an army that only knows how to obey."

After the opinion was adopted, Shen Heduan began to run actively. Yang Pinting is now pregnant and is no longer suitable for standing in the classroom for a long time. After communicating with her family and the school, she is at home waiting for the delivery.When the spirit is still good, it is quite interesting to start recording and sorting out the various discussions between her and Shen Heduan.

It's just that when looking through the past books and the stationery in the diary, I occasionally see the girl's thoughts written down on paper before she got married.She loves her husband, but she will also remember that when Qing Cong was young, she once fell in love with a man named Li Jinyan.Until she gets old, this memory and the throbbing at the beginning will still be deeply buried in her heart, and accompany her through all the years of her life.

Brushing the hair hanging down her cheeks behind her ears, she put the unsent letter in the diary and put it in the drawer.

On February 28, when the attention of the Chinese people was more attracted to the European War, the stock exchange established in Shanghai during the southern government became "hot" overnight.