Respectfully

In the fourth year of the Republic of China, on October 1912, 10 in the Gregorian calendar, the gunfire in the north that lasted for more than a month finally stopped.

At this time, the troops of the six northern provinces had actually controlled the section from Kaiyuan to Dashiqiao on the Nanman Railway, and the section from Guanbei to Lianshanguan on the Anfeng Railway. Almost all the transportation lines for Japan to plunder resources from northern China were cut off. For expenditure, it can be predicted that when the Ministry of Finance submits relevant documents, the face of Prime Minister Gui Taro will be so exciting.

It was the financial constraints that forced Japan to give in and bite the bullet and ask Britain to mediate.

From the Sino-Japanese War to the Russo-Japanese War, Japan has been performing the myth of "the weak defeating the strong". They are like gamblers, using all their wealth to make a big gamble.I don’t know what kind of good luck they had, but they won the bet again and again. The indemnity of the Sino-Japanese War made Japan truly wealthy for the first time. After the Russo-Japanese War, they snatched the South Manchuria Railway from the Russians. Grab resources from Northeast China to strengthen yourself.

As a resource-poor island country, Japan would not have survived the period after the Russo-Japanese War without China's iron, coal, timber and food.

The Japanese never thought that one day the Chinese would slap them in the face, and then give them a hard kick, telling them that the good days of eating for free and taking advantage of it for free are over!

A robber who is used to aggression and plunder and takes it for granted will not think it is his own fault when faced with the victim's resistance, and then reflect on himself, only pretending to be reasonable on the surface , secretly continued to plot.

"The Japanese really intend to talk about peace?" Li Jinyan looked at the news published in the newspaper, but still did not believe that the Japanese would give in so easily.

In fact, there are not many people who think like Li Jinyan, including Lou Shengfeng and Lou Xiao.However, no matter what the Japanese are thinking, this time it is doomed to fail.Because they are facing opponents who are smarter and tougher than them.

After the British envoy participated in the mediation of the war between the six northern provinces and Japan, Marshal Lou did not immediately issue an order for a truce. Instead, he sent the No. 30 Regiment of the Independent Brigade into Andong to expel all Japanese and Korean immigrants in Andong. The Independent Brigade and the Special Agent Battalion were sent to take over the Benxi Steel Plant with armed forces, and all Japanese personnel in the steel plant were expelled, and those who resisted armed resistance were shot to death.All Chinese who were found to have close ties to Japan, especially those in the leadership of the steel mills, were detained.

During this period, the workers of the steel factory cooperated with the officers and soldiers of the spy battalion to uncover many traitors. These people were all detained and their family properties were also seized. After the evidence was found to be conclusive, they were all shot.In troubled times, heavy codes are used. No matter what reason they become traitors, there is only one dead end.If you want to take over Benxi Steel Works in the shortest possible time, you must drive out all Japanese forces.The hidden traitors are often more dangerous than the ones on the surface.

After the Japanese Consul General Yata got the news, he immediately lodged a protest to the military government of the six northern provinces. Zhan Changqing still received him with a smile on his face, and then talked to Yata with social expressions with a smile on his face, every word was polite and reasonable , but none of the words were on the point, and after Yata was sent out of the reception room after being stunned, he still didn't get anything useful from Zhan Changqing's mouth.

Yoshimasa Oshima in Lushun and the Japanese envoy Yijuin learned that Anton was occupied by the Chinese army and the Japanese in Benxi Steel Plant were also expelled. It is not that they never thought about using warships to bombard Anton. What can I do?Even Laoshan Youpeng, the head of the military department, believed that it was not appropriate to start a full-scale war with China in a short period of time, and there was no possibility of this war continuing.Moreover, the consumption of naval operations is several times that of the army.The already stretched finances will soon be on the verge of collapse.Do you want to borrow money from abroad?It is not that no one has proposed this proposal, but it was rejected by Prime Minister Gui Taro.

"It's not time to put all your eggs in one basket." Gui Taro said: "This is for the Great Japanese Empire!"

It has to be admitted that before the end of the Guiyuan era, although the militaristic forces in Japan were fanatical, they were far from losing their minds.If Gui Tailang, Xiyuansi and others died a few years earlier, they might be able to save Marshal Lou and Li Jinyan from many troubles in the future.

Compared with the depression and depression of the Japanese, the Chinese are proud again.Various domestic newspapers praised the bravery of the Chinese army in the war against Japan.

Not without exception, some pro-Japanese forces brought up the looting of Japanese nationals by the troops of the six northern provinces. A well-known literati published an article in a newspaper, accusing the north of being militaristic and dragging China into the abyss.It is said that Lou Xiao is robbing the Japanese at this time, and one day he will rob the Chinese!

As soon as this remark came out, it caused quite a stir, and someone immediately refuted him: This kind of militarism does not need to be looted, and I am willing to break my family to support it!

The next day, the literati who sang the opposite tune in the newspaper and upheld the attitude that everyone is drunk and I am sober, was poured with dirty water as soon as he left the house, and two rotten eggs and a dozen rotten vegetable leaves were thrown on him. , more than [-] students blocked the door of the house, and when they saw him, they shouted down "traitors and traitors"!He was so scared that he didn't dare to go out for more than ten days.

Sima Jun, President of the North, and Song Zhou, the Interim President of the South, delivered speeches one after another, praising the bravery of the troops in the six northern provinces and praising China's national prestige.The governors and commanders of various provinces also issued telegrams to express their support.People and students from all over the country took to the streets to celebrate with portraits of Lou Shengfeng and the President of Peking University. This time, there was also a portrait of Lou Xiao in military uniform in the procession.

Young, handsome, knowledgeable, and brilliant in battle, Lou Xiao is almost the silhouette that every girl dreams of.It is also the national hero that all passionate youths most want to see in this era.

Fight against Russia, fight against Japan, two big victories, let Lou Xiao's name resound throughout China.

A reporter from Shanghai Shenbao made an ingenious survey and found that some foreigners living in the concession had a very good impression of Lou Xiao. Among young people, Lou Shaoshuai received overwhelming support. The reporter who wrote the report jokingly wrote something at the end of the article: If Lou Xiao ran for the presidency, he would win hundreds of votes without talking, just standing there quietly.If I had a vote in my hand, I would definitely vote for him without hesitation!

The sales volume declared that day was ridiculously high, and the newsboy only needed to hold up the newspaper and say that there was a report about Lou Xiao on it, and he would never worry about the newspaper not being sold.

A rickshaw passed by, and the woman in the car suddenly called out, "Stop."

The driver wiped the sweat off his face with a towel around his neck, "Miss, I haven't arrived anywhere yet."

"I'll buy a newspaper." The woman in the car was wearing a cheongsam with large peony flowers and black leather shoes. She was tall and plump, and she spoke Shanghainese with a northern accent, which made her look like she was not a local.The black hair is permed in a fashionable style, the eyes are moving, and the red lips are delicate. If Li Jinyan sees her, he will definitely be surprised. She is the branch that was taken away from the Li family by his brother.

Liao Qiting happened to come to Shanghai to discuss a business deal. When he passed by, he caught a glimpse and couldn't help standing still. The bodyguards who followed him saw Liao Qiting suddenly stopped, followed his gaze, and his expression became ambiguous: "Seventh Young Master , have you taken a fancy to it?"

"What nonsense."

Liao Qiting glared at the bodyguard, but the bodyguard continued: "Master Seventh, that's a girl from Changsantang, if you like it, go and support her."

"Changsantangzi? How do you know?"

"The young master has a good friend in Changsantangzi. I met her when I went with the young master."

When the two were talking, the driver had already pulled Zhi'er away, and Zhi'er, who was sitting on the rickshaw, was holding the newspaper in his hand tightly, and silently chanting: "Young master, third young master..."

On November [-], under the mediation of the United Kingdom, the military governments of the six northern provinces and Japanese representatives held the first round of peace talks.For various reasons, the French, American and German ministers were also involved in the negotiations.

Obviously, relying on the support of the British, the Japanese did not put themselves in the right position at all.The Japanese representative put forward in a strong tone, demanding that the troops of the six northern provinces immediately withdraw from the Andong and Benxi steel mills and hand them over to the Japanese army.At the same time, the Nanman Railway and the Anfeng Railway resumed operations immediately, and the Huaxia Army handed over all occupied stations.Compensation for Japan's loss of [-] million silver dollars, and a public apology.

The Huaxia negotiators present were all angry when they heard Japan's unreasonable demands.

Zhan Changqing looked at the expressionless Marshal Lou, then at the proud Japanese, and finally set his eyes on Zhu Erdian's face. Obviously, what the Japanese relied on was their alliance with Britain, but , to what extent can the British support them?

"Impossible." Marshal Lou said coldly: "From now on, Japan's consular jurisdiction and all other privileges in China will be abolished, China will take back the operating rights of the Nanman Railway and Anfeng Railway, and compensate Japan with [-] silver dollars." .Japan returned the Liaodong Peninsula, and was not allowed to garrison, mine and operate related industries in China. Compensate China's military expenditure of [-] million taels of silver and apologize publicly!"

"Bastard!" The Japanese representative slapped the table angrily, "Do you want to start a full-scale war with the Great Japanese Empire?!"

Zhu Erdian signaled to the Japanese representative to stay calm and not to make the situation more tense.

Facing the tough tone of the Japanese, Lou Xiao replied by standing up and straightening his military cap, "Continue to fight if you want to fight." His black eyes glanced coldly at the Japanese negotiator and Zhu Erdian who was sitting on the chair, "Huaxia people are not afraid of war, let alone death!"

"Bastards, you are courting death!" Yata, the Japanese Consul General sitting at the negotiating table, was so angry that he couldn't choose what to say.

Marshal Lou turned his gaze to him, "Are you threatening me?"

Yada wanted to say something, but was held back by Minister Ijuin. This person is even more brainless than Honda Kumataro!

"I think Consul Yada was just talking for a while." Zhu Erdian smoothed things over. Zhu Erdian, who has lived in China for decades and is known as a Chinese expert, had to admit that he couldn't see through Lou Xiao in front of him. He was deliberately angering Japan. People, let them lose their minds, so that they can grasp the whole negotiation.

He knows the Japanese well.Perhaps it should be said that the young man knew his enemy well.

very scary.

Zhu Erdian's eyes narrowed slowly. No matter who becomes an enemy of such a person, it will be a nightmare.

perhaps……

"Your Excellency Zhu Erdian?" Young Marshal Lou suddenly turned his gaze to him, "Do you have anything to say?"

"No." Zhu Erdian shook his head, ashamed of his thoughts just now, could it be that he was also influenced by the Japanese?In any case, he himself admired Lou Xiao very much.Besides, today's Huaxia may be able to bully the Japanese, but it is far from qualified to become an enemy of Great Britain.

Thinking about this clearly, Zhu Erdian suppressed the sudden thoughts before, and continued to smooth things over for the Japanese.Marshal Lou stopped looking at him, but Zhan Changqing's eyes stayed on his face for a long time, but Zhu Erdian didn't seem to notice it at all.

The pace and process of the entire negotiation are firmly in the hands of the Huaxia people.The Japanese found that Lou Xiao was more difficult to deal with than Lou Shengfeng.Even though he doesn't talk much, even though he looks like an out-and-out iron-blooded soldier, he is an extremely formidable opponent.Instead of facing Lou Xiao, they would rather deal with Lou Shengfeng, even though father and son are the same, at least Lou Shengfeng won't choke them to the point where they have nothing to say, but they can't find a solution.

After the end of the first negotiation, both the negotiating parties and the ministers of various countries knew very well that Japan was doomed to stumble this time.