Volume 5, Chapter 28: Breaking diplomatic relations and declaring war
Chapter 28 of Part 5: Disconnection and Declaration of War
About half a year ago, there was a private discussion between Chen Congyun and Kerze. The topic was about Russia's war potential. When it comes to this war, Kerze's most distinctive point was to take advantage of Russia's main energy to focus on the west and make quick decisions. In fact, the harsh natural environment in the Far East limited Russia's time to make effective adjustments in a short period of time. The most important point is that Russia has never regarded China as a hierarchical opponent. This is the most deadly. Russia in history also judged this way in the early days of the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War.
It is not surprising that Russia has such a mentality. Russia, which is used to eating and stretching out its hands, will naturally have a sense of superiority in the face of China, which is always weak.
In fact, during that conversation, Kerze was not optimistic about the prospects of this war. Kerze's suggestion was to fight three or two years later, but unfortunately Chen Congyun couldn't wait. Why couldn't wait? Because we know history, the First World War will start in just a few years, and fighting at this time is exactly a key point. In the Russo-Japanese War in history, the Japanese won because the Russians could not look at this point with all their strength. At this time, Germany, Britain, and the United States could support Chen Congyun. As long as they could achieve a quick battle, the French would come out to persuade them to make peace.
Before World War I, establishing the image of a military power will have a greater influence on the international political arena in the next few years, becoming a match that both hands will win over and profit from the swing. This is the key to Chen Congyun launching this war.
China and the United States have different national conditions. After all, Americans are too far away, while China is different. Once China joins the camp of the allies and is a victor of the Russian War, what will happen? It is estimated that both sides of Europe are very clear in their hearts. The long border between China and Russia determines that China can stab the Russians in a ruthless manner at any time.
In fact, the time of this war in Chen Congyun's mind would end in the first half of 1905 at the latest. In order to gain greater benefits from the war, Chen Congyun and Keze's secret conversation, he formulated a Northeast to lure the enemy deeper, give priority to annihilation of the Russian army on the Liaodong Peninsula, and then turn around to surround the main force of the Russian army in the northeast, and use it as a bargaining chip for bargaining at the negotiating table.
Of course, this is the secret between Chen Congyun and Keze.
Wang Shizhen, Feng Guozhang, and Duan Qirui are now wearing new-style officer uniforms and sitting in the living room of Shen Congyun's temporary residence. After attending the military enlarged meeting of the Northern Military Region, Chen Congyun made an appointment with these three individuals alone.
When Chen Congyun, who had changed into casual clothes, came out of the inner room, the three of them stood up at the same time.
"grown ups!"
"Sit all." Chen Congyun sat down first, and then the three of them sat down one after another. This is a tradition for Chinese people.
"You all know the combat plan. Tell me what you think?"
The three of them looked at each other, and finally the commander Wang Shizhen came forward to speak: "Sir, my subordinates don't have much problems with the deployment of the entire battle. I'm just a little regretful, and I failed to participate in the encirclement and annihilation of the Russian Army in Liaodong."
Although Wang Shizhen said it very tactfully, Chen Congyun still felt from the lines that this guy was complaining. What were you complaining about? He complained about Chen Congyun's biasedness.
The Sixth Army was formed with the old Beiyang as the team, and led the former three Beiyang heroes. Although Chen Congyun sat down to the level of the military equipment and military force distribution, Wang Shizhen naturally complained that the important task of encircling and annihilation of the Russian army on the Liaodong Peninsula was not as good as the Sixth Army. The three Beiyang heroes did not have long been joining the new army. For several years, the three of them were devoted to military construction, just to let those former opponents see that they were not worse than others.
Chen Congyun looked at these three people, his face barely calm, and couldn't help but smile, pointing at Feng Guozhang and said, "Hua Fu, take out the map."
Feng Guozhang was stunned and quickly took out the map from the bag he was carrying.
"How did sir know that I carry the map with me?"
"Haha, Feng Guozhang, the chief of staff of the Sixth Army, always brings the Northeast map and the defense zone map in his bag. In the Northern Military Region, you can find out if you ask someone." Chen Congyun smiled faintly. Feng Guozhang didn't say anything on his face, and the excitement flashed in his eyes still betrayed the excitement in his heart at this moment. Chen Congyun spoke easily, and the three of them were also very clear in their hearts. Chen Congyun, who was far away in Beijing, was always paying attention to the situation of the three people. Almost the personnel and equipment requirements put forward by the Sixth Army, the military chief never shirked his responsibilities, which made the other soldiers jealous.
"You see, the entire Northeast is within 500 axioms of the border, and there is no other main force except the Sixth Army. You see, the best route for the Russian army to go south, hesitate to the limits of the geographical environment, can only pass through the Suifenhe line, then fight west first, enter the Songliao Plain and then go south to Jilin. Your army's mission is to lure the enemy into depth, but you cannot simply look at this task. The Northeast Front has only one army's strength, and within three months of the early stage of the war, you will not be able to receive any reinforcements from the military region. In fact, from now on, you will have to do a survey work. The General Staff has already deployed the military resistance. What about the local government? Evacuate the people and command local armed forces to launch guerrilla warfare. You must also take on these things to disturb the Russian army's logistics supply line. The biggest difference between the new army and the old army is that we are a team for the people to fight for the people. You must have this understanding. In order to gain the initiative in the war between China and Russia, in order to gain a comprehensive victory, the battlefield in the early stage was destined to be in our country. As soldiers, you must do your best to protect the lives and property of the people. Don't look at the people in a slight way. When the new army attacked the Japanese in the 18898, the scene of the people eating pots of slurry is still fresh in memory. The military resistance is not just about concessions, otherwise the Russians can fight to the Liaodong Peninsula in three months. What is it called luring the enemy into the deep?"
When Chen Congyun said this, the faces of the three men became solemn. Duan Qirui stared at the map for a while and said, "Sir, can we add more troops from one or two divisions to us? In this way, we can carry out several powerful blockades along Mudanjiang to Heilongjiang, consume the vitality of the Russian army and severely damage the Russian army's aura."
He is worthy of being the elite among the old soldiers. Almost at the same time as Shen Congyun finished speaking, Duan Qirui had already understood the essence of the General Staff’s deployment this time.
"If you want to engage in a fierce blocking battle, where do you plan to choose the battlefield?"
Wang Shizhen, who had not spoken, reached out and pointed on the map at this time and said, "After an attack is launched, it will definitely be divided into two directions. From the north to Jiamusi, we will go south and then through Mudanjiang to the east. We have studied it. In Mudanjiang and Jiamusi, we will place troops from a division to attack each other hard. If they hurt them, we will naturally chase them. In this way, we can slowly attract the Russian army to the Suihua area to the west. As long as the main force of our army in Liaodong is taking a slow advancement, the Russian army will not rush to the south. As long as the Russian army is
If the fight hurts, they will make mistakes. One of our troops and local armed forces is half the main force of the Northern Military Region. Finally, our army is on the front line of Suihua for another month. When the Russian army is exhausted, the main force of Liaodong will suddenly exert force. The Russian army in Liaodong will inevitably ask for help. At that time, our army can take a long battle and go south to Jilin, and then block the Russian army in Jilin. After our main force solves Liaodong, we will turn around." As he said, Wang Shizhen made a double-team action with both hands, looking at Shen Congyun expectantly.
Shen Congyun showed a sincere smile of praise. These three people have really studied the combat plan issued by the military. I'm afraid there is another reason for their previous complaints.
"Okay, I won't say more about the three of you who have these ideas. You will get the request from Zhiquan tomorrow. I will give you another division's troops, the most reserve team."
"I wish to die for the Lord!" the three of them stood up and shouted loudly.
"It is a fight to the death for the rise of the Chinese nation!" Shen Congyun corrected it in a deep voice, and the three of them looked at each other and roared together: "Fight to the death for the rise of the Chinese nation." At this moment, the three of them didn't know that many of the old soldiers' ideas in their bones were subtly moved.
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Weihai, Chen Guodong and Liu Jiachang appeared in Liu Buchan's headquarters in turmoil. These two are no longer within the army organization, but the commanders of the First and Second Divisions of the Navy. Speaking of the First and Second Divisions of the Marine Division of the Army, the Second Division, and the field division commanders of several major military regions can all be saliva. One division is a 25,000-man organization. Except for the fewer large-caliber heavy artillery, the rest are all the best equipment, and the personnel are carefully selected from the field armies. What's bad is that these two divisions are also equipped with a large number of airships, engineers, boats and bridge units. Even if they are pulled to the ground, no ordinary field army division can compete with them.
What made the major field troops most jealous was that there were only 500 new light machine guns independently developed in China, which made Shen Congyun use a big stroke and all of them to the Marine Division. Shen Congyun's reason was quite sufficient. There were almost no heavy artillery from the Marine Division, and Maxim had no equipment, so he didn't have good things. How could he live this life?
Speaking of which, although the research and development of light machine guns was launched three years ago, various technical restrictions were not yet mass production until the end of last year. It is unlikely that it will be possible to equip the army on a large scale. This makes Shen Congyun a little regretful, but there is nothing he can do about it.
After seeing these two people, Liu Buchan enthusiastically asked them to sit down and said, "Two, the President also called to inquire yesterday if they have made all preparations for the battle."
Chen Guodong stood up suddenly and replied loudly: "Please tell the President that our first and second divisions of the Land Warfare have been able to land and fight in various harsh environments after years of training."
When Chen Congyun learned that the Marine Division had already been in place, he was inspecting the First Cavalry Independent Division of Yang's Army. The First Cavalry Independent Division was also a unit that Chen Congyun focused on.
Rows of monsters with wheels passed by Chen Congyun neatly, Chen Congyun didn't have much smile on his face. Chen Congyun was really not happy either. The difference between the steel plates on the outside of the car was still a little bigger. At present, these 100 "tanks" can only be used to fight infantry. Of course, the advantage is that the maneuverability is guaranteed as long as the road conditions allow.
Each "tank" is equipped with two maxis, fixed with a special bracket, and fires from the shooting hole. Chen Congyun will not take it out until the last moment.
Whether this battle between China and Russia can break out? The ministers of various countries in Beijing also have a relatively reserved attitude. Political struggles are often like sex, and they can only be paddling and trying harder down.
The Germans most hope that China and Russia will fight for a year or two, while the British hope that China can simply limit the expansion of the Russians in the Far East. Of course, if China can remove Russia's seaport in the Pacific, that would be the most ideal thing. The interests of Americans in China have been expanded rapidly over the years, and the export of a large number of agricultural products and industrial equipment has brought a good reputation to the US government.
German Minister Hai Jing specially invited the ministers of the United States and Britain to have dinner together today, which is of course a purpose.
"Two, please have tea!" Hai Jing said politely, looking at the two "friends" on the opposite side who had eaten and drunk enough but refused to reveal a little news, and said with a smile: "Two friends, limiting the expansion of Russian interests in China, the three countries have long reached a tacit understanding. Nowadays, Sino-Russia relations are tense, and the two should urge the government to make a clear statement as soon as possible. Last week, our country has stated that it has deep concerns about the contradiction between my country and Russia and urges the two sides to reach a peace talk as soon as possible."
If the envoys of the two countries were Chinese, they would definitely say with a deep sense of the same feeling, "The King of Hell speaks, and the genius believes it." Don't think we don't know that Germany has purchased 200 million Chinese government bonds. Just last month, a fleet of German cargo ships were on the shore of Tianjin Port, with a total of five ships of cargo. Don't tell us that it is not equipped with large-caliber artillery, but German beer indicated.
A year ago, for the order of 500 heavy artillery, the arms dealers of Britain, France and Germany all slapped the tables and tried hard secretly. If the Germans had not moved quickly and had reached some secret military and technical cooperation projects with China, I don’t know whose pocket this deal would have fallen into. In recent years, the signs of the European economic crisis have gradually appeared again, and everyone stared at the big customer of China.
British Minister Dou Nale is undoubtedly the one with the best mentality. In recent years, due to his outstanding work, China has begun to turn to Britain in naval procurement. Two battleships (monarch-class), six new cruisers, two armored sea defense ships, and cooperation projects at Shanghai docks were all snatched from the German bowls, and they are all political achievements.
Nowadays, Dou Nale has a lot of praise for Dou Nale. After one year's term of office is over, it is not difficult to go further. In fact, Dou Nale has repeatedly urged the country to give a clear answer as soon as possible on the issue of purchasing Chinese government bonds.
While Rou Keyi slowly picked up the teacup and pondered how to express his views implicitly, an official from the German embassy hurriedly walked in. After a rapid whisper in Haijing's ear, Hai Jing's face suddenly became solemn.
"Two, there is an important thing to announce to everyone. Just an hour ago, the Chinese government had announced that it had severed diplomatic relations with Russia."
Dou Nale jumped up and subconsciously looked at the calendar card. It clearly showed that March 3, 1904, a day that was easy to remember.
"Have you broken off diplomatic relations?" Dou Nale repeated, Hai Jing nodded with a smile, and smiled with relief and said, "I broke off diplomatic relations and declared war on Russia at the same time."
"No, I heard this morning that President Chen has not returned from his inspection in Northeast China, so why has he declared war now?" Rou Keyi was also very surprised, and his hands holding the teacup were trembling.
"Yes, it's a declaration of war. At about one o'clock this afternoon, Chen Congyun's special train entered Beijing. After five hours of secret talks, the Sino-Russian negotiations broke down. The source of the news is reliable. I think China will have to wait for a long time to turn on the whole world." Hai Jing's smile on his face became brighter. In contrast, Dou Nale was a little unhappy. There is no clear answer to the issue of damn national debt. This will definitely affect China's foreign policy in the future.
"I'm sorry, I think I should go back." Dou Nale stood up in a hurry. Hai Jing did not keep him, but smiled and sent him out. Since war had been declared, the British's attitude was no longer important.
"What are the Minister thinking?" Hai Jing, who was sending the guest back, saw Rou Keyi holding his chin in contemplation, and asked with a smile.
"I'm wondering, who will be the final winner of this war?"
Chapter completed!