Chapter 108 Compromise and Persistence

The sudden outbreak but quickly ended war in Sichuan finally spread. "The five brigades loyal to the Beijing government were defeated by the Sichuan army. dozens of generals and schoolmen including Cao Kun were captured and released quickly." This incredible news was first disclosed by the Far East Post, headquartered in the French Concession in Shanghai, and was quickly reprinted by major newspapers across the country.

The French Far East Post, which was originally submerged in many Chinese and foreign newspapers, miraculously got rid of the predicament with its exclusive reports on the Sichuan war and detailed records of the entire war process, and became a well-known news newspaper in China and abroad.

Since June 1, the sales of newspapers in the Chinese version of the Far East Post have been rising steadily, breaking an astonishing historical record a week later - 45,000 copies sold per day.

On June 10, the Far East Post made another wave of public opinion, and published two important news on the front page, "President Yuan Shikai met with Lieutenant General Bao Jiqing, Chief of General Staff of Sichuan Border Defense Army" and "Sichuan Provincial Congress officially held". Above the striking title printed in red and black fonts is a special editorial published by the Far East Post. On the left side of the editorial is a brief introduction to the qualifications of Bao Jiqing, Chief of General Staff of Sichuan Border Defense Army.

The editorial summarized the impact of the war between the Central Army and the local army that had just ended, linked Bao Jiqing and Yuan Shikai's secret meeting with the National Congress currently being held by the Sichuan Provincial Government to analyze, elaborate on the huge impact of the Sichuan War on the Beijing government and China as a whole, and boldly predicted that "the Beijing Central Government and the Sichuan Provincial Government may have reached some kind of agreement." Through the friendly behavior of the Sichuan Army in proactively releasing prisoners of war, the result was: "The contradiction between the Sichuan army and the central government is being eliminated, and the Sichuan government and the military still support the leadership of the Beijing government and President Yuan Shikai. It is unlikely that both sides will take military actions to further intensify the conflict."

Once the newspaper of the Far East Post was released, it once again attracted the attention of the Chinese and foreign military and political circles. It actually snatched away the separation of all Chinese and foreign newspapers, surpassing the "European battlefield reports" and "Twenty-One" analysis reports of major newspapers, becoming the focus of heated discussion among groups and people from all walks of life in China.

The large number of newspapers controlled by the Kuomintang were in an uproar because of the Far East Post report. The next day, they joined the analysis and discussion between the "central government and the Sichuan government". They changed the high praise and optimistic predictions made in the Sichuan revolutionary situation in the past and began to question the compromise behavior of opposing Sichuan local governments and the military.

The newspapers under Yuan Shikai's power control avoided the ongoing National Congress in Sichuan. While criticizing the Sichuan army for "provoking war and causing endless harm", they rationally evaluated the goodwill of the Sichuan army, calling on the commander of the Sichuan army, Xiao Yimin to "put his position on the right and firmly obey the leadership of the central government and President Yuan Marshal Shikai", and demanded that the Sichuan government and the army "stay consistent with the central government and eliminate any discord and destruction of the anti-judge forces." The latest chapter of the temple

At this point, sensitive politicians and current affairs observers of China and abroad have come to conclusions that the Sichuan army and the Central Army, the Sichuan Provincial Government and the Beijing Central Government have compromised each other, and even reached an agreement or some kind of tacit understanding. Since then, the fierce military conflict has ended, and the conflict between the two sides has been initially resolved. The Sichuan military and political authorities cannot hold high the banner of opposing the Beijing government and President Yuan Shikai as the revolutionary alliance led by Sun Yat-sen hopes. However, the united and powerful Sichuan local governments and military have gained full autonomy through this war.

On June 15, the first Sichuan Provincial Congress concluded successfully. Zhang Lan was elected as the chairman of the presidium of the Sichuan Provincial Congress and the head of the civil affairs of the provincial government. Kuang Youmin was elected as the president of the provincial parliament, and Zeng Shouwu was elected as the executive vice chairman and the director of the finance department of the presidium of the People's Congress. All the above elected personnel were reported to the Beijing Central Government for review and approval.

The First National Congress of Sichuan Province passed the appointment of Lieutenant General Xiao Yimin, the former commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Border Defense Army. Xiao Yimin was elected as the newly formed commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army, with full authority to lead and command the Sichuan Provincial Standing Army and local garrison troops; the Congress authorized Xiao Yimin to lead the establishment of the Sichuan Army General Command, and exercised its leadership and command power over the Sichuan Army in accordance with the authorization of the First Congress.

On the evening of June 15, the Zhengwang Mansion in Beijing was the official residence of the President of the Republic of China.

The presidential guards with live ammunition stand on both sides of the gates in the presidential residence. All roads leading to the large study were blocked. Xu Shichang, Secretary of State of the Central Government, Wang Shizhen, Minister of Military Affairs, Bao Jiqing, Chief of General Staff of Sichuan Border Defense Army, Zhao Erxun, Director of the Qing History Museum, and Duan Qirui, former Minister of Military Affairs, who was urgently recalled by Yuan Shikai after resigning due to different political views, sat upright on two rows of reception sofas on the side of the study.

Yuan Shikai, who was sitting in the main seat, put down several telegrams in his hand, turned to Bao Jiqing, and said bluntly:

"Ji Qing, since Xiao Yiming dared not serve as the governor of Sichuan directly, he took office as commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army under the pretext of the Sichuan Congress, which shows that he still has the central government and the Ministry of Military Affairs in his eyes, and did not wipe out all the face of me, the president. However, it is absolutely impossible to ask me to approve Zhang Lan as the chairman of Sichuan Province!

"Who doesn't know that the position of civil affairs chief in various provinces has been changed to an inspector. What's wrong with Sichuan creating a president of the Congress? Also, Xiao Yimin's commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army does not gain the recognition of the central government, so he has no legal basis. It is not impossible for him to be a Sichuan general, but he must show sincerity and actions for me to see, otherwise I will never agree to any request from Sichuan. The temple."

Bao Jiqing nodded respectfully: "Master, what do you want Yiming to do better?"

Yuan Shikai snorted without answering, Xu Shichang smiled and leaned on the back of the sofa, and Wang Shizhen had to whisper:

"No matter how the war is over, although Brother Yiming released thousands of captured officers and soldiers in time, a large number of weapons and equipment were still detained by him. If Brother Yiming really hopes to stop fighting and return to the central leadership, at least he will return all the detained equipment, right?"

Bao Jiqing was stunned. From the time he knew Xiao Yimin to now, he had never seen the meat that Xiao Yimin swallowed into his mouth and spit it out. After hearing Wang Shizhen's explanation, he was stunned and could only turn to Zhao Erxun and smiled: "Second Master, Yiming is your old disciple. You are watching him grow up. Only you know Yiming's temper best. Tell me about it."

Zhao Erxun put down the teacup slowly and sighed in a low voice to Yuan Shikai:

"Yiming is a child who is willing to be honest, and it is probably difficult to compromise on this matter. If he handed over the detained weapons and equipment under the pressure of the general, he would probably face the blame from all the Sichuan Army soldiers! I would like to give you a suggestion, and the general and you can see if it works."

"You are welcome, please say it!" Yuan Shikai still respects Zhao Erxun very much.

Zhao Erxun nodded: "The Hanyang Arsenal, which has been owned by the Central Government, has been built with loans from four countries. Aren't the Germans anxious to buy German rifle production technology? The Germans have been suppressing it and have not agreed? Why don't Yiming give the drawings and technology to the Grand Marshal, and transfer it from the Grand Marshal or the Military Headquarters to the two factories in Hanyang and Gong County, which may be able to avoid the deadlock that everyone doesn't want to see... To be honest, Britain, the United States and Germany have always been reluctant to sell advanced rifle production technology. I heard that the Army Headquarters is willing to spend 500,000 yuan to buy it. Is this true?"

Xu Shichang and Wang Shizhen's eyes lit up and turned to Yuan Shikai at the same time.

Yuan Shikai asked in surprise: "Second Master, I know that Chengdu and Ya'an have produced powerful and safe grenades and wooden handle grenades. I have never heard of Yiming having the production drawings and technology of German rifles?"

Zhao Erxun smiled and said, "That's because Yiming did a good job in keeping confidentiality. Three years ago, he had already started to hire more than a dozen German weapon designers and engineers with high salaries based on the rifle drawings and technology transferred by the German Mauser Company to conduct research on the improvement of the German M1905 new rifle. In the second half of last year, he wrote to me to mention this matter, saying that the newly improved rifle technology had been gradually transferred to the Sichuan Arsenal. After the Sichuan Arsenal used the new technology, the monthly output increased from 1,200 to 1,500, and began to improve the bullet production line and switched to the pointed bullets used by the Mauser rifle. He also said that at most one year, after a large number of technical workers in the Sichuan Arsenal were proficient, the output could be increased a little, which would reassure me."

Yuan Shikai was very annoyed: "How did Hu Jingyi become an official in Sichuan? Why don't you know such important news at all?"

"Mr. Don't be angry. Speaking of this, I have a responsibility. The two sponsors and conferences of Sichuan Arsenal were specialists who stayed in Sichuan back then. They only know technology but not officials. In addition, Yiming has a good relationship with them. It is understandable that they don't like General Hu Jingyi.

"Besides, General Hu Jingyi has been unable to sit steadily when he arrives in Sichuan, and has been completely overturned by the civil servants in Sichuan. How could he still have the intention to interfere in the arsenal? In the turbulent Sichuan political situation, it is already very good that the arsenal can survive to this day." Zhao Erxun whispered to explain Yuan Shikai.

Xu Shichang also nodded frequently:

"Master, what the second master said is that looking at the country, there has not been a good life in the past few years. The Hanyang Factory, which has the highest output and largest scale, has been doing things in the past two years and has been struggling to survive? If the second master had not allocated special funds to support him before leaving office, Xiao Yimin would have helped a lot, and he would have gone bankrupt long ago."

"Since that's the case, how can you not send the drawings and techniques for Brother Yiming to the military headquarters?" Wang Shizhen, who had just replaced Duan Qirui as the chief of the army, suggested.

Bao Jiqing quickly explained: "The production technology of wooden handle grenades is nothing, but the production of cast iron grenades is troublesome. Not only does it have high requirements for iron materials and casting technology, but the structure is also quite complex. Without special equipment and technology that is no less than the production of rifle bolt springs, you cannot make such cast iron grenades. However, if you want to produce that small spring, you must purchase advanced alloy smelting furnaces from Europe and the United States. You must also use three quenching techniques to make qualified springs under the guidance of German experts, which is not easy!"

Yuan Shikai and others did not understand these technical matters. Instead, the knowledgeable and talented Xu Shichang once had an in-depth understanding of the production procedures of rifle springs.

When Xu Shichang saw his brother Yuan Shikai looking at him, he nodded and said, "Ji Qing is right. At present, all the arsenals in our country cannot produce qualified bolt springs. Even the Hanyang factory with the highest technology cannot make alloy shell hooks for rifles. The soldiers in the army generally reflect that most of the problems with Hanyang rifles are caused by failure and breakage of shell hooks. This is also the biggest defect of Hanyang rifles.

"Since Brother Yiming has solved this problem, why not ask him to hand over the processing and manufacturing technology of the shell hook, as well as the production drawings and technology of the wooden handle grenade to the military headquarters and then transfer it to other military factories. It is a contribution to the country at all!"

"Master, Brother Bu Wu is right. Hanyang Factory, Jiangnan Factory and Dagu Factory have been studying wooden handle grenades for almost a year, but they still cannot produce reassuring grenades. Since Brother Yiming has ready-made technology, it is better to bring them over as soon as possible. The role of grenades on the battlefield is getting bigger and bigger!" Duan Qirui also expressed his opinion.

Yuan Shikai had actually been willing to compromise in his heart. The reason why he made various requests with a stern face was because Xiao Yimin cleaned up his face, and as the supreme leader of a country, he could not swallow this cowardly.

However, the severe situation in the country was before him. Yuan Shikai was very passive under the huge negative impact brought by the "Twenty-One Articles". The revolutionary party led by Sun Yat-sen launched armed riots of all sizes in Jiangnan provinces, which made him, the president, anxious and exhausted in dealing with it militarily. He frequently contacted Japan and the great powers with ulterior motives in politics. It is said that he also signed the Sino-Japanese Secret Agreement with Japan to destroy Yuan Shikai's platform from all aspects. Where did Yuan Shikai have the energy and capital to send a large army to attack the increasingly powerful Sichuan?

If you really want to fight, if the brave Xiao Yimin gave up or simply threw himself under Sun Yat-sen, the country would probably be in turmoil.

More importantly, on the first day Bao Jiqing came to Beijing, he had already clearly conveyed Xiao Yimin's promise to him: he would never be used by the revolutionary party, and supported the leadership of the central government and President Yuan. Except for the inability to accept the Central Army entering Sichuan and setting up tax institutions, everything else can be negotiated. Moreover, as long as a foreign war occurs, even if he, Xiao Yimin, will mobilize all his strength and move forward bravely under the command of President Yuan!

Since everyone had the intention to accept Xiao Yimin's conditions, Yuan Shikai no longer pretended to be hypocritical. He immediately agreed to the conditions proposed by Zhao Erxun and Bao Jiqing, and no longer demanded that Xiao Yimin return the detained weapons and equipment. In principle, he agreed to appoint Zhang Lan as the Sichuan Inspector and Xiao Yimin as the Sichuan Governor, but he clearly stated that these two appointments would need to be issued a month later, and the sincerity of Xiao Yimin and the new Sichuan government should also be seen.

After leaving the heavily guarded presidential residence, Bao Jiqing and Zhao Erxun felt relieved.

Duan Qirui, who was riding in the same car, was appointed as the central envoy by Yuan Shikai and returned to Sichuan with Bao Jiqing. In name, it was to conduct patrols and post-war negotiations. In fact, it was necessary to meet with Zhang Lan, Kuang Youmin, Zeng Shouwu and other Sichuan ruling factions one by one, and to have close contact with the commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army Xiao Yimin, and to firmly support Xiao Yimin and the Sichuan Army's leadership as much as possible. Finally, it was to secretly bring back the wooden handle grenade, the design drawings and production technology of the new Mauser rifle.
Chapter completed!