September 2, Shanghai.

It is time for the Far East Metropolis to get off work again. The children slanted their schoolbags and rushed out of the school gate like doves that were venturing out. The workers walked out of the workshops tiredly with their waists. The rickshaw drivers put on uniform yellow vests and became a flowing scenery in the city.

The four roads connecting the Chinese district and the public concession are particularly lively. Many people living in the concession but working in the Chinese district have to pass by here. Taking advantage of the opportunity of many people after work, vendors take this opportunity to shout desperately. Women bargained while shuttled, and men sometimes stopped to pick up something to take it back for their families to taste. The children after school were even crowded with various snacks and sugar stalls, looking at the crystal clear and drooling.

In the past three years of the Republic of China, Shanghai has experienced countless ups and downs. After Chen Qimei led the Qing Gang to slogans and slogans to capture the place without bloodshed, the largest and most prosperous city in the Far East has become the focus of world attention. Major events such as North-South peace talks and the abdication of the Qing Dynasty have all been closely related to this place. There is currently the largest shipyard in the country, the most textile factories and the most foreign merchants.

According to incomplete data statistics from the UK, the total investment of European and American countries in Shanghai alone exceeded US$500 million. Although 1914 has not yet passed, the trade and total output value here exceeded US$11 in the first half of the year, more than twice that of Yokohama, Japan, which is also a national industrial city. Even the young vice president who started in Hubei and has the largest private industry in the country, said in an interview with French reporters that "the whole country is looking at Shanghai, and Shanghai determines the Republic of China", which shows how important Shanghai's status in the Republic of China is.

Bernard stood at the window, and various urban projects were under construction in the distance. Sewer renovation, road widening, etc. all showed that the Republic of China government was pragmatically building the long-term goal of building here. This seemed to remind him of the great construction boom that broke out in various parts of the UK during the Industrial Revolution. He had to admit in his heart that Yang Qiu did bring some new atmosphere to this country. At least under his extremely strong army and guns, no government officials from all over the country dared to stand up and point fingers.

How strong was the Democratic Party in 1911? How brilliant was the Beiyang in 1912? But now it has almost disappeared. The straightforward land reform and suppression game in the eight southwestern provinces, Henan, Shaanxi and other places, and the Northeast purge destined to take advantage of the war, are all telling those uncooperative officials to be obedient or completely disappear!

"Is this land only suitable for strong people's politics?"

Bernard frowned. Strongman politics is not good news for Britain's Asian policy, especially the strongman does not seem to like Britain. Judging from the multiple contacts, if it weren't for the outbreak of war, he might have rather thrown into Germany's arms than to quarrel with the world's most powerful country. There are many reasons for this situation. Juerdian wrongly supported Yuan Shikai, the British government condoned Japan's aggression and the tariffs and policy that are still in hand.

The knock on the door interrupted Bernard's thoughts. He turned his head and looked like Juerdian, who rarely came to the south, and his assistant John Moon walked in. Bernard didn't like this fat guy very much, and even the parliament didn't like it, because it was his wrong judgment that almost brought China and Germany together, and also led to China and the United States quickly entering. If it weren't for the war, the British Empire's forces in the Far East would have been destroyed by all three companies. But considering that he had finally helped the country maintain its dominance for more than ten years, he still greeted him with a smile: "Welcome to Shanghai."

Zhuerdian's expression was filled with fatigue and loss. The old man who had been in China for decades and had been able to influence the political direction of this country knew that his political career had come to an end. After saluting politely, he asked: "His Excellency Bernard, I heard that you are preparing to negotiate with the Republic of China government?"

Bernard asked someone to pour coffee for them, and handed Jurden's favorite Cuban cigar, and sat down. He touched the forehead and the corners of his mouth with his hands: "You may have been away from Europe for too long. I might as well tell you that England was in big trouble this time! Two weeks ago, the German army defeated the French team on the Belgian border, and officially stepped into the French Plain. They were very fast and have advanced to the Marne River not far from Paris. In two weeks, our country and France lost more than 400,000 soldiers in total! The French government has moved to Bordeaux. They are ready to lose Paris!"

"God!" John Moen stood up in surprise. As an active British colonel military officer in China, he knew very well the importance of Paris. If Paris is lost, the war could be declared over!

Bernard seemed to think that the news was not amazing enough and sighed: "Our Russian allies also had great trouble. They lost two soldiers of the army totaling more than 300,000 in Tannenburg overnight! Nicholas II had asked us for help, asking us to find a way to immediately stop the Sino-Japanese war and allow him to withdraw the 300,000 elite army stationed in the Far East.

Whitehall also told me that they found a large number of standard equipment from the Chinese team in the German army, which unexpectedly strengthened the combat capabilities of the German and Austro-Hungarian teams, especially a light machine gun (submachine gun) that can easily clear any trenches we deployed. "Then why negotiate with the Chinese? Fleets should be sent to strike their seas! Wouldn't it be better to help Japan win?" John Moen was a little excited. He could not imagine that a stable situation would have taken such a major turn overnight.

Bernard glanced at him and sighed deeply in his heart. These diplomats stationed in the Far East in England were really spoiled. They didn't understand at all. Now it is not a time to punish China. When learning from Japan's stupidity to open the second front, it is to win China over to obtain the same equipment from the damn Yang Qiu, and quickly let Nicholas II withdraw 300,000 elite Far East Army. Otherwise, the entire Russia might collapse!

"There's one more thing." Bernard kept coming to an expedited telegram and shook it: "Bayer, Germany, announced two weeks ago that they had successfully copied a magical prescription purchased from China before the war, which can solve the symptoms of inflammation and other symptoms of soldiers being injured. The Whitehall intelligence department has confirmed the effect of the new drug. This is the telegram they sent, requiring us to bring back the same prescription at any cost, and even pay a tariff!"

"No!" Juerdian's fat body trembled: "Empress, special envoy, tariffs are an important means for our country to contain China. If we lose it, even if we win a war in the future, our goods will have to pay a lot of price to return!"

"I know all of what you said, Mr. Jurden, but do you think what would happen if the government had sacrificed thousands of soldiers who could have saved for this trivial tariff?

"We still have Japan. China and Japan are fighting, we can do it." Juerdian still did not give up, but his words were quickly interrupted by Bernard's hand: "This is a clear telegram I just received."

Just as Zhu Erdian touched the telegram, a sudden sound of firecrackers sounded outside the window. The firecrackers became denser and denser. In the blink of an eye, the whole Shanghai seemed to explode. Several naval warships on the Huangpu River also sounded salutes at the same time. "What happened? Today is not a Chinese festival." John Moen walked to the window a little foolishly, and saw that the public concession and the Chinese area in the distance were already covered with heads. Countless people waved their arms and shouted happily. The excitement and excitement that was beyond words was even more enthusiastic than the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China three years ago.

"Japan lost one..." Bernard stood up and stened the cigarette butts: "They lost more than 30,000 people in Qingdao and Shandong! The Second Fleet also lost four main battleships." After putting on the top hat, Bernard looked at Zhu Erdian, who was already gray on the sofa. Although he couldn't bear it, he still said: "I'm going to Nanjing, and you two should go back as soon as possible to prepare. The telegram that asked the two to return to China to report their work in Downing Street may be on the way."

The moment Bernard pushed the door and walked out, the telegraph slipped off Jurden's trembling hands. His era was over.

"Great victory in Qingdao!"

"A great victory in the north!"

"Long live the Republic of China, long live Commander Yang!"

Shanghai has completely fallen into madness, with alleys full of people. Even ordinary people who are indifferent to the country are attracted by firecrackers and fireworks all over the sky, and then shouted a slogan "Don't forget to tell my old man for family sacrifice". Countless young people climbed up to the high place and waved the flying tiger battle flag vigorously, the students rushed out of the classroom, and the teachers also integrated into this cheering craze.

If time can stop, then the land of China is completely boiling at this moment, and millions of people have come out of their homes to shout. Perhaps they only account for a small part of the country's total population, but under their enthusiasm, the news has scattered all over the land of China like wings. How many people have been bullied by Japanese neighbors since the Sino-Japanese War? How many times have this evil neighbor threatened the Chinese people with bayonets and spears higher than people, and bought the resources that originally belonged to China at a price cheaper than cabbage?

But now they are defeated!

This is not just a gang on Motianling, nor is it covered by the Yalu River in Jiuliancheng at one time. These are four 10,000-ton iron-armored giant ships that scare the Chinese people. They are completely one and a half Army divisions, including the Japanese Ninth Brigade of the Lushun tragedy created by himself!

Ten thousand loyal souls in Wanzhong’s tomb! Although Lushun has not been recovered yet today, the heads of more than 30,000 Japanese soldiers are undoubtedly the best memorial service.

It's boiling, and the whole country is boiling!

Among the firecrackers and ribbons everywhere, Gu Weijun, the rising star of the Chinese Society, walked onto the parliament's podium for the first time, and formally represented Yang Qiu to submit to the parliament the draft on "Reclaiming all Japanese Concessions and abolishing all inequality clauses against Japan" and "Implementing national emergency news control."

The latter one is nothing, but the previous draft to take back the concession was sent to the MPs, and the entire Chinese and even the Far East politics were shocked! What is the concession? How will the impact of the abolition of the concession be understood? How will countries such as Britain, France and other countries with huge interests in China be understood?! When the German army crazily ravaged France and Russia, when Britain, France and Russia lost a total of 700,000 soldiers within two weeks, the Far East, an area that was already inconspicuous in the eyes of Europe and the United States, began to undergo a major turning point!
Chapter completed!