After receiving Reinhard's affirmation, Yuan Shikai nodded slowly, then turned to Duan Qirui and asked: "Zhiquan, if you want to take back Qingdao, how do you plan to take action?"
This was almost the first time after the Second Revolution that Yuan Shikai consulted Duan Qirui on state affairs on a formal occasion. Due to various contradictions and conflicts, the relationship between Yuan Shikai and Duan Qirui fell into a low ebb.
After giving in, even private friendships became very cold.
As early as when Germany proposed to return the sovereignty of Qingdao, Duan Qirui led the Ministry of War to start planning a detailed plan to send troops to Qingdao to accept the sovereignty. However, with the sudden change of the international situation, Japan and the United Kingdom became involved. Especially Japan Zhaoran
If it was revealed that Qingdao was planned to be invaded, the Army Ministry's plan also made a series of changes in a timely manner.
Duan Qirui sat up slightly and replied calmly: "Back to the President, the Army Department has a definite military action plan. At present, we have assembled three divisions in Shandong, namely the Shandong Army's 3rd Division.
The First Division, the Second Division and the 28th Army Division, not only that, in the next ten days, we can also mobilize three more divisions from Anhui and Shanxi."
At this time, an officer in the Senate couldn't help but interrupt and said: "It is meaningless to simply mobilize troops. The British side has repeatedly emphasized the premise that it is impossible for us to have a military conflict with Japan. Even if there are more troops, it will not be possible."
It’s useless, not to mention there are only six divisions.”
The two divisions of the Japanese Army have about 40,000 troops. The Chinese Army has six divisions with a maximum of 60,000 troops. Of course, there are vacancies. The actual situation may be only 30,000 to 40,000 people. But even if the full number of 60,000 troops is achieved,
People, from weapons and equipment to personnel quality, are far from rivals of Japanese soldiers, not to mention that Japan also has a powerful naval fleet to provide cover, and there is obviously no comparison in frontal combat.
Yuan Shikai is also very concerned about this issue. Since he is determined to reject the Japanese request, he must consider the worst case scenario. Although Duan Qirui has been making preparations during this period, he has only mobilized the strength of six divisions.
It's obviously a bit disappointing.
If you really want to avoid war with Japan, the best way is to have enough military deterrence to make Japan retreat when it is difficult.
On the contrary, if Japan cannot show sufficient military strength, Japan may really decide to take a gamble. Once China and Japan officially start a war, not only will they not be able to gain support from the British side, but they will even trigger a series of
Worse results.
Duan Qirui ignored the officers at the Senate Office, nor did he care about the change in Yuan Shikai's face, and continued: "The key to regaining Qingdao this time is not on the Shandong front line, but on the Liaoshen front line. At present, the strength of the two Japanese divisions
All gathered at the Lushun base. When we regain Qingdao, we must enter Qingdao before the Japanese army sends troops. At that time, the threat from Japan will only come from Lushun. Therefore, during this period, the Ministry of War has changed the previous plan and has concentrated its main force deployment in Qingdao.
Liao Shen."
After hearing these words, everyone present gradually felt relieved. Even Yuan Shikai's face looked a little better, and he nodded slightly to show that he agreed with this arrangement.
"How many troops have been deployed in the Liaoshen area?" Yuan Shikai asked.
"The 19th, 20th and 21st Divisions of the Army have all entered a state of preparation for war. However, these three divisions are the only local garrisons in the three eastern provinces. According to preliminary discussions, they are not suitable to take the lead in dealing with the threat of the Japanese army in Lushun. Fighting troops." Duan Qirui added seriously.
"Then do you have any other arrangements?" Yuan Shikai continued to ask.
"Just the day before yesterday, our Army Ministry has thought up detailed countermeasures. One is to urgently respond to the threat from Lushun, and the other is also out of long-term security considerations in Liaodong. The Army Ministry decided to immediately establish the Military Affairs General Administration of the Three Eastern Provinces, headed by Xu The deputy minister assumes this position and is responsible for arranging for new military affairs in the three northeastern provinces, and immediately begins training the border defense forces of the three northeastern provinces to increase the central government's military control and support for the three northeastern provinces." Duan Qirui said solemnly.
"Temporary expansion of the army is not conducive to the current situation. A three-foot-long freeze is not a day's cold, and an expansion of the army cannot be effective in one day. As the saying goes, the water far away cannot save the fire near, but it is not a foolproof strategy." Someone said worriedly.
"Of course I know that water far away cannot put out fire close by, but the national defense strategy is originally based on the principle that long-term stability can only be achieved by long-term stability. The three eastern provinces border Russia and North Korea, and at the same time, there are survivors of the Manchu Qing Dynasty who are still alive, and the forces are complicated. It is necessary to target Lushun. The influence of the Fu directly penetrates into it. As for the immediate difficulties, it cannot be underestimated. The Ministry of War believes that it should mobilize troops from neighboring areas as soon as possible to be stationed in Liaoshen and directly deal with the threat of Lushun." Duan Qirui said calmly, After saying this, he subconsciously glanced at Yuan Su, who was sitting in the lower seat.
Not only did Yuan Su understand in his heart, but most of the people present also knew what Duan Qirui meant.
On the Qingdao issue, Yuan Su does intend to get involved, but the problem is that his plan is to take advantage of the opportunity to fish in troubled waters and give up when the situation is good, instead of becoming a real hero who has high hopes for the future, a hero of the people, and a great revolution in modern Chinese history. Hero. But the premise of all this is that there will be no real armed conflict between China and Japan. It is best for Japan to know China's determination and retreat in spite of difficulties.
If Japan refuses to give in, once the two sides fight, the troops facing the Japanese army will inevitably bear great war pressure. Yuan Su is self-aware at least. Although his troops have undergone elite training, It also maintains daily training, and its combat effectiveness is definitely the best among the entire Beiyang Army. However, the problem is that the troops under its command are not fully organized. They do not have any artillery units at all, and they do not have any actual combat experience. They are definitely not fully equipped and powerful. Opponents of the Japanese army with actual combat experience.
If we insist on fighting to the death with the Japanese army, the final result can only be to exchange lives for time. Maybe we can delay the war to a month. After two months, the Japanese army will be unable to bear it, and because the war has greatly exceeded expectations, The pressure from the country is also huge, and it is very likely that they will choose to withdraw their troops.
The war was indeed won, but all the capital that had been saved with great difficulty was completely lost. The main force was undergoing a major change, and maybe even some of the few generals would join in. . He won a rare honor that China has received in the past century and became a national hero and national idol. However, he was no longer able to participate in the next Great Beiyang Game, let alone assist his uncle Yuan Shikai in consolidating the imperial system.