Hit the snake at seven inches

  At this time, Kato Takamasa would never have thought that someone was also saying almost the same thing to him at almost the same time.

  "Now the fact is very clear! If we continue to fight, there will only be one way to perish! Rather than that, it would be better to agree to cede Manchuria and Mongolia to Japan, accept Japanese protection, and strive for a ceasefire!"

  "How can you still be so obstinate and ignorant! Let China accept Japanese protection? Just like the Koreans? What's the difference between that and being a slave to a dead country?"

  It was still that small hut, at this time, the beautiful Japanese girl in a kimono was anxiously watching her idolized middle-aged Chinese man and a big-bellied Chinese man with a black beard arguing fiercely.

  "China and Japan are both Mongoloid nations, if they can unite as one country, China's land can be developed, the economy can grow, and we can also borrow Japan's military power to resist Western powers. What's wrong with that?! Our revolutionary goal is to expel the Manchu and revive the Han Chinese, China should be built within the Great Wall. If Japan agrees to assist our party, giving up Manchuria and Mongolia to Japan would not be a great loss for China, and Japan can protect China from Western powers' invasion. This is a win-win situation, how did it become about being a slave to a foreign country when you say it?"

  "You're completely out of your mind! Korea did unify with Japan, but what was the result? They weren't even allowed to use their own language and writing, they didn't even have the right to eat rice, isn't that a slave to a lost country? Do you want all 400 million Chinese people to be like North Koreans?"

  "What is a slave of a lost country? According to your Huang Keqiang's statement, the Chinese people were slaves of the Manchu people for 260 years. What was the result? Are you and I not slaves of a lost country?"

  The Japanese girl looked at Huang Xing in horror as he furiously overturned the table and rushed out of the door without looking back. She carefully picked up the table, one by one picking up the papers and pens that had fallen to the floor, and rearranged them neatly.

  Seeing the gentle movements of the girl, the middle-aged Chinese man's anger that had been burning fiercely gradually subsided. He thought for a moment, picked up his brush and began to write eagerly on the paper.

  "...The Manchus of today were originally the eastern barbarians outside the passes. In the past, during the Ming dynasty, they repeatedly caused trouble for China. Later, taking advantage of China's internal troubles, they launched a long drive into the heart of the country, destroyed my China, occupied my government, and forced my Han people to become their slaves. Those who refused were killed in the tens of millions. My Han people have been a subjugated nation for 260 years. Therefore, Manchuria is not part of China, and the Manchu people are not Chinese citizens."

  "...what Japan needs most is Manchuria, and Manchuria has an inseparable relationship with Japan. The land of Manchuria was originally the territory of the Manchu people, and for us Chinese Hans, it is not absolutely necessary. If our revolution succeeds, even if we satisfy Japan's hopes regarding Manchuria and Mongolia, it should be no problem..."

  "...The Japanese population is increasing year by year, and the vast plains of the three northeastern provinces are suitable for development. Japan's homeland lacks resources, while Manchuria has various important resources, so it is only natural that Japan should focus on this land as a national policy. We, members of the Chinese Revolutionary Party, can fully understand this, so we can recognize Manchuria as a special region for Japan and acknowledge Japan's priority right to immigrant development. For China, not only Manchuria but also the development of China's mainland relies on Japan's industrial, technological, and financial strength. If China and Japan cooperate and advance together, their power will expand, and it is not difficult to create a great Asia and restore its past glorious history."

  "...Now, Yuan Shikai has usurped the country and disrupted politics, causing endless battles between China and Japan, only bringing grief to loved ones and joy to enemies. It is heartbreaking to hear about it. To immediately overthrow the tyrannical government of Yuan Shikai, establish a revolutionary new government supported by all Chinese citizens, and achieve practical results in Sino-Japanese cooperation, we hope that your esteemed government will provide military supplies, food, and reserve troops to help our party organize three divisions of the Chinese Revolutionary Army, for the purpose of recovering our country. ...From now on, we hope that China and Japan will work together to defend against the invasion of European and American powers, making East Asia belong to the people of East Asia, and Asia belong to the people of Asia..."

  The middle-aged man finished writing the letter, then read it over several times carefully. He took an envelope and sealed it, and after doing all this, he thought for a moment. He instructed the Japanese girl who was kneeling beside him respectfully, and she nodded and got up to leave. Before long, the girl returned with a young man wearing a black school uniform. The middle-aged man handed the letter to him and gave some instructions. The young man accepted the letter solemnly and left through the door.

  On June 10, 1915, the Japanese Cabinet passed a resolution to continue sending more troops to China.

  June 17, 1915, Shandong, Laiwu.

  Zhang Xun, being carried on a stretcher by two queue-wearing soldiers, looked at the distant heavy artillery being towed by large trucks and straightened his body in surprise. Possibly due to his movement pulling on the wound on his leg, his mouth was stretched wide in pain, but he endured it without making a sound.

  The spirit and demeanor displayed by the Jiangxi army officers and soldiers who accompanied these artillery pieces were not only vastly different from those of the bannermen under his command, but also completely unlike those of the old Beiyang six divisions.

  Zhang Heng was looking for the Jiangxi garrison commander who had saved his life among the soldiers of the Jiangxi army. Soon, he saw Yang Shuo-ming, who was wearing a large-caliber pistol on his waist and talking to Zhang Xiao-zhun, the commander of the First Division of Nanyang. He immediately shouted loudly on the slide.

  "Yang, old brother! Yang, old brother!"

  Yang Shuo Ming and Zhang Xiao Zhun turned their heads and saw Zhang Heng on the slide, they couldn't help but exchange a smile.

  "Shaoxuan seems to be in good spirits, and his leg injury should have healed by now." Yang Shuo Ming smiled as he walked towards Zhang Heng with Zhang Xiao Zhun, "Brother Shaoxuan's leg is injured, but he insisted on coming, truly a kind intention that cannot be repaid!"

  "Yang Lao Di said where the words come from! This time it's a military meeting to fight against the Japanese pirates, I'm Zhang and even if I have to crawl, I must crawl here!" Zhang Yun tried to get down with his hands on the handrail, but was stopped by his deputy officer, "General, you'd better..."

  "Brother Shaohuan doesn't have to work hard," Yang Shuoming came to Zhang Yun's side and patted his hand, "Later this meeting will still need Brother Shaohuan to preside over it."

  "I preside over nothing! You've won the victory these days, it should be you who presides!" Zhang Xun said loudly to Cao Kun, commander of the 3rd Division, and Fu Xia'an, commander of the 5th Division, who had also just arrived not far away.

  After hearing Zhang Xun's words, Zhang Xiaozhun smiled and said: "The commander has spoken, so you don't have to be polite anymore, Han."

  Yang Shuo Ming smiled, turned his head to look at Cao Kun and Fu Xiao An. When Fu Xiao An saw the three of them, he immediately walked over, but Cao Kun, who had come with him, did not follow.

  Cao Kun walked up to an American-made cargo truck, looked at the huge cannon being towed behind it, and silently stretched out his hand to stroke the barrel of the gun, nodding slightly in approval.

  "Now that everyone is here, let's get the meeting started! You, Young Yang, just say how to do it and I, Old Zhang, will definitely not disagree!" Zhang Xun said with some dissatisfaction at Cao Kun's hesitant appearance.

  "The old master has led the army for so many years, but he's never suffered such a great loss! This time I'll take revenge for this arrow wound!" Zhang Heng viciously swung his fist and loudly roared.

  Cao Kun couldn't help but smile slightly when he heard Zhang Xun's words. He followed Fu Xiao'an to the front of Yang Shouming and others, bowed his hands to several generals, and then said to Zhang Xun: "Brother led the troops late and was unable to help the Wuwei Front Army and the Gan Army brothers. I apologize for that." He turned his head and sincerely said to Yang Shouming: "Yang younger brother annihilated more than 7,000 Japanese devils in the first battle, and I am deeply admired. In this joint operation, I will only follow Yang younger brother's lead."

  "Brother Zhongshan is too polite." Yang Shuo Ming said with a smile, as he led everyone to his command center.

  As soon as he entered Yang Shouming's command post, Cao Kun's eyes fell on the large map on the table. He looked at the map and couldn't help but take a cold breath, exchanging a glance with a division commander beside him.

  The traveler looked at the map on the table and was also shocked.

  Yang Shuo looked at Cao Kun and his beloved general, Wu Peifu, the commander of the 6th Brigade of the 3rd Division, with a surprised expression, rubbed his slightly sore wrist, and couldn't help but secretly smile.

  Cao Kun and Wu Peifu could never have imagined how this map was drawn with such precision.

  "Yang's goal this time, isn't it the Jiaoji Railway?" Zhang Xun asked, looking at the map.

  "Not bad." Yang Shuo Ming nodded, "It's just the Jiaoji Railway."

  At this time, Yang Shuo Ming looked at the group of Beiyang generals standing in the room, without any opening remarks or pleasantries, and directly turned the topic to the battle plan.

  "This time our goal is Weixian, Qingzhou and Zibo these three places." Yang Shuoming said, "If the Jiaoji Railway is a poisonous snake, this time we hit the snake, we must hit it at seven inches."

  "The intention of General Han's younger brother is to completely cut off the Jiaoji Railway, causing the Japanese troops in Jinan and Qingdao to lose contact." Zhang Xiaoquan looked at the map, thought for a moment, and said, "The plan is good, but isn't it a bit rushed? Currently our army lacks experience in siege warfare, and the Japanese have just suffered a great loss, so their defense will surely be strengthened. If we launch a strong attack and fail, it will blunt our momentum and shake the entire situation."

  "Not bad, among the troops in Shandong, Yang's Jiangxi army has the best equipment, that 18cm heavy artillery earlier is rare even in Western countries," said Cao Kun. "In terms of individual combat quality, the Jiangxi army is also superior, our old Beiyang army can't compare, suddenly attacking a fortified city, it's hard to achieve the same success as the Jiangxi army."

  After hearing Cao Kun's words, Yang Shuo Ming secretly scolded in his heart "You Cao San are actually not stupid at all", just as he was about to speak, Fu Xiao An suddenly spoke up beside him.

  "The Japanese army has not built any fortifications in these three places, and there are not many troops stationed here. If Brother Zhongshan is in a difficult situation, my Fifth Regiment will take the lead."

  Today's first update is here!