Chapter 22: Mediation and Peace Talks

  The southern regions of Jiangsu and Shanghai are the most economically developed areas in China, as well as the main hub for public opinion. The Shanghai newspapers have been reporting extensively on the stunning victories of the Revival Army in annihilating the Forbidden City Guards and the Queue Troops. Among them, the newspapers controlled by the East China Group have even begun to criticize the Nanjing Provisional Government for lacking a revolutionary stance, not only failing to support the Revival Army's expulsion of the Qing dynasty's small emperor, but also assisting the enemy for personal gain, disregarding national justice and usurping high positions.

  The Nanjing Provisional Government was naturally unhappy, and Sun Da Pao hastily ordered a counterattack in public opinion, but how could Sun Da Pao possibly outdo Jiang Yu.

  Jiang Yu previously acquired three major newspapers, and later successively acquired more than a dozen small newspaper companies. These public opinion forces were integrated, and in Shanghai alone, the total sales volume of newspapers under the Huadong Group accounted for 93% of the entire city. In other regions, the Huadong Group's newspapers basically occupied 100% of the market share, because there were no competitors in other regions at all.

  Sun Dapao and Jiang Yu are not in the same weight class at all, as soon as public opinion started to attack, Sun Dapao was made a laughing stock by negative reports from major newspapers.

  Many people, under the propaganda of the Huadong Group, gradually realized the true face of Sun Dapao, who was actually just a guy supported by the Japanese Black Dragon Society to stir up trouble in China and revolutionize for the sake of revolution.

  Since the establishment of the Nanjing Provisional Government, revolutionary party members have sought personal gain and power struggles, making ordinary people's lives worse than during the Qing dynasty. This has led to a complete loss of confidence in the Nanjing Provisional Government.

  At this time, the Nanjing interim government not only suffered a military defeat but also lost in terms of public opinion, justice and popular support.

  In contrast, the Revival Army's annihilation of the Imperial Guards and the Queue Troops in Shandong was beyond everyone's expectations. Before the war broke out, no one would have thought that the Qing Empire's elite Imperial Guards would be so vulnerable to the Revival Army, nor did anyone expect the Revival Army to emerge victorious.

  However, the Revival Army did indeed win, and it was a victory that came at an extremely small cost.

  Unexpectedly, the Revival Army defeated the 2 million civilian army of the Nanjing Provisional Government in one fell swoop. Of course, this military strength was claimed by the Nanjing Provisional Government itself, and the major newspapers in East China also took it as 2 million.

  The two lines of north and south fought at the same time, achieving a stunning victory, which made people marvel at the strong combat power of the Revival Army.

  At the same time, major newspapers of the Huadong Group also sent people to Shandong for interviews. What was reported included the "Fuxing Army's 'no harm' and 'fair trade'", as well as the Fuxing Army's relief efforts for local poor people after their arrival, which were all published in the papers and received praise from intellectuals.

  This time the Restoration Army was launched with the reason of expelling the small emperor of the Qing Dynasty, so in terms of justice, it is first and foremost justified.

  This time, the Nanjing provisional government launched a war against Jiangsu, and the Nanjing provisional government was defeated. Jiangsu, on the other hand, was merciless in his victory, mobilizing the power of the East China Chamber of Commerce to organize large numbers of "water armies" in the cities, constantly spreading propaganda about Jiangsu in tea houses and other public places, portraying this warlord as a great figure, and continually exposing the scandals of Sun Daquan and others.

  At the same time, universities across the country were made a key focus of work, and water armies were embedded in schools, where they bought off students and teachers to promote the Xingye Party and attack Sun's Xingzhonghui and Huang's Xinghuahui.

  For a time, it made the reputation of the Nanjing Provisional Government stink to high heaven.

  At this time, the Nanjing interim government had a sense of being surrounded on all sides. Public opinion did not support them and ordinary people were starting to lose their support as well. The Restoration Army might attack Nanjing at any moment.

  Sun Dapao regretted it too late, he regretted why he didn't collect his belongings and run away earlier. Now that places like Shanghai have been occupied by the Revival Army, it's not easy to escape anymore.

  At this time, Tao Chengzhang issued a nationwide telegram calling on the Restoration Army and the Revolutionary Army to exercise restraint in order to avoid mutual destruction of revolutionary forces.

  The leader of the Zhejiang Restoration Society, Tao Chengzhang, came out to mediate, which finally calmed down the military struggle in southern Jiangsu.

  After the telegram was sent, Tao Chengzhang also wrote a letter to Jiang Yu, explaining that China should quickly get out of the war and drive out the small emperor of the Qing Dynasty, which can be delayed for the time being, and hoped that Jiang Yu would take the overall situation into consideration.

  Tao Cheng-chang's idea was similar to that of Chiang Kai-shek, and expelling the Manchu Little Emperor was just an excuse. The real reason for this war was that Chiang wanted to take advantage of the chaos to gain some benefits.

  Now it's cheap to occupy, Jiang Yu annihilated the Forbidden City Army and the Queue Army, almost controlling the entire Shandong Province. After defeating the Nanjing Provisional Government, he also controlled most of southern Jiangsu except for Nanjing.

  Since we have already seized the territory, there is no need for the war to continue.

  Jiang Yu also wrote a letter back to Tao Chengzhang, expressing his willingness to end the war as soon as possible.

  Through Tao Chengzhang's introduction, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang faction sent a negotiating team led by Jiang Fangzhen to negotiate with the Nanjing Provisional Government in Shanghai.

  Jiang Fangzhen hastened to Shanghai from the Shandong front line and quickly negotiated with the Nanjing provisional government, during which the two Huai administrative offices had the upper hand.

  The war was finally brought to an end at the cost of 5 million taels in indemnity by the Nanjing provisional government and the handover of the territories currently occupied by the Revival Army to the Two Huai Administrative Bureau for "administration".

  After the negotiation ended, Jiang Fangzhen immediately went with Tao Chengzhang to discuss official business.

  Jiang Fangzhen came to Shanghai, not mainly for negotiations, but actually for Tao Chengzhang. Jiang Fangzhen was also a Zhejiang native and it was more suitable for him to contact the Restoration Society.

  Tao Chengzhang has a high reputation in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, he is a man of virtue, so in this era most people can convince him, and Jiang Yu also gives him some face.

  At this time, the situation in China was simple and roughly divided into three forces: the revolutionary groups, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang government, and the remaining Manchu forces.

  In revolutionary groups, the most united is the Guangfu Society. With the moral character of Tao Chengzhang, there is still hope for unity between the two sides.

  As long as both sides unite, Jiang and Yu will also expand their forces to Zhejiang, and in the future, they can use Zhejiang as a springboard to attack Fujian.

  Tao Chengzhang was delighted to see Jiang Fangzhen's current achievements and immediately began asking questions about the Two Huai Administrative Office and the Revival Army.

  Jiang Fangzhen directly invited Tao Chengzhang to go to Jiangsu and Anhui for a visit, and also to see the whole situation. Tao Chengzhang gladly agreed.

  ……

  In the Xinhua Palace of the Forbidden City, Yuan Shikai had just moved in and ordered that the haitang trees from Henan be transplanted to the Xinhua Palace, planning to live there for a long time.

  The good mood was ruined by the continuous battle reports coming from the front.

  Feng Guozhang led the Imperial Guard to Shandong, but instead of annihilating the Restoration Army, a large part of his own forces were annihilated by the Restoration Army. Feng Guozhang himself fled back to Beijing with over 500 men.

  The Queue Troops were even more miserable, with only a few of the 16,000 people managing to escape, and General Zhang Xun was killed in action.

  The mighty combat power of the Revival Army shocked Yuan Shikai, and the destruction of the Imperial Guards and the Queue Army forced Yuan to take this military force seriously.

  According to the reaction of the Imperial Guard who ran back, the equipment of the Revival Army was exceptionally excellent, and the equipment of the entire Beiyang Army could not compare with that of the Revival Army.

  The Northern Army's advantage over the Southern Revolutionary Army lay in its possession of heavy machine guns and artillery, but this was a disadvantage in front of the Revival Army.

  The Revival Army has a large number of heavy machine guns, and even more light machine guns. In addition, there is another type of gun with a shorter range that can fire quickly (submachine gun). The enemy is completely outmatched by the Revival Army in terms of firearms. As for artillery, the Revival Army not only has many cannons but also several heavy artillery pieces.

  What's even more frightening is that the Revival Army is also equipped with many cars, which means this army has very strong mobility and can quickly march while towing heavy artillery.

  Moreover, through the process of the Texas War, the commanders of this army are also excellent.

  Yuan Shikai thought to himself: if he were to annihilate this army, what price would he have to pay?

  Obviously, with the tens of thousands of troops in Yuan Shikai's hands at present, it is impossible to fight back. Even if these forces are thrown in and can defeat the Restoration Army, what then?

  And he doesn't even have money on hand to fight now.

  But...

  If he doesn't fight, can his position still be stable?

  At that time, won't we be ridden on by the Southern Revolutionary Party and have them shit and piss on our heads?

  Yuan Shikai was thus in a very awkward position, having to fight but unable to fight.

  Just as Yuan Shikai was hesitating, an envoy sent by the Restoration Army arrived in Beijing, and Jiang Yu sent Sun Zhendong to Beijing.

  Yuan Shikai immediately sensed some information and summoned Sun Zhendong.

  When he met Sun Zhendong, Yuan Shikai was surprised by Sun's age, who was only in his early twenties and extremely young.

  Yuan Shikai suddenly revealed a hint of a smile, with strong self-confidence, and asked Sun Zhendong: "Are you here to negotiate with this official?"

  Sun Zhendong was taken aback, then chuckled and said: "Lord Yuan, you're wrong. I didn't come here to negotiate a truce, but to advise you to make peace."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Yuan Shikai stroked his short beard, his eyes fixed on Sun Zhendong in puzzlement.

  "Because General Yuan's Beiyang Army can't defeat our Revival Army, that's why I've come to persuade you to negotiate a peace treaty." Sun Zhendong exuded an air of strong confidence, but Yuan Shikai burst out laughing. He asked with a chuckle: "This official commands tens of thousands of troops, while the Revival Army has at most 500,000 to 600,000 soldiers - what is there for this official to fear?"