Chapter Eighteen: Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides

  The breakthrough in internal combustion engine technology not only achieved a breakthrough on aircraft and tanks but also drove the performance of agricultural machinery and automobiles.

  Especially agricultural machinery, because of the reliable internal combustion engine, all previous designs had sufficient living soil to make them possible.

  A technological revolution is coming.

  In the tractor sector, Jiangyue introduced a new tire design, which is a tractor tire with bumps and pits, making its grip extremely strong. As a result, future tractors can abandon track designs and become more reliable.

  One disadvantage of tracks is that they are prone to wear and tear. At present technical levels, tracks are still relatively easy to damage, while tires do not have this problem.

  A new tractor factory was built while the old one was converted into a tank factory.

  The Agricultural Machinery Institute immediately invested in the manufacture of new agricultural machinery, striving to launch reliable various agricultural machinery as soon as possible, and believing that there will be fruitful results soon.

  In the automotive manufacturing sector, large trucks have adopted diesel engines and can now produce reliable large trucks. In the civilian automobile sector, East China Automobile Manufacturing Factory has also begun to develop new civilian automobiles with performance requirements exceeding those of the Ford Model T, while keeping production costs close to that of the Model T sedan.

  In the midst of his busy schedule, Jiang Yu sent a telegram to his wife in Germany, describing the current situation in China. Britta was delighted when she received the telegram, as her father, Yukos, had already agreed to let her go to China after learning that her husband had taken on a role similar in size to Germany's, and would allow her to travel there once the situation in China stabilized slightly.

  Britta sent a telegram to Jiang Yu, telling him that their daughter could already call out "mom", and that Britta had given birth to a baby girl after being pregnant for ten months, who was now one year old.

  After receiving this telegram, Jiang Yu suddenly realized that he had become a father.

  His father-in-law, Yu Kuo-shu, also sent a telegram to Chiang congratulating him on his achievements in China and conveying the support of German Emperor William II for Chiang's attack on Shandong.

  It is clear that German Emperor William II wanted to gain more benefits in China, essentially no different from Britain, France and Japan. However, Germany had the fewest colonies overseas, and Jiang Jue knew that Germany was about to lose the war, so he was also willing to cooperate with Germany.

  If Jiangsu and Shandong are connected, they will be directly connected to the German concession in Qingdao, at which point cooperation between the two sides will become even closer and more direct.

  "Respected father-in-law, I have now firmly grasped control of the administration and taxation of two provinces, and can ensure the development of industry and commerce in terms of military affairs. I hope you can increase your investment in China, especially in the ordnance factory..." Jiang Yu sent a telegram to Yucos, hoping that Yucos would come to China to invest in the munitions manufacturing industry.

  At this time, Jiang Yu's arsenal could produce a lot of military equipment, but mainly relied on its own technology, and many military equipment still couldn't be produced.

  Jiang Yu hoped his father-in-law could come and help him out.

  However, Yukos quickly returned a telegram expressing his apologies because Germany's core military technology was not allowed to be leaked.

  While Jiang Yu's munitions factory was able to be built smoothly at this time, it was mainly because, apart from basic firearms such as rifles, other more advanced military equipment were all developed by Jiang Yu himself, so Germany did not impose an embargo on him.

  However, Yu Kos still expressed that he can take out funds equivalent to 350 million silver coins and invest them in industrial investment in the two Huai regions. Although Jiang Yu did not achieve his goal of fully militarizing technology, he was still very happy.

  An investment of 350 million silver dollars can build a considerable number of industries in the two Huai regions. Although not all of this 350 million yuan is from Yucos, but also includes money from German commercial banks and Deutsche Bank shareholders, after World War I it actually all belongs to Jiangsu and Hubei.

  At the same time, Yu Kos also stated that he can facilitate Jiang Yu's commercial loan.

  At this time, Germany's industrial production value ranked second in the world, next only to the United States. The area of the United States is dozens of times larger than that of Germany, so it can be said that at this time, Germany was the most industrially advanced place in the world.

  But Germany was too small; Germans had such a strong industrial capacity and so few overseas colonies that industry began to overproduce.

  Jiang Yu has established a foothold in China, which just happens to solve part of the problem of Germany's excessive industrial production capacity.

  Because Jiang Yu's loan to Germany will be used to purchase shipbuilding equipment in Germany, and also to purchase steamships, all of which can solve the problem of Germany's excessive industrial production capacity.

  It was not difficult to borrow from German banks, and soon German Emperor Wilhelm II personally approved a loan of 500 million silver dollars for Jiang Yu from the German Revival Credit Bank.

  It is clear that Wilhelm II wanted Jiang Yow to invest this money in the war and gain more territory in China.

  ……

  On February 15, Yuan Shikai ordered the Imperial Guards to leave Beijing and three days later boarded a train to Shandong. At this time, the Imperial Guards were filled with sorrow and anger over the abdication of the Qing Emperor, their only solace being their commander Feng Guozhang, whom they vowed to follow to the death.

  There is a strong sense of desperation about them.

  Yuan Shikai felt that sending the Forbidden Army to deal with the Restoration Army was a bit of an overkill, but in order to quickly resolve the issue, he decided to "kill a chicken to scare the monkeys". Yuan Shikai ordered the 5th Division of the Beiyang Army to return to Shandong and also commanded Zhang Xun's Queue Army to join forces with them to suppress the Restoration Army, mobilizing a total force of over 50,000 troops.

  On the side of the National Revolutionary Army, only one Type-A division with 15,000 soldiers was deployed to Shandong to fight against an enemy force three times its size.

  The news was transmitted back to Huaiyin, but Jiang and Yu did not continue to send reinforcements to the front line. Instead, they ordered General Zhang Fakui to actively deploy troops, and Zhang quickly sent back a battle plan formulated by his staff.

  "According to intelligence, Yuan Shikai has assembled 20,000 Imperial Guards, 16,000 Queue Troops and 13,000 Fifth Division troops to attack our forces in Shandong. However, Yuan's forces have not yet gathered, after discussion with the General Staff, it was decided to launch an attack on Jinan, Shandong tomorrow, first annihilating the 6,500-strong First Brigade of the Fifth Division, and then rapidly mobilizing..."

  The Jining Command Center relayed the battle plan and asked for instructions from Jiang and Yu.

  Jiang Yu replied with two words - Approved!

  ……

  The war clouds have already shrouded the entire Shandong, and on February 16th, Yuan Shikai issued a telegram demanding that the Restoration Army withdraw from Shandong to avoid creating irreparable misunderstandings.

  The implication of its military threat is self-evident. The Nanjing Provisional Government also issued a telegram, accusing the Restoration Army of ignoring the overall situation of North-South peace talks and recklessly starting a war. Since the Qing Emperor has already abdicated, they should immediately withdraw their troops.

  The British and French consulates also issued an ultimatum to the Fuxing Army, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

  At this time, the warlord Jiang Yu was in a predicament of being attacked from all sides in terms of politics and diplomacy, but he would not easily give up the territory that had fallen into his hands.

  This was unacceptable to Jiang Yu, and on February 17, the Administrative Office of Anhui issued a nationwide telegram.

  "I revived the army and marched to Shandong, only to force the Qing Emperor to abdicate, without any intention of destroying the Republic. Now that I hear the Qing Emperor has abdicated, my troops are all jubilant. However, the 'Favourable Treatment of the Qing Dynasty' agreement reached by the North-South peace talks does not conform to our army's aim of expelling the Tartars. In the past, the Manchu Qing dynasty slaughtered millions of our comrades and caused Chinese civilization to lose its luster. How can we not avenge this deep-seated hatred? Moreover, the Nanjing provisional government has achieved nothing since the revolution, yet it occupies high positions. My troops do not recognize its legitimacy. If the Qing Emperor remains in the palace, he will surely plot to restore the monarchy one day. My army must march north and expel the Qing court's emperor, to comfort our ancestors in the underworld. This is the moment of the revival of the Han dynasty. I hope that all 400 million of my comrades will unite and strive together to eliminate future troubles! I hope that our Han family will become strong and never again suffer the calamity of being ruled by an alien tribe."

  As soon as this edict was issued, the whole country was in an uproar.

  This telegram was the second time Jiangsu and Hubei jointly sent a telegram nationwide since the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, and it is recognized by later generations as the starting point for Jiangsu to change its previous obscurity and rise to the Chinese political stage.

  The Nanjing provisional government was in an uproar, and the northern Yuan Shikai clique was also in an uproar. They looked at this telegram with incredulity.

  "What are they going to do? Are they going to fight both the North and South at the same time?" Yuan Shikai said in a rage, just as he was about to enjoy his cooked duck, another annoying problem had arisen.

  "Father, since they want to die, then let's teach them a good lesson. I'll go find Wang Jingwei immediately and have him contact Nanjing to send troops together to annihilate the rebels." Yuan Keding said with a cold smile.

  Jiang Yu's electrifying speech not only refuted Yuan Shikai, but also offended the Nanjing Provisional Government. Yuan Shikai immediately showed a hint of coldness and nodded at Yuan Keding.

  Yuan Keding immediately went to contact the Nanjing provisional government, asking the Nanjing government to send troops to Anhui and northern Jiangsu, while the Beiyang Army would march south at the same time, together dividing up Anhui and northern Jiangsu.

  Yuan Keding had just gone to make contact, and Yuan Shikai immediately received a telegram - the Tianjin-Dezhou railway was blown up in dozens of places, and it would take at least six days to rush repairs.

  The Imperial Guard was stuck in Tianjin and could not head south, Yuan Shikai was somewhat annoyed, and immediately ordered the repair of the railway, to quickly fix the damaged railway. At the same time, he ordered the Imperial Guard to march on foot, waiting six days at the original location, marching on foot for six days would be enough to reach Dezhou and merge with the Queue Army.

  At the same time, in Jinan, Shandong, the Fuxing Army launched an attack on the Beiyang Army's 5th Division's 2nd Brigade outside the city of Jinan on February 16 after two days of mobilization.

  At 5 o'clock in the morning, the cannon shook the sky!

  The cannonballs lit up the dark night, and in a deafening roar, the Fifth Division of the Beiyang Army was engulfed in a sea of flames.

  Many of the Northern soldiers who were still asleep did not even have time to react before being blown up by shells.

  When the soldiers scrambled out of bed in a panic, they saw that the camp had fallen into chaos. In the darkness of night, it was basically impossible for the soldiers to find their commanders and for the commanders to find their soldiers.

  The fierce 75mm quick-firing gun showed its power, with over a hundred 75mm quick-firing guns firing at a speed of 15 rounds per minute, pouring shrapnel into the Beiyang Army camp. The camp was battered by these shrapnel, and the casualties among the Beiyang Army soldiers were extremely severe.

  Mixed in with the hail of bullets were high-explosive shells fired from a howitzer, one shot would cause a deafening explosion, even if you hid behind cover, you'd still be shaken to death, dying with blood flowing from all seven orifices.

  After ten minutes of bombardment, the Beiyang Army camp had completely collapsed.

  The unprepared soldiers of the Beiyang Army's Fifth Division were nearly half killed or wounded, and after the bombardment stopped, the Fuxing Army quickly launched an attack on the military camp.

  Many Beiyang soldiers cried out for their parents and ran away directly, and it was the officers who led them to run together.

  The Beiyang Fifth Division itself was on the verge of disintegration due to intense internal struggles, which was still because the Qing court used the revolutionary party to deal with Yuan Shikai and recruited Japanese students into the Beiyang Army.

  The result was that Shandong became independent for 13 days, after which Yuan Shikai launched a counterattack and squeezed out the revolutionary military officers, but the Fifth Brigade also fell into internal strife.

  At this time, suddenly suffered such intense shelling, collapse is not unexpected.

  The battle lasted until dawn and ended at 7:00 in the morning. The Second Brigade of the Fifth Division of the Beiyang Army was completely annihilated outside Jinan City, with only a few Beiyang Army officers and soldiers escaping, including the commander of the Second Brigade Wu Dingyuan and the commander of the artillery regiment Xu Shuyuan.

  The Second Corps of 6,500 men was defeated with over 2,300 killed and more than 3,600 captured, while over 600 were missing.

  ——————

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