1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 81

Zhao Yan, along with representatives from the six major creditor nations, signed documents such as the "Beijing Cooperation Treaty" and the "Sino-Foreign Debt Restructuring Agreement" in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

When Zhao Yan signed, the six representatives stared wide-eyed, demanding that Zhao Yan's signature must include "Head of State of the Republic of China" as a prefix, and that not only his personal seal be affixed, but also the official seal of the Head of State of the Republic of China be added, and finally, the fingerprints of Zhao Yan's left and right thumbs!

The representatives from the six countries even hired a photographer to film the entire signing process without interruption, especially focusing on close-ups of Zhao Yan signing and stamping the document.

Zhao Yan was so angry that his face turned black, but he was helpless. Who could he do when he had no money in his pocket and no backbone?

Chapter 142 The Nation Needs Your "Archaeology"!

Despite being penniless, Zhao Yan, who stood tall on the battlefield, eventually bowed down in front of his creditors after the war.

However, the Republican government has finally overcome the difficulties of the post-war financial crisis. With the six major creditor nations relenting, the Republican government's total budget and expenditures for this year can be considered to have weathered the storm.

Compared to Japan, China, with its massive size, has barely managed to pull itself back from the brink of collapse, while Japan, as an island nation, remains mired in various collapses.

After the armistice, Japan had no time to restore its economy and people's livelihood. The troops that had just withdrawn from Korea had to be thrown into suppressing revolutionary uprisings and riots in various places, forcibly maintaining the crumbling imperial rule through military suppression.

The new expansion plan of the Joint Fleet is nowhere in sight, the Eight-Eight Fleet has become a pipe dream, and a large amount of military funds have been transferred to the Army and invested in maintaining domestic stability.

Prices in Japan have skyrocketed, the yen has depreciated wildly, and industrial and agricultural production capacity has plummeted. Japan's national strength has returned to what it was before the First Sino-Japanese War! It's even worse than before the First Sino-Japanese War, when Japan didn't have the Combined Fleet and all those steel behemoths to support.

However, after the devastation of the Russo-Japanese War and the Far East War, Japan's national economy and finances have completely collapsed. After the war, the Japanese government had no choice but to follow Zhao Yan's example and give up its domestic market and crucial financial control to foreign powers as bargaining chips in exchange for a chance to breathe.

Japan has even shamelessly started officially organizing large numbers of women to go south and east to work as prostitutes and earn foreign exchange. The Combined Fleet originally thought it would seize this opportunity to start the era of dreadnoughts in the Japanese Navy, but now the Navy's biggest task is to escort its own women overseas to work in the service industry.

In comparison, Zhao Yan at least had some self-respect. He didn't try to take advantage of the poor, but instead leveraged the country's massive size to distribute the enormous post-war side effects evenly internally and delay externally, buying more time to digest the crisis.

Both China and Japan found themselves to be the most miserable in this war, even the British, who had been the most vocal before the war, only lost face but won substance.

The relatively decent resources of both China and Japan were completely depleted in this war, benefiting the European powers who made huge profits.

China spent 1.3 billion taels of silver on military expenses, while Japan spent 600 million yen. At least one-third of this money was earned by Europe and the United States.

The total number of Chinese soldiers, civilians, and other combatants killed or wounded was 610,000, while the Japanese casualties were mainly soldiers, numbering around 370,000.

Fortunately, Japan acted against its conscience after the war and did not provide compensation, otherwise the collapse would have been even more severe.

In postwar Japan, the political climate began to shift entirely from "aggression against China" to "pro-China" attitudes. This was not because the Japanese had sincerely repented, but because they realized that the dominant power in East Asia was still the dominant power.

Previously, it seemed that China was on the verge of collapse, a situation clearly marked by widespread suffering and the end of a dynasty. But then Zhao Yan suddenly appeared, raising the banner of revolution and reviving the nation, almost dragging China down with him.

Zhao Yan rose to power too quickly and used too many cunning methods. Japan still hasn't fully figured out what's going on, and they've been nearly crippled.

For at least twenty years now, Japan has not dared to harbor any ill intentions towards China. On the contrary, they are more afraid that China will harbor ill intentions towards them. Therefore, postwar Japan has completely changed its dialogue diplomacy, transforming from its previous aggressive stance to a more docile and low-key one.

The Japanese even inquired with Beijing in early June about purchasing capital ships, as they had three Russian-made capital ships they were interested in selling, and were willing to offer a discount if China was willing to buy them.

The three capital ships—Sagami, Hizen, and Iwami—were all captured Russian capital ships during the Russo-Japanese War. They were all pre-dreadnoughts and were third-hand ships with extremely high mileage. The Japanese even had the audacity to offer a package price of two million pounds.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing flatly refused, saying, "I wouldn't even take it for scrap metal, how dare you ask for such an exorbitant price?"

The Japanese are so poor they've started selling warships; China isn't much better off.

Of the 90 million in foreign debt this year, 60 million has been converted into investment. The Republican government only needs to sell land and labor to creditors to repay the debt, but the remaining 30 million still needs to be repaid in real money!

The Ministry of Finance stated that this hole could not be filled by printing money; they could not withstand it. The pressure was put on the Presidential Office, and Zhao Yan, after much deliberation, could only resort to crooked means.

July 10, 1908, inside the Post-War Military Affairs Office in Shenyang, Northeast China.

Young Lieutenant Sun Dianying walked nervously into an office, unaware of the fate that awaited him.

The National Defense Force underwent a major downsizing after the war. The force, which had expanded to 1.4 million men during the war, was reduced to 1.2 million men after the war, following the losses.

Such a large army is 100% unaffordable for the government, so troop reduction is inevitable. Moreover, the Führer has promised them a large amount of land, so their livelihood after the troop reduction will not be a problem. They can just go home and farm without worrying about any unrest.

But for some officers who had tasted the power, they were not so willing to go back to farming. Having experienced the feeling of having a voice and the power of life and death on the battlefield, no one wanted to go back to the days of toiling in the fields.

The central government is determined to implement the disarmament plan. After the war, it will only retain a standing army of 500,000 men and a garrison of 200,000 men.

The 500,000-strong standing army was reorganized into ten army groups and deployed to various regions according to strategic needs, while the 200,000-strong garrison was stationed in each provincial-level administrative unit.

All other personnel will be retired or dismissed. Only soldiers who have served for more than one year or have been on the front lines for more than four months will be retained. Basically, the militia and garrison troops who were added to the ranks during the war will be dismissed.

Those who remain are all elite soldiers who have fought and seen blood; the national military budget can no longer afford to support idle personnel.

Soldiers' decisions on whether to stay or leave are relatively easy to make, but the most difficult thing is whether officers can stay or leave. If an officer can get a recommendation to attend a military academy after the war, then he is guaranteed to stay.

But there are only so many spots available for military academy training, and many officers have to wait in line, so it depends on seniority and combat achievements.

Lieutenant Sun Dianying was in an awkward position. He joined the National Defense Army in May 1907 during the final stages of pre-war preparations and served in the 13th Division. He was known for his quick wit and eagerness to learn.

After graduating from basic training, he was recommended to study at the 13th Division's military academy. By the time the war broke out, he was already a probationary warrant officer serving as a platoon leader.

The only awkward thing was that after the outbreak of war, the 13th Division, which was reorganized from the Beiyang Army, sat on the sidelines of the Eastern Route Army for a long time.

It wasn't until Zhao Yan led his troops eastward that the 13th Division had the opportunity to participate in the Battle of the Isko Valley. In this battle, Sun Dianying seized the opportunity to make some contributions and successfully became a second lieutenant deputy company commander.

Unfortunately, after the 13th Division finished the Battle of the Isko Valley, it was almost at Vladivostok when Zhao Yan had no choice but to withdraw due to the deteriorating situation in Mongolia.

The 13th Division remained stationed in Suifenhe to defend against the Russian army on the other side until the following year when China and Russia signed an armistice agreement in Irkutsk. Only then was the 13th Division transferred south to participate in the war in Korea.

However, due to climate and logistical reasons, the 13th Division was delayed in Northeast China for too long, and by the time it reached the front line, the war was already coming to an end.

Aside from his achievements in the Isco Valley, Sun Dianying had no other qualifications or military exploits. Moreover, he was only a second lieutenant deputy company commander with no superiors and no chance of being recommended to attend a military academy. He would most likely be dismissed and retired.

But at this moment, Sun Dianying still held a sliver of hope, wondering if he could have a chance to stay. He felt that he had a brighter future in the army.

The post-war military affairs office in Shenyang wielded immense power. Apart from those soldiers with connections, seniority, or outstanding military achievements, whom they couldn't influence, the fate of the remaining officers and soldiers, especially the officers, was decided by their assessment.

Sun Dianying received a notice to report to the Fourth Section Office for inspection. When he arrived at the office door, there was a coat rack with a field satchel hanging on it. The door was closed, and the words "Fourth Section Inspection Office" were written in calligraphy on the door frame.

"Report!" Sun Dianying knocked on the office door with trepidation.

"Please come in!" A voice quickly came from inside the door.

After entering the office, Sun Dianying looked around. The office was brightly lit even in broad daylight, and the area near the door was empty, without even a chair.

There was a desk under the window, behind which sat a burly lieutenant colonel with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and on both sides were filing cabinets.

The lieutenant colonel with thick eyebrows and large eyes stared at Sun Dianying with an upright expression for a moment, then pointed to the stool in front of the desk and said, "Please sit down!"

Sun Dianying sat down with his hands on his knees, his back ramrod straight, a standard military posture.

The lieutenant colonel introduced himself: "My name is Wang Qinglian, and I am the director of the fourth section in charge of evaluating the officers and soldiers of your 13th Division."

"Your name is Sun Dianying, right?" Before Sun Dianying could speak, Lieutenant Colonel Wang Qinglian looked down and opened the file, saying as he read, "You're quite young. You're only nineteen years old this year, and you're already a second lieutenant and deputy company commander."

He attended a military academy and graduated with a "good" grade. The division chief of staff praised him for being quick-witted and obedient.

"I served as a probationary warrant officer platoon leader for half a year, and then participated in the Battle of Isco. After the war, I was promoted to second lieutenant deputy company commander, and then there were no other highlights."

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Sun Dianying quickly said, "Commander Wang, I, Sun Dianying, am truly devoted to serving my country. I want to stay in the army and continue to serve the nation."

Lieutenant Colonel Wang Qinglian raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Alright, I've heard that kind of talk too many times. Whether you can stay or not depends on strict evaluation criteria. It's not something I can keep just because you say so!"

Sun Dianying raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. This Commander Wang seemed to have something in mind, but the other party's name was too intimidating, and Sun Dianying was not sure for the moment.

Lieutenant Colonel Wang Qinglian continued, "Your qualifications and combat achievements are still somewhat lacking, but your file says you are quick-witted, which is very good. After retiring, you will definitely be able to achieve something. As the leader said, there is much to be done in the vast world."

You're so young, you have plenty of opportunities ahead of you, there's no need for you to stay in the military forever.

Hearing his superior address him again, Sun Dianying was immediately certain. He first said that words were useless, then that he was quick-witted. Sun Dianying patted his pocket, took out all the military pay he had prepared beforehand, and walked respectfully to the desk.

"Commander Wang, here is 107.5 yuan. This is all the money I have. Please accept it!"

Lieutenant Colonel Wang Qinglian was immediately enraged: "What kind of person do you take me for? Do you think I, Wang Qinglian, am the kind of person who would embezzle and be corrupt?"

"Take this pile of garbage away. The field satchel hanging on the coat rack by the door is the trash can. Don't let me see it, and don't insult me!"

Sun Dianying smiled broadly: "Yes, yes, yes, the officer is right. I was being presumptuous."

Wang Qinglian nodded: "The young man is indeed a bit rash, but he is quite clever."

"Here's what we'll do. I have a few spots for retired military personnel to pursue further education. The National Defense University definitely doesn't have any, so they're all spots at Harbin Institute of Technology. I'll try to get one for you. If you can't become an officer, becoming a college student isn't bad either."

The Ministry of National Defense secured some admission slots from the Ministry of Education to accommodate retired officers, especially young officers, but the number was still small.

Moreover, many universities are still in their early stages, and their teaching buildings are still waiting for funding to be built. Nobody knows the exact year and day of the admissions process.

Sun Dianying knew all this, so he was still not satisfied. With a determined look, he pulled out a stack of land deeds from his other pocket: "Commander Wang, I'm just a greenhorn. I've never farmed before and I don't know how to tend crops. This 112 mu of fertile land in Nanyang County that the leader bestowed upon me is a waste."

"I've no use for it; it's just trash. I'll just throw it in the trash bag by the door later. What do you think?"

Wang Qinglian finally smiled: "You're a promising young man. It's a waste for a young person to hold onto these deeds for over a hundred acres of land if he doesn't know how to farm. Just throw them in the trash."

"However, if you want to go to the National Defense University in Nanjing, that's still difficult. To be honest, I don't have any spots available."

Sun Dianying said, "As long as I can stay in the army, I will go wherever my superiors assign me, I will not be picky!"

Wang Qinglian thought for a moment and then said, "It's a bit difficult to stay in the front-line troops, and it would be a waste of your clever mind to assign you to the garrison."

How about this, I'll arrange for you to join an archaeological team? You'll retain your rank of second lieutenant and your military status. They're short-staffed right now, so if you're willing to go, I can get you assigned immediately!

Chapter 143 If you weren't so unethical, you wouldn't even have a chance!

"Huh? An archaeological team? What's that?" Sun Dianying exclaimed in surprise. He had emptied his coffers, and this was how he ended up being assigned to an archaeological team? He had no idea what an archaeological team even did!

Lieutenant Colonel Wang Qinglian coughed twice: "Ahem, why are you making such a fuss?"

"The country needs you to do archaeology! Didn't you just confidently say you'd go wherever we assigned you? Why are you complaining now?"

Sun Dianying quickly put on a smile: "Sir, please don't be offended. We've never heard of this archaeological team before."

Wang Qinglian explained, "This is a newly established unit whose job seems to be to investigate and protect ancient sites, and incidentally excavate some buried precious cultural relics and valuable items."

Sun Dianying was quick-witted and understood immediately: "Investigating historical sites and excavating valuable items? Isn't that just being a tomb raider? That's a bit unethical!"

"If it weren't for the lack of morality, you wouldn't even be in this position!" Wang Qinglian slammed his fist on the table and said, "And you, stop talking nonsense. We're clearly an archaeological team, why are you calling us tomb raiders? Why don't you just say we're grave robbers? Do you even want to advance your career? Huh!"

Sun Dianying immediately apologized: "Sir, please forgive my slip of the tongue, but I don't understand the technology and have never done this before. Can I do it?"

"I've heard about these things in the martial arts world before, like the Luoyang shovel, the compass, the black donkey hoof, and the tomb-raiding talisman. I have none of those things, and I don't know any of them!"

"The higher-ups only want those without technical skills; those with technical skills are all rubbish!" Wang Qinglian cursed. "Damn it, this job was originally done by the people in the Literature and History Department of the Prime Minister's Office. The Literature and History Department found a bunch of old scholars to do the work, dragging their feet, either investigating the history of buildings or researching some bullshit plan."

"We've been busy for over a year, but we haven't even opened a single tomb yet. When asked, they always say they want to avoid damaging cultural relics. When we urge them, they say that if we damage them, we'll all be criminals against history."

"This made the head of state angry, so he simply handed the job over to our military!"

Sun Dianying asked, "What about those old scholars? Don't they work anymore and just freeload? Or do I have to listen to them when I get there?"

Wang Qinglian shook his head and said, "How could that be? They're just a bunch of pedantic scholars. They think they can command our national defense army? They can't even afford to eat rice anymore. The head of state has sent them all to teach in Xinjiang!"

"Don't give me that technical stuff. If you don't have a Luoyang shovel, I'll arrange explosives and field artillery for you. A compass is useless. They're all Qing Dynasty imperial tombs and princes' graves. You don't need a compass to find them. The map marks them very clearly. That whole area is full of them."

"Don't bother with all that black donkey hooves, tomb raiding talismans, or black dog blood. All that fancy stuff is useless. The higher-ups have assigned you heavy machine guns; those are better than anything else!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Dianying became very excited and nodded frantically, "No problem, sir, I'm willing to go!"

Looking at Sun Dianying's quick wit, Wang Qinglian was a little worried: "It's fine to arrange for you to go, but you have to be careful after you get there. This job was arranged personally by the Presidential Office, and the order was directly issued to the Ministry of National Defense for execution."

"The higher-ups are so desperate for money they're practically blinded by greed. When you go down into the tomb, you can take some things, but there are some things you absolutely mustn't touch. Otherwise, if the higher-ups have their eyes on you, no one can protect you, and you might even implicate me. After all, I had to take risks when I recommended you."

Sun Dianying patted his chest and said, "Sir, don't worry. I know this very well. If I can stay in the army and carry out missions for the head of state, that would be a stroke of good luck for me. How could I dare to have any other ideas?"

Wang Qinglian was somewhat relieved and instructed, "You are the person I recommended. You must be clean-cut. The higher-ups are watching this matter. If you do a good job, it will be a success that reaches the highest levels of government. Don't ruin your future for a pittance."

Sun Dianying nodded humbly, "Yes, sir! I promise I will not let you down!"

Wang Qinglian seemed to remember something and added, "There should be a lot of coffins after we go down into the tomb. Nobody cares if you just reach out and grab one. Keep an eye out for me and get me a good one to have on hand."

Sun Dianying asked with a strange look, "This officer doesn't seem to have reached this point, does he?"

Wang Qinglian retorted angrily, "Who said I'm using it? It's my father! My father is seventy-two years old this year, and we haven't even prepared a coffin for him yet!"

Sun Dianying quickly agreed: "No problem, sir, I'll get you a piece of Phoebe zhennan wood!"

Wang Qinglian quickly shook his head: "Golden Phoebe wood is too outrageous, my father can't afford it. A rosewood or huanghuali wood will be fine. I'll pay for it. We absolutely cannot take advantage of the head of state!"

After giving his instructions, Wang Qinglian sent Sun Dianying off to take up his post immediately.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, thousands of miles away, at the Eastern Qing Tombs, a large number of armed archaeological teams have already moved into the tomb area to begin preliminary preparations for archaeological work.

The commander in charge of leading the armed archaeological team was the newly promoted Major General Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai had been transferred from his position as commander of the 13th Division. Throughout the war, Old Yuan mainly slacked off, as there was no room for him to make a difference.

When the 13th Division was the main force in the Battle of Isk, Lao Yuan volunteered to be the commander, but Zhao Yan didn't trust the fat man's abilities at all, and in the end he personally commanded the battle.

After enduring a major battle, Yuan Shikai's obesity and diabetes were cured. He lost more than 40 pounds during his time on the front lines, and he was no longer called "Big Head Yuan" but "Small Head Yuan." He was very thin and dark-skinned.

When Yuan Shikai was the commander of the 13th Division, the troops on the Korean front were so hungry that they went to the countryside to collect grain, while Yuan Shikai was guarding the Suifenhe Railway Station and eating four meals a day!

Breakfast consisted of seven or eight eggs, lunch included smoked meat and grilled fish, and dinner was even more outrageous, requiring soldiers to hunt wild game for him. He also had to have a late-night snack after dark.

When Zhao Yan arrived at the Suifenhe line on the eastern front, he was furious when he saw this scene. He himself did not have such good battlefield rations, but Yuan Shikai did. Did Yuan Shikai think he was Dai Mingde?

Zhao Yan personally rectified the discipline of the 13th Division, starved Yuan Shikai for three whole days, and then canceled all of his private meals.