1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 143

The Wehrmacht disliked the SS, and the SS looked down on the Wehrmacht in return. The relationship between the two sides was very strained. Although they were both armies, they had no friendship whatsoever.

It's like the difference between the Imperial Guard and the Border Army. It's normal for their relationship to be bad. If they were on good terms, Zhao Yan wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

The Ministry of Defense could not mobilize a single soldier of the SS. Previously, the SS had been supported by the military budget, but the Ministry of Defense simply kicked the SS out of the military budget system, and the two sides had no further connection since.

The relationship between the Army and the SS was even worse than that between the Army and the Navy. At least the Army and Navy shared resources, but the SS was completely independent and extremely arrogant.

After being made to stand at the door for half an hour, Zhao Yan's voice finally came from inside the Imperial Study.

"What are you all doing hiding outside? Get inside!"

Upon hearing the voice, all the generals shrank back and followed Wang Chongshan into the imperial study.

Once inside, everyone saw that Qiu Xingxun was kneeling in the corner with a copy of the Fuxing Party's constitution on his head. At most, they would just stand as punishment, but Qiu Xingxun was kneeling and being scolded. That's how unreasonable a master can be when disciplining his disciple.

"What are you still kneeling for? Stand up and don't embarrass me!" Zhao Yan shouted.

Qiu Xingxun obediently stood up, but still hid in the corner.

Wang Chongshan was puzzled as to why Zhao Yan was so angry, since he was usually very protective of his disciples.

The real reason was that Qiu Xingxun said the wrong thing. When explaining to Zhao Yan, he shifted the blame to Wu Zifu and complained about Wu Zifu's bad deeds in the Comintern.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan was furious. It was bad enough that they had messed things up, but to dare to shift the blame onto their fellow disciples was unacceptable. Such disunity immediately earned them a severe reprimand from Zhao Yan.

The lack of unity among fellow disciples is Zhao Yan's biggest taboo.

"Your Majesty, we have come here to apologize!"

Wang Chongshan faced Zhao Yan, bowed his head, and said, while the group of fierce generals behind him all stared at the ground, none of them daring to provoke him.

Normally, they are all powerful military leaders who command respect in their respective regions, but in front of Zhao Yan, they are just greenhorns. In the past, when they were fighting, Zhao Yan had to teach them step by step.

Zhao Yan sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), forcing a smile: "Apologize? What are you apologizing for? You are all meritorious officials!"

"I told you to finish quickly, but you looted for two days and two nights, and I only wanted you to bring back a few dozen tons of treasure. You brought back more than four hundred tons. You really aren't afraid of hardship or fatigue!"

Zhao Yan didn't know how to evaluate these guys. They were so greedy that they didn't even care if they were stuffed to death.

The fleet was just a hair's breadth away from being seized by the British fleet. On its way back, it didn't even dare to pass through the Strait of Malacca and is still circling around the South China Sea.

If the British intercepted them all at once and captured thousands of National Defense Army soldiers, the Republic would lose all face. The British would be able to take advantage of Zhao Yan, and he would have no choice but to open his mouth and accept it!

If things had been resolved quickly, there wouldn't have been so much risk. But they were greedy and insisted on making things escalate completely.

"Your Majesty, we are not afraid of hardship, fatigue, or even death; what we fear is poverty!"

"Your Majesty, the National Defense Forces have served you tirelessly, from the uprising to the Northern Expedition, and then to the Far East War. How many soldiers have been buried in foreign lands, and how many have shed their blood on the battlefield?"

"But when peace came, the army was first downsized, and then military spending was reduced. The army never got any good things, but it always got priority in all the bad things."

"Our lives have been tough; we've been so poor these past few years!"

For once, Wang Chongshan showed remarkable intelligence, leaving the other generals bewildered. Old Wang had actually learned to play the emotional card.

Instead of offering explanations or shirking responsibility, he complained and played the emotional card, which touched Zhao Yan deeply.

Zhao Yan's anger subsided considerably, and he began to reflect on his actions. He realized that he had indeed mistreated the army in recent years, giving them less and less.

The generals in the Ministry of National Defense can't even afford to have their own cars, and they can't even afford to buy rifles for the army. They're all living off their old reserves, which is quite pitiful.

But Zhao Yan quickly realized: "Stop talking nonsense. I've already given you all the wages, compensation, and rewards you're owed, even if it means selling my pots and pans."

“After the war, I couldn’t even afford four dishes. I emptied my savings to make up for the military’s retirement pay, pension, and land rewards. Not a penny was missing.”

"Now that it's peacetime, what do you military guys need so much money for? Just behave yourselves. I'll give you every penny you're owed, and I won't give you a single cent of what you're not entitled to!"

"Do you think I don't know about the outrageous things your army has done?"

"The navy has taken out warships for smuggling. They all talk about avenging the humiliation of the First Sino-Japanese War, but when it comes to smuggling, they even dare to sell steel and coal to Japan!"

"Your army is always causing trouble, trafficking cattle and sheep, smuggling soybeans, and even turning mining areas into military zones. What wouldn't you dare to do!"

“I usually turn a blind eye and let it slide because of the military’s contributions.”

"But this time, there was a plan and steps, so why not follow them? Why take the risk?"

What angered Zhao Yan the most about this incident was that the military and the Security Bureau disregarded the rules, disrupting the plans and procedures completely, and acting recklessly and haphazardly!

Zhao Yan dared not even think about what would happen if the safety of thousands of officers and soldiers were compromised and they fell into the hands of the British.

If this were during a battle, and any of his generals dared to disregard the battle plan and arbitrarily expand the scale and prolong the duration of the campaign, Zhao Yan would execute him even if he ultimately achieved great victories.

The military is a place that values ​​obedience the most, and it cannot tolerate such disobedience under any circumstances.

Zhao Yan had personally reviewed this plan and felt it was relatively safe and secure, which is why he acquiesced to it. He never expected the military to be so greedy.

This allowed the British to seize the opportunity, leading to serious subsequent diplomatic repercussions.

If it's a quick and decisive operation, taking as much as possible in one night and leaving immediately, the British are unlikely to find any fault with the Republic.

The problem was that the military seized the capital and participated in a large-scale riot, and they were recognized and photographed.

The bodies of more than a dozen Wehrmacht soldiers who died on the spot fell into the hands of the British, who also found several newly commissioned Type 02 rifles!

The British discovered the stolen temple, and there were also traces and evidence left by the army during the looting of the royal city.

The only thing that puzzled the British was how much treasure the Chinese army had taken away.

The British could only estimate this data themselves, but the report Zhao Yan received was astonishing: over four hundred tons of gold, and several dozen tons of various treasures such as gems and ivory.

The treasure beneath that temple alone was far more than could be taken away in a single night; it contained over three hundred tons of treasure, far exceeding Zhao Yan's expectations.

Zhao Yan was shocked. The information he had previously gathered indicated that there were at most less than a hundred tons of treasure inside, but he did not expect that the actual amount would far exceed his expectations after it was opened.

Zhao Yan immediately understood that it must have been the Indians of later generations who submitted false accounts to line their own pockets.

The army also picked up the most valuable items, ignoring all the worthless silver and bronze items, only taking the most expensive and valuable ones.

Because it was impossible to clear the temple's treasure in a short time, the army temporarily changed its plans and extended the operation.

Before the operation, no one expected that the Indians would have so much gold, as people generally thought that colonies were poor.

Moreover, India has seen 20 to 30 million people starve to death from famine alone over the past few decades. Such a place should be impoverished, but it is anything but!

Those dark eyes can't stand the sight of gleaming gold; once they see it, how could they possibly let it go? Killing one is killing, killing a whole bunch is still killing.

The only headache for Zhao Yan was dealing with the aftermath. Earlier that day, an inquiry letter from London, England, had arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with extremely harsh wording.

Tomorrow, British Ambassador John Jordan will come to the Forbidden City to demand an explanation. He specifically requests to see Zhao Yan, ignoring everyone else.

After all, this was a treasure worth more than 530 million Han Yuan. Although the British did not know the exact figure, they knew from some clues that they had been robbed of a large sum of money. At least one tower on the high ground was gone, so how could they let it go?

"Alright, what's done is done, and there's no use in regretting it now. But the gains were enormous, so the military can at least be considered to have redeemed themselves."

"This time you skirted my rules, and I'll let you off the hook for the money. But if there's a next time, I'll make sure you all regret it!"

Zhao Yan glared fiercely at the generals and said, and the generals all stood at attention, ramrod straight.

This time, Zhao Yan tacitly approved the operation but did not directly participate, so the military's unauthorized actions were considered skirting the rules and theoretically did not disobey Zhao Yan's orders.

But if there's a next time, no matter if it's a close call or not, Zhao Yan won't let them off the hook.

Zhao Yan continued, "Where is the fleet located? When will it arrive in the capital?"

Qiu Xingxun immediately stepped forward and replied, "According to the information sent back by the agents in the South China Sea region, the fleet has passed through the Strait of Madagascar and arrived in Batavia. After replenishing its coal supply in Batavia tonight, it will set sail north, pass through the Makassar Strait from the Java Sea into the South China Sea, and then arrive in Guangzhou."

"The fleet is very fast and will be able to arrive at Guangzhou Port on the 5th of next month."

Zhao Yan nodded: "We must remain hidden and not give ourselves away. We must protect the fleet and ensure its safe arrival in Guangzhou at all costs!"

"This fortune will be a shot in the arm for the Republic's next development cycle. Since trouble has already come, let's not be afraid. Let's get the benefits first!"

"The military and the National Security Intelligence Agency, after I returned this time, immediately launched a loyalty education campaign from top to bottom. All officers, soldiers and special agents in the entire army must participate, with a focus on educating them on the concepts of obedience and command."

"All officers of general rank and above must write 100,000 words of reflections and insights every month and submit them to the Imperial Study for my personal review!"

Wang Chongshan and Qiu Xingxun nodded and accepted the order. They could be spared the death penalty but could not escape punishment. Some generals with low levels of education looked miserable. One hundred thousand words a month? This is even more outrageous than writing a book.

You should know that this thing has to be submitted to the Imperial Study in the end. The content can be written by a ghostwriter, but the finished product must be copied by yourself stroke by stroke. Even Wang Chongshan wouldn't dare to submit a ghostwritten copy to the Imperial Study.

As for the other innocent officers and soldiers who did not participate in this operation, or were even completely unaware of it, they suffered an undeserved calamity and were inexplicably subjected to "loyalty education."

"Get out of here, all of you. Go back and seriously reflect on your actions!" Zhao Yan waved his hand impatiently.

But Wang Chongshan still braced himself and stepped forward to ask, "Sir, we've brought back so much money, far exceeding our expectations. Do you think the military could also get a larger share?"

The generals behind him all looked on with admiration. At this critical moment, Old Wang still dared to risk his life for military funds. He truly deserves to be the top military leader and the head of the Ministry of National Defense!

On the naval side, Vice Admiral Sa Zhenbing stared wide-eyed, inwardly admiring Wang Chongshan's courage and fearlessness.

Previously, everyone criticized Wang Chongshan for being a coward, but now they all admire his courage. His reckless and headstrong decision to venture into the dark alley is truly that of a lone hero!

Zhao Yan was so angry he laughed. Where did this money-grubbing idiot come from?

"I'm about to have to take the blame and clean up your messes, and you're asking me for money now? Who gave you the nerve? Huh!"

"Wang Chongshan, do you think you're all grown up now and can fly on your own?"

"Believe it or not, I'll shoot you down from the sky! You've come all the way to my study to ask for money, and at this hour? Did you forget your brain at home?!"

"Get out of here! Get as far away as you can! You can take whatever you're given, but if I don't give you a single penny, you'd better keep it to yourself!"

The generals were humiliated and expelled, but none of them were discouraged after leaving the imperial study. Such a serious matter as disobeying orders and acting on their own initiative only resulted in a severe reprimand. Their stars on their shoulders were still there, and they didn't have to go to the northern deserts to eat cow dung cakes.

As for the distribution of money, everyone was at ease. Zhao Yan has always been incredibly generous in his actions. Since he didn't explicitly refuse the military's share, it would definitely be distributed proportionally.

Chapter 238 Sino-British Game

The next day, ten o'clock in the morning.

British Ambassador to China, Sir John Jordan, stormed into the Imperial Study to meet with Zhao Yan. This time, Zhao Yan could no longer avoid him. Normally, one could dismiss, evade, or turn a blind eye to minor matters, but if one were to hide and refuse to meet with someone during a major event between two countries, it could easily lead to even worse consequences, or even cause an uncontrollable breakdown in relations between the two countries.

Zhao Yan can't escape the blame he's supposed to take; after all, he's the boss.

Fortunately, although Jordan came with great force, he followed all the rules. Even though he was dissatisfied with Zhao Yan, he still treated him with respect according to diplomatic etiquette and even presented him with a telegram personally sent by the British Prime Minister.

He explained that he had come on full behalf of the British government and on the orders of His Majesty the King and the British Prime Minister, and that Zhao Yan was obliged to receive him in accordance with the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.

Otherwise, it would be tantamount to refusing the British Empire's invitation to a meeting and disrespecting the world's superpower.

“Mr. Ambassador, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I don’t know what’s the matter that’s making you so anxious, but please let us sit down first.”

Zhao Yan ordered hot tea to be served and placed on the reception table, and then sat down in a very friendly manner facing Zhu Erdian.

Zhao Yan gave Zhu Erdian a lot of face, making Zhu Erdian somewhat embarrassed to question him. After all, Zhao Yan's status and power, both domestically and internationally, were that of an emperor.

Even during the Qing Dynasty, no matter how weak and humiliated the country was, it would have been impossible for Jordan to sit face-to-face with the Guangxu Emperor and drink tea. If it were within Britain, it would have been even more impossible.

But Zhao Yan doesn't care about any of that. He always gives you face at the most appropriate moment, making you too embarrassed to show your power.

"Your Excellency, please forgive my rudeness!"

"At this point, if you still pretend you know nothing, you're just wasting your time. We know exactly who the thief is, and we know exactly what the thief stole!"

Julian's face was serious, his eyes fixed on Zhao Yan, and his tone was very formal.

Zhao Yan, with a perfectly timed expression of curiosity, asked, "A thief? Could it be that your emperor was robbed of his possessions by a notorious bandit who broke into the palace?"

Jordan nodded emphatically and said, "Yes, Your Excellency."

"India, the most dazzling jewel in the crown of the British Empire, has been infiltrated by a group of despicable thieves who stole treasures worth £100 million!"

Zhao Yan jumped up: "Nonsense! There's no such thing as that! You're slandering me!"

“Ah!” Jordan also stood up: “My Lord Führer, it seems you’ve confessed without being asked!”

Zhao Yan sat down again and straightened his clothes: "Mr. Ambassador, I was just talking in my sleep. There is no evidence to support my claim. Please do not say it again, so as not to damage the long-standing friendship between China and Britain."

Zhao Yan almost lost his composure. The treasure was worth a total of 530 million, including a large number of gemstones and ivory that were difficult to quickly convert into cash.

If we only consider precious metals, it would be at most 440 million Han Yuan. The exchange rate of Han Yuan to British Pound is now stable at 12.5:1.

The total value of this treasure is only equivalent to a little over 42 million pounds. The British dare to say that they lost 100 million pounds. Who can hold back?

The average cost of a dreadnought is about £2.3 million. Zhao Yanming only seized nineteen dreadnoughts, but the British accused him of seizing more than forty. This is intolerable!

“If you need evidence, we can provide it immediately!” Jordan continued, “Our army has found the remains of sixteen of your soldiers in the capital of Kerala. They were all carrying your citizen passports. Would you like me to read out their names one by one?”

Although the National Defense Force personnel on duty were not wearing uniforms or carrying military identification, they still carried their basic Republic citizen passports. In a foreign land, even in death, they wanted to have an identity.

You can't expect a soldier to die in a foreign land with nothing, without even an identity. Even the most corrupt military wouldn't do something like that. Soldiers aren't secret agents; they can die, but they must die with an identity.

"I am very grateful to your country for collecting the remains of our victims. First of all, I must acknowledge that they were all soldiers of the Republic, and I will not refute that."

"But they all died in riots while traveling in India. They were all victims, and I refuse to accept your country's accusations against them for theft!"

"Furthermore, our country reserves the right to claim compensation and demands that you immediately and properly exchange the remains of our victims!"