Master Yuan, start!

After the National Revolutionary Army entered these places, they quickly, with the help of the Red Confucian Society, liquidated a small number of officials, yamen runners and landlords for various reasons, distributed the land to the poor people, and gained the trust of the local people.

Afterwards, the local area gradually began to carry out industrial construction based on local resources, or establish bonded areas.

This is different from the original impression that the south is open and the north is conservative.

With such a combination of measures, it can be said that the Bohai Sea coastal area is a relatively "open" region in China today.

Because the social structure here has been reorganized after being destroyed, while the southern part is still entangled in feudal land relations.

Even though the southern gentry had already accepted the leadership of the new government, Yuan Xiangcheng knew that this was only because he had not yet touched their interests.

Due to the war against France, Yuan Shikai had not yet had time to carry out land reform in the southern provinces. If he had carried out land reform, they might have risen up in opposition.

Therefore, the main manpower support for the war against France still comes from the North.

Patriotic people in the South provided financial support mainly by purchasing government bonds.

...

In addition to the cargo, those who arrived with the Sihai Shipping Company also included outstanding students from various universities outside the Great Wall, as well as representatives from the industrial and commercial circles.

They came on behalf of the people of the north to express their condolences to the revolutionary soldiers who fought bravely.

As Syngman Rhee walked down the gangway, he looked around at the southern scenery that was rare both in Korea and outside the Great Wall.

After the failure of his two political speculations of "wearing a queue to participate in the Qing Dynasty imperial examination in an attempt to attract the attention of Empress Dowager Cixi" and "supporting Yuan Shikai to become emperor in an attempt to gain the credit of following the emperor", Syngman Rhee became somewhat disheartened and returned to his hometown in Korea.

In recent years, as North Korea has been integrated into the vast Chinese market and has unique geographical advantages, many North Koreans have set up trading companies.

After returning home, Syngman Rhee followed suit and established the "Samsung Chamber of Commerce" in Seoul, which mainly engaged in North-South trade, exporting local Korean dried fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. to North China, Northeast China and other places, and then importing specialties from the interior to sell in Korea.

Thanks to the boom in the establishment of the "Far East Ussuri Autonomous Region" and Lee Seung-man's own good management, Samsung Trading Company grew rapidly within a few years by focusing on the Ussuri Autonomous Region market, employing more than 500 people and becoming a company that almost everyone in the Vladivostok area knew about.

And Syngman Rhee has transformed himself from a frustrated political speculator into a young and promising rising star in North Korean business.

He spoke Mandarin with a Northeastern accent, very fluently.

When you are forced to fly, you will always want to seek more value in more aspects.

After the Industrial Revolution, British industry and commerce continued to develop, and the industrial and commercial class continued to expand. They soon became dissatisfied with the existing system of rights and obligations. As the economic level continued to improve, they wanted to obtain more political rights and wanted to occupy a seat in the parliament dominated by aristocrats.

4 Syngman Rhee is no exception.

However, the North and South have not yet convened a parliament, so Syngman Rhee has no chance to gain political influence by running for parliament.

5. So he decided to take another chance.

6 He learned that the governor of Haidong, Jin Bingshi, had organized a group of academic and business groups from outside the Great Wall to travel south to express condolences, so he offered to cover the expenses of the trip, just to get a place in the delegation.

In fact, what Syngman Rhee didn't know was that he already had a place in this delegation.

Although Sou Samsung Trading Company was only established in recent years, it has developed extremely rapidly. It has also taken a different approach to focus on the Ussuri River Autonomous Region market, and has long been noticed by Haidong Governor Jin Bingshi.

However, before Kim Byung-si had time to send the invitation to Syngman Rhee, he personally went to the governor's office and asked for payment of the expenses, just to reserve a spot for himself.

: Faced with such a strange thing, Jin Bingshi chose to fulfill his wish. On the one hand, he asked Li Chengman to pay, and on the other hand, he generously said

"Samsung Trading Company President Syngman Rhee is a role model for the new generation of Chinese businessmen and deserves to be sent south to offer condolences."

So, in this context, Syngman Rhee finally boarded the ship and arrived in Guangzhou.

Chapter 454 Good Friends Forever

Led by the welcoming staff at the dock, Syngman Rhee got on a rickshaw and slowly headed towards Guangzhou city.

And Yuan Xiangcheng in the city was still busy meeting another person.

"Sir Claude MacDonald, is this really the last batch of supplies?" Yuan Xiangcheng looked at the British Minister Claude MacDonald in front of him and said with regret:

“In my opinion, the British Empire, with its seven continents and four oceans, can fully sustain a two-front war.

As we Chinese say, the Boers in South Africa are nothing more than a minor infestation. Why did the British Empire go to such great lengths to intervene, even diverting shipping capacity from the Far East?

Yuan Shikai kept putting one high hat after another on the British envoy's head.

Hearing these flattering words, Dou Nale raised his chin slightly, seeming to enjoy it quite a bit.

This is inevitable. After all, at this point in time, everyone believes that the Boer War initiated by the British was a parade war of the British army.

The lobster soldiers only need to make a slight move to easily win.

"Hahahaha, Mr. President." British Minister Claude MacDonald laughed heartily.

“That being said, this was a request from London and I couldn’t refuse.

Therefore, the supplies that arrived today with the Sihai Shipping Company are the last batch.

If we want to provide further assistance, we will probably have to wait until the war in South Africa is over."

"Really? That's such a pity." Yuan Xiangcheng shook his head regretfully.

Yuan Xiangcheng believed that the masters in London were unwilling to pay any more money.

Perhaps they believed that the new countries on the East Asian continent already had enough power to deal with the French, so they did not want to provide excessive assistance to avoid becoming uncontrollable in the future.

However, does the interest of this minister to China really coincide with that of London?

Yuan Xiangcheng glanced at Dou Nale without revealing any expression, and then said:

"Speaking of which, Sir Claude MacDonald, what do you think of the current Sino-French situation?"

Dou Nale heard this and did not answer. Instead, he asked about the topic he was interested in:

"Your Excellency, I was just about to ask you if you intend to continue to stalemate with the French. With all due respect, this is not a good idea.

The longer you delay, the more likely it is that unexpected changes will occur in the future.

The British Empire has provided you with assistance many times, including large-caliber artillery, guns, ammunition, and even low-interest loans.

Feilu Group

With such strong support, can't we win the war?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiangcheng said in a daze:

"Sir, you may not know that our country has already sent two more divisions to support the defense forces in the Lang Son area.

As for further south, although the terrain on the Hanoi side is flat, it cannot be taken unless a military-level attack is launched.

The French support forces are still in Cochinchina and have not yet moved north. Due to the spontaneous anti-French movement of the Vietnamese people, if they were dispatched north to attack Lang Son, they would have to consider the risk of logistical disruptions or even chaos in Cochinchina.

The Tonkin region has actually entered a stalemate.

The French army is currently focusing on attacking southern Guangxi, but their manpower is limited and they dare not carry out large-scale landing operations. Moreover, after going deep into the inland, the navy's guns will find it difficult to support the army.

So now, the French can only ensure that the coastal areas in southern Guangxi that they have occupied are not lost, and cannot further expand their victory.

In Qiongzhou, after the French occupied several coastal ports, they were also unable to advance deep into the interior and could only defend the ports.

While Yuan Xiangcheng was talking, he observed the expression on Dou Nale's face.

"However, our country has not failed to attempt a counterattack in recent days. The Beiyang Fleet once tentatively approached the coasts of Guangdong and Fujian, and had long-range contact with some patrolling warships of the French Far East Fleet.

In southern Guangxi, the National Revolutionary Army even repelled two attacks by the French army in Guangxi and at one point advanced to the city of Lianzhou.

However, the terrain in the Qinlian area is narrow, and the army cannot be deployed to fight, so it can only be filled bit by bit.

When they reached the coastal area, the French regained the support of their naval artillery, and the National Revolutionary Army had no choice but to retreat northward.

Yuan Shikai laid out the current stalemate between China and France in a frank manner.

Does the National Revolutionary Army have a chance of defeating the French army?

Of course there is a chance. This trend can be seen not only by the British but also by the top brass of the Central Military Commission.

But who would complain about having too many things in their hands?

Describe the situation on the front line as more tense, and try to make the Chinese ambassador think that the current situation is still unclear.

At least another batch of aid will be needed before the British can pull the ships back to Europe.

British Minister Claude MacDonald frowned upon hearing this. After a moment's silence, he asked, "So, Mr. President, do you think this war won't be quelled in the short term?"

As Yuan Xiangcheng guessed, the reason why Dou Nale was so concerned about the war situation was because he received some news from London.

The British Colonial Office is currently deciding on the selection of a new minister to China. The candidate will probably be confirmed within this year and will arrive in China to take up his post before Christmas at the latest.

This is something Dou Nale does not want to see. He has been planning in East Asia for so long, not just to make wedding dresses for others.

In the Sino-French War, if France had been defeated, it would mean that Britain's influence could naturally expand to Indochina, and his contribution as the "Minister to China" would have been great.

With this achievement, the prospect of entering parliament and serving as a minister seems to be right in front of him.

But the prerequisite for all this is that it must be accomplished during his tenure. If he himself cannot see this scene while serving as the minister to China, then everything is just a fantasy.

It was already summer, Dou Nale knew, which meant he had at most half a year left.

So, he cast a longing look at Yuan Xiangcheng.

"That's not the case." After observing the anxious look on Dou Nale's face, Yuan Xiangcheng shook his head and changed the subject:

"From the intelligence we have so far, the French government is very dissatisfied with the war situation. Paris newspapers are rumouring that France will send a new army to Indochina and replace the French commander in Tonkin.

Chinese D group: yi lin7 輪九钐路 I believe that the Indochina colonial authorities naturally also got to know this news.

So I think that when the French reinforcements have not arrived and the morale of the existing troops is low, it is time for our country to fight back.

If we can launch an attack on the Indochina region from two or more directions, magnifying their insufficient military strength and making them run around in a hurry, there is a high probability that Hanoi can be captured in one fell swoop.

If Hanoi is lost, the French will have to retreat hundreds of miles and rely on the narrow mountain ranges in Central Vietnam to mount an effective defense. Otherwise, they will most likely lose Hue.

"So, Mr. President, you think the time for counterattack has come?" Dou Nale raised his eyebrows and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face.

As a British diplomat in East Asia, he has his own inner reserve and cannot show his joy.

However, when faced with the "counterattack news" thrown out by Yuan Xiangcheng, he still couldn't help himself.

Seeing Dou Nale's questioning, Yuan Xiangcheng thought he had finally taken the bait, and then slowly said:

"I personally believe that the time is ripe. The French troops that landed in Guangxi are exhausted, and the French troops stationed in Hanoi are also at a loss. Currently, this is the best opportunity for our country to counterattack!

Of course, if the British Empire could transfer another batch of large-caliber artillery and shells from the Straits Settlements, or if the Minister could seek another batch of loan support from London, the success rate of the counterattack would be even higher! "

Dou Nale sighed, pondered for a moment, and nodded as if he had made up his mind:

"Okay, I will explain the current tense situation in East Asia to London again. Weapons and ammunition will have to be transferred to South Africa, and they probably won't be able to support the Far East.

However, you can still talk to HSBC about low-interest loans."