Fang Zida's question sounded simple. How to end the war, it seemed that this question should not come from him and Wu Peifu's words. But the three people present were all the best in China's political arena today, especially Song Jiaoren, who is the Prime Minister. As Yuan Shikai became more and more ill, he, as the Prime Minister, has almost taken over the government power, and in fact, he is the number one person in China.

After Fang Zida asked, neither Song Jiaoren nor Liao Zhongkai answered immediately, but instead showed a thoughtful expression.

On the surface, the war between China and Japan was a war that Japan peeked at Chinese territory and brazenly launched, and on the other hand, it was also a means for Japan to use foreign wars to alleviate internal conflicts in order to divert the economic crisis. From the perspective of the Chinese, no matter what the purpose of Japan was for, Japan did not declare war and fought in Chinese territory. It was natural for the Chinese to rise up to resist the invaders as a conscientious Chinese. Throwing the invaders out of Chinese territory is a result that every Chinese would like to see. Since the Opium War, China has suffered countless difficulties for more than half a century. If it can end with the victory of a foreign war, it is a dream for the young Republican government.

But international affairs are not as simple as imagined. Nowadays, the international situation is complex and changeable. It is not only the two sides of the war that China and Japan are under pressure when they go to war, but also the two Allied camps, the Allied countries that are exhausted in Europe. As members of the Allied countries, of course, the Allied parties are unwilling to fight bloody, thus consuming their strength in vain. However, in the eyes of the Allied countries, the war within the Allied countries is better to fight bigger and bigger. If this can cause a partial split in the Allied countries, or even one side between China and Japan will be involved in the Allied camp.

With the ulterior motives of the Allied Powers and the private actions, the calls for mediation of the Sino-Japanese War in the Entente are getting louder and louder. Whether it is Britain, France or Tsarist Russia, they are constantly running between the two sides, trying to get the two countries to cease war as soon as possible.

In addition to the above external factors, judging from the current situation between the two sides of the war, the Chinese team has taken the initiative in the Jiaodong battlefield, but is still in defense on the Northeast battlefield. With the mobilization of the General Staff, the pressure on the Northeast battlefield may gradually ease. From this perspective, it is very likely that in some days, the Chinese team will gain an advantage on the overall battlefield.

But don't forget that this is just a superficial phenomenon. Compared with Japan, China's overall military strength is not superior. Japan's cross-sea combat forces only have a few divisions and a second navy fleet. As an Asian military power, Japan has not yet used all its strength. If Japan is angry and continues to increase its troops and even brings the huge navy to the battlefield, the little advantage that the Chinese government has made has been achieved will be gone.

Compared with Japan, which is becoming stronger and stronger since the Meiji Restoration, the eldest China has another fatal weakness, that is, although the Republic of China has achieved unity on the surface, the construction of the national army has also achieved initial results. However, the undercurrents are still undercurrents, and various parties and factions seem to shake hands on the surface, but the struggles below have not stopped. The central control efforts of the northwest and southwest regions are still insufficient, and the finances have just begun to improve. The national infrastructure construction will take a long time, let alone those revolutionaries who are ready to act as "smokers" overseas. Once the war continues and becomes a long war, the fragile Republican government will inevitably not be able to support it. By then, the entire country will be severely damaged. Even if the war is completely won, it will probably take decades to recover.

In addition to the above issues, the health of the head of state Yuan Shikai is an important factor, and Yuan Shikai has never had time. It is not certain whether the doctor can pass this winter. The current situation in the central government is Beiyang, kmt and there are other parties and factions participating in politics. If Yuan Shikai leaves the world, the balance will be broken now, and the Beiyang legacy left by Yuan Shikai will inevitably attract many people to compete. From an optimistic perspective, the best result will also lead to a short-term chaos in the central government. If this chaos occurs in a peaceful state, the impact may not be great, but if it occurs in a war state, no one can predict what the result will be.

“How is the financial situation now?”

"If there is no major accident, it will be supported for about four months." Fang Zida had already made a calculation before coming and replied immediately.

"Why are there only four months?" Liao Zhongkai was a little surprised and asked: "Zhengming, I have seen the financial report of the previous few months. Didn't it say that the central government's finances have improved a lot in the past two years? After the European War, all the compensation for the allies have been cancelled. The Sino-Japanese War started the war and the central government interrupted the previous compensation to Japan. If this calculation is enough, it would be enough for a year! How could such a few days be?"

"My Brother Liao!" Fang Zida heard Liao Zhongkai's angry words and immediately explained with a wry smile: "Have you ever heard of the cannon fired a thousand taels of gold? The expenses in peacetime are comparable to those in the war? Now that hundreds of thousands of troops on the front line are fighting, the daily consumption is astronomical, not to mention Shandong, Fengtian and Tian, ​​after the war started, the tax losses, soldiers' pensions, and post-war reconstruction... None of them requires money? I said that it is already a lot of estimates to support it for four months. If the situation of the war changes drastically, I am afraid that the time will be reduced."

Seeing that Liao Zhongkai was confused, he wanted to ask again. Song Jiaoren waved his hand and interrupted him.

"What do you and Ziyu think? Tell me."

"I had a detailed discussion with Ziyu on Qingshima for half a day, and felt that ending this war as soon as possible was the best strategy. Judging from the current situation, both sides have their own advantages and disadvantages in the battlefields of both places, but it is unquestionable to analyze our possession in the short term. However, this analysis must be based on the situation where one side of Japan no longer increases its troops. If the Japanese continue to increase their troops, no one can guarantee the result. Moreover, based on the Jiaodong battlefield, the 15th and 18th Divisions of Japan were trapped by our army, which made the Japanese Second Fleet thrown at the target and lost the initiative in the battlefield. What if the Japanese made up their minds to throw away the two divisions in the encirclement? With the strength of the Second Fleet and the participation of the Japanese main navy, we can stop it regardless of attacking all regions along our coast?"

"Well, keep talking." Seeing Fang Zida looking up at him halfway through his speech, Song Jiaoren nodded and signaled him to continue talking.

"Apart from the Jiaodong battlefield, the Fengtian battlefield is even less optimistic. I also know that the General Staff’s plan to dispatch troops has been greatly damaged, even if reinforcements come, it will be a stalemate at most. What's more, Japan has not sent troops from North Korea yet. Don't forget that North Korea is now a Japanese colony. Once Japan sends troops from North Korea to Liaodong, Fengtian's stalemate will be broken, and the entire Northeast will fall into war."

He was a little dry, and Fang Zida took a sip of tea and continued: "Apart from the perspective of the battlefield, the Allies and allied countries' reactions must not be ignored, especially Britain, France, Russia, and even the United States will not allow the war between China and Japan to continue to expand. In addition, the weather has cooled down, and the northeast and Shandong have entered winter, and the difficulties of both sides of the war are getting greater and greater. In this case, mediation is certain."

"Your opinion is to end the war as soon as possible? Do you have any specific ideas?"

"Yes!" Fang Zida nodded and said, "If you have to win or lose, the 15th and 18th Divisions of the Japanese army can be eliminated at any time in the Jiaodong battlefield, and the Fengtian battlefield can also fight with the Japanese with all their strength. If you want to have a peace talk, Ziyu suggests that you continue to surround the 15th and 18th Divisions as bargaining chips, and do not seek merit but not mistakes in the Fengtian battlefield. It will firmly block the Japanese's footsteps so that they cannot pass Buyun Mountain. It will also modify the military transfer plan to deploy at least one group of troops in the Yalu River area to prepare for defense. Delay the current stalemate situation for a few more days. When the Japanese are unable to break through, the opportunity to accept mediation will come."

Song Jiaoren nodded slightly after hearing this. Indeed, Fang Zida's suggestion was to plan the country well. With the weak foundation of the Republic of China, it is not the time to fight a full-scale war with the Japanese. If a truce is possible, it will be a good thing for the country and the central government, but the truce is not that simple. With the Japanese's always a big appetite, even if the truce is in a truce, there will inevitably be many demands. Song Jiaoren is worried that once the peace talks are not reached, the government will be criticized by the people and lead to a sharp decline in prestige.

Not only Song Jiaoren, but Liao Zhongkai also had such concerns. Any peace talks in foreign wars over the past half century have been called "traitors" by outsiders. Song Jiaoren is the head of the government and the chairman of the kmt. Once the peace talks are led, this will be a huge hit on the kmt, not to mention that overseas revolutionaries, especially Sun Wen and others, would criticize the central government and kmt like this? The incident of Li Hongzhang back then is still vivid in my mind. Who has the courage to be the second place in Li Zhongtang?

Song Jiaoren said from his heart that he agreed with Fang Zida's suggestion, but he had his concerns, and so did Liao Zhongkai. The two looked at each other silently, and could not make up this decision for a while.

Just as Song Jiaoren was thinking about how to deal with it, Fang Zida said, "Brother Dunchu, Brother Zhongkai, this matter is just a suggestion from Ziyu and me. You can just know. As for the specific communication, there is no need for the central government to come forward first. I think it is more appropriate to have an intelligence department to deal with it first."
Chapter completed!