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The Governor's Mansion of Qing*dao, also known as the Jiaoao Admiral's Mansion, is located on the southern slope of Guanhai Mountain in Qing*dao, with the mountain behind it and the sea. It covers an area of ​​more than 86,000 square meters. The main building is a yellow concave-shaped 30-meter-high building.

The entire building area is about 7,500 square meters, which is majestic and magnificent.

Xu Shichang was very familiar with this place and took Fang Zida through the heavily guarded gate. When they came to the building, a young German military officer came quickly from the steps and spoke fluent but somewhat foreign Chinese.

He said: "Hello Mr. Xu, Your Majesty the Governor is very happy to know that you are here. Please follow me this way."

"Thank you, Major Erhard." Xu Shichang recognized him as the governor's adjutant and thanked him politely. He followed Fang Zida into the building, leaning on his cane.

Upstairs, the major took them to a reception room. After asking them to sit down, he first asked if they wanted coffee or tea, and then asked them to wait for a while so that he could inform the governor.

"Haha, the Germans are like that. They do things a bit rigidly. I always do this the same way when I come back, so I don't mind it." After the major left, Xu Shichang explained to Fang Zida beside him with a smile. Fang Zida nodded slightly to express his understanding.

When I was in Europe, I had a lot of dealings with Germans, and of course I knew the German way of doing things.

Soon, crisp footsteps were heard outside the corridor, and Xu Shichang motioned for Fang Zida to get up with him. Then the door opened, and a general with the iconic German beard appeared in front of them, and behind him there were two others.

One is the major who just went out, and the other is a tall, thin middle-aged man in a suit, maybe the governor's secretary.

"Hello Mr. Xu, long time no see. I'm so happy to have you here." This general is of course Governor Huadeke. Compared with the major just now, his Chinese can only be said to be barely adequate, but he was very impressed by Xu Shichang's visit.

enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Governor." Xu Shichang smiled and shook hands with Huadeke.

"Who is this?" Hua Deke asked politely when he saw a strange man accompanying Xu Shichang.

"This is one of my juniors. Haha, I am getting older and my legs and feet are a little inconvenient." Xu Shichang did not reveal Fang Zida's identity, but smiled and raised the stick in his hand.

"You Chinese are so humble. In fact, Mr. Xu is not old at all. I think you are in very good health." Hua Deke said with a smile. Xu Shichang was stunned for a moment, and then he became happy.

After exchanging a few words, the two sides sat down. Xu Shichang first explained to Huadeke a little about the central government's reorganization of the Shandong Patrol Battalion and the Armed Guards, hoping that the German side could gain understanding for the "small-scale battles" that occurred in Shandong some time ago, so as to avoid

Affect the good friendship between the two countries.

"As the German governor in Qingdao, I certainly don't want anything unpleasant to happen to both parties in my jurisdiction. Fortunately, this unpleasantness did not happen. However, as a soldier, I have to appreciate your government's determination.

.The reorganization of the National Defense Forces is a major event for any country, and for some local armies that resist the central government’s reorganization, necessary punishment is understandable.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Governor." Xu Shichang smiled and nodded, then said some more clichés, and then gradually turned the topic to the Sarajevo incident that happened in Europe not long ago.

"Your Majesty the Governor, your country and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are allies. The crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in Sarajevo. The Austro-Hungarian Empire will inevitably launch a war against Serbia. Britain, France, and Russia have an entente and are likely to intervene in this war.

I wonder how your country will respond?"

Huadeke seemed a little surprised and was not prepared for the question Xu Shichang suddenly asked. He subconsciously glanced at the middle-aged man sitting next to him, and then smiled: "I'm afraid Mr. Xu asked the wrong person this question.

You have to ask our Emperor, His Majesty."

Xu Shichang burst into laughter, shook his head and said: "Today is just a casual chat between old friends. Your Excellency the Governor also knows that I do not have any position in the government, I am just an ordinary citizen."

"Mr. Xu is being humble." Before Hua Deke could speak, the man interrupted in fluent Chinese: "As far as I know, Mr. Xu served as the military minister of the Qing Dynasty and has been a good friend of President Yuan Da for many years.

He has high prestige among Chinese political circles, how can he be said to be just an ordinary citizen?"

"It's all in the past..." Xu Shichang said lightly.

The man just smiled and did not continue talking about the matter, but changed the topic back: "The question Mr. Xu just raised is just a hypothesis. In my opinion, hypotheses are often untenable. However,

For the peace-loving German Empire, it is our country's obligation to stabilize the situation in Europe, mediate conflicts between the two sides, and try to avoid war."

Listening to his boast, Fang Zida almost burst out laughing. Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II? A thoroughgoing militarist with a deep-rooted concept of Greater Germany. According to later records, after the Sarajevo incident, he received

After hearing the news, Wilhelm II was dancing with joy in the palace. He wished that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would immediately break out a war with Serbia, so that Germany could legitimately participate in it and complete the "world policy" formulated by Germany that year.

Xu Shichang waved his hands and said regretfully: "If you put it like that, there is no need to continue talking about these things. Originally, I thought that as old friends, both parties could treat each other honestly, but... alas..."

Shaking his head, Xu Shichang reached out and grasped the cane placed aside, as if he was about to stand up. The man was slightly startled, and quickly raised his hand to stop him with a smile: "Since Mr. Xu thinks it is better to be honest, can you

Please tell me, your real purpose of coming here?"

"I have never asked Mr. his name. May I ask who you are..."

"I am Marzen, Charge d'Affaires of the German Empire in China."

"Long time admired!" Neither Xu Shichang nor Fang Zida expected that the person accompanying Huadeke would actually be Marr. Now that the German Ambassador to China has returned to China, the new ambassador has not yet taken office. Marr is acting as chargé d'affaires.

The official can be said to be one of the highest-status German political officials in China, no less inferior than Governor-General Waldeck.

"In my opinion, your country will inevitably be involved in the war. Once the European War breaks out, your country and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be on one side as the Allied Powers, and the other side will of course be Britain, France, and Russia of the Triple Entente. The war will involve many things.

But no matter what, it is still your European business. Europe is far away from the Republic of China. These old men can't worry about it, and there is no need to worry about it."

Mal Shen's expression gradually became serious, and he asked thoughtfully: "In Mr. Xu's opinion, what do you care about is Qingdao?"

"Yes!" Now that the words have been spoken, Xu Shichang did not hide anything and said straightforwardly: "With the war in Europe, your country's position in Qingdao will become extremely embarrassing. Your Excellency the Governor, Your Excellency the Charge d'Affaires, I think you all know very well that Britain

, France and Russia have great power in our country, right? Can your country's military power in Qingdao be able to compete with it? Moreover, your country is thousands of miles away from Qingdao. Once a war breaks out, water far away cannot save the fire nearby, but

Please make plans early."

"Hmph!" Huadeke snorted coldly and said disdainfully: "There is no denying that the three countries have greater power in China than Germany, but Qingdao is not something they can easily win. Germany's army is the best in the world. With Qingdao

With 5,000 elite soldiers and strong defenses everywhere, it would be impossible to win without 50,000 or 60,000 casualties. Yes, our homeland is far away, but are Britain, France and other countries too close? When the war started, they were

How many troops can be mobilized to the Far East?"

"The governor's cabinet is right, not to mention that there is my country's Far East Fleet in Jiaozhou Bay. It is more than enough to rely on Qingdao's fortifications for a few years." Mal Shen said with a smile, his expression did not seem to be worried about Qingdao at all, and he was full of confidence. Looks full.

"What if Japan suddenly joins the Allied Powers?" Suddenly, Fang Zida interrupted. Huadeke and Malsen were stunned at the same time. Before they could answer, Fang Zida said again: "It may be impossible for Britain, France and Russia to mobilize from Europe.

, but Japan is different. They can send troops to Qingdao to fight at any time and at any time. Don't forget that Japan also has the strongest navy in the Far East. Your country's fleet in Jiaozhou Bay may not be able to resist it, right? In addition, even if Japan does not join the Allied Powers camp

, what if another country joins the Allies?"

"Who else could there be?" the shocked Waldeck and Malsen asked in unison.

"Republic of China!"
Chapter completed!