1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 158

"My life has been tough, Zhao Yan. I've had to worry so much about people like you. I appreciate your kindness, and you've done a good job, but please don't do it anymore!"

Zhao Yan has never had an easy time in this world. At first, he was betrayed by his disciples, and later by civil and military officials. None of his disciples had ever been without betraying him, and he had to clean up their messes himself.

None of his civil and military officials were easy to deal with; the military was full of reckless generals, the defense minister was a fool, and the logistics minister was an incompetent idiot.

Now that Zhao Yan has encountered Yang Du, a little yellow guy, he's exhausted and just wants to say "the world is ending!"

"But," Yang Du said, his face full of resentment.

"No buts!" Zhao Yan refused, extending his hand.

Yang Du might still try.

"Impossible!" Zhao Yan didn't even give him a chance to finish speaking.

"Listen to me!" Yang Du cried out in desperation.

Zhao Yan waved his hand: "Listen to me first. I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush!"

"Let whoever wants to hang that photo hang it. It's not going to be hung while I'm in it. We'll see about it when the next leader comes along. Maybe if you, Old Yang, get some experience, you might outlast me?"

"I've had a tough time as the first generation, so don't take advantage of me. Wait until the next generation comes along, then you can take advantage of them. Just consider it a good deed and show some kindness!"

Yang Du's sincerity was almost completely drenched by Zhao Yan's repeated cold water, but this guy had a stubborn streak that wouldn't give up until the very end. After a moment of disappointment, he immediately regained his enthusiasm.

“Your Excellency, I’ve decided on this path for the rest of my life, and I’m sticking to it! I believe this path is the right one, and no matter what you think, I will always stand by my own opinion.”

The faith of fanatics is the most terrifying. They don't care whether the gods accept it or not. They just want to believe in you. Their choice is the most important thing. Even the gods' own opinion is secondary.

Having tried so many wrong paths, Yang Du has finally found the right path to save the country in this lifetime, and he will never give up unless he dies!

"It's over, I'm completely out of options!" Zhao Yan sighed inwardly. Faced with such a well-intentioned but misguided minister, Zhao Yan seemed relieved, but in reality, he was at his wit's end.

Yang Du left the imperial study full of energy, not discouraged by Zhao Yan's instructions at all, but instead became even more determined.

Zhao Yan was helpless and could only tell Lu Zhaoxuan to keep a close eye on the old man and not let him mess around. He said, "You're the one who helped him up here, so you have to take responsibility."

Finally, at the end of Yang Du's "Leadership Propaganda Campaign Plan," Zhao Yan wrote: "Promote truth, goodness, and beauty; reject falsehood, grandiosity, and empty rhetoric!"

Zhao Yan's greatest strength is that he occasionally acts irrationally and is intermittently emotional, but most of the time he is clear-headed and rational. He knows his own limitations and constantly reminds himself not to get carried away. He is not a god, and he should not dream of being one. He should be a living, breathing person and leave some humanity behind, which is good enough.

He understood that his achievements, if recorded in history books, would be no different from those of founding emperors. They all first established their kingdoms, then conquered foreign tribes to consolidate their rule—the same old routine, nothing new.

Liu Xiu could even summon meteorites, while Zhu Yuanzhang started with just a bowl. Zhao Yan felt that compared to them, what he did was only basic stuff.

As for the popular saying about the "Republican Golden Age" that has been circulating among the people in recent years, Zhao Yan did not take it to heart. It was just a period of great order after great chaos. This was the case in every dynasty. Even the short-lived Sui Dynasty created the "Kaihuang Era".

As for what Zhao Yan was about to do, he was lucky if the people didn't curse him to his face; he didn't even expect them to praise him.

Because I will be leading the entire country through at least one brutal world war, or if my body can withstand it, then two world wars, interspersed with the Great Depression, economic crisis, famine, and all sorts of other troubles.

This isn't something that can be solved simply by hanging your own picture on the city gate or in every household. If people recognize you, they'll curse you even more fiercely. Before, they couldn't recognize you, so they could only point at thin air. Now that you have a picture, they'll be pointing at you and cursing you directly.

Because normal people wouldn't like a leader who led them in decades of war and caused the deaths of millions, since glory and benefits go to the upper class, while death and bloodshed belong to the people.

Even a teacher as capable as Zhao Yan was criticized at some point in his career. Zhao Yan knew his place and was too lazy to post his own photo and get criticized.

When he was alive, no one dared to criticize him; after he died, he no longer cared if anyone criticized him.

Zhao Yan felt that instead of wasting so many resources on publicity, it would be better to be more practical and use the paper used for printing to produce more teaching materials and train more talents. That would be more valuable.

What Zhao Yan didn't know was that his photo would eventually be enlarged and printed decades later and hung on the wall, but that was many years later, by which time the grass on Zhao Yan's grave was already three feet tall.

Some people criticized him, some praised him, but none of that mattered anymore, because Zhao Yan couldn't hear them at all.

Chapter 260 Someone has to do it, right?

After seeing Yang Du off, Zhao Yan was greeted by Zhang Mingqi.

Zhang Mingqi was the kind of person who wouldn't come to the Imperial Study unless there was something important to discuss.

"Old Zhang is here? Please have a seat, we have some time to spare." Zhao Yan got up, picked up the thermos, and poured two cups of tea on the table.

Other people don't get this treatment when they come; Yang Du certainly doesn't, but Zhang Mingqi always gets a cup of tea whenever he comes.

As one of the few reliable and trusted ministers in Zhao Yan's eyes, Zhang Mingqi has never made a mistake since the Changsha Uprising. He has been diligent and conscientious for many years, handling affairs and governing affairs flawlessly, and deserves such treatment from Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan even prayed every day that the old man would live a few more years, otherwise he wouldn't know where to find such an easy-going second-in-command.

As soon as Zhang Mingqi entered, she saw Zhao Yan's sullen face and asked curiously, "What happened to you? Did you see a ghost in broad daylight?"

Zhao Yan sat down with his tea in hand and sighed, "Don't even mention it, it's that old bastard Yang Du again, he's still such a worry, he's always trying to hang me on the wall!"

Upon hearing the name, Zhang Mingqi immediately recognized the man. Recalling the man's remarkable resume, he also had a strange expression on his face and sighed, "I don't even know how to evaluate Yang Du. Oh well!"

I don't know what Lu Zhaoxuan saw in him that made him support him so much, but being his boss is never a peaceful day.

It's still better if he causes trouble for you; at least you can guard against him doing it openly. The worst thing is if he stays quiet for a while, but then hatches a big plan.

Zhao Yan nodded in deep agreement: "That's absolutely right, there's really no way to deal with this kind of person!"

Yang Du is a headache for everyone, because there's no way to deal with him. His intentions and actions are good, and he's completely sincere. You can't just get rid of someone because they're doing it for your own good, can you? Doing so would alienate many people.

But if you let it go, this kid will eventually pull something big and send you into a hole from which you can't climb out.

Everyone secretly fears this guy's amazing resume, especially the boss, but this fear can't be brought up openly, which is a real headache!

Zhang Mingqi snapped out of his daze and quickly said, "Don't get off topic, Your Excellency! I didn't come to see you about something as trivial as Yang Du!"

Zhao Yan waved his hand, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and swallowed the strong, bitter tea, which calmed his fatigue and brought him a sense of clarity.

"I know you came here most likely because of the Allied Powers Pact, right?"

Zhang Mingqi nodded: "No matter how I look at it, I feel that this whole thing is a bit far-fetched and unreliable!"

"As for the Allied Powers, not to mention Britain, France, and Russia, there was also a group of Commonwealth countries behind them and a vast number of French colonies. The Ottoman Empire was also a historically significant empire. It's no surprise that the Japanese followed the Allied Powers."

The US stance is ambiguous, but now that it's practically a member of the Entente Powers, it's 100% unlikely to side with us.

"I didn't sleep a wink last night. Looking at the world map, our republic is surrounded by enemy countries! Even in the west, Britain, France, and Russia have created a Middle East-Central Asia friendly cooperation bloc!"

"Looking back, we don't have many capable fighters on our side. It's pretty much just Germany and us who can carry the main battle. We haven't heard of any war achievements from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Kingdom of Bulgaria is just cannon fodder. The Italians are good at business, but when it comes to fighting, they even struggle against African blacks."

With so many allies, our future looks bleak. Perhaps we should disband and leave before the ink is even dry? Continuing like this probably won't lead anywhere!

Zhang Mingqi's attitude also represents the mainstream opinion of the civil service. Nobody is a fool. Since the new policies and reforms in recent years, all officials of the Republic have opened their eyes to the world. They are no longer the blind and closed-minded people of the past. They also have some understanding of world history and international politics.

After Gao Dewu signed the "Alliance Treaty" in Berlin, officially announcing the Republic's entry into the Central Powers, officials returned home and felt as if the sky had fallen.

The opposing faction has more and stronger members, while our faction has fewer and weaker members. How can we fight like this?

Are we trying to force a bloody showdown between China and Germany?

After listening to Zhang Mingqi's statement, Zhao Yan said, "What's done is done, there's no way to back out now. Anyone in the Allied camp can withdraw, anyone can play both sides, but Germany and we are the only ones who can't."

"The reason you are worried is precisely the reason why we must join the Allies!"

“Old Zhang, look up and see what’s around us. To the east is Japan, to the north is Russia, to the south are British and French colonies, and to the west is the Muslim Quarter.”

"Let's not talk about the ones to the west, they won't amount to anything. But what about the ones to the east, south, and north? Do you think these people can be our friends? Can we trust them to get along with us?"

After Zhao Yan finished speaking, Zhang Mingqi fell silent. He knew the answer and understood the situation, but it was precisely because he understood it that he was so troubled.

Unless China is willing to completely relinquish its historical influence over the Far East, abandon any thoughts of restoring its traditional glory, and shut itself off to live its own life, it must reclaim everything it has lost.

Asia can only have one hegemon, and that is China. This is the Chinese tradition and the obsession of every Chinese person for thousands of years. How can the great Chinese nation tolerate others sleeping soundly beside its bed?

The name "China" represents the ambition and obsession of the central celestial dynasty of the Chinese nation. Whoever abandons this will be abandoned by Chinese history. If you cannot do this, you cannot say that you are the legitimate successor of the Chinese nation, because you cannot even achieve the most basic subjugation of the four barbarians. At most, history will give you a weak Song Dynasty, or even be better than the powerful Qing Dynasty.

The People's Republic of China can't even catch up with the Qing Dynasty at its peak. How can future generations evaluate you? How will history record you? Not only Zhao Yan can't accept it, but Zhang Mingqi and all those civil and military officials can't accept it either.

It buried the Qing Dynasty, but it is not as good as the Qing Dynasty. What's the point of this? At least during the Qing Dynasty's heyday, it was surrounded by vassal states and tributaries. It can't be that when it comes to your Republic, you are surrounded by enemies, and even your former underlings dare to bare their teeth at you.

If this situation doesn't change, Zhang Mingqi feels he won't be able to hold his head high when he meets his ancestors after he dies, and he'll have served as prime minister for nothing!

Zhao Yan continued, "These are the places I'm talking about that we need to conquer. I don't dare say that we can take down the British and become the world's hegemon, nor do I have the confidence to say it."

But shouldn't we at least restore the most traditional tributary system? Otherwise, what right do we have to bear the name "China"? Is the Central Kingdom just something we can boast about behind closed doors? We might as well change "Zhonghua" to "Donghua" and call it "Dongguo" from now on!

"Our enemies will not lower their guard just because we are temporarily patient. To put it bluntly, even if you and I were to follow the example of the Southern Song Dynasty and give up on the rejuvenation of China, do you think the British, French, and Russians would believe us?"

"The competition between great powers is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. There is no such thing as standing still."

The strategy of "keeping a low profile" also needs to be implemented at the right time. If you want to play the subservient role, someone has to stand in front of you and take the top spot. Given China's size, it would need to be at least as large as the Soviet Union at its peak to cover up China's strategy of keeping a low profile. Germany simply cannot stop a country as big as China.

In the original timeline, China's policy of keeping a low profile only began in the 1970s and 80s. At the height of the Cold War, China was even isolated and antagonized by both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Zhao Yan was not confident in leading the country forward when the world was at odds with them; he felt it was better to take the initiative and fight out.

"Your Majesty, treaties are not child's play, and taking sides is no joke!" Zhang Mingqi said worriedly, "This time, the two major camps are at odds, and a war is inevitable sooner or later, and it's not far off."

In my view, this battle will be even more brutal than the Far East War, perhaps even a battle of life and death. Previously, there was room for compromise, but given the current situation, I personally believe the next war will be a fight to the death, with no room for compromise.

"To drag us into war for the sake of European interests, if it's just for the technology, equipment, and aid, I think it's not worth it at all!"

"I believe that even if we cannot join the Entente Powers, we should withdraw from the Central Powers, remain neutral, and let the Europeans fight to the death, preferably to the point of mutual destruction or even mutual annihilation!"

We just need to sit back and watch the tigers fight; as the saying goes, "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits!"

"Only four years after the end of the Far East War, our country has achieved rapid development. If we can strive for another ten or even twenty years of peaceful development, our country will be fearless in the face of any challenge!"

"To engage in a life-or-death battle now is far too risky. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Zhang Mingqi's advice came from the bottom of his heart. He believed that fighting this battle now was too risky and not worth it, and it would be better to stay out of it.

Zhao Yan shook his head helplessly: "I've already said it, we couldn't withdraw from the very beginning. This was an inevitable outcome after the Far East War ended."

"You can view the future war as a continuation of the war in the Far East; it is something that cannot be avoided or escaped."

"Neutrition is not so easy to achieve. In today's world, apart from the United States, no other country can achieve free neutrality!"

"If China were located in North America, with two natural barriers between the oceans, I would choose to remain neutral with my eyes closed, sit back and watch the tigers fight, and make money and develop myself from the sidelines."

"But our position is too awkward. No one will allow us to remain neutral, much less stand aside."

Zhao Yan expressed his helplessness and powerlessness. If China were the semi-colonial Republic of China in the original timeline, fragmented and in chaos with warlords fighting each other, with concessions everywhere, no one would pay any attention to you. If you want to be neutral, then be neutral!

Germany disdains your joining the Allies, and Britain and France have no concern that you will launch a surprise attack on their Asian colonies while they are fighting each other to the death.

Japan and Russia are too lazy to pay attention to you; they just see you as a piece of easy prey on a chopping board.

In this world, you only have the right to choose neutrality when you are weak. When you are strong enough, even if you want to be neutral, others won't let you be.

This situation was predetermined the moment the Far East War ended. Only when you have sufficient strength and the potential to sit on the dinner table will Germany empty its coffers to teach you, and only then will Britain, France, the United States, and Russia put aside their inappropriate intentions and engage in fair trade with you.

But when war comes, if you say you want to remain neutral, Germany will be the first to object, and Britain, France, and Russia will not believe you at all. They even say that if China remains neutral, the European war will not break out, because Europeans are not stupid.

The same principles you understand, they understand too. If you want to sit back and watch the tigers fight, they'd rather drag you into it first. If you don't get involved, they won't even start fighting.

The way to drag China into this is incredibly simple: just pick one of the following conflicts—the Sino-Russian conflict, the Sino-Japanese conflict, or the Sino-Austrian conflict—and ignite it. You think you can sit on the shore and watch the show? No way!

No one would leave a hungry, burly man in the restaurant when they leave to fight. Otherwise, when they come back exhausted and starving after the fight, they'll find that the originally hungry man has been eating right there on the table, and he's become quite plump and strong.

Zhao Yan's explanation took a broader, more holistic view of the issue, while Zhang Mingqi only saw the best option for the Republic's own interests, but failed to consider the choices of other countries around the world, wishfully believing that neutrality would allow them to escape war.

After listening, Zhang Mingqi sighed and said, "Your Excellency is right. I was too attached to appearances and only saw one side of the picture, not the whole picture."

"But can we really win?"

Zhang Mingqi hoped to get a definite answer from Zhao Yan, because Zhao Yan had never lied to them. He said that if he could win a war, he could definitely lead them to victory.

But Zhao Yan shook his head slightly: "Please forgive me, I cannot guarantee victory this time. We can only strive to avoid defeat, or at least suffer a dignified defeat."

Zhao Yan knew very well that Britain, France, the United States, and Canada together were invincible at this stage. The Germans had tried their best until 1945 but could not achieve victory. It was even more impossible for China now. Even if you brought the Soviet Union out earlier, it would still be impossible.

The old imperialist bloc, which hadn't suffered any losses during its peak, wasn't so easily defeated. In fact, even after losing a lot of blood in World War I, they could still continue fighting in World War II. That's what you call having a solid foundation.

This is a war that cannot be avoided or escaped. From the moment the Republic stood up, from the moment it shed its menu and stood at the table, those sitting at the table would not let it go.

At least now you have Germany standing at the same table with you. If it were decades later in the original timeline, in a situation where you are isolated and hostile to two major camps, that would be truly desperate.

“You should not have crossed the river, yet you did! You will die while crossing it, what can we do about it!” Zhang Mingqi said helplessly.

Zhao Yan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Some things have to be done by someone, right?"

"Each generation has its own mission; if you can't avoid it, then bravely face it."

"Losing isn't terrible. At least we bravely took on the challenge, which is much better than cowardly hiding at home and getting beaten up by someone!"

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