After taking office as the Minister of Defense, Yan Fu found that the Ministry of Defense had been cut down to just the position of the Minister of Defense. And the most interesting thing was that in the documents Yan Fu received, the position of Minister of Defense even ranked below the Standing Committee Member of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese People's Party. There are no walls in the world that wind does not pass through; Yan Fu heard that Xiong Mingyang had even proposed drawing lots to decide the Minister of Defense. Since the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of Defense were already one team with two signboards, the Minister of Defense had become an external institution. This position thus became a title to compare seniority and level of foreign exchange. This was actually a true recognition of Yan Fu's ability.

This time Chen Ke invited Yan Fu back to Wuhan to discuss work. Yan Fu didn't care about his so-called reputation at all; whether adding a title of Minister of Defense was no longer important to Yan Fu. What Yan Fu cared about most was that in October 1918, the international situation for the navy had suddenly become severe.

Upon seeing Chen Ke, Yan Fu first asked about the central government's heavy industry plan, including the shipbuilding industry.

Chen Ke laughed: "Does Mr. Yan feel that our industrial development is too slow?"

Yan Fu shook his head slightly. The industrial construction of the Manchu Qing had basically fallen into the hands of the People's Party by now, and this precious wealth had expanded sharply under the management of the People's Party. However, no matter how China's industry expanded, the overly thin accumulation was not enough to satisfy Yan Fu's expectations. As a great scholar and a navy expert, Yan Fu knew very well that the process of accumulation and construction could not be avoided at all. But as an ordinary human being, even knowing that his thoughts were inevitably too hasty, he could not suppress his desire for his dreams.

"Wenqing, I am already 65 years old this year. Originally, at this age, I shouldn't have such high aspirations. It's rare for a person to live to seventy since ancient times, and I don't know if I can live to that day. But I just want to see three things before I die: a 10,000-ton ship built by China itself, China recovering Korea, and China recovering all the lost old lands from Russia. If I can see these three things before I die, I will die without regrets."

"Aren't the ships commissioned by the United States almost finished?" Chen Ke laughed.

Yan Fu replied: "But our war with Japan is also imminent. The World War is about to end; how many years will the Sino-Japanese War take? One year? Two years?"

Chen Ke stopped talking for a moment. World War I was indeed about to end. The world situation was about to undergo tremendous changes.

Germany launched five large-scale attacks starting from March 1918. The German army, using Stormtrooper tactics, appeared unstoppable from the beginning of the campaign, showing a momentum of fighting all the way to Paris.

Facing the sharp tactics of the German army, Britain and France also found a way to cope, which was to desperately prolong the combat time. In every new campaign on the Western Front, the German army tore through the British and French defense lines with tactics. Seeing the positions breached, Britain and France would first use indiscriminate artillery fire to block the German offensive. British and French officers and soldiers relied on "Divine Body Protection Pills" to stimulate their nerves, and a large number of tanks and infantry dispersed into infantry combat teams launched counterattacks day and night. The military observers of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army could not even describe the cruel battles in words. The battle accounts, which should have been expository texts, were almost written as lyrical prose.

France sent all the soldiers they could pull to the front line, and Britain pulled cannon fodder troops from various colonies into this flesh-and-blood mill on a large scale. Even though Britain and France fought with energy beyond human norms, the German army still advanced towards Paris relying on tactics. Until the end of June, the US troops who finally arrived in France were immediately thrown into the battle to plug the gaps.

Throughout July, with the help of 500,000 fresh American troops sent by the United States to France, 900,000 Chinese laborers working in France responsible for industrial and agricultural production, and 50,000 Chinese military doctors and nurses helping to implement treatment, plus twenty tons of Divine Body Protection Pills urgently provided by the People's Party, the German offensive finally failed. In August, the German army retreated all the way back to the Hindenburg Line for passive defense.

Before Britain and France had time to prepare for an attack on Germany, the most serious stage of the Spanish Flu broke out. The whole world fell into the infection of the influenza virus. The mortality rate of this flu was particularly high among young adults aged 20-35. In addition to high fever and headache, symptoms included blue face and coughing up blood; the flu often led to complications and death, with pneumonia being the most common. A large number of soldiers on the battlefield with harsh environments fell ill and died.

Even in the safe rear, many cities in Europe and America restricted citizens from going to public places. Cinemas, dance halls, sports venues, etc., were closed for more than a year. Tram conductors in Seattle refused to pick up passengers without masks.

There is a chapter about the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" in the "Book of Revelation" of the New Testament of the Bible, roughly saying that before the end of the world, four horsemen—Death, War, Pestilence, and Famine—would bring things corresponding to their attributes to the world, followed by the destruction of the world.

War, death, and insufficient food supply caused by war had already made all countries feel fear. The plague causing large numbers of young people to die completely activated the panic about the end of the world in Europe and America. Various terrifying rumors circulated in Europe and America. Church bells everywhere rang almost day and night.

Of course, European and American countries could not rely on praying to God to solve practical problems. Various countries also had some experience in dealing with epidemics. The cremation grounds burning the corpses of those who died of illness emitted thick black smoke every day. The description sent back by the People's Party's organization in Europe was "gray snow fell from the sky."

The People's Party attached great importance to the training of doctors. In addition to the 50,000 military doctors dispatched, there were also about 50,000 doctors among the 900,000 laborers sent to France. These 100,000 doctors undertook arduous work. Not only did they have to take care of Chinese laborers, but the war also drew away most British and French doctors, so the French could only seek Chinese doctors for treatment. Where there were Chinese people, there were Chinese doctors, and with doctors, there was hope for survival.

The French were slightly better off. At least with these 100,000 doctors and nurses "flying from the sky," the flu mortality rate dropped below 2%. Since the People's Party did not provide labor and medical personnel to Britain, the situation in Britain was even worse. Desperate Europe called for doctors, and at this time, only China could provide doctors in large quantities.

The British and French Ministers found Zhang Yu with the Chinese government work report. They pointed to the column on medical professional doctor and nurse training in the People's Party work report and first asked Zhang Yu to confirm whether it was true. By 1917, the number of graduated and enrolled doctors and nurses in the People's Party reached as high as 1.2 million. Concerning the life and death of their own people, the British Minister was slightly calm. He solemnly stated that if China was willing to send doctors and nurses, Britain sincerely expressed that during the period these doctors and nurses worked in Britain, Britain was willing to provide treatment completely equal to British citizens. Moreover, if any doctors and nurses died, the British side was willing to provide financial compensation. The British Minister could represent the British government to sign an agreement with the People's Party immediately and accept the People's Party sending people to form a supervisory committee with Britain.

The French had a romantic character. The Minister, revealing his true feelings, really shed tears and expressed to Zhang Yu that the 100,000 Chinese doctors and nurses gave France huge help. For the Chinese doctors and nurses who had unfortunately died of illness, the French side had already prepared compensation, which could be handed over to the Chinese government at any time. However, now France needed more help. They applied to China for 100,000 doctors and nurses, even students currently in school would do.

France needed at least 100,000 doctors and nurses, and Britain also made a request for 100,000 people. The People's Party convened the Central Committee of the People's Party. After five days of arduous discussion, they finally agreed to provide this batch of medical personnel to work in Britain and France. Britain and France immediately dispatched fleets to China to pick up people. After strict disinfection, the fleets carried 200,000 urgently convened Chinese doctors and nurses, a large amount of sulfonamides, and loquat-type drugs for clearing lungs and relieving coughs to Europe.

After the bloody battles of 1918 and the ravage of this pandemic, Yan Fu already understood that the First World War was finally about to end. Once the First World War ended, there would be no room for buffer between China and Japan anymore. Even if Chinese doctors and nurses could establish China's image again, for the rulers of the Entente Powers, realistic political considerations would not be mixed with personal feelings.

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance in the Far East could not be dissolved; Britain needed Japan, and Japan needed Britain even more. And the Japanese fleet had an overwhelming advantage over the People's Navy on the ocean. The First World War temporarily curbed the escalation of Sino-Japanese conflicts. Once the First World War ended, war between China and Japan would be inevitable. Yan Fu was deeply worried about this.

Chen Ke's strategic arrangement, however, was not in the order Yan Fu hoped for. "What I hope to solve first is Mr. Yan's third wish: recover the homeland occupied by Russia first. So I hope Mr. Yan can go to Shan County to preside over the negotiations with Duan Qirui. If you need anyone, feel free to invite them."

"Does Wenqing really still want to let Duan Qirui go temporarily?" Yan Fu was somewhat surprised by Chen Ke's view.

Chen Ke shook his head slightly, "If the Northwest issue can be solved without war, at least without war in the near future, the Central Committee thinks it's best to shed less unnecessary blood. Of course, you can also make it clear to Duan Qirui, let him give up the idea of splitting territory and being a local emperor in the Northwest as soon as possible. We really don't want to add any more trouble to recovering the homeland now. If Duan Qirui insists on obstructing our actions, let him wash his neck and wait for death. Just based on his collusion with foreigners during his lifetime, we can definitely make him wear the hat of a traitor after death. And we will definitely make this case an ironclad case. At that time, although Duan Qirui's reputation won't compare to Qin Hui, it will be enough to compare with Shi Jingtang who sold the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Khitans."

Yan Fu had never seen Chen Ke say threatening words, let alone seen Chen Ke's attitude being "arrogant" to such an extent, so he didn't want to criticize Chen Ke at all. Moreover, the metaphor of Shi Jingtang was unexpectedly consistent with reality. When Shi Jingtang of the Five Dynasties period was a minister in Later Tang, he was attacked by Li Congke. Seeing the army at the city gate and insufficient strength, Shi Jingtang asked Yelü Deguang of Khitan for help according to plan, promising traitorous conditions: ceding the Sixteen Prefectures to Khitan, paying large amounts of tribute annually, and calling himself a son-emperor. Later, the Northern Song Dynasty could never recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, resulting in no natural barriers to defend in the north.

The People's Party was currently trying to recover the northern homeland. If the strategic goal could not be achieved due to Duan Qirui's factor, calling Duan Qirui a contemporary Shi Jingtang would not be excessive.

"Then I'll go to Beijing first," Yan Fu said.

A few days later, Yan Fu appeared travel-worn outside Wang Shizhen's house. It happened to be Wang Shizhen's turn to fulfill community obligations. Yan Fu didn't care about anything else; he asked the guard to take over Wang Shizhen's broom to sweep the floor, and he himself pulled Wang Shizhen back into the house.

Hearing Yan Fu relay Chen Ke's words, Wang Shizhen sneered: "If the homeland cannot be recovered, Chen Wenqing doesn't say he is incompetent but wants to blame Duan Qirui. Isn't this a joke?"

Yan Fu was not moved at all. He said loudly: "If talking about incompetence, later generations can say Wenqing is incompetent, but we people who became civil officials and generals in the Manchu Qing era are not qualified to say Wenqing is incompetent. Brother Pinqing, just say it straight, help or not."

Wang Shizhen sneered, "If you want me to help, you, Yan Jidao, can't stay out of it either. You have to go to Xi'an with me to see Duan Qirui."

"No problem, I'll go with you to see Duan Qirui." Yan Fu answered neatly.

Wang Shizhen frowned slightly. Seeing that Yan Fu didn't care about his own life or death at all, with an attitude of disregarding himself for the country, Wang Shizhen felt it was not bad. Duan Qirui had this and that personal problem, but he had one advantage: he cared very much about his reputation. If the People's Party just fought Duan Qirui to contend for hegemony, Duan Qirui might stubbornly persist to the end. But the main contradiction now was the contradiction between China and Russia. If the People's Party could save Duan Qirui's face a little more, the Northwest matter could probably be settled. Anyway, things were just as Yan Fu said; regardless of whether the homeland occupied by the Russians could be recovered, Duan Qirui had no chance of winning.

"Then how about we set off now?" Wang Shizhen asked.

On October 22, surrounded by heavy troops of the Beiyang Army, Yan Fu and Wang Shizhen entered the "Republic of China" Premier's Residence located in Xi'an.

Duan Qirui greeted Wang Shizhen with an extremely enthusiastic attitude, but was quite cold to Yan Fu. Wang Shizhen didn't mean to steal the show either. After exchanging a few casual words with Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen said to Duan Qirui: "Zhiquan, I came this time hoping you and Big Brother Jidao have a good talk. If you ask me what to do, I think you might as well listen to Big Brother Jidao's words."

Everyone was a sensible person. After the three sat down in the room, Yan Fu told Duan Qirui Chen Ke's thoughts and requirements in unambiguous language.

"What if I insist on resisting stubbornly?" Duan Qirui asked.

Yan Fu didn't say any tactful words either. He said seriously: "Wenqing thinks highly of Zhiquan, so he threatens someone for the first time. Wenqing guarantees that after you are defeated and die, he will definitely let you leave a reputation as Shi Jingtang the Second in history books."

Hearing this, Duan Qirui was furious at first, but soon recovered his mood. He couldn't help laughing loudly, "Comparing me to that son-emperor, he really thinks highly of me."

Before Duan Qirui could say anything more, Wang Shizhen interrupted, "Zhiquan, Wenqing is begging at your door. Why do you have to be so self-abasing?"

"Old brother, it's more like Wenqing is fighting to my door!" Duan Qirui sneered.

"If Wenqing fights his way in, the Northwest will be in total chaos. By the time he finishes cleaning up the mess, it will take at least a year or so. If both sides negotiate peace, Wenqing can send troops to fight for the Chinese homeland with the Russians. He is not begging at your door now, but why else would he come?" Wang Shizhen replied.