A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 617 Review

Dongchang Hutong is now very lively. Li Yuanhong took office as the president at home, and his office is temporarily located at home. Dozens of cars come and go at the door every day, making it one of the busiest alleys in Beijing.

When Zhang Zhenfang drove to find Li Yuanhong, he saw Li Yu in the alley, so he took him with him to Li Mansion.

We are neighbors anyway, so out of politeness we should go there.

As soon as the two entered the door, they saw Duan Qirui discussing matters with Li Yuanhong in the East Flower Hall.

Zhang Zhenfang said to Li Yu: "Let's wait."

The East Flower Hall is Li Yuanhong's office. There is a long square table in the middle. Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui sat at one end. After saying hello, they remained silent and stared at each other.

Duan Qirui still looked slovenly, and the military uniform that should have been straight when worn on him did not have the majesty and domineering look of a warlord, and was even inferior to that of some petty officers.

Li Yuanhong's suit is much neater.

About ten minutes later, Li Yu said to Zhang Zhenfang: "What are they doing? Comparing Dingli?"

Zhang Zhenfang said with a smile: "It's like meeting in-laws and having nothing to talk about."

"It's so embarrassing." Li Yu said.

The steward of the Li Mansion served tea to the two of them: "You two gentlemen, have a drink first. If you are hungry, I can also serve you some snacks."

Li Yu said: "We are not here to eat."

The housekeeper said helplessly: "Prime Minister Duan and the Master will have to remain in this stalemate for at least twenty minutes. I'm afraid that you two will be bored."

Li Yu was stunned. He only briefly knew about the "Controversy between the Government and Yuan" in history books, and thought it was a thrilling political struggle, but it turned out to be so "direct".

Li Yuanhong's presidency was a foregone conclusion, because the National Protection Army supported Li Yuanhong as its banner. However, the Beiyang faction had its own agenda, so Duan Qirui had no choice but to temporarily appoint Li Yuanhong as president.

Zhang Zhenfang seemed to be used to it. He took a sip of tea and said, "President Li's tea is a little short. I will send someone to bring some to the president next time."

Just as the butler said, twenty minutes later, Duan Qirui suddenly stood up and shook hands with Li Yuanhong, "President, I'm back. If you have anything, call or tell Youzheng (Xu Shuzheng)."

Li Yuanhong forced a smile on his face: "Let's go slowly."

Duan Qirui walked outside the door, saw Li Yu, and said to him, "Master Li, long time no see."

Li Yu replied: "Prime Minister Duan."

"Hey!" Duan Qirui waved his hand, "Don't call me that yet, I haven't organized a vote in Congress yet."

Zhang Zhenfang said: "It will happen sooner or later."

Duan Qirui said sternly: "Then we must follow the procedures."

Zhang Zhenfang hurriedly said: "Yes, yes!"

Duan Qirui then said to Li Yu: "Soon, we will hold a military parade in Nanyuan, and we sincerely invite Academician Li to participate."

Li Yu asked: "Watch the ceremony live?"

I had been in Beijing for so long and had never seen a military parade live. Now that I can be there in person, I feel excited just thinking about it.

"No," Duan Qirui said, "you have to be a member of the military parade."

Li Yu was a little confused: "I'm not a soldier."

"I know," Duan Qirui said, "We will hold an air show when the time comes. Now there are no more than single digits flying airplanes in Beijing. Moreover, the airplanes at Nanyuan Airport are too old and are much older than those made at Fengru Aircraft Factory. The flight was too bad.”

"It turns out it's just a flight show," Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, I'll try my best to cooperate."

"Planes are the trump card and must be the finale. Let the foreigners know that we also have planes." Duan Qirui said.

He still has the spirit of a soldier.

The senior officials in Beiyang are not very annoying, but the level of military governance is not the same. It is beyond the scope of ability.

Duan Qirui left after saying that.

Li Yu and Zhang Zhenfang entered the Donghua Hall.

Seeing the two of them, Li Yuanhong became more talkative, "Shucai, did you bring chocolate again? My daughter misses you every day."

Of course Li Yu didn't forget it and put the two boxes on the table: "This time I have a different flavor. I hope the lady likes it."

Li Yuanhong smiled and said: "I like it, I definitely like it!"

Zhang Zhenfang then said: "President, you are not from the Beiyang faction. From now on, you should contact more officers who are also from the non-Beiyang faction."

Li Yuanhong said: "Cai E? He is too far away and his health is not good."

Zhang Zhenfang said: "There is also Zhang Xun from Xuzhou."

Li Yuanhong shook his head: "No, this person doesn't have much ink in his head. He also likes to pretend to be a cultural person. Especially his head is full of foolish and loyal thoughts, and he does not necessarily insist on republicanism."

Zhang Zhenfang said: "And..."

Li Yuanhong raised his hand to interrupt him: "Xin'an (Zhang Zhenfang), I know you are worried about being implicated because you are related to President Yuan. In fact, there is no need to be like this. Remember, you are you."

Zhang Zhenfang understood and quickly stood up and bowed: "Thank you, President."

Li Yuanhong is always called "Mr. Nice". He seems a bit stupid, but he knows everything in his heart.

"You and the Salt Bank are very important!" Li Yuanhong continued. "To put it bluntly, the Presidential Office has no power and cannot control many things. The same is true for Lao Duan. Everyone is empty-handed. The reason for this is because there is no money. Place Without tax revenue, the only money we can use is the surplus from customs duties and salt taxes after compensation, and a few railway revenues. How can this amount of money be enough to run such a huge government? So Old Duan is right, the Republic of China government is like A beggar gang composed of beggars, I am the leader who was forced to be elected. "

Li Yu smiled and said: "Beggars Clan Leader, this metaphor is too good."

Li Yuanhong said helplessly: "This is the fact, and the gang leader still wants to pay money to his subordinates. Old Duan will resume parliament immediately. The more than 500 members are the Arhats. The salary standard is set, each person is oceans per month. Just think about it I will have a headache with this salary. I will probably have to borrow money from everywhere.”

Zhang Zhenfang said: "The matter of borrowing money belongs to the cabinet, and the president does not need to worry about it."

"Hey, it's not like you don't know about old Duan's character. He's very stern!" Li Yuanhong said, "And he also has a confidant, Xu Shuzheng, who is even more stupid! Duan Qirui must let Xu Shuzheng be the Secretary-General of the State. In order to It’s up to me, but I don’t want to agree.”

Xu Shuzheng is a very capable person, but his character is a bit tough. He didn't even give Yuan Shikai face back then.

Li Yu said: "I said just now, I saw that you were always at war with each other."

Li Yuanhong said: "If Xu Shuzheng becomes the secretary-general, he will be the military prime minister and the military secretary-general, and the entire cabinet will completely become a military cabinet! Here is an Oriental sword, and there is an Oriental sword! How outrageous!"

Although he said so, Li Yuanhong ultimately failed to stop Duan Qirui from appointing Xu Shuzheng as secretary-general, a position of high authority.

Xu Shuzheng is young and energetic, and he often cannot suppress his contempt for the presidential palace.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of China, the opinions of the cabinet must be sealed by the Presidential Office and take effect. Once, several department heads were changed in a certain province. Xu Shuzheng took the appointment and dismissal certificate of the cabinet prime minister to the Presidential Palace to have it stamped. Li Yuanhong asked who had been appointed and removed. Xu Shuzheng replied impatiently: "Just stamp it and leave it alone." Who should you appoint?" Xu Shuzheng also asked someone to write a notice and send it to the communications room of the Presidential Palace, emphasizing that now is a responsible cabinet system, and all the president's letters (including private letters) must be sent to the cabinet for opening.

The Communications Office of the Presidential Palace complied.

Li Yuanhong didn't know about it until Xu Shichang came to visit and asked about the letters sent a few days ago, and he immediately became furious.

Xu Shuzheng was tough and laid the foundation for the dispute between the government and the academy early on.

Li Yuanhong took out another document from the drawer: "This is Yang Du's proposal to establish the Academy of Sciences. I found it accidentally. President Yuan Da has already signed it, but unfortunately he didn't have time to implement it."

Li Yu did not expect the Beiyang government to have money to build an academy of sciences, so he said: "We have established the Chinese Science Society and it is running very well."

Li Yuanhong said: "Really? I still want to continue to establish the Academy of Sciences with the salary standards of members."

Li Yu said: "The president should take care of the members first, and then talk about the Academy of Sciences when things are stable."

Li Yuanhong smiled: "They are much more difficult to deal with."

-

In order to prepare for the flight show, Li Yu went to Tianjin Fengru Aircraft Factory again.

Although it is not comparable in scale to companies such as Germany's Junkers, with Li Yu's large capital injection, there has been little gap in the technical level of Feng Ru Aircraft Factory, and it has also hired many foreign technicians.

Feng Ru was very smart and specially selected Jewish technicians, some of whom had escaped from Europe. These people don't have much feelings about their family and country. As long as they are given enough money, they don't care where they work.

Through them, Feng Ru also learned some things about Europe.

"Brother Shucai, a French flight technician said that he can even make shooting coordinators." Feng Ru said.

Li Yu shrugged: "We are not in a hurry to study weapons for killing people."

At this time, there were propellers on the front of the aircraft. A year or two ago, the French developed a shooting coordinator, which could control the rate of fire so that the bullets would pass through the propellers at the right time to attack.

Later, this invention was first carried forward by the German Fokker Company, and their Fokker fighters subsequently had extremely strong air combat capabilities, which was the earliest air superiority fighter.

In 1915, British and French pilots were massacred by German Fokker fighter jets. Red Baron Richthofen flew it, and was later shot down and killed while flying a Fokker fighter jet.

The Fokker was also the only fighter aircraft that the postwar "Versailles Peace Treaty" specifically required Germany to hand over in full.

Feng Ru added: "The Beiyang military has placed an order for 10 training aircraft."

"It is estimated that within many years, it will only be limited to training aircraft. Let them do it," Li Yu said. "It is best for our production line to focus on passenger aircraft, otherwise we will cause a lot of unknown troubles in the future."

Feng Ru has a passionate fighting spirit: "I also want to fly an aircraft like the Fokker to defeat the enemy."

Li Yu said leisurely: "What if it's a civil war?"

One sentence made Feng Ru feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He stayed there for more than ten seconds and then said: "I don't know..."

Li Yu said: "So, let's not go all the way. The news says that Europe will open civil aviation routes this year. From London to Paris, the one-way fare is 21 pounds. This is a good direction."

Feng Ru made an estimate: "More than three hundred kilometers, it's not a big problem."

Li Yu said: "We can also open routes from Beijing to Tianjin, Shanghai to Nanjing, Shanghai to Hangzhou, Shanghai to Ningbo or Guangzhou to Hong Kong."

Feng Ru's mind was spinning: "Now there are no European and American airlines involved in Asia, and we have almost no competitors! This business is easy to do!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "If you don't have competitors, it may not necessarily be easy, but you still have great hope."

Feng Ru said: "Considering that the main purpose is to carry people, we need to design a new aircraft, especially to increase the cabin space."

Li Yu said: "Safety comes first, and the cabin capacity is enough to accommodate four passengers."

Feng Ru was still a little worried: "With such a high ticket price, will no one be willing to ride?"

Li Yu said: "Don't worry, the rich have nowhere to spend their money. They will definitely rush to take advantage of this unique way of traveling."

Feng Ru believed in Li Yu's judgment very much. With his words, he could devote himself to the research and development.

Historically, Europe and the United States have opened civil routes very early, but the aircraft used for civil aviation at the beginning were all slightly modified fighter jets. By 1919, Germany's Junkers Company produced the first dedicated civilian aircraft, the F-13.

After World War I, Germany attached great importance to civil aviation in order to preserve the aviation industry.

The Junkers F-13 can only accommodate four passengers. It is produced in large quantities and is very popular. It is exported to many countries, including China.

In addition to aircraft development, Li Yu also practiced aircraft driving with Feng Ru to ensure safety during the military parade.

Anyway, there is nothing special at this time. You just fly a few times in the sky, and everyone below will cheer. There is no need to practice any formations, stunts and other techniques.

-

After several years of urban reconstruction in Beijing, the main roads have been widened, and many of them have been paved with standardized roads.

The Beiyang government attaches great importance to this military parade and has done a lot of publicity in newspapers in advance.

On the day of the military parade, Beijing was packed with people. Everyone was fresh and wanted to see the new army.

Li Yuanhong, fully dressed in military uniform, rode from the martial arts hall to the review site. He held a saber and rode a tall horse to open the way, showing a rare majesty.

There are mainly two arms types participating in the military parade, cavalry and infantry. A total of five to six thousand people, all wearing white or purple military caps, are very handsome.

After the infantry phalanx, senior officials in Beijing also followed the soldiers on horseback and filed past.

Then came the presidential parade. Duan Qirui and Li Yuanhong stood side by side in an open car. As they passed by, the officers raised their swords, the infantrymen raised their guns, and the horsemen raised their swords.

There are already prototypes of military parades in later generations.

The last, of course, is the most eye-catching flight display.

The pilots are not only Li Yu and Feng Ru, but also Qin Guoyong, the principal of Nanyuan Aviation School.

The plane circled over Xiannongtan and Zhengyangmen for several weeks, and every time the audience's thunderous applause could be heard.

Li Yu was flying a training plane, and Lu Bicheng in the back didn't dare to poke his head out. "If the president and prime minister knew there was a woman on the plane, they would be furious."

Li Yu laughed loudly: "You are wearing a hat and goggles, how do they know who you are."

Lu Bicheng tied her hair tightly and took a tentative look. Below were the troops in formation and the overwhelming crowd. She couldn't help but exclaimed in shock: "It's so spectacular!"

Li Yu was also very satisfied: "From this perspective, it is indeed good."

He landed the plane smoothly at Nanyuan Airport and really became addicted to flying.

(End of this chapter)