Back to the Republic of China as a commander

"What? Joining the war?" Hu Hanmin exclaimed. . .

Today is April (Day), President Li Yuanhong will leave Nanjing early tomorrow morning, and take a boat to Pukou across the river to take a car. Hu Hanmin has arranged a float here to send the President to Beijing. Naturally, the eve of the farewell will be big After setting up a banquet, Li Yuanhong is full of ambition. This time he went to Beijing is different from the last time. Last time he was visited by Lao Yuan and Duan Qirui. This time he brought with him 4 confidantes from the Hubei Army and the Nationalist Government. The promised 400 million per year is a special fee for the president to come to Beijing. He is determined to do something, so there is a lot of killing at the banquet, and anyone who comes to toast him will be welcome.

The banquet lasted until after nine o'clock in the evening. President Li Yuanhong returned to the station to rest in satisfaction amidst the sound of congratulations from everyone.However, Wang Zhenyu kept Huang Xing, Sun Wen, Hu Hanmin, Zhang Taiyan, and Wang Longzhong in a small house, because he had just received a telegram from the British and French consulates in Shanghai that the British and French governments agreed to follow the original agreement on May [-]. Handed over to the customs of the nine southern provinces to the national government.

This is a great thing. The national government has only been established for a few days, and it has achieved such a major victory in diplomacy.Huang Xing, who was already a bit drunk, immediately shouted excitedly to his son Huang Yiou to bring wine, so scared that Wang Zhenyu quickly dissuaded him: "Mr. Ke Qiang, your liver is not good, and drunkenness hurts your liver. If you can't drink, don't drink it." And I have something more important to tell you later, so Yiou, go down and guard the door."

Huang Yiou is more than one year younger than Wang Zhenyu, and he is quite capable in handling affairs. His current position is the captain of the chairman's guard.He nodded and went out, guarding the door together with the guards of several other big brothers, preventing strangers from approaching.

Wang Zhenyu tried his best to keep himself calm, because what he was going to state next was related to national policy and was very important, so he had to state it clearly and get the support of the few big figures in the party in front of him.

"The national government is established, and the customs will take it back on the first day of May. I mean, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Zhengting will go to Shanghai to sign it. We big guys don't have to go. Because there are two big things that need our attention. .”

Sun Wen asked curiously: "Wenzheng, what is the big deal, you have said it twice, we are all very curious."

Zhang Taiyan also thought for a while and said, "I really can't think of anything more important than us taking back the customs right now?"

Wang Longzhong smiled to defuse the embarrassing atmosphere and said, "My eldest nephew likes to keep things secret. Tell me, our brothers are waiting impatiently." Wang Longzhong is probably the most inexplicable one among them. Completely withdrew from the stage of history, but was pushed to the position of full-time vice chairman of the National Government by his nephew.What made him very depressed was that this transferred vice-chairman was very characteristic. He knew all the secrets, but he basically had no decision-making power.

Wang Zhenyu sat up straight and said: "It's actually like this. When we were negotiating with the French, they proposed two cooperation projects. These two projects are very beneficial to us. Hmm..."

Seeing that Wang Zhenyu was hesitant, Huang Xing leaned back on the sofa and said, "Go on, we are all our own people here."

Wang Zhenyu plucked up his courage and said: "That's right, the French suggested that we send labor to France. Everyone knows that the French lost a lot of labor because of the European War. Just kidding, French women need men very much now. So The French plan to import a large number of cheap laborers from us, on the condition that each worker pays us fifty dollars, and the dollar has been relatively strong recently, and this worker is also paid in France.”

"Then our Chairman Wang, how many workers do we need to send there?" Hu Hanmin was the first to jump out and question.

"50 to 100 million" Wang Zhenyu plans to get 500 million to 5000 million US dollars back at once.

Hu Hanmin asked in amazement: "But where can we find so many laborers who are willing to leave their homes? And what is the difference between this and selling piglets?"

Wang Zhenyu nodded and said: "Let me explain first, this is not selling piglets, but the export of international labor services. Finding so many laborers is another matter. Don't worry, Bray will come in."

After hearing the sound, Chen Bulei opened the door and came in, and handed several documents to the big guys.

Hu Hanmin took a closer look: "Outline of the Land Reform Law".

"We plan to carry out land reform in the countryside. All the land will be nationalized in the form of land debt, and then distributed to farmers who need to cultivate for life through the fisherman's associations in various places. At the same time, we are in the Jianghan Plain, Dongting Lake Plain and Poyang Lake Plain. It is planned to build three large-scale military reclamation farm areas, and the grain output in these three places will be used as national grain reserves. But the result of this is that a large number of rural laborers will lose their land and easily become refugees, becoming an important factor of social instability." Wang Zhenyu said seriously: "So we have to provide employment opportunities for these more than 200 million farmers. On the one hand, we will carry out industrial construction in central cities, such as Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, etc., to absorb these labor forces. But I Please note that the construction of industry needs at least two to three years, and mature skilled workers are needed. So my opinion is to send the laborers out. I plan that the European War will take about two years. In time, they become skilled workers, and when they come back, they can become urban industrial workers.”

"Great, it's too thoughtful." Zhang Taiyan was the first to agree.

Sun Wen and Huang Xing also nodded at each other, and Hu Hanmin couldn't make sense of it either.

But then, Wang Zhen's words made Hu Hanmin jump up again.

"What, participating army?" Hu Hanmin's appearance was struck by lightning.

"Zhantang, sit down, you are now the dean of the Tangtang National Government Administration Council, why are you still so impetuous." Sun Wen complained to Hu Hanmin, and Hu Hanmin had to sit down resentfully.

Zhang Taiyan said: "Wenzheng, continue talking."

"This should be what the British mean. These imperialist countries are rich now, so human life is also valuable. Their idea is to hire, yes, hire our army to go to war in Europe. We send troops, and they send equipment and money. .”

Hu Hanmin said angrily: "Using our Chinese soldiers to fight for the Europeans is an act of treason!"

"Don't label it indiscriminately." Wang Zhenyu was a little angry. This Hu Hanmin is very ungrateful. From the merger to the present, this guy has always opposed it. ***, why didn't you object when you were appointed as the head of the State Council, "Our country has been bullied since modern times. If we don't pay a price, how can we rise from the east, and how can we gain the respect of the great powers?"

Wang Zhenyu stood up and continued: "I must emphasize one point, the national strength of a country is ultimately the display of military strength. If we do not participate in the war, how can the Europeans allow us to obtain the best weapons, how can it be possible for us to benefit from the post-war dividends?" Dividends, and more importantly, everyone, according to my information, Beijing is already talking to the Japanese about participating in the war. They will fight us at the end by organizing and training the participating troops. It will not change whether we participate in the war or not. this point."

Hu Hanmin was still unconvinced: "We can object to the case of joining the war through President Li Da, and we can even launch the Northern Expedition."

Wang Zhenyu shook his head and said, "Launch the Northern Expedition? We don't have so much money. How do we solve the problems of industrial construction and land reform? Where does our money come from? My lord dean, don't talk nonsense here."

Wang Zhenyu went to the crowd and said: "My plan is to train 20 to 40 troops to participate in the war. The training equipment of these troops will be provided by Britain and France, and they will be rearmed in Europe. In exchange, we need a full set of industrial technology and equipment."

Hu Hanmin gritted his teeth: "Then how many of these young people will stay in Europe forever? You are taking the blood of your compatriots seriously."

Wang Zhenyu got up and said: "There will be many. If our nation is to rise, we must have such sacrifices and sacrifices. If allowed, I would like that person to be me."

Sun Wen had to sigh after hearing this extremely heroic words: "If this son is not a righteous person, then he is a big treacherous and evil."

Hu Hanmin saw that the big shots were silent, knowing that Wang Zhenyu's two words had already moved everyone, so he didn't want to say anything.He could only ask softly: "Then Chairman Wang, I would like to know if the Military Commission has a specific plan. Among other things, how many people will leave their homes and their wives and children will be separated after recruiting so many laborers."

Wang Zhenyu took a deep breath and said: "This is a crime. I am willing to take it on my own, but it must be done, otherwise it will be very difficult for the country to rise again after missing this opportunity. As for the plan, my idea is to start in May. Just reform the land, and my idea is to set up labor camps in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and recruit new troops at the same time. When the British and French arrive with the first batch of equipment, we will send the first batch of laborers on board. All the laborers will be shipped to Europe within a year, and all labor introduction fees will be invested in industrial construction.”

"As for the participating army?" Seeing that Hu Hanmin was about to speak again, Wang Zhenyu interrupted him directly: "My plan is to complete the training before December this year, and I will be able to participate in the war in Europe in March next year. Please believe that our Soldiers will definitely display military prestige and national prestige."

After several bigwigs had a private conversation in a low voice, Huang Xing said to Hu Hanmin: "Zhantang, your Executive Yuan should take the lead in this matter, and you must work with the comrades from the Military Commission to handle this matter well."

Wang Zhenyu said at this time: "The last thing I want to remind you is that all the heads of the national government here are. The national policy discussed tonight is related to the life and death of the nation. Please keep it secret, especially don't leak it to the Japanese. I think There's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Everyone, including Hu Hanmin, nodded in agreement. . .