Back to the Republic of China as a commander

Or let’s talk about the reason why Tang Shaoyi and his family came to Wuhan. Without him, it was just that the most powerful Marshal Wang Zhenyu in South China personally summoned them by name.

For a long time, Wang Zhenyu felt that he lacked a loyal and reliable diplomat with real talents.This diplomat is everywhere, but most of them have inherited the unhealthy tendencies of the former Qing Dynasty. When they see foreigners, they behave like pugs in a servile manner.If he just wants to be polite to the great powers, does he, a traveler, need to spend so much time and energy on industrial construction and build a world-class army?Therefore, it is better not to use these so-called veteran diplomats, and it is better to replace them with young and energetic people.And Gu Weijun, who was two years older than himself and left a great reputation at the Paris Peace Conference in history, was obviously the best candidate.

So when I accidentally read the monthly report on personnel changes of the Nanjing government from the Party Affairs Investigation Department, Wang Zhenyu, who saw Gu Weijun's name, immediately asked the attendant to send a report to Tang Shaoyi, secretary general of the State Council, and Gu Weijun, the new director of the Department of Americas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nanjing Nationalist Government. Go to Wuhan to discuss matters.

These words came out of Wang Zhenyu's mouth lightly, but they caused a shock when he arrived at the Tang family. After all, Wang Zhenyu's status in South China is even higher than that of Yuan Shikai in Beiyang back then, because Yuan Shikai had no control over the army back then. It cannot be compared with Wang Zhenyu.As for the Nationalist Government in Nanjing, this guy who is privately called the Great Warlord also has the highest power, but he basically doesn't use it very much, so everyone's feeling is not so obvious.But there is one thing that Tang Shaoyi, the secretary-general of the State Council, is clear about, that is, after the regular State Council committee meeting every three months, he will go to Wuhan with Prime Minister Xiong Xiling and other members of the National Government Presidium, every three months There was a meeting of the presidium of the national government, and the purpose of everyone having to leave Nanjing was very simple, that is, to accommodate the Chairman Wang Zhenyu who basically did not come to Nanjing in Wuhan.But now this great god-level figure actually wants to meet himself and his son-in-law, and it seems that he is very interested in this son-in-law who has just returned to Nanjing.As the backbone of the progressive department, Tang Shaoyi is now in an important position. Looking at the thriving national government and the increasingly prosperous Nanjing, he also feels a little bit of the so-called prosperity.And all of this seems to come from the great god of Wuhan, so Tang Shaoyi also hopes that her son-in-law can be appreciated by Wang Zhenyu.As for Tang Baoyue, it was because Tang Baoyue was worried about her husband, because it was rumored that this classmate Wang Zhenyu was a very cruel warlord. Although I have never heard of any bad things, as long as it is a warlord, it must be a very, very bad existence. of.So she bravely chose to face this situation with her husband, regardless of whether it is a blessing or a disaster. . .

Since it was not a formal meeting, it was just a private summoning by Wang Zhenyu, so neither Tang Shaoyi nor Gu Weijun came in a very beautiful diplomat's gown, but uniformly in suits.However, the place of summoning was very special. It was not placed in the reception room or study of Donghu Wenlu where Wang Zhenyu usually received guests. Instead, it was placed in the Tianyuan Building, the headquarters of the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government.

The construction and decoration of the Tianyuan Place Building was completed on April 4. This 1-acre building was jointly designed by designers from China, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It combines the essence of Eastern and Western cultures and reflects the modern era The highest level in China's construction industry, at least that's what the Political Guidance Department of the Military Commission claims.

May 5 is said to be an auspicious day. After ventilating for a month and a half, Wang Zhenyu took the lead, and the entire Military Commission moved into this building that cost 21 labor to build.It is said that the grade of the Military Commission has also been improved a lot because of this building. At least for the sons-in-law Tang Shaoyi and Gu Weijun who came from Nanjing, this building is much more impressive than the Nanjing Nationalist Government.

What moved Tang Shaoyi was that Wang Zhenyu arranged for his first secretary, Chen Bulei, to pick him up at the pier with two Ford cars, and also arranged for two guards with guns to protect the party.Tang Baoyue was not on the interview list, so even though Tang Shaoyi was already a senior official of the Nationalist Government, Chen Bulei still insisted on arranging Ms. Tang to stay in the newly completed 21st floor, 80-meter-high Yangtze River Hotel.This Yangtze River Hotel is the property of China Development Corporation, with a total construction cost of 1000 million Chinese yuan. The decoration style is all European style. It was one of the fifty old city renovation projects proposed by Wuhan Mayor Wang Zhenbang in 1916.The last time Tang Shaoyi came to Wuhan was in April. In just one month, he was surprised by the changes in the urban area. Many wooden buildings on both sides of the main road have been demolished. Although the new buildings are still laying foundations, the road has been significantly widened. up.But what made Tang Shaoyi feel a little bad was that the road was too wide, and the construction of the underground drainage system was too expensive.The renovation plan of the Wuhan Municipal Government is regularly reported to the Government Affairs Council in Nanjing. Among them, the main road is required to ensure a width of 30 lanes or 20 meters. Wide, and there are bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths.The actual width needs to be added ten meters to this basis, that is to say, Wang Zhenyu, the king of demolition, demolished everywhere in Wuhan relying on the army in his hands.If it is like Nanjing, the current relocation work is not going smoothly, and there are endless disputes over compensation.Tang Shaoyi was also shocked by the planning of the underground drainage system. It is not uncommon to separate water and sewage. It is said that Qingdao and Anjiang New City also do the same. However, Wang Zhenyu attaches so much importance to drainage that makes Tang Shaoyi very surprised. What is the reason why Wang Zhenyu cares about this so much? , It wasn't until he saw Wang Zhenyu's instructions in a document from the Ministry of Construction that he understood and admired them. Just four words: "A century-old plan."

According to regulations, visitors come in through the main entrance of Tianyuan Place Building, which is the south gate. Although Gu Weijun came with his father-in-law, he was unavoidably nervous and uneasy. He asked involuntarily: "Father, who is the Chairman What kind of person?"

Tang Shaoyi shook her head and said: "A genius, but I have never talked to him alone as a father. After Keqiang passed away, he basically didn't come to Nanjing. But don't worry too much, Premier Xiong and Keqiang are both from us. Chairman Wang is the former owner, and Chairman Wang is said to be a nostalgic person."

Chen Bulei seemed to have guessed what these two people were thinking. He smiled and said, "Mr. Shaochuan and your son-in-law (Tang Shaoyi and Gu Weijun have the same name Shaochuan) don't need to worry, the committee appreciates both of you, especially Ling The son-in-law was mentioned many times."

Having said all that, Chen Bulei didn't say any more, and Gu Weijun turned his eyes to the outside of the car after thanking him with a smile. From a distance, he saw a white marble building standing there, like a staircase, low on the outside and high on the inside. Structured.

The south gate they were about to pass through was an eight-meter-wide circular arch. According to Secretary Chen Bulei who was sitting in the front row, the diameter of this gate was 25 meters deep.

According to the rules, the car had to stop 15 meters away from the gate even if the sign of the attendant was hung.Wearing a white military uniform inlaid with gold trim, the young officer of standard stature stepped forward to salute, then took the ID from Chen Bulei very politely, looked through it carefully, returned the ID to Chen Bui after confirming that it was correct, and then saluted again: " I'm glad to see you, Secretary Chen!" Then he waved his hand to let him go, and the soldiers who fixed the sentry immediately erected the horizontal bar and removed the nail belt used to release the tire air.At first, Gu Weijun felt that he was on guard here, but as soon as the car passed the fixed checkpoint, he saw two bunker fortifications, and the dark heavy machine guns were clearly visible.Tang Shaoyi seemed to see her son-in-law's doubts, and introduced in a low voice: "This army is the guard regiment of their Military Commission, and they are all composed of loyal and reliable veterans. Their uniforms are the most beautiful in the army. The guards here are no match."

Gu Weijun nodded. He suddenly felt that many things in this country were getting closer to the West, and some problems could be seen just by the military uniform.

Passing through the first doorway, there is a distance of about 50 meters to reach the second doorway. At this time, Gu Weijun saw the cars parked on both sides and realized the prosperity of South China. You must know that in Beijing, only the first level of the chief For cars, but in the Nanjing National Government, many directors of various ministries have cars, but they are incomparable with officials at the level of father-in-law who are equipped with Ford cars.They are all equipped with domestically produced "Zhonghua" cars produced by the Shanghai Automobile Factory, and the price is only about 00 Chinese yuan, which is very cheap. You must know that in this period, the monthly salary of grassroots civil servants was 400 Chinese yuan.The government's fiscal revenue in 1917 is expected to reach 40 billion Chinese yuan. Leaving aside the factors of tariff increases, the speed of economic development in the past year is also amazing.We must know that in the past year, nearly 0 laborers entered Europe through soldiers and laborers, and at the same time about 400 million laborers entered Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing and many provincial cities and became industrial workers. The previous total was less than 1, which is quite amazing.Thinking of this, Gu Weijun couldn't help but agree with his father-in-law's statement that China's development is inseparable from Wang Zhenyu, the actual controller of the national government and the army.

After passing through a doorway about 30 meters long, they were inspected by guards wearing black suits and sunglasses. The group got out of the car and walked through the garden to enter the core of the entire military committee, the Standing Committee Building.Tang Shaoyi and Gu Weijun sat in the reception room 101 on the third floor for a while, and Wang Zhenyu pushed the door in, then shook hands with Tang Shaoyi with a smile on his face, and then shook hands with Gu Weijun, who was not yet 30 years old, and said, "I am Wang Zhenyu, I need someone as young as me, Mr. Gu, to help me..."