As soon as Traun left, Yang Qiu quickly took care of Lei Meng a few words, and then picked up the tea and walked to the large map he got from Zhang Biao's Governor's Mansion, and said directly without looking at the two: "I know you have something to ask me, and I will also give you a chance to speak, but you have to meet someone before asking ()."

Song Ziqing and Zhang Wenjing couldn't hold it back for a long time, both of them knew the importance of money. Yang Qiu mortgaged the salt tax from the artesian well, and they had no opinion, excluding the salt tax, there were still enough taxes in the three provinces to support the people's livelihood and the army. But with the right to operate the Hanchuan Railway for 30 years, the two felt very uncomfortable. The success of the Wuchang Revolution was due to the Sichuan Road Protection Movement. At present, the people have a great opinion on the control of the railways by foreigners, and today, when the Jinghan and Jinpu lines have not yet been recovered, they want to sell the railways they built to Germany for operation, and they always feel that they are giving away their own children. What's more, even if these are abandoned, if this matter is used to publicize it, it will also have a great impact on the reputation of Yang Qiu and the National Defense Army.

I thought they would ask as soon as Traun left, but I didn't expect to see someone first. Who is more important than this?

After a knock on the door, the doubts of the two were answered. I saw the military secretary Chen Guofu knocking on the door and bringing in a person. The man was about fifty years old, dressed in a dress, with his hair probably freshly shaved, his head still glowing with blue, thick eyebrows and a round face, and a mustache under the tip of his nose. The most important thing is that this person seems to be different from ordinary businessmen and gentlemen, and always gives people a very foreign taste.

"Who is this?"

Song Ziqing spoke, and Yang Qiu had already introduced with a smile: "Let me introduce, this is the General Office of the Guangdong-Han and Sichuan-Han Railways, Mr. Zhan Tianyou." ”

Zhang Wenjing was taken aback, and hurriedly asked: "You are the gentleman who studied in the United States, was a classmate of Tang Shaoyi, and commanded the Yangwei to almost kill the commander of the French expedition, Gu Ba, and built the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway?" ()！ ”

Zhan Tianyou has a good temper and is kind, and he smiled: "I didn't expect Minister Zhang to also know Zhan Mou. It seems that my fame is no less than that of Commander Yang.

"Mr. Cheng said with a smile, Yang Moujie Wufu only knows how to destroy and does not know how to build, which is not as good as your contribution to building a railway for the benefit of the country and the people."

"How can there be a new life without destruction? If the United States had not been devastated by the Civil War, it would not have prospered today. Zhan Tianyou studied in the United States when he was a child, and he had a deep affection for the United States, so he always likes to quote the construction experience of the United States when he meets people: "The railway is the foundation of the country, I thought that Hanchuan was hopeless, but I didn't expect it!" Chen Hua is the benefactor of hundreds of millions of people in the four provinces. ”

Hearing Zhan Tianyou call Yang Qiu, Song Ziqing knew that the two must have had a deep chat, and asked, "When did Mr. Cheng come to Hanyang?" Commander, you've done a great job of secrecy. ”

"Chief of Staff Song is wrong, it's not to blame Chenhua, I only came last night." Zhan Tianyou explained. It turned out that during the Wuchang Uprising, he happened to take some students in Chongqing to inspect the construction of the Hanchuan Railway, although the construction of the railway had long been suspended, but he had done a lot of work for the two railways before, and he was very reluctant, so he lingered for a long time and did not leave, always hoping that the turmoil would end as soon as possible and the railway would be restarted.

When the investigation went south to Wuchang, it happened that the news of the victory of Xiaocang Mountain came, and I also wanted to meet Yang Qiu, a big celebrity, but I didn't expect to see the news that the Chengdu Liberation and Sichuan Provisional Military Government was going to restart the Hanchuan Railway before we met, and I immediately realized that this might be from Yang Qiu's instructions, so I came to the door alone last night to meet him. One has the vision and experience of later generations, and the other is a top student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, perhaps the most outstanding person in the country's current engineering design, so he immediately sparked a spark, and when he learned that Yang Qiu was going to use the artesian well arrival loan for the construction of the railway, he immediately agreed to be the general office.

"Don't hide it, Mr. Wenjing is not pedantic, we all know the importance of the Hanchuan Railway, but the right to operate?" Zhang Wenjing worried: "The Jinghan Line and the Jinpu Line have not been redeemed by the Qing Court so far, and if we lose the Hanchuan Line, how can we be worthy of future generations." ”

"What Minister Zhang said is extremely true, but do you know how difficult it is to build the Hanchuan Railway?" Speaking of his railway, Zhan Tianyou completely changed his person, took a step forward and pointed to the map with a radiant expression: "It is said that the Bashu Heavenly Kingdom is rich in the world, but this circular mountain range outside Bashu is like a moat ()!" Although there is a waterway of the Yangtze River, but the river channel behind Kuimen Gorge is bent and the water flow is turbulent, and non-ordinary boats can only go, so although Bashu is rich, it has always been out of touch with the outside world.

The same is true for the Hanchuan Railway. The old line needs to go to Wushan Kuimen, and the difficulty is not feasible now, so last night Chenhua suggested opening a new line, taking Jingzhou into Hunan, and detouring along Changde, Huaihua and Zunyi into Chongqing! As long as you can pass Chongqing, Chengdu is much flatter. But even if you avoid the most dangerous areas, there are many mountains and rivers along the way, and the geography is very complicated. And the total length of the detour will reach nearly 1,000 kilometers, and the cost will be at least tens of millions! With our current technology, it will take at least six to seven years to get it up and running. Therefore, Chenhua suggests the introduction of German technology to help, with German technology and our abundant labor resources, as long as the funds can ensure that the opening can be completed within four years! And a ......" Zhan Tianyou glanced at Yang Qiu and smiled slyly: "Chen Hua is far-sighted, and proposes to take this opportunity to set up a special railway and engineering technology school, and learn from German technicians all the way, and after the railway is completed, many people can be trained." ”

"Mr. Cheng, Ziqing and Wenjing are not pedantic people, and it is difficult for domestic technology and capital to build such a large project, so it is reasonable to introduce foreigners to help, but it is only a thirty-year management right." Song Ziqing glanced at Yang Qiu, who was smiling silently beside him, and continued: "If outsiders find out, I'm afraid it will cause an uproar!" ”

Zhan Tianyou took a deep breath, glanced at Yang Qiu and said resolutely: "You can rest assured in this matter, the railway is the blood of the country!" Zhan always thinks about laying the railway to every corner of the country, as long as the railway can be repaired, even if he bears some infamy. What does it matter! ”

Seeing that he had something to say, Zhang Wenjing hurriedly looked at Yang Qiu and asked, "Commander, this matter is ......?"

Zhan Tianyou walked to the window and looked at the wide Yangtze River, and smiled slightly: "Ziqing doesn't have to embarrass the commander, I'll talk about this matter!" I have promised that the construction of the Hanchuan Railway will be started in my private name, and as for the money allocated by Commander Yang, it will be injected into the railway company in the name of bank loans and donations, and once it is completed, I will immediately donate the ownership of the railway to the state! As for cooperation with the Germans, it will also be carried out in a private capacity. As for your worries, rest assured, unlike the previous ones, all funds come from donations and loans, and no private capital is involved. As for those people with ulterior motives, how can they mess with my heart to serve the country?! And don't think too stupid about the people, everyone knows the benefits of the railway, as long as it can be opened as soon as possible, it will be a great thing for the benefit of hundreds of millions of people! Once the population, materials and commodities of the four provinces are flowing, what can be counted as 30 years of management rights? ! ”

When Zhang Wenjing and Song Ziqing heard this, they finally understood the whole thing. Privately built, with bank loans and donations to minimize external pressure, Yang Qiu will only need to provide guarantees for Zhan Tianyou in the future. Moreover, cooperating with Germany in a private name, even if others accuse it, can completely isolate the Wehrmacht from this matter in the general sense, but in this way, once there is really infamy. Zhan Tianyou is afraid.

Zhan Tianyou's eyes were firm: "Chenhua, you go to do great things, I have made up my mind!" If there is really infamy, then let me bear it all! I'm just sorry for the Cantonese-Han line. ”

Yang Qiu was very moved, he hinted to Zhan Tianyou last night, but he didn't expect him to agree to it all now, ready to bear the infamy of colluding with foreigners alone! During this period of political struggle and deceit, such a bright color suddenly jumped out, which made him see hope for the future! I was also very excited. There is always no shortage of people in this country who are really doing practical things, and they are the real pillars of the nation!

Yang Qiu raised his hand, Zhang Wenjing and Song Ziqing also saluted solemnly, and solemnly promised: "The people of the four provinces of Chenhua Dynasty thank you, Mr. Cheng Gaoyi!" I hereby promise that as long as the conditions permit, the construction of the Guangdong-Hanzhou line will start as soon as possible! And I'll definitely get the management rights back sooner! ”

"Sichuan, Han, Yue, Han and Han ̈." Zhan Tianyou nodded vigorously, tears flashing: "There is hope, I see hope!" Haha, a ......"

When Zhan Tianyou resolutely took on the entire Hanchuan Railway, Chen Qimei in the Shanghai Governor's Mansion was full of anxiety, pinching Wuchang's invitation to Sun Wen to go to Hubei, slapping the table and scolding: "Little red guy! This little red guy! Who does he think he is? ”

Cai Yuanpei squinted at Chen Qimei, he didn't like this "gang governor", but now that the name has been decided, there is no way, not to mention that compared with the governor, ending the war as soon as possible, urging the Manchu Qing to abdicate and realizing the reunification of the north and the south is the most important thing, so he immediately looked at Wu Tingfang, who had just returned to China, and asked: "Brother Wenjue, what do you think can be done now?" ”

Wu Tingfang is a veteran diplomat and a core member of the League, and he also had a headache after learning that Huang Keqiang and Song Jiaoren were defeated in Hubei, which means that the party has basically withdrawn from the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and if it continues like this, it will inevitably cause a split, so he is even more anxious to reach a peace agreement with the north and said: "For today's plan, it depends on when Nanjing can be taken (). As long as Nanjing is taken, we will have the capital to negotiate with the north, and as for Yang Qiu and Li Yuanhong's thoughts, I am afraid that we must appease them first. ”

"Appeased?" Chen Qimei almost jumped up and said angrily: "Brother Wenjue, what do you mean? Do you really want that little red guy to? He now has a strong soldier in his hand, if Sun Da is ......" The words were in a hurry, and he almost brought out the three of Sun Dacang, and hurriedly pressed down and continued: "Let Sun Gong go to Wuchang?" What's the difference between that and a puppet? When Yang Qiu holds the military power hostage, do we really want to go home and be fools? ”

"As long as the revolution is successful, what's the harm in being a public servant." Chen Qimei's tone of the red guy's gang made Wu Tingfang angry, and when she saw that he didn't speak, she said: "Actually, you two don't have to worry so much." Li Yuanhong and Yang Qiu are not fools, if they really have the ability to destroy Yuan Shikai, how can they find an excuse to end the war and peace talks in Hubei? If you want to force the Qing court to abdicate, only Yuan Shikai can do it now! So yesterday Wang Jingwei sent me a telegram saying that Hubei is important, but the people in Beiyang now have a lot of resentment towards Yang Qiu, and they don't want him to continue to gain power, so he suggested that we stabilize that side first, and then preemptively convene the Southern Congress to contact the north first. He will also discuss with Tang Shaoyi to put the place of the peace meeting in Shanghai, so that when Sun Wen returns, we can still grasp the initiative. ”

"On our side, we have Li Junlie in Jiangxi, Cai Yi in Yunnan, Hu Hanmin in Guangdong, and Lianghuai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang are rich, and their forces are only stronger than Hubei.

As long as everyone unites, they can still be pulled down. As soon as Wu Tingfang finished speaking, Chen Qimei immediately walked over, he knew that he couldn't turn his face with these elders now, so he went down and said: "I suggest that you recognize the central part of Hubei first, but also ask Yang Qiu to go on a northern expedition as soon as possible!" Our side also moved to urge the coalition forces to take Nanjing as soon as possible and seize the initiative. In addition, Brother Wen Jue and Brother Heqing, you might as well send a telegram to the north, and strive to put the final place of the peace meeting in Shanghai, so that Yang Qiu will have no choice but to make trouble again. ”

Wu Tingfang and Cai Yuanpei both nodded, and immediately prepared a telegram, because it was related to the positioning of the future power center, Chen Qimei did not dare to be careless, and immediately sent someone to Hubei, and this telegram also officially announced the beginning of the dispute between the center of the Yangtze River.