April 3, 1921, French Club Shanghai.

"Ladies and gentlemen, is it time for everyone to turn away from the nightlife of this charming oriental city?"

The person who spoke was General Chang Ruiqing, the chairman of the Central Committee of the National Committee of the People's Republic of China, who was tall and burly, and who was also quite heroic. Since China was the host of the Shanghai Conference, which readjusted the interests of the great powers, it was only natural that this young Chinese dictator had gained a high international reputation. It is even rumored that this general of the Chinese National Defense Forces, who has worked hard for world peace, is likely to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1921 or 1922. This is the first time that an Asian politician has won such an international honor, and he is still a plenipotentiary in the hands of the world's most populous country, and he is so young and handsome. So much so that those European, American and Belarusian ladies living in Shanghai intentionally or unintentionally wanted to get close to this Chinese general. In a series of luncheons, afternoon teas, dinners, cocktail parties, and balls held in the name of Chang Ruiqing to entertain delegations from various countries, you can always see some Western beauties dressed in plump and graceful bodies with a large area of bare snow-white skin. Their presence also spices up the boring gatherings between diplomatic and military figures, and the conversation often shifts from ongoing meetings on armaments and Russia to Shanghai, the fascinating capital of the East.

Thanks to some flexible and special policies of the Chinese government. The four major free cities, including Shanghai, are quite special in China, which practices state socialism. Strict economic control does not exist here, and Western capital, technology, and Chinese resources and labor can be perfectly and freely combined here, creating and accumulating wealth with the highest efficiency.

Of course, certain rotten capitalist lifestyles are also unfettered here. Gambling and prostitution are legal in Free City! Shanghai has the largest casino in Asia (Chang Ruiyuan is the largest shareholder) and the largest red-light district – a scandal that has made the Nationalist government blush, with tens of thousands of Belarusian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese prostitutes engaged in the legal trade in skin and meat!

In fact, the Kuomintang and the GCD-controlled Shanghai Free City Council had wanted to legislate a ban on prostitution. But some trade unions in Shanghai (and not only those led by GCD) have organized a general strike in the service sector in opposition! The most free-speaking journalists in Shanghai also published an article in the newspaper against it, arguing: It is already one of the most tragic things in the world for a woman to be forced to sell her ** to earn a living! as a person in power. What needs to be considered is why they are making jokes, not cutting off their last resort......

The last two ruling parties, which hold the authority of discipline, have been forced to give up their efforts to legislate a ban on prostitution under the pressure of strikes and public opinion! Although such a thing is enough to prove the incompetence and inefficiency of the democratic system, it also gives Shanghai, the pearl of the Orient, a little more depraved magic and deformed prosperity. At the same time, a representative of the Soviet Russian government who attended the meeting in Shanghai saw a special line for speeding up the pace of economic recovery in Soviet Russia -- the special free zones.

Of course, this is only one of many ways to ease tensions between Soviet Russia and the West. Because China is now acting as a bridge between Soviet Russia and the West in a kind of way. Therefore, it has become Chang Ruiqing's job to test the West's attitude towards the free special zones.

Several British, French, and American bigwigs finally sat down in a reception room in the French club. The afternoon sun poured in through the windows, and everyone was carrying a glass of wine with ice or something. I saw that those European and American diplomats showed a serious demeanor. Chang Ruiqing finally asked, "Mr. Brian, His Excellency the Marquis (Marquis Curzon, British Foreign Minister), and Mr. Hughes (U.S. Secretary of State). Do you think it is feasible to establish a special zone in Russia like the Shanghai Free City? Perhaps we can turn Petrograd into a fascinating city. Not only was it a paradise for Westerners in Russia, but it was also possible for the Russian Bolsheviks to appreciate the superiority of the capitalist system...... Wouldn't it be more advantageous to do so than to blockade Russia? ”

"It's a good idea, and the U.S. government welcomes it."

The first to answer Chang Ruiqing was U.S. Secretary of State Charles. Evans. Hughes. This is an old American man who looks very dignified, with a rectangular face in the Chinese character. He has a neatly trimmed beard. He was once the most famous lawyer in the United States, and he also served as a governor and a member of the Supreme Court, and he was probably the most talented and unmediocre person in President Harding's administration, and the most outstanding secretary of state in American history, probably not one! He presided over the historic Washington Conference, and the Dawes Plan for the revival of Germany was also his masterpiece. Suffice it to say that without him there would be no future Third Reich, and even if there were, it would not be so strong! In a sense, it was he who created Nazi Germany, which brought down the British Empire......

The U.S. Secretary of State gently turned the tall glass in his hand. Weigh the wording. "But this does not mean that Soviet Russia can escape its obligations - she still has to bear all the foreign debts left by the Tsarist and Provisional Governments, and she still needs to return or compensate the property of foreigners confiscated by them...... On this basis, we can consider reducing part of the debt and extending the repayment period. ”

Listening to the somewhat relaxed attitude of the US Secretary of State, French Foreign Minister Briand frowned slightly, while British Foreign Secretary Marquis Curzon nodded frequently. On the "Russian question". The attitudes of Britain and France are very different.

Britain seems to want to appease Soviet Russia for a certain time, considering reducing Russia's debts and establishing diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia. There were also considerable expectations on the part of the British as to the possibility of bringing about a change in Soviet Russia by means of peaceful means.

The Marquis de Curzon said: "Lloyd's of the Empire. Prime Minister George believes that we cannot restore the Russian Empire by force, but we can achieve this by means of commerce. And save Russia. He said as he looked out of the corner of his eye at French Foreign Minister Briand.

The French now opposed any plans that might strengthen Soviet Russia. Because a strong Soviet Russia would mean that an equally strong Germany would be needed to contain it! Therefore, the strengthening of Soviet Russia is equivalent to the strengthening of Germany - this is what France is firmly opposed!

Aristide. Brian shook his head vigorously: "No." No, commerce and trade could not save Russia! As a Socialist, I know the Bolsheviks better than anyone else! This mob is like a group of fanatical religious extremists who will never abandon the policy of imposing Bolshevik doctrine on the whole world! So any strengthening of Soviet Russia will end up costing us dearly! ”

He set his sights on Chang Ruiqing, who was also a Socialist (as the whole world sees it). "Your Excellency, do you really believe that a special district can convert these Bolshevik thugs into moderate socialists? Don't you think that's ridiculous? ”

"They won't turn into socialists." Chang Ruiqing took a sip of wine. A little hesitant. But they may no longer be Bolsheviks - this is only a possibility. I'm in favor of Lloyd on some kind of Cheng dù. In the opinion of Prime Minister George, peaceful means can bring about a positive transformation in Soviet Russia, and in fact such a transformation has already taken place. Some time ago, the chairman of our Chinese GCD visited Soviet Russia -- he went to invite the delegation of Soviet Russia to the Shanghai conference. In Soviet Russia he found a great deal of depravity! Corruption, privilege, and bureaucracy! This is the exact opposite of the image of the Bolshevik Party in front of the world, they are not a bunch of saints. They are ordinary mortals. In their hands power. After tasting the sweetness of power, they are already changing! And why don't we find a way to accelerate this change? Why let the Bolsheviks blockade Russia? Wouldn't it be better to have one or more windows of free access to the Western world to facilitate such change?

As far as we know, currently among the Bolsheviks. Two different voices also emerged. Among them, the ultra-leftists headed by Trotsky, chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of Soviet Russia, advocated world revolution and confronted the entire civilized world to the end. On the other hand, the moderates, led by Bukharin, editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Pravda, and Stalin, People's Commissar of the Railways, advocated the theory of extinguishing the class struggle, wanted to reconcile with the Western world and diverted their energies to economic construction, and they also advocated the coexistence of multiple economic components and ownership. Peacefully Growing into Socialism...... And these are the claims of the Social Democrats!

It is clear that Stalin and Bukharin were Socialists and not real Bolsheviks, and that the Russia they wanted was the same as the Russia that the civilized world wanted, and why couldn't the civilized world respond positively? Why can't we seek a peaceful way to turn Bolshevik socialist Russia into capitalist Russia? ”

For Chang Ruiqing's Jianyì, the leaders of the diplomatic departments of the three Western powers sitting here just smiled. Everyone knows that Lloyd's. George's remarks about using commerce to restore the Russian Empire were merely a cover-up for the failure of British intervention in the Russian Revolution. Such a policy will be effective in a timely manner, and it will certainly be in the distant future. However, before the policy of peaceful evolution is effective, the economic power of Soviet Russia is likely to increase considerably...... This also means that the Western world must invest more financial and material resources to help Germany and Poland defend against possible attacks by Soviet Russia!

So such a policy. No matter how you look at it, it's a bit of a tiger and a tiger.

Seeing that a few foreign devils didn't open their mouths, Chang Ruiqing knew that they didn't agree with his point of view. But he wasn't going to give up.

"Gentlemen, I also know that the policy of peaceful evolution of Soviet Russia is not necessarily successful, and there are still some risks. But as a military man, I know better that it is completely unrealistic to overthrow the Bolshevik Party in Soviet Russia by force. Only a cage can be built to keep this crazy red polar bear in lockdown for the time being. But will such a policy really solve the problem? Can we bring about the collapse of the rule of the Bolshevik Party in Russia through the blockade? Everyone knows that this is just as unrealistic. ”

With a wry smile, he glanced at the few foreigners sitting there, and said: "Unless we also turn our country into a bureaucratic totalitarian state like Soviet Russia, there is no way for us to refuse the economic benefits that trade with Russia can bring." Since the lockdown policy is impossible to achieve. So why don't we develop one or several plans that have the potential to subvert or transform Soviet Russia? While these initiatives may not necessarily be successful, it's better than doing nothing, right? ”

This is also the big truth. The powers of the governments of several democratic capitalist countries in this era are very limited. Unless there is a state of war with Soviet Russia, there is no way for anyone to prohibit the capitalists in their respective countries from doing business with Soviet Russia - because that is perfectly legal! Nor can capitalists stop making money from a country because their government is "hostile" to it.

"Make a plan? It sounds a bit like the style of the General Staff, they are always working on all sorts of plans, most of which will never be used. The U.S. Secretary of State sipped his wine and nodded noncommittally. Gentlemen, might as well we first listen to the specific plans of the Standing Chairman? ”

"Well, just listen to it." Marquis Curzon chimed in.

"Okay." Briand's attitude has also softened.

Chang Ruiqing smiled with satisfaction. "As a soldier, I did have some military battle plans. I know that the first thing to do in making a plan is to define the goal -- our goal is to bring about the transformation of Soviet Russia by peaceful means, and you don't have any opinion on this goal, right? He saw that the foreign ministers or secretaries of state of Britain, the United States, and France nodded slightly, and then continued: "After setting the goal, we should set a few important principles." What we are now worried about is the rapid recovery of the economy in a relatively relaxed trading environment in Soviet Russia, thus giving them enough financial resources to build a strong Red Army, which will pose a threat to the entire civilized world!

But I don't agree with that, being rich doesn't mean being strong! Even if the vaults of the National Bank of the Russian Republic were full of gold rubles, it would not have been possible for the Bolsheviks to use them to liberate all of humanity! So the key question is not how much money did the Bolsheviks have, but what could they buy with that money? Is it the bourgeois way of life, or advanced weapons and heavy industrial equipment. ”