Weng Wenhao politely said goodbye to Lattimore and Xie Weisi, and when he got out of the courtyard, he walked forward out of breath, and his secretary Jiang Tinghuang, who had always known him, knew that he was angry at this time, although he himself didn't think that what Lattimore said was so difficult to accept, but he still followed Weng Wenhao silently and walked away. It's just that Weng Wenhao, who was out of the yard, went in the wrong direction in a hurry, and after walking for a while, he found that the exit was on the other side, so he had to go back, and Hu Shi was already waiting at the entrance of the alley.

"Brother Yongni! Brother Yongni! Liang Sicheng helped push the wheelchair, and Hu Shi pulled him again. Why did you just leave?! Mr. Xie finally came here once, how can we talk when you leave? What about campaigning? What about peace? What about 60,000,000 people? Why can't you think about it calmly? ”

Hu Shi bitterly comforted Weng Wenhao, but what he said aroused Weng Wenhao's anger even more, he stopped and turned to look at Hu Shi, and said in a depressed voice: "But what I just said is really for peace?" Is it really for the safety of the Pacific nations? What is Open Door? What is the so-called non-restriction on foreigners to buy Tianzi stocks at a fair price?

Fit, even with the defeat of Germany in the last war, Versailles did not make such a request. Tianzihao is the backbone of China's industry, it is not right for large companies to monopolize, and it is not wrong to spin off, but this is to let outsiders control our industry and seize our backbone. I, Weng Wenhao, don't like the Revival Society, but I love this country, I am a compromise with the United States, but I am not a traitor to the United States! ”

It's very rare, since Weng Wenhao has a temper, and Hu Shi sees him confessing what he thinks. Not worried, but happy, he also said loudly: "Why are you so confused!" Foreigners can buy stocks, and we can buy them. How did this become an outsider's control of our industry?! Don't dismantle the Tianzi number, and don't get rid of the **** of the revival association economically. How can a state be democratic? ”

"But is Yang Jingcheng willing? Will those people in the revival be willing? Weng Wenhao was even more excited, "The result of this is a civil war!" ”

"Nope! As long as it works well, there will be no civil war!! Hu Shi's voice was louder than Weng Wenhao, "Let's let the people make a choice?" Will it dismantle the Tianzi brand and abolish the authoritarian policy of the revival society to dictate the foolish people, or will it start a war with Britain and the United States in the Pacific? What will they choose? They will definitely choose to dismantle the Tianzi brand and implement democracy throughout the country. This is the opportunity for democracy! It is an opportunity for 60,000,000 people in China! It is an opportunity to govern the country scientifically! ”

Hu Shi's last sentence 'the opportunity to govern the country scientifically' made Weng Wenhao, who was full of enthusiasm in his chest, suddenly stunned, he and Ding Wenjiang both believe in scientific governance and scientism, and before Ding Wenjiang resigned, he also specially presented Yang Rui, strongly opposed the state religion, and asked the country to abandon superstition. However, this move had no effect, and the Inspectorate still established Trinity Church as the state religion.

"I've said before: peace is harder than war! A hundred times harder than war!! This time it was Hu Shi's turn to get excited, "And what do you need?!" There needs to be a peaceful mediator who dares to take responsibility and take responsibility! Quite a sacrifice is required! Because of these sacrifices, the mediator must endure the burden of humiliation, and must endure the attacks and assassinations of the radicals!! But it's all for this country, for peace, for 60,000,000 people.

We must remember that before a war occurs, there are always countless opportunities to restore peace. If we accept the Americans' terms, and use American pressure as a driving force, to force the revival to accept our demands economically and politically, we will not only be able to eliminate the war. It can also realize the democracy and science that have been diligently pursued for decades, save the whole country from ignorance, ****, and dictatorship, and let the people enjoy freedom and democracy. Isn't that a huge gain as good as those stocks? Isn't such a great cause worth going on? If Mr. Xiaomin can dedicate his life to democracy, can't we follow in his footsteps? Let the whole nation be completely liberated? ”

Hu Shi said that the previous ones were okay, but Cai Xiaomin was forbidden in China, and he said 'Mr. Xiaomin' in public. Although there was no one in the alley at this time, Jiang Tinghuang still held him down immediately. The scene calmed down for a while, and only the shouts of some street vendors could be heard.

"I'd better go back and think about it." Weng Wenhao felt a little out of strength after trying his best to argue. He could not deny that what Hu Shih said was not necessarily unreasonable, but he deeply smelled the imperialist atmosphere from Lattimore's conditions -- the union of China, Japan and North Korea would threaten the security of the Pacific, and could Britain and the United States not be a security in the Pacific? The United States has never invaded independent countries in South America? As long as China, Japan, and North Korea are not militarily hostile to the United States, whether it is a union, a customs union, or an Asian dollar, what does this have to do with Britain and the United States? This is the Three Kingdoms' own business, and they did not invade anyone.

Weng Wenhao said a word of farewell and left in a hurry with Jiang Tinghuang. Hu Shi had no choice but to sigh when he saw his back, but Liang Sicheng next to him said: "Brother Shizhi, this is to put Yongni on the fire to roast!" ”

"Mr. Xiaomin can die, why can't we roast on the fire." Hu Shi seemed to ask rhetorically and seemed to be self-encouraged. After that, he pointed to the alley and said, "Let's go back." ”

Weng Wenhao's polite farewell made Lattimore and Xie Weisi a little uncomfortable, but it was Hu Shi who was the one who was involved, so it was not easy for them to force Weng Wenhao to stay. At this time, seeing Hu Shi and Liang Sicheng coming back, they said disappointedly: "Is Mr. Weng gone?" ”

"Mr. Weng had a hard time accepting those conditions, but I had convinced him, but it would take some time for him to decide on a specific course of action." Hu Shi wrote a half-blank check, but with his knowledge of Weng Wenhao, he was able to convince him in the end. After Weng Wenhao finished speaking, he saw that Fairbank was no longer there, so he asked, "Has Mr. Fei left?" ”

"Yes. Mr. Fei thought you were all leaving, so he left too. Lattimore said, he glanced at Liang Sicheng and smiled: "Although Mr. Weng is gone, I think we should be able to talk about some more in-depth topics." For example, if Mr. Weng wins the election and forms a cabinet, who will be the cabinet members? What will be the policy toward the United States and Japan? ”

Liang Sicheng is the son of Liang Qichao, he is naturally not an outsider, Hu Shi vaguely controls the backbone of the Kuomintang, and is one of the leaders of the brotherhood, and he is simply his own person. So Lattimore has such a proposal.

"On the Cabinet side...... The main thing is the Kuomintang side and Mr. Weng's intentions, but Ren Gong's side. If Ren Gong can go out of the mountain, it will naturally be the vice premier. Hu Shi looked at Liang Sicheng and said, "Mr. Zhang Dongsun and Mr. Zhang Junli can also enter the cabinet......"

"My father is old and sick, and I guess he doesn't want to go out of the mountains." Liang Sicheng knew that Hu Shi's words were said to himself, and before he understood what his father really meant, he politely refused for his father.

"If Ren Gong does not go out of the mountain, Mr. Zhang Dongsun or Mr. Zhang Junli will be the Minister of Rites, and Dr. Jiang Zhaoxian (Menglan) or Dr. Guo Hongsheng (Bingwen) will be the Minister of Culture and Sports." As a person in the cultural circles, the school is also the main front of democracy. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and the Kuomintang must be won. After talking about the Ministry of Rites and Culture, Hu Shi said again: "The Ministry of Industry still appoints Mr. Ma Junwu, the Ministry of Transportation has a huge system and involves a lot, I think Mr. Zhan Juncheng (Tianyou) can take on this position;

The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Households, these two ......, the candidates on our side are Dr. **** Shan (Yin Chu), Mr. Xu Zhenfei (New Six), as well as Dr. Song Ziwen and Mr. Kong Yongzhi (Xiangxi); Ren Gong's side should be Mr. Zhang Gongquan (Jia Xuan), we can discuss this, but no matter what. On the side of the National Bank, Zhang Kun is going to take it.

Mr. Ding Zaijun (Wenjiang) will be the Minister of Land, and the Ministry of Agriculture can put Dr. Shen Hailu (Zong Han) in charge, and the Ministry of Medicine does not matter, and there are also candidates. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We would like to have the Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Gu Shaochuan (Wei Jun), a graduate of Columbia University who was very much loved by President Wilson during his lifetime. I think he will be the foreign secretary, and President Roosevelt and all the dignitaries in Washington will feel cordial.

…… The Taiwei Mansion is full of officers from the Revival Society. But by law, the Prime Minister can appoint the Chief of the General Staff. Unfortunately, we do not have a candidate with sufficient prestige to take over the position of the current Chief of the General Staff, Xu Jingxi, so we can only set up another supervisory body, which is roughly in charge of General Lan Xiuhao (Tianwei) and Mr. Jiang Baili on Ren Gong's side; The Praetorian Guard in the capital was handed over to General Wen Yingxing to prevent the soldiers from disrupting the government......"

Hu Shi basically said all the candidates for the cabinet, except for the Ministry of Officials, this is a key department, and Chen Guangshou, a close confidant of Yang Rui, has been in charge of the founding of the country for more than 20 years. When Liang Sicheng was thinking about who would be the minister of the Ministry of Officials, Hu Shi added: "Considering that Yongni is still young in politics, the vice premier must want it, if Ren Gong resigns, then ...... Mr. Tang Shaochuan (Shaoyi) is the most suitable, and he, like Mr. Zhan Juncheng, is a young child in the United States, and his heart is republican. ”

In addition to the vice premier, the prime minister, and the government leadership team, there are a total of 12 people, except for the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Medicine, which are not specified, all of them are international students, and most of them are students studying in the United States. Xie Weisi and Lattimore nodded deeply, what they knew was that they were either members of the YMCA, members of the Brotherhood, or enlightened academics with whom they were friends. There is only one tendency of such a cabinet, and that is to be pro-American and distancing itself from Japan.

"What will happen to Japan and the East Asian Alliance?" Xie Weisi asked. "Can I quit the Alliance?"

"It depends on the level of support from Washington." Hu Shih said, "If Washington can put enough pressure on the country to make the representatives of the Inspectorate feel that they will lose the war, they will give up the East Asia alliance." The new cabinet will echo this, for example, the just-passed bill to reduce military spending. The new cabinet can guarantee that in addition to the two battleships and a number of other ships that passed before, not a single warship will be launched. ”

"Including submarines?" Xie Weisi immediately asked. Countries that have jointly developed diesel-engine ocean-going submarines with Germany are very taboo for the Navy.

"Submarines can be included." Hu is appropriate that is, affirmed. "The new cabinet will not increase any military spending."

"In addition, if possible, Washington needs to know about the Chinese military." After hearing Hu Shi's assurance, Xie Weisi finally felt a little excited, his heart lifted, and he planned to take advantage of the victory to pursue: "For example, the actual number of troops, the establishment, the performance of weapons, and so on." It is difficult to accept that Washington will consider China to be a non-threat only if it has a full picture of the Chinese military, which is crucial. ”

"I understand this, and I think any price is acceptable for the sake of peace between China and the United States." Hu Shi said sincerely. "If Yongni doesn't agree, I'll find a way to convince him to agree to that."

"Doctor, and the Intelligence Agency." Lattimore reminded on the side. "Can the Intelligence Bureau be replaced by someone from the new cabinet?"

"This ...... "The Intelligence Bureau is indeed a hard nail, and Zhang Shi has been in charge of intelligence work for 30 years. Deeply entrenched, and the sector is external, not internal. As a result, it is difficult for the Cabinet to find an excuse to relocate him. "Very, very, very hard." Hu Shiyi used three verys in a row. "The Intelligence Agency is not the NSA, even if it can replace our people. We can't control it internally, and all I can say is try to do it, but don't get your hopes up. ”

"If the Intelligence Bureau is not from the new cabinet, then the ...... above" Lattimore glanced at Xie Weisi, "it can't be done at all." If someone leaks information about the army, weapons, etc., they will definitely be arrested as a spy. ”

Xie Weisi really didn't think of this, and he also said at this time, "Yes, unless the information revealed is approved by the government." But I find it hard to believe that the generals below will report the most truthful news to the new cabinet. ”

"We'll discuss this matter and come up with a solution." was reminded by the two of them, Hu Shicai felt that he had indeed neglected the Intelligence Bureau before, which should also be blamed on the fact that this department was too low-key. "I just want to know what Washington thinks, and I've heard that there are a lot of voices in Congress that want war. If a new cabinet comes to power, will it be possible to change this trend and re-conclude the treaty on naval disarmament? ”

"Of course it can change." Xie Weisi smiled, his smile was extremely sincere, "The Washington Naval Treaty was proposed by the US government in order to limit armaments. London no longer signed treaties. It was also caused by the refusal of China and Japan to dissolve the alliance. If the new cabinet can dissolve the alliance and let Washington know that China is not hostile, it can, of course, sign a naval disarmament treaty again. ”

"Then I'll be relieved." With Xie Weisi's words, the stone in Hu Shi's heart fell to the ground. He has received a positive answer through his relationship with the Brotherhood and the Pacific International Society. But none of them are government officials. "So can before the election, Washington issue an official statement, the general content is: if the next government is governed by the Kuomintang? Washington is hopeful for peace and believes that negotiations on naval disarmament should be reorganized? ”

"I can't vouch for that." Xie Weisi's words disappointed Hu Shiton. "But I can go for it."

"I understand." Hu Shi also felt that he was in a hurry, and Xie Weisi was just an embassy secretary. He, of course, could not guarantee this, and the issue could only be decided by President Roosevelt. With this in mind, Hu Shixin immediately relaxed, and chatted for a while before leaving.

"What a wretched man!" After Hu Shi and Liang Sicheng left, only Lattimore and Xie Weisi were left in the study. Thinking of the conditions that Hu Shi agreed to be close to defeat, Xie Weisi couldn't help but sigh.

"The more you know about this nation, the more you will find out that this country is only controlled by dictators, and alas, Washington does not know this." Lattimore has been in China for more than 30 years and has traveled around China, so he knows this people better than the average foreigner in China, so he has such a feeling.

Xie Weisi's lament is that China is not as courageous as Japan, and Japan will never have such a capitulation cabinet to come to power; Lattimore believed that the nation was rotten and terminally ill in its bones. The two sighed and were silent for a moment, and Lattimore said, "John, will Washington really agree to the doctor's request?" ”

"Maybe, maybe... No. Mr. Tse's words were vague, and he did not know what strategy he would adopt at home, far from Washington, "but if I agree, I also think that there is little hope for peace." You know Owen, some businessmen in Shanghai are already selling off their properties, although not all, but British American Tobacco and Standard Oil are planning to sell some of their properties in Shanghai......"

After a period of tobacco monopoly in China, the monopoly system was finally abolished due to the scale of domestic tobacco leaves and tobacco factories, so British American Tobacco was able to re-enter the Chinese market, and the background of this company was mainly Democratic politicians and British politicians; Not to mention Standard Oil, whose business is the focus of attention of US envoys abroad, whether it is a Democrat or a Republican, every time Rockefeller runs for election, he will make a large political donation, and if these two companies transfer their industries in China, war is indeed inevitable.

"But Standard Oil still has a lot of oil fields in Henan and Northwest." Lattimore did not want to see the war happen, and he suddenly remembered an American he had met on his travels, who worked at Standard Oil, and immediately presented a counter-evidence. "There's no word that Standard Oil is going to sell those fields."

"War can't destroy the oil fields, but buildings can." Xie Weisi knew Lattimore, but that was the reality. "Housing prices in Shanghai are expensive, a well-designed building costs hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, and in the event of a war, these will come to naught, and the insurance company will not be able to pay for it, so selling it is the most correct choice."

"If war is inevitable, what are we doing now? Misleading the Chinese? Lattimore asked, leaning on his monocle and smiling wryly.

"God will save us, as long as we don't give up." Xie Wei thought that the last war in Europe broke out only because of a mishandled assassination case, which is really regrettable. "We must seize every possible opportunity, and I believe that Washington and Mr. Roosevelt did not want to provoke a war, he was a great man."

"What about China?" Lattimore took the same position as President Roosevelt, because he saved the livelihoods of countless unemployed workers, but he did not believe that the new Kuomintang cabinet could control the political situation in China, and they could fall at any time.

"If Washington can exert effective influence, the new cabinet will not necessarily fall, and it is because of this that he wants to work with us to advance the democratic process in China." Xie Weisi said.

"Does the exertion of influence mean military deterrence?" "This will make the new cabinet accused by public opinion of being a puppet agent of Washington." In Japan's experience, they either stepped down or died. ”

"But China is not Japan!" "They will be seen as heroes defending peace." Well, Owen, I think I should go back, and I'll report to Mr. Ambassador about this pleasant meeting right away. ”

"Remember to go through the back door and be careful." Lattimore told him that he hoped Washington would seize the opportunity for peace.

Xie Weisi nodded, he deliberately put on a Chinese-style cloak for himself, and also made an umbrella, although it was not snowing outside. After he calmly left, the winter night soon came, and the snow began to fall densely under the sparse street lamps. On a snowy night, in the Kuomintang headquarters at Hufang Bridge, Weng Wenhao was avoiding others and talking to Hu Ying.

"That's the way it is." Weng Wenhao, who finished talking about things in one breath, was a little panting, and he was full of thoughts on the way back, thinking that what Hu Shi said made sense for a while, and feeling that it was too ridiculous for a while, and it was simply useless to surrender, so he could only talk to Hu Ying alone, not to find the hot-tempered Ma Yinchu or the conservative Liu Kuiyi.

Hu Ying didn't interrupt when she listened, and she didn't ask about the origin of these words after listening. In fact, don't ask, except for the fact that there is no land reparation and the demand for almost surrender can only come from the United States, the demands of Roosevelt and the US Congress are basically in it.

"Yongni, this is too difficult, our strength is not enough to do this." It took a while for Hu Ying to highlight such a sentence.

"Sir, what if you can use the pressure of the United States?" Weng Wenhao is talking about Hu Shi's thinking, and also the thinking of the low-key club organized by Hu Shi. The club was founded after negotiations in London to defend peace and to believe that democracy could not be endogenous to China, but could only be grafted, hence the argument that it would be promoted in China under pressure from the United States.

"It is better to directly admit defeat and let the United States do what India did." Hu Ying chuckled. He felt that it was not a good thing for Weng Wenhao and Hu Shi and others to get too close, although the democratic republic was the expectation of the Communists and the Kuomintang, but this democratic republic was not a democratic republic under the rule of the United States, but a democratic republic of the Chinese themselves.

"Sir," Weng Wenhao was a little embarrassed, "if there is a war, can we really win?" If the war cannot be won, will the blood of the people and soldiers not be shed in vain? And this is only an economic concession, and do not cede the land to pay compensation. ”

Weng Wenhao's words of 'can't win' made Hu Ying helpless. The revival army is very capable of fighting, but twenty years later, is this still the same army? At that time, the Hunan army was very strong, but it was not good in the first Sino-Japanese period; Beiyang was also very strong when he first trained, but he was swept away by the Revival Army in less than 20 years; And what about the Baath Army? At least the armies he has seen in the past ten years or so are almost all tattered troops, and he often hears officers complain that the recruits are not as good as the veterans, but the United States is the strongest among the powers, and it is really in vain if he can't win the battle.

Hu Ying thought so in her heart, but she said: "If you win the fight or not, you should listen to what Xu Yuchu says, the Inspectorate will question the General Staff in the morning of the day after tomorrow, you go and listen to it." (To be continued.) )