"For the Navy, for historical reasons, I don't want it to be big in a short period of time. And from the Army's point of view, weapons are not important in many cases, and the key to victory or defeat lies in the people who operate the weapons, and I still hold the same view for the Navy, although it needs more specialized and technical personnel than the Army. So, Mr. Colonel, the plain zhì and ethics of the officers and soldiers of the Navy are what I care about the most! ”

Yang Rui was immersed in his fantasies about the navy, and said his thoughts to the American, "I don't like the next naval battle with the Japanese, some people run away, and some people shamefully swallow opium chips to commit suicide," he suddenly became angry when he said this, and emphatically said, "Even now, there are still many officers in the navy who are smoking opium, and we have cleaned it up once, but it was their voluntary retirement, so after you arrive, there will be a larger-scale purge, I hope that after this purge, The Navy will completely get rid of the filthy people and the filthy things! ”

"Yes, sir!" Colonel Moffett said loudly, he was infected by Yang Rui's passion, and he couldn't help it. At the age of nearly 40, he hoped to make a career, but he never thought that it would be in China, let alone that his stage was the Chinese Navy.

The purchase of the world's third 10,000-ton hydraulic press seemed to make Yang Rui very excited, and he suddenly joked, "Is my wife beautiful?" Captain. ”

Slightly stunned, Colonel Moffett affirmed, "Yes, very beautiful!" ”

"But you're ten years late." Yang Rui smiled, but when he said 'ten years'. He and Cheng Ying were shocked in their hearts, and in the flick of a finger in ten years, people have changed from young to middle-aged. But the affection of the past is gone. Cheng Ying expressed her discomfort in the joke of the two men and left, but Jin Yamei and Shi Meiyu, who saw her leave, came up to speak, they were two other female high-ranking officials of the provisional government in addition to Qiu Jin, and they had long admired the female revolutionary party who assassinated Cixi.

At the beginning of another dance song, Yang Rui was still talking to Colonel Moffett about the navy, until Xie Jintai and Xu Huafeng came over together. Avoiding others, Xie Jintai pulled the bow tie that he didn't like very much. "It is said that someone on the US side is lobbying the US Senator in the hope that Congress will stop the Bethlehem Steel Company from exporting large machinery to us. ”

"Oh. Aren't they afraid of losing the entire contract? "Yang Rui knew that things were not that simple." Is it British or Japanese? ”

"It should be British!" Xie said, "They didn't get anything this time, so they ......"

"Then in a few days you will go and meet the British, talk to them, and give them some benefits as they have been discussed." Yang Rui said. Then he looked at the nervous Xu Huafeng. comforted, "Don't worry, even if you smash the pot and sell iron, you have to buy those things back!" ”

"Actually, I think I'd better go tomorrow." Xie Jintai is a neat person, "I'll leave the matter with the Americans to you, anyway, we've finished talking about what we should talk about." ”

"Good! I agree, we seem to have cooled the British for too long. Yang Rui smiled, but he didn't think the British could stop the Americans.

The British Legation is a combination of East and West. Because she was originally Prince Chun's mansion, it was an ancient structure with his exterior or Chinese style. But the inside is European-style, and the portrait of Queen Victoria hanging in the living room is extremely ancient, and every time Xie Jintai comes here, he seems to feel the cold gaze of the queen on the portrait.

"Hello, Mr. Xie." Zhu Erdian could not have imagined that the Chinese would actually take the initiative to come, which was very rare in the past.

"Hello, Mr. Zhu Erdian." Xie Yitai greeted in English, and Zhu Erdian was fluent in Chinese, but he never spoke English only.

After the servant served tea, Xie Jintai said: "Mr. Zhu Erdian, the parliament will meet next month, and I hope to establish normal diplomatic relations with Britain in a short time." ”

"I'd love to see that too." "But it is only London that decides this." ”

"I am also very aware of this, and the reason why I built it this way is for the sake of the interests of Britain itself." Xie knew that there were many differences between the government and the British, one was Tibet; The British believed that the Provisional Government's compensation for the losses of the Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou railways according to the proceeds of the operating statements was too small, but they could not find a reasonable basis for the amount they said.

"Mr. Jurdian, the Provisional Government has drawn up plans for the revitalization of industry, which will be communicated one by one after the formal National Assembly convenes. But before establishing normal diplomatic relations, it will be difficult for us to convince MPs to hand over some projects to British companies, although we would love to do so......" Although Xie Jintai's words were tactful, Zhu Erdian was still a little displeased, but he did not speak, he just wanted to listen to Chinese finish the matter. "Your Excellency is willing to take out a loan from a British bank for a number of railways."

"Multiple railways?" Zhu Erdian remained silent, but his eyes were bright, "According to the agreement, the loan rights for the construction of the railway only belong to the bank group of the four countries. ”

"Mr. Zhu Erdian, according to the draft contract, the four-nation bank group is only responsible for the loans of the Sichuan-Han Railway and the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, and the other railways are no longer among them." "We hope to extend the Zhejiang railway to Jiangxi, and then continue to Hunan." In addition, when the railway is built to Yingtan, Jiangxi, it is hoped that it will enter Fujian and then connect Fuzhou or Xiamen. ”

While Xie Zhangtai was talking about the route of the railway, Zhu Erdian was thinking about the map of China in his mind, and the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway could be extended to Quzhou entirely because the Manchu Qing wanted to exterminate the Fuxing Society, and now the provisional government actually promised to extend this railway to Hunan, which surprised him, and he asked, "If we are not wrong, these two railways will exceed 1,000 miles?" ”

"If the Jiangxi railway is extended to Xiamen, it will be more than 1,000 miles, but if it is only built to Fuzhou, it will only be 800 miles." Xie Zhangtai said, he looked at Zhu Erdian's eyes flickering, wanting to wait for his counteroffer.

"Mr. Xie, I heard that the government is surveying the railway from Jiujiang to Hong Kong?" Zhu Erdian said, "And your engineers are inquiring about a certain bridge in the UK, which seems to be to build a bridge over the Yangtze River?" ”

"That's true!" Xie Jintai knew a lot of things that could not be hidden from the eyes of the British. "After the construction of the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway, it is necessary to build a bridge on the Yangtze River that can be used by trains, but it is not included in the previously discussed Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway Project. And the railway from Jiujiang to Kowloon. There is no conflict with the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, which will be built directly by the government and is not prepared to borrow money from other countries. ”

"I've also heard that the Americans have been given many contracts, even nationwide oil extraction rights?" Zhu Erdian suddenly turned to the side of the Americans, and he felt that the Americans had gained too much this time.

"That's true, but the exploration area is not within the sphere of influence of the countries." "The reason for this. This is because Mobil Oil underwrote $200 million in bonds, and the proceeds from the sale of those bonds will be used to buy U.S. products. We can also reach a similar agreement if the UK company wishes. Of course. The premise is that the two countries can establish solid diplomatic relations as soon as possible, Mr. Zhu Erdian, the government's industrial plan has time requirements, and China's construction is already too backward. ”

"Mr. Xie. I commend the business plan developed by the Provisional Government. This is exactly what we asked the Qing government to do, but he didn't do. "But I hope that the government will not favor one country when making plans, which is not conducive to diplomacy." In addition, the key to our relationship is the Tibet issue, and I hope that our two countries, Tibet, and the three sides will choose the right time and place to hold a meeting to resolve the Tibet issue once and for all. ”

"It's completely impossible!" Xie Jintai replied very unremarkably with diplomatic courtesy. "Since the Ming Dynasty, Tibet has belonged to China. She is not an independent country, but a province of China. Mr. Zhu Erdian, if we continue to stay in this meaningless and fruitless matter, it will only be a regret for everyone. ”

"The Tibet issue is the Tibet issue, and the railway is the railway, and I don't think the two have anything to do with it." Zhu Erdian said that he did not forget to spit out the hook when he ate the bait.

"If the railway is to be built with a loan from a British company, then the two countries must establish diplomatic relations." Xie stressed this point, "The most important thing is actually time, and the government has time requirements for each phase of the industrial plan, which is like a class theory, if a passenger misses the boat, God can't help him." ”

"But China doesn't have that much money to build a railway construction industry." Zhu Erdian understood what Xie Jintai meant, and he had only one demand, that is, to recognize the current government, and the strategy was to keep throwing orders and borrowing.

"Mr. Zhu Erdian, next year's tax revenue in China is conservatively estimated to exceed 400 million taels and reach 500 million taels, and the various expenditures to maintain this clean government will not exceed 300 million taels. That is to say, 200 million taels of funds will be invested in industrial construction every year, and with the development of the economy, more and more tax revenues will be used for national construction. Originally, we thought that we could develop the economy without borrowing foreign debt, but we were willing to borrow from other countries in consideration of the friendship between the two countries and the hope that the people would become prosperous as soon as possible. "The Prime Minister and I attach great importance to our relations with the United Kingdom and hope to establish friendly and stable diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom, and we are also working hard in this direction......

"The Tibet issue is the foundation for the establishment of friendly and solid diplomatic relations between the two countries." Zhu Erdian insisted. "As long as the Tibet issue is resolved, there will be no obstacles between China and Britain."

"The Tibet issue is China's internal affair. Any diplomatic issues related to Tibet are no longer on the agenda of the Interim Government. Xie Zhangtai stood up, he felt that it was time to take his leave, "Mr. Zhu Erdian, I think that the Prime Minister has already stated this in the previous meeting. ”

"I understand, so I hope it will be resolved soon." Zhu Erdian said. However, looking at Xie Zhangtai, who was leaving, he kindly advised: "I wish your country's industrial plan a smooth future!" ”

After Zhu Erdian said this, Xie Jintai did not reply, and after saluting, he took his leave. The Tibetan matter was discussed at the end of last year, and Britain has always wanted tripartite talks between China, Britain and Tibet, but this issue was resolutely resisted by Yang Rui, and he did not make any arguments, but just calmly proposed that Zhu Erdian and the next prime minister talk about this issue, maybe he will be interested. Although he spoke very calmly at the time, Zhu Erdian understood the anger in his words, and, judging from the current situation of the Revival Society, if Yang Rui wants to step down, it is equivalent to the removal of the Revival Society, and if the Revival Society wants to step down, then it can only launch another revolution, which is obviously impossible.

After Xie Jintai left the British Legation, he went to Prince Zheng's palace to report to Yang Rui about the reaction of the British, and Yang Rui's attitude towards Zhu Erdian was not surprised. But it was very taboo for him to say, 'I wish your country's industrial plan a smooth life', and sure enough, something happened within a few days, and the incident happened in the Japanese Shuntian Times.

Large-scale cooperation between China and the United States is the most sensitive issue for the Japanese. Although the contracts between China and the United States did not involve Mukden, they were still worried about China's large-scale shipyards, especially the 10,000-ton hydraulic presses that China had purchased, which reminded them of the huge shore guns of 406 millimeters.

Previously, only the United States could handle forging 200-ton ingots, but in two years, China will also have the capacity to produce such large-caliber guns. This had to frighten them. In particular, although China and Japan withdrew their troops last year, everyone knows that it was only an armistice. For the Japanese, it was a complete humiliation. Many Japanese can tolerate the lack of compensation for the Lu people, but the non-compensation for the Chinese is unbearable for many Japanese; And for the Chinese, the Japanese sending troops to the northeast is simply taking advantage of the fire to rob, and there is nothing more shameless than this.

Everyone is well aware of the situation between China and Japan. It is Suncheon that there is never a good word. However, Yang Rui is not concerned about this, but on the above report. On this day, the front-page article of the Shuntian Times revealed that the provisional government would sell the Shaanxi oil mine to the American Mobil Oil Company, and the oil prospecting rights of the Chinese mainland provinces would also be granted to Mobil, which could not help but remind him of the young man last night.

"Who leaked it?" Yang Rui asked. Liu Boyuan stood in front of him.

"It's an official named Zhang Hongzhao of the Ministry of Soil and Mining, who just resigned a few days ago." Liu Boyuan said, and then added after speaking, "He is from Huzhou." ”

"Oh!" Yang Rui heard that Huzhou people were a little clear in their hearts. Although Zhejiang is the nest of the Fuxing Association, Huzhou has always been Sun Wen's diehard loyalist because of Chen Qimei's relationship. "How does he know so many things?"

"Sir. It's unclear how he knew these things. Liu Boyuan said. But we suspect that this has something to do with Wu Yangzeng, the director of the Mining Department, who had a lot of contact with the British because of the Kailuan coal mine. ”

"I'll go find him." Yang Rui stood up and said, but before he went out, Wu Yangzeng came.

"Your Excellency, I heard that the Shaanxi oil mine will be handled by an American company?" Wu Yangzeng didn't wait for Yang Rui to ask, he asked the question first, I don't know if he was pretending to be stupid or really stupid.

"There is a plan for this. What is Lord Wu's opinion? Yang Rui did not advance but retreated, and he began to be very dissatisfied with some government officials.

"China's foreign oil imports Japanese dramas, and Shaanxi's oil mines are comparable to foreign ones, so you must not hand them over!" Wu Yang said.

"Lord Wu, do you know how much this oil mine produces?" Yang Rui looked at his bitter face and said. "Lord Wu, the government invited you to come because you have stayed abroad, and you will seek truth from facts when you consider things, you know the output of oil mines, why can't you say anything? Could it be that the officials of the Department of Mines speak according to their preferences, saying what is important and what is important? ”

Yang Rui's rhetorical question only made Wu Yangzeng stunned, and he was about to defend himself, when Yang Rui asked again: "What's going on with Zhang Hongzhao, why does he know so many things?" Who is responsible for this leak? ”

"But who is responsible for handing over the minerals to outsiders?" Wu Yang once saw Yang Rui pursuing Zhang Hongzhao's matter, and began to have a bad premonition.

"It's not that the Oil Mines and Mining Department has not explored, it's your report that the oil mine has no industrial exploitation value, and now it's you who say that the oil mine can't be handed over to outsiders. What exactly do you mean? Yang Rui shouted, he casually threw the Shuntian Times newspaper in his face, "If you don't want to do it, you can resign, but you must make it clear why Zhang Hongzhao knows so many things!" ”

"Zhang Yanqun knows this, I said it, I just want to ......" Wu Yangzeng said, but he was interrupted by Yang Rui before he could finish speaking, "Since you said it, then wait to go to jail!" Someone, take him away! ”

As soon as Yang Rui said that Wu Yangzeng's face was pale, but after all, he didn't have anyone from the former Qing Dynasty, and the Fuxing Society was very polite to the officials of the previous dynasty, so he still said to himself: "Why should I go to prison?" Why go to jail? What kind of royal law is this? There has never been such a thing...... "By this time the guards outside had already entered, ready to pick him up and go outside.

Yang Rui heard him say that there had never been such a thing, so he just sneered, "Just get used to it!" Take! ”

The director of the Mining Department was taken away, and under the order of Yang Rui, Zhang Hongzhao was also arrested, and both of them were appealed by the Inspectorate for violating the confidentiality law. Looking at a room of people with uneasy expressions, Yang Rui said loudly: "For example, if the country is a business. Then I am the treasurer of this firm, and Congress is the proprietor of the firm, and you are the buddies of the firm. If the shopkeeper is at fault and the man is dissatisfied, he can go and tell the proprietor, I will not prevent this, but the time to work cannot be delayed. I paid you to come here to do the work and not to make trouble.

Now someone is leaking secrets in order to make trouble. It is also said that it is fighting for the country in the name of fighting for mines, which is really shameless! This is like those gentry in Sichuan, who lost the share capital of the railway company, and the Manchu court could not bear it. Began to protect the road for the people. I don't understand why there are so many shameless people. But I will not allow such shameless people in my government! That's what I want to say when I call you here today, so let's do it! ”

After Yang Rui finished a few words, he wanted to send these people away, but under the leadership of Deputy Director Kuang Rongguang, a few of these people did not leave, he looked at Yang Rui and said: "Prime Minister, he was also wrong for a while, he never expected things to come to such a point, and he wanted to think about the old feelings." Excuse yourself from punishment and let him go home to retire. ”

"Lord Kwong. You know exactly what kind of person I am. Yang Rui looked at Kuang Rongguang, who was not leaving, and patiently explained: "Wu Yangzeng's matter is not so simple, why don't you want to think about why he did this?" ”

Yang Rui's rhetorical question did not cause Kuang Rongguang's reflection, he only knew that Wu Yangzeng had studied abroad with him in the past, and he said again: "Your Excellency, no matter what, Shu San also has hard work for the country, and I also ask the Prime Minister to show mercy to the old ministers and be exempt from criminal law." ”

After Kuang Rongguang finished speaking, other officials also shouted, "Please also ask the prime minister to show mercy to the old minister and be exempt from criminal law." ”

"No one can break the law!" Yang Rui was furious by their shouting, "What you think about is the friendship of colleagues, what I care about is the professional ethics of officials." You better go back, and when the trial comes, you can tell the judge the reasons for this. ”

Yang Rui insisted on it mercilessly, and Kuang Guangrong had to keep silent, but he applied for resignation the next day, and other officials from the Mining Department also applied for resignation. With their resignation, more people came to plead, but these people were sent out by Yang Rui one by one. At the same time, public opinion in society also began to rise, saying that the provisional government had betrayed the country's power, and the ministers of the Mining Department had resigned because they were fighting for the country's power.

resigned outside the meeting and pleaded, but a few days later, the people in the meeting also came to intercede, and even Zhang Taiyan actually passed by this matter during the conversation. Although he was only a band, he made Yang Rui discover something he didn't pay attention to before, that is, a network formed by in-laws, teachers and students, the same clan, fellow villagers, and classmates, it is so huge that almost every province can be involved.

"That's the case, sir." Chen Guangshou sorted out the relationships between those people, and then stood straight in front of Yang Rui, like a gun.

"How many have resigned now?" Yang Rui asked.

"Including the other departments, there are 365 people, and the mining department is now three people left. In addition, there are more people who plead, most of them are from Liangguang, and some are classmates who studied with Wu Yangzeng before, Zhan Tianyou and Tang Shaoyi are also among them. Chen Guangshou said.

"Zhan Tianyou is also resigning?" Yang Rui said with a smile.

"Zhan Tianyou didn't, he just pleaded, hoping that Mr. could revoke the appeal for the sake of Wu Yangzeng Gengzi's meritorious work in protecting the mine." Chen Guangshou said.

"Let them all die!" Yang Rui's words began to be vicious, "What's the matter, Kaiping Mine Bao Bao came and went, and finally fell into the hands of the British." You have written it down for me, and all resignations are approved. I don't believe that no one in this world wants to be an official. And the names of these are all written down......" When he said this, he suddenly couldn't go on, now is not the old era, and it is impossible to engage in a company, "Forget it, as long as someone resigns because of this matter, it will be approved, but the work must be handed over completely, and you can't say that you won't do it today, and you will leave immediately." ”

"Sir, this is only going to get bigger and bigger." Chen Guangshou looked at Yang Rui with some concern, he was in charge of the Ministry for so long, he knew very well what Yang Rui was dealing with, this thing was completely different from the Manchu Qing, or rather, the Manchu Qing was just a drop in the bucket, which was the reason why even Cixi was alive and could not do anything about it.

"You can't back down on this matter!" Yang Rui said, "Once you back down, this officialdom will return to the Manchu Qing Dynasty in the future." Guangshou, I began to regret it, regretting that I didn't kill these gentry in the first place, so that it is a scourge until now. ”

"I see, sir." Chen Guangshou said.

"If there is no one in the Mining Division, then abolish this department. We will build it when the people we have cultivated ourselves come back from abroad. And all the resignations cannot be hired as teachers, so they don't have to pull another network in the school...... Forget it, I'll go talk to the people about it. Yang Rui said.

Yang Rui frowned and went to the school to find Cai Yuanpei, but he didn't want Cai Yuanpei to look for him, as soon as he saw Yang Rui, he grabbed him and said, "Actually, what's going on with the Mining Division?" Now many teachers in the school department have said that they want to go to the book to intercede. ”

"I knew that they would be like this," Yang Rui said unexpectedly, "Although Wu Yangzeng is just one person, there are other people standing behind him besides these pleas. I have a hunch that something is about to come out. ”

"And something, what else?" Cai Yuanpei was puzzled, "Now all university halls and professional schools, as long as they are teachers and students related to mining, are clamoring to come to Beijing to study." Is Wu Yangzeng's matter really so strict? ”

"You don't understand!" Yang Rui stretched his tone and said bitterly, "This is not only a struggle, but also a conspiracy. Someone is stirring up these things behind the scenes, and now what is jumping out to make trouble is a rambling and wide-ranging network of connections, which not only includes many officials, but also some members...... I won't explain so much to you, students can petition if they want to petition, but none of those officials who resign are allowed to be hired as teachers, and the entrance examination of the university hall must also be unified by the department, I don't want this country to have any more gates in the future! (To be continued......)