"The victory of the revolution is simply the victory of the United States!" This is the headline of the German newspaper in China, Lloyd's of East Asia. The long winter has just passed, and the weather in Beijing is still cold, but the Germans, who have always been fond of criticism, still can't bear the loneliness and can't help but comment on some new developments in China.

Perhaps stimulated, the criticism was written at length, and the basic implication was obvious: the United States had adopted a policy of economic penetration with far-reaching influence on China, and that all of its undertakings in China (education, finance, and industry) were governed by this complex and coordinated program, which had led to such growth in the American cause in China.

The article was obviously written by a person familiar with the diplomatic situation of the provisional government, and although the title he used was exaggerated, the evidence presented was very rigorous: In addition to last year's $40 million arms purchase contract, there were also the expanded Bethlehem contract case, the Mobil oil loan and prospecting rights case, the Huaihe River valley control project, and the Chinese navy's hiring of a US naval officer as deputy commander and the rumored construction of the Longhai Railway.

The Bethlehem contract involved as much as 100 million taels of silver, including the construction of a large shipyard, a large steel plant, and several supporting machinery factories in China; The Mobil loan case is the source of funds for this contract, and Mobil will issue more than $100 million in Chinese bonds in New York, and the reward will be oil prospecting rights and monopoly rights in certain provinces; In addition, the Huai River control project, with a budget of 80 million taels, will also be organized and implemented by water conservancy experts and companies from the United States. The most absurd thing is that the Chinese Navy has not appointed a commander. In other words, the highest commander in the fleet is the deputy commander - the Chinese Navy has completely reduced to another Far East Fleet of the United States, which has no precedent for any country......

German newspapers are not the only ones that Germans pay attention to. A few days after the newspaper was published, ministers from various countries visited the acting US minister, Victor. However, Wehrey did not admit or deny this news, and it was completely a diplomatic rhetoric.

Saying nothing is equivalent to saying everything. When he returned to the legation, he called some people to a meeting, and he took the German newspaper and asked, "Which of you has more specific information?" ”

The boss asked, although everyone had heard the rumors, but there was no evidence, but a secretary still said, "Sir." Last year's Sino-Japanese conflict, the Americans helped them a lot, and it is said that most of the artillery shells of the Baath Army were provided by the Americans. These are involved in the case. It is likely that China will be rewarded with a railway loan from Zhangjiakou to Ulan-Ude, which the Russians also helped in last year's Sino-Japanese conflict. ”

It's good that the secretary didn't mention Russia, but as soon as he mentioned Zhu Erdian, his heart became hot. More than ten years ago, when Russia's former finance minister Witte and Li Hongzhang were talking about the Dongqing Railway. There was an attempt to build a railway from Ulan-Ude south through Mongolia to Beijing. In addition, when China was building the Zhangjiakou Railway a few years ago, the Russians also wanted him to borrow money to build it, and none of these plans were destroyed by the British.

What was easily destroyed in the past can be easily realized today because of the Chinese government's intransigence and non-cooperation, and because of the internal and external difficulties of the Russians themselves, the 80 million taels of loans needed to build this thousand-mile railway will actually be paid by the French, and the situation in Europe is becoming increasingly tense. Under the alliance of Russia and France, Britain could not object to this.

Russia and France got the benefits, and naturally forgot about the agreement made by Japan a few months ago. According to the agreement, countries are not allowed to recognize Greater China alone, but now that Russia, France, and the United States have all benefited, this agreement is a joke no matter how you look at it. The only ones left were Britain and Japan and Germany who did not get the benefits, and this situation only made him palpitate, and he expected that his time in China would not be long.

Zhu Erdian was even more displeased, but the other secretary added fuel to the fire: "Sir, the Germans will reveal this information, probably because they should not get more benefits than the United States." It has been reported that China will reorganize its military industry on a large scale, that its manufacturing bureaus in various localities will be reorganized, and that all the machines and technologies it purchases will come from Germany. Although the exact transaction amount is not known, it is speculated that the total price of the contract will exceed 30 million taels. ”

"Are the deposits in the banks of various countries still there?" Zhu Erdian asked, "Yang Jingcheng's government is now running industries, building railways, and rectifying the military industry, can his finances support it?" ”

"It is impossible for banks in various countries to let the Chinese government withdraw money before the verdict is pronounced in Dali Temple, and customs duties have not been transferred." "But Yang Jingcheng has restored order in the counties, and many former grassroots officials have been retained." Last year, excluding customs duties, they completed 200 million taels of tax revenue, and I think that after the complete replacement of officials and the inventory of acres of land, the central government's tax revenue will be greatly increased. He did what Emperor Guangxu wanted to do before but didn't do! ”

Waving his hand to let the secretaries go down, Zhu Erdian said again: "Now it seems that the only people who have suffered from the Chinese revolution are us and Japan?" ”

"Sir, it seems to me that it is in our best interest to maintain the status quo." "The Chinese are indeed making plans for railways and industry, and Zhan Tianyou, the engineer who built the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, has talked to Mr. Greenson, the engineer in charge of exploring the Sichuan-Han Railway, about the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh." I think they wanted to build a bridge over the Yangtze River. In addition, the railway from Jiujiang to Kowloon in Hong Kong has already been surveyed, and if we can show goodwill to the new government, it is very likely that the 600-mile-long railway will be built with a loan from us. ”

"Are you so sure that Yang Jingcheng will give in to us?" Zhu Erdian heard about the 'three vertical and three horizontal' railway network planned by the new government, but he did not know exactly how it was 'vertical' and how it was 'horizontal', and even Sheng Xuanhuai, an old friend of the four-nation banking group, was like a different person, and did not disclose anything about the government's plan, but only announced that the government would invest in two railways, one through Shanxi and the other through Jiangxi, and both railways would be repaired within three years.

"Why not?" Ma Mueller said. "Yang Jingcheng is a smart man, even the Japanese agreed to build the Jingbong Railway, I can't think of why he should be hostile to us. And. I remember that when Yang Jingcheng was in Shanghai, the relationship with us was not bad. Major Gewent said he often said that his favorite was England, and that he missed the taste of London fish with potatoes. ”

Ma Mueller said Yang Rui at the time. At the Western banquet in Prince Zheng's mansion, when the music stopped, he was talking to several American guests who were close to the United States, including Dr. Batrick, the secretary of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Roy Mobil of Mobil Oil. Mr. S. Anderson, Vice Chairman of Bethlehem Steel Company, Archibald Anderson. Mr. Johnston, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Mead, and the last two are Captain William W. Johnston. Applejack. Moffett and his lieutenant Chester. William. Nimitz.

"My favorite thing is the United States!" Yang Rui said very emotionally to the Americans who looked around him, "What I miss the most is Mrs. Brown's dinner in New York, but it's a pity." She passed away a few years ago......"

When a Chinese de facto accuser was a child, he was often rescued by a kind old lady in the United States, and it must have been terrible news when this matter reached the United States, Dr. Batrick, secretary of the Rockefeller Foundation, couldn't help but think so. Of course, he didn't know that Yang Rui often said to the British that he liked the UK. When it comes to Germany, he often says that he admires Germany, but he simply sees what people say, and there is no credibility at all. He only drew a cross on his chest and prayed to God very sincerely. So he is. A few Americans who came with him could only follow him.

Watching a group of Americans worship God, Yang Rui finally took a breath, but Cheng Ying, who was holding her, was a little disdainful, she had heard her husband's nonsense countless times, it was purely a coaxing thing. However, she can also understand his distress in saying this, the current Chinese government has not been recognized by any country, which is extremely unfavorable.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind. Can you dance? "Colonel Moffett was a complete brave soldier, both on the battlefield and on the dance floor. As soon as he arrived at the banquet, he was first attracted by Yang Jingcheng. Then he was attracted to his beautiful wife.

Although it is social etiquette, Yang Rui is still extremely disgusted with lending his wife to others to hold and dance, but now he has to do this, so after cursing foreigners countless times in his heart, Yang Rui generously raised his hand and signaled him to agree.

The music started again, and a few Americans around him also dispersed, but Mr. Anderson of Mobil Corporation, who had just arrived today, took the opportunity to step forward and said, "Your Excellency, Mr. Rockefeller asked me to greet you on his behalf." ”

"Thank you very much." Yang Rui held up a glass and replied with his head sideways. "I also wish him good health. And you, Mr. Anderson, really didn't know that you had just arrived today, and that the banquet should have been postponed a day. ”

Roy. S. Anderson has been in China for many years and is a complete China expert, and he is responsible for the cooperation between the new government and Mobil. At the end of last year, he brought the negotiated plan back to the United States, this time just after returning. "Your Excellency," his voice lowered to the sound of music, "Mr. Rockefeller is worried that other countries will interfere with our agreement, after all, the exploration area is too large. ”

"Then what does he have to build?" Yang Rui put down the wine glass he was holding, and his mind also turned, he was looking at Cheng Ying in the dance hall just now.

"He hopes to reach a joint venture agreement with the government on the Shaanxi oil mine." "He wants the capital to be 55 percent owned by Mobil and 45 percent by the Chinese government." ”

Rockefeller actually put forward such a condition, Yang Rui smiled and shook his head: "This is not good." As soon as he said this, the smile on Anderson's face suddenly froze, but Yang Rui's words later made his expression stretch, "I am not against joint ventures, that oil mine is just a small oil mine, and it does not have the value of industrial exploitation, and now the government is also investing in it for exploitation." If Mobil needs it, then why not a sole proprietorship? ”

"Sole proprietorship?" Anderson's throat rolled a little, and he looked at Yang Rui's lips deadly, afraid that these words did not come out of his mouth. "If we are a sole proprietorship, then the local people will be a big problem."

"We can communicate with the local people. In fact, the reason why I let you be a sole proprietor is because this oil mine has no large-scale exploitation value at all, and I can't afford to pay for the huge amount of exploration costs invested in the early stage, even if it is only 45 percent. Yang Rui said, "So now we only use the ancient drilling technology to exploit, and the oil refining equipment we buy is also very small, but we are afraid that we will not be able to recover the investment if we spend too much." If you don't believe me, you can find someone to check it out. ”

It's the same as in the fruit business before. Yang Rui often thinks from the other party's point of view for his collaborators, which makes him often more successful, and Anderson has long been familiar with this kind of cooperation that is completely different from ordinary people. He trusts this Chinese, he is honest, decisive, and do-it-all, and he is a worthy partner to work with. So he explained, "Your Excellency, the oil mine doesn't matter, it's just that Mobil has just been broken up, and Mr. Rockefeller hopes to see results in China soon." The price of shares of such a company will receive an increase ......"

"I understand Mr. Rockefeller's difficulties, and I will do my best to help. Of course, I also hope to get a loan as much as possible, and then buy equipment in the United States. Yang Rui responded. While things are getting better in China right now, it would have been better if they had secured loans earlier. Mr. Anderson, you can relay it to Mr. Rockefeller. Shaanxi oil mine can be wholly owned by Mobil. But from a friend's point of view, I hope he'd better not put much thought into that oil mine, it's really worthless. In addition, in addition to oil exploration rights, the government will promote diesel engines in the shipbuilding industry, and the amount of diesel will be doubled in the future. ”

"I think Mr. Rockefeller would be pleased to hear both of them." Anderson said lightly, "Your Excellency, there have been some problems with the bond matter lately. You know, a lot of people in New York listen to London. But Mr. Rockefeller is trying to figure out how to solve ......"

Anderson said bad news, although Yang Rui already knew that although the issuance of the bond was approved by the U.S. Congress — it was a corporate bond of Tianzi, not a Chinese state bond, and Tianzihao was the private property of His Majesty the Chinese Emperor — many big bankers changed their attitude of full support and became **. Britain today is like the United States in later generations, omnipresent and omnipotent.

"Please thank Mr. Rockefeller on my behalf, and ask him to believe that good people will be rewarded!" Yang Rui was not surprised to hear that Rockefeller would privately make up the remaining 200 million bonds, and now that the stock of Mobil Oil on Wall Street is rising, according to this trend, Rockefeller's wealth will double or even more. After he finished speaking, he met Archibald, vice chairman of Bethlehem Steel. Johnston and Gillis, the military attache in China, came over and raised their glasses to apologize to Anderson, who needed to talk to Johnston.

"Mr. Prime Minister," Johnston greeted Yang Rui in pure New York English, he had been in Beijing for two days, and although the Chinese wanted to give him enough time, he couldn't wait to get to work, such as going to Nanjing to have a look, and to build the shipyard and those machinery factories as soon as possible.

"Mr. Johnston." Yang Rui responded to him, this tall old man seemed to him to be a forging hydraulic press, and it was 10,000 tons, which was the largest object among all the purchased equipment, and it took a lot of effort to get it.

"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Gillis." Yang Rui greeted the American lieutenant colonel beside him again. He greeted the two Americans, and without waiting for them to respond, he said, "Gentlemen, as things stand, we will be able to make the down payment starting next month." ”

"Oh! Thank God. Johnston happily glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Gillis, and the two toasted to Yang Rui. The Bethlehem contract was originally a $2,000 loan, and in addition to the purchase of cruisers, it was to build a naval port in Xiamen and help upgrade Chinese shipyards. After the revolution, this original contract against the Japanese was modified by representatives of the new government, and the cruiser was turned into an ocean-going merchant ship, which was to operate the Pacific route from China to the United States, and the military port was turned into the Nanjing Shipyard, and a staggering number of aircraft were purchased. As the contract expanded, the transaction value also expanded to nearly $100 million, and the increase made Bethlehem worry that China would not be able to pay, but now the Chinese are about to make a down payment.

"Mr. Chancellor, I think......," Johnston could not contain his excitement, "I should go to Nanking tomorrow to have a look." ”

"Of course!" Yang Rui was sure, "In order to eliminate unnecessary interference, I will arrange for an airship to send you over tomorrow." "For this American who 'privately aids' China's industry, Yang Rui gives him state-level treatment." Mr. Johnston, I would also like to say that while there will be many minor problems in the execution of the contract, please be assured that my Government and my country will work with you to resolve them. ”

"I believe it very much!" Johnston laughed, and Lieutenant Colonel Gillis next to him laughed. "Your Excellency, everyone has expressed their trust in your government, and China will get better and better under your leadership."

"Thank you!" Yang Rui said politely, "I like Americans. They are always capable and pragmatic, without so much posturing and intrigues, industrialized China will. There will be more cooperation with the United States, especially with Bethlehem. Gentlemen, this is a country of 400 million people, and with proper development, she needs innumerable steel and machines, innumerable cloth and warships......"

Yang Rui became a salesman, depicting the beauty of China's development, and his core theory is to 'make the cake bigger'. And consider anyone who stands in the way of this action to be an enemy of all. He thinks so, but in Johnston's opinion, the Nanjing shipyard that is now being built will be a strong competitor in Bethlehem. However, fortunately, the location of the Nanjing shipyard was not suitable, and it was difficult to sail more than 30,000 tons of warships on the Yangtze River, and even 10,000 tons of warships in the dry season could not drive in, which was equivalent to the Nanjing shipyard could not manufacture battle cruisers and battleships. They can only build cruisers of about 20,000 tons at most.

When Yang Rui was talking here. A dance song was over, Cheng Ying returned to him, still holding his left hand, and Moffett, after trying the measurement of this Chinese man, seemed to feel that his future power could be guaranteed, and began to communicate with Yang Rui in English very happily.

"Mr. Chancellor," Saluted Colonel Moffett, his naval officer's uniform standing out.

"Mr. Colonel." Yang Rui smirked. "I hope you will like China, and the Chinese Navy. Although it looks terrible now. But I'm sure he'll be fine. ”

"I'm convinced too." Major Moffett said that when he was about to speak, a Chinese impolite intervened and interrupted him in Chinese.

"Your Excellency, the Shaanxi oil mine can't be given to the Americans!" A young man interjected and said that although he was young, Yang Rui still knew him, his name was Zhang Hongzhao, who graduated from the Department of Geology of Imperial University of Japan and just graduated into the Mining Department last year.

"Why?" Yang Rui likes young people, but today's love is not very good, so his eyebrows are wrinkled when he asks.

"Because that's the only oil mine in China at the moment." Zhang Hongzhao said.

"Do you know where there is much oil?" Yang Rui asked again, his eyebrows twisted even more. He likes obedient angry youths, but it's clear that this isn't. "As a technician, I think it's better to use numbers."

Although Yang Rui was displeased, Zhang Hongzhao still wanted to insist, he said: "Your Excellency, no matter how much oil there is, you should do it yourself, now the country does not have an oil mine, kerosene completely relies on imports, and Shaanxi oil mines are extremely important to the country." ”

"If you really want to oppose this, you can resign from Lord Wu Yangzeng, and then lobby the congressmen to raise an objection bill, as for what they will think, that's none of my business." Yang Rui threw him aside with a word, he was going to discuss the matter of naval reorganization with the Americans.

......Ding Wenjiang, who had no idea that his companion would speak to the prime minister like this, was stunned, and by the time he came back to his senses, the brief conversation had already ended. What did the Prime Minister say? He asked.

"He said if I really wanted to object, I could resign and lobby members of Congress." Zhang Hongzhao smiled bitterly, he didn't expect Yang Rui to say such a sentence, looking at Ding Wenjiang with a surprised face, he gritted his teeth and raised his head to drink all the wine in the cup.

"Yanqun, you won't really ......" Ding Wenjiang felt that he was making up his mind, and he was very concerned.

"Resign, resign." Zhang Hongzhao sarcastically said, "Even if you lobby congressmen, they are all mud legs and puppets." ”

"Yanqun, what do you want? We've all signed confidentiality letters. Ding Wenjiang sensed Zhang Hongzhao's plan and began to worry, he was also an officer of the Mining Department, and he knew that this colleague had always been patriotic.

"What is a secret book!" Zhang Hongzhao's face was not good, "Patriotism is not guilty!" He said that it would be unfavorable to Ding Wenjiang and went back alone.

When Zhang Hongzhao left, Yang Rui was chatting happily with Colonel Moffitt, and he told Sù, a US Navy officer in his 40s with unlimited energy, that the government's concern for naval construction is long-term, and although the appointment of him as deputy commander of the Navy is one of the important links, this is not enough, the original naval school will be comprehensively reorganized, and all the instructors who are not proficient in naval specialties but occupy positions will be dismissed, and the students will also be re-evaluated, and those who pass will be sent to study at the US Naval Academy.

While Colonel Moffitt listened to Yang Rui's speech, Captain Nimitz, who was standing beside him, kept looking at the man. Unlike Colonel Moffett, who was directly ordered by the Admiralty, he offered to come to the Chinese Navy; as an officer of the submarine force, the two diesel-engine submarines built by the Chinese in New York last year attracted his great attention, and although he did not know the performance of those two submarines, he still keenly felt that at least in the submarines, the Chinese were ahead of the United States. (To be continued......)