Chapter 25: Hidden Claws and Teeth

Time passed quickly in the peaceful atmosphere that temporarily appeared on the land of China. In the past few months, the South sent a special mission to welcome Yuan Nan to go to the north to welcome Yuan Shikai to go south. However, he was frightened by a mutiny directed by Yuan Shikai. Finally, the three conditions proposed by Sun Yat-sen were bypassed. On March 8, 1912, Yuan Shikai finally officially took office as the second interim president of the Republic of China. Unlike when Mr. Zhongshan was in office, this time it was changed to the responsible cabinet system.

Li Zhangyun's senior, a young boy studying in the United States, and Mr. Tang Shaoyi, whom Yuan Shikai knew in North Korea, became the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. However, he also joined the Tongmenghui at the same time. This appointment was also a joy to both the north and the south. The seats in the cabinet were also distributed between Yuan Shikai's figures and the Tongmenghui. However, all the key departments were in the hands of Yuan Shikai, and the Tongmenghui only received four idle cold yamen: education, justice, agriculture, forestry, industry and commerce. Chen Qimei did not take up his post and insisted on staying in Shanghai to continue to be his Shanghai Army governor.

Looking around the country, especially in the south, we are handling military demobilization and constraining local military and political measures. On March 30, Huang Xing was appointed as the left-behind Nanjing by Yuan Shikai, handling 26 divisions and 51 brigades in a messy area in Nanjing. It is said that the 300,000 troops were dismissed. Those who know all said that Huang Xing was jumping into the fire pit.

On April 1, Mr. Zhongshan officially handed over the post of interim presidential position and handed over the Presidential Seal to the Senate. The transfer of power between the north and the south has come to an end.

But our General Yu, in this eased atmosphere, was sleeping in Jiangbei, silently watching the sound of waves on the land of China.

In the past two months, spring has covered the entire Jiangbei.

In Xuzhou, a usually gray city, there is also a little more green. Yuchen, who has been completely well, always walks around the garden of the inspection commission with Li Yuan whenever he has time to work. He is not as pale and haggard as before. According to Jiang Baili's comments that have always been mean to Yuchen, it means that this tiger seems to have hidden its minions and settled in the position of the inspection commissioner in Jiangbei.

However, the field troops expanded to three divisions, with a total of more than 70,000 people. There are still 26 security battalions and more than 13,000 people in each local county. Is this a manifestation of being content with the status quo?

In terms of finance, since Li Zhangyun began to remotely control the bank's revival, the bank's strong position in the southeast has been further strengthened. He made a lot of money in the depreciation of silver since the founding of the early Republic of China. Some local small banks in the southeast have actively sent deposits to the bank's revival. Please ask the bank to guarantee and support the operations of these small banks. In the banking industry, the banking bank has been called the private central bank in the south. Now, due to the depreciation of silver on a daily basis, the banknotes of the bank with outstanding reputation have become completely the five southeastern provinces, and even the two lakes and even Sichuan, where the Yangtze River flows through. The amount of local silver is insufficient, and a large amount of banknotes is needed for the market to circulate. The banknotes of the banknotes have been issued to more than 60 million yuan. According to Li Zhangyun, issuing another 40 million yuan is sufficient to support.

Local finance is also being sorted out. Agricultural taxes in northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui are completely exempted. The only burden for farmers is to sell part of the grain to the Finance Department of the Prefecture Department at a price slightly lower than the market set by the government to the Finance Department for the Government as a government reserve. Jiangbei laid off Lijin and reserved the transfer payments for goods on Jinpu Road, and all of them were exempted. Yuchen looked at the long-term. Although these policies were criticized by some of his subordinates who were only staring at money. However, in the Jiangbei area, farmers' purchasing power increased slightly due to tax reductions and exemptions. Some industries and commerce that were originally concentrated in the coastal coast gradually extended their tentacles to Jiangbei. Xuzhou gradually became a transit center for goods from north and south. Industrial and commercial taxes are slowly increasing, although they are not enough to make up for the government's fiscal revenue. However, local vitality is slowly cultivating.

Due to the implementation of thorough local autonomy, administrative costs have been greatly reduced. Local officials have also lost many opportunities to engage in private fraud. The administration of officials is actually the best time in history.

Yuchen's measures attracted many people who were interested in building in the south to observe and apply for the results, and the shogunate gradually became more fulfilled. The only regret is that in addition to ensuring sufficient education costs, Yuchen has very little local construction. Because he really invested most of his financial resources into his army. Many times he had to liberation of the bank and pay money in.

The manufacturing bureau in Nanjing also moved to Ma'anshan. Due to the nearby care of the US consul, the manufacturing bureau in Shanghai was still working at full capacity. Yuchen planned to build a steel and coal production base in Ma'anshan, and this work was under the leadership of Duncan. Due to insufficient funds, the preliminary work was only progressing slowly.

During this rare peaceful time, Yuchen did not do much, and no one knows how long this kind of life can last. The tiger who was napping in Jiangbei will sooner or later reveal his minions.

The newly appointed CSKA 9th Division (Yuchen's Jiangsu Army 9th Division was reorganized into the CSKA 9th Division on March 20, with the 17th, 18th Brigade and Independent Brigade), a colonel officer who graduated from Japanese mainland soldiers, walked quickly into the inspector's office. He was already a person in his 40s. Among the Jiangbei Army's young officer group, he was the absolute big brother. He was originally the instructor of the leader of the Baoding Military Academy. Lengyamen and Lengzi. He has always been very unsatisfied.

When the divisions of the Republic of China appointed their relatives as military supplies, who would have been willing to specialize in the army's plan? He followed Jiang Baili south, but was highly valued by Yuchen. The Jiangbei Army established a complete army's plan manager system. Military supplies in each department were not allowed to be appointed by private individuals, but must be assigned to students who graduated from the main project major. He now holds three positions. The Chief of the Military Supply Department of the General Command of the Jiangbei Army, the Chief of the Military Supply Department of the 9th Division, and the Chief of the Education Department of the Jiangbei Army School. He is one of the busy people in Xuzhou.

When he was taken to the living room by the guards, Yuchen finished talking with several compradors of the German Leather and foreign company. He was smiling and sending this German man and several foreign Chinese out of the hall. Seeing Lu Tonghai standing at the side to salute him, he also returned the greeting to him with a smile: "Master Lu, let's sit in the hall first. Let's go back to talk to you immediately."

After Yuchen returned to the guest, Lu Tonghai rushed to speak: "Commander, the matter of buying arms from Lihe Foreign Company has been settled? Will this money be allocated immediately? The money has been collected from Director Li and Director Li for half a month. If it is not used, it is better to hand it over to the Finance Department. It is not the case that it is always under the hands of the Military Control Commission. It is not like it. How much is the loss of interest alone?"

Yuchen scratched his head with some distress, but smiled at him, "I knew you were careful. Actually, there was no need to do this. As long as you follow the procedures, I can't trust you... Alas, Beijing doesn't buy me a passport for arms, and it's forced me to smuggle. Thirty-six seventy-five-mm cannons, twelve one hundred and five-mm cannons, plus 12,000 rifles, one thousand pistols, and bullets. I have to spend 20% more! It costs about 4.7 million yuan in the past. The budget last time was not enough, and it was very troublesome to add it. Let's wait and see what happened."

Lu Tonghai was a little puzzled: "Commander, the last time those Japanese people seemed to be named Nanshanqiao, agreed to support the division commander's armies. Why did the division commander just refuse to agree? It saves money now."

Yuchen shook his head with a smile. He didn't want to explain this matter to Lu Tonghai. The Japanese things were so easy to do? His two factories were working at full capacity, but they barely armed their rapidly expanding troops. There were also many seized weapons. In addition to the 9th Division, the 1st Division of the Anhui and 2nd Divisions of the Jiangsu were very well equipped. To establish reserves for future wars, he could only find a way to smuggle arms.

He changed the topic and asked Lu Tonghai: "Did you come here today for Wang Ziyuan's business? How much corruption he embezzled? Did you find out?"

Lu Tonghai looked a little sad: "The subordinates and the Director of the Military Law Department held a trial, and it has been verified. Wang Ziyuan embezzled more than 197,600 yuan in military salaries. It took only a few months for the military army to rise in Jiangbei. The amount was really huge. The trial of the Military Law Department has been closed, and the death penalty has been sentenced... Wang Ziyuan said he wanted to meet the commander for the last time."

Yuchen waved his hand and said, "No! He is so embarrassed to see me? I trust him so much. Let him do things. He will do things in the Navy and he will make money... Director Lu, the result of this military law trial will be informed to the Army Manager system you are in charge. Let me see who dares to extend his hand!"

Seeing that Yuchen looked a little angry, Lu Tonghai didn't dare to say anything more. Yuchen was in a hurry and spent money in the early stages. There were too many loopholes that could be exploited. After taking over, he spent a lot of effort to improve the system and plug the loopholes. Wang Lian's corruption was a typical example. Although he was responsible for his own fault, it was also Yuchen's mismanagement of the military's finances.

He stood up silently, saluted Yuchen and said goodbye. He originally wanted to have this last wish for Wang Lian. But it seemed that he couldn't help.

Yuchen sat down on the chair, pressing his head a little sad. Wang Lian, who was very tall and handsome in Shanghai, could not erase the easy-going and gratifying look in his mind. He was all following him to conquer the world while struggling. Why did he get to this point today? He thought about it and finally felt that he couldn't resolve it. He rang the bell and called his deputy director Zhang Zhihe and said to him quietly: "You arrange the car, I want to see Ziyuan...... Why did he get to this point?"

Wang Lian had given up all fantasies in the Army Prison of the Military Law Department. How did these things happen? After 80% of the navy's fleet was concentrated in Yangzhou, Commander Yu also praised his work and asked him to report his work in Yangzhou. He came to Yangzhou with some trepidation. After getting off the ship, he was greeted by Ji Cunzhong Ji Yanwang from the Military Law Department!

He was already stunned at that time, Ji Cunzhong read out Yuchen's order to detain him with a cold face. The result was that he had been detained from Yangzhou to Xuzhou for almost two consecutive months. He had denied and roared. He had refused to answer any questions. But as Lu Tonghai brought a bunch of old tents to the accounts he had carefully prepared, he accumulated his embezzlement one by one. He finally gave up. Since he was about to die, he would be like a soldier. Please obey the trial of military law.

Tomorrow is the day he sets on his way.

The warden of the Army Prison is a young major and takes good care of him. He lives in a clean single room. Now he has sent another table of wine and food. He stood at the door and said to him: "Director Wang...... Commander He from Anhui and Commander Chen from Yangzhou have all called me and asked me to take care of you more. Walk better on the road. This table of wine and food was sent by Commander Zhang of the 17th Brigade. Commander Lu of the teaching brigade also called and hung up without saying anything... Use it slowly, don't worry about tomorrow's work, and you won't let you suffer aggrieved."

Wang Lian smiled and even Lu Hei-bang called? In the past, he was the one who disliked him the most. Now these classmates and friends are all the characters of the division commander and brigade commander. It seems that his future is limitless, but what about him? Thinking of this, Wang Lian smiled at himself and reached out to get the wine pot. It's so good to go to the countryside...

The iron gate opened again with a creaking sound. Wang Lian thought the warden had come in again, and smiled without raising his head, "Are you here to have a drink with me? It's really boring to drink alone..."

A low voice said: "Ziyuan."

Wang Lian looked up in shock and saw Yuchen standing in front of him with a calm face. In addition to being a little angry, he was more regretful. Yuchen and the commander of the Suzhou-Shanghai Revolutionary Army who had a taste of ordinary people when he first met in Shanghai were completely different.

He had more of a purely military temperament, and his majesty that could determine the fate of others when he was in power for a long time. The light in his eyes became deeper. It made people forget that he was just a twenty-four-year-old young man.

Yuchen sat down, reached out to grab the wine pot, poured a glass of wine for Wang Lian, and said lightly: "Ziyuan, you know I never drink. I will pour you a bar today. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, you tell me that I will do what I can do for you."

Wang Lian didn't know what else he could say now, and finally said: "Teacher......I'm sorry for you."

Yuchen didn't say anything, but just signaled Wang Lian to drink. Seeing him swallowing the wine in one sip, he said coldly: "At this time, I won't comfort you anything. I know that your old father's business has collapsed, and a lot of the money you have lost has been remitted back to your home. These are just regarded as the settlement fee I gave your old father, and I will not pursue it anymore...... You have to bear the things you have done yourself. You have been with me since Shanghai, and I have given the same opportunity. If you go the wrong way, you can't blame me or others... In this era, I really wanted to take you with you to do a great career. Some people left the team halfway, and some can't keep up, so I won't stop waiting for you..."

He seemed to feel that he had said too much, and stood up in his clothes. He nodded coldly to Wang Lian: "Be careful on the road, you can only walk on that road yourself."

When Wang Lian heard Yuchen say that his old father was already full of tears. Seeing Yuchen turn around and leave, he shouted: "Teacher! If your great career is not completed in 18 years, can I come and follow you again?"

Yuchen turned around and watched Wang Lian smile at him with tears.

That was also his last impression of Wang Lian in his mind.

"Discovering the air, do you think it is necessary to prevent an army that is vibrant in the early stages from rotting from the inside. Should we rely on the personal charm of the leader and set an example; or should we have a common goal; or should we establish a perfect system? Or, is it necessary for all three?"

On the way back to the inspection office, Yuchen asked this question to Zhang Zhihe, the deputy director beside him. However, he did not mean to ask Zhang Zhihe to answer, but he was meditating all the way.

When the car just returned to the door of the office, he saw Li Yuan standing at the door, waiting for him to come back. When he saw the car arrived, he hurriedly waved there. Yuchen got out of the car with some confusion, and saw Li Yuan rushing over and holding his hand: "My father is here, I have great news to tell you!"

Yuchen was stunned. Li Zhangyun ran back and forth in Bengbu, Xuzhou, Yangzhou and Shanghai all day long. What good news should I tell him? Li Yuan was led to the ground and walked into the yard. When he was about to arrive at the living room, he heard Li Zhangyun and a few people talking and laughing, and then distinguishing the sound. He couldn't help but be surprised and happy, and shouted outside the living room: "Mr. Mingguang, you are back!"

He rushed into the living room in two steps. Sure enough, Li Zhangyun and Xie Mingguang, who had been sent to the United States for more than four months, were smiling at him, and the accompanying guests next to him were also very strong. There were Mr. Cooper, a business consul in Shanghai, and a foreigner with luxurious clothes. The officers sent to the United States were also sitting there in casual clothes. Seeing that he came in, he immediately jumped up and stood attentively to salute.

Cooper and Yuchen met in Yangzhou, and the two talked deeply for a long time. There has been a consensus on encouraging foreign capital, including the United States, to enter Jiangbei, and all industries have opened up foreign investment. Cooper promised to report to the State Council as soon as possible about the changes in the Yangtze River, and also set up a consulate in Xuzhou as soon as possible. The two are very familiar. Li Zhangyun is from an old American and has a much stronger American taste than China. Under his guidance, several foreign capitals have invested in northern Jiangsu these days. Even British-American Tobacco, a behemoth in China, have to purchase tobacco fields in northern Jiangsu and run tobacco processing plants. Of course, these words are no longer what Yuchen considers in this scene.

He looked at Xie Mingguang who was darkened and rushed over and held his hand tightly: "Mr. Mingguang, thank you for your hard work! You have been worried about you when you hold it outside. Now you are finally looking forward to you. Are you in good health?"

Xie Mingguang was slightly moved when he met Yuchen and didn't ask anything else, but just asked about his health. He was pulled down by Yuchen and told him about the experience of the past four months.

He was a very famous exploration engineer at Rockefeller back then. After returning to the United States, he recruited some well-known figures in the western United States and established a small oil company. Of course, most of the stocks were taken out by Yuchen. Those well-known figures were just a good deal and occupied some of the stocks.

Without attracting much attention, he acquired the oil exploration rights of Zero Azer County, a county in Mexico, far away from the then oil production center in Campeche. After a short period of exploration, he really found that there was a large oil field with very easy mining and extremely rich reserves there! According to preliminary estimates, when the oil is officially released in two years, the daily oil production can reach more than 100,000 barrels! It is a huge gold mine with an annual oil production of nearly 100,000 US dollars!

After the news came out, the oil giants at that time came to the door. They used some measures to deal with their small oil company. Xie Mingguang and the others also experienced some dangers. Two of the four officers who went there died in Mexico to protect him. There is no need to explain the twists and turns in detail. In short, almost all the dark side things in the early history of oil development in the United States were encountered in Xie Mingguang.

Finally, Xie Mingguang exposed this matter to the public opinion and press, and followed the route of several well-known congressmen. Finally, he used his old relationship with Rockefeller to officially sell the oil field to Rockefeller Group. Xie Mingguang's oil company received 28 million US dollars in cash and 18.75% of the shares in the future.

The person who came to Xuzhou with him this time was a person in charge of Rockefeller. Xie Mingguang wanted to transfer the 18.75% stake in his name to Yuchen. There was also a 25 million US dollars in cash transferred to the Liberation Bank. Mr. Cooper, the US Consul, was the business witness of this international transaction.

Seeing Xie Mingguang smiling at him honestly, Yuchen really didn't know what to say. He held Xie Mingguang's hand tightly. With such a huge amount of wealth, he could not be moved at all. What kind of era is this and what kind of innocent child is this! Although his experience in the United States is indifferent, everyone knows what a difficult path he has taken.

Xie Mingguang was moved to Yuchen, so he patted his hand and smiled: "General Yu, you keep your promise in Jiangbei. Your Jiangdian is exactly the same as your behavior. So I must keep my promise. God is above us, and we have not broken our promise..."
Chapter completed!