Beiyang reactionaries

"Yes. Then get the bad news."

"General, the principal and interest we need to repay this year total more than 400 million."

"How many?"

"More than 400 million."

Duan Xun was dumbfounded.

After a long time, Duan Xun came back to his senses, staring at Wang Yongjiang and said, "We have borrowed so much money? The principal and interest alone is 400 million a year? Mr. Wang, did the calculation make a mistake? So much money."

Scared.

Duan Xun knew that he had borrowed a lot of money in the past two years.But I didn't expect to borrow so much money, the principal and interest alone amounted to 400 million a year.This has to be how much money was borrowed.

I was just happy with the large-scale increase in fiscal revenue, and I had to pay back the increased part in a blink of an eye.

"General, this still does not count the loan that Japan borrowed to us to build the steel plant. The money will only be counted from the next year, and we will have to pay back 2000 million a year by then. There is also a loan from the Overseas Chinese Industrial Company. The 1000 million that was given to us will have to be repaid from next year. Therefore, from the year after next, our financial pressure will be very heavy.”

"The interest is too high."

Duan Xun frowned.

No wonder the Beijing government can only keep borrowing every year, and then use this money to pay off the previous money.After that, I continued to borrow and repay the money, and finally fell into a dead end.No matter how you earn money, you can't pay back the money you borrowed from abroad.Mortgaging everything that China can mortgage is still not enough money to pay back.In the end, China's finance, mining, and railways are all in the hands of foreigners.It is because the interest rate is too high.

Rolling interest.

Loans in this era are comparable to usury in later generations.Once you start borrowing money from foreigners, it becomes even more difficult to pay it back.

"We worked so hard to earn money for a year, and we paid them back the interest."

Duan Xun really complained.

It is not easy to make money by yourself, and it is even more difficult to increase the annual financial income.But all the increased money went into the pockets of those people, and it made me angry just thinking about it.400 million a year, and 2000 million a year from the next year.

This is the annual fiscal revenue of a medium-sized province in China.

"General, you don't know. Now Japan, Britain, even the banks in Shanghai, and the Bank of China are very willing to give us loans. Because we have good things in Sichuan, they are not afraid of us defaulting on debts."

Wang Yongjiang also smiled wryly.

In many provinces in China, even if they want to get a loan, it depends on the face of the bank, and they need to agree to a lot of conditions before they can get a loan.But Duan Xun's side, those banks are very willing to give loans.As long as Duan Xun can get the collateral, they will not put forward too harsh conditions.Because Duan Xun ruled the area to make money.

Duan Xun has something good in his hand.

There are salt, tea, wine, tung oil, bristles, and many minerals in the three provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, all of which are very valuable.As long as Duan Xun can't pay back the money, he can mortgage these things.

Anyway, lending money to Duan Xun won't hurt you.

"Mr. Wang, you mean we can borrow money?"

"Yes."

Wang Yongjiang nodded, but quickly said: "General, you don't want to continue to borrow money, do you? This won't work. If we continue to borrow money, we can't bear it. Although the fiscal revenue of our southwest region will continue to increase, this increase is There is a limit, and it is impossible to have a leapfrog improvement. The annual repayment of 2000 million is already the limit of our finances. The current loan interest is too high. If we continue to borrow money, it will add a huge burden to us. Wait until our finances cannot pay When it starts, our entire financial system will collapse. At that time, the finances of the three provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou will also collapse, and it will be very difficult to start again."

Still borrowing money?

This doesn't work.

Wang Yongjiang is firmly opposed.Although with the influx of large sums of money into Sichuan in the past two years, especially after the influx into Chongqing, Chongqing's economy has developed very rapidly.From this year to the present, thousands of new factories have been established, and 6000 to [-] million yuan has been invested in Chongqing.

While most of them are small factories, those are factories too.

The economic profit they bring is very high.Even though the Sichuan government has tax incentives for their factories, it still brings huge financial revenue to Chongqing.But those increased taxes are nothing compared to the interest on those loans.

Now Duan Xun already owes a lot of debt, if he continues to borrow money, the financial burden will be too heavy.If you don't pay attention, there is a danger of financial collapse.Therefore, Wang Yongjiang firmly opposed Duan Xun's continued borrowing.

"Mr. Wang, sit down. Let me tell you about the future direction of China."

Duan Xun asked Wang Yongjiang to calm down.

After Wang Yongjiang calmed down, Duan Xuncai said: "Mr. Wang, you should know that the war in Europe is over, and China has also sent a delegation to Europe to participate in the post-war meeting. Although China is also a victorious country, we have almost nothing strength, and the strength of our country lies there, what can we do if we go to Europe to participate in the conference, and who will treat us as the same thing. At that time, there will be a big problem that the Chinese delegation will not be able to solve, and that is Qingdao The problem."

"Since Japan has already occupied Qingdao, they will never give it up. In the eyes of world powers such as Britain, France and the United States, China and Japan have completely different weights. When the Qingdao issue breaks out, there will inevitably be an anti-Japanese storm in the country. "

The May [-]th Movement, no one should be short of it.

In the past two years, nationalism in China has been on the rise, especially this year Duan Xun has pushed nationalism to another climax.When the news of the Paris Peace Conference next year comes, those students will not care about the helplessness behind the government.

Movement is bound to erupt.

And as long as the student movement happens, all walks of life in China will definitely follow suit.At that time, a large-scale anti-Japanese movement is inevitable.Wang Yongjiang listened carefully to Duan Xun's analysis.

Because since Wang Yongjiang defected to Duan Xun in western Henan, what Wang Yongjiang admires most about Duan Xun is that Duan Xun is very sharp.The judgment of the future is very accurate, so Duan Xun is able to take a step ahead of others every time.

Duan Xun was able to reach his current position in just five years because every time he made a choice, he was faster and more correct than others.

"We have borrowed so much money from Japan, and when the anti-Japanese sentiment in the country is high, we will negotiate with Japan. See if we can lower the interest rate or extend the repayment period. In this way, we can ease our financial pressure. And The tung oil deal signed with Japan more than two years ago. Recently, the price of tung oil in the international market continues to rise. We will negotiate with Japan to raise the price of tung oil again. Anyway, the anti-Japanese wave in the whole country will inevitably make Japan lose sight of one thing and lose another, and is absolutely unwilling to make trouble with us. Overturned. We will take the initiative when the time comes."

"Besides, our Beiyang Army is not stable. Premier Duan has severely offended Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin when the war to protect the law broke out. Moreover, after this congressional election, Premier Duan still holds the power of the Beijing government, which will inevitably lead to Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin are dissatisfied. I am sure that within two years, there will be a big battle within our Beiyang Army. No one can say who will control Beijing at that time."

"General Duan is not optimistic about Duan Hefei (Duan Qirui)?"

Wang Yongjiang asked Duan Xun cautiously.

Duan Xun nodded.

Then he sighed and said, "Prime Minister Duan has held great power in recent years and has offended too many people. Xu Shuzheng is a person who doesn't know how to unite. If he offends the current powerful faction, then these powerful factions will inevitably rush forward. And in the past few years Because of the power in their hands, the Anhui faction headed by Premier Duan has relaxed their emphasis on the army. On the contrary, regardless of whether it is Cao Kun or Zhang Zuolin, their strength has expanded rapidly in recent years, and they have continuously strengthened the strength of the army. Look at the entry into Hunan We know from the battle. The troops of Zhang Jingyao and Zhang Huaizhi are the elite troops of our Anhui lineage, but look at their poor performance on the battlefield. Compared with the third army division led by Wu Peifu and the first mixed brigade of Zhili, Zhili The Second Mixed Brigade and the Third Zhili Mixed Brigade are each more powerful than the other. If there is a fight, how much do you think Prime Minister Duan will win."

"General, you have missed one person."

"I know, you are talking about me. But they are vying for control of Beijing. What I want is Hunan and Hubei. If Premier Duan can hold out for a month, then after I take Hubei, I will definitely support Premier Duan. But if If he can't insist on my support, Beijing is already out of place?"

"General, are you so disapproving of Premier Duan?"

"Hey--"

Duan Xun sighed, and said: "Mr. Wang, integrating localities, rectifying finances, and developing the economy are your strengths. But you can't compare with me in judging the development of the situation and judging the outcome of the war."

"Then the general means..."

"As long as the Beijing government is out of position and is no longer under the control of Premier Duan, then I will immediately ask the diplomatic missions in Beijing to hand over all customs clearance under my control to me."

"Does the general really want this?"

Wang Yongjiang turned pale with shock.

Duan Xun's courage is getting bigger and bigger.Before offending the British, this time even the diplomatic missions dared to offend.That represents world powers such as Europe, America and Japan.These countries are afraid that China will not be able to repay the compensation and loans, so they deduct the customs duties and pay back their money first.The rest of Guanyu was handed over to the Beijing government.