Respectfully

The fifth year of the Republic of China Gregorian calendar March 1913, 3

After several days of wrangling, the second peace talks between the North and South governments finally got to the point.The division of power between the central and local governments is the most concerned issue of the representatives of the North and South and the provinces.

"Inter-provincial self-government is the best choice for China today."

Unexpectedly, Ma Qingxiang, the commander-in-chief of Shaanxi and Gansu, who is known as the horse bandit, was the first to put forward his opinion. The commander-in-chief Ma Qingfang naturally wanted to support his own people, so he immediately stood up and seconded the proposal.

The three horses just took the lead. Next, Yan Huaiyu from Shanxi, Song Qining from Hubei, Yuan Baoshan from Henan, Tang Tingshan from Guizhou, and Longyiting from Yunnan all agreed. Han Anshan, the next superintendent, also joined in the fun, saying that the self-government of the provinces is in response to the current situation in China and the people's will.

Sima Jun, the President of the North, and Song Zhou, the Interim President of the South, have yet to make a statement. The representatives of the North and the South who participated in the peace talks all set their sights on Lou Shengfeng, the commander-in-chief of the six northern provinces.The concept of inter-provincial self-government was first proposed by the six northern provinces, and as soon as it was proposed, it was responded by the real power faction in the country. People from all walks of life both agreed and opposed, and it caused a lot of controversy.

Now it was officially proposed at the negotiating table of the second peace talks between the North and South governments, as the person in charge of the six northern provinces, Lou Shengfeng would have to say something, right?

Marshal Lou calmly coughed and stood up. He had expected the current scene, and even the first three horses were pushed by Zhan Changqing behind his back, and the governors of the provinces who spoke out were also the same as Marshal Lou. We had contacts in private. As for Tang Guangren and Xue Dingzhou, Lou Xiao swallowed the two divisions in one go. After that, although I still felt a little embarrassed, I also knew that once the inter-provincial self-government was implemented, it would benefit me. Although some of the power in my hand must be distributed, at least I can stay on my own territory and be the emperor of the country. Otherwise, no matter what Is it Song Zhou, Sima Jun or Lou Shengfeng who became the president, occupying the righteousness of the central government, relying on the power in his hands, don't they just deal with them as they say?

These three are not Zheng Huai'en who has no army in his hands and can only be pinched as a soft persimmon.Therefore, when the three horses started and the governors and commanders of the provinces seconded, the two also knew how to disagree.As for Han Anshan, his thinking is still the same as before, he must always work hard before he goes out of the field, even if he loses military power, it is good to continue to be a nominal commander-in-chief.

When everyone was thinking about each other and calling Xiao Jiujiu, Lou Shengfeng spoke.

"The power of the country is based on the locality. The prosperity of the nation depends on the awakening and struggle of the people of the country! Looking at the current general trend, it is better for each province to try to stand on its own, establish a provincial government, and restrict its power with the local constitution and the national constitution. Proposal for the central government of China to be above the provincial governments, to lead the country's legislation and administration, finance and taxation, foreign affairs and national defense, in order to achieve self-reliance of the country, freedom of the people, reshape the self-esteem of the nation, prosperity of the country, and restore the glory of China!"

As soon as these words fell, the representatives of both sides of the negotiation and the governors of the provinces fell silent at the same time.

Previously, the six northern provinces only proposed the concept and general form of inter-provincial autonomy, without detailing the division of power between the central and local governments.Now Lou Shengfeng directly stated that the power of finance and taxation, foreign affairs and national defense, legislation and administration should be transferred to the central government, especially the taxation, which can not help but make everyone feel drummed.

Regardless of the north and the south, the main task of the governors of the provinces to raise the army is to withhold tax revenues. Lou Shengfeng has done this before, but now he proposes to transfer all fiscal revenues to the central government?

Song Zhou looked at Lou Shengfeng with an unchanged expression. Song Wu went to the six northern provinces twice before, and the first time he proposed with Lou Xiao that the tax revenue should be collected by the coalition government, but the other party seemed to disagree.When he saw Lou Shengfeng and Lou Xiao the next day, he didn't ask anything. Now that Lou Shengfeng suddenly said these words during the peace talks, isn't he worried that others will backlash?

Sima Jun also had the same question, but compared to Song Zhou, he knew Lou Shengfeng better. Since Lou Shengfeng dared to say that, he was sure that he could appease the real power factions in various provinces.His goal is to be the president of the coalition government. Before ascending to this throne, he will definitely not set up roadblocks and make trouble for himself.

The ministers from Britain, the United States, Germany, France and other countries also discussed in low voices, but they didn't know what kind of medicine Mr. Lou was selling in the gourd.

The following negotiations almost all revolved around the points proposed by Lou Shengfeng, especially the disputes over taxation and finance. Fortunately, the representatives of the six northern provinces were well prepared. Zhan Changqing and Bai Baoqi Shi Shiran stood up and started a battle It was a good show where the chiefs of the two bureaus of the six northern provinces fought with each other.

Marshal Lou stopped talking, and sat on the chair, occasionally looking at Sima Jun and Song Zhou, looking confident.Starting from Zhan Changqing and Bai Baoqi's relay game, the entire negotiation process was basically following the pace set by Lou Shengfeng.

Sima Jun is fine, anyway, he has a clue that Lou Shengfeng is in his hands, he doesn't even think about the position of the president of the coalition government, but Song Zhou's heart trembles, looking at the situation in front of him, his heart keeps going sink.

After Bai Baoqi proposed the concept of the central bank, extended fiscal and tax-related issues, and explained them one by one, the debate gradually subsided and gradually turned into whispered remarks. People nodded from time to time, and the smell of gunpowder in the air disappeared. .Song Zhou was calm on the surface, but in his heart he felt a sense of frustration that the situation was over.

In the conference hall, there was fierce talk, and a large group of people also gathered outside the conference hall.Including reporters, people from all walks of life waiting for news, and the Japanese minister who was stopped outside the door.

The Japanese Minister Yijuin has been trying hard to enter the conference hall these days, but he was stopped outside the door without exception.He really wanted to know the specific situation of the peace talks between the North and South China governments, but he couldn't get more accurate information by all means.The envoys from various countries who entered the conference hall to observe were unexpectedly strict in their words, and even the Russian envoy did not disclose more content to him. He could only learn about the progress of the peace talks through the newspapers, but the things in the newspapers were only superficial. Not to mention the focus of Yijiyuan's attention.

For this reason, Yijiyuan often threw cups in the mansion in Dongjiaomin Lane, but even if he also dropped the teapot, he didn't know or didn't know.

The news related to the North-South peace talks was also continuously spread back to the six northern provinces. The two reporters who were sent to the capital to interview celebrities, also had close contact with many top figures from all walks of life in the country, including the famous industrialists in the country. , educator, and academic professor.

Soon, more than 20 interviews were sent back to the six northern provinces, and Li Jinyan's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Physics, chemistry, medicine...literature, mathematics...spinning factory, hospital?" Li Jinyan sat at the table, flipping through the reports sent by two reporters, and saw many acquaintances in it, Boss Song from Tianjin, Huzhou Boss Gu, and the third master Pang of the Pang family, one of the four elephants who are as famous as the Gu family.Mr. Pang paid great attention to the education of Chinese people, and founded Xunxi Hospital together with his elder brother, advocating Western medicine.Although it is only the size of a township hospital, the doctors are highly skilled and the fees are low, and they are often praised in the Huzhou area.

Western-style hospital, which reminded Li Jinyan.

The medicines produced by the Loujia Western Pharmaceutical Factory are currently only supplied to the military, but this is not a long-term solution. If the pharmaceutical factory wants to develop in the long run, the medicines will sooner or later enter civilian hospitals.Considering that sulfonamide and penicillin must be kept secret for a certain period of time, the idea of ​​cooperating with the Pang family was temporarily suppressed by Li Jinyan.However, he can suggest that Marshal Lou set up a military hospital in the six northern provinces, and open it to the private sector to a limited extent. Specifically, Marshal Lou needs to arrange someone to operate it.

After going through all the interviews, Li Jinyan was happy at first, then frowned.

China has no shortage of top talents, but how to attract these talents to the six northern provinces is a big problem.He definitely won't be able to come forward by himself. In front of these big bulls, who is he?The only way is to invite Marshal Lou or Young Marshal Lou to come forward, but this is not very sure.In this day and age, scholars with great talents and patriotism are completely different from the scholars of later generations, and it is not easy to invite them.With money and power, they can give you a brick face to face.

The Lou family is a warlord, even if they defeated the Russians and Japanese one after another, and took back the South Manchurian Railway, they are still warlords, at most they can be called patriotic.The reputation of the Lou family in the six northern provinces is indeed good, but in the whole country... from all over the world, with just one mouth, who would easily believe that the warlords who run businesses only want to make money for the country and the people, not for themselves?

Li Jinyan sighed, it was like a pot of fragrant braised pork in front of him, but separated by a layer of bulletproof glass, want to eat meat?Just break the glass.

For a moment, Li Sanshao had the idea of ​​kidnapping. Since he is a warlord, he should act like a warlord?Then he shook his head, if he dared to do this, in addition to being bricked, he might also be scolded bloody.It seems that these things have to be done by an old fox at the level of Zhan Changqing and Ren Wuchu.But the idea is certainly not for nothing...

Li Sanshao couldn't help but looked up to the sky and sighed: "It's difficult!"