Respectfully

The day after Lou Shengfeng arrived in Qingdao, Zhan Changqing called on the governor of Qingdao Waldeck again.He took five boxes of sulfa with him, and stayed in the governor's mansion until late at night.The next day, the commander-in-chief of the German Far East Fleet, von Spee, was invited by Governor Waldeck to the Governor's Palace.

"Your Excellency, this is the quid pro quo proposed by the Huaxia people." Governor Waldeck pointed to the five boxes of sulfonamides on the table, "The purpose is to hope that we can help with the loan."

It is impossible for the Germans not to pay attention to the civil war between the North and South governments in Shandong.Of course, they also discovered some unusual features of the Chinese army. As long as the army has this sulfa drug, the death rate of the wounded is very low.Especially the wounded in the army of the six northern provinces, except those who died in battle or were seriously injured, almost all survived.

"This is almost impossible. As long as the wound becomes inflamed, the soldier will die." Von Spee said, "Is it because of this drug?"

"I've already verified it." Waldeck opened a box of sulfonamides, and looked at the five medicines lying quietly in the box, "Zhan did not provide me with a clinical trial report, and the continuous recovery of wounded in their army is enough to explain everything .”

"Maybe we should be more cautious."

"But we don't have much time left." Waldeck said, "Your Excellency, Lou Shengfeng, the ruler of the six northern provinces, passed away unexpectedly, and Zhan will be rushing back to attend his funeral in a week. As Lou Shengfeng's relative, he must be present. Once he goes back, it is difficult for us to predict how things will develop. Lou Shengfeng's successor, Lou Xiao, is a young man who has received German military education and has excellent qualities. I believe that even if he signs the contract It's not him, and eventually everything in the contract will be fulfilled."

Von Spee no longer hesitated. For the lives of the soldiers of the German Empire, he promised Waldeck that he would work with him to persuade Laurus, the president of the Deutsche Bank.Although he is not a Junker nobleman, Laurus, who also has a prominent background, must be willing to make concessions for the benefit of the empire.

Zhan Changqing didn't stay in a hotel, but chose a two-story western-style building only about 800 meters away from the Governor's Mansion. The nearby buildings all have obvious German architectural styles, not luxurious, but heavy and practical.

"Are you back?" Lou Shengfeng sat in the living room, with several newspapers on the coffee table in front of him. He opened a newspaper printed and published by a German in his hand, pointed to a message on it and said, "It seems that I Still famous, and when I die, an obituary is published in a German newspaper."

After finishing speaking, he laughed.

"Master, this is not funny." Zhan Changqing sat on the sofa beside him, "I have delivered sulfonamide to Waldeck as you ordered, judging from the other party's reaction, the chance of success is very high .My concern is that if the Germans develop the same drug based on it, then..."

"There's nothing to worry about." Marshal Lou waved his hand, "Just wait and see, even if they develop it, they will keep it secret and won't make it public. If you get something good from someone else, will you hide it or spread it around? "

In addition to Germany, England, France, and the United States, and Russia is a big deal, where can medicines not be sold to make money?Moreover, once Germany obtains this drug and develops the formula, they will definitely try to prevent the formula from falling into the hands of their opponents. If this is the case, I am afraid it will help them a lot.

"That's true." Zhan Changqing nodded, "But Commander, is it too high to increase the loan amount to 8000 million marks?"

"It's not high. For this money, I spent all my money. If I don't take the opportunity to ask for more money, I will lose money." Lou Shengfeng smiled and said: "Changqing, you have to work harder, I Didn’t I tell you that Shen Zeping’s vine is now in the hands of my son and daughter-in-law? I’m going to have a funeral in a week. We have to finalize the contract as soon as possible, otherwise not only you will be in trouble, but mine will also be in trouble. will be small."

Zhan Changqing didn't know what expression he should make to express his grief and indignation, his trouble?Wasn't this good brother-in-law in front of him looking for his troubles? !

Seeing Zhan Changqing's long face, Lou Shengfeng sneered twice, and patted his bald head, "Don't be angry, and be considerate of brother-in-law, I'm 58 this year, and I'm looking at people who are going to be [-], this time I'm lucky Only by finding out those who communicated with Xing Changgeng in advance and escaped, what about next time? Xiao’er is only twenty, and his wife is even younger. Relying on the old to sell the old, the young master can be bullied, can my gang subdue them? If you don’t take this opportunity to remind them, I’m afraid some people won’t even know their last name.”

"Master, you..."

"I can only tell you these words, as long as God gives me another ten years, no, five years, I promise to hand over this family business to Xiao'er in a safe and secure manner, but time won't wait for me. "Dashuai Lou didn't look at Zhan Changqing, but said to himself: "Xiao'er is ruthless, and it is not easy for the old brothers who followed me to create this family business, and I don't want them to die because of a moment of confusion. I'll go back when the loan matter is over and pass my hand, it's better than..."

"Marshal," Zhan Changqing interrupted Marshal Lou, who could speak these words, but he couldn't listen, "Your body is strong, the young marshal is quite prestigious in the army, and Young Master Yan is also capable. It's too early to say these things, after all, things haven't reached that point yet."

"I hope so."

Guanbei City, Marshal's Mansion

Mrs. Lou's morning sickness suddenly healed, accompanied by a great appetite.

The cook carefully stewed the chicken soup, skimming off all the oil on the surface of the soup, leaving only a clear soup base. After adding some diced radish and chopped green onion, there was not even a shred of pork. Mrs. Lou ate it one after another. two bowls.

Li Jinyan watched in shock. After eating so much, will he feel uncomfortable later?

Mrs. Lou put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, looked up and saw Li Jinyan's expression, and couldn't help laughing, "What are you looking at me like that for?"

"Mother, that, you ate so much at once, are you okay?"

"I said why do you have such an expression, it's okay." The girl took the bowl down and put a cushion behind Mrs. Lou's waist, "When I was pregnant with Xiaoer, I ate more than this, such a big porcelain bowl "Madam Lou gestured with both hands, "I can eat three bowls for a meal. At that time, I especially liked to eat pickled radishes. It is best to soak them in vinegar to make them sour, so that the taste is refreshing."

Li Jinyan felt his teeth hurt just listening to it.But it's always a good thing for Mrs. Lou to be able to eat.Since Marshal Lou's accident, Mrs. Lou has been in a bad mood, but today she is uncharacteristically, which makes Li Jinyan a little puzzled.

He wanted to ask, but he didn't know how to ask. Could he just say, "Mother, why are you suddenly in such a good mood?" Isn't this looking for a beating?

Mrs. Lou waved the girls to go down. She and Li Jinyan were the only ones left in the room. She picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea into the cup in front of Li Jinyan. The people said that Shen Zeping from the pharmaceutical factory made trouble for you and even fired a gun. Originally, Xiaoer wanted to kill him, but you stopped him?"

"Mom, is this wrong?"

"No, you did a good job." Mrs. Lou put down the teapot, and said to Li Jinyan earnestly: "You are a child who understands, some people deserve to be killed, and it is not an exaggeration to cut them into pieces. As a last resort, you must not put a knife on his neck. Shen Zeping has been with the commander in chief for 30 years, and his relatives and friends are all over the six northern provinces. Even if he committed a heinous crime, he cannot be killed at this moment."

Li Jinyan looked at Mrs. Lou, "I understand what mother means, and I know these reasons." In fact, Li Jinyan really didn't take Shen Zeping's matter too seriously. It has nothing to do with the righteousness of the nation.What's more, with Shen Zeping's disturbance, he also saw many people in the pharmaceutical factory clearly, so he can grasp the scale of what to do next.

"Child, put a knife on the head of the word forbearance. Sometimes, the comparison is not who has more power in his hands, whose fist is hard enough, but who is more tolerant." Mrs. Lou took Li Jinyan's hand and held his Clenching his fists tightly: "Han Xin's humiliation, Gou Jian's hard work, and Su Wu's sheep herding outside, all rely on the word "forbearance."

Li Jinyan nodded.

"However, once you have endured to a certain extent, you don't have to bear it anymore." Mrs. Lou let go of Li Jinyan's hand, "When it comes time to make a real move, you must kill with one blow, so that your opponent will never be able to recover."

Li Jinyan asked himself, when the day came, would he really be able to lift the knife or pull the bolt of the gun without hesitation?For that matter, even if he doesn't do it, can't he?

"However," Mrs. Lou changed the subject, "this Shen Zeping doesn't seem like someone who would come out and criticize as soon as the commander-in-chief left."

"mother?"

"Since he was locked up by Xiao'er, you don't have to worry about it anymore, why don't you take the opportunity to clean up the people who followed him earlier."

Li Jinyan was a little embarrassed. He thought that Mrs. Lou had found out that he had secretly asked Uncle Dumb to investigate the workshop director and financial manager of the pharmaceutical factory.But Mrs. Lou took the initiative to mention it, and he simply said what was in his heart: "Mother, after all, they are all arranged by the commander in chief, and it's not easy for me to do anything without obvious mistakes."

"One emperor and one courtier." Mrs. Lou sneered, "Didn't Lou Shengfeng be 'killed'?"

Li Jinyan looked at Mrs. Lou in astonishment, it didn't seem like something Mrs. Lou would say at all.Suddenly, a thought popped up in his mind, the charred corpse, Mrs. Lou's sudden change of attitude... Could it be that the handsome is not dead?

But what did Mrs. Lou base her guess on?

Thinking back carefully on what happened in the past two days, it seems that Mrs. Lou's attitude began to change after she learned that Shen Zeping attacked him and was locked up by Marshal Lou.Is there any connection between this?

The more I think about it, the more I feel dizzy, or should he visit the prison?

After Li Jinyan left, a handsome girl came in, leaned over and whispered something in Mrs. Lou's ear, and Mrs. Lou nodded, "I see, that 'dead man' is probably at Changqing's place now. .”

"Madam, don't you tell the young marshal and young master Yan about this?"

"No, let them investigate by themselves." Mrs. Lou said: "I know Shen Zeping, no matter how dissatisfied he is with Yan'er, he will not provoke trouble at this time. There is only one reason for him to do this, and that is that someone in advance Get along with him. If he comes to be the rafter of this young man, he can directly involve a group of people. But he also dragged Changqing in, Lou Shengfeng, when you come back..."

Marshal Lou, who was in Qingdao, suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. What's going on, and who is "missing" him?

Under the persuasion of Governor Waldeck and the commander-in-chief of the Far East Fleet, von Shipe, the president of Deutsche Bank, Laurus, finally let go.Zhan Changqing went to the Governor's Mansion with two entourages and signed a loan contract.

The main content of the loan contract is: the total amount of the loan is 8000 million German marks, the annual interest rate of the loan is 4%, and the loan period is 15 years.60.00% of the loan will be used to purchase German machinery. During the loan period, Germany has joint mining rights to any mineral deposits discovered in Far East Siberia by the six northern provinces.The equipment required for mining is handled by the lending bank, and a commission of 5.00% is charged on the price.In addition, the bank will draw 300 million marks from the loan as a remuneration.

The contract also stipulates that Deutsche marks must be used for borrowing and repayment.

The Germans don't quite understand why this item is added. After all, most of Huaxia's loan contracts are based on silver and British pounds. But overall, adding or not adding this item will not have any impact on their side, and they didn't think much about it. He agreed.

The contract was drafted in Chinese, English, and German, signed by Zhan Changqing and the president of Dehua Bank, and witnessed by Waldeck of the Qingdao General Office and the commander-in-chief of the Far East Fleet.

This loan contract was signed in the fourth year of the Republic of China, that is, August 1912, 8 in the Gregorian calendar. It was later called the "Min Sihua De Loan Contract".Interestingly, both Chinese and German historians believed that this contract harmed the interests of their own countries, and they had been arguing about it for half a century.

The Chinese believe that this contract involves Siberia mineral deposits, and Siberia is China's inherent territory. This contract obviously violates China's sovereignty and interests, and it is a traitorous contract.

The example given by the Germans is more practical. In 1912, they lent 8000 million real gold and silver to the Chinese people. Ten years later, when the mark fell to 100 million to be exchanged for one dollar, the Chinese people returned the money to them. Almost a pile of waste paper!

Of course, half a century is still far away, and both parties who signed the loan contract now firmly believe that they have taken advantage of it.

On the day the contract was signed, Zhan Changqing placed the first order with a German foreign company, including machine tools and complete sets of industrial equipment worth 3000 million marks. At the same time, on the condition of increasing the supply of sulfonamide for Germany every year, in exchange for Germany helping the six northern provinces Build an arsenal that can independently manufacture rifles, machine guns, bullets and light artillery.All the production equipment in the arsenal was purchased from Germany by the six northern provinces, and Germany will send technical personnel to assist in the construction of the factory. During this period, the salaries of the German personnel will be paid by the six northern provinces.

As long as there is money to be made, the Germans immediately put the Boxer Treaty behind them, and the six northern provinces have clearly shown their pro-German tendencies. They can not only make money, but also add obstacles to Russia and Japan by arming the troops of the six northern provinces. Happy to do it?

Presumably His Majesty the Kaiser will be very happy to know.

After the loan contract was signed, a reception was held in the government office. Governor Waldeck raised his glass, "For Dehua's friendship!"

Zhan Changqing also raised his wine glass, the smile on his face looked like a fox who had stolen a fat chicken.

The loans from the six northern provinces to the Germans were carried out in secret, and the telegram sent back to Guanbei by Zhan Changqing only had four words: "The matter has been completed".

When the telegram was sent to Young Marshal Lou's desk, he was immersed in handling government affairs. Although Young Marshal Lou had just taken over the government of the six northern provinces, he was full of abilities and skills, which made the people who were a little unstable before gradually calm down.

In addition, the story of Shen Zeping has been spread in private, just because he raised a gun at Li Jinyan is enough to convict him of rebellion.But he is still imprisoned, and his life is safe. It can be seen that Marshal Lou still cares for the veteran of the Marshal.Everyone has a new understanding of Li Jinyan.This Young Master Yan has first-class business skills and a flexible mind. For him, Master Lou is willing to lock up the veteran who has been with the Marshal for 30 years. He sat firmly in the position of the young wife of the family.

The loan from Germany was originally Li Jinyan's idea. After receiving the telegram, Marshal Lou immediately asked Adjutant Ji to fetch Li Jinyan back from the factory.

Adjutant Ji led the order. Young Marshal Lou put down the telegram and opened the drawer. Inside was the secret telegram sent to him by Dai Guorao, Governor of Rehe. Just yesterday, there was a mutiny in the Ninth Division stationed in Rehe. When division commander Meng Fu was invited to a banquet by Dai Guorao, all of Meng Chou's brigade were surrounded in the barracks and shot.Two of the three regiment leaders under him rebelled on the spot, and the whole mutiny ended almost as soon as it started.

"Rao Youchang, Xiao Yongwu, are you going to rebel?!" Meng Chou was tied up and brought in front of the other two brigade commanders of the Ninth Division, yelling: "You dare to attack me?!"

Brigadier Rao smiled coldly: "Your surname is Meng, don't pretend to be confused. I think you are the one who has taken the courage to be ambitious. Do you think we don't know what you and Meng Fu are doing in private? You think it's the opposite of the young marshal and vote for him." Mr. Sima!"

"Stop spitting blood!"

"You really don't cry when you see the coffin!" Brigadier Rao clapped his hands, and Meng Fu's adjutant, who had informed Brigadier Rao and others before, walked out through the crowd, and told what he had heard before in the eyes of everyone. After saying it in front of him, Meng Chou's expression immediately changed.

Brigadier Rao continued, "How about it, Meng, what else do you have to say?"

Meng Chou gritted his teeth: "I have nothing to say about success and failure."

"You are the only one who is the king and loses the bandit?" Brigadier Xiao sneered and said, "You don't even have the qualifications to be a bandit!"

At the same time that Meng Chou was imprisoned, Meng Fu who was in Governor Dai's mansion was also arrested. The guards he brought were either killed or captured at gunpoint. Dai Guorao looked at Meng Fu who was tied up, He sneered and said, "Meng Fu, it's not that my surname Dai is vicious, it's really that you are looking for death, and no one can save you."

Meng Fu didn't speak, Dai Guorao waved his hand: "Take him down! Wait until the day after tomorrow, bring him to the marshal's mourning hall, blood sacrifice!"