Years of the Republic of China 1913

"The abacus is really good!" Fang Zida glanced at the diplomatic letters from Britain and France, sneered and threw them into the trash can.

"Ming Ming..." Cao Rulin looked at Fang Zida's behavior in puzzlement, and Yang Du, who rarely came to Zhongyang Bank for work, was also sitting there today, smiling and shaking his folding fan lightly, looking leisurely.

Following Tsarist Russia and Germany, Britain, France and other countries have successively proposed commercial cooperation intentions with China, which made the Chinese, especially Chinese diplomats, who had always been of low status in the world, ecstatic.Because of the precedents of Germany and Russia, many people think that this is an excellent opportunity for China. Taking advantage of the stalemate in the war will not only improve the country's reputation, but also bring more opportunities for domestic development. If it can be like Germany , Russia, and take advantage of the opportunity to take back the concession or something, it would be even better.

Fang Zida is not a professional diplomat, but he is a qualified businessman.He understood what was going on after a quick look at the diplomatic letters from Britain, France and other countries, and he was not dazzled by the situation before him like others. Fang Zida was very clear about what Britain and France were planning. A nice proposition, but worthless at all.

"My suggestion is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs neither supports nor opposes the business cooperation requirements of Britain, France and other countries. If they really want to cooperate with our country, they can directly contact people from the private business circles. There is no need to find Zheng Fu here. "Lighting the cigar, Fang Zida said casually.

Cao Rulin was a little puzzled. In his view, this was as good an opportunity as Germany and Russia.Why did Fang Zida change his previous stance and oppose it?Look at Yang Du who has nothing to do with himself.Cao Rulin thought for a while, and asked, "Why? Zhang Ming, what a great opportunity. If you can take advantage of this opportunity to recover the lost ground like Germany and Russia, it will be a matter of great merit! Brother Xizi, what do you think?" ?”

"Hehe, I don't understand diplomatic matters. Brother Runtian may be asking the wrong person. But...Since Brother Chengming said so, there must be his reason. Why don't you listen to Brother Chengming's explanation first?" Yang Duyao He said with a smile while holding the folding fan.

"Old cunning!" Fang Zida cursed Yang Du secretly.This guy has always had such a personality, conceited and unparalleled in strategy, and usually behaves mysteriously when he has nothing to do, and he will never speak rashly if he is not fully sure.Cao Rulin wanted Yang Du to persuade him, but Yang Du took him out lightly, and instead brought the topic back to himself with a single sentence.

However, what needs to be explained still needs to be explained. Fang Zida smiled immediately and said: "Britain, France, Germany, and Russia are very different. First of all, between Germany, Britain, and France, Germany is an ally of the three countries. Britain, France It is the Allied Powers, out of the opposing camp. Among the Allied Powers, Germany has the strongest military power. It can also be said that Germany is now fighting against most of Europe with its own strength. In addition, it is fighting on two fronts. Germany is seeking the help of its allies* *It is far more urgent than Britain and France. China is in the Far East, and Britain and France have always been the strongest in the Far East. If you want to come, Brother Runtian should be aware of the joints.”

"Is Zhang Ming trying to say that Germany's need for my country is far more urgent than that of Britain and France? Is this also the basis for Germany's agreement to return Qingdao?" Cao Rulin asked thoughtfully.

"That's right!" Fang Zida nodded and continued: "As the saying goes, it's the icing on the cake that comes in a timely manner. Everyone understands the difference between the two. Our cooperation with Germany is timely assistance, but our cooperation with Britain and France is The icing on the cake, how can this be compared?"

Suddenly, Cao Rulin nodded again and again, and suddenly realized: "As for Russia, although it is an Allied Power with Britain and France, it is under strong military pressure from Germany. In addition, it cannot seek assistance from Europe and the Americas, so it can only turn to China for help. So far. That's why there are concessions to Outer Mongolia in the commercial agreement, isn't it?"

"Brother Run Tian is absolutely right, it is exactly this principle!" Fang Zida clasped his hands and laughed in agreement.

But Cao Rulin was still a little puzzled, hesitantly said: "But even so, there is no harm in business cooperation with Britain and France! Why do you need to shirk?"

"Hehe, Britain and France say it beautifully, but they actually have bad intentions." Fang Zida shook his head and said, "Brother Runtian, didn't you pay attention to the United States? Since the beginning of the war, the United States has been equally neutral as China, but it has been secretly supporting Britain and France. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the war to sell goods and materials to Europe. Britain and the United States are natural allies. This is a fact that no one can deny. They are both Western races. How about seeking cooperation? No matter from the perspective of industrial scale or historical ties, this assumption is impossible. What's more, the official letters of Britain, France and other countries did not list the actual things. That's right, Britain and France want to use this method to play China as a fool, and then weaken the cooperation with Germany, so as to achieve the goal of killing two birds with one stone."

"What Zhang Ming said is reasonable. It's not been a day or two since the English and French have played this kind of trick. Besides, this trick has been around since ancient times. It's not surprising. It's a combination of vertical and horizontal, and foreign devils have learned three points of their skills and then come to show off. Look at me, there is no one in China." Yang Du snapped the folding fan in his hand, stood up and said with a smile, while shaking his head with disdain.

Cao Rulin has been in diplomacy for a long time, and it is not a day or two to deal with foreigners. If it is normal, these tricks will not be able to hide from him. The key is that the great victories of Germany and Russia made him lose his sense of normalcy for a while. After Fang Zida reminded him Wake up immediately.

Within a few days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied to Britain, France and other countries, saying that the Chinese government still agrees with the business cooperation matters, and hopes to continue the current friendly exchanges with Britain, France and other countries, but the specific business matters are still handled by the business. The government of the Republic of China is a constitutional government, and it is inconvenient to intervene in normal private commerce.Anyway, the last sentence is, if you want to cooperate with our country, you can. Our government supports but does not intervene. Please directly discuss with domestic factories and enterprises.

The attitude of the Chinese government made Britain and France helpless. After pretending to say some stereotypes, they left in despair.After that, I never mentioned business cooperation again.At the same time, Germany and Russia, who have paid close attention to the matter between China, Britain and France, also breathed a sigh of relief. None of them want to see China affect their respective interests because of the cooperation between Britain and France.

After Cao Rulin left, Yang Du closed the door, and pulled Fang Zida to sit on the sofa together.

"Brother Xizi, what's the matter?" Although Yang Du is the vice president of Zhongyang Bank, he rarely comes to the headquarters. Fang Zida came here suddenly today, and he knew that he would come here for a stroll.

Looking at Fang Zida with a smile, Yang Du asked, "Brother Zhang Ming is thirty-two this year?"

"Hehe, brother Xizi is very memorable." Fang Zida nodded, a little confused why Yang Du asked this suddenly.

"In the 32 years of the previous dynasty, Zheng Fu sent five ministers abroad to investigate constitutionalism. Mr. Xiong went to Japan and asked Mr. Yang and Mr. Liang to draft a report. Mr. Yang wrote "China's constitutional outline should absorb the strengths of Western and Eastern countries" and "Implementing constitutionalism" "Procedure" gained a great name from this. That year, the Manchu Qing government issued an edict based on this report to prepare for the establishment of a constitution... Time flies, and ten years have passed, and I, Yang Du, have passed by." Recalling the past, Yang Du was full of emotion, his eyes Looking into the distance through the window, it seems to be back in the past.

Fang Zida felt strange, but it was inconvenient to interrupt Yang Du, so he sat quietly by the side and waited for him to continue.

Sighing, Yang Du said: "After Duri returned to the country, I, Yang Du, first helped the Manchu Qing to make a constitution, and after doing it, I was called a constitutional expert. Now it's ridiculous to think about it. Then I was a consultant to the 'royal cabinet' , and later entered the shogunate of the President, and has been busy until today. Fortunately, the painstaking efforts of those years were not in vain. The establishment of the Republic of China and the constitutional government of the country, and now watching the country become stronger and stronger, Yang believes that he has contributed a lot of."

"Of course! Brother Xizi has planned for the country for many years. Although outsiders don't know about his achievements, the President and I are very clear. The President often told me that Yang Xizi is unparalleled in the country, especially in his strategy." Fang Zida He nodded repeatedly at the side and gave him a compliment.

"Hehe, it's just President Miao Zan." Yang Du waved his hand, there was no complacency on his face, on the contrary, he was a little dignified.

"I, Yang Du, studied with Mr. Xiangqi in my early years. What I learned was the art of the emperor, and then I studied in Japan. Although I can't talk about the general trend of the world, I do know a thing or two. I am fortunate to be trusted by the president, so I can show my strengths It’s just a meager contribution. But now, the president’s health is deteriorating, and I’m afraid time is running out!”

"This..." How did Yang Du talk about Yuan Shikai's health?Fang Zida was not very good at explaining this, and he could only comfort Yuan Shikai by saying that although Yuan Shikai's illness is serious, he can still be recuperated, as long as he takes his time, maybe when medical science develops, he may be cured.

"Shang Ming, it's fine to talk about these things with others, why don't you talk to me?" Looking at Fang Zida with some displeasure, Yang Du said: "The president is an outstanding man. Although I, Yang Du, am not a gentleman, I am also a gentleman." Those who dare to do something, don't use these words to deceive yourself. The president's time is short, and everyone knows this in his heart. These days, I have been thinking, once the president suddenly leaves, what will happen to this country?"

For a while, Fang Zida couldn't answer. In fact, both he and Yang Du knew in their hearts that although the country had a constitutional government and the reorganization of the National Defense Forces these years, the various factions in the country were still powerful, especially the Beiyang faction. Okay, but if Yuan Shikai is gone, who can guarantee that the people from various departments who are fighting secretly now can hold back?Once chaos arises, previous efforts will be in vain.

"Shang Ming, do you want to take the position?" Suddenly, Yang Du asked a question, Fang Zida stood up suddenly in shock, his mouth opened wide, unable to say anything.