Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 73 Reliance
Let all Chinese who can speak English have the right to vote.

I have to say that these British people are really talented at stirring up trouble.

This is actually a very insidious proposal that may seem like a good thing at first glance, and it is difficult for most people to immediately notice the insidiousness of this proposal.

Zheng Yi happened to be able to perceive this because this was the China policy implemented by Britain in the Federation of Malaya after World War II.

Objectively speaking, the policy itself was extremely successful for the British.

It successfully made the Nanyang Chinese, who had more than 50% of the population, considerable organizational strength, unprecedented national self-confidence, a large number of weapons, and politically the status of a victorious country after World War II, become powerless in that most critical post-war period.

It successfully maintained the British rule in Malaya for ten years after World War II, and in the process of establishing Malaysia, kicked the Chinese, who were obviously more powerful, out of politics.

Actually, it’s not that complicated. It’s just about dividing and winning over, and creating class confrontation.

For these British politicians, stirring up trouble is something that is ingrained in their nature.

In the whole of Malaya, the proportion of Chinese who can speak English is only about 12% of the total Chinese population, and this is only limited to being able to speak, which does not mean that they can use English for daily communication.

This actually makes a perfect division between Chinese people who can speak English and those who cannot.

Most Chinese who can speak English fall into two categories: one is the two- or three-generation or more native-born Chinese, or the Peranakan.

In fact, if a Chinese person has not returned to China for two or even three generations, can he still be considered a Chinese?
The other type is people who can afford to attend English elite schools, that is, rich people.

This policy was very successful in dividing the Chinese into only the native Chinese and the new immigrant Chinese, and added a whole new class: the Straits Chinese.

Specifically refers to those Chinese who can only speak English and not Chinese, and who have almost nothing to do with Chinese people except for their yellow skin.

This type of Straits Chinese is often particularly favored in the political arena and thus rises to prominence. In other words, if the Nanyang Chinese go into politics, knowing Chinese becomes a disadvantage.

You should know that before World War II, even Nyonya people who could not speak Chinese at all had to learn Chinese.

The most typical example is Tan Cheng Lu from Malacca. As a Peranakan, neither his father nor his mother could speak Chinese, but he not only learned Chinese, but was also proficient in the Four Books and Five Classics. When chatting with others, he could even talk about the plot of A Dream of Red Mansions in detail.

Learning Chinese is an indispensable means for the native Chinese and Nyonya people to integrate into the Chinese community and enter the upper class society.

After World War II, not only did no one like Nyonya learn Chinese, but even the descendants of loyal families like Li Xiaoshi mostly stopped learning Chinese.

His sons could barely hear and speak, but could not read or write. Many of his grandchildren could not even hear and speak.

Most of the Chinese who do not know English are grassroots. In the era of the red movement after World War II, class contradictions were extremely sharp. In addition, most of the people in power could not even speak Chinese.

In this case, those who can speak English naturally become the British's running dogs in the eyes of most Chinese.

In the eyes of 90% of Chinese who do not speak English, these British lackeys are clearly class enemies and are targets to be eliminated.

But the problem is that the organization, wealth, and even guns controlled by the Chinese are mostly concentrated in the hands of these 10% of the Chinese.

This is how Li Xiaoshi got the title of "British running dog" in history.

In the past, everyone was united under the banner of "Chinese". They were the leaders among the Chinese and the overseas Chinese, and they could command the support of hundreds of people.

Now they have become running dogs, and the lower-class Chinese even want to tear them apart and divide their property.

In order to seek asylum, they can only rely more and more on the British government and work for the British government.

Over time, he really became a running dog.

To be honest, Zheng Yi is not opposed to the concept of so-called "elite democracy".

At least during the period before World War II, it seemed that no country in the world was a universal democracy.

There seems to be no example in the world where universal democracy was achieved first and then prosperity was achieved.
Historically, including European and American countries, any country that has truly achieved universal democracy will inevitably begin to decline in terms of economy and society, without exception.

But this English word "democracy" has some ulterior motives.

Of course, this is still before World War II, and the class contradictions are far less acute. Even if this thing is really implemented, it should not cause such serious confrontation.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Yi asked, "What's the price?"

Lapek: "Population! You Chinese make up too large a proportion of the population in Malaya. We need your cooperation to reduce the population to below 30%."

"Dr. Zheng, this should be a good thing for you. Through communicating with you, I understand that you are not only a wise man in science and engineering, but you also have unique insights in the field of sociology."

"You should know that when there are not so many job opportunities in Malaya, those refugees pouring in in large numbers are pure negative assets and social instability factors to society. They are of no benefit to Malaya's economic development, and they are of no benefit to you either." Zheng Yi smiled when he heard this.

Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the number of Chinese people and their proportion of the population.

In this era, the red trend had not yet emerged and class contradictions were not so serious. These overseas Chinese leaders still had some prestige even among the poor lower-class people, or at least among the lower-class people of their hometown.

But if they really help the British repatriate nearly half of the Chinese, then the situation may not be the same.

Zheng Yi immediately refused with a smile, "Sir, I find it difficult to agree to the Colonial Office's conditions. I also oppose this inhumane practice of forcibly expelling people.

Population, whether from the consumption side or the production side, is the biggest engine of economic growth."

"It's true that Nanyang currently faces a population surplus and a shortage of jobs, but this is only temporary. I already have a strategy for dealing with it. As long as we get through this period of pain, things will get better later."

"Mr. Lapek, you don't want to be troubled by a lack of skilled workers in a few years when the Nanyang economy flourishes again and the manufacturing industry thrives."

Lapek: "Ah..., so what you mean by the solution is to organize the unemployed and displaced people to seize the living space of the Indians, or to dig tunnels in Penang?

Dr. Zheng Yi, my colleagues and I are very interested to know why you spent so much money digging so many tunnels in Penang? Could it be that... you want to raise troops and make Penang independent?

After saying that, Lapek stared at Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi smoked a cigar and said calmly: "No, I dug tunnels in Penang just to build Penang into the last bastion of the Chinese.
In a few years, the Japanese will send troops to the whole of Southeast Asia and swallow up the entire Far East as a colony. I just want to try to see if I can resist in Penang.

Of course, we can also find something to do for those Chinese people who have nothing to do and are in good health and have enough energy.”

Lapek was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "Dr. Zheng! I'm talking to you seriously, not joking!"

Zheng Yi: "Look, I told you the truth, but you didn't believe it. Believe me, the tunnels in Penang were definitely not built to establish a separatist regime or to fight against the British Army.
Please, Penang has your naval base, okay? No matter how many tunnels I dig, they are useless against the navy. I can't stop your British army at all. Of course, if you can allow me to be a tax farmer in Penang, that would be even better. "

Lapek: "Impossible! Kapitans and tax farmers are a thing of the past. In the 20th century, the Far East will never allow you Chinese to produce another Kapitan or tax farmer!"

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "I was just saying that. Don't be angry. Sit down."

"Dr. Zheng, I heard that you Chinese have a saying, 'If you don't drink a toast, you'll have to drink the penalty wine.'"

"Are you going to treat me to a fine?"

"If you do not agree to our request and serve as the deputy director of our Chinese Advisory Bureau, then you should not leave.
I won't send you to jail either. I'll just put you in my office and give you an extra bed. I'll stay here with you every day until you agree."

"Ah... house arrest is better than I thought. Thank you."

"Why, Dr. Zheng, aren't you afraid at all?"

"What's the date today?"

"what?"

"I said, what's the date today?"

"Today is the 19th, what's wrong?"

"Oh~, judging by the time, it should be soon."

"What's coming soon?"

"It should be just one or two days."

Just as he finished speaking, the phone on Lapek's desk rang.

Lapek picked up.

"Hello? Who's that? Henri Deterding is coming to Kuala Lumpur? Next week? Next week? To see... Dr. Zheng?"

Lapec was confused. He raised his head and looked at Zheng Yi as if he had seen a ghost.

"You know Mr. Henry? How do you know him?"

"I don't know him. We're supposed to meet. It's okay. Didn't you say you'd give me an extra bed in your office? Mr. Henry and I can just meet in your office then."

Lapek: “………………”

(End of this chapter)