Qin Zheng said: "Although our economy is mainly domestic, most of the materials we need now are purchased in Shanghai, and they are basically cooperating with Shanghai businessmen, but Britain has a huge influence in China's business community, and almost all of the Shanghai businessmen we cooperate with have business dealings with Britain." If the British use their influence, they will even get the Qing court to come forward to put pressure on these merchants not to trade with us, or to make malicious panic purchases and raise prices during the transaction. It will cause great difficulties for me. ”

After listening to Qin Zheng's words, everyone became a little solemn, this is indeed a rather tricky problem, because the current Britain does have the ability, and for Britain, this is indeed the best way to do without directly participating in the war.

Although Shandong is also a province with large resources, it is far from enough to supply the development of the East China government, which must import all kinds of materials from other parts of China and export its own industries to other places. Once the source of these materials is lost, it will have a great impact on the development of the East China government, and if it is still a time of war, if the supplies are not available, then the war will not be fought. He could only succumb to British pressure and choose to cease war with Japan and Russia, and give up the fruits of victory.

There was silence in the conference room for a while, and everyone was thinking about how to deal with it, but they couldn't think of any good way.

After a long while, Xia Bohai said: "I have a way, everyone will see if it will work." ”

Qin Zheng said: "Say it, everyone listen, let's figure out a way together." ”

Xia Bohai said: "It's easy to handle the Qing court, we always have to warn the Qing court, and it's nothing to add one, but the influence of Britain is not so easy to remove." My opinion is that this time we will make the first move, on the grounds of supporting the Liaodong War, organize all the merchants in Shanghai, and set up an organization similar to the Chamber of Commerce, the main purpose is to give priority to the supply of materials to us, not to raise prices, etc., of course, we also promise not to default, etc., and then build momentum, so that the British will put pressure on these merchants, and the merchants will not be able to give in easily under the pressure of public opinion, and after we organize the merchants, the strength will naturally be stronger, and there will be capital to bargain with the British。 ”

Wang Yunpeng nodded first and said: "I think this method is good, in fact, Li Songchen has a similar suggestion, and the Industry and Commerce Commission is studying it." ”

Xia Bohai said: "Oh! ”

Wang Yunpeng said: "According to his report, the current commercial activities in Shanghai, mainly within the domestic scope, are basically rankless, and the result is that the internal price of each other, or the use of various unseemly means to attack the opponent, and the external competition of foreign capital, almost completely without the ability to resist, so the most satisfactory thing about the Shanghai New Area is that the rules are fair." In fact, if a powerful force or group comes forward to form a unified group, the vast majority of businessmen will join with the original intention. Now that we have enough prestige, status, and influence in Shanghai, we should take the lead in setting up a chamber of commerce to organize Shanghai businessmen to formulate a set of business rules that are fair and respected by all participants, compete fairly internally, protect the basic interests of each businessman, and unanimously deal with the competition of foreign capital externally, which is not only beneficial to us, but also beneficial to the development of national capital. ”

Qin Zheng nodded and said, "Yes, I have only been in office in Shanghai New Area for two months, and I can see this." How is the research of the Industrial and Commercial Commission?"

Wang Yunpeng said: "The Industry and Commerce Commission also supports it, but we are worried that if we come forward to organize the Chamber of Commerce, it will attract the attention of foreign capital and undermine it." In fact, there have been people who have launched similar actions before, but they have been secretly sabotaged by foreign capital, and we have not yet controlled Shanghai, and the strength of foreign capital in Shanghai is too strong, such actions must be carefully planned, once implemented, they can only succeed, not fail. It is better to wait until we have achieved victory in the Liaodong battlefield before making any moves. ”

Qin Zheng said: "Since this is the case, it is a very good opportunity to set up a chamber of commerce organization in the name of supporting the war, and now the atmosphere of the whole Shanghai to support our war is very warm, and this can first avoid the interference of foreign capital, and after we win the war, we will turn this temporary organization into a fixed organization, and then it will be too late for foreign capital to destroy it." ”

Xia Bohai also nodded and said, "Since this is the case, then the Industrial and Commercial Commission will discuss the details, and then hand it over to Shanghai for implementation." After a pause, he said, "When necessary, the Ministry of Security will cooperate." ”

Shang Qisong said: "Okay." ”

At this time, Xiao Jianjun said: "I also support this suggestion, and it can indeed support our war on a limited basis." But we have to prepare for the worst, what if the Chamber of Commerce we form can't withstand British pressure, or can't compete with British business power?"

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but fall silent again, although Britain is only the world's third economy, it is far stronger than China, so if Britain really wants to interfere with all its might, the East China government will indeed be unable to resist. Moreover, Britain also has the help of France, which is second only to Britain in terms of commercial strength in China.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Xiao Jianjun said: "I'll just say my opinion, if we really reach that point, we should send troops to occupy Shanghai, recover the Shanghai concession, and even confiscate all British property in Shanghai." ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone else was stunned, and Xu Jichao said: "This is too radical." Shanghai is no other place, and our presumptuous occupation of Shanghai is too sensitive to cause all countries to oppose us. ”

Xiao Jianjun said: "What's so terrible about that, it's a big deal to come to the Eight-Nation Alliance again, as long as it is a real fight, will we be afraid?"

Wang Yunpeng also said: "Besides, aren't we a bit of a scoundrel in doing this?"

Xiao Jianjun said: "What is a scoundrel, Britain helps Japan to put pressure on us, and dragging us back is not called a scoundrel? And why do we have to follow the rhythm of Britain? If Britain dares to attack our economy, we will occupy Shanghai and completely eliminate British influence in Shanghai. ”

The others wanted to say something more, but Xia Bohai said: "I agree with Lao Xiao's opinion, if we really get to that point, we will not be at the mercy of the British, and we must let the UK also shed a little blood." ”

Qin Zheng also said: "This should be our last resort, if Britain really pushes me into a desperate situation, is it so difficult that we are not allowed to fight back? Besides, recovering the concession is also morally justifiable." ”

Seeing that Qin Zheng also agreed with Xiao Jianjun's suggestion, Wang Yunpeng and Xu Jichao couldn't say anything more, Xia Bohai said: "Okay, then it's decided, do you have anything else?" ”

This fashion Jinfeng said: "There is another thing, five days later, a battleship we ordered in Germany will arrive at Qingdao Port, and the navy is going to hold a grand welcome ceremony for this warship, I don't know if you have time to attend." ”

Shang Jinfeng, Zhu Yaping, and Shang Qisong are all members of the military team, but their identities are relatively special, Shang Jinfeng and Zhu Yaping are all in-service soldiers, and Shang Qisong is the intelligence department, so unless it is to negotiate matters related to their positions, they rarely speak on other matters. Now it was also at the end of the meeting, Shang Jinfeng was mentioning the return of the battleship.

The East China government ordered a total of three batches of 5 warships in Germany, this is the last batch of the last one, the first two batches of warships returned, the navy held a welcome ceremony, and this is the first battleship built by the East China government, both symbolic significance and practical significance are very significant, and in the context of the East China government's participation in the war, the navy has played a huge role in this battle, so Shang Jinfeng hopes that Xiao Jianjun can attend the welcome ceremony to boost the morale of the navy, and continue to inspire the morale of the navy.

Of course, Xiao Jianjun knew what Shang Jinfeng meant, so he said: "No problem, I will definitely take the time to attend, this is our first battleship." ”

At this time, Xia Bohai suddenly said: "Wait a minute, I think I can take this opportunity to make the welcome ceremony bigger and more sensational, and Lao Qin and I will participate." ”

Qin Zheng nodded, he and Xia Bohai have been friends for more than 20 years, and they have been in politics together for nearly 6 years in this era, so he immediately understood Xia Bohai's intentions, so he said: "Very good, it can indeed be made grander." It is a good idea to inform the consulates so that they can send someone to attend as well. ”

Now that Liaodong has entered an armistice period, it is expected that there will be no large-scale war in two or three months, but the struggle on the diplomatic battlefield is fierce, and Britain has already sent its own signal, obviously siding with Japan and Russia, so the East China government must also respond. The return voyage of the battleship was of course a good opportunity, and it was naturally better to show its strength and express the attitude of the East China Government with a grand welcome ceremony, and since it was the current situation in which the East China Government had the upper hand on the battlefield, this symbolic significance was of great significance.

In addition, this warship was built in Germany, and its significance is even more different, because now the contradictions between Britain and France and Germany have become increasingly intensified, and the East China Government and Germany have always maintained good military cooperative relations, which has a certain restraining effect for Britain and France, and also has a necessary warning effect for Japan and Russia; although the East China Government and Germany do not have a military alliance treaty, Britain and France are indeed contained by Germany in Europe, and it is impossible for them to devote all their efforts to Asia, and their support for Japan and Russia is also limited.