Chapter Twenty-Six: Lu Chengxiang Talks Deeply About the Visit of the King of the Ryukyus

"Huh!" Lu Chengxiang laughed for a while and said, "Mr. Zhang, do you know how much gasoline is needed after many people have a car?" ”

"Of course I do!" Zhang Zhimu said, "So we have to speed up the construction of the oil refinery in Dongying, Shandong." In addition, we will also build an oil refinery in Jiayuguan, where the oil extracted can be smelted nearby, and there is such a large oil refinery in the west, which will also promote the development of the local area. ”

"The refinery in Dongying has been under construction, and there is no difficulty in building a refinery in Jiayuguan. In particular, the Lanzhou Yellow River Bridge will be officially opened to traffic soon, and the railway from Tianshui to Lanzhou will also be opened. It was connected to the railway on our side of the kiln, and something was transported by rail. Lu Chengxiang said.

"Hmmm! With the oil refinery at Jiayuguan in the west and the copper plant on the north shore of Lake Balkhash, the cost of the railroad in the west can be borne back. Zhang Zhimu said, "It is still the output value of industrial production that is high." If you rely entirely on agriculture and animal husbandry, building a railway will be a complete loss-making business! ”

"I heard that we can fly around in the future, is that happening?" Lu Chengxiang asked.

"Of course, Li Yunhe and the others already have a group working on twin-engine aircraft, that is, aircraft that can carry many people at a time." Zhang Zhimu said, "Don't worry, we all have to be able to catch the day of flying and traveling!" ”

"That's great!" Lu Chengxiang said, "In this way, no matter where there is anything, I can fly over to see and come back." It's like the other side of Ula Mountain, I've always wanted to go, but I can't leave. If you don't take a look, your heart is not steady! ”

"A while ago, Li Yunhe told me that if we concentrate on building a double-engine plane, it won't take more than a year to build it, and I think we will soon have an aircraft that can transport personnel." Zhang Zhimu said, "Mr. Ouyang is already preparing for this, and some locations have been selected everywhere, especially in the north and west, and airports are being prepared." ”

"Huh! I know about their airport, and it's for the plane's stopover. It seems that in the future, it can also be used as an airport to transport passenger planes. Lu Chengxiang said.

"yes, just expand it!" Zhang Zhimu said.

After the two of them finished eating, neither of them paid much attention to what they ate, but just spoke.

When Yang Yulin instructed the little secretaries to take the tableware away, and the two drank tea, Lu Chengxiang had something to say, Zhang Zhimu smiled and said, "Mr. Lu, you won't wait all morning, just tell me these things!" ”

Zhang Zhimu knew that Lu Chengxiang was the busiest person in the kiln every day, and he would not spend so much time on these things that could be said on the phone.

Lu Chengxiang put away his smile and looked at him, "Mr. Zhang, I have never been involved in political affairs, I don't ask for my opinion militarily, and I don't intervene, but it doesn't mean that I don't want to do things." There is one thing that I have thought about for a long time and think I should talk to you about. ”

"Mr. Lu, our career is not only mine, but also yours!" Zhang Zhimu encouraged Lu Chengxiang to speak his heart.

"Mr. Zhang, to be honest, many people are dissatisfied with the fact that you left the emperor. But now it has been seen that it is still very beneficial to keep the emperor. However, there is also a big hidden danger in this matter, and we must pay attention to it. Lu Chengxiang looked at Zhang Zhimu's face and said.

"Hmmm! I'd like to hear from you! Zhang Zhimu said.

"It seems that you don't want to build this republic in a short time. During this time, the ministers of the imperial court and the emperor were not idle. In the future, if you really want to practice democracy, they are likely to unite and form a party to defend the emperor. At that time, it was difficult for us to deal with them. If we kill them, then the democracy I am engaged in will be fake, and if we don't kill them, the power of these people's restraints cannot be underestimated. What do we do then? I don't know if Mr. Zhang has thought about this problem? Lu Chengxiang wanted to ask very profoundly.

"Royalists!" Zhang Zhimu blurted out.

"That's right! That's the right name! Lu Chengxiang said.

Zhang Zhimu knew that what Lu Chengxiang said was likely to happen. If we don't get it right, there will be a struggle between royalists and republicans in China in the future, and finally the two will reach a compromise to make a constitutional monarchy regardless of the type, which Zhang Zhimu does not want to see. However, in addition to this, it is difficult to form a new political force that checks each other in China's current situation. Therefore, this democratic process must be very long.

Seeing that Zhang Zhimu didn't speak, Lu Chengxiang knew that Zhang Zhimu listened to his words, and he didn't squeak anymore.

"Regarding leaving the emperor, I have a good impression of this emperor, and in the emperor, Emperor Chongzhen is a good and dedicated emperor. In addition, we need to use the emperor to restrain those who oppose us in the name of the emperor. We got that right. However, as Mr. Lu said, these court ministers are taking advantage of this opportunity to do big things, and we really have to be vigilant. Zhang Zhimu said, "There is no problem if we take this matter seriously." But, in any case, they may be allowed to associate freely as long as they do not oppose our republic. As long as they are found to have signs of opposing our realization of a republican state, they must be strictly controlled and strangled in the cradle. ”

"Let Li Zhi arrange someone to handle this matter!" Lu Chengxiang suggested.

"This matter must not only be done by someone, but also by someone who does it secretly!" Zhang Zhimu said, "This matter will require Li Zhi to organize a special department, work separately from them, and do this independently." ”

Lu Chengxiang felt that Zhang Zhimu attached so much importance to what he said, so he simply said what was in his heart again, "Mr. Zhang, I think you want to transfer Li Mao and Li Gongzi back to Yaogang as soon as possible?" ”

"Hmmm! Why? Zhang Zhimu asked with some vigilance.

"Mr. Zhang, we are people who have come together, and there is no need to say anything about your loyalty, and it is because of this that I dare to say this. We all want to follow you, but we now have the fate of the whole country on our shoulders, and we can't afford not to think about that extreme accident. Once the sky really falls one day, someone needs to go up to it! ”

Lu Chengxiang said very well, once Zhang Zhimu had an accident, he used the sky to fall as a metaphor, so that Zhang Zhimu also had to admire, and said in his heart, "The person who can be the big housekeeper of the kiln gang is really not something that ordinary people can do." God really favors himself very much, and the people he meets are so good. ”

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhimu deliberately asked: "Why did you think of Li Mao and Li Gongzi to hold this day?" ”

"Huh!" Lu Chengxiang smiled and said, "Since you let Li Mao, the party's deputy **, I have begun to pay attention to this Li Mao." Looking at these people in our kiln gang, I also have to admire your vision! ”

Regarding Li Mao's matter, Zhang Zhimu has only talked seriously with Yan Boju, and even Chen Yufeng and Zhang Zhimu have not communicated about this matter, because Zhang Zhimu knows that Chen Yufeng will definitely agree with his opinion, and today he was told by Lu Chengxiang, so Zhang Zhimu simply explained it to his loyal comrade-in-arms.

"Since Mr. Lu has said this, I have also made it clear. Li Mao and Li Gongzi are a rare person who can be literate and martial, and have both ability and political integrity. It was he who first sat in Yangzhou and extended our hand to the south, and a large part of our Yaogang business was attributed to Li Mao. Later, he dealt with Zhang Xianzhong and Zuo Liangyu, which showed Li Gongzi's outstanding political energy. Now that Li Gongzi is in Hankou, I can rest assured that the entire Jianghan and the Central Plains are at ease. From the overall balance, if I am gone, I feel that Li Gongzi is the most suitable to replace me. ”

"Then why didn't Li Gongzi be transferred back to the kiln post earlier and let him take on a more important position?" Lu Chengxiang asked.

"Li Gongzi is back, what position is appropriate?" Without waiting for Lu Chengxiang to answer, Zhang Zhimu said, "It's not appropriate." We have very capable people in charge of all departments in the kiln gang, and with Li Mao's qualifications, he can't be in front of the kiln gang, so it's better to let him stay away from here and play his role in Hankou. ”

"I don't understand this," Lu Chengxiang said, "If something happens suddenly, won't Li Mao come back with no foundation at all?" ”

"Huh! Mr. Lu, you don't want to think about it, without me, if there is no support from Uncle Chen, Uncle Yan and you, what foundation does he have to sit firmly? If you have your support, who will sit in this position? Zhang Zhimu said with a smile.

"Hmmm! It seems that it is really right not to let Li Mao come back! Lu Chengxiang said, "Have you told Li Gongzi about this?" ”

"Do you think I can say that?" Zhang Zhimu asked rhetorically.

Mr. Lu shook his head with a smile and said, "Hehe! Of course not! ”

"Mr. Lu's conversation today should be kept absolutely confidential." Zhang Zhimu said, "To be honest, these are all things that should not be said. ”

Lu Chengxiang also knew that Zhang Zhimu could say this to him, and he regarded him as an absolute confidant, "Mr. Zhang rest assured!" No one else will know about it. I also promise that there is really a day when the sky falls, and if I am still here, I will do my best to support Li Gongzi! ”

There are not many people who can talk to Zhang Zhimu about such things, and Zhang Zhimu is very pleased that Lu Chengxiang can tell him such a thing, "Mr. Lu, it is really not easy for us to start from those people in Yaogang to today, and it would be impossible if we all worked together." ”

"Hey! The main thing is that we follow you to do it, and those far-sighted things still depend on you. The things we can start thinking about the long term now are all learned from you. ”

Lu Chengxiang's compliment was very sincere.

"That's good!" Zhang Zhimu said, "There are still a few far-sighted things that you need to think of. ”

"Huh! You just want me to do something, right? Lu Chengxiang smiled.

"My best investment I think is the Hutuo River Dam, which is a long time to build, but a long-term benefit." "The next step for us to increase long-term investment is to increase our efforts in education," Zhang said. This time, the deputies of the National People's Congress also raised the matter. Not only are we going to expand a few colleges, but we also have to build a lot of teachers' colleges in various places, and we also have to build a lot of primary schools in various places. The construction of this college is a long-term investment, and the effective period will be very long, but the potential is great. It is said that a hundred years of trees and ten years of people are trees, which is what it means. We need to prepare for employing people in 10 years. This requires a lot of silver, and it is better for us to build a few fewer large projects, and this thing must be guaranteed. ”

"You don't have to tell me about the importance of this matter. On my side, as long as it is the affairs of the army and the school, it can be guaranteed with silver. In fact, compared with the several large-scale projects we have invested in and built, this silver is still a small amount. You name a number, right? ”

"In this matter, we have to meet with Mr. Lu and study a specific development plan." Zhang Zhimu said, "Our primary school should ensure that primary school students have a nutritious lunch at noon and a glass of milk in the morning. Now that the level of development is different in different places, we are doing this to solve the problem of malnutrition among our primary school students. Where there is no milk, it is necessary to use milk powder to solve the problem. Meat is not guaranteed, it has to be solved with canned food. The point is to really eat our input into the mouths of the students, and not let others deduct from this process. ”

"For a long-term guarantee, we need to establish a special agency to guarantee the procurement and production of food. As for ensuring that the students eat in their mouths, I will touch them with Yan Xing, and the local governments will supervise and inspect them. The governments only have the power to supervise and inspect, but not to meddle. There are also roving inspections that go to schools to conduct unannounced visits to students. It is also necessary to involve students, their parents, and teachers in supervision. We must do this unprecedented thing well! ”

Emperor Chongzhen led a group of people to attend the opening ceremony of the Yellow River Bridge in Baotou, and did not rush back to Yaogang. The grass on the grassland was just green, and there was no mosquito and fly disturbance in summer, so I turned around in Baotou and Guihua, and then crossed the Yellow River Bridge to the Ordos grassland for a while. When I returned to Yaogang, it was already May.

It just so happened that the king of the Ryukyus came to China with a group of more than a dozen large ships. They landed in Shanghai, the largest trading port in the south of the Yangtze River, and as soon as they landed, they wanted to hire ships to go to Beijing. When the kiln officials in Shanghai heard that the king of the Ryukyus had arrived, they did not wait for them to leave the docks, but they came to meet them, arranged for them to be placed in an inn, and at the same time contacted the officials of Zhejiang by telephone. The officials in Zhejiang knew that the emperor had been in Yaogang, and they had just returned from a meeting in Yaogang, so they immediately contacted Yaogang.

Zhang Zhimu also knew that he could no longer let the king of the Ryukyus go to Beijing to toss around, and he was about to call the emperor.

Although the emperor was a little tired after a trip this time, he returned to the Xishan Palace and was resting, but he was in good spirits.

Hearing that it was Zhang Zhimu calling, his heart said, "I've already been on the phone since I came back, why did I call again!" ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb your rest." But there's one thing that I have to discuss with you. ”

"Oops! I said Zhang Dongjia, we don't have to be so polite, right? Emperor Chongzhen said.

"Good!" Zhang Zhimu said, "That's the case, when the king of Xiaoliuqiu arrives in our Shanhai Town in Zhejiang, I don't think we should want them to go to Beijing, and wouldn't it be better for us to take them to Yaogang?" ”

"Yes, yes! Don't let them go to Beijing and toss around! Emperor Chongzhen said, "Let them live in the Yaogang Hotel, and let them see what our Yaogang Hotel is like!" ”

"Well, I'll arrange for a passenger ship to pick them up. I asked, and there was a passenger boat on the other side of Zhenjiang that was the closest to it. Zhang Zhimu said.

"Good!" Emperor Chongzhen even said, "However, how could they come to Shanhai Town." ”

"At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, Shanhai Town was the big wharf, which guarded the mouth of the Yangtze River, and the Huangpu River led to the mainland. In the future, we will dredge the Huangpu River and build a large port in Shanghai. The location is simply wonderful! Zhang Zhimu said.

"That's going to cost a lot of silver!" Emperor Chongzhen said.

"It's worth the money!" Zhang Zhimu said, "In the long run, it will be earned, and the most important thing is that it can have a stimulating effect on our inland production." ”

"Speaking of silver, I'm going to borrow some money from you!" Emperor Chongzhen took the opportunity to speak, "Do you remember? The last time we went to Zhangjiakou, we discussed with a few princes and a few guys from the Senate to set up a company specializing in investing in the construction of hotels. A while ago, Lu Chengxiang also said that you support this matter, and sent us a very capable shopkeeper to help Zhang Luo with this matter. We had a meeting to nominate the chairman, do you say that I am the emperor and should be the chairman? But they said, whoever has the largest stake will be in charge, of course I can't admit defeat. But you have to help me with the money I invested. When I earn the money, I will return it to you with interest. Besides, I think this thing will definitely make money. You see, we have a meeting, and the whole good hotel in Yaogang is full, not to mention other places. That Datong, there is not even a decent hotel. We are still studying this matter in Baotou, and they all said that as long as my money is in place, their investment will be in place immediately. ”

"Haha! I said Your Majesty, what are you doing fresh! But you're investing my money! I'm the one to take the risk! Zhang Zhimu said.

"Oops! You're all making a lot of money, and we're just going to make a little money! Emperor Chongzhen said. It's not easy to borrow money from others.

"Alright! I support the emperor with this investment! Zhang Zhimu said briskly.

"Good! I'll meet them again tomorrow to see how much money they have put in, and I'll show them too, it's not empty talk! "Emperor Chongzhen is confident again.

Zhang Zhimu said: "Your Majesty, this is all a trivial matter. We also need to think about the arrival of the king of the Ryukyus, and how we can talk to him about the status of the Ryukyu kingdom in the future. They have always been very friendly with us, and I don't want to deal with them like they did with Siam. However, we will send someone over to the Ryukyus! The emperor also thought about the specific things slowly! ”

"Hmmm! You really have to think about it, it's best for them to take the initiative to vote! Emperor Chongzhen said.

The affairs of the king of the Ryukyus, Zhang Zhimu was handed over to Yang Jing to take care of. Yang Jing transferred a passenger ship, and at the same time sent people to serve as guards for the king of the Ryukyus, escorting them to Yaogang together.

Before the king of the Ryukyus could leave, Zhang Zhimu called Emperor Chongzhen again, but this time he informed Emperor Chongzhen that Wei Xiang had launched an attack on Korea.