"All stand up!"

Zhou Hexuan stood up with everyone, and Lin Sen, Chang Kaishen, Wang Zhaoming, Hu Shi and others stood in the front row.

In the center of the wall of the rostrum hung the portrait of Sun Yat-sen and the party flag, and everyone bowed solemnly three times, and Zhang Jigong read the "Prime Minister's Last Words". After all the ritualized content is completed, the national disaster meeting can be regarded as the official begin.

As the president of the country, Lin Sen first delivered a speech on behalf of the central government. This was followed by Chang Kaishen and Wang Zhaoming, who made impassioned but earnest and heavy speeches respectively.

Wang Zhaoming also explained the reasons for the three postponements of the National Disaster Conference, and emphasized the awareness of resisting Japanese aggression and rejuvenating the nation. Then the conversation changed and began to warn those democrats: "In addition to paying tribute to the princes today, the brothers have two points of thought. The first point is the question of responsibility: was the occurrence of this national disaster caused by the Kuomintang? Judging from China's situation and the general trend of the world, national disasters will inevitably occur in China because of its pursuit of freedom and equality. The next day was the question of authority, and the Central Party Department decided to discuss the matters of anti-humiliation, disaster relief, and appeasement at the National Disaster Conference, which was within the scope of the Executive Yuan's answer, and the Executive Yuan was responsible for answering questions outside the scope of its authority. ”

As soon as these words came out, there was a buzzing discussion in the audience, and it was really not allowed to talk about politics!

Since the September 18 incident, preparations have been made for the National Disaster Conference for nearly half a year, during which the time and place of the meeting have been changed three times, all because of the content of the discussions.

Just a few days before the opening of the meeting, there was such a conversation -

Wang Zhaoming said sharply: "The national disaster meeting was convened by the government, we are the hosts, and you are the guests. If you are not satisfied with the government's methods, go to the revolution! ”

Wang Zaoshi slapped the table angrily: "Revolution is not the patent of any person or party, if the people are forced to have no way out, naturally someone will go to revolution...... Mr. Zhongshan's legacy is that the world is for the public, and Mr. Wang's words will inevitably become the world for private! ”

In this way, a large number of democrats, including those who had already come to Luoyang, refused to attend the national disaster meeting.

Zhou Hexuan thinks that the Kuomintang is really funny, if you want to be dictatorial, you will be dictatorial, and you will pretend to hold a national disaster meeting. Since it was decided to convene it, it was at least necessary to make a show, and even to make out that it was not even allowed to discuss politics.

Wang Zhaoming's words seemed to be tough, but in fact they were extremely weak, and he had no way to deal with those democrats, so he was so angry that he said, "If you are not satisfied with the government, it is better to go to the revolution."

What is the deputy head of state of a country to say?

It's a ridiculous thing.

After Wang Zhaoming finished speaking, Zhang Ji walked up to the rostrum and said with a smile: "Quiet, quiet, everyone should be restless." Before we begin, I would like to introduce the guests who attended the conference. First of all, Mr. Dai Ren, who is 70 years old this year, is the oldest person at this meeting. He was a veteran of the League, the commander of Ningbo and Wenzhou during the Xinhai Revolution, and has always followed Mr. Zhongshan, and is currently a legislator of the central government. Welcome, everyone, with a round of applause! ”

"Bang bang bang!"

Applause rang out.

Dai Ren got up and clasped his fists at everyone and said, "My virtue is not high, my prestige is not heavy, and I have only worked hard over the years. Now that the national crisis is at hand, I hope that all the monarchs will work together to revitalize China! ”

"Good!" Wang Zhaoming took the lead in applauding.

Zhang Ji waited for the applause and cheers to end, and continued to introduce the participants, he first introduced the party members, and then began to introduce the non-party personages: "Today, I am fortunate to invite many sages in the opposition, first of all, to welcome Mr. Zhou Hexuan, an internationally renowned scholar. Keen on education and charity, Mr. Zhou donated 150,000 tons of relief food last year, and was revered as a 'living bodhisattva' by the victims. Mr. Zhou, please bow down! ”

Zhang Ji did a good job of face, bowed to Zhou Hexuan uprightly, and at the same time the audience erupted in warm applause.

Zhou Hexuan stood up, hugged his fists around him, and said to Zhang Ji: "Mr. Zhang has a good reputation, I just did my best." ”

"Brother Zhou, don't be modest, haha," Zhang Ji introduced the others with a smile, "The next one is Mr. Chen Yinke, a famous master of Chinese culture." Mr. Chan......"

Of the more than 140 people who participated in the meeting, Zhang Ji seriously introduced it from beginning to end. He didn't feel bored, but the gentlemen in the audience felt very long-winded, we are here to have a meeting to save the country, who wants to hear your roll call?

After more than an hour, Zhang Ji finally finished introducing the person, and the time was almost noon.

Lin Sen was like a Maitreya Buddha, and said with a smile: "Let's start discussing, everyone can speak freely, hehe, speak freely." ”

Chu Fucheng, a veteran of the Alliance, couldn't wait to raise his hand and said: "I think that whether it is national salvation, disaster relief, or appeasement, China needs to be strong itself. If China wants to be strong, it must first have a democratic government. It has been three years since the discipline was held, and it is time to implement democratic constitutionalism. ”

Hu Shi immediately raised his hand to second: "I support Mr. Chu's point of view, the country is the people's country, and the government is also the people's government. Only when the broad masses of the people are the masters of the country can they have the spirit of being masters and unite as one to alleviate the country's difficulties! ”

Hearing the speeches of the two, Chang Kaishen sneered, but Wang Zhaoming had a gloomy face.

How many times have I said that we are not allowed to talk about politics at today's meeting, and as a result, as soon as someone speaks, they talk about democratic constitutionalism.

Zhang Ji looked at Chang Kaishen, and Chang Kaishen shook his head slightly. He looked at Wang Zhaoming again, and Wang Zhaoming nodded slightly. Zhang Ji immediately understood and said with a smile: "It's not early, let's go to lunch first, and discuss any problems in the afternoon." I declare that the meeting is adjourned for the time being. ”

Chu Fucheng only said one sentence, and was interrupted by the forced dissolution. He was an old friend with Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Qiu Jin and others, and his qualifications were there, so he suddenly slapped the table angrily and said: "It's all a bunch of bastard bastards!" ”

"Alas!" Hu Shi could only sigh helplessly.

Zhou Hexuan ate with everyone, the food at noon was good, although there was no wine, there were meat and vegetarian snacks, and even fruits.

In the afternoon, the meeting resumed.

As soon as Zhang Ji announced the beginning, Hu Shi said: "China lacks a constitution now, as long as there is a constitution, everyone follows the constitution and respects the constitution in everything, then great things can be done, the country can prosper, and the national difficulties can be relieved!" ”

Jiang Tinghuang immediately retorted: "Now that China is suffering from internal and external difficulties, this is a special period, and special laws should be implemented. Democracy should exist, but neither should discipline and govern, and only a strong central government can lead all the people of China to work together. If constitutional democracy is practiced, and a bill cannot be decided after months of arguing, then what else can be used to fight Japan? ”

Hu Shi said unhappily: "What Brother Jiang said is a crooked reason, who said that constitutional democracy cannot lead China?" Looking at the world today, apart from the Soviet Union, is there any great power that is not a democracy? ”

"Can the Great Powers be the same as China? Different national conditions naturally lead to different forms of government. Jiang Tinghuang said.

Hu Shi and Jiang Tinghuang are close friends, and they are still co-founding the magazine "Independent Review", but they quarrel at the meeting.

In the end, Chu Fucheng had a temper, he pointed at Jiang Tinghuang and patted the table and said: "You are the lackey of the dictatorship!" ”

Jiang Tinghuang didn't know how to respect the old and love the young, and suddenly said angrily: "We are discussing national affairs, not scolding the street, Mr. Chu, please pay attention to the wording!" ”

Zhang Ji hurriedly said: "What the gentlemen said is reasonable, but don't be in a hurry. The people should unanimously help the Party to accomplish its revolutionary mission, and at the same time urge the government to earnestly implement local autonomy in order to establish a constitutional foundation. ”

Soon after, al-Shabaab and independents demanded a democratic constitutionalism, and the whole afternoon was spent in a quarrel.

Wang Zhaoming had to come forward in person to lead the topic to the "national disaster," and finally some people began to discuss how to deal with the Japanese and how to appease and comfort the soldiers at the front.

Finally, Zhang Ji solemnly announced the results of the first day of the National Disaster Conference: "After many discussions by people from all walks of life, the following resolutions are hereby formed. Starting tomorrow, all bills or reports on national defense diplomacy will only be published to the public after the approval of the Presidium...... It was decided to use the name of this conference to send a message of condolences to the soldiers at the front. ”

The people who were clamoring for a democratic constitution left their seats one after another when they heard this, and they came to the meeting in vain.

That night, Hu Shi came to Zhou Hexuan's room and complained: "How can this be true, how can there be such a meeting?" This is a national public opinion meeting, not an intra-party meeting of the Kuomintang! ”

Zhou Hexuan smiled and comforted: "Old Hu, you are still so naïve, this situation should have been guessed a long time ago." ”