Seeing that the railway engineer was reluctant to meet the U.S. minister to China. Cai Tinggan was a little helpless, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of course he was very clear about Stade's background, yes, Steder used to be the trade representative of the American Railroad Company in China, and the identity of the consul was just a cover, but that was an old imperial calendar, and the current background of this American was not ordinary.

"Cheng, you have been in the bitter cold place outside the Seychelles for a long time, this news is indeed closed, the American railroad king Harriman has passed away, and now, Steder has changed a boss, this boss is much harder than Harriman's waist, that is the US State Department."

"Harlemann died? When was this? ”

The news that came a few days ago was also confirmed by Stade. Originally, Mr. Harlemann had planned to go to China in person to discuss the 'Grand Cross Railroad Development Plan' with the President, but when the ship arrived in Japan, Harlemann fell ill and died in Tokyo a few days later. Now Stade is discussing with Harleman's family whether he can transport Mr. Harleman's coffin to China, and bury it in Zhengzhou, the 'intersection' of the Jinghan Line and the Longhai Line, as a memorial to the 'Grand Cross Railway Development Plan' and as a symbol of friendship between China and the United States. ”

"This Stade is really a bit whimsical." Zhan Tianyou smiled bitterly.

"Don't say it, Stade's proposal is supported by Mr. President, and as long as Harleman's family doesn't object, it's done. Moreover, our President Zhao Da is even more exaggerated than Stade, and he even said to Stader that Mr. Harlemann was most likely poisoned by the Japanese chaebol. Cai Tinggan also smiled playfully.

Zhan Tianyou was also stunned, and after thinking about it carefully, it may not be impossible for this kind of possibility, after all, Harleman has long been inseparable from the Japanese chaebol because of the Chinese railway matter, and the American consortium represented by him is also the biggest obstacle to the expansion of the Japanese chaebol's influence in China.

"How did Stade respond to the President's words?" Zhan Tianyou couldn't help but ask.

Cai Tinggan grinned and said: "Stade also echoed at first, saying that he could not rule out the suspicion of Harleman's death, but a few days later, he insisted that Mr. Harlemann died of illness, and there was absolutely no international 'yin' background, so the president did not use the topic again. ”

"Stade has always hated Japan, why didn't he fall into the trap this time?" Zhan Tianyou was even stranger.

"What's so strange about that? Now the United States is not as strong as Japan in the Far East, especially the naval power, so. Mr. Harlemann went to China for the railroad matter, but died suddenly when passing through Japan, which is indeed easy to remind people of the discord between the United States and Japan on the issue of China's railway, and Stadt wanted to use the topic to play, but the U.S. government would definitely not make a fuss because a businessman died in Japan, and I think it was also the U.S. government that gave Stader an order not to do much, so ah, this Mr. Harlemann died of illness. ”

"So, the 'Grand Cross Railway Development Plan' is going to come to an end, right?"

"Chengcheng, where do you think you go? Didn't I just say that Stade has now changed his boss and has the support of the US government, and the death of Mr. Harleman will not affect the US consortium's railway investment plan in China. I know that you have always insisted on the Chinese railway Chinese repair, but under the current financial situation and the international situation, we Chinese still need to pull in a few foreign friends, even if it is a fox and a fake tiger, it is better than being bullied by Japan and Russia. Besides, the 'Grand Cross Railway Development Plan' doesn't say that the management of the railway is controlled by foreigners. After the end of last year's "Possnia" crisis, the situation in Europe tended to ease, and now in this situation, what we are most afraid of is that the European powers will unite to blackmail China. The 'exchange' policy is far safer than moving closer to Germany alone, and now the United States is also planning to invest in China's railways and heavy industry, which in the president's words is called 'mutual benefit'. ”

Cai Tinggan's words made Zhan Tianyou a little depressed, although he understood that what the other party said was not necessarily unreasonable, but seeing that the American consortium was going to come to China Railway Company to share the profits, his heart was also a little unbalanced.

"If the president builds the railway, he should build the railway, why should he concurrently serve as an errand of the 'Minister of Railways'? Does he think he's idle? The layman is in charge of the insider, we have seen it in the Qing Dynasty before, and now this set is coming again, I thought that the ** party people are more sensible in doing things. Zhan Tianyou was indignant.

"Youcheng, what you say may not be unreasonable, but the president also has his own plans. The great powers are watching the railway, and the president himself is the head of the Ministry of Railways, so that foreign consortia want to talk about the construction of the railway. You have to talk to the president, but the president is not like an ordinary political official, and he has a lot of power, so it is not easy for foreign ministers to be scared casually, besides, the president's reputation as a 'madman in the Far East' is not good, and which foreign minister in China will be bored with himself? ”

Cai Tinggan first said a little reason, and then changed his words, and said: "But then again, it is indeed not a matter for a layman to manage an insider, if I am the president, I will definitely appoint Brother Cheng Cheng to be the 'Minister of Railways', you build the railway, I can rest assured." ”

"If that's the case, Zhan will be the one to do."

Zhan Tianyou didn't have any scruples, he arched his hand at Cai Tinggan, who was joking, and then said: "Let's not go to Quanjude, let's go directly to the Six Nations Hotel, I want to talk to that Si Dade as soon as possible to see what he wants to do." I'm a road builder, I have no power or power, and he comes to talk to me. But there is nothing to be gained. ”

Cai Tinggan smiled and said: "In this way, I won't be reluctant, let's go directly to the Six Nations Hotel, as for what the acting minister of the United States in China wants to do, I am also very curious, just go together to see what kind of 'medicine' can be sold in this American's gourd, and whether we can make our country more 'spiritual'." ”

At that moment, he instructed the coachman to turn around and drive straight towards the embassy area of Dong'jiao' Minxiang.

When he arrived at the Six Nations Hotel, Cai Tinggan led Zhan Tianyou into the hotel. went up to the second floor and knocked on the 'door' of a luxurious guest room, and Staid and his assistant Marven very politely invited the two into the guest room.

After a few pleasantries, the two sides sat down and quickly cut to the chase.

"Mr. Stade, you wish to meet with Mr. Zhan, and I am fortunate to have invited him over. However, it seems strange that you are not receiving us at the U.S. Legation in China, but you are meeting us at the Six Nations Hotel. Cai Tinggan didn't beat around the bush.

"I beg your pardon for being abrupt, but if we meet at the legation, we may reveal some secrets, and it is more appropriate here, and besides, the matter we are about to discuss is very important, and it is likely to be related to the future of your country, so we should not be cautious."

Stade spoke in an official tone, while Marven on one side translated his words into Chinese.

"Will the U.S. Legation also leak 'exposed' secrets?" Zhan Tianyou asked, since the other party spoke Chinese to him, then he also spoke Chinese, although he also spoke American English very well.

"You must know that the situation in the Far East is very delicate now, and the governments of various countries are doing everything they can to spy on intelligence, although I have great trust in the staff of the American Legation, but in the special period, and not long after I took over as Minister in China, the necessary caution is indispensable, just like the great president of your country, as long as he leaves the presidential palace, he will definitely bring at least one brigade of troops to protect his safety. To use an old adage in your country, this is called 'Be careful to sail the ship of ten thousand years'. ”

"Mr. Marven, you have a good grasp of Chinese culture, but I hope you will not add fuel to Mr. Minister's words. You know, Mr. Zhan and I spent almost 10 years in the United States. Although it has been so many years since we returned home, our American English has not been lost to the other side of the Pacific. ”

Seeing that Marven was selling 'getting' knowledge when he was translating, Cai Tinggan unceremoniously reminded him, which made Marven a little embarrassed, so the next conversation was changed to English.

Stade instructed Marven to take out a map from his briefcase, lay it flat on the table, and then point to the map and explain.

"Please Mr. Zhan take a look here, this is Zhangjiakou, and it is also the northern terminal of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, and then Mr. Zhan take a look here, this is the Naturalization City, the distance from the Naturalization City to Zhangjiakou is only a little farther than the distance from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, if the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway is further extended to the Naturalization City, then, starting from Beijing, you can reach the Naturalization City in a very short time, then, your country's army can be very convenient and quickly eliminate those bandits who are active in the grassland."

Zhan Tianyou and Cai Tinggan studied the map for a while, and then the two 'exchanged' eyes and 'colors', and they were both surprised by Stade's suggestion.

"Mr. Stade, the planning of the railroad is not up to me, a road construction technician, to decide. Although your proposal is very good, and I agree with it, it seems to me that you have found the wrong person to negotiate, and I think it would be more appropriate for you to go directly to the president for consultation on this matter. ”

Zhan Tianyou responded to Si Tide's proposal in English, although his expression was very calm, but his heart was 'rippling', that's right, if the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway is extended to Guihua City, then the inner 'gate' g grassland will be in the hands of the center, and once the inner 'gate' g is controlled, then, the princes and monks who are stupid 'jade' in the outer 'gate'g will be honest.

But the problem is that the center can't afford to extend the Beijing-Zhangjiakou line to naturalization, when the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou line began, some people proposed to set the end of the railway line in naturalization, but in the end because of financial problems and changed to Zhangjiakou, according to the plan of Zhan Tianyou and others, this railway should be laid all the way to the city of Kulun outside the 'gate', so as to curb the ambitions of Tsarist Russia.

"Do you agree with me? That's great, I've said a long time ago, you're a visionary Chinese engineer, and I have every reason to propose to the American Society of Civil Engineers to accept you as a full member. ”

Si Dyde deliberately avoided Zhan Tianyou's question, but only patted the other party's ass, and even threw a fragrant bait.

"You didn't answer my question, why didn't you consult directly with Mr. President on the matter?"

Zhan Tianyou was not fooled and continued to get to the bottom of it.

Stade was silent for a moment, and then said: "Actually, I have consulted with Mr. President of your country on this issue, but we have not reached an agreement, in fact, we have a big difference, so I have made an appointment with Mr. Zhan through Mr. Cai today to ask you to make a tactful suggestion to Mr. President, you are a visionary engineering expert, and I believe that in the eyes of Mr. President, your words carry more weight than my words." ”

Zhan Tianyou was even more curious, since Si Dai had already consulted with Zhao Bei on this issue, why did Zhao Bei not agree to this railway construction plan? Zhao Bei even gave full support to the "Grand Cross Railway Development Plan", and even did not hesitate to offend the French and Belgian consortiums, so why did Zhao Bei not agree to extend the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Line to the naturalized city of the Inner 'Gate' G grassland?

There must be something strange in it, Zhan Tianyou fell into deep thought.