Seeing the content of Henan's recent work report, Chen Ke suddenly burst out laughing. In the movie about the Shaolin Temple, both the government and the local government will brutally persecute the monks who don't care about the world, so the righteous warrior monks have to rise up and resist. In a recent report on Henan's work, Chai Qingguo forcibly detained the monks in Kaifeng and formed a monk labor team to work on a section of railway construction site. Thinking that the People's Party is likely to become the villain in various film and television works in the future, Chen Ke has an uncontrollable urge to laugh.

Another piece of news is even more magical, in response to the opening of a nunnery in Daxiangguo Temple, the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple feels that it is a very aggrieved thing to be called a "lewd monk". He insisted that he had never done anything to the nuns in the nunnery, and that the monks of Daxiangguo Temple had never done such an insulting thing to the Buddhist family. As for the physiological problems of the senior monks of Daxiangguoji Temple, they either have a special woman outside or a special female physiological partner. Never put a black hand into the nunnery.

Chai Qingguo's dissatisfaction with these monks, Chen Ke can fully understand. It is not uncommon for the temple to be a large local landowner, but in the face of the land reform movement, these monks seem to be heinous.

After laughing enough, Chen Ke began to write instructions, "Comrade Chai Qingguo, on the issue of temple property, we must try to downplay its religious factor. We are not going to get along with the monks, but we are going to solve the problem of large landlords owning a lot of land. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize the masses against the exploiters, not against the monks. In addition, I have no objection to the formation of a monk labor team, but how to make the masses realize that labor is definitely not a punishment requires you to work hard in this regard. As for the monks themselves, they can be taught to admit that they must work and that only labor is the right way to practice. You don't have to worry about this, there are many quotes in this area among the monks' predecessors, we just need to make use of it. ”

Putting down the pen, Chen Ke picked up the part about railway construction again. The eastern section of the Longhai Railway is progressing very quickly, and judging from the map, it will not be long before a very asymmetrical cross-shaped railway backbone will appear in the entire north of the Yangtze River. After all, there is only one section of railway to Luoyang to the west from the intersection of Zhengzhou. After reading the map, Chen Ke picked up the pen again and commented on the railway work report: "Comrade Chai Qingguo, I agree with your proposal to build the railway first and then build Kaifeng City. However, Zhengzhou's position is more critical, and if there is not much pressure, I suggest that your troops seize Zhengzhou in the near future. The work of expanding the base area to the north has been arranged in place, and it is expected that through the efforts of 1913, the base area can be completely expanded to the whole of Henan. ”

After writing this, Chen Ke put down his pen again. The significance of controlling the whole of Henan is too great, and once this goal can be achieved, the first thing is that the People's Party will be in a state of all-out offensive against Beiyang. The only thing left between Beiyang and the People's Party was war. However, at present, if you can invest a little more on the basis of the base area and build a little more, you can get ten times or even a hundred times the income in a few years, and this strong balance demand makes Chen Ke feel a little constrained.

While Chen Ke was laughing, the guards and secretary remained silent. At most, they looked at Chen Ke with a surprised look, but they didn't dare to say anything. But when the secretary stood next to Chen Ke, Chen Ke knew that there must be a problem that had to be solved immediately.

"Chairman Chen, Sir Humphrey of the British side has arrived in Wuhu, and his next destination is Wuhan, and he hopes to be able to meet with you." The secretary said.

Sir Humphrey was also an old acquaintance of Chen Ke, who was received by Chen Ke in 1905 when he opened Renxin Medical College in Shanghai. Because of this relationship, Humphrey played a more important role in the quota trade agreement, and was also knighted for his merits in the quota trade agreement. He is now a Counsellor in the British Legation in Beijing. Since he was coming to meet with Chen Ke, it would not be a trivial matter.

"What's the information on the Beiyang side?" Chen Ke asked.

"There's been no new information lately." The secretary replied.

"Tell him I can meet him." Chen Ke replied.

Sir Humphrey came so fast that the People's Party had set up a regular ferry from Wuhan to Shanghai. On the third day after the telegram was sent on a People's Party passenger cruise ship, Sir Humphrey appeared in front of Chen Ke.

Since he was Chen Ke's old friend, Sir Humphrey knew Chen Ke's habits completely, glanced at Lu Huitian and Zhang Yu who accompanied him, and exchanged a few words of greeting, and Sir Humphrey said: "Mr. Chen, Yuan Shikai recently wanted to reach a loan agreement with us, I don't know if you have heard of it." ”

Chen Ke really hadn't heard of it, but the question of strategy has always been won only because it was right, and the diversity of tactical choices was extremely narrow compared to it. If Yuan Shikai wants to kill the People's Party, it is an inevitable strategic choice to arm forces that can surpass the People's Party. As for how to arm the army that can take out the BJP, there is no other way but to borrow. Chen Ke said with a smile: "I have to explain that it is impossible for our People's Party to provide any guarantee for Beiyang's loan. ”

"Didn't Mr. Chen think about the meaning of entering the Central Committee? At least form a coalition government with Beiyang and get a few cabinet positions? Humphrey was still very direct.

"It's not whether we are willing or not, but whether Yuan Shikai is willing or not. If he only got a few empty official positions, the entire civil official system would still be in the hands of Yuan Shikai. Or simply the personnel in these positions were all sent to foreign countries by Yuan Shikai, so what is the point of getting official positions? Chen Ke said with a smile.

Humphrey knew that Chen Ke was referring to the fact that Premier Yan Fu was sent by Yuan Shikai to visit Europe and the United States, which was clearly a disguised exile. Since Chen Ke's attitude was so clear, Sir Humphrey also had a bottom in his heart. "If we can help the People's Party persuade Yuan Shikai to provide some real power to the People's Party, I wonder what Mr. Chen will think about this?"

Chen Ke smiled: "That's not what I think about these, but what do you want us to do?" ”

Humphrey took out a document and handed it to Chen Ke, which was very thoughtful and not in English, but in Chinese. Chen Ke swept the entire document in a few glances. Casually handing over the document to Lu Huitian next to him, Chen Ke laughed, "If you forcibly put the forces of the two factions in the cabinet, it will inevitably lead to a fierce conflict." I think Sir Humphrey should be very clear about this. Britain relies on a stable civilian corps to enforce government orders, and no amount of noise among British parliamentarians can affect the actual operation of the United Kingdom. At present, Beiyang dominates the cultural management system. At a time when there is no neutral government executive level, even if our People's Party forms a cabinet independently, as long as the executors are from Beiyang, our decrees are useless. ”

Sir Humphrey felt uncomfortable every time he encountered Chen Ke's deep understanding of European politics, such as Chen Ke's brilliant discussion of the British cabinet and civil service, and the apt metaphor between the British political system and the Beiyang as a whole. He could fool Chen Ke with the People's Party occupying a considerable number of cabinet positions, but he did not dare to fool Chen Ke by saying that "the People's Party can control a considerable part of the civil service system" or by fooling Chen Ke into saying that "Yuan Shikai will give up control of the civil service system". It's really uncomfortable to negotiate with such an opponent.

"So what are the conditions that Mr. Chen can accept?" Sir Humphrey asked.

Chen Ke replied forcefully: "We, the People's Party, resolutely oppose creating a civil war in China because of the interests of the party. We resolutely oppose the use of one's own selfishness and the creation of a civil war by the selfishness of one family and one party. This is not only a manifestation of political moral decay, but also of personal morality. ”

Sir Humphrey never felt that he needed to pay attention to Chan Ke's moral level, and the real core of this passage was that Chan Ke was opposed to starting a civil war now. More precisely, it was Chen Ke who opposed Yuan Shikai's initiative to start a civil war. As for the issue of gaining a position in the Beiyang regime, it seems that it is not at all within the scope of Chen Ke's current consideration.

"We can put pressure on Yuan Shikai to adopt a broader electoral policy in China." Sir Humphrey's own words felt like nonsense. But this is a step in the order to fool Chen Ke, even if it has no effect, he has to say it first.

"I would like to see good results from your efforts." Chen Ke was still smiling,

Sir Humphrey was silent for a moment before he spoke, "I hope you will be able to sign this document. ”

"And then?" Chen Ke asked.

Listening to Humphrey's words, Lu Huitian and Zhang Yu couldn't help but have a wave of anger on their faces. The content of this document was simple, it demanded that the People's Party recognize all the treaties signed by the Manchus with the British. Both of them knew that they did not have Chen Ke's measurements, and they were able to talk and laugh with Humphrey, the British representative. It's just that under such a straightforward threat from the other party, the two of them pretended to be smiling. One of the revolutionary goals of the People's Party was to completely recover all sovereignty in China, and to agree with the treaty signed by the British and the Manchus was tantamount to agreeing to the agreement set by the Manchus to lose power and humiliate the country. Even Yuan Shikai did not dare to do this, let alone the People's Party. If it weren't for the fact that the main interlocutor of this meeting was Chen Ke, the two would have been afraid that they would have put out the unpleasant words a long time ago.

"Your ability to sign is a testament to your determination to be truly friendly with our British Empire. We, the British Empire, will never abandon our friends. Humphrey persuaded.

"Even if we do not sign this document, we in the People's Party will adhere to the policy of continuing friendly relations with Britain. This does not need to be proved by such superficial actions. Chen Ke assured Humphrey.

After a frank conversation in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, Chen Ke arranged for Sir Humphrey to rest for a while. Endured until Humphrey disappeared outside the courtyard, Lu Huitian said angrily: "They are going to take advantage of the fire to rob." ”

None of the diplomatic negotiations are true, and every one of them is the truth. Chen Ke was quite satisfied with Lu Huitian's understanding. "Is people's strength stronger than ours, it's not normal to rob while it's hot."

"Chairman Chen, are you really not angry?" Zhang Yu was more interested in Chen Ke's attitude.

Chen Ke was indeed not angry, he explained to Zhang Yu: "I would have been angry in the early years, but over the years I think I have been more realistic. What's there to be angry about? The British are definitely for their own interests, and there is no reason for them to think about us in China. It's actually good to deal with foreign devils, they just think about how much benefit they can get, but they don't have to worry about what other thoughts they have. ”

Zhang Yu said tentatively: "But the foreign devil wants to support Yuan Shikai, even if we make concessions now, the foreign devil will still support Yuan Shikai." ”

Chen Ke nodded again and again, "Yes, no matter how the gringos try to buy our People's Party, we will not betray China's sovereignty." There will inevitably be conflicts and even wars around China's sovereignty, so in the current situation where there is such a huge gap between us and foreign devils, it is inconceivable that foreign devils do not play double-faced and three-faced. ”

Listening to Chen Ke and Zhang Yu's conversation very smoothly, Lu Huitian finally understood, and said on his face: "What does Chairman Chen mean is that we want to be a snake with them?" He cheated us, and we also bluffed them? ”

Seeing that Lu Huitian was also on the road, Chen Ke continued, "That's probably the case. But I have to make it clear first that whatever you do is on your own. Let's not deliberately set any traps, the British and Yuan Shikai are old foxes, and we really can't play them with this set. There is no better way than to make reasonable demands that match our current strengths. I've always thought that those who get caught in the trap fall into it themselves. For us, we must tell nonsense, and tell the truth. But at the end of the day, you have to rely on yourself. ”

"How can you tell the truth?" Zhang Yu and Lu Huitian were interested.

The next day, Sir Humphrey still asked to see Chen Ke, but was told that Chen Ke was on official business, and the negotiators became Zhang Yu and Lu Huitian. Sir Humphrey felt a lot more relaxed not talking to a negotiating opponent like Chen Ke. He still demanded that the BJP sign an agreement recognizing British privileges.

"There is no way we can sign such an agreement." Lu Huitian replied.

"Why?" Sir Humphrey felt playful.

"Because such an agreement is not in the interest of the UK, it is not in the interest of us either. First, after the signing of such an agreement, the British side will not be able to make a lot of money. Second, after the signing of such an agreement, our People's Party will not be able to make a few more money. Moreover, in the current situation in China, the entire political field is against unequal treaties, and we have no real benefits, but we have lost a lot of interests politically. Lu Huitian replied solemnly.

Judging from Lu Huitian's annoyed look yesterday, Sir Humphrey felt that Lu Huitian was a relatively easily excited person, and it was really surprising to him that he was now discussing the matter with such a sober analysis of interests.

"The very existence of these treaties is a reason for many people to attack, and we owe it now, and Yuan Shikai in Beijing will definitely talk about the fact that we signed the treaty. In fact, he will also sign with the UK, so what do we get? Zhang Yu immediately beat the side drum.

"We will support you in forming a cabinet." Sir Humphrey felt that the two on the other side might be confused.

"How can we be sure that we will be able to form a government?" Lu Huitian asked rhetorically.

Even though he knew that he had come to fool the People's Party, Sir Humphrey was displeased when the strength of the British Empire was so questioned, "Don't you believe my promise, Your Excellency?" ”

Lu Huitian hurriedly waved his hand, "It's not that we don't believe it, but we don't have any plans to form a separate cabinet in two or three years, let alone the strength to form a separate cabinet." You suddenly put forward such a big goal, and we can't do it ourselves. We felt that if we wanted to accomplish this goal, the British side would have to do more than we did. This is the same as the scale, Yuan Shikai's side is too heavy, and if he wants our side to sink, the British side will have to provide huge support. ”

Far from the goal, Sir Humphrey saw the relaxation of the BJP's attitude as a form of progress. He patiently persuaded him: "As long as the People's Party signs this agreement, all European countries will support the People's Party." ”

"It's not that we won't sign it, can you guarantee that after we sign, you can silence all the Chinese political forces? Otherwise, if the long-term benefits have not been obtained, we will have to lose a lot of practical benefits, and we will not be cost-effective. Zhang Yu added.

"Are you going to object to the recognition of the previous agreement?" Sir Humphrey said menacingly.

"We're not against it, we just want to know what's good about acknowledging." Lu Huitian replied.

"So what are you going to do?" Sir Humphrey lost some patience.

"Let's have a roadmap." Lu Huitian immediately took out a piece of paper and put it on the table.

Although neither Lu Huitian nor Zhang Yu had any intention of fulfilling their promises to the British, the two still seriously talked to the British about the roadmap for signing the agreement. The idea provided by Chen Ke yesterday was that since the British wanted to pretend to be the big-tailed wolf, the People's Party might as well build a road map on the basis that the British were big-tailed wolves. The British wanted the People's Party to take the fire for him, and the People's Party pushed the British to the front line.

Sir Humphrey soon discovered the problem, and asked, "Don't you have any intention of forming a separate cabinet?" ”

"We really don't." Lu Huitian replied categorically.

Now Sir Humphrey knew that his trip had been a complete failure, and that since the People's Party had made it clear that it had not formed a separate government, many of its plans could not be carried out. As for the joint formation of a cabinet, Chen Ke had already denied it yesterday, and whether Lu Huitian and Zhang Yu mentioned this line of thought word by word shows that the two will not reach an agreement on the joint formation of a cabinet in private.

That being the case, Sir Humphrey had to admit that the main purpose of this occasion had failed. The BJP is unanimous that it will not be possible to sign an agreement recognizing the old treaty unless it receives great benefits.

Seeing off the disappointed Sir Humphrey, the BJP convened a Central Committee. Chen Ke first informed the comrades of the contents of the talks, and then said solemnly: "Comrades, the war to liberate the whole country is not far away. Yuan Shikai will definitely defect to the British, and the British will definitely choose Yuan Shikai. After Yuan Shikai armed a large army, the war would begin. ”

This assertion was so abrupt that the comrades couldn't accept it for a while, "How long will it take for Yuan Shikai to arm an army?" ”

"Based on the financial situation, it will take him about a year and a half to two years. From the purchase of foreign arms to the delivery to China. After conscription and training, Yuan Shikai could have 600,000 troops after a year and a half. ”

The figure of 600,000 has made the comrades breathe a sigh of relief, and if it is 600,000 to 600,000, the People's Party will have absolute confidence in victory. "What are we going to do now? Just take advantage of Yuan Shikai's strength to clean him up now. ”

"The British would never agree, and we weren't ready for it right now. Our steel output is said to be 600,000 tons. There's too much water, the quality of the steel is uneven, and there's not enough processing capacity. Now it is possible to produce railroad rails and iron farming tools on a large scale. It is not possible to directly produce steel plates, and the level of steel production is also very poor. The last time I went to see it, the steel bars pulled out were as brittle as glass. These things need to be accumulated, and after a year, the current production capacity of 600,000 tons can be stabilized and the product quality improved. That's victory. I think it would be good to be able to initially integrate the current industrial categories within two years. Chen Ketou poured cold water on the comrades.

You Wei, director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, was a little unhappy when Chen Ke said this, and she asked: "In that case, what does Chairman Chen think we are doing at the moment?" ”

"The point at the moment is that you all give me a trip abroad to open my eyes. Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, these four countries are the four most advanced industrial countries today, and they send a group of people abroad every two months. It is not expected that everyone will learn anything immediately, but that the comrades will be able to see with their own eyes what these industrial countries are like, their most basic characteristics. When our industrial capacity develops faster and builds on a larger scale, people will not feel that these are too new. ”

The comrades of the Party Central Committee were stunned, Chen Ke had raised the issue of cadres going abroad for inspection before, but there were so many internal affairs during this period of time, except for the comrades of foreign trade and economic cooperation who could go abroad, other comrades could only look at the photos they brought back and have a good time. This time, cadres were actually sent to visit on a large scale, and the comrades were speechless for a while.

Chen Ke was also very helpless, if he didn't send his comrades abroad to see it now, he wouldn't have to think about going abroad to inspect at all from the beginning of World War I. Although there are many dangers at the moment, it is just a matter of walking thousands of miles to read thousands of miles. The People's Party needs its comrades to broaden their horizons. Whether you like it or not, once the First World War begins, the BJP will be irresistibly drawn into the torrent of the whole world. If you haven't even seen the major countries, how can you have any idea of the struggle between them?

Moreover, the current cadres of the People's Party went abroad for large-scale inspections, which can also make Yuan Shikai feel a certain amount of relaxation, and he dares to let go to do some things. This is necessary even from the point of view of deception.

The comrades of the Party Central Committee looked at each other one by one, and they suddenly wondered if Chen Ke was joking. But soon they understood that Chen Ke didn't mean anything to joke, "Let's study it, we will send up to 8 groups of people to go abroad for inspection." Everyone hurried to draw up the list. The diplomatic side will immediately engage with the four countries mentioned above. If it is soon, I hope to send the first batch of comrades before the Spring Festival. ”

"What about the international students we have already sent?" You asked him.

"They are studying, and they are different from these comrades who are on the inspection. For those international students, follow the plan. Chen Ke replied.