In Shanghai, China, the Huangpu Wharf was crowded with people, tens of thousands of people gathered here, and under the maintenance of the police, they were in good order, only to see their high spirits, holding the national flag, and expecting their eyes extended to the depths of the Huangpu River, and countless slogans that inspired the fighting spirit were held high by the masses, even if the waiting hours did not let the slogans fall half a point.

Shanghai in the depths of winter is very wet and cold, especially on this riverside wharf, the cold wind blowing on the river makes people unstoppable. However, Lu Liang and the others had been standing here for more than two hours, and everyone felt that it was worth it, because the Chinese negotiation team to San Francisco was about to return to China. Chinese President Lu Liang, Shanghai Mayor Li Jingxi, and a number of high-ranking government and military officials were waiting here early, accompanied by tens of thousands of people who came spontaneously.

The people's patriotic enthusiasm and national enthusiasm have long been ignited during the Northern Expedition, and with the country's prosperity and affluent life, the patriotic heart has not only not been diluted, but has become stronger. It was a time of burning passion, and after the Treaty of San Francisco, the nation's passions were at their peak. Within more than two hours since the people gathered, they braved the cold wind and kept shouting patriotic slogans, and the call for long live the president made Lu Liang, who was present in the scene, ashamed.

Lu Liang did not think that he was a great man, let alone "long live", and such worship belonged to countless people who worked hard for the country and the nation, soldiers who fought the battlefield, farmers who worked in the fields, workers who produced in factories, and negotiators who fought for the interests and honor of the country in San Francisco.

Compared with the enthusiastic people, Lu Liang and the others seemed a little solemn, and could even be described as not saying a word, which was not suitable for the welcoming atmosphere.

"Xiang Shuai for the country and the people, tirelessly working hard, the scenery to be done in the future, do you have any requirements for me?" Lu Liang turned to the people around him and asked.

"Father left his last words on the ship. The telegram was simple, but I could understand what he meant. My father said that he was very satisfied now, seeing that the country was beginning to rise and the national strength was getting stronger, he did not ask for a grand funeral, he did not ask the government to take care of the descendants, but only wanted to complete the great cause of national reunification as soon as possible. Especially in Xinjiang, Tibet, Mongolia, Northeast China and other border areas, it is his only regret that he has not been able to see the state recover those areas. It was Zhang Zhidong's eldest son, Zhang Renquan, who spoke.

Originally, Zhang Zhidong died in 1909, but he didn't expect that Zhang Zhidong insisted on going to San Francisco with the group in this life, and relaxed physically and mentally after signing the treaty, but he couldn't bear the bumps of ocean voyage on the way home, because of the lack of medical conditions on the ship, he couldn't survive, and the immortal died. That's why the greeters were solemn.

Zhang Zhidong's death dispelled all the joy that Lü Liang had brought because of the signing of the treaty. For Lu Liang, Zhang Zhidong is not only an old Manchu official, but also a teacher, the Dinghai Divine Needle by Lu Liang's side. Not to mention the rights and wrongs and contributions of Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang and others, just talking about their insights and experience can benefit Lu Liang a lot.

"We will definitely be able to fulfill Xiang Shuai's wishes, if Xiang Shuai had not passed away, we would have seen it soon, it was really sad. Benevolence. I heard that you are not willing to be the mayor of Wuhan? ”

"Your Excellency, my father has been operating in the two lakes for many years. There are countless protégés and former officials, and the influence of these protégés of the old dynasty is still there, and many of them do not adapt to the rhythm of the new country, and even some have bad intentions. After my father's death, the government can use this to remove those bad influences, and if Renquan accepts the post of mayor of Wuhan, I am afraid that those people will be even more excited. Zhang Renquan said bluntly. He had previously studied at the Party School of the Zhenguo Party in Wuhan for half a year, and then was sent to Sichuan to serve as the mayor of Chengdu, at which time Lu Liang transferred him back to Wuhan, firstly, to show the importance of Zhang Zhidong's old ministry and stabilize the mood of that part of the people. Second, there is a desire to find out those who have bad intentions.

Zhang Renquan's answer was very clear, and the reason was also very legitimate, and Lu Liang was not good at saying anything. It seems that Zhang Renquan has the intention to protect those people and refuses the post of mayor of Wuhan City, which is to euphemistically propose to Lu Liang to spare those people.

"Xiang Shuai has just passed away, I will definitely not make a big fuss about it, you can rest assured, you can invite those people to sit together when you have the opportunity, the government is thirsty for talents, tell them about the policies of the new government, maybe find useful talents is not necessarily." After Lu Liang finished speaking, Zhang Renquan made a completely clear response.

For the part of the officials who were transformed from the old dynasty, many of them were capable and ambitious, and this part of the people Lu Liang did not stingy with the power in his hands, and even allowed this part of them to occupy a high position. But more people are corpses and vegetarians, and they are covered with the decadent and obscure traditions of the old era, and they can't do things, make money and engage in conspiracies to fight with people, which is endless, and even if such people are transformed, they are endless, so Lu Liang has implemented a cold treatment on them - that is, they don't care about it and don't use it. Of course, those people are not willing to be lonely, and try their best to find opportunities to make profits for themselves, such as Zhang Renquan, Li Jingxi and others, there are often visitors there, out of old feelings, it is not easy to refuse, so they can only take out some money and deal with things.

What made Lu Liang decide to do something to him was that these people secretly contacted the north, or wanted to flee north, or wanted to act as an inside line, how could such a thing be hidden from the eyes of the Investigation Bureau!

The purpose of mentioning this matter to Zhang Renquan is to give those people a final warning. Ending the dialogue with Zhang Renquan, Lu Liang took his mind back, and the ocean-going steamer had gradually docked.

Amid the flashing spotlights of reporters from major newspapers and the cheers of the crowd, the Chinese delegation from San Francisco slowly walked down the escalator, and Zhang Taiyan, who was walking in the front, barely squeezed out a smile, waved to the crowd, and then hurriedly shook hands with Lu Liang, who came up.

"Tired, you are the heroes of the country."

"Thank you, President, it's nothing, the President brought someone to greet me personally, and I was flattered!" Zhang Taiyan is not a young man who is stunned, of course he knows what to say on this occasion.

"Needless to say these useless polite words, your credit is an ironclad fact, and no one can erase it!" Lu Liang's meaning when he said this is precisely because those old officials spread rumors that Zhang Taiyan was a traitor and that the Chinese delegation was incompetent, and there was a saying among the people that the delegation failed to strive for the greatest interests, so that half of Taiwan was still in the hands of the Japanese, and that Korea was not recovered, and so on.

After Lu Liang finished saying that, he felt his hand trembling slightly, Zhang Taiyan heard these rumors when he was on the boat, and his heart was nervous, but fortunately, the president justified his name as soon as possible.

"The people who spread those rumors have been controlled by the Investigation Bureau, and they will be dealt with soon, you can rest assured! Where is Xiang Shuai's body? Lu Liang asked Zhang Taiyan in a low voice.

"It's still on the boat, and I don't know if it's appropriate to carry it down now, so I haven't dealt with it for the time being, after all, it's a happy time." Zhang Taiyan said.

"You're right, but there's one thing you didn't expect, the more times like this, the more you need to do it immediately, to show that the government cares about that part of the population. I carried the coffin myself! Lu Liang said firmly, this is not a political show, he does have great respect for Zhang Zhidong, and it is not a drop in price to carry the coffin for him, in addition, this is also to lay a good foundation for future actions.

Fifteen minutes later, when the crowd gradually dispersed, sharp-eyed people found that President Lu Liang actually carried a coffin and walked off the boat, followed by Zhang Taiyan, Lu Yi, Zhang Renquan and other high-level officials!

After stepping off the boat, the coffin was placed into a waiting hearse, and the solemn atmosphere gradually spread, and the crowd turned from excitement to doubt and seriousness.

"By the way, this is Vice President Jang Zhidong's coffin!" A reporter suddenly remembered the news that Vice President Zhang Zhidong was seriously ill and passed away on the way home. It's just that this news is not worth mentioning compared to the signing of the treaty and the return of the delegation, and it has been ignored by most people!

"Click, click!" The sound of the camera working sounded again, this is the vice president of a country, he deserves such treatment, everyone can't help but feel annoyed for their neglect, no matter what, they should not ignore such a major matter, especially those journalists, in a relatively simple era, reporters feel guilty not for ignoring a major news, but because of their own personality.

The next day, the main pages of the major newspapers carried the news of the delegation's return to China, the president's greeting, and the grand scene, and in addition, on the secondary pages, the editors did not forget to publish the news that Vice President Jang Zhidong's body had returned to China and that President Lu Liang personally carried his coffin. Looking at the newspaper, Lu Liang felt that he was a little shameless, using Zhang Zhidong's body to make a fuss, would he become a non-human person after being in a high position? (To be continued.) )