After a year of construction, the three-kilometer-long asphalt avenue can accommodate four freight cars in parallel, the sidewalks on both sides of the avenue are smooth and wide, and more than 1,000 French plane trees transplanted in spring have lost their leaves in the middle of winter, but they can survive well, and the scenery of the whole block is orderly and prosperous.

On the north side of Gulou West Road, European-style buildings are lined up one after another, and the original abandoned workshops full of ponds, dirt bags and garbage have become neat and comfortable residential blocks, and more than 30,000 poor citizens who were originally scattered in the thatched huts and abandoned workshops inside and outside the city have moved into new homes one after another, and they only need to guarantee each other and complete the loan procedures for installment repayment from the business offices of the Nanjing Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China all over the city and outside the city, so that they can have their own spacious houses in the ten newly built residential areas north of Gulou West Road. Children can read and write in the free primary school built by the political axe, and no longer have to go hungry and wander around all day.

Located in the northeast of the intersection of Gulou West Road and Huju Road in the north-south direction, the four-storey western-style building is elegant and generous, and the momentum is extraordinary.

Designed by the famous American architect Ellison and built by Shanghai's leading Dahua Construction Company, the Barlot-style building was officially opened on Christmas Day, and the nameplate hanging on the granite pillar in front of the compound is clearly marked in Chinese and English: Consulate General of the United States of America in Nanjing.

At this moment, the interior of the building is brilliantly lit, the music is melodious, the New Year's party held by the US Consulate General in Nanjing is gradually entering the world, and more than 200 people from more than 30 countries in China, heads of multinational companies, and Chinese political celebrities gather together, or dance, or talk in groups in low voices.

On the platform at the top of the building, there was silence.

U.S. Consul General in Nanjing, John. Davis and the British Consul General in Nanjing, F.E. Wilkinson, stood side by side, looking at the lights of thousands of homes to the south, talking in low voices, exclaiming at the Nanjing camp and the military academy and other buildings on both sides of Huju Road, and full of praise for the great changes in the city of Nanjing in the past year.

Xiao Yimin, dressed in a black tweed coat, stood beside the two ministers, holding a wine glass and smiling, humbly answering questions from the two ministers of major countries with whom he had a closer relationship from time to time.

Half an hour later, the three of them returned to the spacious and luxurious office on the top floor, and began the first meeting of the new year between the three countries in a soft and bright candlelight and the smell of fine wine.

Davis didn't let the secretary and waiter stay, closed the door and returned to the comfortable sofa, enthusiastically pouring hot coffee for Wilkinson and Xiao Yimin:

"Xiao, although the war in Guangdong and Guangxi has been suspended, all the traffic roads have not been restored, and what makes countries even more uneasy is that the trade in tungsten ore, tung oil and other commodities in Jiangxi and Hunan has been stopped for more than ten months, resulting in a sharp rise in the price of tungsten ore and other products, and the market is extremely chaotic.

Xiao Yimin couldn't help laughing, making Wilkinson, who had been tense all the time, depressed.

Xiao Yimin explained: "That's right, since the beginning of last year, Jiangxi and Hunan local political axes under my suggestion, the mining and trading rights of all mineral resources will be nationalized, and private capital to form a large mining company, from Europe and the United States to purchase mining equipment and smelting equipment, high salaries to hire experienced European and American engineers to guide production, now Jiangxi, Hunan five major mining companies have been put into production one after another, soon to meet the procurement requirements of various countries." ”

Wilkinson couldn't help but complain: "Xiao, I admit that your move to introduce advanced equipment to refine mineral products is correct, at least it can save a lot of tonnage for transporting impurities on the procurement ships of various countries, but your price monopoly on refined tungsten products has seriously hurt the interests of all countries, I personally think, dear Xiao, you can't take rare metals that account for 80% of the world's total output to achieve your own political goals." ”

Xiao Yimin glanced at Wilkinson, who had a serious face, thought for a moment, and asked kindly: "Mr. Wilkinson, it is precisely because I have fully considered the interests of the British Empire, as well as the friendship that you, Mr. Zhu Erdian and Mr. Johnson have always generously given me, that I have asked Jiangxi and Hunan provinces to unconditionally fulfill the original trade contracts signed with British and American companies in the form of an executive order. ”

Wilkinson nodded politely, but Davis smiled: "Xiao, because of the backwardness of mining technology and war, the trade quantity of tungsten ore in each year before last year was quite limited, and the price was increasing year by year, and since last year, the trade contract we asked to sign has not been agreed by Jiangxi and Hunan, we understand that this may be the reason why it takes time to introduce advanced equipment and mining technology."

"However, the major mining areas in Jiangxi and Hunan have not stopped mining, since October last year, the five major companies newly formed in the two provinces have completed the installation of equipment and have been put into production, as far as we know, the number of tungsten ore mined in the two provinces has been as high as more than 50,000 tons, and the tungsten concentrate powder and tungsten ingots processed by advanced smelting equipment in Germany have exceeded 6,000 tons, and under the strict management of the local army, the major mining companies are still producing and storing in a steady stream, right?"

Xiao Yimin looked at the British and American ministers, who were a little bit of the same enemy, sighed slightly, nodded and admitted: "Yes, the situation and quantity just mentioned are very realistic, it seems that you have put a lot of effort into this, here, I need to remind you kindly......

"My friends, if you want to know about this in the future, you can come to me directly, and don't learn from the despicable people, otherwise, it will be difficult for me to guarantee the personal safety of the intelligence personnel you have sent to the major production areas or other military control areas.

"I'm sorry, this is not a threat, nor is it a warning, but a sincere reminder among friends, the reason is very clear to you, in addition to the strict management and control of the troops in the southern provinces of the Nanjing camp under my leadership, other relevant civil affairs, including justice and the internal security of the provinces, are all entrusted to the provincial political axe and local garrison forces."

Wilkinson and Davis were both stunned, their expressions became grim, and they thought of the continuous disappearance of the "merchants and travelers" in the Jiangnan provinces who had been in a uproar for months, and knew that the culprit of all this was probably the polite young warlord in front of them, and they couldn't help but attach great importance to Xiao Yimin's "kind reminder" in their hearts.

Xiao Yimin was very satisfied with the reaction of the two, and then said in a gentle and frank tone: "John, Wilkinson, you are all my friends, and the attitude of Britain and the United States towards our Nanjing camp is very frank and sincere, I am grateful to you and your political axe for your more and more support for me and the Nanjing camp in the past year!"

"I myself will continue to fulfill the solemn commitments made between each other to open up the market and financial investment in a step-by-step and planned manner, and even in the near future, with the help of the political axes of the two countries, to thoroughly reform China's backward monetary system and financial policies, instead of succumbing to the pressure of the northern political axe."

Wilkinson and Davis had smiles on their faces, apparently very satisfied with Xiao Yimin's statement.

Xiao Yimin's tone changed: "However, many things in China involve more than just trade and market issues, to put it mildly, since the British ships bombarded China's door, the surging European and American countries have long made the situation in China extremely complicated......

So far, the Chinese people, who seem to be willing to endure oppression, have not forgotten the humiliation brought by this, and they have suppressed the growing hatred in their hearts, which will one day explode, which is the fundamental reason why the party headed by Sun Wen was able to cause a war that spread across the country with a small amount of effort, just by constantly shouting and describing the bright future of the future!

"I believe you have also seen that a war-torn China is not in the interests of Britain and the United States and the world, and only a stable and gradually developing China can accept a large amount of idle capital and industrial products in Britain and the United States and European countries, which is very important to Britain and the United States and the whole world, and I believe you agree with me, right?"

Wilkinson and Davis couldn't help nodding, contacting Xiao Yimin until now, it was the first time they heard Xiao Yimin's keen and objective analysis of the situation, which made the two of them feel very uncomfortable, but they had to agree with Xiao Yimin's opinion, which was very consistent with the analysis and long-term decision-making made by their own country's political axe, and it was also very incisive.

"Shaw, your foresight is deeply admirable! Mr. Johnson, the Chief Commercial Counselor of our Consulate in Shanghai, told me many of your legendary stories, saying that you are a sensitive and generous person, but you cannot tolerate the intimidation and deception of others, otherwise you can do anything. It's just that I didn't expect that you are a hundred times more shrewd than Johnson said, you have a pair of eyes full of wisdom, you can see more clearly than anyone else, broad-minded, not hypocritical, awe-inspiring, I am more and more confident in the cooperation between each other! ”

Wilkinson said a lot of feelings in surprise, and his tone was calm and his attitude was correct, which could be seen to be from the heart, and it was obvious that his understanding of Xiao Yimin had deepened a little during this time.

"Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Wilkinson, for the compliment. Xiao Yimin said with a smile.

Wilkinson smiled and said, "Shaw, if you don't mind, just call me Evan like John, my friends call me that." ”

Xiao Yimin laughed heartily, stretched out his hand and shook Wilkinson tightly: "It's an honor!" Evan, I invite you to bring your wife and daughter to my home when you have time, and my two wives and three sons will be immensely happy."

"Thank you! I would very much like. Wilkinson laughed.

"Xiao, congratulations on becoming true friends with Evan, however, the most important issue tonight has not been resolved, and we need your clear answer, otherwise the British and American chaebols will put heavy pressure on us because of the shortage of tungsten ore and tung oil and other products." Davis never lost sight of his mission.

Xiao Yimin shook his head slightly: "Actually, this matter is very easy to solve, I suggest that the two of you consul general send a summons to call the relevant persons in charge of your country and France, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries to Nanjing, and I am responsible for summoning the officials of Jiangxi and Hunan provinces and the heads of the five major mineral companies to Nanjing to sit down and negotiate amicably, how about it?" ”

Wilkinson and John looked at each other and nodded in unison, with Davis praising this as the right way to solve the problem, and Wilkinson agreeing, but complaining that it would make Britain and the United States uncompetitive in terms of purchase price and quantity.

Xiao Yimin immediately moved out of the preferential treatment plan that had been prepared long ago:

Sichuan and Guizhou provinces in Guizhou, the border of Hunan, Guizhou and Guizhou, jointly set up two tungsten ore smelters, the same is the introduction of advanced equipment from Germany, tungsten ore output and quality compared with the two major tungsten smelters in Hunan is not inferior, Britain and the United States can be used to invest or other cooperation to obtain greater utilization.

Where did Wilkinson and Davis not know the sincerity of Xiao Yimin's move? immediately raised his glass and thanked Xiao Yimin.

Xiao Yimin asked the two to stop for a while: "My friend, you don't suspect that the whole of Guangzhou has been brought under the jurisdiction of Nanjing, right?" ”

Davis smiled bitterly: "Xiao, you are not only an excellent military commander, but also a despicable and cunning politician, if I hadn't met the two generals Chen Jiongming and Xu Chongzhi at your place last week, I am afraid that you would still continue to be deceived." ”

Wilkinson was equally uncomfortable, and Chen Jiongming unexpectedly joined Xiao Yimin's camp, disrupting all the British plans in Guangzhou: "I have to say that you and your camp in Nanjing are admirable, and I am convinced that you will eventually replace the central political axe in Yanjing, but it may take a long time of hard work." ”

Xiao Yimin was noncommittal, and suddenly asked an extremely shocking question: "If Shandong is also under the jurisdiction of our Nanjing camp in two months, will you agree to the series of plans I proposed before?" ”

Wilkinson and Davis were so frightened that they almost jumped up, staring at Xiao Yimin's speech with a slight smile, and didn't say a word for a long time.

(To be continued)