Chapter 295 Ministry of Water Resources

The "Memorandum of Military Cooperation between China and the United States" was finally concluded at the end of October 1917, and its core contents were as follows: the establishment of a mutual trust mechanism between the Chinese and American militaries (mainly the army, and the navy of the Republic of China is still a scumbag), and the establishment of liaison agencies between the French and French armies to exchange information and information. To put it bluntly, the US military needs the experience of the Chinese in the French battlefield, especially in the offensive. And China needs the support of the US military's technical equipment and logistical supplies. In order to achieve the goal of pulling China onto the ship, the United States has invested a little money. For example, the latest 155 howitzer, the United States, which has deep pockets, gave twenty regiments in one go. The Americans also threw out 300 of the latest tanks (No. 3) imported from China, which was enough to equip four tank brigades and many riches.

In view of these benefits, the Chinese side has privately reached an agreement with the US military to form an experienced officer corps of 150 people to help the US military understand the characteristics of the European war and conduct targeted training for the US troops landing. He also promised that once the U.S. military needed assistance, the expeditionary force that was still recuperating would immediately end its recuperation and go into battle.

According to the memorandum, the two strategic cruisers ordered by China were trained by the US Navy on their behalf, and after six months, they were under the command of the US Navy and fought with the US Navy until the end of the war. Also according to the provisions of the memorandum, the Chinese Navy ordered two battle cruisers with a displacement of 32,000 tons from the United States, which were delivered by the end of 21. This type of combat cruiser, designed and manufactured by the United States according to the requirements of the Chinese side, will reach a maximum speed of 32 knots and a cruising capacity of 12,000 nautical miles. It runs faster than all the battle cruisers in the world today, and its endurance is far stronger than that of the Japanese Kongo-class (8,000, 10,000 after two improvements). The main guns were nine triple-mounted 14-inch 45-caliber guns (approximately equal to 356 mm). 12 guns of 152 subguns, 16 anti-aircraft guns of 105, 24 mm anti-aircraft machine guns. Well, this last requirement makes the US Navy feel very painful, and the 105 anti-aircraft gun is even more painful. But this is what the Chinese demand, and the Americans don't care.

Actually, in this memo. There is one thing that Fang Jianxiong wants the most, but the Americans just don't agree to, and that is that one of the latest battle cruisers is being built in China. The result of the rip-off. In the end, the United States promised to provide technology for China, and the construction of two newly delivered Chinese became Beijing-class war patrols. At the moment, this kind of battle patrol is not an advanced technology, except for running faster. 12-inch gun. With a displacement of 19,000 tons, even the Japanese can not beat the King Kong class. Even if the United States does not give this kind of technology, it is estimated that France can provide it to China. At present, the Chinese Expeditionary Force is a popular fried chicken on the French battlefield, and since the start of the war, it has been the only Entente team that has become an entente to annihilate the main force of the German army. France and the United States are both trying to win over the expeditionary force, and Britain, as the boss, also wants to win over. The problem is that the arrogant British can't pull down their faces, and the United States and France are also very guarded. The Chinese also don't seem to like the British very much. So in the field of military cooperation, the British played the role of soy sauce, but on the issue of fighting for command, the British supported the French, and the desire of the US military to dominate the French battlefield was shattered. It can be regarded as planting a seed of Anglo-American contradictions, but fortunately, the United States has pulled China, and it is definitely a decisive military bloc on the French battlefield.

Regarding the latest battle cruisers, the Americans are happy that someone will pay them to build them. The reason is very simple: first, the United States can accumulate technology and experience by building warships, and second, this new type of combat cruiser is clearly following Japan's Kongo-class. The United States is naturally too happy to see such signs of the Chinese and Japanese navies.

With the signing of the memorandum of understanding on military cooperation between China and the United States, the US government officially provided a loan of $500 million to the Chinese government. The money is not received all at once, but over five years, and the interest rate on the loan is five percent per annum. As for what the money is used for, the United States does not care, and in the past, under the guise of helping China build railways, it is not mentioned now.

The Chinese Expeditionary Force, sandwiched between the United States and France, is now on the right and left. With the arrival of the second echelon of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, the Chinese Expeditionary Force, with a total strength of 550,000, was once again listed as a strategic reserve by the Entente Powers. In the words of the commander-in-chief of the French army, Pétain, "the Chinese are at ease in the back." This was said in private, and outsiders did not know. The reality is that the Chinese expeditionary force is indeed much more reliable than Britain, the United States and Russia.

In fact, what France is most helpless about is that now that the war is being fought on French soil, no one can offend the issue of interests from France's point of view. The United States must not be offended, because they are big financiers, so they can only pinch their noses when they know that the United States is pulling China together to confront Britain and France. China can't be offended, unless the French government wants to step down, if the Chinese expeditionary force is forced out, the French people will not agree. The most popular women in France now are definitely the officers and soldiers of the Chinese expedition.

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Beijing, the presidential palace of the Republic of China. Wu Tongju, the former Qinghai Prefecture Zhili Prefecture General Judge, was waiting uneasily in a lounge. The four bigwigs in the study room were talking and laughing, President Sun Da, Premier Tang, Minister of the Interior Xu Shichang, and Chairman of the Military Commission Fang Jianxiong.

The content of today's conversation was the establishment of a Ministry of Water Resources, and Fang Dashuai proposed it to the cabinet at the beginning of the month, and submitted it to the National Assembly for approval. And this candidate for the Minister of Water Resources was recommended by Xu Shichang, and it is said that Wu Tongju, a Jiangsu person who is very good at water conservancy.

Wu Tongju devoted his life to the cause of water conservancy, participated in the survey work of Lianyungang seaport, and published a large number of water conservancy works. The main ones are: "The Complete Chronology of the Huai System", "The Recontinuation of the Water Jinjian" (co-authored with Zhao Shixian), "The Complete Book of Water Conservancy in Jiangsu", "The Present and the Past View of the Water in Jiangbei", "The Diary of the Jiangbei Canal", "The Guide to Surveying and Mapping Haizhou Port", "The Water Conservancy of Northern Jiangsu", "The Words of the Huai River", "The Theory of the Jiangbei Canal as a Waterway System", "The Study of the Guiding Huai River to the Sea", "The Comparison of the History of the Huaibei Waterway and the Current Situation Today", "The Study of the Division, Rule, and Governance of Si, Yi and Shu", "The Theory of Yi Shu's Emphasis on Raising and Draining Huai Si Yi Accumulation and Drainage", " The Yellow River of the Song, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties", etc

In short, Wu Tongju is a very bullish historical figure, Fang Jianxiong has little understanding of this aspect, but the importance of water conservancy is very clear. During the Republic of China, the natural environment was not as bad as it was later. No matter how effective it can be now, this kind of thing must be done first.

"Three prohibitions and three more: prohibit enclosing fields, prohibit the destruction of water systems, prohibit the destruction of vegetation, repair more small water conservancy, more dredging, and dig more tributaries. This is a little personal insight for the Cabinet to refer to. Fang Jianxiong said with a smile, and the other three people secretly wrote it down in their hearts. When you go back and convey it below, you must emphasize that this is a wise decision by Fu Shuai.

When everyone agreed, Fang Jianxiong continued: "Also, I think it is necessary to set up a Ministry of Land and Resources and agriculture, and the National Assembly must pass a series of legislation, and the underground resources are limited, so they must be protected by legislation, so as not to cause waste caused by indiscriminate mining by the people." Not to mention the importance of the Ministry of Agriculture, we cannot pay too much attention to the issue of feeding 40,000 people. ”

Today's small gathering is to say hello first, so that everyone can pay attention to it. The current Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China is in charge of too many things, and it is necessary to carry out some subdivisions.

The sound of talking and laughing alarmed Wu Tongju, who was sitting and waiting, and got up and glanced outside the door, where Fang Jianxiong, who was dressed in military uniform, was leaving.

"Is that Fushuai?" Wu Tongju asked the receiving official, and the young official smiled and nodded, "Exactly." ”

The other three turned back, talking as they went. Sun Baoqi said: "I'm ashamed, how to govern the country, we also have to help the country to remind." In one sentence, Tang Hualong's face turned slightly purple, and Sun Baoqi smiled slightly when he saw this, and walked inside.

Xu Shichang said twice and followed in. In terms of seniority, Tang Hualong can't compare with these two, if it weren't for Fang Jianxiong's appreciation and strong support, the prime minister of the cabinet would have nothing to do with him. After five years as prime minister, whether the next term can continue to work is a big challenge for Tang Hualong, and how many people are staring at the position of prime minister. Xu Shichang in front of him has already joined the Republican Party, and there is a vote in the original Beiyang, and they all joined the Republican Party. At that time, the autonomy of the four provinces called itself a faction, led by Tang Hualong, and competed with these factions that later joined for the next candidate of the Republican Party.

Gu Weijun walked up to Wu Tongju and greeted with a smile: "Mr. Wu, right?" Please come with me, the President wants to see you. ”

When he walked into the office, Wu Tongju gave Xu Shichang a grateful look. The newly established Ministry of Water Resources will not have a minister for the time being, and Wu Tong will be appointed vice minister in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Water Resources. After some politeness, Sun Baoqi said to Wu Tongju: "At the beginning of the Republic of China, many institutions have yet to be built, and the Ministry of Water Resources is proposed by Chairman Fang to coordinate the national water conservancy construction. At present, there are two priorities, one is education, training relevant talents, and preparing for the future. All universities in the Republic of China should increase the number of water conservancy courses, and the compilation of specific teaching materials brooks no delay. The second is the governance of Huang and Huai, this matter is not fast, give you two years to come up with a comprehensive and comprehensive management plan. After explaining, Sun Baoqi turned his head to Xu and Tang and said: "Two, the 'three prohibitions and three more' proposed by Fuguo should be submitted to the National Assembly for deliberation and legislation." ”

Tang Hualong listened quietly on the side, feeling a little unhappy. Sun Baoqi sat firmly in the position of the president, and slowly began to seize power, interfering in the affairs of the cabinet, which was an unacceptable phenomenon for Tang Hualong. However, Sun Baoqi is Fang Jianxiong's teacher, and Tang Hualong can only endure many things.

On the way back, Yang Yongtai suddenly turned around in the front seat of the car and said: "Fu Shuai, the battle between the government and the hospital is beginning to appear." ”

Fang Jianxiong glanced at him lightly and said, "Changqing, don't talk about these things, just keep them in your heart." I can usually walk around with Zheng and Li more, but they are not young anymore. (To be continued.) )