Chapter 111 Expansion (XVII) Bethlehem Company

As an officer of the Wehrmacht, the greatest sense of superiority is the kind of respect that the people look at from the heart, not the fear of the past. Zhang Jingyao still remembers the first time he put on the uniform of the National Defense Forces and walked down the street, and the common people did not hide when they saw it, but looked at them with envy with a look of respect and trust.

Zhang Jingyao, who looks good, can still get some big girls' hot eyes to patronize. That feeling, like being slightly drunk, like bathing in the spring breeze.

The front suddenly stopped, and the sharp knife squad soon came back to report, and the front was the Jiangxi boundary.

"Keep your distance and speed up the march." There was no abnormal situation, Zhang Jingyao ordered with great momentum. The kind of troops of the Jiangxi Army, let alone fighting the National Defense Army, are rookies in Beiyang. The word rookie was learned in the dock prisoner camp, and it is said that it came from the mouth of the marshal.

Tang Hualong, who was in a good mood, returned home, and there were already guests waiting. In fact, this person has been in Wuchang for a few days, and Tang Hualong has not given him a clear reply. Not even a place to stay.

As a native of Hubei, Juzheng's mentality of returning to Wuchang is very special. Ju Zheng is a gentle person, and he belongs to the rare good old man in the alliance. Because of his good popularity, he was sent back to Wuchang to try to get in touch with Fang Jianxiong. At present, the Nanjing government, which is dominated by the League, is facing too much political and military pressure. Whether or not he can handle the relationship with Fang Jianxiong has been raised to a low position of life and death for the provisional government.

Because of this, Sun Yi changed his past practice, and sent Ju Zheng back to contact one or two first, and then try to sit down and have a good talk.

When Tang Hualong entered the house, Ju Zheng had been waiting here for more than an hour. When the two met, Tang Hualong still bowed his hand very politely: "Brother Juesheng is here, slack and slack." ”

Ju Zheng smiled: "I'm sorry to be there!" Tang Hualong made a gesture of invitation and said, "Let's talk in the study." Ju Zheng's face was happy when he heard this, and he said that there was a door to this matter.

After entering the study, he sat down, Tang Hualong said: "Brother Juesheng, today Commander Fang held a military and political meeting. In the next mention yì to improve relations with Nanjing. Commander Fang said ....... Speaking of this, Tang Hualong stopped and groaned. Ju Zheng is kind. The scheming was not deep, and immediately asked: "What do you say?" ”

"The commander meant, he has never been against the League, but has some objections to the provisional government. Pity. Some of the Confederacy. Misinterpreting the commander's meaning. Tang Hualong couldn't help but sigh as he spoke, Ju Zheng was also stunned, think about it carefully, Fang Jianxiong really didn't say anything to the people of the Alliance. In the past, Ju Zheng felt that the domestic Revolutionary League would be a well-deserved leader, and Fang Jianxiong should also listen to the League. This is influenced by other people, and he is not good at the perception of Fang Jianxiong. Now that I think about it, I feel that it is indeed biased.

Being honest and honest does not mean being stupid, and the thorns in these words are naturally heard. But there was no way to refute it, and he sighed at the moment: "Some comrades in the alliance." It's really lacking a little bit in my heart. ”

Tang Hualong said with a smile: "Brother Juesheng, since the commander said it, we can talk about it." Let's talk about it. But before I talk, I want to tell you one thing, now that the provincial government has been established, military personnel are not allowed to interfere in politics, and Commander Fang's proposal for judicial independence is dead. In front of the two provinces of Hubei and Anhui, there is still a lack of an independent official, and you are also studying law, and you have no choice in being a person. I want you to be the officer. You can decide this matter without being in a hurry, and then answer it after thinking about it clearly. ”

Juzheng was a little dizzy. How did it turn to this again? In fact, the question of this candidate has not been decided for a long time, and Tang Hualong does have the heart to recommend Ju Zheng to do it. It's just that mentioning this before can play a bit of an unexpected role.

Fang Jianxiong's five were very clear, and Tang Hualong changed his appearance slightly, adding some ingredients to plump up. The general direction has not changed, and the conditions are a little harsh. Ju Zheng is still very happy, the channel for dialogue between the two sides in the previous period has basically been cut off, and the Nanjing side is in a hurry to get angry, and there is no way at all.

"Okay, I'll do my best to convey these five to Nanjing." Ju Zheng listened and hurriedly got up to leave, reflecting from the side that the decision-making power in his hands was very limited. In this regard, Tang Hualong saw it in his eyes and felt a little regretful in his heart. Let Ju Zheng talk, saying that he is really not the right person to speak, and the heads of the provisional government don't know what to think in their heads.

The core of the military plan reported by Zhang Xiaohuai is the word "stability", and the strength of the two divisions is less than ten miles apart, followed by artillery, slowly moving south, not seeking a quick victory, but seeking to slowly suppress like Mount Tai. Such a tactic is still more suitable for the Wehrmacht, which has a large number of new recruits. In this regard, Fang Jianxiong waved his pen and agreed, saying, "The battlefield is changing, and Runnong is the commander-in-chief, so you can cut it first and then play." We should take advantage of this battle to focus on cultivating the ability of new personnel in the General Staff. ”

The commander-in-chief and the commander-in-chief are on the same mind, and this battle is much simpler. Fang Jianxiong's power is very decentralized, but he doesn't have to worry about supporting the army and respecting himself or something. The advanced system ensures that there can only be one warlord, and that is Fang Jianxiong.

The National Defense Forces sought stability, and Nanjing was under tremendous pressure, and it was overjoyed to learn of Wuchang's return call. Sun immediately held a meeting to discuss how to deal with the incident, when three Americans appeared on the Wuchang dock.

Accompanying these Americans was the independent Minister of the Navy Tang Qianming, and the German-made cruiser "Hairong" was moored on the wharf, and there were originally two warships of the same class with the prefix Haizi, which joined the Nanjing Provisional Government with Huang Zhongying. This matter is related to the power struggle within the navy, Fang Jianxiong didn't stop it, it was going to rain and the mother wanted to get married.

The Hairong was stationed in Wuhu, and today it appeared in Wuchang, and Tang Qianming personally went out, which shows the importance of the matter. Among these Americans, there are those whom Fang Jianxiong knows, such as George, and those who Fang Jianxiong does not know.

Sitting in an American-made Ford, three Americans entered the general headquarters of the Wehrmacht. George, who was the first to get out of the car, saw Fang Jianxiong standing at the door to greet him, and exaggeratedly opened his arms and shouted: "Dear boss, I finally see you again." I miss you so much. ”

Fang Jianxiong smiled facelessly and said: "Stop, I don't accept a man's hug, and at the same time, we haven't seen each other for two months." George shrugged and said, "Okay, you're the boss, you have the final say." ”

Fang Jianxiong has long seen through this Yankee, this guy is a combination of a careerist and an adventurer. As long as there are enough benefits, it is no problem for him to do anything.

"The two must be the representatives of the Bethlehem Company, and the next one is Fang Jianxiong." After sending George away, Fang Jianxiong stepped forward and took the initiative to stretch out his hand, the two Americans have actually been paying attention to Fang Jianxiong's attitude towards George, and it can be seen that it is a very casual attitude. That said, the relationship between the two is really familiar.

"Reyes, Major of the U.S. Marine Corps, Barkley, U.S. Deputy Military Attache to China." After the two Americans introduced themselves one after another, Fang Jianxiong's outstretched hand stopped, turned his head and glared at George, "You liar." ”

George smiled and explained: "Dear boss, I don't dare to lie to anyone, they can indeed represent the Bethlehem Company. Or rather, they're hired by Bethlehem, and I think if you know the United States, you should know that, the rich Republican Party, they're very powerful. ”

"Well, I accept your explanation. Welcome two American friends. Fang Jianxiong gave up and stretched out his hand again.

The two Americans obviously inquired about Fang Jianxiong's affairs in advance, and this warlord has always been unapologetic to foreigners. The experience of living in Germany for a long time has developed a tactful expression that does not have the traditional oriental style.

When it comes to the Bethlehem Company, we must first talk about the "Bethlehem Contract", which is a huge plan of the US government to win over China against the Anglo-Japanese alliance and support the revitalization of China's navy. The late Qing government put forward a huge plan to revitalize the navy, which was finally roughly determined to be 18 million taels of silver for seven years to be used for the navy to purchase warships.

The revitalization of China's navy is undoubtedly what the Americans are most willing to see. In the dispute over the Northeast Railway, the Americans lost to Japan and Russia, and this lesson taught the Americans that they were completely inferior in the Chinese market.

The means adopted by the Americans to attach importance to the Chinese market is to win over China against the Anglo-Japanese alliance at sea. The so-called tiger is on the shelf, and the camel that suffers is bigger than the horse. Although the Qing Dynasty is rotten, there are still three catties of nails in the rotten ship, right?

Therefore, the US government asked the Bethlehem Iron and Steel Company to come forward and provide a package of assistance with a low-interest loan of 25 million taels of silver as the core, the purpose of which was to make the Qing government inseparable from the financial help of the United States and wear the same pants with the United States from now on.

Of course, American capitalists do not do good deeds for no reason, and China's huge market itself is the best reward.

(Note: The contract has too many words, so I won't copy it.) You can go and look at the information. Another: The contract is for the New York Berryham Steel Company. It should be a different transliteration. ）

After the Wuchang Uprising, the Bethlehem Contract, as an undisclosed secret contract, naturally ended without a problem. This made the Bethlehem Company and the U.S. Department of the Navy anxious, and at first the Americans' minds were on Yuan Shikai. Fang Jianxiong, this warlord is naturally out of consideration.

However, this small warlord surnamed Fang has repeatedly surprised the most practical Americans. The military victory undoubtedly added a lot of points to Fang Jianxiong. So, on the principle of trying it out, at the request of the Bethlehem Company, the U.S. government decided to try to make contact. What if Fang Jianxiong can dominate the country in the future? Right, get in touch in advance and see if there is any possibility of becoming a pick-up man.

Fang Jianxiong didn't know anything about the Bethlehem contract, but George mentioned in the telegram that Bethlehem was a large steel company, and this Fang Jianxiong was too interested. The steel industry can be described as the backbone of the country, and nothing can be played without the steel industry. (To be continued)