For the citizens of Beijing, the smoke of the European war is just a hot topic after dinner, nothing more. What really affects the lives of the people in China is the huge business opportunities brought about by the war, as well as the opportunities for industrial and commercial development.

The focus of the common people and the senior government officials is completely different, and the ordinary people are still concerned about firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea. Half a year after the government issued a decree banning the use of silver dollars in circulation, and only the renminbi could be used as the only currency, prices in Beijing rose slightly. But there are more opportunities for employment, and life is definitely better than before.

The life of the people is good, but the life of the government is very sad. Prime Minister Tang Hualong has been working hard to make up for the huge shortfall in fiscal savings. The expeditionary force's participation in the European war was a great favor to Tang Hualong. Britain and France gave up the Gengzi indemnity and provided a large number of loans, which made the government financially relieved. But there is a difficult matter in front of the government, and if it cannot be handled properly, the prestige of Tang Hualong, the prime minister, will be dealt a huge blow.

This thing is an autonomous tariff, that is to say, it is withdrawn from customs. According to the agreement signed between the Chinese side and the Entente countries, customs will be gradually returned to China. The annual customs tariff has increased from 40 million at the end of the Qing Dynasty to 60 million now, which shows the speed of economic development of the Republic of China. However, this General Customs Department is a product of the Qing Dynasty, taking advantage of the Xinhai Revolution, the General Taxation Department Anglian colluded with the British Consul Zhu Erdian to deposit the annual customs tax into the three banks of HSBC, Dehua and Daosheng, and the Chinese Customs completely fell into the hands of the British.

Customs cannot be too important to a sovereign country. Fang Jianxiong took the opportunity of the European war, and even did not hesitate to send troops in exchange for a series of benefits that only the government can see, such as the country's financial relaxation and the autonomy of the customs in the future. Tang Hualong, the prime minister of the cabinet, could not be clearer.

Therefore, Tang Hualong has been very close to the negotiation matters of the customs. Several ministers of the Ministry of Finance were staring all day, urging the negotiations to progress. However, there has been little progress in the negotiation process. From the second half of last year to the end of March this year, half a year has passed, and the negotiations on the autonomy of the customs are still in the process of repeated tug-of-war.

It is clear that the British are not willing to give up such a large piece of interest, and constantly put obstacles in the negotiation process. All kinds of delaying tactics have been used. It can be seen that the meaning of Anglian is ideal, and it would be ideal if it could be delayed until the end of the European competition.

Another round of negotiations broke down! When Finance Minister Zhang Jian came to report on his work, his old face didn't dare to raise his head. Chen Jintao and Xiong Xiling, the two vice ministers, were even more gloomy. None of these three are of Republican origin. Since the Republicans came to power, Congress has passed a new monetary bill, which has greatly eased the financial pressure on the government. As members of the Ministry of Finance, they are the direct beneficiaries. On the matter of customs autonomy, there has been no progress in the negotiations for half a year, and the three of them are a little unable to sit in their positions.

"Prime Minister Jiwu, it's not that we don't care. It's the British Anglian, who is really insincere. During the negotiations, they were messing around and playing tricks. All sorts of means were used. Zhang Jian still had to face the facts and explain to the prime minister the reasons for the breakdown of the negotiations.

"What is the excuse of the foreigner Anglian this time?" The soup faucet hurts so badly, every time I think about it, it hurts! When talking. rubbed his temples vigorously, and he almost sighed. Why these people are on the foreigners. All out of shape? Nothing to do? Look at the other people's support, they are not willing to suffer any losses to the foreigners. What happened to the Germans? Helped China so much, said that the war would start.

Thinking of this, Tang Hualong's mind came up with a scene on the eve of the war, and almost no one in the top echelons of the government agreed to join the Entente to fight against Germany. Even the military's defense minister is skeptical, thinking that this is too repetitive, and the good relations between China and Germany are there, so you can't be a treacherous villain, right?

What did Fushuai say? "As long as it's good for the country, I'll do it. I'll memorize the infamy! ”

The game between the great powers is far from being too clear for the politicians of this era. Fang Jianxiong, who is accustomed to seeing changes in the international situation in parallel time and space, will not believe in any traditional friendship between major powers in this time and space. The world is so big, and there is so much room for living. During the Cold War in parallel time and space, China and the United States went from antagonism to friendship, not to deal with the common threat to the Soviet Union? After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has not eased up for 20 years, and the signs of China's rise have just appeared, and the United States has begun to plan to suppress China, doing everything possible to balance China's development space.

When Europe is trying to get rid of the dollar system, doesn't their NATO boss, a close ally, trigger Europe's debt crisis? Or will you still make your allies to death? The so-called traditional friendship between countries is really a structure in the brain. Do the Chinese suffer less losses? In parallel time and space, the "friendly countries" in the mouth of the Beiyang government, are there few tragedies caused in China? It can be said that the crimes committed in China by the entire developed Western world are too numerous to mention.

Fuck your traditional friendship! Fools believe this!

Straight to the point. (I can't help but complain, forgive me.) ）

This time the negotiations have not even begun, they have already ended. Quite simply, Anglian organized customs officials to protest outside the General Department of Customs. The entire Jiangsu road was blocked, and the Chinese negotiators were beaten back by rotten eggs before they could even enter the gate.

Prior to this, Anglian was making a fuss and making sure to place the negotiations at the General Tax Department. After three months of arguing, the Cabinet finally made a concession and agreed to the location of the negotiations. Unexpectedly, the consensus that had just been reached was rudely destroyed.

When Tang Hualong and the officials of the Ministry of Finance had a headache about customs negotiations, a conversation was also taking place in the courtyard of a garden house in the British Concession in Shanghai.

The gentle spring breeze was blowing, and under the sun umbrella, Zhu Erdian and Anglian were drinking afternoon tea, and their expressions were very relaxed. In particular, the General Department of Taxation, Anglian, is talking about yesterday's brilliant results.

Since Marshal Fang actually controlled the power of the country, the good life of Zhu Erdian, the British minister, has not passed for a few days. Today, I can be regarded as raising my eyebrows, but the problem is that Zhu Erdian will not be happy soon. His brows gradually furrowed, and he looked thoughtfully at the north. Anglian, the chief tax officer, saw it clearly, and the smile on his face was put away. According to his understanding of Zhu Erdian, only when he encounters something difficult will he have such an expression.

Zhu Erdian fell into deep thought, and Anglian called "Mr. Minister" three times in a row before Zhu Erdian came back to his senses from his contemplation.

"It's nothing, I just don't think things will be so simple, this is not Fang Jianxiong's style."

"Isn't China a democratically elected government? Customs and taxation have always been negotiated by people from the Ministry of Finance. "Anglian pretended to be light-hearted, and a little joking. He is certainly not stupid enough to think that China is a democratic government. Anglian is confident, the British Empire is the backer, can he still be afraid of Fang Dashuai?

Picking up the teacup, Zhu Erdian took a sip, squinted his eyes to avoid the direct sunlight, and sighed: "Anglian, my friend, is now the Republic of China, not the Qing Dynasty." Fang Jianxiong is not one of those weak and incompetent Manchu nobles. If you can drag it out for a day, don't anger this ambitious warlord too much. ”

It's a bright spring in Shanghai, but it's a gloomy day in Beijing, and the sand blown by the north wind is unbearable in this season. Tang Hualong and his finance ministers finally decided to ask for a meeting with the commander and asked Fang Dashuai to decide.

For this helpless decision, Tang Hualong had no way to change it. Every time I face foreigners, these people don't have many options. Only Fang Dashuai can toss foreigners to death. asked to see the marshal, naturally Tang Hualong personally went out, accompanied by Zhang Jian, the Minister of Finance.

Before you head out, make a phone call. The telegraph and telephone offices in Beijing began a new round of expansion last year, and the main government departments in the urban area were connected to the telephone. The number of privately installed phones is also increasing. In the first half of '16, in order to be able to install a phone, you had to find a lot of relationships.

Of course, Tang Hualong doesn't have to worry about this, his residence and office have already installed telephones. On the side of the Marshal's Mansion, it was a woman who answered the phone, and after Tang Hualong reported his name, he said very politely: "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, the chairman of the committee went to the presidential palace." ”

Went to the Presidential Palace? After putting down the phone, Tang Hualong was a little helpless and bitter. No matter how hard he tries, in Fang Jianxiong's eyes, his status is incomparable to Sun Baoqi. In terms of power, Sun Baoqi's power has been restricted by many parties, but in terms of the ranking of national leaders, the president always comes first, the cabinet is responsible to the president, and then the president is responsible to the Congress. Tang Hualong didn't think about sitting in the president's chair.

Putting away these thoughts, Tang Hualong said to Zhang Jian with a smile: "Elder Ji Zhi, it seems that we are going to go to the presidential palace." ”

When he went out, a gust of wind swept the fine grains of sand, and Tang Hualong subconsciously raised his hand to block it. The brows furrowed again, there has been no rain around Beijing since the beginning of spring, and the wind and sand have become more and more presumptuous.

The presidential palace received a call, and someone was already waiting at the door. When Tang Hualong's car stopped and got out of the car, he unexpectedly saw Gu Weijun and Huan Hanxiang standing together waiting for them. Look at what this means, it's quite lively today, and Li Yuanhong is also here?

Sure enough, there was a burst of laughter in Sun Baoqi's study, and it was rare to hear Li Yuanhong laughing heartily: "This method is good, when Jiwu comes, first ventilate and take out a charter to send to the National Assembly for deliberation." ”

Tang Hualong was stunned, what is the matter? Still going through Congress? (To be continued)