"As for the fifth point, it is the focus of the next discussion." Qian Nengxun said solemnly, "As for the issue of the southern military government receiving the customs surplus, the north has already discussed it, and it is possible to give the south a part of the customs surplus, but on the matter of the autonomy of the Republic of China's tariffs, it is necessary to concentrate forces and unite with the outside world, and must promote the Republic of China to take back the customs and raise tariffs, so as to achieve the goal of abolishing the customs and reducing the burden on the people." ”

"Tariff autonomy? Does money mean to talk to yourself? The southern delegates, including Tang Shaoyi, had very different expressions, as if they thought they had heard it wrong.

"In the present situation, the great powers have repeatedly delayed the distribution of the surplus, how difficult it is for the North to promote tariff independence, if it is done, the merit will be in the world, and the benefits will be in the future, can this matter be assured?" Hu Hanmin exclaimed.

"The central government has sent a note to the legations of the great powers to prepare to convene a tariff conference in the near future, and the case of tariff autonomy is a matter of importance, and the central government has made up its mind that no matter what, no matter how the government personnel change, it is necessary to achieve the goal of benefiting the hundreds of millions of people of the Republic of China." Zhu Qichuan nodded and said, "Duan Hefei's implementation of the policy of unifying the Republic of China by force has been completely abandoned by the current president, no matter what happened before, now the removal of the Hunan governor, the reduction of the army, and the restoration of the customs, in order to abolish the money, are all important matters for the benefit of the country and the people." At that time, it is hoped that the southwestern provinces will be able to give full support. ”

"The matter is very important, and although I may decide, after the independence of the tariff, the tax revenue will surge, and the southern provinces will also receive a proportional benefit from the tariff. In this way, we can avoid the customs and taxes from all the income of the north, and raise an army to attack the south. After discussing with a group of southern deputies, Tang Shaoyi gave such a reply.

Tang Shaoyi said with a smile, "This matter is not trivial, Representative Qian may wish to send a telegram to Beijing, and it is not too late for us to talk again in the afternoon." ”

"Not necessarily. Before coming, the president had already made an explanation, and he could agree to this condition in the south, and the president had made it clear that the interests of the Republic of China would rather fall into the hands of the south. Nor will it spill over to the great powers again. However, the central government has begun to set up a bureau for the aftermath of the centigold, formulating the matter of abolishing the levital, and the southern provinces have obtained some tariffs, which should also be implemented at the same time, and at the same time no other taxes shall be added in any name. ”

To the surprise of Tang Shaoyi and other southern deputies, Qian Nengxun directly nodded and agreed to such a major event involving tens of millions of interests. In the previous peace talks between the north and the south, the deputies from the north had to ask the central authorities for instructions on matters big and small, wasting their time in vain and causing a lot of jokes from the deputies from the south. However, at this time, the two sides seem to have switched.

At this time, Qian Nengxun, Zhu Qichao and others also had a lot of emotion in their hearts. Especially the former northern representative Zhu Qichao, the feeling of being treated as a puppet is not good. Unlike before, when the group went south at this time, they were greatly authorized. Although it was the mouth of the great president. However, everyone here knows who is really standing up for them behind them, otherwise the previous North-South peace talks. The president will not be powerless under the oppression of the Anfu system. Before coming, the president only said a few words to these deputies, "The internal affairs of the Republic of China can be appropriately compromised." Externally, the overall situation is the most important, and the interests of the Republic of China would rather fall into the hands of the south. Nor will it spill over to the great powers again. "As long as this principle is upheld, the delegations of the peace talks can make a decision in one word.

It would rather fall into the hands of the South than spill over to the Great Powers. Is this the idea of the manipulator behind the scenes in Beijing? All the southern delegates present were moved. If it weren't for the provincial overseers, how would the situation in the Republic of China have declined to the point it is now?

…………….

Two days after the North-South Peace Conference in Shanghai was held, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Under Chen Youren's presiding officer, he formally sent a note to the ministers of Britain, the United States, France, Japan, and Italy to discuss matters concerning the situation of the Republic of China. Although there are dozens of ministers from various countries in the Republic of China, in this era, these five countries are the most representative, and the interests of the entire Republic of China are almost divided by the first four powers.

After some politeness, the next step is to officially enter the topic, Chen Zheng was involved because of the previous tariff leakage, although it was just a negligence at work, but Qin Yu intended to change the foreign minister, so he pushed Chen Youren, who had a tougher diplomatic style and was more handy to use, to the position of foreign minister.

"Your country's customs are related to the interests of many powers, and your country's customs have been well guarded over the years, how can you say that you will take it back?" Kohata Yukichi didn't raise his eyelids, and he planned to take a tough stance on this matter, having already received a reply from the country.

Japan's exports of goods to China have been increasing over the years, although the blow of the 21st and the Paris Peace Conference is not as good as before, but in a few years it will be restored, as long as the Republic of China raises two or three percentage points, Japan will lose tens of millions of interests every year, and these tens of millions are only secondary, once the Republic of China customs is independent, it can make hundreds of millions of dollars more in a year, even if the abolition of the centigold is beneficial to any of the great powers, but the abolition of the centigold is more beneficial to the industry of the Republic of China. Once there are more taxes, with Qin Yu's ability, he will be able to organize a larger army, which will be even more of a headache for Japan. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't pull it, Kohata Yukichi didn't want to see this happen.

Thinking of this, Kohata Youji couldn't help but look at Qin Yu, who was sitting next to him as Chen Youren's deputy. As the helmsman of the power of the Beijing regime, the meaning behind appearing on such an occasion as a deputy is undoubtedly intriguing.

"Yes, your country owes a huge amount of foreign debt, and the customs is the strongest guarantee to keep our banks from bankruptcy because your country is unable to repay its loans. In the current situation in your country, it is really difficult to express the ability to repay the loan. If you take another position, your country will never agree so lightly. In addition, we hope that your country will pay the balance in the form of gold francs. French Minister Fu Leyou stubbornly said that at this time, France not only opposes the autonomy of the Republic of China's tariffs, but also wants to make a rake and ask for more, which is undoubtedly the most excessive.

Anglo-American. Since the European War, the attitude of Britain and the United States towards the Republic of China has changed, but the Beiyang government is weak and too weak diplomatically. Some of the interests that could have been fought for have been given up by themselves, so that outsiders like the United States, who are interested in pulling a hand, have nowhere to help.

"Your country has been in charge of our customs for decades, I don't know what your country wants?" Hearing the attitude of Japan and France, Chen Youren was furious in his heart, and his face was still full of emotion and asked the British Minister Zhu Erdian.

"My lord is also skeptical of your country's ability to pay its loans, as the French minister said. If your country corrupts its customs revenues, we will not be able to account to our lending banks and merchants. Zhu Erdian smiled and said, "Consul Chen, did you say yes?" ”

"I agree with Consul Zhu." Italian collar. The U.S. consuls nodded one after another.

None of the envoys of the five countries invited this time had any softening in their attitude, and all of them were opposed.

"I understand the concerns of the nations, but they are not unsolvable. Therefore, China has given the following solution: China's customs management personnel are still in charge of the British side, and the personnel adjustment within five years is still in charge of the General Department of Taxation. However, the General Department of Taxation was responsible for training Chinese employees, and after five years they began to move into management. Before the loan is repaid. All countries have the right to supervise the normal operation of our customs. ”

"As for the repayment of loans, before the addition of new debts, the existing debts payable by our country each year shall be paid first by the customs revenues, and after the completion of the repayment of the debts of the current year, the remaining proceeds shall be used first to make up for the replenishment of our retrenchment. States also have the right to supervise the abolition of the tax on the penis. Before the pennies are abolished. The surplus of customs tax will not be invested in other areas. ”

"The premise of China's two guarantees is to take back the autonomy of customs, and the customs as the most fundamental rights and interests of a country, China has the right to take back, and China can ignore some unreasonable obstructions." Chen Youren said righteously. "As for the repayment of the remaining amount in gold francs. It is even more vexatious, and our Government categorically will not agree to it. ”

"Hmph, to put it mildly, your country is now divided, there are many warlords in various places, and your central government only controls several northern provinces, and cannot affect the atmosphere of the southern military government, if we hand over the customs duties to you, what should the southern military government do if they expel the customs administrators? Do you expect you to send troops to appease their anger for us? Hearing that Chen Youren rejected the gold franc bill without hesitation, the French minister Fu Leyou said with a sneer.

The ministers nodded, there is only one national customs sovereignty, and the Republic of China now has a military government in Guangdong in addition to the Beiyang government. Even if the customs surplus is not easy to distribute, not to mention the matter involving greater customs autonomy, it is difficult to explain to the other party when it is assigned to anyone.

"In this regard, the central government has reached an agreement with the southern military junta that the customs revenues of the southwestern provinces ruled by the military junta will be counted separately and paid to the provinces according to their revenues, so as to resolve the problem of differences between the north and the south."

Chen Youren smiled coldly, he had long expected that the legations of the great powers would raise this difficult problem, but the central government had already made a decision on this.

"Hmph, to put it simply, your country's officials are notoriously chaotic and corrupt, and my country will not agree to this plan if it says anything." The French leader was speechless, and said angrily.

"China also expressed its opposition, your country's customs has been steadily implemented for many years, changing the current governance, and my country is concerned about the repayment of previous loans." Kohata Yukichi said indifferently.

"It is not yet known how much your country will raise taxes. China also does not agree with the current change of customs policy in your country, and the political situation in the south is even more unstable than in the north, and it is impossible to implement the previous plan as Consul Chen said. Zhu Erdian shook his head and said, Britain has been in charge of the Republic of China Customs for decades since the end of the Qing Dynasty, and once it is independent, there is no doubt that Britain will be the most impacted.

"What if our country is bent on taking it back?" Chen Youren continued to speak strongly.

"If you don't agree anyway, do you intend to resort to force?" Kohata Yukichi smiled coldly, "The envoys of the great powers represent several countries, do you have the strength to do so?" ”

"Yes, my country is resolutely against it." Fu Leyou said again.

"President Chen has been talking for so long, sit down and take a rest." Qin Yu smiled indifferently, and then took out a text.

He said to the consuls, "Let me tell you a few things about the Republic of China, last year, my country's financial loss was 70 million, and this year it is at least 100 million. At the same time, China's central government is now affected by the division of local provinces, and its monthly income is less than 7 million. This year and next, China's internal and external debts to be paid will remain at about 40 million. In addition to the customs situation, China's largest tax revenue, the salt tax, the excise tax, and the centigold, have all been hijacked by the local government, and the local government has even more so. Under such circumstances, this year's drought in Shaanxi and Henan has affected millions of people, 100,000 people have died of starvation this year, the Yangtze River floods and its tributaries have never been mentioned in 14 places, millions of people have been affected by the floods, and more than 40,000 people have died directly from the floods. Today, all the armies participating in the war have been dismantled, Henan and Shandong have been disarmed by a total of 100,000, and military spending is still high, and disaster relief, military spending, education, and all aspects are expenditures. All the countries are the great powers of the world, and they are rich and rich, and now you are telling our country, how can we maintain the current situation? ”

"This is your internal affair, of course, you have to deal with it yourself, and it has nothing to do with our country." Fu Leyou said coldly.

Bang! A huge sound broke out, and the soldiers outside heard the movement inside and poured in, only to see Qin Yu's hand holding the cup with blood flowing, and the white jade-like teacup had turned into pieces on the table, and the tea splashed everywhere on the table.

"Damn, now that I know that this is my internal affair, when you robbers occupy a large amount of our interests, why don't you say that our country still has internal affairs to deal with? Do you want to raise the army and the people, and provide relief for disasters and famines? Not only do we want to suck blood on the low tax system of our customs, but also want to cut the balance of Geng money and then cut a knife on the people of our country. On the European battlefield, although our country did not send troops to directly participate in the war, there were hundreds of thousands of workers who went to the battlefield, and this is how you treated your allies? Ungrateful things, today Lao Tzu is here to sue you, for the debts owed to your country, my country will pay you back a lot, but if you want to take the opportunity to blackmail, how far France is, let Lao Tzu go as far as he wants. It's a big deal that the two countries sever diplomatic relations, and my country can't afford to pay for a country like yours. ”

"And you Japan, don't think that the first power in Asia can do whatever you want, before Lao Tzu was not in Beijing, now you want to make Lao Tzu better, you Japanese life in China is definitely not better, if you want to jam our country in the customs, you will withdraw all the people in your country in China, and my country will also withdraw people, it is a big deal to scatter in two, and the fish will die and the net will be broken!"

"What to see, you can see the discussion of national affairs, give it to Lao Tzu!" At the end, Qin Yu yelled at the stunned guards who poured in.

The guards were frightened and withdrew like a tidal wave.

"Baga, Qin Patrol Envoy, you are openly threatening the legation by force!" Kohata stood up. (To be continued......)