February 5, 1911, the sixth day of the first lunar month. In the cold spring, Feng Guozhu, commander of the Central Military Region, and Zhang Lianfen, governor of Shandong, led the civil and military personnel of Shandong to stand solemnly on the platform, waiting for the arrival of the presidential special train.

The railway station has been completely under martial law, and there is not a single journalist except for the high-ranking officials who are qualified to pick up the station. It is a sign that the president's tour is secretive.

After leaving Shandong at the end of 1906, Long Qian returned for the first time.

In January, the northern section of Jinpu Road was opened to traffic, which made it possible for Long Qian to take a special train for patrol. Since entering Beijing in 1909, Long Qian has been "nesting" in Beijing for a year and a half, and the first stop of his tour was Jinan, which is enough to prove that he attaches great importance to the place where he started.

Finally, the locomotive emitting white smoke appeared in everyone's field of vision, and the high-ranking officials consciously formed a team and divided into two columns headed by Feng Guozhu and Zhang Lianfen. The train stopped, the first to get down from the front and rear carriages was the presidential guard led by Kang Jiyong, after a strict warning circle was formed, Long Qian's tall figure appeared in the door, followed by Song Jiaoren, Yu Youren, Zhou Xuexi, Cao Minzhong and other accompanying members.

"Brother Yuhui," Long Qian jumped off the platform, took two steps, and held Zhang Lianfen's hand, "It's so cold, you shouldn't come." ”

"How can it be? When the president comes home, I'm going to pick up the old bones. ”

"You look good." Long Qian looked at Zhang Lianfen, "We haven't seen each other for almost five years." ”

"Four years and eight months. It's not a long time, but it's been a game change. When the president looks at Shandong again, it has changed a lot. ”

"The real change is in the back! But. Shandong is doing a good job, although I have never come back, but I have been paying attention to the news of Shandong. Thank you. Long Qian shook Governor Zhang's hand vigorously, and then turned his gaze to Wu Yong, who was beside Zhang Lianfen.

"Brother Yongchuan has worked hard and lost weight, it seems that agriculture and transportation are really not good."

"Where, with the wise leadership of the president, difficulties will be solved."

"When did Brother Yongchuan learn this? Wise fart, Minister Yu said that you are doing a good job here, and it is the best province to implement the "Land Law". I'm here to learn from you. Long Qian stared at Wu Yong. The image of Huai Lai's first meeting ten years ago has been blurred, "Yongchuan, we are old friends and colleagues. Don't follow the old style of officialdom. ”

The civil servants behind Wu Yong looked enviously at Vice Governor Wu who was talking to the president. This friendship is the biggest asset. In the future, the order of Vice Governor Wu will be taken seriously.

After shaking hands with the civil and military officials one by one, Long Qian and Feng Guozhu took the same car and left the heavily guarded Jinan Station.

"You do this. Soon someone found out where I was. Long Qian was a little dissatisfied.

"If you're not careful, Ouyang Zhong is still on the phone this morning to confirm the security situation to me."

"Don't listen to them, how can there be so many assassins?" Long Qian lifted the curtains and looked at the street scene, "Where are you going to let me live?" ”

"The State Guest House or the Military Region Headquarters, both are ready. Since you don't want to make a noise, I think it's better to live in the military region. ”

"It's up to you." Long Qian lowered the curtains, "What nonsense, why is there even martial law on the street?" ”

"Don't pick on you! Hu Zongyu's lesson is ahead, who dares to be careless? Wang Zhifeng personally arranged the guard, in fact, I didn't worry too much, I only transferred him to a regiment. ”

In December last year, Hu Zongyu, commander of the Southern Military Region, was attacked by a bomb in Guangzhou. Therefore, the Ministry of Police and the Presidential Office are very careful about Long Qian's patrol, for fear of chaos.

"If you want me to see it, it's still too little to kill! Last year, Mr. Chen, Jiang and Xu were in a hurry, if they were handed over to me, how could there be these troubles? ”

"It's easy to kill people, but it's hard to really win people's hearts......"

"I know what it was like ten years ago. They cannot ignore their conscience. I don't dare to say that everyone has a full stomach, but there are really very few people who flee the famine and ask for food. If you talk about the workers in the city, life is even more amazing. Look at the buildings over there, they are all ordinary houses in the market......"

"Oh? What's the price? ”

"I don't know. By the way, why didn't Zhenhua bring it? ”

"Didn't he go to school? By the way, your family Feng Gang also went to school, right? ”

"Up. It's very naughty, it's not a seed of study, it's good to be a soldier in the future. ”

"I heard, even teasing the teacher crying nose? Hehe, compare it to. Naughty children may not be unproductive, but I don't think Xinghua will be weaker than his brother. ”

"It's all your partiality with the dick, it seems to be true."

"Haha." Long Qian laughed heartily.

"Commander, you have to look at the troops this time."

"Look at the time, I mainly look at Huayuan and ZTE, as well as the automobile factory. Also, I would like to see how the Land Law is being implemented. If you have enough time, you still want to go back to Mengshan and see the tomb of Lushan, you can go with me. Is there anything wrong with the troops? ”

"There is no ...... big problem"

"The 6th Division is back?"

"Qu Hongxiang led the 18th Brigade and his direct team to return, and the other two brigades are still in eastern Hebei."

"What do you say about the rank system?"

"Everyone is in a hurry, and the Ministry of Defense is too slow, almost half a year, right?"

"In a hurry? What's the hurry? ”

"I'm looking forward to conferring the title."

"Guozhu, what title do you think you should bestow?"

"I don't want to. I'll wear whatever you give me. By the way, how are Lushan's children? ”

"It's good, I'm in the same class as Zhenhua. I study very hard, but my brain is a little slow. Ah, the State Guest House has been renovated ......."

"It's just that the gate has been repaired, and the inside is basically the same."

"The city has changed a lot, the road surface has basically hardened, and it is ahead of Beijing." Long Qian glanced at the remnants of the Spring Festival atmosphere in the street scene, "This year, Beijing is going to build a big construction project, because of this, the Government Council is in a mess...... Oh, it's your lair. "The car has turned into the headquarters compound, which was once the headquarters of the fifth town, and Long Qian's family has lived in the backyard for several years, looking at the familiar building, Long Qian feels kind." Should have come back sooner. ”

"Then stay longer!" Feng Guozhu got out of the car and personally opened the car door for Long Qian.

"Wang Zhao," Long Qian said to the secretary who came with him, "Don't delay the news from the Northeast, send it immediately." ”

"Yes." Wang Zhao agreed. There are two things that the president is highly concerned about in the northeast, one is the outbreak of the severe plague in Harbin, for which the entire city has implemented military control, and the epidemic prevention experts from the General Hospital of the National Defense Forces have gone to the northeast in two batches for fear of spreading to other cities. The second is the Tauktau Humeng Rebellion that broke out at the end of the year. On the orders of Shi Dashou. Zhang Zuolin personally led the main force of the 21st Division into the suppression, half of which was for training. Wang Zhao knew that the president was more concerned about the epidemic in Harbin.

"Where should I stay?" Long Qian looked at the familiar courtyard.

"Hey, Commander, I've vacated the backyard. I think you must have preferred to live in the original house. ”

"Didn't that drive you away? How embarrassing? Chen Shu said with a smile. Of course, she has more feelings for the former residence than Long Qian.

"I'm just going to be there for two or three days. Just find a room. ”

"It's already vacated." Feng Guozhu walked inside. "Zhou Xuexi, they live in the front yard, and they can discuss things if they have something."

"Silly boy, do you remember this place?" Chen Shu took Xinghua's hand. followed Feng Guozhu to the backyard.

"There is still a little time before eating," Long Qian looked at his watch, "Mr. Yurui, do you want to tell me about the overall situation in Shandong?" ”

"The president is tired, let's rest first. A welcome banquet has been prepared, but the president has to move to the State Guest House. Governor Zhang said.

"What kind of welcome party? Didn't Ouyang Zhong explain to you? Long Qian was displeased.

"You've got to give me a face. This is a legitimate expense in the province, and to be honest, compared to the past, the new dynasty is really frugal. If you don't believe me, you can ask Minister Cao to check it. You're not too cold, I'm still too cold, hurry back to the house. "Zhang Lianfen is an old qualification, not as good as the veterans of the Fengguo pillar Cao Minzhong and Lian Shupeng who came down from Mengshan, but she also has the courage to wrestle with Long Qian in some aspects.

"According to your age, I really shouldn't refute your face, but this is my first time going out of Beijing, so I can't break the rules. Since it's a legitimate expense in your province," Long Qian said to the entourage, "Whoever of you wants to eat, I won't go." ”

These words made Zhang Lianfen unable to get off the stage. Indeed, Ouyang Zhong did give notice in advance that the president would not hold a banquet or give send-off banquets or sustenances when he went to Beijing to inspect the country, and except for the principal responsible persons of the province and the military region, the president would not accompany him by name, what aspect he wanted to know about the situation, and which department in charge would come forward.

"Commander," Lian Shupeng, director of the Ordnance Industry Administration, saw that Long Qian had turned around and entered the backyard, "Old Wu, I think so, why don't you just move the banquet over?" Let's do it. He glanced at Wu Yong and dragged Zhang Lianfen, "The president is not angry with you, but afraid of breaking the rules." ”

"Governor Zhang, did the president live here in the first place?" Song Jiaoren didn't expect Long Qian to be so reluctant to give his old subordinates, so he hurriedly changed the topic.

"Yes," Zhang Lianfen smiled bitterly, "You are?" ”

"He is our highest justice, Song Yuchu, Vice Speaker Song." Cao Minzhong introduced.

"It turned out to be Vice Speaker Song...... Zhang Lianfen was not used to shaking hands, and hugged her fists at Song Jiaoren.

Song Jiaoren hurriedly returned the salute, "Don't dare, you are a senior." I don't miss the president to hear about your old exploits. ”

Cao Minzhong laughed, "Lao Zhang, don't take it to heart when you are old, the president never goes to a banquet in Beijing, but it's not because he has an opinion about you." Shandong is in the forefront of all its work, and this time it has brought us here to sum up Shandong's experience and use it to guide the whole country. Go, it's too cold outside. Cao Minzhong took Zhang Lianfen's hand and walked towards the backyard.

Wang Zhao trotted out, "Governor Zhang, the president invited two old friends to come over and have dinner together, one of them works in Huayuan Group, please arrange to pick it up." ”

"Who?"

"Wu Lie, he is the president's old comrade-in-arms."

"I've heard of this guy." Zhang Lianfen called her secretary, "Take my car to Huayuan, pick up Mr. Wu Lie, don't mention the president to Jinan, understand?" ”

In addition to Wu Lie, Long Qian wants to pick up Sun Juan, who works in the Central Military Region Hospital, all of whom are old comrades-in-arms in Mengshan back then.

"Mr. Yurui, it's not that I don't give you face, but the officialdom ushers in and sends it to the past dynasties, and there are many drawbacks in it, which cannot be remembered. The biggest drawback is waste, one meal eats up a year's ration of the peasants. I can't bear it. The country is poor, and those of us in power cannot but set an example. If I dare to eat once, I will dare to eat ten meals below! The Manchus have never had a national budget, and we did, guess what the result was? Deficit of 89 million! Minister Duan is so worried! This is the result of cutting down most of the central government buildings that were originally planned to be built! However, education, transportation, mining, water conservancy and other projects cannot be dispensed with, what should we do? Do you print tickets? It will bring prices skyrocketing! The Government Council has decided that the scheduled funds of all ministries and bureaus will be reduced by 20 percent this year. Under this shape, how can I, the president, eat and drink so much? ”

Because of Long Qian's explanation. Zhang Lianfen felt a lot more comfortable. But he didn't think so, "I know that the country is in difficulty, but Shandong is the birthplace of the president, and the president has come to his homeland." Even if it's out of our own pockets. You should also treat the president to a good meal. ”

"I should pay out of my own pocket. I'm paid more than you. ”

Wang Zhao was worried that Long Qian would be angry because of the big meal delivered by the State Guest House. But at the subsequent banquet, Long Qian did not say anything, and ate as such, but did not serve wine. "Since the dishes are all done, eat them, if you don't eat them, it's a waste. But don't drink alcohol, you have to work in the afternoon. When I leave Shandong, if I am in the mood, I invite everyone to drink. Come, Mr. Yurui, Mr. Yongchuan, as well as Guozhu, Lao Wu, Sun Juan, a few of you sit here. Long Qian beckoned a few people to his table, and did not talk about work during the banquet, but asked about everyone's family life, and heard that Sheng Guang's wife Huang Yu had resigned from the military and returned to Lunan, Long Qian sighed for a long time, "Why did Huang Yu resign from the military?" Nonsense. If it doesn't go well in Jinan, you can go to Beijing. Sun Juan, you contact her, if possible, I want to see her. I haven't seen it in five years. Sheng Guang died in Jinzhou, Lushan folded in northern Xinjiang, and Mengshan's comrades-in-arms were getting fewer and fewer. ”

Sun Juan knew the reason for Huang Yu's resignation from the military, but she didn't want to lose her interest, she didn't expect Long Qian to miss the old days so much, as soon as she arrived in Jinan, she thought of herself, her voice choked, "If it wasn't for meeting the commander, where would we have thought of being where we are today?" All of us have been stained with the Commander's light. ”

"Sun Juan said this well." Wu Lie nodded repeatedly.

"Guozhu, you, the commander, have to take care of their old subordinates. I'm not asking you to show favoritism, but to care, you know? ”

"The commander is criticizing me, and I will do it." Feng Guozhu hurriedly expressed his position.

Song Jiaoren and Yu Youren saw the other side of Long Qian. The days of getting along with each other were not short, and Song and Yu had long since ceased to regard Long Qian as a vulgar and unliterate warrior, and a series of policies and measures launched before and after the founding of the Republic made them see the hope of national rejuvenation, especially the success of Premier Fang's visit to the United States, which greatly inspired people's hearts. The three-year overall plan for economic construction, which has been carefully discussed, has drawn up a beautiful blueprint for the republic, involving the layout of heavy industries such as mining, petroleum, steelmaking, mechanical processing, chemical industry, rubber, and shipbuilding, as well as the launch of a large number of light industrial enterprises such as textiles, sugar, food, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, printing, and papermaking. Song and Yu never thought that the American Huamei Machinery Company and the Swiss Zebra Company would be the industry of Mengshanjun, and now it has naturally become the industry of the country. And Long Qian's simple work style also made them admire, the officials from the Mengshan Army were fine, and the officials of the Manchu Qing and Beiyang departments were the most touched, they never thought that the new dynasty would have such strict requirements for officials, not only was it forbidden to gamble and prostitutes, but even the eating and drinking of public funds were so strict, and it was not a small meal in Haiyan Hall, and it was always the president's own salary that was spent.

This is a new atmosphere that has never been seen before in history! Except for a very small number of high-ranking officials who complained, the vast majority of people praised the founding of the new dynasty. Song Jiaoren and Yu Youren were both in favor of it, believing that this was the style that the new dynasty should have. Therefore, Long Qian's "dismount" to Zhang Lianfen in Jinan is too good in their opinion, and if all provinces and localities do what the president asks, the rejuvenation of China is really not empty talk.

The president is not an emotionless man. Usually Long Qian gives them the impression that he is a little unkind. It doesn't seem right, aren't people worried about their former comrades-in-arms? Isn't it so concerned about ordinary people?

Originally, he was going to listen to the report from Shandong Province, but after the meal, Long Qian changed his mind, "I don't listen to your report, I'll watch it directly." Let's go to Huayuan first. Minister Yu, Vice Speaker Song, if you don't want to go, you can stay here to rest, or you can go to the corresponding department of the provincial government to learn about the situation. The rest of you will come with me. ”

"We've wanted to see the famous Huayuan Group for a long time." Song Jiaoren and Yu Youren replied at the same time.

Huayuan and Zhongxing became the industrial "hens" of New China, after the initial determination of the industrial layout of the Republic. The business of the two major groups of Huayuan Zhongxing has been greatly adjusted, first of all, the military industry and civilian industry have been divided, and then further subdivision, many military branches have been relocated to other cities as a whole, and more technical personnel and skilled workers have been transferred, and with the arrival of American equipment, they have been distributed in Wuhan, Taiyuan, Fengtian, Changchun, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Nanchang, Chongqing, Chengdu and other cities. Gun factories in Taiyuan and Mukden, gun factories in Nanjing and Changchun, explosives and detonator factories in Xi'an, Chengdu and Nanchang, radio factories in Shanghai, bullet and shell factories in Wuhan. Both have the blood of Huayuan and ZTE.

Long Qian went directly to Huayuan Cannon No. 1 Factory. Here is the assembly plant for guns of caliber 75mm or more. Long Qian did not listen to the report of the person in charge of the factory, but went directly to the workshop, and asked about the situation of the factory while walking. Products under production and development. Production capacity. Bottlenecks in technology and equipment, staffing, staff income and logistics. The question was very detailed, which made Lian Shupeng sweat, for fear that the factory director would not be able to answer. Fortunately, the director of the gun factory was very expert, except for the profit of the factory, the rest of the answers satisfied Long Qian. A few branches walked down, and it was almost dark. I learned that it was all two shifts of production at present, and had a simple dinner with the workers in the canteen of the gun factory, and then went directly to the gun factory to continue the inspection, and said to the factory director before leaving, you can't tell whether you make a profit or a loss, I don't blame you. This problem is caused by the Governor General, who has made you a completely planned economy, where you are only concerned with production and research, and do not care about economic benefits. This one doesn't work! That's right, the artillery factory is produced for the army, but the cost must also be calculated, and the Ordnance Industry Administration must price the products one by one and not just assign production tasks! My feeling is that your waste is amazing, and the production site is not well managed, which is the problem of the director, and Minister Zhou is also responsible. If you don't set the price, the factory won't care about the cost. The material and time that could have been used to produce ten cannons, but only eight were produced! This aspect is regressive from the original!

In the eyes of Song Jiaoren and Yu Youren, it is not a waste problem, but a shock! A large-caliber artillery being assembled shocked them, this is a weapon for defending the country! In particular, they were even more excited by listening to several new products mentioned by the factory director.

"I can't imagine that we have produced such a big cannon," Yu Youren said, "Hey, I think who would dare to bully us?" ”

"Minister Yu is rare and strange. We are far from the Great Powers. Huayuan has just been able to produce 105mm caliber guns, and the German and French armies have generally installed 150 or even larger caliber guns. As for the production capacity of ammunition, the gap is even greater, and when the next war starts, you can't imagine what it will be like to consume millions of shells in one campaign. There was no joy on Long Qian's face.

"Millions of rounds?" Feng Guozhu gasped.

"However, Huayuan is worthy of affirmation, new product research and development is very tight, production capacity has also made great progress, after supporting the national construction, but also maintain such a level shows that your work is good over the years. In addition, the wages of the workers are not low, and the food is also available. "Just now eating in the canteen, the workers looked at the respectful demeanor of the factory director, chief engineer and others, and only knew that it was a big man who came to inspect, but they didn't know who it was.

At the gun factory, Long Qian focused on inspecting the production line of the "Zhonghua Type 1" semi-automatic rifle, which had been perfected and finalized according to his "design," and also used the semi-automatic rifle that had been finalized but had not yet been formally equipped with the troops to shoot about 40 rounds of ammunition at the factory's shooting range. ”

The president's superb shooting skills shocked the factory, "We didn't expect the president to be a master shooter......"

"Haha, you can't think of it, right? Back then, when it came to marksmanship, I said second in Mengshanjun, but I am afraid that no one dared to say first. Isn't it a national pillar? ”

"That's it. Now I'm not at the level of a commander either. Feng Guozhu smiled.

"No need to practice. Your task is to lead good soldiers and fight good battles, so you don't need to practice your marksmanship hard. This gun is good, it's really good. Long Qian caressed the barrel of the gun lovingly and handed it back to the director of the gun factory.

"The troops are looking forward to changing their outfits."

"Well, this time your Central Military Region is the first to change. It is necessary to let the soldiers get familiar with the new guns, do not be reluctant to guns and bullets, and practice hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition in ordinary times, and the feeling on the battlefield will be completely different. ”

"Thank you, Commander. Lao Lian, do you remember? Don't play tricks on me, the commander has let go. "Feng Guozhu is overjoyed. (To be continued......)