In the Jiangxi Governor's Palace, the atmosphere was a little depressing. Deng Zixuan's disciple Deng Xiang became Shen Baozhen's interpreter back then, and later became his Aixu. At this time, Deng Xiang said anxiously: "Uncle Yue, Shanghu of the Northern Expeditionary Army has led his troops into Jiangxi, and Tanma reported that he had occupied Jingdezhen. Mr. wrote to you to persuade you to abandon the darkness and turn to the light, the situation is understandable, it is difficult for the Northern Expeditionary Army to fight under the city of Nanchang before you wake up? ”

Shen Baozhen's face couldn't hold back and said angrily: "I, Shen, am deeply favored by the emperor, how can I betray the Lord and seek glory and be a disloyal and unfilial person." You are Deng Zixuan's spy planted by my side, if it weren't for the face of my son-in-law, I would have dealt with you a long time ago, and I would have to make noise again. The daughter stopped and said, "Dad! You have worked hard for the court for so many years, how the court treats you. Back then, you ran the Mawei Shipyard, how many hardships and how many sins you suffered, but the court still didn't trust you? ”

"Daddy! You wholeheartedly assisted the imperial court and vigorously handled coastal defense. However, with a paper order, the imperial court moved from the position of Nanyang minister to the governor of Jiangxi, Mingsheng and secretly surrendered, it is obvious that the imperial court does not trust you at all. Such a court has long been unpopular, what is the use of allegiance. "The eldest son is in tune. The youngest son continued: "Mr. Deng is the person I respect the most, and I have always regarded him as a role model. Now that the Guangzhou Military Government has won the hearts of the people, the Northern Expeditionary Army is invincible and hesitates to do anything. ”

Madame said, "Master! The children have never been involved in politics, and the children want to have a future. Now that Ai Xu is Mr. Deng's person, what are you worried about? You don't think about yourself, you have to think about this family. Mr. Deng respects you so much, this is your blessing. "Shen Baozhen didn't expect that his family, who is usually obedient, would oppose him." Okay, don't talk about it, let me think again! Shen Baozhen waved his hand irritably.

The next day, a large number of officials gathered in the governor's palace, and everyone exchanged words with each other. Shen Baozhen coughed and said with a pale face: "The soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army have arrived in Jingdezhen, and they will soon be in the city. The imperial court ordered to hold the city and wait for reinforcements, and until now not a single soldier has been seen entering Jiangnan. In the face of such a crisis, what is the way forward? Don't be worried, but say it's okay! ”

The governor of Jiangxi, Chayan Guanse, guessed what Shen Baozhen meant: "Your Excellency, it is ridiculous for the imperial court to let us hold on to the city, the general of Hangzhou commanded 40,000 soldiers and horses to defend the city, and the city of Hangzhou is tall and strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the city will be broken within a few days." The court's move is to let us fend for ourselves and kill ourselves. As the saying goes, those who know the times are handsome, and the Governor should think twice, so as not to destroy the lives and corpses all over the field. ”

The political envoy of Nanchang stood up and said: "Your Excellency the Governor, the military government of Guangzhou is trustworthy, and their program has won the hearts of the people, especially for the Manchurians, and I think it is the right time to surrender." The officials below agreed. Shen Baozhen stood up and said, "Since everyone has returned to the courtesy, I have decided to issue a notice of the surrender to the Guangzhou Military Government, and the specific operation will be completed by the governor." "Your Excellency, this is not appropriate!" The governor is confused.

"Post on my name! After the proclamation was issued, I announced another decision: to resign from the post of Governor-General, to be disarmed and returned to the field, and never to enter politics. In the future, Jiangxi's government affairs will be handled by the governor. Shen Baozhen said decisively. Lord Shen must not! "Lord Shen! Here's why! The officials kept one after another, "I intend to say it again!" Shen Baozhen stroked his sleeves and left. The officials were stunned for a moment and immediately began to get busy.

On the same day, a proclamation to submit to the Guangzhou military government appeared in Nanchang City, and then the full text of the proclamation was sent to various places as soon as possible. Shen Baozhen returned home and closed his door, and five days later, the Guangzhou Military Government's document was sent to Nanchang, and the document contained letters written by Deng Zixuan and Zhang Zhidong to Shen Baozhen. At the same time, an invitation to Shen Baozhen to go to Guangzhou was sandwiched in it. There is a mystery in asking why letters and invitations are so fast.

After Deng Zixuan arrived in Guangzhou, the first step was to persuade Zhang Zhidong to return to Shun. Then Deng Zixuan and Zhang Zhidong discussed the matter of Shen Baozhen's return, and Deng Zixuan talked about his views on Shen Baozhen, thinking that Shen Baozhen would judge the situation and assess the situation. Zhang Zhidong has been an official for many years and has read countless people, and his city government has reached the point of perfection. In view of Shen Baozhen's temperament, Zhang Zhidong has a different view. He thinks that Shen Baozhen is an honest and arrogant official, and he cares very much about his reputation. Therefore, it was concluded that Shen Baozhen must resign after returning to Shun.

Deng Zixuan frowned, so that Zhang Zhidong could discuss, and the two of them took a leave of absence and didn't talk about anything, just invited Shen Baozhen to come to Guangzhou to take a look, and at the same time officially attached an invitation letter. After the letter and invitation letter were ready, Deng Zixuan ordered that it be placed in Shaoguan, and once the news of a change in Jiangxi was heard, it would be delivered to Nanchang immediately. Therefore, Shen Baozhen received the letter as soon as possible.

Shocked to hear the letter from Guangzhou, the whole family was very surprised. Watching Shen Baozhen silently read the letter, everyone waited anxiously. After a long time, Shen Baozhen put down the letter, picked up the invitation letter and glanced at it and said, "It was Deng Zixuan and Zhang Zhidong who invited me to Guangzhou for a talk." The fact that the letters came so quickly was so dazzling that they were prepared. Shen Baozhen stood up, took a few steps on the ground and sighed: "Zhang Zhidong, who knows me, must be his masterpiece." ”

"Uncle Yue, since you have resigned, you will go to Guangzhou, and it is better to relax!" Deng wanted to take the opportunity to persuade him. The two sons also made a lot of noise. Shen Baozhen hesitated for a while and said: "Zhang Zhidong has a good personal relationship with me, Deng Zixuan is a friend with me, and I can't shirk my feelings, and it's hard to refuse." happened to be unofficial and light, so I went to Guangzhou to relax. Deng wants you to accompany him. "The whole family is overjoyed. The old lady asked Deng to bring her daughter-in-law, she knew that her son-in-law would definitely not come back if he went, but she didn't expect that the old man would not come back.

The next day, Shen Baozhen went on the road with her son-in-law and daughter, and Deng Xiang's child stayed. The Yizhi in Jiangxi is not alarmed, and it seems that there is not much change, and there is still singing and dancing along the way. The journey went smoothly, and Shen Baozhen and his entourage arrived in Guangzhou ten days later. Deng Zixuan and Zhang Zhidong personally went to the city gate to greet them when they heard the news, Deng Zixuan was still in military uniform, and Zhang Zhidong was wearing a "Zhongshan" suit and a top hat. As soon as they met, Deng Zixuan stepped forward and said, "Lord Shen! The journey was hard. Fuzhou has been separated from several spring and autumn seasons, and the old people are full of emotion when they see each other. Lord Shen's body is still so tough, which is enviable! ”

Shen Baozhen looked a little embarrassed and said: "Mr. Deng, the old man is clumsy, I didn't see that you were a careerist back then, as the saying goes, since ancient times, heroes have come out of youth, and Mr. Deng's great talent can be said to be unprecedented and unprecedented." Deng Zixuan punned on the award: "Lord Shen has won the award, as the saying goes, one fence has three piles, and one hero has three gangs, if there is no one to help me, I will be alone!" Shen Baozhen smiled faintly to hide the past.

"Brother Shen is okay, you and I can't predict fate, reality and the past are like ice and fire!" Zhang Zhidong sighed. "The dawn is shining, and all kinds of waste are waiting to be rebuilt. As the saying goes, how can you see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain, and I wish my brother a bright future. "The two of them did not forget to chew the words." Mr! Disciple Deng wants to meet! Deng wanted to pull his wife to kneel on the ground. Deng Zixuan warmly picked up the husband and wife and asked them about their situation carefully.

The group talked and laughed and went to the military government, and at the reception, Deng Zixuan and Zhang Zhidong reminisced about the time they spent together in the past, in short, they never mentioned the relevant political affairs, so as not to make Shen Baozhen nervous. After the banquet, Deng Zixuan arranged for Shen Baozhen and Deng Xiang to rest in the inner courtyard of the military government.

The next day, Zhang Zhidong was busy with government affairs, Deng Xiang and his wife went to visit his younger brother and senior brother, and Deng Zixuan personally accompanied Shen Baozhen to visit Dongguan Industrial Zone. The two crossed the Pearl River in a Western carriage and headed for the industrial zone. Shen Baozhen was a little unaccustomed to riding a Western carriage for the first time, and seemed a little restrained. "Brother Shen! How does it feel to be a newcomer! Deng Zixuan saw that the other party was uncomfortable and broke the silence with a smile.

Shen Baozhen's face was full of red light and brightness, and he said: "There are thousands of things, and there is a new atmosphere, which is exciting. Frankly, I saw a look on people's faces that I had never seen before, and it was intoxicating. "That's a great thing, just like Brother Shen's witty words yesterday, the dawn is emerging. This is just the beginning, and a country of equality, freedom, and prosperity is coming, and this is what I have always dreamed of. Deng Zixuan's eyes looked into the distance, his expression solemn and profound.

Shen Baozhen seemed to be a little touched by it, looking from a distance, the Dongguan Industrial Zone was lined with chimneys, the smoke covered the sky, and the roar of steam engines and various machines formed a symphony, which sounded very pleasant. I have seen the grandeur of the Mawei Shipyard, but I was still shocked when I saw the scale of the Dongguan Industrial Zone: "Mr. Deng, I heard that Dongguan is the first crab you eat, but I didn't expect that the scale far exceeds the Mawei Shipyard, the old man is really surprised!" ”

Deng Zixuan said like a treasure: "Brother Shen! At present, there are 66 factories in Dongguan Industrial Zone, one-third of which are run by foreigners. At present, the official property of foreigners has been confiscated, and private property is protected. Iron and steel mills, arsenals, chemical plants, machine factories, etc. are my enterprises, and they are also the largest enterprises in Dongguan Industrial Zone. Frankly speaking, after 8 years, I didn't expect the Dongguan Industrial Zone to develop to such a scale. ”

As he spoke, the carriage came to the main gate of Dongguan Industrial Zone, and a group of people were waiting in front of the door.