None of you in the cabinet are poor, and you can come up with 30,000 or 50,000 yuan at will. An industrialist like Zhang Jian is three or five hundred thousand, and he can get it if he squeezes it. But if it is said to be a huge amount of 1.5 million yuan, it is estimated that except for Sun Yuanqi, the cabinet will not be able to make up the money when they go home to smash pots and sell iron, sell children and daughters! Therefore, it is no wonder that Tang Shaoyi wants to set his sights on Sun Yuanqi.

Tang Shaoyi looked at Sun Yuanqi for a moment before he said slowly: "Most of the redundant soldiers in the north are veterans of a hundred battles, and most of the people in the south are revolutionary heroes, and the severance pay is indispensable, otherwise countless incidents will inevitably occur." Chief Bingsan said that 5 silver dollars per person is already the minimum. If disarmament is to be carried out smoothly, it should be around 10 silver dollars per person. In other words, at least a severance fee of about 3 million yuan is needed now! Ladies and gentlemen, what are your thoughts on how to raise this fund? ”

Although he asked "Chiefs", his eyes were firmly fixed on Sun Yuanqi, and the others also followed suit.

Under these circumstances, Sun Yuanqi had no choice but to state: "The act of disarmament is beneficial to the country and the people, and the cost of severance is so huge, it is obviously unrealistic to expect a certain person or a certain province to bear this huge amount." As for how to raise this huge amount of money, Sun didn't know anything about finance and didn't dare to say anything. However, in terms of duties, it should be discussed by the Ministry of Finance and the Army, and then submitted to the State Council and the Presidential Office for approval. What do you think? ”

Sun Yuanqi slapped a Tai Chi cloud hand, not only picked himself and Sichuan Province out, but also pushed out the two top bags of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Army, and the end was wonderful to the peak.

Duan Qirui replied quietly: "Although disarmament is related to the War Department. But we have always only spent money, no matter how much money we raise, so this matter has to be solved by the three chiefs. Feel relieved! We, the War Department, are not going to open their mouths. As Premier Shaochuan said, about 3 million yuan is about the same. Of course, if we can do more, we will not refuse. ”

Xiong Xiling frowned: "Now that the treasury is poor, and the provincial finances and taxes refuse to be handed over, in addition to borrowing from foreign banks in various countries, where else can I raise this huge amount of 3 million yuan?" It is estimated that the fiscal deficit this year will be as high as 260 million yuan. It is clearly the total length of the borrower! ”

Song Jiaoren said: "Since the treasury has no money, we can call on the people to donate!" When Song was studying in Japan, he heard that before the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War (known in China as the Sino-Japanese War). At the instigation of the government and the media, a campaign to donate military funds and a charity campaign was held in Japan, from the emperor to women and children. One after another. Raising funds for the war effort quickly raised enough money for the war.

"Now that the Republic of China has been established and the people's morale is high, it is not difficult to come to the national fundraising! Moreover, there are 40,000,000 people in our country and tens of millions of overseas Chinese, and even if only 1 percent of them pledge to donate only one silver dollar per person, it will be enough to completely solve the problem of the shortage of disarmament expenses. Why borrow money from foreign banks. What about the betrayal of national interests? ”

Song Jiaoren's remarks made Sun Yuanqi a little surprised: Holding a national fund-raising for 3 million yuan of disarmament expenses is the habitual thinking of the League. Or will the alliance have ulterior motives and want to take advantage of the opportunity?

For example, if the Council of State rejects the fund-raising proposal, the League can make a big noise, saying that the central government has disregarded the patriotic enthusiasm of the people, voluntarily betrayed national interests, and lost national sovereignty. If the Council of State agrees to the fundraising proposal, it will fall into the trap of the League. Fundraising is a great magic weapon for the survival of the Alliance, and the leaders of the League know everything about it, forcing donations, embezzling donations, and disturbing public order...... Although there was no sister Guo in the early years of the Republic of China, it was not difficult to make up a bad guy!

It's not that Sun Yuanqi is insidious and cunning to treat others with himself, but that the political struggle in the early years of the Republic of China was too complicated, and it is impossible for Sun Yuanqi not to speculate with the worst malice. After all, the Senate elections will be held at the end of this year and the beginning of next year, and only by completely staging the Beiyang system will the League take the opportunity to take the position.

Tang Shaoyi pondered for a moment, shook his head and said: "Although Chief Song's proposal is a method, disarmament is supposed to benefit the people, and if national donations are raised for this purpose, it will become a blame for the people. Moreover, the Republic of China has not been established for a long time, and the State Council has just started to raise donations for such trivial matters, causing social turmoil, isn't it worth the loss? Thinking about it, it is not as good as borrowing at a good rate, at most raising the interest rate a little when borrowing, and avoiding clauses that undermine national sovereignty. ”

After a pause, Tang Shaoyi asked again: "What are your opinions on borrowing?" As he spoke, his eyes were still aimed at Sun Yuanqi.

Sun Yuanqi speculated: Maybe when Tang Shaoyi first aimed at himself, he didn't want to borrow money from Sun Yuanqi or Sichuan Province, but had already set the target as the Bloomage Bank behind Sun Yuanqi.

Although Bloomage Bank was established for a short time, it is not a national central bank such as Bank of China, nor does it have a strong background of foreign banks such as HSBC and Citigroup, but with the strong patents held by major shareholders, it has high-quality users with strong development momentum such as China Industrial Machinery, Far East Broadcasting, and Zhiyong Medicine, as well as the opportunity to take a step in the complicated political situation in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, and has now become one of the few large banks in the Yangtze River Basin, and it is estimated that it is also the most profitable large bank.

In addition to Bloomage Bank's ability to meet the needs of disarmament borrowing, the key lies in the fact that the major shareholder behind Bloomage Bank is Sun Yuanqi, and if you borrow from it, you don't have to worry about any clauses that damage national sovereignty. Therefore, Tang Shaoyi frequently flattered Sun Yuanqi.

Unexpectedly, Sun Yuanqi hadn't figured out how to answer, so Xiong Xiling replied first: "Premier Shaochuan, if we want to borrow money from foreign foreign banks, we should first communicate with six banks, including HSBC in the United Kingdom, Citigroup in the United States, Deutsch-Hua in Germany, Crédit Agricole in France, Daosheng in Russia, and Zhengjin in Yokohama in Japan. Because according to the agreement reached between President Yuan Da and the bank group of the six countries, if China implements lending in the future, the banks of the six countries have the right of priority to borrow! ”

Tang Shaoyi had no choice but to retract his gaze: "Since this is the case, then let's prepare to discuss the loan with the bank group of the six countries!" ”

Thus, the State Council of the People's Republic of China for the day was declared closed. On the whole, except for Zhao Bingjun, who did not attend, the meeting went smoothly in all other aspects, and a crucial disarmament bill was reached, which undoubtedly gave a shot in the arm to the people at home and abroad, and they began to be optimistic about China's political situation.

Zhao Bingjun still did not attend the next two or three state meetings, but everyone seems to have begun to get used to his absence, and the meeting is still going on as usual. Sun Yuanqi seized the opportunity to propose a series of educational bills, including the implementation of state rewards for scientific and technological achievements, the establishment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the implementation of compulsory education throughout the country. Knowing that all the education funds were paid for by the four provinces under Sun Yuanqi's jurisdiction and would not harm their own interests, everyone in the cabinet raised their hands in favor, and the bill was passed cleanly in the State Council.

When Sun Yuanqi brought the bill to meet Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai was also smiling and praised: "It seems that it is really right to hand over the Ministry of Education to Baixi!" In recent days, Yuan met with European and American envoys to China, and they all praised the education bill put forward by Baixi, and compared Baixi's compulsory education with Sun Yat-sen's 200,000-mile railway, believing that one fiction and one reality, one literature and one military force are a conspicuous sign of the Republic of China's march toward modernization and industrialization. However, Yuan believes that although culture and education seem to be false, the implementation is real; The railway is real, and the construction is near. Does Baixi think so? ”

It seems that Yuan Shikai was also very dissatisfied with Sun Yat-sen's construction of 200,000 miles of railway. However, Sun Yuanqi believed that the reason why Yuan Shikai praised him was not this, but that Sun Yat-sen had to ask for money from him to build the railway, and he had to pay out of his own pocket to build education. The more money Sun Yuanqi invests in education, the less he naturally invests in the military, and the less danger he will have to Yuan Shikai. This is the fundamental reason why Yuan Shikai is happy.

After the presidential office issued and the State Council countersigned, the various education bills can finally be put into practice.

It is now the end of March, and there is only half a year to go before the official implementation of compulsory education in September, and free books, free school uniforms, free lunches, and education funds must be raised as soon as possible, plus preparations for the establishment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other matters, Sun Yuanqi was suddenly very busy. The State Council still participates as usual, but it is often a bystander.

After seven or eight days of stopping, at dusk Sun Yuanqi was handling government affairs in the study of Houhai's private house, when he heard the guards hurriedly report: "My lord, Premier Tang of the cabinet is visiting!" ”

Sun Yuanqi was a little strange: Didn't he just finish the State Council? Is there something urgent going on?

Although he thought so in his heart, Sun Yuanqi hurriedly got up and greeted him: "Prime Minister Shaochuan, why do you have time to come here today?" Is there something wrong? ”

Tang Shaoyi's face was a little unpleasant, but he still said politely: "I take the liberty to visit, please forgive Baixi." Tang has encountered some problems and wants to exchange opinions with you, I wonder if Baixi has time? ”

You're stuck in traffic, can I say I don't have time? Sun Yuanqi scolded while welcoming Tang Shaoyi into the house.

After serving tea, Tang Shaoyi said straight to the point: "At the first State Council meeting, we discussed disarmament matters and the issue of severance loans, I wonder if Baixi remembers? ”

Sun Yuan nodded: "Naturally remember!" It is said that President Yuan Da also very much agrees with the disarmament and dismissal, and agrees with Premier Shaochuan that you will negotiate with the bank group of the six countries about borrowing money in the name of dealing with the aftermath. Why, did the group of banks of the six countries refuse to lend money, or did they put forward any harsh conditions? ”

Tang Shaoyi said: "The bank group of the six countries agreed to borrow, but there are additional conditions, that is, to supervise the finances of our government, including supervising the use of funds and supervising the demobilization of the army. This condition seriously undermines the country's independence and sovereignty, and once it is reported, there will inevitably be an uproar in the whole country, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for the State Council to pass it! ”

I don't know if Sun Yuanqi is slow to think or because he is not politically sensitive enough, but he feels that since he borrowed money to disarm, it seems that it is indispensable for the bank group of the six countries to supervise the use of funds and the demobilization of the army. Moreover, the supervision of the bank group of the six countries can also ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the disarmament and the implementation of the funds, so why is it that there is a national public outcry and it is difficult to pass the disarmament at the State Council? (To be continued.) )

PS: First update! Strive for the second more!