Chapter 7: The Amplified Cannon (Part 1)

  One after another huge sums of money, one by one harsh terms, Song Jiaoren listened with a frown, silent and speechless.

  After a while, Zhou Xueqi finally finished speaking. Song Jiaoren was about to ask if they could temporarily not borrow so much money, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back. Although he didn't fully understand the country's financial situation, he still knew a thing or two. Moreover, this so-called large loan was originally created by the revolutionary party people of the Nanjing provisional government. If they really wanted to take responsibility, the first one would have to be the current KMT, which is to say, it would fall on Song Jiaoren's own head.

  If a large country is being ravaged by the Qing government, with thousands of wounds and holes, although the Republic has been established, the national finances are also on the verge of collapse. If he were just an opposition party member or a hot-blooded young man, Song Jiaoren might have run onto the streets, waving flags and fists, shouting slogans, organizing parades, and striking a pose of worrying about the country and its people, writing a big article in the newspaper to call on patriots to strongly resist borrowing and selling out national interests. But now that he is in a different position, it's hard for a clever woman to cook without rice, even if he can lead the country towards constitutionalism, how can this country be built without money? How can the huge political and military expenses be maintained?

  "These conditions are too harsh......" Song Jiaoren shook his head and sighed, casting his eyes on Zhou Xueqi: "Zhou brother, can the contract terms be negotiated again? Forty-seven years of tariffs and salt taxes... this is drinking poison to quench thirst!"

  "Alas, brother Tuan, how could we not know?! Zhou Xue Xi sighed: "But it's precisely this kind of demand that we've had to argue over several times to obtain, the country is weak and the people are in decline, what can we do... what can we do?!"

  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lu Zhengxiang was one of the parties responsible for the negotiations, and he proactively explained some of the difficulties in the negotiations. It can be seen that he and Zhou Xueqi have indeed done their best. At present, these clauses are the maximum extent they can achieve.

  "At first, I knew what you wanted to say and do. In fact, I want to say and do more than you! But can't, not that I don't want to, it's just that I really can't!" Yuan Shikai stood up and walked slowly in the hall: "At that time, Li Lao Zhongtang's difficulties were deeply felt by me, and Li Lao Zhongtang's helplessness was also the same as mine!"

  The Li Laozhongtang in Yuan Shikai's mouth is the late Qing famous minister Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang has been praised and criticized by later generations, with many comments, but overall, the majority are negative, and the most representative one is that hat of "traitor" that can't be removed no matter what. However, everyone present is a wise person, and at that time, the late Qing was on the verge of collapse, Li Hongzhang did his best to maintain the country's reality, it's not easy, no matter who sat in his position, it's impossible to do better than him, many things are often helpless, just like Song Jiaoren pointed out drinking poison to quench thirst, the country is declining, the government's finances are facing bankruptcy, this is the only way.

  Fang Zida was stunned, and Yuan Shikai's attitude made him more and more puzzled. If he said that he was acting, this acting skill was really too good, compared to the so-called tearful movie emperor, it was simply divine. But if he said that he was pretending to win people's hearts, this didn't seem like it either. Had he really misunderstood him?

  "Brother Tuan, you're well aware of the country's difficulties. If we don't sign this loan contract, the government will collapse. Let's not mention anything else, just the military - if their salaries and provisions are insufficient, you know the consequences. What's more, with the current reorganization and demobilization of troops in the south, all these require a huge amount of money and grain. If the government can't provide the funds, the troops will mutiny, and chaos will erupt everywhere. I'm afraid your southern comrades will again point at the President and curse." General Duan Qirui said with a shrug, his words laced with sarcasm, but no one laughed.

  Speaking of the Southern Party, Lu Zhengxiang asked: "I heard that your party's Sun Wen recently contacted Katsura Tarō and other political elders in Japan. It seems that he wants to exchange the rights and interests of Manchuria and Mongolia for a loan of 10 million yen from Japan. He also privately sold Han Zhizhang for 5 million yuan. Is this true?"

  Without waiting for Song Jiaoren to respond, Yang Duan, who had been silent all along, spoke up with a smile: "Brother Zixing is mistaken. I've heard that Sun Wen has already formed another party in Japan, called the... ah yes! The Chinese Revolutionary Party! Haha, and I've also heard that Sun Wen stipulates that those who join the party must absolutely obey his leadership, regardless of their qualifications or age, they all have to attend a grand ceremony, take an oath again, and even provide fingerprints, swearing allegiance directly to Sun Wen himself. Tsk tsk... impressive! Impressive indeed!"

  Song Jiaoren had long received news of Sun Yat-sen's actions in Japan, and he was deeply disgusted by Sun's methods. How could a political party become a personal tool for power? How could such personal worship be carried out within the party? Wasn't this just like the Qing emperor? Song Jiaoren, who was deeply influenced by Europe's advanced political structure, completely disagreed with Sun Yat-sen on this point. What made him even angrier was that Sun Yat-sen had secretly colluded with Japanese politicians and privately sold out China's interests. Many old members of the Tongmenghui and KMT also opposed this move, but due to Sun Yat-sen's great prestige, there were also many who supported it. Song Jiaoren thought that family conflicts should be resolved internally and had been trying to cover up these issues, but he never expected them to be suddenly exposed today, leaving him feeling extremely embarrassed.

  "Nonsense!" Yuan Shikai's face sank, and he rebuked Yang Du: "Sun Wen is Sun Wen, and Duan Qirui is Duan Qirui. How can they be discussed together? Besides, since Sun Wen has reorganized his party, what does it have to do with Duan Qirui? Duan Qirui, don't take offense at Yang Du's straightforward words."

  "High! It's really high!" Fang Zidao's eyes lit up, and he secretly gave a thumbs up. Yuan Shikai is indeed Yuan Shikai, if you don't obey, then it won't do!

  Song Jiaoren was in a difficult situation, and it was not that he didn't want to say anything, but Yuan Shikai suddenly separated himself from Sun Yat-sen, which obviously meant to provoke the relationship between the two sides. However, there were some things that he couldn't refute, as they were all facts. In his heart, he could only secretly scold Sun Yat-sen for being a troublemaker, who was not capable of accomplishing anything but causing trouble instead. What he had done in Japan was really too much, and now the handle was in someone else's hands, making it difficult for him to move. On the other hand, Yuan Shikai was carefree and at ease in Japan, either deceiving people everywhere or shouting slogans that shook the sky, without any qualms about selling out his own country.

  "Mr. President, I think the loan is feasible, but we should adjust the time and amount of the loan." Seeing Song Jiaoren was speechless for a moment, Fang Zidao stood up to help him out and said to Yuan Shikai.

  "This is... Fang Zidao, Fang Daming, right?" Yuan Shikai's memory was not bad, and he still remembered the introduction when Song Jiaoren came. He called out his name in one breath: "What? Does Brother Daming have a better idea?"

  "Brother Fang, this is a matter of national importance!" Yang Du was gloating, eager to see Song Jiaoren embarrassed, but unexpectedly Fang Zidao suddenly jumped out and coldly said a sentence, pointing out that with his identity, he didn't even have the qualifications to discuss state affairs in front of everyone.

  "It doesn't matter, it's all about the Republic now, everything is about promoting democracy, listening to different opinions is good too." Yuan Shikai smiled disapprovingly and encouraged Fang Zidao to speak his mind with a glance.