Chapter Eleven What is Professionalism

  The formal opening of the National Assembly was a grand event in the Republic, and also a victory for Song Jiaoren's march towards constitutionalism. At the opening ceremony, Yuan Shikai's personal attendance and his inspiring speech gave hope to all those who had been striving for constitutionalism, offering them immense encouragement and motivation.

  All this is good, but reality is also helpless. Constitutionalism, democracy, parliament... These new terms are now well-known, but there are hardly any people who can clearly explain what they really mean. Not to mention ordinary citizens, even some members of parliament themselves do not understand, and some people only know nine out of ten. In the eyes of some people, it seems that after the establishment of the parliament and the election of members, it is time to form cliques and fight for power. As for those fashionable words, they are just beautiful clothes on the body, tools used to achieve goals.

  After the joy, we will face reality, and the next election work is more difficult than expected. Throughout the entire congressional session, the scene was like a bustling vegetable market, with over 800 members of Congress disagreeing with each other, and even cursing at each other was considered polite. Sometimes, ink boxes would fly everywhere, and occasionally, they would even engage in fistfights, rolling around on the ground, making the place look like the Arhat Hall of Shaolin Temple. It's no wonder that outsiders jokingly refer to members of Congress as "800 Arhats". Once, even Fang Zidao, who was helping to maintain order, almost got beaten up. Fortunately, he dodged quickly, but the old man standing behind him, who was enthusiastically cursing at someone, wasn't so lucky. He was hit by a flying object and saw stars, and his gold-rimmed glasses flew off his nose...

  In this way, under the tireless coordination of Song Jiaoren and others, the National Assembly meeting progressed bit by bit amidst the quarrels and fights, and after great difficulty, they finally elected the President of the National Assembly and the Speakers of both Houses.

  Due to the change in history, Song Jiaoren, who had great political prestige, was still the chairman of the KMT and personally presided over the opening of the National Assembly. The election was fiercely contested among the KMT, Republican Party, Democratic Party, Unity Party... In the end, Lin Sen, a member of the KMT with high moral character, became the Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Zhang Jihe and Wang Zhengting, both members of the KMT, were elected as President and Vice-President of the Senate respectively. In the election for the House of Representatives, Tang Huilong, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected as the Speaker, and Wu Jinglian, a member of the KMT, became the Deputy Speaker. Except for the temporary gains of the Democratic Party, all other parties gained nothing, and the KMT led by Song Jiaoren achieved a great political victory.

  According to the normal procedure, next is the formal election of the president, the promotion of the cabinet, and then Song Jiaoren, who was expected by all, took the position of Premier. But no one had thought that at this time someone suddenly exposed the government's large loan, causing a sensation in the country, and the members of parliament were even more shocked, suddenly forgetting everything else, concentrating their attention on the loan like they had been injected with chicken blood.

  "This is a traitorous act! It absolutely cannot be done!" Senate President Zhang Ji was furious, pounding the table and loudly cursing. Vice President Wang Zhengting did not lose his composure like Zhang Ji, but his words were even more severe: "The large loan was signed without the approval of the National Assembly, which is undoubtedly treating the National Assembly as if it didn't exist, absurd and ridiculous! How can this be justified? We must investigate Yuan Shikai's illegal loan and his contempt for the legislative body!" Deputy Speaker of the House Wu Jinglian also shook his head repeatedly, emotionally demanding to resist the loan.

  "Lin Gong, Yuquan brother, Ruting brother, Lianbo brother, please sit down and have a cup of tea first, calm down...". Song Jiaoren smiled bitterly and greeted them. Upon hearing the news, Liao Zhongkai, Wu Zhonghua, Yu Youren, Tang Shaoyi, including Fang Zida and others rushed forward to persuade them, letting them discuss their issues calmly, no need to get angry and hurt themselves.

  "What's the point of drinking tea at this hour? No way!" Zhang shouted, his anger was really great, but considering Song Jiaoren's face, he sat down with a huff.

  "Yuan Shikai's move is a serious violation of the law! We have come today to discuss the loan, and this is a major issue that has arisen since the establishment of the National Assembly. As responsible officials, we cannot ignore it. For the sake of the country's future, the protection of national rights, and the dignity of the law, we must immediately express our attitude and resist the loan!"

  Song Jiaoren secretly cursed, and exchanged a glance with Liao Zhongkai, Tang Shaoyi, and Fang Zidao. The matter of the large loan was something he and Fang Zidao had known about for some time, and they hadn't kept it from the other two men either, discussing it privately among themselves. As for Wu Chonghua and Yu Youren, Song Jiaoren considered them to be book-smart but feared that their actions would ultimately harm the country's interests, so he had kept it from them all along. But now that this matter has been exposed, Song Jiaoren could no longer remain detached.

  "Gentlemen, this matter may have its own difficulties for the President, and national affairs are not as simple as selling out interests. Let's first ask the President about it and listen to his explanation before drawing a conclusion." After some thought, Song Jiaoren advised: "Besides, the loan signing took place before the National Assembly was convened, from this point of view, the President did not violate the law, nor can it be said that he disrespected the legislative body..."

  Before he could finish, Zhang Ji had already become impatient and waved his hand, saying: "Tuan Shi, this is a matter of great importance, how can you speak on behalf of Yuan Shikai like this? You still call him the Great President at this time? Bah! Is he worthy of being called the Great President?"

  "Is that so! Brother Tuan, this is not like your usual style! What? Are you worried that if you offend Yuan Shikai, you won't be able to become Premier? Now our party has enough power to control both houses of parliament. Let alone a mere Premier, even if we say let Yuan Shikai, the big President, do as he pleases, or kick him out, he'll have to obey!" Wu Jinglian, although a scholar by origin, had organized militia and even led a new army uprising during the Xinhai Revolution, so he had some military bearing. He coldly smiled at Song Jiaoren.

  Affected by them, Yu Youren and others also dissuaded Song Jiaoren from coming, hoping that he could lead everyone to oppose the large loan together and make a strong protest to Yuan Shikai.

  "We had already drafted the telegram before you arrived, and all we need is your signature to send it out nationwide!" Zhang Ji pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and slapped it on the table.

  After glancing at the contents of the telegram, it was nothing more than the reasons mentioned by Zhang Ji and others just now. Below that were dense signatures, except for a temporarily blank space at the beginning, Lin Sen, Zhang Ji, Wang Zhengting... most of the delegates, KMT members had already signed their names.

  Looking at this telegram, Song Jiaoren was in a dilemma. Signing his name would be easy, but he knew what the consequences would be once he signed. Although he didn't agree with taking out large loans, without them, how could the country afford its expenses? Could it just rely on shouting slogans and enthusiasm to sustain the government? Building the nation? Song Jiaoren had long since figured this out; even if he were in Yuan Shikai's position, borrowing was unavoidable. Otherwise, the finances would collapse, and the country, which had only just stabilized, would fall into chaos again.

  "I won't sign this document!" After frowning for a while, Song Jiaoren pushed the telegram to Zhang Ji and said resolutely.

  "Escaped at the beginning... you...!" No one expected that Song Jiaoren would have such an attitude, and Zhang Ji and others immediately stood up, looking at him with incredulous eyes.

  "Did you know about this huge loan from the very beginning?" Lin Sen asked cautiously.

  Facing their inquiring gazes, Song Jiaoren hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.

  "What! How can you do this to me? You...you've gone mad! I'm going to cut off all ties with you!" Zhang Ji was taken aback, then suddenly flew into a rage.

  The rest of the people didn't dare to believe their ears, especially Yu Youren was heartbroken: "Dun Chu! How could you hide such a big thing from us? Were you brainwashed by Yuan Shikai or something?! Where did your revolutionary ideals go?! Where did your conscience go?! We've known each other for so many years... I thought... you... you're really disappointing me!"

  "Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" Liu Chongkai and Tang Shaoyi hastily mediated, helping Song Jiaoren to explain: "This matter is not as simple as everyone thinks. In fact, Xun Chi also disagreed with the large loan at first, but this loan is unavoidable, and Xun Chi has his own difficulties!"

  "What hardship? What hardship is there to speak of? They collude with each other, betraying the country without a care! This is what he calls hardship?" Wu Jinglian asked coldly.