Chapter Thirteen Expansion

  The noisy atmosphere in Beijing about the big loan was gradually suppressed under the efforts of Song Jiaoren and others. Immediately afterwards, Yuan Shikai also listened to Song Jiaoren's proposal and went to the National Assembly to make a self-defense speech on the matter of the big loan in front of all the members of parliament. Also present were the three main people who negotiated the loan at that time: Premier Zhao, Foreign Minister Lu and President Zhou.

  Yuan Shikai's performance at the National Assembly was also very humble. He arrived early in each of the rest rooms to shake hands and chat with the members of the National Assembly, creating a very friendly atmosphere. After the formal meeting began, the cabinet members first explained the large loan matter, followed by Yuan Shikai's formal speech, which covered current domestic and foreign policies, finance, and economics, among other topics. His speech was more reasonable and engaging than that of Premier Zhao Bingjun, and the members of the National Assembly frequently nodded in agreement. After Yuan Shikai finished speaking, Lin Sen spoke on behalf of all the members of the National Assembly, expressing their willingness to sincerely support the President in stabilizing the situation and building the country. Yuan Shikai then bowed to the members below to express his gratitude and hoped that everyone would understand the difficulties faced by the government. The members also collectively bowed back, creating a very harmonious atmosphere on site. Although there were still a few people who felt uncomfortable about the large loan, at least they no longer cursed Yuan Shikai in such a situation.

  Of course, there are also some members who do not listen to any explanation from the government. Perhaps for some purpose or with some intention, they still shout "traitor" after leaving the parliament building, as if they were going to ask the government and Yuan Shikai to take responsibility. However, these people are only a small part of the whole. In the situation where the majority of people have temporarily reached an agreement, the progress of the parliament can continue. But just when Song Jiaoren and others, including Yuan Shikai and the current government, were secretly relieved, who would have thought that there was another disturbance in the south?

  Sun Yat-sen first sent a telegram to Japan, severely denouncing Yuan Shikai. He also brought up Song Jiaoren and others in the process. The telegram stated: "I resolutely oppose monarchy, oppose Yuan Shikai, oppose the current government, oppose those who betray by relying on dictatorship, oppose large loans. I, Sun Yat-sen, have no regrets!"

  As soon as Sun Wen's telegram was issued, the southern provinces also stirred up, competing to respond with telegrams expressing their support. The leaders included Chen Qimei from Shanghai, Li Liejun from Jiangxi, Bai Wenwei from Anhui, and Hu Hanmin from Guangdong... Moreover, Sun Wen even brought up the matter of Huang Xing from some time ago, formally shouting out the slogan of resolving through armed force and re-revolutionizing.

  "Damn it! I've had enough of this, Sun Yat-sen and his ilk are nothing but troublemakers, whether on the left or the right! They have no other skills except causing trouble. He's determined to oppose me!" Yuan Shikai flew into a rage, seeing the telegram's contents made him so angry that he even smashed his beloved Qinghua teacup.

  "The Grand President, please calm down and don't get angry. It's not good for your health." Xia Shoutian, Yang Du and others hastily advised.

  "Ha! Ha!... I am not made of clay!" Yuan Shikai gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, saying fiercely: "If Sun Dazhang dares to move troops or set up another government, I will send troops to conquer him, and there will be no room for leniency!"

  "What is Sun Wen relying on? Isn't it still relying on those party members? Mr. President, I've said before that opposing party members are unreliable. In my opinion, since the money has already been received and finances are no longer a worry, we might as well take drastic action and expel all those party members from the National Assembly out of Beijing! With the strength of the Northern Expedition under your command, can't you handle these southern rebel parties?" Liang Shiyu was fanning the flames on the side, fearing that the world would not be chaotic.

  "It's absolutely impossible for the President!" Yang Du was startled and hastily dissuaded: "Sun Wen's disturbance has nothing to do with the party people, have you forgotten Song Enchu's support for you earlier? If it weren't for the efforts of Song Enchu and other party members, how could the difficulties faced by the National Assembly members regarding the large loan be so easily resolved? Now that most of the representatives have already understood the President's difficulties, the best strategy is to appease them further, not to add fuel to the fire!"

  Li Shizeng had always been at odds with Yang Duanliu, and upon hearing this remark, he snorted in disdain: "Hmph! A woman's view! The harm of factionalism has existed since ancient times. Sun Wen and Song Tonghe initially seemed to have different political views, but in reality they are two peas in a pod, no different from the red and white faces on stage. Just look at how Song Tonghe is now fawning over the President, but once he gains power and joins forces with the party members in the south, I fear that this regime will...".

  "Nonsense!" Yang Du suddenly became enraged, pointing at Liang Shiyi's nose and scolding: "Liang Yansun! What are you thinking? Are you trying to put the President on the fire to roast him?"

  "That's enough!" Just as the two confidants were about to have a big argument, Yuan Shikai slammed his palm heavily on the table.

  "This matter I will decide myself! You all go back first......"

  "The Grand President......" Liang and Yang were about to distinguish, only to see Yuan Shikai weakly waving his hand, before fiercely staring at each other, then departing in different directions.

  His middle finger tapped lightly on the edge of the table, and after a while, Yuan Shikai raised his eyebrows at Xia Shoutian, who had been silent all along: "Gengfu, go and invite Zhiquan and Huapu to come over. Also send a telegram to Juren brother, asking him to rush back to Beijing immediately for discussion. And...send someone to inform Dunchu, ask Dunchu to come to my place tomorrow, just say I want to invite him to dinner."

  At the same time, Song Jiaoren's side was also not calm, with a room full of people sitting quietly, and Song Jiaoren himself sat at the head, his brow furrowed, holding a telegram in his hand.

  "Lao Chu, it's up to you to come up with a solution." Liao Zhongkai said with a worried expression, and the people present also turned their eyes to Song Jiaoren, who had not spoken all along.

  "How can I make a decision? This matter had just calmed down, and now it's been stirred up again by Yixian. What am I supposed to do?" Song Jiaoren sighed helplessly.

  Everyone sighed at the same time, and this idea was indeed not easy to grasp. Sun Wen's telegram made the situation that had just been calmed down suddenly become complicated again. Song Jiaoren is now in a dilemma on both sides, and it's really unreasonable for him to make an immediate statement.

  Song Jiaoren sat silently for a long time, unable to think of a good solution. It wasn't until someone brought a message from Yuan Shikai, inviting him to dinner at his residence the next day, that Song Jiaoren finally spoke up: "This is a matter of great importance, so let's first calm down the people in Beijing, and then ask Lin Gong and Zhong Kui to go to the telegraph office to contact Hu Zongduo and others, asking them to restrain themselves as much as possible, with everything prioritizing the overall situation."

  "This...alright..."

  After everyone left, Song Jiaoren got up with a worried heart and walked out of the house into the garden, pacing slowly. He was accompanied by Tang Shaoyi, and neither of them said anything as they gradually made their way to the pavilion.

  "Shao Chuan brother, what do you think of Fang Yangming?"

  "Fang Dazeng is a man with some real talent and learning, but to be honest, I've always found him somewhat inscrutable." Tang Shaoyi and Song Jiaoren were close friends and spoke frankly in private, without reserve.

  Song Jiaoren nodded slightly: "I feel the same way, although I knew him a little earlier than Shaochuan brother, but I don't know much about him. However, after going through several things, I found that this person really has solid knowledge in his heart, but sometimes he is a bit impulsive when doing things..." After thinking for a moment, Song Jiaoren asked again: "Shaochuan brother, can Fang Zhengming take on the important task?"

  "What is Brother Tuan's intention?"

  "I plan to set up a new department within the party, mainly responsible for some specific work on party affairs and organization." Song Jiaoren said calmly.

  "Party affairs? Does Brother Tan want Fang Huaming..." Tang Shaoyi asked in surprise.

  Song Jiaoren nodded: "Yes, since Fang Huaming is a talented person, it's a waste of his talent to be just my assistant. Moreover, you, Shaochuan, are also aware of the current situation in our party. Although I am the acting chairman responsible for party affairs, in reality, I'm just a figurehead waving flags and shouting slogans on stage. Our party is touted as the largest party in the Republic of China, but if we exclude those who have joined multiple parties, there aren't many pure party members. Furthermore, our party hasn't been established for long, and within the KMT, various factions such as the Xingzhonghui, Huaxinghui, Guangfuhui, etc., are numerous, with extremely weak cohesion. All these factors will affect the healthy development of our party in the future, and may even impact the constitutional policy to come. After careful consideration, I plan to let Fang Huaming take on this heavy responsibility."

  Tang Shaoyi agreed with Song Jiaoren's idea, but he also expressed his concerns: "Is Fang Zhenwu a bit too young for the position?"

  "A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger, after all! Some things are just right for him to do!" Song Jiaoren smiled meaningfully, and Tang Shaoyi was slightly stunned before also breaking into laughter.

  "Has the name of the new department been decided?" Seeing Song Jiaoren slowly shaking his head, Tang Shaoyi thought for a moment and said: "This department mainly focuses on party work, more importantly, doing a good job in organizing party members within the party. I think it should be called the Organization Department."

  "This name is no good. The Organization Department thinks this name is too eye-catching and doesn't suit the work." Song Jiaoren vetoed the name without much consideration.

  "This... Party Affairs Department? Working Department? No, Rectification Department? This is even more inappropriate...... Ah! Got it!" Tang Shaoyi deliberated for half a day, joined his palms and laughed: "The other day, Fang Mengming didn't give Lin Gong and others a lesson on international accounting principles? In the conversation, he mentioned a statistical concept. I think this new department can be called the Party's Statistical Department for now?"

  "Party Statistics Department?" Song Jiaoren thought for a moment and smiled: "The two words 'statistics' are not bad, but the word 'department' is still too big. In order to avoid opposition from some people within the party, I think it's better to change it to 'Party Internal Statistics Group', with Fang Mengming as the group leader, and the specific personnel will be arranged separately."

  "Good! Let's do it!" Tang Shaoyi agreed, and then Song Jiaoren proposed to convene an intra-party affairs and council meeting in the near future, gathering all KMT affairs and council members in Beijing, to determine this matter as soon as possible, and also invited Fang Zhiying to attend the meeting.

  "Fang Huaming is now just an ordinary party member, will attending a meeting of this level be somewhat inappropriate?" Tang Shaoyi raised his doubts.

  "It doesn't matter!" Song Jiaoren waved his hand carelessly: "We can hold an enlarged meeting, and just expand Fang Mengming's participation, that's all!"