Chapter 56: Internal Strife (Part 2)

  Han Chenxu's three fires were so prosperous that Zheng Zuyin and Lin Wenyi looked at each other with gloomy faces, as if someone owed them hundreds of millions.

  "This Han Chenxu is simply a mad dog, biting whoever he sees!" Lin Wenyin had been feeling uncomfortable for the past few days. Under Han Chenxu's high-pressure policy, not only were some revolutionary party members within the Supervision Department purged, but also several high-ranking revolutionary party officials from other departments were summoned and investigated by the Supervision Department. If it was just an investigation, that would be one thing, but the key is that Han Chenxu was dead serious. Within two or three days, he had brought public prosecutions against three high-ranking officials from the revolutionary party side. This time, the prosecution was open and aboveboard, unlike the previous case of Qu Lin's downfall, where the military government had covered it up for the sake of its reputation, only announcing that he had resigned due to illness. As a result, several newspapers in Fuzhou reported on Han Chenxu's stormy actions over the past few days, with various parties speculating whether the military government had made up its mind to reform the administration.

  Lin Wenyin was not in a good mood, and Zheng Zuyan was also having a bad time. At this moment, he was sitting with a gloomy face, along with several other people who were also seated together. They included Hong Zitai, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Yan Guanhua, the Minister of Education, Chen Zhilin, the Deputy Minister of Finance, and Liu Songsheng, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce. All these individuals had come from the Advisory Council and had close ties with Zheng Zuyan. If you count in Lin Changming, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, then this small group of people led by Zheng Zuyan would have four ministers and two deputy ministers. Adding to that, Kui Linyang, the former Minister of Supervision who had recently fallen from power, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they occupied half of the military government's power. If outsiders knew about this situation, they would understand why Chen Jingyun was previously unwilling to get involved in the military government's affairs.

  It's not that Chen Jingyun didn't want to intervene, but he couldn't. Although Chen Jingyun controlled the military and finance, two extremely important things, he was powerless against other aspects of the military government. After all, he couldn't order troops to drive them out and then randomly grab a few people to become high-ranking officials in the military government.

  Chen Jingyun's response to this situation was simple and helpless, that is, to firmly grasp military power and finance, while supporting Lin Wenyin and other revolutionary party members in their opposition to Zheng Zuyan and others. Meanwhile, he secretly developed his own forces, cultivating high-ranking officials who could take over as head or deputy head. It was precisely because of this strategy that Chen Jingyun was not anxious, leaving the military government in the hands of Zheng Zuyan and Lin Wenyin.

  As long as the people under Chen Jingyun are enough to maintain a government, Chen Jingyun will unhesitatingly expel the current person from the military government. With his control over the army and finance, he has the power and confidence to do so.

  Originally thought that this situation would last for at least several months or even a year and a half, but unexpectedly, the scandal caused by Kui Linyang's corruption gave Chen Jingyun an opportunity!

  Han Chenxu's high-pressure move is naturally related to Chen Jingyun. Although Han Chenxu was a neutral person before, Chen Jingyun was the governor, the highest leader of the Fujian Military Government, holding a large army and financial power, becoming the actual master of Fujian.

  Chen Jingyun said to Han Chenxu, "I can give you two guarantees. First, I will let you do your job freely, and if anything goes wrong, I will take the responsibility. Second, I guarantee that the Supervision Department will remain clean and won't hinder your work."

  After giving Han Chen-xu a guarantee, Chen Jing-yun naturally couldn't help but make some demands: if the military government's governance doesn't improve within three months, then Han Chen-xu should step down as the head of the Supervision Department.

  Han Chenxu didn't want to get involved in the open and secret struggles between Chen Jingyun and Zheng Zuyin, but he was an ambitious person with ideals. If he could control the Supervision Department with his own thoughts and make it into a legal system that met his own mind, he wouldn't mind temporarily relying on Chen Jingyun's power.

  Furthermore, the position of Minister of Supervision has already belonged to the real high-level, and there is a huge difference with the previous Deputy Minister of Justice. Once people have tasted the pleasure brought by power, not many are willing to give up their power.

  "Zheng, Han Chenxu is too deceitful!" Hong Zitai's face turned red with rage as he spoke, his tone also unpleasant. It was clear that he was extremely dissatisfied with Han Chenxu's opinion, and the reason was none other than that among those high-ranking officials who had been publicly denounced, there was Xia Hou Dong, the brother-in-law of Hong Zitai, who was in charge of the Mint (formerly the Fu Bao Bureau).

  Upon hearing Hong Zitai's words, Zheng Zuoyin's face sank even further: "If Xia Hou hadn't acted rashly, how would we have ended up in this situation!"

  After Hong Zitai's Ministry of Industry and Commerce received the plan to support the printing of copper coins, he arranged for his brother-in-law to take charge of the mint. However, he did not expect that Xia Hou Dong would be so greedy, as the mint originally had a monthly profit of tens of thousands, but only submitted less than 10,000 yuan, with the rest being embezzled. It is worth noting that Hong Zitai had previously told Chen Jingyun that they could make tens of thousands of profits per month. Xia Hou Dong's actions were so obvious that they naturally caught the attention of Han Chenxu.

  Hei is worried about not catching big fish and handing it over to Chen Jingyun!

  It can be said that Xia Hou Dong was caught off guard by Han Chenxu's gun, and Han Chenxu immediately reported to Chen Jingyun. At the same time as formally prosecuting Xia Hou Dong, the Supervision Department investigated and found more than a dozen high-ranking officials' corrupt and illegal activities.

  "Is it the same as what Chen Zhenlin said? After all, there are many people this time. If something goes wrong, I'm afraid the military government will be unstable!"

  Zheng Zu Yin shook his head and said, "Don't even think about it, I just saw him this afternoon for a bit, he didn't mention the matter at all in our conversation, clearly he has no intention of letting go!"

  "We can't just watch as so many colleagues end up in prison!" Vice Minister of Commerce Liu Songsheng also looked worried, and among those arrested were several people under his leadership.

  Zheng Zu Yin looked at the people present, thought for a moment and said: "Han Chen Xu is someone who has been abroad, his eyes are full of Western ideas, emotional relationships don't have much effect on him. However, in Fuzhou, there are also people who can deal with him!"

  Hong Zitai lowered his voice and said: "Brother Zheng is referring to the Governor?"

  Zheng Zu Yin didn't deny it, but instead nodded directly: "Han Chen Xu is now the head of the Supervision Department, with power and influence in his hands. What we say may not necessarily be heard by others, but what we say won't stop, and the supervisor's words he will always have to listen to!"

  Zheng Zu Yin's words made everyone lower their heads and look gloomy.

  As for Chen Jingyun, including Zheng Zuyin, the feelings are very complicated. On the one hand, they admire Chen Jingyun's military means and his ability to control all of Fujian Province in such a short period of time. Such means, such momentum is not something that ordinary people can achieve, it was precisely because of this point that Zheng Zuyin and others initially recommended Chen Jingyun as the governor.

  It was also because of Chen Jingyun's powerful military force that Zheng Zuyin and others were particularly wary of him, even to the point of clear defense, for fear that Chen Jingyun would use military means to forcibly monopolize power.

  For more than a month after the establishment of the military government, Zheng Zuyin and others have been firmly in control of the affairs of the military government, not allowing Chen Jingyun to intervene. At the same time, they also tried to win over the generals in the army, but now most of the high-ranking generals in the National Army are Chen Jingyun's confidants. A few who had a slightly different relationship looked down on Zheng Zuyin and other gentry merchants. Helpless, they turned to support Lin Wenyin and other revolutionaries in their struggle for military power with Chen Jingyun. Unfortunately, Lin Wenyin and other revolutionary forces had long been squeezed out of the National Army by Chen Jingyun, leaving only Xiao Qibin, who originally did not get along with Lin Wenyin either.

  They had worked hard to guard against Chen Jingyun for so long and naturally did not want Chen Jingyun to put his hands into the military government again.

  If we were to ask Chen Jingyun now, no one can predict what would happen. If things go wrong and Chen Jingyun gets the opportunity to fully control the military government, then these people should also resign and step down.

  But if you don't go find Chen Jingyun, Han Chenxu's mad dog will continue to bite people. Now it's Xia Hou Dong, next time it might be one of the gentlemen present.

  Everyone was silent, and Zheng Zu Yin also sighed, after a while he said: "We will go to see the governor soon! Now that the military government wants to stabilize, we can't let Han Chen Xu continue to be crazy!"

  When Zheng Zuyin and others were frowning, Han Chenxu was standing beside Chen Jingyun. Chen Jingyun stood with his hands behind him at the railing of the pavilion, his gaze fell on a few short trees not far away, and he said: "I told you a few days ago that I want to reform the official system, saying that it will take three months to see results. But aren't you too impatient? It's only been two or three days, but you've already made people anxious!"

  Han Chenxu knew what Chen Jingyun was worried about, and said directly: "Don't worry, sir. I know the measure. Among these people, except for Xia Hou Dong and a few others with some weight, the rest are idle or low- to mid-level officials, and will not affect the normal operation of the military government!"

  Chen Jingyun nodded after listening: "That's great!"

  Chen Jingyun was looking forward to Han Chenxiu's reform of the government, but he was more concerned about the stability of the military government. Now that the Fujian military government had been established for just over a month, its main work was still focused on stabilizing public opinion. A large-scale replacement of high-ranking officials would cause political turmoil and jeopardize the normal operation of the military government, which was not what Chen Jingyun wanted to see. If Han Chenxiu did things without knowing the proper measure, recklessly arresting people and causing the military government to face collapse, thereby affecting his overall strategy, Chen Jingyun might directly have him shot.

  Although Han Chenxu said he knew the extent, Chen Jingyun still felt it necessary to personally instruct: "The reform of the official system is not a matter of one or two days, but rather a long-term effort, without haste."

  Han Chenxu respectfully said: "Your subordinate understands!"

  At this time, Chen Jingyun seemed to remember something and said: "Right, there are many experts in your Supervision Department who can handle cases. Borrow a few capable people from them, I have other uses for them!"

  Han Chenxu heard that Chen Jingyun wanted people, and he wanted to ask Chen Jingyun what these people were for, but since Chen Jingyun didn't plan to say it himself, he didn't ask: "I'll send the people over as soon as I get back!"

  Chen Jingyun nodded and said: "Hmm!"

  Han Chenxu didn't come out until dusk, and when he did, he happened to run into Zheng Zuyin, who had come to see Chen Jingyun. Although they had differing opinions, neither of them showed it, and they exchanged a few pleasantries with smiles.

  Zheng Zu Yin walked far away before softly cursing: "Mad dog!"