Part 6 Chapter 5 Harvest Year

Looking at the report submitted by the South China Sea Fleet, Chen Congyun couldn't help but spew out a mouthful of tea. This guy, Li Zhun, was really able to figure out the intentions and asked him to take the fleet out for a walk. He just wanted to occupy the islands with sovereignty disputes in the future. As a result, this guy was stunned and turned around the Philippines and Indonesia. He didn't care whether the islands along the way were China or not, and sent people to erect signs.

Let alone the archipelagos in Zhongsha, Xisha, and Nansha. How could they occupy several small islands around Indonesia? They also sent Marines to the island to expel local residents. Strangely, Li Zhun's bastard behavior did not cause a rebound from the United States and the Netherlands, and there was no even a word of protest. What are you doing?

In theory, Li Zhun's South China Sea Fleet was full of small-tonnage warships, and most of them were old people during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. Why is this kid so brave?

The United States has not made any statement at the moment, probably because it is to successfully mediate the conflict between Japan and Russia. Another possibility is that the Americans robbed the Philippines for not long, and the internal conflicts have not been completely straightened out. As for the Dutch, Chen Congyun smiled when he thought of this. Is the "sea coachman" still a dish now? The East China Sea Fleet defeated the Russian Navy, which is known as the second in the world. The Dutch are probably worried that Li Jun will get angry and go to the door. Anyway, Li Jun occupied some small islands, and the interests of the Dutch have not been touched much, so I guess it would be fine if I think about it.

Chen Congyun's idea was right. From Vietnam to the present, Chen Congyun left an impression on the whole world as a politician known for his iron blood. Especially during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the policy of treating Japanese soldiers not to be captured really gives people a sense of cruelty. He is quite capable of fighting such a lord. The French defeated him and the Japanese dealt with him. Now even the Russians have been defeated. The Dutch don't think that his strength is stronger than Russia, so he can tolerate it. As for Americans, although the industrial strength is the world's number one, it is difficult to have a strong relationship with a strong country in terms of military strength. The most important point is that Sino-US relations are also a honeymoon period. Li Zhun's behavior is largely the case. The Americans understand that they should give the Dutch a warning, not targeting the Americans, so they let the actions of the South China Sea Fleet.

Chen Congyun didn't know that on this point, the US ambassador to China Rou Keyi wrote a report to the president. In the report, Rou Keyi expressed deep concerns, believing that China under Chen Congyun's leadership was undoubtedly a strong signal to the outside world. With the end of the Sino-Russian War, Chen Congyun's attention is likely to be transferred from land to sea. The report China focused on analyzing the comparison between the strength of the US Navy and the Chinese Navy, and the results were frustrating. Judging from the current strength of the Chinese Navy's East China Sea Fleet, it has ranked fourth in the world and first in Asia. What is even more worrying is the booming development of China's shipbuilding industry. In the past five years, China has been constantly introducing advanced shipbuilding technology from Europe and the United States and introducing a large number of talents from various countries. Judging from the situation of China's own 10,000-ton cargo ships, as long as the military technology can meet the requirements, China can fully produce large battleships on its own.

Rou Keyi finally emphasized in the report that once China has the ability to self-export naval warships, the GDP has always been at the forefront of the world and will definitely be able to build a world-class navy within ten years. Once this is unfortunate, the future interests of the United States in the Pacific region will not be guaranteed.

It is impossible to say that Rou Keyi's eyes are very sharp. There is a conflict between maritime power and land power in this era. Any country who wants to develop these two aspects at the same time will be regarded as an unrealistic approach. With Napoleon's strength and hard work to develop the navy, it is still impossible to fight against the British Navy.

If Chen Congyun knew that Rou Keyi had submitted such a report secretly, he would definitely be shocked. Chen Congyun wanted to rely on the prophets of history to take advantage of the contradictions between European powers in the next ten years and continuously profit and develop himself, that is, to take the navy and army together, and both hands must be strong. With the industrial strength of the Americans, if Rou Keyi's suggestions are accepted at this time, then if the United States wants to build a powerful navy, its development speed is definitely not comparable to that of China at present.

Chen Congyun should be secretly grateful that before the end of World War I, Americans did not realize that they would become a world overlord. This era was still the era when the British were the boss, and Americans would not know that Britain was severely damaged in World War I and was no longer the same.

Chen Congyun is not a god, and it is impossible for him to know everything. So after putting down Li Zhun's report, Chen Congyun decided to reward Li Zhun. Although the South China Sea Fleet's actions on the South China Sea islands seemed a bit reckless, they still gained the ambition of the Chinese.

The Sino-Russian negotiations are still in the stage of the outsetting US Portsmouth. The Lee Dynasty of North Korea issued a telegram to issue a statement, giving up its rule over the Korean Peninsula and surrendering to China. The next day, the Chinese government announced that North Korea had officially incorporated into China's territory and renamed it Goryeo Province.

Anyone with a little brain knows that there must be something tricky about this. How can the Korean royal family be so noble? In a word, this is the product under the bayonet.

The Chinese people do not care about anything, but only know that China's territory has expanded. This is the first time that China has gained new territory since the Treaty of Nebchu during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. A trend of thinking about the Greater Chinese nation quietly emerged on the land of China after North Korea was annexed.

The Sino-Russian negotiations lasted for more than a month. In late December, the negotiation results came out. The territorial issue was based on the area under the actual control of both sides as a new border; Russia gave up its political and economic privileges in China; the issue of war costs will be resolved separately; the issue of prisoners of war will be resolved by negotiation later.

The contract signed between China and Russia is also called the Portsmouth Contract. The news was sent back to China and immediately caused a new wave of celebration. As Chen Congyun said after the end of the Jilin Battle, "The Chinese people have stood up since then." The whole China felt a supreme glory that had never been seen before. After more than half a century of hardships, the feeling of standing up again was so strong and real at this moment.

Although the winter of 1904 was still cold, everyone's heart in Beijing was hot.

After a sudden heavy snow, Beijing was shrouded in a white world. Unlike previous years, the strongest feeling of the people is undoubtedly that the year-end is much better. In the past year, the people have obviously done more work than in previous years. Railways, highways, and factories are everywhere, and the reconstruction of Beijing has also begun. The old dilapidated roads have now been replaced by straight roads paved with cement. Ordinary people, as long as they originally had housing, they can live in spacious new buildings with just a little money.

There are many shops on the streets than before. In the past, the muddy scene on the streets after the snow has changed a lot. The snow on the cement roads has been cleaned up early in the morning by the workers of the Sanitation Bureau. When the sun climbed up warmly, the city of Beijing soon became lively again. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, who doesn’t want to take advantage of the good weather to come out to find some money to pay for the New Year?

Standing in a cloth shop, Chen Congyun looked at the goods in curiously. The shrewd guy knew that he was buying things simply when he saw the owner. He came forward diligently and pointed at the sermon that Chen Congyun held in his hand: "Master, when you look at your outfit, you know that you don't often come out to buy things."

Chen Congyun, dressed in casual clothes, couldn't help but feel happy when he heard this, thinking that I was also a bargaining and picky person at the beginning.

"Haha, how did you say this? Why do you know that I don't come out to buy things often?"

The guy smiled diligently and said, "The cloth in your hand is the British. Please look here!" As he said, the guy pointed to a red paper on the wall on his right hand, which read "If you are patriotic, please support domestic products!"

When Chen Congyun saw this slogan, he immediately sweated wildly. He quickly put down the cloth in his hand and smiled: "So there is something else, but you are doing business, why do you post this slogan in this store?"

At this time, the shopkeeper at the counter put down his pen and smiled and went up to explain, "Master, don't listen to this boy's whisper. You can buy whatever you like. This slogan is a thing my son, who is studying in the school. He was so angry about it all night and told me about it. He read a lot of books. I said he was just right, so he could do it. As a result, my boy was reluctant to let him go and asked the guy to have a customer come to the door and he fell in love with foreign goods, so he said this. Do you think this can be done in this business?"

When the shopkeeper said this, his face was filled with pride, and he didn't agree with it. He might be so proud of his son's feat.

Chen Congyun was interested and was about to ask what was going on. At this time, Zi Yu, who had been wandering around the street, came in. Seeing Chen Congyun's face smiling, he stepped forward and smiled, "Master, what good thing has you encountered?"

Chen Congyun was in a good mood and smiled at Zi Yu, "Hurry up, it's the New Year. I'll buy a few pieces of cloth in this store and make new clothes for the whole family. Remember to buy domestic ones!"

Chen Congyun spoke as soon as he spoke, and the shopkeeper's face suddenly burst into laughter, and he repeatedly asked Chen Congyun to the chair next to him, "Master, you are tired while standing, just sit down and wait for the wife to choose, man, look at the tea."

When Zi Yu heard the shopkeeper's snake-beating and sticking, she was immediately happy and thought to herself that I hadn't agreed to buy it. You might as well just look at the tea and give up your seat. In fact, where should I go here to buy cloth for the clothes worn by Chen Congyun? Every year when the seasons and New Year Festivals are changed, Shanghai weaving factory will ask Zhang Jian to send a few of the dyed new colors to Chen Congyun's home, saying that Chen Congyun should try it on.

Every time Chen Congyun mentioned this, he would call these merchants too cunning. He was giving him cloth to himself, but in fact he used Chen Congyun to make free advertisements. Although Chen Congyun cursed him, every time someone sent the cloth, he always asked the butler Sheng Xiaoqi to accept it and then paid the money in a regular manner.

Otherwise, how could Chen Congyun scold those businessmen for cunning? This is all about capturing Chen Congyun's nostalgic mentality. At the beginning, Chen Congyun spent money on the light textile industrial park in Shanghai, but later it continued to expand financing. Chen Congyun gradually pulled out of it, so as not to bring other conveniences by these merchants who took over because of his own reasons. However, Zhang Jian, a guy, did not take Chen Congyun's set. Every year, as long as the merchants in Shanghai sent the cloth, he would happily take the people to Chen Congyun's mansion. Then he would boast about how good the quality of the cloth was, how much problem was in his hands in the past, and how many problems were solved for Governor Chen that year.

After Zhang Jian did this, Chen Congyun could only pinch his nose and buy these cloths. Then the merchants went back to tell the public that the cloths used by President Chen’s home were all produced in our factory. Is this advertising effect still good? Chen Congyun is now in the hearts of the people across the country, and that is a god-like existence.

If Chen Congyun said that Zi Yu would not violate it. Chen Congyun said that if he bought a few pieces of cloth, even if his family had no shortage, Zi Yu would have to buy some. But what should I do if I bought it? Zi Yu was very active. After thinking about it, I thought that the end of the year was coming, and many of the servants at home had to bring money and goods to their homes. Calculate based on the head, and each person would not have much money to pay for a ten-meter cloth. With this in mind, Zi Yu patiently chose it.

Chen Congyun had a shopkeeper sitting down to have tea with him and started chatting by the way.

"Shopkeeper, how is the business in this store?"

The shopkeeper said: "These days are still acceptable. After two days of the fifth day of the New Year, the business will be busy. Every household has to make new clothes for the New Year."

Chen Congyun said: "The slogan your boy made will not affect your business, right?"

The shopkeeper showed a proud look and said, "Master, let me give you a solid foundation. Since we posted this slogan, the transaction has been completed by 30%. Hehe, it is still the kid who is active in our family. This is all about reading. When you go to a few nearby stores, you are learning from us. Don't you say that my kid told me about this, but I was still unhappy. You said that the people who do business are still following the customers' wishes? How can you refer to people buying this and that?"

When Chen Congyun heard this, he nodded and smiled, "That's the reason. Why did you promise your boy again?"

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Aren't we fighting with the Russians in the Northeast? My boy followed a group of classmates to march in the streets during the day, and when he came back at night, he told me that every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country. If you do business, sell more domestic products, the country can collect more taxes and buy more guns and cannons to attack the Russians. This is the reason I think. You said that President Shen is now, the previous donations and taxes have been cancelled, and our business income is better than before. It's not a little bit. We know how to repay kindness, right? Besides, President Shen is leading everyone to straighten his back and behave, isn't it all for the benefit of our Chinese? We can't get the benefits and do nothing, right? Is that worthy of calling someone?"

Speaking of this, the shopkeeper suddenly approached Chen Congyun and whispered mysteriously: "Don't you know yet? Many merchants have invited President Shen's statue to go home to offer it, which is more effective than God of Wealth. It can also drive away evil spirits and avoid disasters! There is a one in my backyard."

"Puchi!" Chen Congyun's sip of tea came to the ground, and he coughed a few times, which attracted Zi Yu to come and pat him several times.

"Shopkeeper, have you seen Chen Congyun before that statue?" Zi Yu heard it funny and couldn't help but interrupt.

"Hey, this lady, I Buxing calls President Shen the name like this. Others may arrange it if they hear it. Remember, I dare not next time. Don't say that the statue of President Shen is three parts similar to this master."

Chen Congyun felt a little guilty when the shopkeeper said this. Don’t show off his behavior on the street. That would be lively. According to the shopkeeper’s words, the people nowadays really treat themselves as gods and are really going to be recognized. The consequences are hum!

"Madam, let's remove the cloth after picking it."

Zi Yu could see what Chen Congyun was thinking at a glance, and couldn't help but smile and said, "I understand, lord." As he said, Zi Yu smiled at the counter and said, "Any domestic brand in your store, I will give me two pieces, and I will go back and say I will send it home." Zi Yu said, taking out a bundle of oceans and laughed, "Count it for how much."

After watching Chen Congyun and Zi Yu leave, the shopkeeper said to the clerk with great emotion: "This master is not an ordinary person! He is generous!"

The young man took the address left by Zi Yu, looked left and right for a while and said, "I'm just calling a car, come and see the address."

The shopkeeper came over to take the address. The guy was about to go out to call a taxi, but he heard a crisp "pop" sound. When he turned around, he saw that there was a five-finger mountain on the shopkeeper's face. He said with great regret: "God, our eyes are really dog-eyed! I can't even recognize it when I come to my face!"

The Ford sedan was driving on the road, and Chen Congyun, who was sitting in the back row, looked at Zi Yu without saying a word.

"What's wrong? Is there any flowers on my face?" Zi Yu looked a little guilty and pretended to be looking at her with a look of gaze.

Chen Congyun smiled faintly and said, "You are too bad, don't scare the people like this."

Zi Yu burst out laughing, and a fox on her face deceived the crow meat and said proudly: "Who told the shopkeeper to call me the master's name? I insisted on calling him, Chen Congyun."

Chen Congyun smiled and said nothing, with a strange look in his eyes. Zi Yu suddenly realized that it was finished. She asked Chen Congyun to press her thighs and raised her hand to beat her plump buttocks for more than a dozen times.

"Disregard the rules set by the master, do you think you should be beaten?"

It turned out that the address Zi Yu left for the shopkeeper was the presidential residence. What is this not bullying the common people? No matter what the family buys, they will not let the merchant deliver goods to their doorsteps. Even if it is a daily purchase, Sheng Xiaoqi did not dare to cheat under the banner of the presidential residence, and never showed his identity.

Zi Yu was beaten and hummed. He looked up at Chen Congyun, his cheeks were rosy and his eyes were almost dripping from water, and said softly: "Master, you don't know. You can't help but hit me again."

Chen Congyun remembered Zi Yu's problem, so he quickly stopped and hummed unwillingly, "Go back and see how I dealt with you."

Zi Yu was not angry either. She smiled and leaned against Shen Congyun's arms. Her eyes slanted in front of her and looked for an opportunity. Her mouth was pressed against Shen Congyun's ears and whispered softly: "Master, can't you help but toss at home? Speaking of which, you have been on my place twice recently." As she said that, Zi Yu quietly slipped down her hand.

Cough cough! Chen Congyun coughed violently, Zi Yu felt Xiao Shen grow up vigorously under the touch, and couldn't help but smile even more charmingly.

1904 was undoubtedly a bumper year. The first thing that came to good news was the textile industry. The total amount of spindles in the country had reached 10 million spindles, and the national textile industry had made great progress. Without much foreign colonial market, the main reason for such achievements was the huge domestic population base and the amazing market for consuming daily necessities. It was also thanks to the idea of ​​revitalizing national industrial ideas advocated by Chen Congyun in the past two years and the cheap labor force in China. Unconsciously, the era of British rule in the Chinese market quietly formed a situation where domestic products and British goods were comparable, and it was very meaningful to come from behind.

The British also noticed this sign. Interestingly, the Chinese market is also growing exponentially with the introduction of various policies to stimulate the economy in Shen Congyun. Although the sales of British textiles have decreased slightly, they are not obvious. At the same time, the British policy in the Far East is to suppress the Russians by using the Chinese hand. During the Sino-Russian confrontation, the British will not talk about this. After the Sino-Russian War ends, the rising China is no longer the China that the British once used to pinch whatever they wanted.

The steel output reached 6 million tons at the end of 1904. This figure is nothing compared to industrial powers such as Britain and the United States, but it is already the level that Shen Congyun expected. China's iron ore is not very large, and at the same time, there are many problems with the quality of iron ore. At least under the current steelmaking technology, many iron ore do not have the conditions to cultivate high-quality quality. Fortunately, Shen Congyun occupied Vietnam, and a large number of high-quality iron ore that are almost cost-effective, solving the problem of the development speed of the steel industry.

What made Chen Congyun feel regretful was that the railway construction project was far from reaching the expected value. Although Chen Congyun had made the greatest inclination in policies and funds, by the end of 1904, the total length of China's railway was only 30,000 kilometers. The planning of railway construction was considered to be a mistake in the decision-making process of Chen Congyun in leading the country. A railway from Chengdu to Wuchang was actually built for 12 years. Today's road and bridge technology seriously limited Chen Congyun's expectation value. When Chen Congyun planned a five-year plan of 100,000 kilometers, it was based on the experience of the United States. At the same time, considering that there were no compensation for the Sino-Japanese War of 100,000 kilometers and no compensation for the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 and 1994, the national strength was consumed much smaller than in real history. Unfortunately, Chen Congyun did not consider the restrictions of China's complex geographical environment and made a joke of the Great Leap Forward in the Railway.

Even so, when Chen Congyun stayed in the position of president for the first five years, New China had already shown a vibrant momentum. The chain reaction caused by land policy led to a large number of landlords gradually participating in the national industry. When they found that the profits made in factories were far higher than deducting food from the land, more people joined this ranks.

"Although we are still in the early stage of industrialization, we have achieved gratifying results. After the Chinese nation is reborn, it will quickly catch up with the world's footsteps at an unstoppable pace." Chen Congyun, facing representatives from all over the country at the government work summary meeting at the end of the year, summarized it with the above words.

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The 8,200-ton cruiser "Buchan" rides the wind and waves on the sea. Liu Buchan sits tremblingly on the front deck, with two rosy rays on his pale face.

This is a warship designed and manufactured by China. Every part is produced by China. Shen Congyun promised Liu Buchan to do what he did. What could be seen from this warship? Liu Buchan was very clear in his heart. China can build a 10,000-ton ship and produce rapid-fire guns of different calibers on its own. The 305mm main gun is a product of the Jiangnan Arsenal. This warship is almost a microcosm of the achievements of China's military industry development.

"Brothers, I have no regrets!" Liu Buchan's face was red, and he touched the place with his trembling hands. His rapid breathing could not calm down for a long time.

Deng Shichang and Lin Taizeng, who accompanied him, endured the sorrow in their hearts, and supported Liu Buchan and walked around the battleship with a smile on their faces. They all knew a fact in their hearts that Liu Buchan was looking back.

"Let the warships drive towards Beijing and help me sit on the fore deck."

Under the golden light of the setting sun, Liu Buchan, who had been fighting against the disease for more than half a year, sat on the recliner and stared at the direction of Beijing. After a long time, his head tilted gently, and he fell asleep with a satisfied smile on his lips. The cruiser "Buchan" slowly lowered the flag at half-mast, boom boom! All warships of the East China Sea Fleet fired cannons at the same time to see Liu Buchan off.

In Beijing, Chen Congyun, who received the news, sighed. The telegram said, "Liu Shuai left without regrets, he left with a smile on his face."

There is a saying that although Chen Congyun is still regretful, he still finds difficult to get rid of the sadness of losing the star, but he also feels a hint of comfort. Liu Buchan can see a warship named after him, which should be worth his life.

A song "The Difficult to Walk" was written by Master Yan Fu and hung high in Shen Congyun's study. At this moment, Chen Congyun thought of the past, and couldn't help but cry on his back and whispered.

The golden cup of wine is worth ten thousand, and the jade plate is worth ten thousand yuan. I can't eat it by stopping the cup and chopsticks. I can't eat it. I draw my sword and look at my heart in a daze. I want to cross the Yellow River and block the river, and I will climb the mountain with snow. When I am idle fishing on the green stream, I suddenly ride a boat and dream of the sun. It's difficult to walk! It's difficult to walk! There are many different roads, and now I'm here? There will be times when the wind and waves are broken, and the clouds sails cross the sea.

Yes, it is difficult to walk! The road of modern China is even more difficult, but the Chinese nation, which has broken free from the historical trajectory, will surely ride the wind and waves and move forward.

At the end of 1904, Chen Congyun spent a passionate and bitter mood. When the firecrackers in the human brain resounded throughout Beijing, it showed the arrival of the new year.

During this year's Spring Festival, Chen Congyun chose to come to the Northern Military Region. On New Year's Eve, he went to the Military Region Hospital to visit some wounded people who were still recovering from the hospital beds, but accompanied the wounded and medical staff to have New Year's Eve dinner. He hurried on the road early in the first day of the lunar month, one army after another, and visited all the troops in the Northern Military Region. When he returned to Beijing, it was the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

The officials in the capital had a very tacit understanding and did not disturb Chen Congyun at this time. Chen Congyun finally had a comfortable day and could move a chair to sit in the shelter in the backyard, watching the children having fun in the yard with a smile.

Li Yaoguo was wandering around the door of the yard with a little uneasy. Chen Congyun ignored him when he saw it, thinking that he must have endless things to do. Sure enough, Li Yaoguo finally came over with a timid smile on his face.

"Boy, I'll be lazy for a day, okay?" Chen Congyun's words caused the women who were talking together to laugh happily behind her. Li Yaoguo smiled bitterly after hearing this, scratched his head or turned around and went out.
Chapter completed!