There has been a very special funeral these days, which has become a popular incident in Shanghai. The deceased were several suicide businessmen, and many newspapers have included special reports.

In these reports, without exception, these suicide businessmen were portrayed as being kind and kind, eager to be righteous, warm-hearted, and slight profit and value righteousness. In short, they were great charity. And their deaths were not only a pity, but also brought great misfortunes to their families, wives, and children. Therefore, the family members were very sad. Those who read these reports would sympathize with these suicide businessmen.

Why these businessmen committed suicide? In the report, they only said that it was because of bankruptcy, but why they went bankrupt was not clearly reported by the newspaper, and all of them were vague.

But we can tell everyone very responsibly that they failed in speculative actions of rushing for supplies and raising prices a few days ago, which led to bankruptcy and ultimately chose to commit suicide.

More than a month ago, under the leadership of a group of foreign companies, a speculative action to rush shopping and raise prices was launched, which seriously disrupted the normal economic order and caused serious living difficulties to the residents of Shanghai. Fortunately, the government took action at this time, and in accordance with the principle of safeguarding the interests of the general public, it mobilized a large amount of materials to be invested in the market at all costs, so that prices have been stabilized. Even if it is rising, it is within the scope that residents can bear.

However, in this speculative operation, a considerable number of Chinese businessmen knew that the situation was really similar, but they also participated in it. They did not hesitate to help foreigners, help Jie to abuse, and attack their compatriots, and exploit their compatriots. As a result, the speculation failed, the losses were huge, and even bankruptcy. So someone committed suicide. These businessmen committed suicide because of this reason.

Let’s assume that if the government had not intervened, stabilized prices and allowed these merchants to successfully speculate. At that time, the residents of Shanghai would have to bear 8 times, 10 times, or even 20 times, and most families probably could not afford such prices. By that time, it would not have been a few merchants who committed suicide, but hundreds of ordinary residents who could not afford such high prices would even starve to death; hundreds of families would have lost their families and their wives and children were separated.

However, businessmen who participated in this speculation can make a fortune. They, their wives and children can live a rich life of luxury and wealth. Of course, they can also take out a little from the money they earn, do some good things about giving medicine to the weak, cherishing the elderly and pitying the poor, building bridges and roads, and then gaining a good reputation for being kind and giving, eager to be righteous, but they ignore those who commit suicide and starve to death because they cannot bear high prices. Fortunately, this is just an assumption, because our government has intervened very quickly, it has not happened in reality.

Of course, China emphasizes that the dead are the most important. These businessmen have committed suicide. Although they deserve it and are even more willing to die, they do not need to be investigated if they die. Moreover, the crime is not as good as their wives and children. The government, based on the principle of leniency, did not stop the family and friends from holding funerals for them.

But this does not mean that they can forgive, and they are even worthy of sympathy, and they are not allowed to use their deaths and funerals to create public opinion and excuse themselves. Such people, whether in life or death, will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history forever and will never be able to turn over.

This was an editorial titled "Not all the dead can be forgiven" published on the front page of the second day. It was a public opinion that the businessmen participated in the speculation on the grounds of funerals. It was written by Cheng Lingxi. After reading it, Li Songchen was very satisfied and believed that it could completely fight back on this public opinion attack. He made several revisions and published it in the [China Times].

Sure enough, after this editorial of more than a thousand words was published, the wind suddenly changed. Not only were many newspapers reprinted, but some newspapers also published their own editorials, editorials and other articles, which severely accused these businessmen. On the one hand, everyone knew that the [China Times] was equivalent to the mouthpiece of the government, representing the position of the government. This editorial also showed the attitude of the government. Therefore, at this time, who would still be so uninterested and fight against the government; on the other hand, this editorial was indeed well written, bringing the contents of other newspapers that vaguely brought over from other newspapers, that is, why these businessmen went bankrupt and why suicide were very clear. Because it was assumed that the situation after the speculative businessmen succeeded, it also aroused a lot of resonance. After all, it really caused a lot of panic during the time of rushing for supplies and raising prices.

Although the funeral is still being held, the momentum has become much lower-key, and even the people are pointed at by the people watching the fun, and many people are cursing. Other businessmen are avoiding it when they see the wind is wrong.

The businessmen who participated in the speculation also completely accepted their fate. Although the funeral had to continue, the money had been collected and they could not be given up halfway. In addition, all the supplies had to be bought for the East China Government.

At this moment, another important news broke out, and Pu Ye, who landed in Fuzhou, announced his official title of emperor.

It turned out that Songtao sent power to the governors and governors of various provinces, asking them to support Pu Ye to proclaim himself emperor, but the governors and governors of various provinces ignored him. First, Zai Yi and Zai Lan's brothers performed too badly during the Boxer Rebellion period, and the governors of various provinces had no good feelings for them. Second, after the demise of the Qing court, the governors and governors of various provinces were equivalent to separatist and independent, so naturally they did not want another emperor to take care of him, so they pretended not to see him.

Seeing that the telegram sent without a reply, Song Tao, Zai Yi and Zai Lan were also a little anxious. The Japanese who supported Zai Yi and Zai Lan brothers were not convenient for them to come forward to persuade the governors and governors of various provinces at this time, so they were very anxious.

And they were afraid that there would be more dreams at night, so if countries interfere, it would be difficult to deal with it. So after consultation, everyone decided and simply let Pu Ye become emperor directly. After Bi Jing became emperor, there was a big debate. It would be too late for countries to oppose interference.

So Songtao, Zaiyi and Zailan immediately took action, built a platform to sacrifice to heaven, asked Puyi to proclaim himself emperor, and appointed the country as Fengde and the capital of Fuzhou. After Puyi became emperor, he immediately appointed Zaiyi as the regent, and also served as the foreman of the military machinery, the Minister of Personnel, Zailan as the Minister of Revenue, and walked on the Military Machinery Department. Songtao, the former governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, was appointed as the Minister of Rites, and the Military Machinery Department, and also hired Japanese people Fukushima Anmasato, Nomura Taro, and Oshima Fukushima as state advisers. In this way, the Japanese finally came to the front desk from behind the scenes. Then Puyi sent envoys to various provinces to issue new appointment letters to the governors and governors of each province. The official positions of all governors and governors remained unchanged, and some titles were also granted as false titles.

Song Tao, Zai Yi and Zai Lan knew in their hearts that the governors and governors of various provinces are now equal to being independent and they cannot control them at all. Therefore, it is better to be a favor and still maintain the positions of governors and governors, and also give them a title. All those who have not been granted a title will be granted a title to the duke. As long as the governors and governors of various provinces accept a new letter of appointment, they only require them to submit a title to the new king to ascend the throne. This means that Pu Jun's emperor is recognized.

However, in this way, Japan also walked from the dark to the open, and everyone knew that Pu Jun's claim to emperor was the result of Japan's first-hand planning. In anger, Powell recruited Japanese Consul Toriro Oda and Jiro Oda and severely accused the Japanese government of their actions. Yoshiro Oda repeatedly stated that he knew nothing about this and that this matter had nothing to do with him.

Of course, it is not just Powell, but also the ambassadors of Britain, France and Russia to Japan gathered in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked the Japanese government to explain this, because according to the Treaty of the [Four-National Alliance], the actions of the four countries in China should be informed of each other, but Japan actually acted privately and supported Pu Jun as emperor. This is a serious violation of the Treaty of the [Four-National Alliance], so an explanation must be given to the Three Kingdoms.

But the three countries did not expect that the Japanese government insisted that he had no idea about Pu Jun's claim to be emperor. As for Pu Jun's appointment of several Japanese people as consultants, it was because they had a good personal relationship with Zai Yi and Zai Lan, which did not represent the attitude of the Japanese government.

However, Britain, France and Russia are all old foxes, so of course they would not be confused by these sweet words of Japan. However, the Japanese government would not admit it and there was no way. At this moment, Zhu Erdian, the former British ambassador to the Qing court, who followed Prince Su Shanqi, Prince Gong Puwei and others, and sent a telegram to the country. On the one hand, he severely accused Powell of his dereliction of duty; on the other hand, he suggested to the UK that the most urgent task was to immediately establish a new emperor, so that in the name of the great name and legal principles, the Fengde court in Fujian could compete with each other.

It turned out that after Powell launched the economic war against the East China government, Juerdian had been paying close attention to the progress of the situation, because he knew very well that once the economic war was successful, Powell would definitely become the highest person in charge of the UK in China, and his former ambassador to Qing could only stand aside, either returning to China to find another way, or continuing to work in China under the leadership of Powell. But now he is in the north and has no skills, so it is useless to be anxious. Of course, he also believes that the economic war against the East China government is not so easy to win, and Powell still lacks experience after all.
Chapter completed!