Fengxian Jiangshan

"Lin Ge, we have seen through these few months and want to stay in Beijing. There are two things that work, one money and one gun. Every day, people from all walks of life block the door to ask you for money. If you give it, you will be obedient. If you don't give it, you will be fine. Trouble. If we have a gun, we can drive them away, but we have nothing, so we can only be used as doormats. If the clumsy words don't come again, I am ready to resign!"

"Mr. Shaochuan, is the situation really that bad?"

"It's worse than expected." Tang Shaoyi and Liang Qichao said in unison.

When Zhang Tinglan saw it, he didn't care about taking a rest, and hurried to the living room, listening to the introduction of the two people.Tang Shaoyi first said: "Zhuoyan, according to your intention, I tried to keep some old people in Beiyang as much as possible, so that the cabinet team was pulled up, and the new government began to operate. But now the national treasury is empty, and there is no money to come. They want money, government officials want salaries, teachers also need education funds, and the great powers need to pay compensation. All of them are piled up in front of me at once, and I really can’t bear it.”

Another financial issue, Zhang Tinglan also guessed it, so there was no surprise, and asked with a smile: "Mr. Shaochuan, how many gaps are there. Tell me."

"Hey, Zhuoyan, I made a rough estimate. Each month's various expenses need at least 120 million yuan, but the actual income is less than 400 million yuan, which means that there is a gap of 800 million yuan that needs to be filled. "

Zhang Tinglan was also dumbfounded when he heard this. He knew that since the Qing Dynasty.A large amount of indemnities and loans were owed, and the amount was quite large, but after knowing the details, I was still frightened.

Tang Shaoyi snapped her fingers again, and calculated with Zhang Tinglan. Since the establishment of the Republic of China government, it announced that it would inherit the war indemnity from the Qing Dynasty, including foreign loans from the Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Boxer indemnity from the Treaty of Xin Chou. The total sum was 79388 million taels Kuping silver, converted into silver dollars, is more than 12 billion.

Afterwards, the Beiyang government made several more loans, the most famous being Lao Yuan's aftermath loan, and Lao Duan's Xiyuan loan, but it was disturbed by Zhang Tinglan.So far, these loans add up to a total of 5.6 million silver dollars.

And this is only about money, and there are countless mines, railways, and land mortgaged for this.

Tang Shaoyi sighed and said: "Zhuoyan, let alone repaying such a huge amount, even the interest is a huge problem. The principal and interest that needs to be paid this year has reached as much as 2313 million yuan. More than a quarter must be handed over to the foreign powers. It’s really distressing. If military expenses, administrative expenses, and education expenses are deducted, there will be almost nothing left, or even a deficit. How can we talk about national construction? Every time I think of this, I can’t sleep Feel it."

When Zhang Tinglan heard this, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Since the late Qing Dynasty, what a mess has been left behind!It is still good at the moment, but if it continues to develop according to history, Beiyang's borrowing will increase, and when the Democratic Party is in power, the amount will be even greater.

During the so-called golden decade, the debt expenditure was more than 2000 million yuan in the least year, and it reached more than 8.346 million yuan in the most time, accounting for 40.00% of the fiscal revenue. The small amount of fiscal revenue has made the country more and more distressed, and all kinds of industrial construction have all come to naught.

Zhang Tinglan thought over and over again, and she also made up her mind that even if she dies, she can't be used as a cash machine for the great powers!

"Mr. Shaochuan, you have said so much, how do you want to solve this problem?"

Tang Shaoyi calmed down a bit, and then said with some embarrassment: "Zhuoyan, Fengtian's financial situation is much better than that of Beijing, can you provide a little subsidy so that the government can continue to maintain it."

Liang Qichao also said: "Humble words, the deteriorating financial situation has made us feel heartbroken, but there is really no good way at the moment. Fengjun has given out some funds now, and when the financial situation improves in the future, he will definitely make up for it."

Zhang Tinglan waved his hand and smiled slightly: "Mr. Shaochuan, according to what you just said, Fengtian will spend at least nearly 1 million yuan a year to subsidize the central government, and more than a quarter of this money will be handed over to the big powers for nothing." Such a bottomless black hole, can I fill it up, even if I fill it up, how can I pay it back in the future?"

Tang Shaoyi was also left speechless by the question: "Zhuoyan, what do you think should be done?"

"It's just a word, if I don't pay back the money, if I have the ability to call Yingmei, I will fight them to the death!"

Chapter 7 Zero One Delayed Compensation

"Clumsy words (Vice President)! This is not a joke, how can you not pay compensation if you don't want to pay!"

Tang Shaoyi and Liang Qichao were all in a hurry. They always thought that Zhang Tinglan was calmer and good at making decisions before making moves, but they never knew that this person had such a fierce side. If the international debts were not repaid, they would not be repaid. This would work. what!

"To put it bluntly, the debt is related to the credit of the country. Maybe the big powers will jointly sanction us. At that time, the goods will not be sold, the trade will not be carried out, the currency will depreciate, and the national economy will collapse. The consequences will be unimaginable. You have to think about it clearly."

Zhang Tinglan took a deep breath, sat on the seat again, closed his eyes and thought about it, he had already thought about the financial and debt issues, this is a problem that he must face after entering Beijing, but he did not expect that, Will come to you so soon.

"Mr. Shaochuan, although Fengtian has fought two big battles in a row, which has shaken the foundation, it is still possible to squeeze out 400 million yuan a month. If it is sent to the central government, it may be able to maintain its operation, but I want to ask you, Does this kind of maintenance make sense?"

Zhang Tinglan said in an extremely calm tone: "The development of the three eastern provinces has also benefited from the human and financial resources of the whole country. It is inevitable to give back to the whole country. Zhang has no regional prejudices. All Chinese are compatriots of flesh and blood and should develop together. But There is a premise, that is, the money must see results, and it cannot be wasted, otherwise I will not be able to explain to the enterprises and people in the Northeast.

Tang Shaoyi and Liang Qichao also glanced at each other, and their eyes were full of embarrassment. What Zhang Tinglan said was also reasonable, and they couldn't just use money to fill a bottomless pit.Could it really be like what Zhang Tinglan said.Pay off all debts?

"Mr. Shaochuan, I want to ask you about the Xin Chou Treaty. How much is the compensation stipulated?"

"5000 million taels."

"According to the compensation method of the great powers, how much do we have to pay?"

"The great powers demanded that we pay it off in 39 years, with an annual interest of 4%, and the total amount of compensation was 9 million taels. However, due to changes in the price of silver and new debts to repay old debts, the total amount of compensation exceeded one billion taels. However, Due to the problem of the European War, Germany and Austria-Hungary’s indemnity has been stopped. After the Russian Revolution, the indemnity has also been stopped. In addition, because the Fengjun defeated Japan, we are also discussing that the indemnity to Japan will be completely stopped. Currently only Britain, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and other countries are left, and we have already paid more than 8 million taels of compensation, and there is another [-] million or so in compensation!"

Listening to the figures provided by Tang Shaoyi, Zhang Tinglan also nodded slightly. According to the statistics of later generations, the 1902 years from 1938 to 37.The Boxer indemnity paid in total was 6.64 billion customs taels. After deducting the refunds from the United States, Britain and other countries, China actually paid more than 600 million taels of indemnities to the imperialists.

Since the refund actions of various countries were around the 20s, it was mainly to ease relations with China, but in fact it was before that.China has repaid the bulk of the reparations.

"Mr. Shaochuan, 4 million taels of indemnity. We have paid out more than 5 million taels, isn't it enough? Do you think this debt should continue to be repaid? And Boxer indemnity is just a more conspicuous item. , The great powers have also made some refunds, but there are no other loans and indemnities at all, and our debts are getting more and more, what is the difference between them and the donkeys in the countryside?"

What Zhang Tinglan said pointed to the core of the problem. Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, China has handed over 49 to 30 percent of its fiscal revenue every year, and [-] percent in some years, to the big powers.Every penny has been soaked in the blood and sweat of the Chinese people, but China's indemnity and loans owed to foreign countries have not decreased in any way, but have increased. According to historical development, by [-], the total number will reach [-] [-] million.

The gross national product in the same period is only about 50 trillion yuan, and because it is an agricultural society, the government's fiscal revenue is lower, and it is burdened with such a huge arrears. The annual compensation for interest alone is enough to overwhelm the country. up.

It can also be seen from this that why the government of the Republic of China was keen on developing light industry with quick money, but was unable to invest in heavy industry that was related to the life and death of the country.But for a big country like China, without heavy industry, there is no backbone, and it can only become a piece of fat to be slaughtered.

Tang Shaoyi and Liang Qichao were also silent. Zhang Tinglan was right, this is usury that cannot be repaid. In fact, the big powers also have this purpose.They don't care how much China pays back, what they need is for China to be saddled with this debt forever, and then it will always be their ATM.

Finances cannot be independent, just like a person without money. A person is poor and short-sighted, and the same is true for a country. Without money, there is no ability to develop, and you can always get what you want.The big powers can safely and boldly seize China's natural resources and sell their industrial products through various means. The profits are even more astonishing. Compared with simple compensation, they are ten times and hundreds of times.

After thinking about it, Tang Shaoyi gradually began to agree with Zhang Tinglan's crazy idea. Since she couldn't pay it back, she simply wouldn't pay it back.Once this idea took root, it became a lingering voice, constantly ringing in his head.

Tang Shaoyi smiled wryly after a long while and said, "Zhuoyan has explained the truth thoroughly. After thinking about it, the only way I can do it is to renege on my debt!"

"No!" Liang Qichao hurriedly waved his hand beside him: "Shaochuan, you were quite calm just now, why are you confused now? If you renege on your debts, the consequences will be serious, don't you know? You want to watch the country's economy collapse Is it?"

"But if we continue to lose money like this, there will be no funds for national construction, and nothing will develop. If things go on like this, it will not be as simple as economic collapse, but a catastrophe of national subjugation and extinction!"

Hearing Tang Shaoyi's words, Liang Qichao was also stunned. He couldn't say anything anymore, so he could only lower his head and say nothing.

Zhang Tinglan rolled her eyes, and then said with a smile: "The consequences of reneging on debts are not so dire. Didn't our neighbors, the Russians, just repay all their debts?"

"Zhuoyan, are you going to learn from the majority party?"

Liang Qichao raised his head abruptly, and said in surprise: "This is absolutely impossible. After the Russians have defaulted on their debts, it is tantamount to cutting themselves off from the international market. They have been jointly sanctioned by various countries. I heard that the economy is in distress. To the extreme."

Zhang Tinglan smiled and waved his hands: "It's not that serious. In fact, there is nothing wrong with closing the door and forming a family of your own. It's just that the Russians have a large territory and abundant resources. Except for rubber and other things, they can be self-sufficient. Therefore, They also have this condition for their planned economy. We do not have the background of the Russians, and the population is too large, so it is difficult to develop self-sufficiency. We must communicate with the world market, so we cannot directly pay off our debts like Russia does. Use a more flexible approach.”

After all, Tang Shaoyi was a child studying in the United States, so he still has some knowledge. He thought for a while and said: "Zhuoyan, there is a common practice in the world, that is, bad debts are not paid. For example, during the American Civil War, the northern government declared that They will not bear the debts borrowed by the South. In fact, if we had had enough courage when the Republic of China was founded, we would not have fallen to where we are today if we had directly declared our refusal to recognize the foreign debts of the Qing Dynasty!"

"Hey, in order to win the support of the big powers, Sun Wen immediately announced that he would inherit all the treaties signed by the Manchu and Qing Dynasties. What can we do!" Liang Qichao said with a sigh.

Zhang Tinglan couldn't stop thinking about it. In history, there were three countries that said no to huge foreign debts. One was Russia after the October Revolution, the other was Nazi Germany, and the third was New China.

When the current situation is not so bad that it is irreparable, there is no need to directly kill the net and let go immediately. Perhaps Hitler's approach is worth learning.

Thinking of this, Zhang Tinglan made up his mind, and said with a smile: "Mr. Shaochuan, I will give you a special fee of 2000 million first, and you will be responsible for running the government for three months. Use this time to stabilize the situation in Beijing and Tianjin." Next, let the Ministry of Finance draw up a plan, negotiate with the United States, Britain and other countries, asking them to suspend repayment for three years, and wait until the domestic economy recovers before discussing the issue of compensation. If they agree to this condition, we can open up foreign investment. Provide more convenience for Western companies."

"Hehe, Zhuo Yan is a way to slow down the army. I think it is good. If I can win three years, the domestic situation will be much better. I will start to arrange it immediately!"

"Well, but Mr. Shaochuan, when preparing, we must keep it strictly confidential, and we must not let the big powers know our real plan."

After explaining, Tang Shaoyi and Liang Qichao left Prince Qing's Mansion, while Zhang Tinglan leaned on the sofa without saying a word.

Shen Hua, the head of the guard, thought that Zhang Tinglan was asleep, and walked over with a wolfskin mattress, and was about to cover Zhang Tinglan, only to find that he was not asleep at all, with bloodshot eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling .

"Vice President? Commander? Young Master? Don't scare me!"

"What's the name of the ghost? I'm not dead yet." Zhang Tinglan said angrily, "Isn't it okay to be quiet for a while?"