New Warlords 1909

But can Hua Fei agree?Leaving aside the military alliance, the six divisions required by the Germans alone almost emptied more than half of Hua Fei's existing regular army.Moreover, the Germans will open up new battlefields in Asia and expel all the British and French here.This is simply, simply unbelievable.

Hua Fei is very clear that even if he devotes all his energy to the alliance camp, even if Germany immediately has advanced weapons such as heavy bombers and tanks, the First World War will at best be more tragic, and the price paid by the Allied Powers will at best be heavier. It's hard to change.I don't mention what kind of thoughts the United States, a country with huge war potential, has in mind, but it is said that even in the subsequent World War II, Germany occupied the entire territory of France, and gradually failed in the subsequent war of attrition.

If Hua Fei sided with the Germans, he would not only choose to be on the side with a high probability of failure, but also choose a very risky bet.This kind of gambling is extremely unlikely to win, and if you win, the rewards are certainly difficult to calculate.But if you lose, it is very heavy.Another reality is that although Hua Fei won the initial tactical victory in the first war against Japan.However, Japan's military strength, especially its naval strength, has not been devastated.In terms of sea power, the Japanese can still completely control the sea power as long as the cost is not considered.

If Hua Fei suddenly allyed with Germany, he would have to tear himself apart with Britain and France.Then Japan will not only lose diplomatic pressure, but may also get help and instigation from Britain, France and other countries to declare war on the autonomous region again and block the entire autonomous region's external shipping.In that case, let alone whether the autonomous region has the capital to continue a large-scale war, the industry and commerce in the autonomous region that is booming will immediately lose the huge markets of Britain, France and other countries, and thus fall into a situation beyond redemption.

Therefore, although the temptation was enormous, Hua Fei tactfully rejected the German envoy's request under the realistic and rational judgment.The German emperor offered such generous conditions. Although the special envoy had been waiting in the autonomous region for a long time, he was always full of confidence.In his opinion, no one can refuse such a favorable condition.

However, for such a major decision, Hua Fei gave the German envoy the answer after only a few minutes of pondering.At this time, the German special envoy hadn't recovered from the emotions he had exaggerated.

Reject...Reject?Why did he refuse?How could he refuse?

Although Hua Fei clearly rejected the German envoy's request for an alliance, he quickly explained why they were unable to send troops to Europe.Although Japan has ceased war with me, the hatred between us has not diminished, so I must focus on guarding against the Japanese and protecting the security interests of the autonomous region and the German nationals in Qingdao.

In addition, we are only an autonomous local government and have no right to

As a member of any military alliance, you have no right to take the initiative to send troops to any friends. Moreover, there are internal and external disputes in the country, and there are many uncertain crises. How can you transfer a large number of troops to Europe, right?

Hua Fei made many explanations, and the translator was so busy that he didn't even have time to stop for a sip of water.Although many explanations are far-fetched, the meaning revealed by Hua Fei is very clear.That is, he is not willing to get entangled in another war at this time.Therefore, he is not prepared to change his neutral position and join either camp.

Of course, as Hua Fei's very close friends and partners, we Chinese will never forget the help that the Germans gave us.Therefore, we can transfer the heavy bomber design technology and tank design patent technology that the Germans crave for a fee to help the Germans achieve greater victories in the European War.

Hearing what Hua Fei said, the German envoy realized that he must not return empty-handed.William II granted him great rights, so several people discussed in detail in the secret room.The Germans are willing to use a group of steel smelting experts and the establishment of a chemical laboratory as conditions, and spend another 1000 million German gold marks as a fee to buy all the heavy bomber design drawings, engine technical design drawings and tanks from Huafei. All technical parameters.

The price is not high, but it is by no means cheap.For Hua Fei, if these technologies are not sold, they will be developed sooner or later with the technical research strength of Germany and other countries.And they have no fundamental conflict of interest with the Germans, so they are not afraid that these technologies will be used against them in the end.For the Germans, although they spent some money and some costs, they could save a lot of development time and quickly deliver these two mature weapons to factories for production, so as to reverse the stalemate in the European War. It is not impossible.

The German special envoy then made a request to expand the scale and speed of submarine production in China, but Huafei cautiously rejected it.Hua Fei agreed with the Germans to provide capital and technology to expand the production of submarines in China.But the premise is that the submarine manufacturing shipyard leased by the Germans must be transferred to Qingdao, and the submarines produced are not allowed to be used to fight in the East China Sea, South China Sea and other Far East waters, let alone attack merchant ships flying the flag of the autonomous region.

Germany is trapped by terrain factors and is inherently deficient in naval construction.Although it currently has a powerful high seas fleet, under the blockade and control of the superior British Royal Navy, the German high seas fleet is useless and it is difficult to exert their role and influence.So if it is possible to build a new shipyard in the Far East and secretly produce submarines.Then Germany will have a strategic offensive point, and the submarines produced in the Far East can pose a great threat and damage to British merchant ships in the Indian Ocean.

It is very risky to let the Germans produce submarines in Qingdao and put them into combat in the Indian Ocean.If Britain, France and other countries know about it, you can imagine how much anger Hua Fei will face.So not only are these agreements extremely secret, but this plan is carried out under Hua Fei's absolute control.The outside world, even those Chinese and German workers who produce submarines, will think that they are helping the autonomous region to produce submarines.So even if this news leaks one day, Hua Fei can use the neutral country to sell weapons as an excuse, and will never admit that the Germans rented the submarine here.

After reaching a secret agreement with the Germans, the special envoy quickly embarked on a return flight with a blueprint of the bomber.Afterwards, Hua Fei met representatives from Britain, France and other countries. Like the Germans, the old matter was brought up again, and they still wanted to lure Hua Fei into the group.However, whether it is the conditions or enthusiasm they offer, they are not at the same level as the Germans.Of course, they don't need Hua Fei's conditions to send troops to Europe.

As for the heavy bombers and tanks that they are also interested in, Hua Fei expressed his willingness to fully produce and export to the two countries to support their war.As for the patented production of the technical drawings proposed, Hua Fei also agreed, but the price offered was generally unacceptable to the representatives of Britain and France.

If the price is unacceptable, then use the exported one first.However, the industrial output of the autonomous region is indeed limited, and the unbearable production speed, after the British intelligence personnel discovered that the Germans also began to produce weapons similar to tanks, they quickly started a new round of negotiations with Huafei.And when Hua Fei finally regressed, he paid a considerable price and purchased the patented production rights for tanks.

The appearance of the tanks bought by the Germans is quite different from that of the Warrior tanks.Limited to the industrial level and actual needs of the autonomous region, the warrior tank can only be regarded as a light tank.The tank sold to the Germans was an enlarged version of another heavy tank originally designed, the Warrior Tank.Apart from having two experimental vehicles, the Autonomous Region did not go into mass production at all.This heavy tank is not only equipped with a larger caliber cannon, but also four heavy machine guns around the square turret.This design requires not only excellent armor, but also a high-horsepower diesel engine.These technologies are a challenge for the autonomous region, but for the Germans, they are obviously not enough to fear.

Hua Fei is also kind, and has received so many benefits from the Germans, so he has prepared more than a month of technological leadership for the Germans.When Britain, France and other countries bought Huafei's patented technology for the production of Warrior light tanks, German heavy tanks were ready to be put into the battlefield.

Therefore, before the Warriors showed up in the European War, a strong opponent had already been born.Therefore, countries such as Britain and France quickly modified similar heavy tanks that can fight against the Germans based on the warrior model.

After returning to Shanghai to deal with these matters, Hua Fei then received a piece of information that was neither from the Secret Security Bureau nor the Military Intelligence Bureau, but an indeterminate piece of information from Xiang Xian from the Poison Hand Society.This information is not very important if it is important, and it is not important, but Hua Fei has been planning for this incident for a long time.

"They actually want to run away?" Hua Fei seemed a little puzzled.

It turns out that this information is nothing else but the news from Yesong Shipyard, the largest shipyard in Shanghai.As early as before World War I, Hua Fei spent huge sums of money and placed an astonishing number of orders to almost all major shipyards in Shanghai.If it is someone else, perhaps these shipyards would not dare to accept these orders.However, the person who placed the order was Hua Commander, the most powerful in the autonomous region, and also extremely rich in assets, so no one would worry about Hua Fei's ability to pay and possible motives.

213 The Biggest Mystery

At that time, no one would have thought that a world war like World War I would break out. The prices of raw materials such as steel were rising steadily, and the cost of shipbuilding increased sharply.Huafei's Deep Blue Shipping Group delivered a total of ten giant ships of about [-] tons to the Jesson Shipyard, including seven freighters, two cruise ships, and one oil tanker.In order to produce and complete the task according to the contract time, Yesun Shipyard invested heavily in loans, purchased additional equipment, expanded and repaired the dock, and built a new large dock.The shareholders of Yesun Shipyard are full of enthusiasm and vow to take this opportunity to develop into the largest shipyard in the Far East.

However, the situation changed suddenly. With the outbreak of World War I, not only the import of steel and other materials from abroad gradually decreased or even stopped, but the price of steel purchased from China also soared.The soaring price of raw materials not only intensified the financial pressure on Yesun Shipyard, but also turned their original considerable profits into a deficit.

As the delivery deadline is approaching and a large number of loans are due, Jesson Shipyard is facing one of the biggest problems.Let's finish the production of the ship and deliver the ship on time, not to mention that there is already a lack of production cash flow, and it will only lose more funds. The loans from major banks have also reached their deadlines and cannot be repaid.If you don't deliver the ship on time, you will not only have to pay huge liquidated damages, but also the bank loan will not be repaid without the payment of the final payment for the ship.

Therefore, although the shareholders of Yesong Shipyard have already started negotiations with creditors such as Deep Blue Shipping, Maanshan Iron and Steel Plant, Pacific Bank, Star Group, etc., and proposed a series of conditions such as increasing the ship's cost and delaying repayment, the progress of the negotiations has not been much.

However, the privileges that foreigners relied on for their development in China have been gradually weakened or even completely abolished since Huafei entered the main autonomous region.

As a result, the shareholders of Yesun Shipyard found that even if the other party made concessions, according to the Chinese people's current proposal, the shares of Yesun Shipyard were exchanged for the payment of those loans and arrears, and a new loan could be provided to complete the Production and delivery of orders from Deep Blue Shipping.This agreement seems very reasonable, but what is unreasonable is that the Chinese even demanded 60% ~ equity at one time.

Hand over 60% of the equity, and the Jesson shipyard will continue to survive. The shares retained by the British shareholders, although the losses are so great that they don't even know each other, but there are still shares, right?However, if the Chinese people's opinion is not accepted, then when the debt expires, Jesun Shipyard will have to face bankruptcy, and will be sentenced to use fixed assets to repay the capital of various creditors.

From the perspective of normal people, the British will choose the first option no matter what.After all, although it has lost money, the remaining equity, these original capitals that are always reserved for continued development, are not.If it is another country, such as the Americans or the French, these British people may silently accept this agreement.But this trick, which now looks like a trap, made those stubborn Britons furious.

These damned yellow-skinned Chinese dare to cast their calculations on the noble British nobles. Hmph, they should know that the nobles of the empire on which the sun never sets cannot tolerate such insults.

Maybe it's the damn pride, maybe it's the overflowing self-esteem, or maybe it's just for pure profit.The British made a fatal mistake, a ruse that seemed very shallow.Just like when they swept up a large amount of cash during the Shanghai stock market boom, they returned to China.

The British apparently agreed to the agreement proposed by the Chinese side.And signed a preliminary contract letter of intent.But the British asked the Pacific Bank to pay a sum of one hundred thousand pounds.It is used to produce those unfinished ships and pay workers' wages.

Just when everyone thought everything was going well.However, Hua Fei received information that several major shareholders of the Jesson Shipyard wanted to collectively flee back to the mainland with huge sums of money.According to the information obtained by Hua Fei.There are many shareholders of Yesun Shipyard.With an ultra-low price of less than 50 British land.Sell ​​all the assets of the Jesson Shipyard to some French and Americans in Shanghai.If they are allowed to flee back to the country.Then the new shareholders who take over will refuse to recognize some of the previous contracts of Yesun Shipyard without knowing it.Even if Hua Fei can forcefully force the Americans and the French to retreat in the end.But at least one hundred thousand pounds from Pacific Bank.I'm afraid it will be difficult to find it.

It was really hard for Hua Fei to understand the way the British did it.This is completely hurtful and self-defeating behavior.I really don't understand why they are so paranoid.But since they decided to do so.Hua Fei felt that he also had to change his attitude towards foreigners on this matter.Maybe you can take this opportunity.Weaken some privileges of foreigners.

After a few days.When those British were preparing to board the British cruise ship at Whampoa Wharf.A team of heavily armed autonomous region police.In full view.Arrest warrant in hand.Arrest these people quickly.This move not only shocked the Chinese people present.Those foreigners who come and go.Also dumbfounded.

Not surprisingly.This incident quickly became the front page headlines of various newspapers.The British dock was arrested.It was rumored that the Jesson shipyard was on the verge of bankruptcy.The shareholders of the shipyard are preparing to abscond with huge sums of money.Workers at the Jesson shipyard broke out in protest.The factory is required to immediately pay wages that have been in arrears for half a year.The British Consulate in Shanghai issued a diplomatic note.Ask the Shanghai Public Police Department to hand over the suspects they arrested.Even if guilty.In accordance with the relevant agreements signed between the UK and China.The British have a series of rights such as consular jurisdiction.The case must be heard by a consular court composed of British consuls in China.The Chinese can send judges.Come to the consular court to watch the trial.

Allow China to send officials to consular courts to observe cases where Chinese are plaintiffs.This is a special concession made by the British considering the relationship and 'friendship' with the autonomous region.This is one of the contents of the largest unequal treaty that has been accompanying China's semi-colonial society.Consular jurisdiction.

Soon, the Change Planning Office, commonly known as the spokesperson of the First Office, officially passed the matter and appeared in the eyes of the world in a comprehensive and solemn manner.The spokesperson of the first office directly read Hua Fei's warrant in front of hundreds of Chinese and foreign reporters. Hua Fei directly signed the warrant and appointed the little-known judge Hong Tailai to serve as the first judge in the case of the shareholders of the Yesong shipyard fleeing with capital. A judge, three days later publicly opened the trial in the newly established high court.

As soon as the news came out, it aroused great protests from the British. Many British expatriates in Shanghai even publicly declared that the British government must take tough measures to protect the rights and interests of British expatriates in China.Many British businessmen have even formed a federation, declaring that if China does not hand over these British businessmen to the consular court, the British will completely withdraw their capital from the autonomous region and turn to other regions.

Noisy and bustling outside,

After receiving these news and information, he was not excited.Hua Fei does not believe that the economic development of the autonomous region will be affected destructively.Not only did he not have much time pressure, but today's China has not experienced many years of warlords, nor has it experienced the War of Resistance Against Japan, nor has it transferred a lot of hard currency to Taiwan.The scale of private capital and social funds is enough for Hua Fei to develop the national industrial and commercial economy in a stable and comprehensive way.

And even if all the British capital is withdrawn, it does not mean that the funds from the United States, France, and even Germany will be withdrawn accordingly.In addition, there is investment from the Huahua people, the capital accumulated by the country's first generation of national capitalists over the years.After Huafei entered the main autonomous region, it implemented a series of policies to promote business and industry, coupled with the favorable business environment in the world market during the First World War, it allowed a large number of small national capitalists to grow rapidly and vigorously.Under the advocacy of Sun Wen and others, coupled with the promotion of Hua Feidi, the thought of saving the country through industry and strengthening the country through industry has attracted many educated young people to invest in the field of industry and commerce.A series of professional newspapers established under Huafei's call, such as Industrial Technology News, Business Daily, and Economic News, have guided the thoughts and visions of countless hungry young people.

The outside world is disturbed and chaotic, and Hua Fei sits firmly on Mount Tai.With the huge support of Hua Fei, this unknown judge Hong Tailai, full of ideals and passion, withstood the pressure from all sides, and efficiently completed the trial of this case in just nine days as scheduled, and finally Issue a verdict.

After the trial of the case, Hong Tailai finally made the following judgment after getting Hua Fei's consent, and the existing imperfect legal regulations were still in place.According to Chinese law, the legal representative and relevant shareholders of Yesong Shipyard not only signed countless debts, but also owed the wages of the factory workers for half a year, and intended to abscond with a large amount of funds from the shipyard.After auditing by the relevant audit department of the court, the Supreme Court now declares the Jesun Shipyard to be bankrupt, and its existing fixed assets are all used to repay the debts of various creditors.Relevant shareholders of the Jesson shipyard were fined thousands to tens of thousands of pounds, and were deported after paying the fines, and were put on a blacklist that is not welcomed by China.

After the court ruled, almost all foreigners were silent, except that the British continued to submit solemn protests to the autonomous government, and at the same time forwarded formal diplomatic protests to the Beiyang central government.Erdian, the British ambassador to China, even rushed to Shanghai and met with Hua Fei urgently for more than an hour of secret talks.But judging from the expressions of the reporters after the Zhuerdian meeting, it is clear that not much has been achieved.

Even Hua Fei did not expect this verdict to cause huge repercussions in the autonomous region, other provinces, and even in the circle of overseas Chinese in the world.Many literati critics spared no effort to write and comment on the significance and impact of this incident on China. Even the most demanding critics and politicians who are very dissatisfied with Hua Fei also expressed their opinions on this matter. praise to a certain extent.

Among them, some people openly declared that this incident is the real revolution in China and the real first step in the revival of China.In the eyes of these people, this is even the most correct and meaningful thing that Hua Fei has ever done.For many people, its significance is even more exciting than the outcome of the war against Japan, and it is impossible to help.

The Jesson shipyard case not only broke the factual existence and influence of consular jurisdiction in the autonomous region, but also broke the detached status of foreigners in China, and even more so in terms of legal status, it put Chinese and foreigners in the same position.

At least in the autonomous regions outside the foreign concessions, the influence of this kind of guarantee has quickly penetrated into the hearts of the people.The inferiority complex that makes Chinese inferior to foreigners has gradually lost the most basic factual evidence.

But these influences were completely unexpected by Hua Fei.From planning this game at the beginning to harvesting abundant fruits now, Hua Fei's most direct goal is to win over the Yesun Shipyard.Not only the ready-made machinery and equipment in the shipyard, but also a large number of employees and skilled workers in the shipyard.

Yesong Shipyard was the largest foreign-funded shipyard in China at that time, and it was known as one of the largest shipbuilding monopoly organizations in the East.Before the Jiangnan Shipyard was injected with capital and expanded, the Yesong Shipyard had always been the largest shipyard in China.Since its reorganization in 892, it has been more than 20 years. Although many machinery and equipment in Jesson Shipyard are old and not very advanced, those skilled workers are definitely a huge treasure trove.

After acquiring most of the shares of the Yesun Shipyard, another part of the creditors of the Yesun Shipyard, such as HSBC, Agricole and other foreign banks and foreign banks, also sold their shares under the pressure of all parties.Looking at the posture of the British Merchants Association, it seems that it wants to carry out a comprehensive economic boycott of the autonomous region.

If it was a time of peace, Hua Fei might really be wary of this kind of power.After all, as the most powerful country today, Britain, if their government puts pressure on other countries and imposes economic sanctions on the autonomous region, then Hua Fei will really have a headache.But all this, in this period, becomes an absolute impossibility!

After obtaining almost all the shares of the Yesun Shipyard, Hua Fei even personally asked about the reconstruction of the Yesun Shipyard.He not only approved the full payment of wages owed to workers by the factory, but also appeased some foreign engineers in the shipyard from Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries to calm down their anxiety and worries.