Beiyang reactionaries

The best ways to deal with fiscal deficits are to increase taxes, issue national debt, and collect seigniorage.And collecting seigniorage is the best way.Not only is he a great way to deal with fiscal deficits, but he is also a great way to deal with government debt.

Wang Yongjiang will use them all.Seeing Duan Xun's consideration, Wang Yongjiang immediately said: "Prime Minister, although printing paper money will bring inflation, but appropriate inflation and an appropriate increase in money supply are of great benefit to economic activity. And it can quickly resolve the fiscal deficit. 5.00% to [-]%, that is between [-] million and [-] million."

"Row."

Duan Xun nodded, agreeing to Wang Yongjiang's proposal.

However, he still instructed: "Premier Wang, there are some things that people need to know that we are going to do, and we need to publicize them vigorously. But some things can only be done and cannot be said. Some things can be reported to the cabinet, and some things do not need to be known by everyone. Many people They don't understand the currency issue at all, and they don't understand it even if they say it, which will only increase unnecessary speculation and worries."

"Prime Minister, I understand."

Wang Yongjiang is a smart person, so he nodded immediately.

Duan Xun's meaning is very simple.For many people without economic knowledge, let them know that the country increases the supply of paper money, and they will feel that the government is robbing private wealth.At that time, it will greatly affect the credit of legal currency.

So some things can be done.

"Also, we need to be more careful about the plan for next year. It can't be the same as this year, with such a big error. The difference between the plan and the actual situation is [-] million yuan. This is a mistake of our cabinet."

"Yes."

451

In 1925, the cabinet meeting had not yet been held, but various ministries and commissions in China would still announce some achievements.This is a must. After working for a year, of course you have to blow it up and tell people how much work the government has done this year.

This is also Duan Xun's tacit approval.

Because Duan Xun also needs these.Although there are many problems in the implementation of the plan this year, a lot of problems have emerged in terms of finance and education.However, if there are problems, there are problems. The government has made great achievements in recent years.There are developments every year.Of course, if you have achievements, let people know.This is also to enhance the prestige of the cabinet.

Let everyone know that the cabinet not only has achievements in dealing with the great powers, but also has sufficient achievements in the domestic economy.

1925年1月11日，电力部率先公布1924年全国的总发电量。1924年全国的总发电量增加了17.00%，达到了25.46亿度。

Historically, in 1925, China's total power generation had just exceeded one billion kWh.It was not until 1933 that the country's total power generation exceeded 20 billion kWh.

But when Duan Xun was in the Southwest, especially in Sichuan where he vigorously developed heavy industry, the electricity he needed was astonishing.Including the development of heavy industry in places such as Wuhan, Handan, and Taiyuan.For example, building a steel plant requires a lot of electricity.Moreover, although the government does not allow foreign capital to enter the field of power generation, it allows China's private capital to flow into the field of power generation, so the speed of power development is very fast.

Most of the big cities in China now have power plants. Although it is impossible to provide electricity to all citizens in the city, they also have power plants.Immediately afterwards, the Ministry of Electric Power announced that the goal of the Ministry of Electric Power in 1925 was to break through 30 billion kWh of the country's total power generation.Before 1930, all places above the county seat (including the county seat) across the country had at least one power plant, no matter how big or small.At that time, the total power generation capacity of the country can reach more than 80 billion kWh.

For China, this power generation is still very poor.Because the current national power generation capacity in the United States is about to exceed [-] billion kWh.The industrial gap between an industrial country and an agricultural country can be seen in the amount of power generation.

The Ministry of Electricity makes a move.Then the General Post Office announced that in 1924, the General Post Office had subordinate agencies in all counties across the country.All the people in the country can mail things through the agencies of the General Post Office in the county.The General Post Office also announced that within five years, it will strive to establish subordinate agencies in all townships across the country.

They are all hard data that are easy to get results and can be seen.Of course, in order to show the progress more intuitively, the data of the previous few years will also be displayed, so that people can know the development situation at a glance.

"President Su, you have to start your new job as soon as possible."

While all major ministries and commissions were showing off their achievements, Duan Xun met and negotiated with the newly appointed Chairman of the Workers' Federation, Su Zhaozheng.The purpose of Duan Xun's establishment of the Workers' Union is very simple, to control the labor movement and control him in his own hands.We must not allow the workers' movement to overheat and get out of our control.

Therefore, Duan Xun recruited some radical labor leaders in the establishment of the Workers' Union this time, using Zhao'an's model.The appointed chairman is Su Zhaozheng, the labor leader who led the Hong Kong seamen's strike a few years ago and caused a sensation throughout the country.

Su Zhaozheng, 40, is well-known among workers.He studied in private schools for several years when he was a child, but he went to Hong Kong as a sailor for his livelihood.In his early years, Sun Yat-sen called for revolution overseas, and the places he visited most often were Japan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and the United States.Therefore, he took many Hong Kong ships, so Su Zhaozheng, a seaman, met Sun Yat-sen.Under the influence of Sun Yat-sen, he joined the Tongmenghui in the late Qing Dynasty.

Sun Yat-sen and the leaders of these alliances traveled overseas and domestically several times, and many times it was Su Zhaozheng who covered them.Su Zhaozheng himself is a sailor, has read books, and is a righteous man.Therefore, he has a high prestige among Hong Kong seamen.After Su Zhaozheng joined the Tongmenghui, he actively participated in the revolutionary activities to overthrow the Qing government.He mobilized sailors to run around to raise funds, deliver news, and transport munitions and supplies.When Sun Yat-sen was hunted down by spies, he even covered Sun Yat-sen's escape.

Of course, Su Zhaozheng is just a sailor, although he has high prestige among sailors.But the Tongmenghui was a party composed of a group of intellectuals, and the later Kuomintang absorbed many powerful local factions, which were actually the local gentry class.They don't necessarily think highly of people like Su Zhaozheng.Therefore, Su Zhaozheng's status in the League is not high.

What really made Su Zhaozheng famous was the Hong Kong seamen's strike. In March 1921, under the active preparation of Su Zhaozheng, Lin Weimin and others, the China Seamen's Industry Federation (later known as the Hong Kong Seamen's Union) was established in Hong Kong.This is the first true trade union organization for Chinese seafarers and the earliest industrial workers' union in China.

Before that, although there were some trade unions in China, they were not real trade unions.The so-called trade unions in Shanghai and Hong Kong are actually organizations formed by gang members to collect protection money from workers.The China Seafarers Industry Federation founded by Su Zhaozheng was the first true trade union organization in Chinese history.

Afterwards, Su Zhaozheng began to negotiate with the management, and asked the steamship capitalists, mainly the British bosses, to increase wages and improve the treatment of workers, but the management refused to answer.On January 1922, 1, the trade union held a Hong Kong seamen's strike that shocked China and the world.A strike head office was established in Guangzhou, and Su Zhaozheng was elected as the acting president and negotiator.

The vigorous Hong Kong seamen's general strike began.Su Zhaozheng not only mobilized the sailors, but also mobilized other workers in Hong Kong. In a short period of time, the number of strikers increased from 1 to 10, completely paralyzing the Hong Kong economy.In the end, the British merchants gave in, and the seamen's strike in Hong Kong was a great success.Therefore, the All-China Workers' Federation was established this time, and Su Zhaozheng, who was very well-known among the workers, was chosen as the chairman.

Of course, another reason is that when Su Zhaozheng launched the Hong Kong seamen's strike, Guangzhou gave him a lot of support, both openly and secretly.After all, for a long strike, they need a lot of logistics support, and most of the logistics are from Guangzhou.

The People's Party is even more active in contacting Su Zhaozheng.The expansion of the women's department within the People's Party is to absorb women's rights leaders like Tang Qunying, and when expanding the workers' department, it is to absorb leaders like Su Zhaozheng.

"President Su, this is what I think."

Duan Xun attaches great importance to Su Zhaozheng.

Because Su Zhaozheng has a high status in the eyes of workers across the country, has a high prestige, and has a very strong appeal.Moreover, this person's organizational and publicity skills are excellent.

And because I have been to many countries with ships for many years, my vision is also very broad.The age is only 40 years old, and there is still a lot of shaping in the future.

"We must protect the rights and interests of workers, but we must not try to become fat at one go. You know, I refuted the opinions of many experts. It is like proposing an eight-hour work system. I certainly hope that our workers can Work eight hours, but do you think it is possible in reality? Those factory owners are not philanthropists. If we stipulate an eight-hour work system, they will definitely adjust their wages accordingly. For many workers, they are the breadwinners of their families. Families live off their paychecks. The eight-hour workday is easy for them, but their wages are also down. Do you think they will really agree? And the eight-hour workday, in the current economic situation, How many factories will be affected. It is impossible for those rich and powerful countries to have an eight-hour working day. We are a backward and developing country, how can we guarantee the eight-hour working day for workers.”

"Prime Minister, what you said is reasonable. However, many factories across the country work too hard a day, and some factories work for more than [-] hours. Under such high-intensity work, the health of many workers cannot be guaranteed at all. The factory squeezes workers too badly. Once these workers get sick, the factory immediately fires these workers and recruits other workers.”

"This is it."

Duan Xun nodded.

Then he said: "So Chairman Su, this time I set up the National Federation of Industry, I just hope to find a compromise. It can greatly improve the living conditions of workers without affecting their income. Just like the intensity of workers' work. The problem is that if you want to spend eight hours whimsically, you can’t do it, nor can you do it for [-] or [-] hours. You have to conduct research and find out a time that is suitable for the current economic development.”

"kindness."

Su Zhaozheng nodded.

I understood what Duan Xun meant.Su Zhaozheng met Duan Xun for the first time, but he still supported the establishment of the National Workers' Union by the government.

The living conditions of Chinese workers are too poor and must be changed.In a country like China, it is extremely difficult to improve the living conditions of workers without the support of the government.When the Hong Kong seafarers' strike was held, without the support of Guangzhou, I don't know how much it would take to succeed.

"One more thing, I may say this for the capital side, but I still have to tell you."

"Prime Minister, please."

"About the issue of strikes. The Hong Kong seamen's strike you led has made great achievements, and I think it must remain in the history of our country. But I hope that after the establishment of the National Workers' Union, strikes in this area will be reduced. The Hong Kong seamen's strike led by you, It completely paralyzed the entire Hong Kong economy within a few months. I don't want this kind of thing to happen in domestic cities."

"Prime Minister, I cannot agree with your statement."

"Chairman Su, don't be impatient and listen to me. I hope that this kind of thing will not happen in other cities in China. I hope that your National Federation of Industry will play a role. If workers have any needs, don't take extreme measures. Let them Find your workers' union. Then your workers' union will communicate and coordinate with the management or government departments. Everyone sits down and negotiates to find the best solution. I am the prime minister of the cabinet. Conflicts with workers escalated, and eventually both parties suffered losses. The management suffered huge losses, the workers lost their jobs, and the national economy was in recession.”

Duan Xun asked Su Zhaozheng to negotiate in person, in fact, for the last one.The labor movement must never escape the control of the government.Of course, when Duan Xun needed a labor movement, he hoped for the cooperation of the National Federation of Workers.

In fact, Duan Xun is already speaking for the management.Because in comparison, the management is strong and the workers are weak.Duan Xun hopes to slowly improve the living conditions of the workers, so as to stabilize the workers and prevent them from doing too drastic things.This is actually a great sacrifice of the interests of workers.

But Duan Xun had no choice.In the process of industrial development, Duan Xun had to sacrifice a generation.And what Duan Xun needs in this process is stability.

"Prime Minister, I understand what you mean."

Su Zhaozheng nodded.

I understand that Duan Xun does not want major incidents to affect the stability of the government.But on this point, he had to go back and think about it.