Beiyang reactionaries

That's why Duan Xun thought of this method.It's okay to want to be a warlord, then withdraw from the position of general of the first-line troops, and don't even think about leading troops to fight in the future.It's okay to lead troops to fight, so don't consider the position of the warlord.

Li Jishen was taken aback for a moment, but quickly said: "Teacher, in this way, the Overseer can only be under the jurisdiction of the Logistics Department, Equipment Department, and Mobilization Department?"

"Correct."

"What about the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Ministry of Staff?"

"I will establish an army headquarters. The front-line troops have their own command system, which is not linked to the Governor's Office."

"I listen to the teacher."

Li Jishen nodded.

Duan Xun is not the first to reduce the power of the warlord.Beginning with Yuan Shikai, the Beijing government has been trying to reduce local power.That's why the governor was revoked, he was changed to a general, and now he is a governor.Beijing has always worried that the localities will become warlords and then fight against the central government.Although in fact, after the Revolution of [-], localities did become warlords one by one.

It is the same reason that Duan Xun wants to reduce the power of the warlord.Even after this separation, the Overseer and the first-line generals will hold each other back.Li Ji deeply understood what Duan Xun meant, so he nodded.

"Okay. Ren Chao, during this period of time, you have to prepare for the battle while completing the reorganization of the troops. For the reorganization work, communicate more with General Xiong Kewu. The reorganization issue requires the approval of their Military Affairs Department."

"Yes."

126 Industry saves the country

"Mr. Fan, I have admired your name for a long time."

Duan Xun set up his headquarters in Chongqing, mainly to mobilize troops.Because Duan Xun knew that as long as there was a fight, Duan Qirui would definitely appoint Duan Xun to a certain position, and then lead troops to attack.After all, I am the governor of Sichuan, and once a fight starts, it will be most convenient for me to be here.Even more convenient than Fu Liangzuo.

In other words, as long as there is a war, Duan Xun will definitely become the person in charge along the way.Now Duan Xun is also qualified to be the person in charge of a certain road.So coming to Chongqing early to make arrangements is also to adjust the troops in Chongqing and prepare for war.But even if you come to Chongqing, there are still many things to do.There are many things that need to be decided by Duan Xun.

So still busy.

However, Duan Xun still took time out of his busy schedule to meet with Fan Xudong who was visiting Sichuan.

"General Duan, don't dare."

Fan Xudong was very surprised.

At present, Fan Xudong's life is not very satisfactory.Although Duan Qirui had just formed a cabinet, Fan Xudong's elder brother Fan Yuanlian became the minister of education in the cabinet, but Fan Yuanlian was just a literati.

Although Fan Yuanlian is well-known, since returning from studying in Japan, he has been on the education front.Although such an identity made him very respected.In any age these learned men are always respected.But in the current era of warlords, everyone may respect you if you are famous, but you don't have much strength when something really happens.Everyone usually looks at your face, if something really happens, no one cares who you are.

They allow you to save face.When they have a conflict of interest, they don't care about you, and there's nothing you can do about it.The so-called scholars are like this.They can only survive by relying on big warlords and small warlords. When they don't give you face, the strength of scholars is actually very poor.

The refined salt company founded by Fan Xudong offended a large number of vested interests, and it was related to tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of funds.Therefore, many people are suppressing Fan Xudong, but Fan Yuanlian has no strength to help Fan Xudong.Many local warlords even apportioned military expenses to Fan Xudong's company and asked Fan Xudong to pay.

This gave Fan Xudong a headache.

Fan Xudong was very happy when he suddenly heard an invitation from a Chongqing businessman to cooperate with him in setting up a refined salt company in Chongqing.Moreover, Fan Xudong has just established an alkali manufacturing company recently, and the situation is not very good due to financial pressure.

At this time, he suddenly received an invitation from a Chongqing businessman and was willing to invest a large amount of money for cooperation, which made Fan Xudong very happy.But I didn't expect that not long after I arrived in Chongqing, I received an invitation from Duan Xun, the governor of Sichuan.

Very surprised.

Fan Xudong is a businessman, very sensitive to the current situation, and even more concerned about the current situation.Knowing that the Civil War is imminent, the situation is not very good anyway.Sichuan is a large province in the southwest, and it is where Duan Qirui's direct lineage is located. Therefore, as long as the Civil War begins, it will inevitably participate in the war.

So Fan Xudong really didn't expect that Duan Xun, who should be very busy, would have the opportunity to meet him.Although his elder brother is currently the Minister of Education, he has no deterrent effect on local warlords like Duan Xun.If there is a deterrent effect, those officers in Shandong will not blackmail themselves at every turn.

As for Fan Xudong himself, he didn't have the strength to let Duan Xun meet him.

Although his reputation has greatly increased due to the establishment of the refined salt company, to be honest, Fan Xudong's strength is still very weak.The annual output of Fan Xudong's refined salt company is only 120 tons, or about 40 million kilograms.At most, it will be provided to [-] to [-] people. In China, it is a company that cannot be smaller.Compared with these traditional salt merchants, it is easy to sell tens of millions of tons a year.Therefore, Fan Xudong thought that he should not attract the attention of local princes like Duan Xun who hold a heavy army.

"Don't dare, General Duan."

"Mr. Fan, what I said is not false. I heard in Sichuan that you opened a refined salt company, which greatly admired me. Why do foreigners eat refined salt, while we Chinese eat coarse salt. Mr. Fan, you His actions will surely go down in history."

"No no."

Fan Xudong immediately stood up and waved his hands.

Fan Xudong really didn't know what Duan Xun was looking for him for, and even felt deep fear in his heart.Because of what, because Sichuan salt is also a very important salt producing area in China.His own refined salt company actually violated the interests of Sichuan Salt.It's just that the scale of our company is still small now, and our refined salt is mainly sold in the Jiangnan area and Hubei area, and has not come to the southwest area.Therefore, it will not affect the interests of Sichuan Salt.However, with the establishment of refined salt companies by themselves, many people followed suit and established refined salt companies.At present, there are several refined salt companies in China.

If this situation continues, it will be easy to attract the hatred of others, perhaps including the Sichuan governor in front of him.

"Mr. Fan, don't be like this. What I said is sincere. In fact, Boss Deng wants to cooperate with Mr. Fan this time. I want to cooperate with Mr. Fan, so I let Boss Deng come forward."

"The general wants to cooperate with me?"

"Yes."

"I don't know the general..."

Scared?

There must be fear.Facing a warlord like Duan Xun with guns and cannons, a businessman like himself has almost no power to resist.Even Duan Xun detained himself here, and someone said something.

Maybe looking at his brother's face, his personal safety will not be a big problem, but maybe he has to blackmail him for a sum of money.If Duan Xun really blackmailed him for a sum of money, his brother wouldn't have much to do.Fan Xudong even faintly regretted coming to Chongqing this time.

"Mr. Fan, compared to you who are educated and educated, I am a big bastard. After all, I hold the gun in my hand. As a soldier, I only have a half-knowledge of the real way of governing the country. But I know One point, if we want to develop in Sichuan, we need factories. I don’t understand too profoundly, but I know that as long as there are factories, workers can be hired, and these workers can have food. If a factory has 1 workers If there are 1 factories, there are [-] workers. That is to say, [-] families have food. If there is food, they will be stable. If the people are stable, then my rule will be stable. And if there are factories, I will If I can collect taxes, I can afford to support my army and build public facilities such as railways and highways in Sichuan. Do you think this is the truth?”

"Yes."

Duan Xun said it very straightforwardly.

But Fan Xudong understood.The so-called saving the country by industry is actually not the case.Opening factories can feed a large number of workers, and the government can also collect taxes.With enough money, the government can develop infrastructure, which will also drive the development of other industries.

Although Duan Xun said that he was a big boss, Fan Xudong admired him for talking about opening a factory in such a simple way.When the Westernization Movement began, I don't know how many local princes worked hard to develop industries.But Duan Xun said the most simple and clear.

"So my policy is very simple. Anyone who delays the development of Sichuan's economy, whoever has trouble with the factories that have created Sichuan's economy, will be against me, and I will pick off his head. Mr. Fan, your refined salt is The development direction of China's salt industry in the future, people all over the country will eat your refined salt in the future. However, the more your refined salt company develops, the more you will be resisted by the big salt merchants, and the more you will be suppressed by the big salt merchants, which will make you more and more The more difficult it is. So, come on, Mr. Fan, come to Sichuan, and I will fully support you. If anyone blocks the development of your refined salt company, it will be difficult for me, Duan Xun, and I will help you solve those things. You and I cooperate, not only Sichuan Salt The traditional markets in the southwestern provinces, as well as the salt markets in Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan have all been eaten."

Fan Xudong was shocked.

Duan Xun is really generous.

Sichuan Salt is well-known and powerful, but it cannot compare with the strength of Jianghuai salt merchants.It is Jianghuai salt, not Sichuan salt, that really dominates half of the national salt market.Sichuan Salt is mainly produced in the southwest provinces, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi.Sichuan salt in other provinces is very difficult to enter.It's not that Sichuan salt is not good, but that the state stipulates that Sichuan salt is not allowed to be provided to other provinces without permission.The Sichuan salt used in many provinces is smuggled in.

How strong are Jianghuai salt merchants?

You will know it when you look at the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.Back then, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom swept half of the country and occupied the Jianghuai area, which prevented Jianghuai salt from entering the central provinces.So there is a saying called "Chuan salt aids Chu".It means that Sichuan salt is supplied to Chu, mainly to central provinces like Hubei Province.At that time, Sichuan Salt accounted for half of the country's share.

But then what?

After the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was destroyed, the court immediately terminated this strategy.Let Sichuan salt withdraw from these provinces in Hubei, and Jianghuai salt merchants are still responsible for the sales here.This is the strength of Jianghuai salt merchants.

In fact, it came out once again in history.

That was the time of the Anti-Japanese War. Because of the fall of the coastal areas, China once again implemented the policy of "salt from Sichuan to Chu".However, after the war of resistance against Japan ended, the national government once again asked Sichuan Salt to withdraw from the provinces of Hubei and make way for Jianghuai Salt.

It can be seen the strength of Jianghuai Salt in the officialdom.