Respectfully

Li Jinyan and Young Marshal Lou walked into Dingshun Building, and a waiter immediately greeted him, "Are you two in the lobby or the private seat?"

"Elegant seat."

"Good Le!"

Walking through the lobby to the second floor, Li Jinyan saw many familiar faces, especially the "Mr. Accountant" who followed Uncle Dumb to Lou's house, and Young Marshal Lou also met him.He turned his gaze to Li Jinyan, obviously suspicious.

"Young commander, I will explain to you when I get home." Li Jinyan lowered his voice, "I chose this place to meet them because of this."

"En." Young Marshal Lou nodded and didn't ask any more.

The guy took them to a south-facing room on the second floor, with windows on three sides, and the draft made the room extra cool.There is also a half-person-high vase in the corner, which is probably filled with ice. This thought alone is very rare.

The two sat down, and the waiter brought herbal tea. Li Jinyan gave him ten coins as a reward, and said to him: "A gentleman surnamed Sun will come to see me later, you bring him up."

The man put the reward into his pocket, agreed and went out.In less than a quarter of an hour, the door was knocked, and the clerk walked in with Sun Qingquan and Song Wu.

Although he only met once at the funeral, Li Jinyan has an impression of both of them.When I saw Song Wu, I knew that I guessed correctly, he was indeed a drunkard who didn't care about drinking.

After exchanging a few simple greetings, Song Wu stated his purpose, "Brother Lou is invited here this time only to restart the North-South peace talks."

"Restart the peace talks?" Young Marshal Lou picked up the teacup and looked down at the reflection in the tea, "You represent the Song family?"

"Yes." Song Wu nodded, "We are all sons and daughters of China. We shouldn't fight in the same room. Once the war breaks out again, the country will fall into chaos, which will cause great harm to the country and the people. He is even called a person who covets China. wish!"

Young Marshal Lou put down his teacup and looked at Song Wu, "Even if the peace talks are resumed, so what?"

Young Marshal Lou is also aware of the situation of the first peace talks between the North and South governments.Regardless of whether the two parties really have the sincerity to achieve national unification, it is true that most people are inclined to form a coalition government.It's a pity that both sides have their own selfish intentions and are unwilling to make any concessions. Except for some innocuous issues, the negotiations for a few days have not made any substantive progress. There is almost no difference between the negotiating table and the vegetable market.This disappoints the people of insight in the North and South governments.

Even if the commander-in-chief was assassinated if he didn't leave the building halfway, I'm afraid there would be no outcome.

"Everyone is arguing, it's nothing but for their own interests." Song Wu said: "Brother Lou, have you ever thought that if the interests of all parties can be satisfied, even if not all, only one-third or one-fourth, then everyone will retire?" One step ahead."

"You mean?"

"Now the commanders-in-chief of the provinces in China are the ones who can really decide the outcome of the negotiations." Song Wu put away the smile on his face, and his expression became serious, "As long as they can be persuaded to restart the peace talks, establish a coalition government, and elect President, the unification of China is not a problem."

Listening to Song Wu's words, Li Jinyan always felt that this person seemed a bit idealistic. What he said was indeed what most Chinese people hoped for, but it was easier said than done!How to persuade these warlords who ruled all over the country?In another historical time and space, after several Northern Expeditions, Huaxia had a central government in name, but the territory that the government could really control was only a few provinces. Didn’t the powerful warlords go their own way?

As for what Song Wu said was to satisfy certain interests of these people in exchange for their concessions, Li Jinyan felt that it was not feasible.The biggest wish of the separatist warlords is nothing more than to continue to be their local emperors. If you don’t talk about others, just talk about Lou Dashuai and Song Dashuai. It is impossible to give up the power in your hands easily. In this way, the feasibility of this method is almost zero.

Song Wu's words are beautiful, but he just painted a big cake.

Li Jinyan turned his head to look at Young Marshal Lou. It is impossible for Young Marshal Lou to be unclear about issues that a political idiot can think of.

"These are empty words." Young Marshal Lou said, "Is that why you met me to say these things?"

"I like to talk to smart people." Song Wu smiled, "These are indeed empty words, but some people like to listen to empty words, especially those old masters in the government who are familiar with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and they can't leave the sage in three words."

Marshal Lou didn't speak, Li Jinyan couldn't help but twitched the corners of his mouth, he had a deep understanding of this point, after dealing with the military government and people in the army of the six northern provinces, Li Jinyan would rather go to fight with those veteran ruffians than I don't want to talk to those civil servants, it's too tiring.It is also difficult for Li Jinyan to listen to those who are full of words. At least five of the ten sentences are incomprehensible.

For this reason, he specially searched for some ancient books to read, and the result was a handful of bitter tears, two mosquito-repellent eyes, and when he met those old gentlemen who like to drop their book bags, Li Sanshao was really like Bian Que seeing Duke Huan of Qi. Spin away.

Li Jinyan is slandering here. Song Wu has already proposed to Marshal Lou a proposal for the six southern provinces. Once the coalition government is established and a president is elected, the governors of each province still have the power to raise troops and intervene in local government affairs, but the finances and taxes must be unified. Report, and if necessary, the financial departments of each province should preferably be under the jurisdiction of the central government.

"That's what I mean by taking a step back." Song Wudao: "Maintaining the independence of the provinces on the surface is a trick to reassure those foreigners."

Indeed, those foreigners who have divided the scope of power in China and grabbed a lot of benefits will not want to see China establish a strong central government and achieve true unity.

Such a way of ruling without ruling should be in their best interest.

It not only maintains their face of advocating "democracy and freedom", but also achieves the goal of continuing to gobble up the big cake in China.

"Finance?" Young Marshal Lou grasped the most important point in Wu Song's words, "Control the finances of each province?"

"Yes. Only by blocking the money bag can we establish prestige for the central government."

"It's hard." Young Marshal Lou frowned, "No one is a fool."

"This is the purpose of my appointment with Brother Lou." Song Wu sat up straight, "The only people in the north and south who have the ability to force these people to submit are Marshal Lou and my father! Maybe there is also a Sima Jun, but he Brother Lou also knows his attitude towards the peace talks."

"The Lou family will consider this matter." Young Marshal Lou said, "Once we come to a conclusion, we will definitely contact you."

"Okay!" Song Wu raised his teacup, "Then I'll replace the wine with tea first, Brother Lou!"

Young Marshal Lou raised his teacup, and with a soft sound, the two drank the herbal tea in the cup at the same time.

After talking about the matter, Song Wu and Sun Qingquan got up to leave. Before leaving, Sun Qingquan handed a letter to Li Jinyan, "This is written by my father-in-law to Young Master Yan. It's a bit presumptuous. Please don't take offense to Young Master Yan."

Li Jinyan took the letter and saw the inscription on it, Nanxun Gu.Blinking eyes in doubt, is there such a sign when writing a letter?

Seeing Li Jinyan frowning, Sun Qingquan knew what he was wondering about, and explained: "I don't know if the third young master has heard of Nanxun Four Elephants, Eight Bulls, 72 Little Golden Dogs?"

Li Jinyan shook his head, he had never heard of it.

"..." Sun Qingquan was speechless for a moment. The Li family started out selling raw silk, and the young master of the Li family didn't know about these wealthy southern businessmen who also made their fortunes in silk?

"What's wrong?"

"It's not wrong." Sun Qingquan could only smile wryly, "The so-called Nanxun Four Elephants and Eight Oxen 72 Little Golden Dogs are all rich merchants in the south. It is even more comparable to the Liao family."

"The Liao family?" Li Jinyan knew about the Liao family. It is said that when the Li family was at its most prosperous, there was a saying that Liao was north and Liao was south.

"My father-in-law is the offshoot of the Gu family in Four Elephants, and his business is also very big." Sun Qingquan said with a smile: "In recent years, the silk business has not been easy to do. Japanese silk is cheaper and of better quality. Foreigners mostly buy raw silk from Japan. The Gu family was the first to make a fortune in Nanxun by relying on raw silk, and later operated wharf and real estate businesses. These businesses are also envied for making money. After discussions between the head of the family and his father-in-law, they all wanted to open up some new businesses and count them as descendants Find another way."

"That's why you found me?"

"It's all thanks to Boss Song from Tianjin." Sun Qingquan said: "Didn't the three young masters intend to cooperate with a southern soap manufacturer? Boss Song found Boss Pu in Shanghai. Boss Pu and his father-in-law's eldest son are good friends. We went north together, but the trip was canceled due to the sudden civil war. Now there are a lot of soaps produced by the Japanese in the south. My father-in-law found that these soaps are very similar to those produced in Boss Song’s factory, and learned that Boss Song got them from the third young master. The recipe, so I wrote this letter and I will bring it to you."

"That's right." Li Jinyan looked at the letter in his hand and thought secretly. At that time, Boss Pu did send a telegram saying that he would invite his colleagues to go north together. Among them was the Gu family?Since that telegram, there has been no news from Boss Pu.The situation between the north and the south is not clear, so Li Jinyan had to put this matter aside for the time being.However, after the group of Russians smashed and smashed, coupled with the joint suppression of foreign behaviors competing for the market, the soap produced by the Japanese has almost disappeared in the six northern provinces, and there are not even many foreign companies left. Is it possible that they cannot continue to do so in the north? , all went south?

Think about it too, they worked hard to get the formula of handmade soap, it is impossible to leave it unused.

"What does Mr. Gu mean?"

"The details are all written in this letter." Sun Qingquan said: "I'm just delivering the letter, so I don't know much. Third young master should read it for himself."

Li Jinyan nodded and said with a smile; "In terms of relatives' seniority, I still have to call you uncle, so don't call me third young master, call me Jinyan."

Sun Qingquan agreed, but Song Wu unexpectedly interjected at this moment: "In this way, Young Master Li and I are also cousins." Then, he took out a dagger with an ivory handle from his bosom, " Take this as a meeting gift from me, an elder brother, and you have to accept it."

Li Jinyan: "..."

These young marshals are all weird, young marshal Lou gave him a gun, Marshal Song gave him a dagger, when we meet some other young marshal, will you give him a mortar or something?Think about it carefully, Little Japan's grenadier is a good thing. It is lighter than a mortar, and an infantry can run with it on its back.In addition to specialized shells, there is no problem firing grenades.The veterans who have been trained can almost shoot wherever they can, and they can hit every shot. They are easier to make than mortars. I don’t know if there are any in the army in the six northern provinces. If not, you can get a few from the Japanese in South Manchuria and give them to Du Wei. Strict imitation.Tanks can be modified, isn't it trivial to imitate grenades?

The arsenal built by the Westernization Movement in the Qing Dynasty, such as the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, was once the largest arsenal in the Far East. These Chinese skilled workers and master craftsmen are no worse than the workers in any European military factory!

Li Jinyan was thinking about the "armed army" plan, and seemed to have forgotten to pick up the dagger in Wu Song's hand. Marshal Lou took the dagger and nodded to Wu Song: "I thank you for my wife."

Song Wu smiled, didn't say anything, and left with Sun Qingquan.

After the door closed, Li Jinyan immediately came back to his senses, "Gone?"

"Let's go." Marshal Lou handed the dagger to Li Jinyan, "Did you not pick it up on purpose?"

"En." Li Jinyan touched his nose, "I always feel that this person is too 'unfathomable', and if I accept his gift, I'm afraid I will be calculated to do something."

"Don't worry." Marshal Lou put his big hand on the top of Li Jinyan's hair, "I'm here."

Li Jinyan smiled, indeed, with the presence of Marshal Lou, not to mention Song Wu, even Zhang Wu and Li Wu are just floating clouds.

When the two returned to Lou's house, Young Marshal Lou immediately went to see Grand Marshal Lou. Wu Song said it rightly, that only Lou Shengfeng and Song Zhou could make the warlords of the northern and southern provinces bow their heads. As for Sima Jun, Once the news of Xing Changgeng working for the Japanese is exposed, let alone presiding over and participating in the North-South peace talks, I am afraid that he will even have to step down from the position of President of the North ahead of schedule.

Li Jinyan returned to the room, sat by the table, tapped his fingers on the table, recalling what Song Wu said, he always felt that a thought flashed through his mind, but he couldn't grasp it.

what exactly is it?

Li Sanshao didn't understand, so he didn't think about it at all, and handed the dagger with the ivory handle to the girl, "Put it in the box, and when you run out of money, you can pick out the ivory gems on it to exchange for money."

Girl: "Master Yan likes to joke, are you still short of money?"

"It's not certain." Li Jinyan stood up and stretched his waist. "Who can guarantee that everything will go smoothly and make money every year in business. It's always better to be prepared. This is ivory. It's valuable, so put it away quickly." .”

The girl laughed and went on, Li Jinyan took out the letter Sun Qingquan handed him, tore open the envelope, and pulled out the letter paper.

The letter was not long, but it clearly stated what it wanted to express. It turned out that there was a reason why Boss Pu had no news after that. His soap factory was targeted by the Japanese.These Japanese scumbags are despicable, often instigating ronin to make trouble in front of the soap factory, and even injured people.Workers were too scared to go to work, and calling the police was of little use.An extraterritoriality can easily let these ronin get away.Later, they even set fire to half of the factory, killing two workers.In desperation, Boss Pu had no choice but to close the factory and sell it at a price.It was the Japanese who came out again and refused to allow others to take over. They insisted on buying his soap factory at a ridiculously low price. It was the Gu family who extended a helping hand and lent him a sum of money to let him tide over the difficulties temporarily. .

The more Li Jinyan looked at it, the more angry he became, and he slapped the table fiercely. These Japanese bastards are really TNND!

The purpose of the Gu family writing this letter to Li Jinyan was nothing but to buy the formula in Li Jinyan's hands. They planned to open a soap factory in Huzhou.Even if the Japanese burn down their Gu family's factory, there are still Zhang's, Pang's, and Liu's!At the end of the letter, Mr. Gu wrote: how can a majestic China allow Japanese people from an island country to show off their power!

Li Jinyan put down the letter, and after a long time, he let out a sigh of relief.Sun Qingquan only thought that the Gu family was there to make money, maybe the Gu family told him so, but judging from Mr. Gu's letter, it was not the case at all.

They are businessmen, it is true that they want to make money, but more, they want to compete with the Japanese!The country is weak and the government is ineffective. As Chinese people, they can't just sit back and watch!

Li Jinyan clenched his fists. Compared with Mr. Gu, those who have forgotten their ancestors and become traitors are still complacent, wearing human skin in vain!

That night, after Marshal Lou returned to his room, before Li Jinyan had time to tell him about the Gu family, he learned another thing from him. The Xing family in the capital was wiped out by banner people, and the house was also burned down. up.The perpetrators were found the next day, and they all committed suicide by taking poison, and they couldn't die anymore.

"Bannerman?"

"That's right." Young Marshal Lou said, "The bannerman made trouble before and slipped through the net."

Li Jinyan pursed his lips, most likely it was President Sima who planted the blame on the banner man.Of these people who have been struggling in the political arena, none of them is not black-handed.

Thinking of Li Jinqin who married into the Xing family, Li Jinyan asked again: "Is the Xing family dead?"

"almost."

"What is almost?"

"Xing Wu is not dead." Young Marshal Lou took Li Jinyan's hand and squeezed his fingers: "He was in Tianjin when the incident happened."

Li Jinyan: "..." Even if Fifth Young Master Xing survives, the Xing family is doomed to die.

"Xing Wu did not return to the capital, but hid in the Japanese Consulate in the Tianjin Concession."

It's Japanese again!Li Jinyan wants to grit his teeth when he hears a few words from the Japanese.

"Also," Young Marshal Lou continued, "Li Jincheng and Li Jinqin are with him.",

What? !Li Jinyan's eyes widened suddenly. They also went to the Japanese consulate? !

"Mr. Sima will not let anyone who is closely related to the Xing family go." Young Marshal Lou slid his fingers along the back of Li Jinyan's wrist, stroking the inner side of his wrist: "They can't escape unless they completely surrender to the Japanese. "

Li Jinyan was silent.

Young Marshal Lou pulled his hand to his lips, and his lips pressed against his palm, "What do you want to do?"

Li Jinyan took the initiative to wrap his arms around Young Marshal Lou's neck, with a chill he had never felt before, "If you really take refuge in the Japanese, kill them!"

Marshal Lou looked at him quietly for a moment, then lowered his head and kissed his lips: "Okay."