Chapter 769, Congress

Wu Shaoting was busy until 9:30 before he ordered the preparation of a car to go to Congress. The convoy drove out of the Presidential Palace along the Boulevard. He saw the protesters sitting outside the cordon through the window. It was winter now, and most of these students were sitting in the meditating crowds, one by one, and many people rubbed their hands and kept breathing. Some girls' faces were red with cold. He immediately ordered the driver to stop the car, and Deng Keng, who was sitting in the passenger seat, hurriedly asked what was wrong.

"Send people to buy some hot porridge and share hot cakes with these people. It doesn't matter whether the political disagreement is unfair, everyone is thinking about the country."

"Shishuai Ting, let's go. If they really freeze, they will disperse by themselves, it will be easier." Deng Keng said.

"No need, I'm not an unreasonable person. Look at them, most of them are full of energy and are confused when they are encouraged, but they are all for the interests of the country. You can make arrangements, which are calculated in my personal name." Wu Shaoting said calmly.

"Okay then." Deng Keng sighed, opened the car door and walked out. He came to Wu Peifu, who was responsible for maintaining the cordon and order on the scene, and explained Wu Shaoting's words to Wu Peifu.

"Why did Wu Zhizheng say that?" Wu Peifu was also a little surprised.

"Anyway, let's do it. Thank you for your hard work." Deng Keng said, hurriedly returned to the car and the convoy continued to move forward.

Wu Peifu shook his head without comment and immediately sent a team of soldiers to buy porridge nearby.

Not long after, the shop owners, led by the police and soldiers, moved the big pot and stove to the sit-in site, and the guys in several snack shops also came to help. Although the business was a little troublesome, the Presidential Palace personally ordered it, and the second was a big deal of cash payment, so why not do it? When the stove was set up on the spot to cook the fragrant porridge noodles, the sit-in crowds were all shaken. It was almost noon again, and I suddenly felt hungry and cold.

However, the protesters didn't know who the porridge noodles were sold to, and they thought they were cooking lunch for the police and soldiers. After a while, a bold student finally jumped up and ran to the side to take out money to buy a bowl of hot noodle soup.

"What's the hurry? This is not ready yet. No need to pay. This is what the military man specially bought and gave to you. You all sit down and everyone will have a portion later." The fat chef who was cooking noodles said with a smile.

"Don't you have to pay?" The student stared at the big eyes and didn't react for a moment.

"You go and ask this adult, they have already paid." The fat chef nodded to a police captain standing beside him.

"Don't ask me, it's not my money, it was ordered by Wu Zhizheng, I'm just running errands." The police captain said quickly.

"What Wu Zhizheng ordered?" The student was even more surprised.

Soon, a portion of the cooked porridge noodles were distributed, and the sitting people held the hot bowl in their hands to keep warm. Not only did they feel warm with their hands, but their hearts were also very warm. The crowd immediately started to sensation, and everyone was talking about it. It was said that Wu Zhizheng was really concerned. Even if a few conspirators spread rumors, Wu Shaoting deliberately bought people's hearts, it did not change the view of most people. After all, compared to the past, Wu Zhizheng not only respected the constitution to allow demonstrations, but even provided free food, which was a world of difference.

Wu Shaoting arrived at Ding's Garden half an hour later than the expected time, but the venue was just ready and the members of Congress were entering the venue one after another, so it was not too much. When they got off the bus, Song Jiaoren and Zou and Lu arrived at the venue in advance to greet them. Although Song Jiaoren was skeptical about this matter, they knew more or less some inside information, so they still maintained an attitude of supporting Wu Shaoting.

Song Jiaoren told Wu Shaoting that he had met Sun Yat-sen just now and was in the No. 2 lounge of the venue.

Wu Shaoting didn't care too much, but just responded casually and asked about the situation at the venue.

Song Jiaoren told the situation all over again, but he still asked with concern: "Do you want to go and see Sun Yixian first?"

Wu Shaoting said in a very cold tone: "No need, you will meet at the conference hall later."

More than ten minutes later, the General Assembly Hall was full. Since there were many non-committees present this time, some of them didn't even have seats, so they could only temporarily move the seats in the lounge to put them down in the corridor. The entire General Assembly Hall seemed very crowded. Although people tried to keep talking to each other in a low voice, there was still a buzzing sound under the mixed mouths. Cheng Qiguan called Wu Shaoting's name loudly at the door. The venue suddenly became quieter. Everyone stood up to greet him politely. The scene looked very spectacular at first glance.

The seats of the Chinese *** and the parade representatives were arranged in the third row on the right side of the rostrum. There were not many seats, and they were all close to the wall. Sun Yat-sen, Liao Zhongkai, Chen Shaobai and others were all present. Zhu Zhixin was close to each other, so he took the initiative to lead Sun Yat-sen and Liao Zhongkai to the front of the corridor and met Wu Shaoting.

Sun Yat-sen was wearing a suit that was specially ordered to be restructured, which was the famous Zhongshan suit in the future. Although he was not tall, he seemed very imposing under the support of the straight Zhongshan suit. He solemnly stretched out his hand to shake hands with Wu Shaoting, and said with a polite smile: "Shocked, after several years of separation, the changes are really big."

Wu Shaoting also maintained a polite smile, shook hands with Sun Yat-sen honouredly, and said in a unambiguous tone: "Mr. Zhongshan is fine, it is indeed a long time to meet again, but Mr. Zhongshan's heroic spirit remains the same. I thought that after Mr. Zhongshan returned to China, you and I could meet in a better way, but I didn't expect that I would meet in such an occasion today. It was really helpless."

Sun Yat-sen said meticulously: "Today's things are inevitable, and Zhenzhi must not be surprised. As the saying goes, you and I should understand this truth. However, I believe that as long as Zhenzhi upholds his loyalty to the country and the nation, there will inevitably be a fair statement in today's things."

Wu Shaoting nodded seriously and said calmly: "Mr. Zhongshan said very well. Since it was a question initiated by Mr. Zhongshan, Shaoting naturally had to give an explanation to the people of the whole country. Without further ado, let's hold a formal meeting now." After he said that, he nodded to Liao Zhongkai and then walked to the waiting seat on the right side of the rostrum.

Liang Qichao was chaired by the Congress. After a moment of preparation, he stepped onto the rostrum and announced the start of the conference to the loudspeaker. Because the conference was too tight, many aspects could not be taken seriously. However, everyone knows that the only meaning of this meeting is to listen to Wu Shaoting's explanation of the Sino-Japanese diplomatic issues, and other aspects can be ignored.

Liang Qichao first talked about the whole story, including the issue of the petition from China *** and the center of the important discussions at this meeting. It took about half an hour before and after. The participants who were aware of or unaware of the matter listened and whispered, which seemed to have different opinions, but most people thought that Wu Shaoting's decision was too hasty.

Since the Chinese-Japanese diplomatic affairs were not as good as the one-sided statements of the Chinese *** throughout the year, Liang Qichao asked Wu Shaoting to make a more comprehensive statement to the conference. Wu Shaoting bowed his head and gave a few instructions to Gu Weijun, an adjutant of foreign affairs, and asked Gu Weijun to come on stage to tell the entire process of Sino-Japanese diplomacy.

Gu Weijun was very thoughtful. He did not start directly with the Qingdao issue, but started with the submission of the "Twenty-One Articles" repeatedly for deception and blackmail, and then talked about the negotiation process between China and Japan on the Qingdao issue. The whole process was almost not too troublesome, because Wu Shaoting and Yuyuki Hamaguchi only had a conversation once. Gu Weijun even said part of the conversation, including Wu Shaoting's belief that "Taiwan" or "Kantozhou" should be used to exchange Qingdao's interests.

After hearing this, most of the people present could already understand Wu Shaoting's attitude in Sino-Japanese diplomacy. It can be seen that Wu Shaoting is not the kind of person who ignores the interests of the country. At least he has tried to strive for the maximum interests of the country. As for the failure of the negotiation, it can only be said that both sides cannot accept it, or it is a strategic issue, which has nothing to do with Wu Shaoting's own morality.

However, this alone still cannot convince everyone present. Sun Yat-sen told a member of the Chinese *** to stand up and question. Even if this proves that Wu Shaoting has the side to safeguard national sovereignty, it cannot be clarified that Wu Shaoting deliberately raised the negotiation price and caused the negotiation failure and deliberately launched a war with this.

The audience started to talk again. Most of the members of the parliament were bourgeois politicians and old bureaucrats. They were very sensitive to the issue of power. What they were most worried about was that Wu Shaoting would be self-respecting like Yuan Shikai and overpower the regime with military power. So soon, a loud voice shouted and asked Wu Shaoting to come out and explain himself. Not long after, there were more and more calls from the audience, and the sounds surged towards the rostrum like a rush.

Without waiting for Liang Qichao's request, Wu Shaoting stood up decisively and walked onto the rostrum, taking the podium from Gu Weijun.

The sound of the venue gradually weakened, and everyone stared at Wu Shaoting on the stage with concentration.

"I don't understand why I maintain my country's territory without being unreasonably stolen by the great powers has become a sin. If in your eyes, even defending the country is regarded as a shameful war madman, then what other army and national defense our country needs, so we simply don't even want the police, give all the things we can give to the great powers, and then pray to them to give me dignity." Wu Shaoting's voice grew from weaker and stronger, and every word was loud and loud.

There was an uproar below the venue, some were surprised, some were angry, some were down to ponder, and some were protesting loudly. Many people thought that Wu Shaoting's words were too radical, and they could just say wherever they thought. Is this the quality of a head of state? Others believed that Wu Shaoting's thoughts were too stubborn, and diplomacy could not be done with a passion. Many things must be gradually progressively.
Chapter completed!