There is considerable domestic controversy over whether to increase the number of troops in the Expeditionary Force. The Expeditionary Force mobilized 20 infantry divisions at once, and with the addition of tank troops, national defense was greatly weakened. The newly added troops will take a certain amount of time to organize and train.

, can come in handy.

However, there is still a difference between new recruits and veterans. An army that has not seen blood cannot be considered a real army.

Fang Jianxiong had already decided in his mind that the increase in troops must be increased. If you don’t increase investment, Britain and France will not be so kind to help you with this and that. In fact, the best partner is Germany, but it is a pity that Germany is destined to be a loser.

, Fang Jianxiong will not do the stupid thing of cooperating with losers.

Fang Jianxiong stayed at the former Chongqing Road Office. Li Weige and a group of local Chongqing business gentry had been waiting here for a long time.

Seeing Li Weige, Fang Jianxiong's mood improved a lot. In the past two years, Li Weige has focused on the technical improvement of Hanyang Iron Works and the construction of Chongqing Qijiang Iron and Steel Plant. There has been no delay on either side and remarkable results have been achieved. The first phase of the project in Chongqing

It has been completed and put into production with an annual output of 150,000 tons of steel. It currently mainly supplies the rails required for the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway.

The Chengdu-Chongqing Railway was built with German funds and technology. With the outbreak of World War I, the Germans were determined to withdraw their investment. Fang Jianxiong repeatedly tried to persuade them to stay, but the German capital's attitude became more relaxed. Coupled with Victor's mediation, the Republic of China government and the German capital finally reached a new agreement.

Agreement. The German capital chooses a representative and becomes a Chinese citizen. The shares owned by the German capital are registered in the name of this representative. In this way, the problem is solved. In fact, this method is now the most adopted by German capital in China.

A wide range of ways. In the face of huge economic interests, capital has always been flexible.

Fang Jianxiong was not in a hurry to meet with important military and political officials. He ordered these people to go back first, leaving Hu Jingyi and Zhang Shaozeng behind, and gave priority to meeting with Li Weige and other business representatives. The Republic of China government encouraged industry and commerce and raised the low status of the industrial and commercial community. This was a stimulating method.

How to put it this way, to develop the economy, it is unrealistic to expect the state to fully invest. Only when private capital is active can the economy develop in a situation where a hundred flowers bloom. When industry and commerce are prosperous, many things will naturally be solved.

Take the surrounding area of ​​Wuhu as an example. Nowadays, land income has become useless. Many landowners have difficulty finding tenants. People have gone to work in factories, and those who stay in the countryside are the elderly and children. The policy of reducing rent and interest rates is

, from the time when the government forced it, to now the landlords are doing it on their own initiative, in order to retain their tenants. Some more enlightened landlords directly sold their land and devoted themselves to industry and commerce. In this best year for industry and commerce, industry and commerce made a lot of money.

Money is not a problem.

Land was annexed on a large scale by some conservative landowners, paving the way for mechanized farming. Of course, it is not realistic to talk about this now. The Jiangnan area is not suitable for large agricultural machinery and equipment, and China does not have this industrial strength. In short,

The four years of the European War were the four years of drastic changes in the Republic of China. The European and American powers had no time to look eastward, which bought them four precious years for the development of industry and commerce in the Republic of China. At the same time, with the withdrawal of customs, the domestic market will be more capable of self-protection in the future.

powerful.

In other words, the so-called open door policy currently implemented is not static.

After Li Weige met Fang Jianxiong, he immediately introduced a young man next to him and said: "Fushuai, this is Lu Zuofu. Despite his youth, he is down-to-earth and willing to do things. He has helped me a lot with things in Chongqing. Without him, I would not be watching here in Chongqing.

Due to the situation, I can't spare time to take care of the Hanyang Iron Works."

Li Weige recommended Lu Zuofu without hesitation, and he was not worried that Fang Jianxiong would have other ideas. In the past few years, he has been busy at both ends. Li Weige has great power in his hands, but he has no intention of being restricted by anyone. When he does things, he is completely

You can do it according to your own ideas. Fang Jianxiong truly believed in employing people, and Li Weige was also energetic in his work. A scholar is willing to die for his confidant.

"Since you are someone that Brother Yiqin likes, let's go and use him." Fang Jianxiong said with a smile and glanced at the young man Lu Zuofu. Interestingly, he was not nervous at all. He stood there very calmly and unusually.

The young man was so excited when he saw Marshal Fang that he just stepped forward and stretched out his hand and said, "Help Marshal." Before extending his hand, Lu Zuofu wiped his palms, which betrayed his mood at the moment.

Lu Zuofu, who was living in this time and space, returned to Sichuan when Li Weige first arrived in Chongqing. At that time, Li Weige was short of help, especially local people. After being introduced by someone, Lu Zuofu became Li Weige's subordinate, and at first he was just a subordinate.

He was responsible for running some local affairs. As things progressed, Lu Zuofu's outstanding abilities gradually became apparent, and Li Weige relied on him more and more.

Then Li Weige introduced the local business gentry in Chongqing one by one. All the virtuous business gentry present were very happy to be able to introduce Fang Jianxiong, a big boss of the Republic of China, in the first place. Fang Jianxiong had no airs and chatted casually with everyone. The topic mainly focused on Sichuan.

on economic development.

The biggest difficulty restricting Sichuan's economic development is the inconvenience of transportation. The difficulty of the Shu Road is really difficult at this historical stage. Since the Republic of China, the policy of railway nationalization has still encountered certain obstacles in the implementation, but with the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway

With the start of construction, the negative voices gradually subsided. There is still a big difference between the Republic of China and the Qing government. The Qing government caused the despair of the constitutionalists due to the so-called royal cabinet. It cannot but be said that it did a stupid thing that dug its own grave.

In the current government construction in Sichuan, local gentry are mostly involved, so the opposition to the nationalization of railways is naturally not that strong. Since the New Deal in the late Qing Dynasty, there has been a strong call for private participation in government affairs, and it was not until the Republic of China that some support was given

Government in the true sense of the word.

In front of a group of Chongqing sages, Fang Jianxiong said: "When I entered Sichuan this time, I knew that the road to Shu was difficult. Jianxiong believed that if Sichuan wants to develop, transportation should be the first priority. The government of the Republic of China plans to build two railways, one going east to connect Hubei.

One line connects Hanzhong. Exploration work is currently underway and the design is expected to be completed by the end of 2017."

In the past, Sichuan also clamored to build railways, but the actual operation was difficult and slow. In the end, there was a road protection movement. When Fang Jianxiong came to power, everything was true. The government had credibility, and in addition, it canceled various kilograms and

Promote compulsory education. These two things played a huge role in the Republic of China government's stabilization of Sichuan. First, the government's prestige was established, and secondly, the adjustment of the political system attracted a large number of former members of the Advisory Council to participate in politics, accelerating the government's

Control of Sichuan.

His words caused everyone to applaud, and Fang Jianxiong made a gesture to stop. Then: "Chongqing has an important geographical location and is the gateway to eastern Sichuan. The government of the Republic of China planned to use Chongqing as the leader of economic development in the southwest and increase government investment to drive the development of the southwest.

The economic development of each province. Taking into account the overall factors, the cabinet has proposed to separate Chongqing and eastern Sichuan from Sichuan and establish a separate Chongqing administrative region. There is a lot of controversy in the cabinet about this matter, and I would like to hear the opinions of local sages.

.”

Fang Jianxiong took the initiative to show off. After the commotion, no one said anything. Everyone present was unmoved by this matter. But having said that, it would be very offensive to express his position at this time. Even if he spoke for local interests, what if this

What if things don't work out in the end?

Seeing the originally lively atmosphere at the scene, it suddenly became quiet. Fang Jianxiong smiled slightly, stood up and said, "Everyone should think about it carefully when you go back. Your opinions will be of great help to the government's decision-making."

When a seed is planted in the ground, it will take root and sprout as long as there is suitable soil moisture and climate.

The symposium dispersed in a strange atmosphere. Hu Jingyi and Zhang Shaozeng, who had been laxly watching, seemed not to hear anything. Fang Jianxiong invited the two people inside for a discussion. After the tea was served, he said calmly: "Brother Wen Lan, Chongqing

Do you have any objections to the division of Chuchuan?"

Hu Jingyi cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The central cabinet controls the overall situation, and the people below just follow it and don't dare to have any objections."

There is still something in these words. Fang Jianxiong really wants to hear something. If there is really nothing, then he should consider taking down Hu Jingyi. Now that he has heard what he wants to hear, Fang Jianxiong patiently explained to Hu Jingyi:

"This matter is also based on the overall situation. Business in eastern Sichuan has always been ahead of central Sichuan. The separation will mainly focus on the development of industry and commerce. Not only Chongqing will be separated, but Xikang will also be separated from Sichuan and placed directly under the central government. The purpose is..."

Fang Jianxiong raised his finger and pointed to the west.

Hu Jingyi looked slightly serious and straightened up to wait for the next step. Fang Jianxiong added as expected: "After the partition, although Sichuan is smaller, the benefits are obvious. The prosperous central Sichuan can concentrate local finances to develop the local economy without being burdened by Xikang. As for Xikang

, the central government intends to provide equal treatment to all local ethnic groups. All ethnic groups within the territory of the Republic of China are citizens of the Republic of China and have the rights and obligations that citizens should have. Xikang has established an ethnic autonomous region, allowing a certain degree of ethnic autonomy.

At the same time, all local armed forces will be banned. The National Defense Force will be stationed and responsible for eradicating banditry and local security. When the local police force grows, security can be returned to the local area. Brother Wenlan will be patient and wait for three to five years. After the term is over, he can go to Beijing or stay in his post.

You can also choose a place to serve. Brother Wen Lan’s efforts to stabilize Sichuan have been seen by the central government."

The news made by Fang Jianxiong has had a huge repercussions in Chongqing. The temptation to break away from the jurisdiction of Chengdu and claim to be a district is huge. The most direct benefit for the local gentry is that in the future, they can send congressmen to speak in Congress on behalf of Chongqing.

All in all, the benefits are obvious. The Chongqing local government does not need to be instigated by others. People from all walks of life have begun to discuss and connect with each other on this issue in private. The core is to strive to finalize this matter while Fang Jianxiong is still in Sichuan.

When Fang Jianxiong was in Chongqing, the first stop he inspected was naturally the Qijiang Iron and Steel Company. This steel company is a Sino-German joint venture, 51% controlled by Eurasia Group. As a representative, the German Claude became a Chinese citizen.

, 49% of all German shares are in Claude's name.

Due to Fang Jianxiong's timely measures, the mood of German businessmen in China is still relatively stable. Although there are still a lot of noises, in general German businessmen who have invested heavily will not give up the benefits easily. Especially with the example of Wuhu Diesel Engine Factory
Chapter completed!