Chapter 105 Soldiers and People

"What do we need most?"

In the face of His Majesty's angry "baggage", Guan Mingtang countered it with a rhetorical question. His rhetorical question made Zhang Zhidong, Liu Nengxian and others sweat coldly for him.

In the past, people often said, "When Lord Guan was in the West, he must take the leopard's gallbladder to drink all day long." Before today, maybe Zhang Zhidong would laugh at it, but at this time, he couldn't laugh. Didn't he have seen anyone contradict the emperor's minister, even at Cixi's place?

But like Guan Mingtang, who has no scruples, he has opened his eyes today.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zhidong noticed that Shi Si, who had the nickname of "The Duke of the People's Republic of China", didn't say anything. He just looked serious and half-closed his eyes, as if he didn't notice Guan Mingtang's disrespect.

This limelight is not right!

Zhang Zhidong noticed that Yuan Shikai, as the "owner", was naturally aware of it. Yuan Shikai even deliberately observed Shi Si's breathing. His breathing was not tight or slow, and he was full of a leisurely look.

If it were normal... I guess Shi Si would have rushed up and bit Guan Mingtang twice, but today, like a person with nothing to do, he turned a blind eye to Lord Guan's "no king and fatherless trip".

With a muffled hum, Chen Moran didn't say anything, but he held his ears and waited for Guan Mingtang to continue.

"We need machines the most. However, in order to build machines, steel is needed. In order for the machine to start, it needs power. This..."

He meditated for a moment and looked directly at his majesty, who seemed to be meditating. Guan Mingtang just said word by word.

"This is what China needs! As for the farmers..."

The original generous voice changed with one.

"If the country is rich and strong in the future, it will be enough to directly exempt the farmland tax!"

Listening to Guan Mingtang's words, everyone understood that he wanted to give His Majesty a choice, whether to choose industry or agriculture. Should we choose a strong country or a weak country?

"Your Majesty, although we have built the most cars in the world, and although we can produce nearly two million tons of steel, in essence, we are still an agricultural country, China, leaving the industrial belt along the river, leaving the provinces and cities, such a big China, can't see a lamp, a machine, this country and two Like thousands of years ago, it is still a primitive and backward farming country that has hardly changed for thousands of years. This is China!"

While pointing out a fact rudely, Guan Mingtang said in a seemingly persuasive but unquestionable tone.

"In terms of agriculture, I think many people may have made a mistake. Compared with Europe and the United States, and even Russia, our agriculture is extremely backward. In the United States, a family can cultivate hundreds of acres of arable land, while in China, a family can only cultivate 20 or 30 mu of land at most, which is our agriculture. At the root of the backwardness of the industry, we have wasted too much manpower in agriculture, and now many people see that the farmers who account for 90% of China's population are very poor, so they all want to do something about land policy, such as rent reduction and interest rate reduction, and the fundamental starting point and direction of farmers are wrong to some extent!"

Although there is no scruples, when speaking, Guan Mingtang still leads the problem to "many people", rather than pointing directly at His Majesty who raised these.

"The current situation determines that we must use a large amount of manpower scattered on the divided land to complete the production of agricultural products for the people of the whole country. As long as this situation is not changed, the agricultural population will not be reduced! Therefore, to a certain extent, China should not only realize that farmers have their own fields, but should replace manpower with modern animal power machinery, replace manpower with machines, hire farmers with machines, and drive middle peasants and poor farmers to the city by providing low-cost agricultural machinery and even machines. They can When you enter the factory, you can sell meals and build roads. What does the country need to do in this process? It is to provide them with as many jobs as possible!"

If in the past, Zhang Zhidong had been shouting ridiculous for a long time. No farmers were unstable. What does it mean that tens of millions or even tens of thousands of farmers lost the opportunity to work in the countryside? It means that the number of exiles has greatly increased, which means chaos. Even with Shi Si, who was originally half-closed his eyes, will be stared in shock, and Chen Moran is the same. He looked at Guan Mingtang with an incredible look.

"We can buy the most advanced machines and gradually produce advanced machines. We can continuously produce industrial products, but where is our market? Is it possible to rely on the exit like a car? Why are automobile exports entangled in lawsuits in the United States? We must rely on the domestic market. Isn't the "alternative industry" established in the short term to meet the needs of the domestic market? In China, 10% of the urban population consumes 70% of modern industrial products, and 90% of farmers only consume 30% of industrial products. Farmers, farmers... The consumption of industrial products of three peasant families can't catch up with the consumption of industrial products of urban poor families!"

In the face of Guan Mingtang's endless words, Chen Moran was as surprised as others. What did he say? In the words I am familiar with, it is "urbanization". After decades of talk, from urbanization to urbanization, the result is that agriculture is not a city, which is nothing more than a slogan.

"The consumption of slum families in slums exceeds that of farmers!"

"In your words, if in the future, millions of people, or even tens of millions of people, will be "s driven" to the city by machines. When the Spring Festival comes, if they go home, just the traffic problem is a nightmare!"

Although he does not deny that the industrial country is what China needs and pursues, Chen Moran still refutes Guan Mingtang with something he is familiar with. Perhaps it is purely to use this rebuttal to tell him that he can't always be right!

In China decades later, there are hundreds of millions of migrant workers, which is the world's largest seasonal mobile character. Of course, China also has the world's unique Spring Festival travel rush. Many years ago, when I was in college, I was even "lucky" to experience the Spring Festival travel rush that "if you don't wear diapers, you can squeeze others to get pregnant".

With his eyes slightly open, Guan Mingtang looked at His Majesty with puzzled eyes. Not only him, but almost everyone looked at His Majesty with the same eyes. How could His Majesty ask such a question?

"Your Majesty"

Sensing that your majesty seemed to be a little proud of his rebuttal, Guan Mingtang was a little crying and laughing in his heart.

"If your wife and children are all around, why do you need to go back to your hometown during the Spring Festival? In the city, the family is in the city, and the family is in the city, returning to their hometown... At most, it is occasionally. Who will deliberately go back to their hometown?

When Guan Mingtang hesitated to speak with words that did not stimulate your majesty as much as possible, everyone in the office looked absent-minded, as if they did not notice your majesty's "behumble" at all.

Aware of their spirit, Chen Moran meant that he seemed to have said an "idiot" question, otherwise they would not be like this. It's not right. This is China, and it is also China. Why are they so confident that there will be no Spring Festival travel rush here? However, it seems that... It seems that only China exists during the Spring Festival travel rush, but... Although there are some doubts in my heart, Chen Moran still decided not to ask this question that may damage the "Tianwei".

"Your Excellency, I don't know that if so many poor people squeeze into the city, who knows that there are no chickens, dogs and thieves in it. If they can't find a job, they may become thieves. If the exiles are used by others, they are afraid of endless disasters!"

Seeing that no one paid attention to the work camp at this time, Yuan Shikai asked about a matter within his own authority and responsibility.

"Lord Yuan, if we want to complete the institutional transformation from an agricultural country to an industrial country in a relatively short time, it will inevitably lead to some complex chaos in society. Naturally, a large number of urban poor people are also one of the problems, which will bring some chaos and other problems. What is important is that in addition to the transformation from agriculture to industry, there is also the transformation from the backward small peasant economy to the modern industrial and commercial economy, and further the transformation from the " Loess civilization" of farming culture to the "steel civilization" of industrial culture.

Looking at Guan Mingtang talking there, almost an instant, Chen Moran had an illusion. Could it be that Guan Mingtang also traveled from the future? This idea just flashed by, and Guan Mingtang's eyes changed. To some extent, he can tolerate Guan Mingtang's "comicult words". Perhaps it is precisely because he has something that other people don't have. He is not only a person who does things, but also a... Well, he should be one step ahead. Let's go!

"All countries that have experienced industrial transformation have experienced a lot of pains in the process of change from agricultural countries to industrial countries. Britain, France, Germany, the United States, without exception, almost all countries have suffered from such and such changes, and this process is a national change must bear, Your Majesty. Down."

Turning his eyes to His Majesty, Guan Mingtang decided to quote a sentence that His Majesty said, which is still respected by "revolutionaries" in China and even other countries.

"You once said, "If you want the happiness of civilization, you must go through the pain of civilization, and this pain is called revolution." It should be said that this is the best interpretation of revolution that I have ever seen. Therefore, I believe that if I want the future of a strong country, I must go through the pain of a strong country, and this kind of pain is called rise!"

"You can shoot horses like this... No! Is it a dragon fart?

Yuan Shikai couldn't help muttering in his heart. At the same time, he shouted for Guan Mingtang. This is not naive! I'm afraid this person is the biggest competitor of himself as the "Prime Minister", and His Majesty seems to be... Well, favored!

No, you have to think of a way!

A word that seemed to be quoted and a deep monologue made Chen Moran's whole body fall into deep thought. His eyes drooped slightly, seemingly calm, but his heart could not be calm.

If you want the future of a strong country, you must go through the pain of a strong country, and this kind of pain is called rise!

How much pain and original sin are there in the process of rising? Looking up at Guan Mingtang, did he know that what he had opposed before was also the "pain of rising"?

We need machines, we need steel, but where does the money come from? As a backward country, China, unlike Germany and Japan, has huge war reparations as the capital for the rise of the country, and even rushes to invest the "huge money" it has, which is just a drop in the sea. Who will bear the capital of this rise in the end?

When the military is strong, it can rely on looting to supplement the country's financial resources. But what about China, which has a weak military force? I'm afraid there is only internal plunder. Aren't those people a manifestation of internal plunder?

In the silence of His Majesty, Guan Mingtang, who seemed to have expressed his views, was also silent, but his eyes had been paying attention to His Majesty.

The experience of studying in the United States makes Guan Mingtang understand the essence of "capital" better than others. Behind the so-called powerful country, there are too many unknown or unnoticed dark sides. Britain, France, Germany, Japan, even the United States.

"Multiple consideration always exists in the fantasy of idealists. Your Majesty, I think that as a key member of the empire, we should abandon the ideas of idealists and take reality as the basis. Only in this way can we seek strength!"

This is not so much for others as for himself. How could Chen Moran not know the meaning of his words? The meaning in Guan Mingtang's words can be said to be very clear. He is an "idealist" to some extent, at least in terms of looking at the problem of farmers.

"China's problem is the problem of farmers!"

Although admitting that what Guan Mingtang said is reasonable, but... if those people... "Lord Guan!"

Suddenly, a cold word interrupted Chen Moran's thoughts. Following the voice, it was Yuan Shikai, the "central figure" of the meeting.

"Your Majesty's previous question doesn't seem to have been answered yet!"

Within waiting for Guan Mingtang to explain, Yuan Shikai took the initiative to say.

"Your Majesty's rewarded soldiers with Xuntian, one is to stimulate the bravery of the generals, and the other is for the long-term stability of China. Lord Guan just talked about it. Although it is not unreasonable, you can know how many Han people there are in Mongolia? The fertility of the Northeast and how many wasteland there are. Russia and Japan are all staring at Mongolia and Northeast China. With your majesty's sage, don't you know that if you are trained with illiterate sergeants, you can be the workers of the factory? However, in your majesty's high vision, how can it be limited to one leaf and one eye!"

As he spoke, Yuan Shikai was full of admiration.

If someone else said it, I was afraid that Chen Moran would really be inspired by his words, but it was Yuan Shikai who said this.

"Your Excellency, Mongolia is so big that there are only more than a million people, and they are all Mongolians. We Han people are in Mongolia, and only tens of thousands of merchants who go back to the department in the spring. At the beginning of the restoration, Mongolia wanted to read it. Today, although Mongolia is determined, it is suppressed by the military force. If we want to achieve long-term stability, non-immigrant colonization is unstable, if the Han people of Mongolia reach millions. Count, the Mongolian land can be stable, and the land in the northeast is fertile, which is conducive to reclamation. Whether it is Mongolia or the northeast, it is the frontier of our country. Outsiders are staring at it. How can they not prevent it? Because of this, your majesty just awarded the "land of honor" to retired soldiers. For more than ten years, millions of retired soldiers are scattered in the two places. The frontier is not only stable, but also not afraid of the outside world. If people invade, if they are attacked by outsiders and enjoy the "field of honor" from His Majesty, they will be the forerunner of defending the land. Although it is not for the army, it is not for military reclamation. How can it be within the reach of the common law!"

Yuan Shikai, who has always been ruthless to his political enemy, will be righteous and awe-inspiring, but the hidden meaning of his words is also provocative. For Yuan Shikai, even if he is a political enemy, he will have to be suppressed.

Guan Mingtang just smiled at Yuan Shikai's responsibility.

"In Lord Yuan's opinion, is it the imperial guard that he can't defend the territory, rather than consolidate the border with retired soldiers?"

This hat is buckled... Hearing this sentence, Yuan Shikai was so annoyed that he almost lost his anger. Guan Mingtang was also a little cruel! He directly said that he suspected the Guards. Who knew that there was "Your Majesty the Soldier" sitting in front of him.

"Solid border colonization is indeed the need of our country, but why waste precious manpower? Your Majesty!"

Guan Mingtang, who had not dealt a further attack on Yuan Shikai, turned to his majesty.

"China is certainly not short of manpower, but the vast majority of young people are illiterate, but they do not include soldiers. According to the military regulations, they need to know 600 commonly used words for three months of training, which will basically add and subtract the arithmetic. In addition to the responsibilities of normal officers, grass-roots officers must also assist soldiers to take cultural courses for investigation by the staff, 170 Among the 30,000 guards, as many as 1.5 million people have obtained junior high school graduation certificates, 320,000 have obtained high school graduation certificates, and more than 200,000 have obtained junior high school and senior high school graduation certificates, and even many have obtained junior college technical certificates. The army provides them with educational opportunities, which makes them better than ordinary Chinese. Blind farmers are easier to receive training, and their military experience makes them accustomed to discipline and more suitable for working in factories, but it is undoubtedly a waste to let them scatter in the fields!"

In fact, Guan Mingtang has been thinking about hundreds of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of soldiers who "may retire" soon after. Although as a finance minister, he does not need to consider this problem, the reality of the lack of workers in the factory is something he can't ignore.

"As for the border defense, there are so many landless farmers and beggars in China. You can organize them with the strength of the country, and then emigrate there. The government axe will bear the travel expenses, provide agricultural tools and field loans, and give the soldiers to the army to defend the country! Your Majesty, after retirement, retired soldiers do have the responsibility to defend the country, but in Yu Chen's opinion, retired soldiers are also civilians. The responsibility of defending the country should be handed over to the army. What is the matter of the country and the people's military maintenance? In this case, why do we need to establish this so-called fixed defense and civil reclamation? For China, whether it needs farmers or workers more, I think the answer to this question has long been clear, and there is no need to argue.

When Guan Mingtang spoke, Chen Moran also muttered in his heart the pros and cons of doing so. Soldiers have advantages and disadvantages in entering the factory, but to a certain extent, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, at least they are less likely to be used by others.

"What about the field I promised before?"

(to be continued)