132 The heart of fighting against fate

"Marshal, what you said makes sense. This is a long-term plan to revitalize the motherland, but how to deal with the current situation?"

Chen Bijun suddenly said.

Wang Jingwei also said, "Li Shuai, I often work in Nanyang. What I see is that the Chinese people have experienced a miserable purgatory-like life in Nanyang, which is thousands of mountains away from home. They have been lured, abducted and even kidnapped to a foreign country. They are engaged in the heaviest physical work but do not get the most basic life security. They are regarded as abandoned people of the Celes in China and can't get it from the Qing Dynasty government. They struggle, die helplessly or live hopelessly in harsh environments. Finally, the Republic of China was established, and their situation was valued by the government. Li Shuai was sent to understand their grief and ships to protect their rights and interests..."

Overseas Chinese in Penang Island are moved by their sincerity to the motherland. Since the Opium War, China has ceded land, lost power and humiliated the country, suffered economic bankruptcy, and people's livelihood. The status of overseas Chinese in the country of residence is low. They are eager to reform China's political system and hope that the motherland will be unified and strong. Li wanted to come with two warships in a high-profile way, which made their hearts excited.

Li Xiang looked at their eager eyes and said calmly, "In this era of weak countries without diplomacy, even if I can win a short diplomatic victory this time, what will happen after that?"

Wu Shirong shouted, "I don't know what kind of problems overseas Chinese workers will face, but one thing is certain, that is, no matter what setbacks and difficulties they face, they are brave people who fight against fate!"

"It's good that you have this brave heart to fight against fate... But do you understand? Why did the foreigners go to which land? No matter how many indigenous people there are, they will not be bullied? Li wanted to split his head, but he was shocked to ask!

Everyone was stunned by his question.

"Just because behind them, there are powerful countries!" Before people reacted, Li Xiangyi said, "A British soldier whose ears were cut off in Afghanistan, and a team of people dragged cannons to retaliate..."

Li Xiang has a Hunan accent and is as familiar as Huang Xing. He is very infectious. Everyone present was deeply attracted by listening quietly.

"...Now you are dissatisfied, angry, and brewing resistance. I agree with the Chinese men on you... The woman's blood has not subsided! But when the motherland behind it is weak, can your resistance really achieve the purpose in your mind?

Li Xiang looked extremely sincere and friendly: "This time I came with two warships, and you saw hope. Foreigners are also more afraid. If I come next time, I will bring ten warships, and there will be ten times more soldiers. Did foreigners dare to see you like this at that time? Are you still afraid of being bullied? Although the motherland is thousands of miles away, it is the only support for you wanderers! ......”

It was time to hold the lamp, and the scenery in the consulate was shrouded in the twilight.

Li Xiang is still giving a speech, and his voice comes from the brightly lit hall: "Your only way out is to follow me to make the motherland stronger, and I can only give you this promise! You can go back and think about it. I still have some days to negotiate in Surami. You also know how to contact me. If you are willing to go on the road with me at that time, I sincerely welcome you!"

............

In the Governor's Mansion in East Java.

The Governor sat on the lounge chair. The old man played with a glass of whiskey with ice and soda, listening to the sound of broken ice pieces gently bumping into the glass. Just don't talk.

Around him, they were all officers of the colonial guard troops in uniform. Senior police officer of the police station. All of them are white without exception.

The adjutant presented a thick document with both hands: "In accordance with your order, we have organized an investigation team including Western parliamentarians, officers and scientists to investigate Chinese workers. This is their investigation report."

The Governor muttered, "You pick some important paragraphs!"

"Yes." The adjutant said, "... But at this point, there is one thing that we Westerners must not forget. That is, there are 450 million people in China's territory. They not only do not split by different religious beliefs, but also have the idea of 'gods', which is full of mind. Although they are not satisfied with the current corrupt rulers, they have never thought of letting one or several foreign governments replace them..."

The governor muttered, "'God'...? These Chinese people, no matter where they go, adhere to their ridiculous and backward barbaric culture, celebrate their traditional festivals, and sacrifice their ancestral gods.

The adjutant said, "In addition, there is one more thing that cannot be forgotten: we Westerners, the Chinese people, cannot be regarded as people who have become weak or have lost their virtue; in fact, they are still full of infinite vitality, and have unexpected diligence, thrift and wisdom and other qualities, and, Chinese people abide by the law and it is easy to govern.

The Governor was deeply attracted by the views of the investigation report.

The adjutant saw that the governor didn't say anything and said, "As for all the belligerent spirit of the Chinese people, it has not been completely lost. It can be seen in this so-called 'Xinhai Revolution' in China..."

The governor said hatefully, "The abdication of the Qing Emperor, the establishment of the Republic of China, the recovery of the Hankou Concession, and the dispatch of warships in Surai to protect overseas Chinese have proved this!"

The adjutant asked, "Do you still read it?"

The governor waved his hand and said, "No need. I will study this report carefully. Maybe it can help us make the most important decision!"

............

In the U.S. Consulate.

"Seeing this young Marshal Li, I'm curious about what happened in China? Nowadays, the style of China's zheng government is completely different from before.

U.S. Consul Henry is chatting with several speculators from New York.

"China has not improved much." A banker who had just walked around China and came to Surami on the cruise ship Changfeng said, "The heavily armed Eight-Nation Alliance has been coveted Beijing for a long time and has been under strict control along the waterway. Shanghai, Tianjin and other prosperous concessions... In addition to the Hankou concession, which was recovered by the very courageous Marshal Li, it should now be called the Hankou Special Economic Zone... It is controlled by Europeans. In the past three decades, under the control of the European powers, the only real assets owned by the Qing Dynasty were customs, and even this institution was directly managed by foreigners.

"Mr. Puland, I would like to know about the newly established Republic of China."

"In the Times last cycle, I had the honor to have an interesting talk with Ms. Carrie ChapmanCatt about this... The Republic of China now is not the real republic that we Americans understand, an efficient republic. The government has not been established. The current silence in China is by no means due to the satisfaction of the Chinese people with the political situation. Most Chinese people have no minimum and basic understanding of the republican system. Therefore, not to mention whether they really accept these ideas.

"At present, most Chinese people remain silent because they are busy with the country's largest grain harvest in recent years. The Chinese are very open-minded. When they are immersed in the joy of the harvest, they no longer have time to go to war. And the so-called President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai, is running the government in the way of the Empress Dowager Cixi rather than the republican system that Americans are familiar with. In other words, he established a new dictatorship to replace the dictatorship that has just been overthrown.

Henry asked, "So you don't believe in the so-called 'Chinese Awakening Theory' or 'the new era has dawned in the East'?"

The banker replied in Chinese like a Chinese: "There is a proverb in China that is a very appropriate metaphor for the current situation. It said that the nature of the country is easy to change.

He continued in American English: "You know, there is no 'new China' in the Far East. The country will not be reborn, but only evolve. Structurally, they have not changed their characteristics, and their political attributes and the temperament of Chinese officials have not changed. Human historical experience and scientific research show that it is impossible for China to change its political system, which is rooted in national traditions and lasts for thousands of years, to change within a year or two or within a generation.

The Xinhai Revolution is very similar to the events that Turkey experienced in 1908. A small group of well-organized and overseas politicians recruited a sufficient number of soldiers from a large number of followers, creating this so-called revolution. However, there has been no earth-shaking change in the hearts of the Chinese people. There is no concerted uprising, and most people lack the desire and appeal for freedom in their hearts.

"So, the 'Chinese Awakening Theory' and other statements we have heard recently are not accurate?" Henry asked.

"This kind of discussion has been heard since 1860. Since Pu Anchen's mission made the United States pay attention to China's events for the first time, the assertions that China is awakening or about to awaken have never stopped... All the statements about China are undergoing great changes are just a pern old saying. Those European newspapers about China once mistakenly thought that the incompetent Manchu Qing government had collapsed, and the dawn and a new future were emerging in the Eastern Empire. New students studying in the West were regarded as the saviors of this country and the pioneers of the new era, just like the 'reformers' of Turkey and Greece. . "

The banker talked: "Frankly speaking, the Chinese are still in a state of political unconsciousness. They accept 'Young China' like accepting anything given by God, but they still have habitual reservations in spirit. Others tell them that the old days associated with depression, poverty, hunger, corruption, and taxes are gone forever, and everyone will become rich and happy. Those of them, who are optimistic and positive, believe in these wonderful stories and regard the republic as the savior, thinking that all the good things will soon come true. I believe that soon they will realize the stupidity of this idea. Changing an old thing to a new name will not bring any benefits. Even if the president himself is a person of the Han nationality, extortion, bribery, threats of looting, and violent crimes under the rule of the government of the Republic of China are no less than in the old days. They will quickly see the devastation and looting of the city through their own eyes, and one day they will realize that peace and prosperity are still far from coming. Because the root causes of the riots buried in China's social system and national character have not changed.

"I am not the only one who has this view. This is the consensus of well-informed foreigners living in China. When I was in Shanghai, Zilin Xibao interviewed me. At first, the newspaper welcomed the revolution with great enthusiasm and had high hopes for it. However, now, it can only sadly admit that things are only getting worse without a strong and effective central government.

"There is no promising country to rely on, so even if Li wants to have great ability, it is difficult to make a difference in negotiations." Henry meditated and asked, "Is this the most likely result of the current situation? Therefore, the so-called view of "Young China" is doomed to failure?

"Not necessarily." The banker remembered Li's means of playing with wind, rain and lightning when recovering the Hankou Concession. "The Chinese people need the Confucian system deep in their hearts, and the Confucian system has penetrated into the character of this nation. The belief of the whole Chinese nation can be summarized into three points: parental system, clan concept, and labor obligation. In the history of two thousand years, this nation with the highest degree of homogeneity on earth has never made any demands on their rulers, whether they are of the same or different ethnic group. They only want to enjoy the right to live safely under this belief. However, as Meadows, a famous expert on China, said 60 years ago, 'Chinese people are the most rebellious but non-revolutionary group in the world.' They are always ready to revolt. Although, they were ruled by the British in Hong Kong, the Germans in Jiaozhou, the Japanese in the Liaodong Peninsula, and the Russians in Northern Manchuria. Obviously, the nationality of these rulers is not important to them. As long as the rulers are smart and fair enough, and respect their traditions and beliefs, they will be content with the status quo, accept rule, and live in peace. A friend of mine who has worked in the Ministry of Industry of Shanghai Public Concession for 10 years said that there are 600,000 Chinese people here, and I keep finding new evidence that no nation in the world can accept a good government as quickly as the Chinese people.

"I see." Henry suddenly said, "You want to say that the current tense situation in the South China is caused by the Dutch and Indian authorities' disrespect for the traditions and beliefs of Chinese people."

"Yes! The Chinese are the most patient people, but the Dutch and Indian authorities have foolishly repeatedly challenged the final bottom line of this nation. Isn't this forcing the most rebellious but least revolutionary group in the world to rebel? Lixiang is a very powerful revolutionary instigator. He incites this group of the most rebellious barbarians. Nanyang must be a storm! The Dutch and Indian authorities have caused a lot of trouble this time.

"I know now that I should be on that side." Henry said. Maybe I can make an mediation and get some benefits that we want and can't get.