Chapter 242 Going to Shanghai again

In a blink of an eye, the turbulent year passed, and the people of the Republic of China had a stable Spring Festival.

The first congressional election in the spring has become a hot topic recently. Even farmers who are ignorant of farming will also talk about it self-righteously. In early February, Sun Yat-sen returned to Shanghai from Japan, ostensibly fully supporting Song Jiaoren's election work and began to deal with some Kuomintang party affairs.

Song Jiaoren knew that Sun Yat-sen chose to return at this time, and wanted to take the opportunity to control part of the power of the Kuomintang. However, at this critical link, Song Jiaoren had no extra thoughts to deal with this matter and tolerated Sun Yat-sen's decentralization as much as possible. In the past six months after Sun Yat-sen left, Song Jiaoren successfully completed the reorganization of the Kuomintang's power. Even though he was just an agent, Sun Yat-sen had long been undermined within the party.

The first round of Congress ended at the end of February, with Kuomintang members winning four-fifths of the seats, which was a great victory.

This news brought great confidence to the southern provinces. The military governments of each province did not want to see the Beiyang dictatorship affect their own interests. The situation after the Kuomintang was in power would obviously be more favorable.

The Beijing Presidential Office sent a telegram to congratulate the Kuomintang on its victory in the general election and urged Song Jiaoren to go north to form a cabinet before the end of March.

Wu Shaoting departed from Guangzhou on a boat at the end of February and arrived in Shanghai quietly on March 10th. Before that, he did not inform Shanghai, and it was a purely private trip. On the day he arrived in Shanghai, he stayed at the Shanghai Club No. 2 on the Bund. The next day he made a special trip to visit Haizanglou. Except for Zheng Xiaoxu who had never met, he gathered with Cen Chunxuan, Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing for a while. Long Jiguang left at the end of last year and his whereabouts were missing.

In the living room of Haizang Building, everyone sat down and the servants presented tea. Wu Shaoting greeted the three old men for a while and talked about the recent situation after half a year of separation. Then he solemnly said to Cen Chunxuan: "Yun Gong funded the Guangdong Governor's Office last year by 100,000 yuan. Shaoting and the people of Guangdong are very grateful. They failed to come to thank him in person at the beginning, which was really not well-mannered. The first thing to do today's special visit was to express their repeated gratitude to Yun Gong."

Cen Chunxuan laughed and waved his hand and said, "Governor Wu must not say that, you can't afford it. Governor Wu, you are now the leader of a province, and I am just a white man. As long as Governor Wu can sincerely use this money to do practical things, it will make me feel very relieved. If you still come to the door to thank you in person, it will really make me feel scared."

Wu Shaoting smiled and said, "Yun Gong is a timely helper. The righteousness of generous funding is my benefactor of Wu Shaoting and my benefactor of Guangdong. If Yun Gong can't bear the gratitude to the people of Guangdong, then wouldn't Shaoting go back to Guangdong to call on 100 representatives to go to Shanghai to thank him?"

Cen Chunxuan quickly refused: "Governor Wu said so, that's why I was forcing me to move."

Everyone laughed one after another.

After laughing, Wu Shaoting adjusted his tone and said the matter seriously: "Today, Shaoting came here in addition to specializing in thanking Yun Gong and meeting two masters of national treasures, he also had another important thing to ask for advice. Please forgive Mr. Yun Zong, Mr. Nan Zong and Mr. Bei Zong for your recklessness."

Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing gave in politely, and Cen Chunxuan asked calmly: "Governor Wu, please speak."

Wu Shaoting said: "Mr. Yun is a famous figure far and wide. In the past, they were called "Nan Cen Bei Yuan" in the officialdom. Although Mr. Yun is now an old horse, he should not lose his ambition for thousands of miles. Mr. Nanzong and Mr. Beizong are the master of national qualities today. If he was in a peaceful and prosperous era, he should be supported by the government and vigorously promoted the national qualities culture. How could he be condescending to sell his words to make a living?"

Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing looked at each other, and the two old men couldn't help but blush and looked very embarrassed.

Cen Chunxuan pondered for a moment and had guessed what Wu Shaoting meant in his heart, but he remained silent like Zeng and Li, and said nothing.

Wu Shaoting continued: "The previous words were a bold offensive by Shaoting, but they were also the anxiety in Shaoting's heart. Although Shanghai is as calm as water, the atmosphere of power is too heavy and the forces of all parties are complicated. I am afraid it will be unfavorable for Mr. Yunzong and Mr. Beizong to support him here. Regardless of whether Mr. Yun was born, whether Mr. Nanzong or Mr. Beizong was forced to make a living, Shaoting was willing to invite the three gentlemen to go south."

"Governor Wu wants us to go to Guangdong?" Zeng Xi asked curiously.

"That's right," Wu Shaoting nodded with a solemn expression, "Although Guangdong is not as prosperous as Shanghai, the southern climate is pleasant, and Guangdong has completed unified last year, both the big and small environments are suitable for the settlement of three seniors. In addition, Shaoting negotiated with many patriotic entrepreneurs and overseas Chinese chambers of state in January and decided to establish the National Academy in Guangzhou, aiming to preserve and promote the national culture as much as possible."

He paused and said, "Shaoting is young and knowledgeable, and knows a little about leading troops to fight, but is not familiar with the political principles of the people. Even though Yun Gong was born calmly and unwilling to become an official, if Yun Gong could move to Guangzhou, Shaoting would often visit Yun Gong for advice on the way of governance. It would be a great blessing for Yu Shaoting in Guangdong."

Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing were both surprised and happy when they heard this. They lived under someone else's roof in Shanghai and their lives were not well-off. Now Wu Shaoting established the National Academy in Guangzhou and was willing to recruit them to carry forward the national culture. Not only did he have a serious career, but he was also his own specialty. Why not do it?

Cen Chunxuan looked suspicious, as if there was something in his heart that he could not let go, and he remained silent for a moment.

Wu Shaoting waved to the adjutant Deng Keng on the side. Deng Keng came over and took out three formal government appointment letters from his wallet. He took the appointment letter from Deng Keng and solemnly handed it to Cen Chunxuan, Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing respectively.

Zeng Xi and Li Ruiqing took the letter of appointment and opened it. The name of the unit hired above was: Vice Dean of the National College of Guangdong Governor's Office.

Cen Chunxuan glanced at the appointment letter, and it turned out to be: Minister of Justice of the Guangdong Governor's Office. He laughed in his heart. Wu Shaoting was indeed a cunning young man. He said he wanted to live in Guangzhou and occasionally asked for political opinions, but in fact he arranged such a big position for himself. He understood that Wu Shaoting had seen through his attitude. He was dismissed from his post because of a framing. He had been unwilling to give up over the years. He was dormant in Shanghai just to watch the changes and make a comeback.

Wu Shaoting's previous polite words actually had other plans, which in Cen Chunxuan's opinion was actually just right. However, if Cen Chunxuan wanted to go south to Guangzhou, he would have gone last year and would not have been waiting for today. His hesitation was because the Kuomintang was in the limelight recently, and he admired Song Jiaoren more than Sun Yat-sen, so he wanted to stay in Shanghai to support the Kuomintang in forming a cabinet.
Chapter completed!