On March 20, the Beiyang government commissioner arrived in Wuhan, Shanghai and Fuzhou respectively, and secretly held talks with the Yangtze River Fleet, Shanghai Fleet and Xiamen Fleet. They spent 50,000 oceans, 90,000 oceans and 70,000 oceans respectively to successfully bribe the chief officer of the three fleets. The next day, Yuan Shikai announced that Tang Xiangming was the commander-in-chief of the Yangtze River Fleet and announced that the country would severely punish the real murderer behind the Song case. On the same day, he secretly discussed with Li Yuanhong, hoping that Li Yuanhong would come forward to mediate the conflict between the Kuomintang and the Beijing government.

On the 24th, Sun Yat-sen once again issued a telegram to criticize Yuan Shikai for being despicable. The people's condemnation across the country increased instead of decreasing. Jiangxi Governor Li Liejun, Shanghai Governor Chen Qimei, Sichuan Governor Xiong Kewu, Hunan Revolutionary Army leader Jiao Dafeng, Fujian Military Government Sun Daoren and Xu Chongzhi issued a joint telegram asking Yuan Shikai to give justice. The governors of other provinces may have attached telegrams.

On the surface, Yuan Shikai sent an investigation team to Nanjing and Shanghai for discussion on the grounds of proof of false evidence, deliberately delayed the time and began to actively arrange military operations in secret. Feng Guozhang was transferred back to Shandong to take charge of the second town, and the third town was moved to Anhui under the command of Duan Qirui. Feng Guozhang sent his confidant to Zhejiang to lobby for Zhejiang Governor Zhu Rui, who agreed to allow Beiyang general Li Houji to lead his troops to Jiaxing.

The situation across the country was undercurrent. Although the governors of various provinces issued a telegram to investigate the murderer of the Song case, they actually had their own ulterior motives. The Kuomintang split again in Shanghai, and Huang Xing and Sun Yat-sen insisted on different opinions. For a moment, they only saw the momentum but did not see the situation, which caused the revolutionary army to be disintegrated.

During this period, Wu Shaoting actively prepared government reserves in Guangdong. In mid-March, he issued 600,000 government bonds to the private sector. At the same time, he also made a loan of US$200,000 to Deutsche Bank in the name of the contract interests of the Sino-Germany Zhang Shengting Ordnance Company. Germany believed that Wu Shaoting's mortgage conditions were not attractive enough, so he refused to borrow money on the grounds that Deutsche Bank was a member of the five-nation banking group. At this time, British Consul Boli'an took the general manager of Standard Chartered Bank to visit the Guangdong Governor's Office, saying that as long as Wu Shaoting agreed to use the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway as collateral, he could provide a low-interest loan of 200,000 pounds. Wu Shaoting refused.

During the ten days at the end of March, the busiest thing in the Guangdong Governor's Office was not the General Staff, but the Ministry of Finance. Wu Shaoting wanted to raise 1.5 million yuan in the next three months to ensure that the domestic changes could be properly dealt with. After detailed calculations by Li Yutang, the biggest expense in Guangdong Province last year was still on military expenses. Even though the army's military expenses could be reduced, the thirty ships of the Navy's troops were very financially damaged.

In the Public Office of the Finance Department, Li Yutang stood in front of Wu Shaoting and said with a sad face: "Governor, our income in Guangdong Province could have been even last year. It would be enough to reduce two gunboats or ten torpedo boats. Last year's fiscal deficit was almost entirely on the naval military expenditure."

Wu Shaoting leaned against the edge of an accountant's desk and looked through the financial statements last year, his face was not very good. Although Guangdong was unified and taxes were strictly paid in all counties and towns, Guangdong Province had three divisions and a Guangdong fleet that was twice the size of Xiamen fleet, which occupied a considerable proportion of the expenditure.

Li Yutang then said: "Don't talk about whether one million and a half million can be raised in the next three months. If the expenses in Guangdong Province are not adjusted, the fiscal year will be deficit every year."

Wu Shaoting shook his head helplessly and asked: "Is it difficult for Zhang Shengting's company's income to support?"

Li Yutang sighed and said: "Last year, Zhang Shengting's company's total revenue accounted for 60% of the finance department. If you don't have the general manager, our Guangdong Province can maintain it by donating money."

There is no strict definition of government enterprises in this era. It is almost humane for those in power to use their power to make their business cheaper, so Li Yutang has never regarded Zhang Shengting's company as a so-called "state-owned enterprise", and has always only called it "Governor's company". Almost half of the admiration for Wu Shaoting in Guangdong Province comes from Zhang Shengting's company, because the people unanimously believe that their Governor Wu uses the income of private companies to support the government's operations. It is precisely because Zhang Shengting's company pays so many dividends every year that many harsh and miscellaneous taxes have been exempted. Wu Shaoting did not intend to explain to the people what "state-owned enterprise" is. Since everyone thinks they are good, then continue to maintain it.

"Minister Li, what are you going to do?" Wu Shaoting sighed and asked the professionals for advice.

"The problem is obvious. Governor Wu can completely cut off several ships. Selling these ships will make a lot of money. I talked with Minister Gao of the Navy the night before yesterday. Minister Gao analyzed that the Guangdong Navy was even better than the one who protected Guangdong, and it was very difficult to go out of the province to fight. In other words, the Governor can completely streamline the military and government of the Guangdong Navy and form a fleet of near-shore and Neijiang protection." Li Yutang said seriously.

"The key is that I am very worried that the navy officers and soldiers will be dissatisfied. Recently I heard that the Beijing government has been acquiring the national naval forces. Our Guangdong Navy has been under the jurisdiction and supply since the revolutionary reign. If the Beijing government takes the opportunity to win over the Guangdong Navy, wouldn't it be like burying bombs in its backyard?" Wu Shaoting said worriedly.

Li Yutang nodded slightly to agree, and he said in embarrassment: "When I talked with Minister Gao the day before yesterday, I also tested Minister Gao. Minister Gao was obviously unwilling to reduce the fleet organization. However, I think you should take out the authority of the head of a province at this time and must be vigorously popular. I have compared the military expenditure of Guangxi, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guizhou. The military expenditure of Guangdong Province is almost 70% of the total military expenditure of the four provinces, three times that of Guizhou."

Wu Shaoting breathed a long sigh and said, "Minister Li said very well, I will arrange for the handling of naval affairs."

Li Yutang said: "The governor has such a determination, and it must be said to be a decisive move. I have contacted the gentry of the county and some private friends in Hong Kong to buy the 600,000 yuan bonds issued not long ago." At this point, he changed his tone slightly and asked tentatively, "Governor, you will not use the public debt like the heads of other provinces..."

He didn't know what words to use to describe it.

Wu Shaoting smiled and said, "You are you who borrowed or not? Then how can I continue to survive in Guangdong? Minister Li, you use your personal friends to bear this public debt. It is my personal trust in me. I will never do such a despicable thing. Public debt is not only a matter of money, but also represents the integrity of my Guangdong Governor's Office. It is not difficult to borrow or repay, and everyone understands this principle."

Li Yutang was very pleased and exclaimed: "Governor Wu is young and promising, and he is the example of the head of the Chinese provincial government."

At this moment, a servant ran in and reported, "Governor, the Secretariat has received a guest from Beijing, saying that he wants to see you in person."

Wu Shaoting was stunned and said strangely: "Customers from Beijing?" Although he was full of doubts, he did not ask more questions. At this time, the relationship between the Beijing government and provinces across the country was very tense, and the guests from Beijing to the governors of various provinces were afraid that it would not be simple.

He said goodbye to Li Yutang, and only after he came out asked the name of the attendant.

The attendant said, "The name on that man's business card is Xu Shuzheng, who seems to be the director of the Military and Education Department of the Army."

Wu Shaoting was suspicious again, Xu Shuzheng, what is this kid coming to Guangdong to do?

Xu Shuzheng, whose courtesy name is Youzheng, and his pseudonym was Tiezha, and he called himself Zelin. He was known as "Xiaofanzi". He was from Liquan Village, Guanqiao Town, Xiaoxian County, Jiangsu Province (now Xiaoxian County, Anhui Province). He was very smart and talented since childhood. He was literate at the age of 3, could do poetry at the age of 7, became a scholar at the age of 13, and was a student at the age of 17, and was known as a child prodigy. In 1901, Xu Shuzheng abandoned literature and went to Jinan to write a letter to Shandong Governor Yuan Shikai, who stated the way of Jingwu, but was not appreciated. Later, he was recommended as Duan Qirui Records Room. 1 In 905, he was admitted to the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School for Infantry. In 1910, he returned to China after his studies. After returning to China, he served as the Military Senate of the Sixth Town of the Qing Dynasty in Duan Qirui's troops, and served as the General Staff of the First Army in 1911. From 1912 to 1914, Xu Shuzheng served as the Director of the Military Academy, the Director of the Military Office, and the Director of the General Affairs Office. In May 1914, Xu Shuzheng served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Department, at the age of 34, and was the youngest among the Deputy Chiefs.

Wu Shaoting knew that Xu Shuzheng had not yet made a fortune, but he would become one of the important figures of the Anhui warlords in a few years. Now Xu Shuzheng should still be under Yuan Shikai's command and maintain close relations with his former master Duan Qirui. He really couldn't figure out what the relationship between Guangdong and Anhui, or Xu Shuzheng came to work on the order of Yuan Shikai, but domestic politicians knew that he had a close relationship with the revolutionary party and would not have any intersection with the Beijing government.

No matter what, I will know at the same time as I met you! He thought to himself.

Then he ordered the attendant to take Xu Shuzheng to the State Guest Reception Room and wait first.

Ten minutes later, Xu Shuzheng met Wu Shaoting in the National Guest Reception Room. Xu Shuzheng looked very dusty and his hair seemed dry and dehydrated. Wu Shaoting stood up and greeted him lukewarmly. After a politician greeting, the two of them sat down.

"Mr. Xu, are you here alone to Guangdong this time?" Wu Shaoting asked a irrelevant sentence first.

Xu Shuzheng smiled slowly and said, "I am here to come to Guangdong this time, both private and public affairs. In order to take into account both public and private affairs, I have to come alone."

Wu Shaoting thought to himself: Xu Shuzheng can indeed speak! He smiled and said, "Is that so-called "Master Xu" what is so-called "public affairs" and "public affairs"?"

Xu Shuzheng was not in a hurry to answer. He first looked at the two attendants sitting aside and showed a deep smile.

Wu Shaoting then instructed: "Xiao Li, you guys go down first."
Chapter completed!