1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 96

"We aim to achieve the initial industrialization of China by 1913. We aim to ensure that every Chinese person has a set of clothes and at least a bowl of rice every day. This is not just my personal promise, but a promise made by the entire republican government to all its citizens."

"This commitment requires the efforts of every Chinese person. The weak wait for rescue, while the strong dare to save themselves!"

"Don't fantasize that the government will deliver free clothes and food to you. Be brave and seize every opportunity to create your own good life."

"As the head of state, what I can bring to everyone on behalf of the central government is a completely fair environment. The government will do its utmost to provide assistance to the best of its ability. We guarantee that everyone will be rewarded for their work. As long as you put in the effort, you will be rewarded!"

"In this vast land of China, with its 400 million people, every single one of us needs to use our hands to work hard and create and build."

"This time it's not for the emperor, nor for the wealthy and powerful families, nor for some vague and unrealistic grand cause."

"This time, we must strive for a better future for each and every one of us. Our country needs every citizen to contribute their efforts, and our nation needs each and every one of you to have enough to eat and wear!"

"Every bit of what you gain is your own due, not a gift from anyone. There is no need to be grateful or worry. Take action bravely!"

"Chinese people need not only diligence, but also fearlessness! No matter who covets our wealth, we must bring them to utter destruction. This applies to external enemies, and we should not let internal traitors get away with it!"

"Go, bravely create everything, change everything, I will be your strongest support!"

Chapter 164 Diplomatic Press Conference

Zhao Yan's speech ended amidst thunderous shouts. He looked with satisfaction at the eyes filled with passionate flames and surging ambitions—this was the kind of Chinese people he wanted!

Hard work and perseverance are just the basics; he needs his people to have boundless passion and ambition to change and overturn the unbearable history in his memory.

Such a thing would be impossible for Zhao Yan alone, but if you add 400 million Chinese people to the equation, then it becomes very possible.

A man's heart is as firm as iron until death; let's see if he can mend the crack in the sky!

After finishing his speech, Zhao Yan turned and left.

But even after the speech was over, some people still didn't want Zhao Yan to leave so easily. Ambassadors and diplomats from various countries came to him, requesting a meeting.

There were so many ambassadors and diplomats, nearly three hundred in total, but only a dozen or so of them had met Zhao Yan once when they presented their credentials to establish diplomatic relations. The rest of the time, they had at most met Foreign Minister Gao De and Gao Wu, and even Premier Zhang Mingqi didn't have time to pay attention to them.

Zhao Yan usually stays in the Imperial Study, and it is extremely difficult for anyone to see him. Even submitting a request to meet him is a mystery.

Now that they had finally encountered Zhao Yan in person, no one wanted to let him go. Without personally meeting Zhao Yan and hearing his answer, no one dared to feel completely at ease.

Zhao Yan was also puzzled. He had been very restrained in his speech today, trying his best to avoid using words and phrases that might provoke foreigners, so why wouldn't these people let him off the hook?

What Zhao Yan didn't know was that not taking a stance on many things was what made people most uneasy. In a country as large as China, no one could completely ignore it.

Especially with the current escalating situation in Europe and the arms race reaching an irreversible point, China has become a player that both major camps need to court. Its importance is second only to the United States, and in some areas it is even more important than the United States.

The arms race in Europe has reached an outrageous level, while China is continuously reducing its military strength. This is clearly abnormal, especially since the British, who have been fooled before, simply do not believe China's so-called military reduction and think it is just another conspiracy and deception by Zhao Yan.

When Zhao Yan gets ruthless, he can even deceive his own central minister, let alone foreign devils.

The French are also very afraid. As one of France's main lending markets, China has brought them a lot of benefits. The last time the Chinese fulfilled their debt obligations, even Kang Youwei's coffin was given to the French at a low price as part of the debt repayment.

The way the Chinese gritted their teeth when repaying their debts sent chills down the spines of the French. Furthermore, the Chinese military recently transferred its most elite First Group Army south to Guangxi.

This reminded the French of the rumor Zhao Yan had spread before the armistice, in which they believed that Zhao Yan's idea of ​​occupying French India to pay off debts was a pipe dream.

But the French don't see it that way now. The Chinese, who are so desperate to pay off their debts, might just decide to attack French India. They could occupy it first and then pay it back to settle the debt. This operation is theoretically entirely feasible.

The French were so frightened that they changed the names of their colonies, from French Indochina Colony to French India Colony, because they were afraid that the word "Shina" would offend the Chinese.

The French were eager to know Zhao Yan's attitude, after all, even the combined forces of Britain and Japan had failed to defeat Zhao Yan, and the French themselves were not confident of winning against him on their own turf.

The Germans are also eager to further deepen Sino-German relations. Germany needs too much from China, especially mineral resources and market interests. As the first country to cooperate with the republican government, Germany has now gained a source of cheap raw materials.

Various raw materials from China, such as paint, pig bristles, tungsten ore, soybeans, and raw silk, were essential for Germany's arms race.

Moreover, German industrial equipment is very popular in China. Whether it is official government procurement or private demand, the demand is huge. Wilhelm II even began to advocate that the friendship between China and Germany would last forever. The Germans were no longer interested in colonies and only wanted to focus on dumping industrial products on the Chinese market.

In addition, Japan and Russia were also alarmed, as the Chinese had adopted the Russian-made broad gauge for the construction of the new Northern Railway and were also carrying out large-scale immigration and reclamation in the Northeast and the northern steppes.

The Russians were watching with growing anxiety. Russia simply could not afford a new war in the Far East, as its main focus was on the arms race in Europe.

The Japanese are also very sensitive to China's move to abolish North Korea and make it a province. The Japanese have been thinking about this for more than a decade, but have never been able to do it. The reunification of Japan and North Korea is something Japan has long dreamed of.

But for China, it was incredibly simple and easy, without causing the slightest ripple in the international community. Many foreigners even believed that North Korea was originally part of China.

Japan, which occupied half of Korea, gradually became an awkward aggressor and was regarded by the international community as the only country still colonizing China, even earning the praise of the British.

The National Defense Army has been making constant moves in Korea, reorganizing its workforce, and continuously assimilating Koreans through immigration. Moreover, it has circumvented the armistice agreement and, in addition to the 30,000 regular military forces stipulated in the treaty, has formed a garrison of about 6,000 people, which it euphemistically calls the "Armed Police Force".

In addition, a 50,000-strong "Korean Self-Defense Army" was formed, but it was entirely composed of Han Chinese and Sinicized Koreans! It was essentially an "unofficial national defense force"!

Despite repeated objections from Japan, North Korean Governor Du Qingwu forcibly launched a plan to station troops on the northern peninsula of Sakhalin Island, along with a large-scale immigration and land reclamation plan.

The series of actions taken by the Chinese clearly indicate that they are preparing to tear up the treaty and are single-mindedly focused on continuing to target Japan. No matter how much goodwill the Japanese government shows, China maintains that inexplicable and deep-seated hostility.

Finally, there are the Americans. The United States is now one of the main sources of capital investing in China. Both sides have long agreed to fully and equally open their markets, but the Chinese decision-makers have not fully opened up the financial market, which has made many Wall Street giants very dissatisfied.

The Chinese did not break their promise and did open up the financial market, but there was no corresponding policy support. The republican government seemed to have little interest in the financial market and was focused on strengthening the state-owned banking system.

Each country has many questions that require Zhao Yan to answer. The answer doesn't need to be very specific; just being willing to speak is enough. The rest is up to each country to interpret.

Zhao Yan couldn't refuse the reasonable demands of so many major powers all at once, but he also didn't have time to hold meetings and consultations with each of them according to their wishes.

"Since you're all here, let's hold a diplomatic press conference and get this over with!"

Zhao Yan uttered a new term, which surprised many ambassadors and diplomats. They had never heard of it before. What was this "diplomatic press conference"?

It wasn't until Zhao Yan brought over another platform and stood on it again, and everyone gathered around, that people understood what was going on. Zhao Yan had even invited a reporter from the newspaper.

The British were the first to express their approval, expressing great appreciation for Zhao Yan's groundbreaking and transparent diplomacy.

As the world's leading power, Britain is extremely troubled by the current mainstream of secretive diplomacy. The results of diplomatic meetings between countries are usually only known to the countries involved, while other countries are completely unaware.

Diplomatic actions between countries are usually kept secret. Take the Far East War as an example: Zhao Yan's series of diplomatic actions before the war seemed clear, but in fact, the British still do not know whether China and Germany are allies.

China is also unsure whether the alliance between Britain and Japan is merely a formality or remains unchanged.

Now that Zhao Yan is willing to speak openly in front of the representatives of various countries, everyone is naturally happy to see this happen. It is always better to see things clearly than to be completely in the dark and rely entirely on spies to gather information.

It's impossible for Zhao Yan to lie in front of so many people. Deceiving a single diplomat in private under one's own name is a trick, but to fool so many diplomats and representatives in broad daylight in the name of the head of state is tantamount to deceiving the whole world, unless China no longer cares about national credibility.

"Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government of the Imperial Japanese Empire, I lodge a strong protest against your country's current actions of abolishing Korea and establishing a province, which seriously deviates from the spirit of the Treaty of Shanghai!"

Furthermore, your country's actions in establishing an armed police force and the Korean Self-Defense Force on the Korean Peninsula are also serious violations of the explicit provisions of the peace treaty!

Furthermore, according to reliable intelligence, your country seems to intend to station troops and settle immigrants on the northern peninsula of Sakhalin Island, which is also a serious threat to the Empire of Japan.

At the same time, your country has a serious discriminatory policy against merchants and expatriates of the Great Japanese Empire in China, and has also engaged in very unfriendly behavior towards our country in trade.”

The first to jump out was Komura Jutaro, the Japanese ambassador to China. This former Japanese foreign minister was relegated to the position of ambassador to China after the war because he signed the humiliating Treaty of Shanghai.

Before Zhao Yan could announce the rule of raising hands to speak, he rashly stood up and started firing off a barrage of questions like a machine gun.

"You're being very rude. At diplomatic press conferences, you have to raise your hand and get my permission before you can stand up to speak or ask questions." Zhao Yan was a little annoyed, but he still didn't avoid the questions.

"Fortunately, I've gotten used to the rudeness and impoliteness of the Japanese, so I'm still willing to answer your question with kindness."

The diplomats present burst into laughter, and the reporters also captured the scene with their cameras. Zhao Yan, standing on the stage, treated Komura Jutaro like he was scolding his grandson.

Zhao Yan continued unhurriedly, "Regarding the question raised by the Japanese ambassador, I can give a clear answer: the government of the Republic of China has never violated the provisions of the Treaty of Shanghai."

The armed police force is not under the active duty command. North Korea's armed police force is a security force directly under the jurisdiction of local provincial governments. This is an internal security issue and falls under China's internal affairs! We will not accept any external interference!

As for the North Korean Self-Defense Forces, they are civilian armed forces composed of progressive young people from enlightened North Korea who were influenced by the teachings of the Great China and yearned for the benevolent rule of the country.

In the future, this North Korean Self-Defense Force will respond to the central government's great call to build a Greater China Co-Prosperity Sphere and go to Sakhalin Island for reclamation and immigration, so it will not exist on the Korean Peninsula.

The Korean Peninsula has always maintained an active-duty armed force of no more than 30,000 personnel, which is in accordance with the treaty.

As for Japan's claim that my country's legitimate and legal development of Sakhalin Island poses a serious threat to Japan, this is utter nonsense. Regardless of your opinions, this is my country's internal affair, and we will not accept any external interference!

"There's also the trade issue between China and Japan. Japan needs to look for the reasons within itself, rather than constantly blaming others!"

Zhao Yan's words were forceful and resolute. Back when he was embroiled in contract fraud in the underworld, even when unsuspecting victims sued him, it was no use. Let alone the Japanese now.

North Korea's "Armed Police" has been under the command of Governor Du Qingwu of a directly administered province since its inception, making it a government-established security force.

The first batch of cannon fodder sent by the North Korean Self-Defense Forces to Sakhalin Island for development is part of the restructuring of the Korean Peninsula. The Shanghai Peace Treaty mainly governs the Korean Peninsula, but not Sakhalin Island.

Representatives and diplomats from various countries nodded in agreement after hearing the story. Although China's actions were suspected of skirting the rules, they were legal in procedure. You could only condemn Zhao Yan on a moral level, but you couldn't prosecute him on a legal level.

All the nations understood Zhao Yan's true meaning: the Shanghai Peace Treaty was merely a halftime break, and China had not abandoned its hostility towards Japan. Destroying Japan was Zhao Yan's clear intention.

Now, everyone looked at the Japanese representative with sympathy. Being targeted by such a capable leader, Japan's future was destined to be miserable!

Komura Jutaro's face darkened completely, and he could only bite the bullet and ask the next question: "Then, Your Majesty, if your country's internal affairs are not subject to any external interference, then what about your country's interference in the internal affairs of other countries?"

Zhao Yan was dumbfounded: "What do you mean? Explain yourself!"

Seeing that Zhao Yan was still pretending, Komura Jutaro bluntly said: "Your country's proletarian revolutionary ideology is spreading and exporting to the world, and my great Japanese Empire has suffered greatly from it."

The various riots that are erupting across our country are being instigated and supported by proletarians. Your Revival Party has practically established party branches all the way to Tokyo! And yet you're still denying it here?

This act of exporting revolution, aimed at instigating unrest in other countries, is blatant interference in their internal affairs!

Chapter 165 Only Magistrates Are Allowed to Set Fires

Zhao Yan really didn't know anything about exporting revolution; nobody had told him!

After the Japanese representative raised this question, representatives from other countries also expressed their serious concern, because the Revolutionary Restoration Party's revolutionary export activities have had a considerable impact not only on Japan, but on the entire world.

The theory of proletarian revolution originated from Zhao Yan. Marx and Engels only laid a foundation, while Zhao Yan built a skyscraper on that foundation.

Zhao Yan personally taught his apprentices what proletarian revolution was, sharing all his theories without reservation, and directly and violently propelled the proletarian revolution from its nascent stage to a widespread movement.

Besides proletarianism, nationalism was also created by Zhao Yan. After China's nationalist revolution succeeded, the whole of Asia was in an uproar, and nationalist ideas emerged in European colonies in Southeast Asia.

Compared to other countries, all countries still felt that the proletarian revolution deserved more attention. Those fanatical proletarians who came out of China had no concept of national or ethnic boundaries and were only thinking about liberating the whole world!

During the Far Eastern War, Zhao Yan took advantage of the proletarian revolutionary uprising to frequently create riots and uprisings in Russia, which paralyzed the Trans-Siberian Railway, the lifeline of the Russian people, for almost half of the war.

Japan fared even worse. Towards the end of the war, rice riots broke out across Japan, causing widespread unrest and leading to widespread wavering among soldiers on the front lines.

After the war, Zhao Yan felt that it was a double-edged sword. After the war, he directly appointed the veteran party member Jean Sinor as the European plenipotentiary envoy and ambassador to France, kicking him to the European continent.

At the same time, a considerable number of extremist key members within the party were also sent overseas through various appointments and transfers.

Half of Wu Zifu's capable generals were dismantled by Zhao Yan. These big shots would have caused trouble sooner or later if they were kept in China, but after being sent abroad, no other country was happy about it.

You can't even stand the apprentices you taught yourself, so why send them to me to harm people?

No one had told Zhao Yan about these things before, not even Qiu Xingxun. Qiu Xingxun didn't dare to get involved in the conflict between Wu Zifu and Wang Dingyun.

The transfer of key members of the extremist faction was orchestrated by Wang Dingyun's faction!

After a while, Zhao Yan realized that it was his disciples who had caused this trouble. As their master, Zhao Yan had no choice but to bear the consequences. Even though he didn't know beforehand, now that the cat had been out of the bag, he had to take the fall.

Zhao Yan, without batting an eye, said, "Did I ever say that China would not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries? I only said that China will never accept interference in our internal affairs by other countries!"

"You're doing a double standard, allowing officials to set fires while forbidding commoners to light lamps!" Komura Jutaro was so desperate that he blurted out all sorts of proverbs.

Zhao Yan remained calm and composed: "Ahem, Mr. Komura, please watch your emotions!"

"I would like to reiterate to everyone that China is an independent and free country! There is an old Chinese saying: 'When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven!'"

"Strictly speaking, this is not interference in internal affairs, but rather the export of liberal values. In China, this includes freedom of speech and freedom of religion!"

"The Chinese government's permission for Christianity to spread within its borders is a manifestation of freedom of religion. The Chinese people will hold high the torch of the free world and become the world's first shining beacon!"

We have opened up all freedoms and rights to everyone, so why can't you even tolerate the mere freedom of religion?

Even the usually shameless British couldn't stand it anymore. They prided themselves on being ruthless and thick-skinned, but standing in front of Zhao Yan, they still acted like greenhorns.

British Ambassador to China, John Jordan, stepped forward: "Sophistry, this is sophistry! Christianity would never instruct its believers to overthrow the government or the king!"

Your Excellency, you are using a fallacy of semantics. Religious belief and political belief are two completely different concepts!

Zhao Yan shook his head: "I insist that this is just a concept! It's all about belief in one's mind. What's the difference between religion and politics?"

How long has it been since Europe separated church and state? How dare you say that to me? If religious belief and political belief are two different things, why did your kings seek coronation from the pope a hundred years ago?

And what about the Crusades?

“Political beliefs and religious beliefs are clearly the same thing. My answer was based on reason and evidence, while yours is just baseless slander.”

"Did everyone see that? He's slandering me! He's slandering me!"

The representatives from various European and American countries were speechless after being confronted, and many even thought that Zhao Yan's words made a lot of sense.

Zhao Yan pressed his advantage, saying, "Unless you produce evidence, I will not admit that this is interference in other countries' internal affairs, nor will I accept your accusations that our country is plotting to subvert governments of other countries!"

In my view, people who believe in Christianity and those who believe in proletarianism are all the same—red blood and white brains—there is no difference.

"This isn't an infectious disease, what are you afraid of? China is doing just fine, isn't it?"

Zhao Yan's words left everyone speechless. Just look at the Qing Dynasty imperial family: Empress Dowager Cixi was dragged to the marketplace and whipped, Emperor Guangxu was skinned alive, and not a single member of the Qing imperial family escaped such fate.

The Qing government was completely overthrown, and a purge followed. If Zhao Yan hadn't been worried about a lack of workers, the officials would probably have been packed up and sent to reformatories.