The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

Zhang Zuolin had dug the hole, and when he saw Liang Qichao didn't jump into it, he didn't persuade him any more, but turned his head to Zhou Hexuan and said, "Mr. Zhou, I want to thank you for helping Liu Zi quit smoking. Come on, old man too. A toast to you."

   "Don't dare!" Zhou Hexuan hurriedly held the cup with both hands.

   Zhang Zuolin drank his wine and said, "I don't understand the affairs of you scholars. I don't understand. If you have more knowledge, you should feel at ease to serve the country, and don't make trouble all day to rebel, don't you think?"

   Zhou Hexuan smiled and said, "I should really serve the country."

Zhang Zuolin suddenly changed the subject: "Mr. Zhou, you wrote "Rise of a Great Power", I know it. Especially "Japan" and "Russia", well written, these two dog x countries, all day long Just thinking about taking advantage of China. You said that China and Japan would fight a war sooner or later, and I agree very much."

   "Just some personal opinions." Zhou Hexuan said.

   "It's a bummer, and it bothers you scholars to say nonsense," Zhang Zuolin sneered, "I have been dealing with the Japanese for 30 years, and I know exactly what they are thinking."

   In fact, now the conflict between Zhang Zuolin and the Japanese has intensified to the extreme, and the core is the issue of "Manchurian" interests.

   Since the Meiji period, "Manchu and Mongolia" has been the strategic goal of Japan's mainland policy. Taking the right to build the railway as a breakthrough, the Japanese gradually stepped up the pace of expansion to "Manchukuo" through force and diplomatic means.

   For his own benefit, Zhang Zuolin disregarded Japan's opposition two years ago and resolutely established the "Northeast Transportation Committee" and began to build the Northeast Railway Network on his own. Once this railway network is built, Zhang Zuolin's control over the Manchurian and Mongolian areas can be strengthened, and he can not only obtain huge economic benefits, but also use the railway to transport troops and food.

   This move seriously endangered the interests of the Japanese in the Northeast. If there were no other more suitable candidates, Japan would have kicked Zhang Zuolin out long ago. When Guo Songling rebelled last year, as long as Guo Songling was willing to cooperate with the Japanese, Zhang Zuolin would definitely be finished.

  Unfortunately, Guo Songling was full of patriotic thoughts and categorically refused to betray China's interests. And Zhang Zuolin bowed his head and signed a traitorous contract with Japan. Only then did he get help from Japan and finally solve Guo Songling.

  However, Zhang Zuolin was a bandit, and he was used to blackmail. He turned his head and refused to admit it, making the Japanese so angry that he vomited blood.

   Japan previously wanted to gradually control the "Manchu and Mongolia" through the means of force threats and diplomatic intimidation, and achieve its goal without any bloodshed. But after being played by Zhang Zuolin over and over again, he has begun to change his mind. When Yoshi Tanaka takes power next year, Japan will start planning a military invasion of the Northeast.

   After scolding the Japanese, Zhang Zuolin started drinking again. Even Zhu Xiang, an inconspicuous little person, was toasted by Zhang Zuolin, which made Zhu Xiang feel bright.

  Zhou Hexuan suddenly thought about Peking University and said tentatively, "Shuai Yu, I have a few friends at Peking University. They say that the Ministry of Education has been refusing to issue funds?"

   Zhang Zuolin's face instantly turned gloomy: "Beijing University is a chaotic den, I don't think it is necessary to run a school like this."

   Liang Qichao blinked repeatedly, advising Zhou Hexuan not to mention this again, so as not to make Zhang Zuolin lose his temper.

   Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "Yu Shuai, public opinion is very important, you can't give up food because of choking. Although there are many chaotic parties in Peking University, but Yu Shuai does this, ordinary teachers and students will not be hostile to the chaotic party, but will hate Yu Shuai instead."

   Zhang Zuolin laughed loudly and said, "Mom sucks, there are many people in the world who hate me, and there is no shortage of those."

   Zhou Hexuan was speechless for a moment.

  Liang Qichao saw that the topic had already been opened, and he took the opportunity to make a suggestion: "Shuai Yu, the mess at Peking University is really ugly, and it has to be resolved in the end."

   These words came to Zhang Zuolin's heart, he was no longer afraid of being scolded, but he always had to be concerned about his face. Historically, he solved the problem of Peking University only next year, in a crude and direct way, that is, canceling the name of Peking University and merging Peking University and several other schools into a new university.

   Zhang Zuolin asked: "What do you think I should do?"

  Liang Qichao said: "It's better to take advantage of the situation. Change someone who Yushuai trusts and the school's teachers and students approve of to be the principal, so as to prevent the emergence of revolutionary parties at Peking University."

   Zhang Zuolin glanced at Liang Qichao with a cunning brilliance in his eyes, and said with a smile, "I just trust my brother, it's better for my brother to go to Peking University to be the principal."

  Liang Qichao waved his hands again and again: "I can't do it. I have a holiday with some people from Peking University, and they won't accept me."

   Zhang Zuolin said arrogantly: "Whoever dares to oppose, I will arrest him. Mom sucks, there is no kingly law yet."

  Liang Qichao is also an old fox, he suddenly pointed at Zhou Hexuan and said with a smile: "I think Mingcheng is good."

   "No, no, I don't have enough prestige. If I'm not even 30 years old, it seems too young to be a professor at Peking University. How can I be the principal!" Zhou Hexuan quickly declined, he didn't want to go into that muddy water.

   Zhang Zuolin said, "Okay, it's settled. I can trust Mr. Zhou to be the principal."

   "Yu Shuai, you should choose another talented person, I really can't." Zhou Hexuan regretted that, he shouldn't have mentioned the matter of Peking University.

  Once Zhou Hexuan went to Peking University to be the president, and he managed too strictly, it would destroy Peking University's school spirit of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness". And if the control is too loose, it will definitely anger Zhang Zuolin again, which is simply unflattering.

   Zhou Hexuan would not care about this kind of shit.

  Zhang Zuolin smiled and said, "You are not allowed to refuse. I will say hello to the Ministry of Education when I turn around. Come and drink! Mr. Zhou, I will hand over Peking University to you, and you must take care of it for me."

   "Yu Shuai, I really can't do it." Zhou Hexuan's face turned green.

   Zhang Zuolin ignored his refusal, laughed and continued to drink.

   Zhou Hexuan wanted to die. Seeing that the matter was settled, he could only say, "Shuai Yu, I can be the president of Peking University, but you must agree to my two demands."

   "Speak." Zhang Zuolin said.

   "First, the funds from the Ministry of Education must be paid on time and must not be in arrears." Zhou Hexuan said.

   Zhang Zuolin smiled and said, "Yes."

   Zhou Hexuan added: "Second, students may participate in some activities, even demonstrations. I can't stop this, and I can't stop it. I can only guarantee that Peking University will not openly shout the slogans of the revolutionary party."

   "Well..." Zhang Zuolin hesitated.

   Zhou Hexuan took the opportunity to say, "If Yushuai can't agree on the second point, then forgive me for not being able to do the job."

   "Okay, I will promise you!" Zhang Zuolin patted the table and said. He was already fed up with what happened at Peking University, and people from the Cabinet and the Ministry of Education responded every once in a while, and it would have to be resolved sooner or later.

   Leaving Zhang Zuolin's official residence, Zhou Hexuan sighed, like a dead father, complaining: "Mr. Ren, you have hurt me!"

   "Hahahaha," Liang Qichao gloated, "Mingcheng, you can do it, I'm optimistic about you."

   Zhou Hexuan said so, but he was willing in his heart, otherwise he insisted not to do it, Zhang Zuolin couldn't force him to become the principal with a gun.

   It is a great thing to help Peking University resume classes ahead of schedule. As for future troubles, Zhou Hexuan will take the blame and resign.