.Chapter 262 Enlightenment (please vote for me!)

"Public things that belong to the most people are often the things that are least cared for. People care about what they own and ignore public things. For everything in the public, he at most pays attention to things that are more or less relevant to him personally.

"

Aristotle

As the rights and interests of Shandong that are shared by the entire Chinese nation, they have been valued by Chinese people with lofty ideals since the reform movement. However, it will undoubtedly take a process to transform the interests they identify into the consensus of the general public, and to sensitize people's emotions and form a social movement.

.In this transformation process, public opinion plays a very key role.

After the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the issue of ownership of Shandong's rights and interests actually presented a new opportunity. Germany, which occupied Shandong's sovereignty, became a party to the war. Logically speaking, it would be easy for people to take the opportunity to take back the rights and interests in Shandong. But since then

Judging from public opinion, the center of attention from all walks of life is not Shandong's sovereignty, but whether China can achieve neutrality and maintain normalcy. After the outbreak of the war, the Chinese government announced on August 6 that it would adopt a neutral stance.

However, the public generally responded in support. On August 8, the Beijing Chamber of Commerce issued a leaflet to maintain social stability, pointing out that although the war had a certain impact on commerce and foreign trade, there was "no reason for the war to be protracted" and

The country has "declared neutrality in accordance with public law", and there will be no major financial shocks in the country. Businesses do not need to disturb each other, but should work together to calm the market. On August 13, the Beijing Chamber of Commerce issued another advisory, detailing

It explains many reasons why the domestic economic order will not be greatly affected after the government adopts a neutral policy. Businessmen are advised to go about their business as usual to maintain market stability. If businessmen become complacent and trigger financial panic, businessmen will be the most affected.

Disaster. Judging from these expressions, the people at that time were worried about the impact of the war on China's economic life, and there was a certain degree of panic. The business community was concerned about the market stability related to current practical interests, and did not pay attention to the Shandong issue that would inevitably be involved in the war, let alone seize the opportunity to recapture it.

Thoughts on Shandong’s Rights and Interests.

During this period, the reaction of intellectuals was generally the same. The "Morning Post" commented that after the war, the only thing that affected China was that countries were busy with the war, and borrowings would be in vain. Our country's finances were really in jeopardy. But the war provided China with an opportunity to strengthen itself.

, the government should seize the opportunity to revise internal affairs, consolidate the national foundation, and turn weakness into strength. The commentary of "Shenbao" believes that the long-term impact of the European War is "neutrality is difficult to maintain", and China will suffer from it; in the medium term,

The impact is "foreign debt", "tariffs" will decline accordingly, and "financial difficulties will be great"; the recent impact is that the war caused "a financial explosion that caused great pain to the business community". Once businesses go bankrupt, it will cause "laboring people to be unable to do anything"

"Making a living" causes social problems that are most urgently needed for the government to solve.

All this shows that at the beginning of the European War, the Chinese people generally viewed the war from an outsider and neutral perspective, and were only aware of some issues that may directly affect economic interests and social life. The issue of Shandong's rights and interests, which had already presented new opportunities, had not yet been discussed.

Entering the public eye. This seemingly strange reaction is actually a completely logical performance.

At the beginning of the war, the impact of the war on the world was not actually shown. The impact published in newspapers and periodicals was people's subjective judgment. When there was no public opinion to create some kind of public awareness, people must first start with their own relationship with the incident.

To establish associations, that is, first think of the possible impact of the incident on one's own interests, rather than first caring about Shandong's rights and interests that are not directly related to one's own interests.

Later, in the face of Germany's return of Jiao'ao, the central government was forced by the Japanese but did not dare to accept it. Although the Chinese people complained, they were helpless at best. However, the Huaihai Economic Strategy made the Office bypass the central government and take over Jiao'ao on its own, and faced the Japanese again.

The people issued an ultimatum and defended Jiao'ao without retreating, which frightened the people of the country, but also cheered for them. But besides this good news, they were more worried.

Later, Li Zicheng's radio speech made people really connect Shandong's rights and interests with national rights and interests, unlike in the past, because Shandong's rights and interests have been occupied by foreign countries for many years. People have become accustomed to it, although there are still some

The literati accused the Huaihai Economic and Strategic Office of "acting rashly", but after Li Zicheng's Lianyun speech, public opinion changed and the previous accusations disappeared. At that time, no one wanted to bear the name of "traitor"

.

On August 27, after the Japanese navy bombarded Qingdao and received a vigorous counterattack from the Chinese defenders of Qingdao, it turned out that those literati finally no longer had even a trace of trust in the Japanese government's claim to "protect China's sovereignty", and public opinion

On that day, the voice shifted from "China and Japan are getting down to business today and trying to resolve the misunderstanding" to "defend Jiao'ao and defend our national rights."

Before the Battle of Jiao'ao began, intellectuals began to feel resentful in the face of Japan's arrogant ultimatum. After China regained Jiao'ao, Japan actually asked China to withdraw its troops to ensure peace between the two countries, which was beyond the reach of the country.

, the words showed the emotion of being unable to accept this reality, and after the Battle of Jiao'ao started, literati and public opinion completely turned to support the Huaihai Economic and Strategic Office's defense of Jiao'ao.

The reaction of the business community, which has always been seeking stability, has become increasingly strong. Business associations in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou and other places have called the Beijing government to call for strict rejection of Japan's request to withdraw troops from Jiao'ao. The Chinese people are extremely angry at Japan's request.

The trend of anger from all walks of life gradually converging into a larger public sentiment through the spread of newspapers has begun.

On September 18, when the Japanese troops landed in Jiao'ao, the public's anti-Japanese sentiment had gradually reached a fever pitch, and the "Fifty-Third Warriors" pushed this sentiment to its peak, triggering a national movement involving multiple classes of people.

On September 19, the third year of the Republic of China, a patriot proposed the establishment of a national salvation donation in the "Declaration" and voluntarily donated 1/10 of his property. As soon as the proposal was announced, responders supported it one after another. The next day, the Fifty-Three Warriors published an external issue

After the publication, Shanghai's "Shenbao" published a "Current Commentary" on "Certificates of Patriotism" and launched a "Patriotic Donation" initiative, saying that patriotism is not "empty talk" and that donating money "shows patriotism" and "everyone can pay for it."

, it’s not like there is no limit to what you can get from the air.”

On September 22, the Chinese National Salvation Fund Donation Group was established, led by Shanghai celebrity Yu Hede, saying that foreign relations were becoming more and more difficult, the situation was becoming more and more difficult, and the survival of the country was the responsibility of ordinary people. Therefore, the "Interim Brochure" was formulated,

It stipulates that "the purpose of the Chinese people's joint efforts to defend the country" is to raise 50 million silver dollars as the goal, firstly for the Jiangsu Army to guard Jiao'ao, and secondly for the purpose of adding weapons to the country. While launching the national salvation donation campaign,

Then, the national salvation Xianxin went from Shanghai to Beijing, and from Beijing to the provincial capital. Then from the provincial capital to local areas, students from all over the country marched in groups on the streets to raise funds, and the patriotic passion dazzled in their hearts, and they were full of enthusiasm.

The students naturally used their actions to support the "9.18 Anti-Japanese War."

Harbin, this city at the center of the China-Eastern Railway, is like Lianyungang. Harbin is also a city market built on the land attached to the railway. However, it does not belong to China, but is a city managed by the Russians. Every building in the city is in Russian style.

The buildings, the old wives walking on the streets, and the Russian three-color flag hanging on the government offices all remind people of this fact.

In the evening, in the Daowai Tongle Theater, the high-pitched Shandong Bangzi tune echoed in the theater. Like every place in the Northeast, the Chinese in Harbin are also mostly Shandongese. As early as when the Middle East Road was built, there were

Tens of thousands of people from Shandong are coming to Heilongjiang to build railways. There are more people from Shandong. This Harbin restaurant is a Shandong restaurant, and the theater performs Shanxi Bangzi. It makes sense.

The seats in the Tongle Theater were divided into three, six, and five classes. There were consecutive seats in the middle and back areas. That was two kopecks per seat. Most of the listeners were Shandong men who had traveled to Guandong alone. They had a bag of uncooked rice and half a kilogram of spirits in a bamboo tube.

Listening to the opera here can relieve the fatigue of the day, but more importantly, it can relieve the pain of homesickness.

But in the front row, there are twelve tables in three rows. They are first-class tables. Tea is served on the table, and the waiter serves food. Most of the people listening to the play are rich people who have made a fortune in Guandong or Shandong in the early years.

In the Liba Hall, there is a lot of money and lots of money. They are listening to a play here, which is more like going to a hall.

"ah……"

With half-closed eyes, Fang Jingzhi hummed along with the accent on the stage. Logically speaking, although he is from Shandong, he left overseas at the age of nineteen. Logically speaking, he is not enthusiastic about the Bangzi accent, but he was assigned by the company.

After arriving in Harbin, due to business reasons, I occasionally hung out with people from the guilds. I was invited by them and listened to this local opera.

“Not bad, not bad”

It was just a play, Fang Jingzhi opened his eyes and clapped his hands. If he was asked to cheer loudly like those people, he couldn't do it.

"Manager Fang, this Liangzi class is quite famous in Shandong."

Upon hearing Manager Fang's praise, Wei Yanwozi quickly echoed from the side and said that ** Company has always taken care of his business and invited Manager Fang to come and listen to the show from time to time, which was just a matter of favor.

The stage had just ended when four or five young men suddenly jumped from the audience to the stage. The one in the lead had thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was dressed in a blue coat and had the tall and powerful figure of a Shandong man.

"Hey, someone is making a scene"

When Wei Yanguozi saw this scene, he felt happy. He was in charge of the business. The business in this street was Liu Laosi's business, but he was also happy to watch someone take Liu Laosi's job.

That's it for this line of work.

"Mr. Fang, look..."

"Let's take a look"

Fang Jingzhi looked at the five young men on the stage with great interest, especially the leading man.

As soon as he jumped onto the stage, listening to the shouts from the audience, and looking at a few people in shorts outside the theater who were about to come over, Zhang Tai quickly shouted loudly.

"Dear compatriots, the Japanese Little Nose attacked Jiao'ao with the intention of occupying our hometown in Shandong, and also wanted to occupy the whole of China. Jiangsu people, in order to protect our Shandong, risked their lives to fight with the Little Nose. People across the country have risen up and have set up patriotic donations.

We, the people of Shandong, cannot just sit by and watch, please donate money to save the country."

As soon as these words came out, several young people watching were stunned for a moment, and then they saw that someone had taken out a donation box behind the person behind him, and there was also a crowd in the audience.

"Isn't that right? We Shandong people can't let outsiders look down upon us."

With the shouting, more than a dozen people in the audience rushed to the stage to donate, but there were still some people who left silently, especially the wealthy people at the front desk. Most of them chose to leave. It's not that they didn't donate, it's just that the donation method in front of them,

Why doesn't it have a letterhead?

Seeing that those people were about to leave, and those who donated money were all as miserable as himself, Zhang Tai quickly shouted loudly.

"Gentlemen, you are all responsible for staying behind to face the national crisis. Why don't you listen to my speech? Why don't you donate? Don't you have any patriotism?"

A series of questions came out of his mouth, but someone in the audience could vaguely hear muttering.

"Whoever wants to host this donation can host it. That's not like...a roubled bun beating a dog."

Seeing that the people in the audience did not believe in him, Zhang Tai became anxious. The person who originally wanted to donate money immediately became interested when he heard what someone said, while the people next to him who had already donated money made a show of wanting to come back.

Sitting on the chair, Fang Jingzhi looked at the scene in front of him with a smile. Looking at the impending situation, he shook his head in his heart. This person is too reckless.

"Brother Zhang"

Xiao Luzi, who was holding the donation box, looked at the scene in front of him and became anxious. Zhang Tai, who was impatient, shouted loudly when he saw everyone doubting him.

"Well, if you don't believe me, I will give up my life in exchange for the donations from the good people in my hometown, so that others will not bury our Shandong people."

After that, he threw off his small coat, took out a self-defense knife, and without blinking an eyelid, the knife pierced his lower abdomen from the left, and then cut a long gash in his lower abdomen from left to right, and the intestines were almost

They all have to be dragged out.

This scene only shocked the audience in the audience. Even Fang Jingzhi, who was holding a teacup in his hand, was stunned and couldn't come to his senses.

"Brother Zhang"

The companions on the stage did not expect that he would pull off such a move, so they quickly held down the knife and snatched it away.

"Hello fellow villagers, please donate money. This is to protect the home of our Shandong people. Don't...don't let us Shandong people be unable to hold their heads high and behave like human beings..."

Zhang Tai, who had his sword taken away, roared loudly, and the blood in his abdomen spurted out from his Qingyi, but he still continued to bow to the audience.

Wei Yanguozi, who was originally prepared to watch a joke, looked at this scene and his eyes suddenly turned red.

"Quick, damn, why are you still standing there? Send him to the hospital quickly. I, Wei Yanguozi, will pay for the diagnosis..."

"Stop the car, go out and stop the car."
To be continued...