() This meeting was attended not only by Duan Qirui, Liu Guanxiong, and Lu Zhengxiang, but also by Finance Minister Xiong Xiling, Industry and Commerce Minister Chen Qimei, and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Song Jiaoren. During the meeting, due to the different positions and factions of each person,
, and everyone's understanding of Taiwan is different, they are gradually divided into three factions. One faction is the Beiyang faction headed by Duan Qirui and Liu Guanxiong, which advocates negotiations with Taiwan and strives to achieve economic and political stability.
We have received assistance from Taiwan in terms of weapons and equipment. As for the issue of Hainan Island, we can put it aside for now and talk about it later. The Tongmenghui faction headed by Song Jiaoren and Chen Qimei advocates not only solving the issue of Hainan Island, but also discussing the ownership of Taiwan.
while Tang Shaoyi, Lu Zhengxiang, and Xiong Xiling are centrists. They are more inclined not to offend Taiwan for the time being, but they also have dreams of the unified Republic of China proposed by Song Jiaoren.
This meeting lasted for 2 days. In the end, Tang Shaoyi and Lu Zhengxiang broke the deadlock. They both agreed to put aside their status and historical reasons. They only talked about the current situation and solved the existing problems first before talking about anything else. Because Tang Shaoyi and Lu Zhengxiang
Lu Zhengxiang's sudden statement turned the original 2 versus 2 situation into a 4 versus 2 situation. Immediately after Finance Minister Xiong Xiling also expressed support, Song Jiaoren and Chen Qimei were helpless and had to agree to Duan Qirui's proposal.
Lu Zhengxiang came to Taiwan this time to prepare for establishing a relatively friendly relationship with Taiwan in accordance with the proposition proposed by Duan Qirui and Liu Guanxiong, and then to further negotiate on the issues of loans and weapons purchases. As for the Hainan Island issue, I can mention it, but I will not
Among the purposes of this visit.
As the gangway landed on the pier, Lu Zhengxiang temporarily put away his thoughts, straightened out his already stiff suit, held the top hat on his armrest, and, escorted by his escort, slowly walked down the gangway and arrived at
On the dock.
"East Asia civilized China early, bowed to the United States and pursued Europe, and built new countries from the old. Flying the five-color flag, the glory of the country, the beautiful rivers and mountains shine. My compatriots, encourage civilization, and world peace will last forever." As soon as Lu Zhengxiang's feet touched the pier, he heard a burst of music
The sound of Japanese singing came from the pier.
According to the diplomatic etiquette in Europe and the United States at that time, when envoys from the visiting country arrived in the visited country, the visited country should first play the national anthem of the visiting country. However, this song was not the national anthem of the Republic of China, but Lu Zhengxiang sounded very familiar to it.
"This is the tentative national anthem when Sun Wen was in power." A companion next to him obviously had a more detailed understanding of the country than Lu Zhengxiang. Seeing that Lu Zhengxiang was in a daze, he quickly whispered in his ear.
"Oh, I said it sounds familiar." Lu Zhengxiang quickly puffed up his chest and, surrounded by his escorts, slowly walked towards the welcoming crowd on the pier. At this time, two people walked out of the welcoming crowd and walked towards
They come.
Both of them were middle-aged men in their 40s, one tall and one short. Lu Zhengxiang, who was walking in front, still had some impressions. Although he had seen it from a distance in Germany at that time, this tall man with a thin face
, the small eyes and the very short hair made Lu Zhengxiang immediately recognize that this was the president of Taiwan, the third son of former Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan, Liu Fu. However, the person walking behind Lu Zhengxiang did not recognize him, so he just
I can wait for Liu Fu to introduce me.
"Oh, welcome to Director-General Lu for his visit to Taiwan. Let me introduce you. This is the Vice President of Taiwan, Mr. Liu Dagui. Come here, please. Let's get in the car and chat." Liu Fu casually held Lu Zhengxiang's forearm.
The two of them walked together towards several black cars parked on the pier.
Although Lu Zhengxiang had met Liu Fu once before, the two had not communicated directly. This was the first time they spoke. The first impression that President Liu gave people was that he did not have the magnanimity of a leader of a country.
He is like a businessman meeting a client in a teahouse, and his eyes are very thin and long, and his skin is slightly dark. In addition, with his big black hands and a very peculiar mandarin, he does not look like the head of a country.
.
Liu Fu and Lu Zhengxiang got into a car together. The car was very spacious. The seats were not like ordinary car seats, but more like sofas. There was a small cabinet behind the driver's seat. Lu Zhengxiang saw Liu Fu reaching out.
I took out a bottle of red wine and a few glasses from the cabinet, and felt the temperature of the glasses and wine with my own hands. Only then did I realize that this was a refrigerator that was very popular in Europe.
Liu Fu saw Lu Zhengxiang looking curiously at the emblems on the seats, the refrigerator, and the driver's steering wheel, and said:
"General Manager Lu has lived in Europe all year round and must be very familiar with cars, but you definitely don't recognize this brand of car." As he spoke, Liu Fu pointed to a small mark on the leather seat.
"Well, I have worked on Sandro and Ford in the United States, Lancia and Fiat in Italy, and Benz in Germany, but I have never seen a car of this brand. The model looks a bit like the Sandro car in the United States.
But looking at this sign, it looks a bit like our Great Wall. Could it be that it was assembled by Taiwan itself?" Lu Zhengxiang started to talk about a lot of brands like he was reading a textbook, and then suddenly said in surprise.
"General Manager Lu is very knowledgeable and has good eyesight. This is indeed the Great Wall, and it was painted by me myself, but you are wrong. This car is produced in Taiwan rather than assembled. It is indeed very similar to the Sandro sedan.
That's not because we plagiarized the American design, but because the design of the Sandro car was completed by Taiwanese engineers, and the Americans just produced it according to our design." Liu Fu twirled the wine glass in his hand and introduced it very proudly
road.
"It seems that I have underestimated Taiwan a little. Governor Liu has someone to succeed him." After listening to Liu Fu's words, Lu Zhengxiang did not doubt that he was lying or bragging. As a leader of a country, he would lie or brag on such an issue.
It's all meaningless.
"Well, not only you, but also countries in Europe and the United States have underestimated Taiwan. After a long journey, President Lu will go to my presidential palace to rest for a day. Tomorrow I will accompany the President to go around and take a good look at the changes in Taiwan."
Liu Fu stretched out his cup and touched it with Lu Zhengxiang.
"If possible, I want to go and see it today. In addition, I only have three days here. I want to see more places and talk more with Mr. President, so that I can explain clearly when I go back. Many issues in the Republic of China
The opinions in the government are not unanimous." Lu Zhengxiang finished clinking glasses and did not drink, but made his own request.
"Okay, since Mr. Lu is in a hurry for a long time, I will risk my life to accompany you. Xiao Gao, please inform the machinery factory and we will go there first." Liu Fu felt that the foreign minister of the Republic of China had the characteristics of a Westerner, and he did not speak like a Westerner.
It's not very roundabout, at least the meaning is understandable.
The convoy temporarily changed its route and no longer drove to Taipei City. Instead, it turned left and headed towards Keelung. On the same day, Liu Fu took Lu Zhengxiang and his party to visit the Taiwan Army Machinery Plant in Keelung and the nearby Keelung Steel Plant.
, power plant, chemical plant, and finally settled in the Keelung Naval Base building. The children who were traveling kept asking Liu Fu’s
Asked this question, Liu Fu tried his best to answer what he knew. If he didn't know, he could only ask the factory engineers to answer. Moreover, after Lu Zhengxiang obtained Liu Fu's consent, he not only asked, but also took detailed notes, and
In the evening, after having dinner at the naval base, I didn't take any rest. I went to find Liu Fu and made him a drink from before.
Jing brought scented tea and chatted for half the night. Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer, so I had no choice but to go back to the house and sleep.
Liu Fu accompanied the Foreign Minister of the Republic of China to several factories and chatted for half a night. Although he was very tired, he was in a happy mood. It had been more than 20 years since he traveled to this period, and for the first time, Liu Fu felt a sense of excitement.
A sense of intimacy, this
A high-ranking but open-minded peer of his age in the Republic of China moved Liu Fu with his seriousness in doing things for the country and the people. In the past, Liu Fu thought that officials in this era were like those seen in historical dramas of later generations.
Everyone has a sly look on their face
, cunning and unscrupulous, he only collects money from his own family every day, and does not care whether the people of the country are dead or alive. But after watching Lu Zhengxiang's performance today, Liu Fu realized that the officials of this period were actually very cute. They personally ended a situation that they saw
They came to an era without hope, and are building an era that they think is promising. Regardless of their vision, political wisdom, or ability, they are diligently doing one thing, not saying one thing.
