Shanxi's railways are narrow gauge, which is very different from the national railway system. Anyone who wants to lead an army into Shanxi must first collect trains of matching models, otherwise they will have to march on foot.
When Yan Xishan was building the railway, he already had the ambition to support military autonomy.
Zhou Hexuan looked through the car window at the continuous farmland outside and the rising smoke. He couldn't help but admire: "Yan Laoxi's method of governing the place is very clever. Looking at the scene, Shanxi is actually better than some provinces in the south."
Be happy and prosperous.”
Sun Yongzhen said with a smile: "Shanxi is better."
But Sun Yonghao is singing the opposite tune: "It's not the same. Everywhere we go, the people at the bottom suffer from poverty."
Zhou Hexuan asked curiously: "How do you say it?"
Sun Yonghao introduced the situation in Shanxi: "It was okay in the peaceful years, but once a war breaks out, it will be uncomfortable. The military men are exploiting in every possible way, and the ordinary people are struggling to survive. If Shanxi is really so rich, how can I and Brother E be so wealthy?"
Go out and make a living?"
After hearing this, Zhou Hexuan immediately understood.
Some people say that Shanxi is the richest province in the Republic of China, some say that Shanxi is the happiest place in the Republic of China, and some even compare Yan Xishan to Duke Wen of Jin in the Republic of China.
However, if you think about it carefully, Shanxi's population is just over ten million, agriculture is certainly not as prosperous as in the south, and industry is not necessarily more developed than in the Yangtze River Basin. How did Yan Xishan support his two to three hundred thousand troops?
Raising military expenditures is a top priority for every warlord, and the people who are exploited are always the people. The organization responsible for organizing military expenditures is called military depots, and seizures are the main means. Everywhere they go, including granaries, buildings, and vehicles, they must stick a sticker with the content: "A certain person."
A certain division was seized".
If these things belong to a big bureaucrat, big landowner or big warlord, the government can raise supplies from other places. If the owner is a big businessman, he can pay the army to purchase them elsewhere. Anyway, the rich and powerful will not suffer.
, and finally passed on to small landowners, rich peasants and poor peasants.
Data show that on the eve of the outbreak of the Central Plains War, military salaries and taxes in northern Shanxi were 225 times higher than regular taxes, ranking first in the country.
After knowing these circumstances, do you still think that the people of Shanxi under Yan Xishan's rule were happy and prosperous?
What makes Yan Xishan better than ordinary warlords is that he runs education, builds industry, exterminates bandits, encourages farmers and mulberry trees... and implements a series of good governance. The people are not harmed by bandits or exposed to war, and they are indeed happier than other provinces.
Much more.
But once a war breaks out, the true nature is immediately exposed, because the army is too money-burning, and all the money is passed on to the civilians.
Zhou Hexuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart when he thought of the Central Plains War two years later. It was the largest civil war in the Republic of China, with all parties investing a total of more than 1.1 million troops, affecting more than 20 provinces, and killing more than 300,000 officers and soldiers.
How wonderful it would be to keep these money, weapons and troops to fight the Japanese devils!
Chang Kaishen was too hasty in his politics to cut down the vassal vassal. Just like Zhu Yunwen back then, he forced all the warlords to oppose the central government. Fortunately, Chang Kaishen was good at bribery. Once the battlefield was unfavorable, he would use money to forcefully poach
The opponent's corner actually allowed him to win.
In order to get Zhang Xueliang's support, Chang Kaishen directly sent someone to bring a huge sum of 20 million. Not only did he spend money to bribe Zhang Xueliang, but also the staff, secretaries, adjutants and bodyguards around Zhang Xueliang were all bribed.
On one occasion, a representative sent by Chang Kaishen invited Northeastern politicians to a meal and played mahjong after the meal. Each person had 20,000 yuan in their drawer, and whether he won or lost, the winner went to the person sitting down.
As for the two representatives sent by Yan Xishan, one brought 1,000 yuan and the other came to the door with 500 yuan. The first time they went, they successfully met Zhang Xueliang. The second time they went, they were directly guarded by the gatekeeper.
Blast it out.
The war in the Central Plains was a victory of money.
…
Zhou Hexuan arrived in Taiyuan along the Zhengtai Railway, and ran to Yan Xishan's official residence to hand in his business card, but was told by the guards that Minister Yan (Minister of the Interior) was not there. Zhou Hexuan thought that he was short of money, so he sent another 50 yuan, and the guards finally revealed the news: Yan Xishan was at home.
Inspect the arsenal.
The next day, Zhou Hexuan came to submit his business card again, but Yan Xishan was still not there. He was said to have gone to the next county to inspect a chemical plant.
Zhou Hexuan was speechless and waited for six days to finally meet the busy man Yan Laoxi.
To be honest, Yan Xishan is relatively simple among the warlords. Although his old house in Wutai County is magnificent, after more than ten years of expansion, the total cost is only more than 1 million, and it is for the entire family to live in.
As for Yan Xishan's Taiyuan official residence, it occupies a small area and is very ordinary inside and out. It is not as good as the residences of wealthy local businessmen.
Yan Xishan was sitting in the living room. After the adjutant brought Zhou Hexuan in, he laughed and said, "Mr. Zhou, why did you come to this remote place like mine?"
Yan Xishan is 1.83 meters tall. He looks tall and powerful, but has a very easy-going temperament. He looks like a businessman when he sits there.
"Hello, Minister Yan, I'm here to give you a banner." Zhou Hexuan held out a banner and said.
Yan Xishan asked his adjutant to open the banner, but he saw eight words written on it: Wei Honglong De, rain moistens the world.
Translated into vernacular, it probably means that Yan Xishan worked hard to establish education, cultivate talents for the country, pursue beautiful moral character, and benefit all people in the world.
"Haha, you can't do it, you can't do it." Yan Xishan laughed heartily, obviously very pleased with the flattery of these eight words.
Zhou Hexuan said with a serious expression: "Education is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and basic education is the top priority. Nowadays, everyone attaches great importance to higher education, because running a university is easy to achieve results, but basic education is often ignored. Minister Yan is in Shanxi
With the launch of compulsory education in a big way, the enrollment rate of school-age children in Shanxi has reached 70%, the highest in the country, and Jiangsu, which ranks second, only has 20%."
When his most proud political achievement was mentioned, Yan Xishan was even more happy. He smiled and said: "Mr. Zhou was talking about the data from three years ago. Today, the enrollment rate of primary school students in Shanxi has reached 74%."
Zhou Hexuan continued to flatter: "I heard that in major cities and counties in Shanxi, school-age children who do not go to school without any reason will be fined 1 to 5 yuan. Children over 10 years old who do not go to school will be fined 1 yuan for every year they grow older. This move is consistent with Prussia's history.
The king's education policy is similar, and He Xuan admires it very much."
Yan Xishan smiled and said: "Mr. Zhou really guessed it right. I am imitating Prussia. Not only my education, but my military management methods also adhere to the German iron-blooded ideology."
"This is a blessing for the people of Shanxi." Zhou Hexuan flattered, but he sighed in his heart: Yan Xishan's ability in civil affairs is extremely strong, but unfortunately his strategic vision is too short-term, and he has no long-term plan. He only wants to take care of his own three acres.
Divide land.
Before the Great War in the Central Plains, Chang Kaishen even put a knife on Yan Xishan's neck. He also wanted to gain benefits by being a fence-sitter.
Feng Yuxiang took his wife to Taiyuan in person, hoping to unite with Yan Xishan to fight against the central government. What did Yan Xishan do? He actually kept Feng Yuxiang under house arrest with good food and wine, and then used it as a bargaining chip to put pressure on Chang Kaishen.
Chang Kaishen immediately appointed Yan Xishan as deputy commander-in-chief of the army, navy and air force. This advantage actually made Yan Xishan feel complacent and thought that he had occupied the second position in the National Government.
If the Three Kingdoms were compared to the Republic of China, Yan Xishan would probably be equivalent to Liu Biao.
After flattering him, Zhou Hexuan took out another gift, handed it to Yan Xishan and said: "Minister Yan, in addition to the banner, I am here to give you a bell today."
Yan Xishan looked at the small Western pendulum clock, his face suddenly darkened.