Out of nowhere, someone comes to "send him off". Who can be happy?
Yan Xishan suppressed his anger and asked with a smile: "Mr. Zhou, what do you mean?"
"Minister Yan, please take a look." Zhou Hexuan took out two official letters from his pocket.
Yan Xishan opened the official letter and found that it was signed by the Central Ministry of Finance, and the content was to request Tianjin Customs and Changlu Salt Bureau to allocate money to pay monthly education funds to the Peking University District.
Not to mention the money left over from Tianjin Customs (leftover from repaying foreign loans), the salt tax alone is very scary, with an income of more than 10 million a year. When Chu Yupu was the governor of Zhili, he relied on intercepting the salt tax to support himself
With an army of nearly 200,000 people, no matter who controls Tianjin, they will not let go of this money.
Yan Xishan is also nicknamed "Qian Guizi". He even fights wars as if he is doing business. Who to form an alliance with, who to fall out with, whether to send troops... Before every major decision, Yan Xishan considers it first.
It means whether you will lose money.
After seeing these two official letters, Yan Xishan immediately understood that Chang Kaishen was going to reach out for his money bag, and sneered: "Song Ziwen said a few empty words with white teeth, as if he was asking me to give money? He doesn't think he has too much appetite.
I'm going to push myself to death." As he said that, he glared at Zhou Hexuan again, "Just because of this matter, you come to see me die? Tell me, what are your plans?"
Zhou Hexuan asked with a smile: "What does Minister Yan think the central government wants?"
"Wealth and silk attract people's hearts, of course they want to make money." Yan Xishan said.
"Is it really that simple?" Zhou Hexuan asked.
Yan Xishan said impatiently: "Speak directly if you have something to say, don't beat around the bush."
Zhou Hexuan did not talk about the topic, but talked about the current situation in the central government: "In order to win the Northern Expedition as soon as possible, the Nanjing National Government implemented a policy of bribery and reorganization of the defeated small warlords. These miscellaneous warlords, plus Minister Yan, you are in Hebei,
All expenses of Tianjin, Peiping, and General Feng Yuxiang's garrisons in Shandong, Henan and other places need to be allocated by Nanjing. If it were you, Minister Yan, you would be willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to support an army that you cannot command.
?"
Of course Yan Xishan was unwilling, but he smiled and said: "Nanjing is the central government, and it is only natural that the central government funds the troops."
"It is only natural for the central government to spend money to raise troops, and it is also natural for the central government to announce disarmament." Zhou Hexuan said.
"How dare he!" Yan Xishan said angrily.
Zhou Hexuan sighed: "It's not a question of whether you dare or not, but a question of whether you can afford it. If Chang Kaishen doesn't announce disarmament, then more than half of the central government's fiscal revenue every year will be used for military expenditures. As far as the central finance department is concerned,
According to statistics, the actual military expenditure is even more than twice the national budget. What's more, the warlords in various places listen to the instructions but not the propaganda. How can Chang Kaishen, the head of state, endure it? Whether it is due to political considerations or economic considerations, disarmament is inevitable
It must be done.”
Yan Xishan liked to settle accounts, so Zhou Hexuan settled an account specifically for him.
After hearing this, Yan Xishan fell into silence for an instant. Putting himself in his shoes, even if he were the central leader, he would certainly not be able to tolerate the current situation.
Zhou Hexuan continued: "The first step of the Nanjing government is definitely to recover the finances of various places, such as Tianjin Customs and Changlu Salt Bureau. The second step is to stop the military expenditures of the warlords' garrisons in various places. The third step is to start a major disarmament
Already."
Yan Xishan had a small calculation in mind. He could barely accept the second step mentioned by Zhou Hexuan, but he would never hand over local financial power. As for the dismantling of the army, if the central government pushed too hard, he would have to roll up his sleeves and do it.
One battle.
Zhou Hexuan added: "As for disarmament, Chang Kaishen will definitely attack the Guangxi clique first, because the south is his base camp, and he must first stabilize the rear. After finishing dealing with the Guangxi clique warlords, he should attack you, Minister Yan, and General Feng Yuxiang.
Yes. So, out of admiration for you, I came here to send you off a few minutes in advance, so as not to miss the chance later."
Yan Xishan did not get angry again, but asked with a smile: "Do you think I will lose? If Chang Kaishen dares to disarm, all the local powerful people in the world will unite to oppose him!"
Zhou Hexuan said: "Chang Kaishen has the central government's righteousness, and disarmament is a matter of course, because China has too many troops, and the people's hearts are at least on his side. As for the alliance of warlords in various places, Minister Yan, you understand this.
The alliance is too fragile, just like the eighteen princes in the late Han Dynasty who were fighting against Dong, each with their own agenda."
Yan Xishan was silent. He didn't want to fight because fighting would cost money and there was a risk of losing.
Historically, the Guangxi warlords have been dealt with by Chang Kaishen. Feng Yuxiang rolled up his sleeves and fought hard with Chang Kaishen. It will be Yan Xishan's turn soon. But Yan Xishan is still hesitant. I hope everyone can sit down and solve the problem peacefully. Businessman
Well, harmony brings wealth.
"You step back first and let me think about it." Yan Xishan waved his hand.
"Farewell!" Zhou Hexuan clasped his fists and said with a smile.
After Zhou Hexuan left, Yan Xishan immediately asked his adjutant to send telegrams to Tianjin Mayor Nan Guixin and Tianjin Garrison Commander Fu Zuoyi to inquire about the specific situation there.
Fu Zuoyi mentioned in his reply that the military expenditures for the Tianjin Garrison had been delayed for more than half a month and that he was arguing with the Central Military Department, but the other party had been avoiding the question.
Nan Guixin, like Zhou Hexuan, was also a talker, a first-class political strategist, and was also an important adviser to Yan Xishan.
Nan Guixin had already keenly discovered the anomaly and said that Nanjing seemed to have sent a representative to secretly contact the foreign officials of Tianjin Customs and Changlu Salt Department. After his inquiries, he found that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nanjing was also actively taking action, hoping to
In the name of the country, the financial control rights of the Customs and Salt Administration were recovered from foreigners.
Yan Xishan looked at the two telegrams sent by his subordinates and was speechless for a long time. Zhou Hexuan was right!
Whether it was financial power or military power, Yan Xishan did not want to give up.
He called in counselors to discuss countermeasures, but he still couldn't find a way to deal with it. He could only resort to tricks. The top priority was to protect North China's finances.
Five days later, Yan Xishan took the initiative to summon Zhou Hexuan and asked pleasantly: "Who is Mr. Zhou speaking for?"
Zhou Hexuan said with a helpless smile: "I can't help anyone. Chang Kaishen must disarm. The powerful people in various places must resist. This battle will have to be fought. The result is that you people in high positions, in order to protect your own interests, will destroy China."
Beat China to a pulp and severely weaken China's vitality, and then go to the field where it should be, and the scenery where it should be."
Yan Xishan frowned and asked: "Then why did you come to me? Don't mention the clock."
"I need money," Zhou Hexuan said, "300,000 yuan per month for education."
When money was mentioned, Yan Xishan suddenly became furious: "I'm not the central government, education funding is none of my business!"
"It was none of your business before, but it is none of your business now," Zhou Hexuan said. "Nanjing wants to allocate the money from the Changlu Salt Department and Tianjin Customs to Peking University for funding. This is reasonable and legal, even if it is a riot
Obviously, public opinion is also against them. If Minister Yan does not agree, he will be accused of disrespecting the central government and not supporting education. Now, teachers in major public schools in Pingjin and Tianjin have not been paid for 10 months, and teachers at all levels have not been paid.
Officials in the education department are also waiting for rice to be cooked, and thousands of students are looking forward to resuming classes as soon as possible. If you don't give this money, all education officials, teachers, and students in North China will hate you, and newspapers will write about it.
The article scolds you!"
"This is Song Ziwen framing me!" Yan Xishan said angrily.
"They are using conspiracy, so what if they are framed?" Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "I know Minister Yan's concerns. You are afraid that if you give this money, the Central Ministry of Finance will take the opportunity to withdraw the customs duties and salt tax."
Yan Xishan didn't say anything, so he acquiesced. Song Ziwen was commanding his army, and no matter what he did, he would suffer greatly.
Seeing that the time was right, Zhou Hexuan began to persuade further: "Minister Yan has launched a large-scale education program in Shanxi, making Shanxi's school-age children's enrollment rate reach 70%, far ahead of the country. Why don't you spend money to support education in North China? Is Shanxi your territory?
,Aren’t the people of North China your subjects?”
"This is different!" Yan Xishan said distressedly.
Zhou Hexuan added: "Minister Yan feels that the officials in the Peking University District are all appointed by the central government, and you should not be the one to provide the money. You paid the money, but the benefits went to the central government. This business is a big loss, isn't it?"
"That's the truth." Yan Xishan nodded.
"No," Zhou Hexuan analyzed, "the central government headed by Chang Kaishen is opposed to education reform. They want to take control of the education system in their own hands. The establishment of the Peking University District was achieved through Li Shizeng's hard work. It is basically
If we don’t get support from the central government, we won’t even be able to raise funds for education.”
"Is there such a thing?" This is the first time Yan Xishan has heard of it.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "In the education bill promulgated last year, the funding of the university district after the education reform should be settled by the local finance, and its status is independent of the governments at all levels. Minister Yan, you can declare that the local government of North China will bear the burden according to this legal provision.
Funds for the Peking University District. This move is legal and no one can object. It can also gain support from teachers, students and public opinion, which is of great benefit to your reputation. Not only that, it also avoids the interference of the Nanjing government in Tianjin.
The excuse of tariffs and salt taxes kills two birds with one stone."
Yan Xishan was still worried about money. 300,000 yuan a month was not a small sum. He said, "Let me think about it again."
Zhou Hexuan struck while the iron was hot: "It's too late to think about it again. Students in Peking are already making trouble. If the Nanjing government reveals the matter and says that you withheld education funds, what else can you do in the face of overwhelming public opinion? Tianjin tariff and salt tax,
Even after deducting the loans to foreigners, there are still more than 20 million left every year. The monthly education allocation of only 300,000 yuan only adds up to 3 million a year. You still make a profit from this transaction."
There is only one way to convince Yan Xishan, and that is to settle accounts with him. Once the accounts are settled clearly, then the matter will be sure.
After thinking about it, Yan Xishan finally made up his mind. He was still in the mood to joke with Zhou Hexuan: "Mr. Zhou, you are really underqualified to be a scholar. You should go into business."