Zhou Hexuan was really offended by the words of the Belgian consul. What does it mean that "the consuls of Japan, France, and Italy all recognize the price increase as legal, and China should not object"?
It's like someone squatting on your head to shit and then saying that all three of your neighbors agreed and you shouldn't object to it.
If this was said by the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, or even the Japanese, Zhou Hexuan would still be able to figure it out. After all, these major powers have the capital to be arrogant.
But what is Belgium?
The land area is more than 30,000 square kilometers, which is about the same size as Taiwan Province. The population is only 8 million (1930 data), which is not even a fraction of China.
It was not until 90 years ago that Belgium was admitted as an independent country by the Netherlands, and it was occupied by Germany during World War I. Such a small country can actually run wild in China. The Republic of China is really cowardly!
The two left the restaurant, and Zhou Longguang sighed: "Mr. Zhou, although the matter has not been settled, I still appreciate your help."
Zhou Longguang asked Zhou Hexuan to come out to discuss the matter, but he was just grasping at straws and did not have high expectations.
In the original history, the Tianjin tram price increase controversy in 1932 ended with the Tianjin Municipal Government making a compromise: China agreed to the Belgian company's price increase, and the tram company only symbolically donated tens of thousands of yuan to charity.
The purpose of the charity donation is to calm public opinion and give the Tianjin Municipal Government a step down.
The funniest thing is that the Tianjin Tram Company used a wage increase as a bait to incite the tram workers and party pickets to fight each other. But after the matter was resolved, they immediately turned their backs and refused to give their own company workers a wage increase.
As a result, the price increase controversy among foreign-funded companies quickly evolved into a labor dispute among foreign-funded companies. The tram workers began to cause trouble again, which made the mayor Zhou Longguang feel like he was in a state of ecstasy. He could only try his best to urge and coordinate the tram companies to fulfill their promises.
However, the tram company refused to give in. Finally, after coordination with many parties, it was said that it could increase wages for the workers, but the five worker representatives who took the lead in the trouble must be fired. The tram workers became even more indignant, and finally launched a general strike, leaving only more than 20 workers in Tianjin.
A tram is running.
Then the tram company promised not to fire them and also promised to raise wages, but in fact they did exactly the opposite. Although they did not fire the labor leaders, they refused to allow these labor leaders to go to work. At the same time, they also deducted the wages of all the troubled workers during the strike and
Double salary at the end of the year, and the salary increase is not guaranteed to be paid.
This matter has been going on for more than half a year, and the final solution is simply embarrassing!
The party and government authorities in Hebei and Tianjin were afraid of causing international disputes, so the Hebei Provincial Government actually stepped forward to raise funds to make up for the arrears of wages and benefits from the tram company.
A small European country as big as the palm of a hand can bully China to such an extent that China's party and government bureaucrats have to give in. This is simply unacceptable.
Although Zhou Hexuan didn't know what happened in history, the Belgian consul annoyed him. Originally he just wanted to help talk and forget about it if they couldn't reach an agreement, but now he wanted to show those bastards in Belgium how powerful he was.
"Mayor Zhou, the fun is yet to come," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "Let's go visit some friends!"
Zhou Longguang was confused and followed Zhou Hexuan stupidly, not understanding what Zhou Hexuan wanted to do.
But soon, Zhou Longguang, who only officially took office in January this year, fully realized Zhou Hexuan's influence in Tianjin. He was a complete local snake!
Zhou Hexuan first visited the president and vice president of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, then visited the president and vice president of the Tianjin Education Association, then visited several leaders of the Tianjin Federation of Trade Unions, and then visited the Tianjin Party Affairs Association (Party Headquarters)
Heads of important institutions) even went to all the Youth Gang halls in Tianjin.
Everywhere he went, celebrities from all walks of life in Tianjin showed great respect to Zhou Hexuan, and stated on the spot that they would cooperate with Zhou Hexuan's actions. Even without Zhou Hexuan, they were still opposed to the increase in tram prices and united to put pressure on the tram company.
The various visits for two days in a row frightened Zhou Longguang to the point of peeing. He knew that Zhou Hexuan wanted to make a big deal, so he quickly advised: "Mr. Zhou, forget it, don't make the matter a big deal. This Belgium is a French military
The Allies, if they offend Belgium, they will easily offend France and provoke international disputes!"
Zhou Hexuan said speechlessly: "If you are afraid of causing international disputes, then let the foreign devils do whatever they want in China?"
"The matter can be resolved slowly through negotiation. Your method is too ridiculous." Zhou Longguang was already a little dissatisfied. He was afraid that Zhou Hexuan would affect his career.
Zhou Hexuan said contemptuously: "If Mayor Zhou is afraid, then just stay and watch the show. Anyway, I won't take off your hat. I am not doing you a favor, I am doing a favor to the people of Tianjin. I must be ruthless."
Speak out this evil breath!"
Zhou Longguang was really scared. He would rather give in to the Belgians, but also firmly disagreed with Zhou Hexuan's approach. He immediately aggravated his words: "Mr. Zhou, I hope you will put the overall interests of the party and the country first. China is now in a troubled period, and nothing can happen again.
Unexpected, I hope you can think twice!"
"Haha." Zhou Hexuan was too lazy to talk nonsense to this person.
What the hell is this? The dignified mayor of Tianjin couldn’t even resolve foreign investment disputes, and needed help from private individuals. The people who were helping began to think of ways, but he, the mayor, got cold feet and began to complain.
The person who helps is making trouble.
Such a wimp can become a special mayor (mayor directly under the central government), no wonder China is in such a mess!
…
Tianjin Old Town.
A tram passed by slowly, and when it stopped at a stop, seven or eight pickets suddenly rushed out. Wearing white sleeve bands on their arms, they shouted with tin trumpets: "I would like to inform the citizens of Tianjin that the tram fare increase is not allowed in the future."
Illegal acts approved by the government have seriously affected the livelihood of citizens. I advise you not to buy votes in order to boycott!"
There are police guards near every station, but these are often ignored and the pickets are allowed to persuade citizens not to buy tickets.
Citizens were happy to ride in vain and poured into the trams without paying. The tram company responded quickly and stopped all trams in the old city the next day, but trams in the concession continued to operate.
Moreover, as long as the pickets dare to go to the concession to persuade, the concession patrol will immediately come to stop them, and finally drive all the pickets out of the concession.
The so-called picket team was established by the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee. The Tianjin Municipal Party Committee also established a committee to oppose tram fare increases and publicly advised all Tianjin citizens that not only should they not buy tickets and ride on the trains, but they should not even pay for electric lights and trams.
is a company.
On the afternoon of the next day, tram workers rushed into the city party headquarters again and had a bloody conflict with the pickets. Several people on both sides were injured.
The strange thing is that the police in Tianjin did not take any action this time and allowed them to fight in groups. After the beating was almost complete, they came to arrest the people.
Immediately afterwards, some patriotic gangsters began to appear in the concession. They shouted slogans about saving the country and lay down on the tram tracks in groups to prevent the tram from running normally. The patrol patrol in the concession could not catch them all. They just arrested a batch, and then another group came.
Batch.
For several days in a row, all trams in the concession and the old city were unable to run normally.
Of course, Zhou Hexuan was instigating these behind the scenes, especially the Youth Gang gangsters, who were so easy to hire. When Doihara Kenji instigated two riots in Tianjin, he also invited idle social workers to cause trouble. Each person only needed to be given 2 cents to 3 cents per day.
These scum of society dare to attack the police if they receive benefits from them.
Not only did gangsters come out, but some students in Tianjin also used their spare time to organize demonstrations in the concession, surrounding the Belgian consulate and making it impossible for foreign officials inside to enter or exit.
A week passed like this, and the Tianjin Tramway and Lighting Company suffered heavy losses. However, they still refused to compromise. On the one hand, they strictly demanded that the party and government authorities in Hebei and Tianjin stop the "riots", and on the other hand, they incited the tram workers to drive away students and gangsters.
Several bloody conflicts broke out in Tianjin's old city and concession areas, but fortunately no lives were lost.
The incident became more and more serious, and consuls from various countries in Tianjin sent diplomatic notes directly to the Nanjing government, believing that the security of their concession was seriously threatened.
The Nanjing National Government was immediately under great pressure. After discussion, it sent commissioners to Tianjin overnight to deal with the matter. It was nothing more than an attempt to give in and compromise.
While the central government commissioner was still on the way, Zhou Hexuan finally came forward in person and hosted the radio program in person again.