The Shutong ship is struggling against the torrent of the Yangtze River, inch by inch.The muddy yellow water is so turbulent, if you throw a buoyant thing into it, before you can see it clearly, it will be taken away by the water to a distance that you can't see. The machine storehouse and coal storehouse accounted for more than half of the ship itself.The rumble of the machine was particularly loud, and the coal shovels in the fire bin were buzzing all the time.This ship, which has been running on the Sichuan River for a year, is specially designed and manufactured. It is different from all ships below Yichang, except that it has a large machine and powerful horsepower, such as two screw propellers at the stern.The rudder is the same, there are two smaller auxiliary rudders besides the main rudder.

Only with this kind of extraordinary power can the ship compete with the torrent that can sweep away thousands of miles and even wash away a stone the size of a house.Its sharp blade-like prow cuts into the rushing waves, splits them into two pieces, and lets it slide from the side to the stern roaring, and merges into the waves stirred up by the propeller like wild animals, making a lot of noise. , turned and rolled, and hit the foot of the cliff on both sides. The ship itself can only accommodate the people who work for it, from the British owner to the Ningbo sailors who wash the boards.More than a hundred passengers were all squeezed into another two-story warehouse ship that was bigger, longer and taller than the ship, and was tied to the port side of the ship with steel ropes. It was made of wood and wrapped in iron.

Although the space of the warehouse ship was utilized as much as possible, the first-class guests had a small dining room on the bow of the ship.Among them, there are two small square tables and sixteen small domino stools.What makes people feel novel and different from ordinary dining rooms is that in addition to the two paint colors of snow white and light green, there is also a sideboard by the wall that is not owned by a Chinese family at all, and a golden lacquer frame hanging above the sideboard. glass tile mirror. The name is the dining room. In fact, except for three meals a day, guests hardly leave it.The two small square tables were not empty either. In addition to eating, they also provided eight to ten tourists to play mahjong.Although mahjong players are rated at four players per table, and at most two players are allowed to dream on the wheel, this is a popular gambling, more generous than any other cards, and more artistic than Pai Gow and Red Black Poker. People in the so-called high society, no matter men, women, young or old, love it. Beside a card table, there are always a few people who watch the game and those who like to give advice.

Among the first-class passengers who never played cards and were not interested in watching them occasionally, there were only two of them, and one was Zhou Hongdao. Ever since the ship left Yichang, Zhou Hongdao sometimes wore a striped kimono loosely, standing on the railing near the bow of the barn, looking at the gorge on both sides of the river, admiring the majestic landscape, and saying: " It’s really not easy to dig holes in mountains and build a railway in such a place!” Some cliffs, looking up from the bottom, seem to have no place to put your feet.But it can be seen that there are so many people with bare upper body and red and black skin, lying on it and hitting stones. When the ship passed by, many people put down their things and shouted at the ship.The river wind was so strong that the shouts were blown intermittently, making it impossible to hear clearly.

"Isn't it? That's why even the chief engineer Zhan Tianyou said the project was too difficult." Yin Xixian, a member of the Yichang Railway Bureau who was in charge of writing and ink, replied. "When we were in Tokyo, we expected this kind of difficult work. We have always advocated the construction of the Chongqing-Chengdu railway first, because the Dongda Road is much flatter, it will not take much time, and it will cost less money. Shareholders have seen it a day earlier. It’s easy to pay for railway trains.” Commissioner Yin holds a hookah.Due to the strong wind, the paper twig could not be ignited, so I had to put the paper twig on the pipe and barely smoked two bags; while digging out the shredded tobacco carefully, I said: "This is an old saying.... If the material is lucky... we will also I agree... Prime Minister Li said, who doesn't want to start with the easy places first?"

"With the ship, isn't it good luck with the materials?" "The steamship only came out last year, and it is this Shutong....Look, it's so small! How can it compare with those big ships below Yichang!...Experts say that it is useless, and the material on the railway is not steel. It is iron, which is so big and heavy that it cannot be transported by this kind of ship." Five or six large wooden boats sailed down the water facing the ship.There was only a thatched boat with four warehouses specially designed to carry people. As soon as they heard the whistle of Shutong, they all lost their rudders and gave way to the center of the water channel.At the same time, one could see the surprised and nervous expressions on the faces of the people on the wooden boat.You can see it almost anytime when you board a wooden boat.A string of strings are walking near the foot of the cliff. ——Invariably relying on a thin bamboo fiber, many naked people are pulling the other end of the bamboo fiber with great difficulty on the path that can only be accommodated.

Zhou Hongdao glanced at the wooden boats going up and down the water.I remembered that when I went to Japan to study with Su Xinghuang and You Tiemin a few years ago, I took a wooden boat from Chengdu to Yichang.In Chongqing, it was still a big salt boat, and the helmsman was better than ordinary passenger and cargo ships.However, when the Sanzhushi in the Kongling Gorge encountered a storm, something major happened. The capable helmsman's face turned pale at first, and he couldn't stop reciting the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.Today, a few years later, there is only one Shutong steamer in the Chuanjiang River, which is not afraid of risks and water dangers, and can't help but sigh:

"In the era of the 20th century reformation, there are still so many wooden boats sailing along the Sichuan River, why don't the Western and Eastern civilizations laugh at us as a stubborn old empire! If the Sichuan-Han Railway is built soon..." Snapped!A pat on the shoulder.At the same time, a half-Sichuan accent, half-Beijing accent sounded unpleasant, almost shouting, "What! Brother Hongdao, is he planning some local autonomy again?" Of course this is my old friend Ge Huanzhong.It must have been a three-time fight and come down to dream, so I am so happy. In fact, Ge Huanzhong is not happy because of the three times of reconciliation at this moment. Since he resigned from Fuzhou, he went to the prefect of the class and went to Beijing to introduce him. and spent a considerable amount of drilling fees to get a Zhenbeizi eight-line letter. After returning to Sichuan, there will be no vacancies and a rich job.In recent years, his official career has been prosperous, and he is always in high spirits anytime, anywhere.Also because of his high spirits, he bumped into Zhou Hongdao who hadn't seen him for many years at the Tai'an Inn in Zhangmeizhi Lane, Hankou, and forgot that he was a fourth-rank Huangtang and a second-rank Dingdai.As for Zhou Hongdao, although he came back from studying in Japan and was hired by Uncle Shao Ming to teach at the Gentlemen's School of Law and Politics.It's someone else, but after a bow, they chatted a few words, asked about the current situation, and bid farewell with an excuse. When they met later, they nodded and counted as friendship.But he, Ge Huanzhong, is not so snobbish.Still like when we met in Chengdu and Tokyo, after a bow, they held hands and said nothing; not only did he go to restaurants twice, but he also insisted on going with him; he also appointed a servant to serve him and wash his face Water, rolling quilt rolls, carrying suitcases, and baskets, saved Zhou Hongdao a lot of trouble along the way.

Ge Huanzhong only cares about escape, caressing about appearances, and trying not to put on official airs, but Zhou Hongdao is the only one who regards him as an ordinary friend, calling him Huanzhong or Laoge; Especially Yin Xixian, member of the county commissioner Qiancheng. Commissioner Yin turned his head and saw that it was Ge Huanzhong who was talking, so he quickly put his hands down and hid the hookah as far as possible behind his buttocks.At the same time, he turned half of his body, put on a smile on his bloodless and thin face, and said, "Please stand here, my lord. It's cool and the scenery is beautiful."

"Everyone says the Three Gorges is beautiful, but I'm tired of seeing it. ... What's there? ... Oh! Workers! Are you building a railway?" "Yes, it is repairing the railway, repairing the railway embankment." "What a dangerous job!" "Yes, Tai Zun Ming Jian." "I heard you, Premier Li, say in Yichang that the roadbed has been built for less than a hundred miles, and millions of taels have been spent. If it reaches Kui's mansion, the tens of millions of taels raised now will be used up. In the future, the railway will be built. , There are still many places where money is used to buy trains, so where does the money come from?"

Commissioner Yin's official position is too small, how can he agree to such a question.Fortunately, Ge Taizun didn't have to ask him to answer, he had already told his old friend Zhou Hongdao. "When I was in Beijing, several Beijing officials from my hometown wanted to submit a public notice, and Tete came to ask me for a name. I hesitated at the time: if it was for my personal reputation, I would be happy to come up with a name. Because the leader opposed the state-owned Sheng Xingsun Railway The policy is precisely Zhao Yaosheng, the imperial censor of Rongxian County who played the role of Prince Canqing the year before last. This person is also the teacher of my old boss Zhou Xiaohuai. Thinking above: Sheng Xingsun is the minister of the Ministry of Posts and Communications, that is, one of the ministers of the old official system. The governors and governors of the outer provinces are transferred to the capital. They are ministers and ministers, which are ministers and deputy ministers of the new official system. Zhao Yaosheng, with the qualifications of a censor, can expose him or oppose him. Why? Because the censor is a speech officer. Although the grade is not high, it is not a high-ranking official. It is usually just a magistrate. But I donate money. What kind of decency would it be for an alternate magistrate who had no words to blame, yet became famous as a minister of opposition? Since it was assigned to the commercial office, and in the 30th year of Guangxu's reign, it was approved to be used as a road fund with additional mu donations along with the grain. With great difficulty, 14,500,000 taels were raised, which is still a long way from the 70,000,000 taels. The distance is three thousand miles, from Yichang to Chengdu. It has been two years since the construction started, and the roadbed has not yet reached a hundred miles, and it is still more than five hundred miles away from Kui’s mansion. ?In addition to building tunnels, erecting mountain bridges, laying railways, and taking trains, some people say that it will take at least nine years. Nine years were estimated to be 3,000 miles in the past, but now it is only 600 miles. It will take nine years for risky work. When the country is struggling to survive, the great powers are also looking at the tiger. In nine years, I don’t know how many changes will take place. Three years is too much, let alone nine years!  …” Zhang Lu, his big follower, had brought him real cigars produced in Luzon, together with a real beeswax cigarette holder, from his first-class cabin.The butt of the cigar had been cut off, and he just had to take it over and sip on the Swedish insurance match that was scratched in Zhang Lu's hand. Another little follower, He Xi, came one after another.In the foreign porcelain tea tray in his hand are two cups of fragrant tea brought from Beijing. He waited for Zhou Hongdao to take a cup, then pouted his mouth and said, "Give it to Commissioner Yin. Pour me another cup. Open your eyes and see, no matter how many people there are, there are only two cups of tea. Who taught it?" your?" Committee member Yin had already respectfully took the tea in his hand, and said humbly: "My lord, please, my lord, I don't drink tea much in humble positions!" "Brother is joking again!" Ge Huanzhong laughed loudly as if someone was scratching his itch, "I have said repeatedly that we have no relationship with superiors and subordinates, and besides, your brother's errand is in Hubei Province. It’s not even under the jurisdiction of other provinces, so why are they still calling it this way!” He smiled at Zhou Hongdao again and said: "Hongdao, we have known each other for more than ten years, you always understand me, although I have been in the officialdom for so long, I just don't have these officialdom habits, some people say behind my back that I am too low The old stubborn people even called me a reformist, imitating Zhou Xiaohuai and observing Zhou Xiaohuai. Only your old friend Hao Yousan, a young man, is right. He said that I, Ge Huanzhong, are the seeds of reading, so I am a muddleheaded person. Not dyed. But he also talked about my problem, just that my morale is too high... Ha! Ha! This young man has a little vision!" Because of this, the two talked about Hao Yousan, his father, Hao Dasan, a member of the Sichuan Provincial Council, and Su Xinghuang, the husband of Hao Dasan's eldest daughter, Hao Xiangyun.Regarding the situation of the Hao family, Zhou Hongdao was not surprised because he had heard it twice.As for Su Xinghuang, he only knew that he was a member of the Senior Council.Yin asked Ge Huanzhong if he had met him in Beijing this time. "I just met you. The couple also invited me to have an excellent meal of Sichuan cuisine at their home in Shefansi Hutong! One piece of Kung Pao chicken, one piece of watercress silver carp, and Xiangyun made it herself. I In the past, I only knew that this virtuous niece was a female student, she was good at needlework, and was taught by our sister-in-law Hao. But she didn’t expect to be able to cook, and she did it so well! No wonder your old friend Su Xinghuang is often in front of her. People boast that their wives are lucky. Ha! Ha! My wife is lucky, I’m afraid our brother Su’s ears will go wrong!..." "What's wrong with your ears?" Zhou Hongdao asked in surprise. "Ear, isn't it just a problem?" Now, even member Yin Xixian laughed out loud.Committee member Yin is still not used to laughing out loud in front of his lord Taizun.Quickly holding the teacup in one hand, and still holding the hookah with the other behind his back, taking advantage of Tai Zun not paying attention, he slipped back to the cabin with a few light steps. "Let's not laugh at our ears. How many people who are active in the political arena today have ears? If Su Xinghuang's ears can be improved earlier, I believe his future will be even greater. This is a sign, from his wife's argument to the railway It can be seen from state-owned policies.” "What's the argument? Let's listen. Alas! China has made progress. Even a woman who doesn't leave the boudoir can understand the important affairs of the country. Japanese women are not so civilized!" He Xi came again with a foreign porcelain plate and put away the two empty teacups.And said: "Uncle Zhang, ask for instructions, do you want to add more vegetables to the lunch today?" "Can the galley be refilled?" "Uncle Zhang asked. He said that there are only side dishes and shrimps. If you want to add more, there are chicken, meat, and salted fish." "Then, add a piece of chicken and a piece of salted fish. How to make it is up to the cook, as long as it is delicious....Also, when the meal is served, set out an extra set of bowls and chopsticks, and invite Committee member Yin to eat together. Let's go say hello first! " Then he took a deep puff of green smoke, and then continued: "This is not civilization, nor is it progress. It can only be said to be the quintessence of our country. Don't you forget that the Empress Dowager Cixi and the current Empress Dowager Longyu all listen to politics behind the curtain Mistress?" "There must be a heroine above, and there must be female ministers below. In the official circles of our country, I have never heard of women who are crowned and obedient. How can this be said?" "You are such a nerd! Why are there no ministers and officials? They just don't show their faces. However, to be carried in the arms and manipulated on the bed, it is better to say that it is better to not show your face than to show it. That is what I mean to be in politics. People who are active on the stage must understand the truth! It is because our Chinese heroine is in power, and many women really understand the affairs of the country. In the case of Hao Xiangyun, you listen to what she said about Sheng Xingsun, Zai Ze, and Ze Gongye. What kind of opinion does the advocated borrowing policy hold!..." His eyes turned into a triangle with a smile, and many wrinkles that were not usually noticeable appeared on his square white face, and the short, jet-black mustache on his upper lip was not only clustered together into a thick and big "one" character, but also The word "one" is still active.It seems that Ge Huanzhong was very interested in Mrs. Su's words, Ms. Hao Xiangyun. "She said that borrowing foreign debt is not a bad thing. In other words, it is a good way to save the nation. She said that borrowing foreign debt to build railways, open coal and iron mines, revitalize industries, run schools, and train the army and navy are beneficial. Things are certainly worthy of approval, even if borrowing is used indiscriminately, it is better than not borrowing to repair a garden today or build a palace tomorrow. As long as foreigners are willing to lend us, we should borrow freely. We are afraid, but It’s just that once those powerful countries are smart and refuse to borrow money, it will be bad. Taking advantage of the fact that the powerful countries are not too smart, we can do it every month to Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the United States, Austria, Italy, If the eight major powers of Japan borrow a large amount of money, not only will China be freed from the disaster of partition forever, but it will even become prosperous and strong. It is not impossible to surpass Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the United States, Austria, Italy, and Japan. thing." Zhou Hongdao was fascinated by this, and couldn't help but suppress the smile on his face, saying: "It's really a strange theory, there must be a reason for borrowing money to save the country." "Of course there is! It's very simple to say. She has a metaphor that once upon a time there was a Yangguang grocery store in Chengdu. Before leaving Tianfang, there was a shop full of creditors who forced the shopkeeper to ask for money. The shopkeeper was a good man, and at first he just bowed and kowtowed, asking everyone to wait until the Dragon Boat Festival next year. Later, he was forced to bring out a bowl of opium cigarettes He confessed impassionedly to his creditors: his business went bad, not because of his bad intentions, but because the merchant cheated the account, and the apprentices played tricks. Now, the goods are gone, the money is gone, He was sorry for everyone, so he had to take this bowl of poison in front of everyone, and in the next life, he would become a cow and a horse, and go door to door to pay off his debts. However, the parents and wives left behind are old and young, and have no means of living. The creditors have to make an idea to keep them alive. Of course, the creditors have an idea, how can they let him seek death? So not only did they stop forcing him to ask for money, but everyone also discussed about lending another decent sum of money. I don’t need to go into details about what happened later. She used this example to explain that China borrows more and more foreign debts, and the creditor countries will not want China to perish for their own benefit. But this Foreign debts cannot only be borrowed from one powerful country, but must be borrowed from the top eight. Even second-tier countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal, as long as they are willing to lend to us, we should borrow. She said, this is not called debt Don't worry, there are too many ghosts and they can't kill people..." This time, Zhou Hongdao's eyes had to become triangular, although his eyes were born smaller than Ge Huanzhong's, and they had single eyelids.Not only that, but he also slapped his hands obsessively, flapping his two broad sleeves in the river wind like two eagle wings.At the same time, he shook his bald head and exclaimed: "Amazing! Absolutely! This kind of extraordinary clear and clever theory can really be scored 100%!" "Do you agree with her destiny?" "Of course I agree! And I agree wholeheartedly! But... but this kind of talk can be used as small talk, if it is spoken in public... um! It seems a bit inconvenient, right?" "Ha! Ha! Contrary to what you said, I am very sorry that Miss Hao did not give a speech in public, or write an article and submit it to the newspaper. Otherwise, even if her husband is not qualified to take up the vacancy in Hunan Fantai, It will definitely not fall on Zheng Xiaoxu's head!..." "Ge Taizun! Ge Taizun! It's your turn to be the farmer. Please come and collect your dream money!" A voice came from the dining room. Another voice: "Hey! This dream is well done! Just the dream money is worth nine dollars!" "Preparing local self-government regulations" is a joke by Ge Huanzhong.But when Uncle Shao Ming hired Zhou Hongdao and Dong Xiuwu in Tokyo, he did make it clear that he wanted Dong Xiuwu to teach finance and Zhou Hongdao to teach local self-government.Dong Xiuwu studied finance.Even though the textbooks are Japanese textbooks and the materials are Western materials, the theories are common. As long as you understand the common theories, it is easy to add some Chinese things and change them into Chinese finance lectures.Only the subject of local self-government is different.In the Japanese school, it is not listed as a special course, so there is no set of lecture notes.In China, especially since ancient times, we have never heard of local autonomy.Chinese books only talk about the rule of law and the rule of people, but if it is reversed, it can barely be said to be the rule of law and the rule of people.But Shao Mingshu said that local autonomy is a new policy that must be implemented in China at present.Taking Sichuan as an example, many prefectures and counties have received orders from the chief secretary to set up local self-government bureaus as soon as possible.The bureau has been set up, and the hangtags with black characters on the powder background are also hung up. Those who apply for the committee, secretary, inspector, clerk, and other employees have been hired by the local officials from the gentry with a note, and those who should be hired are also hired by the committee members. After setting up some individuals, everything is ready, but I just don't know what to do.The Shenban School of Law and Politics should come to solve this unsolved case and offer this course.The curriculum is new and so should the teaching.Since China's new policy is to transfer everything from Japan in a complete set, it is even more natural to find teachers from Japanese students studying abroad.However, there are so many fellow countrymen studying law and politics in Japan, but there is no one who is willing to teach this course.It happened that Zhou Hongdao was hurt by Japanese cuisine and wanted to go back to Sichuan in time to find something to do, and with the instigation of Dong Xiuwu and the others, he volunteered to teach this fashionable and important course. Since the promise was very reluctant, there was a knot in my heart because Dong Xiuwu wanted to stay in Shanghai again, and asked him to go back to Sichuan alone. No one discussed it. Where to start, the knot in my heart is getting bigger and bigger.In Hankou, I occasionally talked about this with Ge Huanzhong.Ge Huanzhong casually pointed out a shortcut to him without hesitation: "What's so embarrassing! Only what you know is called locality and what is self-government. Maybe there are a lot of your legal and political books? Search and collect , first write an all-encompassing introduction. Then try to copy the regulations and regulations implemented in various places in Japan, one chapter, one section, one item, and copy them in detail. Wouldn’t it be compiled into an unprecedented handout?” "Don't you add some Chinese materials?" "Why bother! Now that the New Deal is announced, there is no need for those corrupt materials in China. Let me tell you, I taught the police academy in Chengdu a few years ago, and later when I was teaching at the police training institute, I This is how I did it. I was much older than you at the time. Because I had only lived in Japan for a few months, I hadn’t even cut my hat braid, and of course I didn’t know Japanese. All I had was a thin book of translations Thanks to reading it in Japan, it makes sense when you put it together. You are an old student studying abroad, you are really qualified, and you have so many Japanese documents, are you afraid that you will not be a blockbuster?" right!Just do it!Before leaving Hankou, Zhou Hongdao dug out some textbooks, and edited them while referring to them.When I arrived in Yichang and waited for the Shutong ship, I took out a few chapters and asked Ge Huanzhong for advice.Ge Huanzhong frowned, read it all over and said: "Of course." But after a while, he laughed again and said: "In my opinion, it's better to rewrite it. Otherwise, people will say that this is not a handout, but a fictional one." With the proposed local self-government provisions." Because of the joke of "local self-government regulations", Zhou Hongdao took out the ink cartridge and blank paper as soon as he boarded the Shutong warehouse ship, and devoted himself to rewriting his handouts.Only when I rest my mind, I go to the front railing to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers. In the afternoon, the scorching sun in May, due to the bend of the river, sometimes shot into the cabin and dazzled his eyes from time to time. Zhou Hongdao felt restless and couldn't write any more. It happened that Yin Xixian stretched his head from the door and took a look inside. "Mr. Zhou is really drafting a statement, so enthusiastic!" "It's not a piece of paper," Zhou Hongdao packed up his brush and ink and the foreign-style book, "it's a handout, ready for lectures....I won't write it now, please sit down, please sit down." The cabin is too narrow, there is only one small table and two small single stools besides the two bunks. "Writing handouts is a very brain-intensive task. Brother, I have been in the training center..." That's how the conversation started.Mr. Zhou is a member of the academic circle, and his attitude is modest, and his appearance is so simple, Committee member Yin just got up casually.The speaking voice is amplified, and the content of the speech is extensive.Committee member Yin was in charge of writing and ink in the Yichang Railway Bureau. Of course, he couldn't think of his position, and he couldn't say a few words. Naturally, the process of the nationalization of the Sichuan-Han Railway rolled out from his tongue. "The first edict was also transferred from the Chengdu head office. I don't know why, but it fell after the second edict. So we, Premier Li, were just a little surprised at the beginning. He told us that the Ministry of Posts and Communications requested the Sichuan-Han, Guangdong The two Han railways are designated as main lines, which are owned by the state and repaired with money from the state. Now the country is so poor that it is not easy to get out the annual Boxer indemnity alone, and it is negotiating and extending it every year , but I don’t know where the money came from to repair the railway. The next day...the next day, the first edict on the sixth day of April was transferred. At this moment, Premier Li suddenly realized that the postal department and the Du branch had long been They negotiated 10 million pounds with the banks of Britain, the United States, Germany, and France, and negotiated a large loan of 10 million yen with the Bank of Yokohama, Japan. With the money, the two railways were taken back and the country repaired them. Prime Minister Li became anxious. He told us that Yikui Road has been under construction for so long. There are more than 100,000 people inside and outside the bureau, including the stone workers who lay the roadbed. Now we don’t want the Sichuan-Han Railway Company, which we commercially run. Repair, among other things, how do we settle down for the tens of thousands of employees? The Ministry of Post and Communications only said that the railway was nationalized and the state would use the money to repair it, but they didn’t explain it clearly. Work has already started, like ours. What should we do with this section of Yikui Road? Should we suspend work and not repair it until the Ministry sends people to handle the handover? It is difficult for people. Premier Li also thought that our bureau has recruited so many engineers and assistant engineers, as well as a large number of students transferred from the railway schools in Tangshan and Chengdu, and the Nanyang Public School in Shanghai. Those who do surveying, and those who do drawing, if the railway is really built by the state, then there is nothing to say, these people are useful, of course they will stay. But what is afraid of is foreigners to repair. Premier Li sighed and said that when foreigners come It must be completely different! First of all, there are their methods, their personnel. Those workers and some small staff inside and outside the bureau may stay on the same shift. There are not many left! Even if they stay, they will have to rely on foreigners everywhere! If it can be like the current situation of the customs and post office, it is not too bad. If it is like the Beijing-Fengzhou Railway, it will be bad! According to Premier Li’s deliberation , since the railway funds are borrowed from foreign banks and the amount is so large, take our country’s borrowing as an example, if there is no doubled mortgage, in a poor country like ours, those people sleep with their abacus in their hands and spend all day in the money hole. Are the foreign businessmen who are rolling around in the middle lending such a large amount of money at once? There must be mortgages. What kind of collateral are foreigners willing to accept? Jingfeng Road is a precedent. Premier Li said, The same is true for Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo in the past. That is the right of way of the Sichuan-Hanzhou Railway and the right to develop mines within 100 miles along the two sides of the line. The loss of these rights is still second, and the most important thing at present is still these dozen or two. The resettlement of 100,000 employees is very important. If their hearts are unstable and their categories are so complicated, if something happens, who should bear the crime? Yichang Prefecture and Donghu County? Or our Yichang Sichuan-Han Railway Bureau? It seems , both aspects cannot be separated. Donghu County, Yichang Prefecture isLocal officials, they have a relationship with the safety of the place.Although our railway bureau is in the guest seat, the number of our employees is several times larger than the population of Yichang. Whether the place is peaceful or not depends entirely on our people's hearts.How can the place be peaceful if something happens to the project?What's more, Yichang was originally a commercial port, where there are many places in the world, there are many churches, there are many foreign firms, and there are many foreigners.Therefore, whether the place is peaceful or not is also implicated in Huayang's negotiations.Yichang is also surrounded by foreign warships stationed at the wharf, and the top and bottom are all ships of British companies and Japanese companies. If something happens, not to mention the foreign warships that can fire immediately, foreign soldiers can also come at any time.What Premier Li said was true. He said, we are a very weak country. Do we still dare to stir up trouble for no reason now?If there is a negotiation, I, Yichang Prefecture, Donghu County, and Yichang Township, needless to say lose my official life, even the people of Yichang and the hundreds of employees in our bureau's engineering work, none of them can get away with it! ……Ugh!Mr. Zhou, don't you think that the current officials are easy to do and things are easy to handle, not to mention the official seal officials from the prefectures, counties, towns, and Taiwans, and our Prime Minister Li, who was born in a traditional family and was born in a fourth-rank Jingtang. They are so sad that they don't think about tea , I don't want to eat.As a mere member of the district committee, because I deal with matters of pen and ink, if Premier Li has any confidential official business, I have to explain the whole thing and the pros and cons of the matter to our colleagues on the secretary. We know better than everyone in the overall situation. More and earlier, so I couldn't sleep for several nights!well!The state-owned railway policy, the imperial edict and the upper edict, are all right, but they just don't understand the situation, and it kills people! " Zhou Hongdao clapped his forehead with his hand and said: "Oh! It turns out that the relationship is so important! Although I heard some fellow countrymen in Shanghai say: 'This is good, the Sichuan-Han Railway is assigned to the state to repair, and it will take about three days. In five years, we can take the train from Hankou all the way back to Chengdu!' But I don't want to have so many difficulties before the opening! Thanks to you telling me now, it also increases my knowledge. But why are these things in Hankou? When, but don’t you know?” He propped up a pair of single eyelids and small eyes, blindly recalling who he met in Hankou, what conversations he had, and whether they talked about the railway.I vaguely remember never hearing anyone mention it.Or someone said a few words inadvertently, and he was thinking about the things in his course with all his energy at that time, and when he started to copy a book and compile the lecture notes, it was even more deaf. "What's the situation with your railway bureau now? Aren't people panicking?" "Not yet! Outsiders and engineering personnel don't know anything about what I just said. Only a few, very few people in the bureau know. Premier Li has repeatedly told us not to leak a word We also know that it has too much to do with it, so how dare we tell people casually?" "Didn't you tell me now, and still tell me in such detail? Are you not afraid that your Prime Minister Li will know?" "Yes, yes...but..." Commissioner Yin suddenly felt a little cramped.He didn't expect that Mr. Zhou, who doesn't look as sharp as Ge Taizun, would raise his eyes.The reason why he wanted to tell the whole story to a stranger, he just wanted to confess, although he is a small committee member, because he participated in the secret, his status is higher than that of colleagues above the county magistrate team Gao, apart from the prime minister, he is probably the only one to count.Since he got on the Shutong warehouse ship, he looked up and saw that all the first-class passengers, even those who were doing business, were all big businessmen, and those who interacted with the officialdom were nothing more than observing the Taizun and the like. ; even the second steward of Tian Shunxiang himself donated a title of the same magistrate of the second government.There is only one academic friend, Zhou Hongdao, who has no fame, can be leveled with all walks of life, and is easy to approach.Of course he couldn't use the truth to save himself at this moment, so he could only hesitantly say: "However... it's like this. First of all, you, Mr. Zhou, are not an outsider.... No, no. I was wrong! You are an outsider!... You are an outsider! Whether you know this matter is irrelevant. Can you, Mr. Zhou, still Run back to Yichang and spread this important word? No way!...Moreover...Moreover, I guess, this matter is outside Yichang, who doesn't know? Must know. You think, we Most of the texts and telegrams in the bureau are forwarded from the Chengdu head office, and the whole of Chengdu should have known about it long ago. If you don’t believe me, when you arrive in Chongqing the day after tomorrow, you, Mr. Zhou, just need to grow your ears and ask..." When Shutong and the warehouse ships it brought anchored at the place where the current of Chenjiaba on the opposite bank of Wanxian City was relatively slow, the sun had already set in the west.Although it was sunny and it was May in the lunar calendar, the weather was so cool.Some people say that there is a leap in June this year, and the current May is equal to the usual April, which is not yet hot.The draft of the ship is relatively deep, and there is no wharf in Chenjiaba—from Yichang to Chongqing, there are only wooden boat wharfs, but no steamship wharfs.The place where the boat stopped was still more than ten feet away from the shore. In the evening, the river breeze was blowing, and of course it didn't feel hot. Ge Huanzhong finished wearing a jade-colored silk shirt, covered with a round dark blue solid gauze robe, and tied with a silk belt with jade buttons.The style of the gown is well tailored, with two wide pleats on the waist, and the slits below the waist appear to be slender at once, much like a newly folded umbrella, so this kind of gown is also called a bell. .The upper body is also covered with a small and exquisite Yuanqing iron yarn mandarin jacket. On the feet are a pair of thin powder-soled double-beam green satin official boots bought in Beijing. In his hand, he holds a sandalwood bone folding fan. Needless to say, all of his paintings were written by famous artists wearing gauze hats. Zhou Hongdao saw that he was dressed neatly, as if he was about to leave, so he said, "Why, don't you want to wear the tasseled cap?" "No!" He pointed to the gauze skin cap on his head, which was also bought in Beijing. "It's not a formal visit. I only wear a small cap. This is called casual clothes. If you dress like in Yichang, with a tasseled cap on your head, On the waist is a full set of clothing such as a belt of loyalty and filial piety, a betel nut purse, a glasses case, a watch bag, a fan holder, etc., which is called luggage. To wear a luggage, you must sit in a four-person sedan chair according to the grade. Now I am going to visit Lao Lu, and one is an old colleague. There is no need to meet with an official ceremony; besides, I have already passed the class, and he is still the county magistrate. After all, I am older than him. In terms of official status, he should come to see me. How can I wear high-quality luggage to visit him?呢？还有，我之要拜会老陆，是临时想起，事前没有打电报通知他，此刻也来不及先派人拿名帖去。那么，从这里坐划子到那边码头，可想而知，码头上只有应差的小轿可坐。若我穿了品级行装去，请想，戴着单眼花翎、粉红顶子的大员坐着一乘对班小轿，抬到万县衙门。这，不但失了我的官体，也叫老陆难过，还疑心我有意和他下不去哩。我并非闹官派，这中间确有分寸，稍不留心，便会弄出笑话来的。” 周宏道笑道：“啧！啧！啧！中国的官，要能把这种心思用在事业上，岂不比专讲排场的好！” “谁用心思来！不过多少年的习惯，已经成为自然了。告诉你，自从庚子年后，许多制度业经日趋简易，就拿现在的衣服说，从内面的汗衣直到外面的马褂，都已带上了高领。二十年前嘛，衣服是不作兴带高领的，像我们做官的人，即使便衣，也必在袍子上另外披一件领架，带一条品蓝缎子做的硬圆领子。不然，就不成为体统。……” 张录在舱房门口说：“划子已经雇好了。” “好！就走！趁着黄昏，还不须打火把。” 周宏道随着走到外面一看，果如天顺祥二管事在吃饭时所说：仓船四周全系满了小船。略为数了一下，总有二十只左右，往来于万县城的大小划子还在外。 小船上已经灯火辉煌，并且热闹得像赶场一样。仓船和蜀通轮船上的人，除了坐划子过万县城去的外，好像都倾倒在小船上。有去吃酒的，吃茶的，吃面点的。也有去买茶食和零碎东西的。依然有载着年轻姑娘，一个短衣男子弹着三弦，另一个短衣男子在向吃酒、吃茶客人嘶哑喊道：“听唱不？一百钱两折！”同时拿一把大折扇递过去的所谓花船。周宏道在去日本那年，木船经过万县、夔府，也曾买过唱。他知道扇子上写的是曲子名字。并且记得他自己点了折《哭五更》，说是要唱全呢，须作为两折。唱的那个姑娘还年轻，问年纪，说是十五岁，其实不止，大约有二十多岁；铅粉搽了一脸，两颊上的胭脂红得像血，巴在铅粉上，又像两块膏药；毕竟由于年轻，看起来觉得娟秀，如其不是包的青纱帕，穿的蓝布衫，而梳上高髻，穿上和服，实在比他那个东京贷家女儿春田花子还动人一些。那时，曾问过名字，可惜记不清楚了，不知是张幺妹还是何幺妹。那时，也曾捏手捏脚问过她：肯不肯过档？回说：“人家只卖口不卖身的。”其实是在开玩笑，她哪会看不出来呢？一个道貌岸然的苏星煌，已够令人生畏，何况旁边还坐了个凶神恶煞的尤铁民。 “太阳出来一点儿红，学生奴的哥，哎唉哟！……”一只花船上唱起来了。 他大吃一惊，嘶哑的声音，不圆熟的调门，岂不就是几年前唱《哭五更》的那个自称才十五岁的姑娘？他正想奔到下仓觌面去看个清楚，别一只花船上恰也唱了起来： “一呀杯子酒，想起奴情人！……” exactly the same!嘶哑的声音，不圆熟的调门，几乎没有差别！想来人只管不同，一批过了，一批顶上，既然声音调门老一样，那么，你问年纪，还不永远是才十五岁？你看打扮，还不永远是铅粉壳上再巴两块红膏药？虽然你也找得着张幺妹、何幺妹，万县码头只这么大，每天晚上到花船上来卖唱的，总不过几十人，姓张姓何的当然不少，幺妹更几乎是个通名，但是当年的那个幺妹，安知不早已改了行？不早已嫁了人？说不定已经儿女绕膝了。即令你无意间找着真是她这个人，仅只多年前开了一句玩笑，你记得她，她每夜要同多少过路客伙开玩笑，难道你给过她什么特别好处，她能死记住你这个平平常常的过客？何况你这时穿了身和服，连帽瓣子都没有，活像一个东洋人，你敢去胡闹？ Yes!他，周宏道，不只服装异众，而且在蜀通的仓船上，谁不晓得他是学界中人，四川省绅班法政学堂教习？教习者，人师也！人师是应该行端表正的，不比在日本是个学生。虽然现在已是维新时代，过上海时，听人说过，学界中人也有叫条子、吃花酒的。但那是上海。上海风气开通得早，据说四川还是十几年前那种闭塞样子。老顽固还很多，女学生走在街上看见有趣事情，不当心开口笑一笑，立刻就谣言蜂起。在这种不开通、不文明的地方，身当人师的人，哪敢不慎独？ what!真果是独！全个仓船，至少也可以说是仓船的上层，简直只有他一个人！几个巨商豪贾和几个有顶戴的人，都雇着三片桨的划子过万县城去了。天顺祥二管事也放下身份，穿了身花洋布汗衣裤，打扮得像平常人样，怂恿尹希贤也脱去长衫，学他的样子把一条发辫盘在额脑上；两个人鬼鬼祟祟地就溜上小船。看样子，两个家伙绝不是去干什么好事的。因为那只小船不卖茶，不卖酒，不卖别样东西，也没有胡琴三弦音声，篷底下有仓门，门上悬有布帘，而且两个人钻进篷底不久，那船便悄悄密密向陈家坝岸边荡去。夜色很黑，不知是放乎中流呢，还是藏舟芦底？ 周宏道忽然想到尹希贤说过：“目前鸦片烟只管在严禁，但大家都是老瘾，哪能一时戒得干净？尤其在四川，到处都有办法可想，只要掩得过耳目，也就可以了！” “原来两个瘾哥是想办法去了！”他笑了笑。 回到舱房，从网篮里把洋蜡取出，划洋火点燃。烛光一下就照见摊在小几上的讲义稿子。是改写的一章，葛寰中看过说：“满用得。只是日本式的文句微嫌多了点。”但又接着说：“不要再改，必这样，也才显得你的资格老。那些二四先生们有意模仿，还没这样天然哩。并且将来也可使那班老爷学生们相信这些话绝非你的杜撰，确确实实是日本人说的，即令有些不对，他们也不敢哼一声的。” 这更给了他勇气。便一屁股坐下，拔出笔，展开纸，翻出日文书。又专心致志，东一段西一段地抄写起来。 抄得如此专心，以致葛寰中沉重的脚步走进舱房，才使他警觉过来。 “回来得早啦！” “并不早。城里已快打二更锣了。” 舱房真小，四个人挤在一处，简直不能回旋。 “何喜把洗脸水舀到餐室去。宏道，我们到餐室去坐一会，让他们好收拾。”他由张录帮着，从头到脚换了一身，脱下的衣帽丢满了两张铺，地上还摆了几篓子东西，大概是陆知县送的。 “等我点一支洋蜡去。” “用不着，有灯。是洋油灯，很亮。” 餐室里果已点了一盏样子很别致的保险灯。大约因为客人们已有回船来的，茶房才点上了。 葛寰中稀里呼噜洗过脸，光穿一件纺绸汗衣，咂着雪茄烟笑道：“城里气候真不同。尤其是在老陆的签押房，不住出毛毛汗。因为老陆怕风，三面的窗子全关上了，我又不便叫人打开，受累之极！” 原来陆知县在成都强勉戒脱烟瘾之后，身体越来越坏。宝丰票号大管事是山西太谷县人，便介绍给他一样大补药，是太谷特产，叫龟龄集。据说有吉林野参，有关东鹿茸，而最珍贵的，唯有山西省才有的叫万年碧血。这药，口口相传是古战场地下沉淀凝结成块的人血。这药，既补气血，又补元阳，为鸦片烟瘾戒后培养身体的圣药。票号朋友真不骗人，陆知县才照仿单服了两天，不但鸦片烟戒后最可怕的遗精病症一下子治好；同时精神焕发，食欲顿开，光在早晨起床后，便非复一碗燕窝可以顶事，而晚间就寝前，还得吃一碗家乡特制点心煮饵块和一汤碗嫩鸡汤。不想接署万县县缺以来，情形就变了。首先容易感染伤风，其次是咳嗽，咳到咽喉发紧，咳到喘气。一个高明医生说，父母大老爷身体过于虚弱，加以公务繁剧，气血两亏，仍宜重用补药。另一个高明医生却以为既有外感，理宜暂停补药，龟龄集尤不可常服，常服则阳亢，阳气外浮，真阴内亏，恐怕还会引起其他病症。两位医生的话都有道理，听谁的是呢？经太太、姨太太、大少爷、大少奶奶、大舅老爷、二舅老爷，还有什么姑老爷、姑少爷、表老爷、表少爷一伙最有关系的好人，商量又商量，还是听信头一位高明医生的话为是。因为陆知县身体虚弱，公务繁剧，尽人而知，并非设想。因此，龟龄集加倍服用，参芪术水药，天王补心丸丸药，也不断给陆知县灌下去。灌得陆知县寝不安席，食不甘味，天气越热，越是畏风怯冷。甚至像葛寰中这样亲密同寅，现又正在风头上的老朋友，路过县城，纡尊降贵来拜会主人，无论为公为私，当主人的难道不该欢天喜地来迎入内室？难道不该欢天喜地叫官厨房赶办一台夜宵，叫小厨房精备几色小菜，把家乡的重升酒拿出，缓斟低酌，借以谈心到三更时分，亲送上船，握手依依而别？就由于病体难支，精神疲惫，主人只好再三道歉，客人也因禁不住毛毛汗出得不止，只好再三安慰而后坐上陆知县大轿，由陆知县的门稿大爷、签稿二爷，率领一伙壮班差役，排成对子，火把灯笼送到码头。本来还要替主人直送上船，并派两只红船到蜀通旁边来巡更守夜的，是葛寰中再三不答应，几乎生了气说：“你们一定要这样干，那是替你们贵上大老爷得罪了我。回去问问你们贵上大老爷，就知道我历来讨厌这些臭排场的。”这才免了。 葛寰中连连摇头说道：“看这位寅翁的病况，只怕等不及我回省禀到，这万县就要迎接新官了。”接着又叹了一声：“我们这位寅翁的官运，也实在欠亨！说起他来，不仅和王采臣是同乡，并且是乡试同年。他大挑到四川的时候，王采臣也以知县外放。到而今差不多近二十年，他差缺虽未断过，到底还是一个知县。而王采臣哩，居然闹到护理四川总督。新学家不信命运，然而遇着这样的事，除了命运，又有什么好说呢？” 从窗户间已听不见河下那些嘶哑而不圆熟的女歌声。大约二更锣真个响过，花船都已开到县城那岸。卖酒卖茶的船一定还在，因为回到仓船上的旅客还不多，偶尔尚传来了几声五魁八马。 葛寰中把烟灰弹了弹，又站起来走了两步，接着说道：“听老陆讲起来，王采臣的运气也不算佳！才摸着总督的关防，还没摸热，就碰着了铁路国有政策。……嗨！宏道，正要告诉你，成都的绅士们已经闹起来了！……老陆得到省信说，带头闹起的是咨议局议绅们，其次是川汉铁路公司董事局的绅董，和一班铁路公司驻省股东代表等，借口说收回川汉铁路，是违反了先皇帝的谕旨。又说，照法律讲，这种大事不经资政院会议，不经咨议局同意，是不生效的。……宏道，你是专门学法政的，依你看呢？” “现在还不能判断，因为收回商办铁路，把铁路作为国有政策的上谕，我没看见，只凭尹委员说了个大概，也不清楚……” “啊！说到尹希贤这人倒还能干。老半天没见他，哪里去了？找他来问问宜昌铁路局情形。有些话，李瑶琴不肯说，他当僚属的人，不用避忌，准可以说的。……何喜！去找尹委员！” “不用找！找也找不着。我看见他同天顺祥那位仁兄坐小船走了。”周宏道迟疑了一下，才又笑着说道：“要回来的。或许还有一会儿。……请你说下去，成都那面，闹得厉害不？” “就是闹得厉害啰！老陆说，已经开过几场会，每场都是几百人。甚至成群结队步行到南院上，要求王采臣不要奉旨查账。又要求王采臣出面奏参盛宣怀、端方……” “端方？这人好像还有名望，也是个新派，怎么牵连到铁路国有上去了？” “我也是才晓得的，端午桥放了川汉、粤汉铁路督办大臣了。我在京时，听见他拿出几十万元在钻门路，我以为他想开复总督缺哩。恰巧赵次珊调任东三省总督，让出了四川总督的缺，要逐鹿，正是时候。却未料到他才钻得了这么一个差使！当然，盛杏荪要借重他，也有之，这人委实是个新派。从前五大臣奉旨出洋考察宪政，被革命党吴樾在北京车站一颗炸弹，人没炸着，五大臣的名声却炸出来了。端午桥便是其中之一。他以新派起家，做到直隶总督，却也以新派出拐，把总督弄丢了不算，还几乎弄到斫头。” “哦！是了，想起来了，就是前年的事。日本报纸上大登而特登过的。某家新闻还特别作了篇时评，指名批评隆裕太后顽固专制，没有丝毫新脑筋。批评说，在慈禧太后光绪皇帝出殡的仪仗跟前派人照个相，本是文明国家的寻常事，就以专制帝国的俄罗斯来说，像举行这种大典时，岂独听凭臣民照相，甚至还准许翻印在新闻纸上，或者翻印成为画幅，让大家买去作为纪念品。为何正在效法东西洋文明君宪的大清国政府却还这等顽固，而把这种文明举措，认为是对君上的大不敬，仍然牢抱着中国数千年腐败透顶、不值文明人之一笑的制度，来加人以不赦之罪？直隶总督端方幸为满洲亲贵，方得仅仅被处以撤职永不叙用。像这样专制守旧的措施，怎不叫文明国人为之齿冷？批评得很毒辣，却也深深博得了几千中国留学生的称赞，认为像这样事情，真个太不文明。不仅专制守旧，简直是野蛮人也干不出的。端方虽丢了官，反而得了好名声……” 葛寰中眨着眼睛，从保险灯光中，看得出他对端方的故事，好像别有见解似的。周宏道只好把未说完的话忍在喉咙里，张着一张大口待他说。 “日本人的话，对固然对，”葛寰中果然接着话头说了起来，“但也不尽对。因为我们中国毕竟还是君主专制政体，人君至尊无上，你无故冒犯了宸严，当然就蒙了大不敬的重罪。日本人只晓得菲薄别国的不对，他们却忘记了日本宪法就明明载着：日本天皇神圣不可侵犯。我们且不理落这些，即以端午桥派人照相一事来说，我们不妨承认在奉安大典中间，派人照几张相，是文明举动。但端午桥身为直隶总督，又到过欧洲考察过，难道不知道在人君面前照相，是中国历来所无？中国人君的御容，管他在生或死后，你不得到俞允，怎么可以随便拍照？无论如何说法，端午桥在派人照相之前，应该顾到中国的体统，必先具折奏明方对。即使具奏不及，也应该请内大臣面奏明白，这样，才叫作识大体。端午桥之所以弄到不识大体，大约就在过于趋新！……而今，起复了，偏偏开张不利，尚没出京便遭到我们四川人——不，只能说是成都绅士的反对，这还不是命运攸关吗？” “依你看，成都绅士为什么要反对？” “那还不明白吗？即是说，这种大事，为什么事前不拿来同我们商量一下？既然不先商量，便不许你独行独断，我们就要反对。这道理，多浅显。总而言之，自从咨议局开办以来，绅权是大大伸张了，国家的事，地方的事，无大无小，都要过问的。” “那么，也只是闹一闹就完了。” “当然啰！”葛寰中斩钉截铁地说。同时，从何喜手上接过一支已经只剩半截的雪茄烟，一面咂，一面接着道：“也有点奇怪。为什么老陆已接到省信好几天，我在宜昌还没听见李瑶琴谈起？你在尹委员口里，可曾听说成都开会的事情没有？……也没有！……嗯！说不定风潮已是过去了。本来，四川人也是只有五分钟热度的，也是一盘散沙的，何况外债已经借定，中国政府可以失信于人民，怎能失信于外国呢？”