Chapter 120 The election begins

A few days before the election is about to be held, the booming public spirit spread across southern, eastern and northeastern China has gradually eased. Because the election is about to be held, it has attracted more attention from people who care about state affairs. After the kaleidoscope political changes in the early Republic of China and the chaos of civil and foreign wars in the early Republic of China. Many knowledgeable people have realized that expressing such a tough xenophobic attitude is inconsistent with China's current strength. The key thing is to do the things in your home first.

Improve a good formal government, stop the current split situation in China, lay off the army that has become quite large in China, and develop people's livelihood to improve people's lives. After China's true unity and stability, it has a certain strength, and it is not too late to find a way to avenge the country and avenge national humiliation. In this way, people's attention should be shifted to domestic affairs, and not let the hatred and boycott of Japan develop to the point where it cannot be controlled and ultimately affects the strategic layout. Yuchen has done a lot of work with the huge prestige he has accumulated.

He wrote a long article written by himself in the Shanghai Times. He reviewed the journey of the Jiangbei Army along the way and stated that they have always been the vanguard of the Republic of China as the nation's military force. In the Battle of Liaohe River in the Northeast, they have already achieved national prestige. However, the difficult changes in state affairs were not achieved overnight. In the near future, the Republic of China was exhausted and unwilling to expand the war. Moreover, the national election was repeatedly postponed. This is the most important thing related to the national lineage. Please believe that the temporary military affairs department, which maintains the current situation, is capable of handling negotiations and restoring a peaceful situation in the Republic of China. But if Japan is here

If there is any threat or intimidation in something, Yuchen will never give in. International friends also hope that peace will be restored between the two major countries in East Asia. For the opinions of friends, the Chinese people who have opened their eyes to see the world must also have a certain respect. The Republic of China in the future should be a peaceful Republic. As a force to safeguard domestic peace and national interests, the Jiangbei Army should always use the will of the people as its will. He finally called for the election to proceed smoothly and the peace in East Asia as soon as possible. Please believe that he can handle this incident well. Everyone should devote all their enthusiasm to the first democratically elected government in Chinese history!

While Yuchen was trying his best to appease the current hot people in the country, the United States, on the basis of the image it expressed before, formally appointed the President-authorized East Asia envoy, Mr. Firland, to mediate the Japanese-China conflict. It will conduct extensive contacts with both sides in Shanghai. It hopes to restore peace in Manchuria, and at the same time announced that it hopes that China's internal affairs will be respected sufficiently without involving the inherent rights and interests of all countries. The United States also dispatched additional Marines in Tianjin, expressing its desire to actively intervene in the incident.

The news came out, and countries responded differently. Britain believed that this matter should be resolved by China and Japan themselves, because Manchuria is a traditional Japanese right-owned area, and they do not want another war between the two countries. However, it expressed strong dissatisfaction with the United States' unilateral announcement of mediation and the failure to implement the principle of unity of the great powers that has long been in name only. However, France and Russia expressed support for the mediation of the United States and said that if the United States is willing to join, they can conduct joint mediation. Germany even expressed its strong dissatisfaction.

It expressed strong sympathy for China, believing that China occupied all moral highs in this incident. These countries expressed such an attitude and each had their own plans. France hoped to get support from the United States with great potential because of the tense situation in Europe, and expressed its agreement on this matter that had little to do with them. Russia simply because the South Manchuria was stolen from them by the Japanese. Although there was a secret agreement between Japan and Russia to divide Manchuria, Japan was unlucky in South Manchuria and had not yet had the Russo-Japanese War.

Russia, who came out of the pain, was naturally a little gloating. Moreover, China's rise restrained Japan's development in Manchuria, and also protected their Far East Special Administrative Region. As for Germany? They wished to make the British-Japanese alliance unlucky in the Far East! Their base in Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao was seriously under the threat of Britain and Japan! Germany was even discussing it. Seeing that China's rise seemed to have appeared, is it also signing a covenant with China similar to the British-Japanese alliance to restrain Britain's attention in the Far East?

With this addition and deduction, the voices in the international community actually support China more and few support Japan. Especially the elite Japanese troops that were powerful in the Russo-Japanese War were actually defeated by the Chinese army in shame! Everyone was immediately impressed by the emerging Chinese forces. Yuchen, whose influence was originally limited to the domestic and was considered by international forces to be just a warlord of the old empire in the Far East, also began to be studied by many people. Yuchen's influence was greatly improved that he himself did not expect.

As for the Japanese government, I don’t know if it’s a mess inside. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party strongly demanded that the ruling Political Association explain the incident. Why can the military headquarters be lawless and fight against the Chinese army in places that do not belong to the concession and do not belong to the exclusive economic zone of the South Manchuria Railway? Does the Japanese government have a clear policy toward China or to allow the military headquarters to act freely? Regarding the large-scale revenge announced by some people in the Political Association to promote the military's military authority. They also mocked: "If you win with a division, you may not have any voice in the country, but now you are defeated, and you have to mobilize the troops to retaliate. If you are defeated again, the whole country will declare war with China? Is this the right time?

?Does the motion to cut military expenditures that the parliament has just passed need to be added now? Is the Japanese government's policy dominated by the government or the military? Is it appropriate for us to pay attention to the situation in Europe and let Japan go to the world stage? "Why is it appropriate for the military or the Kwantung Army to do this indiscriminately?" The Japanese government was a little frightened and a little angry about the voices that are biased towards China in the international community. Although it issued a tough statement: "Manchuria and Mongolia are the lifeline of the empire, the empire's rights and interests in Manchuria and Mongolia cannot be shaken, nor can it be discussed. For international mediation voices, the empire will decide with its own attitude. The empire does not want the conflict to expand, but what approach should be taken is entirely decided by the empire."

Although that is the case, the stable and powerful people from the domestic government and military headquarters have begun to secretly investigate the Kwantung Army's behavior of not complying with military orders and acting without authorization. After the Russo-Japanese War, 2 billion yuan of national currency and 120,000 lives were consumed, and Japan's vitality has not yet recovered. The foreign debt owed in the Russo-Japanese War is still suppressing them. Due to the lack of revenue in 1912, there has been a riot in the country. Their opinions have gradually become consistent, but they can no longer fight in the Northeast! First, there is no absolute strength now, and secondly, because of the mediation attitude expressed by various countries! The key now is how to step down decently and ensure that the rights and interests of Manchuria and Mongolia cannot be lost! Now they are still worried that Yuchen will take advantage of the victory to pursue it. If the Chinese and Japanese armies on the front line fight again, they will suffer heavy losses now

If the Eastern Army suffers a great loss, then they will have no other choice when they are forced by domestic fanatical pressure! And now a war with Yuchen forces is completely in line with Japan's current interests! In addition to China's current economic resistance policy to Japan, domestic industrial product exports to China have shrunk by 27%! It is necessary to break the diplomatic deadlock with China as soon as possible! Many people have started to move behind the scenes, hoping to directly join Yuchen and solve this problem as soon as possible. Some people even proposed that accepting the US plan and negotiating in Shanghai is not an unacceptable thing. In short, from Japan, they are eager to solve this problem. The fanatical forces within the army have also taken the opportunity to carry out a little scrutiny. The situation is slowly developing in a direction of easing.

In Zhangyuan, Shanghai, a few days ago, this place was a place where the congressional candidates in Shanghai delivered speeches. Today is the day when Yuchen's election general Shen Enfu came to the stage to give a speech. Even Yuchen came to help him support his feet, expressing his attitude of hoping that the Federalist Party would win the election. When Yuchen walked into Zhangyuan, he was greeted by waves of cheers. The representatives of the congressional elections who were speaking on the stage all stopped awkwardly, and later they simply applauded and welcomed Yuchen's arrival. Yuchen was still wearing military uniforms and without a coat. Guard soldiers surrounded him, protecting him to move forward slowly among the crowd. The people of Shanghai have already regarded Yuchen as an idol on the altar, and no one else can get such a welcome in Shanghai.

Yuchen smiled and nodded to everyone frequently, his complexion and expression were surprisingly kind, and finally squeezed to the stage. Shen Enfu greeted him, holding his hand and laughed, "Master, it's rare that you can come to support the platform today. We don't have to worry about the election of parliamentary members in Shanghai. We really want you to go around every province and region where we are running for. With your face, are you still afraid that our election will not be successful?" After saying that, he laughed loudly. Yuchen saw that he was a little proud, but just smiled. Now it was the time when these federalists in his sleeves showed their faces. The glory of these party affairs was suppressed by the soldiers and administrative personnel under his command. Now they are the protagonists. The future establishment of the parliament and the formal government are all figures of the central government. Now, why don't they all lighten their bones? For whether these politicians can do state affairs well in the future?

I was really muttering a little in my heart. Some things seemed to be in my own hands. But these words could not be said to Shen Enfu, who was in high spirits. He smiled and said, "Brothers are really busy. Seeing that they are going to negotiate with Japan in Shanghai, otherwise the provinces and regions that are running for election will have to go through. I hope that the negotiations can be completed as soon as possible, and I can cheer for Mr. Shen with all my heart. In the future, Mr. Shen is the sacred representative of the people of the country, and brothers should rely more on them." Shen Enfu smiled, and was full of pride and excited in his expression. He took Yuchen's hand and went to Taichung and shouted to the people below: "Our national hero, Commander Yu, is busy with official business today, and we will also come to watch the speech of our Shanghai candidate representative. Please ask Commander Yu to say a few words? It will also add more glory to this grand ceremony today!"

The people below were cheering and applause, and those who were qualified to participate in the election of parliamentarians were qualified to participate in the voting of parliamentarians. Either they were required to have fame and honor as a scholar or above, or to hold public office in the Qing Dynasty, or to have middle-level figures with assets of more than 2,000 yuan, or to have education at a new middle school or above. The qualifications of candidates were even stricter. For the former Qing Dynasty, fame as a Juren, held public office of a county or above, with assets of more than 5,000 yuan, or to have education at a new university or above. Those who gathered in Zhangyuan were all so-called elites with constant proprietorship. The first general election of the Republic of China was not as popular as the scale. Yuchen was pulled by Shen Enfu in the center of Taiwan, and he raised his hand with a smile on his face, signaling everyone to calm down.

"Brothers raised their troops from Shanghai to participate in the liberation. They also held a ceremony to celebrate the liberation of Shanghai. The elders of Shanghai love Yu. How dare Yu forget Yu in this life? Yu has been working hard along the way to see the appearance of this scene today. A new government that represents the will of our people is about to be established and occupies the shore of East Asia! It is because of all this that Yu is hard to come by, that Yu is determined to use his life to maintain the new Republic of China we created with our own hands!" The people below did not care about the deep hidden meaning in Yuchen's words. They just cheered blindly. Yuchen, a young hero who has been mythology, is always proud of the guards coming and going to Shanghai, standing on the stage with a smile like this.

It is a rare scene to deliver speeches to the people. Looking at him standing tall on the stage, full of military spirit, thinking about his heroic deeds that have become legends. The cheers from the audience have sounded, and some young students now only know how to shout his name, but have forgotten what Zhang Yuan’s theme is today. Several Kuomintang election representatives who were also preparing to deliver speeches on the stage today looked complicated. The force Yuchen and the force he created had already won the hearts of the people with a storm-like attitude. If the election wins with the federal party he created, then will there be any force that restricts him in this country?

Yuchen changed his breath and smiled brighter: "The Constitution is being drafted now, and the organizational form of the government is also being drafted. All of this requires the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives, composed of national representatives elected by everyone. The future heads of state and government are also elected or directly generated by these national representatives! In other words, the future of the Republic of China is now in the hands of us citizens. Please cherish the sacred vote in your hands and fulfill your responsibilities as citizens of the Republic of China! Brothers are not here to cheer for any specific party. I believe that our dear citizens will naturally have their own wise choices!" He paused at this point, as if he was waiting for a higher cheering voice. After so many hours of training, he had mastered the people's hearts.

Finally, he raised his hand again, and the expression on his face became extremely solemn. The people below looked at his expression, slowly lowered their voices, and finally became silent. Yuchen was silent for a long time, and finally spoke: "In such a happy day for the people of the people, I always remembered the kind-hearted and ambitious people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of national dignity and national peace since the resurrection. In the northeast, there are still 30,000 soldiers in the ice and snow, brave the enemy's cannon fodder, and sacrificed their lives for the future destiny of the country! Their heroes will always be passed down to us, and the responsibilities they have given will always be remembered by us.

I hereby urge all the dearest citizens not to forget them! Don’t forget the glorious group they represent, and don’t forget the ideal they strive for, which is to let this country truly wash away the fortune of a century of destruction and rise again in the forest of nations in the world!" Amid the sudden burst of huge cheers, Yuchen simply saluted, turned around and walked towards his seat, and sat down with a smile. At this time, the atmosphere in Zhangyuan had become like an explosion, and the sound was almost overturning the roof. Everyone was rushing towards the front, wanting to look at Yuchen closer. These powerful and inspiring words seemed to be the only young general on the stage in China that could say it!

The candidates on the stage also clapped with thoughts. Shen Enfu took out a snow-white handkerchief and wiped the excited sweat from his face while smiling proudly. Yuchen said a few words, looking at the public spirit. It’s a pity that he couldn’t show off in every constituency where the Federal Party participated in the election! Several representatives of the Kuomintang and other parties were smiling awkwardly. Yuchen had already made a clear idea that these citizens should not forget the glorious group represented by these national heroes. Fortunately, he claimed that he did not support which side. In Shanghai, it seems that all the representative seats are not their share!

Starting from February 15, 1913, the general election finally officially kicked off in China. The country was divided into 22 constituencies, including Zhili, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Hunan, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, Fengtian, Shandong, etc., formed separate election provinces, Heilongjiang and Jilin formed Liaohei constituencies, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Ningxia, formed northwest constituencies, Rehe Chahar and Inner and Outer Mongolia formed special constituencies, Shanghai also listed a single constituency, Beijing and Tianjin formed a constituency. The numbers of each province vary in size, totaling 583.

The House of Representatives, with a fixed quota of five people in each constituency, has generated 110 senators. In the way of electing senators to elect heads of state, it is obvious that Yuchen has brought a lot of his own private goods, such as Shanghai alone, and some provinces merged. It is expected that Yuchen will have a considerable advantage in the election of senators, and it is not yet known which party will have the advantage in the election of the Representatives. After all, Yuchen's power is only between six or seven provinces. Although other political forces cannot challenge him in military terms, their profound influence in the local area still plays a role.

The general election is to prepare for twenty days, so that the representatives of the candidates can express their own program of elections and make enough effort to save face. However, at this time, it is the busiest and tense time of the centers of various parties, and to win over powerful representatives and exchange interests. For representatives of the organs and groups who have many sources of votes, the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce are trying their best to get close to each other. On March 18, it was the time when the voting points in the middle-sized and above cities in various provinces officially accepted the vote. Therefore, Yuchen had passed the Interim Military Affairs Department and the Southern Lin.

At that time, the Senate, the Central Provisional Senate Transitional Committee and other institutions wrote a national document, requiring local military and political authorities to do their best to protect the smooth progress of the voting. The election preparatory committee, composed of the Southern Provisional Senate and the Central Provisional Senate Transitional Committee, went to various provinces to count votes after the ten-day voting time. This behavior may also ensure a certain degree of fairness, and of course, it is only a certain degree. Yuchen only hopes that, including the provinces and regions under his control, everyone's appearance should not be too ugly.

The vote counting results will be announced on April 6, and then elected representatives from various provinces can gather in Shanghai to take office. Form a formal parliament and discuss how the formal government forms a cabinet, elects the head of state, and where the capital is located. It is estimated that the new government will be established soon. What is the political map of the Republic of China will be roughly determined. Of course, there are those who are successful and those who are disappointed. But Yuchen believes that he has controlled the election to such an extent through various institutions and methods, and he will not be one of the losers. All of this is just a formal name for his future rule.
Chapter completed!