Chapter 715 714 [Medal Is to Be Issued Again]

Just two months ago, China and France opened air routes, allowing people to fly from Guangzhou to Vietnam and then transfer from Vietnam to France.

Of course, Zhou Hexuan didn't dare to take his wife on an intercontinental plane. It would be fun if he fell down, so he would just take the train and then take the sea route.

Along the way, Kang Ze was looking for opportunities to talk, wanting to know the specific situation between Zhou Hexuan and Hitler. Zhou Hexuan was fooling around and making fun of him. He only said that he had a good conversation with Hitler and never mentioned anything about the three-eyed clan.

This guy Kang Ze has blood on his hands, and tens of thousands of innocent people died under his orders. In terms of the level of cruelty and bloodshed, Dai Li was not worthy of carrying Kang Ze's shoes, and even if he was shot a hundred times, he would still deserve to die.

Zhou Hexuan always stayed away from this kind of people and had no interest in dealing with them.

Of course, he couldn't offend him. Zhou Hexuan tried his best to keep a distance, using writing articles as an excuse to lock himself in the cabin all day long and not show up.

They took a fast boat this time and arrived in Shanghai in just three weeks.

The market in Shanghai was in a depression. Due to the financial crisis caused by the silver crisis, the light industry in the entire middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River tended to collapse, and the cotton spinning industry directly regressed back to the period of the Revolution of 1911. Take the cotton yarn industry in Shanghai as an example. More than 80% of the products traded on the market are Japanese products, and only a few domestic brands such as "Shenxin" can survive.

The reason is simple. The silver crisis led to a shortage of money, factory capital chains were broken, national enterprises went bankrupt, and Japanese goods took the opportunity to invade the Chinese market.

The four major families not only made a lot of money through currency reform, but also used administrative orders to exploit huge profits. For example, in tea and fishery, the government imposes control over transportation and marketing. To put it bluntly, it uses political means to achieve industry monopoly.

The businessmen were almost driven crazy. The tea king Tang Jishan we mentioned earlier directly led 14 tea shops to rebel and resolutely resisted the government order. Major fishing companies and ordinary fishermen also insist on operating freely and ignore the government's orders.

Shanghai's transportation industry has also collapsed, including shipping companies from Britain, the United States, France and other countries, and their business has plummeted. On the one hand, the reason is the economic downturn, and on the other hand, smuggling in North China is so serious that North China has almost become a no-care zone. Many southern goods are simply transported north along the railway and then smuggled out to sea. Imported goods are also basically smuggled to Tianjin and then shipped across the country.

Shanghai, the most prosperous city in the Far East, has become lifeless, with industry, commerce, finance, and real estate collapsing across the board.

People's lives have become increasingly difficult. While the silver dollar and legal currency are depreciating day by day, people's income has been declining year by year. In 1932, the daily wage of Shanghai silk factory workers was 6 cents. In 1933, it became 50 cents and 1 cent. In 1934, it dropped to 30 cents and 8 cents. In 1935, it barely rose back to 4 cents.

Now, a general strike is brewing in Shanghai. If wages are not raised, workers will starve to death.

Just as Zhou Hexuan returned to China, there was another turmoil in the left-wing literary world, and a dispute emerged between "popular literature of the national revolutionary war" and "national defense literature." The specific content is a bit sensitive, so it is not convenient for us to describe it in detail. Anyway, it was the left-wing literati who started the quarrel.

Faced with the Japanese invaders' increasing pressure and at the time of national crisis, the "Left-Left Alliance" voluntarily disbanded at the beginning of the year.

Left-wing writers, led by Lu Xun, called for abandoning political stance and speaking out unanimously. Lu Xun and Guo Moruo believed that all writers who did not want to be traitors should unite under the banner of resisting Japan and saving the nation. No matter who they were originally, as long as they did not want to be traitors, they should unite on one front. As for literary creation, it’s fine to write about anything, preferably related to national defense. It doesn’t matter if you don’t write about personnel affairs directly related to national defense. However, one should criticize each other, and the proletariat reserves the right to criticize.

This marked the end of the "Left-Left Alliance Period" in the history of modern Chinese literature and officially entered the stage of "anti-Japanese war literature".

Zhou Hexuan hurriedly hurriedly rushed, but still failed to attend the founding meeting of the "National Federation for National Salvation from All walks of life", so he could only donate 100,000 yuan in a private name to save the country.

Since the "December 9th Movement", the whole country has launched a wave of anti-Japanese and national salvation, completely ignoring the Nanjing government's call to "unity and friendship".

Various non-governmental anti-Japanese groups sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. There were countless people who took to the streets and openly shouted anti-Japanese slogans. The Kuomintang agents and police simply could not catch them. In newspapers, the words "anti-X" appeared more and more frequently, and many patriots spontaneously went to the north to join the army to fight against Japan.

By June 1936, any Chinese with any brains knew that if they did not rise up to resist, the country would be destroyed!

When the "war faction" was in high spirits, the "peace faction" represented by Wang Zhaoming also became more active, and Hu Shi was also a firm "peace faction".

However, the "peace advocates" are also divided into two types. One kind believes that there is a huge disparity in power between China and Japan, and China is not yet ready for a war of resistance and should slow down its efforts. Among them, Hu Shi is a typical example. The other type is unpredictable and has other ideas, such as Wang Zhaoming.

At this time, Wang Zhaoming had been beaten to the end by Chiang Kai-shek and had no real power at all, but he kept shouting "peace" and jumped up and down. Most of Wang Zhaoming's followers are losers in political struggles, and they must regain power through "peace".

…

Nanjing, Qilu.

Kang Ze stomped the floor and stood at attention, saluting: "Reporting to the commission, Kang Ze, a humble official, has been ordered to return!"

"Zhao Min, there's no need to be formal," Chang Kaishen said with a friendly smile, "Sit down quickly."

"Yes! I humbly obey my orders!"

Kangze saluted again, bent down and sat down, as if squatting on a horse, with his butt just touching the sofa.

Chang Kaishen asked, "Did you gain anything from studying in Germany this time?"

Kang Ze stood up suddenly, holding a booklet in both hands and handed it over: "Commitment, this is the learning experience of a humble position."

"sit down."

Chang Kaishen took the booklet but did not open it, but asked: "Tell me briefly."

Kangze sat back on the sofa again, straightened his back and said: "Reporting to the committee, I was in Germany this time and inspected the structure, regulations and operations of the Nazi SS. They have strict duties and levels, and everything is modeled on the German Army. .For example, the National Commander-in-Chief of the SS is equivalent to an army general, and an ordinary SS member is equivalent to an army private. I believe that this is of great reference significance, and the Lixingshe Rangers should also develop detailed levels..."

"Well," Chang Kaishen interrupted forcefully, "You have a good idea. You should rectify the duties of the Rangers. What else is there?"

Kang Ze suddenly realized something, sweating crazily on his forehead. He seemed to have violated Chiang Kai-shek's taboo. Kang Ze wanted to develop the Lixingshe Rangers into China's "SS", but Chiang Kai-shek was obviously unwilling to breed another evil tiger.

The separation of powers in the Lanyi Club has finally reached a balance. As long as Kang Ze dares to take more power, he will be completely abandoned by Chang Kaishen.

Kang Ze couldn't help wiping his sweat and said: "On this trip to Germany, I was deeply infected by the discipline, obedience and patriotism of the Nazis. I believe that the authority of leaders should be strengthened in China so that all citizens can unite under Under the banner of the Chairman..."

Kang Ze talked for a full seven or eight minutes. He was just trying to imitate Hitler and strengthen Chiang Kai-shek's dictatorial rule.

Chang Kaishen was very satisfied with this, nodded and said: "You are still very productive in your study this time."

Kang Ze finally felt relieved and couldn't help wiping his sweat again and said, "Commissioner, I got some news when I returned to China. I don't know whether I should report it."

"Speak." Chang Kaishen said.

Kangze said: "I saw with my own eyes in my humble position that Hitler's personal secretary saw off Zhou Hexuan and gave him a pistol designed by Hitler himself. Hitler repeatedly tried to persuade Zhou Hexuan to stay and invited Zhou Hexuan to serve as an adviser to the head of state. He seemed to attach great importance to Zhou Hexuan. Commission, This is the treatment of a national teacher!"

"National Master?" Chang Kaishen's expression seemed to be smiling but not smiling, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

After sending Kang Ze away, Chang Kaishen immediately asked someone to send a transoceanic telegram asking Cheng Tianfang what was going on.

Cheng Tianhui called back and said that Hitler attached great importance to Zhou Hexuan. He not only awarded him the Reich Chancellor Medal, but also responded to Zhou Hexuan's requests. The two should have become close personal friends.

Chang Kaishen was a little confused for a moment, but he did not dare to underestimate Zhou Hexuan. At least Zhou Hexuan can be used to strengthen diplomatic relations with Germany, and maybe it can come in handy at critical times.

After thinking for a moment, Chang Kaishen called the attendant secretary: "Let's make arrangements. I want to award Zhou Hexuan the First Class Qingyun Medal."

Before the Kuomintang defeated Taiwan, among all non-combat medals, the "Jade Medal" was the highest level, followed by the "Qingyun Medal".

The first-class jade medal is only awarded to heads of state at home and abroad, so Zhou Hexuan only received the second-class jade medal. Now Chiang Kai-shek directly awards the First-Class Qing Yun Medal, which is definitely a great "gift". As long as Zhou Hexuan wears the First-Class Qing Yun Medal on his chest, the entire Kuomintang-controlled area can walk sideways.

The Qingyun Medal is divided into nine levels and is awarded to civil servants with outstanding merits, as well as non-civil servants and foreigners who have made great contributions to the country and society. Zhou Hexuan won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Logically speaking, he must express it. It just depends on the specific medals awarded.

From the time when Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expedition was successful until now, it seems that no one has been awarded the First-Class Qingyun Medal. It was not until the victory of the Anti-Japanese War that he was about to win, and he awarded nine medals in one go.

Zhou Hexuan is considered the only one.