dhibooks Chapter 253 is negotiable!
Chapter 253 is negotiable!
how is it?
It's definitely not that great!
Zhou Qiheng closed his eyes.
When it opened its eyes again, it looked as if it had finally bitten something off.
He turned his head and looked at the secretary of the department.
"Bring me the pen."
The secretary was taken aback: "Representative Zhou?"
"I said, bring me the pen."
This time the voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.
The secretary's face turned pale. He wanted to say something more, but Zhou Qiheng was no longer looking at him.
Hu Qiankuan pushed a pen on the table towards him, his smile carrying a deeper meaning.
"Representative Zhou, please."
Zhou Qiheng picked up his pen and remained silent for a couple of breaths.
Then write the first line on the paper:
"The Southern Northern Expedition delegation came to the Southeast only to discuss the Northern Expedition's transit through the region and the military supply regulations."
He paused for a moment as he wrote this.
It's like cutting something cleanly and decisively in your mind.
When I put pen to paper again, it was quick.
"Anyone who conducts unauthorized reconnaissance, relays messages, spreads rumors, leaks information through newspapers, tests coastal defenses by using merchant ships, or launders bills through trading companies is not authorized by this organization and will not be recognized by this organization."
The secretary finally panicked.
"Representative Zhou! You can't write it like that!"
"cannot?"
Zhou Qiheng raised his head, his eyes showing a hint of genuine anger for the first time.
"Then tell me, how should I write it?"
"Is it all a misunderstanding? Is it all just the subordinates being ignorant? Or is it that a Southeast Asian ship suddenly developed a brain and went to put up Fujian warning lines at night, handing the Japanese a knife handle?"
The secretary was momentarily speechless from his thrusts.
Zhou Qiheng ignored him and continued writing.
"The relevant individuals involved in the case will be dealt with by the South. The evidence held by the Southeast can be transferred for future reference in accordance with the negotiation procedures."
After writing the last stroke, he put down the pen.
The room was so quiet that even breathing sounded harsh.
Hu Qiankuan glanced at the statement and clicked his tongue.
"Representative Zhou's move was quite forceful."
Zhou Qiheng looked exhausted.
"If we don't make the cut soon, it'll be someone else's turn to make the cut."
Chen Zijun then reached out and picked up the statement.
He read it through from beginning to end, his expression remaining unchanged.
Then he nodded.
"Can."
The secretary, as if grasping at a straw, immediately said:
"Young Marshal, now that this statement has been written, shouldn't we...?"
"Is that all?"
Chen Zijun finished the second half of his sentence for him.
The secretary choked on her words and didn't dare to answer.
Chen Zijun gently put down the statement, his voice remaining steady.
"You're overthinking it."
"I can give it to Representative Zhou in a respectable way."
"You'll have to chop off your own dirty hands."
As he spoke, he pulled out the draft of the Southeast Transit Charter and placed it next to the statement.
"This statement was published in the newspaper along with the draft of the bylaws."
"Since you say the delegation only talks about the Northern Expedition's passage through the area, then please have Representative Zhou tell the outside world as well."
"We can talk if we can pass through this passage."
"Testing the waters won't work."
"The Northern Expedition must be conducted with dignity."
"But the Southeast also has its own dignity."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Qiheng felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
He understood.
Chen Zijun has given him a way out.
But this path to survival wasn't given away for free.
He was to publicly cut off the filthiest hand that Chang Hsi had extended, and show it to the world.
Zhou Qiheng remained silent for a long time before finally whispering:
"it is good."
"I accept this statement."
"I won't stop the articles of association from being made public."
"But I would also like to ask the young marshal to leave a message."
Chen Zijun looked at him.
"you say."
Zhou Qiheng slowly opened his mouth:
"Not everyone in the Northern Expedition delegation wanted to use the cause for personal gain."
"There are still some people who really want to fight this war in the north."
The room was quiet for a couple of breaths.
Hu Qiankuan remained silent.
Shen Li didn't say anything either.
Chen Zijun looked at Zhou Qiheng for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"You don't need to ask me for that."
"I've always known."
"Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here writing this statement today."
Zhou Qiheng was startled.
He didn't say anything more, but slowly pushed the statement out.
It was as if something had been pushed away.
It's like starting today, finally knowing which line I should stand on and which line I should stand on.
Guangzhou, Confidential Office.
The afternoon wind was very stuffy.
The window was closed, but the cigarette smoke continued.
The secretary from the Chang faction stood at the table and read out the statement sent back from Shanghai word by word, sweat almost dripping down his forehead.
No one made a sound in the room for a moment.
Chiang Kai-shek sat behind the table, his face expressionless, and simply took the paper and looked at it with his eyes down.
Looked for a long time.
So long that the confidential staff inside didn't dare to breathe too loudly.
After a long while, he finally put the paper down.
"Zhou Qiheng certainly knows how to save face."
The secretary said cautiously:
"Principal, with this statement out, Guangjicheng is probably doomed. Representative Zhou has also been cut off from our secret network."
Chiang Kai-shek did not respond immediately.
He simply pressed his fingertips onto the paper, as if he were pressing down on some kind of fire.
"Cut it open?"
"Let's just cut it."
"Anyway, we never really expected that the Guangjicheng Railway could really overturn the Southeast."
The secretary looked up, carefully observing his expression.
"So, what's the next step...?"
Chiang Kai-shek finally raised his eyes.
There was no rage in those eyes, only a chilling stillness.
"Since Chen Zijun is so fond of rules, let's talk to him about rules."
"Since he cares so much about the title, then let's give him the title."
The secretary was taken aback: "Give him the title?"
Chiang Kai-shek slowly leaned back, a faint, cold smile even appearing on his lips.
What is the Southeast region most afraid of right now?
"I'm not afraid of being criticized by tabloids, I'm not afraid of my business being overturned, I'm not afraid of a single Southeast Asian ship getting on the line."
"What it fears is that once it takes over the title, others will use that title to their advantage; but if it doesn't take over the title, outsiders can continue to use the phrase 'establish a separate system' to pressure it."
As he said this, he picked up a pen and wrote only four words on the paper.
Talk about status.
After finishing writing, he paused, then added a sentence below:
"We can first discuss the name of the reorganization of the Southeast Area Army, and then discuss the level of military and political affiliation."
The secretary felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the words.
The meaning couldn't be clearer.
Here's a decent-looking hat for you.
Then see if you're willing to slowly lower your head after putting it on.
Chiang Kai-shek put down his pen and said calmly:
"Send it to Shanghai."
"Tell them that since the Southeast wants to maintain its dignity, then the Central Government will grant it that dignity."
"But once the hat is on, whether the neck can remain so stiff is not up to the individual to decide."
No one in the room dared to respond.
Only the secretary bowed her head and responded with a single, soft sound.
"Yes."
The telegram was sent out quickly.
At the same moment, in the temporary command center for coastal defense in Fuzhou, the sound of new telegram codes rang out again.
Tap tap. Tap tap tap.
After Shen Li finished copying the telegram, he only glanced at it twice before looking up at Chen Zijun.
"Young Marshal."
"Guangzhou has responded."
Chen Zijun was standing in front of the map, his fingertip hovering over the southeastern region where Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Anhui, and Fujian were connected.
"read."
Shen Li took a breath and whispered:
"We can first discuss the name of the reorganization of the Southeast Area Army, and then discuss the level of military and political affiliation."
The room fell silent.
The sky outside the window was finally fully bright.
The sea also brightened.
Chen Zijun suddenly laughed.
"it is good."
"Finally, the main dishes are on the table."
Shen Li looked at him.
"Young Marshal, this hat might not be easy to wear."
Chen Zijun withdrew his hand from the map and slowly turned around.
Whether the hat is comfortable to wear or not is not important.
"The important thing is, whoever tries to use the pretext of handing me a hat to reach for my neck. We're not afraid of enemies, but we need to know who they are. What we need to do is make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible—that's the only way!"
He paused for a moment, and the smile in his eyes completely vanished.
Tell Shanghai.
"We can talk..."