Nanjing, Nanjing in the 5th year of the Republic of China is not "Beijing". In China, "Beijing" means the capital. Although Nanjing was once the capital when the Republic of China was first founded, with the peace talks between the north and the south, the Qing emperor abdicated and the new temporary

President Yuan Shikai was unwilling to go to Nanjing to perform his duties, so Beijing was still regarded as the "capital" after the Republic of China. As for Nanjing, Jiangning in the Qing Dynasty was renamed Nanjing after the Republic of China, but it did not change its name and was still called "Nanjing".

But no matter how it changes, Nanjing still maintains its past prosperity because it is located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

However, in the past few years, with the rapid rise along the Longhai coast in northern Jiangsu and the industrial development in Shanghai and other areas along the Jiangkou in southern Jiangsu, Nanjing, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, has been marginalized to some extent. In terms of financial economy, it has been marginalized.

It is rivaled by Shanghai, and it is defeated by Lianyun in terms of industry. However, even so, Nanjing, as the capital of Jiangsu Province, is still the center of Jiangsu, at least the political center of Jiangsu.

Although finance is not as good as Shanghai, and industry is not as good as Lianyun, as the provincial capital, Nanjing has its own prosperity. The horns of cars and the bells of trams on Nanjing's main street mix together to make the "music of the city". Nanjing, as a

The provincial capital city of Jiangsu has been marginalized in the past few years, but it has still made great progress. At least on the surface, it is developing in the direction of a "modern city".

Public toilets and trash cans that were rarely seen in the past have appeared in this city, avoiding the chaos of the city. Asphalt has replaced the old horse teeth roads or stone roads, and even traffic lights. This new object has also

In this city, even city gas pipes began to be laid in the city. However, this change cannot change the fact that due to the legal protection of private property, the streets in Nanjing's inner city are still the old streets of the past. No matter

Compared with Shanghai or Lianyun, it seems too narrow, especially with the popularization of a large number of new means of transportation. Every day, hundreds of cars and public trams pass through the streets and alleys of this city. The streets are even more crowded.

became overcrowded.

But despite this, for many Nanjing people, they still enjoy a life that is no different from the past. In a teahouse deep in a narrow alley, although Nanjing people do not like teahouses as much as Beijing people, they can

For Chinese people, teahouses and taverns are always a good place. The business of this teahouse is obviously good. In the teahouse, waiters crowded around and shouted, "Pour tea somewhere, boil Dutch water somewhere."

There was another quarrel over the payment at the shopkeeper's counter, and the police patrolling at the gate were greeting people and "signing in" on the patrol hanging box outside the door. At this time, although

It was May, but inside the teahouse there was a smell of spicy cigarettes mixed with the odor of human sweat: they all combined and filled the teahouse.

In the lobby of the teahouse, although it was not lunch time in the morning, it was already packed with guests. In the middle of the lobby, a ladder walkway upstairs divided the lobby into two parts. The front half.

The upper part is leaning against a row of windows, close to the windows, and there are a row of flower pots outside the windows. Through the windows, the shadow and fragrance fill the half of the house; to the left is the wall, and there are also flowers placed against the wall.

There are many coffee tables and chairs, and there are also a group of tea drinkers.

As in the past, most of the people in the teahouse were talking loudly - "yarn", "cloth", "canned food", "military supplies", "flour" and other sounds, which were deafening in this teahouse. There were even more in between.

With the sound of waiters opening soda bottles, bottled Dutch water has been popping up all over the place since May.

But at the very back of the teahouse, near the ladder going upstairs, there was a man of nearly thirty years old. He was wearing a black suit and shiny black leather shoes. At this time, he was sitting alone in a chair.

Sipping the soda slowly, I kept looking at the door next to me, as if I was waiting for someone. Suddenly, a figure walked in from the door. Almost at the same time that person walked in, the man in a suit greeted him.

passed...

Wu Kaisheng was about to go upstairs to order two side dishes and warm a pot of wine as usual, when he was blocked by someone unexpectedly and was slightly startled. But when he saw the man in a suit clearly, he also

Already back to normal, he smiled and nodded and said:

"Ah, it's Councilor Fang! When did you come? - What a coincidence, what a coincidence!"

"I heard that Councilor Wu likes to do this at noon, so Fang had no choice but to stay on guard."

Fang Ruopu answered with a humble smile, but his eyes were looking at Wu Shengkai. His words had already mentioned his purpose. He came here specially to wait for him.

At this time, a voice called over:

"Ah! Councilor Wu! You are here, private room No. 2 upstairs!"

The call from the waiter immediately brought Wu Shengkai back to his senses, and then he moved his hands and asked.

"In that case, let's talk upstairs!"

When the two went upstairs, there was another young man in the teahouse. He had been sitting there, smiled slightly, glanced at the two people who went upstairs, and quickly followed them, as if

He is also waiting for something.

As soon as he entered the first floor, Wu Shengkai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said:

"Do you want to discuss the provincial constitution with me here? Well, I am indeed a layman. I'm afraid I can't help you."

As he spoke, Wu Shengkai had a look of regret on his face. As he spoke, he even glanced outside the door. The formulation of a provincial constitution in Jiangsu Province can be said to be the first of its kind in the country.

In this way, he would want to stay out of this incident.

"It's not all about this, Mr. Wu, it's better to sit down first and then talk about it."

Fang Ruopu pointed to the chair in front of him. He seemed to be the owner of this elegant room now.

"Why!"

As he spoke, Wu Shengkai frowned and sat down. From the moment he sat down, he felt strangely uncomfortable all over his body. He wanted to avoid this, but he couldn't.

Although the National Socialist Party occupies 60% of the seats in the Jiangsu Provincial Assembly, Wu Shengkai knew that they wanted to pass this "provincial constitution" with a unanimous vote, or at least close to a unanimous vote, thereby confirming the legitimacy of the provincial constitution.

He didn't want to get involved, but now he had to get involved. This situation made him quite distressed.

The private room suddenly fell silent. Although the second floor was much quieter than the first floor, there was still no room as quiet as this one. Even until the waiter followed the custom of hospitality in Wu Province in the past, he brought

After two scoops of hand dishes, one meat and one vegetable, and two cold dishes, the room was still silent as always, but in this silence, Fang Ruopu kept looking at Wu Shengkai, as if waiting for him to break the silence.

.

"Hey!... Provincial Constitution!"

Finally, he couldn't stand Fang Ruopu's gaze. Wu Shengkai broke the silence and said with a long sigh:

"This provincial constitution seems to be beneficial to the country and the people, but...but..."

After hesitating, Wu Shengkai gritted his teeth and said.

"If all the provinces have different intentions and the generals of each province have selfish motives, then the provincial constitution will be formulated. But I don't know what it will look like!"

The most fundamental reason why it is difficult for Wu Shengkai to support the provincial constitution as he did in the past is that he is not at ease with other provinces. For this reason, he did not want to get involved. If it were not for his limited influence and the power of passing the provincial constitution,

If it had been done, I'm afraid he would have spoken out against it.

Faced with Wu Shengkai's worries, Fang Ruopu smiled and nodded to Wu Shengkai; then he said slowly:

"Mr. Wu is in Jiangsu, but he has the country in his heart. Fang admires him. I admire him."

Although it seemed to be sarcastic, there was no sarcasm in the words. Wu Shengkai just sighed at the other party's praise.

"I have my country in my heart, but I can't talk about it. Although Wu is unable to stop the provincial constitution, he can at least prove his innocence. - But, Xinming, tell me. Why does the National Socialist Party insist on passing this provincial constitution this time?

?”….

Wu Shengkai's words made Fang Ruopu feel speechless. He thought for a moment and then said.

“After all, formulating a provincial constitution is for the sake of the country!”

"But can Jiangsu maintain the integrity of the provincial constitution? What will happen to the whole country? Why is it imperative that the provincial constitution be implemented?"

Smiling slightly, Fang Ruopu only gave a vague answer:

"Jiangsu first had the seven principles of constitution-making, and all constitutions it drafted were based on these."

Wu Shengkai shook his head and said.

"People's sovereignty, republican system, ensuring China's unified recognition of the central government, separation of the three powers, constraints and balance, limited government, individual rights..."

When he spoke out the seven principles that were first established when the Jiangsu Province Constitution was formulated, Wu Shengkai's voice was unusually high and even seemed a little excited. After speaking out these principles, he shook his long neck and spoke.

"These seven principles seem reasonable. As you said in parliament, the provincial constitution was formulated for two purposes - to limit the power of the government and to protect the people's freedom. This is a good intention, but... you also know,

In the eyes of Jiangsu and other provinces, especially the generals in the provinces, this provincial constitution is simply terrifying."

After pondering for a moment, Wu Shengkai added.

"Some people also say that if the provincial constitutions of all provinces in China are finalized, it will probably be the day when war will resume in China! Because the provincial generals are absolutely unwilling to watch the provincial constitutions be drawn up and watch the provincial councils use this or other provincial constitutions to seize their power!"

Regarding Wu Shengkai's worries, he just smiled and looked at the dishes on the table quietly. Finally, after the other party revealed his attitude, he pondered for a while, looked up at Wu Shengkai and said

:

"Yes, the ultimate purpose of the provincial constitution is to promote the politics of each province to be reasonable and legal! Ultimately, through people's election, we will end the central government's appointment of generals to govern. Mr. Wu, do you remember five years ago, before the Prime Minister went to the capital to take office?

, what was the political situation in China? What was our country like at that time, and what was the political situation like?"

At this point, Fang Ruopu's face flashed red; he glanced at the listener in front of him to examine the impact of his own words, but he never thought of Wu Shengkai's direct rebuttal:

"The Prime Minister has been in office for more than a year, and he has indeed contributed to China. It is indeed the Prime Minister who made China what it is today, but now... But now, if the Prime Minister continues to insist on going his own way, it will probably be counterproductive in the end?"

As if a bomb exploded around him, Fang Ruopu's expression suddenly changed. He stood up, looked around, then sat down again, forcing a smile and saying:

"Mr. Wu, you understand!"

"I don't understand? Well, now you, Fang Xinming, let me understand. Understand. When the time comes, the parliament will completely break with the generals, and the provincial parliaments will be suppressed and dissolved. In the future, when the provincial generals may use their own provincial constitutions to fight against the central government,

Why should this be..."

"This won't happen!"

Fang Ruopu replied loudly, forcing a forced smile on his face. This "declaration" shout not only moved the person in front of him, but even the original drinking orders outside were muted, while Wu Shengkai watched.

Fang Ruopu said:

"Won't it happen? Will it be the prime minister or the president who will mobilize troops at that time? In the end, I'm afraid it will be solved by force!"

Fang Ruopu did not answer, but Wu Shengkai said.

"Solve it with force. If force can really solve all problems. Why couldn't the Prime Minister just go all out and take advantage of the victory in Jiao'ao to launch the Northern Expedition?"

So in this small private room, one could only hear Wu Shengkai's eloquent talk. While he was lecturing there, in the next room, a young man less than thirty years old was holding a notebook and writing down something.
To be continued...