Chapter 76 Zhang Zizhong's Calculation

  The 29th Army wants to hold the Wing Inspection area, and the importance of Tanggu Port is self-evident - not to mention its commercial value, but from a strategic perspective, as the throat of the Haihe River, Tanggu, also known as the "Gate of the Capital", is absolutely indispensable.

  After the Second Opium War, the Qing government was forced by foreign powers to open Tianjin as a commercial port. Although this was a humiliating move, it also led to the development of Tianjin's shipping industry. The construction of the Beiyang Navy's Dagukou Shipyard in 1880 further accelerated this development. In addition, the extension of the Beijing-Qinhuangdao Railway from Tanggu to Tianjin in 1888 provided favorable conditions for the modern industrial development of Tianjin and made it possible for Tianjin to become a major industrial center in northern China.

  Here, two people must be mentioned. One is the famous patriotic entrepreneur Fan Xudong, who founded the Jida Salt Refinery in Tanggu in 1914 and built Asia's first soda ash factory, Yongli Soda Ash Factory, three years later, making Tianjin gradually become the chemical industry base of North China; Another person is the famous chemist, Dr. Hou Debang, who created the Hou method for producing soda ash - this man can be said to be a pioneer in China's chemical industry. Under his leadership, the "Red Triangle" brand pure soda ash produced by Yongli Soda Ash Factory was once renowned worldwide.

  Ouyang Yun attaches great importance to Tanggu, on the one hand, it is due to its special geographical conditions, which is the only sea entrance that the 29th Army can use. On the other hand, it is also because of its special position in China's chemical industry.

  He saw that everyone was eagerly looking at him, and he said seriously: "I don't dare to guarantee that other things can't be made by other countries, but penicillin should be very difficult for them to master in one or two years. And the importance of penicillin is self-evident, we can define it as a 'strategic material', and then make an article on export quotas, let them cooperate with us to implement military control over Tanggu Port."

  The term "export quota" is a new term, but its meaning is very clear. Everyone understands it as soon as they hear it. Song Zheyuan smiled and asked: "Do you mean to coerce those foreigners with the number of exports?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "However, what about the Japanese? Are we going to sell it to them too? That would be raising a tiger in our backyard! I saw on the instructions for penicillin that it's particularly effective in treating infectious diseases and injuries. Doesn't that mean we're curing our enemies and helping them recover?"

  Everyone who heard this looked at Song Zheyuan and then at Ouyang Yun, wondering how they would handle the matter.

  Song Zheyuan felt that this was a tricky issue, but he had already communicated with Ouyang Yun before and thought that selling to the Japanese might not be a bad thing. He thought it would be better for him to explain, so he kicked the ball to Ouyang Yun and said: "This matter is Ouyang's responsibility, let's listen to his opinion."

  Ouyang Yun thought carefully about the matter after returning last night, and his idea has matured. Smiling, he said: "Japanese people, if we must sell, we have to make money from it. If not, wouldn't we be fools? However, the goods we give them must be treated differently."

  "Oh, you wouldn't think of passing off an inferior product as a good one, would you?"

  "This is a trade secret, esteemed leaders, I'm afraid I can't say any more."

  Song Zheyuan said: "Ouyang, the Japanese are not fools, their scientific and technological level is also quite high. If they see through it, that would be a loss!"

  "I have my own measure, this time in the US, I will find some experts to specifically discuss the issue of quantity."

  "Is Ouyang going to America?" someone asked curiously after hearing this.

  Song Zheyuan said: "As I've said before, our Ou Yang is no ordinary person. The president of Harvard University in the US has invited him to give a lecture."

  "Ah! A foreign university has invited him to give a lecture?" The crowd's gaze at Ouyang Yun changed once again, and they no longer had any thoughts of underestimating him. Looking at his smooth face, they all had a hint of admiration in their eyes.

  Ouyang Yun didn't want to take credit for this, but he also couldn't say that the reason he could enjoy this treatment was because of plagiarism, so he had to smile humbly and explain: "The real purpose of my trip to the United States is to purchase some equipment. Our country's industrial foundation is too poor, and some important equipment can only rely on imports, which is also unavoidable."

  Everyone thought that was the case, and one by one they couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion towards the country's current situation. Then looking at Ouyang Yun, it was like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, the more she looked, the more pleasing he became.

  Just like in modern society, after various meetings, there is usually a grand feast. After the 29th Army's military meeting ended, Song Zheyuan waved his hand and opened four tables in the military department's reception hall. The leaders sat at one table in a separate elegant room, while the main officials, their subordinates, the military department's staff officers, and secretaries sat at three tables outside. Ouyang Yun attended the highest-level grand feast since he crossed over.

  In the old days, soldiers all liked to drink, Song Zheyuan was a bit older, although he started paying attention to his health and no longer had the same fondness for drinking as when he was young, but his enthusiasm for mobilizing subordinates to drink was still there. As a result, he himself only drank a little in his cup, but it was enough to let others finish three jars of highland barley wine. Ouyang Yun, as a junior, had to make an effort to win the favor of the generals present, and naturally couldn't help but show off a bit; if he hadn't mastered some techniques for drinking without getting drunk, he would probably have been lying down already.

  After drinking three shots of liquor, he ran to the bathroom twice, cleared his throat twice, and even so, still got drunk. His head was dizzy, his feet were light, and he spoke without much restraint, his voice also started to get louder.

  Seeing him like this, Zhang Zizhong and Feng Zhi'an couldn't help but slightly curl up the corners of their mouths, then the former loudly shouted: "Little Li, today all the military officers are here, how come you haven't come to toast yet? If you want a bright future, you must get the support of these officers!"

  "Little Li!" In a daze, Ouyang Yun thought he was still drinking in the palace, or else why would even eunuchs come out? It wasn't until Zhang Zizhong's deputy, Li Mangzhu, ran over to toast everyone that he realized this "Little Li" was not that "Little Li", but rather Zhang Zizhong's term of endearment for his deputy. At the time, he couldn't help but smile wryly.

  The youngest and least qualified person present was Ouyang Yun. At the wine table, it is customary to toast in order of seniority. Li Mangzhu was clearly a drinker, no matter how much the person being toasted drank, he would always finish his bowl. After a round of introductions by Zhang Zizhong, he arrived at Ouyang Yun's side, having already drunk six bowls. Looking at Ouyang Yun, he raised his newly filled bowl and said: "Officer Ouyang, I have long heard of your great name as the 'Anti-Japanese Hero'. This bowl is to toast you for eliminating the enemy and showing the true spirit of a Chinese man!" After finishing speaking, he brought the bowl to his lips and started drinking loudly. Very quickly, the bowl was empty, and he showed Ouyang Yun the bottom of the bowl, quietly looking at him.

  Ouyang Yun was a straightforward person, in the words of his special forces comrades, he was super refreshing after drinking. He stood up, waved his hand and said "Thanks!" Then he picked up the bowl and also gulped it down with a loud "glug glug glug", revealing an empty bottom.

  Li Mangzhu called out "good" and filled the bowls of both men to the brim. He raised his own wine bowl and said, "This bowl is for me as a junior official to toast my superior." Then without another word, he gulped it down again.

  Ou Yang Yun didn't expect a second bowl, the first one had already set his chest ablaze, his throat was emitting hot air, he thought that if he drank this second bowl, he would definitely collapse, his face showed difficulty, and said: "We are all brothers, you are older than me, by reason I should call you big brother, Li Big Brother, little brother's alcohol capacity is limited, can't you be more flexible?"

  Li Mangzhu hadn't spoken yet, when Zhang Zizhong burst out laughing and said: "Ouyang, since you say everyone is brothers, how can this wine that the older brother offers to the younger one be declined? If not, then what about this: let Little Li drink this bowl of wine on your behalf? Moreover, your training brigade is about to expand, and you must be short-handed. Why don't you take care of me, this older brother, and make me a deputy brigade commander or something?" As he spoke, he patted his chest, "Little Li was also a regimental commander under my command, and I've already assigned the old soldiers from his regiment to your training brigade. How about that?"

  Ouyang Yun never thought that there would be such an article behind the toast, and for a moment he didn't know what to do. He smiled and said: "The academic army is all about learning, with no combat experience. If we can get the elite soldiers under your command, it's naturally something we'd be grateful for - but as the commander of this brigade, I'm just a military seat, such important matters should be decided by the military seat."

  Zhang Zizhong immediately turned his gaze to Song Zheyuan, and chuckled: "Everyone is from the 29th Army, Li Mengzhu also grew up under the military seat, he won't have any opinions."

  Song Zheyuan is not a fool, and as soon as Zhang Zizhong mentioned letting Li Mangzhu become the deputy commander of the student soldier brigade, he knew what was on his mind. The independent brigade, as a new force, with Commander Ouyang Yun being so capable, if this force were to draw closer to him, then in the event of future battles, it would be equivalent to having an additional strong ally. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he thought about how to resolve this thorny issue. Feng Zhi'an raised his wine cup and toasted Zhang Zizhong, saying: "Old Zhang, during the meeting earlier, the commander also said that the defense of Tianjin is extremely heavy, so I think we shouldn't take any troops from your division." He turned to Song Zheyuan and said: "Commander, our division is defending Beiping, and we have more than enough troops. I think it would be better to send Ji Xingwen's regiment to the student soldier brigade instead. Regiment Commander Ji has rich experience in leading troops and has fought in tough battles. If he were to take on the role of deputy commander, he would certainly complement Commander Ouyang well, and together they could turn the student soldier brigade into an iron army."

  Feng Zhi'an and Zhang Zizhong were so eager to put their own men into the student soldier regiment, naturally not for any good reason. In their view, due to the existence of Li Tieshu's original 51st Army Guard Battalion, coupled with Ouyang Yun being too young and an outsider, the independent regiment of nearly 10,000 people would be better controlled by their own men.

  The officialdom is a conspiracy, the old men of the 29th Army present have all experienced the scene of warlords at the end of Qing and the beginning of the Republic, and clearly know what determines their fate - people and guns.

  Song Zheyuan saw that Feng Zhi'an had also made his move, and after some thought, he felt that if Ou Yangyun were to be in sole command of the 600-strong Study Army Brigade, it wouldn't be entirely safe. It would be a good idea to mix in some of his own people. So he played it slippery and said: "The Study Army Brigade currently has only over 600 men, so it's necessary to draw personnel from other units. However, since Ou Yang is the brigade commander, let him take charge."

  Although Ou Yang Yun had drunk a bit too much, fortunately his mind was still clear. As soon as he heard Zhang Zizhong's words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of resentment in his heart. However, when Feng Zhi'an reported the name of Ji Xingwen, he remembered that this man had fired the first shot against Japan at Lugou Bridge and should be a good guy. His mind changed, and he said: "The military seat and the two division commanders are so fond of our student brigade, it would be ungrateful for me to decline. I think we can invite Director Ji to our brigade instead? However, I have already discussed the deputy brigade commander with the military seat, and it will be Li Tieshu, an old comrade from our student brigade. So, please let Director Ji serve as the chief of staff, while also serving as the commander of a regiment. Military seat, what do you think?"

  Song Zheyuan thought he understood Ouyang Yun, and was even afraid that he would see through Zhang Zizhong's tricks, using his drunkenness to create a scene, which would be difficult to control later. Hearing him say this, he secretly let out a sigh of relief and said: "You are the commander, naturally you have the final say in military matters, hmm, it's settled then."

  The position of Chief of Staff is higher than that of Deputy Corps Commander, and Ji Xingwen can also serve as the commander of a division. As for this arrangement, Feng Zhi'an naturally had no opinion. However, Zhang Zizhong, who originally proposed this idea, was deprived of the opportunity by Feng Zhi'an, and couldn't help feeling depressed. Nevertheless, Ou Yangyun, having obtained Ji Xingwen, a fierce general, didn't mind these details anymore and was in high spirits. He even increased his drinking capacity and drank away Li Mangzhu's toast to himself, causing Zhao Dengyu and others to exclaim: "The 29th Army has produced another wine general."

  There will be one more chapter today, got drunk at noon and just updated now, sorry about that everyone.