Zhou Chen left the central bank and went directly to a teahouse. After staying there for half an hour, he left again. Then he circled a few circles on the street and then quietly went to the Prime Minister's Mansion. He did not enter through the main entrance, but sneaked in from a side door borrowed from behind.

I saw Zhou Chen enter the Prime Minister's Office with my own eyes. One of the two agents who took turns to keep an eye on him and stayed nearby and waited far away, while the other rushed back.

Entering the building through the side door, naturally someone picked up Zhou Chen and followed the other party around to a room on the second floor, asking Zhou Chen to wait in the room, and the man closed the door and left.

Sitting and waiting for a long time, until the cup of tea in front of me was almost invisible to see the green, Song Jiaoren finally appeared.

"What's going on? Didn't you tell me not to look for me if you have no urgent matters?" As soon as you entered the door, Song Jiaoren said unhappily.

"Brother Dunchu, this time is really an urgent matter! If I don't come again, I will have no time." Zhou Chen stood up and said anxiously.

Song Jiaoren was stunned and asked anxiously: "What happened? Did Fang Junming notice it?"

"No, Fang Junming has taken me seriously for the past few years in the central bank, and is preparing to promote and reuse me today."

"Isn't this very good? Then what big thing is there to make you so anxious?" Song Jiaoren said in surprise. Zhou Chen was an old member of the Tongmenghui and a friend of Song Jiaoren's hometown. Before the Xinhai Revolution, he went to work in Beiyang. He originally planned to use his identity in Beiyang to give some help to Tongmenghui during the revolution. Who would have thought that the Restoration Association launched the Wuchang Uprising before the Tongmenghui and fired the first shot of the Xinhai Revolution. Then the southern provinces succeeded overnight like wildfire. Then the confrontation between the north and the south, peace talks between the South and the South, the Qing Dynasty abdication, the establishment of the Republic of China... These events were overwhelmed like a lantern. When all this was settled, Zhou Chen lost his original role.

When Song Jiaoren entered Beijing to form a cabinet, he secretly contacted Zhou Chen, who was co-organized by the Bank of Communications. However, at that time he did not intend to disclose Zhou Chen's identity, because Zhou Chen had already achieved the position of co-organized by the Bank of Communications. It was an extremely important role for Song Jiaoren, who had not yet mastered finances. Once Zhou Chen's identity as a member of the Tongmenghui was revealed, it would inevitably cause concerns from Liang Shiyi, who was in charge of the Bank of Communications. Once Liang Shiyi found an excuse to remove Zhou Chen's position, Song Jiaoren would not be worth the loss.

But unexpectedly, due to the appearance of Fang Zida, Yuan Shikai persuaded Yuan Shikai to split the Bank of Communications from Liang Shiyi, officially took over and established the National Central Bank. This also laid a solid foundation for the finances of Song Jiaoren's cabinet, thus making Song Jiaoren's position as Premier of the State more stable.

At this time, Zhou Chen had proposed to restore his identity as a member of the Tongmenghui and requested to join the kmt. However, after he made this request, Song Jiaoren suddenly felt aroused. Although he and Fang Zida were in a honeymoon period at that time, and both sides had great trust, no one knew Zhou Chen's identity in the kmt. It was more appropriate for him to stay outside the party and continue to serve in the reorganized central bank than to disclose his identity. At first, Song Jiaoren did not use Zhou Chen as a tool to monitor Fang Zida, but he just felt that it was more appropriate to have a backup plan. But as the conflict between him and Fang Zida arose, the cracks between the two sides gradually grew larger. Zhou Chen's role began to change. In Song Jiaoren's heart, once Fang Zida stepped down, Zhou Chen was the most suitable person he used to control the central bank and even the Ministry of Finance.

Zhou Chen smiled bitterly and said that Fang Zida and the American consortium, together with the Orthodox Government of the Russian Empire, had a complaint about the formation of the Central Bank of the Russian Empire, and told Song Jiaoren that because Fang Zida's "value" he had been designated as one of the personnel sent by the Central Bank of the Chinese government, and would also preside over the establishment of the Central Bank of the Russian Empire. This order has been issued, and he may not be long before he will leave the capital and go north.

"Why don't I know about this? Why didn't Fang Junming report such a big thing to the cabinet?" Song Jiaoren was shocked after hearing this, and his face suddenly became angry.

"According to the Central Bank's constitution, this is pure commercial cooperation. It is not wrong to not report to the cabinet. However, I asked Yang Xizi, and according to what he said, Fang Zhengming would submit the matter to the cabinet for filing in the next cabinet meeting. Whether in terms of legal theory or procedure, it is beyond reproach." Seeing that Song Jiaoren was angry, Zhou Chen explained a little. After listening to Zhou Chen's explanation, Song Jiaoren was stunned. He raised his hand and seemed to want to say something, but in the end he fell down again.

Song Jiaoren never expected that Zhou Chen came to find him to do this. This matter was of course a good thing for Zhou Chen personally, but once Zhou Chen left, he had been run by Fang Zida as an iron barrel and could not be splashed in water and needles. Song Jiaoren no longer had any channels to understand the real situation inside the central bank, which was equivalent to cutting off his eyes and ears.

Song Jiaoren was absolutely unacceptable to this result, especially at this time. Zhou Chen is of great significance to him and must not leave easily. However, Song Jiaoren also knew that Fang Zida asked Zhou Chen to take charge of this matter was not only a heavy use of him, but also a fat man. It is not convenient for Zhou Chen to refuse both public and private. Once he refuses to accept this appointment, does not mean telling everyone that Zhou Chen has ulterior motives?

After thinking about it, Song Jiaoren couldn't figure out any good idea for a while.

"You call it sick first."

"Accusing it of illness? Brother Dunchu means saying it is called illness and refusal?"

Song Jiaoren shook his head: "It is impossible to refuse. Judging from the situation, it will take some time to officially start. Anyway, you have accepted the appointment, and it will be bad if you refuse again. Before you leave, you will be sick for a few days. At that time, Fang Junming will have to ask others to replace you to Russia. People eat grains, so where is there a reason not to get sick? What do you think?"

Zhou Chen immediately smiled and nodded, "This is true, Brother Dunchu is thoughtful, so that's it. I will continue to do what I should do. I'll get sick before leaving, and after the illness is cured, this matter will be over. At most, others will feel a pity about this, and will not think of other aspects."

"No," Song Jiaoren smiled, and then said sternly: "Okay, it's better not to meet you or me without meeting each other, especially in such places. Go back quickly, so that Fang Junming won't notice anything. This kid's nose is more sensitive than a dog."

"Okay, Brother Dunchu, if you have something to do, please use the old method to contact me. I'll leave first." Zhou Chen stood up and said. Song Jiaoren asked his confidant to send Zhou Chen away quietly. After Zhou Chen left, Song Jiaoren returned to the office was a little uneasy and always felt that something was about to happen.

The next day, Zhou Chen still came to his office as usual and started a busy day of work. But compared to yesterday, when he met Zhou Chen's colleagues congratulated him today, Zhou Chen showed a very happy smile on his face, and he also took the initiative to cooperate with Yang Du to select people to Russia, and recommended several very good people to Yang Du.

These things reached Fang Zida's ears. Fang Zida smiled faintly and ignored them. Zhou Chen's identity was confirmed. Even if he concealed it, it would be useless. Fang Zida naturally had a way to deal with him. As for the moment, this matter was not urgent. After handling part of the work in the office in the morning, Fang Zida left. Because he was going to see Duan Qirui tomorrow, although the distance from Beijing to Baoding is not long, in order to respect Duan Qirui, he would have to visit him early tomorrow morning, so Fang Zida prepared to set off in the afternoon, stay near Baoding for one night, and arrive at Duan Qirui's place the next morning.

The journey was without any danger and arrived in Baoding calmly. Fang Zida simply took dinner and rested early. The next day, the sun in the east had just risen. Fang Zida, who had already gotten up, washed and combed, changed his clothes, and set off in the car.

When he arrived at Duan Qirui's house, he knocked on the door a few times, and the servant opened the door and asked who the person who came was. He hurriedly asked Fang Zida to enter and led Fang Zida in.

"General Fang, Mr. Zhi is weeding in the backyard. He has ordered you to take you there when you come."

Fang Zida followed the servant and did not go to the middle hall. Instead, he walked through the yard and walked backwards. The servant felt Fang Zida's surprised expression and quickly explained.

"Haha, I heard Yang Xizi talk about Mr. Zhi's recent hobbies before. I really didn't expect that the famous generals at that time were still so elegant now. I have the opportunity to meet him today, so please lead the way."

"General Secretary Fang, please come here."

The servant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked to the backyard with Fang Zida.

I arrived at the backyard soon, and I heard the sound of hoes waving in my ears. When I entered the yard, my eyes lit up. Although it was late autumn now, Duan Qirui's backyard was still full of spring, and there was a green area behind me.

In front of the vegetable field, an old man dressed in an old farmer skillfully waved his hoe to weed and loosen the soil. A small table made of mixed wood was placed beside the ground, and a white porcelain teapot and several tea bowls were placed on the table. There were two benches beside the small table, and one of them was hung with a white towel.

After taking Fangzi to the place, the servant complained and left. Fang Zida did not say hello to Duan Qirui first, but stood quietly aside and watched him work, with a smile on his face.

A few minutes later, Duan Qirui, who had finished hoeing the vegetable field, put down his hoe, turned around and looked at Fang Zida and smiled: "Jing Ming is here, come here, sit here."

"Thank you Mr. Zhi, I always thought Yang Xizi was exaggerating, but I didn't expect Mr. Zhi to have such ability."
Chapter completed!