Yes, Madam Prime Minister

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Because if we follow these words, then the prerequisite for his election as military chairman is to be in command. However, with the current communication technology, if he were to be in command, let alone micro-management, it would be impossible to directly command even at the guerrilla level.

Guerrilla warfare is roughly equivalent to the rank of regimental commander.

In other words, it meant stripping him of his military power.

If he doesn't want to relinquish his military power, then according to the previous argument, since the next strategic objective is on land, he shouldn't be the chairman.

Why not just not let him take the position?

Pei Jinghai had already realized that this was a trap, a trap specifically set for him.

Now, should he step forward to speak up and fight for it, or should he remain silent and watch the position of military chairman fall into the hands of someone else?

In the end, Pei Jinghai was still unwilling to give up. He had failed to compete for the chairmanship before, and he was going to fail again this time? However, he did not lose his composure. He knew that if he jumped out to fight for himself, a bunch of his underlings would jump out to attack him. Even if he won against these underlings, he would actually have lost completely.

At this point, you have to stir the water up first.

Pei Jinghai put down his teacup and just smiled. "Ha, as everyone knows, my command skills are just average, while General Lu's achievements are outstanding and obvious to all. I support General Lu to be the chairman." After saying that, he glanced at Ronan.

He didn't believe Ronan wouldn't be tempted; once Ronan spoke up, things got muddy.

He never expected that Lu Jianling would wave his hand and say, "I don't really understand things at sea. In the subsequent battles, the navy will still be an extremely important force. Therefore, I support Vice Envoy Cui, who is very experienced in both land and sea warfare."

"Vice Envoy Cui, who is this?" After thinking for a moment, everyone realized that it was Cui Shikang, the former Deputy Envoy of the Zhennan Military Command, and the leader of this group of people from the military command.

Cui Shikang is said to be knowledgeable in both land and sea warfare, but in reality, he is only average in both. However, he has one major advantage: he is a Cantonese.

Pei Jinghai's heart sank.

His attempt to muddy the waters was entirely expected, and Lu Jianling was simply going with the flow.

“It’s been so long, and sitting like this for so long must be tiring. I suggest we take a break before continuing,” Ronan suddenly said, then looked at Chairman Zhao.

"I think it's okay," Zhao Jun replied.

Chapter 1026 It's all Ronan's fault, we have no choice but to compromise, the real show is yet to come.

Everyone readily agreed to Ronan's suggestion to take a break, as they were already worried about the inconvenience of communicating privately.

What were you doing the other day? It was all Ronan's fault.

From the "rebellion" after the Lunar New Year until just two days ago, arrests have been ongoing. A number of people have been arrested both inside and outside the province, with hundreds of people going in in total. Guangdong is only so big, so it's safe to say that if the accusations hadn't been ignored, apart from the Guangxi group and the government officials, very few people present would have been able to avoid going to the Lingdong Hotel.

The owner and the mastermind behind the Lingdong Hotel were arrested. Because it was not in the city center and far from the hustle and bustle, it was directly requisitioned as the detention and interrogation site of the procuratorate.

The Lingdong Hotel is most famous not for its food or attentive service, but for its artificial pond surrounded by rock formations and ethereal beauty. Those who have been lucky enough to go inside and come out say they never want to see that pond again in their lives.

So during this period, everyone was busy cutting ties, distancing themselves, and sacrificing pawns to save the king. Who had time to collude in private?

Moreover, the situation just now was quite unexpected. Pei Jinghai, a popular candidate, was suddenly forced into a dilemma, while Cui Shikang, this "stray dog," seemed to be trying to take over, which confused everyone.

“Brother Luo, what you’re doing is a bit too much.” Pei Jinghai went straight to Luo Nan and didn’t mince words from the start.

Ronan looked completely bewildered. "What's going on? Brother Pei, I don't quite understand what you're saying."

"Stop kidding, I know it's you," Pei Jinghai said firmly.

Besides Ronan, who else could put him in this situation with just a few words? If he takes the position, he has to accept a reduction in power; if he doesn't accept a reduction in power, he can't take the position. Choosing either way is wrong.

Besides Ronan, who else would dare to mess with him like that? No matter what, he will continue to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Who else is not afraid of his retaliation?

“If you say so, then so be it.” Ronan didn’t deny it. “I have a suggestion: you could take on the role of vice-chairman. That way, you can participate in major decisions and continue to be the Navy’s number one, while Vice-Envoy Cui can take on the chairmanship. What do you think?”

"So, General Lu, what are your plans?" Pei Jinghai asked.

“She’s like you, holding the title of vice chairman, but mainly leading troops in the field,” Ronan replied.

Pei Jinghai's eyes flickered. "What about General Yu?"

Ronan responded, "He's going to be the Minister of Military Logistics, in charge of combat readiness, military spending, supplies, and other logistical organization building."

It must be admitted that Yu Minghe is not good at commanding, but he is good at managing logistics. At first, Luo Nan pushed him to take charge of logistics, actually intending to remove him, but unexpectedly he did a good job.

Ronan suddenly understood why some generals in the north were willing to let Yu Minghe, this spoiled brat, bask in their glory; he did have some ability.

“He’s a corrupt official,” Pei Jinghai said.

"Damn it, you're not a corrupt official? Who isn't a corrupt official?" Ronan was so angry he laughed.

"I need to plant a few people in there," Pei Jinghai stated his condition, not wanting to be held hostage later.

“Feng Chongwei? Sure,” Ronan said.

"He's not one of my men," Pei Jinghai said, looking somewhat angry.

"What's the rush? Military institutions are all under the management of the Military Commission. Now that you're the vice chairman, arranging a few people will be a piece of cake," Ronan said, patting Pei Jinghai on the shoulder. "Alright, that's settled then. You're good, I'm good, we're all good."

Pei Jinghai did not immediately agree, saying, "Feng Chongwei is not a firm believer."

Feng Chongwei was originally a "supervisor" in the Guangdong Navy. He was a native of the north and a genuine official dispatched by the imperial court. Even now, he is still exchanging glances with the imperial court.

"Sigh, Lao Pei, aren't you also in contact with people in Jiangnan? Who would cut off their own escape route? To put it bluntly, once we show signs of victory, everyone will naturally be focused on reaping the benefits of our success. Before that, besides me and Chairman Zhao himself, whose stance is firm enough?"

Ronan said.

Although their rebellion was not simply for the sake of a position, nor was it a major revolution in which one class completely overthrew another, it was a civil war among people in the same country who adhered to different economic policies.

However, Seres is larger and more complex than the America of another timeline, so it is not as simple as the Civil War, but a four-way struggle between the Northwest, the Central Plains, Jiangnan, and the Yue region where Ronan and his group are located.

Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for any party's senior management to find a few people with truly firm stances.

In Guangdong, the truly steadfast members are the general members of the farmers' associations and labor unions. They were originally oppressed farmers and workers who now enjoy a hard-won life. Their stance is so firm that they are willing to die for the committees that gave them all this.

In the Central Plains, the same applies to the members of those village communities.

To be honest, if it weren't for this extraordinary world, Jiangnan would be utter garbage and wouldn't even be qualified to be on this grand stage.

"Fine, let's leave it at that." Pei Jinghai stopped arguing.

Soon, the break is over.

The committee members, as well as the "preparatory committee members," all took their seats again.

After some discussion and a hasty formality, Cui Shikang was appointed as the military chairman, with Pei Jinghai and Lu Jianling as his deputies.

The top-level structure of the Military Commission was thus established.

Cui Shikang could no longer hide his smile. Just a few months ago, he was a stray dog, but now he was a high-ranking member of a group of rebels, or rather, a righteous army.

His next step was to assign the people who had followed him to various departments, so that he could truly seize power.

According to the procedure, the leaders of the various departments under the Military Commission must be determined first, and he, as the chairman, naturally has the greatest say.

However, Choi Se-kang did not expect that his first nomination would be rejected.

Instead, Pei Jinghai and Lu Jianling rejected him together.

It's one thing for Pei Jinghai to do this, but why does Lu Jianling do it too?

The crowd, who had initially thought the matter was settled, immediately jumped out to agree with the two men and expressed their opposition upon seeing this situation.

At this moment, Cui Shikang looked at Zhao Junyong and Luo Nan. Only the two of them could turn the tide.

However, Zhao Jun remained silent.

Luo Nan had already told Zhao Junyong that now that the cause was just beginning, military power needed to be firmly grasped. The Military Commission could not have a truly qualified leader who could influence decision-making. Pei Jinghai could not hold absolute power, and Cui Shikang even less so.

Ronan himself also looked helpless.

Thus, Cui Shikang's plan to install his cronies completely failed. Although he eventually managed to place a few of his own people in key positions, even these few people couldn't secure crucial departments. He didn't have much power at all, probably less than his deputies Pei Jinghai and Lu Jianling.

But he could only accept it, and had nothing to complain about.

This is quite normal, isn't it?

Now, all Choi Se-kang can do is ensure that the troops he brought with him are not dismantled and that he retains his core base. Fortunately, he is now the military chairman, so he should be able to do that.

At that moment, Ronan glanced at Choi Se-kang.

The good show is yet to come.

Chapter 1027 Fatal Oversight: Hesitation to Express His Opposition – Expected Failure

Cui Shikang forgot one thing: many of the officers who came with him were not only good at fighting, but also good at business and even tax collection.

The southern port area of ​​Vietnam, originally occupied by the Zhennan Military Government, was a very important port area linking East and West trade. The Guangdong Maritime Merchants Association brought porcelain, silk, tea, ironware, and various daily necessities here, and they sold the rice and timber here to them.

At the same time, a large portion of porcelain, silk, and tea were resold to Western merchants who came here, and the Western merchants also sold them spices and other products they had brought from India and South Asian island countries.

At the same time, they also organized some preliminary processing.

On the other hand, customs duties need to be collected, as well as local taxes. Whether it's collecting taxes from maritime merchants or from locals as a small number of foreigners, it's a technical task that can't be accomplished by violence alone.

"It's getting late, let's eat first," said Lü Delin, who had been uninterested in getting involved in the committee's specific affairs.

After he said that, everyone did indeed feel hungry.

The head of the Military Commission and the heads of a bunch of subordinate departments were appointed, and the morning was already over; it was lunchtime.

Lunch was not complicated.

Each person gets a bowl of pork offal congee, a small dish of pickled vegetables, a small plate of poached chicken, a small plate of crispy roasted pork, and a small plate of stir-fried shrimp.

The pork offal congee was really good. The congee was smooth and thick, with the rice grains blooming but not falling apart. The pig was obviously recently slaughtered, and the pork was tender. The thickly sliced ​​pork liver melted in the mouth without any residue. Even though it hadn't been marinated, it didn't have any offal smell and even had a hint of sweetness. The kidney slices were also crisp and tender, and similarly, they didn't have any offal smell.

Everyone started eating only after seeing Chairman Zhao and several other bigwigs begin eating.

Most of them are rich and powerful, and they don't usually eat offal. But if the leader eats it and you don't, what does that mean?

It can only be said that some of the higher-ups have been corrupted by Lü Delin, this special young master from Jiangnan. Born into nobility, he spends his days doing nothing proper. Eating is his greatest hobby; he is willing to study any ingredient to see if he can make it taste good.

The other three dishes were also good, but they weren't particularly amazing. In any case, Ronan didn't find them as interesting as this small pot of pork offal porridge. He also couldn't understand how the pork liver and kidneys could taste so mild without being heavily marinated.

After lunch and a short rest, a new round of discussion began.

“Next, we will discuss matters concerning the Development Committee,” Ronan began.

The Development Committee is in charge of the economy.

Agriculture, industry, commerce, and the banks that link them are all under the jurisdiction of supervision and guidance.

Everyone knows one fact: Ronan, this foreigner, is undoubtedly the strongest economic operator in Guangdong.

Everyone genuinely believes that Ronan is the best economic strategist, not because he's good at making money, but because he's good at agriculture.

The system of farmers' associations, banks, and labor unions is still incomprehensible to many people.

I don't understand why farmers and workers in the past would never borrow money unless they were desperate to survive, but here in Ronan, they are willing to borrow. It's the same with merchants; in the past, merchants were extremely reluctant to lend money, but now they are all willing.

I don't understand why everything suddenly got better after they took out a loan.

After everything got better, most of them were actually able to pay off their debts.

This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous.

In any case, Guangdong, relying on the economic system built by Luo Nan, supported a war against foreign aggression with just the province. Moreover, the economy did not decline after the war, but continued to improve.

Another fact is that Ronan, the most powerful economic operator, could not possibly be the chairman of this development committee.

The people didn't want him to actually wield power, and he himself had no intention of controlling any area.

He can only, and will only, serve as Zhao Junyong's chief secretary.

The question then becomes: who will chair this development committee?

Wang Pingzhen, the head of the Farmers' Association Bank, was promoted by Luo Nan. He lacked the qualifications. He was originally just a subordinate official of the Foshan Coastal Defense Branch, a seventh-rank official, at the level of a county magistrate, but in reality, he was not at the level of a county magistrate.

The notorious confiscation expert, now the head of customs, Lu Ming? This ruthless official is infamous throughout the country. It's hard to believe that such a frightening person could be one of the highest-ranking officials. If he were to take charge of the economy, the Pearl River would probably be stained red with the blood of businessmen and the bureaucrats he built around.

Chen Guangyao, who comes from a Guangdong merchant family and has been acting as the head of maritime trade for some time, was originally an official of the Guangzhou Navy and is also a native of Guangdong. If he succeeds, his power will be too great, and he will have many supporters. However, it is obvious that the high-ranking officials, who are from other places, will never support him.

If none of these three are suitable, who will take their place?

For a moment, no one spoke.

It's not that they don't support it, but rather that they dare not express their support.

Some people who hadn't fared well in the past, who had wasted half their lives and felt their talents were being buried, genuinely hoped that Wang Ping would go to town and become a beacon illuminating their path. However, they were of low status and didn't dare to speak rashly.

Some young, promising talents who hoped to fundamentally change the prevailing atmosphere genuinely wished for someone like Lu Ming to step forward and sweep away the current darkness. Unfortunately, public opinion is a powerful force, and they were also afraid of being seen as cruel officials.

Many Guangdong locals who had already benefited wanted to share even more and hoped that Chen Guangyao would rise to power. However, they were afraid that this would make them appear to be forming cliques and anger the senior officials, who would then turn against them again.

Just then, Lu Jianling spoke up, "I think Luo Gang, the governor of Guangxi, is suitable for this position."

She wasn't entirely without reason; Luo Gang, the top official in Guangxi, was also a businessman.

His biggest business was selling smuggled salt, sourced from Annam (Vietnam). While Guangxi wasn't particularly short of salt, Guizhou and some areas of Yunnan were. Why didn't Yunnan and Guizhou buy salt from Sichuan? Because it was government-controlled salt, very expensive. And why didn't Sichuan report Guizhou for buying large quantities of smuggled salt? Because Luo Gang was from Sichuan. Moreover, under his covert direction, Sichuan actually reported the Yunnan border chieftains for colluding with the enemy and purchasing smuggled salt from Burma.