Whether Cai Yuanpei should be killed or must be killed caused great controversy in the People's Party liberated areas. Discussions filled the newspapers, with some supporting Cai Yuanpei and others cursing the Western Zhejiang massacre. Ironically, the truly major events concerning the nation's destiny were ignored.

In industry, the People's Party's total steel output exceeded 5 million tons for the first time, and steel production broke through 1.2 million tons. The People's Party proposed that by 1920, six new railways would be built, and double lines for the Beijing-Hankou Railway, Beijing-Harbin Railway, and Luoyang-Lianyungang Railway would be constructed.

Preliminary construction work for the four 10,000-ton ships ordered by the United States at Jiangnan Shipyard also began. The United States also ordered twelve 1,000-ton coastal transport ships from Wuhan Shipbuilding Group for coconut collection and transportation. Wuhan Shipbuilding Group immediately began investing heavily in building new docks.

In education, the number of junior high school enrollments exceeded 8 million for the first time. The People's Party issued a notice nationwide, re-emphasizing that normal schools were free. If a directional agreement was signed with a normal school, all tuition fees could be waived starting from junior high school. The state would also provide certain subsidies.

Another matter was the government's strong promotion of the "mandatory clauses" in the "Compulsory Education Law," stating that anyone with a household registration in the People's Party liberated areas had the obligation to receive education.

In agriculture, the People's Party liberated areas added 20 million mu of irrigated land, and grain production continued to increase.

The old upper class had no interest in the industrial and agricultural development of the People's Party, nor any interest in "singing praises" for the People's Party. The people could not understand what these macroeconomic data meant. However, Britain and France were very interested in the data published by the People's Party. Both countries also paid attention to the People's Party's trial of Western Zhejiang. In the eyes of Britain and France, Cai Yuanpei was already a dead dog, with no need for salvation at all. The only pity for both countries was that they hadn't noticed Cai Yuanpei sooner. Compared with Beiyang, Cai Yuanpei showed greater determination and ability to act. If they had fully supported Cai Yuanpei earlier, the two countries might have had more cards to play when negotiating with the People's Party.

But now that Cai Yuanpei was finished, Britain and France had no other choice but to cooperate with the People's Party during the war in Europe.

France did not lack industrial products; they lacked labor. The first batch of 50,000 Chinese laborers from the People's Party had already boarded ships to France, and the French Minister to China received great praise from home. Britain's needs were more complex; the British side demanded that the People's Party expand exports to Japan "at preferential prices."

The "Anglo-Japanese Alliance" was the cornerstone of Britain's strategy in the Far East, and the British were very clear about this. The British, who were good at balancing strategies, would absolutely not do foolish things like giving up the initiative. Britain was a major industrial country, so the British Minister naturally would not believe the data published by the People's Party. Based on British experience, the price for such explosive industrial development would be that the People's Party controlled areas would have long been engulfed in flames of war.

Despite thinking that the People's Party was bragging to show off its industrial power and raise the asking price to the Entente Powers, Britain was also somewhat worried. The British side believed that the data published by the People's Party and future plans were probably exaggerated by more than double. calculating based on half of the published data as actual production capacity meant that the People's Party's industrial output was close to one-sixth of Russia's. China's population was four times that of Russia, and its agricultural level was far higher than Russia's. That is to say, the People's Party could very likely maintain an army of more than two million for several years of homeland defense war after the war in Europe. Britain did not wish for such a powerful country to rise in the Far East at all.

To balance China, the expansion of Chinese naval power must be suppressed, and the most readily available method was to support Japan. Japan, which suffered heavy losses due to the war in Northeast China, had now connected with Britain under the guidance of Takahashi Korekiyo. As Japan's creditor, Britain certainly felt good, but desperately squeezing Japanese labor to make Japan pay back the money was a better choice for Britain during the European war.

The biggest problem facing Japan was a shortage of raw materials, especially primary industrial products and heavy chemical products. Not to mention importing these products from Europe to Japan thousands of miles away, the cost and losses during transportation were enough to double the product prices. Europe was currently importing large quantities of heavy chemical products from China, so where would there be extra stuff for Japan? Britain must make China expand the output of industrial products, at least guaranteeing supply to Japan.

Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bin, who negotiated with Britain, almost flatly rejected Britain's request. "Our current output cannot even guarantee domestic demand, let alone guarantee the total export volume to Japan, not to mention any preferential prices."

"Didn't your country's steel output already exceed five million tons?" the British Minister said in a slightly sarcastic tone.

"The population of our liberated areas is over 300 million, and the steel used for civilian purposes is only over 3 million tons. Do you know what the per capita is? One person averages 20 jin of iron, which is the amount of steel for a set of mediocre farm tools. If made into rails, it would only be this short a section." Wang Bin gestured a length of less than a foot as he spoke. "Your country's steel output is ten times ours, and your population is much smaller than ours. The per capita is dozens of times ours. Your country's industry has gone through hundreds of years of history, and the total accumulated over these hundreds of years is even more than ours. So we really cannot meet your country's request because your country's perspective on things is really different from ours. Your country really has it; we really don't."

The People's Party admitting the gap between the two countries so frankly made the British Minister feel quite good inside. However, Wang Bin's unexaggerated attitude also made the British side feel a kind of displeasure. There was no need to doubt the People's Party's policy of desperately developing industry while taking advantage of the European war situation. The People's Party's frank admission of the gap with Britain only showed that the People's Party had really carefully studied the gap between the two countries and was trying to narrow it. Such determination was praiseworthy, and such ambition was fearful.

With the European war fighting to this extent, Britain no longer believed that it could carry out a new round of conquering the world after the war ended. As early as after the Boer War, Britain began global contraction, primarily due to financial issues. With the European war proceeding to this point, Britain not only encountered a financial crisis, but the crisis brought by population loss also began to highlight itself.

Although there was no anti-war trend in Britain yet, some people were already "reflecting" on whether it was a wrong choice for Britain to spend great effort to defend a "regicide." If it were the British Crown Prince who was assassinated in Serbia, would Britain make a different choice from Austria?

Since the possibility of a large-scale war with the People's Party after the war was minimal, Britain must maintain Japan's strength. The British Minister did not haggle with Wang Bin on these matters. He said: "The matter of price can continue to be discussed. Our side wants to discuss with your country regarding your country's subscription to our bonds."

This was a three-year bond with a total amount of 200 million pounds, no discount, and no handling fees. Pricing was based on the prices of goods exported by the People's Party to Britain in January 1917. Before using up this money, Britain did not need to pay any currency to the People's Party, and the two sides would settle this.

Of course, the British also knew that the People's Party was not easy to talk to. He laughed: "Regarding your country's request to lease land in Malaya to grow palms, our government has also expressed agreement. We can reach an agreement in the near future."

"Customs silver must be paid in spot silver." Wang Bin did not object to other terms but raised this one request.

The British Minister's eyebrows frowned slightly. It was now the era of the gold standard, and the price of silver had been falling all the way. Even if China was still on the silver standard, such a request could not help but make the British Minister feel a taste of retaliation. However, this request could not be said to be unreasonable. The People's Party's tariff was only 5%, so the British Minister frowned and agreed.

As soon as the agreement was reached, the British side gave the People's Party a long order list, listing demands ranging from ores, raw silk, silk, chemical supplies, to even grain. The most ridiculous thing was that it actually included opium.

Seeing the item of opium, Wang Bin's eyebrows immediately stood up. The Opium War created painful memories for China. Even the Manchu Qing knew to ban opium, let alone the People's Party.

The British side seemed not to see Wang Bin's changed face and said: "We have read the full text of the 'Narcotics Control Regulations' promulgated by your country. This is official trade. We hope your country can export opium, tincture of opium, and morphine."

Listening to the British Minister's words, Wang Bin's face was twitching. Throughout China, not only the People's Party but all people of insight hated the opium disaster deeply. After the Opium War, starting from the late 1860s, domestic opium first formed a competitive advantage over imported opium in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other places. By the 1870s, it developed into nationwide cultivation, and in the 1880s, it completely overwhelmed imported opium. Domestic opium achieved complete victory in the fierce opium market competition. This might be the only commercial war victory China achieved in the countless commercial wars of the 19th century. But such a victory was a tragedy, carrying too much bitterness and helplessness, because the bigger the market, the more suffering it brought to the Chinese people, and the deeper China's crisis.

Chen Ke and the People's Party firmly opposed drug trade and were merciless in banning drugs and executing drug dealers. However, the People's Party upheld a scientific attitude and did not implement a measure to overturn everything with one stick regarding narcotics. Therefore, in the base areas, in addition to special laws like the "Anti-Drug Law," the criminal law also contained several contents related to drugs. At the same time, the People's Party's judicial system also had the practical application of the "Narcotics Control Regulations."

Opium itself has considerable medicinal value, and its application range is even quite wide. The key is not to use opium as a drug. The People's Party's level of farming was not just generally high, but considerably high. The problem was that in planting opium, the People's Party seemed to be cursed by heaven; several attempts at planting were unsuccessful. Lack of experience was certainly one aspect, but no one being willing to put their heart into organizing this work properly also played a huge role.

However, war and the continuously expanding public medical system had a demand for opium, even a considerable demand. To give a simple example, in this era where clean drinking water was not universal, acute diarrhea was a very common problem, and the mortality rate was not low. At present, when there were no major breakthroughs in pharmacology and medical science, the therapeutic effect of taking a trace amount of opium paste orally was excellent, without the side effect of addiction. Just for this item, there was huge demand every year.

Imports were too expensive, plus the People's Party completely banned opium in grain-producing areas. It was not until the People's Party liberated Yunnan and Guizhou that there were quite a few locals growing opium in Yunnan and Guizhou. Due to the complex situation in Yunnan and Guizhou, a simple land reform could not completely change the local situation. Finally, while killing private opium dealers on a large scale, the People's Party prohibited smoking in Yunnan and Guizhou on one hand, and signed opium purchase agreements with farmers in Yunnan and Guizhou on the other.

Such an incompetent handling method had already made many comrades in the People's Party feel extremely ashamed. Unexpectedly, this bunch of British opium dealers actually had the cheek to purchase opium from China. It stabbed deeply into Wang Bin's sense of shame.

Calming his emotions, Wang Bin asked: "As the world's largest opium producer and seller, how can your country lack opium?"

"War demand is too great!" the British Minister replied. From his tone, Wang Bin discovered the British Minister's helplessness. You descendants of opium dealers also have today! Wang Bin felt great in his heart. After looking at the content regarding opium again, Wang Bin said: "If it is stimulant drugs during wartime, our side also has research. Of course, your side knows that our 'Narcotics Control Regulations' are extremely strict. If your side is interested in these and willing to try, we can reach a secret agreement."

The British Minister's eyes lit up. In Europe, there was a "rumor" regarding the earth-shaking changes in the Chinese people. The content was that chemist Chen Ke had developed a drug for war, which could make cowardly Chinese soldiers become fearless of death.

In contemporary Europe and America, as 606 and 914 gradually curbed the spread of syphilis, it was hard to determine whether Chen Ke's greatest fame was as the leader of the People's Party or as a pharmaceutical chemist. The drug that changed soldiers' fighting will was still just a "rumor" so far, although most Europeans who heard this statement expressed belief. However, without evidence, foreign governments couldn't publicly say this about the People's Party. Not to mention that war itself was a living hell, and using drugs in hell to relieve the terrible pressure endured by soldiers was also a tradition of European armies.

The British Minister asked with very professional vocabulary: "How is the addictiveness?"

"Much smaller than heroin, even lighter than morphine." Wang Bin's answer made the British Minister believe the "rumor" even more. He agreed with Wang Bin to send some "samples" to the British Minister for "trial" as soon as possible, before the focus of discussion turned back to the huge list again.

The drug provided by Wang Bin was methamphetamine. Using a small dose can improve a person's mood, giving a feeling of increased ability and heightened awakening. It shows high spirits, clarity, alertness, talkativeness, enthusiasm, active thinking, high mood, concentrated attention, and improved work ability. Moreover, there is no sense of fatigue or hunger during long hours of work or study. Therefore, even until the 70s, methamphetamine was a legal stimulant in many industries. European and American countries used it in World War II, and Japan abused it in the air force.

After receiving the "samples" provided by Wang Bin, the British Minister immediately found people to try them. Unlike opium-series drugs, the users felt relaxed all over, and the whole person showed great ability improvement in all aspects.

After only three or four days of observation, the British Minister transmitted this "major discovery" back to Britain.

Because Britain was not too cautious when testing the drug, the French also discovered this matter. After requesting "samples" from Wang Bin and also conducting experiments on living people, the French Minister's telegram regarding this also immediately flew back to France.