Although the Beiyang Army and the Sichuan Army on the Sichuan front were overwhelming in terms of troops, their equipment far exceeded that of the Protector Army. However, due to low morale and the contradictions between the Beiyang Army and the Sichuan Army, they could only be at a disadvantage and on the defensive against the high-morale Protector Army.

On the part of the Protector Army, due to the limitations of troops and financial resources, it is difficult to make a big breakthrough.

In the midst of a wave of war weariness, Cai Ye and others began to shift their strategic focus to fighting for the independence of Chen Eun and Sichuan. It is of course best to reduce bleeding and achieve greater results.

In fact, in the course of the war, the two sides also had private contact and communication.

In addition to the messenger communication between Chen Eun and Cai Yi, Feng Yuxiang also sent people to contact Cai Ye twice, expressing his determination to respond to the uprising and his willingness to contact the Beiyang Army in Sichuan to take concerted action. He opposed Yuan Shikai's proclamation of the emperor in his heart, and once said to the outside world: If you sit back and watch Yuan Shikai become the emperor, why did you participate in the uprising to overthrow the Qing court and fight for the republic?

Cai Yi thought more long-term, and told Feng Yuxiang that if he could persuade Chen Eun to declare independence and make greater contributions to the great cause of protecting the country, Feng said that he would definitely do his best.

Zhang Jingyao also wrote to Cai, stating his personal proposition and saying that he would never fight for the presidency for Xiang Cheng alone. Cai hopes that he will declare independence and prove it with his actions. He replied that he would gather representatives of the various armies to hold a meeting in Luzhou to seek unanimity.

After Chen Eun received Yuan Shikai's request for an armistice, he couldn't ask for it, and immediately issued a truce letter to Cai Yi:

"The incident in Yunnan is well known to the whole country, and it was originally for the sake of patriotism, and there is no personal evil. Now that the imperial system has been abolished, and the public purpose has been achieved, and the general situation is still precarious, all those who take state affairs as the premise should try to maintain it. Cai Gong loves the country and wants to agree with the table. I would like to request that the former enemy be notified of a temporary truce so that the two sides can discuss ways to deal with the aftermath. We should also assign the commander of the Northern Army to an immediate truce. I admire my father-in-law for selflessness, and I can not tend to personal feelings, and I have to teach me. For the rest of the detailed measures, I have asked the representative of our office to go to the stage in person and explain everything. ”

Cai Yifu Chen Eunuch Book:

"Reciting the Great Letter, receiving the Hongjiao, I am very admirable. The Yunnan incident is especially for the sake of protecting the country, and it is true. At that time, they thought that after the incident, they could use a military attitude to express the people's opposition to the imperial system. If Yuan's conscience is not clear, he should bow to the will of the people and suspend the actions of the imperial system. It was reported that Yuan had no remorse, and actually sent a large army south to suppress it by force. If this is the case, then the real will of the people can be overwhelmed by it, and the imperial system can succeed. As a result, the people were devastated, the soldiers were killed, the whole country was in an uproar, and the people were unemployed. How can the Yuan family excuse himself! Seeing that the people were opposed to the flames of the sun, and that the imperial system had no hope of success, it had no choice but to cancel it. Commentators think that Yuan will be able to abdicate so that the sage can not be restored, and this is beyond our ability.

"Let's ask if the Yuan family can hold the power of the country and manipulate Ruyi in this situation of failure. Even if he can, he will ask what face the Yuan family still has to see the people. Jin Gu put aside the moral integrity for the time being, and asked when this discipline and law, internal and external prestige, and the autumn of the ground, Yuan Shi can raise the talented and virtuous people in the country for his command? Yuan has been alone here for five years, what is the effect? According to what I have heard, Yuan has repeatedly announced to the people of the country, claiming that he did not want to enter politics again, because he was forced by justice during the Xinhai period, and at the request of the people, he had to take on the responsibility of national affairs, in order to do the bitterness of loving the country and the people.

"The whole country and the people of the country are unanimously demanding that the Yuan family abdicate, for the sake of the Yuan family, and there is only one way to resign from his post on his own, and it will not contradict his so-called purpose of loving the country and the people. Otherwise, although the imperial system is abolished today, it is not known that there will be a resurgence in the future. May I ask what kind of guarantee my Gongguo is enough to win the trust of the people? Or they think that the abdication of the Yuan clan will inevitably lead to new competition, which will cause the country to be in danger. Ye thought it was a big mistake. Yuan can abdicate, and the issue of succession should not be resolved by force, but should be resolved by law. In the event of the abdication of the President, the Vice-President shall continue to serve as the Vice-President. If Yuan Shi Guo goes, Vice President Li should be succeeded by law. At the same time, the National Assembly shall be convened in accordance with the Covenant and a separate president shall be elected, so that there shall be no disputes. ”

The Beijing Political Affairs Hall also sent a telegram to the Protector Army, asking for an armistice. Electric Cloud:

"Urgent. Yongning Bijie sent General Cai, Yunnan Tang General, Nanning Lu General, and Guiyang Liu Hujun envoys: The imperial system happened, which was not the original intention of the head of state. On that day, the crowd was swarming, and the Führer still thought it was out of place. It is a powerful person at home and abroad, and the group pushes each other. The princes were also in favor, reluctantly admitting it, and were not in the right position. Yunnan Province is in trouble, causing war, the head of state has sinned against his own writings, and my generation is also responsible for the recklessness, that is, the monarchs think that the republic is not suitable for change, and at the beginning can also speak out, there is no hidden, and the trouble is invisible, and the incident has been relieved to use soldiers, which has hurt the vitality of the country. The president could not bear the calamity of the people, and deeply understood the monarch's devotion to upholding the republic, so he ordered the revocation and blamed himself.

"After the purpose of the kings has been achieved, there will be no resurrection of the imperial system. And looking at the general trend outside, taking care of the people's livelihood inside, taking advantage of the profits, mourning all over the wilderness, and defending the wall against insults, is at this time. If it starts with patriotism and ends with calamity to the country, all the kings are enlightened, and it should not be so. I hope that the monarchs will stop the army and rest the people and restore their original spirits, then public opinion at home and abroad will also think that the monarchs and the A.D. will indeed have the sincerity to eliminate prejudices and inspire the heavens to be peaceful. If, after the abolition of the imperial system, the recklessness is too urgent, and the calamity affects the same root, then the merit of supporting the republic cannot be built, and the disaster of the country will also follow. Xinhai is returned, the clouds are disturbed in all directions, and the dangerous are restored, whose power is it? This is a fair statement, not a good one. Yu, Tang Sage, do not avoid sinning themselves. Would you rather not think about the international status and the miserable situation of the people, but forget the righteousness of helping each other in the same boat, and follow the ridicule of fighting fires with salaries? If you must be happy, if you don't think about it, then you will be barren and angry, but your strength is to see. For the bush to drive the birds, for the tiger to fight, what is the benefit of the kings? The survival of the country is the responsibility of the husband, and turning misfortune into blessing is in the ears of all kings! The power can no longer be reduced, and the people's will can no longer be swayed, only the monarchs are really profitable! Office of the Commander of the Government Affairs Hall. ”

Cai Yifu's Beijing Political Affairs Hall:

After the revocation of the imperial system, Er'an sent people to negotiate with conditions, and the first word was still to wear Yuan Xiangcheng as the president, and then he used his rules to prevent the slightest progress, hoping to quickly eliminate the trouble, maintain the protection, and deeply admire the bitterness. At this point in the country, if you can calm down people, you can't bear to disturb again. Geng Geng is the same as everyone else. However, the matter is big, and there are those who should think about it in the long run. In legal terms, when Xiang Cheng recognized the throne, he had a clear decree to dismiss the president, which was the effect of the parliamentary election, and no longer existed. At this time, there is no basis for continuing the old position. How can there be an unelected president in the world, and if he swallows it up, what country will it become? In terms of the situation, Xiang Cheng, as the president, cannot restrain himself, and recognize the throne, and he cannot stand firm. What does it mean to be a person who commands three good people in a few months? Since then, he has remained president, and even if he swears to heaven, he has not been able to strengthen the trust of the people. All kinds of anti-idle requirements are taken for granted. If you are suspicious of each other, such as anti-thieves, what is the system? It is difficult to carry out government decrees, and it is impossible to do so because of internal circumstances. …… Therefore, under the conditions of the second nunnery, the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guizhou and Guangdong are all strictly refused. Celebrities at home and abroad are sending letters and telegrams, and their words are particularly indignant. People's hearts are like this, what is Xiang Cheng still in love with?

"Today, those who have knowledge say that Xiang Cheng should retreat, and in accordance with the "Covenant Law", the vice president will temporarily take the photo, and then convene the Congress, and re-elect according to law. At this time, Donghai (Xu Shichang), Zhi Lao (Duan Qirui), and Hua Lao (Feng Guozhang) were appointed as key positions, and there was no obstacle to the power of the law. Considering that today's major events depend on Xiangcheng, Huangpi, Donghai, Zhilao, and Hualao are also preferential, and those who are suspicious of Xiangcheng are not in Huangpi. It is a retreat from the city, and all difficulties are solved. There is no way to quickly eliminate chaos and chaos beyond this. What is the geometry of life? The sixty-year-old man retreated and settled the world, what more can he ask for. Remembering Rangde, often leaving the inexhaustible thoughts of the countrymen. Remembering the previous achievements, he is still the ancestor of the Republic of China! If you are undecided, sit back and wait for the people to enjoy your invitation, and then retreat, you will be forced to be forced and eventually prosperous. If you don't retreat, you will fight again, and you will be the head again. The two must be one. In this for the country, for the city, and implore the public agreement to admonish, do not take the lead. In Xiangcheng, he felt more love, and he was worried about his advice, covering it for the world, and also repaying his privacy. But the public scrutinizes. ”

When Chen Huan and Cai Ye negotiated the armistice, they also exchanged views on the overall situation.

Chen Yan advocated the adoption of a federal system after Yuan went to the wilderness, and elected one of the three people Feng, Duan, and Xu as president. At the same time, he believes that the current stalemate in the confrontation is not a problem between the Beiyang Army and the Protector Army, but a problem between Yuan and the Protector Army. Yuan could be defeated, while the Beiyang faction was still a powerful military bloc. If the oppression of Yuan by the Protector Army was too much at this time, it would be a mistake to force the Beiyang faction to unite with Yuan Chongxing to fight against the enemy because they wanted to fight for face.

Chen Eun suggested temporarily retaining Yuan's presidency to stabilize the Beiyang faction, in case Yuan was abandoned by the Beiyang faction, because Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang faction had drifted apart since Yuan Hongxian became emperor.

Cai Yi urged Chen to declare independence first, and Chen said that there were difficulties, and in fact there were real difficulties.

Sichuan's troops were huge and complex, including local troops and Beiyang troops, and Chen himself was unable to control them, and his powers were different, and his available troops were limited. However, all the Yuan troops in Sichuan had a common war-weariness and war-fearing mentality, and did not want to fight any further. Therefore, Chen Yan proposed to Cai Ye to cease the war first, leaving the political issue for later discussion. The first armistice lasted for a week, from March 31 to April 6.

For specific armistice matters, Chen Eun sent brigade commander Lei Biao to Yongning to contact Commander-in-Chief Cai, and Yuan Jun also asked American priests to go to Hengjiang to ask Commander Liu Yunfeng for an armistice.

Cai Ye agreed to Chen's armistice request and put forward four articles of the armistice statute:

(1) The two armies shall temporarily settle the original line, and no matter how large or small, they shall not go out of their outposts to attack, and if they break the contract and advance rashly, they will be killed

(2) Military envoys and messengers shall enter and leave by the roads designated by the senior commanders of the two armies, and military envoys shall be limited to two places unless otherwise permitted, but shall not carry military weapons, and military envoys shall be marked by a two-foot square white flag.

(3) Anyone who has a military uniform and carries equipment and wanders within the sentry line of the two armies shall be allowed to shoot or capture;

4. The armistice will run from 7 April to 6 May.

After the expiration of May 6, it will be extended for another month, from May 7 to June 6.

In order to show his sincerity, during the armistice, Chen Eun first ceded the Syrian Mansion and was stationed by the Protector Army.

In the eyes of outsiders, Chen Eun seems to be Yuan Shikai's big celebrity and favorite minister, but in fact, his life in Sichuan is also very difficult. First of all, there is a big contradiction between him and the Beiyang Department, and the soldiers of the Beiyang Department regard Chen Bu as their own. Yuan Shikai gave him the right to unify the army in Sichuan, but he actually couldn't command the Beiyang Army.

And since he engaged in the Hongxian Empire, because he was not active in all aspects, he felt more and more that he was being marginalized by the Yuan Party. For example, before he came to Sichuan to take up his post, Yuan Shikai promised him to take charge of the military of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces. However, after the Hongxian Empire, not only was this matter never mentioned again, but Yuan Shikai instead sent Zhang Liandi, a native of Hejian, as Chen's chief of staff to replace Liu Yiqing, a native of Hubei. It is enough to show that Yuan was wary of him, so he sent someone who had nothing to do with Chen to be his chief of staff.

Moreover, after Yuan decided to use troops against Yunnan, he sent Cao Kun to supervise the army into Sichuan, and when the order was published, Chen did not know anything about it. This is obviously not normal. This even made him think that even if the Protector Army was repulsed, the Sichuan General would have to give up his seat to others.

Due to so many contradictions, Chen Eun's mood at this time can be imagined.

He once said to his cronies: "Songpo is not a rash person, he has raised righteousness, he has his own arrangement, I heard that the old man (referring to Yuan Shikai) also has a straight and self-curvy expression, it seems that the problem of Yunnan uprising is not very easy to solve." ”

Therefore, since the Protectorate uprising, Chen has shown a passive attitude. Because Cai Ye is a good friend with him, no matter whether he is a friend or a friend or a friend, he has always maintained a "friend, not enemy" attitude towards Cai Yi, and never attacks Cai or abuses Cai.

Chen is not an enemy of Cai, but he is neither hostile to Yuan. He did not oppose Yuan because he had the concept of "being deeply favored", and he did not support Yuan because Yuan's series of practices made him feel cold.