"The big warlord with the surname of the whole country?" Wu Peifu looked at the lord who was called "Cao Er's fool" in surprise, as if he didn't quite understand what he meant.

"He, Cai Songpo, the army commander, is not the biggest warlord who combines the military power of the whole country?" Cao Kun said with a sneer.

Listening to Cao Kun's words, Wu Peifu was quite unimpressed, but he didn't say anything.

According to the current Constitution of the Republic of China, the supreme command of the Central Army belongs to the president, and the actual command in wartime is the responsibility of the General Staff, and the army's budget and funds, as well as the procurement plan for weapons and equipment, all need to be approved by the Congress, and the Ministry of Finance allocates them, and the power of the War Department is not as great as Cao Kun said. What's more, Cai Ye himself has no personal ambitions at all, and it is unfair to say that Cai Ye is a big warlord with the surname of the whole country.

"I'm relieved that he Cai Songpo sits in this position, but if someone like Feng Jishan sits in his position, I'm afraid we will die without a place to be buried." Cao Kun turned his head, looked at the township outside the window, and said to himself.

Wu Peifu didn't want to discuss this issue any longer, so he tried to change the subject.

"I heard that it was his continuation that killed Feng Jishan." Wu Peifu said, "And it turned out to be a husband in the chapel of the barracks." ”

"I can't say what's going on with this matter, maybe the murderer is someone else." Cao Kun said, his eyes still stopped outside the window, "It's like Lu Chengwu killed Xu Youzheng, saying that he was avenging his father, and it's hard to say whether he killed him or not." ”

"yes, no one can explain the strangeness of this." Wu Peifu nodded and said, "However, once Feng Jishan dies, the disaster of war will be avoided, and the military and civilians will be spared, which is still a good thing after all." ”

Cao Kun nodded slowly and did not speak again.

When the special train taken by Cao Kun and Wu Peifu arrived at Yanjing Station, it was already a little late, and Cao Kun and Wu Peifu, who got off the train, looked at the brightly lit platform and were a little surprised.

Although they haven't entered Beijing for a while, it hasn't been for a long time, and now the changes in Yanjing City still make them sigh. "This should be part of Yang Hanzhi's 'railway electrification'. In economic construction, there is really no one in China who can compare with him. Wu Peifu sighed, "It's a good thing that there was no fight." If there is a fight, these fears will be completely ruined. ”

"Although Feng Jishan is dead, if Feng Jun's soldiers involved in this matter are not handled properly, they will still be in big trouble." Cao Kun sighed and said, "Moreover, this time Feng Zhang behaved a little strangely. ”

"Yes, Feng Ji is good at this coup d'état, and Zhang Yuting is also involved." Wu Peifu said as if jokingly, "This time he will probably not come to the tour meeting." ”

"He's already here." Cao Kun said, glancing at Wu Peifu, Wu Peifu saw a group of people in the distance walking briskly towards this side, he recognized who was the person wearing the gray-blue military uniform with embroidered gold thread, and couldn't help but be stunned.

This person is none other than Zhang Zuolin, the Northeast Patrol Envoy.

"Say Cao Ying, Cao Ying will arrive." Cao Kun muttered in a low voice, and the expression on his face returned to his usual honest and peaceful appearance.

"Zhong Shan, Ziyu, long time no see, hehe!" Zhang Zuolin walked quickly to Cao Kun and Wu Peifu, stretched out his hand, and shook them hard.

"How dare you labor Yuting personally pick up the station!" Cao Kun laughed and said, "Where can you afford this?" ”

"Hey! What's this! Zhang Zuolin smiled and walked side by side with Cao Wu, "I have just arrived, the ground has not been very peaceful recently, there are always assassins and party members in trouble, the president is worried about the safety of the two, I volunteered to come and pick you up, hehe." ”

"Yuting is a person with a heart." Cao Kun smiled, "Ziyu and I have thanked you here first. ”

Cao Kun and Wu Peifu noticed that the cars Zhang Zuolin used to pick them up were all large American "Ford" luxury cars, and they couldn't help but be secretly frightened.

"If you want to say that this car is really a good thing, after taking the car, people are lazy, and even horses don't want to ride, hehe." Zhang Zuolin saw what Cao and Wu were thinking, and laughed happily, "We can build such a car now." ”

"It's made in Mukden's factory, isn't it?" As if he had an insight into Zhang Zuolin's show-off psychology, Wu Peifu asked with a smile.

"Of course." Zhang Zuolin's face showed a look of self-satisfaction, "In fact, not only this car, train, warship, airplane, and cannon can also be built on my side." ”

"The achievements made in the industrial development of Northeast China are obvious to all throughout the country." Cao Kun said with a smile, "Yuting's achievements over the years are not small! ”

"Where, without the strong support of the central government, the local industry in the northeast will not be able to develop so fast." Zhang Zuolin seemed to hear the overtones in Cao Kun's words, and immediately said, "Relying on my two brushes alone, I can't do anything." ”

"Yuting is too modest, hehe." Cao Kun laughed.

"Zhong Shan has built all the railways in Shandong and Henan, and this achievement is incomparable to me." Zhang Zuolin said with a smile, "The money in my hand is enough to run two factories, hehe." ”

Hearing Zhang Zuolin's intentional "crying poor", Cao Kun secretly scolded in his heart that "ghosts only believe", but on the surface he still looked like a spring breeze, several people sat in the car while talking, and the driver then started the car and drove forward.

"I heard that Duan Zhiquan has set up a mourning hall for Xu Youzheng at home, should we go over first?" After boasting to Zhang Zuolin about their respective achievements in local economic construction, Cao Kun changed his words and suddenly asked.

"That's right, after Lao Duan heard that Xiao Xu was killed, he vomited blood and fell into a coma on the spot, but fortunately, the doctor rescued him in time," Zhang Zuolin sighed, "It's not early today, or tomorrow morning, let's go over together, pay tribute to Xiao Xu, and take a look at Lao Duan by the way, after all, they are all old people from our Beiyang Department." ”

"This Xiao Xu, alas, is talented and talented, but it's a pity that he is too sharp and too vicious, which leads to death." Cao Kun sighed.

"Although Xiao Xu is a little ruthless, he is not a vicious villain, he has always been loyal to Lao Duan. He was Lao Duan's first confidant, and their friendship between monarchs and ministers was closer than that of Feng Huafu (Feng Guozhang) and Li Chun. Because although Li Chun is a loyal minister of Feng Huafu, he rarely has the time to make his own opinions; And Xiao Xu is not only Lao Duan's loyal minister, but also can plan big things for Lao Duan on his behalf, and Lao Duan has absolute trust in him. Like when he was in the War Department before, Lao Duan did not often go to the ministry to see things, and most of the affairs were entrusted to Xiao Xu. Xiao Xu said yes, didn't show favoritism, and sometimes didn't even give Lao Duan face. Wu Peifu remembered the past and said, "This upright surname is similar to Duan Qirui when he was training at the small station, and it can really be said that people gather like others." ”

Wu Peifu said, and involuntarily glanced at Cao Kun.

In fact, although he was reminiscing about Xu Shuzheng's past, in fact, he was also talking about himself.

The relationship between him and Cao Kun is not the relationship between Xu Shuzheng and Duan Qirui?

"Xiao Xu's talent is outstanding. He is a first-class figure in our Beiyang system, and he has the ability to cross and close. He is also Lin Qinnan's protégé, with excellent writing skills, good poetry, and is a poet friend of President Xu's "Evening Poetry Society". What is particularly commendable is that he has his own analysis and judgment of the general situation of the country, and can organize and plan major actions. Zhang Zuolin said, "It's just that he is cold-hearted and ruthless, when he was in the War Department, he was known for not showing favoritism, and he offended many people because of this, even to Lao Duan himself, he also has a taste of 'gentlemen's friendship is as light as water'." It is said that every time he went to Lao Duan to report on official business, he always left after explaining cleanly, never delaying time, and rarely attended the banquets of Duan's mansion, and rarely accompanied Lao Duan to play cards and chess. He is like this to Lao Duan, and even more so to others. ”

"Having said that, he was sometimes unfair, such as making things difficult for Jiang Baili, an alumnus of the non-commissioned officer school at the time, and Jiang Baili was so angry that he pulled out a gun and committed suicide at the cadet conference, almost dying." Wu Peifu said, "And the killing of Lu Jianzhang is indeed a bit too much, no matter how Lu Jianzhang is the patriarch of our Beiyang system, no matter how annoying he is, he will never be damned." But he Xiao Xu actually invited Lu Jianzhang to the Hongmen banquet and shot him dead from behind, and the viciousness of his methods was eye-catching. As a result, this time it was reported and repaid, and it was finally a blood debt. ”

"He Xiao Xu never thought that Feng Jishan would not avenge Lu Jianzhang in the future?" Cao Kun sighed and said, "Xiao Xu, this person, not only stabbed and slammed into power, but also opened up territory, and the merit was in the country, but he was finally killed tragically, regardless of the grievances and grievances of the rivers and lakes, it is really a big loss for the country." ”

"Xiao Xu and Feng Jishan can be said to be two diametrically opposed types of people. Feng Jishan is deeply hidden, seems to be rough and loyal, but in fact he is as meticulous as a hair, eager to repay and capricious, and is a figure like Hou Jing and Zhu Wen in history; Xiao Xu is high-spirited, seemingly white-faced, but in fact, he is eloquent, inorganic and loyal, similar to Han Xin and Luo Cheng in Romance. Therefore, Xiao Xu's grudge with Feng Jishan is his biggest misfortune. Wu Peifu said with a wry smile, "Now that the two of them are in the same Huangquan, I don't know what the situation is when they meet." ”

After listening to Wu Peifu's words, Zhang Zuolin and Cao Kun were also embarrassed.

"This time we have a parade meeting, won't it also be a Hongmen banquet?" Cao Kun turned his head and asked suddenly.

"How is that possible?" Zhang Zuolin snorted and said with a smile, "If it's a Hongmen banquet, I just don't know which one is King Xiang and which one is Liu Bang?" ”

Listening to Zhang Zuolin's words, Cao Kun and Wu Peifu also laughed, although in their hearts, they were not as happy as they seemed.

And at about the same moment, in another place, there were three people, also laughing.

"I guess there will be a lot of people coming to pay tribute to me tomorrow."

At this time, in a solemn mourning hall, three people were sitting together, pushing cups and changing lamps there.

"You want to play corpse trickery with them?" Yang Shuoming looked at Xu Shuzheng with some amusement, "I think it's better to forget it, the people who come are not young, don't freak people out." ”

"That's it, my old bones, I can't stand your Xu Youzheng's toss anymore." Duan Qirui looked at Xu Shuzheng, who had come back from the dead, and his eyes couldn't help but be a little moist.

After learning of Xu Shuzheng's death by Lu Chengwu, Duan Qirui vomited blood on the spot and fell unconscious. On the same day, Duan Qirui set up a mourning hall for Xu Shuzheng at home and paid tribute in person. But what Duan Qirui didn't expect was that just a few days later, Xu Shuzheng would reappear in front of him.

Under the ecstasy, Duan Qirui's heart couldn't withstand such an impact, and he fainted again, and it took another rescue to wake up. Of course, this time Duan Qirui cried with joy.

"This time I made the teacher suffer, and I punished myself with a cup to show my gratitude." Xu Shuzheng looked at Duan Qirui's face, which was still slightly blue, and said apologetically, raising his wine glass and drinking it all.

"And you, Yang Hanzhi, actually helped him hide from me so hard." Duan Qirui looked at Yang Shuoming and said, "You should also be fined a cup." ”

"The punishment should be punished." Yang Shuoming also smiled and raised his glass, and drank it all. Xu Shuzheng watched Yang Shuoming's movements, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Now, the matter is basically over, can you Yang Hanzhi tell me the truth?" Waiting for Yang Shuoming to put down the wine glass in his hand, Duan Qirui asked while using chopsticks to sandwich a dish on the plate in front of him.

"What truth does Duan Gong want to know?" Yang Shuoming smiled and asked rhetorically.

"You Zheng was able to successfully take off his face, you arranged it, right?" Duan Qirui stared at Yang Shuoming's eyes and asked, "Did you already know that Feng Jishan would make a move against Youzheng?" ”

Yang Shuoming smiled and nodded, "I only found out when I left for Tianjin again, because the matter was in a hurry, so I could only arrange it in such a troubled water, but it was still dangerous." He turned his head to look at Xu Shuzheng, "Let Youzheng be frightened." ”

"It's good to be alive, it's nothing to be a little frightened." Xu Shuzheng said with a smile, "It's just that those few people in my family were scared a lot, but I'm afraid that they won't be able to spare Hanzhi in the future." ”

"Let me ask you again, was Feng Jishan really killed by his wife?" Duan Qirui asked again.

"The parties are all dead, and I'm afraid no one can know the truth of this." Yang Shuoming met Duan Qirui's gaze and said, "I didn't participate in this matter, so it's not clear." ”

Duan Qirui stared at Yang Shuoming for a long time, as if he wanted to know if he was panicking.

Feng Jishan was accidentally stabbed to death in the military chapel, according to the guards at the scene, they had seen Feng's wife Li Dequan in and out of the chapel, Feng Jishan's adjutant Zhang Yunrong immediately found Li Dequan for interrogation, but Li Dequan insisted that he had not been to the chapel, let alone killed her husband, but at this time, Feng Jun's soldiers had lost their minds after learning of the death of the commander, and in the case of repeated inquiries to no avail, some junior officers shot Li Dequan.

"How are you going to deal with the aftermath of this incident?" Duan Qirui asked again.

"The aftermath is under the jurisdiction of the president, Premier Liang and Cai Songpo, and it should not be within the jurisdiction of me, the Minister of Finance." Yang Shuoming smiled faintly and replied.

"I'd like to hear your opinion," Duan Qirui then asked, "If this matter rests on you, what are you going to do?" ”

Seeing Duan Qirui asking Yang Shuoming's opinion so persistently, Xu Shuzheng couldn't help but secretly admire in his heart.

He knew that Duan Qirui must have seen the role of Yang Shuoming behind the scenes, so he asked so much.

"I think the most important thing at the moment is to maintain a stable social situation." Yang Shuoming said, "Although Feng Jishan was bewitched by the Red Elements this time and rashly raised troops to raise an incident, but looking at his power, he is also dedicated to the country, and what he said is not all without merit. Now that he himself is dead, it is better to leave it at this end and not to delve into it. For himself, he should be publicly mourned and given a generous burial to appease the hearts of tens of thousands of soldiers under his subordinates. ”

"You're saying that in order to prevent his subordinates from rebelling, this matter is just over?" Duan Qirui asked.

"Everything has an ending, and if it doesn't work, it's also a kind of ending." Yang Shuoming smiled and said, "And for the people of the country, this should be the best ending, isn't it?" ”

"Yes, such an ending is indeed the best one." Xu Shuzheng nodded and said, "Feng Jishan's soldiers are all soldiers who have participated in the European War, they are well-equipped, they can fight through the war, they are rare elite soldiers, and they are known for their patriotic thoughts, if they are lost in the civil war in vain, it will be a pity." ”

"Yes! In that case, it would be a pity. Duan Qirui drank all the wine in the cup, then held the wine glass and sighed.

"You know what? Feng Jishan's move this time, to a large extent, is also aimed at you Yang Hanzhi. Duan Qirui looked up at Yang Shuoming, "He has always thought that you are too close to the Americans." ”

"I've always had a problem." Yang Shuoming smiled and said to Duan Qirui, "Before the ruling axe gate incident, someone asked Duan Gong, why did he borrow money from Yuben to fight a civil war, and how would he repay it in the future? I also asked Duan Gong the same question today, can Duan Gong give me a real answer? ”

"What should I do if I am financially strapped for political axes, I can't make ends meet, I lack money everywhere, and I don't go into debt? As for the issue of repaying debts, this is the case for us, and we are only using this for a while, so who plans to really repay him? When our country becomes strong, it will not be returned! Duan Qirui smiled and said, "Is Hanzhi satisfied with such an answer?" ”

(To be continued)