Drinking to quench thirst, four words came to the minds of Zhang Sike and the others at the same time, asking Chiang Kai-shek for help, and what he lost was probably similar to what Liu Wenhui wanted. Liu Xiang's expression was miserable, Fu Chang's face was pale, and Qiao Yifu squirmed his lips but finally said nothing.

"Fu Gong, go and put on a table with him and see what he means." Zhang Ske said calmly: "Yucheng is still in our hands, and we have the final say on who it is." ”

Liu Xiang thought about it carefully, yes, isn't Yucheng his biggest weight, and with this weight, Chiang Kai-shek can't ask for too high a price.

"Prepare the boat, I want to cross the river." Liu Xiang ordered outside the door.

When the boat was sent to Zhuang Jihua a few months ago, he was in high spirits and won the support of Chiang Kai-shek, Deng Xihou, Tian Songyao, Yang Sen and others were also inclined to him, and his father Liu Wenhui was caught in the net he weaved, but just a few months later, he found that it was not his father Liu Wenhui who was caught in the net but himself. The adjutant came over to invite Liu Xiang into the cabin, but Liu Xiang ignored him, he stood silently at the bow of the boat, letting the river breeze blow his face and blow the big air into the air.

The two sentries at the gate of the base saluted Liu Xiang, and the officer sitting at the door ran in front of Liu Xiang in a standard military posture.

"Report to the chief, Lieutenant Jiang Wenbin of the escort team reports to you, please wait, sir, I will inform Captain Zhuang to come out to greet you."

Liu Xiang looked at the young officer standing straight in front of him, his young face was shrewd and capable, he wanted to agree, but when the words came to his lips, he changed his words and said: "No need, I will go in by myself, I have long heard that there is a special scene in the base, and I have also seen it." ”

After finishing speaking, he was about to go inside, but Jiang Wenbin said loudly: "Please forgive me, sir, I must report to the top." ”

After speaking, he shouted to a soldier behind him: "Report to Captain Zhuang, General Liu, the commander of the 21st Army, has come to inspect." ”

The soldier said yes and turned and ran towards the office building. Liu Xiang looked at the back of the soldier and couldn't help but be awe-inspired, whether this is an escort team or an army, even his military guard company does not have such strict military discipline.

The base is completely different from a few months ago, a training ground has been set up on the east side, a group of men and women are training on the field, and the west side is also leveled into a flat ground, and the people on it are divided into more than a dozen squares, and there is a blackboard in front of each square, and a person is explaining in front of the blackboard.

"What is this?" Although he guessed what he was doing, Liu Xiang couldn't help but ask.

"Literacy." Jiang Wenbin replied: "Captain Zhuang can only make high-quality products with educated workers, and we are conducting cultural training for workers. ”

"What about those? Also workers? Fu Chang asked, pointing to a row of people in military uniforms who were staring intently at the blackboard.

"No, they are escorts," Jiang Wenbin explained, "Captain Zhuang said that soldiers should also be educated, and educated troops will have stronger combat effectiveness." ”

Liu Xiang's lips twitched inattention, the office building is no longer a lonely small building, there are rows of houses on its left and right and behind it.

"There are classrooms on both sides," Jiang said, pointing to the houses on the left and right sides of the office building, "mainly where professors teach their students, and behind them are laboratories, warehouses, family residences and dormitories." ”

"Your captain is still in the shack?" Zhang Sike suddenly took two steps forward and asked.

"Yes, there are only four families living in the shack now, Captain Zhuang and his wife, Deputy Captain Li's family, Chief Teng and his wife, and the other are Chief Du and Chief Hong, all of whom are the biggest officials in our development team." Jiang Wenbin said, to be honest, after Zhuang Jihua said that after the official university moved out, no one took this seriously, but he didn't expect Zhuang Jihua to really do it, every time the new dormitory is completed, the first people who move in are the workers and students, and then the soldiers, and the squad leader all lives with the soldiers, and the squadron leader is only qualified to move after the whole squadron moves in. And a few of their captain-level officers have not moved until now, just this hand, so that everyone in the team no longer speaks, and also established Zhuang Jihua's authority among the lower-level officers and soldiers in the team, and also silenced those who originally wanted to see jokes among the students.

Strict discipline, honest officers, and a team of one heart, are they really a development team? A cloud of doubt rose in Liu Xiang's heart, and he couldn't help but glance at Zhang Sike, who was looking at the vibrant base solemnly.

A few figures hurriedly ran out of the office building, their steps were very fast, and they arrived in front of Liu Xiang in a few steps and saluted him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," after putting down his hand, Zhuang Jihua said to Liu Xiang with a smile on his face: "It's too late to welcome you, please forgive me." ”

"There, there," Liu Xiang barely squeezed out a smile: "Cultural Revolution, you will have a new weather in just a few months." ”

"There, these are just done," Zhuang Jihua said with a smile: "We plan to use this time to plant some more trees, plant some grass, and do a good job of greening, otherwise I am afraid there will be no time in the future." ”

Liu Xiang was stunned for a moment, and Zhang Sike said: "Cultural Revolution, your defenses here are too loose, and there are two sentinels at the door." ”

Zhuang Jihua looked at Zhang Sike with a smile: "Those two sentinels are just to scare the people, whether it is Fu Gong or Liu Ziqian, if they want to deal with us, even if they put a few more sentinels, will it work?" ”

Zhang Sike was also stunned, Liu Xiang couldn't help laughing, and the others immediately burst into laughter, and in the laughter, they walked into the office building, and Song Yunfei opened the door of the reception room.

"Fugong, please take a seat." Zhuang Jihua made a gesture with a smile, and then said to Wu Ziniu: "Serve tea." ”

Intentionally or unintentionally, Zhuang Jihua sat opposite Liu Xiang, and Li Zhilong, Hong Junqi, Teng Jie, Du Yuming, and Tang Zong sat down next to him; Zhang Sike and Fu Chang sat down next to Liu Xiang, and if they were going to break into a person coldly, he would think that he had entered a negotiation field.

Liu Xiang pondered for a moment, and he decided to change his strategy and no longer detour: "The Cultural Revolution, the frontline is unfavorable, I am here to ask you for help." ”

Zhuang Jihua's face was expressionless, but he chuckled in his heart: "Ask me for help?" ”

Li Zhilong and the others looked at each other with suspicion on their faces, and Liu Xiang smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, I can't bear to destroy Yucheng in the war, so I want to ask you to come and guard Yucheng, and our troops will withdraw from Yucheng." ”

Zhuang Jihua was expressionless, and Li Zhilong was also expressionless, as if they hadn't heard what Liu Xiang said.

"What does Fu Gong mean, I will help you defend Yucheng?" Zhuang Jihua was a little funny in his heart: "If Fu Gong calls back, I will hand over Yucheng to you." ”

Liu Xiang did not answer, and Zhang Sike Fu Chang did not answer.

Zhuang Jihua showed a hint of a smile, looking a little sarcastic: "Fu Gong, all the risks are borne by me, and all the benefits belong to you." I'm afraid no one will do it. ”

"Didn't the chairman promise that you would cooperate with us to clean up the 24th Army?" Fu Chang asked with a little indignation.

"Strictly speaking, it's not me, it's Zeng Kuoqing, I'm just the Southwest Development Task Force, and the Sichuan political situation is in charge of Zeng Kuoqing." Zhuang Jihua immediately retorted: "I just forwarded a telegram for you. ”

Zhuang Jihua pushed 265 and didn't admit it at all, and Liu Xiang couldn't hold his handle, because Chiang Kai-shek didn't say that he would let Zhuang Jihua assist them.

"I have a division of labor with Brother Enlargement, I am only in charge of development, and he is in charge of party affairs in Sichuan and coordinates the relationship between the central and local governments." Zhuang Jihua continued: "The reason for this division of labor is that I am worried that if something happens, it will affect the work of the development team. ”

Silence, still silence, Liu Xiang still had a glimmer of hope before he came, but now this glimmer of hope is getting slimmer and slimmer; They all understood what Zhuang Jihua meant. It doesn't matter who Yucheng is in his hands, he is only in charge of the development team, that is, he is only in charge of exploration, road construction, and factory construction. Whether it is Liu Xiang or Liu Wenhui, as long as he does not openly oppose the central authorities, he cannot hinder his work.

"Shall I hand over Yucheng to you?" Liu Xiang gradually increased.

Zhuang Jihua didn't answer immediately, but looked at him silently, as if he wanted to see a bit of sincerity on his face: "What is Fu Gong going to do?" ”

"Yucheng will be handed over to the central government as the base camp of the southwest development task force, and the administration of Yucheng will be owned by the central government." Liu Xiang said.

Zhang Sike's face sank like water, Fu Chang was a little anxious, and touched Liu Xiang with his elbow, Liu Xiang was unmoved, just staring at Zhuang Jihua.

Zhuang Jihua leaned back on the chair and thought for a while, then stood up, walked to the window, and looked out the window silently.

"My husband is very generous, but my appetite is also very big."

Li Zhilong, Teng Jie, Du Yuming, and Hong Junqi exchanged glances with each other, knowing that Zhuang Jihua was going to have a showdown.

Liu Xiang was stunned, Zhang Sike stood up awkwardly, pointed at Zhuang Jihua and shouted: "Sure enough, it's you!" ”

The questions in Zhang Sike's mind were finally answered, Deng Xihou and Tian Songyao betrayed the alliance, Yang Sen, Li Jiayu, and Luo Zezhou did not fight, and all kinds of things were arranged by him.

Zhuang Jihua didn't care about Zhang Sike, but turned around and said to Liu Xiang: "I want Yucheng, plus Jiangbei, Changshou, Dianjiang, Linshui, Baxian, Qijiang, Beibei, Hechuan, Nanchuan, Wulong, Wansheng, Qianjiang, Liangping, Jiangjin, Tongliang, Wusheng, a total of 16 counties. Agree to this condition, and I will help you win this battle. ”

After Liu Xiang heard this, he was stunned for a long time, and suddenly laughed, full of grief and indignation in the laughter, Zhuang Jihua did not speak, just looked at him with a smile.

"This is almost all of our current defense areas, what's the difference between giving it to you and giving it to Liu Ziqian." Fu Chang blushed and said angrily.

Liu Xiang suppressed his laughter and said: "Zhuang Wenge, Yucheng is still in my hands now, you are not afraid that I will turn my face and not recognize people, so I will cut you first." ”

"Hehe, of course I'm afraid, if you kill me now to vent your anger, then there will be no such person as Fu Gong in Sichuan politics for a long time." Zhuang Jihua smiled firmly.

"What's not to do." Fu Chang said coldly, but Liu Xiang knew that Zhuang Jihua was right again, he really couldn't do anything to him now, and now he turned his face with Zhuang Jihua, I don't know if this base can be beaten down, don't look at the fact that there are only more than 1,000 people, but Zhuang Jihua is good at guarding, but he is famous all over the country. Take 10,000 steps back and say, even if it is defeated, if the experts and scholars in this base are damaged, I am afraid that he Liu Xiang will be condemned by the whole country, you must know that these are the best scholars in China at present, and they enjoy high prestige in the intellectual circles, and I am afraid that Chiang Kai-shek will have to send troops into Sichuan to exterminate him Liu Xiang.

"But don't worry, listen to what I've to say. I don't know if I'm right, but last year and this year, how much tax was collected in the 21 counties around Yucheng that you occupied? ”

Liu Xiang shook his head before he replied: "More than 14 million." ”

"Count fourteen million, Fu Gong suffers a loss, don't worry about me." Zhuang Jihua said calmly: "In the future, I will hand over 14 million oceans to you every year." Couldn't be more. ”

Liu Xiang was a little stupid, he didn't understand why, he didn't want the taxes here, so what would he do with this place? Zhang Sike asked confusedly: "Why?" Why are you doing this? ”

"I'm going to use this place to do something," Zhuang Jihua calmly walked behind Li Zhilong, patted him on the shoulder, and motioned for him to calm down: "I can't explain to you now, you will know what I will do again in three years, and when the time comes, I hope you can do it with me." ”

After Zhuang Jihua finished speaking, he added: "I know what you are worried about, then I will make the following promise to you, your ministry can be stationed in these places, but you can't set up a card to collect taxes, there is a tax card, the second year's tax, I will deduct 1 million from you, if there are 14 tax cards, you ask me 1 million, we have to sign an agreement; The second guarantee is that without your consent, the central government will not send a single additional soldier to Sichuan. Finally, after defeating Liu Wenhui, you will be the commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army, most of his defense areas will belong to you, Tian Songyao and Deng Xihou will each take three counties, and the defense areas of Yang Sen, Li Jiayu, and Luo Zezhou will remain in their current state. Fu Gong, you don't suffer. ”

Liu Xiang exchanged views with Zhang Sike and Fu Chang, and Fu Chang stood up and said, "We have to discuss." ”

Zhuang Jihua nodded, and said to Li Zhilong, "Let's go out first." Then he said to Liu Xiang: "If Fu Gong has discussed it, please send someone to inform us." ”

After entering the war room, Li Zhilong couldn't help but ask: "Cultural Revolution, are you too generous, the War of Resistance is a matter for the whole nation, not your personal matter, I don't believe that Liu Xiang can be indifferent." ”

"You're wrong, if he had believed, I'm sure he'd have moved, but now just by us, will he believe?" Zhuang Jihua said calmly: "He will think that we are making an excuse to open up the southwest for the central government, if this is the case, he will unite the Sichuan warlords to confront the central government, don't forget, he and Liu Wenhui are uncles and nephews." Deng Xihou and Tian Songyao are equally wary of the central government, so we can only make it out first and then speak to them with facts. ”

"Then why did you promise the central government not to transfer troops into Sichuan?" Du Yuming was also very dissatisfied: "We only have more than 1,000 people, what can we do?" Hold a kilometer of defense? ”

"What I'm saying is that the central government doesn't transfer troops into Sichuan, but I don't say that we can't recruit troops in Sichuan." Zhuang Jihua smiled slyly: "Guangting, how many soldiers can you bring out with more than a thousand officers and sergeants?" ”

"Cultural Revolution, when did you become so deceitful?" Hong Junqi suddenly realized, and then looked up and down as if he didn't know him.

"You just know, he's been cheating like this." Du Yuming said angrily, he remembered that his salary was cheated back then: "Junqi, you have to be careful with him, don't be sold by him, and count the money for him." ”

Zhuang Jihua sneered: "The gas is not enough, this little thing is still remembered." ”

"I forgot, but someone remembered it and reminded me." Du Yuming smiled faintly.

"Who? Song Xilian, this kid, don't write to me when you write to you, find a chance to fix him. Zhuang Jihua said angrily.

"Cultural Revolution, do you think they will agree?" Li Zhilong didn't have the heart to make such a joke, Zhuang Jihua's judgment of Liu Xiang made him very disappointed, but he didn't want to debate with Zhuang Jihua, he thought that time would tell Zhuang Jihua that he was wrong this time.

"Zaitian, why are you still so naïve," Zhuang Jihua couldn't help but reproach, after so many ups and downs, how could this Li Zhilong not change: "Liu Xiang thinks about how to keep his group first, and then others, we occupy his territory, what to do with his group, what to do with so many soldiers, this is what he has to consider, and it must be considered, plus he has been worried for a long time, he will not believe those beautiful slogans, his judgment is first, resist, that should go to the north, not west to Sichuan." So he will conclude that we are lying to him, and instead of making him think like this, it is better to negotiate terms with him, so that he will be more down-to-earth. ”

Maybe pie will fall from the sky, but will that fall on yourself? So when somebody pulls you on the street and says he's going to give you a million, you're going to think he's a madman or a liar.

"Naijian, you tell him if they will agree." Zhuang Jihua was very angry at Li Zhilong's immaturity, and the key was that Li Zhilong was the only person in the top echelons who would not tell him to Chiang Kai-shek, and he was ready to use him as the mayor of Chongqing.

"If it were me, I would say yes." Tang Zong replied calmly: "He didn't suffer a loss in this transaction, although he lost the administrative power of sixteen counties, he didn't lose the right to garrison troops and taxes, oh, no, taxes may have to lose a little, because after all, he can't be taxed at will, and I don't see what he will lose otherwise, unless the captain doesn't plan to abide by the agreement." ”

"Yes, Naijian is right," Teng Jie said: "Liu Xiang will not disagree, otherwise I will wonder how he climbed to today's position." ”

Teng Jie was a little excited, the Yucheng area was about to arrive, and he only knew an outline of what Zhuang Jihua was going to do, but he knew very well what he wanted to do.

But things didn't go well, the debate in the conference room was very fierce, so that they could faintly hear the sound in the war room, Zhuang Jihua sat steadily on the chair and drank tea, Li Zhilong held his hands and circled around the room, Teng Jie stood up and sat down for a while, Hong Junqi and Du Yuming stood in front of the map, exchanging opinions in a whisper from time to time, only Tang Zong sat quietly on the chair and said nothing.

More than an hour later, Liu Xiang's adjutant came over and invited them over, and Zhuang Jihua left everything else in the war room, and only took Tang Zong into the conference room.

(To be continued)