When China, Russia and Mongolia held talks in Kyakhta in 1915, the Russian side resolutely refused to discuss the issue of the Tangnu-Ulianghai issue. In 1916, after Chen Zhan served as the Chinese Protector in Outer Mongolia, Kemuzik Banner secretly sent people to Kulen to ask for a re-issuance of the letter to Yin, and to complain about the bullying and oppression of the Russians in Tangnu Ulianghai. At that time, Russia participated in the First World War, the garrison in the Wulianghai area was greatly reduced, most of the Russian expatriates also returned to China, and the local Russian power was weakened, and the residents of the Kemuzik Banner, Beizi Banner, Dawang Banner and other banners were all devoted to China and the living Buddha of Jebtsundamba, so Chen Zhan seized the opportunity to join the Outer Mongolian side to send troops to Tangnu Ulianghai and accept the allegiance of each banner, resulting in the fait accompli of Tangnu Ulianghai's return to China.

After the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, the Soviet Russian army once entered the Tangnu-Ulianghai area, controlled the local Russian villages, and expressed leniency to the Wulianghai people, and signed a "treaty" with various banners to allow the Tangnu-Ulianghai, which was still legally part of Chinese territory at that time, to "stand on its own". As for those "treaties", although they claimed to abandon the aggressive policy of the imperial Russian era, they did not renounce any of the benefits that the Russians had already seized in the Tangnu-Ulianghai, such as reclamation, fishing and hunting, logging, etc., and would "keep it forever." For example, Article 2 of the treaty reads "The Mongolian version of the treaty is strongly approved by Russia", while the Russian version reads: "The Russian people agree with the autonomy of the people of Ulianghai and when they think it is reasonable, they will repay the Heshuo seal letters (referring to the former Qing seal letters confiscated by the Russian authorities) that were received by the imperial officials; From then on, all the people of Tangnutuwa Ulianghai and the Nine Masters were completely under the jurisdiction of no one. The Mongolian version of Article 3 of the treaty reads: "Since the Russians have lived in the Wulianghai area for a long time, their farming and other matters shall continue to be handled as usual", and the Russian version has been changed to "After the people of Wulianghai have declared that they will not violate the borders of Russia." After many years of friendship, the people of Ulianghai completely ceded to the Russian people the areas that the Russians had cultivated in their early years, and the Russians were able to enjoy these areas in perpetuity. ”

On November 14, 1917, Chen Zhang, the protector of the Outer Mongolian Metropolitan Guard, sent the third company of the Metropolitan Escort Guard to the Tangnu Wulianghai area. This unit has been stationed in Outer Mongolia for a long time, able to endure the bitter cold, and along the way joined two Chinese garrison detachments of Uriya Sutai and Kobdo, as well as 100 cavalry sent by the Outer Mongolian side, arrived at the Tangnu Yuban Karen (outpost) on the southern border of Tangnu Wuliang Sea on December 16, and arrived at the garrison of the Tangnu Banner on the 18th, and the follow-up troops arrived one after another in January 1918. At this time, there were dozens of Russian White Guard soldiers in the territory of the Kmuzik flag, and there was a clash with the squadron [***] that went to receive the flag, and the Chinese side was killed 9 people, and the Russian side lost 5 people. Just when the confrontation between the two sides was stalemate, the Red Army in Russia launched an offensive, the White Army was shaken, and the local Outer Mongolian government issued guns to the Russian-ravaged Tangnu Ulianghai hunters to help them in the war, and finally turned the situation around, and the entire territory of Tangnu Ulianghai was recovered by the Chinese and Mongolian coalition in July 1918.

After learning that the Tangnu-Ulianghai had been recovered by the Chinese [***] team, the Soviet Russian authorities were greatly shocked, and the Russian Red Army poured into the Tangnu-Ulianghai from Russia in the late summer of that year in the name of "pursuing the Kolchak white bandits", intending to regain control of this area. On January 26, 1920, Smirnov, chairman of the Siberian Revolutionary Committee, sent a telegram to Lenin and Trotsky: "The Mongols have entered the Ulianghai region and expelled our (Russian) peasants. These peasants once fought bravely against the Kolchak White Bandits, and they were not under his jurisdiction. The Soyots (Ulianghai) were nomadic peoples, oppressed by both Mongol and Imperial Russians. Do you think that the Ulianghai region should be liberated by force from the Mongols and a Ulianghai Soviet Republic should be established? Please advise. Before Moscow could send a reply to Smirnov, on February 19, 1920, Tangnu Ulianghai was recaptured by Yan Shichao, the secretary general of the former Outer Mongolian Protector Chen Zhan (appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China in 1919 as an investigator of Tangnu Ulianghai). However, in September of that year, the Russian nationals of Ulianghai sent a commissioner to the Siberian Revolutionary Committee. Case? Safiyanov organized the establishment of a "Soviet political axe" and declared Tangnu-Ulianghai a "state of reading".

In June 1921, while attacking the Siberian region of Soviet Russia, the Chinese [***] team entered the Tangnu-Ulianghai again, overthrew the so-called "Soviet political axe" established by Safiyanov in one fell swoop, and arrested and executed Safiyanov and others. The squadron then stayed behind and completely wiped out the Russian rebels in the territory of Tangnu-Ulianghai, arresting Russian officials, political propagandists, and their henchmen and spies. In July, a delegation of overseas Chinese and pro-Chinese personages from Tangnu Ulianghai met with the governors of the Kmuzik and other banners, demanding that Tangnu Ulianghai "break away from all ties with Red Russia" and "return to China." On 14 August, the "All-Ulianghai Constitutional Hural," which was jointly composed of Chinese expatriates and locals, announced the establishment of the "Tangnu-Ulianghai Autonomous Prefecture," and renamed it "Ulianghaihot" after the colonial castle Beloshalsk, which had been built by the Russians. Chinese officials and the military, as well as overseas Chinese, also helped the Ulianghai people form an autonomous government composed of locals, with Lama Tenduk as the "governor."

Adopting a pro-Chinese and pro-Mongolian policy, the Danduk Lama established close contacts with Chinese political officials and the upper echelons of Outer Mongolia. In order to strengthen ties with the motherland, Dandok repeatedly proposed that the Chinese government "help the people of Wulianghai develop forestry and mining and develop the economy." Dandoke's request has received the support of the people of Wulianghai and the positive response of the Chinese political axe and the people, as well as the support of the Chinese [***] team. Many Han Chinese people moved from Mongolia to Tangnu Ulianghai to engage in forestry and mining development, and the demand for various materials for the Soviet and Russian wars led to the economy of Tangnu Ulianghai, so that the economy of this region began to become prosperous.

After the war against the Soviet Union and Russia basically came to an end, Xu Shuzheng, who was the envoy of the northwest to prepare for the frontier, came to inspect the Tangnu and Ulianghai areas, and was warmly welcomed by the local people. Xu Shuzheng had only known some information about Tangnu Wulianghai in the report, but when he came to this land and came into contact with the people living here, he appreciated the simplicity and kindness of the people here and the beauty and richness of this land.

Only then did he realize how worthwhile the hard work and efforts he had put into the land recovered by the motherland were.

But Yan Shichao's words just now aroused his thoughts.

As the "little Zhuge of Duan Qirui's Anhui family", his current position is actually quite embarrassing.

Duan Qirui was exposed for borrowing money and "nine? After the resignation of the post of border defense supervisor and the power of the Anhui warlords collapsed, Xu Shuzheng offended many people because he was too arrogant and confident, so after the fall of the Anhui system, Xu Shuzheng knew that many people wanted to take this opportunity to rectify him (he had a share in the borrowing money and the bribery of the Anfu Congress). In order to protect himself, Xu Shuzheng quietly left Yanjing for Kulen, on the way he submitted his resignation from the post of deputy minister of the Ministry of War, and then went to Mongolia day and night.

Xu Shuzheng understands that only when he reaches the territory of his northwest frontier army, this life is his own.

At this time, when he came to Tangnu Ulianghai to inspect, in fact, there was no meaning of "avoiding trouble".

Now Yanjing's every move of the political axe can be said to affect his nerves all the time.

"Yang Hanzhi resigned from the post of border superintendent, did Brother Yan hear about it?"

Xu Shuzheng listened to Yan Shichao's words of "throwing stones to ask for directions", he just smiled slightly, he didn't answer positively, but waited until the Wulianghai people dispersed, and then asked rhetorically, "Brother Yan, do you think there is any mystery in this?" ”

"On the surface, it is because the proposal of the Shabaab MP opposes the long-term establishment of a border defense superintendent, but in fact, if Yang Hanzhi does not want to give way, the resolution of the National Assembly alone will not bring him down." Yan Shichao smiled and said, "Therefore, there is only one possibility for this matter, it is that he Yang Hanzhi doesn't want to do this position, but he is afraid that it will be disadvantageous to him in the hands of others, so he has made such a move." ”

"You're saying someone has been staring at this seat for a long time?" Xu Shuzheng understood what Yan Shichao meant, "Could it be ......?"

"Although he Yang Hanzhi has made outstanding achievements in the domestic industry, but after all, he is too young and has shallow qualifications, he sits in the position of border supervision, with his intelligence, he should have already sensed the danger and knew that someone was beating his idea, so he would take the initiative to resign and not give the other party a chance." Yan Shichao said with a smile.

"Then there is no other way for everyone to go but to run for president." Xu Shuzheng smiled and said, "But he Xiao Yang doesn't seem to be qualified to be the president, right?" ”

"I guess he didn't want to be president." Yan Shichao said, "He is thinking about his position as Minister of the Navy. ”

"It's possible, the navy, he's deadly." Xu Shuzheng nodded, "No one wants to make wedding clothes for others." ”

"But his resignation from the post of border inspector is quite disadvantageous to you, the general." Yan Shichao said, "Although Yang Hanzhi and the general have not had much contact, they have cooperated and goathed very well before, and since the establishment of the Northwest Frontier Army, he has also been vigorously supporting the general, providing military salaries and ordnance, so that the Northwest Frontier Army can repeatedly make meritorious contributions and recover the territory." Now that he is not in this position, once someone is behind his back, the trouble is not ordinary. ”

Listening to Yan Shichao's words, Xu Shuzheng was speechless for a while.

"Beiyang first line, since the death of Xiang Chenggong, how many people can have seniority to look up to the top?" Yan Shichao continued, "I think Yang Hanzhi doesn't want to see the country's civil strife, so he is advancing by retreating." ”

Xu Shuzheng sighed, one hand touched the saber on his waist, and he couldn't help but clench the hilt.

As a soldier with the dream of a strong country and the ideal of saving the country, how could he want to see civil strife in the country?

Even the old lords Yuan Shikai and Duan Qirui, aren't they also bent on completing the reunification of the country and making the country on the road to prosperity and strength?

But sometimes, they really can't help it.

In this land of China, there always seems to be a tradition of infighting!

The reason why he was bent on running amok in the first place was not caused by this endless infighting?

Just when Xu Shuzheng was upset, a huge shadow suddenly flashed in the sky.

Xu Shuzheng and Yan Shichao involuntarily looked up at the sky, and saw that in the blue sky, several huge gray cigar-shaped objects were slowly flying through the clouds.

Xu Shuzheng looked at the sky, and his eyes couldn't help but flash with surprise.

He had already recognized it as the airship of the [***] team. But what surprised him was that so many airships gathered together at once.

The Wulianghai people on the ground in the distance also saw the airship in the sky, some herdsmen rode horses, waved their hands excitedly into the sky, and shouted loudly, and the herds on the grassland seemed to be surprised by this kind of monster in the sky, unlike the Chinese airship when it first appeared in the sky and scattered in all directions.

Xu Shuzheng took a pair of binoculars from his adjutant's hand, looked carefully at the sky, and couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise when he saw that the two largest airships were each carrying two small planes under their bellies.

Soon, the four planes broke away from the mothership and flew straight towards the area where he was.

"This airship is getting more and more advanced." Yan Shichao looked at the plane soaring in the sky and couldn't help but sigh.

Xu Shuzheng held the telescope and looked at the planes in the sky, only to see these planes hovering in the sky above him for a while, as if they were being guided, and quickly flew towards the position where Xu Shuzheng was standing.

Xu Shuzheng put down the binoculars and glanced at Yan Shichao, each of them seeing a look of surprise in the other's eyes.

Four planes flew over their heads one after another, and Xu Shuzheng seemed to hear loud laughter coming from one plane.

Soon, the four planes landed on the grass not far away, Xu Shuzheng raised the telescope again, and saw the two strangely dressed pilots on the plane jumped out of the cockpit, and not far away, a group of Chinese cavalry appeared, they galloped towards the place where the plane landed, Xu Shuzheng noticed that among them, there were several horses on horseback and no one on horseback.

The cavalry quickly came to the place where the plane landed, helped several pilots take off their flight suits, and let them get on their horses, and then these people galloped in the direction of Xu Shuzheng and others.

When Xu Shuzheng saw clearly from the telescope who the youngest general on horseback was, his eyes couldn't help but widen.

That person turned out to be Yang Shuoming!

"Look! What is that? Yan Shichao suddenly pointed to the sky and said loudly.

Xu Shuzheng raised his head suddenly, and only then did he notice that there were more white umbrella flowers in the sky at some point!

Xu Shuzheng's surprise was not trivial, he raised the telescope again, and then saw that under the white parachute, there were heavily armed soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying guns and cannons!

"Brother Zheng again! Don't come unharmed? ”

I don't know how long it took, hearing Yang Shuoming's familiar voice, Xu Shuzheng, who had seen this kind of scene for the first time, easily suppressed the horror in his heart, and turned his head to Yang Shuoming with an unnatural smile.

"Look! I knew it! Rao is his Xiao Xu is well-informed, and when he sees this airship airdrop paratrooper, he is just as dumbfounded! A loud voice that seemed to be called a donkey came over, startling Xu Shuzheng, Xu Shuzheng turned his head and saw Zhang Zuolin's figure, and couldn't help but be shocked again.

"You Zheng actually came here to see the scenery, which made it easy for us to find." Behind Zhang Zuolin, an elegant and quiet soldier said with a smile, Xu Shuzheng recognized the other party as Chen Eun, who was Yuan Shikai leaning on as a pillar back then, and was stunned for a moment.

He couldn't imagine how Chen Eun, who was not very familiar with Yang Shuoming and himself, would follow Yang Shuoming here.

"You Zheng has something on your mind, so I'm here to relax." Fu Xiaoan, who was following behind Yang Shuoming, also said with a smile.

"What kind of wind is blowing a few of them?" Xu Shuzheng asked with a smile.

"Zheng Zheng restored his homeland, his merit can be compared to Ban Chao Zhang Jian, of course I have to come to congratulate him." Chen Yan Zhengse said, then stood up and saluted Xu Shuzheng.

After Chen Eun finished saluting, Yang Shuoming, Zhang Zuolin and Fu Xiaoan also followed and saluted Xu Shuzheng.

Xu Shuzheng was slightly stunned, but also stood still, raised his hand and returned the standard military salute.

After several people saluted each other, Yang Shuoming beckoned, several soldiers carried a folding table and a few chairs up, and quickly put on the food and wine such as preserved fruits and meat, Yang Shuoming beckoned everyone to sit down, Xu Shuzheng said without self-deprecation: "It is the duty of our soldiers to protect the family and defend the country and resist foreign insults." It's a pity that I'm afraid I won't have such a chance in the future. ”

Hearing Xu Shuzheng say such a disheartened sentence, Zhang Zuolin and Fu Xiaoan laughed, while Yang Shuoming and Chen Huan glanced at each other and smiled silently.

"Where did Zheng come from! Now that the country is employing people, it is the time to show its talents, and I will have to rely on it more in the future! Zhang Zuolin said as he took the wine jug and poured a full glass for Xu Shuzheng.

Yuting laughed. Xu Shuzheng shook his head, took the wine glass, gestured to everyone, and drank it all.

Yang Shuoming looked at Xu Shuzheng, and a subtle light flashed in his eyes.

"From the day Lao Duan fell, I knew that I, the border envoy in the northwest, would not be able to work for long." Xu Shuzheng said, glanced at Yang Shuoming with slanted eyes, and said, "Now that you, the border supervisor, have stacked picks again, I won't have any good fruits to eat." ”

(To be continued)