"Brothers, Zhejiang people have hit our Jiangning." Wang Youhong asked the officer of the 36th standard of the ninth town of the New Army. The 36 standards are the most thorough criteria for the elimination of revolutionary parties in other places. It is also a target that Wang Youhong suggested to Zhang Xun to focus on.

The officers sat around the wine table, but they were far from enthusiastic enough, and Wang Youhong didn't care about it. As a field army, the New Army specializes in military training and thinks it can fight, so it looks down on the Jiangnan patrol camp as a defense, which is an open contradiction.

"Brothers, the people of Zhejiang shouted the trumpet of revolution and hit our Jiangning. They really are for the revolution, certainly not. What they fancy is the gathering of our Jiangning businessmen, and what they fancy is the tax collected by our Jiangning. Wang Youhong said loudly. Since he had set up a strategy to divide the New Army and the Revolutionary Party, Wang Youhong didn't care about saying it bluntly. If he can persuade the new army with the last combat strength to stand on Zhang Xun's side, Wang Youhong doesn't care about sharing some benefits with the officers in the new army.

"Zhejiang is not poor, and compared with our Jiangsu, it is not inferior. Moreover, Jiangning is attacked on both sides, and if the Anhui people and Zhejiang people don't fight, we will be Amitabha, where do we have the heart to fight Zhejiang. In the news that can be sent back, the Zhejiang Revolutionary Party said that it was afraid that we would fight in Zhejiang. He also said that whoever can overcome Jiangning first will give a great reward. Brothers, everyone understands people, what do you think these Zhejiang Yankees are trying to hit our Jiangning? ”

Wang Youhong is telling the truth, and the officers present here are not fools, and they still have the ability to distinguish between basic truth and nonsense. Although they despised the defense camp in their hearts, many officers also had a lot of antipathy towards the Zhejiang Revolutionary Party.

Seeing that his words successfully resonated among the officers, Wang Youhong continued: "Brothers, up to now, have we ever paid less military salaries? Isn't it always paid on time and in quantity every month? In one day, I dare to say that this military salary will definitely not be missing everyone. If the revolutionary party in Zhejiang had defeated Jiangning, would everyone still believe that the military salary would be paid on time? Zhejiang Yankees came to our Jiangning empty-handed and only with guns, will they send money to everyone? Moreover, the war was raging, and the trade routes were cut off. Anqing first fell into the hands of Yue Wanghui, and then fell into the hands of the People's Party, and now basically does not go to Anqing. The people of the whole city could barely survive. It is even more unlikely that there will be any commercial tax. Everyone serves as a soldier to eat food, and they have to feed their families. Needless to say, there is no military pay for three months, how do you live your life? ”

If only the war is mentioned, the officers of the ninth town of the New Army may still feel quite confident, but when it comes to military pay and family. For the first time, the officers began to look at each other. A revolution can be revolutionary at any time, but it is not possible to go without food for a day. These officers have finally mixed into their current status, and their families are not only proud of them, but also the livelihood of many officers' families really depends on the military salaries of these officers.

"Brothers, Xu Tong prohibits gambling and prostitution, brother, I admire it very much. Men, sometimes play a few dice, push a few pai gow, play a few women, this is all like, but it also costs money. After the ban on gambling and prostitution, everyone can send a lot more money home. It's good for everyone. However, if the revolution is instigated by those chaotic parties, what will happen to everyone's military salary after the revolution? Did the revolutionaries say that? What they said to overthrow the imperial court and drive out the foreigners sounds good. These have really been done, can make everyone pay a penny? The next time you encounter the Revolutionary Party, you might as well ask. Can they say something decent? ”

"What do you have to say, Commander Wang?" An officer asked.

Wang Youhong laughed, "What am I going to say?" What I want to say is, if the whole world is against it now, and everyone wants to be against it, I won't say anything. But now, except for Anhui and Zhejiang, no one in the world is against it at all. Why do we Jiangsu people want to mix in this troubled water? And some people say that the imperial court is not good, but now the imperial court is about to implement the constitution. After the constitution was established, the gentry from all over the country, the relatives and friends of the brothers became parliamentarians, and this talk can be counted. Everyone doesn't believe in the imperial court, but they can always trust their fellow villagers. Let's have a good life, but we just follow the revolutionary party. Isn't this embarrassing for yourself? ”

After listening to Wang Youhong's description of the future, the officers, who were originally almost all wood carvings and clay sculptures, finally began to become active. Some people subconsciously touched their chins, some frowned, some couldn't help touching the mustache on their upper lips, and some people showed a restless appearance.

Seeing that his words worked, Wang Youhong said: "Brothers, I don't want you to do anything. Since you are a new army, you have the responsibility of protecting the territory and the people. If these Zhejiang guys are allowed to enter our Jiangsu, do you think they really have no crimes? We don't talk in secret, and some of the brothers here are afraid that some of them know these revolutionary parties, and if there are brothers who know each other, you might as well send someone to advise them not to attack our Jiangning. We Jiangsu people definitely have no intention of fighting Zhejiang, and with this war, how many merchants can't do business. If you want to make money, Shanghai is richer than our Jiangning, why should Zhejiang Yankees give up the near and far to fight our Jiangning? ”

This is said sincerely, and the officers and men of the new army actually know that up to now, whether it is the ninth town of the new army or Zhang Xun's descendants, there is no plan to send troops to Zhejiang at all. After the annihilation of the entire army of Jiangbei Governor Wang Shizhen, the forces of the Jiangnan New Army and the Ninth Town of the New Army were not even enough to defend the whole of Jiangsu, let alone to deal with the revolutionary party in Anhui in the west. In this situation, where can there be the spirit to deal with the Liberation Society in Zhejiang.

Some officers had already begun to talk to each other and whisper their worries. Wang Youhong is right, once Jiangning fights, there will definitely be a lot of losses. The officers of the New Army did not realize that after the purge of people from other provinces, local localism in Jiangsu would soon resonate with the officers of the New Army who came from Jiangsu.

Wang Youhong immediately struck while the iron was hot, "Brothers, if the People's Party calls, let's not talk about it if we can't beat it." But Yue Wanghui once occupied Anqing, and they were still locals, so they tossed Anqing miserably. It's not that you haven't heard of what Anqing has changed. Let's not talk about anything else, are you just watching Zhejiang Yankees toss Jiangning into that way? Just watch the Zhejiang guy wrap up our money in Jiangsu? The money of our Jiangsu people has to be spent by our Jiangsu people themselves. ”

The tragic situation of Anqing under the rule of Yue Wanghui has already spread throughout the Yangtze River Valley, which many businessmen have seen with their own eyes. If the Liberation Conference had come to Jiangning like this, the officers of the New Army from Jiangsu would absolutely not accept it.

"Commander Wang, what do you think?" This time the question was much friendlier.

Wang Youhong said loudly: "My idea is very simple, we are a new army, so naturally we must protect the territory and the people." The Liberation Society wants to talk about revolution, no problem, when they take Shanghai, can we talk to them? If they can't take Shanghai, but take our Jiangning, don't you think the people of the Liberation Society will let everyone go to Shanghai? ”

The officers exchanged glances with each other, and one officer asked, "Commander Wang, what if the Liberation Society refuses to leave our Jiangsu?" ”

Hearing this, Wang Youhong was overjoyed in his heart, but his face showed no joy at all. In a very provocative tone, he replied, "What should I do? Brothers, you are a new army, and you concentrate on drills and training every day. Do you really think you can't beat the rabble of the Restoration Society? Is it because those rabble are shouting revolution in their mouths, so you don't have to try to see how many catties and taels they have, and you can't just obediently obey the orders of the Liberation Society? ”

Since the New Army is a soldier, the sense of confrontation is naturally stronger than that of others, and Wang Youhong's words have completely stirred up the fighting spirit of the officers of the New Army. Immediately, an officer shouted: "That's right, the Liberation Society wants to be the master of our Jiangsu, and we have to ask our new army first." ”

Wang Youhong was extremely successful, and there was a fierce dispute within the New Army. In the absence of the instigation of the revolutionary party in other provinces, and without the existence of Xu Shaozhen, the commander of the Ninth Town of the New Army, the officers of the Second Battalion of the 36th Biaoli of the Ninth Town of the New Army expressed their desire to "meet for a while" to recover the meeting. Even if the other officers didn't want to fight with the Liberation Society, they also didn't want the Liberation Society to enter and leave Jiangsu so easily. In the situation of high localist sentiment, the 36 standards of the 9th town of the New Army staggered to the opposite side of the Guangfuhui.

Zhang Xun will be suspicious of Wang Youhong's report, and in his opinion, the new army is a revolutionary party, or at least a reserve of the revolutionary party. Let the new army and the anti-thieves merge, although the strategy is good, but it is inevitably a bit wishful thinking. Because this topic is very confidential, there are only two people in the room, Zhang Xun and Wang Youhong.

"Lord Admiral, I have something to say to my lordship. Please forgive me for the sin of disrespect. Wang Youhong said.

"The king is in charge, but it doesn't hurt to speak." Zhang Xun believed that Wang Youhong was sincerely loyal to the imperial court, and was naturally quite tolerant.

"Lord Admiral, now that the world is in turmoil, one of the reasons is that the court cannot tolerate people." Although Wang Youhong's tone was humble, the content was very sharp.

Zhang Xun is a person with a bold personality, although he trusts Wang Youhong very much, and he has expressed his attitude in advance. Hearing these sharp words, his face immediately became gloomy. A pair of eyes with a cold light in them.

Since Wang Youhong mentioned this topic, he naturally had nothing to fear, he completely ignored Zhang Xun's eyes that wanted to eat people, and continued to say calmly: "Lord Admiral, since the revolutionary party can incite everyone, is what they said unreasonable? The imperial court has been defeated repeatedly, and various things have emerged one after another, and the livelihood of the people is not easy. If we who are loyal to the court really want to be loyal to the court, we can't pretend to be wrong. The Empress Dowager Lafayette worked hard to set up foreign affairs and raise for constitutionalism. Isn't it just that they want to enrich the country and strengthen the army through these measures? Re-establish the prestige of the Qing Dynasty in the hearts of the people. I feel that the more this happens, the more we as courtiers must make the world calm. Let these measures show their benefits. Naturally, we must not let go of the chaotic party. But we can't force people to rebel. ”

Zhang Xu tightened his mouth, because his teeth were clenched, and the muscles in his cheeks bulged high. Zhang Xun has two thick eyebrows, and he also has two thick mustaches, because he is excited, his eyebrows and mustache seem to be upside down, and they are still shaking slightly. Obviously, all kinds of thoughts were fiercely fighting in Zhang Xun's mind, and after a long time, the expression on Zhang Xun's face relaxed, and he said slowly in the Jiangxi official dialect: "In the year of Gengzi, the Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing. After my entourage escorted, "back to Luan", the Queen Mother Lafayette summoned me at the Renshou Hall of the Summer Palace. I was so moved that I forgot what my last name was. At this time, I only called out a minister, and I opened my mouth to speak, and I just looked up and saw the plaque on the hall that said "Renshou Palace", so I patted my chest and stretched out my thumb and said, "Chenrenshou Palace,......"

If it was someone else, he was afraid that he would have to laugh with him at this time, Wang Youhong just listened quietly, he knew that Zhang Xun didn't need anyone to respond at this time. Seeing Zhang Xun sigh deeply, he continued: "At that time, the people in the palace wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh. It stands to reason that this is a faux pas and should be punished, and it is not unusual to push me out and kill my head. The Queen Mother Lafayette asked me a few words as if she hadn't heard it, and asked me a few words as if nothing had happened. People say that the prime minister's belly can support the boat, and the Queen Mother's heart is higher than the mountain and deeper than the sea. I, Zhang Xun, am loyal to Lafayette. If it is for the sake of this Qing world, what can I do if I tolerate those bastards who have been fooled by the revolutionary party. ”

As soon as Zhang Youhong's heart relaxed, he heard Zhang Xun say sharply: "I tolerate these bastards now, but I don't mean that I will let them go on like this in the future." Commander Wang, remember this for me. If they still don't know the checkpoints, they are not loyal to the court. I, Zhang Xun, will never let them go in the future. ”

"Lord Admiral, this is not the time for trouble. As long as the new army fights with the rebellious party, we will tolerate whatever they think. Now Anhui and Zhejiang are in turmoil, and we Jiangsu are attacked on both sides, if we ourselves are also in chaos, then from Hubei to Shanghai, the imperial court along the river will no longer have a foothold. The Admiral understands the righteousness and is loyal to the court, if it is only for a while, but it spoils the major affairs of the court, we are all sinners of the court. Wang Youhong said very simply.

Zhang Xun nodded, "According to the method of the king's command, if the new army fights against the rebellious party, I will definitely not hesitate to give a reward." ”

Listening to Zhang Xun say the most critical words, Wang Youhong finally put his heart in his stomach. The only ones who can give a justifiable reward to the new army are Ruifang and Zhang Xun. No matter how much the Swiss side rewards, it is impossible for the new officers and soldiers to return to their hearts, and the most suitable candidate is naturally Zhang Xun. And if Zhang Xun doesn't really understand the truth of rewarding, it will inevitably bring out dissatisfaction, so it's better not to reward.

Wang Youhong's idea was that no matter how hard he tried to speak, he had to let Zhang Xun give up his prejudice against the New Army out of consideration for the overall situation. I didn't expect Zhang Xun to understand the key to the matter so quickly, and this open-mindedness made Wang Youhong very happy.

After the two of them determined this basic point, Zhang Xun was a little skeptical that the new army would fight with the rebels. Wang Youhong has great confidence in this. He believed that within three days of the new army going out of the city to set up defenses, it would definitely start a war with the rebellious party. But things are moving much faster than expected. On the second day, the news came back that the 2nd Battalion of the 36th Standard of the New Army had successively broken the rebel party attacking from three directions. Wang Youhong's prophecy came true, not only he was happy, but Zhang Xun was also quite excited. Worried that this was a fabrication by the New Army, Zhang Xun sent someone to investigate and go to the battlefield to check. The news that came back repeatedly confirmed that the 2nd Battalion had indeed engaged in a fierce field battle with the enemy, and that at least 40 people had been killed and more than 30 prisoners had been captured.

"Hurry up and torture the captives." Zhang Xun bit the word torture loud and heavy.