After the battle against Zhang Zongyao, Hunan formed a de facto state of self-control. Although Wang Zichun, the www.biquge.info of the pen "Fun" Pavilion, has the post of patrolling the two lakes and supervising the army in Hubei, in fact, there is neither an army to supervise nor a place to patrol. In Hubei, the appointment and dismissal of a section chief cannot be decided, and Hunan will not be affected.

Nominally, power in Hunan rests with the provincial council, while the greatest authority is held by the provincial governor and the overseers. But in fact, Hunan has always been in a state of partition, Tan Yankai opened his mansion in Hengyang, and Luo Chongxuan opened his mansion in Changsha. The two sides did not interfere with each other, each went its own way, and divided Hunan into two halves.

But just like in the capital, although Duan Feng is taught by his son, it is inevitable that they will fight for power with each other, how can the two mountains within a province be peaceful? Tan Yankai Zeng Yun became a mother-in-law, and he was not used to being a daughter-in-law, so he naturally regarded the provincial commander as a subordinate of the overseer. However, Luo Chongxuan also regarded himself as the head of the elected province, took the first law as a talisman, and took public opinion as his biggest barrier, and did not take Tan Yankai in his eyes.

The most prominent contradiction between the two sides is Hunan's economy. The half-share of the province agreed upon at the beginning can indeed be called fair. However, in the past two years, Luo Chongxuan controlled the region, introduced a large amount of Shandong investment, and the trade with Shandong was prosperous in the business of Hunan rice and Yilu goods.

A large number of reckless goods were resold and re-sold, which greatly developed the regional economy of Luokong. Coupled with the Hunan textile mill and the large number of Hunan minerals sold, the economy of the area controlled by Luo Chongxuan has developed tremendously. If the people are rich, the province will be rich, and there will be a surplus in finance. On the contrary, the areas controlled by Tan Yankai are mostly poor and weak areas in Hunan, lacking supporting industries and having to support the troops, and the military salary expenditure is gradually unbearable for Tan.

Although the Southwest Military Affairs Yuan, after taking the 800,000 yuan severance pay provided by the Beiyang Zhengfu, announced its dissolution in name, in fact, it is still in a state of high self-control. The six provinces maintain a secret alliance and are ready to raise the anti-flag again. After Sun Dixiang's resignation, Cen Chunxuan, who had no money and no soldiers, also completely lost control of the situation. Now the Southwest Military Affairs Yuan has become a world jointly controlled by the two major forces of Lu Ganqing and Tang Rongchang.

Guangxi eats in Guangdong, implements the Great Guangxi Doctrine, and takes Guangdong as a colony. As a result, the people in Guangdong Province are struggling to make a living, and even many forces have begun to miss the Northern Army. Emperor Sun, like the militia armed, waved the flag again and declared war on Lu Ganqing. In the past two years, the smoke of gunpowder in Guangxi and Guangxi has not dissipated, and Yungui has been fighting endlessly in Sichuan.

If we want to fight a war, we must expand the army, and to expand the army, we must first have money. Tan Yankai expelled Ge Ming's party member Cheng Beyong as an old-school bureaucrat and became the overseer of Hunan himself, and the battle behind him was the Gui army. It was Lu Ganqing's use of troops and military spending, Tan Yankai couldn't refuse. With the control area that is not rich, he supplies his own 1st division and 3rd brigade, plus the 1st division of the Gui Army and the 1st brigade of Shixingchuan in Hubei Province with military salaries and military food, and also bears the expenses of half a division of the Lu army. The huge economic pressure has made the people's livelihood in the Tankong area increasingly frustrated, and the dissatisfaction of the people is rising day by day, and the internal dissatisfaction is rising.

If you want to improve the situation, you have to relieve the pressure, Tan Yankai negotiated with Luo Chongxuan several times, trying to get a part of the financial power from the other party. However, Luo Chongxuan controlled a large number of Hunan gentry and bank consortium dignitaries, and he was very stuck in his pockets, obviously hoping to disintegrate Tan Yankai by economic means. There was even a messenger who suggested that Tan Luo's position was reversed, and since Tan Overseer thought that the Overseer was not easy to do, he would simply come to be the provincial commander, and Luo Provincial Commander would replace Tan Shuai to lead the troops.

Since the negotiation failed, the next step was to use extraordinary means. Tan Yankai ordered a brigade to secretly change clothes, and ordered the troops to secretly enter the Luokong area and settle the food and salary by themselves.

The sharp-bladed Lu army, which once hung over the head of Hunan, gradually became less terrifying as the garrison became longer. In particular, Luo Chongxuan and other gentry also began to reject the Lu army. The high military expenditure of the Lu army far exceeded the expenditure of other troops, and even the food standard of one pound and eight taels per person per day made the Hunan gentry find it difficult to accept.

Concerned about the other party's combat effectiveness, they didn't dare to openly turn their faces and expel them, but they used a lot of small tricks in secret. Support the provincial officers, train the provincial troops, and gradually eliminate the Shandong instructors in the army through martial arts competitions. The police investigation corps, which was once held by the Hunan sons of the Lu army, was also abolished and replaced with the Hunan people's own police investigation corps. Relying on these methods, the Hunan gentry gradually increased their control over the provincial army, but in turn, the contradiction between the Lu army and Luo Chongxuan became bigger and bigger.

Tan Yankai dared to send troops to be bandits, and he saw that this one was cheap. As long as Lu Jun doesn't make a move, he is not very afraid of Luo Chongxuan and his provincial army. Tan Jun, who was wearing mango shoes and a hat, was dressed like a civilian, and it was not difficult to pretend to be a bandit.

The entire brigade was divided into pieces, and between the mountains and fields, one small force after another was formed. After several short encounters with the original local bandits, a consensus was basically formed. These bandits were either annexed or eliminated, giving way to these trained regular troops.

Counting on the newly trained police investigations, they will certainly not be able to deal with this kind of bandits, and as a result of several crackdowns on bandits, on the contrary, the bandits have become the prey of the bandits. Even the county seat has become no longer safe. The businessmen were looted several times, and they blamed the provincial government for the failure to suppress the bandits, and Luo Chongxuan, as the provincial leader, must also bear this part of the pressure.

Luo Xiaoxiao knew her father's difficulties, but she didn't sympathize with them, and after the thunder sounded, she stood in the yard in a daze, letting the rain fall on her. Luo Chongxuan said: "Xiao'er, don't blame your father, this is the general trend...... People cannot resist the general trend, and we can no longer drag Hunan into the flames of war. We've just lived a good life for two years, and we can't break our bones anymore. ”

"yes, we've just had a good two years...... Two years...... Dad, the Fifth Division of the Lu Army, is working with the Fourth Division stationed in Hubei to build the Yanlou embankment. This year, the two lakes have rained heavily, and many of the embankments in Hubei Province are in danger of bursting. The Lu army of the two lakes has all been turned into disaster relief troops, helping us build the embankment and protect the people. And you ......"

"The river broke its embankment, of course, the people of Li suffered. But with the war, we also have to suffer. If there is a second Zhang Zongyao in Hunan, a villager from a province, he will be poisoned, and I am the palm of this province, how can I bear it? Xiao'er, I can understand your thoughts, but you also have to understand my position. I am not only your father, but also the provincial governor of Hunan, and I want to put the interests of Hunan Province first. The Hunan rice that Lu Jun has eaten in the past two years and the silver dollars he has taken is enough. If this tumor doesn't go, we will never be able to develop ......"

Luo Xiaoxiao had already turned around and walked towards the room, Luo Chongxuan couldn't see his daughter's expression, he could only hear her cold voice

"Dad, you don't have to tell me this. I believe that with your knowledge, you can say a lot of truths, and I also believe that you are for the good of Hunan. Now that the provincial council has made its choice, it would be nice to do it according to everyone's choice...... Everything has nothing to do with me, I just hope that all this will not affect the normal operation of the school. ”

The next day, as soon as the weather cleared, gongs and drums sounded on the streets of Changsha, and Wu Zhenxiong rode a horse and kept clasping his fists and saluting the merchants on both sides. Behind him, there are soldiers in bright uniforms and full of spirit. The merchants set up flowing water mats and gave their children food to their soldiers, and the soldiers took the water or food handed by the villagers, and raised their heads high, showing full spirit. At least it seems that the appearance of this army is no worse than that of the Lu army, and it also makes the people feel that it does look like a team that can win battles.

Six days later, several female students began to get together again during recess, but this time they were no longer talking about the Shandong beauty pageant, but Wu Zhenxiong's crackdown on bandits.

"There have been several cottages that have been suppressed, and I heard that the gang of bandits closest to Changsha is less than 100 miles away from Changsha City, and they are in a village as a foothold. All the men in the village were killed, and the women were ......"

"Captain Wu is really powerful, if it weren't for him, these bandits might have entered the city to tie up the meat ticket. It is worthy of our Wu Song in Hunan. ”

"Yes, I used to think that the Lu army was a heavenly soldier, but now I see, our own troops are also very powerful, so we may not lose to them."

"That's right, the head of the martial arts is handsome, this time he comes back, the Chamber of Commerce will give him a red flower, let him ride a horse to the streets, and we will go to see it together when the time comes."

The slap on the girl's shoulder again, Luo Xiaoxiao stood behind several girls, and said with a serious face: "Starting tomorrow, our school will be closed to prepare for the upcoming provincial joint entrance examination." No one is allowed to take leave, leave the campus, let alone go to ...... Look at what the regimental commander. ”

Several girls collapsed, and in a mournful sigh, Luo Xiaoxiao had already left the classroom and turned to the next classroom to announce the news. In the principal's office, with her luggage, in a stroller, a little boy named Nian'er was looking curiously at the surrounding environment, and several female teachers teased the principal's younger brother and muttered quietly

"The principal is taking this joint entrance examination too seriously, right? I actually have to close the school to prepare for the exam, and I have to move my luggage to the school to work. Not to mention, but also brought his younger brother to school? What did this little guy bring for? ”

"Don't worry so much, the principal's decision must have her reasons, maybe she got some news from the provincial governor, which is good for our school. In the girls' school, he is a boy now, little guy, and my sister will take you to the girls' dormitory in a while, okay? ”

Because the school was closed, news from the outside world could not be heard, and the girls did not know that Wu Zhenxiong really lived up to expectations, successfully eliminated all the bandits in five cottages and two villages near Changsha, seized more than 200 rifles, captured more than 100 prisoners, and even held a small-scale ceremony to enter the city.

Wu Zhenxiong, who was riding on a horse, was full of spirits, and Luo Chongxuan personally put on red silk for him, and the soldiers under him were also sent food by the people, or put on red silk, which was very majestic. At the end of the procession, more than a hundred captives were stretched out in long columns with their hands tied and walked through the city, and the people either pointed and talked or threw debris at their heads.

The interrogation of these captives was not difficult, and several people were interrogated in a row, and they were very happy to confess, but the official in charge of interrogation did not dare to ask any more, and instead ran to report to Luo Chongxuan.

"You don't have to say, I already know." Luo Chongxuan waved his hand, "I didn't expect them to admit so happily that they were from the First Division of the Hunan Communist Army." Tan Yankai, I see what you have to say this time! How did he, the Overseer, be? Our soldiers actually came to our area as bandits? Contact the people in the newspaper, I want them to report it and expose the face of someone Tan. ”

The speed of the newspaper person is very fast, from getting the materials to publishing the news, it only takes two days, but Tan Yankai's speed is not slow. This former Jin Dynasty bureaucrat-turned-overseer also has a thorough understanding of the power of public opinion. The newspaper that attacked Tan Yankai and the newspaper that attacked Luo Chongxuan were sent out almost at the same time, and soon fell on each other's desks.

Tan Yankai lashed out in the newspaper for Luo Chongxuan's deduction of military salaries, resulting in his subordinate soldiers not being clothed and unable to eat, and in desperation, they could only try to make a living on their own. This kind of behavior has seriously undermined Hunan's independence and greatly interfered with Hunan's military development. And Hunan has a high amount of money with unknown whereabouts every year. Every penny of its money is the blood of the people of Hunan, how can people fill their pockets, please Luo Shengzhang must explain the whereabouts of this fund, so as not to damage the reputation.

After several times of the dispute between the two pen battles, Tan Yankai began to attack Luo Chongxuan and colluded with Duan Zhiquan and Zhao Guanhou in the north, preparing to unite with the Lu army troops stationed in Lianghu and send troops to eliminate all departments of the Hunan army.

The First Division of the Hunan Provincial Army and the First Division of the Hunan Communist Army assembled in Changsha and Hengyang respectively. Wu Zhenxiong patted his chest and said, "I vow to fight with the Southern Army." Our army is well paid and armed, and the southern army is vulnerable, so please look forward to the good news, and the unification of Hunan is just around the corner. ”

The gongs, drums and firecrackers when the army was dispatched did not alarm the girls' school, and Luo Xiaoxiao, dressed in white, stood in front of the podium and taught Albiang literature to a group of students. In the sound of Langlang reading, guns roared and gunsmoke rose. The dark clouds over Changsha are becoming denser and denser, and it seems that a new round of heavy rain will come again.

The sweltering weather makes people's breathing a little difficult, and in this kind of weather, Luo Xiaoxiao is most worried about Nian'er's body. As soon as I got to recess, I ran back to the office and watched the children's situation. Fortunately, Nian'er was very healthy, and as soon as she saw her, she opened her arms and shouted at her sister, and then hugged her, and rubbed her little head against her chest.

There was a knock on the office door, and it was a geography teacher from the school, a woman in her thirties, who walked in through the door. People are very ordinary, and their personalities are also introverted, and they have never been very brilliant in school, and they don't attract attention. Luo Xiaoxiao looked at her, "You...... What's the matter? ”

Principal Luo ...... Or should I call you Mrs. Luo, although you always say that this is your brother, but if I guess correctly, this is the young marshal, right? The female teacher said as she placed a copy of her ID on the table

"The real identity of the humble position, I am an investigator of the Shandong Social Customs Daily, and I always obey the orders of Guanshuai, Shigege and the eldest wife, and it was the eldest lady who sent me to protect the safety of Mrs. Luo. In school, and several of my colleagues, we all serve Shandong. Thank you for taking care of us during this time, and now that time is pressing, please come with me. ”

Luo Xiaoxiao glanced at the documents and asked, "Where are you going to take me?" Shandong? ”

"No, I know you won't be going to Shandong, and I know you're not going to leave school. Fortunately, we have prepared a secret safe spot in the school where we can hide for a few days. A few days, that's enough. Changsha is about to fall into chaos, and we must be responsible for the safety of Mrs. Luo and the young marshal. ”

Luo Xiaoxiao picked up Nian'er, followed the woman and walked out, and when she came to the door, she suddenly asked, "You guys...... Knowing that something was going to happen? There's also the ability to interfere in all this, right? ”

"Mrs. Luo, you have won the prize. In the past two years, Ling Zun has laid off a large number of clerks, consciously guarding against recklessness, and many of our colleagues have been forced to leave their posts, and a lot of information is not available. Otherwise, the situation will be much better than it is now. But rest assured, Miss Luo, we are also capable of ensuring the safety of your father and daughter. ”

"No, I don't have anything to worry about, as long as you keep Nian'er safe. As for me...... My father made a choice, and I was willing to follow him and bear the consequences. Leave me alone. ”