"The parade is unprecedented, and the new equipment is powerful!"

"China's first mechanized army was born!"

"30,000 elites are neatly unveiled, and advanced equipment is emerging in an endless stream!"

"Powerful force and sword pointing to the north!"

……

If the 200 wheeled armored fighting vehicles equipped with large-caliber heavy machine guns, the 48 small assault combat vehicles equipped with large-caliber mortars, and the new submachine guns glittering with cold light made the spectators exclaim, then the neat footsteps of the 30,000 elite soldiers, the neat queue as square as a knife-cut version, the earth-shattering slogans, and the overwhelming will are even more terrifying and shocking.

"Judging from the exclamations during the parade and the enthusiastic response from all sides, the parade ceremony successfully achieved the expected goal."

This is Xiao Yimin's summary of the thank-you luncheon held after the military parade in front of representatives from all walks of life at home and abroad, without any grandiose words, nor the slightest excessive humility, let alone the specific direction and deterrence expected by all walks of life, but Xiao Yimin's humble and concise performance made the audience secretly admire.

As the luncheon was about to end, an astonishing piece of news spread throughout the banquet:

The 30,000 elites who participated in the parade did not return to their camps, but boarded a ferry and headed for Pukou in Jiangbei, where one of the divisions, along with heavy equipment such as armored fighting vehicles, all got on three trains waiting on the special line and marched north!

In the midst of the exclamations, Xiao Yimin and the more than 30 generals and colonels attending the luncheon had quietly left, and dozens of European and American reporters had already reacted at this time, put down their knives, forks and fine wine one after another, and rushed to the telegraph and telephone bureau and the foreign liaison office of the Nanjing camp with great excitement.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, an even more alarming situation appeared:

The overseers of Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Xikang, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other nine provinces telegraphed the whole country as if they had made an appointment, announcing their support for President Duan Qirui, Minister of Military Affairs Xiao Yimin and the leadership of the Central Political Axe.

At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the overseers of Yunnan and Fujian provinces sent telegrams to the whole country, expressing their support for President Duan Qirui and the central government's political axe, and opposing any act of separatism.

In particular, the belated telegram of Tang Jiyao, the overseer of Yunnan, and Li Houji, the overseer of Fujian, ushered in an unexpected joy for Xiao Yimin and others, and they also saw the compromise and overture between Yunnan and Fujian, which showed the strong united force of the whole of South China, which will surely inspire the faith and enthusiasm of the people of the whole country to oppose the civil war and resist foreign humiliation, and form a huge deterrent to the sinister imperialist and warlord forces.

In bursts of hearty laughter, Xiao Yimin sighed loudly with relief: "It's gratifying! ”

Wang Lingji was happy: "That's true...... However, after the military parade, Wang Jian immediately led his troops north, which was enough for the provinces to see clearly the determination of our army, and it is estimated that there is no need to wait for Wang Jian's three divisions to drive to the front line of Yanzhou and Dezhou in Shandong, Zhang Zuolin will have to consider whether there is still a chance of victory, and I am afraid that I do not want to see the coalition troops of more than a dozen southern provinces rumbling towards the Shanhaiguan line. ”

"Haha! Exactly. ”

Yang Du was radiant and leisurely, as if he had drunk three catties of alcohol: "This time it is an eye-opener, from making a decision, to successfully holding a grand military parade, and then to going north in one go, it only took two days before and after, I didn't dare to imagine it before, even if it was a mere autumn in the Yuan Dashuai period, the preparation time would take ten days and half a month, and now I finally realized why Yishuai and the generals are always full of confidence, and they do have the capital to be proud!" ”

The generals looked at each other, and every smile was full of pride.

When everyone quieted down, Xiao Yimin said his next plan:

"According to the series of secret telegrams just sent back by the Yanjing headquarters and our intelligence channels, Zhang Zuolin's two-way army has stopped moving south and built a defensive line in the area south of Shanhaiguan, so I guess the next step is to bargain with each other, and I dare to say that no more than this evening, the consulate in Nanjing will rush to us to lodge a strong protest."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Xiao Yimin continued:

"However, Wang Jian's three divisions cannot stop their operations, and they must continue to move quickly towards Shandong by train, and they must continue to exert pressure on the Shandong Army and Zhang Zuolin's troops on the front line of Shanhaiguan, and build confidence in the Beiyang armies that are meeting the enemy in the eastern and northern regions of Hebei.

"That's right! It should be implemented according to the established plan, and if it is not a hit, it will be a blockbuster, and there is no reason to give up halfway. Yang Du strongly supports.

All the generals echoed in unison, and their eyes were full of war intent.

I haven't fought a big war for more than a year, and who doesn't want to seize this precious opportunity to receive awards for meritorious service and leave a name in history? Helplessly, Xiao Yimin was biased and left this excellent opportunity to Wang Jian and the three main divisions under his command, which were once known as the Iron Army.

Xiao Yimin said with a smile: "I plan to go out to inspect as planned, first go to Nanchang with the ark to have a look, and then go to Guangzhou from southern Jiangnan, Chen Jiongming has called and written many times to ask me about the departure time, and it is estimated that I will stay in Guangdong for about a week, and then take the opportunity to inspect the Zhanjiang Military Port to quietly go to Hainan to have a look." ”

Zhu Qinglan, who had just arrived from the north yesterday, hurriedly asked: "Yi Shuai, at this critical period, you can't leave the base camp lightly!" Whether it is Shandong or Shanhaiguan, as long as there is a change, Yishuai needs to make a decision on the spot! ”

Xiao Yimin smiled and said, "It's okay, isn't there still Mr. Huizi and the generals in the base camp?" Even if there is a sudden fight, there is no problem, all kinds of plans and response plans have already been completed, and they can be implemented according to them, even if they need my opinion, isn't there still a radio station? Rest assured! ”

"It's different!" Zhu Qinglan is still not at ease.

Yang Du explained with a smile: "Ziqiao doesn't need to worry about it, at this time, Yishuai's southern tour will not attract too much attention, after all, the focus is on the imminent north, Yishuai also needs to go out and walk around, meet with the officials of the provinces, and reminisce about the past, in addition to thanking others for their support and reviewing the results of the reorganization of the provincial army, we also have to discuss the tax payment of the provinces starting next year." Then there is the Sino-US joint venture steel plant in Hainan is about to be completed, the Lingao Navy Shipyard has also been put into operation, and the production of fast patrol boats are shuttling across the Yangtze River, and a large number of meritorious soldiers need condolences and awards, haha! ”

Zhu Qinglan came back to his senses, smiled at Xiao Yimin and no longer insisted. All the generals also laughed knowingly, knowing in their hearts that there were more important things that were inconvenient to reveal to Zhu Qinglan, so no one made any additional explanations.

At six o'clock in the morning, the gunboat "Nanchang," carrying Xiao Yimin, Wang Lingji, the chief officers of various parts of the camp, and the troops of a guard battalion, sailed away from the military wharf at the mouth of the Qinhuai River under the escort of four fast gunboats.

……

On the morning of July 2, the Yenching Presidential Palace.

"Call back to General Xu: Thanks to the great help of the southern provinces, the situation on the front line in eastern Hebei has gradually stabilized, don't read, your department should quickly clear the puppet Mongolian armed forces in the Kulun area according to the original plan, and the detained White Russian officers and soldiers should be sent back to the Suiyuquan camp as soon as possible."

Duan Qirui finished dictating, signed the telegram, and turned to Cao Kun, Wang Shizhen and others, who had already relaxed: "What do you think of the negotiation letter sent by Zhang Yuting's special envoy?" ”

Cao Kun saw that Wang Shizhen and the others were also looking at him, subconsciously touched his upturned beard, and pondered for a moment: "Then let's talk, but I want to take this opportunity to teach Feng Huanzhang, who is two-faced and three-faced, and must not let this huge hidden danger continue to stay in Changping. ”

Everyone sighed when they saw Cao Kun's remorseful appearance, Duan Qirui was angry and hateful in his heart, and strangely there was a bit of schadenfreude.

Wang Shizhen carefully analyzed: "I'm afraid that before we can go to him, he has already led his troops west." ”

Cao Kun's chief of staff, Xiong Bingqi, immediately came to his senses: "Yes, as long as the news of Brother Yiming's northward movement reaches Feng Huanzhang, he must know that Changping can't stay, and he must always guard against Youzheng's army attacking from Kulun south, so he will definitely flee to the northwest region of Jin in a hurry, Yan Baichuan is his old friend, with Yan Baichuan's eight-sided exquisite surname, he will definitely accept Feng Huanzhang, and maybe he will intercede with us on his behalf." ”

Cao Kun patted the table lightly and said regretfully, "It is very likely that this will happen...... Now things are a little more complicated. ”

Duan Qirui smiled disdainfully: "It's not complicated, Feng Huanzhang's department has been canceled, nearly half of his division is recruits, and he fled under the blow of public opinion, and now he can have three or four thousand men and horses left around him, and Deng Xihou's three full divisions have already occupied the line from Jiuyuan to Yulin, blocking Feng Huanzhang's westward escape in time, he just wants to run to Hetao to join Jing Yuexiu's group of old brothers who were beaten and defeated, and he can't pass Deng Xihou's pass." Deng Xihou, a Sichuan monkey, is not like us who have cared about the robe for many years, and when he sees Feng Huanzhang, he is afraid that he will be beaten to death if he doesn't greet him. So I think that Feng Huanzhang can't go anywhere except to flee to Shanxi to avoid trouble. ”

Everyone nodded in unison.

Cao Kun sighed again: "I can't imagine that the southern provinces will be so united, it seems that Xiao Yimin's position as the southern hegemon has been completely consolidated, and we can only sigh with joy!" ”

Xiong Bingqi shook his head helplessly: "The north is barren, and the weather has been abnormal for 20 years, either drought or locust plague, Shandong has flooded every year, not only has it not paid a penny of taxes in the past three years, but it has to be vigorously relieved; Henan bandits are like forests, and the civil war is endless, but only the granary of southern Henan and southeastern Henan can guarantee the harvest; The Shaanxi War stopped, and Chen Shufan, Deng Xihou and Liu Zhenhua were in charge, and there has been no response to the opinions of the central government; Shanxi is smooth every year, and all industries have developed in the past few years, but Yan Baichuan, the iron rooster, has become a climate, and there is no need to expect him to pay a penny to the central government; Only Pingjin, Zhili, Chahar, and Suiyuan are left to support my Beiyang lineage, if there is no tens of millions of taxes in Nanjing in the past two years, I am afraid we will not be able to drink porridge! Alas, it can't go on like this, we have to think of a way. ”

Everyone listened to it heavily, but for a while no one could do anything but take one step at a time and take one step at a time, and then talk about resolving the current crisis first.

(To be continued)