Song Biao's plan was not to defeat the Qing army, but to slaughter it, in order to prove to the great powers that the situation of the civil war in China could not be changed, and they could only choose to support him, and the tragedy was that both he and the Manchu magnates were convinced that they were stronger, and that both sides could see almost only their own strengths, not each other's shortcomings.

In the last time when Shanghai's rubber foam was about to be punctured, Song Biao intensively went to the four major military factories and various supporting factories to inspect the military industry in the entire three eastern provinces.

The development of the military industry in the three eastern provinces mainly depends on subsidies from the capital market and political axes, and the military industry not only enjoys various tax exemption policies, but also enjoys all kinds of preferential subsidies in technological research and the introduction of equipment.

Because it was impossible to produce cannon steel in the past few years, the locally produced artillery was actually assembled, and the gun body and gun carriage were imported from Germany and Russia, and the local area was only responsible for assembly, that is, the production of gun carriages began in the past two years, and the German Benxi Military Factory partnered to develop long-stroke recoil pipe withdrawal technology.

This year, the Far Eastern consortium spared no expense to acquire the Bethlehem Iron and Steel Company, the effect of finally showing that through the transfer of iron and steel metallurgical technology and the appointment of technicians in the Bethlehem Iron and Steel Company for practical training, Liaoyang Iron and Steel Company finally began to be involved in the production of cannon steel, and also found a local supply of nickel ore in the three eastern provinces.

This small achievement made Song Biao very satisfied.

After inspecting the military industry, Song Biao was full of confidence and was ready to rebel, he was anxious to be the emperor, he didn't want to wait any longer, and when he returned to Shenyang that day, he still went home first as usual, and was ready to let Jiang Fangzhen, who had returned from the Liaoxi Military Pastoral Bureau, call over, and by the way, Tao Chengzhang and Jiang Zunwei also called over, and they all went to his study to secretly discuss the matter of raising troops to revolt.

Jiang Zunwei and Jiang Fangzhen are classmates of non-commissioned officers and students, both are known for their proficiency in military affairs, and they are also one of the earliest organizers of the Liberation Society in Zhejiang.

Jiang Fangzhen is a hundred miles, Jiang Zunwei is a hundred words, and the two were called the second generals of Zhejiang during their stay.

A few days ago, Jiang Zungui secretly arrived in Shenyang with Tao Chengzhang, ready to discuss with Song Biao about the final raising of troops.

Song Biao just hugged his daughter and talked to Shu Xuan with a few words when he returned home, and then he realized that Jiang Zunwei was not the only person who came secretly recently, and Shang Shuliangbi of the War Department also sent someone over to meet him, but this person took another way to see Song Biao very strangely.

Liangbi sent his and Jiang Zhengyuan's common classmate Shu Qing'a, who was born in the white flag of the Han Army, to secretly envoy to the three eastern provinces.

The surname Shu originated in Lujiang County, Anhui Province, after the ancient emperor Gaotao, Zhou built Shu Guo in Lujiang, with the country as the surname, Shu Qing'a is the hall number of Julu County, and the hall name of the Shu Gaoli clan is far away, about five hundred years ago it was not a family, but after all, it can be related.

After pulling this relationship, Shu Qing'a asked Jiang Zhengyuan, who served as an executive deputy officer in the Secretariat of the Northeast New Army, to introduce him and officially went to the Song Mansion to meet Song Biao.

When Song Biao heard Shu Xuan say this, he couldn't help but sigh: "There are quite a few people with your surname Shu?" ”

Shu Xuan also smiled helplessly, and said: "It's because it's very rare, it's always very enthusiastic when I meet one, roughly my father in his life in addition to relatives, but also rarely meet outsiders surnamed Shu, okay, you can meet each other, anyway, you will grasp the size, I think he has gone around so many circles to ask for a meeting, he must also ask you for help or something." ”

Song Biao asked, "How many days has he been here?" ”

Shu Xuan said: "It's been seven or eight days, I lived in a guest house a few days ago, and because I was very familiar with my father and brother, my father entertained him to live at home." ”

Song Biao exclaimed: "I can't imagine that the surname Shu has such benefits, but I don't know where a person with the surname Song like me has to go to eat and drink for nothing." ”

Shu Xuan seemed to be a little disgusted and patted Song Biao's arm lightly, and said: "How can I eat and live for nothing, I must have given some generous gifts to my family, and my parents couldn't shirk it, so they had to invite him to come over and live for a while to talk about it, and wait for me to ask, if it is really a heavy gift, it will be sent back by me, so as not to cause bad things." ”

Song Biao said: "No, anyway, there won't be anything important, if it's really important, it's equivalent to giving it away in vain, if your parents are uneasy, let them hand it over to you to deal with." ”

Shu Xuan nodded slightly and said, "It's okay, then when will you see him." ”

Song Biao looked at the time and decided to wait until the evening to invite Jiang Zungui and Tao Chengzhang to come over for dinner to discuss the important matter of raising troops.

There must always be a reason to raise troops against the Central Committee, and it is not enough to just say that it is a liberation revolution, because the contradictions between the Manchus and the Han people have not yet been completely intensified, so they must first be intensified, and the reason why the Xinhai Revolution was successful was that the Manchu imperial cabinet list that carried Feng angered the Han people in the whole country was the deepest reason.

After a little thought, Song Biao said to Shu Xuan: "Then you call home and let that person come over, I'll take half an hour to meet him alone, if it's not a big deal, do it for him, let him get out of the house early." ”

Shu Xuan smiled sympathetically and said, "I will make it clear to my family next time, you should pay more attention to these aspects, so as not to cause trouble to your eldest son-in-law." ”

Song Biao didn't think it was troublesome, but Shu Xuan was willing to talk about it, it would definitely be better.

When Shu Xuan went to call, he played with his daughter in the living room for a while, and if he was not careful, his daughter would turn one year old, and he thought about doing it a month in advance, because October might be the best time for him to send troops.

Although national affairs come first, after all, the daughter is the first time in her life, and it is not good for him, who is a father, not to hold a birthday banquet, at least he has to invite relatives and friends to come over for a meal.

The distance between the Shu family and the Song Mansion was very close, and Song Biao estimated that the other party would come quickly, so he asked his mother-in-law, Mrs. Lu, to take her daughter to the backyard first, and she went upstairs to tidy up the table in the study.

Sure enough, Shu Qing'a came quickly, wearing a general uniform of the Beiyang New Army and thick braids.

Accompanied by Zhang Futian into the study, Shu Qing'a couldn't wait to come forward and pay homage: "Shu Qing'a, the general counselor of the Beiyang Supervision and Training Office, visited Lord Zhongtang. ”

Song Biao turned sideways to face this person, glanced at it, and saw that this person was only thirty-three or four years old, and he belonged to the older group of non-commissioned officers and students, and this person was in the second session, one year earlier than Jiang Fangzhen and Cai Yi, and he was indeed a classmate of Jiang Zhengyuan.

For many reasons, there are really not many people who have served in the Northeast New Army in the second session of the non-commissioned officers, and the current highest-ranking positions are Xiao Kaigui and Jiang Zhaojian, and these two people are only known as the Second Cavalry Co-Commander, which is far from Shu Qing'a's official rank.

Song Biao at least seemed to be very enthusiastic and asked Shu Qing'a to sit down, and said, "Senator Shu is not staying with the Beiyang New Army, why did he think of coming to me today?" ”

Shu Qing'a said with a smile: "The humble post is also on the order of Lord Shangshu Liangbi of the Ministry of War to come to visit the middle hall, and there is a handwritten letter from Lord Shangshu here. ”

As he said this, he took out the letter from his personal pocket and handed it to Zhang Futian to forward to Song Biao.

took the letter and read it, Song Biao did not read too much fame from Liangbi's letter, it was basically nothing more than "I admire it very much, I am willing to make friends, I believe that Song Zhongtang is loyal to the imperial court, only to stand up with the army, for fear of being suspicious by the court, he is willing to guarantee the court" and so on.

After reading the letter, Song Biao sighed and said: "What Master Shangshu said is very beautiful, but things still have to be done in practice, just by moving his mouth, wouldn't it be easy." ”

Shu Qing'a's face was slightly embarrassed, but he said: "What Lord Zhongtang said is very true, when the lowly post came, Lord Liangbi and the lowly post said, only Lord Zhongtang can sit in this place in the northeast, and the imperial court is now really understood, as long as Lord Zhongtang is not called Wang Lifan in the three eastern provinces, you are in one day, you are the governor of the three eastern provinces, who dares to say a word in this world." Even in private, Prince Alcohol said so. Having said that, you are in the three eastern provinces, and even the foreigners are obeyed by you, who is not convinced in this Qing Dynasty? ”

Shu Qing'a is a Han person, but he has never regarded himself as a banner man, a flag man ran to Song Biao to say this kind of thing, or did he speak instead of another Manchu man with a heavy army in one hand, what is the name of this?

At this time, the person who fought with Song Biao in the military in the Guannai was Shangshu Liangbi of the War Department, who graduated from the Lu Shi and was a classmate of Jiang Fangzhen and others, because he was born in the Zongshe, he easily squeezed out Tie Liang, who had repeatedly made miraculous achievements when squeezing out Yuan Shikai, and had the control of the Beiyang Army and other Manchu Qing troops with the support of the regent Zaifeng and other Manchu governors.

Liangbi has a certain ability and military level, Song Biao has paid more attention in the past few years, and Zaifeng is different, this person is more afraid of the Northeast New Army, and actively persuaded Zaifeng to choose a radical military reform, and a large number of his classmates in Lushi to replace Yuan Shikai's old department, in order to do a temporary need, secretly speed up the transfer of the Manchurian banner soldiers in the first town to form the banner guard.

Under Liangbi's active reforms, coupled with the strong support of Zaifeng and the eight Manchu governors, the Qing army at this time had actively expanded the new army of twenty towns, plus sixteen mixed associations and two associations of banner soldiers and janissaries.

Also under the adjustment of Liangbi, the first and sixth towns of the six towns of the Beiyang Army were stationed at the north and south ends of Yanjing, the second town was stationed in Baoding, the third town was stationed in Kailuan after withdrawing from Jinzhou, the fourth town was stationed in Tianjin, the fifth town continued to be stationed in Jinan, and the twentieth town of the Qing Army New Army was transferred from Kailuan to Yongping (Qinhuangdao) to garrison.

The Twentieth Town of the New Army was originally supervised by Zhang Shaozeng of the Alliance, and at first it was also invited and activated by Liangbi, but Liangbi soon realized that Zhang Shaozeng was unreliable, so he transferred Bao Ying, a classmate of the remaining non-commissioned officers, to the Twentieth Town, increased military salary expenses, equipped machine gun battalions and artillery, and tried in vain to defend Shanhaiguan.

Thanks to the efforts of Liangbi, Yinchang, and Shu Qing'a, the Beiyang Army, the Praetorian Guard, the 18th Town, the 20th Town, and the 23rd Town, all of which were deployed around Zhili, had a very good level of equipment, especially the Beiyang Army and the Praetorian Guard, and the equipment level was indeed really good.

Song Biao's Northeast New Army is so strong, but Zaifeng is not afraid of Song Biao, first, a lot of information about the Northeast New Army has not been leaked, and second, Zaifeng does have enough troops in his hands, holding twenty towns and sixteen mixed associations, plus the Praetorian Guard, Zaifeng really does not feel that he will be threatened by the Northeast New Army.

In such a situation, thinking of Shu Qing'a's words, all Song Biao could feel was a strangeness.

Song Biao thought for a while, just as the orderly brought the tea, Song Biao continued to invite Shu Qing'a to sit down next to the coffee table, and he also changed his position to sit opposite Shu Qing'a.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Song Biao said to Shu Qing'a: "General Senator Shu, we are all soldiers, if you have something to say, then hurry up, my rule has always been that the king of heaven and Lao Tzu only have a maximum of half an hour to meet guests, if you have something to say clearly, then say it directly." ”

"Nakado-sama is really a happy person!"

Shu Qing'a laughed, and said: "Okay, since Lord Zhongtang said so, then the humble position will be more pleasant, in fact, this time I am for Prince Alcohol and Lord Liangbi of the War Department, as well as Prince Qing came to talk to you about something." This matter is also simple, and now the way of the world is that whoever has the strength can sit on one side. Prince Alcohol said, as long as you don't set up a vassal in the Northeast and don't do it against the court, the prince will be on an equal footing with you inside and outside the Guan, and everyone will share the glory and wealth. ”

Song Biao sighed: "There is such a good thing to cheap me? ”

Shu Qing'a said: "Lord Zhongtang must laugh, now the way of the world is who has the strength and who is the governor, thinking that Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang can become university scholars is not the same as relying on the Hunan and Huai armies, and now your Feng army is much more powerful than the Hunan and Huai armies, the prince understands it in his heart." In fact, there is no impermeable wall in this world, Lord Zhongtang has the strength of six towns and six associations here, it is said that even the artillery has two associations, and the baggage and engineers can also make up another association, which is really powerful, we can be regarded as having seen your means, and the prince also understands. Now this matter may as well be done clearly, the War Department will directly allocate the troops of the six towns in the three eastern provinces to you, and the rest of the associations will be counted as directly under the jurisdiction of the Military Department, and a town will be added to the east of Monan for your dispatch. The imperial court has six towns of the Beiyang Army in Zhili, a separate town in Shanhaiguan, a town of the Praetorian Guard in the Beijing Division, a town after the addition of a town in Monan Suiyuan, and a town in the rest of the provinces, a total of forty-two towns until the strength is full, the towns in the south will never go north, and the two sides will be at peace. If you want to go outside, please also ask Zhongtang to obey the arrangements of the imperial court, but you will definitely not let Zhongtang suffer. If the Lord Zhongtang thinks that this method is good, everyone has their own gains, the prince thinks about his own sister, the only three grids in the family are worthy of you, this matter has to be done, the whole country knows, the prince and you are close to each other, you are the emperor's own brother-in-law, you have such an identity, sitting in the Kanto regent, for the emperor to share worries and solve problems, that is also a matter of course. ”

Song Biao looked quite interested, and said with a smile: "If the prince really has this idea, then it is my right way, okay, then do it, in fact, I have already had this plan, I am afraid that the prince will not will." However, my wife is still a very powerful character, first, she absolutely refuses to be small, and second, she may not allow me to take a concubine, this thing...... I have a heart, I'm afraid it's not easy to do. ”

Shu Qing'a said: "This matter is simple, as long as the adults in the middle hall answer, the holy decree will come down clearly, and the adults will never be embarrassed at home." As soon as the emperor's golden mouth is opened, as soon as the holy decree comes out, how can Mrs. Nai be the lord, when the time comes, the emperor and the prince will personally run a new mansion for you in Fengtianfu, and there will be a lady and a blessing in each of the mansions on both sides. ”

Song Biao clapped his hands and agreed: "It's interesting, this file is interesting, so be it, but this holy decree has to come down later, as soon as you leave with your front foot, this is such a thing with your back foot, Madame must understand that it is my own mind." Therefore, when exactly will this matter be approved, and what name will it take, please ask the prince to think more about it. As for my side, I'm not afraid that the prince will think that my heart is too bad, as long as the Zhili Jingshi does not increase the new army, my side will not be able to increase, and the increase will be snowflake silver. Now these soldiers in my hands are enough to guard the three eastern provinces, and I will definitely not let the Russians and other foreigners take advantage of them. ”

Shu Qing'a was overjoyed and said: "Then please rest assured that Lord Zhongtang, the humble position will definitely bring your words to the prince, as long as the prince is here today, then these things will be easy to do." ”

Song Biao smiled and didn't say much.

Shu Qing'a came to talk about something very strange this time, Song Biao really didn't expect it, although he had a pig-killing knife in his hand, it would be a good thing if he could get a glimpse of it now, he did the same as the real thing, and prepared a banquet for Shu Qing'a alone in the evening, and drank a few drinks with Shu Qing'a before sending him back to Shufu to rest.

When Shu Qing'a left, it was not early, Song Biao did not call Jiang Fangzhen and them urgently, but discussed with Shu Xuan first, hoping that Shu Xuan would understand, this is also the so-called delaying strategy.

Shu Xuan naturally understands that even if that Gege is really married, she won't care at all, all she is worried about is that if things have all kinds of strange changes, and in the end, Song Biao didn't wave his way into the customs, I'm afraid the end may not be very good.

Although Shu Xuan doesn't ask about politics or the Liberation Revolution, she is a smart woman who reads poetry and books, and she knows very well that the Qing political axe is now also a delaying tactic.

The next day, Song Biao made another appointment with Jiang Fangzhen, Shu Fangde, Yang Tiesheng, Tao Chengzhang, Jiang Zungui, and Zhang Binglin to discuss things.

It's just that the strategy that Song Biao wants to adopt is completely different from what Jiang Zunwei and others guessed, and his strategy is the countermeasure that Jiang Fangzhen and Zhang Binglin thought of when they discussed together.

In the past, there have been small-scale disturbances organized by branches of the Liberation Society, and various incidents on the side of the United Alliance have created a situation of rebellion throughout the country, and the newspapers have exaggerated the rumors, but what we need to do now is to find a more suitable time, the Liberation Society will revolt first in the old nest of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and organize the troops of the two associations to fight fiercely, and in any case, it must be held out for half a month, and it is best to occupy Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, and the Northeast New Army will respond to the uprising.

Tao Chengzhang and others agreed to the previous idea, and Song Biao also agreed to the method of the Northeast New Army uprising, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang responded accordingly, so that the new troops all over the country began to actively follow and defeat the Manchu Qing in one go.

Now this method is a bit risky, but it is the most beneficial for Song Biao and the Northeast New Army, after all, there is a dispute between the Manchus and the Han Dynasty at the moment, but it is not yet the time of life and death, and it cannot arouse the response of the whole country.

There is a big difference between the two, Zhang Binglin is a cultural person, and he came to such a conclusion after some research.

(To be continued)