Fang Shengyuan received a telegram from the headquarters, handed over the Shandong government affairs to Chen Chao, and prepared to set off with the 7th Division in the direction of Henan, and joined the headquarters in Wuchang.

Fang Shengyuan knew that Long Qian summoned him to Wuchang this time to prepare for a national regime. This is what Fang Shengyuan is eagerly looking forward to. There is a longing for the country, and there is also a desire for oneself. Since joining the Mengshan Army in 1903, only six years have passed, and a new country has appeared in front of us, and there is no doubt that he will take on the heavy responsibility. In troubled times, relying on martial arts, governing the world depends on literature, and it is a good time for them to show their ambitions.

The top level of the Shandong army held a banquet to send Fang Shengyuan off. In fact, there is no need for government affairs to be handed over, because Chen Chao is already very handy. Although there is a military and political committee in Shandong, it is actually under military management, and civil affairs are subordinate to the army, and the main affairs are that the Shandong Army Headquarters is issuing commands.

According to Long Qian's instructions, Fang Shengyuan visited Yang Shixiang, who was seriously ill, before leaving Shandong.

Yang Shixiang has been living in Jinan since he resigned from the governor of Zhili last year, and he chose a position on the eve of the Mengshan army and the imperial court, and his actions naturally won the respect of the Shandong army. In order to express the attitude of the Shandong authorities, Fang Shengyuan gave up his residence, asked Yang Shixiang to move in, and allowed Yang Shixiang to bring his staff and guards who had been with him, and the Shandong army was fully responsible for life, and gave Yang Shixiang a special payment of 10,000 silver dollars per month, and another gift on holidays.

But Yang Shixiang fell ill this spring, and it became more and more serious, and he even showed the state of the next life.

Luo Xiaocai, who had deliberately embarrassed the Mengshan army, was loyal and still stayed by Yang Shixiang's side. Seeing Fang Shengyuan, he came to the door. Luo Xiaocai hurriedly went in to report, and came out and whispered to Fang Shengyuan, "Dong Weng invites Mr. to come in, but try to talk as little as possible." Dong Weng is afraid that it will be bad......" After speaking, he went to wipe his tears.

Fang Shengyuan sighed softly and walked lightly into Yang Shixiang's bedroom.

"Mr. Hasufu......"

"Minggao, sit down. I was just trying to see you, didn't Yue Zhi come? ”

"The commander summoned me to Wuchang to meet Mr." Fang Shengyuan threw away the comforting words that were ready, because Yang Shixiang in front of him was extremely bad. The face shows a "dead color". It seems that he is indeed terminally ill and will die soon.

"Ah, Wuchang has already gone down?"

"Not yet. It should be soon, though. I'll go to Wuchang here, and I'll go with the Seventh Division......"

"Is the Seventh Division going to send troops to Henan? Long retreats and thinks about the strategy. It is right to first determine the Central Plains and then seek Zhili...... Congratulations to Minggao. This will definitely pay homage to the prime minister. But. Yang is not successful, and he can't see how Long retreats to govern the country...... "Although Yang Shixiang is seriously ill, his brain is not confused at all.

"Don't say that. The Commander thought to him. Fang came here on the orders of the commander......"

"Does your handsome family want me to repair the book to Yuan Weiting?"

"Mr. Lianfu is worthy of being a handsome and important senior. Dashuai really has this intention. The marshal secretly instructed me, hoping that Yuan Shikai would recognize the situation, follow the trend, and stop doing stupid things that damage the vitality of the country...... However, the handsome man has a clear order, don't be reluctant, don't be reluctant. ”

"I've already written the letter." Yang Shixiang took out two letters from under the pillow, "One of them is for my brother." You take it, I've said everything I have to say......"

Fang Shengyuan was stunned, "Didn't Mr. ask the marshal about Beiyang's attitude?" ”

"I have worked with your handsome man for several years, and I know his popularity. Now that the Mengshan Army has won the battle, Long Huisi will not lack the mind he should have. But for the imperial court, what is the charter of your marshal? ”

"This Fang really doesn't know. However, the marshal has spoken about his national outlook countless times publicly and privately, and it is not expected that the life of the emperor and queen will be endangered. Fang Shengyuan said with certainty.

"In the past, Li Wenzhong once said that our country is facing great changes that have not been encountered in 3,000 years...... Luo Zijun (Luo Xiaocai) said that it should be today. The knowledge is still a little worse. In my opinion, it is easy for Long Qian to take the country, but it is difficult to defend the country, which is even more difficult than the historical dynasties. Yang has a word, please bring it to him, if the Queen Mother is ten years early, China is not like this. If the Empress Dowager had been ten years late, China would not have been like this. The constitution was originally a good way to save the country, and the imperial court's intention to establish the constitution was very decisive, and the provincial advisory bureaus had begun to see the scale, and they could have taken a new path...... Long Qian has long been ambitious, I know it, but I hope he puts the country first......" Yang Shixiang coughed violently, and waved his hand to the other party, meaning that this is the end.

Fang Shengyuan held the two letters in his arms, got up and bowed to Yang Shixiang, slowly withdrew from the room, and stood under the corridor to carefully ponder Yang Shixiang's words just now. Ten years late in death, probably means that Long Qian will definitely not rebel. In Fang Shengyuan's view, these two assumptions were wrong, the Wuxu Reform Law would not succeed, and Long Qian would not endure it all the time because Cixi was alive...... Fang Shengyuan shook his head and left the luxurious compound where he lived in the past.

Fang Shengyuan still needs to meet a group of people before leaving, that is, Standard Oil's exploration team that entered Shandong last year. Before the outbreak of the civil war, the exploration team led by Andrew had plans to withdraw from Shandong to Shanghai, but eventually stayed in Jinan. According to Long Qian's tips, Andrew has made significant exploration results in Jiyang, but the drilling depth of the oil well has exceeded expectations. Before the outbreak of the Battle of Dezhou, Andrew withdrew from Jiyang, but did not take with him the equipment that had been installed in place, and Ning Shijun assured him that Jiyang would not be lost to the government army, and the Mengshan army would definitely hold Jiyang. The final result confirmed what Ning Shijun said, Andrew's equipment was intact.

According to his report to headquarters, oil will be available in the next quarter at the latest. This is a very important event, and for this reason, Standard Oil will send a more senior commercial team to negotiate with the Shandong authorities on the relevant business. The amazing Chinese actually went to find oil by feeling, and quite accurately. Andrew believes that there is more than one place in Shandong that has oil. In this way, the refinery under construction is a little interesting, and Andrew suggested that the headquarters use Shandong as one of the footholds of the Far East, increase investment, which is a new cornucopia.

After the victory in the Battle of Shandong, Andrew and his entourage, who had closely followed the Chinese Civil War, were convinced that the Mengshan Army would take power. This couldn't be better news for Standard Oil! Huamei Machinery can move the automobile production line of the United States to Jinan and has achieved success, and the standard oil is 100 times larger than Huamei Machinery, why can't it make greater performance in China? Therefore, Fang Shengyuan's request to ask Standard Oil to mediate and establish a liaison between the US Government and Mengshan Army was immediately agreed.

In this regard, Andrew is a firm believer in the enormous influence of the highest levels of the company on the U.S. government. Standard Oil has grown into a behemoth over the past two decades, and it's no wonder that some members of Parliament have proposed splitting Standard Oil under the Sherman Antitrust Act. At this time, it is in the interest of shareholders for the headquarters to strengthen its investment in the Far East. It is not only in the interest of Standard Oil but also the United States to establish good relations with the new Chinese government. After Fang Shengyuan invited Andrew and his entourage, soon, Andrew followed Fang Shengyuan's request. A report was submitted to the U.S. Minister to China on the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the U.S. Government and the Mongol Military Government. This report has been highly valued by the US Minister to China. Soon it was transferred back to Washington.

Fang Shengyuan did not participate more in military planning, and the military was handled by Ning, Ye, Zhang, Wu and others. On 28 August, Fang Shengyuan presided over a joint meeting of the Shandong military and government for the last time and listened to the military arrangements of Zhang Yulin, chief of staff of the Shandong Army. The 6th Division remained stationed in Texas. Four thousand recruits have been recruited to supplement the 6th Division. Within half a month. Chen Chao promised to replenish Texas with another 5,000 recruits to restore the strength of the Sixth Division. As for the supplementary adjustment of guns and weapons, Fang Shengyuan didn't care at all, when Zhang Yulin talked in detail about the supplementary plan for the Sixth Division. Fang Shengyuan was unexpectedly distracted, his thoughts drifted to Changsha and Wuchang, and he fantasized about how to advise Long Qian about the formation of a new state regime.

Regarding the assembly movement of the Seventh Division, Fang Shengyuan was concerned. According to the instructions of the headquarters and the orders of the Jinan Military Department, Wu Nian's 7th Division escorted a large number of prisoners into Jinan Prefecture and established a huge prisoner of war camp in the Zhangqiu area, and then the 7th Division continued south and assembled in Caozhou. At present, the Seventh Division is still two brigades, but the 19th Brigade has been expanded to a three-regiment system, plus the cavalry regiment assigned to the division, a large artillery regiment (under the jurisdiction of four battalions, with a total of 48 artillery pieces of various types), an engineer regiment, and a baggage regiment, the estimated strength of the whole division is 26,000 people (excluding the 5,000 civilians who are ready to be transferred), which is more than enough to deal with the situation in Henan. Wu Nian did not attend this meeting, he had already taken the division headquarters to Caozhou in advance to prepare for the southern expedition.

As for the military plan, Fang Sheng is far from commenting. At the meeting, he formally handed over the post of director of the Shandong Military and Political Commission to Ning Shijun, and after the meeting, he was about to officially leave Shandong and go to join Long Qian.

"Colleagues, everyone worked together to win the battle of Shandong, and lived up to the expectations of the marshal for Shandong. I miss it deeply. Before going to the camp of the commander this time, I will report in detail on the process before and after the battle of Shandong and the merits of all of you, especially the exploits of the four generals Ning, Ye, Wu, and Zhang, as well as Mr. Yuezhi's great contribution in raising the rear and making the front food and ammunition complete. Needless to say, after the marshal takes Wuchang, he will establish a national political organization, and my Shandong is the birthplace of the marshal's life's work, and there is a long way to go, so we must not be arrogant because of the victory over Beiyang. It is necessary to walk in front of the whole country, especially Guangdong, in all aspects of our work, so as to live up to the prestige of Shandong. Thanks to your great help in the past few years, Fang is deeply grateful, and on the occasion of parting, thank you again for your help. When we meet again, the world will be handsome. At the time of the storm, we followed the handsome and left a name in history. The founding of the People's Republic of China is imminent, and we in Shandong must not make trouble, but must become the most reliable base for the commander. ”

"Brother Minggao can rest assured, Jin Yu's good words, Shi Jun has remembered them. It will live up to the trust of the handsome. Ning Shijun made a statement on behalf of the military and political officials who stayed in Shandong, "This time I went south, Brother Minggao should be careful." In addition, tonight I paid for a thin banquet for Brother Minggao to practice, and we will rest as soon as we get drunk. Ha Lu Ha. ”

Long Qian built the army, from no military salary to military salary and shares, and the income of the military generals under his command was quite high, but the cash in his hand was not much. Like Ning Shijun and Chen Chao, the monthly salary is nearly 300 silver oceans, which is high enough, but there are no special expenses available, and all the banquets need to be paid out of their own pockets. Long Qian did this in Shandong, and Chen Chao strongly agreed with this, believing that the style of extravagant pleasure is by no means what those who seek the world should have. Therefore, there is not much entertainment in the officialdom of Shandong Province, especially in the Mengshan army, and there is rarely a mutual banquet. Now that Ning Shijun said that he paid for a banquet for Fang Shengyuan, everyone present was not surprised.

"This is as it should be. I'm also a part of it. Chen Chao smiled. Originally, he felt that Long Qian was righteous, and the pattern of Ning and Ye Fuzhi seemed to be a little inappropriate. Fang Shengyuan has no foundation in the army, and he is worried that Ning Ye will not obey the order, but for more than three years, Shandong has been a combination of civil and military, each performing his own duties, and there has never been internal friction. Once again, it proves that Long Qian still has a set of ways to look at people...... However, there was still a change in Zhou Yi and Feng Lun, but that was not a problem for the people of Shandong to consider.

"Thank you, thank you. It would be better if we each got together. Ha Lu Ha. Fang Shengyuan was in a good mood.

Fang Shengyuan and Wu Nian did not leave Caozhou until August 30, and led the 7th Division to march to Henan, aiming at Wusheng Pass. According to the information provided by the previous intelligence bureau, the 29th Mixed Association, which was also a regular armed force of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and was established in 1906, was stationed in Kaifeng. But this force has already assembled and headed south, presumably to Wuchang. As for the Shanxi 43rd Mixed Association mentioned in the telegram from the headquarters, there is no news of leaving Taiyuan at present.

Although the Seventh Division of the Shandong Army, which has been supplemented, has only two brigades, the six regiments are fully organized and the number of soldiers is full, and 100 junior officers who have experienced the bloody battle in Texas have been temporarily transferred from the Sixth Division, and it is also equipped with a large-scale artillery regiment with four battalions and 12 artillery companies under its jurisdiction -- under normal circumstances, this is the establishment of two artillery regiments. Wu Nian counted the troops and believed that the 29th Association was not a problem, especially in the situation of the great victory in Jinzhou, and judged that the enemy in Henan would do nothing. Therefore, it is not surprising that after leaving Caozhou, it will go straight to Yuncheng (now Luohe) along Guide and Chenzhou, cut off the Luhan Railway, and if the enemy in Henan is still north of Yuncheng, it will be monitored by one force, and the main force will go south to Wuchang along the Luhan Line to realize the general division with the Southern Army.

This strategy was approved by Headquarters. In Long Qian and Situ Jun's plans, the Seventh Division, which was composed entirely of Shandong troops, would be a strategic reserve of the Mengshan Army, which would be used in all directions as needed.

Yiyan Caozhou is the old base of the Mengshan Army. The people welcomed the soldiers with great enthusiasm, and each prefecture and county organized a huge number of former migrant workers' regiments, with a total number of more than 21,000 people, almost reaching the ratio of one soldier to one husband. After Fang Shengyuan calculated, he thought that there was no need for so many people to go out with the army, and he judged that there would be no major war in Henan, and when the Seventh Division went south to Wuchang, the southern army should have occupied Wuhan. Therefore, Fang Shengyuan ordered to "layoff" half of the people, after the troops set off, the speed of the march was not fast, after the Guide Mansion, got the news of the Wuchang uprising, the ninth town of the change, the General Staff ordered the seventh division to speed up the march, quickly cut off the Luhan line, occupy Yuncheng, and then wait for the order of the headquarters. Situ Jun's telegram specifically pointed out that if the 29th Association did not appear, there was no need to pay attention to it.

Wu Nian and Fang Shengyuan divided their troops, and personally led the 20th Brigade that won the great victory at Linjiaqiao to speed up the march and go straight to Yuncheng, there was no battle along the way, and the patrol battalions in various parts of Henan avoided one after another, and most of the county towns of Guide Prefecture adjacent to Caozhou simply openly "surrendered" the Mengshan Army, provided grain and grass guides, and became the vanguard of the change of dynasty.

Wu Niantong led the 20th Brigade to occupy Yuncheng on 6 September after a brief battle. The Luhan Railway was officially cut off. Knowing that the 29th Association was still in Xuzhou, Wu Nian finally brought a radio station and immediately asked the headquarters for the direction of action, but the headquarters telegraphed Wu Nian to stand by on the spot.

At this time, the headquarters of the Mengshan Army was still thinking about a peaceful solution to the Wuchang issue. Therefore, Wu Nian was not ordered to rush south to break the back of the Wuchang rebels. (To be continued......)