Xianlaiju is adjacent to Daming Lake, the first scenic spot in Jinan, and the picturesque Daming Lake can be seen from the window of the elegant seat on the second floor. Although the store is small, but the layout is good, and the price of wine and food is expensive, a table of first-class banquets costs seven or eight taels of silver, and idlers can't afford to consume.

On this day, Wu Luzhen held a banquet in Xianlai Residence to invite Long Qian.

Yi Liang remained in the inn. Tie Liang, Xu Shuzheng and others have already gone to Qingzhou. But Wu Luzhen did not go with Tie Liang and the others under the pretext of being unwell. The reason why I wanted to stay was to talk to Long Qian alone. After making this somewhat abrupt request through Long Qian's adjutant Ouyang Zhong, Wu Luzhen had some speculation in his heart, worried that Long Qian would not give him this opportunity. Because in terms of position, he is just a staff officer of the training department, and the other party is the commander who controls the military power of a province. In Wu Luzhen's view, the admiral is still secondary, and the key is that Long Qian has a town of elite soldiers.

Except for a few of his comrades, no one knows the true identity of Wu Luzhen. Wu Luzhen, a native of Hubei, entered the Japanese Non-commissioned Officer School in 1898, visited Sun Yat-sen in Japan and joined the Xingzhong Society. In 1900, he was sent back to China by Sun Yat-sen to hold an uprising with Tang Caichang, and returned to Japan after the defeat, and graduated from the non-commissioned officer school in 1901. In 1903, he participated in the formation of the Huaxing Association headed by Huang Xing, and in 1903, he was invited by Liangbi, a classmate of the Non-commissioned Officer School, to go to Beijing to supervise the training team of the Military Academy Department of the Military Academy. Originally, Wu Luzhen didn't want to go, but Huang Xing persuaded him to join the central government and wait for an opportunity.

Although Wu Luzhen was a revolutionary party and was determined to overthrow the Manchu Qing Dynasty by force, he was the master of spending money like flowing water, and he was quite a famous person, and regarded prostitution as a good story. Wu Luzhen came to Jinan to review the fifth town. still went to the next hall in the name of shopping. In fact, this time I won this errand because I was instructed by Huang Xing's secret letter to test Long Qian, who was already one of the powerful factions in the north.

In Huang Xing's view, the sudden rise of the Shandong Governor's background determined that he would not be a die-hard loyalist of the Manchu court. If Long Qian could rebel against the Fifth Town and overthrow the Manchu Qing Dynasty and create a republic, there would be obvious hope.

This instruction is very much to Wu Luzhen's appetite. Wu Luzhen was staunch against the Qing Dynasty and had always advocated a "heart-to-heart revolution", and if he could directly attack the Beijing division with a strong army, the Qing court, which had long been rotten and incompetent in his eyes, would collapse like a broken house.

This time, Long Qian promised. I was very happy. So he sent someone to Xianlai to live in the best seat, ready to have a good chat with Long Qian, the hot ruler, and take the opportunity to test Long Qian's true attitude towards the imperial court.

Wu Luzhen, who was standing in front of the window and looking at the scenery, accidentally lowered his head and saw Long Qian wearing a blue cotton robe and four guards who were also plainclothes coming. Wu Luzhen hurriedly greeted him out of the building. Because it's all casual clothes. Wu Luzhen naturally couldn't use military salutes, and arched his hand, "Mr. Long is really a believer." ”

"Ha Lu Ha. Brother Wu set up a banquet, how dare Long miss the appointment. ”

"Okay, okay, sir, please upstairs."

The two guards went upstairs first, and Long Qian and Wu Luzhen stepped on the creaking wooden staircase to the second floor and entered the private seat. After checking that there were no dangers, the guards waited outside.

"Wu has long heard of the prestige of adults." Gently closing the door of the private room, Wu Luzhen saluted again, "It's an honor for Wu to have a banquet alone with adults!" ”

After Long Qian sat down, he stared at Wu Luzhen, who was thin and small, with a fierce face, "I have admired Mr. Shouqing's name for a long time, and I don't want to have the opportunity to drink together today." Long is a rough man, not like Mr. Shouqing who has stayed abroad, and has the reputation of the three heroes of non-commissioned officers, since he can afford Long, don't mention any official position. Mr. Shouqing, Gui Geng? ”

"Twenty-six springs. I didn't expect the cheap name to reach the adult...... "Wu Luzhen's Hubei dialect is not easy to understand, but it is full of joy.

"Ha Luha, then I am three years older than you, and I will call you Brother Suiqing. You don't want adults to grow up and be short, we are all soldiers, wouldn't it be more beautiful if we were brothers and sisters? ”

"Then the little brother will climb high." Wu Luzhen said and poured wine for Long Qian, "The day before yesterday, I received a lot of advice from my brother, and the admiration in my younger brother's heart is even greater. Ha Luha, let's not get drunk today. Brother please! ”

"Okay, let's fill this cup!" Long Qian leaned his neck and dried. Taibai liquor is not considered a strong liquor, but the wine has a long taste, Long Qian praised it and showed the bottom of the glass to Wu Luzhen.

"Brother seems to have offended Tie Liang a little." Wu Luzhen decided to start the conversation from here.

"It's going to rain, my mother is going to get married, let him go. The formation and reorganization of the Fifth Town was carried out in accordance with the approval of the Ministry of War. Even if he wants to pick bones in the egg, he is not afraid, and fortunately, the Queen Mother has always been discerning...... "It is determined that Wu Luzhen is a revolutionary party, and Long Qian's intentions for him today have long been clear."

Wu Luzhen sneered in her heart, but she looked puzzled on her face, and got up to refill the wine for Long Qian, "Queen Mother...... Oh, by the way, I heard that my brother was born in the United States? But I don't know why I returned to China? He wanted to say that the Queen Mother was the culprit of the troubled country, but he didn't know his face, Cixi favored Long Qian and was already a legend in the officialdom, Wu Luzhen didn't want to be too reckless, so he decided to take a detour.

"It's a long story. was originally ordered to return to his mother country, but he was unexpectedly captured by Hibiki Ma...... Alas, in short, it is difficult to explain. Coming to this point, the foolish brother couldn't even think of it. Long Qian took a bite of the sauced beef, looking sincere.

"The strange encounter of my brother, I don't know how many fame and fortune in the red dust I envy. Now that my brother is a strong soldier, he can make great achievements, achieve great things, and leave a name in history. ”

"Leaving a name in history is also a false name. Brother Suiqing, if you don't believe in those false, you will be a hundred people when they die. Take on the things before and after, what to do after death. Is there a reputation behind him, is it good or not, why care? ”

"Ha Luha, well said. Take on the things before and after, what to do after death. Wonderful! It's the younger brother who is adamant. For this sentence, the younger brother salutes the elder brother with a cup! The two clinked glasses and drank them all again.

"The younger brother has admired the prosperity of the United States for a long time, but he has never had the opportunity to see it. When I was in Japan, I heard people talk about the American form of government, and I was very confused: Is the republican system really wonderful? Wu Luzhen continued to stir up the topic.

Here it comes! Long Qian smiled secretly in his heart, this Wu Luzhen is also smart, and he actually started from here.

"Although the foolish brother was born in Si, he has not studied his form of government. Wonderful is not wonderful. It's like wearing shoes, it all depends on the feeling of the person concerned. ”

"My brother said this very well. So according to the elder brother, which is better between the two countries? Wu Luzhen didn't expect Long Qian's witty words, and this metaphor was even more interesting when I thought about it. But he couldn't let it go......

"Ha Lu Ha. If a foolish brother was in the United States, he would never be the head of a division. Therefore, in the eyes of Brother Yu, it is naturally better to be the mother country. ”

"Brother is such a wonderful person. The younger brother is unknown, why does Lord Lingtang want his brother to return to the country? ”

"There are many overseas Chinese in the United States, and they are quite discriminated against. It has a bill that specifically talks about Chinese exclusion. As a yellow-skinned and black-eyed descendant of Yan Huang. It's hard in the U.S. too. Long Qian sighed. unexpectedly chanted a song of seven uniques, "Lingtai has no plan to escape from the gods, and the wind and rain are like a dark homeland." If you don't notice the cold star, I recommend Xuanyuan with my blood! ”

"I recommend Xuanyuan with my blood...... Good poetry. Good poetry! I didn't expect my brother to be an all-rounder. The day before yesterday, I listened to the military song of the fifth town. It's exciting! The military song made by the elder brother is related to this quatrain. When it spreads all over the world, I think it is immortal! After listening to this quatrain full of worries about the country, Wu Luzhen has completely admired Long Qian's literary brilliance.

"I didn't write this poem. It is the posthumous work of a friend of Jia Yan. Although this senior is in a foreign country, he has never forgotten my Chinese homeland. The foolish brother resolutely returned to China after the death of Jiaci, and he was also influenced by this senior. ”

"Admirable former sages. Overseas Chinese miss their homeland so much, how can we let the great rivers and mountains remain stormy? This poem is so good, I recommend Xuanyuan with my blood! Emperor Xuanyuan is the ancestor of my Han family's children, and as a descendant of Xuanyuan, I am really ashamed. ”

"Brother overdosed, right?" Long Qian smiled.

Speaking of which, Wu Luzhen couldn't go around in circles anymore, "You and I hit it off at first sight." How dare I hide my thoughts from my brother? The Manchurians have occupied the mountains and rivers of our Han family for 300 years, not to mention the blood feud that slaughtered our Han people in the past, it is the current political situation, cutting land and paying compensation, making the heavens angry and resentful, and the people are not happy. People with lofty ideals are all suffocating. My brother has a town of elite soldiers, doesn't he want to follow the general trend and make a difference? ”

"Is my brother Xingzhonghui or Huaxinghui?" Long Qian asked coldly.

Wu Luzhen was stunned for a moment, thinking for a long time, "The elder brother asked, and the younger brother didn't dare to hide it." I am a member of the Xingzhong Association and a member of the Huaxing Society. "With a horizontal heart, the real bottom was shaken out.

"What is your proposition?" Long Qian asked softly.

Wu Luzhen's spirit was shocked, "Drive away the Tartars and restore my Han family's rivers and mountains!" ”

"Oh, who are you going to rely on to achieve this?"

"On whom?" Wu Luzhen thought, of course, you have to rely on the more than 10,000 elite soldiers in your hands, otherwise why should I bother with you? But don't say it directly...... "I don't know how many bloody children of the Han family there are!" As long as you climb the height, the responders will surely gather! ”

"Oh, Long heard that several commotions in the south have failed." Instead of saying righteousness, it used the "commotion" of insult and contempt.

Wu Luzhen calmed down, this person in front of him was concerned about the situation, the Xingzhong Association had been established for a long time, and it was not surprising to hear it, but he actually knew that the Huaxing Association was in the Dao! However, there are pros and cons to this, "General, there are many lackeys of the Manchu Tartars, and there are also some inadequacies in our organization. Wu Luzhen deliberately changed her name, since this is the case, it is better to admit that she still has shortcomings.

"Whether it is Guangzhou, Huizhou, or the two lakes, if these places of your party's scheduled activities succeed, will the Manchus fall in response?" Long Qian's voice was very calm, and he couldn't hear a trace of waves.

"This ......" Wu Luzhen was asked. He was ordered by Sun Wen to return to China to participate in the Tang Dynasty in the middle of the Gengzi year, and fled back to Japan after the defeat. But at that time, there was really no follow-up plan, and the attention of the big guys was focused on the present, and the first step could not be taken, so what was the second and third steps to talk about?

"Let me ask you, even if 'expel the Tartars and restore China' succeeds, what will happen then?"

"What to do? Drive the Tartars away, and naturally have what you want. The country is so ruined, isn't it for the Tartars? Wu Luzhen found the question ridiculous.

"Ha Luha," Long Qian smiled on his back. Many of these revolutionary parties seem to be like this, no wonder this person in front of him is unknown in history, how can he achieve great things with his impulsiveness, credulity and scheming? "Brother Suiqing, don't you hear that 'when you see people only say three points, don't throw away all your hearts' You and I have only known each other for a few days, and if you tell me this, you are not afraid that I will exchange your head for greater glory and wealth?"

"The general is not like that." Wu Luzhen stared at Long Qian with blazing eyes.

"How do you know I'm not like that? I went from a ringing horse leader to a provincial governor within a few years, thanks to the Queen Mother's appreciation and trust. On what basis do you conclude that I will rebel? Besides. If I rebel with you, what can the revolutionary party give me? What can I give my brothers? ”

"My generation is determined to restore the mountains and rivers of the Han family, but it is not for money and wealth!"

"The process of recovering the mountains and rivers of the Han family needs money, otherwise Sun Wen would not have repeatedly raised donations overseas. After recovering the mountains and rivers, money is needed even more. I heard that Mr. Sun Wen issued a kind of voucher in order to raise funds from overseas Chinese, promising to exchange one for ten after the success of the revolution. I don't know if I've thought about it, what if I can't cash it in? Isn't it dishonest to others? ”

"This, how can it not be honored? When the time comes, wouldn't it be enough to take back the customs and abolish the indemnity treaty? ”

Long Qian sighed in his heart, "Mr. Shouqing." Long expressed his admiration for the ambition of your faction. But Long had to think about his brothers. They followed Long from birth to death. It's not just for the sake of fame. ”

"False name? How can it be a false name? The great cause has been accomplished, the elder brother is the first merit, and the generals under his command are the founding fathers. The history of panic will definitely leave your good name. Wu Luzhen heard Long Qian's refusal to cooperate. Urgent. "When the time comes. My brother raised troops from Shandong, and we waited in the center to assist and go straight to Beijing. Great things can be done! ”

"You and I are both soldiers, and my brother has received a formal military education. In fighting a war, we must consider many factors such as the enemy's situation, our own feelings, people's will, terrain, climate, transportation, and logistics. More wins, less wins, not to mention nothing! Even if Long's subordinates are willing to do this thing of losing their heads, will the five towns of Beiyang stand aside and watch the excitement? What guarantee do you use to ensure that Yuan Shikai will stand on the side of the uprising? If the iron heart of the Beiyang towns protects the Manchu Qing Dynasty, how can a fifth town defeat the Beiyang Army, which is superior to my in strength and logistics? Long Qian raised his hand to stop Wu Luzhen's defense and continued to speak, "In Long's view, revolution is a major event to change the dynasty, and it is much more difficult than organizing a campaign. Again, for your party's ambitions, Long expressed his admiration. But for your thinking and preparations, Long disagrees. Please rest assured, what you and I are talking about today, as long as you don't tell it to a third person, it will always be a secret. In addition, I would like to mention one condition, in order to avoid needless bloodshed, please do not do the work of my men. Well, Long was busy with official business, so he quit. Long Qian left Wu Luzhen and went downstairs to leave.

On the way back to the headquarters after leaving Xianlaiju, Long Qian was still thinking about the meeting just now. He didn't regret his refusal. I am not qualified to laugh at their blind movements and sacrifices, without those tragic sacrifices that have gone forward and followed, there would have been no collapse of the Manchu Dynasty. Wu Luzhen will never bury today's talks deep in her heart. It can be concluded that the revolutionary party's infiltration propaganda of the Fifth Town will be more ferocious. Fang Shengyuan has always advocated the establishment of a secret group within the Mengshan Army aimed at overthrowing the Manchus and being absolutely loyal to himself, which is actually the founding of the party. In view of the time issue, he has not approved it. It has always been believed that the most important thing is not to establish a revolutionary organization aimed at overthrowing the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but to build up strength under the banner of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. However, now it seems that it is time to ponder and grasp the ideological work of the troops.

Tie Liang's pickiness at the banquet the day before yesterday was enough to show the attitude of the Manchu nobles towards him. After this inspection, the Manchu court should have taken measures to restrict or even deprive itself of military power. It can be concluded that after Tie Liang returns, he will definitely use his way to shake Cixi's trust in him, so as to tighten his control over the Fifth Town! What to do? Now is not the time to turn against the imperial court, relying on the industrial construction that has just started in his eyes, and relying on the little worship and loyalty of his subordinate officer corps, it is not enough to fight against the center! However, if we do not grasp the ideological work of the officer corps, there will still be dangers! If the focus is on the control of high-ranking officers, then there is no need to create a secret organization that Fang Shengyuan has been agitating all the time, and this organization is necessary if you want to catch middle and lower-ranking officers! But what kind of organization should be established? What kind of purpose is proposed? Socially oriented or confined to the military? Long Qian's face was gloomy, and he thought hard.

Time, the key is time, how to buy a few more years?

Long Qian unconsciously set his sights on the north, and the good start of the Lushan detachment that he expected gave him great excitement. When you stand on your feet, you will have a lot more chips on your side. When Song Jinguo and David have a successful result in their trip to Europe and the United States, their strength will be much stronger. But it all takes time. (To be continued......)