Chapter 179: On the Eve of the Rebellion

Chongqing, the official residence of the municipal government. In the study of Chongqing Mayor Liu Wenlong, two middle-aged men are sitting opposite each other and drinking. On the table, there were several plates of delicate side dishes, but neither of them moved their chopsticks, but drank one cup after another. These two middle-aged people are both high-level officials of the government and military in western Sichuan, and they are Liu Xiang, commander of the Second Division of the Western Sichuan Army, with the rank of major general, and Liu Wenlong, mayor of Chongqing. Even in the entire western Sichuan, both of them are absolute high-ranking officials. However, now both of them are not very good-looking. Otherwise, I wouldn't have drunk alcohol.

In one corner of the table, a thin piece of white paper sits along. The order issued by the Cabinet and the General Staff Headquarters required the two of them to rush to Chengdu before the 0th of the month to feel the memorial ceremony of the handsome Wang Xiao.

"Liu Xiang, what do you think we should do now? Do you want to go to Chengdu? Although Liu Wenlong is older, he is a little younger, and after drinking a few glasses of wine, he can't hold his breath.

"Can you not go? The order issued by the Prime Minister and the Chief of Staff himself, if we don't go, then I'm afraid there is only one way! Liu Xiang took a sip of the wine in the cup and said with some bitterness.

"However, if we go, those old guys in the cabinet and the general staff headquarters, as well as the little guy who is about to succeed to the throne, will definitely not let us go. If we go, it will be like a sheep in the mouth of a tiger! Liu Wenlong said with some concern. Their two uncles and nephews, who have served in Chongqing for many years, have already run this place like an iron bucket. When Wang Xiao was alive, he didn't pay attention to so much. But now that the young marshal has succeeded to the throne, how can such a situation be allowed to happen. Therefore, if it is not good, they will use their two uncles and nephews for surgery.

"Then we'll have to do the opposite. However, the current western Sichuan is not the same as it was two years ago. Two years ago, there were only three provinces in western Sichuan, and now? There are already 10 provinces in western Sichuan: Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Plateau, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, and the territory has expanded several times. The army has expanded from two divisions and ten brigades to fifteen divisions, eight brigades and two cavalry corps. Two years ago, if we had reversed, we still had a certain chance of success. But now, there's basically no chance! Liu Xiang's face was bitter. Although his second division is a veteran unit in western Sichuan, and it is also the elite of the elite, there is only one division after all! Whether it is Chengdu in the west or Hubei in the east, there are heavy troops in western Sichuan, and if there is a rebellion in Chongqing, it will definitely be able to send troops to suppress it quickly. When the time comes, how can one of his second divisions be able to resist.

"But just hand over power like that? Are you willing? Anyway, I'm not reconciled. You have to fight for everything! A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Liu Wenlong's eyes. He is only 37 years old this year, and he has already become the mayor of an important city like Chongqing. However, Liu Wenlong was not satisfied. As early as when the cabinet was established, he was looking forward to being able to enter the cabinet and become a minister of a department, and no matter how bad it was, he would become the deputy provincial leader of Sichuan Province, right? However, in the end, the cabinet was formed, and the vice governor and governor of Sichuan Province were also adjusted, but there was no place for him at all. This made Liu Wenlong very dissatisfied. You must know that Chongqing's status is second only to Chengdu. He, the mayor of Chongqing, is completely qualified to be a vice governor or even the governor of other provinces.

Liu Xiang's eyes also flashed with a hint of anger. As a veteran of the Sichuan West Army, although he is slightly younger than others. But his qualifications are very old. Moreover, in last year's war against the Manchus, his second division also performed many miraculous feats. In the end, he only received some monetary rewards, military ranks and official positions, but there was no movement. This made Liu Xiang very unwilling. When he comes, with his qualifications, he will be promoted to a lieutenant general, and then he will be fully responsible for the defense of several divisions in Hubei, that will be no problem at all! However, the staff headquarters once again ignored him, which made him very dissatisfied. The ambition that was extinguished because of the growing strength of western Sichuan has also swelled again.

"I can guarantee that as long as we go to Chengdu, we will definitely be arrested. Even if it doesn't kill us, it will dismiss us. He has just taken over the power of Kawanishi, and what he hopes is that Kawanishi can remain stable. Our restless factors must be the first thing he needs to deal with. Liu Wenlong said angrily.

"So, uncle, are you ready? If our rebellion fails, we will be dead. Wang Yuze's little seed is even more ruthless than his old man! Liu Xiang said. Two years earlier, he had been in contact with Zhang Zhidong, the Manchu governor of Huguang. But last year, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, was defeated and degraded by the Manchus, and he naturally lost contact with the Manchus. also had to lie dormant, and now that he comes, Liu Wenlong has a relationship with that side.

"Liu Xiang, tell you the truth, the imperial court sent someone to contact me, it is Prince Gong's envoy Yixin. As long as we can take refuge in the imperial court, Prince Gong will protect the glory and wealth of our lives! Liu Wenlong said.

"Prince Gong? Does what he says work? Don't forget, we are surrounded on all sides by the western part of Sichuan, and in the event of a rebellion, the imperial army will not help us at all. And the army of western Sichuan can quickly pacify us. Liu Xiang frowned. As a senior general of the Western Sichuan Army, he knows better the difference in strength between the two sides.

"It's not just Prince Gong, but also foreigners. The British, the French, the Russians, and the Orientals all had secret contact with me. As long as we can hold Chongqing, they will support us to submit to the imperial court. When the time comes, foreigners will naturally put pressure on Sichuanxi. If Chongqing can be subordinated to the imperial court, perhaps we can advance eastward to obtain Hubei with the support of foreigners and the imperial court, and at that time, we can become a force that is not inferior to western Sichuan! Liu Wenlong said with some excitement. The king of the land is very attractive to everyone.

"Foreigners? They actually intervened? Also, Orientals? The Orientals are just a small country, and they can't be relied on at all! Liu Xiang said suspiciously. I really don't understand what is going on in this small Kanto country?

"Liu Xiang, Japan, a small country in the East, can ignore it. But the support of Britain, France, and Russia is enough to make us invincible. No matter how powerful that little thing is in the Wang family, does he really dare to go to war with foreigners? The foreigners have promised to provide us with 20 million yuan as long as we are opposed. If we can hold Chongqing for half a month, then they can put all the pressure on western Sichuan to ensure our success. Liu Wenlong said excitedly. It was a bit risky for him, but it was undoubtedly a great possibility of success.

"Just keep it for half a month? It's not impossible. Liu Xiang said secretly. Chongqing has a rugged terrain, and as long as it holds some dangerous checkpoints, the western Sichuan army will not be able to attack it, and it will be very easy to delay for half a month. In addition, the Second Division originally belonged to the veteran units of the Western Sichuan Army, and its combat effectiveness was strong, far from being comparable to those newly formed units later. The only thing Liu Xiang is worried about now is whether Sichuanxi will be blackmailed by foreigners, you know, Sichuanxi has just fought a battle with the British. If the threat of the foreigners is useless, then they are dead.

"Liu Xiang, don't hesitate, this is a great opportunity for us. Now, the police in Chongqing are under my control, and you want your second division to enter the city, then we can control the situation. When the time comes, a statement of submission to the imperial court will be issued, and the foreigners and the imperial court will launch an operation against western Sichuan. When the time comes, Kawanishi may not have the courage to start a war with us! Liu Wenlong urged.

"Good! We bet on this one. However, I have to meet with the envoys of those foreigners, and negotiate the terms first. lest they sell you! Liu Xiang said.

"No problem, I'll show you to them right away!" Liu Wenlong said excitedly. After he came and persuaded Liu Xiang, then their affair was half successful.

Chengdu, tour the embassy. There was an endless stream of high-ranking officials and generals from western Sichuan who went to the embassy to mourn. These officials and generals who came to mourn often expressed their loyalty in front of Wang Yuze after offering incense to Wang Xiao. After that, he returned to his residence and waited for Wang Yuze's succession ceremony after Wang Xiao's burial. Those who did not have real estate in Chengdu were all housed in hotels arranged by the Cabinet and the General Staff Headquarters.

On the 2nd of the month, most of the officials and generals in western Sichuan had already arrived in Chengdu, and only a very small number were still on the road because the road was too far. However, if you arrive before the 0th of the month, there will be no problems.

"Yu Ze, most of the officials and generals have already arrived after receiving the order. The remaining few will be able to rush to Chengdu tomorrow or the day after tomorrow! In a room next to the mourning hall, Wang Yuze, Prime Minister Liang Xingrong, and Chief of Staff Xiong Wu were exchanging views on the high-level officials from western Sichuan who had come to mourn these days.

"That's good! I don't want chaos either. Now western Sichuan is developing rapidly, and then turmoil may affect the development of western Sichuan! Wang Yuze said.

However, it is not without people who do not know what to do. Major General Liu Xiang, commander of the Second Division, Liu Wenlong, mayor of Chongqing, and their two uncles and nephews were sick and asked us for leave and could not come to the memorial ceremony of the commander. Xiong Wu said with a dark face. What does this mean? Everybody can understand.

Wang Yuze's face also sank, but he didn't expect that someone would dare to jump out, didn't he force him to kill chickens and make an example of monkeys?

PS: The first update has arrived!