Wuchang, Huguang Governor's Mansion, Zhang Zhidong's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. The Northern Army captured Zhumadian and encircled and annihilated the first and second towns of the Hubei New Army, which undoubtedly gave him a resounding slap in the face.

Originally, they also wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to further expand their sphere of influence, so that they could obtain the capital to bargain with the northern army. However, this battle completely forced the Hubei New Army into a desperate situation.

"Has Third Town returned?" Zhang Zhidong rubbed his brow, which was a little painful, and then asked. Previously, the third town of the Hubei New Army set out from Xiangyang and captured Nanyang. However, after the first and second towns were annihilated by the Northern Army, Zhang Zhidong immediately ordered the third town to retreat to Xiangyang for defense.

The Hubei New Army only has a total of eight towns, and losing the most elite first and second towns is equivalent to losing half of their combat effectiveness! Of the remaining six towns, four were hastily formed and did not have much combat effectiveness at all. Even the most elite First and Second Towns were vulnerable in front of the Northern Army, not to mention the subsequent towns. If there is to be a war with the Northern Army, the Hubei New Army has no chance of winning at all. This made Zhang Zhidong regret a little, he knew that he shouldn't have gone to the tiger's mouth to grab food.

"My lord, the Third Town has been withdrawn. However, the Northern Army followed them and was stationed at the junction of the two provinces, which seemed to have the intention of entering Hubei. Hubei political envoy Li Minchen said.

"It seems that this time the Northern Army is planning to take out even us." Zhang Zhidong's tone revealed a hint of helplessness.

"My lord, according to my subordinates, the Northern Army has long had ambitions for us. Whether or not we send troops to grab territory, they won't let us go. Li Minchen said.

Zhang Zhidong nodded: "Then you say, what should we do now?" ”

Li Minchen was a little hesitant, although he was Zhang Zhidong's most important aide. But. He is good at government affairs, and he generally rarely interferes in military affairs. There was no governor in Hubei, and the governor was in charge of it since the 30th year of Guangxu. The political envoy is undoubtedly the person in charge of Hubei's political affairs.

"If you have anything to say, just say it." Zhang Zhidong said.

"My lord, I'm afraid we won't be able to hide this time. The Northern Army is pressing the border, and with our current strength, it is no match for them at all. Even Yuan Datou had to escape the Yangtze River. Pray for the protection of foreigners, let alone us? Li Minchen said.

Zhang Zhidong's face was ugly, although Li Minchen didn't say it directly, he already knew what the other party meant.

"Could it be that the Qing Dynasty died like this?" For such a result, Zhang Zhidong is obviously a little unacceptable.

"My lord, when Yuan Datou plotted to usurp the throne, the Qing Dynasty was actually dead. The Northern Army and the Beiyang Army, no matter who won the final victory. will not revive the Qing Dynasty. Judging from the current situation, the probability of victory for the Northern Army is undoubtedly much greater. Li Minchen said.

Zhang Zhidong nodded, he knew that Li Minchen's words were very reasonable. It's just that for a while, he was a little difficult to accept.

"My lord, the Northern Army is now moving south, and even the main force of the Beiyang Army has been wiped out, and we don't have the strength to fight against it at all. Not to mention. The Northern Army was able to defeat Japan and Russia one after another, and its strong military strength was obvious. A powerful. Isn't China that can not be bullied by foreign powers exactly what adults want to see? Since the Qing Dynasty can't do all this, it's better to change the dynasty. If the war continues, it will only be us Chinese who will suffer in the end. Li Minchen continued.

Zhang Zhidong was stunned for a moment, and then glanced at Li Minchen meaningfully. From Li Minchen's words just now, he had already thought of something.

"Have you seen anyone over there?" Zhang Zhidong asked directly.

Li Minchen nodded. And there is no denial.

"Why?" Zhang Zhidong was a little angry, he trusted Li Minchen so much, but Li Minchen actually had a connection with the Northern Army.

"My lord, China can't go on like this. The great powers treated China as a big piece of fat and slaughtered it at will. And whether it is the Manchu government or the Beiyang government. They all grovel to the outside and oppress the people internally. How can such a government allow them to ride on the heads of the common people? Only the northern government and the northern army can lead China to prosperity and strength. I hope that one day, the Chinese will be able to hold their heads up and behave in the world, they will no longer be afraid of foreigners, and the great powers will no longer dare to bully us. This is the dream of subordinates, and I believe it is also the dream of all Chinese. Li Minchen said.

The anger in Zhang Zhidong's heart gradually dissipated. He felt Li Minchen's pure heart. Whether it is the Manchu Qing Dynasty or the Beiyang, it has indeed disappointed the majority of the common people. The Northern Army sprung up, defeated Japan and Russia one after another, and raised the prestige of China, which gave the common people a glimmer of hope. It is understandable that everyone is falling to the Northern Army.

"Your Excellency, the representative of the Northern Army is in the mansion of his subordinates, please meet him. For the sake of Hubei and Hunan provinces, as well as for the people of the whole country, please think twice! Li Minchen pleaded.

Zhang Zhidong hesitated, but nodded: "Okay, you can bring him to see me!" ”

"Thank you, sir!" Li Minchen said happily.

Half an hour later, Lieutenant Colonel Chen Hongfei, the head of the Hubei Station of the Northern Army Intelligence Bureau, appeared in front of Zhang Zhidong.

"Your Excellency the Governor, Your Majesty has been ordered to contact your lordship. Both the marshal and the young marshal hope that the adults will put the overall situation and the interests of the people of the whole country first. Lieutenant Colonel Chen Hongfei said.

Zhang Zhidong said: "Please sit down, I want to hear how you plan to convince me!" ”

Lieutenant Colonel Chen Hongfei sat down opposite Zhang Zhidong, and then said: "Your Excellency, now our army has deployed three infantry divisions, two cavalry brigades and one heavy artillery brigade in the north of Hubei, with a total strength of about 80,000 people. Although, in terms of troops, it is comparable to the Hubei New Army. However, after the war with the two powerful countries of Japan and Russia, our army's combat effectiveness surpassed that of the whole country. I believe that if there is a war, the Hubei New Army will definitely not be an opponent. ”

Zhang Zhidong nodded: "The combat effectiveness of the Northern Army is indeed very strong. ”

However, if this is all there is, he is not so easily convinced.

"The young marshal said that if the Governor can join the government of the North, among the cabinet ministers. Another position belongs to adults. Chen Hongfei continued.

In addition, Li Minchen, the political envoy of Hubei Province who had previously defected to the Northern Army, will become the governor of Hubei Province in the future.

Zhang Zhidong smiled dumbly, he was already seventy-one years old, and he was about to enter the ground. Being an official doesn't mean much to him anymore.

In addition, all the generals, officers and soldiers of the Hubei New Army accepted the reorganization of the Northern Army. Those who are willing to continue to serve in the army can join the Northern Army after passing the examination, and those who are unwilling to join the army will be paid a severance pay of 20 oceans per person. Severance pay is more for officers and generals. Officers and generals need to attend the Army School and the Army University if they want to continue their military service. After passing the graduation examination, the corresponding military rank and position will be awarded according to the actual situation. Lieutenant Colonel Chen Hongfei continued.

Zhang Zhidong nodded, but still did not make a clear statement.

Chen Hongfei was a little puzzled, he had already said all the conditions that should be said, why didn't Zhang Zhidong express his position?

"What kind of country do you young marshal want to turn China into?" Zhang Zhidong asked suddenly. As a member of China's local powerful faction, he also knew the situation of the northern government and the Northern Army, and knew that although Wu Xingquan was nominally the commander of the Northern Army. But the real core is Wu Haoxuan, the young marshal.

"The goal of the major marshal is to build China into a powerful industrial country, one with great military power. At the same time, the industrial strength is also among the top countries in the world. The young marshal said that now that the world has been carved up by the great powers, in this era of the jungle, if a country does not work hard, it can only be reduced to fat meat slaughtered by others. Only to make the country strong and become one of the great powers. And take the initiative to join the world hegemony, so that the country and the nation can complete the rejuvenation. This is what the young marshal said in front of all the graduates when I graduated from the Army Academy, and it is also the goal that all of us strive for. Lieutenant Colonel Chen Hongfei said.

Zhang Zhidong's eyes changed, and his gaze, which originally seemed a little cloudy. It was as if it had become clear. He seemed to see a young man who was working hard for the rejuvenation of the country and the nation. In such a situation, why should he be holding back?

"Go back and tell your young marshal that in ten days, the Northern Army will be able to enter Hubei and Hunan." Zhang Zhidong said.

Chen Hongfei was stunned for a moment, and then immediately understood what Zhang Zhidong meant: "Thank you, Lord Governor, for understanding the righteousness." ”

After making up his mind, Zhang Zhidong summoned the command of the remaining six towns of the Hubei New Army and explained his ideas to them. The fact that the two lakes wanted to join the northern government was unacceptable to some of the rulers. But the next moment, they were arrested. Zhang Zhidong served as the governor of Huguang for a long time and had a high reputation in the two lakes. After the Hubei New Army was completely controlled, almost no one at all levels below dared to disobey Zhang Zhidong's intentions. In less than ten days, officials at all levels of the two lakes expressed their support for the Governor's decision.

On December 28, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, telegraphed in Wuchang, and the two lakes joined the northern government. At the same time, the Northern Army also crossed the border, entered Hubei, and began to take over the defense of Hubei. And the Hubei New Army also began to accept the reorganization of the Northern Army. (To be continued......)

PS: The second update is here, continue to ask for monthly passes and all kinds of support! Xiaoyu went to practice driving, and came back in the evening to continue updating the next three chapters. Thank you for the book friends happy party, fairy sword Qiankun, Fengyue Zheng, and book friends 130502201710196 rewards! Thanks to book friends Bingyue Xinkong, carze, chubby me*day, sw3805, elusive 512, vavm, Daishan Xiao, *handsome man*, decadent against the sky, big fat pillar, AD, school curtain, Shunde boy, nesting doll, yi sheng only belched one, smooth sailing Xiaoqiang, Hanhan807, Qingfeng Earl, xbshrdvima, dizzy and ashamed, I have a premonition of urgency 1, optical rotation, big self, Yangtze River 1206, Suo'er, zhc, called the old man, Yuan yh1234567、Feng の白、Tuna Luo I、Morning Swimming、A court、I'm the head of a small mercenary group、100 dragon 001 monthly pass!