After Yuan Shikai left the mountain, although it was decided that Duan Qirui would take over the sixth town of Shanhaiguan and preside over the military outside the customs, the center was still a little uneasy. So Liangbi was sent to assist Duan Qirui in dealing with the grim situation where the Qing court's back was exposed.

Liangbi was based on the military settlement of the eighteenth town, now the Northern Army of the Mengshan Army. Liangbi selected a group of staff officers from the War Department, including Cai Yi, chief of staff of the Military Command Department, and Duan Yongqing, staff officer.

At this time, Duan Yongqing, who was unwilling to leave the key post of the center, had no choice but to follow Duan Qirui, Liangbi and Cai Ye to Shanhaiguan, preparing to follow the sixth town out of the Guandong and consolidate the unstable Fengtian.

On August 10, Duan Qirui and Liangbi arrived in the sixth town and successfully took over the command. Duan Qirui's arrival did not cause dissatisfaction among the officers of the Sixth Town, on the contrary, because of Duan's seniority in Beiyang and Duan Qirui's noble personal qualities, the Sixth Town was very happy that Duan Qirui took over the command, including Zhao Guoxian, who had unloaded the burden.

Zhao Guoxian gave a detailed report on the preparations for the sixth town. According to the central directive, the 11th Association has assembled at Gaoling Station outside the Guan, and the 12th Association is assembling in Linyu, and it is estimated that it will be completed in two more days.

Because on the way, Liangbi and Duan Qirui did not learn the news that the Battle of Dezhou had begun, but Zhao Guoxian, who was in Yuguan, got the news of the war in Shandong.

Duan Qirui was dissatisfied with the speed of the assembly of the Sixth Town, and at the same time, he was worried about the current situation of the battle outside the Guan, how many soldiers did the enemy have? Where is it now? I don't know what to ask! He said to Liangbi, "The situation is critical, and I intend to take the 11th Association out of Mukden to stabilize the situation." You stayed in Yuguan and urged the Twelfth Association to quickly complete the assembly, and then march eastward. ”

Liangbi agreed. Because Yuan Shikai had launched the long-awaited attack on Shandong, Liangbi was in a good mood, and said to Duan Qirui with a smile, "Brother Zhiquan is worthy of being the dry city of the country, and he is a hero in danger." When Yuan Weiting pacifies Shandong, I intend to transfer back to a town to solve the problem outside the Guanwai first, and then map to the south of the Yangtze River, and the overall situation can be expected. ”

Duan Qirui is not as optimistic as Liangbi. He officially set off on August 11. Led two infantry signs of the 11th Association and one battalion of artillery and cavalry. Left Gaolingyi and advanced to Jinzhou.

Cai Ye and Duan Yongqing both followed Liangbi to stay at the Sixth Town Headquarters in Yuguan.

On this day, it rained coldly, and the weather had turned cold. After dinner, Cai Ye asked Duan Yongqing to go out for a walk. "Wen Bai seems to be a little absent-minded."

"Director Cai is joking." Duan Yongqing has always felt that Cai Ye doubted his identity.

"It's all written on your face. In the afternoon, I looked at the map of Shandong for an hour. Are you worried that the Mengshan Army and the Shandong Army will not be able to stop Yuan Weiting? Cai Yi smiled.

"You can't joke like that. Of course, I'm hoping that Lord Yuan will be victorious. Duan Yongqing was shocked, and his mind quickly wondered if he had exposed his flaws?

"Wenbai! Why be nervous? I think that if the Shandong army is properly deployed. Gathering the main force in Texas to resist hard, Yuan Weiting may not be pleased. When I went south to Hunan and Jiangxi in Zhangde and the fifth town, I saw with my own eyes the excellent training of Shandong soldiers. If you talk about the abundance of ammunition, Shandong is especially above the Beiyang! Now the center is in a hurry to buy from abroad, I'm afraid it's too late. They have their own arsenal! ”

"Director, why do you think that the four towns of Beiyang still can't take Shandong?" Duan Yongqing desperately suppressed the fear that grew in his heart.

"It's easy." Cai Yi smiled, "I have more than a dozen staff officers under me, and you are the only one who pays attention to the overall situation. It is said that the Shandong Army has two divisions, and according to the establishment of the Shandong Army under their control, they have adopted the three-three system, and the Sixth Division alone has three brigades, and each brigade has three regiments, which are nine infantry regiments! Compared with the sixteen regiments in the four towns of Yuan Weiting, it is not much different. Moreover, in a corner of Texas, I am afraid that the army of the four towns will not be able to be deployed, and the first to invest troops will inevitably weaken the advantage of troops. As for the terrain, Texas can rely on the canal barrier, which is also an advantage for the defending side. If we talk about other aspects of Shandong, such as the organization of the people and the abundance of materials, I am afraid that it is better than Beiyang. Hehe, a few days ago, you asked me for Shandong's plan, but do you want to provide it to the Mengshan army? ”

Duan Yongqing's face changed drastically, and he subconsciously touched his waist, but he didn't put the pistol out.

"Hehe," Cai Yi looked at Duan Yongqing's demeanor in his eyes and sneered, "Brother Wen Bai wants to kill people?" In this barracks, you just killed Cai, can you escape from Lu? ”

Duan Yongqing calmed down, feeling that he was still too immature, "Director, where do you think, this is not a joke. ”

Cai Yi patted Duan Yongqing on the shoulder, "Wenbai, the reason why I asked you out is because some words can't be said inside." In fact, three years ago, Long Qian led the fifth town south to Hunan and Jiangxi, and I stayed with him for a while. In a village called Maojiapu, the two of us had a candlestick night talk, and the scene was like yesterday. Long Qian once invited me to serve in the Fifth Town, but I didn't agree. However, at that time, I was very convinced of Long Qian, and decided that this person was the one who overthrew the Manchu Qing and rebuilt the country. ”

Cai Yi's eyes were gloomy, as if he was recalling the past, "Long Qian knows my secret, but I spent the rest of my time in the Manchu Qing Dynasty safely, which shows Long Qian's bearing." Although he never sent anyone to contact me again. Wen Bai, I followed Huang Xing's armed anti-Qing eight years ago, but not many people know this secret. Long Qian wooed me, I didn't make up my mind at that time, although I admit that Long Qian is the only one in the sea to govern the army, and the fifth town has long been the first in the strong army in the United States. But later, I decided that the person who could save China was Long Qian. To this day, you still refuse to confess your identity? ”

Duan Yongqing let out a long sigh of relief, "Director Cai, why do you suspect that I am from the Mengshan Army?" ”

"If it is about Beiyang's understanding of the Mengshan Army, if I am called second, no one dares to call it first. There are too many shadows of the Mengshan Army on you, and even the posture of saluting is the same. But no one but me noticed it. So, you don't have to be nervous. Also, the other day you said that you went to visit your sick mother, and I learned that your mother was not sick at all! Didn't the old lady mention it to you? ”

"She, her old man only said that an official had been here......"

"That's me! If you ask me for the deployment of Beiyang in Shandong, I will know that you are a member of the Mengshan Army. Cai Ye became serious. After you transfer the information out of the city, Lord Yuan's attack will be difficult. The importance of cognitive intelligence to the army is also to be said to be your family dragon commander. I estimated that even if Yuan captured Dezhou, he would not be able to capture Jinan. Shandong is a stalemate, Beiyang has lost most of this game of chess, if there is chaos outside the Guan, I think Long Qian can defeat Beiyang without even using his main force in Jiangnan. Why, you still don't believe me? ”

"Don't dare. Director Cai, how do you think our army will deal with it outside the customs? ”

"This one is hard. The best thing was that when the sixth town entered the vicinity of Mukden, Mukden mutinied, and the back road was cut off. That's it. The First Association of Mixed Divisions, which only relied on the remaining Beijing Division, could not defend the Beijing Division in any case, and could only withdraw troops from Shandong. In that case, not to mention competing with Long Qian in Wuchang, even the Jingshi will be difficult to protect. And. Due to an accident in Kanto. The Qing court didn't even have the possibility of retreating to Rehe......"

"That. How can we make a difference in Twenty Towns? ”

"Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen! Others don't know the way, but I know the way. If they don't seize this opportunity, they will be called the three heroes of non-commissioned officers in vain. ”

Cai Yi, Jiang Fangzhen, and Zhang Xiaozhun are known as the three heroes of Lu Shi. This legend was publicly denied by Cai Ye. The top level of Beiyang did not attach much importance to Cai Yi, who graduated from the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School, otherwise he would not have been prevented from going down to lead the troops. But Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen are also known as the three masters, but it was the first time Duan Yongqing heard of it, but Cai Ye did not explain to him, and Duan Yongqing did not ask.

"If you have a way to get in touch with the north, be sure to pass the word through. In the past, your family Long Marshal once said that he hated the civil war the most, and what was lost was the amount of national defense. I've never forgotten that! Don't attack Zhang Shaozeng's troops, send someone to contact them, you can't do it, you must have Lu Shan's handwritten letter. ”

"It's difficult, if I'm in Beijing, I still have a way to ......" Speaking of this, Duan Yongqing finally admitted his identity.

"No wonder you don't want to come. Well, I'll figure it out. Cai Yi frowned.

Cai Ye has not yet figured out how to send Duan Yongqing back to Beijing, and Fengtian is already in chaos. On the second day of their conversation, Liangbi took the 12th Association and the team directly under Zhentai out of Yuguan and arrived at Gaolingyi, and Duan Qirui's urgent military report came from the front, saying that there was a mutiny in Fengtian on the 12th! Zhang Zuolin's troops from Tieling back to Fengtian suddenly attacked the Twentieth Town Headquarters, Zhang Shaozeng was detained, Wu Luzhen's life and death are unknown, the 39th Association troops have been out of control, Fengtian gunfire continued all night, Tang Shaoyi, like Zhang Shaozeng, did not know his whereabouts, and it was estimated that he was captured by the rebels.

It was a bolt from the blue! Liangbi was immediately stunned, Rao was familiar with military affairs, and he couldn't think of a clever plan to save the crisis for a while! Obviously, Zhang Zuolin, the capricious bandit leader, saw that the situation was not good, and switched to the new master!

Liangbi asked Cai Yi's opinion, Cai Yi suppressed the doubts in his heart, and actually said, "Let the Eleventh Association stop first?" Attack rashly, in case you get caught in an ambush, you will be in trouble. ”

At this time, either resolutely march east to recover Mukden, or resolutely collect troops and come back, gather the sixth town on the first line of Yuguan, and block the assault of the Lushan Department to the pass with danger, how can you stop on the Jinzhou line and wait and see?

However, Cai Ye then gave a reason, "My lord, Jinzhou is the throat connecting the inside and outside of the Guan, and its status is extremely important. If our army withdraws from the Guanwai, how will you explain it to the imperial court? If you rush eastward and the enemy situation is unknown (it is true that no accurate information has been obtained from the Lushan Department so far), it is really too dangerous. ”

Duan Yongqing was at the scene at the time, and when he heard this, he confirmed that his boss was indeed interested in Mengshanjun.

Although Liangbi thought that Cai Yi's words were reasonable, but out of anger, he did not adopt Cai Yi's opinion, he knew that if Fengtian fell, the situation outside the customs would not be possible, and Zhili would become a battlefield! If the Lushan army marched westward, a Yuguan could not be stopped, and the enemy could enter from other openings, what even Huang Taiji could do back then, could no one think of it three hundred years later? As a full man, Liangbi was burned inside, shouting, "Lao Tzu fought with them!" The herald ordered the 12th Association to speed up, and the 11th Association continued to advance eastward, eliminate Zhang Zuolin, and take back Fengtian to Lao Tzu! ”

Duan Qirui didn't think so. Ever since receiving the scattered cavalry of the Thirty-Nine Associations, Duan Qirui has known that Dao Fengtian is not guaranteed! The sixth town has become the only main force of the northern army of the capital division against Lushan, if the sixth town is damaged in the area of Fengtian, what else will Shandong! What else is the idea of the battle of Wuchang?!

The Eleventh Association squatted down in Jinzhou, and the twenty-first bid was shouted back by Duan Qirui. waited until Liangbi came, and Duan Qirui didn't make up his mind to attack and defend. He seems to have forgotten that Yuan Shikai entrusted him with all the military outside the Guanwai!

Liangbi asked Duan Qirui, why did he stop in Jinzhou and not move? Duan Qirui's answer was the same as Cai Yi, "The enemy situation is unknown, so you can't rush forward." ”

Liangbi's status in the center is not low, and it is by no means comparable to Duan Qirui. But in the Beiyang Army, Liangbi's words are not as good as Duan Qirui's. Duan Qirui didn't move, Liangbi was angry or angry, or begged softly, Duan Qirui insisted on stopping the main force of the sixth town in Jinzhou!

Afterwards, if the 11th Association advanced bravely, although the 39th Association troops that were fighting with Zhang Zuolin's troops lost their two main commanders, Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen, they could still boost the morale of the army, and Fengtian might be recovered by Duan Qirui, and the large amount of weapons and ammunition in the inventory may not fall into the hands of the Northern Army. However, Duan Qirui's hesitation in Jinzhou lost the most precious time, and the commander of the 25th Brigade of the Northern Army's Forward Brigade, Xiong Xun, who learned the news in Tieling, knew Tian Shubang, listened to Tian Shubang's report, and realized that Fengtian City had the possibility of going down without a fight. In the early morning of August 14, the 73rd Regiment of Xiong Xun's Brigade, despite fatigue, had entered the outskirts of Fengtian City and made contact with Zhang Zuolin's troops. Mukden went down without a fight - this was the case for the Northern Army of the Mengshan Army.

The Mukden Incident once again sounded the death knell of the Manchus. Long Qian, who commanded the advance command post of the Southern Army to leave Shaoguan and march towards Hengyang, received a report of great joy, and immediately appointed Zhang Zuolin as the commander of the 10th Division of the Northern Army, and issued an order to commend Zhang Zuolin's department, ordering Zhang's troops to rest and replenish on the spot, and to undertake the security of the rear road to cover the westward advance of the main force of the Lushan Northern Army.

Long Qian's telegram from southern Hunan praised Zhang Zuolin for his profound understanding of the great righteousness and his immortal contributions to national liberation and national reunification, and won the admiration of the whole army and even the whole country.

Although Zhang Zuolin lost a group of backbones in the Fengtian Incident, this treasure is right! Two years later, the whole army was reorganized, and Zhang Zuolin received the rank of lieutenant general of the National Defense Army and was promoted again. You must know that the list of people who have obtained the rank of lieutenant general is full of generals above the division commander of the Mengshan Army who have followed Long Qian for more than ten years in the southern and northern wars!

Wu Luzhen, who had persuaded Long Qian to oppose the Qing Dynasty on the shore of Daming Lake, died in the "8.12" incident, and he was shot on the spot by Zhang Zuolin, who hated him deeply. Although Zhang Shaozeng survived, he also lost his future. Who would believe that he had conspired with Wu Luzhen to rebel against the Qing Dynasty? The 40th Association, a unit commanded by two revolutionary-minded generals, was disbanded, and the rest (including the officers and soldiers captured by the 39th Association) were reorganized and mixed into the Northern Army. The aftermath of the "8.12" incident has not stopped, and it was not until more than ten years later that there were still people who "overturned the case" for Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen, and the national defense forces suppressed their appeals, and the matter was not reached until 50 years later, but Wu Luzhen's bones were rotten, and Zhang Shaozeng, who had already left the army and entered the business world, had also passed away for many years.

That's history. There is no room for a trace of warmth, whoever is soft will be finished, and whoever is slow will suffer a big loss. (To be continued......)