"Lord Yuan is really angry." Cai Ye whispered to Duan Yongqing.

In front of them, Yuan Shikai and Tie Liang, who were wearing military uniforms, walked side by side across the review stand. However, their expressions were different, Tie Liang's fat face had a smile on it, but Yuan Shikai kept his face strained. Cai Ye and Yuan Shikai are already acquainted, and they find the appearance of this important minister of the court on the cusp of the storm very interesting, when he is happy, he looks very easy-going and kind, but when he is angry, it is ugly.

didn't hear the other party's response, Cai Ye couldn't help but turn his head to look, and saw Duan Yongqing stretching his neck and looking towards the westernmost side, as if he was looking at the lineup of the Shandong army.

"Old Duan, look at his expression......" Cai Ye reached out and poked Duan Yongqing, who was half a head taller than him.

"Pay attention, they are also watching us......" Duan Yongqing retracted the nineteenth standard lineup that was listed in the westernmost section, and whispered to Cai Yi.

The "they" he said were the military formations standing under the parade stage. Directly opposite the review stand were the troops of the Fifth Association of the Third Town.

They were now standing on the review stand, and there were two rows of people in front of them, the front was a row of tables covered with blue velvet cloth, and the dozen or so chairs in the back were empty, and the owners of the chairs had just gotten off the review stand to inspect the military appearance. I can't hear Cai Yi's words, and I can't see Cai Yi's small movements.

Today is October 25, 190 in the Western calendar, and the autumn exercises are officially over. The location is Xiaozhang Village outside the city of Zhangdefu. Just now, after the participating troops had been divided, Yuan Shikai announced the results of the exercise on behalf of the imperial court, and due to the collapse of the right flank of the Northern Army yesterday, this well-planned exercise ended dramatically, and the Southern Army won the victory of Tieliang Hope. But this result is not what Yuan Shikai wants to see.

Those who hold military power - Yuan Shikai, Tie Liang, Xu Shichang, Zhang Biao, Liang Bi, Feng Guozhang, Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen, Li Yuanhong, Wang Zhanyuan...... and Zhou Yi, who is now riding through the solemn military formation below, reviewing the achievements of the army that the imperial court has painstakingly managed for several years.

Duan Yongqing, who graduated from the first phase of the Beiyang Military Academy, was one of the staff officers of the parade office during this exercise, and he used his own methods to convey the detailed deployment of the Northern Army. He didn't know whether the information had been received by his own people, but the fierce offensive of the Nineteenth Standard had crushed the Northern Army, which led to the early termination of the exercise, although the counterattack of the left wing of the Northern Army against the right wing of the Southern Army was carried out smoothly, but the result was judged by Tie Liang.

Of course, there are controversies, but Yuan Shikai's defense is weak, that is, Feng Guozhang and Wang Shizhen both support Tie Liang's ruling. The command of the Northern Army was crushed. The troops lost command and the right flank fell into encirclement...... As a result, it was judged that the Northern Army was defeated, and Tie Liang did not make it difficult for the Beiyang system.

Duan Yongqing and Cai Ye both participated in last night's meeting, although they did not have a say. Tetsu Liang got the result he hoped for the most. Yuan Shikai's honor guard of Beiyang was defeated by the Southern Army! The weirdest thing is. The defeat of the Northern Army was caused by the defeat of the Beiyang Department by another unit that was classified as part of the Southern Army. Maybe that's what Tie Liang wants to see the most.

Duan Yongqing and Cai Ye have known each other for a few months, and he admits that Cai Ye is very smart and has a solid foundation in military science. But he doesn't necessarily understand the intrigues at the top. Maybe when Tie Liang returns to power, the controversial official reform will be revealed, right? Also, I have been clamoring that the imperial court wants to take over the command of the third and sixth towns to the military department, and it is estimated that it will really be implemented. The six towns of Beiyang, the first town is the flag camp, and the fifth town has been directly managed by the Ministry of War, and after Yuan Shikai lost the third and sixth towns, the capital to fight against the Manchurian magnates was reduced by half......

Duan Yongqing did not pass on the task of the deployment of the Northern Army, he made an impromptu decision after seeing the symbol in Zhangde Mansion, which was not in line with the requirements of discipline. The task given to him by the intelligence department was to lurk for a long time and collect information on the training, equipment, stationing, and officers above the standard level of the Beiyang Army, but he did not receive instructions to collect information on the deployment of the Beiyang Army's exercises. Duan Yongqing suddenly regretted a little, feeling that his actions were reckless, and he might be reprimanded or even punished by the intelligence department......

"As far as military appearance is concerned, the Shandong Army is a well-deserved first! I really don't know how they train, it's a little different. Cai Yi's Hunan accent came again, "Old Duan, when can I visit the Shandong Wubei Academy?" I wonder if they welcome people who have returned from studying abroad? ”

"It's welcome, right? Their chief of staff was a student at the German military academy. Seeing that many people around him were holding binoculars and observing, Duan Yongqing also raised the telescope, slowly moved from left to right, and finally stopped at the nineteenth mark in the westernmost section and did not move.

"It's stupid to exclude international students!" Cai Ye is also observing with a telescope.

At present, the Beiyang Army, which is still under the control of Yuan Shikai, does not welcome overseas students, unlike the Southern Army, which is said to be open to welcome foreign students in the eighth and ninth towns. But Beiyang is not.

When it comes to studying abroad and studying military, the mainstream of naval officers in the Qing Dynasty is the British faction, but in terms of the army, they mainly study in Japan, and there are very few people who go to Germany. You should go out for a walk, at least in Japan. Cai Yi likes Duan Yongqing's personality very much, calm, silent, and a standard staff officer. He suddenly remembered Jiang Fangzhen, a classmate of his, who had been planning to go to Germany to study the army.

"It's up to me to decide." Duan Yongqing put down the binoculars, the review was over, probably the upper peaks said some more words of encouragement, this conference exercise is about to end, and I don't know when I will see my troops again...... "However, it is not difficult to visit the military academy in Shandong, they are the Beiyang lineage." Duan Yongqing said in a deep voice.

"Hey, hey." Cai Yi smiled meaningfully.

Sure enough, after the leaders returned to the review stand, Tie Liang made an encouraging speech on behalf of the imperial court. Announce the end of the exercise.

In the evening, Yuan Shikai came forward to set up a banquet in Zhangde Mansion to invite officers above the rank of soldier and horse pipe belt (battalion commander) who participated in the autumn exercise in Zhangde.

Zhou Yi, as the highest-ranking general of the Fifth Town who went to Zhangde to participate in the parade, was seated at the second table, and there were Wang Shizhen, Li Yuanhong, Cao Kun, Wang Zhanyuan, Duan Zhigui and others at the same table, and the lowest positions were all co-ordinates. Wang Zhanyuan is now the third co-ordinator of the second town, and this time he is here to observe the exercise. Duan Zhigui originally served in the Third Town, and is now an officer of the General Staff of the New Army Supervision and Training Department, and is said to be Duan Qirui's absolute confidant.

During the banquet, Cao Kun did not express his hostility to Zhou Yi because of yesterday's defeat, on the contrary, this honest-looking Beiyang "famous general" known as Cao San's fool took the initiative to toast Zhou Yi, and praised the Shandong army for fighting well, "A good soldier trained by Zhou Xie!" Your attack is too sharp, and what I admire even more is Cao San's decisive turn to attack Tieshuzhuang, what a wonderful move! If you continue to fight Guo Cunji, the outcome is unknown. Ha Lu Ha. ”

"Zhong Shan, your skin is thick! Someone knocked down your well of cool water in one turn. I was there. See it very clearly, you are not unjustly defeated! Wang Shizhen took Cao Kun's words, "In terms of offensive tactics, you should really learn from Master Zhou." ”

"Don't dare, don't dare. Both of you are Beiyang seniors. In front of the two of you. I really can't afford to be called an 'adult', Zhou was lucky, it was Lord Cao's negligence......" Zhou Yi stood up. said respectfully to the two, "Zhou Yi is a junior and borrows Yuan Dashuai's wine to pay tribute to the two adults." ”

Li Yuanhong's fat face like Maitreya Buddha was full of red light, he was excited last night and basically didn't sleep, but so far he has no sleepiness, this victory is enough to comfort Zhang Xiangshuai, and the victory of the Southern Army is basically recorded in his own name, today's military parade is over, Tie Liang and Liangbi, two hot Manchurian magnates, specially chatted with him for a long time, and praised the training of the Eighth Town and the 21st Mixed Association, Tie Liang promised to his face that the hated word "tentative" before the 21st Mixed Association would definitely be removed.

This promise made Li Yuanhong excited. The army number is a sacred thing, with the number, there are soldiers, money, territory, and everything you want......

Seeing Zhou Yi get up and toast Wang Shizhen and Cao Kun, Li Yuanhong seized the opportunity, "It's rare to have such an opportunity, so many heroes of our Qing Army get together, let's just have a toast together, may our Qing Army be the leader of the world!" ”

"What Brother Song Qing said is, cheers." Cao Kun responded immediately.

Duan Zhigui sat next to Zhou Yi, and whispered to Zhou Yi when he sat down, "Brother Zhou will stay behind the table, I have a few words I want to say to Brother Zhou alone, please Brother Zhou must appreciate the light." ”

Zhou Yi was startled, but it was difficult to refuse, and his eyes couldn't help but glance at the table where the generals of the Mengshan Army were sitting, but he didn't find the person he wanted to see. At this moment, Yuan Shikai came over with a wine glass, "Oh, this is Zhou Yi and Zhou Xietong, right?" I've admired the name for a long time! ”

"Don't dare, Zhou Yi is cheap, and Yuan Dashuai is dirty." Zhou Yi hurriedly stood up.

Yuan Shikai, who was five short in stature, stretched out his hand and pressed it on Zhou Yi's shoulder, "Sit, sit." They are all old subordinates of the old man, I came here to pay special respect to Zhou Xietong, speaking of which, we don't know each other, Ha Lu Ha, the dragon retreats and thinks of the tiger in Shandong, and trains such elite soldiers for the imperial court! Zhou Xietong has made great contributions, I know the Tao! By the way, what is the name of the Zhou Xietong table? ”

The word "firm as ......" was later coined by Chen Chao, and he usually doesn't use it.

"How young is Jian?"

"If you go back to Dashuai, Zhou Yi is born in the year of Jiaxu......"

"Oh, it's only thirty-three! It's really the back waves of the Yangtze River pushing the front waves, and the hero is just when he is a teenager! Xiangyan (Duan Zhiguizi), it turns out that you are also a talent of the younger generation in Beiyang, and you are far worse than your brother. "Duan Zhigui is thirty-eight years old this year, and he is considered young among the generals of Beiyang. In fact, Yuan Shikai is not too old, as the main general of Beiyang, he is only forty-eight years old, and he is at the most golden age of a man.

"That's, that's. I'm not as strong as my brother. Duan Zhigui said with a smile.

"Ha Luha, I have always wanted to think about the dragon for a while, but unfortunately fate makes people, and I have not seen the dragon of the North Ocean that Lafayette admires so far. Jian returned to Shandong this time, and brought a message to Long Qian for the old man, saying that the old man invited him to come to Zhili, whether it was to govern the army or run an industry, the old man wanted to ask for advice back then. If the general comes to Zhili in person, the old man will definitely greet him! ”

"If you are a marshal, you must report to the admiral ......"

"Good! Jianru, you played well this time! It can be regarded as teaching Zhong Shan and them a lesson for the old man, usually thinking that he is great, but now he should know that there is a sky outside the world, and there are people outside the world, right? Jianru, although the old man is not good at drinking, this glass of wine still has to be saluted to you, and also to the athletes of the fifth town......"

Zhou Yicheng clinked glasses with Yuan Shikai in fear, and his eyes couldn't help but turn to the table again.

The person that Zhou Yi paid attention to during the banquet was Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun did not attend tonight's banquet. At this moment, in a private house not far from the hotel, Jiang Yun summoned Duan Yongqing, who came in civilian clothes.

"Who allowed you to do it on your own?" Jiang Yun's sharp gaze stared at Duan Yongqing, "Have you forgotten the explanation I gave you?" ”

"I don't dare to be lowly, but I know that I am wrong...... Please ask the Commissioner for disciplinary action. ”

"It's not easy to put you in your current position, sit down," Jiang Yun softened his tone, "Don't hide your flaws, your task is generally done well." The commander mentioned you to me several times and asked me to ensure your safety. At the moment your task is still dormant, so that you don't need to provide information about your poor, needle and thread brain. Got it? ”

"Got it."

"Your intel has helped the troops a lot this time. But the commander does not care about the victory of an exercise, an exercise is a drill, not a war! It is not necessarily a good thing to attract the attention of the imperial court too early, and you should learn from it. I won't punish this mistake, but there will be no next time! ”

"Yes." Duan Yongqing wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"This time the Northern Army failed, what do they say?"

It is said that Yuan Shikai was very angry and scolded Duan Qirui. But Tie Liang was very happy...... It is estimated that after the end of the autumn exercise, the command of the third and sixth towns of Beiyang will be transferred to the military department. And the Ministry of War is about to be reorganized into the Ministry of War, and Shangshu says that it is Tie Liang......"

"Well, what else?"

"Yesterday, there was an urgent report from the Beijing Division, and Liangbi had already left to return to Beijing, but I don't know what happened to Lu Dao."

"Oh? Who else is going back? ”

"At present, except for Liangbi, everyone else is here."

Jiang Yun pondered for a moment and took out a silver ticket from his arms, "This is your activity fund." Remember, we must stand on the standpoint of Beiyang from the inside to the outside to speak and do things, and we must not show a trace of sympathy and praise for Shandong. Make friends, but spend your money in moderation and don't arouse their suspicions. ”

"Yes."

"There are no new tasks for you," Jiang Yun stood up and walked around the room a few times, "Your task is to keep an eye on the dynamics of the Beiyang high-level in addition to lurking, especially their attitude towards Shandong. Write me a comprehensive report every two months. From now on, you have a new code name 'Bailing', the old contact method is abolished, how to get in touch, someone will look for you. If you are in a hurry, go to the Guangfuyuan Tea House on the road of Tianjin Steamship Bureau to find Boss Zhao, and you say, 'I heard that there is a new white tea called Bailing, do you have it here?' And he knew who you were. If there is no special emergency, it is not allowed to take the initiative to contact. ”

"Understood."

"Good job. The commander said to you, if you complete the task, you will be the first-class hero of our Mengshan Army. (To be continued......)