Sun Wenjian's plan to build the capital of Jiangning came to naught due to the defeat of Wuchang and the rapid advance of the Mengshan army.

On the south road, the 3rd Division commanded by Wang Mingyuan, deputy commander-in-chief of the Mengshan Army, turned to Zhejiang after pacifying Jiangxi, and the latest news has occupied Jiangshan, and Quzhou is just around the corner. The Zhejiang army concentrated in the area of Hangzhou has not been able to shrink, and there is news that Wang Jinfa has sent someone to contact Wang Mingyuan. Since Tao Chengzhang's death, Zhejiang has been separated from the central government, Li Liejun went to Hangzhou, saying that Wang Jinfa, the governor of Zhejiang, was very angry that Tao Chengzhang was assassinated in Shanghai for no reason, and believed that Chen Qimei had done it, and asked the central government to find out the case and seek justice for Tao Chengzhang. Another celebrity in Zhejiang, Tang Shouqian, the chairman of the Zhejiang Consultative Bureau, and a constitutionalist with the same status as Tang Hualong in Hubei Province, also accused the center of protecting the murderer, which made Zhejiang feel very cold.

The constitutionalists actually jumped out to avenge Tao Chengzhang's grievances, which couldn't help but make Li Liejun feel funny. Li Liejun explained - it is a fact that Tao Chengzhang and Chen Yingshi have contradictions, but Chen Yingshi will never harm his comrades! However, Wang Jinfa, Zhu Rui and others just didn't believe it, and they pushed back and refused to carry out the center's order to transfer troops. The Zhejiang Army is a unit that was established relatively early in the civilian army system, and its old foundation is the Zhejiang New Army, which is well-equipped and well-trained. Since the Manchu Qing Central Military Training Office threw out the plan for the formation of 36 towns, all provinces have been working hard to build up new army units, Zhejiang had two incomplete steps before the uprising, and after independence, the Zhejiang First Division was established on this basis, and it was hoped that this force would be used in the direction of Jiangning, where the center believed that the threat from the Mengshan Army from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River was greater. However, the Zhejiang army used the excuse of defending Zhejiang and did not follow the orders of the center. Now that the Mengshan Army has entered Zhejiang, the Zhejiang First Division, of which Zhu Rui is the division commander, cannot retreat. Give food for thought.

On the west road, the Fengguo Zhu Division, which annihilated the first division of the People's Army in Tingsi Town, rapidly advanced eastward, and after occupying Jiujiang, the troops were divided into two roads, one pointing to Anqing and the other to Huizhou. Jiangning shook, Shanghai shook. The bigwigs in the center of the Republic of China have repeatedly studied and believed that the geographical location of Anqing is extremely important, and if Anqing is lost, Anhui will not be owned, and Jiangning will completely lose its barrier. Forty years ago. The Hunan army cut off the Taiping army. Anqing is the main battlefield that the two sides have repeatedly contested. Eventually, Anqing came under the control of Zeng Guoquan, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was sentenced to death—and it was only a matter of time before it perished. Although there is a serious shortage of generals with actual combat experience under Sun Wen (Huang Xing has no news), the cultural quality of these people is very high. Historical allusions are like a treasure. Naturally, I know the importance of Anqing. So. Sun Wen hurriedly ordered the hastily formed People's Army units in Chen Qimei's hands to be immediately transferred to Anqing for garrison. The division was numbered the 1st Jiangsu Division, but there were only two regiments and a serious lack of artillery.

The bigwigs of the Republic of China deplored the Ninth Town. If this new army town, infiltrated by the revolutionary party, had remained in Jiangning, the situation would have been much better. Whether it is equipment or the quality of the soldiers, the troops that Chen Qimei hastily formed cannot be compared with the Ninth Town. But regret is useless. In the Battle of Wuchang, the two new army towns that could have become the pillars of the Republic of China were wiped out, and now there is only one Jiangsu First Division in hand, with a total strength of less than 5,000 and serious lack of training. Relying on this army to fight against the division of the Mengshan Army in a hundred battles, even Chen Qimei, who is full of momentum, will inevitably beat the drum in her heart. However, this morale unit was still sent to defend Anqing, Xu Chongzhi is the division commander, and he is one of the few military talents with formal military training in the alliance system. Xu Chongzhi graduated from Lu Shi in Japan, at the same time as Cai Yi, Jiang Fangzhen, and Zhang Xiaozhun, but his fame is much smaller.

Even if Anqing is held, the situation is still critical. The far part of Wang Ming, who entered Zhejiang on the southern route, still threatened Shanghai. To make matters worse, it has been confirmed that Long Qian's Shandong army has gone south! This division is the sixth division that defeated the main force of Beiyang, and its reputation is spread all over the world, and the division commander is Long Qian's brother-in-law. This army went south, and the target was Lianghuai, which was aimed at Zhang Xun. But there is no doubt that it will eventually join the southeastern theater. Not to mention Zhejiang, even if Xu Chongzhi holds Anqing, if the Shandong soldiers occupy Lianghuai, and the soldiers point to Zhenjiang, is there any point in defending Anqing?

The center was hesitating and anxious, and Huang Xing returned. Only one Jiang Yiwu came back with him, and Song Jiaoren, Tan Renfeng and others were all "trapped" by the enemy.

Originally, Huang Xing has always been in charge of the military in the Sun family, and he himself prides himself on knowing the soldiers, but this time Huang came back, bringing the center of the Kuomintang not comfort, but despair.

On September 30, Sun Wen convened a meeting to listen to the report of the Battle of Wuchang in Huangxing and study the grim situation facing the Republic of China. Now, finance and diplomacy are secondary, let's talk about the military first.

Huang Xing gave a detailed report on the course of the battles of Tingsi and Wuchang, "This is the situation. I'm sorry everyone, I'm sorry for the prime minister," Huang Xing is still used to calling Sun Wen the prime minister, "I have personally exhausted my strength, and I request that I be relieved of all my duties." After suffering the defeat of Wuchang, Huang Xing was completely discouraged.

"Keqiang! Now that the revolution has encountered serious difficulties, how can you pick on it! Wuchang lost, the responsibility is not all on you. Although the new army was in our hands, a large number of opportunists were the root cause of its defeat during the period. As I said a long time ago, our organization must be put in order! The top priority is to deal with Long Qian'er's three-way march! Tell me what you can do in the current situation. ”

"Anqing can't hold it!" Huang Xing asserted.

"How can you not hold it? We still have the navy! Minister Huang transferred the warship up, and the Mengshan Army was not a heavenly soldier, and a cannon hit it, and the bombardment also flattened them! Wang Zhaoming shouted.

Huang Xing hated more and more this young man who was deeply valued by Sun Wen, who had served as the head of the League and the secretary general of the current president, was always oily-haired and powdery-faced and dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and admired his revolutionary enthusiasm and agitation and propaganda ability when he was in Japan, but now it was completely time for strength to be respected, and Huang Xing, who was still yelling and yelling that he had almost fallen into the hands of the Mengshan Army several times, was very disgusted, "Even if the navy goes up, it can hold Anqing!" Even if Minister Huang's naval artillery blew up Feng Guozhu's troops into powder! What about the other two? Especially this way from Shandong? What to resist? ”

"They have to deal with Zhang Xun first, and they won't be able to threaten us for a while! When the defeat is made along the river, the fleet is across the river, and the enemy troops in the north of the river have not put on their wings, and they can't fly the Yangtze River! Wang Zhaoming actually pinned all his hopes on the naval fleet that had just returned.

Huang Xing looked at Huang Zhongying. Seeing that the general lowered his head and did not say anything, he sneered, "Is the Zhejiang guard also responsible for the navy?" With Wang Zhaoming strategizing, what else are we discussing? After that, he got up and left, ignoring Sun Wen's continuous retention.

Huang Zhongying regretted easily following Lin Sen's incitement, and even regretted accepting the appointment of Sun Wen as Minister of the Navy. Indeed, after judging that the Manchus had fallen into power, the navy preferred Sun Wen to the Mengshan army. The old prefect Sa Zhenbing saw the situation clearly, said that he was not sick, and threw this burden on himself. I wanted to give the broken navy a respite after defecting to the Kuomintang. Vigorously repair the broken fleet (that's how Lin Sen made a wish). But apart from getting a minister of the navy who looked very glamorous, the navy did not get the support of a silver or two, and it was even better to serve the Manchus. Sun Wen explained that the finances were extremely difficult, and the limited funds required the formation of the army first. After the loan from the foreign bank is in place. We must vigorously support the construction of the Navy. Huang Zhongying was extremely disappointed by this. He had heard that Sun Wen had been in contact with the Great Powers recently. Hope to get diplomatic support as well as loans, but to zero effect. The Japanese, the British, and the French all came into contact, but the Great Powers all took a wait-and-see attitude. Refusal to come up with something real.

Now the navy is left with this little possessions, eager for the end of the civil war and the return of the country to normalcy will be expanded, rather than throwing the few warships into the sea of blood of the civil war. Huang Zhongying knew that the captains had no intention of becoming enemies of the Mengshan Army under the absolute military superiority they had achieved, and put forward a proposal to return to Fujian. Huang Zhongying knew that going back to Fujian was just an excuse, maybe his subordinates wanted to go to Guangdong! It is said that Li Zhun of the Guangdong Navy Division Battalion received strong support after he surrendered to the Mengshan Army, and at least the salaries of the officers and men of the Guangdong Navy Division were paid in full and on time, and it was impossible for the officers and men of the cruiser fleet (which had already merged with the Yangtze River Fleet to operate) not to be stimulated.

Now that the Manchus abdicated, there was no longer any need to feel guilty for betraying the imperial court. And the government of the Republic of China was in turmoil under the three-way advance of the Mengshan Army. Huang Zhongying's real idea at present is to stay out of the situation, keep the fire of the navy, wait for the unification of the country, and then try to develop the navy.

Therefore, Huang Zhongying expressed embarrassment for Sun Wen's order to order the navy to go to Anqing to help in the war, "President, the navy ships are in urgent need of maintenance and repair, and the ammunition is already seriously insufficient, and even coal is almost unaffordable!" The current situation of the Navy may not be able to shoulder this heavy responsibility, so I ask the President to be aware of it. ”

"Minister Huang, I know that the navy is very difficult. But when the country is at stake, it can't help but fight! Please make it clear to the navy that if you don't defeat the Mengshan Army, there will be no way out for the country! The Navy will also have no future. The battle of Anqing must be fought, and if you don't win, you will die. Don't talk about the difficulties, just act now. ”

Huang Zhongying was even more disappointed, and left the table early under the pretext of settling the fleet.

"For today's plan, in addition to military planning, we must also think of other ways." After Huang Zhongying left, Zhang Jian, the head of the industry, proposed, "I had a relationship with Long Qian five years ago, and if the president agrees, I can go to Wuchang to meet Long Qian." ”

"What to talk about? Surrender to the Mengshan Army? Chen Qimei screamed.

"It's not a surrender, it's a delaying tactic." Zhang Jian argued.

"Now that the situation is in place, how can Long Qian stop the war and leave us time to reorganize the army and fight the army? Peace talks are surrender! The opposing army's will not stop, but our own morale is gone. This is not an appropriate strategy and must not be feasible. Hu Hanmin said.

Hu Hanmin's concern is not unreasonable, the battle of Wuchang has proved that the problem of the people's army is very big, that is, the central monarchs, and it is not that there are no people who have the same thoughts as Song Jiaoren! According to Huang Xing, Tan Song and the others actually had the opportunity to withdraw from Wuchang, and it is difficult to say that they did not stay on purpose.

"The great president, Song Jiaoren should be dismissed from his post immediately, so as to strengthen the determination of the center to resist the enemy." Chen Qimei shouted.

Zhang Jian sighed and stopped talking. The rest of the people did not say anything, and the meeting ended in nothing. After Sun Wen announced the adjournment of the meeting, Chen Qimei, Hu Hanmin, Wang Zhaoming and others stayed, and after a long time, Hu Hanmin said, "Everyone's hearts are scattered." It's up to us to laugh at it. ”

"Sir, I have a plan to save the situation." Wang Zhaoming suddenly said to Sun Wen.

"Oh, you say."

"The Mengshan army is fierce and difficult to control, but after all, it is a rabble born from the ringing horse, and it is up to Long Qian to maintain the heart of the army. I heard that before he raised troops against the Qing Dynasty, there was internal strife, and Zhou Yi and Feng Lun were eliminated by Long Qian's design, which shows that the Mengshan Army is not monolithic! If Long Qian dies, the Mengshan army will collapse. ”

"Good strategy! You and I come together! Chen Qimei stroked his palms and smiled, "Choose a dead soldier to assassinate him, and the crisis can be reversed immediately." With the collapse of the Mengshan Army, there will be no more strength in the country to compete with us. ”

"Ince, do you have such a dead man?" Sun Wen was immediately moved.

"No, you can't fake anyone else in this matter!" Wang Zhaoming said loudly, "There are always people who say that we are just firing empty cannons, and this time I will go in person!" ”

This sentence refers to Liang Qichao. Liang once published an article in Japan, accusing Sun Wen and others of hiding in a foreign apartment while drinking coffee, but asking others to return to China to die, which is a typical empty talk revolutionary.

"Zhaoming! The great cause of the revolution still needs you to take responsibility, how can you do this yourself? Sun Wen shouted.

"Sir, Zhao Ming has followed you for many years, and he has long put life and death aside! Long Qian has a strong soldier in his hand, and his precautions must be extremely strict, without the courage to die with the enemy, there is no hope of success! Zhao Ming died for the great cause of Mr., willingly! Wang Zhaoming was impassioned, and his handsome face was distorted because of the agitation.

"No! I won't let you go! But this matter needs to be done urgently, Ince you can plan it. Sun Wenban lowered his face.

But Wang Zhaoming seems to have made up his mind. On the evening of the third day, he left Sun Wen a sincere farewell letter and said goodbye without saying goodbye. Sun Wen was anxious and angry, but where to find his proud disciple?

Wang Zhaoming was determined to risk his life and stab Long Qian. After consulting with his two trusted comrades, Yu Peilun and Huang Fusheng, he went to Wuchang by water. Before leaving, the news was leaked, and Chen Bijun, a rich overseas Chinese girl who had been pursuing him, embellished him and wanted to be with him. So, three men and one woman took a Japanese freighter to Wuchang. Although the Jiujiang River was occupied by the Mengshan Army, the navigation of the Yangtze River was not cut off, and there were always ships flying Japanese and British flags coming and going on the river.

Wang Zhaoming arrived in Wuchang on the evening of October 5 and lived in the home of a Japanese businessman in the Japanese Concession. Wang Zhaoming naturally would not tell the Japanese businessmen his purpose, but when he inquired about the situation in Wuchang, he got a message that Long Qian had gone north.

"What you said is true?" Wang Zhaoming asked urgently.

"He boarded the car from Liujiamiao, and many people saw him." Yamamoto affirmed.

Wang Zhaoming secretly complained. It was reasonable for Long Qian to go north, obviously to set up the capital in Beijing and plan to establish the central government of the Mengshan Army. Now either go to Beijing to continue the mission, or return to the southeast. Wang Zhaoming decided to go north.

He told Yu Peilun and others, "Time is pressing. Long Qian went to Beijing not only to recruit Beiyang, but also to raise the establishment of a puppet central government. The situation is not in our favor! I am determined to go north and wait for an opportunity to assassinate the enemy chieftain in order to save the situation. If you two don't want to take the risk with me, let's leave it at that. ”

Yu Peilun and Huang Fusheng both expressed their willingness to follow Wang Zhaoming in this major event.

"Okay, let's go north!" Wang Zhaoming is actually inseparable from the two, at least he can't make bombs. But for Chen Bijun, Wang Zhaoming didn't want her to die with him, "Bijun, don't go with us." Listen to me, let's go back to Nanyang for the time being. If I am lucky enough not to die, I will go to the South Seas to find you. ”

Chen Bijun insisted on going with Wang Zhaoming, very decisive, "You have done a great thing that has left a name in history, and it is the honor of my life to follow you to do this." You die, I die with you, you live, and I serve you all my life. Don't think I'm a burden, at least I can help you watch the wind. ”

"Okay, let's live and die together." Wang Zhaoming said loudly.

But they went north to Beijing, unlike Long Qian, who had a special train to ride. Since the civil war broke out, the transportation of the Luhan Railway has been cut off, and Wang Zhaoming can only take the land route, which is much slower. (To be continued......)