When Chen Chao returned home, he didn't see Chen Shu, but You Shi asked with concern, "Isn't there something wrong again?" ”

"Definitely! This time it's good news. Long Qian and the others had nothing to do, and they also won a big victory, captured a British general, and the court had named him a deputy general! ”

"Adjutant general? What kind of official is the adjutant general? ”

"You don't understand. It is a big official position among military generals. What about Shu'er? ”

"She heard that you went to Zhengjiazhuang, and she followed her. Didn't you see it? ”

"Oh, I'm probably looking for Jiang Yun. It's okay, let her be. Chen Chao returned to his study with a smile, sat on the chair and flipped through the poems on the table at will, thinking about what Long Qian said in his letter.

Long Qian asked him to choose a cultural person, with two assistants, and five thousand taels of silver, to Dunhuang, Gansu, to take over a Mogao Grottoes from a buried Taoist priest surnamed Wang.

What are Mogao Grottoes? Is there a weapon in it? Why are you looking for a cultural person? Chen Chao pondered, Long Qian became more and more incomprehensible, he was in a dangerous situation, and he actually came back to arrange such a thing__Long Qian said in the letter that this matter is very important, and if it is done, it will be remembered in history.

What kind of things can go down in history? This time he saved the imperial court and escorted the Empress Dowager all the way from Beijing to Taiyuan, and he must be named. But what's so important about the Mogao Grottoes? Why is it so important? After thinking for a while, he remembered Luo Xiucai, who was the first in Zhengjiazhuang to vote for the Mengshan Army. called his son Xiaozhi and asked him to go to Zhengjiazhuang to invite Luo Tongxiu.

Luo Tongxiu soon came to Chen's mansion, the two exchanged pleasantries, Chen Xian served tea, and Chen Chao got straight to the point. "Brother Luo, there is one thing I want to ask you to work hard."

"Brother Yue is joking, the little brother has no power to restrain the chicken, how can he help you?" Luo Tongxiu was originally the first batch to enter the Autonomous Committee, and he was considered the veteran of this organization, but then he basically stopped doing anything. The old man is too angry, and his ability to deal with the mud legs is obviously not as direct and effective as Cheng Daniu.

"Commander Long defeated the foreigners in Beijing and Tianjin, was rewarded by the imperial court, and was awarded the rank of deputy general. Long Qian wrote a letter. Let me find a reliable reader to go to Gansu. This errand belongs to you. ”

"Oh, it's okay now, the government won't attack us again. You said. What does Commander Long want me to do in Gansu? ”

"You said yes first. I'll say it again. ”

"You don't say anything. How do I know if I can do it? The big thing of the commander who missed it is not a joke. ”

"If you have this idea, you will definitely be able to do it. Let me tell you, Long Qian attaches great importance to this matter. Your hard work is this amount. As he spoke, Chen Chao stretched out a slap.

"Fifty taels?" Luo Tongxiu asked boldly.

"What fifty taels? Five hundred taels! ”

"Really? Give me five hundred taels? Luo Tongxiu was stunned. Five hundred taels is a huge amount of money for the mountain village Xiucai, Luo Xiucai is thinking about repairing his ancestral house, and it is calculated that it will cost forty or fifty taels of silver, but he can't take it out. If there is this income, not to mention repair, it is enough to renovate the wing house and yard. Even his son is not worried about marrying a relative.

"Ha Luha, look at your virtue. Aren't you going to take this money to donate to the official? Chen Chao quipped.

"What kind of official donation, I can see through it. Well, I promised. Tell me what kind of errand it is? ”

"To the west of Gansu, there is an ancient city of Dunhuang, and outside the city there is a one called Mogao Grottoes, which is now guarded by a down-and-out Taoist priest surnamed Wang. You go and give him a sum of money and tell him to get out. Take over the Mogao Grottoes. Simple, right? ”

"What is this called? I've never traveled this far. Moreover, why did that Taoist priest listen to me? ”

"With money. That Wang Taoist priest is not a problem, you give him a sum of money, and he will leave obediently. As for the road is far from safe, you can rest assured that someone will protect you! The Mengshan army will send two soldiers to be your retinue and escort you all the way to Dunhuang. And then stay there with you as well. It's a remote place, and no one cares about this. You say that you like to study ancient architecture, and you can spend some money to visit the local government and get their approval. The most important thing is to be optimistic about the grottoes and not to make any changes. Don't let people destroy. ”

"This__"

"Brother Luo, Commander Long attaches great importance to this matter. If it weren't for the time being, I would do it myself. Rest assured, that's half a year. When Long Qian comes back with his army, he will send someone to replace you. As for the silver, it will give you enough silver taels to do things, don't worry. ”

"I will bring you two thousand taels of silver and two taels of white gold for your expenses. The expenses incurred on the way and on the way should be paid by the team. Your five hundred taels of silver will be given to you now, and I will keep it for your family. When you come back, buy land and build a house, and do whatever you want. Moreover, if it is done, Commander Long will have another reward. ”

"Really give me five hundred taels?"

"How could I lie to you?" Chen Chao smiled, "That's it." You go back and get ready, and you'll set off tomorrow. Long Qian said in the letter that things were urgent, and he was afraid of changes when it was late. After you leave, I will take care of the affairs of the family. Rest assured. However, this matter should be tighter, and don't even tell your family, just say that I invite you to go to Xi'an. ”

"Okay, then I'll go back and get ready." Luo Tongxiu went in a hurry.

Chen Chao felt that it was appropriate to find Luo Tongxiu to do this mindless thing. After sending Luo Xiucai away, Chen Chao went to Zhengjiazhuang to find Zhou Yi, let him read Long Qian's letter, and then asked him to send two safe soldiers and three cattle to protect Luo Xiucai's westward journey.

"Commander, what is this a name for? Well, I'll get two veterans from the guard platoon for you. How much money you want, you go to Lao Song to get it. Zhou Yi didn't understand, but the letter was indeed written by Long Qian, so there was no doubt. Zhou Yi is in a good mood now, the Mengshan Army Brigade is safe, and Long Qian has also been awarded the post of deputy general, everything is very happy.

The next day, Luo Tongxiu took two soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes, and rode mules, and went in the direction of Zou County.

Yuan Shikai followed the three governors of the south closely, and openly sang against the imperial court, and he was also quite uneasy in his heart, and regretted it several times, but it was too late to remedy. He didn't think that the Mengshan army would be able to curry favor with both sides when it went to Gyeonggi, and the Mengshan army was defeated and fell, and the imperial court would not accept his affection. The Mengshan army won and made meritorious contributions, and the history of this ringing horse that had humiliated him was destined to be revealed. The court said that it was even more shameful to laugh at him. He is not as good as Li Hongzhang and Liu Kun in terms of qualifications, and there is an accident in Cixi's heart in the year of Wuxu, and it is still far from being a henchman of Cixi. Although he tried his best to follow the path of Yixuan and Ronglu, and also wanted to show his skills in Shandong and make some impressive political achievements in the imperial court, but when he encountered this Mengshan army, he was defeated by it several times, losing his troops and losing his generals, and even his number one general Wang Shizhen was captured.

Zhao'an and sent King Long Qianqin to kill people with the purpose of borrowing a knife. Of course, he wanted to wipe out this bandit completely. But since the failure of the three-way siege. Yuan Shikai knew that this bandit was unusual, and even if he tried his best to achieve his goal, his Wuwei Right Army would be broken.

Yuan Shikai is the minister with the best understanding of force in the current imperial court. Counting from his uncle Yuan Jiasan. to his current hard work. Who's reliable? One word. It's the army behind you! In particular, Xiaozhan has been training troops for several years, which made him realize the meaning of a strong armed force that is loyal to him. Without the army, he is a pawn of the imperial court. There is no capital to resist at all.

The lesser of two evils. Yuan Shikai was unwilling to fight with the Mengshan army anymore, so he took the road of Zhao'an. Long Qian volunteered to lead the army to the king, that was very good! That's why Yuan Shikai entrusted Xu Shichang to recruit An Mengshan Army vigorously and resolutely to ask for silver? OK. Ordnance? Try to be satisfied.

Yuan Shikai didn't think that Long Qian was playing tricks, and after taking the ordnance and silver, he took the opportunity to escape and wander to other sides. It was Tang Shaoyi who gave him a package ticket, saying that the Mengshan Army led by Long Qian would never be like this, and Tang Shaoyi even volunteered to act as a supervisor to supervise the Mengshan Army all the way to the battlefield of King Qin.

Later, Tang Shaoyi really did that. This prodigy who was selected at the age of twelve as the first batch of Manchu Qing Dynasty to stay abroad at public expense was still quite bloody, and really followed the main force of the Mengshan Army to Tianjin.

The bloody battle of the Mengshan Army in Xigu was brought back by Tang Shaoyi. At the end of that battle, Tang Shaoyi left the Mengshan army at the request of Long Qian and returned to Jinan. The results of the Mengshan army were reported to Yuan Shikai. Tang Shaoyi witnessed the bloody battle of Xigu, and naturally said a lot of good things about the Mengshan army.

Tang Shaoyi's attitude made Yuan Shikai a little dissatisfied, but he didn't say it.

Tang Shaoyi had just returned, and the first Tang newspaper from the imperial court also arrived in Jinan. commended the Qinwang detachment's exploits in Xigu, and named Longqian as a deputy general, which made him deeply embarrassed.

Yuan Shikai was deeply puzzled by Long Qian's behavior, not to mention how they beat the foreigners, the key is that their behavior made Yuan Shikai very confused. Why do they have to work so hard with foreigners? A group of bandits who robbed homes and houses, what righteousness do they know? What country and nation do you know? What is the reason for them to sacrifice their lives to fight with foreigners? Isn't Long Qian, who was praised by Xu Shichang, Wang Shizhen and Tang Shaoyi, afraid that his troops would be wiped out?

Yuan Shikai regretted that he did not meet this Long Qian when the Mengshan army passed through Jinan to the north. This is a mysterious character, it is said that Wang Pingqing, Xu Bian Wu and Tang Shaochuan are all characters with eyes above the top, and they all praise it.

He had a secret conversation with Xu Shichang several times,

Yuan Shikai paid close attention to the war in Gyeonggi, the fall of Beijing, and the news of the escape of the imperial court, but there was no news of the Mengshan army. According to Tang Shaoyi, the Mengshan army will continue to fight, maybe they really withdrew into Beijing? Died in a bloody battle with the besieging coalition? This is not a bad outcome. If Long Qian's main force was defeated, the small group of soldiers and horses left in the mountains west of Yizhou would become meat on the board and be slaughtered by him. Several generals under his command who suffered defeats all had a sense of revenge, especially Li Chun. However, Cao Kun, who was the first to suffer Long Qian's loss, was more generous, thinking that people were now going to fight the national war, and it was a bit unrighteous to raid other people's nests. Of course, Yuan Shikai did not allow Li Chun's plan to take the opportunity to exterminate the bandits' nest, not to regard the bandits who returned to the imperial court as his own people, nor to be as stupid and righteous as Cao Kun, but forbidden by the situation. Long Qian's subordinates actually defeated the foreigners in Tianjin, and also captured a British lieutenant general, which received great attention from the imperial court. At this time, it is inappropriate to use force against his old nest.

However, Yuan Shikai did not allow such a military force to exist under his rule, so he had the idea of transferring the remaining troops of the Mengshan Army to the south to fight the calves, and this idea had not yet entered the implementation stage, and the situation changed again. Yuan Shikai got accurate information that Long Qian actually protected the imperial court and ran all the way to Taiyuan! He also fought a battle with the foreigners at Niangzi Pass, drove the foreigners out of the city, and protected the safety of the imperial court.

After the news of Taiyuan came, Yuan Shikai felt that the problem was serious, Long Qian must have seen the Queen Mother, what kind of armament the Mengshan Army was, the imperial court must have known. The little trick he played is estimated to have been shown in front of the court, which is very annoying. On the one hand, he sent someone to send silver taels to Taiyuan to show his filial piety, and on the other hand, he urgently convened several assistants and advisers around him to discuss. Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, Xu Shichang, Tang Shaoyi and Wang Shizhen all participated.

"Zhiquan, can you tell me?" Yuan Shikai asked Duan Qirui first.

"It's nothing to worry about. This time, several troops of the Beijing Division have been wiped out, and looking at the world, only we are left with the few armed forces that have been trained since the First Sino-Japanese War, and the imperial court still has to rely on adults. ”

"Well," this Yuan Shikai thought of it, and he turned his gaze to Xu Shichang, "Fifth Brother Bian, what do you think of the current situation?" ”

"Weiting is worried about the foreigners who occupy Beijing?" Xu Shichang put the Tang Bao on the table, "It's just a peace talk, the battle can't go on, didn't the imperial court transfer Li Shaoquan to the north?" It's nothing more than a land reparation. Xu Shichang understood Yuan Shikai's thoughts, "Foreigners can't occupy China, and if they get some benefits, they will have to retreat in the end." They won't move the Queen Mother, today, except for the Queen Mother, I'm afraid that no one will dominate the situation. ”

"Won't foreigners take the opportunity to force the Queen Mother to return to the emperor? It is important to know that almost all the foreigners of Lu Dao support the emperor. It was Feng Guozhang who spoke.

"It's possible. After all, the queen mother is the main battle, and this can't be hidden from foreigners. Beijing has been engaged in a miasma of smoke in the past few months, and Duanjun Wang and his gang have openly killed foreigners and attacked the embassy, and it is impossible for foreigners not to retaliate. Who is standing behind the king of Duanjun, the foreigners are clear. If it weren't for the pressure from foreigners at the beginning of the year, the emperor would have moved his seat, right? Tang Shaoyi said.

"Shaochuan is right. Your Excellency may wish to send Shaochuan to find out the attitude of the Germans and the British. Feng Guozhang said. Shandong was garrisoned by German and British troops, each with a so-called governor stationed in Jiaoao and Weihai.

"What do you think?" Yuan Shikai noticed that Wang Shizhen kept his head down. He had been in a very low mood since he was released.

"We can't interfere in the affairs of the imperial court." Wang Shizhen raised his head, "In my opinion, the prestige of the imperial court has been discredited after this difficulty, but the Qing Dynasty has been established for more than 200 years, and it has been deeply rooted, and it has not reached the point of extinction. Your lordship may wish to make a gesture as much as possible so that the court will remember your respect. The shortest way at the moment is to completely bring the Mengshan Army into the sleeves of adults. ”

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"Long Qian's rescue this time has made an immortal contribution. Completely bringing this person under his command, the lord not only has a great military help, but also the imperial court, which also has great benefits. Wang Shizhen said.

"What Brother Ping Qing said is very true." Tang Shaoyi was very excited, "In the Gyeonggi area, the front army and the left army have suffered defeats, but only our Wuwei right army shines, which will inevitably attract the attention of the imperial court." Lord Futai should send someone to Zhengjiazhuang to comfort him, so that he will not have different aspirations. ”

"Alien ambition? Pingqing thinks that Long Qian will sincerely take refuge in me? ”

He still couldn't swallow it. Wang Shizhen sighed in her heart, "My lord." Long Qian's department, by no means an ordinary ringing horse, this son has a far-sighted vision and excellent knowledge, if the adults treat each other sincerely, why abandon the master? ”

"What do you think?" Yuan Shikai asked the others.

"How will the imperial court place Long Qian? Will they let him back? Won't they take the opportunity to cultivate a force loyal to the imperial court? Everyone has seen that Gyeonggi's armed forces are broken, and there can't be no one to defend Gyeongshi, right? Duan Qirui said.

"That's why I want to comfort him." Xu Shichang spoke, "What Pingqing said is true. Long Qian's subordinates must not be allowed to leave the range of the adult's power. The Imperial Court must not be allowed to go all out to cultivate an army to replace the adults. The banditry in Shandong is serious, especially in southern Lunan. However, the barren people in southern Lunan are poor, and it is not easy to raise soldiers, so you might as well transfer them back to Shandong and let them suppress bandits. In addition, I'll go to Zhengjiazhuang again. If they take refuge in good faith, we can also ignore the past suspicions. ”

"Well, that's good. Just do what Fifth Brother Bian wants. Shaochuan helped me write an excerpt and say more good things about Long Qian. Well? Yuan Shikai made a decision.

"Understood." Tang Shaoyi received the order. (To be continued......)