On the afternoon of 2 August, Tang Shaoyi, who had repeatedly received telegraphs from the central government, went to the headquarters of the 20 towns to discuss the situation with the main officers of the 20 towns. Tang Shaoyi went straight to the point and said that now it is up to you outside the gate, raising soldiers for a thousand days, and using them for a while. I'm a civilian official, and I don't know anything about military affairs, so please talk about how to meet the enemy.

This was the first formal military meeting after learning of Jilin's "different flags," but it was presided over by Tang Shaoyi, a civilian official.

Zhang Shaozeng, Wu Luzhen and Zhang Zuolin all became stuffy gourds, keeping their heads down and not saying anything.

Tang Shaoyi waited for a long time, became irritable in her heart, and knocked on the table, "The fire is on the room!" You are talking. ”

Zhang Shaozeng sighed, "It's just a 'typing' word." However, Lord Tang, the art of war knows his opponent and confidant, and he will not be defeated in a hundred battles. Computing strength, our twenty towns will definitely not be able to beat others. ”

He is the ruler, he opens his mouth, and others will be able to speak. Wu Luzhen didn't want to fight at all. Anti-Qing was Wu Luzhen's goal, and now the opportunity has finally come, but it is Long Qian's department, which has worked hard to suppress the revolutionary party in recent years, who has shown the banner of anti-Qing movement. This makes Wu Luzhen a little tired. However, Wu Luzhen is not Huang Xing, let alone Sun Wen, and he has no direct hatred for Mengshanjun. After the rapid response of Shouyi in Guangzhou, Shandong and Jilin, Wu Luzhen immediately found Zhang Shaozeng and proposed to reverse it, overthrow the Manchu Qing Dynasty first, and then theorize with Long Qian.

Wu Luzhen believes that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if he doesn't rebel at this time, will he not be able to rebel until the Manchu Qing Dynasty kills Long Qian? Of course, if the Mengshan army succeeds in opposing the Qing Dynasty, he will have no chance.

Zhang Shao once agreed with Wu Luzhen's judgment. He was worried about Zhang Zuolin. The strength of the 39th Association was stronger than that of the 40th Association, and the officers of the department were all subordinate to Zhang Zuolin rather than himself. If Zhang Zuolin does not comply, things will be difficult to do. Unless it is launched now, Zhang Zuolin's various departments will start before they are assembled.

Zhang Shao was a little hesitant and did not immediately agree with Wu Luzhen's opinion.

As for Zhang Zuolin, he was thinking about how to save the little capital he had accumulated over the years, and he didn't want to fight with Lu Dashan. Now that the world is in turmoil, if there are soldiers, he is the master, and Zhang Zuolin, who is accustomed to being a grass on the wall, must first assess the situation after the telegram is sent in Guangzhou and the incident in Jilin. He had secretly consulted with several of his hardcore brothers twice, and after repeated analysis, Zhang Zuolin believed that the Manchu Qing Dynasty was hanging this time with the information he had mastered. Even if it's not over, there is only one breath left.

"Not as a last resort. No war with the north. Try to look at the situation in the south, if Long Qian gains power, he will kill Wu Luzhen and Zhang Shaozeng, and offer Long Qian the generous gift of Fengtian. If the imperial court takes Shandong. Long Qian was defeated and went to Jiangnan. Then let's go shopping with the north. Zhang Zuolin, who is accustomed to taking advantage of the situation, determined his general strategy.

But this thought is very deep. I didn't mention it to anyone. It's just that the big guys have to master the troops and be ready to fight at any time.

"The center has a countermeasure, and the sixth town will be your backup." Seeing that Zhang Shao once said that the strength of the twenty towns was not good. Tang Shaoyi said coldly.

"If you come up from the sixth town, you may not be an opponent! I have some connections in Jilin, the strength of the eighteen towns is more than one town, they are powerful, there are no less than 5,000 cavalry alone. Zhang Zuolin said slowly, "However, some of the soldiers in the eighteen towns are in Heilongjiang, and they will have to prepare for a long time before they can go south. ”

This little man is always too sleek. Tang Shaoyi thought.

"Recruitment?" Zhang Shao once hated Zhang Zuolin, who was born with a beard and was extremely arrogant, "Now it's a fart to recruit soldiers?" Will the north side give you three months? Zhang Shao, who had undergone formal military training, always felt that he could not train his troops without three months.

Zhang Zuolin spread his hands, don't be angry.

Nothing came of the day's meeting, not even how to assemble the troops, where to set up the battlefield, and which way the opponent might attack. Pure retreat.

Tang Shaoyi returned to the governor's yamen depressed, and his staff immediately sent a telegram from the military aircraft department that he had just received, saying that the sixth town was assembling and that he would soon pull out the camp to the east to reinforce Fengtian, and in order to strengthen Fengtian's military command, Liangbi had been assigned to Fengtian to coordinate the Fengtian military. Tang Shaoyi must earnestly supervise the movements of the 20th Town, and there must be no mistakes.

The court was frightened by the mutiny. Tang Shaoyi smiled bitterly, even he, the governor, had two hearts, no wonder the center was on guard.

Soon, Tang Shaoyi received a telegram from the War Department again, this time it was the good news he hoped for, Yuan Shikai was out of the mountain! After taking over all the military commands of Beiyang, Duan Qirui has been replaced by Zhao Guoxian, and the sixth town will soon arrive in Fengtian.

This telegram was followed by an urgent telegram "read by Tang Shaoyi personally", which was signed by Yuan Shikai, clearly warning Tang Shaoyi, Zhang Shaozeng, and Wu Luzhen to be unstable, and asked Tang Shaoyi to be vigilant and not to cause internal chaos. If there is a sign, it should be dealt with categorically.

These two telegrams dispelled Tang Shaoyi's idea of changing the court. Yuan Shikai's ability Tang Shaoyi admired, he knew Yuan Shikai much more than Long Qian, if Yuan Shikai did not go out of the mountain, Tang Shaoyi would never be martyred for the Qing court, but Yuan Shikai went out of the mountain to bear the burden of quelling the chaos, and Tang Shaoyi was not optimistic about Long Qian.

As a result, Tang Shaoyi convened a military meeting again at the governor's yamen on August 4, and this time Tang Futai had enough confidence, "Tell you a good news." Lord Yuan is out of the mountain! took over the command of Beiyang, Duan Zhiquan replaced Zhao Guoxian, and the sixth town will soon enter Fengtian eastward. Our mission is to ensure the safety of Mukden City before Duan Zhiquan's troops arrive in Mukden. ”

Here, Tang Shaoyi secretly changed the concept. A telegram of military instructions to the Ministry of War was sent to the outside of the Guanxi to ensure Mukden, but Tang Shaoyi explained that it was to ensure the safety of Mukden City.

After Tang Shaoyi "deployed" the strategic policy outside the Guan, he also spent a lot of time explaining Yuan Shikai's strategy, that is, gathering the main force of Beiyang to break through Shandong, and then hunting Jiangnan with Long Qian, and quelling the chaos with one drum.

Zhang Zuolin, who listened attentively to Tang Shaoyi's speech, was shocked, he was not applauding Yuan Shikai's grand strategy, but had the opportunity to achieve his goal. Most of the soldiers and horses of his 39th Association were stationed outside Fengtian City, of which Zhang Zuoxiang's 77th standard was stationed in Tieling, Tang Yulin's 78th standard was stationed in Xinmin, and only the 39th Association's direct team (one battalion of cavalry and one battalion of guards) was stationed at Dashiqiao west of Fengtian.

"Lord Futai Mingjian!" Zhang Zuolin responded immediately. "Zhang Zuoxiang's department stationed in Tieling and Tang Yulin's department stationed in Xinmin should immediately shrink back to Fengtian to avoid being taken advantage of by the enemy."

Lushan Department of the southern expedition, Tieling is the place that must be passed, with a standard of more than 2,000 people to resist the strong soldiers and horses of the eighteen towns is undoubtedly a mantis arm as a car.

Although Tang Shaoyi doesn't understand military affairs, he can read the map, "It's okay for Zhang Zuoxiang's department to withdraw to Fengtian, but the Xinmin garrison doesn't have to, right?" Xinmin is the hub connecting the Guannai, and the sixth town must pass through the east, and Tang Yulin's department should not be moved lightly. Tang Shaoyi immediately agreed to withdraw Zhang Zuoxiang to the south with 77 standards, but did not agree to transfer Tang Yulin's troops to Fengtian. Tang Shaoyi didn't say something in her heart. That is, in case the heavens are not kept. I have to retreat along Xinmin to Guannai. How can the New Folk defenders be evacuated? In case the Lushan tribe occupies Xinmin, won't it close the door to retreat to the Guannai?

"Lord Futai clearly sees that the Xinmin garrison must not shrink to the city of Fengtian!" Wu Luzhen immediately shouted, "Even if it's seventy-seven bids." Nor should a single shot be withdrawn without being fired. Let's give it a shot. It's good to frustrate the enemy's arrogance. ”

Zhang Zuolin was immediately furious, he had long seen Wu Luzhen unpleasant, this forty association commander with a short figure was someone he hated very much. Compared with the control of Zhang Shaozeng, it was much worse, because the little pitiful weapon allocated by the imperial court always encouraged Zhang Shaozeng to deduct himself to strengthen the Forty Association, so that he had to buy it from the Japanese out of his own pocket!

"Lord Wu, don't stand and talk, don't have back pain! According to reliable sources, the Jilin rebels have already moved south, and that is a town of soldiers and horses, what is the matter with me in a standard in Tieling? If you want to fight, why don't you ask Futai for an order, you are formally trained in Japan, and your 40th Association will go up! ”

"At the moment of the great enemy, we must unite sincerely!" Tang Shaoyi shouted Wu Luzhen, who stood up to refute, "Yuting's opinion is right, Zhang Zuoxiangbiao can be withdrawn, but Tang Yulin can't move!" Duan Zhiquan's army will come east immediately, as long as we hold Fengtian, it will be a great achievement. ”

The meeting continued, and the defense of the city of Fengtian was discussed, with the 40th Association as the main body, plus Zhang Zuoxiangbiao, who had been urgently withdrawn, to hold on to Fengtian and wait for reinforcements.

Tang Shaoyi, who is still a scholar in his bones, did not see Zhang Zuolin's abacus at all. Zhang Zuolin once again assessed the situation and believed that Long Qian would win this battle! Yuan Shikai can't save the Manchus when he goes out of the mountain, rather than being slaughtered, it is better to surrender to the Ming Lord as soon as possible, and set up a meritorious service that is enough for him to obtain the new dynasty.

Since Long Qian's "survey telegram" was issued, Jilin and Shandong responded quickly, and Zhang Zuolin, who had been paying attention to the strength of each faction, came to his own judgment that the Manchu Qing Dynasty was over!

Yang Yuting, who was the most strategic aide-in-chief of Zhang Zuolin at the time, believed that in terms of Long Qian's exposed strength, Beiyang was already at a disadvantage. If the customs outside the border are stable, Beiyang still has hope of winning, but because of the emergence of a "surprise army" in Beimanchuria, Long Qian has an absolute advantage in layout. All Long Qian's sudden army has the advantage of being the first move, I am afraid that the imperial court has not yet conquered Shandong, and Long Qian's soldiers have captured Wuchang! What did Yuan Shikai do when he went out of the mountain? He can't conjure up a few towns out of thin air, relying on sixty or seventy thousand Beiyang troops to take care of the two battlefields, taking care of one and losing the other, he will definitely be defeated!

Yang Yuting suggested that Zhang Zuolin seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen his strength, Yang Yuting said, "Yu Shuai, the result of helping the court with all your heart is to cripple the little capital you have worked so hard to accumulate." But standing on Long Qian's side, there is an opportunity to strengthen his strength. In these years, if you have soldiers, you have everything, and no one will pay attention to you without soldiers. Please also think twice. ”

Yang Yuting then analyzed, "If it is to surrender to Long Qian, things will be very different. The Forty Associations are not worried, even if the Lushan Department can't open the Shanhaiguan, Beiyang can't afford to take care of the outside of the customs, with the great merit of dedication to Fengtian, you can at least keep your current position, in my opinion, you should go further. After killing Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen, Fengtian will take you as the master. ”

When the Beiyang military plan learned that the southern army of the Mengshan Army quickly captured Hengyang, Yang Yuting analyzed the situation again and firmly believed that in terms of military affairs, the Mengshan Army was already in an invincible position, and Beiyang was simply unable to take care of the outside of the Guan, so it was not good that when Shandong's military affairs were not going well, the only Beiyang Sixth Town that was ready to be used outside the Guanxi would be transferred south instead of going north. This account is easy to settle, on the one hand, it is to use thousands of soldiers and horses to fight with Lushan to cause no return, and on the other hand, it is to unite Lushan to dominate the Kanto, and a fool will listen to the nonsense of the center.

Tang Shaoyi's military meeting on August 4 did not dispel Zhang Zuolin's idea of rebellion, but strengthened Zhang Zuolin's idea of taking the opportunity to raise troops and return to the new dynasty. Because Yang Yuting said that he actually has a relationship with Sheng Guang, the general of the Lushan Department. This line is perfectly exploitable. Therefore, Zhang Zuolin secretly ordered Yang Yuting to get in touch with Sheng Guang, and on the other hand, he took the opportunity to transfer back Zhang Zuoxiang's seventy-seven bids as his capital for Fengtian.

Yang Yuting was only twenty-four years old. He is a native of Fengtian and has a reputation for showing off his talents, and he has already recommended him to study military affairs in Japan. By chance, he met Zhang Zuolin on an occasion, and after a conversation, Zhang Zuolin thought that Yang Yuting was talented, so he stayed by his side. And Yang Yuting, who is eager for fame, thinks that it is better to return to China after studying abroad than to take refuge in a "Ming Master" now, so the two hit it off. Although Yang is an adjutant, it is better to say that he is Zhang Zuolin's chief of staff. Zhang Zuolin was almost obedient to this young man.

The next few days. Fierce activities were launched in Mukden.

On August 5, a mysterious guest came to the door, which made Zhang Zuolin overjoyed. This person is Jiang Yun's deputy, Tian Shubang, who has long been in charge of the intelligence outside the Mengshan Army. Now. Tian Shubang has officially assumed the post of deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau of the Mengshan Army.

prompted Tian Shubang to go to Zhang Zuolin's 39th Association Headquarters in Dashiqiao to meet Zhang Zuolin. It was an urgent directive from headquarters. The directive was brought by Zhang Xiaoding, a veteran intelligence officer of Mengshan, who had taken Long Qian into Beijing in 1900 during the Battle of King Qin, and who was now the head of the Tianjin terminus.

Zhang Xiaoding brought the instructions of the headquarters to rebel against the twentieth town.

The headquarters learned that Zhang Shaozeng and Wu Luzhen were interested in opposing the Qing Dynasty and urgently ordered Tian Shubang to launch a rebellion. Zhang Xiaoding immediately came to Fengtian to meet Tian Shubang and showed Jiang Yun's secret order.

"Director Zhang, I think Zhang Zuolin is more sure." Tian Shubang said his opinion unhurriedly. In the past few years, he has relied on his boldness and generosity to establish personal friendships with many officers in Zhang Zuolin's department, "Zhang Zuolin has no consciousness of martyrdom for the Manchu Qing Dynasty at all, this person is extremely smart, regards military power as life, and let him fight with our northern army?" Not at all! But Zhang Shaozeng and I are a little unsure, this Wu Luzhen is a revolutionary party, and he is a little unreliable. ”

Due to the Fifth Town's southward movement to suppress the revolutionary party's actions, the officers of the Mengshan military system were somewhat uninterested in the revolutionary party.

"The order above is to successfully capture Mukden, as long as you do this, you will have made a great achievement. It would be better for Zhang Zuolin to stand up...... "Zhang Xiaoding directly belongs to the Intelligence Department - now the military intelligence army is directly under the control, but he has traveled back and forth between Tianjin and Fengtian many times, and he is very familiar with Tian Shubang.

"I'll do it myself. Just in case, from now on, my store is closed. The moon cicada retreated into the safe house, and she knew the relationship here. In case something happens to me, you report the situation here to HQ and take my two cubs with you. Tian Shubang felt that he was seven or eight points sure, but he still arranged the aftermath. In the past few years, he and Wang Yuecian have had a son, a daughter and two lovely children.

"Yes, Lao Tian, take care." Zhang Xiaoding readily agreed. Although he felt that in this situation, Zhang Zuolin did not dare to easily go back, but he still had to estimate the worst situation. The cruelty and ruthlessness of the secret front, these two "old men" who have been engaged in intelligence work for ten years have become accustomed to looking at the worst.

After agreeing with Zhang Xiaoding, Tian Shubang ordered Wang Yuechan to move immediately, and he went to Dashiqiao. When he was led into Zhang Zuolin's inner room by Zhang Zuolin, the captain of the guard and his friend Zhang Zongchang, who was a wine and meat friend.

Tian Shubang went straight to the point, "General Zhang, the contemptible Tian Shubang, is the deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau of the Mengshan Army and the head of the Fengtian Station, and came to visit the general by the secret order of the headquarters. ”

Zhang Zuolin was stunned for a long time, and finally understood who the rich middle-aged man in front of him was, and couldn't help but be overjoyed, "Ah, it turned out to be Director Tian, please sit, please sit!" What advice does Mr. Tian have? ”

It's really sleepy and pillowed, and I've been looking forward to establishing direct contact with the Mengshan Army for a long time, listen, deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, head of the Fengtian Station, not a small position.

"General Zhang, who has long admired the name of the general, has always wanted to make friends with the general. Now that the Mengshan army is heading, the Manchus are all looking forward to the wind, and the fall of the Manchus is a foregone conclusion. I am here to make a deal with the general, if the general conforms to the general trend and surrenders to my Mengshan Army, Director Jiang Yun made it clear that he can guarantee that your department will be expanded into a division after the war, of course, under your command, stationed in Mukden, to defend the national defense ...... outside the Guanwai" Tian Shubang opened his mouth, and at this time, Tian Shubang couldn't care if it would be recognized by the headquarters in the future, anyway, Jiang Yun's instructions had a camera to deal with.

Zhang Zuolin blinked, and said for a long time, "Thank you Director Tian and Your Excellency for looking up to Lao Zhang." But what about my brothers? How to dispose of it? In a hurry, Zhang Zuolin has not forgotten the most important link, that is, his army.

Tian Shubang fell to the ground with a stone in his heart, he didn't expect the negotiation to be so smooth! Smiling slightly, "The general doesn't need to worry. Director Jiang said that in the future, the 39th Association will be expanded, and everything will be decided by the general, and it will only need to be submitted for approval and confirmation. My family's handsome man is the deputy commander-in-chief of Lu, doesn't he also have a relationship with the general? ”

"Yes, yes, that's great." Zhang Zuolin immediately expressed his willingness to return to the Mengshan Army and accept the command of Lu Shan, "Zhang Zuoxiang's troops have withdrawn from Tieling, and there are no soldiers in the north. I also hope that Director Tian will contact Commander Lu earlier to avoid misunderstandings. ”

The two immediately agreed that Tian Shubang was responsible for contacting Lu Shan. Fengtian city defense, Zhang Zuolin is fully responsible. In order to show his sincerity, Tian Shubang immediately said that his wife was "detained" in Zhang Zuolin's headquarters as a hostage, but he did not mention his two children.

Many officers in Zhang Zuolin's department knew the coquettish and spicy Wang Yuechan, especially Zhang Zongchang, who envied Tian Shubang more than once for having a virtuous helper. Tian Shubang did this, which made Zhang Zuolin very happy, and immediately patted his chest and said that as long as he Zhang Zuolin had a breath, he would never lose a single hair of his sister-in-law!

Tian Shubang asked about the specific plan, but Zhang Zuolin was cunning, saying that the plan had not yet been formulated, but please rest assured, he would never take Long Dashuai's major event as a child's play!

Tian Shubang returned to Fengtian City under the protection of Zhang Zongchang, took Wang Yuecian to Dashiqiao as a hostage, and took two retinues with him, and urgently got up and went north to contact the northern army that was heading south.

Zhang Zuolin hurriedly summoned several of his closest confidants and reported the situation of Tian Shubang. This sudden change did not cause much shock, Zhang Zuolin's subordinates were mostly bearded, and when they understood that the situation did not allow them to wait and see, they expressed their willingness to follow Zhang Zuolin to do this vote!

Zhang Zuolin eagerly waited for Zhang Zuoxiang's return. At this time, another mysterious guest came to the door, he was a Japanese Aoki Xuanjun, from Beijing.

Zhang Zuolin has always had close ties with the Japanese. After the disastrous victory in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan took over the South Manchurian Railway, and its power in Mukden became stronger and stronger, although there was no garrison (the few Japanese troops used to protect the South Manchurian Railway were concentrated on the line from Lushun to Mukden), but there were already many Japanese merchants in Mukden. Since 1904, Zhang Zuolin's ministry has received a large amount of "aid" from Japan, and a large number of Zhang's weapons have come from the Japanese side, half bought and half delivered.

Aoki bluntly pointed out that because Long Qian's hatred of Japan was serious, as a good friend of the Japanese Empire, Zhang Zuolinbu must not defect to Long Qian, but should help Beiyang resist Lushan's attack on Mukden, and if there is a need for weapons and ammunition, he will contact the Japanese troops in Kwantung Prefecture and give Zhang the greatest assistance.

Aoki Nobujun is completely representing himself. This Japanese intelligence officer stationed in China did not receive specific instructions at home, and the Japanese authorities were somewhat caught off guard by the drastic changes that had taken place in China, and so far there was no clear instruction telegram on the incident in China. Aoki, out of his understanding of the Mengshan Army and Long Qian, believed that the victory of the Mengshan Army would be extremely disadvantageous to Japan. On the contrary, Beiyang's victory is not an economic gain or loss, but more of a political and military one! Therefore, after discussing with the minister in China, Aoki urgently went out of the customs and visited Zhang Zuolin, promising heavy profits, hoping that Zhang Zuolin would stand on the right side.

Aoki's arrival shook Zhang Zuolin's attitude to a certain extent. But Zhang Zuoxiang, who returned to Mukden, strengthened Zhang Zuolin's confidence, "What do the Japanese care about us? When will it be their turn to take care of our affairs? To put it lightly, let's fight with the Mengshan army. After you run out of troops, everything is over, and the Japanese will never look at you again! But as long as the troops are there and expanded, not only the Japanese, but also Long Qian, you will have to be given a corresponding status. The stakes are very high, and the eldest brother must not hesitate. You must know that the troops of Ludao Lushan have crossed Changtu! ”

Zhang Zuoxiang pulled Zhang Zuolin back again! (To be continued......)

PS: 6,000 words big chapter. My cousin got married today, drank a lot of wine, and just came back and sent the manuscript that he drove out last night.