In one night, the city defense troops originally stationed on the outskirts of the city drove into the city of Guangzhou in full armor, and sentries with guns were also stationed at important passes, and barbed wire was also supported next to them.

In the city, the people who had just gotten up to have morning tea found that in addition to the policemen wearing big hats and carrying batons, there were many more soldiers wearing Tony's steel helmets, long shirts and shorts, and carrying British fast guns on the streets of the city.

The city had been martial in the course of a night, and now the whole city was on alert; But for ordinary people, except for a few more soldiers on the street, nothing has changed, and there should be no change. Those who do business still have to do business, and those who eat morning tea continue to eat morning tea, and the steamers emitting black smoke from the port not far away make a dull whistle, and Guangzhou is still the same as before.

In the Fu Mansion, Fu Wangshan couldn't calm down at all, he knew that at this time, such a strict military alert was implemented, either there was to be a war, or something big had happened.

What the hell is going on? Fu Wangshan couldn't grasp it clearly, he was now betting all the treasures on Huang Ke's side, but it must not be him who had an accident.

Just when Fu Wangshan was thinking nonsense, the newsboy who ran by the door shouted loudly with a stack of newspapers, "Outside! Premier Sun died of illness! ”

Fu Wangshan was stunned after hearing this, he hurriedly called the newsboy to buy the newspaper, the newspaper just held it in his hand and he hurriedly opened it, on the front page of the big newspaper, eye-catching words came into his eyes, Fu Guoqiang couldn't help but gasp after reading it, he finally understood the reason for today's military control.

On the first day after the premier's death, the veterans of the Executive Yuan and the Senate gathered in Yuexiu Building, where they discussed not only how to release the news and organize the funeral, but also discussed the process of the Northern Expedition and the next steps.

After the news was released in the morning, the Ministry of the Interior decided to hold a state funeral for the former prime minister, and all organs across the country would fly their flags at half-mast for three days, and the Beijing legations and embassies and consulates of various countries would also fly their flags at half-mast.

Once these tasks had been deployed, the Central Executive Committee and various other departments began to discuss another important topic, the question of succession.

The patriarchs, in many newly established regimes, are a special group, they have contributed to the establishment of this regime, so they are also known as highly respected, but in many cases, such a group can also become a stumbling block to progress and development.

Obviously, the elders of the Canton government have not yet become a stumbling block, but they have formed a considerable force among them, and they are divided into several factions according to the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and their own left and right factions.

There are naturally their spokesmen among the factions, and needless to say, the older generation is naturally Hu Hanmin and Liao Zhongkai are strong competitors; At the same time, in the eyes of many veterans, the young and promising Imam Wang is the best choice for prime minister, on the contrary, the arrogant and domineering Huang Ke will not be favored by them at all.

"The former prime minister died of illness, leaving behind the unfinished cause of the revolution, and we should elect a successor to continue the revolutionary cause."

"Yes, yes, the first prime minister has his last words, we should carefully abide by the last words of the prime minister, I suggest that Imam Wang Zhaoming take up the post of prime minister, temporarily exercise the power of the prime minister, and wait until the great cause of the Northern Expedition is successful, and then implement democratic elections."

"How can Wang Zhaoming serve as acting prime minister? The acting prime minister must be highly respected, and Mr. Hu Zhantang, who was an assistant to the former prime minister and a member of the League, is bound to be more suitable than Wang Zhaoming. ”

"Gentlemen, whether it is seniority or prestige, Mr. Liao should be the successor of the prime minister."

……

In the conference room in front of Yuexiu Building, members of the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, and the Cabinet crowded the conference room, bustling and noisy like a vegetable market on the street.

Liao Zhongkai, who was sitting next to him, couldn't stand it, he slowly stood up and prepared to walk out.

"Why did Mr. Liao go out?" After seeing Mr. Liao go out, Director Zhou of the Xiguan Military Academy walked up to Mr. Liao with a smile on his face, and he asked softly with a Huai'an accent.

"It's too chaotic inside, let them quarrel if they want to, there will be no result until next year, I'd better go and see the arrangements for the Prime Minister's funeral, the bones are not cold! Start fighting for power now, hey......"

Mr. Liao couldn't stop sighing, and Mr. Zhou smiled and said, "Why bother about this, sir?" Fame and fortune have been like this since ancient times; But I don't know if there is a candidate for Mr.? ”

The question raised by Mr. Zhou made Liao feel intrigued, in fact, he noticed Zhou very early. Zhou's outstanding ability is a rare young talent, and Mr. Liao has always had some appreciation, but he is not only a representative of Huang Ke's army, but also a member of the Red Party, so Liao Zhongkai did not get too close to him, and now it seems that this person is really an unusual person.

Liao Zhongkai is not in a hurry to express his views, and as a person who has been in politics for so many years, he knows the benefits of not expressing his views easily. Facing this unfamiliar person in front of him, Liao Zhongkai had no reason to confide in him his true thoughts.

"I wonder if Mr. Zhou has any candidates? After all, as a representative of the military academy, you also have the right to speak. ”

Mr. Liao threw out this question, and Mr. Zhou naturally had no reason not to answer, he smiled and said in a Huai'an accent: "My idea is very simple, no matter who takes over the position of prime minister, the Northern Expedition cannot be stopped no matter what, and it must be continued." ”

Liao Zhongkai's face became cold: "The first prime minister died of illness, but the great cause of the revolution has not been accomplished, and the Northern Expedition must be carried out to the end no matter what." ”

"But right now there are people who don't want to do that." Zhou and Liao found a quieter room and sat down, and Zhou was a little worried.

"General Huang Ke carried out land reform at the same time as the Northern Expedition, and the program of 'equalizing land rights and allowing the cultivators to have their land' was put forward by the former prime minister when he founded the League, but it was not implemented for various reasons. Now General Huang's Northern Expedition is carrying out land reform at the same time, this measure has given more than 100 million Chinese peasants land, which has greatly mobilized their enthusiasm, and now the Northern Expeditionary Army has grown from less than 100,000 people before the expedition to nearly 300,000 troops, and the logistics support is also endless, compared with the army of the warlords, the average ration of the Northern Expeditionary Army is several times that of theirs, this is the power of the people. ”

Liao Zhongkai bowed slightly, signaling him to continue to talk about his thoughts, and it could be seen that he agreed with Mr. Zhou's words.

Zhou continued: "Because of the land reform, it has affected the specific economic interests of many people, especially the interests of imperialism in China. Therefore, they are worried that the implementation will affect them in the future, so they do everything possible to obstruct it. Mr. Liao, you also know that equal land rights were originally the purpose of the Three People's Principles. Regardless of the political party, as long as it is under the government, it should abide by the purpose of the former prime minister. ”

"Now that the former prime minister has died, there is no doubt that General Huang on the front line has lost a strong supporter, and I believe that many people will take this opportunity to come and attack land reform and the Northern Expedition."

Liao nodded, and after taking a long breath, he slowly stood up: "Don't worry, no matter who takes over the position of prime minister, it can't affect the Northern Expedition that is going on now, and there will be no result from today's meeting until tomorrow, and the executive committee will hold a special meeting in the afternoon to discuss the next issues." Rest assured, no one can stop the progress of the Northern Expedition. ”

Changsha, the location of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army. The national flag and military flag fluttering in the wind in a small open space, this is a small square in Changsha City, saying that the square is actually just a modern name, strictly speaking, it is just a vacant land, a large area of open space.

Steel helmets, steel guns, leather boots, groups of military police, police, and officers and soldiers of the Northern Expedition were lined up, in front of the rostrum were rows of senior officers in khaki uniforms, next to reporters from media from all over the world, in the south of the square, a portrait of the former prime minister in national uniform was placed in the middle of the flagpole, * and solemn.

Huang Ke did not wear a military uniform that day, he was wearing a black lapel national uniform with a bouquet of flowers on his hand. When they walked in, the officers and soldiers in the line saluted with their heels, and the media reporters also rushed up, and the old-fashioned cameras made a thumping sound.

Before and after walking to the rostrum, Huang Ke put the flowers in his hand in front of the portrait of the former prime minister, and then the military band played mournful music, and several tall honor guards slowly walked to the flagpole with wreaths, and then slowly lowered the flag at half-mast with the tune of the band.

"Take off your hat! Silence! The flag was lowered at half-mast, the mourning slowly ended, a young gendarmerie officer issued a sharp command, and everyone on the scene unanimously took off their hats and paid silent tribute.

Although it was a crossover, Huang Ke's heart was shaken, the former prime minister had never been in his impression that he only existed in the history books, but since the first meeting, Huang Ke was full of respect for this revolutionary pioneer from the bottom of his heart.

From the merchant army in Guangzhou to the current Northern Expedition, Huang Ke has gone from a gag gangster to the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and the Prime Minister's support is inseparable.

"Our prime minister died yesterday in Guangzhou." Huang Ke delivered a short eulogy, "I don't need to recount the great achievements of the former prime minister, although the former prime minister left us today, but the former prime minister's lifelong pursuit has not been completed, today our Northern Expeditionary Army marched here, the revolutionary cause is only half completed, although the prime minister left us at this time, but we must wipe away our tears, with the greatest courage and perseverance to complete our revolutionary cause!" ”

After some speech, Huang Ke silently stepped down from the rostrum, waved to the officers and soldiers and the masses at the scene, and the voices of the officers and soldiers and the support of the masses made him have to stay sober.

No matter what obstacles, Huang Ke knew that at this time he had no way back.