In the courtyard, Zhang Zuolin was sitting on a lounge chair, his eyes opening and closing. A lean and strong man walked up to him and whispered: "Brother Yuting is in such a good mood."
Zhang Zuolin opened his eyes and said with a smile: "Brother Zichun, you are fine. Please sit down."
Wang Zhanyuan was not polite and sat down directly, tapping his fingers on the table without saying a word. The servant waiting on the side made Wang Zhanyuan a cup of tea in due time.
The faint fragrance of tea floated between the two of them, Zhang Zuolin said with a smile: "Zichun, you came a little late."
Wang Zhanyuan said with a half-smile, "It's not too late, it's just right."
Zhang Zuolin said: "I won't talk in circles with you anymore. You already know President Xu Da's telegram, right? We plain people don't talk secretly. What do you think?"
Wang Zhanyuan smiled contemptuously and said: "It's just a trick played by boring people. Congressional elections? What's the use of it? Can it be used for fighting or as military pay?"
The Beiyang warlords believed in the supremacy of strength. Xu Shichang wanted to use congressional elections to continue his status as president, but no one was interested and few responded.
Naturally, Zhang Zuolin did not want to delve into this issue, and instead asked: "Zichun thinks, what is the most important thing in the current situation?"
Wang Zhanyuan glanced at Zhang Zuolin and said, "Are you trying to trick me?"
Zhang Zuolin laughed twice and said: "What you said is wrong. The reunification of the North and the South is imperative. There is nothing that can or cannot be said."
Wang Zhanyuan said: "What can I get?"
Wang Zhanyuan was greedy for money, and he was a man who would not let go of eagles when he saw rabbits. As soon as he arrived in Tianjin, he was invited over by Zhang Zuolin. Naturally, he understood some of Zhang Zuolin's little thoughts. So he didn't talk nonsense with Zhang Zuolin and went straight to the topic.
Zhang Zuolin knew his character and was not angry. He said calmly: "Zichun, you misunderstood. I just want to show you a clear path. I don't want to plot anything against you."
Wang Zhanyuan looked into Zhang Zuolin's eyes, as if he wanted to find some flaw in it, but found nothing. Finally, he sneered and said, "How can you be so kind? You are overwhelmed by Cao Kun and Wu Xiucai, and you want to ask me to help?"
Zhang Zuolin's expression changed slightly. Although he had tasted some benefits after the last Tianjin meeting, they were all insignificant and made people feel very frustrated.
This time Jin Yunpeng called Wang Zhanyuan, which was undoubtedly a good opportunity for him. As long as he could pull Wang Zhanyuan over, he would be a little more sure of hitting Cao Kun.
When Wang Zhanyuan saw that Zhang Zuolin stopped talking, he smiled and said, "Yuting, if there is anything we can discuss at the meeting tomorrow, I have just arrived in Tianjin and I am physically and mentally exhausted. Please let me have a good rest."
Come on, Wang Zhanyuan turned around and walked out, but Wang Zhanyuan did not go towards his residence, but turned around and came to Cao Kun's yard.
"Zhongshan, I've been waiting for a long time. I was delayed on the way. I was delayed for a while. Don't be surprised." Wang Zhanyuan sat down with a smile on his face, minding his own business.
Cao Kun said with a gloomy face: "What did that bitch Zhang Zuolin tell you?"
Wang Zhanyuan also didn't expect that the relationship between Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin had deteriorated to such an extent that they would start scolding each other.
There was no trace of embarrassment on Wang Zhanyuan's face, and he said calmly: "It's just catching up on old times and talking about family affairs. It's nothing, nothing."
Cao Kun looked at Wang Zhanyuan with suspicious eyes and asked in a deep voice: "Did you really say nothing?"
Wang Zhanyuan smiled and said, "What did Zhongshan want us to say?"
Cao Kun said: "It's okay if you don't say anything. This time regarding the issue of the reunification of the north and the south, the burden must fall on Zichun."
Wang Zhanyuan was stunned for a moment when he heard this. Why did the two people say the same thing? If he hadn't known about their relationship, he would have doubted whether the two people had colluded and were preparing to set a trap for him.
"There are many rebels in the south. Ever since Sun Yat-sen established the National Assembly, he has long been dissatisfied with the central government's rule. The reunification of the north and the south is very difficult. I am afraid that it will not be able to achieve much by my own efforts."
Wang Zhanyuan had just arrived in Tianjin, and he didn't quite know what the two of them were thinking. He could only talk casually and look at Cao Kun's face, trying to figure out something.
Like Zhang Zuolin, Cao Kun looked as usual and could not see anything unusual. This made Wang Zhanyuan worried.
The two were silent for a while, and then Cao Kun said: "It's getting late, Zichun, you'd better go back early and rest. If there's anything else, we'll talk about it tomorrow."
Wang Zhanyuan was originally full of confidence that he could get some benefits from the two of them, but now it seems that the situation is not as optimistic as he thought.
Originally, Wang Zhanyuan wanted to meet Jin Yunpeng, but after Zhang Zuolin and Cao Kun's strange behavior, such an idea was abandoned.
At this time, a telegram was sent to Cao Kun. Cao Kun picked it up and looked at it, with a smile on his face.
The night passed quickly, the sky was bright, and everyone sat around the table. Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin sat opposite each other on the left and right, and Wang Zhanyuan and Jin Yunpeng sat at the bottom.
There was silence in the room, and no one spoke first. Jin Yunpeng did not dare to offend either party. He tried every means to find Wang Zhanyuan just to help him.
As a result, as soon as Wang Zhanyuan arrived in Tianjin, he met Zhang Zuolin and Cao Kun, but they were not interested in meeting him. Jin Yunpeng felt very embarrassed and kept winking at Wang Zhanyuan when he returned to the table.
But Wang Zhanyuan was still thinking about what happened last night and seemed a little absent-minded. It was not an option to remain silent like this. Jing Yunpeng cleared his throat and spoke first: "It's getting late. Let's discuss the matter about Xu Da first."
Let’s talk about the president’s congressional elections.”
The attitude of the warlords towards the parliamentary election has long been made clear. Jin Yunpeng naturally received a lot of looks when he raised it.
After all, Jin Yunpeng is still Zhang Zuolin's son and daughter. At this time, he had to open his mouth and say to smooth things over: "Things have their own priorities. I think I'd better ask everyone about the aid to the treasury."
Everyone started discussing in a low voice upon hearing this. The White Army's Enqin Division occupied Kulun in February 1921, and the Chinese army was forced to evacuate. On March 21, Outer Mongolia re-established an "independent" government.
At a time when the situation in Outer Mongolia is turbulent, public opinion has called for "rescue", hoping that China will send troops to maintain its sovereignty over Outer Mongolia.
However, Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin had their own agendas, and both hoped that the other party would send troops to weaken the other party's power in Beijing. It could be said that they would not give up an inch of ground.
At this moment, Cao Kun suddenly said: "Before I talk about this, I want to tell you a little thing."
Everyone fell silent all of a sudden, their eyes focused on Cao Kun, not knowing what he wanted to say.