Duan Qirui pinched his beard and fell into deep thought. Xu Shuzheng's words made him suddenly enlightened. Ever since Zhang Xun restored him and came back to power, no matter who is the president or prime minister in the Beijing government, he has always been the emperor with real power.
, Now that the Anhui clique has collapsed, he, the Supreme Emperor, no longer exists, but this does not mean that Xu Shichang, the president, is worthy of his name. The worse situation is yet to come. The two families, Zhizhi and Fengcheng, will simultaneously control the Beijing government.
It is difficult to tolerate two tigers, and the cooperation between Zhi and Feng will inevitably collapse due to conflicts of interest, and a war will most likely happen again. At that time, he will be able to take advantage of the situation and lead the Anhui clique to fight the world again.
Thinking of this, he was filled with joy, nodded to Xu Shuzheng and praised: "Zheng Zheng, you have seen the situation through. Very good, very good. In your opinion, how long will the joint situation between Zhili and Fengshi last?"
Xu Shuzheng pondered for a moment and said: "The war is about to end. Both the Zhifeng and Fengzhi factions need some time to digest the benefits. I don't think the two sides will break up within a year. If the two sides really want to fight, it will take two to three years."
It took a long time to intensify the conflict. The most important thing is that the Feng clique is weak and without full confidence, Zhang Zuolin will never break out."
Duan Qirui snorted coldly. After this battle, he had a deeper understanding of Zhang Zuolin's character and had to admit: "Zhang Zuolin is a person. I underestimated him before."
Xu Shuzheng said: "Zhang Zuolin is uniquely blessed in the three northeastern provinces and has unlimited potential. He held a humble position and governed Mongolia in the past, so we know that he has big plans. He even had the heart to marry his own daughter to the stupid son of a Mongolian prince in order to gain the support of the Mongolian prince. This is not
Pushing people into a pit of fire? Who can be so cruel, but he can do it. Mr. Zhi, I have a hunch in my heart that the biggest obstacle to your true unification of the country in the future is not Cao Kun and Wu Peifu, but his beard."
Duan Qirui nodded in agreement. He thought about what Xu Shuzheng had just said that it would take at least one to two years for Zhifeng to change. He couldn't wait any longer and frowned: "Time waits for no one."
Xu Shuzheng comforted him and said: "Mr. Zhi, please be patient for a while. I will run around to contact you and get you out of the mountain as soon as possible."
Duan Qirui asked worriedly: "Youzheng, what are your plans next?"
Xu Shuzheng pretended to be relaxed and said: "I am a thorn in the side of Zhifeng and Beijing. I can't stay in Beijing. I will find a way to go to Shanghai. Lu Yongxiang in Zhejiang and Li Houji in Fujian are all my own people. If possible, I want to recruit them again."
An army."
Duan Qirui nodded vigorously: "I can rest assured that you will do the work."
"Mr. Zhi, there are many people outside. I'm leaving, so please take care of yourself." Xu Shuzheng looked at the time and did not dare to stay any longer.
Duan Qirui held Xu Shuzheng's hand tightly and warned: "You should also take care. Things are no better than before. You need to temper your temper and don't show your sharp edge and be unforgiving."
Xu Shuzheng seriously agreed. After leaving the Duan Mansion, he boarded a car and drove into the Japanese military camp in Dongjiaomin Lane. There was already a Japanese lieutenant colonel waiting at the entrance of the military camp. He welcomed Xu Shuzheng out of the car, gave a military salute, nodded and bent down respectfully.
He said: "General Xu, Commander Ono is waiting inside. Please come with me."
Surprisingly, this Japanese lieutenant colonel actually spoke pure Tianjin dialect. If he hadn't been wearing a Japanese military uniform, and was as tall as a short winter melon and bow-legged, he would have been an authentic Chinese.
Xu Shuzheng was not surprised when he heard this. He knew that the officers sent by Japan to China had dual identities, as consulate attachés and intelligence officers. These people not only spoke Chinese well, but were also proficient in Chinese culture. Their intentions were obvious.
It's just that the Anhui Clique needed to rely on Japan's support, so they could only pretend to be invisible. He calmly followed the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel into the military camp, walked into a Japanese-style building, took off his shoes at the door and went in. Turning around the screen, he saw a man wearing
The Japanese major general in a white shirt was kneeling on the tatami. Seeing Xu Shuzheng come in, he stood up happily and said: "Xu Sang, it's great that you can come back safely."
Xu Shuzheng took off his hat, casually found a tatami and sat down cross-legged, saying: "Thank you, Brother Xiaoye, I'm thinking about you. I'm starving all the way back. Let's serve some food and drinks."
It turned out that this Japanese major general was Onodera, the commander of Japan's North China Garrison Army. The relationship between the two was not shallow. They were classmates in the 22nd class of the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School. Onodera had always admired Xu Shuzheng's intelligence and provided him with advice on Japan's relations with China.
Got a lot of help.
Onodera sat down again, waved to Lieutenant Colonel who was standing solemnly at the side and said, "Let the kitchen serve the food."
After the Lieutenant Colonel went out, Onodera's face suddenly became serious, and he said very dissatisfied with Xu Shuzheng: "Xu Sang, it seems that you have forgotten all the combat knowledge cultivated in you by the Imperial Military Academy. I have seen the troops of the Zhili Army, but
It is a third-rate army, and you were defeated at his hands. It is such a disgrace to our alumni!" As he spoke, he widened his eyes and kept pounding the table, as if he wanted to eat Xu Shuzheng alive.
Same.
Xu Shuzheng's expression remained calm. This is the virtue of Japanese people, who regard honor as more important than life. He knew Onodera's character even more. After Anjing waited for him to finish speaking, he said: "Brother Onodera, you are really a loser in losing this war.
However, I do not agree with your statement. The Zhili Army is not a third-rate army. It is a Beiyang Army like the Anhui Army. Likewise, I have not lost face as an alumni. I have one thing to ask you. You keep promising that Zhang Zuolin will not
Intervened in the conflict between Anhui and Zhizhi, but he not only intervened, but also invested two divisions, causing the great situation I created on the Eastern Front to fail."
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Onodera's face, and he hurriedly explained: "Xu Sang, I didn't lie about this. Zhang Zuolin did promise to the empire that he would not intervene in the war, but he went back on his word, and there is nothing the empire can do against him."
Xu Shuzheng sneered and said: "Your country sees that the Anhui clique is useless now and wants to support Zhang Zuolin."
Onodera acquiesced to this and said: "Xu Sang, the empire's interests in China must be protected. You know this."
Xu Shuzheng showed a hint of ridicule and said: "Zhang Zuolin is an old fox. If you don't eat the fox, you will make yourself a mess."
Onodera disagreed and said arrogantly: "Zhang Zuolin is just an agent established by the empire in Manchuria. The empire can hit him with just a few fingers. He doesn't dare to play any tricks."
Xu Shuzheng was noncommittal. At this time, the chef was serving dishes one after another. Onodera said enthusiastically: "Xu Sang, I specially asked the chef to make your favorite Japanese food. Please try it quickly."
Xu Shuzheng came back defeated and had no appetite. He just took a few bites and drank alone to drown his sorrows.
Onodera couldn't help but ask about a doubt in his mind: "Xu Sang, the Imperial Intelligence Department said that you were captured by the Zhili Army. I am very curious about how you escaped."
Xu Shuzheng said calmly: "The Zhizhi army did not keep strict supervision and was rescued by my subordinates."
Onodera suddenly realized that Xu Shuzheng was in a bad mood, and said: "You have an old saying in China, which is that if you survive a catastrophe, you will have good luck in the future. Xu Sang, you have to cheer up!"
Xu Shuzheng was very moved and said casually: "Brother Xiaoye, thank you for your concern. This little blow is nothing."
Onodera raised his glass to him and said: "Xu Sang, your family has been taken to Tianjin by me. My wife Yoshiko is with you. Please don't worry."
"Brother Xiaoye, I'm here not only to hide from trouble, but also to ask you to do me a favor." Xu Shuzheng said seriously.
Onodera sat upright and said solemnly: "Xu Sang, you and I are brothers and sisters. I am honored to do something for you."
Xu Shuzheng said: "Send me out of Beijing as soon as possible."
Onodera frowned and said: "Xu Sang, just stay in the imperial military camp with peace of mind. You are my guest, no one can take you away."
Xu Shuzheng shook his head and said: "Brother Xiaoye, I am not afraid of Zhifeng, but I am afraid that the British and American powers will put pressure on your country, and it will be bad if you are involved."
Onodera thought for a while and said: "Okay, I will arrange it as soon as possible!"
At this moment, a Japanese officer broke into the hall and said loudly: "Reporting to Your Excellency, Commander, Duan Qirui has just sent out a telegram, taking the blame and disbanding the Dingguo Army..."
Xu Shuzheng sighed lonelyly, and couldn't help but shed two lines of tears.
…
Tianjin.
Zhang Zuolin toured Tianjin with great interest. After returning to his residence, he said to his son Zhang Xueliang: "What a shame, Tianjin is a good place. I really don't want to go back to Fengtian."
Zhang Xueliang offered a cup of hot tea with a smile and said: "What's good about Tianjin? Our construction in Fengtian over the years is not bad at all."
Zhang Zuolin took a sip of tea and pointed out: "Xiao Liuzi, you are still young and can't tell the difference. Tianjin is a companion capital. Things that cannot be done in Beijing can be done in Tianjin. How many old men from the Qing Dynasty and bureaucrats and politicians who have fallen from power can do it."
In Beijing, these people have a lot of energy, and if they are used by me, they can accomplish great things. By the way, you go buy a piece of land and build a handsome mansion. We will come to Tianjin often in the future, and we can't live without a place to stay."
Zhang Xueliang nodded and said: "I remember."
Zhang Zuolin suddenly clapped his thigh and said: "This battle in the west is very strange. I heard that Duan Zhigui, Qu Tongfeng, and Xiao Xu all fell into the hands of a small company commander of the Direct Army. They are really formidable."
Zhang Xueliang was a little unconvinced when he heard this: "I think it's a rumor. How could it be such a coincidence?"
Zhang Zuolin couldn't help but smile and said: "Rumors are flying all over the sky these days. It is really difficult to determine whether they are true or false. Xiao Liuzi, I have gained you a lot of knowledge by taking you out of the border this time. I ask you, if you want to fight between the Fengjun and the Zhijun now, are you sure?
?”
Zhang Xueliang graduated from the Northeast Martial Arts Hall. Although he was young and vigorous, he already had good military concepts. He shook his head and said: "I have no confidence at all, unless Wu Peifu and others are as incompetent as Duan Zhigui and Qu Tongfeng. The Zhili Army has been in battle for a long time.
Formation, and after the baptism of large-scale wars such as the Zhijiang-Anhui War, the military's combat capabilities are better than before. However, our army has not fought in many years, and the troops are led by old uncles who have never attended a military academy. Once we fight,
Defeat is certain."
Zhang Zuolin agreed with Zhang Xueliang's view, but he was very unhappy after hearing the last sentence. He glared and said: "What a fool, you Zhang Xiaoliuzi went to the military academy and drank a few sips of ink, and you didn't realize how great the world was. I just took it with you."
The Northeast conquered by your uncles may not be able to defeat Wu Xiucai."