Volume 1 Teacher Chapter 17 Crisis
After seeing Dai Jiliang's miserable condition, Qi Xiu was naturally shocked again when he came back, but finally calmed down after being comforted by Dai Jiliang.
For the next ten days or so, Dai Jiliang the cat rested and recuperated at Zieg's house, living a god-like life with everything provided for him.
E Tao would report the affairs of the camp to him on time every day, and while Qi Xiu was at home buying groceries and medicine, Dai Jiliang could discipline Xiao Xier, and he was really enjoying himself.
But Dai Jiliang was not completely immersed in the land of gentleness after all. As soon as he got a concubine, he hurried around. First, he went to Lu Jianzhang to express his loyalty, and then he showered him with money. He thought that happiness is better shared with others than to be enjoyed alone. Unfortunately, the red envelopes he received when he took in a concubine were all sold in a blink of an eye.
Then he went to Lao Duan and Xiao Xu under the pretext of asking for advice. On the one hand, he was contacting the leaders, and on the other hand, he was confirming the news of the expansion of the guard army. It didn't seem like he had received this beating in vain, right?
Finally, on New Year's Day in 1913, the Ministry of the Army issued an order to formally reorganize the Guard Army into a mixed brigade with two infantry regiments. The lieutenant colonel commander of the second regiment was Dai Jiliang.
The Second Regiment was composed of three battalions, each with three companies, plus a machine gun company and a baggage company, totaling eleven companies, with nearly two thousand people.
"Commander, I mean to reorganize the original 4th Battalion into the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment, and promote Battalion Commander Zhang to Deputy Regiment Commander and Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion. The old 3rd Battalion will be reorganized into the 2nd Battalion , and E Tao will be promoted to Battalion Commander. Ma Kang will be promoted to Deputy Battalion Commander and Acting Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battalion."
Dai Jiliang did this to please Lu Jianzhang, of course. Zhang Binnan was also Lu Jianzhang's personal friend, so Lu Jianzhang would definitely feel at ease with Zhang Binnan around to monitor and restrain him.
"In addition, the Second Battalion already has an extra company, so we can extract an old company to serve as the basic force of the Third Battalion. I also plan to extract an old company from the First Battalion and hand it over to the Third Battalion. In this way, as long as the First and Third Battalions each organize a new company, our Second Regiment will be complete.
Moreover, each of the three battalions has a newly formed company, and everyone is equally strong, so there shouldn’t be too many complaints.”
"Zhixiang, you are very thoughtful."
Lu Jianzhang nodded. Although Dai Jiliang was suspected of abusing his power for personal gain by letting Ma Kang be the battalion commander of the third battalion, Ma Kang was already a major and had enough experience. It was not necessary to suppress him and let him remain as the company commander, right? Besides, even if Dai Jiliang intended to expand his influence in the second regiment, so what? The soldiers of the third battalion were well trained, and Ma Kang as the deputy battalion commander could better lead the second regiment.
What's more, this army's surname is Lu, not Dai, and even Dai Jiliang, the Monkey King, can't escape from his ten fingers. Lu Jianzhang is still completely confident about this.
"You have to keep an eye on those two special forces too. Our foundation is weak, so any strength we can gain is great."
"Zhixiang understands, please rest assured, Commander..."
"Zhisheng, you can go to Shanghai now."
Although he was quite proud of his career, he still had to make money. So after repeated correspondence, Dai Jiliang finally took advantage of the upcoming lunar year of Guichou and arranged for Zeng Zhisheng to go to the south.
"Changqing has been waiting for you for several months."
As he spoke, Dai Jiliang took out something that was wrapped tightly.
"I can't attend Changqing's important event. You can take this thing over. It's a small token of my appreciation as your elder brother."
"What is that? It's so heavy!"
Zeng Zhisheng took it.
"Brother, it's not gold, is it? It's so tacky."
"With such a huge piece of gold, how can I make such a small profit?"
Dai Jiliang looked at the child who had never grown up and teased him with a smile.
"This is a national treasure. I am just offering it to the Buddha."
So he told the origin of this fragment of Tang Dynasty stone carving.
"Your elder brother is not a man of knowledge and taste. This thing is like a pearl thrown into the dark in my hands. Taking it to Shanghai can be regarded as not burying it."
But when he said this, Dai Jiliang's face turned serious.
"But you have to tell the second brother that this thing must not be allowed to leave the country, otherwise, I will treat this brother as if I don't exist."
"I'll tell my second brother."
Zeng Zhisheng also nodded heavily. The country was weak and the evil spirits were targeting him. It really made people feel sad.
"I believe that my second brother will protect this national treasure..."
"Xiu, the New Year is coming soon, what's your brother's illness?"
After seeing Zeng Zhisheng off, Dai Jiliang came to Meishi Street.
Although Dai Jiliang has been promoted to the head of the regiment, on the one hand, the special expenses and office fees are still sprinkled on the brothers below like pepper as a supplement; on the other hand, his military rank has not been raised, and the salary of the head of the regiment is only more than 80 yuan, and there are also expenses for entertaining superiors, so naturally he needs to be more frugal.
It would be both costly and time-consuming for Qi Xiu's brother Qi Hua to cure his smoking addiction, so naturally Dai Jiliang would have to discuss it with his woman in detail.
"Why not send him to a foreign hospital? It costs a lot, but the effect is quicker, so it's cheaper overall."
"I listen to you."
Qi Xiu had no knowledge, so he naturally listened to Dai Jiliang.
"I had a lot of expenses recently, so I don't have any spare money."
Dai Jiliang nodded.
"The New Year is coming soon. Maybe the President will give us a reward. Once we have more money, we can do this right away."
Dai Jiliang placed all his bets on the upcoming "Song case" without hurting his soldiers, but now he is in a tight spot.
"Also, your sister Li is pregnant, so you will have to bear with me this year. You can go there with your brother and sister during the New Year."
"yes!"
Qi Xiu lowered her head. Although she had gone with Dai Jiliang to meet the eldest wife once, Li Yuan did not treat her well that time.
This is normal. Which wife would have a good relationship with the concubine? But the other party is pregnant now, and we don’t know if it is the eldest son. If I get close to her, wouldn’t I be even more humble?
"I'm sorry to trouble you!"
Dai Jiliang took the sixteen-year-old girl into his arms...
Just as Dai Jiliang and his family were celebrating the Spring Festival of 1913 under the illusion of harmony and happiness, a storm that would sweep across China was brewing.
At the end of 1912, the first parliamentary election of the Republic of China began. Although it was interrupted for a few days due to the Spring Festival, the results of the national election were finally announced in March 1913.
As expected, the Kuomintang won an overwhelming victory, with more seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives than the other three parties combined, and has met the conditions for forming an independent cabinet.
However, Yuan Shikai did not want to see this kind of victory. He did not want his power to be restricted by the so-called responsible cabinet, so the ugliest scene in the history of the early Republic of China occurred.
In early March of the fourth year of the Republic of China, Song Jiaoren had just arrived in Shanghai when he received an urgent telegram from Yuan Shikai, saying "Go to Beijing immediately to discuss important policies." Song Jiaoren was overjoyed, thinking that Yuan Shikai was about to appoint him as prime minister.
So at 10 p.m. on March 20, Song Jiaoren prepared to take a train from Shanghai to Beijing.
Before leaving, Song Jiaoren shook hands with Huang Xing, Yu Youren, Liao Zhongkai and others who were seeing him off. Just as he was about to board the train, he was suddenly assassinated and shot by the assassin. In the early morning of the 22nd, Song Jiaoren passed away after failed rescue efforts. He was only 31 years old.
Song Jiaoren's assassination marked the beginning of a series of political and military chaos in China.
"Although the South is making a fuss about the Song case, we must not let it distract us."
As the murderer Wu Shiying and the instigator Ying Kuicheng were arrested one after another, the political trend caused by the assassination became more and more intense. Moreover, due to the large number of official documents seized in Ying's house, it was actually led to Hong Shuzu, a secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the State Council in Beijing.
The seized documents showed that Secretary Hong Shuzu was ordered by Prime Minister Zhao Bingjun, which caused an uproar in the southern public opinion.
"The guards must be on standby at all times. If anyone attacks the government, they must be suppressed without mercy."
At a joint meeting between the Guard Army and the Beijing Military and Police Joint Law Enforcement Office, Lu Jianzhang gave orders with murderous intent.
"Even if they are members of Congress, anyone who dares to speak or act recklessly will be detained first, and everyone else will be killed without mercy..."
"Extra, Extra, former Prime Minister Zhao Bingjun refused the summons from the Shanghai Special Court, and the legal solution to the Song case has come to a standstill."
"Extra, Extra, a large post-war loan has been reached. A consortium of five banks has loaned 25 million pounds to help President Yuan restore order in China."
"Extra, Extra, the Sixth and Second Central Divisions have successfully entered Hubei."
"Extra, Extra, President Yuan has ordered the removal of Jiangxi Governor Li Liejun, Guangdong Governor Hu Hanmin, and Anhui Governor Bai Wenwei. The three governors have announced their resignations one after another."
The pace of civil war is getting closer and closer.
Dai Jiliang sighed. Although the Guards did not need to go to war this time, sitting in Duan Qirui's Army Ministry, he still felt the coming storm.
"Zhixiang, the strong wind knows the strong grass!"
Duan Qirui sighed as he looked at Dai Jiliang who was sitting upright.
"Jiang Zuobin fled to the south, and several other army officers also went south or abroad. It's a good thing you were able to stay in the central government."
"People with different ideals cannot work together. Brother Yuyan is a member of the Kuomintang, so he is loyal to the cause."
Dai Jiliang comforted him.
"Zhixiang is a soldier of the country, so he will not follow their example and put ideology above the country."
Dai Jiliang looked at Xu Shuzheng standing aside with a hint of sneer on his face. This little Xu did this to him, which showed that he still did not trust him.
But it's no wonder. Firstly, I'm not from Anhui, and secondly, I'm a latecomer to the Beiyang government. It's normal for me to be suspicious. Didn't Lu Jianzhang also send people to keep an eye on me?
"Zhao Bingjun is despicable for pushing the country to the brink of civil war for his own selfish interests. He is really worthy of being killed by anyone."
Since you want to test me, then I'll play along with you. Dai Jiliang deliberately pointed the finger at the former Prime Minister.
“But don’t worry, Chief. The governors in the south have their own agenda and are trying to protect their own strength. They are definitely no match for the central government.
Tan Yankai is a sly old fellow. He may talk, but he doesn't have the courage to take action.
Bai Wenwei is not a cause for concern as he has high aspirations but poor skills; Hu Hanmin has some literary talent but is weak in martial arts; and although Li Liejun is a senior among the army officers, he cannot do much alone.
It may be just a matter of time before the central government pacifies them.”
"Zhixiang is right. As long as the South has evil intentions, it will be very easy for the Central Government to deal with them."
Xu Shuzheng stepped forward at the right time to demonstrate his foresight.
"Now the central government has sent troops into Hubei. If I were Cao Zhongshan, I would go straight down the river. As long as I pacify Jiangxi, the coalition forces of several provinces will collapse in an instant."
"Senior is right."
Dai Jiliang echoed.
"But the battle should be a mixture of real and fake forces. The Third Division should be the main force, and there should be a detachment in the north to attack from the side. I think we can attack Xuzhou, the thoroughfare connecting five provinces."
"That makes sense. If we take Xuzhou, there are thousands of miles of fertile land in between, and there are no natural barriers. We can go straight to Nanjing."
Duan Qirui nodded.
"Youzheng, I'll ask your team to take care of this."
After saying this, Duan Qirui patted Dai Jiliang on the shoulder.
"Zhixiang, you didn't let me down this time. Do your best in the future. The president will not treat you unfairly."
"Thank you for the promotion, Director, and thank you, Senior Gu Fu."
Dai Jiliang stood at attention and saluted.
"Then Zhixiang will withdraw first."
After walking out of the gate of the Ministry of the Army, Dai Jiliang looked up at the sky. The sunlight was still so dazzling, but the sky was about to change.
