Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 54: Wang Chongyou
When the sounds of killing in the north were shaking the world, voices of peace suddenly broke out in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
On February 14, Feng Yuxiang issued a telegram in Wuxue announcing his independence, strongly denouncing the Civil War as the most unconscious and unreasonable war. He had been ordered to "aid Fujian" and go no further to Pukou in order to promote peace between the North and the South.
The basis of the peace talks was that Yuezhou would be returned to Hunan, Jingxiang would be returned to Hubei, each side would guard its own territory and neither side would invade the other, but this was unattainable.
Finally, he said that the soldiers should obey the president, and the president has always advocated peace, so advocating peace means obeying the president. He concluded that there are two ways: "either stop the troops, or kill Xiang to thank the world."
"I heard that Lu Jianzhang was behind this."
Dai Jiliang looked at the telegram with interest, tapping the table in front of him. This traitorous general, is he going to let people celebrate the New Year? He sent this kind of telegram on the fourth day of the New Year. Doesn't he know that Beijing will be in chaos? "Ze Gang, what news do you have?"
"This should be planned by President Feng."
Song Cheng had only taken over the intelligence station in Beijing for a short time, so it was normal that he had no concrete news, but he still managed to get some information.
"I heard that General Lu has a plan to raid Anhui and drive out Ni Sicong. General Dan is not popular in Anhui. If General Dan is driven out, General Lu will take his place. In this way, Anhui can join the camp of the three governors of the Yangtze River, and the southern section of the Jinpu River will be under the control of the Zhili clique, which will be more powerful."
"It seems that our General Lu is still determined to take over Shaanxi. Now he is planning to take over Anhui. However, he is ambitious but incompetent, and has no real strength. Will the Huaishang Army be willing to be used by him? You are dreaming!"
Dai Jiliang threw the telegram onto the table.
"Don't worry about him. He is the one who brought this upon himself. Sooner or later, there will be no good consequences."
Dai Jiliang was right.
On February 25, the Beijing government ordered Feng Yuxiang to be removed from his post as brigade commander and handed him over to Cao Kun for investigation, with the brigade commander Dong Shilu serving as acting brigade commander.
On the same day, Feng Yuxiang telegraphed Zhang Huaizhai that he was willing to take the blame and make meritorious contributions.
On March 1, all officers and soldiers of Feng's brigade also telegraphed the Beijing government to revoke the order to replace the brigade commander. The telegram said: "On April 1, 1917, my brigade commander scolded Fu Liangzuo for being unfair in his work and was dismissed. He was reinstated during the suppression of the rebellion... Secretary Yang Daomo stopped the troops from leaving at Pukou this time and jumped into the river and died on February 2... I would rather die with the brigade commander than let him go alone. If your request is not accepted, please execute all 9,513 of our officers and soldiers to thank the world."
Although this matter ended in nothing because of the obstruction of the Zhili clique and the Beijing government adopted Cao Kun's opinion, dismissing Feng Yuxiang from his post but retaining his position, abducting him as Army Lieutenant General and temporarily allowing him to remain as Brigade Commander and hand him over to Cao Kun's control and dispatch, the matter ended in nothing.
However, this resulted in an even more terrible consequence. As all his strength was concentrated on the southern front, Duan Qirui, unwilling to be stabbed in the back by the Zhili clique, invited the Fengtian clique to come into the country.
As soon as Hu Zi entered the pass, he immediately did something that shocked all the warlords across the country.
On February 25, the 53rd Brigade of the 7th Division of the Fengtian Army rushed to Luanzhou after entering the pass. Yang Yuting, Chief of Staff of the Fengtian Military Office, took them to Qinhuangdao and looted more than 27,000 rifles, the first batch of which was shipped by the Japanese government in accordance with the Sino-Japanese Arms Loan Agreement. The Beijing government was immediately in chaos, and the Zhili and Fengtian factions blamed each other. The Beijing government was paralyzed for a time.
However, just when the situation in the north was chaotic, something happened in the south.
On February 26, 1918, just after the Lantern Festival, Cheng Bi-guang, a famous Chinese naval figure, former captain of the Guangping ship who participated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, and Chief of the Navy, was assassinated in Changtan, Guangzhou.
The assassination of Cheng Bi-guang may be another historical mystery that will never be solved. The Kuomintang said that Lu Rongting did it, but the old Guangxi clique said that Sun Yat-sen was the culprit. As a result, while the Beijing regime was paralyzed, the Southern Protection Military Government was also on the verge of disintegration.
"Put the blame on others and divert attention!"
Dai Jiliang pointed at Sun Yat-sen's passionate speech in the newspaper and commented with disdain.
"This incident is exactly like when Chen Qimei sent someone named Jiang to assassinate Tao Chengzhang. The KMT has been around for so many years, but it still hasn't made any progress and is still using the same old tricks."
"It's fine that the Kuomintang is not doing well, Zhixiang, look, the city of Beijing is in such a mess, even Liang Shiyi, Zhou Ziqi, Zhu Qiling, Lei Zhenchun, Zhang Zhenfang, these monarchists and restorationists have all been reinstated. I'm afraid that in the end, Zhang Xuanshuai will be the only one to bear the infamy of the world."
"These are other people's business, we don't care about them, we just need to take care of our own little piece of land."
It’s not that Dai Jiliang is open-minded about this, he just has no choice.
"Brother-in-law, there are a few things you need to pay attention to."
Dai Jiliang threw the newspaper in his hand onto the table.
"First, the Central Diocese promised me to open a Western hospital. Please help take care of it. The money I promised to allocate to them will come from the governor's special funds. In addition, the Civil Affairs Department should hurry up to build civilian clinics and pharmacies in various places."
"Second, Meihua's machines will arrive in Xi'an before April. Large-scale municipal construction will be launched soon. When the electric light company is built, I also want to have trams in Xi'an. Therefore, you should immediately ask the Construction Department to make a municipal planning and consider whether to renovate the old city or simply build a new city in Xi'an. If Director Gu of the Provincial Construction Department is not capable, you have to replace him."
Dai Jiliang said while counting on his fingers.
“Third, Guo Xiren recommended us a mining expert, Wang Chongyou, who has a PhD in mining and studied in England, France and Germany. He has already set out from Daye and will arrive in about half a month.
I'm going to join the army soon, please welcome me for me.
In addition, he was given the title of deputy director of the Provincial Construction Department, and the title of general manager of Shaanxi Mining. "
"Zhixiang, do you mean to ask Director Gu to step down and let Wang Chongyou replace old Gu?"
Wang Danping was obviously a little hesitant. Although Director Gu did not have much ability, he was obedient and Wang Danping found it easy to use him.
Now a doctor suddenly appears, making him a little anxious.
"We can't let Dr. Wang be the director."
Dai Jiliang smiled. He naturally understood Wang Danping's little thoughts.
"It's not appropriate for a man who gets things done to sit in an office all day."
Dai Jiliang’s meaning was very clear, the deputy director position was just a salary, and the general manager of the mining industry was the real position.
"But don't let anyone pin him down."
"I see!"
Wang Danping nodded and finally felt relieved.
You know, he doesn't care about replacing Director Gu, but if talents from all walks of life continue to flow into Shaanxi in the future and each of them wants a high position, it will be difficult for him as the provincial secretary-general to handle it.
"I will talk it over with Director Gu."
"That's good, but a conversation is a conversation, don't do it at the mahjong table."
Dai Jiliang was reminding Wang Danping in disguise that he had banned gambling in the Shaanxi Army, but a group of people in the provincial government did as they pleased.
After all, Li Genyuan was nominally in charge of the provincial government before, so he had no reason to intervene.
But now Wang Danping is still like this, which makes Dai Jiliang a little dissatisfied.
"Also, tell Fan Weining to immediately close down all the gambling houses in Xi'an."
"All sealed?"
Wang Danping looked at Dai Jiliang in surprise.
"Zhixiang, the gambling tax is a considerable income. If you come here, the financial situation will be..."
"I'm afraid I'll lose again, right?"
Dai Jiliang chuckled sinisterly.
"That's no problem. Tell Fan Jie'an that you can issue three gambling licenses in Xi'an, one for each casino. Without a gambling license, they are not allowed to operate. As for the gambling licenses, let them bid for them."
Dai Jiliang killed two birds with one stone. On the one hand, Guo Bingchang's people could use this time to infiltrate, and on the other hand, it could also cause the Xi'an Gelaohui, which was united against foreign aggression, to split.
"It's a good idea, but I'm afraid those small casinos will continue to exist despite repeated bans!"
Wang Danping was still a little hesitant.
"Then I'll ask Fan Weining."
Dai Jiliang bared his teeth.
"I just don't believe it. When the underworld dares to openly resist the government, if Fan Weining can't handle it, I will send troops into the city."
"No, I'm afraid of you."
It was already creepy enough that the Xi'an Garrison Regiment had been performing military drills at Dudukou all day long, and now Dai Jiliang was going to send troops into the city to ban gambling. Wang Danping was completely scared.
"People who know you think you are banning gambling, and those who don't think you are letting your soldiers plunder Xi'an. Don't do such a thing."
"It's good to be afraid. This is just the first. We must ban gambling and drugs in Shaanxi. The days of fear are still to come."
Dai Jiliang patted Wang Danping's shoulder meaningfully.
"We should take a longer-term view and learn from Yan Xishan and see how he governed Shanxi. I don't believe I can't be as good as my junior."
"Marshal."
The two men were grinding their teeth when Song Cheng walked in.
"I just received intelligence that Wu Peifu has begun attacking Yuezhou."
Dai Jiliang raised his head suddenly, so Song Cheng continued to report.
"Wu Yi, commander of the Third Division, concurrently served as the commander-in-chief of the front line, commanding the Fifth Brigade Commander Zhang Xueyan, the Sixth Brigade Commander Zhang Fulai, as well as the First Mixed Brigade Commander Wang Chengbin, the Second Mixed Brigade Commander Yan Xiangwen, and the Third Mixed Brigade Commander Xiao Yaonan. The total strength of the army is 50,000. In addition, there are five warships sent by the Second Fleet Commander Du Xigui to assist in the battle, namely Chu Guan, Jiang Kun, Jiang Li, Jiang Xi, and Jiang Zhen."
"It seems we need to hurry up and leave Shaanxi."
Dai Jiliang looked at Wang Danping, and Wang Danping walked out knowingly.
"Notify them immediately. I will be joining the troops today. My first stop will be the New Third Brigade!"
"yes!"
Before Song Cheng finished his words, Shen Qianxuan rushed in.
"Marshal, the Army Department sent an urgent telegram, re-assigning our unit a mixed regiment designation and ordering it to immediately send troops south to Hubei."
"Always doing these nonsense things."
Dai Jiliang curled his lips. If the central government had allocated some arms or military funds to him, it would be fine. But a mixed regiment? It was nothing more than another deduction from his debt.
"Never mind him. Send a telegram and complain. We have our own schedule."
Dai Jiliang thought about it, then turned and looked at Song Cheng.
"Ze Gang, check what's going on in northern Shaanxi. The New Third Brigade has only recruited more than 2,000 people so far. This is problematic. I don't believe it. They are all staunch KMT members."
