Back to the Republic of China as a commander

On the other side, Chen Huan, the governor of Sichuan, was responsible for integrating all the troops in Sichuan and trying his best to wipe out Cai E's rebellious army.

At the same time, Yuan Shikai did not forget to issue the decree of favor and seal all the officials.

On December 1915, 12, Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor, changed the name of the country to "Empire of China", abolished the title of the Republic of China, and began to call it the first year of "Hongxian" in 12.

On December 1915, 12, the decree: (Government Gazette No. 15) Li Yuanhong canonized Prince Wuyi;

On December 1915, 12, the decree: (Government Gazette No. 18) All my old spouses and old relatives are not allowed to become ministers.

(Old couples are Li Yuanhong, Yikuang, Zaifeng, Shixu, Natong, Xiliang, Zhou Fu);

(Qi Shuo is Wang Kaiyun and Ma Xiangbo);

(The old people are Xu Shichang, Zhao Erxun, Li Jingxi, Zhang Jian);

As for Wang Zhenyu who was far away in the west of Hunan, Lao Yuan did not forget to confer the honor of Wang Zhenyu, the inspector of Hunan and Guangxi, as a first-class marquis, and his uncle Wang Longzhong, who was on his way back to his hometown to worship his ancestors, was also conferred the title of first-class prince by Lao Yuan.

"Commander, congratulations, Commander, congratulations, Commander, Lao Yuan has granted you a first-class marquis, and your uncle is a first-class prince." Zhang Xueji, who is about to be the deputy commander of the Xianggui Guards, ran into the staff with a telegram from Beijing. They all made fun of Wang Zhenyu.

Regarding the organization of the guards, Zhao Hengti once reached a consensus on behalf of Wang Zhenyu and Cai E, and finally determined a plan, that is, Cai E's troops were called the guards, while Wang Zhenyu's troops continued to use the designation of the Youth Army. .A liaison officer was set up between the two armies, and Zhao Hengti was the liaison officer of the Youth Army.At the same time, the post of Generalissimo Yuan was established above the two armies, and Sun Yat-sen was promoted as Generalissimo, Cen Chunxuan as Deputy Marshal, Liang Qichao as Secretary-General, and Gu Pinzhen as the liaison officer of the Yunnan Army.

In fact, both Cai E and Wang Zhenyu knew in their hearts that everyone was just cooperating to fight Lao Yuan, and no one wanted to command anyone else. As for the commander-in-chief Sun Yat-sen and the deputy commander-in-chief Cen Chunxuan, one wandered around in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the other stayed at home. stay at home.This can be regarded as one of the wonders of the Republic of China.

Chapter 212 The Battle Clouds Are Closing (Part [-])

In the middle of the night of December 12th, after a few days of delay, Wang Zhenyu formally called back to Beijing, refusing to accept the title of first-class marquis, and by the way, even the first-class duke of his uncle Wang Longzhong also expressed his gratitude.

Then on December 12, Wang Zhenyu sent a telegram to the whole country: "Wang is not good at learning, and he reads little, but he knows that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. And Yuan Thief Shikai, the sons of officials and eunuchs for generations, read the books of sages and sages, before seizing power. In the hands of women and children, the country was stolen today. Originally thought that he was in the high position of the president, and he should take the responsibility of the people of the world to reform the government and revitalize China. It is impossible to imagine that this son of a wolf is ambitious and bent on restoring the monarchy. Today, Wang is tian As a patrol envoy in Hunan and Guangxi in the Republic of China, it is natural that he should fight to the end for the Republic of China, at the expense of his own life. Wang is not talented, and when the Spring and Autumn Period is in turmoil and the Republic of China is overthrowing, he will work for the livelihood of the people of the world and the Republic of China. Hundreds of thousands of hot-blooded men from Hunan and Guangxi rode their horses and marched straight to the capital to eradicate Yuan thief for the people and rebuild the republic!"

Compared with Cai E's discussion of Yuan's electronic text, the cadence is full of ups and downs, with both voice and emotion.This telegram drafted by Wang Zhenyu himself is simply nonsense, and Wang Zhenyu also rejected Ye Zuwen's suggestion to find another person to draft it, and sent it out.

The telegram quickly spread across the country and became a positive teaching material for not studying hard, but it was such a blunt and nonsense telegram that Yuan Shikai was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

Yuan Shikai, who was furious at Li Yuanhong's refusal to accept the title of prince, was furious when he saw Wang Zhenyu's nonsensical telegram: "Where is Xiong Bingsan? This is the person he recommends. I should have known what this kid did today." Of course, the old man would not agree to Bing San's letting this son go back to the mountains, and just kill him in Beijing."

At this time, Yuan Keding's falsification of "Shuntian Daily" had been exposed, and he was beaten by the old Yuan for this, and he was no longer in sight.The adjutant could only say softly: "Your Majesty, Mr. Xiong has already fled his family to the Tianjin Concession a few days ago."

Yuan Shikai was furious again when he heard the words: "It seems that they are plotting against me, okay, do you think that the army in my old Yuan's hands is all paper?"

Lao Yuan was really angry, and the entire Beiyang war machine was activated immediately, but it was only at this time that Lao Yuan realized that the money in his hand could not support the war for a long time.Damn, these years have been busy negotiating with Japan, busy preparing to proclaim the emperor, and have not made any war preparations!

Old Yuan was heartbroken and said angrily to the officials: "Vegetarian meal for the corpse, vegetarian meal for the corpse. Yunnan and Xiangxi have prepared everything, but you haven't done anything. How are you going to fight this battle? Tell me, how are you going to fight it?"

Lao Yuan suddenly thought of someone: "Where's Duan Zhiquan (Duan Qirui)? Why didn't he come to see me?"

The adjutant hurriedly said: "Mr. Duan asked for sick leave and refused to come to see His Majesty the Great Emperor."

Yuan Shikai slapped the table and said angrily: "Even he, Duan Zhiquan, came to see our excitement, you go and tell him that this situation, I, Yuan, can do the same thing without anyone, go and get rid of his chief of the army."

Get angry and get angry, and you still have to face the problem in front of you after you get angry.Yuan Shikai is worthy of being a veteran from the army. He tried his best to calm himself down. After calming down, he said to Xu Shichang and others: "The battle is still going to be fought. Pass my order and transfer Cao Kun's third division and Zhang Jingyao's seventh division. The division went to Sichuan to assist Chen Huan in destroying Cai E. If there was not enough troops, he transferred a brigade from the sixth division Ma Jizeng. Wang Zhenyu only had 3 people at most, and he dared to claim [-] like Cai E. I will give it here Long Jiguang issued an order to attack Guangxi. This is the news from the Law Enforcement Office. If it had relied on your Army Department, the situation would have been ruined long ago."

After finishing speaking, Lao Yuan looked at the map and stopped talking, and the ministers around him didn't seem to be in a hurry. Whether it's Yunnan or Xiangxi, how far is it from Beijing?And everyone has always had confidence in the old man. The second revolution will not be too big, and the old man will take care of it in less than two months. This time it is probably the same.Everyone still hurry up and get out, and go to Bada Hutong at night. . .

In fact, not only the people below think this way, but Lao Yuan also has the same idea.But when he took over the information about the local regime in Hunan and Guangxi from Xu Shuzheng, the deputy minister of the army, he looked at it and asked in amazement: "What's the matter? , What about the firepower configuration? How do you work in the Ministry of the Army? Even if you just mess around, you don’t mess around like this. Idiots, a bunch of idiots.”

Xu Shuzheng's days are also sad recently. Ever since Duan Qirui and Lao Yuan got into an awkward situation, he, the army deputy chief, would be scolded whenever he had nothing to do, so he will not be scolded again.Xu Shuzheng felt aggrieved at the moment. Xianggui is like a haunted place. No matter how many people he sends in, they never return. How can he get the information back like this.But when the old man got angry, he naturally didn't dare to speak out, and it was fine to be scolded honestly.

The Hongxian monarchy is indeed a farce. Lao Yuan didn't even finish a lot of basic preparations, so he proclaimed himself emperor under the leadership of Fengtian General Duan Zhigui.The auspicious day for Huang Daoji, who officially ascended the throne, was set on January 1916, 1. Before that, Yuan Shikai decided to hold a congratulatory meeting for all officials, and Yuan Keding would choose the date.Yuan Keding was impatient and said, "Just tomorrow, December 1th will be a good day!"

In the morning of the next day, Yuan Shikai held a congratulatory meeting for all officials in Zhongnanhai.Due to the rush of time and no preparations in advance, the officials who came to congratulate only included officials in Beijing, and none of the local officials participated.The funny thing is that this pilgrimage has neither uniform nor prescribed procedures. Some officials who came to congratulate were dressed in long gowns and mandarin jackets, while others wore suits and dresses. Here we go.

The ceremony was presided over by Duan Zhigui, the "Yuaner" of Emperor Yuan, but what puzzled him was that the emperor ordered him to bow three times during the court congratulations, and he couldn't perform the three prostrations and nine prostrations he imagined, which annoyed him endlessly.At 9:[-] on the same day, under the guidance of four military officers, Yuan Shikai came to Jurentang. However, he did not wear the million-dollar dragon uniform and crown that everyone had guessed, but the military uniform of the Generalissimo. Not even a hat (because he always hated the field marshal's cap with the feathers).However, this made his big head more shiny, as if the purple air was coming from the east, and the sky was full of blessings.

Although the civil and military officials have been divided into shifts, Duan Zhigui is a warrior and doesn't know the rules of emcees. Before Emperor Yuan was seated, he bowed down first, and the others were in a mess during the visit because there was no one to bow. Yes, some bowed down, and some shouted "Long Live the Emperor". They were uneven, so that Emperor Yuan couldn't sit or stand, hesitating for a long time. He just supported the throne dragon chair with his left hand, and turned his palm upward with his right hand. Those who bowed and prostrated nodded their heads.

After the congratulatory ceremony was over, Emperor Yuan asked everyone to disperse and went back to work, and he didn't even invite everyone to a banquet.After everyone walked out of Ju Ren Tang, they came back to their senses: this morning celebration ceremony is too simple and too economical!Just like usual, he seems to be the emperor behind closed doors, sneaky and shady... What's the matter?

But that’s not the case. When Cai E, Tang Jiyao and others raised the banner of "protecting the country" in Yunnan, Yuan Shikai had to postpone the date of enthronement, saying that he would wait until the rebellion was quelled before enthroning. The war between China and the People's Republic of China will not end in a short while. As a result, Yuan Shikai did not officially ascend the throne until his death, and at best he was a "closed emperor".

Even enthronement has become like this, and the counter-insurgency should not be expected to have any clues.Yuan Shikai sighed, could the matter this time really be settled as smoothly as the second revolution?

Unfortunately, Lao Yuan's opponent this time is not Sun Yat-sen. . .

Chapter 213 The Battle Clouds Are Closing ([-])

Beijing, Zhongnanhai Jurentang, Yuan Shikai spent almost all night discussing with his staff the issue of military deployment for the crusade against King Cai's rebellion.But it wasn't until this time that Lao Yuan realized that the Beiyang Army he was proud of had been scattered over the vast southern land.You must know that this situation is a taboo for military strategists. Once you encounter the enemy's superior force, the possibility of being defeated by each one is very high.

The Beiyang division at this time was established by Yuan Shikai based on the establishment of the Japanese army. The division governed the brigade and the brigade governed the regiment. Each division had 1.8 to 2.5 people.5000-8000 people per brigade.

At this moment, there are seven divisions in the Beiyang lineage field troops:

Cai Chengxun, the commander of the first division (concurrently serving as the governor of Rehe), and his troops were stationed in Zhangjiakou;

Wang Zhanyuan, commander of the Second Division (concurrently serving as the governor of Hubei), the troops were stationed in Wuhan;

Cao Kun, the commander of the third division, was stationed in Yuezhou, Hunan (now Yueyang, Hunan);

Yang Shande, the commander of the Fourth Division (concurrently serving as the Songhu Army Envoy), and his troops were stationed in Shanghai;

Zhang Huaizhi, commander of the Fifth Division, was stationed in Zhenjiang;

Ma Jizeng, the commander of the Sixth Division, was stationed in Li County (historically, it was originally stationed in Nanchang, Jiangxi, because of butterflies...) Zhang Jingyao, the commander of the Seventh Division, was stationed in Beijing. In addition, there are also troops such as Li Jincai Gongwei Army and Lu Yongxiang's Tenth Division. Although these troops are organized according to the formal organization, I'm sorry, they are all new troops. If they are pulled up to fight, they may not be able to compare with these seven direct-line old troops.

Now there is a more serious problem facing Lao Yuan, that is, even in the south, the main force of the Beiyang Army is not in Hunan, Sichuan, these provinces facing rebellion, but is concentrated in the Nanjing area.For example, the Fourth Division, Fifth Division, Tenth Division, No.15 Division, and No.16 Division are all stationed in the Yangtze River Delta region at the moment.This presents a very difficult problem. Yuan Shikai didn't know what method to use to transfer these pampered places, and ran to the southwest to fight Cai E and Wang Zhenyu's rebels.You must know that you can get a lot of benefits by staying in Jiangsu and Zhejiang without moving. According to the habits of these soldiers and ruffians, the possibility of disobedience is quite high.

After Wang Shizhen, who is known as the head of the three heroes of Beiyang, told the situation, Yuan Shikai sighed silently. The past few years have been really difficult, and the central government has encountered many financial difficulties. Make money, but don't want to strengthen the arms.And what worries Yuan Shikai the most is that Feng Guozhang has not expressed any opinion on his proclaiming himself emperor. It is very likely that the army under his control will not be activated at all, but will firmly occupy the wealthy places such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai to sit and watch situation.If this is the case, Yuan Shikai felt that he might be in a tragedy.

But Yuan Shikai didn't dare to think badly at this moment. As the core, he had to maintain self-confidence and mystery, otherwise how could the people below have confidence.He pretended to smile and said: "Well, it doesn't look like a big problem. I think the focus of this battle is in Sichuan. As for Hunan, when Wang Zhenyu and his gang of mobs climb out of the valleys in Xiangxi and Guangxi, it is estimated that Cai E It's over. At that time, our China will truly be unified, and everyone will be able to enjoy peace."

Hearing what Lao Yuan said, all the high-level Beiyang executives present laughed easily and knowingly, but such hearty laughter could not dispel the haze in Yuan Shikai's heart.

Just when Beijing was busy dispatching troops and generals, eager to put down the rebellion.Wang Zhenyu, who has no awareness of the rebel leader, has been working continuously for more than ten hours in the large conference room of the General Staff.The large Siemens telegraph machine in the communication group next door kept beeping. From time to time, a staff member rushed in with a telegram and handed it to Chief of Staff Yang Wangui.

"Commander, Xu Yuanquan, the commander of the First Army, has reported that the troops of the First Army have arrived at the designated assembly point, and all the cargo ships of the Xiangxi Development Company Yuanjiang Shipping are also in place. He is asking you for instructions on the next action plan." Mr. Yang Wangui Report honestly.

Wang Zhenyu glanced at the sand table and said with a smile: "Let them act, pay attention to concealment. Also, ask Liu Xing of the Second Army, how far is their preparation work? The inside line from Beijing has sent a very important message Ma Jizeng's Sixth Division lost a brigade, and then Lao Yuan actually asked him to attack Changde, haha, it's a lot of fun now."

Yang Wangui also smiled and said: "According to the information provided by the military intelligence department, the Sixth Division itself is not fully manned, and the actual number of soldiers is less than 5000. This also allocates a team of 5000 people to follow into Sichuan to find Cai E and the others. Yes. Attacking Liu Xing’s 7-strong force with [-] men, and equipped with a large number of heavy equipment, is no different from asking Ma Jizeng to commit suicide.”

Wang Zhenyu nodded and said: "I'm not worried about the Hunan battlefield. The Beiyang Army only has such a small force. Cai E is also well-known, and the impression we gave Lao Yuan is that there are very limited troops in a remote country. Otherwise, they would not come from here. Ma Jizeng sent troops here to attack Changde, and even pointed at these 5000 people to take down the whole of Xiangxi. If it is true that more than 2 Beiyang troops are nested in Li County, I’m afraid it’s really true if we want to take it down The only thing is that it will take a lot of trouble. Now it’s all right, they came out on their own initiative, Liu Xing is going to make a fortune this time. And the third division has also been transferred, Changsha is basically an empty city, and what we really need to guard against at that time is probably Cheng Qian and Lin Xiumei from Shonan."

Yang Wangui also echoed with a smile on his face: "What the commander-in-chief said is true, there is indeed nothing wrong with Hunan. It's just that I have a question about whether it is appropriate for a division of the First Army to undertake the attack mission in the Baoqing area. They are the ones to contact, this is not only a military battle but also a political one, this person is very important."

Wang Zhenyu stood up with his hands behind his back and said: "Let Tao Zhiyue lead the troops. After much deliberation, he is the most suitable one. Where is their first division now?"

Yang Wangui looked at the sand table and said: "The assembly has been completed in Jingzhou. According to the original battle plan, they will board the ship after the battle in Changde, and then divide into two groups, going straight to Suining and the entrance of the cave."

Wang Zhenyu nodded: "Let Yang Yongtai go with Tao Zhiyue. If Secretary-General Yang is on this errand, there will be no deviation. I am most worried about Guangxi. Although it is not a tough battle with Long Jiguang, but But be careful, Sun Wen and the others have been operating in Guangdong for many years, and let Delin and Jiansheng cheer up, don't play until the end and get Long Jiguang to make wedding dresses for others."