Beiyang reactionaries

Cao Kun and Duan Xun.

The two best performers in this battle to protect the country.For Duan Qirui, he opposed Yuan Shikai's proclaiming emperor, but he also opposed the National Guards.Of course, Duan Qirui himself is also in contact with the National Defense Army.

But if there is a connection, it is a connection, or against them.

If Duan Qirui wants to go out, he must suppress the National Defense Army.To suppress the National Defense Army, Hunan and Sichuan are the two most important provinces.Of course, Duan Qirui wanted to use the two best-performing armies in the War to Protect the Country.

The Third Division of the Beiyang Army and the No.17 Division of the Beiyang Army.

Cao Kun and Duan Xun.

"Solve the troubles of the National Defense Army, and then it's our own business. Zhi Lao, don't look at Feng Hejian (Feng Guozhang)'s bluff now, many generals agree with him. In fact, many of our generals are waiting for your statement. As long as When Zhilao came out of the mountain, many people would listen to you immediately. Everyone was waiting, and everyone was trying to be more patient. Feng Hejian was impatient, so he jumped out first, but he would be at a disadvantage."

This is not Xu Shuzheng bragging.

But Duan Qirui is indeed so powerful.When Duan Qirui was the chief of the army, how many officers were promoted, and how many of them are now local governors.Everyone thought that Duan Qirui was the president after Yuan Shikai, so Duan Qirui had many generals on his side.Including the "Five Generals" who generated electricity with Feng Guozhang, the Shandong general Jin Yunpeng in it is Duan Qirui's direct descendant.

In addition to Jin Yunpeng, Duan Zhigui, Governor of Hubei, Wang Zhanyuan, Office of the Hubei Military Affairs Council, Zhang Jingyao, Commander of the Seventh Division, and Ni Sichong, Governor of Anhui, are all direct generals of Duan Qirui.When Duan Qirui came out of the mountain, Feng Guozhang's momentum would be halved immediately.

And Xu Shuzheng despised Feng Guozhang.

Everyone opposed Yuan Shikai becoming emperor, but Duan Qirui was able to calm down and kept watching.It was still Feng Guozhang who couldn't hold back and was the first to jump out.When Feng Guozhang jumped out like this, he was at a disadvantage.

Although Yuan Shikai is surrounded by enemies on all sides, he is the founder of the current Beiyang Army after all.It still has enough influence for the Beiyang Army.Even if there were people in the Beiyang Army who opposed Yuan Shikai's becoming emperor, they were all obedient and obedient, and Feng Guozhang was the first to publicly jump out.In a country like China that emphasizes "loyalty, filial piety and righteousness", no matter how despicable you are, you must be despicable secretly.As a general who was single-handedly selected by Yuan Shikai, he would not be praised if he publicly opposed Yuan Shikai.It is precisely because of this that Xu Shuzheng made fun of Feng Guozhang.Duan Qirui just took advantage of this opportunity and returned to the central organization justifiably.

"De Gong (Duan Xun), isn't he too young?"

"The performance of the Sichuan war is so good that it cannot be justified without rewards. Moreover, Sichuan is very important. If there is meritorious service, the Yunnan army cannot enter Sichuan. Otherwise, the control of Sichuan will not be in our hands."

Duan Qirui nodded.

He quickly said: "Okay, again. You can call back the president now and let me go out. The government must become a responsible cabinet system, and I will be the prime minister."

"Yes."

On March 1916, 3, the day after Yuan Shikai abolished the imperial system, Yuan Shikai appointed Duan Qirui as chief of staff.Verbally agreed to Duan Qirui's proposal to restore the responsible cabinet system.

After Duan Qirui became chief of staff, he immediately ordered Cao Kun to lead his third division, Wu Peifu's sixth brigade, and Zhang Jingyao's seventh division's Wu Xintian No.14 brigade to sit in Hunan, command the Hunan and Hubei troops, and block the National Defense Army.Duan Xun was appointed as the office of the Sichuan Military Affairs Committee, responsible for reorganizing and commanding the remaining Sichuan army and defending Cai E.

67 integration

Duan Qirui is interesting enough.

Just came out of the mountain and issued several orders one after another.The first order was to let Duan Xun serve as the office of the Sichuan Military Affairs Committee, organize the current Sichuan defense line, and continue to defend Cai E's National Defense Army.Of course, Duan Qirui's telegram to Duan Xun also mentioned one person, that is the current Chengwu General Chen Heng.Duan Qirui asked Duan Xun to look at Chen Heng, not to let Chen Heng fall to the National Defense Army, and absolutely not to let the situation in Sichuan rot.If possible, Duan Qirui hopes that Duan Xun will counterattack the Yunnan Army and drive the Yunnan Army out of Sichuan.But Duan Xun can only feel sorry for Duan Qirui.

Chen Heng is not the only one who wants to cease fighting with the National Defense Army, and Duan Xun does not want to fight with the National Defense Army now.Duan Xun wants to drive away Cai E, but not now.Now the National Defense Army can't suffer too much defeat, and Cai E's troops can't leave Sichuan yet.

What made Duan Xun most happy about Duan Qirui was that he transferred Cao Kun out of Sichuan.Duan Qirui appointed Cao Kun as the commander-in-chief of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The headquarters was placed in Yuezhou, Hunan, and he was in charge of the current Beiyang Army troops in Sichuan, Hunan, and Hubei.

At present, Cao Kun in Sichuan only has Wu Peifu's sixth brigade. When he left Sichuan, he took the sixth brigade and Wu Xintian's thirteenth brigade with him.

Without the troops of these two brigades, Duan Xun didn't care at all.If the National Defense Army was strong, without these two brigades, Duan Xun might worry that he would not have enough troops.But now both the Yunnan Army and the Guizhou Army were directly defeated by Duan Xun, and the Dian Army and the Guizhou Army suffered huge losses. The loss of two brigades did not affect Duan Xun's deployment in Sichuan.

In comparison, Cao Kun's departure from Sichuan gave Duan Xun a huge opportunity.

With Cao Kun here, Duan Xun can't do anything.After all, that was Cao Kun, the leader of the Beiyang Army, whose qualifications were comparable to Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang, and whose status far surpassed that of Duan Xun.As long as Cao Kun is in Sichuan, Duan Xun must obey Cao Kun.Because Cao Kun not only has deep qualifications, but also has military strength.Duan Xun could not give Chen Heng any face, but he had to obey Cao Kun's orders.Cao Kun stayed in Chongqing and trapped Duan Xun in Luzhou.

Now that Cao Kun is leaving, Duan Xun is relieved.Before Cao Kun left, Duan Xun was going to defend Chongqing.Before leaving, Duan Xun had to make all the arrangements.

"Li Jishen."

"arrive."

"Appoint you as the guard envoy of southern Sichuan, and at the same time serve as the commander-in-chief of Naxi defense. After I leave Luzhou, I will continue to keep an eye on Cai E's Yunnan army."

"Yes."

"Wan Xuancai."

"arrive."

"Appoint you as the deputy commander-in-chief of the defense of Naxi, and lead your 69th and [-]th regiments to switch defenses."

"Yes."

Cai E's Yunnan army is now at a standstill.

But Duan Xun didn't dare to be careless at all.After all, that is Cai E, who still has more than 7000 people in his hands.Now Cai E is repairing in Yongning, and he also asked Yunnan to make supplements.When the replenishment is completed and the repairs are completed, it is estimated that tens of thousands of people can be in hand again. At that time, Cai E may have to go north.

Therefore, Duan Xun still dare not be careless in Naxi.

Leave heavy troops behind for defense.Let Li Jishen's 67th regiment, Wan Xuancai's 69th regiment, Fang Dingying's artillery regiment, Tang Shengzhi's machine gun brigade, and Duan Yong's Luzhou garrison regiment all stay in Luzhou.

Here Duan Xun still maintains an army of about 3000 people.

"Song Tiancai."

"arrive."

"Take your regiment to Syria to take over the Shangzhen No. 60 Eighth Regiment. I appoint you as the commander of the Syria garrison to guard against Xiong Kewu's National Protector Sichuan Army."

"Yes."

Let Shang Zhen suddenly go south to occupy Syria, in order to deal Cai E the final blow.But Zigong and Neijiang occupied by Shang Zhen are the most important places.That place is not only the location of Sichuan Salt, but also Chengdu as long as it goes north, which is a very important chess piece for Duan Xun.So let Shang Zhen go back.

However, although Liu Yunfeng's first echelon regiment of the Yunnan Army left Syria, there was still Xiong Kewu's 5000-member Huguochuan Army in Syria.Although this army lacks weapons and ammunition, it is still a force of [-] people.

Therefore, Duan Xun asked Song Tiancai to be stationed in Syria to monitor Xiong Kewu's Huguochuan Army.

"Xu Yongchang."

"arrive."

"Leave to Syria to serve as the temporary brigade commander of the Fourth Mixed Brigade, and bring the Fourth Mixed Brigade to Chongqing."

"Yes."

After appointing Duan Xun as the office of the Sichuan Military Affairs Committee and Cao Kun as the commander-in-chief of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Duan Qirui also punished some generals who performed poorly in the war.Among them is Feng Yuxiang, who was about to collapse in western Hunan, and Wu Xiangzhen, the commander of the fourth mixed brigade who lost Syria.Duan Qirui dismissed Wu Xiangzhen as the commander of the Fourth Mixed Brigade and let the Fourth Mixed Brigade accept Duan Xun's command.As for Wu Xiangzhen, he went to Beijing to stand by.

In fact, the fourth mixed brigade is said to be a mixed brigade, but now there are less than 2000 people left, which is not as good as an ordinary brigade.But even so, this unit is after all a Beiyang Army unit that has fought for many years.Duan Xun wants to gather this army as soon as possible.

And more importantly, this is a well-organized unit, a unit that can get military pay from the Ministry of War.So let his direct descendant, also his student Xu Yongchang, go to Syria to gather this army.

"Liu Xiang, Yu Xuezhong."

"arrive."

"Take the [-]th Regiment and the Independent Regiment to follow me into Chongqing."