Beiyang reactionaries

It was at this time that Jiang Hongyu came to Sichuan.

Duan Xun also had to think about what to do now.

"Chasing Chen Heng in the north and rejecting Cai E in the south."

Yang Wei only said eight words.Then he explained: "In Sichuan now, although there are various factions of troops and various forces gathered, in fact, there are only three groups of people who can determine the ownership of Sichuan and determine the future of Sichuan."

"Chen Heng, Cai E, and the general. Chen Heng is senior and influential, and he is also Yuan Shikai's confidant. Cai E holds great righteousness in his hands. Now the national protection of the country is the mainstream, and opposing Yuan is the mainstream. The general holds the name, Possess strength. Some other forces, such as the Sichuan recruitment army led by Xiong Kewu and Dan Maoxin, have a large number of people and have enough influence, but their weapons and equipment are backward and their strength is too weak. Moreover, Xiong Kewu and the others are currently located in a remote place in Syria The local area was suppressed by the general's troops, so it couldn't affect the overall situation in Sichuan. Zhou Jun of the Sichuan Army's First Division swayed left and right, double-sided, and betrayed the Southwest Revolutionary Party several times. The reputation is too bad. And the troops have not been replenished. , the logistics were controlled by the general, and there was no counterattack. The Zhong Tidao Sichuan Army Second Mixed Brigade stationed in Shunqing had some strength, but Zhong Tidao himself had too little influence in Sichuan, and the number of troops was less than 3000, so it was not decisive. strength. Other scattered armaments are simply insignificant."

Duan Xun nodded.

Agree with Yang Wei's analysis.Today's Sichuan is largely a game between the National Defense Army, Yuan Shikai, and Duan Qirui.Yuan Shikai supported Chen Heng, Cai E represented the National Defense Army, and Duan Qirui supported Duan Xun.

On the small side, of course it is a contest between Chen Heng, Cai E, and Duan Xun.

Each of the three has advantages.

Chen Heng has deep qualifications and a great reputation, and he is also a justifiable Sichuan patrol envoy.And Cai E represents the current trend, that is, protecting the country and opposing Yuan.Regardless of the number of reasons behind the war to protect the country, it is now the mainstream of the country to protect the country and oppose Yuan, which is politically correct.In other words, Cai E holds a righteous name.

And Duan Xun is a powerful faction.

First of all, Duan Xun has a reputation. He is a serious Sichuan governor appointed by the Beijing government and has the right to manage all the troops in Sichuan.The important thing is that Duan Xun holds the army in his hands, and holds most of the current army in Sichuan, so Duan Xun has sufficient strength.

"Yuan Shikai is too busy to take care of himself now, and it is impossible to support Chen Heng. And even if he supports Chen Heng, Beijing and Chengdu are thousands of miles away, and there is no real help. In addition, Shang Zhen's troops have already controlled Chengdu, so Chen Heng is very important to the general. It's useless. Taking advantage of this opportunity to drive Chen Heng out of Sichuan is the best plan. Otherwise, Zhou Jun's First Division of the Sichuan Army, the Sichuan Frontier Patrol Team, and some militia groups from various places may surround Chen Heng in order to survive. Hang by his side, to fight against the general. So now we must get rid of Chen Heng as soon as possible."

"Another one is Cai E. At present, the national defense movement is in full swing, and all parts of Sichuan are ready to move. There are many small troops in the east and north of Sichuan under the banner of the national defense army. As long as Cai E's troops are still in Sichuan, these people will not It will stop. But in the same way, as long as Cai E's troops are trapped in Yong'an, then these people will not be really singled out, and there will be no climate. Look at Zhong Tidao of the Second Mixed Brigade of the Sichuan Army. It looks like they want to support the National Defense Army. But Cai E's troops have been silent since they failed repeatedly in Naxi."

"Then what do you mean?"

It's easy to say, but how to expel Chen Heng and Cai E.Chen Heng is a justifiable patrol envoy in Sichuan, and Cai E is stationed in Yong'an as the main force of the national defense army. If you want to expel them, you need a name.Without a name, they cannot be expelled.

"Expel Chen Heng in the name of being the culprit of Yuan Shikai's imperial regime."

"The culprit of the imperial system?"

"Yes. The general was born in the Beiyang Army, and he has a close relationship with Chief Duan. He is closely connected with the Beiyang Army, so there are some aspects that should be taboo. But there are also some things that need to be expressed. For example, don't say anything against Yuan Shikai. Many generals loyal to Yuan Shikai in the Beiyang Army will be dissatisfied. Therefore, the general should turn the topic around and criticize Yuan Shikai's ascension to the throne because he was bewitched by villains like Chen Heng, so he was temporarily deluded and made a big mistake. Make him the culprit of the imperial system, and then drive him away. In this way, we can show that we are also against the imperial system, but we can also tell many people in the Beiyang Army that we are not against Yuan Shikai.”

Duan Xun couldn't help showing a smile on his face as he listened.

These scholars are really powerful. With just one mouth and a touch of their lips, they can tell the dead to be alive, and the living to be dead.In fact, no one in Sichuan knows that Chen Heng is a vacillating guy.Have been waiting for the development of the situation.

So he is showing favor on both sides.

While flattering Yuan Shikai, he kept in touch with the National Defense Army.Even if Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor, even if Chen Heng had some bad effects, he was at most a coercion, not the mastermind.But according to Yang Wei's approach, Chen Heng was really nailed to the pillar of shame in history.And how well said.

Not against Yuan Shikai, but against Yuan Shikai's imperial system.And it's not to criticize Yuan Shikai's accession to the throne, but to criticize the villain for blinding Yuan Shikai.Who is this villain, that is Chen Heng.

It's right and wrong, no one can offend, so Chen Heng was beaten alone.

"Okay. Brother Xinye (Yang Wei), help me draft a telegram now. Remember to narrow the scope and focus all the firepower on Chen Heng, but don't involve other people."

"I know."

When Yuan Shikai ascended the throne, I don't know how many generals of the Beiyang Army persuaded him to enter.If you get them all out, Duan Xun will have to peel off his skin if he is not dead.Duan Xun's target is only Chen Heng.

Therefore, as long as Chen Heng is labeled as a treacherous villain who deceived Yuan Shikai to ascend the throne, and as a treacherous minister beside Yuan Shikai, then Duan Xun wants to see if Chen Heng still has the face to stay in Chengdu.Does he even have the guts to stay in Chengdu.

"So what about Cai E?"

"Dian soil."

"Dian soil?"

"Opium. Now the National Defense Movement is in full swing and has become a general trend. As the so-called historical trend is mighty, those who follow it prosper and those who oppose it perish. If we insist on fighting against the National Defense Army at this time, we must insist on fighting against Cai E's When the Yunnan army fights, we will be at a disadvantage in public opinion. Especially Cai E, as one of the initiators of the movement to protect the country, has now been called a great hero of the Republic by many people in the country. Once the movement to protect the country is complete, don’t Whether it is the government above or the public opinion, there must be an explanation, and Chief Duan cannot easily arrange Cai E. Therefore, as long as Cai E is still in Sichuan, then Chief Duan will not let him leave Sichuan, and wants to drive him out of southern Sichuan There will be many problems. Maybe Cai E’s troops will be stationed in southern Sichuan from now on. Therefore, we can’t collide head-on and have to go around. Since the Yunnan army entered Sichuan, because of the lack of military pay, they have directly used Yunnan soil (opium) as currency , even after entering Sichuan, I suddenly had a lot of Yunnan soil in Sichuan. Most of them were sold to the locals by these National Defense Army soldiers."

Duan Xun understood what Yang Wei meant.

In the movement to protect the country, Duan Xun is also in a dilemma.After all, he is the Beiyang Army, and he fought several battles with the National Defense Army in Sichuan.At this time, if I jumped out and said that I supported the National Defense Movement, not only the National Defense Army would not accept it, but the Beiyang Army would also be angry.This is a worst decision.

In history, those who chose this path, regardless of whether it was Chen Heng or Tang Xiangming, were abandoned by both of them in the end and became bereaved dogs.Because no group likes someone who swings from side to side at critical moments, and who is double-faced.

But head-to-head with the National Defense Army?

This is not what it was a few months ago.The national defense movement can be said to have achieved a general trend. Although the strength of the national defense army is still average, the general trend of the world is like this.Once the general trend is established, even a weak force can sweep the world.

This is the case with the current national defense movement.

It would be very unwise for Duan Xun to directly oppose the National Defense Movement and continue to fight against the National Defense Army.Maybe he will be criticized by the public opinion of the world and scolded by the people of the world.Even Cao Kun, Yuan Shikai's most direct descendant, and Zhang Jingyao, who was the most active in the national defense war, are now shrinking their heads.

Since it doesn't work, it can only take a roundabout way.The means used are relatively despicable means.If I don't want to collide with you head-on, I will discredit you.Of course, it's not aimless smearing, but you do have black spots.

This is a typical trend of avoiding key points, avoiding the general trend of protecting the country, and looking for details to discredit you as a whole. As the saying goes, attacking one point is not as good as the rest.

"No matter what happens below, we Chinese are all opposed to opium on the surface, and no one dares to say that they support the opium trade. Although the top and bottom of the Yunnan Army know it, or because the top level of the Yunnan Army has no money, they use Yunnan soil is used as military salary. But this kind of thing can only be understood but not spoken, and it must not be known to others. We will attack them on this point, saying that they use Yunnan soil to harm Sichuan. The money from selling Yunnan soil is regarded as military expenses. Rule Sichuan. Form public opinion and force Cai E's Yunnan army to withdraw from southern Sichuan."

Hit the nail on the head.

Yang Wei looks at the problem and solves the problem so sharply.The expulsion of Chen Heng, the expulsion of Cai E, and Yang Wei are all so fatal.It was the famous family who directly grabbed the two people and hit them hard, making them unable to defend themselves and escape.Duan Xun was very happy in his heart, no wonder Yang Wei was hailed as a Sichuan wizard.See how this person solved the problem.

When Duan Xun entered Sichuan, he was more prepared to use his own strength and Duan Qirui's support.

But Yang Wei didn't use hard methods, he just used public opinion and pens to make you notorious for thousands of years.But such a pen is sometimes more powerful and influential than a gun.

"Okay. I will immediately contact the newspapers in Chengdu and Chongqing, and I will also call Chief Duan. I hope the newspapers in the Jiangnan area will follow suit."

Use public opinion to bury you, use public opinion to persecute you.

Cai E is a person who cares about face. If he knows that the Yunnan Army he leads has become a stain on the National Defense Army, then he will definitely withdraw from southern Sichuan to show that he has no ambitions.

"As long as the two of them are dealt with, we can slowly deal with the First Division of the Sichuan Army and the Second Mixed Brigade of the Sichuan Army. For them, I have a few words for the general. Divide the troops, eliminate high-level officers, and recruit young officers."

"kindness."

Duan Xun nodded.

The strength of the Sichuan army is average. As long as Duan Xun controls Sichuan, it is relatively simple to solve the problem of the Sichuan army.Speaking of which, the strongest Sichuan army should be the previous Sichuan Second Division, but it has been directly annihilated by Duan Xun.Now the remaining troops of the Sichuan Army, the First Division of the Sichuan Army and the Second Mixed Brigade of the Sichuan Army add up to less than 5000 people.

Eliminate the top leaders of the Sichuan Army, dismantle and reorganize the Sichuan Army troops, and recruit young officers at the grassroots level.

"Brother Xinye, what about Xiong Kewu and Dan Maoxin?"

"talk."

"negotiation?"

"Yes. Xiong Kewu is a good general. If he uses it well, he must be a famous general in our Sichuan Army. As for Dan Maoxin, he is very smart, very powerful, capable of both literature and martial arts, and is a rare all-rounder in Sichuan. And Xiong Kewu has many under his command. The military officers are all very capable. Moreover, Xiong Kewu himself has a high reputation in Sichuan and can influence a large number of young revolutionaries. If the two of them are willing to defect to the general, then the whole of Sichuan will really be under the general’s control.”

"Okay. Brother Xinye, you are familiar with them, write a letter to them, I want to negotiate with them in person."