Beiyang reactionaries

It was mainly a war between the Northern Army and the Southern Army.

This is true of the Second Revolution, the War to Protect the Country, and the War to Protect the Law.But judging from the current situation, the southern army was beaten badly during the law protection war.Duan Xun expelled Tang Jiyao, Liu Xianshi, and Wang Wenhua from the three provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou.Some of them took refuge in Sun Yat-sen, and some took refuge in Lu Rongting.

Moreover, in the Hunan War last year, the three armies of Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi suffered heavy losses.If it weren't for Wu Peifu's sudden decision to cease the war and negotiate a peace, the Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi armies would not even have a foothold now.

The southern army currently only controls Guangdong and Guangxi.

The southern army began to decline, and the conflict between the North and the South was no longer the mainstream.Now the biggest contradiction is within the Beiyang Army. The contradiction between the Zhiwan and Anhui factions is becoming more and more intense, and it is really possible to fight.If this really breaks out, it will be the first internal military confrontation since the establishment of the Beiyang Army.

"Yes."

For the Beiyang Army to fight, Duan Xun had long been mentally prepared, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.

The conflict between the two parties has become irreconcilable.Wu Guangxin entered Henan, which intensified everyone's conflicts.Cao Kun was not to be outdone, and now asked Wu Peifu's troops to retreat.There is absolutely no room for turning things around.

"There will be a fight. I just don't know when it will be. Hopefully it won't be when the 'Paris Peace Conference' isn't going well."

Duan Xun also had a headache.

There is only one thing Duan Xun is most worried about now.That is, once there is bad news from the Paris Peace Conference, it will inevitably anger all walks of life in China who currently place high hopes on the Paris Peace Conference.It is inevitable that something similar to the May [-]th Movement will happen.There will definitely be an anti-Japanese wave in China.

If Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin use this as an excuse to fight Duan Qirui at that time, then the Anhui faction will really be at an absolute disadvantage in terms of public opinion.After all, the whole country now knows that the Anhui family is close to Japan. How many times Duan Qirui has been scolded as a "traitor" by the newspapers over the years is all because of his relationship with Japan.

Once there is an anti-Japanese wave in the country, it will also affect Duan Xun.

After all, Duan Xun is also an Anhui warlord and has a close relationship with Japan.Regardless of whether it is military or economic, it has a deep relationship with Japan.Public opinion is not an easy thing to grasp.I have offended the British. When the time comes, the major newspapers will unanimously criticize Duan Qirui, criticize the Anhui clique for betraying sovereignty, and criticize the Anhui clique for being pro-Japanese. I will not be able to escape.

"General, we can't let Cao Kun and the others take the initiative at this time."

"En? Brother Changqing, what do you think should be done?"

"Speed ​​up the war in Guangdong and Guangxi. Wu Peifu's troops are currently retreating, but depending on the situation, they don't want to hand over the position to us or to Hunan Governor Zhang Jingyao. Then there is only one possibility. Wu Peifu should have reached some agreement with Tan Yankai. The Hengyang area is going to be handed over to Tan Yankai. I heard that Zhang Qikai, the former director of Hunan Military Affairs Department, Tan Yankai's classmate and Tan Yankai's staff, has already transferred to Wu Peifu and served as Wu Peifu's staff. The relationship between Wu Peifu and Tan Yankai is too ambiguous. This time the Hengyang area must be controlled by Tan Yankai."

Duan Xun nodded.

Since Wu Peifu stationed troops in Hengyang, he has been flirting with the troops from Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi.Especially getting along very well with Tan Yankai's Hunan Army.If it weren't for this, with Wu Peifu's strength, it would be a breeze to destroy the Hunan Army.

However, the Hunan Army has been recovering its strength in Guiyang and Chenzhou.

When Wu Peifu withdrew his troops this time, he didn't even say hello to Duan Xun and Zhang Jingyao at all, and he didn't have any plans to discuss it. The meaning was very clear.He wanted to give up Hengyang to Tan Yankai.

"General, that's Hengyang. To the west you can attack Baoqing, to the east you can contain Liling, and to the north are Xiangtan and Changsha. How could Zhang Jingyao see the Hengyang area fall into the hands of Tan Yankai? Then there must be another battle. Wu Peifu His dedication is evident.”

Hunan Army.

Although they were beaten almost to death last year, there were only a few thousand soldiers left in the end.However, after a year of revision, the army was expanded again by more than 1 people.Although the strength is average, this is Hunan.

No matter how you say it, the Hunan Army is fighting at home.

Release the Hunan Army, and hand over such an important place as Hengyang to the Hunan Army. This is to use the Hunan Army to contain Zhang Jingyao and Duan Xun.Wu Peifu's method is not a very clever method, but it is a very effective method.

One can disrupt the situation in Hunan.

"If we let it go, Zhang Jingyao and the Hunan Army will inevitably have a big battle. No matter who wins at that time, it will be very bad for us. Zhang Jingyao wins, then he will control Hengyang, and continue to control Guiyang and Chenzhou. It will be a great increase in strength. He will definitely ask us for Xiangxi. Without the restraint of the Hunan Army and Wu Peifu's troops, Duan Hefei may not support us to stay in Hunan, and maybe he will order us to hand over Xiangxi to the Zhang Jingyao. Similarly, if the Hunan Army wins, once they drive straight to threaten Changsha, or even capture Changsha. Then the Hunan Army will inevitably increase in momentum and will drive us out. After all, it is Hunan, even if we have It is a very good rule, but we are still not justified in the face of the Hunan Army."

Listening to Yang Yongtai's analysis, Duan Xun's expression became more and more serious.

Said it right.

Originally, the four troops of Zhang Jingyao, Duan Xun, Wu Peifu, and the Hunan Army maintained a balance in Hunan.But now Wu Peifu suddenly wants to withdraw to the north, giving up Hengyang, an important place.At that time, whether it is Zhang Jingyao's victory or the Hunan Army's victory, it will not be of any benefit to Duan Xun.

"Then you mean..."

"Don't let them lead you by the nose. General, since Wu Peifu wants Hunan to be chaotic, so as to contain the general and Zhang Jingyao. Then we should take the initiative to make the whole south chaotic, and follow Hunan to make the situation worse. It is so chaotic that no one can see clearly. I have already contacted the people at Chen Jiongming's side. Chen Jiongming does have the idea of ​​recovering Guangdong. It's just that Lu Rongting's Guangxi Army and the Guangdong Army troops stationed in Guangdong are not very sure, so That’s why he didn’t dare to move. Recently, Chen Jiongming wants to expand his army and prepare for war, but he lacks weapons. If we support him with some weapons, or sell him some weapons, and we force Guangxi in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan, then Chen Jiongming will definitely Do it. As long as Guangdong and Guangxi fight, it will affect the entire provinces in the southeast region, and then the entire south region will be chaotic. At that time, we don’t know who will contain who. General, in the current situation, only chaos is in our best interest. At that time, public opinion would not focus on the Paris Peace Conference, nor would it only focus on Japan, but would pay more attention to the war. And the chaos, the higher ups have no air control over our actions. Because the more chaotic, the higher ups need us more, At that time, we can only give us the greatest power, so that we can act at will."

Duan Xun nodded slowly.

Yang Yongtai's meaning is very clear.What is public opinion, public opinion is what is the most popular, and they pay attention to what.If there is a war together, then everyone's attention will be on both sides of the war, and there will be no time to pay attention to the Paris Peace Conference.In this way, the anti-Japanese sentiment will be slightly lowered, and the pressure of public opinion on Duan Xun's side will be much less.Now both the Zhiwan and Anhui factions are sharpening their swords, but neither side is ready, so there is no fight.

But as long as they are ready, the two sides will inevitably fight.

At that time, Duan Xun, as a general of the Anhui Clique, could only passively participate in the war and passively accept Duan Qirui's orders.This is not good for Duan Xun.Now Duan Xun is a wolf looking for prey everywhere, and he is very powerful.However, he is subject to various names, so he dare not act rashly.

At this time, only when the world is in chaos and everyone fights, can Duan Xun show his strength without any scruples.Only when there is chaos, Duan Qirui will give Duan Xun more power in order to stabilize the situation.

"Okay. Mobilize all the newspapers we can control, and severely criticize Guangdong and Guangxi patrol envoy Lu Rongting for planting opium in Guangxi in the name of the Southwest Anti-smoking Supervision Office and conniving at the opium flood. I will increase some troops on the borders of Yunnan and Guangxi, Guizhou and Guangxi, and Hunan and Guangxi. , create a tense atmosphere."

Duan Xun didn't care whether Lu Rongting grew opium or not.And even if Lu Rongting really grows opium, the scale will not be very large.Because the climate in Guangxi is not suitable for opium cultivation.Not only in Guangxi, but also in Hunan and Hubei.Even if opium is grown, the output of opium is not too high.Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou are the best places to grow opium.

But these Duan Xun don't care at all.

Duan Hoon just to create some tension.The last time Duan Xun criticized opium vigorously in the newspaper was to drive away Tang Jiyao.At that time, Duan Xun mobilized public opinion to criticize Tang Jiyao as an opium dealer, and then sent troops to Yunnan.

This time too.

Wantonly create public opinion and tension, making everyone think that Duan Xun is going to fight Lu Rongting and contain Lu Rongting's army.Support Chen Jiongming from the side, so that Chen Jiongming can act boldly in Guangdong with confidence.

"Yes."

"Then continue to contact Chen Jiongming and tell them that I support them in taking back Guangdong. As for the issue of arms, you don't need to talk to them, I will arrange it."

"it is good."

"As long as there is chaos in Guangdong, I would like to see how the Hunan Army will choose. Zhang Jingyao can defeat the Hunan Army in Hunan, but the Hunan Army cannot defeat Zhang Jingyao."

Zhang Jingyao?Hunan Army?

If Duan Xun is allowed to choose, Zhang Jingyao would rather win.It's not because Duan Xun likes Zhang Jingyao, but because Duan Xun is least afraid of Zhang Jingyao.It was easy to expel Zhang Jingyao, but it was more difficult to expel Tan Yankai and Zhao Hengti of the Hunan Army.

The chaos in Guangdong and Guangxi will inevitably involve the energy of the Hunan Army.It will also contain Chen Guangyuan in Jiangxi, and it will also affect places like Fujian and Zhejiang.

The chaos in the southeastern region is likely to be a fuse.Maybe the Zhiwan War will be fought in advance.But Duan Xun has not considered this point.

So this is not something Duan Xun can decide.For his own benefit, Duan Xun can only let the southeastern provinces fight first.

"Since Prime Minister Duan asked me to continue serving as the temporary governor of Shaanxi, it seems that I have to have a good talk with Hu Jingyi."

208 win

"Mr. Hu, have you received the weapon?"

"Yes."

Duan Xun's first batch of weapons has been sent to Xi'an, equipped with Hu Jingyi's First Division of the Shaanxi Army.However, the number of the first batch of weapons is not very large, at most it can equip half of the first division of Hu Jingyi's Shaanxi Army.

It's not that Duan Xun doesn't have a weapon in his hand.

At present, there are tens of thousands of rifles backlogged in Han Linchun's hands, and there are all types of rifles.Including machine guns and cannons, it is not a problem to equip a Shaanxi army unit.Moreover, the Sichuan Arsenal keeps producing weapons every month, Duan Xun currently has no shortage of weapons at all.But Duan Xun couldn't change all of them at once.