Beiyang reactionaries

Lu Rongting is a hero.

Although he was caught off guard by Duan Xun before, he not only lost Guangxi, but also lost Lianzhou, Leizhou, and Qiongya (Hainan).But when Duan Xun is needed, he can bow to Duan Xun without hesitation.

Why is Lu Rongting's army and Chen Jiongming's Cantonese army just confronting each other? It has been a long time since there has been a real fight.

the reason is simple.

The two sides fought the war for more than a month, with heavy casualties.The war casualties in Guangdong alone were more than those in the entire Zhiwan War, even several times.Adding up the two sides, there were more than 6000 casualties alone.Not to mention various other losses.

But compared to the casualties, the biggest problem for both sides is actually the lack of ammunition.

Neither side expected that the Guangdong-Guangxi War would be so fierce.The two sides fought for more than a month, and almost all the ammunition in reserve was shot out.Both sides are now accumulating strength, mainly in the purchase and manufacture of ammunition.Lu Rongting understands that there are not many arsenals in China that can manufacture ammunition.

Not to mention the arsenal that makes guns.

The two most powerful arsenals, Hanyang Arsenal and Sichuan Arsenal, are in the hands of Duan Xun. Even the Henan Gongxian Arsenal built by Yuan Shikai for the Beiyang Army is also under Duan Xun's control.

Want a gun?Want to shoot?Want ammo?

In the current situation where the great powers have imposed an arms blockade on China, it is the easiest thing to find Duan Xun.

Before that, Lu Rongting had been saving money to prepare for military expansion.But just relying on Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, and Shaozhou to support more than 6 troops is itself relatively difficult.Fortunately, now Duan Xun made the move and took Guan Yu back.

If I also get the customs clearance of Guangdong Customs, then I will not be short of money immediately.

To expand the army, to buy arms.

The first thing Lu Rongting thought of was Duan Xun.The two sides fought before, but now everyone has ceased fighting. It is normal to buy weapons from Duan Xun.Anyway, Lu Rongting didn't think there was any problem.

248 Arms Trading

"Lu Yongxiang wants to buy weapons again?"

"Yes."

On September 1919, 9, two divisions of the Mongolian Army Corps stationed in Yulin set off from Yulin to Kulun.It's just that although it's not a secret, it didn't yell loudly, it just set off very calmly.Duan Xun didn't say much, so not many people paid attention to things in the north.In other words, everyone simply doesn't have the energy to pay attention to the north.

In the past few days, the most concerned thing in the whole country is the matter of Guan Yu.

This matter has gone big.

From the beginning of September, Duan Xun's people had several talks with the British, French, American and Japanese diplomatic missions, until September 9th the two parties formally reached an agreement.During this period of time, all the people in the country paid attention to this matter.

Because the number of customs clearance is not small.

After being divided up by the local government, those warlords with excellent customs will greatly increase in power, which can be regarded as a new distribution of power.

Jin Yunpeng issued successive orders in the name of the Prime Minister, stating that the Beijing government does not recognize the contracts signed between local governments and diplomatic missions of foreign powers.Strongly stated that Guanyu can only be used by the Beijing government, and only the Beijing government has the right to control and use it.

Warn local governments that any contracts signed with diplomatic missions without authorization will not have legal effect.If you insist on going your own way, the cabinet will definitely punish you.

But to no avail.

Duan Xun and the others ignored Jin Yunpeng at all, and the diplomatic missions of the great powers even ignored Jin Yunpeng.Jin Yunpeng used to belong to Duan Qirui, but because he fell out with Duan Qirui, Japan disliked Jin Yunpeng's cabinet very much.Similarly, the United Kingdom and the United States support Cao Kun. Jin Yunpeng's cabinet is just a temporary cabinet made by Cao Kun and the others, so they don't care about Jin Yunpeng.Although Jin Yunpeng is the prime minister of the state, in the current China, his speech is not loud at all, and basically no one pays attention to him.Because many people think that Jin Yunpeng is just a transitional person, and he has no power at all.

Jin Yunpeng jumped up and down, but Cao Kun didn't come out to express his opinion.Because Cao Kun knew that this matter was a foregone conclusion.Don't say that Duan Xun and his Anhui warlords want to keep Guanyu, even other warlords are now eager to carve up the remaining Guanyu.There are the same direct warlords Li Chun and Chen Guangyuan.Even if they are all directly related, anyone can turn against each other for this money.

Newspapers also reported the incident at length.All the newspapers praised Duan Xun's efforts to transfer customs duties from Shanghai HSBC Bank to Southwest Commercial Bank.Although it is said that even if these tariffs exist in the Southwest Commercial Bank, 80.00% of the share will still be allocated to those big powers to repay the loan.But simply depositing money from HSBC into China's own banks is enough to keep domestic public opinion happy.

Everyone thinks that Duan Xun fought for China's sovereignty.

The Southwest Commercial Bank immediately became famous because of this incident.Because this is not a small sum, but an amazing deposit.The provinces controlled by the Anhui warlords have a combined annual tariff revenue of tens of millions of dollars.Such a large amount of funds deposited in Southwest Commercial Bank has a huge effect on the development of Southwest Commercial Bank.The entire financial circle in Shanghai is paying attention, because Southwest Commercial Bank is rising too fast with Duan Xun as its back.

Amidst the chaotic voices, Duan Xun was still most concerned about the troops marching into Culun.There is a distance of more than 600 kilometers from Yulin to Kulun, and it is impossible to get there without a two-month march.

And it's Mongolia.

There are endless grasslands and deserts.Duan Xun's troops have never been to Mongolia. Although they have found a large number of guides, it is still a huge test for the troops.Moreover, it is already September, and it will be November when the troops arrive in Kulun. It will definitely snow in Mongolia by then, and the temperature will definitely drop rapidly.This is another great difficulty for the troops.

There can be no mistakes.

When the troops marched into Kulun, Duan Xun was not only for Outer Mongolia, nor was it just to improve his reputation.After Duan Xun really controls Kulun, build some cavalry there.

If any problems arise at that time, Duan Xun's troops can attack Rehe, Chahar, and even the three northeastern provinces.Of course, you can go straight to the capital and threaten Beijing.

very important step.

While Duan Xun was paying attention to the situation in the north, a representative from Lu Yongxiang came to Han Linchun to buy weapons from Duan Xun.Duan Xun really admires Lu Yongxiang.

This buddy just bought tens of thousands of rifles from Duan Xun four months ago, and expanded his army.But now Lu Yongxiang wants to buy arms again.

"How much?"

"It's quite a lot. Lu Yongxiang needs three mixed brigades, and the mixed brigade he wants to build is completely in accordance with the formal organization. One mixed brigade has 500 people. Therefore, the required arms include not only rifles, but also machine guns and artillery. , and the required ammunition and so on.”

"Three mixed brigades?"

"Yes."

Duan Xun took a deep breath.

It seems that Lu Yongxiang's ambition is really getting bigger and bigger.At present, Lu Yongxiang has many troops, including four divisions and four mixed brigades.Including the Fourth Division of the Central Army, the Tenth Division of the Central Army, the First Division of the Zhejiang Army, the Second Division of the Zhejiang Army, the Sixth Mixed Brigade of the Central Army, the First Mixed Brigade of the Zhejiang Army, the Second Mixed Brigade of the Zhejiang Army, and the Third Mixed Brigade of the Zhejiang Army There are more than 5000 people in the mixed brigade, as well as various fort guards, guards, and reserves.

Now Lu Yongxiang wants to build three mixed brigades according to the standards of the Beiyang Army's mixed brigades, and there will be about 8 troops by then.With the addition of He Fenglin's troops in Shanghai, the troops controlled by Lu Yongxiang can reach 10 people.And it is a real army of 10 people.

This appetite is too great.

When Lu Rongting served as the patrol envoy to Guangdong and Guangxi, he controlled Guangdong and Guangxi, and there were only a few hundred thousand people at the peak.And this still includes the Zhejiang Army, the Yunnan Army, and some Guangdong troops, and there are less than 10 troops in their own lineage.

Duan Xun currently controls nine provinces, and the total number of troops under his control is only 256 million, which is less than 30.

You Lu Yongxiang only controls Zhejiang and Shanghai, and you have 10 people.

"How much does he pay?"

"600 million."

"It's really rich."

Duan Xun shook his head.

600 million, just to buy equipment for three mixed brigades.If it was placed a few years ago, it would definitely be said to be crazy.But in the current arms market, this money is not a lot.

On the contrary, there are few.

It's just that Duan Xun and Lu Yongxiang are both from the Anhui Department, and he also actively cooperated in the fight for Guan Yu this time, and even helped Duan Xun charge forward.So now that he is willing to pay so much money, it is already giving Duan Xun enough face.Duan Xun was too embarrassed to refuse Lu Yongxiang.

"General, Lu Yongxiang's representative said that we hope that we will add an additional [-] grenades in addition to the equipment of the three mixed brigades."