Beiyang reactionaries

Cao Kun held the newspaper and didn't know what to say.

Looking at the word "national hero" capitalized above, Cao Kun felt very dazzling.He, Duan Xun, is nothing but a "national hero". The little tricks played by that kid are just to cater to the current public opinion, a shit "national hero".When Yuan Shikai ascended the throne four years ago, Cao Kun was already the commander-in-chief of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the commander of the third division of the Beiyang Army, Yuan Shikai's favorite general, and the leader of the Beiyang Army.

And what about Duan Xun at that time?

He was a rising star of the Beiyang Army who had just become the king and hegemony in western Henan. At that time, he was just a mixed brigade commander in Sichuan.It is just a unit under the rebel army led by Cao Kun.

But it's only been a few years.

Four years.

In just four years, Duan Xun has become a big figure capable of influencing the situation in China, controlling nine provinces, and the new leader of the Anhui Department, known as the leader of the thirteen provinces.In terms of strength, it is even stronger than Cao Kun.But also, how much the situation in China has changed in the past four years, and how many wars have been fought.Yuan Shikai died, Duan Qirui resigned, Feng Guozhang resigned, Li Yuanhong resigned, and Sun Yat-sen was also writing books every day in Shanghai.Few of those bigwigs in the year of [-] are still active in the political arena.

The Beijing government has become controlled by Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin.

Everyone has changed.

However, Duan Xun was still the most fearful thing in Cao Kun's heart.Duan Xun is developing too fast, and the most important thing is that his reputation is too good.Look at how much Duan Xun has done since the Zhiwan War ended more than three months ago.

Starting from taking back the control of Hanyeping Company, taking back the tariffs, and now the troops are going to march into Kulun.Having done so many great things, it is no wonder that these newspapers are praising Duan Xun as a "national hero".

Even Sun Yat-sen, who had been criticizing Duan Xun for selling weapons to Lu Rongting before, which caused the civil war in Guangdong, also praised Duan Xun after Duan Xun announced that his troops would march into Kulun.I think Duan Xun is the contemporary Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

In this respect, Cao Kun's reputation cannot be compared with Duan Xun's at all.

Very dazzling.

But Cao Kun didn't believe it.If Duan Xun hadn't sold things to Japan, how could Japan have returned the control of Hanyeping Company so generously, and how could Japan have always supported Duan Xun on the issue of Guan Yu.

Damn.

They all sold things, so why did Duan Xun get the title of "national hero".

"Mr. Cao, Duan Xun will have more and more influence if he continues like this. We can't let him continue to develop like this. Now everyone is supporting Duan Xun's decision to march into Kulun, but general, look at their marching route. Especially they are now controlling Baotou, this is very bad for us."

Gao Lingxuan was very nervous.

He pointed to the map on the table, especially Baotou.Duan Xun's control over Baotou was like a dagger on Suiyuan.When Duan Xun builds a military base in Baotou, let alone Suiyuan, even Chahar and Beijing will be nervous.

Needless to say, Shanxi.

Both Datong and Taiyuan will be threatened by Baotou.

It is definitely a coup for Duan Xun to occupy Baotou this time.Especially now they are praising Duan Xun as a "national hero", supporting Duan Xun's recovery of Mongolia, and supporting Duan Xun's march into Kulun.No one paid attention to Duan Xun's control of Baotou, an important place.Only people like Cao Kun felt uncomfortable, but they couldn't express it.

"Then what should we do? Tell him to withdraw his troops?"

Cao Kun asked Gao Lingxuan.

"Do not."

Gao Lingxuan shook his head.

Cao Kun has many advantages, for example, he is very open-minded, for example, he has a good temper, and for example, he respects talents and can employ people without doubt.If not, how could Cao Kun gather such a large number of talents to serve him, and how could Wu Peifu and other generals work for Cao Kun.It's all because Cao Kun has these advantages, he can bridge many conflicts and draw people to his side.

But Cao Kun also has shortcomings.

The Beiyang Army internally said that Cao Kun was a "fool" and a "stupid bag", which is not to say that it is completely unfounded.Because Cao Kun is very ordinary in terms of running the army, leading troops to fight, and strategic vision.

People in the Beiyang Army with similar qualifications to Cao Kun are indeed better than Cao Kun in terms of these abilities.Not to mention the characters of Beiyang Sanjie.Cao Kun is definitely not the kind of person with great talent and boldness.

"Mr. Cao, this won't work. Now that Duan Xun has made such a big impact, we can't step down at all. Unless we can send another army to replace Duan Xun's army."

"Send an army?"

Cao Kun shook his head.

He frowned and said: "When we were in Zhili, we didn't have to worry too much. But the place we control is so big now, and the troops are still stretched. Zhang Zuolin in the northeast is also restless. How can we mobilize troops to Kulun. With 2 troops, It can’t be taken out in a short time.”

Duan Xun can send 2 troops, but Cao Kun can't.

Because Cao Kun's power expanded too fast and there were too many Anhui troops reorganized, it was impossible to transfer troops in a short period of time.Otherwise, how to control Beijing, or how to control the Gyeonggi area.

"Then we can't stop Duan Xun from sending troops into Kulun. Otherwise, public opinion will accuse us of harming the country and the people, calling us Zhao Gou. When we are Zhao Gou, Duan Xun will become Yue Fei, which will be even more detrimental to us. "

"Then what do you say?"

Cao Kun couldn't think of what to do.

"Mr. Cao, since Duan Xun cut off Beijing's finances, we will mess up their territory."

"How to say?"

"Mr. Cao, what we have to do now is to avoid Duan Xun's advantage and give full play to our advantage. Our current advantage is to control the Beijing government, and we need to make use of this advantage. The current warlords of the Anhui Alliance have a bad reputation. .”

"so what?"

Cao Kun really didn't understand what Gao Lingxuan was talking about.

Fortunately, Cao Kun has a very good temper and is very open-minded.I don't understand, and I don't feel ashamed because I don't understand, so I asked Gao Lingxuan very humbly.This is definitely Cao Kun's advantage.

"Cao Gong, let me give you an example. Zhang Guangjian, the governor of Gansu, has been able to secure his position in Gansu these years because of the support of Duan Hefei (Duan Qirui). Otherwise, Lu Hongtao, the guardian of Longdong in Gansu, There are also many Hui generals serving as local guards, all of whom are local powerful factions in Gansu. How could they be willing to let Zhang Guangjian be the governor of Gansu for such a long time."

"Well, I know that."

Cao Kun nodded.

Gansu is a very complicated place.

Gansu not only has Lu Hongtao, one of the commanders of Gansu's new army, but also has many powerful Hui people.Those Hui armed forces are all in charge of one side in Gansu.In the history of the Republic of China, the famous Ma family armed forces of the Hui nationality were already quite powerful at this time.It's just that Zhang Guangjian brought a mixed brigade of the Beiyang Army into Gansu back then, and with Duan Qirui's support behind him, no one of these Gansu troops dared to make mistakes.

"There is also Ni Sichong, the governor of Anhui. This man has killed too many people in Anhui since the year of [-]. Moreover, Ni Sichong's relatives have been running around in Anhui and have a very bad reputation. How many times have those local celebrities in Anhui written to Beijing, hoping that Beijing will remove him? Ni Sichong. Members of Anhui nationality also proposed several times that the government remove Ni Sichong from his position as military governor. However, Hefei has been suppressing it in the past, so it has been ignored. As for Fujian Governor Li Houji in Fujian, Fujian is everywhere. Disobedient little warlords, Li Houji can't control them at all. There is also Lu Yongxiang, the governor of Zhejiang Province..."

"I know this. I heard that there is a small man named Xia Chao in Zhejiang who is the director of the Zhejiang Police Department. He is very powerful."

Cao Kun answered immediately.

Cao Kun has also heard about the Zhejiang incident.

"Yes, Mr. Cao, and this Xia Chao is not ordinary. This Xia Chao is a member of the Restoration Association developed by Qiu Jin, a heroine from Jianhu in the late Qing Dynasty. He has served in the Zhejiang army since the late Qing Dynasty. I heard that he is very short, but he is very capable. Strong. In Zhejiang, they call the wind and call the rain. They not only control the Zhejiang police, but also have a police force of tens of thousands. But the person he appointed went to the police station, and was beaten half to death by the police station and thrown out, sweeping Lu Gongwang's face. Immediately afterwards, Xia Chao joined forces with other units of the Zhejiang Army to drive away Lu Gongwang. Lu Yongxiang served After the Governor of Zhejiang, I have been trying to deal with him, but I have never been able to deal with him."

Gao Lingyu was very familiar with Xia Chao's affairs, so he explained some things about Xia Chao in Zhejiang to Cao Kun.Cao Kun forgot the business when he listened to it, he just listened to the story.

pretty fun.

Cao Kun had heard about the Zhejiang matter before, and he heard that Xia Chao was very powerful.After the Revolution of [-], many governors of Zhejiang, and later governors of Zhejiang, wanted to deal with Xia Chao, but there was no way.

Because Xia Chao is too strong.