Chapter 180 On the Eve of the Storm 2

Zhao Dongyun took a deep breath, put down the message in his hand, and then looked at the generals present: "Lord Xian is gone!"

Although people have been psychologically prepared since yesterday, they couldn't help but be shocked when they heard the news, and several people panicked. Not to mention them, even Zhao Dongyun himself was a little panicked!

It is difficult for Beiyang people in this era to realize the importance of Yuan Shikai to Beiyang. Yuan Shikai is not only the head of Beiyang, but also the spiritual pillar of Beiyang. If the Beiyang people in this era have any beliefs, it is definitely not to save the country and the people, let alone God Buddha, but to be loyal to Yuan Shi. Kai.

This is not only true for the people of this era, but also Zhao Dongyun, who has been integrated with Beiyang for many years. Of course, his loyalty to Yuan Shikai has nothing to do with 'loyalty' in the traditional sense, but loyalty to Yuan Shikai in this era is also the basis for maintaining and developing his own power.

Now the pillar of Beiyang, Yuan Shikai is dead!

So it is understandable that the generals in the conference room will have such a big reaction, but at least they are all high-ranking Beiyang high-level generals. Although their faces have changed dramatically, they have not made any excessive actions.

Like other soldiers in this era, they still sat, put their hands on their thighs, straightened their waists, and then most of the expressions on their faces were sad and indignant.

Meng Enyuan said loudly first, "They are so bold that they dare to kill Yuan Gong. This revenge will not be revenged. What face do we Beiyang people have in the world!" Immediately, he turned his face and looked at Zhao Dongyun: "Your Excellency, enter the customs and let tens of thousands of Beiyang soldiers avenge Yuan Gong!"

Xu Bangjie, who was beside him, also said, "Since Du Xian died in Beijing, let the dignitaries in Beijing be buried for Du Xian!"

As Zhao Dongyun expected, many people present put the target of hatred on the Qing court for the first time, because the Qing court was the biggest suspect in the assassination of Yuan Shikai.

Not everyone has traveled through future generations and is familiar with the direction of history, and it can be said that these contemporary politicians can see the contemporary situation clearly. Many things are taken for granted by later people, but in modern times, it can be seen by people who need great wisdom.

For example, in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan was a huge winner in the eyes of contemporary Chinese people. The Japanese navy not only sent almost the entire Russian navy warships to the bottom of the sea, but also killed and injured hundreds of thousands of Russians, proving that yellow people can defeat white people in modern warfare.

But many people will know that Japan is heavily in debt for this, and the economy is almost on the verge of collapse.

There are still too few people who can see the essence through the appearance of things. Most people, including the generals in this conference room, put the target of suspicion on the Qing court almost immediately.

Of course, they will not think that Cixi, Yiqi and Tieliang assassinated Yuan Shikai. They are not stupid enough, but think that the rest of the Manchu nobles, like all political forces, there are also young strong factions on the side of the Manchu nobles. Zai Feng, Zhixun and others are all famous royal young men. The faction, which has always opposed Yuan Shikai, almost all the 'Young Sects' in human history also represent radical, regardless of consequences and irresponsible.

The young strong faction led by Zhao Dongyun of the Beiyang internal faction has this tendency, and the same is true of the young strong faction of the Manqing royal family, not to mention the young strong faction of the Japanese military.

It is natural for people to suspect Manqing in this way.

After Meng Enyuan and Xu Bangjie opened, others were also excited and shouted that they would lead the army to enter the customs immediately. Some said that they would go to the Qing Dynasty, while others said that they would enter Beijing, welcome Guangxu's pro-government, and establish a constitutional monarchy. One simply said that they raised the flag of republic and supported Zhao Dongyun as the presidency.

Zhao Dongyun did not care about their words and did not stop them. At this moment, they need to vent their anger and excitement.

After a long time, Zhao Dongyun stretched out his hand to suppress: "Quiet!"

So, calm was restored in the noisy conference room in front of him. Zhao Dongyun looked around and continued to say, "Before Yuan went to Beijing, he asked me to wait for several people to discuss at Shanhaiguan. Although I did not expect such a thing to happen today at that time, there was also a preventive plan in advance. Although at this time I don't know what the other families think, but we must firmly fulfill the will of Lord Constitution!"

Zhao Dongyun did not let his generals wait too long, but quickly said the next sentence: "I order that I will wait to enter the state of combat readiness from now on!"

Zhao Dongyun has never had much hesitation in such a major event. Even if he did not prepare for this in advance, he still quickly made arrangements: "The third town ordered to go down and get ready to start!"

"The first town and the second town of Fengtian were all transferred to Jinzhou to strengthen the fortifications of Jinzhou. In addition, two cavalry battalions were transferred from each of the existing three towns to form the Fengtian Cavalry Association with six battalions of cavalry!"

After Zhao Dongyun said that, he looked at Meng Enyuan: "Lao Meng, you have to do this cavalry commander. I don't trust others!"

When Meng Enyuan heard the three words of the Cavalry Association, he knew that this position must be his own, so he said blankly, "The Ministry of Service can do anything!"

Then, he looked at Lin Yongquan again: "Yongquan, you take control of Fengtian's first town first!"

Lin Yongquan's cultivation has increased a lot over the years, but he can't help but be excited to hear this: "Yongquan will definitely live up to the trust of adults!"

Lin Yongquan has been following Zhao Dongyun for so many years, and his qualifications are enough, but he doesn't have much experience in leading a large corps to fight. However, his ability is no longer important at this critical moment. What is important is that Zhao Dongyun can trust him. Anyway, Zhao Dongyun still has a large number of staff members from a professional class. At that time Lin Yongquan arranged a few more. He didn't want to be excellent in the war. As long as he came step by step, it would be enough.

At this time, Zhao Dongyun has not yet said the word 'entry', but this series of orders is very obvious. Whether it is to prepare the third town to start or to draw the cavalry of each town to establish a cavalry association, this is to prepare for entering the customs!

While Zhao Dongyun held an emergency military meeting in Jinzhou to make relevant arrangements, several other Beiyang bosses also received the news that Yuan Shikai had died. Wang Yingkai in Baoding almost immediately declared Baoding a state of emergency, followed by a few Manchurian troops in his first town. The official was directly dismissed, and at the same time sent a secret telegram to Zhang Huaizhi in Shandong, asking him to gather in the fifth town and prepare to go north at any time.

And in Shanhaiguan, Duan Qirui and Wu Fengling also had urgent discussions!

Li Yuanhong, who was in the eighth town of Hubei in Henan, received an emergency order from Zhang Zhidong to prepare for the eighth town to wait and see the situation.

However, these are external reactions, and there is amazing silence in Beijing, which is really located at the core of the storm!

On October 7, that is, the day after Yuan Shikai was assassinated, Cixi did not have the usual careless appearance, but stood with the support of the eunuch, and in front of her, she was kneeling and waiting for several young royals: "Say, did you do it?"

Zhai Xun and others will say that they did it, and naturally they quickly denied it: "No!"

After looking at these people many times, Cixi hummed, "Get out!"

After this young generation of royal family went out in a panic, Tieliang, Duanfang, Yiqi and other Manchu magist ministers came in!

Cixi did not talk nonsense with them and said, "Now that this has happened, what should you do?"

Immediately, the leader of the military aircraft said, "Now the most important thing is to stabilize the Beiyang generals first. No matter how the situation changes and how to deal with it, Beiyang must not be chaotic. Once it is chaotic, the consequences are unimaginable!"

However, Tieliang said, "It is almost impossible to stabilize them now. I have been reported. Jinzhou, Shanhaiguan and Baoding have changed. They are already preparing for sending troops. We must be prepared to suppress the rebellion!"

Yiqi snorted coldly: "Suppression? Did you suppress it? Not to mention the others, it is the first town under you. Can you control it?

Tie Liang is unwilling to show weakness: "Starting yesterday, Cao Kui, the leader of the 13th Association, and He Zonglian, the leader of the 14th Association, have been secretly monitored by me. They can't turn over the storm!"

"And the sixth town, which is on the edge. Once they mess up, what will you let the emperor and the Buddha do?"

The sixth town is not an army stationed outside, but an army stationed in Xiyuan, which is responsible for guarding the imperial city. However, now the attitude of the sixth town is very ambiguous. Wang Shizhen has not seen any foreign guests since Yuan Shikai was assassinated yesterday, and has been staying in the hospital to treat Yuan Shikai.

Even Duan Fang went to see him in person and closed the door!

At present, these people argued one by one, and even Tie Liang, who advocated the Huairou policy to appease the Beiyang general, almost fought with Tie Liang, who advocated strong repression. Finally, Cixi kicked them all out.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Cixi once again issued a series of personnel appointments and policies with strong political tactics. What is related to the public is the declaration of a preparatory constitution and a commitment to formally establish a constitution within three years.

This is mainly to appease ordinary constitutionalists. The real focus is on how to treat the generals in Beiyang. There are many appointments in this regard, which is almost dazzling to outsiders.

The first item is the title of Prince Feng Guozhang, Minister of the Army.

The second item is the formal establishment of a province in Northeast China, with Zhao Dongyun appointed as the governor of the three eastern provinces and the title of minister of the army.

The third item is to transfer Wang Shizhen as the acting governor and minister of Beiyang.

The fourth item is to transfer Wu Fengling to the capital of Rehe and add the title of servant of the Army Department.

The fifth item is to be transferred to Zhang Huaizhi as the acting governor of Shandong and the title of servant of the Ministry of War.

The above four appointments can be said to have suddenly broken the balance between the bigwigs in Beiyang, and then Cixi's means are not over.

Later, the Army Department reassigned the seventh town of the Army to be under the direct control of the Army Department. The second town went to Rehe with Wu Fengling. The third town was transferred to the jurisdiction of Fengtian and the fifth town was transferred to Shandong. The remaining first town, fourth town and sixth town are still under the jurisdiction of Zhili!

This series of appointments and deployments can be said to have seriously affected the development of the situation in the future, because from this personnel arrangement and deployment, it can be found that the purpose of Cixi is very obvious, which is to win over Feng Guozhang and Wang Shizhen, and at the same time give Zhao Dongyun, Wu Fengling and Zhang Huaizhi a further step. A space separated from the North Sea. While pulling them in, he did not forget to suppress them, and there was no doubt that the people who were suppressed were Wang Yingkai and Duan Qirui.

As the saying goes, Wang Yingkai and Duan Qirui have the greatest prestige in the Beiyang faction, but after Cixi came to such a hand, can they successfully subdue other Beiyang heroes and inherit the Beiyang unification?

Impossible!

The internal faction in Beiyang was originally very fierce. Now when Yuan Shikai dies, whether it is Wang Yingkai, Duan Qirui or Zhao Dongyun, it is actually impossible to inherit Yuan Shikai's position.

For example, Wang Shizhen, who was pushed to the throne of governor of Zhili by Cixi, if she could command Zhao Dongyun, Cixi would dare to cut off her head and use it as a urine pot for the eunuch.

However, if Cixi gives Wang Yingkai the position of governor of Zhili, the situation will be very different. If Wang Yingkai is already strong enough, once he ascends the position of governor of Zhili, the other people will still compromise in a short time, so that Beiyang may avoid division, and this All kinds of things are unacceptable to Cixi.

Since Yuan Shikai is dead, there is no need for Beiyang to continue to exist!

For Cixi, a divided Beiyang is a good Beiyang!

I have to say that although everyone can see that Cixi's trick is obvious, this trick is a conspiracy. Since it has been done, I am not afraid to let you find out.

When Zhao Dongyun received the edict from the court, he was also lost in thought. Did he take revenge for Yuan Shikai and then ran to the capital to overthrow the Qing Dynasty? Or get the governors of the three eastern provinces first, and then slowly plan to get into the customs?

It's not just him, but Feng Guozhang, Wang Shizhen and Zhang Huaizhi who received ** all hesitated!