Crimson Dawn

The so-called layman watches the excitement, while the insider watches the way.Therefore, experts refer to people who have made certain achievements in related industries, while laymen refer to people who have participated in related industries.Those who have never participated in related industries at all can't understand the way, let alone the excitement.

Duan Qirui is an expert in politics and military affairs, and he can know where the door is just by looking at him.There is no need to mention such straightforward issues as the People's Party's request for the reorganization of the Beiyang Army.The People's Party wants to take over the roads into Xinjiang and other places. Once the roads are clear, the People's Party can clean up the Beiyang Army at any time.If the People's Party's proposal is accepted, it will be basically the same as surrendering.

"Mr. Jidao, do you underestimate me by raising this condition?" Duan Qirui managed to find a more suitable wording for the current situation.

Yan Fu smiled and shook his head, "Brother Zhiquan, if I really underestimate you, I can make you an official and make a wish, and make some secret tricks. Although our People's Party will never allow these things to be done in the party, it is not It means we don’t know how to use these methods ourselves. Brother Zhiquan, you are a smart person, so why bother?”

"Then what exactly does the People's Party want to do to me?" Duan Qirui could understand Yan Fu's words. There are many ways to stab a knife behind the scenes, but the more you want to stab a knife behind the scenes, the better you have to cover it up on the surface.

Yan Fu replied: "We don't want to do anything to you now, we just want to solve the problem of regaining the old land. In this process, it is up to you what path you choose. You can reject us now, then We will go to Inner Mongolia and then to Outer Mongolia. It’s just a matter of bloodshed and sweat. When we come back to talk about you at that time, it will be another matter.”

Duan Qirui shook his head slightly, "Mr. Jidao, after all you talk about, we still want us to surrender."

"Brother Zhiquan, regaining the old land is a matter for the whole of China. Whether you want to surrender to us is your business. These two things are not the same thing. Why do you mix them up?" Yan Fu said to Duan Qirui questioned.

Standing at the height of the country, Yan Fu's words put great pressure on Duan Qirui.Chen Ke threatened Duan Qirui to make Duan Qirui the "Second Shi Jingtang". Duan Qirui originally took it as a joke. As the conversation deepened, Duan Qirui felt more and more that Chen Ke's threat could not be taken seriously. It's a joke.

The fact now is that it is absolutely impossible for Duan Qirui to defeat the People's Party. The only thing he can do now is to cause some trouble for the People's Party when the People's Party regains its old territory.The People's Party has made it clear that it will never retaliate against this.Of course, Duan Qirui has another way, which is to surrender obediently, and then completely withdraw from the stage of history.But Duan Qirui is only 53 years old this year, which is the golden age for a big man in politics.Let him obediently withdraw from the stage of history, Duan Qirui felt that it would be better to die.

All kinds of entanglements made Duan Qirui unable to decide what to do.In the end, he agreed with Yan Fu to send Yan Fu to live after the negotiation continued the next day.Duan Qirui found Wang Shizhen. "Brother, the People's Party is the way to destroy our Beiyang. But I don't know if you have any suggestions."

Wang Shizhen replied frankly: "I think I have surrendered."

"What?!" Duan Qirui became excited immediately, "Is that how he surrendered?"

Wang Shizhen already knew that Duan Qirui would have such a reaction, he frowned and said to Duan Qirui: "Zhiquan, I know you value my brother and me very much. But you always ask me to come forward when the situation is out of control. Help you solve things. As long as the situation improves, when did you say you heard my brother and me?"

Duan Qirui knew that Wang Shizhen was right. In fact, not only Duan Qirui, but all the Beiyang generals treated Wang Shizhen like this.Duan Qirui said with some embarrassment: "Brother, are you angry?"

Wang Shizhen smiled and said: "I'm not angry, you are all like this. Why am I angry? Zhiquan, everyone thinks that I am very capable and smart. But I never think so. If it is about ability or intelligence, Zhiquan you Much better than me."

Duan Qirui didn't know whether Wang Shizhen's words were a compliment or a sarcasm, so he said in a somewhat condescending way: "Brother, you'd better just say it straight. At this point, what are you still doing with this riddle?"

Wang Shizhen was not prepared to be polite, he said: "You and everyone want that result, you just want that result, so you try to run to that result. The military training method that Yuan Gong set up when he was alive, you people They all worked hard. Killing those who talk or disobey orders. I think these methods are your abilities. But I would like to ask, if there is no regular monthly salary for the army, relying on your methods alone, Beiyang Xin Can the army be trained?"

Duan Qirui's bowels were almost broken because of the military salary.Hearing Wang Shizhen's question, he simply didn't say anything.

Wang Shizhen didn't care whether Duan Qirui said or not, he continued: "Zhiquan, do you still remember Ronglu's second military parade at Xiaozhan 20 years ago?"

Duan Qirui nodded slightly. In February 1898, Rong Lu went to the small station to inspect again. He passed the Haihe River. The river was not wide and was still frozen.Wang Shizhen used a special canvas to make a bridge on the ice.Ronglu's infantry, cavalry, and artillery passed the bridge like a smooth road.After a little tidying up, this kind of canvas bridge becomes a small boat, which can be used for traveling. If it is disassembled and folded, it is very easy to store and carry. Rong Lu is more happy after seeing it.When the review was over and he went back to cross the Haihe River, Wang Shizhen still built a canvas bridge for him. Rong Lu worried that the weather was getting warmer and the glaciers would thaw, posing danger.Wang Shizhen told: "Don't worry, it will be frozen after three days." It turned out to be the case.Rong Lu was convinced that Wang Shizhen's information was accurate.

Wang Shizhen sneered and said, "Rong Lu thought I was a master of things. In fact, every time the Haihe River freezes, I order someone to record it. Usually it is when it freezes, how thick it is, and when it thaws. I don't know how to count. What is the ability to predict things like a god. I read too much, memorized too much, walked too much on the ice, fell into the water too many times, drank too much water, and didn’t want to drink anymore, so I had to learn how not to fall In the water. I know you usually say that I like to walk around, and I look very leisurely. I am very leisurely, if I can’t see things and learn, I will definitely lose my eyes when I use them!”

Duan Qirui is not a fool, after hearing what Wang Shizhen said, he already secretly felt that what Wang Shizhen said was actually quite similar to the problems Duan Qirui encountered on a daily basis.

Wang Shizhen continued: "What are you people thinking? What you think is that you don't have to walk or read on weekdays, just take a few steps at most casually. Or read a few books casually after learning a few words, and then people ask you, what do you think? You can immediately tell when it freezes and when it thaws. The difference between me and you is this. When Rong Lu asked me, I did the same thing. If Rong Lu didn’t ask me, I would still do it. If I follow my mind, I don't want Rong Lu to ask me at all. That would be troublesome."

Duan Qirui suddenly understood that he was looking for Wang Shizhen to do errands on weekdays, and saw that Wang Shizhen always had a calm expression of "immortal demeanor", and he was "calm and calm" when he agreed to do things after the matter.Wang Shizhen is called the Dragon of Beiyang because of his feeling of "seeing the head but not the tail" in his work.Unexpectedly, listening to Wang Shizhen's confession, it turned out to be completely different.

With a slightly flushed face, Duan Qirui said with some contempt: "Brother, are you saying that I don't follow the rules and am too eager for quick success?"

"No! I mean you guys are too kind! I mean Zhiquan, you are just a kind person." Wang Shizhen almost got angry very rarely.

Duan Qirui stuttered a little after being criticized so fiercely by Wang Shizhen, "Brother...why do you say that?"

Wang Shizhen said frankly: "When Yuan Gong was a courtier of the Qing Dynasty, he wanted to go up to the next level and overthrow the Qing Dynasty. I was extremely opposed to it. But at that time, the arrow was on the string and had to be launched. If Yuan Gong didn't do it, others would do it. , is also something that can’t be helped. After Yuan Gong became the president, he failed to do what he was supposed to do. Let’s not say that the People’s Party is treacherous and cunning. People’s livelihood, soldiers and horses are strong, did they fall from the sky? Of the countless money they earned, which one did they not do a little bit? Fighting Germany and Japan, did Germany and Japan deliberately lose to the People’s Party? Yuan Gong himself does not try to run his own affairs well, but wants to borrow a large sum of money from foreign countries to fight against the People's Party with the help of foreign countries, isn't this not doing his job properly?"

Duan Qirui had never heard Wang Shizhen criticize Yuan Shikai so violently, and he was stunned.

Wang Shizhen continued: "You brought your brothers to the Northwest. If you work hard to rectify people's livelihood, there is much to be done now. I also heard about Xu Shuzheng. He was committed to recovering Outer Mongolia, so after the People's Party surrendered to him, the People's Party also entrusted him with It is a heavy responsibility. If you can work hard as soon as possible, you will recover Outer Mongolia first. At this time, the People's Party may have already discussed peace talks with you. As a person who has made great contributions to the country, the People's Party dare not disrespect you."

Regarding Wang Shizhen's hypothesis about recovering Outer Mongolia, Duan Qirui has also thought of it many times since Xu Shuzheng defected to the People's Party.Whenever I think of it, I can't help but sigh, deeply regretting why I didn't do it earlier.The People's Party has not mobilized troops against Beiyang for more than two years, and Duan Qirui actually has plenty of time.After listening to Wang Shizhen's scolding, Duan Qirui said after a long time: "Brother, what does this have to do with my good deeds?"

This time Wang Shizhen was completely disappointed, he didn't want to say it so bluntly, but even if he said it so bluntly, Duan Qirui still didn't understand what the problem was, which couldn't make Wang Shizhen feel a sense of despair.He heaved a long sigh, "Zhiquan, what is a good thing is that you don't think about your own duties, and only think about things outside your duties. Divine artifacts have no owners, and those who are virtuous and powerful live..."

Now Duan Qirui felt that Wang Shizhen looked down on him too much, and his expression changed, "Brother, are you saying that I have no virtue or talent?"

"If I say that you are virtuous and talented, you are virtuous and talented, of course I can say that you are virtuous and talented! But in the current situation, what do you ask me to say about you?" Wang Shizhen was also tit-for-tat and refused to give in.

Duan Qirui was almost confused, he said almost subconsciously: "Isn't it because I lost to the People's Party?"

Wang Shizhen's face turned pale with anger, "When the People's Party was in Anhui 13 years ago, how many people were there? How many people did they have when we attacked the People's Party ten years ago and lost to them? How many people did you bring to the Northwest? It’s been a few years since you arrived in the Northwest? The People’s Party didn’t even try their best to beat you like this. What else do you want to say?”

Duan Qirui was so ashamed and angrily speechless after being robbed like this.

Wang Shizhen is actually a very emotional person. Usually, the old brothers from Beiyang came to Wang Shizhen's door to ask him to do something.Even if it was the gang of troubleshooters who made the mistake first, but when things were forced on these guys and they had nowhere to go, Wang Shizhen couldn't help but help as much as he could.But this time he really had enough.At the moment when the People's Party is working hard for the interests of the country, Duan Qirui is still full of his own pettiness, and he still wants to get the best benefit for himself, Wang Shizhen really doesn't want to wipe Duan Qirui's ass again.

"Zhiquan, what is a good thing? It means not going your own way, but going someone else's way. As long as you take this step, there will be a difference between early and late accidents. There is absolutely no reason for accidents. Now the People's Party Draw the road, and you can figure out how to get there."

Hearing that Wang Shizhen's words meant giving up completely, Duan Qirui was also a little flustered.At this time, he was in a desperate situation, no matter how unhappy Duan Qirui was, he could not accept breaking up with Wang Shizhen.He quickly stood up and said, "Brother, don't be angry. Brother, I just think it's okay now. What if the People's Party finishes fighting in the north and immediately turns their faces and refuses to recognize anyone?"

"If you want to go the same way as the People's Party, then why are you afraid that the People's Party will turn against you?" Wang Shizhen asked.

"When did the People's Party join forces with those from Beiyang?" Duan Qirui was still trying to justify his actions.

"Is Yan Fu from Beiyang? Is Pu Guanshui from Beiyang? Is Shang Yuan from the Beiyang school? Xu Dian, Qin Tongren, which one of them is not from Beiyang? Even if you think they are not, isn't Xu Shuzheng from Beiyang?" Family background? If you don’t want to go the same way with the People’s Party, then don’t say anything that you don’t agree with.” Wang Shizhen stood up after speaking, “Zhiquan, I’m sleepy today, you go back first.”

"Brother..." Duan Qirui wanted to say something more, but Wang Shizhen turned around with his hands behind his back.Standing behind Wang Shizhen with clenched fists, Duan Qirui struggled for a while before turning around and leaving.

After Duan Qirui left, Wang Shizhen still stood there for a long while without moving.He found that deep down in his heart he still didn't want to ignore Duan Qirui.However, the People's Party, which has always been able to seize the opportunity in the domestic situation, is not so keen in this foreign war.Since the strategy is already slow, it can only find time in other links.

Duan Qirui is hesitant now, as if he is up for grabs.But the People's Party is so anxious right now that it won't give Duan Qirui too many chances.Wang Shizhen is almost certain that if Yan Fu fails to persuade Duan Qirui to succeed this time.As long as Yan Fu returns to Shan County, where the People's Party has assembled its forces, they will immediately launch an attack on Duan Qirui.That's when the real end of the ropes.

So even if Duan Qirui couldn't understand his painstaking efforts, Wang Shizhen thought that he still had to force Duan Qirui to make a decision as soon as possible.