Age of Rebirth

Chapter 290

At night in Beiping, the weather was much cooler. Tang Qiuli was travel-laden and drove hundreds of miles overnight to the Song Mansion located in Iron Lion Alley.

After getting off the car, the guard at the door, seeing Tang Qiuli, was very pleasantly surprised and wanted to report, but he stopped him. The guard stepped aside respectfully, watching Tang Qiu enter the Song residence full of respect.

The Song Mansion is as peaceful as ever. Tang Qiuli has been here many times and knows the layout and structure of the Song Mansion very well. It is a quiet and elegant place with carved beams and painted buildings. It is more graceful and luxurious, and a little more elegant and simple.

How many times have I had long talks with the old army commander here, discussing the military and political plans of North China, the food of the Song Mansion is also very suitable for Tang Qiuli's appetite, and many big strategies and policies are on the table with elegant Lu-flavored delicacies After confirming it, all of this seems to be in front of my eyes, but looking at it now, there is actually a little bleakness and melancholy of parting. [

A person's mood can actually change his views and feelings about the environment. The so-called touch the scene to create emotion, nothing more than this.

Passing through a long corridor full of ivy, roses and peonies in full bloom on both sides, the fragrance of the nostrils brought by the wind, Tang Qiuli's hurried footsteps, in the quiet night, the gravel-covered corridor above, very clearly.

In the living room, Song Zheyuan, who was still chatting with a few old friends, heard the footsteps, and a knowing smile appeared on his face. He was very familiar with the footsteps. Approaching him gave him wisdom, foresight and amazement beyond his years. In front of his eyes, the image of this heroic and handsome young general emerged, and Qiu Li rushed back.

Song Zheyuan didn't want to disturb Tang Qiuli at first. He knew very well that in the current situation in North China, the burden on Tang Qiuli's shoulders was heavy. There were tigers, wolves and Japanese soldiers looking around, and there were remnants of ulterior motives and ulterior motives inside. On the shoulders of 20 years old.

In the past few years in charge of North China, Song Zheyuan felt physically and mentally exhausted, unable to deal with it, and felt physically exhausted. It was not until Tang Qiuli came to North China that this situation changed, allowing him to pay attention to the development of North China with the mentality of a bystander. Chaoyunmuyu, political turmoil, also have time to carefully examine their own fate.

Song Zheyuan had the idea of ​​resigning, and it has been brewing for a long time, but some time ago, there was an accident, and the political situation in Pingjin, North China was treacherous. Tang Qiuli put all his energy into it, and he couldn't let Qiuli distract him.

When all the dust settled, Qiuli won the opponent and firmly controlled the situation. The two major forces, the Japanese and the pro-Japanese faction, were hit hard, and the situation in North China was stabilized. A trace of worry disappeared completely, and North China could be handed over to Qiuli to take charge.

I hope this move can bring stability and peace to North China for a few years. This is Song Zheyuan's good wish. Unfortunately, the good wish of this veteran soldier who has been in the army for a lifetime was shattered by the reality of love. One year later, the July [-]th Incident broke out in North China, and the Japanese army's full-scale war of aggression against China began.

Song Zheyuan chose Tang Qiuli not to be in Beiping, and left when he was rushing to the front line. He really didn't want to experience that kind of parting scene. He also knew that Tang Qiuli would try his best to keep him. This is why Song Zheyuan chose to leave.

I have already packed my belongings. Fortunately, my hometown in Shandong still has hundreds of acres of fertile land, so I should worry about food and clothing. From then on, I will "gather under the eastern fence and see Nanshan leisurely", concentrate on being a farmer, stay away from military and political troubles, and officialdom. One of the great pleasures in life, thinking about all this, Song Zheyuan felt a kind of tranquility after relief in his heart.

Song Zheyuan has been in the army for many years and has been the number one person in charge of North China. He has not accumulated much money. The 29th Army has exhausted his efforts. He is not a warlord who is crazy about money.

The old tradition of the Northwest Army is clearly reflected in him. During his reign in Rehe Province, he vigorously developed the local economy and improved the living conditions of the people. He made remarkable achievements and gained a good reputation among the people. At that time, the people of Chengde saw each other off, and the local gentry even jointly signed a letter to the Nanjing government, asking Song Zheyuan to stay in office.

He rejected the request of the officers of the 29th Army to hold a farewell banquet, but just the day before he left, he invited a few old guys who had followed him for many years to catch up on the past, and the old brothers talked about their military career back then. a pleasure.

The real intention is to remind these old guys that they must fully cooperate with Tang Qiuli to lead the 29th Army well, and they cannot be half-hearted. With Tang Qiuli's wisdom, any small movement of yours will not escape his eyes, so don't look for it comfortable.

Tang Qiuli's political wisdom and military ability, these old guys are bundled together, not even half of it. Song Zheyuan has seen it before. He doesn't want these old guys to see the wrong direction and go the wrong way after he leaves, and end up in a mess. The end was miserable, so he invited these prestigious people who held military power in the 29th Army to come over and give his final instructions.

Tang Qiuli's tall and straight figure appeared at the door of the living room, amidst the dust and dust, with a little anxiety, his eyes eagerly searched for the figure of the old army commander.

Song Zheyuan's eyes responded to Tang Qiuli kindly. At the moment when the eyes intertwined, Tang Qiuli completely understood the heart of the old army commander, and also saw a kind of relaxed feeling from this old soldier who was so old. and relief.

Tang Qiuli swallowed back the words that were already on his lips and wanted to keep them. He knew very well that Song Zheyuan had made up his mind to go and couldn't change it. He was not a person who did useful things.

He just said in a slightly sad and reproachful tone: "Old Army Commander, you shouldn't, even if Qiu Li is in the fire or water now, he has to come back to see the old Army Commander for a ride. This is fate and affection !" Tang Qiuli really didn't know what to say. [

The atmosphere in the room became heavy. Song Zheyuan's old men all lowered their heads, their eyes were already wet. The sudden resignation of the old army commander was also a sudden thing for them. Tonight, Song Zheyuan called them Come over and say it's my brother to catch up on the old days.

It was Song Zheyuan who broke the dull situation, he laughed loudly, "Look, Qiu Li, I didn't let you come, just because I was afraid that such a scene would happen, everyone is a soldier, making you cry, it's a disgrace to the true nature of a man , Let me feel uneasy before I leave, come here, carry wine, Commander Tang has been working hard all the way, drink a few glasses today, if you don’t get drunk, you won’t return!”

The food and drink were quickly served, and the atmosphere became active again. Tang Qiuli talked about the sudden increase of troops in the Japanese army opposite the 29th Regiment. Song Zheyuan didn't care. , You, the new army commander, can you mobilize the troops of the [-]th army? The Japanese are used to this method.

When Tang Qiuli heard what Song Zheyuan said, he was suddenly enlightened, and he fell into a misunderstanding of thinking. All he thought was that the Japanese would do it in advance.

However, one had to be prepared for the unexpected. The mobilized troops would still move in according to the original plan to see what kind of tricks the Japanese were playing. Tang Qiuli felt much relieved when he let go of what he was most worried about.

After the old men of the 29th Army left, only Tang Qiuli and Song Zheyuan were left in the living room. Tang Qiuli took out a check from his briefcase, handed it to Song Zheyuan, and said, "Old Commander, there is nothing good This is for you, this is a cash promissory note stored in the Standard Chartered Bank of the British in Qingdao, a total of 30 silver dollars, when it arrives at the place, there are many places to use the money, time is in a hurry, and there is not much prepared!"

Song Zheyuan was taken aback. 30 silver dollars was an astonishingly large sum at the time. He had long heard that the independent division had strong financial resources, and Qiu Li was really generous. How did he get his money? How much money does this young man have? Unknown secret, what a mysterious young man.

Song Zheyuan insisted not to accept it, claiming that his hometown still has a hundred acres of fertile land, which can fully meet the daily expenses. Besides, what does an old man who is out of work need so much money for?He also jokingly said: "Bandits will be recruited at that time, and I will be kidnapped. Qiuli, the ransom you will pay is probably more than this!"

Tang Qiuli knew that the old army commander was not rich, and all his property was spent on the 29th army, and he could not be allowed to return to his hometown to live a poor life. In the end, under his insistence, Song Zheyuan reluctantly accepted After receiving the check, Tang Qiuli felt a lot of comfort in his heart. For this respectable old soldier, there was only so much he could do.

The next day, early in the morning, Song Zheyuan's car drove away from the ancient city of Beiping, which was still sleeping. Originally, Song Zheyuan wanted to take the train back to his hometown in Shandong, but Tang Qiuli refused. It's not too far, and it still allows him to toss on the train.

In addition to the vehicles of Song Zheyuan's family members and the vehicles pulling some furniture, there are more than a dozen military trucks, which is enough to have a reinforced battalion of more than 600 heavily armed soldiers, who are responsible for escorting the old army on the road.

Song Zheyuan's joke last night reminded Tang Qiuli that this road is really not safe. Those daring bandits, no matter what army commander or provincial governor you are, they will strike when they get the chance.

For this reason, he specially selected 29 people from the 80th Army Guard Regiment to form Song Zheyuan's escort team, with a battalion commander as the captain. After the escort troops withdrew, they stayed by Song Zheyuan's side for a long time to protect his safety at all times. .

The soldiers paid double pay, and the battalion commander who led the team enjoyed the allowance of the regimental commander. Tang Qiuli paid for all expenses by himself. The establishment is all active servicemen.

After shaking hands with Song Zheyuan and bidding farewell, Tang Qiuli watched the long motorcade gradually disappear into the field of green grass and green sky, and finally disappeared. A once strong man left, his era is over, and only the remains of the people in memory.

Quietly, the military administration in Pingjin, North China, has changed hands, heralding the arrival of a new era.