young marshal spring and autumn

After seizing Heilongjiang, Zhang Zuolin's power greatly expanded, expanding from one division to as many as three divisions (the 27th Division from the beginning, the 29th Division from his brother Wu Junsheng, and the 1st Division from Heilongjiang Province, and the far A huge guard brigade beyond its purpose) must develop beyond Fengtian.Controlling Jilin became Zhang Zuolin's next goal.

Jilin Governor Meng Enyuan, whose name is Shucun, was from Shuangqiaohe Town in the southern suburbs of Tianjin.He trained in Xiaozhan and joined the army. In 1904, he served as the patrolling military commander of Jilin. In the second year of the Republic of China, he expelled Chen Zhaochang, the governor of Jilin, and gained the military and political power of Jilin Province.When the warlord regiment was in trouble, he was promoted as the leader because he was the oldest, and everyone respected him as Brother Meng.He is also similar to Bi Wuwu, and he can write the word "tiger". For the affairs of the supervisory office, the internal affairs are handed over to his son-in-law Lu Chengwu (Lu Jianzhang's son), and the foreign affairs are handed over to his nephew, Gao Shibin, chief of staff of the supervisory office.

His life experience is also quite legendary.Due to his poor family and his parents' early death, he became an orphan and lived on the street since he was a child.By chance, Meng Enyuan became a tea servant in Tianjin "Ye Lai Xiang" brothel.Seeing him carrying a big copper teapot from morning to night, shuttling between upstairs and downstairs rooms, making tea and pouring water, he was busy, so a naughty prostitute nicknamed him "Big Teapot". .

Yuan Shikai, who was training at Tianjin Xiaozhan at that time, was a frequent visitor of "Evening Fragrance".Meng Enyuan soon became acquainted with him.Once, while making tea for Yuan Shikai, he revealed to Yuan his idea of ​​joining the army. Seeing that he was flexible, witty, and strong, Yuan Shikai agreed to his request. In 1896, Empress Dowager Cixi came to Tianjin to inspect Yuan Shikai's new army.Cixi was supported by the eunuch and walked in front, followed by Yuan Shikai.During the inspection, one of Cixi's gem-studded hairpins fell from her head.The eunuch didn't see Cixi, and Meng Enyuan, who served as Yuan Shikai's guard, picked up the hairpin with quick eyesight and quick hands.

After the review, Cixi was going back to her room to rest.Meng Enyuan ran forward in three steps at the same time, knelt at Cixi's feet with both hands holding the hairpin, and said loudly: "The phoenix hairpin has landed and returned to Foshan." Cixi was very happy to hear Meng Enyuan's cute words.After Meng left, Cixi asked Yuan Shikai: "Who was holding the hairpin just now?" Yuan answered truthfully.Cixi said: "Even a team officer in the new army is so shrewd now, which shows that Mr. Yuan has trained well." Before Cixi returned to Beijing from Tianjin, she said to Yuan Shikai: "The man surnamed Meng can do something big." Empress Dowager Cixi valued her so much, and saved face for herself, she immediately mentioned Meng Enyuan as the standard after returning to the small station.

Meng Enyuan led troops to fight, often taking the lead, charging ahead, commanding flexibly, and winning every time, so step by step he climbed to the post of commander, chief soldier, and chief soldier of Nanyang Town, Henan Province.Yuan Shikai appreciated Meng Enyuan very much, and after taking office as president, he appointed him as the governor of Jilin.After the story of Meng Enyuan picking up hairpins spread, he got the nickname of "General Picking Up Hairpins".

Meng Enyuan has been stationed in Jilin for 12 years, and his influence spreads all over the province. He has a certain influence in the three northeastern provinces, and his position is not easy to shake.Lu Jianzhang, his son and daughter's in-law, once served as the commander of the guard army of Yuan Shikai's presidential palace and the governor of Shaanxi, and he was extremely trusted.It can be said that there is strength outside and strong support inside.Zhang Zuolin and Feng Delin from the province cannot be excluded, let alone Jilin.He observed for a long time, but he didn't find a chance to make a move.

Just when Zhang Zuolin was worried, the opportunity came.

Duan Qirui served seven consecutive terms as chief of the army in the cabinet of the Beijing government. His strength was very small.Li Yuanhong was originally the vice president and governor of Hubei, but his power was greatly reduced after being transferred from Hubei by Yuan Shikai. Although he was elected president after Yuan's death, he let Duan Qirui call the wind and call the wind and do nothing.In a fit of rage, Li Yuanhong wanted to exercise his "constitutional power" to remove Duan Qirui, and Duan Qirui ordered the provincial governors under him to declare independence.The contradiction between the president and the cabinet deepened day by day, and it turned into a "dispute between the government and court".

During the dispute between the government and the court, the local officials watched the changes quietly and acted as a fence.Due to his lack of strength, Li Yuanhong has repeatedly fallen behind, so he is eager to find a powerful faction to back him up.He looked at Zhang Zuolin for a long time, and he also took a fancy to Zhang Zuolin--seeing that Zhang Zuolin and Feng Delin were fighting in the same city, and Zhang was far above Feng Delin in terms of strength and reputation, so he had the idea of ​​wooing him.He personally sent a special envoy to mediate, directly criticizing Feng Delin for committing chaos and deviating from the central government, claiming that if the mediation fails, he should submit it to the Congress for condemnation.

In the end, Duan Qirui, who has a large army in his hands, will easily win the battle for the "fuyuan". Zhang Hanqing is well aware of history and keenly seized this opportunity. , can be supported by the segment.At that time, with the support of Duan Qirui, the warlord regiment planning to announce the independence of the provinces was holding a meeting in Xuzhou. Zhang Zuolin sent his deputy, Zhao Xigu, to attend the meeting.

The first letter said: "...In any case, Lin should wait quietly. In case something goes wrong and locusts are flying all over the sky, Lin will definitely treat him accordingly. ..."

The second letter expresses the attitude of resorting to force even more blatantly.The letter said: "Shao Shuai Jun Jian: Serving the service, humiliating, accepting inquiries, looking up to the ancient friendship and Yin Quan, the gratitude is beyond words. Zuolin and Feng Gechen met with each other in adversity. After ten years, they have never lost their virtue. Now let's take a closer look at the story. For this sudden act of falling into a well and throwing stones, the danger of people's hearts can be sighed three times. It is our side who has to endure humiliation, but the encounter between them is getting worse. A few days ago, Feng returned to Beizhen, and Brigadier Tang also moved to Xinmin. From the surface, it seems that A little matter of home, but the recent situation proves that Feng and Tang are actually united, and they have sent their private party to recruit bandits and weapons after the secret investigation report. Zuolin has already contacted the Central Committee to state the method. If the Central Committee chooses Feng as a position in order to calm things down, Tang can go with him, and Zuolin is not too demanding. If the Central Committee also dislikes this assistant, it may be difficult to have a position for a while, and The other generation intentionally disturbed and disregarded the overall situation, but they were forced to come here, and finally they should sue by force. Zuolin is indistinguishable, but Zhai's heart is upright, which is known to me. Words. At that time, since we will meet each other in battle, we can let it go if we are weak; fortunately, with prestige and prestige, it is enough to chill his courage and capture his soul. The details will be presented in person by Zhao Zhongjun. I hereby respectfully await Xun'an."

Feng Delin also fell behind in winning the support of the central government: he was not as early as Zhang Zuolin to express his attitude clearly, which was appreciated by Duan Qirui; he also failed to attract the attention of Li Yuanhong's faction.At the moment when the political battles in the central government are turbulent, they are basically marginalized.When Zhang Zuolin successively exercised his general power and squeezed the development space of the 28th Division, he was helpless and walked on thin ice.In less than half a year, the situation reversed, and it was his turn to back down step by step without the power to fight back.

I offended Prime Minister Duan Qirui's confidant Duan Zhigui first, and President Li Yuanhong was dissatisfied later. Seeing that the situation was not good, he retreated bravely and withdrew his troops back to Quang Ninh.Zhang Zuolin, who had been patient for a long time, was out of control.Taking advantage of the time when the two departments of the government and courtyard are extending olive branches to him, the right time, place and people are both in the upper hand. It is not Zhang Zuolin's style not to take advantage of the opportunity to make efforts.He was not forgiving when he gained power, but Feng Delin wanted to keep a low profile and was unavailable, so he exercised his power to remove Feng Delin's military affairs assistant and remove the 28th Division's Shenyang office.After being frustrated, Feng Delin retired to Guangning (Beizhen), depressed, stuck to his hometown, and did nothing.Zhang Zuolin's military salary was stuck in his troops, and many major military officers were shaken when they saw that the situation was over.Feng Delin struggled all his life, but lost the trust of Anhui and Zhili successively, and finally ended in failure.

During the dispute between the government and the court, although Li Yuanhong extended an olive branch, Zhang Zuolin continued to hold Duan Qirui's thigh tightly under the strong request of Zhang Hanqing, who "knows history well", and unequivocally sent a telegram to support Duan, announcing Fengtian autonomy.