Jagged Warlord

Although the bourgeois-democratic revolution led by Sun Yat-sen did not completely eliminate the feudal forces, the Republic of China was established and has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.Now that Yuan Shikai dares to change the state system and make the imperial system his own, it will inevitably arouse opposition from a wider range of political factions and people from all walks of life across the country.The Progressives naturally resented Yuan Shikai for abandoning them.Moreover, the armed forces that the Progressive Party can influence are in the remote southwestern provinces, and sooner or later they will be wiped out by Yuan.

In this way, under the plan of Liang Qichao, Cai E, an outstanding military strategist of the Progressive Party, escaped from Beijing in early November and returned to Kunming with Dai Kan.The right wing of the Kuomintang also saw Yunnan as a base to launch a campaign against Yuan, and had already sent Li Liejun, Xiong Kewu, Fang Shengtao, etc. who were related to Yunnan soldiers to Yunnan for activities.When Cai E returned to Yunnan, he brought information about the internal division of the Beiyang warlords and the preparations for response from various regions. In this way, an anti-Yuan united front was quickly formed. On December 11, Cai E, Tang Jiyao, Li Liejun, Dai Kan, Ren Kecheng, etc. announced their independence by telegram. , Organized to protect the Communist Party and crusade against Yuan Shikai.

The battle plan for protecting the army is: Cai E leads the first army into Sichuan, according to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, in order to control the provinces in the southwest; ** The main force constitutes the trend of Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan; Li Liejun led the second army out of Guangxi.Sent Liang Qichao and Lin Hu to Guangxi to lobby Lu Rongting for independence, sent troops to Guangdong, and forced Long Jiguang to revolt; then Li Liejun led his troops to northern Guangdong, entered Jiangxi, and conquered several southeastern coastal provinces; Tang Jiyao led the third army to stay in Yunnan as a reserve force , Coordinating the operations of the first and second armies.

Cai E's first army marched towards Sichuan in three routes.Its battle plan is: Liu Yunfeng's first echelon regiment leaves Zhaotong and goes straight to Syria, which is the main route to attack Sichuan;

Zhao Youxin's second echelon group is heading towards Guizhou, and after arriving at Bijie, we will consider the situation, or attack Luzhou northward, or go east to Guiyang and develop westward in Xiangxi;

The third echelon of Gu Pinzhen was the follow-up force.

Cai E made careful arrangements, and Yuan Shikai was well prepared to send the Tenth Division of the Beiyang Army Lu Yongxiang to Shanghai after the collapse of the "Second Revolution";

Yang Shande's Fourth Division stationed in Songjiang to contain Zhejiang;

Li Chun's sixth division was stationed in Jiangxi; Wang Zhanyuan's second division was stationed in Hubei;

In addition, Cao Kun led the third division of the Beiyang Powerful Brigade to station in Yueyang, and cooperated with Tang Xiangming from Hunan to control Guangdong and Guangxi.

In addition, Liu Guanxiong led a brigade of the Beiyang Navy and Army to enter Fujian;

In Guangdong, the old army of the Long Jiguang Patrol Battalion, which was firmly opposed to the revolution, was stationed.

Therefore, after Cai E and others set up the banner of protecting the country in Yunnan, Yuan Shikai believed that the two provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou were barren and poor, and their military strength was no more than 1916. It was not difficult to dispatch his well-trained Beiyang army to suppress it. Therefore, mobilization began in early January 1, sending Cao Kun's third division, Zhang Jingyao's seventh division, Li Changtai's eighth division and Wang Ruxian's brigade into Sichuan;

Together with the three mixed brigades of Wu Xiangzhen, Li Bingzhi, and Feng Yuxiang who were originally stationed in Sichuan with Chen Heng, the two divisions of Zhou Jun and Liu Cunhou of the Sichuan Army, and the Yuan Army of Sichuan Province, a total of more than [-] people were under the command of Zhang Jingyao, commander-in-chief of the Second Route;

In addition, Ma Jizeng was sent as the commander of the first route, commanding its sixth division, Tang Tianxi's seventh mixed brigade, the first part of Fan Guozhang's [-]th division, and Ni Yufen's Anwu army, totaling more than [-] people, and marched into western Hunan to explore Guizhou; , all under the command of General Cao Kun, General Huwei.

In addition, Yuan Shikai also organized the Third Route Army. He originally planned to send Long Jiguang to lead his Ji army into Guangxi, invade southern Yunnan along the Youjiang River, and copy the back road of the army. The militia army was extremely active, and had restrained the main force of the Long army, but was unable to do so. Fearing that Lu Rongting would not make a false statement, he sent Long Jinguang, who was related to Lu Youzi's relatives, to lead 8000 Guangdong troops into Baise, Guangxi, in the name of the Yunnan investigation envoy.

Finally, Yuan Shikai became wary of Li Mohan who refused to accept his canonization.Yuan Shikai ordered Jin Yunpeng, the governor of Shandong, to mobilize troops in Liaocheng, north of Jinan, to block the Jinpu Railway to prevent Li Mohan from dissenting.

Li Mohan called his civil and military staff to discuss how to deal with it.

Liang Qichao was a guest, and he said, "I'm going to Nanjing now to find out Feng Guozhang's tone. I suggest not to fight Yuan Jun immediately, at least wait until the Southwest War is in a state of anxiety before making a move."

Jiang Fangzhen was a little disdainful about this, but Liang Qichao was famous and was a guest, so he couldn't speak too directly, "Ren Gong is well-informed, mature and prudent, of course the method is excellent. It's just that I have trained the Beiyang Army and was also in charge of the SS Army." I have the best knowledge of the combat effectiveness of the two armies during daily drills. I am not boasting. The SS army will pull out a regiment at will, and it will not be afraid to face head-to-head with the Beiyang elite."

"Staff Jiang is right." Hu Chengxun, Liu Shijie and a group of young officers were also eager to try

Shen Liankai said: "Don't talk about anything else, let's just talk about our armored chariot. As long as we get on the chariot, I'm afraid the Beiyang soldiers will be scared to pee."

Han Yue, who graduated from the Artillery Department, also said: "We don't need armored chariots, but our 105, 115, and 120mm cannons alone, the Beiyang Army doesn't have such powerful cannons."

Li Mohan smiled and said, "Mr. Liang acts cautiously. However, what I am most worried about now is not Jin Yunpeng, but Juzheng and them in the Revolutionary Party."

Liang Qichao was surprised and said, "They are both anti-Yuan, why do you have to guard against them Mohan? Are you afraid that they will grab your territory in the future?"

Li Mohan shook his head and said, "Mr. Liang misunderstood me. Juzheng and his army were completely supported by the Japanese. In essence, they are not as good as Yuan Shikai. I received information that there are many Chinese names in this so-called revolutionary army." The soldiers and officers are basically Japanese who have been latent for a long time."

Liang Qichao was shocked, "Is there such a thing?"

Ma Qian'an, who was in charge of the Military Intelligence Department, interjected, "Mr. Ren, there is real evidence for this."

Ma Qian'an took out a document and handed it to Liang Qichao, "There is an officer in the Juzheng team named Chen Zhongfu. 150 Eight officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army of the Chinese Revolutionary Army once jointly identified Chen Zhongfu and other nine people as Japanese spies, harmful to China, and demanded their dismissal. After Ju Zheng, Xu Chongzhi and others consulted Sun Wen, they did not dare to offend the Japanese, but decided to transfer them back to Japan."

Liu Musheng also said: "I heard that Juzheng has taken in a lot of bandits from the Northeast and local bandits in Shandong. The military discipline is corrupt and they disturb the people. If they are allowed to attack the city in Shandong, I don't know how many times the people in Shandong will suffer."

Liang Qichao still shook his head and said, "I understand all this, but after all, they are fighting against Yuan. If Mohan you attack them, wouldn't you be suspected of 'helping Yuan'?"

Li Mohan nodded and said, "So, I plan to give Jin Yunpeng Yidu and Weixian in the east of Jinan. First, let him act as a buffer between our army and the revolutionary army; .”

Liang Qichao thought for a while and said, "In this case, would Jin Yunpeng and Yuan Shikai be hooked?"

Liu Musheng smiled, and said: "This matter ~ Mr. Ren, don't worry. In order to deal with the revolutionary party, Jin Yunpeng formed four new regiments and needed a large amount of arms. We sold these arms to him."

Liang Qichao was even more surprised this time, "You actually secretly informed Jin Yunpeng?"

Li Mohan said: "Mr. Liang, don't say that. Our army intends to replace the existing equipment. It is normal to dispose of a batch of old bullets. Besides, no matter Jin Yunpeng or Yuan Shikai, everyone is Chinese after all. We will buy it from Jin Yunpeng now. The reason is that he can protect himself wisely when he opposes Yuan in the future. Second, Jin Yunpeng is a Chinese army after all. With such an army, the chances of the Japanese wanting to take advantage of the chaos and loot in Shandong are small. We are for opposing Yuan and opposing the imperial system. , not to kill more people, Mr. Liang, what do you think?"

"It makes sense." Liang Qichao nodded, "Since you have a plan, Mohan, then I can rest assured."