Republic of China: I am a great warlord, many children, many blessings

Another advancing army led by Huang Yucheng was organized to take action.

On New Year's Day 1916, Yunnan Governor-General Tang Jiyao and First Army Commander-in-Chief Cai E held a grand oath-taking ceremony in Kunming.

Standing on the rostrum and looking at the sea of ​​soldiers, Tang Jirao was still very excited, as this was a rare opportunity.

Tang Jirao cleared his throat, took the manuscript and began to read aloud: "The traitor Yuan Shikai plotted to rebel against the Republic of China and revive the monarchy. This governor served in the Republic of China and served in Yunnan. I was saddened by the country's imminent demise and hated the dictator for not being eliminated.

Hereby we raise an army of righteous men, reverently carry out heaven's punishment... and vow to clear the Central Plains.

'Down with Yuan Shikai! Restore the Republic!'"

As soon as Tang Jirao finished speaking, tens of thousands of soldiers roared in anger.

'Down with Yuan Shikai! Restore the Republic!'

'Down with Yuan Shikai! Restore the Republic!'

The sound is like thunder and the momentum is extraordinary.

They also don't want to see anyone become emperor again.

When the noise died down, Tang Jirao said again: "Now, the various units of my National Defense Army have been organized one after another.

Starting today, we will set out for the front line. "

Cai E led the Second and Third Brigades of the First National Protection Army on January 1916, 1, with Dong Hongxun of the Third Regiment as the vanguard. The First Army Headquarters left Kunming on January 10 and marched towards Luzhou via Xuanwei, Weining and Bijie.

The Second National Protection Army led by Li Liejun set out from Kunming on January 1 and marched into the border between Yunnan and Guangxi.

At the same time, Ding Wei led a division and a heavy artillery brigade and arrived in Baise County, Guangxi.

It took less than a day to capture Funing County and Guangnan County on the Yunnan border. Wherever they went, they took it with a crushing momentum.

No one can stand it.

Immediately, only one battalion was left to guard Funing County and Guangnan County.

The other troops continued to advance and attack Qiubei County.

Due to the lack of information, Tang Jirao, Li Liejun and others did not know that Funing County and Guangnan County had fallen.

At the same time, Cai E sent out troops on January 1916, 17, and captured Yanzipo, an important place on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan, on January 18. He occupied Hengjiang on the th and then prepared to attack Xuzhou.

Xuzhou is the area around Yibin today. It is rich in grain and is an important place in central Sichuan.

Therefore, Chen Huan concentrated several battalions left by Zhang Yi outside the two brigades to carry out the siege. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the combat, Chen also sent his own guard battalion.

The reason for doing this is to lure the enemy deeper.

In the tent, Chen Xi looked at the telegram in his hand and laughed.

The main target this time was not Cai E, but Cao Kun.

However, Yanzipo and Hengjiang could be taken by Cai E.

However, Xuzhou is an area rich in grain, so we cannot give up.

At present, the Beiyang elite troops have also arrived in Sichuan, but several of them are staying in Zigong Yanjing and refuse to leave.

Salt wells are the soul of Zigong. As the "Millennial Salt Capital", Zigong is also an important financial center of Sichuan. Whoever is in charge of this place is equivalent to controlling the purse of Sichuan.

Feng Yuxiang, Cao Kun and Zhang Jingyao were all in Zigong and didn't want to leave.

However, the Beiyang Army was not a monolithic entity. Feng Yuxiang and others did not want to fight, and they also hoped that Cai E would force Yuan Shikai to withdraw from the monarchy and step down.

But Cao Kun and Zhang Jingyao wanted to fight because both of them wanted to become the governor of Sichuan.

Cao Kun is currently the commander of the upper Yangtze River garrison. Cao Kun led the Third Division to station in Yuezhou. The real power lies with the commander of the Third Division. Although he is the commander-in-chief this time, others may not necessarily pay attention to him.

Zhang Jingyao was the commander of the Seventh Division. Both of them were division commanders. Generally speaking, a division commander could become a governor, but there were only so many positions, so it depended on opportunity.

Therefore, this time the two men wanted to destroy Cai E, gain merit, and become governor-general.

Chen Xi saw this very clearly.

I sneered in my heart.

Sichuan belongs to President Shen, and you still want to be the governor? That's wishful thinking.

However, Chen Xi was Shen Hao's man, which Yuan Shikai, Cao Kun and others did not know.

Xuzhou is the burial place of Cao Kun.

On January 1, Cao Kun led his subordinates to Xuzhou.

Find Chen Xi immediately.

Chen Xi's headquarters.

This time Cao Kun did not bring the entire division but only Wu Peifu's brigade, while Zhang Jingyao brought the entire Seventh Division.

In the headquarters, Cao Kun, his brigade commanders Wu Peifu, Feng Yuxiang, Zhang Jingyao, and Wang Ruxian of the 8th Division

Duan Qirui also sent an elite Anhui regiment led by his favorite disciple Ding Boxiao to Sichuan.

It can be said that there are many generals.

However, although Cao Kun was the commander-in-chief of the campaign to encircle and suppress Cai E, Chen Xi still had the highest status.

After all, Chen Xi was a figure known as the godfather of the Southwestern Army and the governor of Sichuan, so he naturally sat in the main seat.

What's more, Feng Yuxiang was also an old subordinate of Chen Xi.

Although Chen Xi was nominally the governor of Sichuan, there were still many small forces that disobeyed his orders. Therefore, Chen Xi also planned to take this opportunity to use Cai E to eliminate these forces.

Of course, these Beiyang forces did not have a good impression of Chen Xi, and some even felt some hatred and jealousy towards him.

Because Chen Xi was known as Yuan Shikai's most favored minister.

At that time, Yuan Shikai's presidential position was unstable. The main threats were Huang Xing in Nanjing and Li Yuanhong in Hubei.

Chen Xi created public opinion, saying that the republic had been established and there was no need to maintain a large army. At the same time, he spread rumors that Huang Xing was withholding military pay.

·· ······Request flowers· ··

Huang Xing was both angry and anxious, so he applied for resignation and disbanded his troops. The Tongmenghui's more than 200,000 armed forces immediately collapsed.

Afterwards, Chen Xi and Army Chief Duan Qirui went to Wuhan to persuade Li Yuanhong to go north, but Li Yuanhong refused to go.

Chen Xi said: "If the Vice President really doesn't want to go to Beijing, just give us a ride."

Li Yuanhong was careless for a moment and sent the two men on board the ship. As a result, he was taken hostage to Beijing and had to serve as Yuan Shikai's vice president, and was thus firmly controlled by Yuan Shikai.

After the outbreak of the Second Revolution, Chen Xi used political enticement, military instigation, and economic bribery to quickly put it down.

Because Chen Xi was so capable and did everything well, Yuan Shikai regarded him as his most favored minister, which aroused the jealousy of his old Beiyang subordinates.

Several southwestern provinces have long been in a semi-independent state.

Chen Xi also contributed to Cai E being tricked into coming to Beijing.

Chen Xi suggested to Yuan Shikai that he should spread rumors in the army, invite Cai E to Beijing alone, hire Liang Qichao as an advisor, and trick Sichuan Governor Hu Jingyi into reporting to Beijing, so as to arouse mutual suspicion among the southwestern provinces and make them all surrender.

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Yuan Shikai was very satisfied and appointed Chen Xi as the Governor-General of Sichuan. He allocated 200 million military funds, led three brigades into Sichuan, and asked his eldest son Yuan Keding to become sworn brothers with Chen Xi.

However, in the face of Shen Hao's powerful strength, he had no choice but to surrender.

Of course, Chen Xi's ambiguous attitude towards Yuan Shikai also changed because Yuan Shikai wanted to ascend the throne and become emperor.

If Yuan Shikai had not ascended the throne and become emperor, Chen Xi would still choose to be loyal to Yuan Shikai.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shikai made a very bad move, which led to him being abandoned by his friends and relatives.

At the headquarters, Cao Kun saw that no one was speaking, so he spoke first.

Cao Kun said: "Now, Cai E's army has taken Yanzipo and Hengjiang, and is now approaching Xuzhou.

I would like to ask Governor Chen, when President Yuan appointed you as the governor of Sichuan, he gave you 200 million dollars in funding and three mixed brigades.

You even lost Yanzipo and Hengjiang?

Such negligence and lack of active resistance.

You are obviously unqualified as the Governor of Sichuan.

Is it because you are old and lack energy? If that is not possible, you can give way and give more opportunities to young people. "

Hearing this, everyone looked up at Chen Xi, each with their own thoughts in mind.

Cao Kun, the governor of Sichuan, was too anxious.

Chen Xi said calmly: "Since Commander Cao is so confident, I'll let you fight this battle.

Then you will be the first to achieve success."

Cao Kun was about to speak, but Zhang Jingyao was afraid that Cao Kun would steal the limelight. He also wanted to be the governor, so he hurriedly said, "Since none of you are willing, I am willing to be the pawn crossing the river."

Just now, Zhang Jingyao calculated in his mind that Cao Kun's brigade, plus his division, Feng Yuxiang's mixed brigade, and Chen Xi's two divisions in Sichuan, totaled to more than 6 people.

Cai E's army consisted of only more than 10,000 people.

The equipment was far inferior to that of his Seventh Division.

Although the Seventh Division had only 9000 men, Zhang Jingyao was fully confident that he could defeat Cai E and Ding.

494. Here we eat people of Li Lie’s army

In Zhang Jingyao's view, the Beiyang Army this time not only had many times more soldiers than Cai E, but the quality of the soldiers was also very good, and they were all elite.

Most of Cai E's men were new recruits, and they were basically a mob.

Then Zhang Jingyao said again: "If you are not afraid that I will take the credit, let the Seventh Division be the scapegoat.

I don't even take Cai E seriously."

There was arrogance in his words and his expression showed that he didn't take anyone seriously. It was obvious that he was determined to win.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Since Commander Zhang is eager to make achievements and wants to take the lead, that's great. I have no objection and I support him with both hands."

Cao Kun said: "Master Zhang, you are a guest from afar. This is Sichuan. If anyone is to lead the charge, I should be the Governor Chen. Why are you pretending to be so high and mighty?"

Zhang Jingyao said disdainfully: "Cao Kun, I am not you, I will take the lead.

Don’t bother talking to others. If you want to take the lead, I’ll give you this opportunity.”

After saying this, Zhang Jingyao's eyes were full of contempt.

He firmly believed that Cao Kun would definitely not dare to bring "113" with him. After all, Cao Kun only brought one brigade this time and not the others.

Cai E has more than 10,000 men, and anyone with any brains would not choose to fight.

Feng Yuxiang looked at Cao Kun and Zhang Jingyao indifferently, sneering in his heart.

He has already communicated with Cai E and will send the information here out.

Feng Yuxiang and others also wanted Yuan Shikai to fall, and they hoped that Cai E would make as much noise as possible.

He realized that only Cao Kun and Zhang Jingyao really wanted to fight, the others were just wasting time.

Whether it was his old superior, Sichuan Governor Chen Xi, or Wang Ruxian's Brigade of the Eighth Division, or the elite Anhui regiment led by Duan Qirui's favorite disciple Ding Boxiao, almost none of them wanted to fight Cai E.

Duan Qirui and Yuan Shikai had already broken up, so how could Duan Qirui possibly contribute?

Feng Yuxiang looked at the arrogant Zhang Jingyao with disdain. In his opinion, Zhang Jingyao was an arrogant person. He had no good tactics and was no match for Cai E.

The most powerful one here is Chen Xi.

As his old boss, Feng Yuxiang knew Chen Xi very well.

How could he be an ordinary person who could become the godfather of the Southwest Army?

Helped Li Yuanhong to surround Hubei and helped Yuan Shikai to secure the presidency.

He also formed alliances and made several southwestern provinces alienated. In terms of strategy, he was even called "the first figure of the Beiyang government" by the master of Chinese studies Zhang Taiyan.

Yuan Shikai treated Chen Xi as a guest of honor and obeyed all his requests.

He was appointed by Sichuan Governor Xiliang as the director of Sichuan Military Academy, and many of Sichuan warlords were his students.

Not long after, Xiliang was transferred to Yunnan.

Chen Xi followed him to Yunnan and served as the dean of the Military Academy, where he trained the Yunnan New Army.

It can be said that more than half of the generals in Yunnan and Sichuan were students of Chen Xi.

It is no exaggeration to call him the Godfather of the Southwest Army.