Xiangcheng in Henan Province was originally just a small city with no name. However, because of the appearance of an extraordinary figure, it was no longer ordinary!
That was the Beiyang leader Yuan Shiqing, also known as Wei Ting, also known as Yuan Xiangcheng. This was also the title that people in this era gave to the top big shots. Only people with very high status could do so!
Just like how Duan Qirui's hometown was Hefei, and he was also respectfully addressed as Duan Hefei. If Li Donghan's status were to rise another level, people would call him Li Huacheng. However, this title ~
Yuan Shiqing had previously resigned and returned to his hometown to recuperate in Xiangcheng because of his power. However, this did not mean that he did not pay attention to the current situation.
The Northern Army was established by him. Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, and the others were all his confidants. Many of the actions of the Northern Army were first consulted by Yuan Shiqing!
For Yuan Shiqing to be able to become the leader of the largest military group in China, he naturally had his extraordinary abilities.
This morning, just as Yuan Shiqing finished his breakfast, his top aide, Xu Shichang, walked in quickly!
He took a telegram and said,"Wei Ting, something's wrong. There's actually a rebellion in eastern Guangdong!"”
"This morning, there was a message from Eastern Guangdong. The new army uprising has now occupied Huacheng City. Fengshan committed suicide, and Zhang Baijian is also dead. Eastern Guangdong has declared independence and elected the former 49-year-old leader, Li Donghan, as the Eastern Guangdong Governor! The entire country is electrified!"
Xu Shichang said in a deep voice. He was Yuan Shiqing's top aide, and the two of them had been good friends for many years. When Yuan Shiqing was training at a small station, the two of them were best friends!
Xu Shichang's status was not low either. He was previously the governor of the three eastern provinces, the same level as the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi. Now, he was also in the central position of the Qing court. He could be considered Yuan Shiqing's representative in the court.
Therefore, the two of them did not speak so politely. They were used to it! Yuan Shiqing was also surprised when he heard the news of Eastern Guangdong becoming independent.
Ever since he heard about the Wuchang Uprising yesterday, he had expected this. The South would definitely not be peaceful. However, he did not expect another uprising to happen on the second day.
Was it a coincidence or…
"I know this Li Donghan. His father was once the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. I've seen him before, and I've also seen the order for him to be appointed as the 49th Assistant Commander!”
" At that time, I knew that he wasn't an ordinary person. He's the only one in the country who's in his twenties. But now, it seems that I've underestimated him."
Yuan Shiqing said softly and nodded quietly. He did not have much emotion. His years of experience as an official had long trained him to be calm.
In his eyes, the matter in Eastern Guangdong was only relatively important. It was far from reaching the level where he had to personally take care of it.
Yuan Shiqing's thoughts were all on the Qing court. In his heart, he hoped that the South would cause more trouble!
"Brother Jian An also mentioned this Li Donghan to me before, and his words were very optimistic! There weren't many young people who could make him pay attention to them!”Yuan Shiqing put down his teacup and said!
"Brother Jianan's judgment is indeed correct. Li Donghan is also extraordinary. However, if you knew that he had done this, I wonder what Brother Jianan would think!”Xu Shichang shook his head and chuckled.
Jianan was Zhang Renjun's name. During his time as the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he had always taken good care of Li Donghan and promoted him along the way.
Zhang Renjun also had another identity, which was Yuan Shiqing's in-laws. The two of them had a good relationship until Yuan Shiqing proclaimed himself emperor.
Because of Zhang Renjun, Yuan Shiqing and Xu Shichang didn't have much ill will towards Donghan. At least, they didn't look down on him like they did on the Alliance.
"Brother Jian 'an is open-minded. He won't care about this. At most, he'll just scold Li Donghan! Since things had already come to this, what else could he do?”Yuan Shiqing seemed to know Zhang Renjun very well, and his tone was very firm!
"Then what should we do about this matter in Eastern Guangdong?”Xu Shichang said. The Eastern Guangdong Uprising happened very suddenly, catching everyone off guard.
They had just made plans for Jiang City and the Qing court yesterday, and now it seemed like they should make changes!
Yuan Shiqing shook his head and said," Don't worry about it for the time being. Eastern Guangdong is very far from Beijing. It won't affect this place. We'll stick to the original plan!"”
Xu Shichang nodded his head lightly. He also believed that Yuan Shiqing's decision was correct. They had originally hoped to use the southern rebels to threaten the Qing government.
This was to achieve a political compromise, allowing Beiyang to obtain greater benefits. Finally, Yuan Shiqing would form a cabinet and truly control the Qing Dynasty.
Although Li Donghan's uprising was a little sudden and caught many people off guard, it was essentially the same as Beiyang's plan.
Yuan Shiqing was waiting for the imperial court to invite him out of seclusion! Grant him greater authority!
"Let Cao Kun and Wu Changchun continue to delay and ask the court for food and pay. Wait until the fire in Hubei grows stronger! Let's move!" Yuan Shiqing said calmly as he planned.
When Yuan Shiqing established the Northern Army, there were a total of six towns. It was currently the most elite army in China.
Cao Kun was the commander of the Third Town, and Wu Changchun was the commander of the Fifth Town. After the Wuchang Uprising yesterday, the Qing government decided to send these two towns to Hubei to suppress the rebels.
But Yuan Shiqing was here! Cao Kun and the others naturally wouldn't listen to orders easily. In any case, they were just dawdling and asking for this and that!
One had to know that at this time, when the army was fighting, they needed to pay for the departure! Also, he had to prepare all the guns and ammunition. A cannon would be worth ten thousand taels of gold!
Yuan Shiqing wanted to make the people of the imperial court feel pressured and make them think that the rebel army in Hubei could attack the north at any time and kill them all.
He wanted them to truly recognize the importance of Yuan Shiqing and personally invite him back to form a cabinet! It was not like the previous empty royal cabinet!
This involved the conflict of interest between the Northern Warlords and the imperial court. It could be said that the spread of national independence was due to the Northern Warlords 'indulgence.
Otherwise, when Hubei had just become independent, the new troops from the two towns of Beiyang would have quickly moved south. The Hubei army would not have been a match for the Beiyang army.
At this time, Yuan Shiqing placed Beiyang's interests first!
(To be continued)
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