Chapter 131 Ten culprits

On July 21, 1920, the two armies of Zhi and Feng entered Beijing. The first thing they did when they entered the city was to offer rewards for the arrest of members of the Anfu faction.In the afternoon of that day, Duan's mansion was surrounded, and Duan Qirui's guards were disarmed and dismissed, leaving only 20 family members who were in charge of the gate.Duan Qirui was so ashamed and indignant for a moment that he pulled out his pistol and was about to commit suicide. Fortunately, his family took the pistol away, so he did not commit suicide successfully. After that, Duan Qirui never escaped, sat at home and waited for the two armies to deal with him, and kept silent from morning to night, no matter who spoke to him, he shook his head in answer.

In late July, Xu Shichang first revoked the disciplinary orders against Cao Kun and Wu Peifu, and then approved the removal of Duan Qirui's part-time duties such as border defense supervisor.Duan Qirui had been mentally prepared for this, but what made him feel unacceptable was that Xu Shichang also issued the "Anfu Department Ten Criminals Wanted Order", ordering the punishment and arrest of ten people including Xu Shuzheng, Zeng Yujun, and Duan Zhigui.This was a very embarrassing thing for Duan Qirui, and it also meant that Xu Shichang had completely reneged on his promise to Duan before the end of the war.

Jiang Guiti passed away the following year. Although the old man had embarrassed Duan Qirui by standing by Xu Shichang, Duan Qirui still went to mourn the funeral as an old friend.On the way to Jiang’s house by car, he suddenly sighed and said to Zeng Yujun who was in the same car with emotion: “Jiang Gui’s question is dead, I should go to cry for my old friend. But Xu Juren (Xu Shichang No. One day, I’m afraid I won’t have tears to cry for him.” Later, he once said to others: “Ju Ren’s character is really insignificant, if he dies, I won’t even send an elegiac couplet!” In the past, Duan Qirui seldom spoke words with such a strong emotional color, even when he was in conflict with Feng Guozhang, which shows how heartbroken he is for Xu Shichang's actions after he came to power.

On the day the "Ten Culprits Wanted" was released, all the military police and plainclothes officers in Beijing were mobilized to set up sentries at the gates, main roads, and entrances and exits of Dongjiaomin Lane. Photos of the ten people were posted everywhere. The amount varies, as many as 30,000 and as little as 3,000 will be rewarded.Xu Shuzheng ranked first among the "ten culprits", and the reward was also the highest. Once he was caught, he would be rewarded with 30,000 yuan. The hatred of Xu Shichang, Jin Yunpeng and the Zhifeng faction towards him can be seen.

Before the arrest warrant was issued, the ten people who got wind of it had already fled. Except for one person who entered the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank, the rest all asked for political asylum at the Japanese Legation and were sent to the barracks of the guards of the Japanese Legation. .They were all important government officials, and they had no shortage of money. After entering the Japanese barracks, their material life was not bad. Zeng Yujun and Duan Zhigui also spent 3,000 yuan each to build a building in the barracks. Duan Zhigui lived upstairs. Zeng Yujun lived downstairs. The only thing that makes them miserable is not being able to come and go freely.After they entered the Japanese barracks, the Beijing Foreign Ministry immediately negotiated with the Japanese legation for extradition.The Japanese embassy refused the extradition, but promised in the note that it would cut off the "culprit" from foreign exchanges and all political activities.

The "culprits" are all political. For a politician, there is nothing more uncomfortable than restricting their political activities.Xu Shuzheng first expressed strong dissatisfaction, thinking that this life of refuge under the sun may be indefinitely, like house arrest, and he must find a way to escape. One of the national characteristics of Japan is to worship the strong, even if this strong has been their opponent or defeated them.Xu Shuzheng once expelled the Japanese troops stationed in Kulun from Kulun during the process of "walking thousands of miles in barren sand". However, many Japanese admired his talent and knowledge very much.This is the case with a lieutenant named Onodera in the military supply department of the Japanese Garrison Command in Tianjin. He knew one of the "culprits" and knew from this population that Xu Shuzheng had the intention of fleeing, so he immediately asked the other party to recommend him to Xu Shuzheng, and Volunteer to help.

When researching the escape plan, Xu Shuzheng once asked Zeng Yujun: "Do you think this is a safe way?" He can survive, he will never be spared. Xu Shuzheng thought for a while and said, "It's not a long-term solution for us to avoid living in the Japanese barracks. Excessive adventures are of course not allowed, but for the sake of the family and the country, it is also okay not to take risks at all. I decided to fight it!" According to the plan, Xu Shuzheng hid in a large wicker suitcase.Onodera put cushions and quilts in this pre-bought suitcase, and drilled many air holes in the suitcase, and wrote a line of "Imperial Japanese Army Supplies" on it with a brush to cover it up.

Onodera took advantage of the opportunity when the Japanese soldiers changed defense at night, took this "carry-on luggage", left Dongjiaomin Lane that night, and boarded the train to Tianjin.At that time, the Chinese government had no right to check the luggage of foreigners going to and from the station, so Onodera went all the way unimpeded. Xu Shuzheng suffered a lot on the way, curled up in the box for several hours, his hands and feet were numb.When he arrived in Tianjin, he couldn't get out by himself, and several people helped him out, and after a long time of massage and kneading for him, he was able to move freely.

Xiao Yesi smuggled Xu Shuzheng out of the barracks. It was his own act, and he did not get the consent of his superiors beforehand. For this reason, he was transferred back to China and was dismissed.The next day, the Japanese embassy was forced to notify the Chinese government of the fact that Xu Shuzheng had fled by way of a note. Xu Shuzheng was the first to escape from the Japanese barracks, and his escape process was also the most thrilling and tortuous.Later, as the political situation changed, other people also left Beijing in various ways to go to Tianjin or the concession land in Shanghai.