Chapter 168 167. Zhang Zuolin plays Mr. Peace

Jin Yunpeng submitted his resignation when the situation in Zhiwan became increasingly tense. The first time Xu Shichang granted 10 days leave, the second time he granted another 10 days, the third time he added 10 days to 20 days, and after 20 days he extended another 10 days. God, but Jin himself resigned very firmly, and he submitted his resignation for the fourth time before the leave was over.Xu Shichang still uses the word "drag" to deal with cabinet issues. The problem in Zhiwan has become so serious that it cannot be solved without the First World War. Of course, this is a freezing situation, not a one-day cold.Analyzing the situation at that time in a very specific way, without Xu Shuzheng, Duan Qirui would not have had the great momentum of those years. It is absolutely impossible, so only World War I can solve it.

Of course, in the last five minutes, all parties tried to find a solution that could avoid war or avoid it.Therefore, on the eve of the Zhiwan War, Xu Shichang still wanted to try his best to save the crisis.The Shenlu Office generated electricity three times on June 7th, June 14th, and June 18th, calling Cao Kun, Zhang Zuolin, and Li Chun to Beijing for a meeting.But Li Chun was the first to call back, saying he was sick.Cao Kun used the excuse that the Wu division of the Zhijun army had returned to the defense, and that additional arrangements had to be made, so they could not be separated. On the evening of the 18th, after receiving a telegram from Fengtian, Zhang Zuolin had been summoned to enter the customs. Zhang Zuolin arrived in Beijing on the 19th. This was a major event in Beijing. All the dignitaries came to greet him at the station, and his prestige remained the same as the grand occasion when his in-laws Zhang Xun led troops into Beijing three years ago.In order to please the king outside the Guan, the Anfu department had Zeng Yujun in charge of building a large-scale construction project in Fengtian Guild Hall, redecorating it, and preparing it for this distinguished guest's residence.

After Zhang Zuolin got off the car, he said that he had three projects in his trip to Beijing: (1) to help Jin Yunpeng take on the role of Ge Kui again; (2) to consult with him. (3) For future disarmament and abolition of supervisory issues.But of course this is superficial.He first visited Xu Shichang, then Jin Yunpeng, and then Duan Qirui.Duan Qirui has always been arrogant, but this time he treats Zhang Zuolin who appears as a "peacemaker" very kindly.Zhang is very respectful to Duan. Zhang Zuolin did not stay at the Fengtian Guild Hall, but went directly to the Fengjun Headquarters in Beijing to rest, and used the headquarters as a hotel.

On this day, Xu Shuzheng and the main figures of the Anfu faction held a meeting in Zeng Yujun's private residence to study the current situation. Everyone agreed that Zhang Zuolin was willing to come to Beijing, at least saying that the Fengjun would not be attached to the Zhili, so the Zhili seemed to have some scruples and would not go to the army. Seeing the way, if Zhang Zuolin can be promoted to remain neutral, he will not be afraid to fight the Zhili.Therefore, it was decided to win over Zhang Zuolin. Of course, winning over Zhang required a price, so he decided to exchange the seat of vice president for Zhang Zuolin's neutrality in the Zhiwan conflict.

But what Zhang Zuolin really wanted, they couldn't understand. From Zhang's refusal to accept Zeng Yujun's invitation to stay at the Fengtian Guild Hall, it could be seen that he was very indifferent to the Anfu Department. Xu Shuzheng went to see Zhang on the 20th, but Zhang Jingxiang shut the door. Not only that, Zhang Zuolin proposed to Xu Shichang that the prerequisite for resolving the crisis was the reinstatement of Jin Yunpeng and the removal of the three heads of the Anfu Department. Xu Shichang said to Zhang Zuolin: "It's always easy to talk about Zhongshan (Cao Kun) when he comes. Please go to Baoding to persuade him." Zhang Zuolin readily agreed.

On September 22, Zhang Zuolin went to Baoding together with He Enpu, the chief of staff of the Jiangsu Supervision Office represented by Li Chun, Li Jingcheng, the chief of staff of the Jiangxi Supervision Office represented by Chen Guangyuan, and many representatives of the Northern Governors. . A meeting was held in Baoding on the 22nd. Wu Peifu spoke the most intensely. After repeated discussions, he proposed six conditions to resolve the situation: (1) Disband the Anfu Department; (2) Replace the third chief of the Anfu Department; (4) Wang Yitang, the general representative of the Northern Peace Council, was removed; (5) the border guards were revoked and reorganized and placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Army; (6) Xu Shuzheng was removed from office.

Both Cao Kun and Zhang Zuolin felt that the conditions seemed too harsh, so they canceled the sixth item of Xu Shuzheng's dismissal, and changed the sixth item to five items. Zhang Zuolin was asked to take it to Beijing to discuss with the authorities. Zhang Zuolin returned to Beijing from Baoding on the 23rd. Duan Qirui hosted a dinner at the hotel in Tuanhe that night. Duan told Zhang: I have no political ambitions, I don't want to be vice president, and I am willing to support a partner outside Beijing who can cooperate. A person who is the vice president, which is tantamount to implying that Zhang Zuolin can be supported as the vice president.Zhang Zuolin said that he has always obeyed the attitude of "supervising and handling".

At the beginning of this dinner, the atmosphere was very harmonious, so the conversation gradually led to Zhang Zuolin's trip to Baoding. Zhang put forward the five conditions of the Baoding meeting.As for the replacement of the three heads of the Anfu Department, it can be discussed, but it is required to ensure that the accounts of the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Finance will not be traced.It turned out that these two departments embezzled a lot of public funds because they supported the Anfu Department. If they were traced, it would be a big trouble. Therefore, Duan said that if he guaranteed that his successor would not pursue these accounts, he could ask them to resign and step down.That's all for this evening.

After that, for three consecutive days, everyone discussed behind the scenes. Duan was very persistent and refused to make concessions. He just asked Zhang to dredge and persuade Cao Kun to make concessions. On the 26th, Zhang Zuolin couldn't bear it anymore, so he ordered the Railway Bureau to prepare a special car for him to leave Beijing. His gesture really frightened Duan Qirui. On the 27th, Duan personally went to the Fengjun headquarters to meet Zhang and asked him not to leave Beijing. Duan said that Jin Yunpeng was determined not to be reinstated as prime minister, and that the cabinet would inevitably be reshuffled, and the entire team would need to be mobilized, so the three chiefs of the Anfu department would naturally follow suit. Step down, but in the new cabinet, at least the Minister of Transport should be retained, this is a bargaining opinion.

Zhang Zuolin had a secret meeting with Jin Yunpeng. Jin said that he belongs to the Duan faction, and the delicate political situation put him in a very difficult position. Therefore, if he stays as Prime Minister, there will be no good results. Therefore, please Zhang Zuolin not to keep him.Zhang understood Jin's situation and was determined to give up his efforts to retain Jin Rengekui. Because of Jin's resignation, the third chief would naturally resign with Jin, and this problem could be solved. So the cabinet issue was concentrated on the candidates for the new cabinet, and it was agreed that Zhou Shumo had the greatest possibility of forming a cabinet.

On the 29th, Xu Shichang invited Duan Qirui and Zhang Zuolin to the palace for a meeting.A compromise was put forward on the five conditions put forward by the Baoding Conference. For example, the three chiefs of the Anfu Department resigned from the cabinet, Xu Shuzheng dismissed the Northwest Frontier Envoy and the Northwest Frontier Defense Commander-in-Chief, the headquarters was transferred directly under the Ministry of Army, and the new cabinet was formed by Zhou Shumo and Jin Yunpeng. Still serving as Army Chief.This section said very little, and did not express an opinion on these issues. On the second day, Duan convened important figures from the Anfu Department to discuss the situation in the government meeting the day before. Xu Shuzheng and others insisted on adopting a tough attitude for their own survival at this time, and should not show weakness too much. Accepting the reorganization of the Northwest Frontier Defense Forces under the direct jurisdiction of the Frontier Defense Supervision Office, Xu Shuzheng remained as the Northwest Frontier Envoy.Xiao Xu said in a provocative tone: "If it exceeds this limit, there will be no room for supervision, and we will not be able to hold our heads up in the future." Duan Jing listened to his opinions, and sometimes closed his eyes to meditate. He is a man of passion. After hearing Xiao Xu's words, he immediately slapped the table and said angrily: "Yes, we can't take another step back. They It's too deceiving." Zhang Zuolin heard that Duan's attitude had become tougher, so he ran to Tuanhe to bid farewell to Duan.But this time Duan changed his face, and before opening his mouth, he roared: "Wu Peifu, a mere division commander, blatantly threatened to dismiss the border guards. Once this wind blows, what is the prestige of the central government? Xu Shuzheng took back Outer Mongolia without firing a single shot." , Is there any place that I am sorry for the country, and he must be resigned, which is obviously embarrassing to me, it is too bullying. You must make him resign, and Wu Peifu must be removed at the same time!" Baoding heard that the Northwest Frontier Defense Force was going to be put under the direct control of the Frontier Defense Supervision Office. They thought it was a change of soup and not a change of medicine. Zhang Zuolin was originally a rough man, although he was very smart and smart, but playing the role of a "peacemaker" by him was not good enough, not to mention that the members of the Zhiwan and Anhui families were already deep, and the distance between the two sides could not be shortened at all. , He has done his best, and he can grasp the core of the problem. He understands that the crux of the problem lies in "removing Xu Shuzheng's military power". This is not only the wish of the direct line, but also the wish of the Feng line. It's easy to talk about.But this is the most difficult thing for Duan Qirui to accept. For Xiao Xu, Duan did not hesitate to turn against his benevolent old chief Yuan Shikai. Today, naturally, he will not sacrifice Xiao Xu for the sake of making concessions to his immediate family.Duan is self-willed, self-confident and self-reliant, these are all Zhang Zuolin understands.He himself felt that reconciliation was impossible, Duan's attitude became tough again, and it was impossible to negotiate a result, so he prepared a car to leave Beijing on the 30th. This time, it was not Duan who kept him, but Xu Shichang. Xu Shichang believed that once Zhang Zuolin left, the war would be inevitable, so he tried to persuade Zhang to stay again, and asked Zhang to make a final effort.However, people with discerning eyes have already seen that Xiao Xu did not sacrifice his mind to save the overall situation, but instead made a hindrance. On July 1, Baoding issued a letter to the soldiers of the Zhijun Army and the officers and soldiers of the Northwest Frontier Army as follows: "All the officers and men of the Zhijun Army wrote to all the officers and men of the Frontier Defense Army and the Northwest Army, saying: Our generation cuts the robes and loves brothers and sisters. I would like to express my dear and sincere declaration. I would like to tell those who know the righteousness in obedience and adversity. Husbands of the same kind do not kill each other, and the same country Unjust warfare is an iron case of the ages. My ancestor Xuanyuan's army was originally used for foreign purposes. It chased meat and porridge in the north and drove Miao barbarians in the south. There was such a clean land in the Central Plains. Yudi Qiang competed with Xiongnu, Turkic, Jin, Yuan, Manchu, and Mongols in the middle land. It was nothing more than borrowing our army to consolidate Wuyu. Filling the country and garrisoning the land, Deyu raised the border, the world has a way, and guarded the four barbarians. Our border defense The establishment of the army and the Northwest Army is an arrow to defend against foreign aggression. If it belongs to the robes, it will not be increased by hand, and it will be three hundred. The frontier defense is entrusted, and the Northwest has no worries. They are ambitious and powerful, using the policy of obscuring the people, and adopting warlordism. , I have hundreds of thousands of Shuofang warriors, and I think it is for fighting in the same room, not to defend the frontier, but to defend the interior, relying on the northwest to attack the southwest, looking directly at our imposing national army, Huanhuan warriors are the eagle dogs of the family. In the old autocratic era, The emperor does not punish, and the princes do not punish. The provinces in the Southwest are under the same territory. There is no crime of betraying the country and flattering others, and there is no reason to invade and conquer. The country of the republic is based on the people. The warlords want to show the support of the snipe and the clam, strip our people of their fat, and make our people suffer heavily, consume our country's salary, and exhaust our people. Why should our people be indebted to the soldiers, and why should our soldiers hate the country? The grandeur is still there, neither is it stupid, but it should be awakened eventually. Who is willing to be a cow and a horse for a few private individuals? Yasheng has a saying: "The people are the most important, the community is second, and the king is the light." Jing Shu is punishment.' All actions of our soldiers should be aimed at the outside world and based on public opinion. It is because our soldiers have a sense of awareness, especially because our soldiers have discernment. Those who are ambitious and self-interested always obey orders. Support the central government. May I ask whether this order of conquest is based on the original intention of the head of state? Even if the order comes from the head of state, is it based on the real public opinion? Is it for order? Is it for chaos? People with a little common sense can distinguish it. , has long been a habit of power and treachery. Anfu is domineering and domineering, and Xu Shuzheng is the only one who directs Anfu to harm the country. I hide a seven-foot man, are you willing to be driven by him? Bi Anfu mortgages roads and mines to outsiders, and bends his knees to borrow money. Raising the national army to harm our compatriots. There is no shortage of loyal and wise men in our army. Who are willing to die for the party? Last year when the Lu case happened, our army had the enthusiasm to cooperate with foreign countries. The righteous indignation of not being paid by others. The soldiers of the whole country are rising after hearing the wind....The whole country belongs to one family, so how can there be a boundary between the north and the south? ?The frontier defense army created the foundation of frontier defense, and the Northwest Army opened up the grand plan of the Northwest. My compatriots worship it, and there is no time to admire it. How can there be dangers of fire and water? Xu Shuzheng, the traitor. He has no ill feeling towards advanced leaders and friendly forces, and insists on confronting the enemy. He is one of the few traitors who know that they have no place to stand, so they fabricate rumors and encourage them to be in power. The Hefei Superintendent's Difficulty', that is, 'complaints with the Northwest Army of the Frontier Defense Army', is an unconscious slander in an attempt to create a separation. My dear friend will not move for it .From then on, all our soldiers, far and near, are one body, devoted to each other, fighting against the enemy and sharing the same hatred.Fend off his humiliation from the outside, rest on the wall from the inside, a dignified man will never fall into his tricks of bribery and alienation. ... If my frontier guards and Northwest comrades can be the first to strike the whip, expel Xu Shuzheng, and disband the Anfu Department, so as to satisfy the hearts of the people, and those who comfort the people will not only be able to build a great honor to support the head of state, but also maintain Hefei. order name.Not only love the head of state and love Hefei, but also love the country and the people.The straight army is willing to hold the whip to follow behind.In the future, history will be more honorable, and it will be a great honor for the Zhizhi Army to be attached to the tail of the Frontier Defense Army and the Northwest Army.Paoze Zhishi, I am happy to come!All the officers and men of the Zhijun Army respectfully. "