Chapter 17: The Banquet of Tan Yanqian

  Inside the Huguang Governor's Office, drums and music had been set up early on. The servants and maids were busy to the point of exhaustion, all resenting that "great hero" they had yet to meet to death. If it weren't for that unknown "horseman" who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, would they have bothered to be so busy?

  "Hey, isn't this Lord Guo? I heard you're going to be promoted to a higher rank? Ah, don't pull me, what's going on?"

  "You're just a useless fool, all you know is drinking and having fun every day. Didn't you see that Lord Guo was in a bad mood today?"

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nonsense! It's all because of that 42nd Division Commander Yang Qiu!"

  "What's up with that dog leg?"

  "Don't talk nonsense, he is Batru."

  "Who cares about that fart? He's just a cart-pulling coolie, wait till he comes and I'll spit in his face."

  On the streets, good people gather in groups of three or five, pointing and discussing the officials and gentry who come and go. There aren't many envious glances, but rather more curious and hostile ones. Since Rui Cun arrived, the Huguang Governor's Office has become a gathering place for banner people and officials. Moreover, he changed the previous policy of Zhang Zhidong, cleverly creating pretexts to impose additional taxes, in order to provide for the crumbling Qing dynasty and collude with foreigners in the concessions to exploit both sides.

  Suddenly, a commotion appeared in the crowd. Two military officers wearing brand new uniforms and shiny boots walked towards them from afar. Especially the one on the left, who looked like he was only in his early twenties, with a slender build and a heroic face. He walked with a straight waist, giving off an aura of sharpness, as if a sword had been unsheathed.

  "In the governor's mansion, Zhang Meisheng, who had met Yang Biao, was surprised to see him. Zhang Meisheng was entertaining guests when he saw the two men and his eyes lit up as he hurried over. The onlookers were also shocked, not expecting this young man to be none other than the newly appointed 42nd Banner Commander Yang Qiu, who had just been granted the title of "Zhongyong Batulu" by the Emperor."

  "Damn it! You pale-faced kid, you don't have any guts, going to die for the Manchu dynasty!" The scolder felt extremely satisfied.

  "A single talent." The praiser can only find one merit.

  "Wow, he's so handsome." This is infatuation.

  Yang Qiu and Xiao Anguo had just entered the door, not yet having time to "appreciate" the scenery inside the Governor's Mansion, when they saw Rui Cheng bring a woman and a large group of scholars and officials personally walking out of the main hall to greet them, hastily kneeling on one knee to pay their respects.

  "Xiao Yangqiu (Xiao Anguo) requests an audience with Your Excellency the Governor-General."

  "Get up, hurry up." Rui Cheng hastily helped the two of them up and smiled: "Tonight's family banquet is to celebrate your success, no need for formalities."

  "If it weren't for the Grand Governor's promotion and recommendation, there wouldn't be Yang Qiu and An Guo today." Xiang Ankou said, taking out a small brocade box from his bosom and handing it to Zhang Meisheng with a smile: "This is some token of appreciation from the two of us, I hope you will accept it with a smile."

  "Hehe, you guys......" Rui Cheng let out a long sigh, opened the box and saw that it was a three-inch tall pure gold smiling Maitreya Buddha. His smile grew even wider as he said: "It's not easy for soldiers to save up money from their rations, don't do this again next time." After finishing speaking, he returned the box to Zhang Meisheng and deliberately emphasized: "Go, put it on my desk."

  After Zhang Meisheng left, Rui Cheng warmly grasped the two people and began to introduce them to the guests: "This is my wife, this is..."

  When introducing Mrs. Liao Ke-yu, Yang Qiu took a few more glances at her, not because she was particularly beautiful, but because many people in later generations said that the success of Wuchang was due to the credit of this lady, as she persuaded Rui Cong to leave ahead of time, resulting in the final lack of command of the army, and also said that she was a long-planted spy of the Democratic Party, it is unknown whether it is true or not.

  "This is......" Rui Cheng pulled him to a forty-year-old, arrogant-looking officer: "Guo Er Xing is currently the battalion commander of the 42nd Regiment's Third Battalion. From tomorrow on, he will be Chen Hua's colleague. You should get close to him later."

  "Guo Guan Dai, good to meet you." Yang Qiu bowed while muttering to himself, because along the way, several people with some connection to the military were all from the City Garrison, showing how strict Zhang Biao's control over the new army was. Unexpectedly, he met one of his own subordinates at the end!

  "Thank you, sir. I hope to have your continued patronage in the future." With that, Guo Erxing's expression turned arrogant and he sat down beside them to drink wine.

  "Don't take this rascal's words to heart."

  "It's not possible, at first I didn't understand anything, and later on I'll still need to rely on Lord Guo's help." Upon hearing Rui Ceng's words, which were full of protection, Yang Qiu somewhat understood that this Gu Er Xing must be Rui Ceng's mole in the army, if not for himself, he should be the new commander of the 42nd battalion.

  No wonder others were not polite, you blocked their way yourself.

  Just after introducing the guests, Rui Ceng was about to invite everyone to take their seats when a loud and clear laughter suddenly came from the doorway: "What's today? It's so lively."

  Yang Qiu turned her head to look, and saw a man in his thirties with a thin green shirt, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and two small mustaches walking in. When Rui Cheng saw the man, he also burst out laughing: "I thought who was knocking on the door, it turned out to be Zu An."

  Is it Zuan? It's him!

  Hunan's first Yuan, from a prominent family, son of Tan Zhonglin, the former governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, known as the master of Yan Ti, Tan Yanqian! Upon hearing this name, Yang Qiu immediately thought of an old photograph he had seen at the Xinhai Revolution Memorial Hall, and remembered this person. No wonder even Rui Ceng, who was also a governor of Huguang, treated him with courtesy.

  Tan Yanxin hastened to pay his respects: "Hunan Advisor Tan Yanxin has arrived to see the Governor-General."

  "Zu'an has been polite." Rui Cheng kindly helped Tan Yanqian up and asked, "What brings Zu'an here this time......"

  "Reporting to the Governor, I have come to Wuchang this time to collect the firearms ordered by the new army from Hanyang." Tan Yanxin cupped his hands and said: "Recently, banditry has frequently occurred in Hunan, so the new army urgently needs firearms to suppress the bandits. I hope the Governor..."

  "This matter has already been heard by the governor, you just wait a few more days, after a few days there will be a batch of guns in Hankou that can be released from storage, at that time you can go and receive them."

  "Thank you, Governor." Tan Yanqian thanked him and saw that Yang Qiu and Xiao Anguo were unfamiliar faces. He asked: "Who are these two......"

  Rui Cheng chuckled and patted his head, laughing: "Look at my memory, Zu An arrived just in time. Come, let me introduce you, this is Yang Qiu, who was awarded the 'Zhongyong Batulu' by the Emperor for his meritorious service in Sichuan, and is now the new commander of the 42nd Regiment of the 21st Mixed Brigade of the Hubei Army. In a few days, you'll go to Hankou to receive your gun, and you'll need him to show you the way."

  Tan Yanqian had also heard of Yang Qiu's "good name" before, but didn't expect him to be such a dignified young man, and hurriedly smiled: "It turns out that it is the famous Yang Biao Tong from Huguang, I have long admired you."

  Bad news travels fast!

  Yang Qi smiled wryly in her heart, but she still admired Tan Yanqing a lot. At least the other party's handwriting was good, right? She hastily replied with courtesy: "Tan sir is too polite, Chenhua is just an unrefined soldier, how can he compare to Tan sir's elegant writing and refined calligraphy?"

  Tan Yanqian was touched to the most proud place in his life, and he looked at Yang Qiu with a smile: "At the age of weak crown, he has been galloping on the battlefield, achieving great achievements, and was awarded the title of Zhongyong Batulu and the emperor's gift of Huang Majia. Such merits are indeed rare, and it is really admirable for Yanqian."

  "Hehe, you two are quite enthusiastic about literature and martial arts. I'm afraid the food and wine will get cold." Rui Ceng smiled and pulled the two back to their seats, and specially pulled Tan Yanqian to his side, asking for advice on calligraphy.

  Tan Yanqing raised his cup to toast Yang Qiu and Xiao Anguo a few times, then suddenly smiled and asked: "I heard that Yang Baozong used to study at the Shanghai Foreign Language School, how did he think of returning to Hubei?"

  His question not only made others, but even Rui Ceng quietly perked up her ears. Yang Qiu also knew that his secrets must have been dug out by the other party several times, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "Does Lord Tan not know that Chen Hua is from Hubei?"

  Born in Hubei, no matter where I go, I will never forget the nourishment of the Han River. After finishing my studies, I returned to join the New Army, and while I dare not say that I have made great contributions to the country, my determination to protect my home has never wavered.

  "That's well said." Rui Fang slapped the table and nodded, "If everyone had Chen Hua's heart for protecting the country and family, where would all this trouble come from? What do you think, sir?"

  Tan Yanxin, holding his wine cup, continued to smile and ask: "Yanxin is a man with no bound chickens, but seeing the unstable situation, he is anxious like a fire, thinking left and right, feeling that the root of it all is the dispute between Western learning and national learning. Biao Tong has studied Western learning and has a heart to report to the country, I wonder what insights he has?"

  Isn't this Tan Yanqian intentionally trying to lose face in front of Biao Zhongdaren? Could it be that he didn't coincidentally arrive, but was instead deliberately arranged by Old Fox Rui? Yang Qi's belly is dark and sinister, seeing Rui Cheng also stroking his beard while waiting, yet doesn't think the two have any hidden motives.

  But this question is really hard to answer, Tan Yanqing was a constitutionalist, but before the Xinhai Revolution he sympathized with the revolutionaries, and Rui Cun was a well-known conservative, so after hesitating for a long time, he said: "At the beginning of the Westernization Movement, Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong promoted opening up to the world, learning from the West, and their original intention was to obtain the essence of Western civilization to supplement our country. However, some people used the name of the Westernization Movement as an excuse, not to learn about Western mechanical manufacturing, but instead became infatuated with the occult and wanted to copy the Western system wholesale."

  But they forgot that water has its sweetness and bitterness, and countries have their differences. Blindly copying can only make people's minds more chaotic. When the people are in chaos, the country is in chaos, and when the country is in chaos, the people become even more chaotic. That's why foreigners bully us even more, and if this continues, Yang Qiu will also lose his way. I hope Lord Tan will give some guidance."

  "Haha... indeed, when the people are in chaos, the country is in chaos, and when the country is in chaos, the people become even more chaotic! Those rebellious parties are really detestable, they don't think about repaying their debts, but instead learn from the Western ways of deceiving and confusing our great Qing dynasty's foundation, they should be killed!" Rui Ceng laughed loudly, slapping the table and laughing: "Today, after hearing Zhenhua's words, this governor also feels enlightened, come in..."

  Zhang Meisheng, who had been standing by, heard the call and hastily took out two prepared boxes from his bosom and handed them to Yang Qiu and Xiao Anguo: "The two gentlemen, this is a small token of goodwill from all the scholars, to congratulate your patriotic and loyal hearts."

  "Bribery? What a good thing?" Yang Qiu glanced at Tan Yanqian opposite him, seeing that his face was somewhat displeased, seemingly not very satisfied with Rui Ceng's blatant bribery. Thinking again about the silver being a handful, if he took it and Zhang Biao questioned him later, it would be troublesome, so he also had some thoughts of refusing.

  Rui Cheng saw Yang Qiu not speaking, and knew in his heart that he was afraid of Zhang Biao. He snorted slightly and said: "This is everyone's good intention, just accept it, and Zhang will naturally explain to the governor."

  Since Rui Cheng has said so, Yang Qiu can only grit his teeth and secretly kick Xiao An Guo's foot. He raises his wine cup and stands up to thank: "Yang Qiu and Xiao are both rough men from the military, not familiar with etiquette, this money shouldn't have been accepted, but since it is the intention of the Governor-General and all of you, I will take the liberty of accepting it. Let me also offer a toast to the Governor-General and all of you, if there's anything in the future, feel free to find me."

  Tan Yanxin saw Yang Qiu accepting the bribe, and was somewhat displeased in his heart. Originally, he still thought Yang Qiu was worth befriending after their previous conversation, but now that he had colluded with Rui Cheng at the beginning of his term, Tan Yanxin fell silent.

  When Yang Qiu received the silver, Rui Cheng laughed even more happily and clapped his hands, saying: "Go, bring Song Ji to help everyone have a good time."

  A moment later, a group of singing girls wearing thin veils walked in, and the gentle songs and dances finally eased the atmosphere in the room. Yang Qiu was not interested in these women with bound feet and faces as white as cardboard at all. Taking advantage of no one's attention, he quietly opened the box and was shocked by the amount inside.

  Living up to being a governor, he's indeed generous, a full 10,000!

  Yang Qiu somewhat regretted taking the money, thinking that he was just a small banner holder, why such a grand gift. Just as he was wondering what Ru Cheng had in mind, Ru Fang suddenly leaned over, using the music and dance as cover, and said in a low voice: "Lord Yang, at present the people of Wuchang are unstable, the Governor-General has been concerned about the safety of Hanyang, since your banner is responsible for protecting Hanyang, you must be extra careful with this matter."

  " Arsenal!" A cold glint suddenly flashed in Yang Qiu's eyes.

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