Chapter 59: The Same Pacification Edict

  The wheels rolled by, leaving a deep rut. On both sides, more than a dozen soldiers followed closely with their guns at the ready. As Tang Huilong sat in the carriage, he still had lingering fears about last night's events. Fortunately, those party members were clearly leaderless, and after they succeeded, they actually wanted to bring out Li Yuanhong, that old fox! Did this mean that he too would have an opportunity?

  Just as he was thinking about it, the distant river surface suddenly appeared in his eyes, and the black smoke floating above Hanyang made him feel a shock!

  Last night, when Wuchang was in great chaos, he heard that the sound of cannons had also been heard on the Hankou side, but the people sent to investigate have not returned yet, and all the telephones leading to the other bank have been cut off. His own relatives have not received any news so far! This situation is really too strange. If the Nationalist Party launched a simultaneous attack on the three towns, why can the Hanyang factory still operate normally today? Is it not the Nationalist Party? Thinking of this, he immediately asked: "Rouzhi, do you have any news from the Hankou side?"

  "This morning, I originally wanted to send someone to take a look, but as soon as the door opened, they were taken to the Advisory Bureau and have been busy until now, where is there time to go and ask about the opposite side?" Xia Shoukang, Tang Hualong, and Zhang Guoyue are all of one faction. The three also initiated the Hankou Constitutional Association, plus Tang's son-in-law Hu Ruizhen, it can be said that they basically controlled the Advisory Bureau. After listening to his inquiry, I knew what he was worried about, smiled and said: "Ji Wu, you don't have to worry too much, what can Yang Qiu do? Just now they also said that after things settle down, the army will cross the river to reorganize the 42nd Division."

  "It can't be said like that. Yang Qiu has killed the leader of the Party, and hundreds of people have died because of him, already having a deep-seated vendetta with them. Moreover, he was promoted by Zhang Biao himself. Although he doesn't have many troops now, if he were to join forces with Zhang Biao...". Tang Hualong's heart skipped a beat: "As for our side, we don't even have a leader now, and it won't take four or five days before we cross the river. By the time the naval forces arrive and coordinate with them from inside and outside, I'm afraid we..."

  Xia Shoukang is aware of his current situation, and now that he's saying this, it's clear that he still has thoughts about the position of Grand Commander. After all, this time is different from before - they're all regular troops, and the three towns are rich in resources, with sufficient financial support. If something were to happen, it's not impossible that he could sit in that chair, but the reputation of being a founding contributor would be indispensable.

  But this position is really hot, so he advised: "Ji Wu, in my opinion, the military's mind is not yet settled, the situation is not clear, there are only about 10,000 soldiers and generals inside Wuchang City, and half of them are outside. If you... fear that you can't sit firmly!"

  Tang Hualong also sighed in his heart, if he could sit firmly on it earlier, he would have agreed, but unfortunately said: "It seems that this position is still to be left for that living Bodhisattva."

  "That's all." Xia Shoukang flicked his cigarette butt out of the car, his tone full of disdain: "Does Ji Wu really think that living Buddha doesn't want to sit in this position anymore? The 42nd division is outside, and two regiments of the 41st division are coming back, they're all his men! He also has a good reputation within the army. Don't look at those people shouting loudly, do they really dare to kill him? Hmph... I'm afraid tomorrow's cannonballs will fall on Wuchang City again!"

  Nowadays, pushing three and blocking four, it's not just that the situation is unclear, but also because this position is really hard to sit in. The Nationalist Party people are only temporarily without a leader, otherwise, why would they hand over this position? So even if you get on stage, you have to be restricted! As time goes on, chaos will inevitably arise! These things are as clear as a mirror in the old fox's heart, so he is waiting! Waiting for the Nationalist Party to hand over some guns to him, as long as they keep their guns, who dares to move against him on the vast land of Hubei and Hunan?!

  Tang Hualong also nodded: "The military has already taken power, and the Nationalist Party will inevitably launch a large-scale purge after the storm has passed. Now we can only let him take this position first. The prospects for us...". In the long sigh, both of them were worried, the constitutionalists who had no power and no army had indeed reached the most dangerous moment, what to do next?

  When the carriage arrived at the Advisory Council, it was already crowded with people. Tang Hualong got off the car and saw that the inside and outside of the gate were packed with people. The soldiers, party members, and prominent figures in Wuchang had all arrived. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, a rider on a tall horse came over, with Li Yuanhong sitting still on the horseback. Two eighteen-star flags led the way, with over a hundred soldiers protecting him on both sides, while Wu Zhaolin and others crowded around him. The party members were left behind, and when they dismounted at the gate, the soldiers even fired into the air to show their welcome.

  This is not a compromise, but rather a self-imposed siege! Tang Hualong let out a cold snort, not wanting to watch this farce anymore, and walked into the meeting room on his own.

  Soon after taking his seat, Li Yuanhong was surrounded and led into the meeting hall. Upon seeing him enter, Tang Hualong made a sign to Xia Shoukang, who immediately stood up, clapped loudly and shouted: "Everyone welcome Commander-in-Chief Li."

  Xia Shoukang's shout immediately caused the meeting to become noisy, although many people still felt that it was not suitable for a Qing military officer to be elected as the commander-in-chief of the uprising, but most people stood up and applauded. Li Yuanhong did not expect this turn of events, he looked at Xia Shoukang and then shifted his gaze to Tang Hualong's face.

  Tang Huazhong seemed to have not seen the unfriendly gaze cast his way, and he stood up, applauding and laughing: "With your arrival, Director, we finally have a backbone now. We just await your formal takeover, and everything will be settled!"

  Li Yuanhong smiled and said: "Since you are all here, I won't lie to Song Ke. I have always supported the revolutionary cause. The world is in chaos, if we don't make some changes, I'm afraid it will lead to even greater chaos. However, this position of Grand Marshal... Li Mou really can't bear the responsibility, why not invite Mr. Sun Wen back to take charge?"

  Nonsense! If Sun Wen could come, who would look for you? Tang Huilong hypocritically said with a hidden intention: "The governor doesn't know that now the three towns are without a leader, Mr. Sun Wen is far away overseas, Zhang Biao is still resisting stubbornly, and it's exactly when we need you to take charge of the situation."

  "Aren't Keqiang and Yingzi still here?"

  "It's too late." Tang Hualong slapped his thigh, as if he had taken down Wuchang City himself. He anxiously said: "They are scattered in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the news has not been spread yet, even if it is spread, it will take some time to arrive."

  "Then let's have you take the position, who in the three towns doesn't know that you, Ji Wu, support the revolution, are efficient and decisive in your work, and having been the speaker for so many years, are familiar with government affairs, making you the best candidate."

  "Governor Li is unaware, but indeed everyone has proposed Tang as the candidate. However, I am unable to lift my hands or shoulders, nor do I understand military tactics. My brothers are truly worried about the future of tens of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and dare not obey orders." From Governor to Sir, and from Sir to Governor Li, two foxes speaking back and forth, ultimately neither wanting to take on the role. This has gotten everyone anxious. With Zhang Biao still resisting, Hankou and Hanyang in chaos, Rui Cun's whereabouts unknown, and the northern army possibly already receiving news and coming to attack, yet here they can't even choose a commander, isn't this just waiting for death?!

  Cai Jizong was anxious and furious, shouting: "Director Li! The first righteousness has been decided, you can't refuse it anymore! Now Rui Cheng is unknown, Zhang Biao retreated to Liujiatang and resisted stubbornly, the two must plot revenge! The military is unstable, the people are unsettled! All of this requires your leadership to come out and make a call to arms! Although our current forces are not large, we have already taken the lead for China, and with three towns and an arsenal, our financial and military resources are abundant, rapid expansion is absolutely no problem. The Qing court sends troops to cause trouble for me, but compared to us, the chances of winning are more, as long as we can borrow some time, the world will surely rise up, sir, you must be the first person to overthrow the Manchu!"

  Wu Zhaolin had previously discussed with Li Yuanhong at Chu Wang Tai, and knew that he was afraid of the Qing army's attack by land and water. He hurriedly said: "The Qing court must have known about the uprising in Wuchang, and there are tens of thousands of soldiers without a leader. When you were in charge, you loved and protected us, can't you see that our brothers are waiting for death?"

  Li Yuanhong sighed: "I know your intentions, but this matter is too important and must be handled with caution. I am not worthy of the position of governor, please choose another capable person!"

  Cai Jiemin got angry, grasped his gun and shouted loudly: "Things have come to this point, like an arrow off the string. If Mr. Li does not agree again, I can only commit suicide on the spot to apologize to Comrade Wuchang and the martyrs who died for the cause!"

  Seeing Cai Jiemin so angry that he wanted to kill himself, Zhang Zhenwu, who originally felt that Li Yuanhong should not have been found, suddenly stood up, made a gesture towards the outside, pulled out his pistol and slammed it on the table, pointing at his nose and scolding: "Li! Today everyone is flattering you, but you are so ungrateful, do you still want to rely on the Manchu to fight us?"

  Several soldiers outside saw Zhang Zhenwu's signal and rushed in with their guns, shouting that they would drag Li Yuanhong out and kill him. Ma Rong even pointed his gun at his forehead, yelling: "Today you have to do it, whether you want to or not!"

  Everyone saw the guns come out, Tang Huilong's mouth twitched, pretending to be nervous and waving his hands to signal calmness. He ran over to persuade everyone to open up, and also seriously criticized Ma Rong and other soldiers for breaking into the conference room without permission. Only then did he walk to Li Yuanhong's side and say: "Mr. Li, this matter... is settled, if you refuse again, even the soldiers of the Beiyang Army cannot guarantee your safety."

  Li Yuanhong looked around and sat down without saying a word. Not speaking was equivalent to consent, so everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhang Zhenwu shouted: "Li Xiping, bring the notice over."

  Li Xiping, who had been waiting for a long time, hastily brought the draft of the proclamation to calm the people in front of him, took out his pen and put it on the table, with a stiff tone: "Sign." Li Yuanhong glanced at the proclamation, knowing that if he signed it, he would not be able to wash his hands clean, and pushed it away bluntly: "No, no! Don't harm me, don't harm me!"

  This remark again caused a commotion in the meeting room, Zhang Zhenwu went over and grabbed his hand, trying to force him. Li Xiping also drew his gun and glared angrily: "You were originally a slave of the Qing court, and you killed our liaison officer who was sent to contact you. You deserve to be killed! Now we don't kill you, but instead offer to make you the commander-in-chief, yet you still refuse. Are you willing to remain a slave of the Qing court? I'll shoot you dead and choose another commander-in-chief."

  Wu Zhaolin feared that things would get out of hand in the end, so he hastily said: "The governor is too tired today, I think it's better to find someone to sign on his behalf."

  "This won't do, this is a public notice, how can you be so reckless?" Tang Hualong hastily waved his hand, but who would listen to him now? Li Xiping even rolled up her sleeves and said, "I'll take care of it." With a few quick strokes, she finished the last character "Li" and immediately took the notice to print. This scene made Tang Hualong's face suddenly turn dark, and in his heart, he scolded these lawless party members. Just as he was about to say something, a sudden urgent shout came from outside the meeting room.

  "Speaker, something's wrong! Something's wrong!"

  Tang Hualong recognized the newcomer, a telegraph operator at the Advisory Council's telegraph station. The governor hadn't taken him seriously and was being ignored, still fuming from this, he stood up and slammed his fist on the table, scolding: "No respect for elders or youngers, no rules to follow! Does revolution mean we don't need rules anymore? What kind of discipline is this?"

  The telegraph operator knew that he had come to report with good intentions, but was met with scolding. However, this matter was not trivial, and he could only force himself to say: "Speaker, it's not good! Just now, a telegram came from Hankou saying that Hankou and Hanyang have been recovered, and even the people's notice has been posted! The telegraph station just received their national announcement from the Chu Yu warship!"

  "What?!"

  Not to mention Tang Huilong, everyone in the venue was stunned. In the morning, they were still saying that they would cross the river after electing the governor, but by the afternoon, it had been recovered? Was it planned by the party members? He immediately swept his eyes over Zhang Zhenwu and others, seeing that they were all pale-faced, and then saw the telegraph operator holding a paper in his hand, asking: "What is this...?"

  "It's a notice to pacify the people, someone just brought it back from Hankou." The telegraph operator handed over the notice to Tang Huilong, who took a look and felt familiar. He hastily walked to Li Yuanhong's side, picked up the notice, compared it, and suddenly turned pale. Before everyone understood what was happening, he slammed the notice on the table.

  "This audacious Yang Qiu!"

  Li Yuanhong sat next to him, and after glancing at it sideways, he was also stunned. It turned out that the content and wording of the two "Proclamation for Pacifying the People" were exactly the same, with only the signatures being different. This one had only one "Li, Military Governor of Hubei, Republic of China", while the other had two.

  "Commander-in-Chief of the Military Government of the Republic of China, Hubei Governor Li Yuanhong, Commander-in-Chief of the Right Route Army of National Defense of the Republic of China... Yang Qiu!"

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