Chapter 66: Cooperation

  When Tang Huazhong and Hu Ruilin arrived at the Han Yang Right Route Army's large camp, it was already getting dark. However, the scene before them still shocked both of them. They saw that the large drill ground was filled with horse-drawn carriages, hay, military rations, raincoats, and even huge machine guns! Ammunition boxes were being loaded onto the vehicles in piles, while young new recruits who had enlisted just that day rolled up their sleeves, admiringly watching the old soldiers preparing to depart as they worked hard as temporary porters.

  "What's going on?" Tang Hualong couldn't help but ask the guard who was leading the way.

  "The commander has ordered the Northern Expedition, brothers, this is preparing to depart and head north overnight." The one who led the way for the two was an old soldier from Baizhifang who had just crossed the river from Wuchang a few days ago. In his eyes, whether it was the dull and lifeless Baizhifang before or the chaotic Wuchang Left Route Army at this moment, neither was as full of vitality and vigor as this side, especially after Liujiatun's great victory during the day, everyone's morale had been mobilized, so this campaign, which military officers called the small Northern Expedition, was filled with fervor, even to the point where it showed in the corners of their eyebrows.

  But the sentence was a thunderclap to the two people standing beside them! Northern Expedition?! Good heavens, isn't this gentleman being too fanciful?! Thinking of a northern expedition at this moment?! The soldiers looked at the two men with surprise and laughed: "The two gentlemen are mistaken, it's not a nationwide northern expedition, but a small northern expedition! Heading north...... to recover the entire Hubei!"

  It's said that neither of the two leaders felt relieved after the Northern Expedition, but their hearts were still racing with excitement when they heard the last sentence "Recover the entire Hubei" and started pounding again. What about Hubei?! Tang Huilong didn't believe Yang Qiu would cross the river to challenge Wuhan's authority at this moment, but the problem is that Wuhan is south of the Yangtze River and only occupies less than 10% of Hubei! Now he's heading north, isn't that saying... (Hu) Geely (a Chinese idiom meaning "to be in a precarious situation")?! In his heart, Hu Ruizhen muttered a phrase from Yangzhou dialect: if this small Northern Expedition succeeds, 90% of Hubei will have to take the surname Yang!

  The problem is that he can only command two battalions at the moment, and the party has concentrated its troops in Wuchang. Isn't he afraid that after the big army sets out, he will be finished off by others? Tan Hualong, who had already regarded Yang Qiu as a collaborator of the constitutionalists, changed color when he heard about the small Northern Expedition and stomped his foot, saying: "Not wise! Not wise!"

  The soldier glanced at the pale-faced Tang Yi Chang, and Commander Yang was very suspicious of this family. Seeing Yang Qiu talking to Yue Peng under the street lamp, he immediately ran over to salute and report: "Commander, Tang Yi Chang and Hu Yi have arrived."

  "Brother Ji Wu and Representative Hu, you're rare guests indeed." Yang Qiu hastily took a few steps forward, grasping Tang Hualong's hand with a smile: "I was just thinking of the two of you brothers, and now it's truly 'speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives'!"

  "Hu Mou has grown older, but who can compare to Chen Hua's youthful years of dedication and hard work for the country? It's better to just call me Old Master Hu instead." Hu Rui Lin humbly said a few words, then asked: "Chen Hua, I heard the soldiers say earlier that you're planning... a small Northern Expedition?"

  The mighty army cannot be hidden from the people, so there is no need to talk nonsense on this matter. Therefore, Yang Qiuran raised his head: "Defeating the remaining enemies of Liujiatang is equivalent to thoroughly recovering the three towns of Hanjiang. However, the Manchu rulers still dominate a large area of Hubei Province. Since we have started a revolution! We cannot let them continue to bully and oppress, we must quickly defeat these blood-sucking vampires that cling to the people of Hubei, and give the people a clear sky!"

  This remark was loud and powerful, making Tang Huilong's stomach turn black as he continued to show off. However, the Constitutionalists were now in a situation where they had to find a reliable backing immediately. Since Li Yuanhong's prospects in Wuchang were unclear, they could only temporarily place their hopes on him. Suppressing his dissatisfaction, he kindly reminded: "Younger brother Chenhua, don't take it as me speaking ill of you, but with your current two battalions, aren't you... being too hasty? Moreover, I didn't help with the military equipment matter today either..."

  "Brother Ji Wu, don't blame yourself. The matter of military equipment will naturally be resolved after Director Li takes office." Yang Qiu waved his hand and said: "Today, I made the decision to march north not on a whim. The large army from the north has already arrived, it's a done deal. Outside the three towns, there are still thousands of Qing soldiers stationed. If we can't quickly defeat them, we won't be able to focus on fighting against the northern enemy! Although Chen Hua only has these few brothers who will follow him to death, we are soldiers and cannot not fight just because our numbers are small! So please, Brother Ji Wu and Brother Zi Po, take me to inform the people of the three towns, everyone can rest assured that Chen Hua's determination to protect the three towns will never change."

  He saw that Xiao Bei's determination to go north was already set, and even the soldiers had begun to line up and depart. The two of them also knew they couldn't stop him, and could only take things one step at a time, hoping that Wuchang wouldn't make any rash moves and cut off the thread they had just managed to grasp.

  The two men's expressions were not lost on Yang Qiu, who was most aware of the constitutionalists' desire for power, especially military power. For this reason, Tang Huilong in the parallel world had racked his brains to deceive Zhong Zheng, and under Sun Yat-sen's name, he created the "Wuchang Military Government Organization Regulations", which ultimately allowed Li Yuanhong to monopolize power and exclude party members. The first fruit of the literary society and the Progressive Association was also taken away by others, and even Zhang Zhenwu's death was strictly speaking due to this reason.

  After seeing off the soldiers, he immediately changed his worried expression and turned to ask Zhang Wenjing: "The northern expedition has begun, and good news will surely come back soon. Have you prepared the list of civil affairs for each county that I asked you to draft?"

  County Civil Affairs List?

  Zhang Wenjing scratched his head, didn't he know about this matter himself? Fortunately, he reacted quickly and saw the two people next to him suddenly perk up their ears, guessing what Yang Qiu was going to do. He pretended to be difficult: "Commander, you're not unaware that we're all soldiers carrying guns, how many can... Ah!"

  "Good-for-nothing!" Yang Qiu deliberately cursed and pointed at Tang Hualong, whose eyes were shining brightly: "Tang Yi Chang and Hu Yi are both old-timers in the parliament, and they're both number one in civil administration. With such talents in your pocket, why don't you take the initiative to ask for advice?"

  Tang Hualong didn't want to let go of such a good opportunity, so he humbly said: "Chen Hua is overpraising me, I don't have that kind of skill, but... if it's about civil administration, there are some things I can do."

  "Didn't you hear? Study more!" Yang Qiu pretended to glare at Zhang Wenjing, who secretly smiled and hastily cupped his hands: "Wenjing doesn't understand civil administration, I hope the two seniors won't mind pointing out one or two things."

  Yang Qiu also smiled and said, "You two brothers shouldn't hide it either. As for civil administration, Yang Qiu is indeed worried. If you have any talents, feel free to bring them out. They are urgently needed in various parts of Hubei."

  Tang Huilong and Hu Ruilin knew that they themselves would not be able to hold military power, so they had long been planning to take control of civil administration. When they heard this, they immediately clapped their hands in guarantee, promising to recommend capable personnel to help with management. Yang Qiu was also helpless; compared to the deeply rooted Beiyang warlords, he was far inferior in this regard. He had no choice but to temporarily join forces with these constitutionalists, but he couldn't just watch as the atmosphere deteriorated again. With a stern face, he said: "The selection of civil officials will depend on you two; you must ensure that our military's logistical needs are met during this northern campaign! But let me say something ugly beforehand: now that we have a new government, the people you recommend cannot cause any trouble. Moreover... before the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, they still need to be subject to military control!"

  "Zhenhua can rest assured, with the great enemy in front of us, we will certainly join forces to overcome the national crisis and will not do anything to drag down the army." Tang Hualong said after finishing, hastily pulling Hu Ruilin to bid farewell, preparing to come up with a list that would make them feel at ease and also make Yang Qiu feel at ease overnight.

  Watching the two disappear into the darkness, Yang Qiu's eyes turned cold: "Remember! The police, taxation, and customs must be our people! This is non-negotiable!" Zhang Wenjing nodded heavily.

  The aftermath of the Liu Family Temple had not yet dissipated, and the news that the Right Route Army was setting out again caused a stir. Especially in Wuchang, which was just across the river, people were at a loss for what to do. Although everyone also had the intention to launch a northern expedition, since Li Yuanhong had not yet officially taken office as governor, the army was leaderless and could only watch as the three prongs of the Right Route Army headed north.

  "No way, it must be changed!"

  The atmosphere in the small conference room of the Wuchang Advisory Bureau was tense. Liu Gong and other party members who had been summoned overnight looked displeased, while Sun Wu, whose face was wrapped in gauze, slammed his hand on the table, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light that seemed to pierce through the river. For him, these three short days felt like three long years, as there were just too many unexpected things happening!

  Firstly, due to inadequate internal preparation and his unexpected injury, the uprising's success led to Li Yuanhong being lifted up, putting him in an awkward situation of having to yield to others. Moreover, many old subordinates in the new army have been supporting Li these past few days, with Yang Qiu even resorting to coercion! Additionally, the loss of control over Hankou and Hanyang allowed Yang Qiu to rise unexpectedly, and the mysterious birth of the Right Route Army greatly weakened the revolutionary forces, especially since Hankou was the richest city and Hanyang had a well-equipped arsenal, making it impossible for him to realize many of his ambitions.

  What's even more infuriating is that Yang Qiu actually made some progress, not only taking control of the arsenal but also sending people to demand military equipment and supplies. Adding to today's battle at Liujiatang, the Right Route Army and his illegitimate Flying Tiger Flag have become a well-known revolutionary army emblem for the people on both sides of the river, even spreading to Wuchang, while the Eighteen Star Flag has dimmed significantly.

  This tone is really hard to swallow!

  "Sun Wu......" After calming down, Liu Gong felt that the approach in the afternoon was a bit too much. He thought for a moment and said: "How about providing some military equipment to them?"

  Sun Wu and Zhang Zhenwu beside him exchanged a glance, gritted his teeth and said: "No way! Yang Qiu now has some signs of competing with us, if we provide so many military equipment again, he can quickly expand to tens of thousands of people, at that time who can still control him?"

  "It can't be said like that." Xiong Bingkun was after all a military officer, and he deeply understood the current situation: "The Beiyang Army has at least 30,000 to 40,000 troops from the two divisions, three brigades, and other subordinate forces! Moreover, the Beiyang Army has always been elite, with numerous brave generals and soldiers. One on one, we can't hold them back. If Hankou falls, it's likely that Wuchang will also be difficult to defend!"

  "It's precisely because he can't hold onto Hankou that this is the best opportunity to restrain him. As long as Hankou can't be held, he and his so-called Right Route Army will immediately be pointed at by thousands! We can completely conserve our strength, waiting for him to fight to the death with the Northern Expedition before taking action. At that time, we can thoroughly control the three towns and stir up the whole country!" As soon as Sun Wu finished speaking, Xiong Bingkun suddenly stood up and loudly said: "No way! Just Hankou alone has tens of millions of civilians, you're joking with people's lives, if this gets out who will believe us in the future?"

  This sentence also resonated with many party and military officials present, especially the old men of the Literary Society, because they were all born and raised in Hubei Province, unlike the Gongjin Association, an external organization. They naturally did not want to see their hard work over the years destroyed.

  Sun Wu couldn't stand this group of "mud legs", but at this moment, the literary society was in control of the most important guns. Although he had a belly full of anger, he had to hold it back for now and said: "I'm not saying we should give up Hanyang and let the Manchu bastards trample on it. I'm just saying that when they can't hold on anymore, we'll immediately send troops to replace them. That way, the people will know who really cares about them."

  Xiong Bingkun didn't believe Sun Wu, but since he had already said so, it wasn't good to continue blaming him either. He said: "Anyway, I still say the same thing - the three towns are interdependent, like the legs of a tripod. If one is missing, the whole situation will collapse!"

  "Zai Qian is right, we shouldn't give up Hankou easily unless absolutely necessary." Liu Gong feared things would get awkward and quickly intervened to mediate, changing the subject: "By the way, why haven't we seen Bo Kui for a long time?"

  "We also don't know, that night after being chased by the city patrol on Xiao Chao Street, he disappeared without a trace. We opened the prison cell and didn't see him either." Zhang Zhenwu said: "Maybe he ran back to Yichang to avoid temporarily, I think it will be clear when the 41st marker comes back tomorrow."

  "What a mess! The commander-in-chief who was supposed to be in charge is not even here at such a critical moment... Forget it, let's not wait for him. Let's discuss the governorship first." Sun Wu took the opportunity to speak up, "These past few days I've been in Hankou, and news has been coming from across the river that Li Yuanhong is being supported by old military officers. How can this be?! The success of our uprising is the result of our years of hard work, we can't let an old military officer come and steal it."

  "Isn't this the strategy we agreed on before the uprising?" said Zhan Daodi, who had just been released from Hankou Prison: "If you encounter any problems, just temporarily appoint Li Yuanhong as acting governor, and after we gradually gain control of both military and administrative powers, we can abolish him. Besides, before the uprising, we already invited Huang Xing and Wu Luquan to come to Hubei to take charge of the overall situation. As long as either one of them comes, wouldn't that settle the matter of who would be the formal governor?"

  Sun Wu secretly resented, had said so before the event, but he himself was not really dead! These people at this moment use this rhetoric to deceive themselves, obviously fearing that Gongjin will dominate, and hastily said: "This, doesn't necessarily have to wait for them to come, the first uprising succeeded in Wuchang in Hubei, of course should be chosen among us."

  Xiong Bingkun caught the implicit meaning of Sun Wu's words and immediately opposed: "We had a dispute over leadership before, now that the uprising has succeeded, we can't bring up old things again. Let's wait until Huang Xing or Wu Luqian returns to Hubei and then talk about it. Moreover, at this moment when the military is unstable and there are great enemies in front of us, what we need most is someone who is familiar with military strategy to lead everyone. Neither you nor I am a suitable candidate to lead everyone through this ordeal. Besides, the proclamation has already been posted and the national telegram has been sent out early, isn't it too late to say these things now?"

  I didn't expect Xiong Bingkun to be so uncooperative, the gaze behind Sun Wu's muslin became even more severe, saying: "If you don't understand military affairs, can't lead troops? With my revolutionary spirit, I'm not afraid of the Beiyang. Besides, Yang Qiu has already launched a small Northern Expedition, if we don't come up with a commander, how can we convince the masses?"

  He was talking nonsense, and even Cai Jizhong was annoyed. He said: "Yang Qiu has already issued a proclamation to be the commander of the right route army, and he also recommended Li Yuanhong as the governor, leaving the left route army vacant! Looking at his troops today, there are only about 1,000 soldiers who can fight, and the rest are new recruits who don't even know how to use guns. The Qing army is about to arrive, and even if he wants to seize power, how can he compare with our tens of thousands of elite soldiers? It's just that Li Zuodong told me earlier that Liu Ying in Jingzhou has already taken the title of Vice Governor of Hubei under the name of the Republic of China Army, and issued a proclamation to overthrow the Qing government. We had just issued it not long ago, and he hurriedly followed suit. What's going on?!"

  This remark made Sun Wu's face somewhat unattractive, everyone knew that Liu Ying was his man, and at the previous meeting, it was agreed that Sun Wu would take over as the Grand Marshal of the First Revolutionary Army, and he would take over as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. But now the situation has changed, Li Yuanhong has become the Grand Marshal, and this deputy commander-in-chief is naturally also not in name. Zhang Zhenwu, who was standing beside him, saw that Xiong Bingkun and Cai Jimin were both supporting Li Yuanhong, and he became even more dissatisfied in his heart, drew out his gun and stood up, saying: "I support Sun Wu, we revolutionaries are to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a republic, how can we use old officials? I'm going to kill him now!"

  Deng Yulin, who was at the corner, was really fed up with the quarrel and muttered: "Go ahead, if you're not afraid that tomorrow morning the army will split and the soldiers will all go to Yang Qiu's side, then go kill him."

  After he said that, Zhang Zhenwu really didn't dare to make a move. Everyone knew that the military was unstable these past few days, and even the slightest disturbance among the soldiers would lead to gunfire and bloodshed. In the past three days, more than a hundred people had died unnatural deaths in Wuchang City, including several old officers. If things continued like this, it was likely that the other side would gain the upper hand.

  Luckily, Liu Gong was a smooth talker and immediately pulled Zhang Zhenwu down to sit: "Alright, alright, let's not argue about it anymore. For now, let's just settle on recommending Li Yuanhong. We can discuss it further when Huang Xing and the others arrive. With the enemy at our doorstep, even if it's just an empty title, let him take the seat first to stabilize the military morale."

  Since Liu Gong said so, everyone had no choice but to temporarily stop discussing the matter. However, the discord between the Literary Society and the Progressive Association deepened a lot. Just as the atmosphere was about to become dull, urgent footsteps were heard outside the door. Li Zuodong excitedly walked in with a telegram: "Ju Zheng and Tan Renfeng are coming. This is the latest telegram, saying they have arrived in Jiujiang and will arrive within a few days at the latest."

  Upon hearing these two names, Liu Gong finally let out a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart. Sun Wu gazed at the dark night outside, his eyes flashing as if making some important decision.