Chapter 62: Lei Meng Seeks Help Without Worries

  "Continue."

  On the official road from Wuchang Wharf to the Advisory Bureau, several soldiers were walking, carrying rifles and wearing brand new Flying Tiger badges on their arms. They would walk a few steps before turning back to glance around, with an air of endless resentment in their eyes.

  "Brothers all went to Liu's temple, what are we doing here?"

  "Come to execute the order!" Under the scorching sun, Lei Meng's forehead was covered with a wisp of blue smoke, and his hands were placed on the handle of the M1911 gun all the way. He had been furious about this matter for a long time, and if it weren't for the commander's personal order, he would have cursed out loud. Now, what the soldier said was even more fuel to the fire!

  "Look, the naval camp is mobilizing!"

  Although he didn't want to look, Lei Meng couldn't resist the temptation and took a sneak peek. He saw that the naval camp's Chu Yu, Chu Qian three ships were leading several small gunboats, spewing black smoke as they sailed from Parrot Island to the Yangtze River, heading downstream towards Liu Family Temple.

  "Come on, everyone! Look at yourselves! Don't embarrass Commander and our Right Route Army!" Lei Meng took the opportunity to add: "Hurry up and finish the task, maybe we can even catch Zhang Biao when we get back!"

  "What kind of person......" Before Lei Lianchang could finish speaking, several soldiers carrying guns came towards them.

  Originally a brother who eats in the trenches, so Lei Meng politely cupped his hands and said: "Brothers, I am Lei Meng, the commander of the Right Route Military Police Guard Team (temporarily using the original organizational name), under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, to see the Grand Governor on important business."

  "Right Route Army?"

  Several soldiers blocking the road looked at me, I looked at them. Since yesterday evening, news of a Right Route Army incident on the opposite side had already spread throughout Wuchang City. Before it had even settled down, someone was sent to kill people at our door. As soon as they thought of this self-proclaimed title, the soldiers burst out laughing: "What Right Route Army Commander? Isn't that just a Baturlu dog of the Manchu dynasty? Let's go, Director Li is busy and has no time to see you."

  If you really don't want to see each other, it's fine. But hearing these guys mocking him, Lei Meng, who was already furious, also shouted loudly like Yang Da: "What are you? Wearing military uniforms and holding steel guns, don't you understand the rules of the military?"

  He was born with a loud voice and an intimidating appearance, which really stunned the soldiers blocking his way. Seeing that the other party didn't dare to speak again, he triumphantly scolded: "Has the revolution made you forget all military discipline?! Does the Right Route Army count or not, is it up to you to decide?! I don't have time to waste here with you guys, I still need to go fight at Liu Family Temple later!"

  "Hmph! Next time you see an officer, remember to salute first!" Lei Meng let out a cold snort, marched in step with his eyes slanted at the soldier, and then swaggered off with his men.

  Several old soldiers looked at each other's neat uniforms, brand new Flying Tiger armbands and the uniform military pace, then looked at their own wrinkled clothes due to the past few days of unrest, sighed in their hearts and followed up.

  As they walked, more and more soldiers saw Lei Meng and his group. By the time they arrived at the Advisory Bureau, there were already over a hundred people surrounding them. The soldiers pointed and whispered to each other, some showing disdain for the Right Route Army, while others showed curiosity about the Flying Tiger insignia. Lei Meng ignored all this, and as more people gathered, he grew even more energetic. When they reached the entrance, he shouted loudly: "Lei Meng, officer of the Right Route Army, reporting for duty to Director Li!"

  Tang Huayong and Wu Zhaolin were in a meeting room, but Li Yuanhong was still being held upstairs without food or drink, so everyone was anxious. This shout directly ignited everyone's anger, and suddenly they all rushed outside with a loud noise.

  "Who's making all the noise here? Don't you know there's a meeting going on?" Li Xiping from the outer room was the first to rush out, and without even asking any questions, he loudly scolded him. This really got Lei Meng's temper flaring up. It would have been one thing if it were a fellow officer of equal rank reprimanding him, but for a military academy student who didn't even have a single hair on his head to dare yell at an officer, this was completely unacceptable!

  "Get out!"

  Rolling knife meat directly pointed his finger at Li Xiping's face, spitting wildly: "Who are you? I'm here to see the governor! You, a military academy student with no hair, dare to shout at an officer, is there no military discipline? Is there no law?"

  Li Xiping was after all a military academy student, receiving regular military training, and for a moment he was scolded to the point of being speechless. Among the surrounding soldiers watching the commotion were many high-ranking officers who had long been dissatisfied with this military academy student who came and went as he pleased in the advisory bureau. They cried out one after another: "I said so, even if there's a revolution, you can't just do away with hierarchy! If military academy students dare to be arrogant and domineering, how will we lead soldiers in the future?"

  "Right, we took down Wuchang, but then some young and inexperienced ones came and stole our credit."

  "Scolded well! Military school students should go back to their schools and focus on studying, so as not to be laughed at by the whole world for having no one!"

  The surrounding laughter made Li Xiping's face unbearable, and he reached out to touch his gun. Lei Meng, who had been guarding against him, suddenly shouted loudly: "You dare! Anyone who draws a gun on a superior officer will be killed without hesitation!"

  Li Xi's words were cut off, and the soldiers following behind him immediately raised their guns at Li Xi. The surrounding soldiers who were watching also didn't expect the situation to turn around so quickly, pointing their guns at each other. They also wanted to raise their guns, but when they got their hands on them, they realized that Li Xi's words were reasonable. If a student tried to kill an officer, it would be a capital offense no matter where you said it, so the guns that had been raised halfway were put down again.

  "Stop."

  Just as it was about to escalate into a bloody conflict, Wu Zhaolun and Tang Hualong arrived. Lei Meng recognized Wu Zhaolun and immediately raised his hand, the soldiers put down their guns and stood at attention with swift and smooth movements, causing the on-site officers' eyes to widen in surprise.

  Lei Mengxian first gave a salute, then familiarly said: "Brother Wu, I've come to see Director Li. And this is..."

  "Oh, this is Counsellor Tang of the Advisory Board, and this is Zhang..."

  Lei Meng rushed to Tang Hualong's front, saluting and saying: "Right Route Army Officer Lei Meng, I've seen the Honorable Chairman." Tang Hualong had already learned from Hu Rui Lin that Yang Qiushi was being cooperative, but he didn't expect this stubborn man to also be so sensible. Suddenly, he felt proud and asked in a majestic tone: "What's going on here? Why are you all armed and making a ruckus? This is the Advisory Council, why the commotion?"

  Lei Da Gun's meat was originally a reversal of black and white, and his observation of words and colors was even more agile. Seeing Tang Hualong defending himself, he immediately turned Li Xiping into an "unreasonable obstructionist" who blocked military information and attempted to assassinate the officer with a gun, adding fuel to the fire! He almost said that Li Xiping was a traitor who infiltrated the people's internal affairs as a Han traitor. At this moment, Li Xiping's hand was still on the gun handle, which further confirmed the assassination of the superior officer, making the surrounding soldiers who were watching blush with anger.

  Wu Zhaolin took a look at Li Xiping, who was already shaking with rage, and secretly sighed in his heart. He didn't believe that these words were thought up by Roubao Rou himself, let alone the fact that they all fit perfectly into the big hat.

  Tang Hualong had long been displeased with these "nouveau riche", especially the incident where Li Xiping signed the Anmin notice on his behalf, which was really outrageous and unbridled. A military academy student dared to be so arrogant in front of so many high-ranking officials! If this continued, how could he, as the speaker, establish authority? So he immediately turned around and said to Wu Zhaolun: "Wu, this is a military matter, I don't care."

  Wu Zhaolin had been holding in his anger for the past two days, and at the beginning of the uprising everyone listened to him. But after taking Wuchang City, they all seemed like founding heroes, unruly and unmanageable, not even bothering to salute or put out their lanterns. So he pointed at Li Xiping and shouted: "Someone, take away his gun and confine him for three days!"

  Zhang Zhenwu, who was standing beside him, became anxious upon hearing this. Li Xiping was a young man he had high hopes for, and immediately jumped out to say: "What makes you believe his one-sided words? Can the lackey of a Qing dynasty running dog falsely accuse good comrades of the revolution?"

  "Who are you?" Lei Mengniu glared: "Haven't seen you before? Position? Military rank?"

  Li Yuanhong had not yet formally taken office as governor, so naturally Zhang Zhenwu did not have an official title either. Moreover, he was not a military man, so this question left him momentarily stunned. He hastily retorted: "I am Zhang Zhenwu, of the Revolutionary Committee..."

  Not finished speaking, Lei Meng immediately interrupted: "I don't care what you are, first ask them." He pointed to the surrounding soldiers: "What is called military discipline heavier than Mount Tai!"

  After finishing speaking, he ignored them and turned to face Tang Hualong, saying: "Honorable Speaker, I have come to see Director Li on an important matter at the behest of Commander Yang."

  "What Yang Qiu, who sealed? Talking to himself!" Zhang Zhenwu, who was almost choked back by the words, stared at Li Xiping being taken away by soldiers and had already been furious. At this moment, hearing Yang Qiu's name, he scolded: "He hasn't even accounted for killing our comrades in Sichuan yet!"

  "Lei Du Feng's men! Do you have any objections? Besides, if you comrades are hiding in the alleys to ambush and kill soldiers for the sake of a street thug who blocks roads and robs people, then even if it were the commander, I would still take him down first!" Lei Meng intentionally emphasized the word "comrades" heavily, and loudly revealed the true reason why Wang Tian Jie was killed, instantly shocking all the surrounding soldiers.

  "Ma De, hiding in the corner and assassinating, even I would have done it."

  "I said so, it turns out that Mr. Yang is just trying to protect himself."

  Wu Zhaolin knew that Lei Meng was a troublemaker intentionally sent by Yang Qiu, and if things continued to escalate, the military's morale would become even more chaotic. He hastily intervened, saying: "Brother Lei, this is all just a misunderstanding. Now we're all comrades, Commander Yang isn't pursuing it further, so you should calm down too."

  Tang Huilong didn't want things to get too bad, after all, he still needed these people to block the Qing army. Besides, they had really taken down Hankou and Hanyang, and yesterday his side had just issued a notice, and the other side immediately followed suit. The name of the Right Army Commander was also impossible to erase, so he said: "Captain Lei, Director Li is resting now, whatever you have to say, you can say it to me."

  "Mr. Speaker, this... don't blame me for speaking out of turn, the commander instructed that it must be said personally to Director Li, I also had no choice."

  It was unexpected that Yang Qiu could actually tame this piece of rolling knife meat to such an extent. Tang Hualong could only use his eyes to ask Wu Zhaolun, who thought for a moment and felt that Yang Qiu shouldn't have any reason to kill Li Yuanhong, so he said: "Let's go, I'll take you to see Director Li."

  Zhang Zhenwu was reluctant to let Lei Meng see Li Yuanhong, but the Right Route Army's announcement had already spread all over the world, and even national telegrams had been sent out. Li Yuanhong's title of Grand Marshal could not be removed, and in the end he could only grit his teeth and follow along.

  On the second floor window, Li Yuanhong, who was said to be protected but actually under house arrest, had already seen this scene. Seeing Lei Meng scolding several party members until their faces were red and they had nothing to say, he also smiled slightly, before sitting back down with a bitter face again.

  "Right route army officer Lei Meng pays his respects to Director Li!"

  Lei's waist was even straighter than before, and Lei Yuanhong, who had not spoken since being placed under house arrest, saw him for the first time and opened his mouth to smile: "I remember you, 42nd Battalion Commander Rolling Knife Meat...... Hehe, you've all become battalion commanders, not bad, not bad!"

  "That's all thanks to Governor Dudo's cultivation and Commander's appreciation." Upon hearing Li Yuanhong praising himself, Lei Meng also touched the back of his head and smiled foolishly. Zhang Zhenwu saw that Li Yuanhong actually spoke up for this mixed person, and was even more resentful in his heart.

  Yang Qiu said...

  "Report to Director Li, the commander has led us to recover Hankou and Hanyang, and also captured Rui Cong. He is now in custody, waiting for your arrival on the other side of the river to decide what to do next." Lei Meng, although a rough man, had noticed the heavy guard when he came in earlier and knew that Li Yuanhong was under house arrest. He immediately glared with his big eyes, scanning the crowd that had been stunned by the news and turned pale, and said fiercely: "Director Li, if you want to cross the river now, Lei Meng can protect you!"

  This sentence scared Wu Zhaolun and Tang Huilong, previously heard that Yang Qiu had already caught Rui Cun was surprising enough, did not expect him to forcibly bring Li Yuanhong across the river! This is a big deal, if it's really brought across the river, this side will probably immediately split into four or five parts, waiting for the Qing army to come and everyone will be dead without a whole body.

  Li Yuanhong also knew that he couldn't leave even if he wanted to, so he waved his hand and smiled: "You're thinking too much, I've been really busy these past few days, they're just afraid someone will disturb my rest."

  When Li Yuanhong said this, even Zhang Zhenwu let out a sigh of relief. Lei Meng still didn't believe it and loudly said: "Director Li, Commander Yang asked me to tell you that you are his superior, one day is, for life! As military men, since we chose to wear uniforms and carry guns, there's no need to be so sentimental or have so many fancy ideas! He said that even if you're not wearing a uniform that day, you're still his old superior!"

  No matter how many empty words were in those words, Li Yuanhong still felt a warmth in his heart and smiled: "It's hard for him to think of me at this moment."

  "The commander said that if it weren't for Director Lei's recommendation, he wouldn't have achieved today's success in recovering the two towns. So, before I came out, he asked me to pay my respects to you! Oh, right." Lei Meng immediately pulled out a red cloth package from his pocket and slowly opened it in front of everyone, revealing a brand new M1911 pistol. "The commander said that Director Lei mentioned liking this type of gun during the meeting, so he specially found Master Su Hongsheng to craft one and asked me to bring it over to give to you."

  Yang Qiu's two new-style handguns had long been circulating in the three towns, and earlier when Lei Meng wore two of them, many soldiers were envious. Now seeing this beautifully decorated handgun, they couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

  Li Yuanhong slowly picked up the gun, played with it for a while, and suddenly saw a line of small characters still engraved on the grip, hurriedly narrowed his eyes, and Tang Huilong also leaned over, reading out: "The First Governor of China"!

  "This Yang Qiu is getting out of hand..." Lei Yuanhong's words said one thing, but his gun didn't waver, and he seemed to be enjoying it even more. He made a few gestures, just about to speak, when suddenly a fierce cannon shot rang out from the opposite shore.

  Tang Hualong had never fought a battle before, and when he heard the cannon fire, he was so frightened that his whole body trembled. Zhang Zhenwu's face also turned pale, but only Wu Zhaolun remained calm, shouting out to ask: "What's going on? Who is firing cannons?"

  "It's done, it's done!" Just as everyone was on tenterhooks, Lei Meng suddenly sprinted to the window and jumped up excitedly like a child, while the guards and soldiers left downstairs also cheered and clapped.

  Yu Hong immediately walked to the window and saw that black smoke was rising in the direction of Liu's temple, and he suddenly understood. He pointed over there and asked: "Lei Meng, what is this?"

  "Report to Commander Li, in order to celebrate Commander Li's inauguration and to sweep the four sides, prevent the Qing dog from responding inside and outside, the commander has personally led the 42nd division to attack Liujiatang. Today, we must annihilate Zhang Biao's remaining troops and lift the siege of Hankou!"

  Attack Liu Family Temple?!

  Everyone was excited, and since learning that Zhang Biao had occupied Liu's Temple yesterday, he has been regarded as a thorn in the side. Just now, someone suggested that the army should immediately cross the river to defeat him, but because the military morale is unstable and no suitable commander can be found, they did not take action. However, it was unexpected that Yang Qiu on the other side would resolutely commit all his heavy troops to the battle, this kind of determination really makes one's tongue stick to the roof of one's mouth.

  Tang Hualong looked at the cannon fire, but his face wasn't very good. On this side, they hadn't even started yet, while on the other side, Yang Qiu had not only taken in the richest Hankou, but also planted the Flying Tiger flag on top of the Customs House! He had also put the entire gun factory directly into his pocket. Not to mention that the customs house alone has an annual revenue of nearly 3 million! Just this Hanyang Gun Factory is not a small debt-ridden steel mill that was manipulated by the Japanese and owed countless debts, but a complete property of the Qing Empire, worth at least tens of millions! Now he took advantage of his own instability to attack Liujiatang, if he won again, it would be a double gain of fame and wealth!

  Within the three towns, who else can sit with him on an equal footing?

  Li Yuanhong withdrew his gaze from the smoke, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, and asked: "Lei Meng, you said you had something to find me about? Is it this matter?"

  "There's another thing." Lei Meng took out a list that had been prepared long ago: "Director Li, the commander has already received accurate intelligence. Manchu has let Yin Chang take command of the troops and lead two battalions and three regiments of the Northern Navy, with the 52nd River South Patrol as vanguard rushing overnight. Sa Zong's naval fleet has also set off from Shanghai!"

  Before everyone could digest this shocking news, Lei Meng continued to speak urgently: "Director Li, you are the most aware that our 42nd division is short of troops and severely lacks heavy artillery. Hankou will definitely be the main battlefield, so Commander hopes that Director Li can consider the lives of one million people in Hankou and allocate 10 million military funds, 200,000 rifles, 20 million bullets, 100 large-caliber guns and shells for emergency use, and transfer 5,000 elite soldiers to the right route army to defend Hankou!"

  What!

  Two towns, three cooperatives and a water conservancy! Everyone hasn't recovered yet, and here comes 10 million military funds, 20,000 rifles, 2 million bullets, 100 large cannons and 5,000 elite soldiers!

  Don't mention Tang Huilong and Zhang Zhenwu, even Wu Zhaolin jumped up. Chu Wangtai had some reserves, but only more than 50,000 rifles, of which more than 10,000 were Japanese Type 30 rifles eliminated by the Beiyang government. There were only 120 artillery pieces. Moreover, before taking down the local treasury, everyone only knew that Rui Ceng had secretly transferred the newly collected autumn taxes, and now there was less than 800,000 silver left. But Yang Qiu was good, opening his mouth was 1 million!

  This is obviously self-inflicted and too shameless!

  Li Yuanhong frowned, somewhat dissatisfied with Yang Qiu's large appetite, but if the intelligence was true and there were really that many Beiyang troops coming, then this little military equipment would not be enough! Moreover, the 42nd Division was indeed too weak. From a military perspective, Hankou and Hanyang were the most critical places to defend. Although the Great Commander of the First Revolutionary Army could become famous for generations to come, he did not want to die. If they didn't quickly build some defensive fortifications, it would be troublesome. So after thinking about it, he wrote a few words and handed them over to Lei Meng. Just as he was about to instruct him, a sudden voice came from outside the door.

  "Halt, arms! Do not move!"