Chapter 19: Xu's Rise to Prominence (1)

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  That afternoon, Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu sent someone to pick up Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning. They packed their bags and left the Army University with a sense of reluctance. Although Jiang Shouqi said that after they took office, they were still students of the Army University and would have to return to the Army University for the graduation exam two years later, what significance did this identity have now?

  It doesn't matter anyway, since I can enter this chaotic and turbulent Chinese situation ahead of time, why not show off a little?

  Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning were taken to a villa south of Donghua Gate in Beijing, according to the driver this was one of Hu Mingyu's properties in Beijing, it had just not been used for a long time. The villa had already been tidied up by someone before them, looking comfortable and spacious. The driver told the two that they would be staying here temporarily tonight, Mr Xu Shichang and Director Hu Mingyu would come to see them later.

  With the driver's help, Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning moved their luggage into the villa and both chose a room. As they were unpacking, the sound of a car horn came from outside the villa, and a sedan slowly drove in. The sedan stopped in front of the small courtyard of the villa, and soon the driver got out and opened the rear door, and Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu got out one after another. However, no matter how they looked, Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu's faces were gloomy and uncertain, as if something bad was going to happen.

  Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning saw Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu arrive, and immediately went out to greet them. The four of them had not seen each other for two months, so they exchanged pleasantries before sitting down in the living room.

  "Uncle, you don't look too good. Is something wrong with the Army Ministry and General Staff?" Xu Shao-wen asked straightforwardly after sitting down.

  Xu Shichang let out a slight sigh, first looking at Hu Mingyu, whose expression was also very solemn. He said: "Hu Zongdu and I just came out of Xinhua Gate, although the Ministry of Army and General Staff have planned to select talents from various military schools, but you two are obviously not very popular."

  Xinhua Gate was the political center of the Beiyang government, with important national institutions such as the Presidential Palace, Ministry of War and General Staff Headquarters all located there.

  Li Zhenning was somewhat flustered after hearing Xu Shichang's words, his face looked very entangled and even a little angry. He originally wanted to open his mouth to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words.

  Xu Shao Wen, however, was calm and collected, for he had anticipated this. Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui were still under the control of Yuan Shikai at present, but their private struggle had already intensified. This time, the Southern Revolutionary Party's high-profile expansion of military equipment provided them with an opportunity. Those so-called officials dispatched to various places to supervise military affairs were actually the confidants of Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui. They did this not only to make it easier for the central government to control local military systems but also to expand their own territory.

  Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui sent their trusted followers to the local areas, entrusting them with real power. These trusted followers would eventually thoroughly grasp the local military and political affairs after a long time. As a result, these local military and political affairs would all be renamed Li or Duan.

  It is precisely because of this that Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui are now short-handed in the central government, so they do not draw talents from various military forces. The reason for this is also because the talents in these military forces all have backgrounds and are not trustworthy. Drawing talents from various military academies is intended to cultivate these student officers into their own confidants.

  Xu Shichang saw that Xu Shaowen's expression didn't change much, and he also felt a bit strange in his heart. He continued to say: "The Ministry of the Army and the General Staff both think you are outsiders, now both sides are pushing you away, making it impossible for some good people to get out of this situation. It's really infuriating."

  Xu Shao-wen knew that he and Li Zhen-ning were the first to be selected for promotion at the Army University, but they were not favored by Li Yuan-hong or Duan Qi-rui. They were only recommended by Xu Shi-chang and Hu Ming-yu in front of the President. Among them, especially himself, was still Xu Shi-chang's nephew, how could he let Li Yuan-hong and Duan Qi-rui feel at ease?

  I'm afraid that Li Zhenning and I were able to be promoted only because Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui were constrained by the presence of Xu Shichang and Hu Mingyu, two big shots in front of the president. However, now that it's time for assignments, Li Yuanhong pushed these two people to the Ministry of War, while Duan Qirui pushed them to the General Staff Headquarters, ultimately resulting in neither side wanting them.

  "But don't worry, tomorrow is the ceremony for your appointment, and President Yuan will personally host it at the Presidential Palace." At this point, Hu Mingyu continued to speak, although he reassured Xu Shaowen and Li Zhenning verbally, but from his expression, it seemed that even he himself was not very confident. "Tomorrow, I and Old Xu will ask Duan Qirui and Li Yuanhong in front of the President, how they plan to arrange for you two, I don't believe they dare to perfunctorily deal with it in front of the President."

  Hu Mingyu's approach is indeed a good one, but it can only make Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui reluctantly accept Xu Shaochang and Li Zhenning, who will still be excluded and not reused in the future, which would harm them even more.

  Li Zhenning's face looked very unsightly, he was a rich young master who had never encountered such an infuriating thing. He sighed and said to Hu Mingyu: "Mr. Hu, since it's like this, we might as well not be promoted out of turn, after all, our studies at the Military Academy are not yet complete."

  "What are you talking about?" Hu Mingyu glared at Li Zhenning, his tone becoming stern. "Your father asked me to take good care of you, and now it's come to this. You want to go back to the Army University? Wouldn't that be a loss of face? Xu Lao and I have put in a lot of effort for your sake, and now we're breaking the rules to grant you a rank and position. We've already acknowledged that you've graduated from the Army University with honors, and at the very least, you'll be a junior colonel. How much time will this save you?"

  Li Zhenning's face turned gloomy, he seemed to feel that his father had already contacted Hu Mingyu about the marriage, so now Hu Mingyu treated himself as half a son. He felt that he should have some backbone, only then could he be worthy of Hu Min'er.

  Xu Shao-wen has always maintained a calm demeanor, with an unruffled expression. However, he now also sees clearly that Xu Shi-chang and Hu Ming-yue both have some private motives. Although Uncle Xu Shi-chang is an important figure in front of Yuan Shi-kai, he never had actual power; while Hu Ming-yue, as the Deputy Director of the Army Department, only holds a nominal position. Now these two people both feel that the times are different and must cultivate their own political forces.

  In this era, the best helper in politics is military power. As long as there are troops in hand, political speeches will have weight.

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