Chapter 10: Secret Meeting (2)

  Chen Jingyun finished speaking, and the others also had a normal expression. Zheng Zuyin and others knew that although they were willing to sacrifice their lives for the revolution, the ordinary soldiers did not have such high awareness. They didn't know about other places, but they knew that the Hubei militia was now offering high salaries to recruit soldiers, otherwise, except for enthusiastic students, no one would join the army.

  After you look at me and I look at you, the scene calmed down a bit later. Zheng Zuoyan spoke first: "In these few months, I have been raising funds for the uprising. Now there are more than 60,000 yuan. This money was originally intended to purchase arms, but now it will be used as military expenses!" This is Xingzhonghui's.

  At this time, Lin Wenyin also said: "A few days ago, Mr. Tao Chengzhang also remitted a sum of money to me, with 70,000 yuan." This is the Guangfu Hui's.

  Xiao Qibin, who had not spoken much, also spoke up: "Our gang was originally planning to take action in the next few days, and we also have a sum of money, not much, just over 20,000 yuan!" After saying that, he paused for a moment before continuing: "However, I can personally donate 2,000 yuan!"

  It wasn't apparent, but Xiao Qibin's family background was actually quite substantial. Not only were they wealthy, but they were also willing to sacrifice their property for the revolution. This kind of integrity was something that Chen Jingyun felt he couldn't match even if he tried to flatter them.

  With Xiao Qibin making the first move, Lin Zhaomin was not willing to fall behind: "My Lin family can also come up with 1,000 yuan, not for anything else, just to avenge my younger brother!"

  With these two people starting, Chen Jingyun also couldn't say nothing, so he said: "I, Chen, will also take out 4,000!" After speaking, he immediately turned to Lin Chengkun and said: "Your family has a lot of money, take out 1,000 too!" According to Chen Jingyun's thoughts, he had already considered the army as his own, even if the revolutionaries didn't take out money today, Chen Jingyun was also planning to temporarily take out money from home to use as military funds. However, since the revolutionaries had money to take out, it would naturally be used instead.

  Peng Shousong said: "I and my brothers under me can scrape together 2,000 yuan."

  The remaining few people didn't take out tens of thousands, but some did have several hundred.

  After making up for it, they actually made up for nearly 160,000 yuan.

  With these 160,000 yuan as a foundation, Chen Jingyun's heart was somewhat more at ease. At least the war expenses for the short term were taken care of. As for future military expenses, that was not something to worry about now. When the time came to maintain an army, it couldn't rely on donations from the revolutionary party and their own people; it would have to rely on local finances.

  After all, the cost of a town's military for just one month is nearly 200,000 yuan. This doesn't even include the costs of purchasing and maintaining equipment!

  Then, Zheng Zuoyin proposed to formally establish the headquarters of the rebel army. Everyone was deeply in agreement, after all, the rebellion was approaching, and at that time, they couldn't be in a state of confusion, and various military actions and affairs had to have a certain order.

  Then who will be the commander? Zheng Zuoyin asked the people present, and as soon as this question was raised, the scene suddenly cooled down. To become the commander-in-chief of this rebel army, the most important thing is to have a high military rank and prestige, so that you can smoothly command the new rebel army and win over other new and old armies. There are not many people in the revolutionary party who meet this point, only Xu Chongzhi, the second-twentieth corps commander, Lin Zhaomin, the fortieth battalion commander, and Chen Jingyun, the thirty-eighth battalion commander. As for others, such as Xiao Qibin and Lin Wenying, although they have some prestige within the revolutionary party and are not short of troops in their hands, their military rank is too low, and if they really become the commander, there may not be many rebel army officers who will listen to their command. As for Zheng Zuoyin, Wei Shengtian, Liu Tong and others, it's even more unnecessary to mention them, they don't even have a military rank, their role is to contact individuals before the uprising and raise military funds, fighting is not their business.

  Logically speaking, among Chen Jingyun, Lin Zhaomin and Xu Chongzhi, Xu Chongzhi's qualifications are the most solid. Not only is his military rank the highest, but he was also Sun Wen's trusted assistant in his early years and the leader of the Xingzhonghui in Fujian. However, Xu Chongzhi had already been taken into consideration by Sun Daoren, and just a few days ago, after the Wuhan incident broke out, Xu Chongzhi was rushed to Shaowufu, making it impossible for him to take on this command role.

  Lin Zhaomin and Chen Jingyun can be said to be half a catty and eight taels, with the same military rank. However, both of them had just joined the Tongmenghui not long ago, and their motives were not so pure. But the two battalions under Lin Zhaomin's 40th Brigade were not in Fuzhou City, one battalion was in Shaowu Prefecture, and the other was in Yanping Prefecture, in short, he is now a commander without an army.

  As a result, Chen Jingyun has the greatest advantage! He has a high military rank and prestige in the army, most importantly, he also holds the only regular infantry regiment within Fuzhou City.

  Apart from these reasons, there is a more important point, that is the internal factional strife within the Alliance. The conflicts between the Xingzhonghui, Guangfuhui, Gongjinhui and even the parties represented by Peng Shousong have not yet reached their peak, but they have already shown signs of it. It can be imagined that they are unlikely to accept the leadership of another party.

  Revolution and overthrowing the Qing dynasty are important, but the right to lead the revolution is equally important.

  After a long period of silence, Xiao Qibin suddenly said: "I propose that Chen Jingyun be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the insurgent army and Lin Zaomin as the deputy commander!"

  Xiao Qibin said this, and Lin Wenyi of the Guangfu Association also said: "I agree with you. On our side, only Chen and Lin have the highest positions, and the second battalion under Chen's command will be the main force of the uprising army. Therefore, it is a safe strategy for Chen to take command and Lin to take deputy command!"

  Unexpectedly, Chen Jingyun said: "What about Xu Chongzhi? He is the commander of the 20th Corps. If he takes on this command, it would be a suitable match!"

  "Cough!" Peng Shousong waved his hand: "Now Xu Chongzhi is still in Zhao Wufu, let him take charge of the command and direct the troops, how to win over other new and old armies?"

  Wei Shengtian also nodded: "Mr. Peng is right, I think Xu Chongzhi will understand our approach!"

  Zheng Zu Yin also said: "Zi Hua, you have come to take on this command, it is the general expectation, do not delay!"

  At this time, Chen Jingyun sighed: "Since you all say so, then Chen can only drive the ducks onto the shelf and do his best!"

  However, at this time, Lin Chengkun's face, which had been tense behind Chen Jingyun, finally relaxed. As Chen Jingyun's confidant, he knew that Chen Jingyun had always wanted this leadership position, otherwise Chen Jingyun would not have brought together the Guangfu Association, Gongjin Association, and Huaxing Association to discuss matters. With the discord and mistrust among these three factions, Chen Jingyun could find opportunities in between. Now it has been proven that a powerful Chen Jingyun who does not belong to any of their factions has become the lubricant between them, and only Chen Jingyun's existence can make people from all three sides work together.

  As a result, Chen Jingyun becoming the commander-in-chief of the rebel army was already an expected outcome. However, this commander was more nominal than anything else. At least Chen Jingyun couldn't command the forces under these revolutionaries. To gain real power and control over the rebel army, he had to rely on his own people and guns!

  The crowd then discussed the framework of the command center and various possibilities for arrangements, and looked forward to a better future. When it came to the future, everyone was enthusiastic, saying that after overthrowing the Qing court, China would be able to join the ranks of the strong powers in just a few years, restore the prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties, and people would live in peace and happiness. Although Chen Jingyun didn't have much affinity for their boastful talk, he also couldn't bear to obstruct others from dreaming about the future, so he simply went along with them for a few sentences.

  After settling various matters, everyone finally ended this informal meeting. After the meeting, Chen Jingyun bid farewell to everyone and left with Lin Chenkun.

  But Lin Wenyin and Lin Zhaomin did not leave immediately, the dim coal oil lamp in the house remained lit until midnight!

  Due to the late hour and the current tense situation, a curfew had already been implemented in Fuzhou City, especially around Nanxiao Field. Chen Jingyun also didn't want to return to the military camp with Lin Chengkun in a big way, so after they parted ways, each returned to their own home.

  It was already 10:30 when he returned home, and most people in the house had gone to sleep. Chen Jingyun didn't want to disturb them, so he specifically instructed the doorman not to make a fuss and not to inform Chen Yushi. Even so, the little servant in the gatehouse quickly ran inside, apparently to notify the maidservant in Chen Jingyun's courtyard.

  As soon as he entered the courtyard where he lived, he found that the lights in the house had already been lit up. The several maids in his room were all waiting, and they were all wearing thin silk cheongsam, without any outerwear on top, obviously being hastily called up after falling asleep.

  Chen Jingyun waved his hand: "All of you go back to sleep! Don't worry about me."

  Among those maids, after listening to me and looking at each other, they immediately retreated one after another, but there was one person left. The girl was about 16 or 17 years old, with a melon-shaped face, extremely delicate. Originally, this group of maids were all of high status, but she stood out among the three or four maids, and this person was Luo Li, Chen Jingyun's personal maid. She was not originally a maid in Chen Jingyun's room, but when Chen Jingyun was seriously ill before, Chen Yushi was worried and sent Luo Li from her own side to Chen Jingyun's room to take care of those maids and servants.

  She first walked forward and took Chen Jingyun's coat, then said: "Young master, have you had dinner? Do you need to take a bath later?"

  Chen Jingyun said: "I've eaten, as for bathing, I won't bother the people in the kitchen, later I'll just use cold water directly!"

  Unexpectedly, Luo Li said: "There is hot water in the kitchen, how can it be troublesome? Moreover, young master, your illness has not been well for several days. If you catch a cold again because of washing with cold water, I will be guilty!"

  Hearing her say that, Chen Jingyun also didn't say anything else. If she were to fall ill, the unlucky ones would be herself and the servants in the courtyard.

  As Luo Liu went out to prepare hot water, footsteps sounded outside again. Before long, a man of about fifty years old, wearing a silk cloak and carrying a lantern, came to the front of Chen Jingyun's room: "Young Master!"

  "Ah, Fourth Uncle, what's going on so late?" Chen Jingyun asked with a puzzled expression.

  The person carrying a lantern to the door was Chen Huaiyang, the steward of the Chen family, who was the distant uncle of Chen Jingyun's father and had been following Chen Jingyun's father in the Chen family for decades.

  Chen Huiyang put down the lantern and walked in, handing over an account book while saying: "The accounts for the first half of the year were all done last month, but some time ago the young master was unwell, and these days the young master has been staying in the military camp, so there hasn't been a chance to show them to him! The various managers are waiting for the young master's response! This old slave knows that the young master is busy with official duties and doesn't dare to disturb him at the military camp. Just now I heard that the young master has returned to the mansion..."

  Chen Jingyun smiled after hearing this: "I'm afraid you're worried that I'll leave early in the morning, so now you've come over in a hurry!"

  Chen Huiyang also smiled slightly: "Young master, please spare this old bone!"

  "Sit down!" said Chen Jingyun with a smile.

  Chen Huiyang sat down and immediately opened the account book, then began to tell Chen Jingyun item by item. Chen Jingyun combined the memories of the two people and had a general understanding of the Chen family's industry in her mind.