.Chapter 263 Xiangtan Land (Please vote for me!)

In Yueyang, Hunan, a few gusts of wind blew this thousand-year-old city into a drowsy state. There was a cloud of dust over the city; in the streets and alleys, almost all the carriages, horses and pedestrians disappeared. On the top of the old trees, a few crows made a silent sound.

They screamed one after another. The most lively and noisy place in this old city was the Police Patrol Office on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. But today, it seemed unusually deserted.

It was late at night and the wind was strong. It was a little cold in Cao Kun's bedroom. He turned around. Although it was late at night, he was not sleepy at all. He still sat back at the table and meditated silently - just three days later

Recently, he received a telegram from the Ministry of War, requesting him to send a huncheng brigade to aid northern Jiangsu.

He just laughed at the telegram sent by Lao Duan and rushed to help northern Jiangsu. What were he doing there? If he just wanted to fight the Japanese desperately, wouldn't he use his family's capital to fill a bottomless hole?

But just a few hours ago, he received a telegram from the president. The telegram was harshly worded and had only one content. The situation was getting tight and he was asked to dispatch troops immediately.

In the past few years, his official career has been very smooth. Counting from the Revolution of 1911, he has been rising rapidly in the past ten years. He almost encounters a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for others every year: after the Qing Emperor abdicated, Yuan Shikai held

Totalitarianism - Yuan Shikai is Cao Kun's great benefactor and backer. He has been a person that Yuan likes very much since he was training the new army at the small station. Why? With Cao Kun's cleverness and obedience,

He obeyed orders everywhere and "satisfied Mr. Yuan". It was Mr. Yuan who sent him to Tianjin Military Academy for further study. When Mr. Yuan was appointed governor of Zhili, Cao Kun followed him to Baoding and became a leader. Soon he became the commander-in-chief, and soon after he became the third general.

Three towns were controlled. Yuan Shikai became the president, Cao Kun's town was changed to a division, and he became the commander of the third division.

The division commander Cao Kun is not comparable to ordinary division commanders. He has always been around Yuan Shikai and can be regarded as the division commander of the "DPRK." For example, the Nanjing government sent Cai Yuanpei, Wang Jingwei and other special envoys to Beijing to invite Yuan to take office in Nanjing.

The great president, Yuan Shikai, did not want to go south and wanted to be the president in Beijing, so he ordered Cao Kun to stage a "mutiny" in Beijing and Baoding. Cao Kun sent troops to plunder Beijing for three days and three nights, turning the peaceful capital upside down and turning the sky into darkness.

.The third town made a fortune, and Yuan Shikai had an excuse to "justifiably" not go to the south.

Later, the Third Town was changed to the Third Division, and the troops were still stationed in Nanyuan and other places. After the "Second Rebellion" was suppressed, the President finally reached out to the south of the Yangtze River. In October of the second year of the Republic of China, the Central Army's first

The Third Division formed the 12th regiment and stationed in Yuezhou, Hunan. Cao Kun and the commander of the 20th Division, Fan Guozhang, led the division to station in Yueyang, Hunan to monitor the activities of the southern separatists.

In April of the third year of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai appointed Cao Kun as the garrison commander of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and was transferred to Hunan. Stationing in Hunan, a place far away from the emperor, made him realize the importance of the army, and then he had the idea of ​​​​expanding the army.

It took a lot of effort to expand one brigade, but now the president wants to transfer one brigade.

Although he was a little dissatisfied, Cao Kun was unwilling and unwilling. He always felt that there was some conspiracy in this, maybe the president wanted to seize his military power.

If he doesn't send troops, he doesn't even have the courage. After following the president for so many years, he knows the president's methods better than anyone else. If the president takes the opportunity to test him, I'm afraid...

The large iron-red gate guarded by stone lions was opened in the dim morning light. Several well-armed soldiers stood by the gate diligently; an old man in a long gown and waist was weakly cleaning outside the gate, and several people were serving meals.

The servants who purchased food from the house hurriedly walked out with a small cart; the servants and soldiers who guarded and cleaned the rooms in the department came to their posts one after another; the buildings that should be lit were all brightly lit...

As a patrol envoy on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Cao Kun stayed up all night again. The night in the courtyard had not yet disappeared. He had already stood in the door and stared at the silent courtyard for a long time. Cao Kun was 60 years old, so he didn't count.

Although he is too fat, his body is still very strong. His face is ruddy, his eyes are lively, and his short mustache is thick and black. He stands in the severe cold of the morning without even wearing a long shirt, which proves that he is strong and able to withstand the cold. However,

The furrowed brows and tightly closed mouth showed that he was deeply worried.

The waiter brought him a basin for washing, but he ignored it;

The young lady asked someone to bring the egg nǎi honey tea that he drank almost every morning and cooked it for him. She put it on the corner of the Eight Immortals table and put it down;

He had lost the Baduanjin, which he practiced alone in the courtyard every morning, in the past few days...

"The commander is worried?"

Everyone around him was so surprised. However, no one knew what was on his mind, and no one dared to ask him what was on his mind.

Just last night, his secretary-general Wang Yuzhi stopped by his side for a long time and reported to him several things, such as personnel changes in the capital, several financial transactions between Tianjin Wei and Lianyun, and Jiangsu military training, of course more

The important thing is the current attitude of the president. The president not only transferred a Huncheng brigade from him, but also transferred a Huncheng brigade from Feng Guozhang. This time, the president seems to be serious about it.

Seeing that Wang Yuzhi's resourcefulness could not solve his own problems, Wang Yuzhi's mouth went dry when he spoke, and Cao Kun listened indifferently. In the end, he calmly called out the nickname of Secretary-General.

"Lanting, it's getting late today. If you dare, go back and rest. I also want to take a nap."

But how can I sleep?

This was going to take an entire Hun Cheng Brigade, so Cao Kun, who was thoughtful, spent another sleepless night. The power was turned on earlier, and that was the name of the picture, thinking that the president would definitely not send troops, but who would have thought that the president would definitely not send troops?

The president actually agreed to send troops. Although it was Duan Qirui's request, and although it was only to send troops to northern Jiangsu, who wants to bury their family's wealth in northern Jiangsu?

Wang Yuzhi also stayed up all night. He also thought about it all night, and finally came up with some clues. So he hurried to the inspection mission at dawn and rushed to Cao Kun. Cao Kun

Facing the courtyard in a daze, he looked up and saw Wang Yuzhi coming again. He turned around hurriedly, as if to greet him, but he only shook his body and remained there waiting for him.

"Lanting, morning."

"Good morning, handsome!"

"I can't remember when you left last night."

Cao Kun smiled faintly and then said:

"Not seeing you has reminded me of a few things."

Wang Yuzhi's heart moved.

"Didn't you ask me to go back and rest? You issued an eviction order, can I not leave? Why did you ask me when I left?"

The secretary-general felt that Cao Kun was fake enough. However, after all, he was his subordinate and served him. He would not and could not argue with him about these things. So, he still said tamely.

"Commander, I know you have something on your mind. It's late at night, so I'm afraid it will affect your rest, so I left first. So, I came here at dawn today. I didn't want Marshal to get up so early."

"Come on, let's sit in the room."

Cao Kun pulled Wang Yuzhi and said as he walked into the house.

"Lanting, I forgot to entertain you when I came here yesterday. A few days ago, a friend from Chun'an, Zhejiang Province came to visit and brought some famous local tea. What is it called? It seems to be called "Jiukeng máojian". Are you

You know, I am an outsider in tea. I know that the famous tea in Zhejiang is West Lake Longjing. How come Jiukeng Máojian is famous? I can’t explain it. You have researched on tea, so I brought it out to entertain you, and I just happened to ask for advice."

With that said, he turned around and shouted into the house.

"Fengwei, Lanting is here. Quickly brew the new tea I gave you yesterday and let's taste it."

Feng Wei responded and went to make tea. Wang Yuzhi was a little puzzled.

"I've been feeling depressed for many days. I couldn't help but feel excited about tea early in the morning. Besides, I've never had a close relationship with tea. It's probably because the drunkard doesn't care about tea. Well, I'll just bother him with a cup of tea."

So he said quietly.

"Then I would like to thank you in advance, Marshal. As for tea, I am also a foreigner. I often drink it without knowing the taste. I have heard of this Jiukeng tea tip, which is produced in Jiukeng Township, Chun'an, so I got it.

Famous. The finished tea is green in color, covered with silver hair, tight in appearance, straight and beautiful in length, with a mellow and refreshing taste and a fragrant smell. It tastes good, but it is not as good as other famous teas such as Longjing.

Some prestige. The reason why it is listed as a famous tea is probably related to the poem written by Fan Zhongyan, the governor of Muzhou..."

"Okay, okay. You have said that this tea is refreshing and refreshing, and there are also good poems. You have to tell me what the poem is, so that it can open my eyes."

Cao Kun wiped away his sorrow and became happy.

"Is the Fan Zhongyan you are talking about the Suzhou native Fan Xiwen who wrote "Worry first about the world's worries"?"

"Yes, it's him."

I only know that he writes good articles, and he can also write poems. You must know this poem, read it to me quickly. Even if I give you tea in exchange for your poem." As he said that, he looked up and smiled - this is something I haven't seen for a long time.

Smiling.

In fact, Wang Yuzhi also wanted to please him, so he recited it in a flat and rhymed tone: Xiaosa Tonglu County, Chun Mountain is mostly filled with tea. What a good thing is a light thunder, it is tea before it starts raining.

"So, Jiukeng tea was picked around the Qingming Festival."

"Yes, that's why it's called "tea before the rain"."

"Okay, the tea is here, let's taste it first."

The two of them sat across from each other while sipping tea, exchanging a few pleasantries over the tea, and then naturally "returned to business".

"Commander,"

Wang Yuzhi changed the topic first.

"I'm just going to ask you a question. You must have something on your mind these days. Can you tell me about it?"

Cao Kun nodded.

"I have something on my mind, but it's not serious. If you ask, of course I can tell you."

"Commander, you are worried about the president's decision to send a brigade of troops to northern Jiangsu."

Wang Yuzhi asked tentatively, and he vaguely guessed that this was the matter. Apart from this, there was really nothing to worry about in fear of the Marshal. As we all know, the Marshal loves money, and since the European War started, the Marshal's factories have been

Although it is not that every day will make money, it is not far from making money every day.

Without replying, Cao Kun held a tea cup with a faint fragrance in his hand, walked slowly and said.

"Lanting, in the past few years, national affairs have been decided. This country has finally accumulated some wealth. It would be a pity if it were destroyed like this."

Although he was talking about the country, everyone knew that he was talking about his own "family wealth", and he was reluctant to part with it.

"But the orders of the president over there cannot be violated."

Wang Yuzhi nodded.

The commander's words finally confirmed what he was thinking. This matter is just like this. Who doesn't feel heartbroken for his own children, but how can he tolerate such a big national event? With this thought, Wang Yuzhi fell silent.

When Cao Kun saw the Secretary-General was silent, he knew that he had not understood his intention, and felt a little angry. But he couldn't explain it, so he had to speak vaguely.

"Lanting, how do you think we can make the president get his wish and save some wealth for the country?"

"Leave the family wealth?"
To be continued...