Chen Tianhua dispatched Luo Longyun's 40,000 troops to besiege the city of Kaifeng. He also continued to deploy troops and generals, preparing to spend the twelfth lunar month and start to capture Kaifeng after the beginning of spring next year.

At this time, Gong Yuan and other cabinet ministers in Kyoto could not sit still. He sent his confidant, Chief Cabinet Minister Xu Shichang, to Fengtian in the three eastern provinces to hold talks with Governor Zhao Erxun.

Xu Shichang came to Fengtian with his light horse and simple followers.

Fengtian was the capital and Shengjing of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and its strategic location was extremely important.

The Zhao Erxun family has controlled Fengtian for more than ten years. First it was General Shengjing, and now it is the Governor-General of the three eastern provinces. He is actually the local emperor here.

The black land in the three northeastern provinces is very rich and rich in underground mineral resources. It has also become a treasure land plundered by the two empires of Japan and Russia.

Not long ago, Chen Tianhua paid a private visit to the three eastern provinces and established terms of mutual cooperation with Zhao Erxun. Will this allow Yuan Gongbao to sit still in the capital?

Historically, the three eastern provinces have always been a place of wars and gangs. The Zhao family attaches great importance to military construction. The martial spirit here is extremely strong, and the folk customs are also very fierce.

In the past two years, wars have been raging in the Central Plains. Just a few years after the war between Japan and Russia ended, Japan won, so it expanded its territory in an all-round way.

Being in this whirlpool, Northeastern is naturally cautious and on guard.

However, now that Chen Tianhua is a powerful foreign aid, any force that wants to take action in the Northeast, especially the Japanese island countries, has to consider Chen Tianhua's reaction.

When Xu Shichang arrived in Fengtian, the situation here was a bit tense. It was said that members of the Revolutionary Society would stage riots in the Northeast in the near future.

The Governor's Mansion has issued a war mobilization order, and groups of soldiers can be seen mobilizing both inside and outside Fengtian City.

In the countryside and mountains, there are even some people dressed in ordinary people's attire but carrying their own weapons, forming a neat formation and converging on a certain location.

This was a measure that was imitated by various places after the Zhao family implemented the reserve system in the Northeast.

A large number of retired soldiers were placed in the countryside to train the people in their spare time. Once needed in wartime, they would be able to form a powerful army.

Although the government paid a lot of money for this, Zhao Erxun didn't care about it. Compared with the big things he was planning now, this little money was nothing.

The original Northeastern New Army only had more than 30,000 people, and the rest were patrol battalions from various places. Zhang Yuting's patrol battalion was the most outstanding here.

Now, the New Army and the patrol battalion are merged and are collectively called the Northeast Army. Zhang Yuting is the commander of the First Division of the Northeast Army, which has four brigades under his jurisdiction, one of which is an elite cavalry brigade, with a total strength of more than 26,000 troops and guns.

Zhang Yuting was Zhao Erxun's trusted and beloved general. He was both brother-in-law and son-in-law, and the relationship was very important.

Xu Shichang got closer and closer to Fengtian City, but his mood became heavier and heavier.

All the actions of the Zhao family have only one direction, that is, they are preparing for a large-scale war in the near future.

Xu Shichang is also a veteran on the battlefield. Seeing these situations, even if he thinks about it with his buttocks, he knows where Governor Zhao's goal is.

However, when Zhao launched troops in the Northeast to kill Revolutionary Party members, he was actually demonstrating to the Japanese people not to touch his cheese too much.

If Zhao Erxun dares to do this, it is inseparable from forming an alliance with Chen Tianhua.

"I've met my uncle!"

At the gate of Fengtian City, Zhao Shihui, the eldest son of the Zhao family, came to greet Xu Shichang and his party.

I heard that the Governor was on disease prevention, but what is strange is that Zhao Erxun's second brother Zhao Erfeng was not present either.

Zhao Erxun and Zhao Erfeng have been involved in official circles for many years. The eldest brothers Zhao Erxun and Xu Shichang have a brotherly relationship. In the past, one was in Beijing and the other was outside the customs, taking care of each other.

The relationship between Zhao Erfeng and Xu Shichang was as close as a couple. In the past, if Zhao Erxun didn't show up, it would be Zhao Laoer who was present.

Not long ago, Zhao Erfeng was dismissed by the court due to the incident involving road protection. The Zhao brothers also complained that Xu Shichang did not adjust accordingly.

For this reason, both parties were a little embarrassed, so Zhao Laoer did not come out to greet them.

"Uncle, it's really unfortunate that my father is in poor health and is bedridden. However, my second uncle happened to go downstairs to inspect on my father's behalf, but he can't come to greet him. Please forgive me, uncle!"

Zhao Shihui smiled very naturally and kindly, as if this was really a coincidence.

Xu Shichang nodded slightly, but felt a little bitter in his heart.

He was not only trying to avoid his brother Zhao Erxun, but also for the purpose of his own trip.

The attitude of the Zhao family can explain everything.

In the officialdom, titles contain a lot of meaning.

It stands to reason that he is an imperial envoy from the capital, representing the imperial court, and as the governor of the three eastern provinces, Zhao Erxun should lead the civil and military officials of the governor's office to welcome him.

But now, Zhao Erxun himself did not come, not even to Erfeng. Instead, he sent his eldest son to represent him, and he was also called uncle, not envoy or imperial envoy.

This already shows that the Zhao family does not recognize the current Beiping imperial court at all, or does not take it to heart at all.

Although there were many thoughts running through his mind, Xu Shichang's face was full of smiles. He got off his horse and walked up to Zhao Shihui.

Mr. Yuan sent himself here, maybe he had anticipated this situation. If another imperial envoy came instead, he might not even be able to enter Fengtian City.

As for me, no matter whether it is public or private, it is impossible for the Fengtian Zhao family to shut me out.

It seems that Mr. Yuan still has some hopes for the Zhao brothers.

If the three eastern provinces can be stabilized, it will be equivalent to having a large rear area for Yuan Gong's cabinet. Whether it is economic or military, the situation can be stabilized in a matter of seconds.

If the Zhao brothers do not recognize Beijing's decree, or become independent or rebel, the entire Qing Dynasty will still be plunged into turmoil and war for several years or even longer.

I wish…

What Xu Shichang hoped for in his heart could not be explained clearly.

The attitude of the Zhao family has been very clear, and now, his only hope is that old brother in Fengtian City.

…

The seemingly fierce confrontation and exposure of each other's shortcomings actually contain a deep friendship between two elderly people in their 50s and 60s.

But when the two fell silent, there was a hint of embarrassment in the room.

"Come here, go get some food and wine." Zhao Erxun ordered.

"Yes, sir!" came a respectful reply from outside.

While the two were arguing, the small stove where medicine was boiling outside the house had been removed. The maid gently picked up an incense burner, walked in, put it down, and then left quietly.

The fragrance of sandalwood drove away the smell of medicine little by little, and the excitement of the two people slowly returned to calm.

"Are you blaming me?" Xu Shichang asked.

He participated in the aid plan between Yuan Gong and the Japanese people, betrayed the interests of the three eastern provinces, and hid it from Zhao Erxun in advance.
Chapter completed!