Chapter 10: Requesting Someone to Come to the Door

Zhang Biao was also quite troubled. The person he respected the most in his life was Zhang Zhidong. In his view, the arms factory and the new army were the legacies of Lord Zhang, and he could not allow others to interfere and tarnish them. However, there were some issues he could not resolve, namely, the enormous costs required to maintain the operations of the new army and the arms factory.

Although Li Yuanhong was also a disciple of Zhang Zhidong, he did not dare to underestimate Zhang Biao. This individual not only possessed excellent martial arts skills but was also well-versed in military strategy. Moreover, he had saved Zhang Zhidong's life and was a prominent figure among the provincial governors. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Brother, take your time to speak. I do not believe that you killed the leader of the party; there must be something strange about this situation." Xiao Anguo also rushed over with everyone, surrounding him in layers.

At this moment, Rui Cheng's expression changed somewhat

Bingwen's blood-red eyes made Yang Qiu's heart skip a beat, prompting him to hurriedly recount the events of the day. However, he concealed the matters regarding the exchanged silver and his encounter with Song Jiaoren. After all, although those around him seemed to be comrades, one can never truly know another's heart. The exposure of the silver was a minor issue, but if the news of Song Jiaoren's secret arrival in Chengdu were to leak, it would truly cause an uproar.

Both individuals felt a sudden jolt in their hearts. Could it be that the court truly intended to remove their commander and hand over the new army to this fellow

Li Yuanhong also sighed slightly and said: "Nowadays, the party members are causing disturbances everywhere. The Huanghuagang incident was merely a warning to you. The real trouble lies in Sichuan. If Sichuan is not stable, the court will surely dispatch my troops to Sichuan. By then, I fear that the three towns will likely fall entirely into the hands of the governor. Sir, you must make a decision."

Yang Qiu also has his unspoken hardships. He does not deny that he killed Wang Tianjie, but he did not expect that the guy actually had a list on him! Seeing everyone staring at him, he let out a deep sigh: "Indeed, I killed Wang Tianjie."

As the Governor-General of Huguang, he nominally held the military and political power over the two provinces. However, it was well known to everyone who truly controlled the new army. Thus, he had been seeking opportunities to intervene in the affairs of the new army in an attempt to regain military authority. To his surprise, in order to prevent him from meddling in the new army, Zhang Biao and Li Yuanhong were willing to invest such a significant amount of resources. His expression darkened suddenly, and with a forced smile, he said, "Then I shall first congratulate Minister Hu on acquiring a fierce general." After saying this, he waved his sleeve and left with a sullen face, not even bothering to say goodbye.

After the Taiping Rebellion, Li Hongzhang and other enlightened individuals recognized that the centrally governed empire, which had closed its doors to the outside world, had fallen significantly behind. They initiated the grand Self-Strengthening Movement, where the influx of Western ideas clashed with traditional culture, intensifying social contradictions. However, this also genuinely began to benefit the nation, with the most significant outcome being the rise of capital.

Situated within the governor's office by the riverside, the short and stout Li Yuanhong gazed out the window. The bustling and chaotic scene outside did not bring him joy; instead, he let out a soft sigh.

After listening, Ruicheng slapped his thigh and handed the telegram to Zhang Biao, saying: "Hucheng has a keen eye for talent. This Yang Qiu truly deserves to be a valiant warrior. In Guang'an, he single-handedly captured revolutionary bandits, apprehending over sixty, including their leader and subordinates, and seized a machine gun and more than a hundred rifles. Upon arriving in Chengdu, he also killed a rebel traitor in broad daylight, obtaining a list of names. Now, Governor Zhao has already begun arresting people based on that list, having captured no less than three hundred within five days, with over a hundred killed! Most of the rebel bandits in Sichuan have been apprehended and brought to justice!"

"Congratulations to me?" Zhang Biao glanced at Li Yuanhong, who was equally perplexed beside him, and asked, "May I ask what this means, my lord? I, Zhang, have not stepped out of my door these past few days; from where does this joy come?"

Brother Yang, what on earth is going on?

"A joyous occasion, a joyous occasion..." Zhang Biao and Li Yuanhong exchanged glances and nodded repeatedly; this was indeed an unexpected great "joyous occasion." However, the problem is that this would inevitably draw the attention of the party members to the Hubei New Army. In the current turbulent times, if this continues, wouldn't the three towns along the Han River be thrown into chaos?

Hearing the increasingly dense gunfire from within the city through the fabric curtain, Yang Qiu let out a quiet sigh and grasped the data device he kept close to him with his right hand

"Yang Qiu?" Zhang Biao looked at Li Yuanhong beside him. The latter frowned and thought for a moment before reminding, "My lord, there is a person named Yang Qiu under the command of Xie Anguo in the logistics camp. He is from Hubei. This person lost both parents at a young age and followed his uncle to Shanghai. It is said that he has been studying in a foreign school in the French concession and only joined our army in May."

Have I really changed history? Will the railway protection movement change because of me? Without the constraints from Sichuan, will the Wuchang Uprising still occur? Should I truly flee overseas to become a wealthy man?

When the car reaches the mountain, there will surely be a way. My dear, do not be troubled. Is there any news regarding the delivery of firearms to Sichuan? Li Yuanhong waved his hand, unwilling to dwell on the troubles of the arms factory, but was instead more concerned about Sichuan

Transfer Yang Qiu? Zhang Biao could not hide his feelings, and his expression changed immediately. Not to mention that Yang Qiu has already achieved great merit at this moment, and his future prospects are limitless. Taking this opportunity, he might even obtain the coveted Hanyang Arsenal, and he could also establish the other vacant infantry garrison. Moreover, even without these matters, as the Governor of Huguang, he should not directly interfere in the new army. Although the governor nominally oversees military and political affairs, if he intervenes in everything, what is left for his own commander to do? Where would he place his face?

Before the two could recover from their shock, Ruicheng had already picked up his teacup and blew on it, then suddenly interjected with a glance: "Hucheng, recently the rebel factions have been causing disturbances everywhere. I have noticed that the streets are often not peaceful, and moreover, I am currently short of a patrol commander. I wonder if the two of you would be willing to temporarily assign Yang Qiu to me to alleviate this urgent situation?"

Lord Zhang has not left his residence, yet he can command troops from a thousand miles away, strategizing within the general's camp. He dispatches elite soldiers and fierce generals to seize the opportunity with firearms, aiming to eliminate the rebellious factions in Sichuan in one decisive blow. This would indeed be a significant achievement!" After finishing, Rui Fang clasped his hands and asked Rui Cheng, "Governor, I am not mistaken in what I have said, am I?

What!

The entire Han River Three Towns is filled with a wonderful vitality

This will not be wrong

Oh... Song Qing is also here

Xiao Anguo is a person who handles matters with prudence, and Song Qing can rest assured about him. Just as the two were preparing to discuss the affairs of Sichuan, a sudden sound of footsteps came from behind. Turning around, they saw that Rui Cheng, the Governor of Huguang mentioned earlier, and Rui Fang, the supervisor of the Hanchuan Railway, had actually arrived together. This made both of them frown, as it was no secret that they had been competing for credit regarding the Hanchuan Railway. How could they come together? Moreover, their expressions seemed to indicate some great joy.

Hearing Yang Qiu's calm tone, which did not seem like a lie, Xiao Anguo and Ma Kui and others all breathed a sigh of relief. Moreover, that Wang Tianjie deserved it; he actually took advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack, and being accidentally killed was also his own fault. Only Bingwen remained silent, biting his lip, lost in thought.

Just ... ...

Across the river, the cities of Hankou and Hanyang are shrouded in thick smoke, particularly Hanyang, which is home to one of the most prominent ironworks and armaments factories in the entire Far East, having become a symbol of the industrial revolution of the Qing Dynasty

Moreover, he is well aware of his position; the chaotic times are not far off. As long as he can control the new army and the arms factory, no matter who holds power in the future, they will not be able to touch him. However, the problem is that he is merely a commander and does not have control over finances and supplies, which is why he has always been suppressed by Rui Cheng regarding this matter.

The two gentlemen said, "... ..." Zhang Biao and Li Yuanhong quickly stood up to greet.

Yang Qiu did not continue to explain, knowing that the more he explained, the more complicated the matter would become. Moreover, the leak of the list of the Tongmenghui after Wang Tianjie's death was indeed related to him. Additionally, the gold bars rewarded by the governor of Sichuan had been seen by many people, so he could not temporarily remove the label of "a lackey of the Qing court and a great hero" from himself

Li Yuanhong was also dissatisfied, as Rui Cheng's intentions were not genuinely focused on the matter at hand.

... ...

The convoy quickly returned along the same route. Although Xiao Anguo had arranged for Yang Qiu to be securely placed in a tightly sealed carriage, he still did not dare to be careless. He specifically placed the captured Harkis gun on the frontmost large cart and kept his eyes wide open throughout the journey

Hehe... there is no need for the two lords to look any further. Rui Fang also laughed from the side, saying: "This matter has now spread throughout the land, with newspapers in Shanghai and Guangzhou reporting on it. They all say that the two lords are adept at military affairs, which is why such valiant warriors have emerged. The chaos caused by the Sichuan rebels has already lost its momentum. Upon hearing the news, the court has also issued an edict, stating that it won't be long before the commendation for the two lords and Yang Qiu arrives."

42 standard mark

During the late Qing Dynasty, this saying was known by almost everyone in Hubei. It refers to the fact that since the Ming Chenghua period, when the Han River changed its course and separated the three towns of Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang, this place, which is a hub connecting nine provinces, has relied on its geographical advantages to become a gathering place for merchants.

The Hubei governor in casual attire, General Zhang Biao of the new army, had just emerged from the inner hall when he heard Li Yuanhong sighing while leaning against the window. He immediately joked, "I say, Song Qing (Li Yuanhong's courtesy name), we have known each other for many years, and here you are at my residence so early in the morning, sighing as if you are bringing me bad luck."

Let us go back to Wuchang

What! Bingwen suddenly jumped up; if it weren't for thinking of Yang Qiu's good qualities, he would have probably drawn his gun long ago

Upon seeing Ruicheng leave, Zhang Biao's gaze was piercing, and the fierce expression was evident.

Hehe, this matter can be considered as having been thought of together by Lord Rui and myself.

Zhang Zhidong, who previously served as the Governor-General of Huguang, once stated, "The financial resources of a province cannot solely support the urgent needs of the overall situation; military expenses cannot be exclusively borne by Hubei." However, the court disregarded this and continued to require Hubei to bear all expenses alone. Two years ago, this ultimately led to a financial shortfall, resulting in the closure of five factories, including those for cannons and carriages, causing the cannon factory to cease the production of large artillery and only able to manufacture Hanyang rifles and a few other firearms.

The exchange of questions and answers between the two only left Zhang Biao more confused, prompting him to hurriedly plead, "Governor, please don't beat around the bush with someone as unsophisticated as me, just say it plainly."

Bingwen is still quite young; although he internally identifies with the party, since joining the army, Yang Qiu has treated him like a younger brother, and during the incident in Guang'an, he also saved his life. Therefore, he is completely indecisive in his heart and immediately rushed forward as soon as he saw the master leave.

Looking at Bingwen, who was breathing heavily and whose eyes glowed with a red light, Yang Qiu was momentarily at a loss for words.

Is this not a joyous occasion

There is no need for formalities between you and me. After being shown to their seats, Zhang Biao asked, "Why did Song Qing sigh just now?"

New industries have begun to spring up across the country like bamboo shoots after a rain, and the capital power that had been suppressed for a thousand years has made a leap. In the early years of the First Sino-Japanese War, the annual tax revenue of the Qing Dynasty was only 80 million taels, but by the time of the Xinhai Revolution, the national annual tax revenue had reached a staggering 200 million taels

The morning in Wuchang is already bustling with noise, with various eye-catching signs lining the streets, featuring both conservative text and images of Western beauties in revealing attire. Horse-drawn carriages weave through the crowd, pedestrians follow one after another, and beggars gather in groups. Occasionally, one can spot blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners, and even Japanese ronin dressed in wooden clogs with a katana tucked at their waist. The shouts of porters at the docks rise and fall in a continuous chorus

The pretense of attracting talent is false; the true intention is to establish authority in front of Zhang Biao. The aim is to promote Yang Qiu as a role model, to demonstrate to others who the true leader is, and to completely break the long-standing awkwardness of being at a disadvantage on military issues. If he succeeds, it will undoubtedly further disrupt the already unstable morale within the military

Not to mention the fiery Zhang Biao, even the composed Li Yuanhong widened his eyes in disbelief, turning the telegram over and over as if searching for the words "purely a joke"

"Wolves and their ambitions!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao slammed his thigh and said fiercely, "Ever since Rui Cheng took the position of Governor of Huguang, he has been eyeing my new army and the artillery factory. Hmph, as long as I am here, I will not allow him to succeed.

Rui Cheng appeared to be in a good mood, and with a smile, he asked: "Hu Chen (Zhang Biao), may I ask you, do you recognize Yang Qiu?"

Xiao Anguo did not wish to say much more, as this trip had indeed caused too much trouble. Therefore, the best course of action was to leave this place of disputes as soon as possible. Once he returned to his own territory, at the very least, Yang Qiu would be safer.

Haha... Rui Cheng is a high-ranking official, and after taking his seat without hesitation, he took out a telegram of commendation from his sleeve and said joyfully: "Today we are here to congratulate Lord Zhang."

However, he could not find any other way at once. Moreover, Ruicheng had offered a position as a commander; he certainly could not be of a lower rank than that. Thinking of this made him anxious, and after a while, he glanced at the displeased Zhang Biao and suddenly gritted his teeth and said: "I would like to thank you on behalf of Yang Qiu for your kind intentions, my lord. However, Lord Zhang had previously promised to transfer Yang Qiu to my Mixed Corps as the commander of the 42nd Battalion. This matter has already been announced within the military, and it would not be good to go back on it now."

Han River is easy, separated by three towns, nine provinces converge, goods accumulate on the mountains, residences overflow, and commerce flourishes.

"It is not yet the chaos on the other side," Li Yuanhong pointed to the opposite bank of the river, shook his head with a bitter smile, and said: "Last night, the governor's office announced that Lord Ruicheng Rui had withheld the operating funds for the armaments factory this autumn and had also submitted a memorial to the court requesting the closure of several sub-factories once again"

Among them, the first batch of trading ports, the three towns of Wuchang, developed rapidly, relying on geographical advantages, with an annual trade volume exceeding 100 million, rivaling Shanghai, and annual tax revenue reaching as high as 6 million, with the American magazine "Harp" publicly referring to the three towns as the "Chicago of the East"