Chapter 368 Before the North’s Peace

After coming out of Xiaolou, Deng Keng quickly followed Wu Shaoting and said dissatisfiedly: "Governor, Xiao Yaonan's temper is really arrogant. He has become a prisoner and is still so rude."

Wu Shaoting laughed and did not rush to answer Deng Keng's words.

Li Jishen, who was standing aside, sighed and said slowly: "I feel strange. Xiao Yaonan was kidnapped by Governor Wu from a surprise soldier in his headquarters. Looking at the strategy of five thousand years ahead, this must be called the first-hand strategy. Xiao Yaonan Africa does not admire Governor Wu for such unexpected moves, but instead looks like a look of Governor Wu, looking like a petty and has no general style at all."

Wu Shaoting glanced at Li Jishen, then turned his face to Deng Keng and said, "Shiyuan, look, you and Ren Chao are considering the same issue, but Ren Chao's thinking is much more mature than you."

Deng Keng was stunned and smiled self-deprecatingly: "In terms of qualifications, I am the junior of Deputy Commander Li. It is reasonable for Deputy Commander Li to think more carefully than me."

Li Jishen also smiled and said, "The Governor has seen it too subtlely, and everyone has their own opinions."

Wu Shaoting sighed slowly, showed a lazy smile, and said, "If it were me, I'm afraid I would be more upset than Xiao Yaonan. Xiao Yaonan is a man who is too utilitarian and even dissatisfied with his immediate boss Cao Kun. The first defeat in the Nanzheng Army has already lost all his face. Now he has finally seen the hope of making a comeback, but he has been confused and invited us here to be prisoners. I'm afraid it's even more uncomfortable than killing him."

Deng Keng and Li Jishen looked at each other, and both of them had a deep understanding.

At noon that day, Wu Shaoting had a meal at the First Division headquarters. In the afternoon, he instructed the logistics department to prepare more ingredients and why Ying Qin and others should practice light skills in the evening. There was still news of war during the day, but it was a small-scale exchange of fire. Although the entire Shaoguan battle lasted only eleven days, the large-scale offensive and defensive operations of both sides were exhausted. Even if the Beiyang Army wanted to change combat troops from the rear, it would take a long time.

In Wu Shaoting's idea, he already thought that this battle should come to an end, and the person who really pulled down the end rope should still look at Cen Chunxuan who left for the early days.

The journey from Guangzhou to *** is not short, but with the completion of the Jinpu Railway Line, the time has finally been shortened a lot.

On the morning of the fifth day of the first lunar month, Cen Chunxuan had been working hard for several times and finally got off the train at Tianjin Railway Station. After staying in Shanghai for two days, some officials, gentlemen and friends planned to invest for Cen Chunxuan to add a separate float behind the train, which would be much more comfortable for long-distance travel. However, although Cen Chunxuan had the status and capital, he was not used to this pedantic style, so he was still crowded in ordinary cars along the way.

Fortunately, there were a large number of guards accompanying him, which happened to occupy most of the carriages, and they took care of each other, which was not really recorded with ordinary passengers.

As soon as I got off the train, the *** government had already telecommunicated Tianjin Transportation Bureau to welcome it. Although the Beiyang faction is still fighting with Guangdong, the *** government does not strictly represent the Beiyang faction. The president's team is real power. Even though most of the Congress and the cabinet are false, it is still a symbol of the national central government in name. What's more, the Beiyang faction is going to deal with Wu Shaoting's military group, and officials of the Guangdong military government still have the identity recognized by the *** government.

There were a few officials from the Tianjin Transportation Bureau waiting on the platform, but Cen Chunxuan's reputation in the north was not as open-minded as the south. The problem could be explained by the expressions of these officials and the welcomed delegation. When the Qing Dynasty was still there, Cen Chunxuan impeached many officials. Many people who transferred from the Qing government to the Republic of China government were still scared and naturally had some barriers.

Cen Chunxuan didn't care about the sluggishness of the Tianjin Transportation Bureau, so he followed them out of the train station and came to the Tianjin Transportation Bureau Guesthouse for a short rest. He stayed in Tianjin for less than three hours, had a simple lunch, and the train to * was arranged, and he immediately set off for **.

***The Government Secretariat informed the Presidential Office of Cen Chunxuan’s interview five days ago. After Yuan Shikai heard about it, he quickly determined that Guangdong was planning to seek peace. Although the plan to pacify Guangdong before the Lunar New Year was not reached, the battle situation from the front was enough to show that the capture of Guangdong was a foregone conclusion.

Yuan Shikai did not like Cen Chunxuan. In the past, Cen Chunxuan was a major obstacle to his seizing real power. Now the old man is standing openly from the southern standpoint, which is clearly against him. If possible, he would rather refuse guests behind closed doors and even intend to drive Cen Chunxuan away. Anyway, this meeting will not be beneficial to him, so he will save himself from being upset.

However, Cen Chunxuan went north this time in the name of negotiating with the *** government. He, as the president, cannot leave the government alone, so he still has to meet Cen Chunxuan in form.

That night, the train from Tianjin entered the station and the *** government sent a specialist to greet him.

Government specialists are all young people, and their attitude is much better than the officials of the Tianjin Transportation Bureau. The specialist told Cen Chunxuan that the President specially held a banquet at the China Gate Guesthouse, but because the President was busy with official duties, he ordered Presidential Secretary-General Zhang Yiao to serve on his behalf.

Cen Chunxuan just smiled and said nothing. He got into a car sent by the *** government to Xinhua Gate, and the escorts who accompanied him in Guangdong followed him in a carriage.

At the guesthouse banquet, Zhang Yiao tried his best to play a kind role and had a happy conversation with Cen Chunxuan.

Cen Chunxuan smiled lightly as usual, and had a simple dinner that was not bad. Then he said goodbye on the grounds of exhaustion on the journey and went to the arranged separate suite to rest.

After the ceremonies were dispersed, Zhang Yiao gave Cen Chunxuan a piece, and then quickly arrived at Penglai Pavilion in Yingtai.

Since supper time, Yuan Shikai has been sitting in Penglai Pavilion, leisurely drinking a bowl of ginseng pearl soup, and then he went to Dahongpao, which he had just collected last year, with a happy expression and slowly savoring tea. It was not until he heard the attendant downstairs informing Zhang Yiao that he had arrived that he calmed down and ordered people to add an extra tea cup and asked Zhang Yiao to come up.

Zhang Yiao came to the hall on the second floor of Penglai Pavilion. The hall was very spacious and all the windows were opened. Although the chill in early spring was still sharp, a stove was added near the seat, which could not help but keep the indoor air cheerful and a little comfortable and warm. He came to Yuan Shikai to salute, and Yuan Shikai just responded lazily, and then waved to let him sit.

"Zhongren, what is that old man's background?" Yuan Shikai asked slowly. After saying that, he grabbed the teacup and took a sip of the hot tea.

"Old Cen still had the same temper as before and ignored him. However, when we met today, we couldn't see anything. Old Cen worked hard all the way. Zheng Rucheng, the commander of the Shanghai garrison, came to arrange a float for him, but he refused to accept it, and he still squeezed into an ordinary carriage. A few years ago, Lord Yang Xingcheng and Yang came to Shanghai to say that Old Cen had gained a lot of weight, but when we met before, we found that Old Cen was a little haggard. I don't know if he was tired in Guangdong or tossing along the way." Zhang Yiao said a lot of words in detail.

"Oh, is that? This old man stayed from Shanghai to Guangzhou for less than two months. What can he be tired? Come on, take a sip of tea first, and then tell me your personal opinion." Yuan Shikai said slowly, reaching out and filling Zhang Yi'er's tea cup with hot tea. "Come on, try, taste, Dahongpao, which was collected last year, has been there since the Jiajing year of the Ming Dynasty. It is really rare to live for so many years."

"President Xie." Zhang Yiao knew that these purebred Dahongpao only produced a few kilograms a year. Even though he, the secretary-general of the Presidential Office, had a rare drink of them a few times a year, he immediately picked up the teacup and tasted them carefully.

After finally drinking this cup of tea, Zhang Yiao let out a long time, then put down the teacup, adjusted his sitting position, and continued: "Ruoyi is here to look down, Mr. Cen goes north without escaping this time, and the tenth *** is related to the war in Guangdong..."

Yuan Shikai sneered: "You still have to say this?"

Zhang Yiao hurriedly added: "But Mr. Cen has always been upright. As for the past, Wu Shaoting from Guangdong sent Cen Chun to "request for peace", it would be a bit too difficult for Mr. Cen. Everyone knows that the President and Mr. Cen have always had a marriage in the past, and now Mr. Cen doesn't need to bow to the President for Wu Shaoting."

Hearing the last sentence, Yuan Shikai frowned and knocked the teacup in his hand heavily on the table. As a dignified president, he held the largest military group in the Republic of China. Although there were still cracks in the north and south, not many people dared to be tough in front of him.

Zhang Yiao quickly closed his voice. He knew that as the Guangdong war was sure to win, President Yuan's high and proud mentality became more and more serious, which also made him, an old aide who had followed Yuan Shikai for many years, feel more and more difficult to serve.

"You continue to say." Yuan Shikai calmed down and ordered coldly. At this age, he was still very patient in analyzing Xiaoming's interests.

"At the dinner just now, I observed Mr. Cen's attitude, and I definitely did not reduce his value at all. So I thought that Mr. Cen may not be seeking peace this time." Zhang Yiao continued, and he once again emphasized the word "seeking".

"This old man came from Guangzhou and Beijing. If it weren't for peace, would it be for the job search?" Yuan Shikai snorted coldly.

"The President is joking," Zhang Yiao smiled awkwardly. He had said earlier that Cen Chunxuan's northward journey must be related to the war in Guangdong. Even if he was a bit off, he could not make any job search. "I mean, maybe Mr. Cen is not here to seek peace, but to discuss peace. After all, this war also consumes a lot of money for our Beiyang, and maybe Wu Shaoting has some bargaining chips in his hands."

"Ask peace, why should he discuss peace with me?" Yuan Shikai said gritting his teeth.

"President, think about it, it only took two months for Mr. Cen to go south from Shanghai to Guangzhou. Although the battle situation in Guangdong was not as clear as it is now, anyone with a little vision can see that the President was determined to take Guangdong. Although Mr. Cen has withdrawn from the officialdom for a long time, he has been paying close attention to the development of domestic current affairs in the past few years since he lived in Shanghai. It is impossible for us to have plans in the north. But Mr. Cen resolutely chose to go south, which shows that he is very confident in Wu Shaoting." Zhang Yiao analyzed carefully.

Yuan Shikai fell into silence. He now had to re-examine Cen Chunxuan's intention to go north. Although Zhang Yiao's analysis made sense, he still couldn't think of what kind of chips could Cen Chunxuan or Wu Shaoting have in his hands? He did not continue to ask Zhang Yiao. Obviously, Zhang Yiao can only feel confused now, and there is no definite conclusion yet.

"Zhongren, you can go to the General Staff Headquarters later and ask Xu Shuzheng to arrange some people with me to keep Cen Chunxuan and his group alive."

"President, this...is not suitable...and it's not necessary." Zhang Yiao said with some concern.

"If you guess well, they will definitely have some extra small moves when they enter Beijing this time. You must show me some good advice. I don't want to make any mistakes at this critical moment. In addition, let the Army Department send the situation of Guangdong in the past few days to my official residence. I want to confirm the situation of the war in the south." Yuan Shikai said in an orderly tone.

"Yes." Zhang Yiao sighed secretly and had to answer in compliance.
Chapter completed!