While still on the train, Yuan Su had been thinking about how to reach coordination with generals such as Tian Wenlie, Lei Zhenchun, and Tang Tianxi. Although he had held some sporadic meetings in Beijing before, although the process went smoothly,
But they are not critical issues. After arriving at the Guards General Headquarters, everything that follows will not be trivial, and I am afraid it will make these self-righteous veterans feel uncomfortable.
For Yuan Su, since he has made up his mind to seize power from the older generation in Beiyang, he must work hard to get it done. Not only the local governors such as Cao Kun, Wang Zhanyuan, and Li Chun, but also people like Tian Wenlie and Lei Zhenchun
Counted among them. If it weren't for the fact that the Central Guards were currently in a state of intense preparation for war, he would definitely try his best to achieve this.
However, even so, he also clearly realized that the use of troops against Hankou was an opportunity. It was a great opportunity to completely evacuate the power of Yuan Shikai's direct troops and eradicate diehard loyalists such as Tian Wenlie and Lei Zhenchun. Naturally, he would not let this go.
Given this opportunity, it is natural that they will try their best to unite Cao Kun's party and Tian Wenlie's party.
Yuan Su and his party arrived in Zhengzhou on February 21st. He rested in Zhengzhou for two days, during which he had a brief meeting with officials sent by the headquarters to meet him. Then he left for Kaifeng to visit Zhang Zhenfang. Zhang Zhenfang was a supporter of
This time when troops were deployed against Hankou, during this period, Henan was busy arranging the response, and even spent a lot of money to hire civilians to help the Central Army transfer troops and supplies.
During this meeting in Kaifeng, Yuan Su was not looking for Zhang Zhenfang to talk about business, he was just here to visit his father-in-law. After the meeting, he told Zhang Zhenfang that his wife Zhang Hanling was about to give birth and could not go south to Henan from Tianjin. He could only wait for a while and everything would be settled.
Plans can only be made after everything is settled. Zhang Zhenfang also received news about Zhang Hanling's current situation earlier, so he just said that he would arrange for relatives to go north to Tianjin to take care of Zhang Hanling as soon as possible.
Of course, although there was no official matter discussed, as the governor of Henan Province, he also had a very important influence on Yuan Su's next plan to seize power. Therefore, on the one hand, this trip was to sort out the relationship between the two parties, and on the other hand, it also indirectly
He made some hints in advance. He complained to Zhang Zhenfang in the tone of his son-in-law, saying that the matter had become so serious now, but those generals who insisted on their seniority still went their own way without caring about the overall situation.
Zhang Zhenfang naturally understood what Yuan Su was going through at this time, although he didn't understand why the superiors would give such a crucial task to a young man. Wasn't this intentional to be criticized? But now, of course, he
He will still support Yuan Su. After all, Yuan Su has made a meritorious service and can bring glory to his father-in-law, who is related to him. So he did not hesitate to persuade him with good words and promised that no matter what, his father-in-law would definitely do it.
Strongly supports his son-in-law.
After returning to Zhengzhou from Kaifeng, Yuan Su was not in a hurry to convene a meeting of the headquarters to assign military tasks. Anyway, he believed that Tian Wenlie, Tang Tianxi and others had their own plans, and they might give him a warning at the meeting and hold a meeting.
Not only will the military conference not be able to discuss any results, it will also bring humiliation to itself.
He first convened many generals of the Young Faction at the headquarters residence and held a secret preliminary military meeting. This meeting only discussed some superficial issues regarding the subsequent deployment of the Central Guards. The real content of the discussion was
About how to obtain the absolute leadership of the Guards as soon as possible.
The First Corps and the Tenth Division of the Central Army are still in the process of being transferred in stages. In addition to the two guard regiments accompanying Yuan Su, the large troops are still waiting for train dispatch from Tianjin, Baoding, and Beijing. However, they have been stationed in Huaibei earlier.
, Shangqiu, Huainan's first brigade, and the leading troops of the second brigade have arrived in Kaifeng and Zhengzhou respectively, and the remaining troops only need three or two days.
However, the core generals of the Young Zhuang Sect all followed Yuan Su south to Zhengzhou early. This secret military meeting in the headquarters mansion summoned these close relatives.
Before entering the venue, Adjutant Du Yu was a little worried. He lowered his voice and said to Yuan Su: "Commander, is Mr. He really okay over there? Mr. He is now staying in Luanzhou, and all the supplies in the rear area have been handed over to him.
Would it be a bit of a stretch for him to take charge? This is not a trivial matter."
Yuan Su sighed slightly. When he met and talked with He Qigong in Luanzhou before, they did not really achieve any results. On the contrary, they made each other care about each other and suddenly became sensitive. However, he believed that He Qigong was a principled person.
, Moreover, I had said everything I could say at the time, and even Jiang Baili had no objections. He Qigong should have taken the overall situation into consideration even if he got emotional.
"It doesn't matter, I believe Kezhi will not mess around. What's more, there is Ge Jingzhi over there in Luanzhou. Even if something goes wrong, there will be someone to take care of it. This time is really troublesome, but since we are all
When you arrive in Zhengzhou, you should look forward and not look forward and backward." He said deeply.
Du Yu nodded slightly, but his expression was still solemn.
After opening the door and walking into the conference room, Jiang Baili, Chen Wenian, Guo Wenyuan, Li Jinfu, Zhou Baolin, Dai Fengxiang and other generals who had already been waiting there all stood up and saluted. Yuan Su casually waved to everyone and motioned for them to sit down.
After a brief preparation, he asked his staff adjutant Li Dian to introduce to everyone the intelligence collected so far, including the garrison of various troops in Henan, the deployment of troops in Hankou, Wuchang and other places, as well as the predictable military forces in Jiangxi and Shaanxi provinces.
trend.
The entire report only took ten minutes, and the purpose was to give everyone an outline of their thoughts.
Later, Yuan Su elaborated on several important problems facing the army. First, Cao Kun focused on deploying the Hankou River defense line, and also deployed several non-main defense lines in Wuchang, Ezhou, Xiaogan, Xiangyang and other places. From this
Judging from the defense deployment, Cao Kun had no intention of facing a decisive battle with the Guards from the beginning. Instead, he used several defense lines along the way to delay the progress of the Guards and consume the energy of the Guards, and then concentrated his forces to use the Yangtze River as a barrier.
, a decisive battle between Hankou and Wuchang.
After all, both sides are armies, but Cao Kun is on the defensive side and the Guards is on the offensive side. The advantages and disadvantages are obvious.
"I'll let you make a bold guess first. We cut from Xiangyang into Hubei and advance all the way to the three towns of Wuhan. How long will it take to deal with the interference defense line set up by Cao Kun along the way?" When the introduction came here, Yuan Su suddenly interrupted.
The topic turned to ask everyone such a question.
All the leading generals looked at each other in confusion. Sun Desheng, Zhao Jishi and other old troops immediately had the urge to show off. Anyway, it was Yuan Su who asked everyone to make bold guesses. Since it was a bold guess, there was no need to have so many scruples.
"In my opinion, since Cao Kun is in Xiangyang and the garrison in Xiaogan does not exceed 40,000, and they are divided into defenders, it will definitely be easy to fight. It will only take ten days at most, maybe even ten days.
Arrive." Zhao Jishi said first.
"Ten days is too long. We have more than 100,000 people here, well-equipped and many artillery units. Xinhua Palace has also specially deployed reconnaissance aircraft and reconnaissance balloons. According to me, it won't take ten days at all, it will only be six at most.
It’s only seven days. But don’t forget, if you want to get to Hankou, there is a railway.” Sun Desheng said matter-of-factly.
While the two expressed their opinions, others were also discussing in low voices. However, Chen Wennian looked thoughtful and silent, with no intention of speaking from beginning to end; Jiang Baili looked very calm,
It seems that he didn't care about this question at all, as if he knew that what Yuan Su asked was not what it seemed.
After a while, Yuan Su interrupted the discussion in the conference room with a bit of a smile, and said: "I can only say that you have considered the issues too simply and one-sided."
The conference room suddenly became quiet, and everyone's attention turned to Yuan Su.
Zhao Jishi said rather unconvinced: "Commander, how long do you think it will take to fight this way?"
Yuan Su's expression gradually became serious, and he said in a meticulous tone: "If you are lucky, or if everything goes smoothly, it will take at least a month. Of course, I believe there will not be too many mistakes along the way.
Due to good luck and too much success, if we really have to go to Hankou, I'm afraid it will be delayed for more than three months."
Everyone was very surprised, even Chen Wennian had a look of surprise on his face, but Jiang Baili remained calm, as if everything was as expected.
Zhao Jishi asked very puzzledly: "Commander, one to three months is a bit too much... We now have hundreds of thousands of troops and control many railways and trains. Even if Xiangyang's terrain is difficult to attack,
We can also adopt the tactics of outflanking or taking a detour. Otherwise, it will delay the attack to three months."
Yuan Su said calmly: "I know it's hard for you to believe what I said. That's because you have ignored some important things. It is difficult for us to reach a tacit understanding within the Guards, especially now that I am the commander-in-chief."
The Commander, the First Division, the Second Division, and the Third Division commanders must have great resentment in their hearts. Before, they were in Beijing to give my uncle face, but now that the generals are away, many things are hard to say."
Sun Desheng asked: "Are they so ignoring the overall situation?"
Yuan Su smiled and said: "If these people of the older generation could really take care of the overall situation, how could the current turmoil happen?"
Some whispers gradually spread again in the venue. In fact, everyone knew something about the situation within the Guards, but they didn't take it completely to heart. Now that Yuan Su mentioned it like this, a group of people quickly formed.
This kind of consensus. As early as when Yuan Su held a meeting in Luanzhou, this matter had been emphasized repeatedly. The internal discord in Beiyang was an extremely serious obstacle.
After sighing slightly, Chen Wennian said: "This is indeed a troublesome matter. I also believe that as long as the division commanders below deliberately cause trouble, even if it is not trouble, just passivity and neglect will be enough to lead to many tactics and battles.
It’s a mistake. Needless to say the consequences, you will understand what will happen.”
Yuan Su nodded, took over Chen Wenian's words and said: "That's right. So there are two major problems before us. One is Cao Kun's defense. Even if we successfully reach Wuhan, we still have to face the problem of crossing the river.
Risk. Crossing the Yangtze River is definitely not what we are good at. Even if the Guards are united, we will probably spend more than ten days on the Yangtze River. The second is our current internal discord. It can only be said to be snowy.
Add frost."
Chen Wennian took a deep breath and said: "It seems that what the commander said in Luanzhou was good. If the current phenomenon in Beiyang cannot be changed, it will only get worse in the future. But now there is a need for us.
The choice is between internal security first or external security first. You must choose one of the two. If we do both, not only will we not have the ability, but it will also make the current situation worse."
Yuan Su agreed with deep understanding: "What Gongtai said is right. Now it is true that one careless move will lead to the loss of the whole game. However, the reason why I came to you today is not to talk about maturity first, maturity later, because as early as a few months ago,
I have already made plans beforehand. The focus of today’s meeting is how to arrange the next plan.”
There was a bit of surprise on everyone's face. It seemed to them that Yuan Su had just resumed his military duties not long ago, but he had already started to arrange today's plan a few months ago. Either Yuan Su's vision was too forward, and
Or perhaps everything was as he expected. No matter which point it was, it was enough to show that Yuan Su's city was extremely deep.
In the next few hours of the meeting, Yuan Su elaborated an extremely bold action plan to his subordinates. This action plan was not only a military deployment, but also included a complete set of measures to deal with the aftermath and neutralize the impact.
Preparation. On the surface, it seems to be really seamless, but I always feel that this plan is too risky, and it can only be considered truly seamless if everything is as expected, even in the smallest detail.
However, things are unpredictable, and no plan can be so accurately estimated. Once something goes wrong, it will truly mean that everything is lost.