The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 380 Should I Confess to the Marshal?
Wu Peifu and Li Jinyu looked at each other quickly, and they both saw surprise and uneasiness in each other's eyes!
Wu Peifu stood up first in panic, and Li Jinyu followed nervously.

Seeing that Wu Peifu was hesitant and seemed about to speak, Teng Yuzhao was a little surprised, and he quickly waved his hand to signal the two to sit down.

Then, in order not to give Wu Peifu a chance to speak, Teng Yuzao immediately spoke.

"Today, before you guys got back, that is, after lunch, I informed everyone else. Now I will also inform you of the content of the meeting."

Teng Yuzhao then began to inform the two of them about the court's plan to establish the Seventh Mixed Brigade in Huguang, as well as his appointment of Liu Yuanshou as the commander of the newly established mixed brigade.

This included the fact that the vanguard army would soon be expanding, and that he was going to set up the Fourth Mixed Brigade and was preparing to appoint Pan Jinshan as the commander of the Fourth Mixed Brigade.

In addition, based on the troops responsible for guarding the office, a second guard brigade will be established, with Liu Bingyi as the commander.

Seeing that Teng Yuzao was only informing them about today's meeting, although Wu Peifu and Li Jinyu were still somewhat suspicious, they calmed down a lot and breathed a sigh of relief, and began to listen carefully to what Teng Yuzao said.

After introducing the general situation of the meeting, Teng Yuzao looked at the two of them and said.

"Our vanguard army is about to expand on a large scale. Not only will we need a large number of soldiers and officers, but we will also inevitably need to promote a large number of people."

Seeing that both of them were listening to him attentively and had no intention of speaking immediately, Teng Yuzao slowed down his speech and continued.

"Although I have asked Deputy Chief of Staff Wei and the General Staff Office to select a list of officers who need to be promoted based on the military achievements of officers at all levels, the General Staff Office only selects people based on their meritorious service. They may not know the specific circumstances of those who need to be promoted very well."

Teng Yuzhao sighed softly and said helplessly.

"However, not all those who have made military achievements can be qualified for any position. This has little to do with military achievements. Some people may be more suitable for charging into battle, while others are more suitable for being independent. This has to do with personal talent and temperament."

"Deputy Chief of Staff Wei doesn't know these people as well as you do. It's inevitable that the people he selected might be unsuitable or even have omissions."

"So, I have drawn up a list based on my own impressions. Please help me to study it carefully."

Teng Yuzao noticed that Wu Peifu and Li Jinyu had not completely relaxed until this moment. They were no longer so nervous, and there seemed to be a hint of joy hidden in their eyes.

Teng Yuzao stood up and said to the two, "This matter is not urgent. I'm afraid you may not have contacted many people. You can also get to know more people. I will give you some time. After six days, just give me the list of people you think are useful."

Teng Yuzhao stretched out his hands, patted their shoulders affectionately and said.

"In addition to contacting the officers below to understand the situation, you should also contact Yuxuan, Kangnian, and my eldest brother Liu Shijiu more often, especially Kangnian, and listen to their suggestions. This will be very helpful to you."

Teng Yuzhao pointed at the list that Wu Peifu was holding tightly in his hand and said helplessly.

"I only have an impression of the people above, but people's minds are hard to predict! People's minds are always changing."

Teng Yuzao emphasized the tone when he said, "The human heart is hard to predict! People's minds are always changing."

Then, Teng Yuzao continued talking to himself.

"Although I filled out the names of the people on this list myself, it doesn't mean that these people can be reused or even put to great use. I'll ask you to help me identify whether they can be used."

"In addition, you can also increase or decrease what needs to be increased or decreased based on the information you have. I still believe in you."

Under the complicated gazes of the two men, Teng Yuzao walked towards the door of the farmhouse where they were. At the door, Teng Yuzao suddenly stopped, turned around and said to the two men.

"I need to go back and rest for a while. Your guards are here to cover the rear, so it's naturally your responsibility. I won't ask about the matter. You can discuss and decide on the arrangements among yourselves without asking me for instructions."

"It's just that we can't evacuate too late. Let's set off on time in an hour."

"Also, you guys should take turns taking a break."

Teng Yuzao's residence was just opposite Wu Peifu's farmhouse. The two men sent Teng Yuzao to the door, watched him walk away in the hazy night, returned the salute of the sentry at the door, and then walked back to his residence leisurely.

Li Jinyu pulled Wu Peifu who was still a little dazed. Wu Peifu looked at Li Jinyu seriously and ordered a guard.

"Go, call the Third Battalion Commander Li Zixiong to come over here. I have a mission for him."

Then, Wu Peifu followed Li Jinyu with a heavy heart and hurried back to the house. Li Jinyu closed the door tightly. Wu Peifu was impatient to unfold the list that he had been holding tightly in his hand and read it carefully. Li Jinyu also hurried over to take a look.

There were two oil lamps lit in the room. Although the light was not bright, it was definitely not dim. However, the two men seemed to want to find some information between the lines of the list, or they were worried about missing some important information. They put the two oil lamps on the square table on the ground, then came to the oil lamps on the table and carefully looked at the list drawn up by Teng Yuzao again.

There were not many people on the list, only about twenty or so, and most of them were officers from the Guards. Among them there were also a small number of officers from the Second and Third Mixed Consortiums, the Assault Column, and the Independent Column.

Although Wu Peifu did not recognize most of the people from other troops, each of the names on the list indicated their current unit and position, as well as the new position and unit to which Teng Yuzhao was planning to assign them.

Most of these people came from the Beiyang Military Academy, and most of them were left-behind students rescued by Teng Yuzhao.

There are also a few who graduated from the Military Academy or the Wuwei Vanguard Army's Camp School, and some followed Hu Dianjia, Pan Jinshan and others to join the Vanguard Army.

The first name on the list is Li Zixiong.

The new unit that Li Zixiong is about to join is the 7th Mixed Brigade that Teng Yuzhao just mentioned. His new position is assistant commander and chief of staff of the 7th Mixed Brigade. His military rank will also be changed from major to colonel, which is a promotion across levels.

"Ziyu."

Li Jinyu looked at the list and said nervously.

"Except for the two of us, the people on this list are all those people that Li Zixiong said they secretly colluded with. And it seems that no one has been left out. Those people are on this list."

"It seems that Li Zixiong and his men are secretly organizing the middle and lower-level officers in the army to push the Marshal to the top. The Marshal seems to know about this."

Wu Peifu took a deep breath, smiled bitterly and nodded.

"I think so too. The reason why we are missing is that Li Zixiong just told you the truth last night, and you and Li Zixiong only brought me into the group today on our way back."

"So, the Marshal doesn't know that we are also in this."

"What should we do? Should we go find the Marshal right now and tell him the truth?"

Wu Peifu did not answer Li Jinyu's question immediately, but stretched out his hand and said, "Give me a cigarette."

Li Jinyu seemed so nervous that his hands were a little unsteady. He took out a cigarette box from his pocket and took out a cigarette tremblingly. When he was about to take out a match, Wu Peifu had already approached the oil lamp and lit a cigarette over the flame.

However, the first puff of smoke choked Wu Peifu and caused him to cough repeatedly.

Wu Peifu didn't usually smoke, and today was his second time smoking this cigarette. He was a little absent-minded, so it was not surprising that he was choking and coughing.

Li Jinyu hurriedly poured Wu Peifu a glass of water, and Wu Peifu stopped coughing.

Wu Peifu took another puff of his cigarette, frowned and thought for a while, then let out a long breath.

Wu Peifu smiled and patted Li Jinyu's arm, "Mingguang, don't be nervous, just be patient."

Wu Peifu continued in a serious tone, "But I want to remind you that today's matter involving the Marshal is known only to heaven and earth, the Marshal, you, and me. No one else can know about it. This matter must be kept to ourselves."

"Oh."

Wu Peifu slapped his forehead and said, "Li Zixiong is the initiator of this matter. He can be trusted. This matter cannot be bypassed by him, and he can also be made aware of it."

"Why? Don't we need to go to the Marshal to clarify this matter?"

Worried that Wu Peifu didn't understand what he meant, Li Jinyu added.

"I mean, should we confess to the Marshal that we are also involved?"

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(End of this chapter)