The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 434 There is another Xu Juren
Teng Yuzao continued, "So, it will take at least half a year to finally end the war in Zhili."

"In addition, the Russians are making the biggest noise this time. I'm afraid they won't be willing to withdraw from Kanto easily. I'm afraid there will be more battles to be fought."

"In a word, the existence of a strong vanguard army is still very necessary for the court."

Teng Yuzao suddenly changed the subject and said, "Mr. Lianfu, I heard that your brother is also working for Li Zhongtang? Can you invite him to come to Zhili to help me?"

Yang Shixiang has many brothers in his family, but apart from him, the most promising one is his younger brother Yang Shiqi.

However, Yang Shixiang was somewhat surprised that Teng Yuzhao actually knew his younger brother!

Yang Shixiang was a successful Jinshi, while Yang Shiqi was only a Juren who donated money to obtain the position of Taotai. Later, he was recommended to Li Hongzhang. For more than ten years, he served as the general manager in charge of railway affairs inside and outside the Great Wall. Now he has also followed Li Hongzhang to Guangdong.

Historically, Yang Shiqi followed Li Hongzhang to preside over the peace negotiations and returned to Zhili. Later, he became Yuan Shikai's closest and most trusted general, and made great efforts to help Yuan Shikai steal a high position and even force the Qing emperor to abdicate and negotiate peace between the North and the South.

In fact, Yang Shiqi was Yuan Shikai's first strategist, and he was good at both conspiracy and overt conspiracy.

Naturally, Teng Yuzhao was even more unwilling to let such a person go to Yuan Shikai again.

Hearing that Teng Yuzhao invited his brother to come to Zhili, Yang Shixiang couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised. As an elder brother, he was naturally aware of Yang Shiqi's talents, but he spoke with some embarrassment.

"Marshal Fu, my brother has been in charge of railway affairs in and outside the Great Wall for more than ten years in the Beiyang government. He is well versed in Western affairs. I'm afraid that Li Zhongtang will need him when he presides over the peace talks. The same is true for me. Before I came, Li Zhongtang had already said that he would lend me over to assist in the liaison."

Teng Yuzhao was naturally aware of these things, but he knew even more that the next year, not long after the peace talks ended, Li Hongzhang fell ill and died due to depression.

After that, the two brothers had no choice but to turn to Yuan Shikai, and both of them quickly stood out under Yuan Shikai.

Although his ideas were different from Yuan Shikai's, Teng Yuzhao still recognized Yuan Shikai's ability and vision, and even admired him very much.

Therefore, even if Yang Shiqi could not come to Zhili for the time being, he had to be booked first.

Teng Yuzao smiled and said, "There is no rush for this matter. We have to wait until after the peace talks. Mr. Lianfu can give your brother a heads up first."

"correct!"

Teng Yuzao suddenly remembered someone else and asked Yang Shixiang, "Mr. Lianfu, do you know Xu Juren?"

The Xu Juren mentioned by Teng Yuzao is Xu Shichang, who later served as president.

Yang Shixiang nodded and said, "Of course I know him. He passed the imperial examination and entered the Hanlin Academy a year later than I did."

Yang Shixiang already understood why Teng Yuzhao asked about Xu Shichang, and said with a wry smile.

"Xu Juren is indeed a talented person, but it may be difficult for General Fu to recruit him."

Seeing that Teng Yuzhao was looking at him calmly, Yang Shixiang spoke again.

"Xu Juren knew Yuan Shikai in his early years. When the two brothers passed the imperial examination, they received travel expenses from Yuan Shikai. After that, they helped Yuan Shikai train soldiers in Xiaozhan and were very close to Yuan Shikai." "Xu Juren's brother Xu Shiguang is now the prefect of Jinan in Shandong."

Teng Yuzhao naturally understood what Yang Shixiang said, but he did not think that Xu Shichang could not be won over.

Although Xu Shichang had close contacts with Yuan Shikai and was regarded as Yuan Shikai's confidant, the two eventually broke up because Yuan Shikai wanted to restore the monarchy. Xu Shichang even went on strike for more than ten days because he opposed Yuan Shikai's signing of the "Twenty-One Demands" with the Japanese.

Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "I heard that Xu Juren is now accompanying the emperor on his western hunting expedition. What I mean is that Mr. Lianfu should keep in touch with Xu Juren and make friends with him. As for other things, we will make plans based on the situation when the time comes."

Teng Yuzao thought for a moment and said, "As for money, the Lotus Mansion should not consider it. As long as we make friends with people that the Lotus Mansion thinks will be helpful to us, it's all fine. You can use it without worry."

Seeing that Yang Shixiang didn't seem to care much about what he said, Teng Yuzhao laughed.

"Lian Fu, don't think I'm just talking. You think the huge monthly military pay is enough to worry me."

"Since we are now on the same path, I can no longer hide many things from you. To tell you the truth, I have a way to make money. The money I earn every month is enough to pay the military salaries of 200,000 people. You don't have to worry about the money. As long as you can help us in the future, you can be more generous, such as Xu Juren."

Yang Shixiang shook his head and said, "Commander Fu, I know Xu Juren very well. He is not someone who can be won over by money."

"Well," Teng Yuzao nodded and said, "That's easy to do. I'll recommend him for an official position and show my goodwill to him first. You can contact Xu Juren and say that it was you, the Lotus Mansion, who recommended him to me."

Half an hour later, Teng Yuzao strode into the room where the meeting was to be held with a smile on his face, while Yang Shixiang followed closely behind Teng Yuzao with an expressionless face.

Everyone's eyes first turned to Teng Yuzao, and then they all turned their eyes to Yang Shixiang. They all wanted to see who this official from Guangdong and Guangxi who had made Teng Yuzao so furious was, and who could actually calm Teng Yuzao's anger in such a short time.

At Teng Yuzao's signal, Wei Jinghai hurriedly asked the staff officer in charge of recording to bring a chair and placed it on Teng Yuzao's left hand side. He and Wei Jinghai sat on both sides of Teng Yuzao, facing each other.

Judging from his actions alone, it is obvious that Teng Yuzhao intended to focus on Wei Jinghai in military affairs and Yang Shixiang in civil affairs.

After Teng Yuzao motioned for Yang Shixiang to sit down there, he said to everyone, "Let me introduce you. This is Yang Shixiang, the editor of the Imperial Academy. His courtesy name is Pingshi and his pseudonym is Lianfu. He is currently the governor of Tongyong Road."

"Mr. Lianfu has just arrived from Guangzhou. He was recommended by Li Zhongtang of Guangdong and Guangxi and appointed by the court to assist in military affairs of our Vanguard Army. In the future, Mr. Lianfu will be the chief counselor of our Vanguard Army and can participate in all military affairs."

Teng Yuzhao's words surprised these people even more.

Taking part in all military affairs naturally means that he can take part in all the affairs of the vanguard army. This undoubtedly shows that Teng Yuzhao has completely accepted Yang Shixiang.

Treating an official sent by the imperial court in this way, especially an official who had just made Teng Yuzhao furious, could not but surprise all the generals.

After being surprised, Duan Qirui couldn't help but feel a strange feeling in his heart and sighed secretly.

Duan Qirui and Hu Dianjia were also familiar with each other. Although Hu Dianjia was in a bad mood, Duan Qirui still had contact with Hu Dianjia.

When Duan Qirui learned that Hu Dianjia had offered to resign from the post of assistant commander-in-chief, not only was he firmly rejected by Teng Yuzhao, but he also comforted him in every way and even found excuses for Hu Dianjia, which made Hu Dianjia inexplicably grateful to Teng Yuzhao. This made Duan Qirui feel a little regretful.

Although some were still surprised and some were still regretful, when Teng Yuzao personally introduced a group of generals to Yang Shixiang one by one, these people showed enough enthusiasm for Yang Shixiang.
(End of this chapter)