The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 667: Avoiding Disaster in Guanzhong
Although he was walking aimlessly, Wang Yingkai could still see the expressions on everyone's faces. After letting out a long sigh, Wang Yingkai said with great regret.

"I really regret it. How could I be so obsessed with money that I accepted Tieliang's money and even did it behind the Marshal's back!"

"Hey!"

After Wang Yingkai finished speaking, he continued to lament. For a long time, no one had recovered from the shock. They all looked at each other in silence. Zhang Huaizhai and Wang Zhanyuan also looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

Wang Yingkai said that surrendering to Yuan Shikai was a middle option, but since there was a middle option, there naturally had to be a best option and a worst option.

Although Wang Yingkai did not say the best and worst strategies, everyone had a rough idea in their minds. The two strategies were nothing more than surrendering to Teng Yuzhao or surrendering to the imperial court. However, they did not know which one was the best strategy in Wang Yingkai's mind and which one was the worst strategy.

However, these people, including Ma Longbiao, have now reached a consensus that they must not go to war with the Zhi army now. It is not a question of whether they can defeat the other side, but that they must not become enemies with Teng Yuzhao now.

After a while, Tian Zhongyu suddenly said, "Sir, since we have to rush to Shaanxi, we must do it as soon as possible. Please give the order."

Lu Yongxiang also said, "Sir, although the court only allows us to reorganize the Shaanxi New Army, the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu in Xi'an still controls Gansu. If the court really wants to push us to the limit, maybe we should learn from Teng Xingfu and do something."

Bao Guiqing also said resolutely, "General, we can't fight this war. We should hurry to Shaanxi and escape to Guanzhong. The imperial court won't dare to do anything to us!"

Ma Longbiao also sighed and said, "Sir, I also agree to go to Shaanxi via Hequ."

Zhang Huaizhai had recovered from the regret of taking Tieliang's money behind Yuan Shikai's back, as Wang Yingkai had just mentioned, and said to Wang Yingkai.

"Sir, if we have to leave, we must leave quickly. We cannot wait for He Zonglian to arrive, otherwise we might be held back by him. We should leave here first and rush to Wangzhuangbao and Qianfoling in the north to gather and rest."

"That place can lead us straight down the Niangnianggou to Fanshi, and it is also the only way Xingfu gave us to go west to Hequ. We will wait for Xingfu's reply there."

"it is good!"

Wang Yingkai stopped and said to Zhang Huaizhi, Wang Zhanyuan, Wang Huaiqing, and Tian Zhongyu, "Zizhi, Zichun, Maoxuan, and Yunshan, please hurry up and write a letter to Xingfu. I will also add my name to the letter. Tell him that as long as we have enough food to cross the Yellow River, we will leave Shanxi immediately."

This time, Zhang Huaizhai did not hesitate. He immediately called Wang Yingkai's adjutant to prepare pen and ink, and wrote a letter to Teng Yuzhao on the city wall asking for food.

Wang Yingkai called another staff officer and said, "Take a few people and stay here to wait for He Zonglian. Tell him that the Zhi army has blocked the way down the mountain to Fanshi with heavy firepower. We have attacked more than ten times but failed, and suffered heavy casualties. I have no choice but to lead my troops to Wangzhuang Fort and wait for him to lead his troops to join us."

After watching the staff officer leave, Wang Yingkai looked at the generals who were signing their names, thought for a moment, and suddenly spoke to Sun Chuanfang who had been standing aside.

"Xinyuan, don't go to study in Japan."

Wang Yingkai's words made Sun Chuanfang stunned, but before he could ask the reason, Wang Yingkai spoke again.

"Zhili sends students to the United States, Germany, France, Britain and other countries every year, but they only send military students to Germany. You can follow the people of Zhili to Germany to study military. There is still time. I will write you a letter. You can take my letter to find Duan Zhiquan and he will help you."

Zhang Huaizhai and Wang Zhanyuan, who had already finished writing the letter to Teng Yuzhao, heard what Wang Yingkai told Sun Chuanfang, and they couldn't help but exchange glances again.

Fearing that He Zonglian's First Regiment would arrive at Pingxingguan, Wang Yingkai immediately ordered the entire army to march out immediately, and to wait until after passing Wangzhuangbao for lunch. After He Zonglian received the ultimatum from the Zhili Army sent by Wang Yingkai, he was shocked and angry, and hurriedly called Cai Chengxun and Zhu Panzao, two battalion commanders, to wake up the troops who had already camped and fallen asleep, and lit torches to march towards Pingxingguan overnight.

However, when he arrived at Pingxingguan at noon the next day, he learned that Wang Yingkai had led his troops to Wangzhuangbao, and he couldn't help but curse angrily.

The two assistant commanders, Cai Chengxun and Zhu Panzao, were also indignant at Wang Yingkai's actions.

Zhu Panzao said in a hateful voice, "Sir, Wang Yingkai has gone along with Teng Yuzao. He must have accepted Teng Yuzao's request and is going to go to Hequ via Pianguan, leaving our town behind. What should we do?"

"grown ups."

The commander of the First Corps, Cai Chengxun, also said angrily, "Teng Yuzao's march into Shanxi is a rebellion, and Wang Yingkai's abandonment of us is also considered treason. We must sue this old fellow."

Although He Zonglian was also a student of the first class of the Military Academy and was a classmate of Teng Yuzhao, when He Zonglian entered the Military Academy, he was already a captain of Wu Changqing's army. With his official position, he not only had no friendship with Teng Yuzhao, but also had no friendship with Wang Yingkai, Wang Zhanyuan and others.

Also, when Hu Renfen was training the Dingwu Army in Xiaozhan, He Zonglian was the chief instructor. However, after Yuan Shikai took over the Dingwu Army and changed it into the Wuwei Right Army, he initially only assigned him the position of a sentry leader, which made He Zonglian very dissatisfied with Yuan Shikai.

His promotion was entirely due to his own connections. He was favored by Fengshan, the deputy governor-general appointed by the imperial court and the first governor of the first town, which led to his current position.

This was also the key point for him to gain Tieliang's trust and completely side with Tieliang.

Under the influence of Fengshan and him, the two assistant commanders of the First Regiment did not have much good feelings towards Yuan Shikai, including those officers promoted by Yuan Shikai. The three of them, who also graduated from the Beiyang Military Academy, were also very alienated from their former classmates.

Seeing He Zonglian gritting her teeth with an extremely ugly expression, Cai Chengxun said again.

"Sir, what should we do now?"

He Zonglian said bitterly, "What else can we do! Teng Yuzao has gone too far, we can only fight him first!"

Seeing that Cai Chengxun and Zhu Panzao were both a little hesitant, He Zonglian softened his tone and spoke.

"Hu Chen, Zi Qin, I know that we alone may not be a match for the Zhi army entering Shanxi, but the court wants us to reorganize the Shanxi New Army. To reorganize the Shanxi New Army, we must rush to Taiyuan. If we leave without even seeing Taiyuan, then the Shanxi New Army will belong to him, Teng Xingfu!"

"Also, Teng Xingfu sent troops to Shanxi without authorization. Not only did he want to take over the Shanxi New Army, he also wanted to expel the governor Zhang Renjun. This is treason. Facing the rebels, if we don't fire a single shot, we will be adding to the crime!"

"We have even failed to live up to the high hopes that Minister Tie has placed on our commanders. If this continues, it will be difficult for us brothers to gain a foothold in the Shuntian Army."

Cai Chengxun also agreed and said, "Your Excellency is right. Although the reorganization of the Shanxi New Army was ordered by the Ministry of Army, the Ministry of Army represents the court. We can't just listen to Teng Xingfu and leave Shanxi in disgrace. We must fight a battle with the Zhi Army before we can leave. Otherwise, we will not be able to explain to either the Ministry of Army or the court."

Cai Chengxun's courtesy name was Huchen, and Zhu Panzao's courtesy name was Ziqin.

(End of this chapter)