While the Shanxi and Henan inspection teams were making progress, in mid-August, Liu Yan ordered that one garrison general and one deputy garrison commander be established in each of the two capitals and 13 provinces to be responsible for commanding the garrison troops of each battalion in the province. However, the rank of the chief soldier of the National Defense Force is the first rank, and the deputy chief soldier is the second rank. The garrison chief is the second rank, and the deputy chief soldier is the second rank.
When this order was issued, Liu Yan paid special attention to Sichuan. He appointed Qin Liangyu as the chief military officer of Sichuan and his son Ma Xianglin as the deputy chief military officer, and immediately implemented the military reform strategy in Sichuan. At the same time, Chen Shiqi, the left minister of the Ministry of War and the governor of Sichuan, was strictly ordered to strictly implement the new policy in all parts of Sichuan and observe its effectiveness for half a year. Otherwise, he would be dismissed from office and escorted back to Beijing.
Now the four inspection teams have separately inspected local areas, but Liu Yan is still most worried about two places, one is Sichuan and the other is Nanzhili.
Since ancient times, Sichuan has been very easy to form a separatist trend, especially now that the court and local governments are in fact in opposition due to the New Deal and military reform policies. Liu Yan is particularly concerned about Sichuan.
Fortunately, Qin Liangyu is still here. With his promotion, Sichuan should be stable for the time being. Next, we just need to see whether the New Deal and military reforms can be implemented in Sichuan.
However, Liu Yan was not so optimistic about the South Zhili side.
"Nanjing City is a magical land. Nanjing City is full of old foxes!"
In mid-September, after receiving an urgent report from Jiang Dejing of the Southern Inspection Team, Liu Yan made this evaluation of the people who stayed in the imperial court in Nanjing. Then he convened the ministers of the cabinet to hold a small court meeting and decided to personally lead the 12th National Defense Forces. The right camp of the army went south,
Go to Nanjing City to support the southern inspection team.
"Officials in the six ministries in Nanjing have refused to implement the imperial court's New Deal and military reform strategy. So far, they have not even completed the reorganization of the Nanjing imperial court ministries, let alone implemented the New Deal and military reform strategies at the local level. This is against the imperial court!"
"This time I decided to go south in person, and led the army with Bao Qiang, deputy commander-in-chief of the 12th Army, to go south with me. The army will set off in two days."
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. It seemed that Liu Yan was preparing to clean up the Sixth Department of Nanjing.
At this time, Liu Yan said to more than a dozen ministers: "After I left Beijing, Chen Shangshu took the lead in the affairs of the DPRK and China. In all major events, the cabinet vote shall prevail. If there is a war at the border, the national defense forces will stand firm to resist the enemy. Until I return to Beijing City, all armies are not allowed to take the initiative to attack!"
"As you command!"
Two days later, Liu Yan and Bao Qiang led more than 17,000 soldiers from the right battalion of the 12th Army to leave the city from Xuanwumen and go all the way south to Nanjing.
At the same time, in the city of Nanjing, the Southern Inspection Team was placed in the Guanyi in the city by the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. Jiang Dejing requested several times to convene a court meeting to arrange the strategies for the implementation of the New Deal and military reform by the officials of various departments in Nanjing, but he failed to get any response. Any response.
Nanjing's passive and sabotaging approach gave Jiang Dejing a hard time.
At the same time, the 11th Army of the National Defense Force was stationed in Yanziji outside Nanjing. Chief Officers Han Qin and Qin Chenghu requested to enter Nanjing several times to garrison, but they were rejected by Chief Officers Liu Liangzuo and Gao Jie. At this time, they led two Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses were stationed in Nanjing, forming a confrontation with the 11th Army of the National Defense Force.
However, the commander-in-chief Huang Degong did not
Following the orders of the Nanjing court, he led his troops to garrison Nanjing City. Instead, he led his troops directly across the Yangtze River and rushed to Yangzhou to garrison. Obviously, he did not want to wade into this troubled water.
"Aren't you ready to meet the ministers today?"
Early that morning, Jiang Dejing once again led the inspection team outside the Nanjing Ministry of Rites Yamen, but only one director of the Ministry of Rites came out to greet him. Qian Qianyi, the Minister of Rites, had disappeared and had not been seen for several days.
The other officials from various ministries were missing, which made Jiang Dejing very angry.
"Haha, Mr. Jiang, please calm down. All ministries are indeed busy with official duties. I have already informed you all. When time is available, I will send someone to inform you."
"good!"
Jiang Dejing laughed angrily and said loudly: "Since you officials in Nanjing have behaved like this, don't blame me for being ruthless. If the court blames you in the future, it will make you look good!"
After saying that, Jiang Dejing returned to Guanyi angrily, and then ordered his people to pack up and prepare to withdraw from Nanjing City. He would first join the 11th Army of the National Defense Force before deciding on the next move.
In the evening of that day, Jiang Dejing returned to the 11th Army Barracks of the National Defense Forces in Yanziji and met Commander-in-Chief Han Qin and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Qin Chenghu. The three of them were very angry about Nanjing's performance during this period.
Qin Chenghu had a bad temper and even shouted directly: "Tomorrow we will attack the city and directly wipe out the troops of the two bastards Liu Liangzuo and Gao Jie. I wonder how arrogant those bastards in Nanjing City are!"
Han Qin was also eager to try. During this period, the soldiers of the Eleventh Army had been very restrained, but Nanjing still refused to enter the city.
Han Qin was very angry and wanted to use force to solve the problem directly.
However, the two of them were stopped by Jiang Dejing.
"Two generals, please calm down. Nanjing is no better than other places. There is the imperial mausoleum of Taizu in Nanjing. Attacking Nanjing city rashly will make the world look at you, and it will also allow people with ulterior motives to use this to criticize Mr. Liu Ge."
"In addition, the civil servants and military generals in Jiangnan provinces are now staring at Nanjing City. If Nanjing finally makes a choice in the form of civil war, what will the officials in Jiangnan provinces think? The next war is very likely to get out of control, and even the war will Gradually spread to the entire Jiangnan."
"Jiangnan is the financial center of our Ming Dynasty. Once Jiangnan is devastated by war, the Ming Dynasty's revival will be far away!"
After listening to Jiang Dejing's words, although Han Qin and Qin Chenghu were filled with anger, they no longer said extreme words. They obviously listened.
"Then what should we do next?"
Jiang Dejing sighed and said: "First write a memorial about the situation here and report it to Mr. Liu Ge."
Han Qin said angrily: "I have already reported it before, but now there is no progress at all. I have to report it again. Nothing can be solved. What's the point of asking me to wait!"
Jiang Dejing opened his mouth, but was speechless and could only shake his head and sigh.
At the same time, in the city of Nanjing, the residence of Shi Kefa, the Minister of the Ministry of War, was very lively. Gao Hongtu, the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ma Shiying, the right censor of the Inspectorate, Jiang Yueguang, the official secretary of the Hanlin Academy, Ruan Dacheng, the deputy imperial envoy, and Qian, the minister of the Ministry of Rites Qian Yi, Zhang Guowei, the former minister of the Ministry of War in Beijing, Wang Duo, the right minister of the Ministry of War, and Lu Daqi, who were idle at home, gathered together and were discussing.
A strategy for dealing with the inspection team.
Everyone had already heard about the fact that Jiang Dejing led the inspection team to withdraw from Nanjing City today. Ruan Dacheng smiled and said to everyone: "This shows that Jiang Dejing has given up on the difficulties. I estimate that if we persist for a few more days, this inspection team will be gone." I’m going back home.”
But everyone did not see it that way. Zhang Guowei had a high prestige among everyone. He said at this time: "This time the imperial court is implementing the New Deal and military reform policies with great intensity and a very determined attitude. In my opinion, this is The general trend is inevitable. We may be able to stop it for a while, but we can never stop it for the rest of our lives!"
"So I think we should all understand that this confrontation with the inspection team is not to oppose the New Deal and military reforms, but to seek some reasonable interests for the civil servants and military generals in Nanjing and Jiangnan."
Everyone nodded, and Shi Kefa said at this time: "In addition, today's court is full of Liu Ge's confidants. The good situation in the past when everyone was in power no longer exists. We should let Liu Ge know this. Now it is necessary to reduce the number of ministers in various cabinet ministries."
Zhang Guowei, Ma Shiying and others all shook their heads slightly. Shi Kefa was an upright, loyal and reliable person. He had no personal debts or righteousness, but his political vision was not very good, and he did not have the experience and ability to lead troops. Therefore, he often made mistakes in major policies. It will go off topic.
What did Mr. Liu Ge rely on to implement the New Deal and military reforms? It relies on the hundreds of thousands of national defense troops and the fact that the cabinet is all his confidants. Only with such centralized power can he accomplish so many major things.
You can make someone cut off their own arm with just one word? is it possible!
Zhang Guowei waved his hand and said:
"These are all things for later. Right now we still have to concentrate on the specific provisions of the New Deal and military reform. How about we come up with a strategy first so that we can bargain with the court later?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
However, Jiang Yueguang said: "We alone are too weak. We should gather more people to sign and support this strategy."
Qian Qianyi said with a smile: "This is easy to handle. I will go do some activities in the next few days. There is not much else in Nanjing, but there are many nobles. I will mobilize a group of people to stand up and sign the petition."
"good!"
At this time, Gao Hongtu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said: "There is another point, that is, we must guard against Liu Ge Lao directly sending troops. Although this is unlikely, with Liu Ge Lao's character and methods, it is not possible to directly send troops to attack Nanjing City. It’s impossible, otherwise we wouldn’t have allowed the entire National Defense Force, 40,000 to 50,000 elite soldiers, to go south together.”
Shi Kefa said: "This is easy to do. Now we have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Liu Liangzuo and Gao Jie, which is enough to defend Nanjing. I only regret that Huang Degong did not listen to orders and led his troops to retreat alone. Otherwise, our troops would still be superior. We can even directly drive the national defense forces in Yanziji to the north of the Yangtze River."
Zhang Guowei said: "Shi Shangshu's words are wrong. The purpose of guarding Nanjing with troops is to be just in case, not to confront the imperial court. Furthermore, even if Huang Degong's troops and horses are added, we will not be able to defeat The strength of an army of the National Defense Forces.”
“So, what we have to do now is to maintain the current situation, don’t let it get out of control, and then submit our draft plan to the court as soon as possible.
slightly. "
Everyone agreed.
That night, everyone dispersed and went about their business.
In the next two days, Qian Qianyi was busy communicating in Nanjing, and soon contacted a large number of nobles in the city.
Xincheng Bo Zhao Zhilong, Wei Guogong Xu Yunjue, Baoguo Duke Zhang Guobi, Longping Marquis Zhang Gongri, Linhuai Marquis Li Zushu, Huaining Marquis Sun Weicheng, Lingbi Marquis Tang Guozuo, Anyuan Marquis Liu Zuochang, Yongchang Marquis Xu Hongjue, Dingyuan Marquis Deng Wenxu , Xiangcheng Bo Chang Yingjun, Daxing Bo Zou Cunyi, Ningjin Bo Liu Yunji, Nanhe Bo Fang Yiyuan, Dongning Bo Jiao Mengxiong, Ancheng Bo Zhang Guocai, Luozhong Bo Huang Jiuding, Cheng'an Bo Guo Zuoyong, Prince Consort Qi Zenyuan, Minister Zhu Zhichen, Liang Yungou, Li Chuo and others signed and seconded the strategy brought by Qian Qianyi.
In the blink of an eye, on the afternoon of the next day, Qian Qianyi came to Shi Kefa's mansion with the strategy signed by everyone. At this time, Zhang Guowei, Gao Hongtu, and Jiang Yueguang were all there, and they were discussing something.
Qian Qianyi handed over the strategy to everyone and said with a smile: "Haha, luckily the mission has been fulfilled!"
Everyone smiled after reading it, and then Zhang Guowei said: "Okay, I will write a memorial and submit it to the court together with this strategy."
