Chapter 35 Publicly Wooing

  Yin Changheng, the Grand Commander-in-Chief, left Chengdu in early October and headed to Beiping. The grand farewell ceremony had not been over for a few days when the entire Sichuan Army felt that something was amiss, as if a huge conspiracy was closing in on them, making it hard to breathe.

  Before leaving, Yin Changheng had always wanted to turn Yang Xing from a member of the Tongmenghui into a member of the Kuomintang. However, Yang Xing considered that time was too tight and in addition to the various misdeeds of the Kuomintang in the following years, he took the view that as a military man his duty was to obey orders, now that the republic had been established there was no need to join any political party, and refused this suggestion.

  Since General Yin left, it has been circulating in the Sichuan army that General Yin went to Beiping, either under house arrest or promoted, but one thing is certain: General Yin will no longer serve in Sichuan, and the post of Grand Governor of Sichuan will soon be taken over by Hu Jingyi.

  Hu Jingyi served as the Minister of Military Affairs for a year and also took care of the Grand Governor for several months. In Sichuan, he still had some influence among the people and the military. He also had some influence on some old acquaintances and non-revolutionary party members.

  Additionally, as both Yin Changheng and Hu Jingyi were graduates of the Sichuan Military Academy, after Yin Changheng took office as the Grand Governor, various divisions and brigades of the Sichuan Army were appointed with his fellow alumni from the academy, such as Division Commander Zhou Jun, Division Commander Peng Guanglie, Division Commander Sun Zhaoluan, Division Commander Liu Cunhou...

  It was just because the 5th Division was controlled by the Alliance Society and its division commander was Xiong Kewu.

  When Tao Zekun was still serving as the captain of the model troupe, the situation was not very clear, but with Tao Zekun leaving Chengdu for Beijing with Yin Changheng, Yang Xing took over as acting captain and deputy captain, which made people feel a bit sensitive about their position.

  What's more, the Model Troop has always been Yin Changheng's direct lineage unit. Moreover, during the Western Expedition to Tibet, they defeated over 8,000 rebel troops at Pian Gou Liang Zi and were the first to break through the city gate in Kangding... Such brilliant military achievements made it even more enviable after losing its leader.

  So when Tao Zejun left, appointing an acting head caused a stir.

  Wang Lingji thought that as a student of the Wubei Academy, along with Yin Changheng and Hu Jingyi, who were leaders of the Sichuan Army and his classmates, he was sure to become the deputy commander, and becoming the commander would be a certainty.

  However, after the news spread, the whole model regiment was in an uproar. Many soldiers thought that Wang Lingji was too despicable and sometimes had a swindler's demeanor, which would have a bad influence on the model regiment if he became the representative of the Sichuan army and the head of the model regiment.

  What's more, Wang Lingji was mediocre in battle. During the ambush at Pian Gou Liangzi, his troops were the first to fall into disarray, and they lost several key positions during the fighting, which nearly got him executed by Yin Changheng on the spot.

  Looking back at Yang Xing, not only did he eliminate the bandit king Wang Dagna before the war to raise funds for the Sichuan army, but also turned the tide on the battlefield, winning the Battle of Piankou Liangzi and the siege of Kangding City. After the war, he tried Ming Zheng Tusi, stabilizing Zongbian and more importantly, raising a large amount of funds for the Sichuan army.

  During the subsequent model regiment training, Yang Xing lived with officers of all levels every day, not only communicating with each other emotionally, but more importantly, during these two months of training, the combat effectiveness of each battalion and company in the model regiment rose linearly.

  Moreover, Yang Xing was also the deputy head of the model group, and it seemed natural for him to be promoted to team leader or acting deputy team leader.

  When soliciting opinions from various departments, everyone thought that Yang Xingli should take over as the team leader or act as the deputy team leader.

  This trend is not only very common in the 4 infantry battalions, artillery battalion and instructional company below, but also very common in the second battalion where Wang Lingji served as battalion commander.

  Everyone thinks that following Yang Xing into battle will bring victory, and following him will ensure a steady supply of food and military pay.

  To know that during the Republic of China period, various armies owed wages very seriously. Huang Xing was in Nanjing because of the military salary problem and was made to lose face.

  However, if following Yang Xing, normally can eliminate bandits, and at the time of the artillery company, with more than 200 people, eliminated a hundred or so bandit dens.

  Now the model troops are approaching 1500 people, how can't they eliminate the bandits?

  Besides, even if you don't wipe out bandits, like in Kangding, punishing the evil tyrant Jia Yizhai also costs a lot of money.

  As a result, Wang Lingji was at a disadvantage in the competition. Although he kept saying that Yang Xing had been studying in military school for 5 years, after all, he had formally joined the troops for less than a year and was directly promoted from company commander to model regiment commander, which was a bit too fast.

  In the end, Yang Xingcai was unexpectedly appointed as the deputy commander of the Wu Bei Academy students, and when Tao Zekun left, he took charge of the affairs of the model corps.

  Now seeing Yin Changheng leave, it was immediately clear that Yin's eldest son had gone to Beijing with little chance of returning. He immediately visited Hu Jingyi twice at the Grand Commandant's Mansion, as both were classmates from the Military Preparatory Academy. Since the Model Brigade was after all an elite unit that absolutely supported Yin Changheng, the two men quickly came to an agreement.

  Hu Jingyi, from Baxian County, Chongqing, Sichuan Province, graduated from the Sichuan Military Academy and participated in various activities of the constitutional faction after returning to China.

  Later, the three parties including the Republican Party and the Unity Party to which Hu Jingyi belonged were lured by Yuan Shikai into forming the China Progressive Party with Liang Qichao as its leader, becoming a tool for Yuan's rule.

  Yuan Shikai ordered Yin Changheng to leave Sichuan, mainly in order to control Sichuan through Hu Jingyi and bring Sichuan under the control of the Beiyang Army.

  As a member of the Yuan Shikai faction, when Yin Changheng went on an expedition to Tibet, Hu Jingyi took advantage of his position as the caretaker of the Grand Governor and the Minister of Military Affairs in Sichuan to extensively arrange for his trusted followers, almost undermining Yin Changheng's authority.

  When withdrawing from Tibet, Hu Jingyi was even more an important weight for Yuan Shikai, forcing Yin Changheng to leave Chengdu and go to Beijing to report on the Tibetan expedition.

  As soon as Yin Changheng left Chengdu, Hu Jingyi began to take action. When it comes to power, not even classmates or brothers would give in to each other. It's just that this nursing major is particularly obvious about it.

  Looking around Sichuan's various divisions, the 1st to 4th Divisions are all in the hands of classmates from the Military Preparatory Academy.

  The 5th Division, led by Commander Xiong Kewu, is stationed in Chongqing.

  Xiong Kewu, who had an alliance outside, might take advantage of Yin Changheng's departure to launch a surprise attack on himself at any time. Inside, some remnants loyal to Yin Changheng were eager to move, and the first thing Hu Jingyi had to deal with was Yin Changheng's direct lineage troops, the Sichuan Army Model Regiment.

  After hearing Wang Lingji's report, Hu Jingyi fell into a daze, his face tightening, and he smiled: "Wang Fangzhou, this Yang Xing is still capable, you see that in the past year, he has made great contributions to Yin Changheng's western expedition to Tibet, if I officially make him the model team leader, do you think he will obey me?"

  Wang Lingji was shocked, the cup in his hand almost fell off, and he repeatedly advised: Nursing Da Duhou, absolutely not. Yin Da Duhou promoted Yang Xing from among the troops, immediately appointed him as the company commander of the artillery company, battalion commander, deputy regimental commander, after leaving, left the best equipment, his own direct lineage to Yang Xing, do you think he will turn to Da Duhou?

  Hu Jingyi smiled and said: "Fangzhou younger brother, I was just making an analogy, absolutely not meaning it that way. As for you, I still trust you, thinking of our time as classmates at the Sichuan Military Academy, and later studying together at the Japanese Army Officer School, how close we were. Yang Xing may know how to fight, but he's a junior, a country bumpkin, how could he be above Fangzhou younger brother?"

  As soon as Hu Jingyi said this, Wang Lingji let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his face: "Director General, that's right. Many people are very dissatisfied with Yang Xing. In the model corps, there is me from the Military Preparatory Academy, and from the Accelerated Academy, there are Wang Zanxu, He Erchuan, and others. Most of the battalion commanders and company commanders below are also graduates of the Military Elementary School, and they are all seniors of Yang Xing. I heard some people say that at the time in the Army Primary School, he was very dull and his military skills were average, so he had to transfer from the Accelerated Academy to the Army Middle School?

  Hu Jingyi exclaimed: "Fangzhou, what's going on here?"

  Wang Lingji shook his head and said: Great Commander, you know that the Rapid Progress System is divided into New Rapid Progress System and Old Rapid Progress System.

  The old speed system was founded by Sichuan Governor Xiliang in 1906 as the Sichuan Army Officer Candidate School, and in 1907 it was upgraded to the Sichuan Army Speed ??School. Those who were in the officer candidate school and the speed school are called the old speed system.

  Those who did not study in the Fandi Corps but only in the Sichuan Military Officer's Crash Course Academy were called Xin Su Cheng.

  The Sichuan Army Primary School was established in 1906 as a specialized military school to cultivate professional military personnel.

  Yang Xing joined the Sichuan Accelerated Academy in 1908 and studied for several months. When the academy was closed in 1909, Tian Yingkui, the principal at that time, felt that Yang was less than 16 years old and very thin, so he introduced him to study at the 4th class of Sichuan Army Primary School. According to reason, he should have graduated from the primary school this year, but you know, after Yin Changzi became the governor later, all students in their class were collectively transferred to the Army Officer School.

  Hu Jingyi let out a long sigh and said: Oh, so Yang Xing is from the 4th batch of Lu Xiao's graduates, his experience is indeed a bit shallow. Many of his classmates from the same batch are currently studying at the military academy, waiting to graduate next year.

  Wang Lingji took the opportunity to say: Great Commander, so if you support me, I have confidence in driving out Yang Xing and bringing the model team intact into your hands. ?? First issued on Ai Kuo 35

  Thinking of the Model Troupe, Yin Changheng personally created it and is now stationed in Chengdu. As long as Yin Changheng doesn't fall, he can be said to have a fish bone stuck in his throat. He burst out laughing and said: "Fangzhou, little brother, I'll entrust this matter to you. You're more at ease with the Model Troupe than that Yang Xing kid."

  Wang Lingji was about to leave when Hu Jingyi stopped him and said: "Wang Fangzhou, don't be too harsh on that kid. Just use him as a puppet and you'll be fine. After all, we're all from the same Sichuan military clique, and talent is hard to come by."

  As soon as he heard it, he was stunned for half a day, and immediately understood the implication. He sang a little tune and happily returned to the model team.

  That afternoon, Wang Lingji spread the word to the model team that he would become the formal team leader and immediately found the third battalion commander Wang Huixu, fourth battalion commander Cheng Peng and others to discuss how to oust Yang Xing.

  Wang Lingji said to Wang Huaxu: "Zhiyi, my younger brother, you are a student of the old Speed ??School, and Yang Xing is just your junior in the Army Primary School. How can we let him climb over us? What face do we brothers have? Commander Hu said that when the time comes, he will drive out Yang Xing, I will be the team leader, and you will be the deputy team leader."

  Looking at Wang Huanxu's bewildered face, Wang Lingji couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He thought to himself that his seniority was still quite valuable in the market. Clearing his throat, he continued: "Zhiyi younger brother, think about it, that Yang Xing is only a fourth-term student at the Army Primary School and didn't even graduate from the Army Officer Academy. He's far inferior to our Wubei Academy and your Speedy Academy. If things go on like this, won't we be losing all sense of hierarchy?"

  Wang Xuanxu expressed his doubts: Wang Fangzhou, to be honest, Yang Xing is indeed good at fighting and has a good hand in civil affairs. The soldiers and officers of our two battalions and three battalions are all convinced by Yang Zhengdong after the training. If we openly drive out Yang Xing, it will inevitably lead to opposition from our comrades below.

  Wang Lingji said nonchalantly: When the time comes, we won't say a word, let Commander Hu issue the order directly and dismiss Yang Zhengdong.

  Wang Xiu thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Wang Fangzhou, I think it's better to forget about it. You know that our model regiment is the direct descendant of General Yin's troops. In the past, many officers from the Army Primary School served as platoon leaders or company commanders. However, after this reorganization, most of the junior officers are graduates of the Army Primary School. You know that General Yin used to be the principal of the Army Primary School, and Yang Xing was also a student there, although he was 1-3 years their junior. After all, they have a schoolmate relationship. If you try to squeeze out Yang Xing, it will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction among these officers."

  He took a heavy drag on his cigarette and said nonchalantly, "Zhi Yi, little brother, didn't I tell you? You know, before the training started, those seniors of his used to complain about him all the time. Sometimes they even mocked him for being bad at running and hand-to-hand combat.

  He fell into a moment of contemplation, and after a long while, he said: "Fangzhou brother, this is where Yang Xing is brilliant. He has always told others that he was not capable back then, so why is he capable now? You were capable in the past, but why are you not capable now? Moreover, over the past two months, he has handled matters with great impartiality, and many people have received promotions. His prestige had already been established among the ranks."

  With a strong sense of resentment, he fiercely spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm: This is the result of his work in the organization over the past few months, after being indulged by Captain Tao Zekun. I think there must be someone below who doesn't obey him?

  It seems that Wang Xiu has made up his mind, saying: "Wang Fangzhou, we all know that Yang Zhengdong is still capable. In this chaotic world, what's the use of talking about seniority or background? If the two of us work together to assist Yang Zhengdong, then we can still achieve something. But if we split and become disunited, it will be to our own disadvantage."

  At that time, he did not listen and reported the result of the meeting to Yang Xing.

  After failing to persuade Wang Xiu, he went to Yin Changheng's hometown and trusted aide Cheng Peng, but was scolded again without even speaking. He then went to find Zhang Dajun, the battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment, who had previously been at odds with Yang Xingfa, and was reprimanded for a whole day. As a result, Wang Xiu's plan to win people over failed.