Chapter 47: Yang Sen's Downfall

  At this moment, the messenger from the Pacification Commissioner's Office came to report that Deng Xiaoke, the Pacification Commissioner, would arrive in Nanchong this afternoon, and Zhang Lan hoped that they could go together to welcome him.

  Everyone rushed to prepare and rode horses to the city gate to welcome Deng Xiaoke.

  It was strange that after waiting for half a day, only 5 or 6 people wearing cloth clothes appeared, with a porter behind them, walking step by step towards the Shunqing city gate.

  Seeing Zhang Lan's delighted expression, Yang Xing pondered to himself, could it be that the famous road protection movement and the founder of Hechuan Match Factory has arrived?

  Pointing at that group of people, he asked in surprise: Mr. Zhang, are these few people really Deng Xiaoping?

  Zhang Lan looked puzzled and said: "Zheng Dong, it's Deng Muru and the others, did you think it was someone else?"

  Seeing a man in his fifties, accompanied by two family members and three porters approaching, Yang Xing couldn't help but sigh with emotion. This is the traditional Chinese intellectual elite, compared to the officials of the previous life.

  Zhang Lan went up to greet them, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he introduced Yang Xing and the others to Deng Xiaoke, saying: "Muru brother, this is Yang Xing and Yang Zhengdong I told you about in my letter."

  Yang Xing hastily walked over to pay his respects, holding Yang Xing's hand and saying: "Brother Yang Fang, this young man is quite good. At such a young age, he has accomplished so many earth-shattering things, yet he remains humble and unassuming, truly a rare talent indeed."

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Deng Xuanwei, you're laughing at me. When the time comes, I'll definitely ask for your advice on many things."

  Deng Xiaoke nodded and said: Alright, alright. Zhang Biaofang is also an old friend of mine for many years. Since Brother Biaofang has entrusted me with this task, how can I not comply?

  Yang Xing expressed his gratitude again, and Deng Xiaoke smiled: "Zhen Dong, if I say thank you, I should be the one to thank you. You see, on this journey, we encountered bandits in other places, but as soon as we entered Shunqing, the whole place became much cleaner. In the future, I hope you can share your methods of suppressing bandits with other prefectures in northern Sichuan."

  Yang Xing said with embarrassment: Lord Deng, this is just a small trick. The success of this campaign was actually due to luck. General Zhong Tiday, the commander of the 2nd Mixed Brigade, is a senior in the military and will certainly have a way to pacify the bandits in northern Sichuan.

  Immediately followed Zhang Lan and Deng Xiaoke into the city.

  Daoyan Ying also followed Zhang Lan to Beiping this time. After the meeting, Yang Xing came to Daoyan's residence and met with him.

  Xian Ying went to Baoding China Military Academy for further study, Yang Xing was very happy and congratulated him: "Brother Te Sheng, this time you go to the Military Academy for further study, your future is bright, and you will become a student of the President, a student of the Emperor, isn't success just around the corner?"

  Xian Ying jokingly said: "What's the point of being a heavenly son, if not to go to Lu Da for training. If Xing Dong brother is envious, why don't we two brothers switch? Younger brother you go to Lu Da, I Xian Ying stay in Shunqing, become your independent regiment commander, Shunqing military and political director, what's not to be delighted about?"

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Te Sheng brother, isn't this just a joke? Your guard brigade is also a regimental formation, what's the difference with my independent regiment?"

  Xian Ying furiously laughed and said: "Ah, younger brother, my Sichuan North Branch Team has always been short-handed. When you arrived, there were only over 800 people. Two days ago, I received a message from Zhong Tidao in Neijiang saying that he wanted to reorganize the various units of Northern Sichuan, and most of this Sichuan North Guard Brigade would be incorporated into his unit?"

  Yang Xing knew that after the Independent Regiment had annihilated the bandits in Shunqing Prefecture, Sichuan Governor Hu Jingyi thought there was hope for bandit suppression and appointed his fellow student at the Wubei Academy, Zhong Tiday, to lead two regiments to various places in northern Sichuan to recruit local armed forces from Bazhong and Suide Prefectures (now Daxian) to form the 2nd Mixed Brigade.

  As Xianying's troops were under Zhang Lan's command, the North Sichuan Guard Brigade belonged to the North Sichuan Pacification Commissioner's establishment. Under this circumstance, as soon as Zhong Tidao arrived in North Sichuan, he immediately took control of the Guard Brigade.

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Te Sheng brother, this can also be considered as finding a way for brothers."

  Xian Ying smiled and said: "Zhen Dong brother, this will make those officers below quite angry, everyone is discussing it."

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Te Sheng brother, if any of the brothers don't want to go to the Second Mixed Brigade, as long as they're not ashamed of my Independent Regiment's humble door, then my Independent Regiment will welcome them with open arms."

  Xian Ying smiled and said: "Zhen Dong brother, don't be so modest. Many people say that following the Model Battalion is still quite good. Although Commander Hu is quite oppressive, you still have a way out. Take the Model Battalion to Shunqing, send elite officers to various counties to reorganize the county militias, and in doing so, not only solve the promotion problem of lower-level officers within the Model Battalion, but also pave the way for many brothers. Look at these dispatched officers, six of them have been appointed as militia commanders."

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Brother Te Sheng, don't mention this again, it's embarrassing for you."

  Xian Ying smiled and said: "Zhen Dong brother, but I really have someone to introduce to you. I'm just afraid you won't dare to use him. He's all thorns and full of problems, but he has a high self-esteem and some real skills."

  He was startled and said: "Brother Tesen, as long as he is a talent, there is no one I dare not use. Tell me, who is this gentleman?"

  Xian Ying took a deep breath and said: Yang Sen, Yang Zihui, Brother Zhengdong, you also studied at the Speed ??School, what kind of person is Yang Zihui, I'm sure you know, but I'm afraid you dare not use it.

  His heart tightened, and then he exclaimed with joy: Oh, Brother Zi Hui is here, please come quickly. After I arrived in Shunqing, I was busy suppressing bandits and didn't know that Brother Zi Hui was in your department?

  After the success of the Xinhai Revolution, after the establishment of the Great Han Revolutionary Government in Sichuan, Zhang Lan was appointed as the Pacification Commissioner for Northern Sichuan due to his contributions in protecting the roads.

  To control the Chuanbei government, Zhang Lan recruited a group of Sichuan-born youths who were serving in the New Army in Sichuan to form a detachment. Among them, Xian Ying was appointed as the commander of the detachment, while his classmate Yang Sen, as a student of Zhang Lan, was appointed as the regimental commander, and Liu Xiang was appointed as the company commander.

  In history, Liu Xiang and Yang Sen became rich because of this, conquering south and north, finally becoming the king of Sichuan.

  Xianying missed the opportunity to develop because he went to study at the Chinese Army University, and after returning, he mostly served as Liu Xiang's chief of staff to participate in military affairs.

  In the prequel TV series "Democratic Storm" about Zhang Lan, Yang Sen is overly cunning and ruthless, having thought of harming Zhang Lan multiple times.

  On the other hand, Liu Xiang was a straightforward and honest person, easy-going and close to the people. He listened to Zhang Lan's words and followed his plans, grateful for the kindness he had received in the past.

  Liu Xiang was originally in the Guard Brigade, but in 1912, the First Division was reorganized into the Sichuan Army's First Division, and Zhang Bangben's brigade returned to its original organization. However, Yang Sen, the commander of the Second Regiment, refused to accept the order. Liu Xiang then colluded with Sun Zhonghua, Tang Shizun, Yang Guoyan, and other officers in the regiment, abandoned Yang Sen, and took the Second Regiment to Zichang, thus replacing Yang Sen as the commander of the Second Regiment.

  Thus in history, Liu Xiang and Yang Sen, these two comrades turned sworn enemies, began decades of love, hatred and vendetta.

  Yang Sen stayed in North Sichuan, serving as the regiment commander under Xian Ying. After Xian Ying left, he thought he had a chance to take over as the brigade commander, but unexpectedly Zhong Tidao suddenly appeared and was appointed as the division commander to take over Xian Ying's former Guard Brigade.

  In this case, Yang Sen was quite indignant and was preparing to pack up and flee to the Yunnan Army in Dian.

  Upon hearing Xianying's urgent summons, I thought it was some farewell remarks, so without saying another word, I tidied up my clothes and immediately came to the office.

  Yang Xing was still recognizable, and from a distance, he saw Yang Xing chatting and laughing with Xian Ying. He was taken aback for a moment, then came to the front of his seat.

  Yang Sen is tall and has a rough temperament, his behavior is unrestrained and unorthodox.

  Unexpectedly, Yang Xing didn't have the slightest bit of arrogance in front of people. When he saw me arrive, he stood up from afar and said to everyone: "Zi Hui brother, it's been a long time since we last met. I never thought you'd be in Chuanbei, this is really surprising for your younger brother."

  Yang Sen smiled and said: "Zheng Dong younger brother, this year you are in high spirits, how could you possibly think of me?"

  Shaking his head repeatedly, he replied: "It's not that I don't want to, Brother Zihui, it's just that the place is too...I dare not go."

  Everyone knows what Yang Xingyan is referring to. Yang Sen, known as the General, not only fought bravely but also became famous for having many wives and concubines at home and abroad. Isn't it said that there are twelve golden phoenixes in the Yang Mansion? It's said that this Yang Sen once managed his wives and concubines like soldiers, and when he was 86 years old, his eleventh concubine gave birth to a daughter, making him the center of gossip at the time.

  When Yang Xing surprisingly exposed his hobby in public, Yang Sen didn't feel embarrassed at all. He immediately laughed and said: "Doesn't Brother Zhengdong have this kind of hobby? I heard that in Chengdu, you had a romantic affair with the flower dan (a type of actress) Meng Yuxian, causing a sensation throughout the city. Later, I heard that you liked a student girl, so it seems that Brother Zhengdong is also quite accomplished!"

  Yang Xing laughed and said: "Beautiful swordswoman, the love of men. However, my interests are different from Brother Zi Hui's. I've heard a saying that goes like this: A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a prostitute, a prostitute is not as good as a thief, and a thief is not as good as one who steals without being caught. Now I'm still single, so I'm in the state of stealing without being caught."

  Yang Sen heard this and thought it was a fellow traveler, but he didn't believe it: "Young Brother Zhengdong, you are young and handsome, heroic and extraordinary, why worry that you won't have any women? When the time comes, let my family's ugly wife help Brother Zhengdong find several noble ladies, now you are the head of the Shunqing Military Government Bureau and the commander of the Independent Brigade, how can this be?"

  As soon as he mentioned women, Yang Xing and Yang Sen burst out laughing immediately.

  Looking at Yang Sen, Yang Xing grasped his hand and said: "Zi Hui brother, I heard that you are preparing to leave for Yunnan. What's the hurry? If you think that younger brother me is still quite reliable, then stay and help me out, what do you say?"

  Yang Sen shook his head and said: Forget it, I'm basically done as the battalion commander, forget it, I don't have the face to stay here anymore.

  Sincerely said: Brother Zi Hui, I am eager to find talent. If you agree, I can't offer you anything else for now, but a deputy chief of staff, I still have a way, you just stay and go to the independent regiment as deputy chief of staff.

  Yang Sen was shocked and grasped Yang Xing's hand: "Brother Zhengdong, is this true?"

  Upon hearing that his younger brother from the past had become an older brother, Yang Xing knew that Yang Sen was quite moved. He immediately smiled and said: "Zi Hui brother, how could I deceive you? I think it's settled then, no need to run to Yunnan, let's just stay here and work together."

  Yang Xing knew that Yang Sen was a bit arrogant and liked to fight, although everyone knew that Yang Xing was brave in battle and had the reputation of being one of Sichuan's most famous generals. He had quickly pacified the "Northern Sichuan Tiger" Huang Qingyuan's troops, which had threatened the region, and driven away Wang San Chun, the king of Bazhong. However, Yang Xing did not have a good grasp on Yang Sen's heart.