He Ruming sat in the living room of Wang Shizhen's house with his head down, and there were only a few tea stalks left in the tea bowl on the coffee table. The servant only symbolically arrived at the tea, and disappeared as if he were hiding from the plague god. He Ruming didn't have the courage to go to the back hall to find someone, so he could only sit anxiously in the living room. Since marrying his daughter He Ying to Chen Ke, He Ruming thought that he had climbed into Yan Fu, a celebrity of the Beiyang sailors, and since then he has completely taken the big ship of the Beiyang. In fact, there are also signs of this, and after the activities, He Ruming's errand will soon be transferred to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which is recognized as a fat difference. His sister He Qian chose another family business, and the other party was a middle-level officer in Beiyang and a German military academy student. The character and family are good, and He Ruming himself is greatly relieved. During the Chinese New Year, He Qian had already married and found a good family for her sister, and He Ruming was also happy in his heart. I feel that I have fulfilled the responsibility of my eldest brother, and I can be worthy of my deceased parents.

In addition to smooth family affairs, the He family and Shanghai have not interrupted the trading of special drugs. Although He Ruming's son-in-law Chen Ke disclosed the molecular formula, many thoughtful people also began to produce this drug. Unfortunately, the ability of those people is too poor, and the lethality rate of the drugs produced has reached 20%. And the genuine medicine He Ruming got has only killed three people so far. In contrast, He Ruming's pharmacy has a very good reputation. Last year's income of more than 8,000 taels of silver made the He family's family also start to flourish.

He Ruming is not a person with a cold nature, his family is prosperous, and the promotion of his official position is also close at hand. He misses his daughter very much. He also talked to his sister about Chen Ke's inauthenticity in the past few days, even if he is thousands of miles away in Shanghai, now that there are ships and trains, is it so difficult to go home and save his relatives? For more than a year, He Ruming asked the person who delivered the medicine about his son-in-law Chen Ke and daughter He Ying, and the person who delivered the medicine said that he was just an errand boy and didn't know about the two people. If it weren't for the fact that the business that Chen Ke brought back then was still making a lot of money, He Ruming would have suspected that Chen Ke was a big liar.

He Ruming's sister He Qian's opinion on this surprised He Ruming a little, He Qian said: "Big brother, since you were for this official position and money at that time, and now you have got what you want, then don't worry about yourself." My sister's words were very polite, and He Ruming was naturally unhappy. At that party, the brother and sister broke up unhappily.

Three days ago, He Ruming finally understood why Chen Ke and his daughter had "no news" for more than a year. Since Cen Chunxuan entered Beijing to launch a party struggle, Yuan Shikai once played a very subtle political trick, so that Zhou Fu, the governor of Liangguang, and Song Shou, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, successively telegraphed Raoping, Huanggang, Qinlian, and other places to "work together to seize and rob" them, and it was difficult to pacify them. Yixuan immediately "independent" to Cixi, tried his best to exaggerate the military situation of Liangguang, claiming that Cen Chunxuan could not be pacified, and proposed to let Cen be the governor of Liangguang, which was agreed by Cixi. As a result, Cen Chunxuan was expelled from the capital.

Now the "clear stream" failed in the Ding Wei political tide, but they concocted the same method, the remnants of the clear stream in the Yushi Terrace impeached Yuan Shikai personally for the Anhui anti-thief Chen Ke as a matchmaker, and now Chen Ke is entrenched in Huaibei, has become a climate. However, Yuan Shikai blocked the news, and his intention to raise his own dignity was extremely obvious. Yushitai also impeached Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai for "a nest of snakes and rats", and after the Hubei New Army recaptured Anqing Chizhou, it did not move for several months, but only brutalized the people in Anqing Chizhou, and connived at the rebels to sit big, and their hearts could be punished.

The people of Yushitai obviously accepted the lesson of not long ago, and they did not say that Yuan Shikai "intended to rebel", but used a more neutral judgment such as "raising self-respect". Cixi originally intended to weaken Beiyang's strength, but when she heard the news, she immediately "Fengyan was furious", and ordered Yuan Shikai to defend himself.

This news frightened He Ruming, the "son-in-law" Chen Ke was actually a big thief, although this family affair was proposed by Yuan Shikai, and if he really wanted to defend himself, He Ruming had an excuse. But if Lord Yuan fell because of this incident, He Ruming's life would definitely not be easy.

He Ruming's sister He Qian personally came to the door to advise He Ruming, so that He Ruming would not recruit people everywhere at this time. No matter how He Ruming defends himself for this kind of thing, it will not have any good results, but it is just a joke for people to see, but it is better to be at peace if it comes. He Ruming agrees with his sister's point of view this time, but if he can't find someone to "tell his grievances and show his heart", He Ruming feels at ease. He naturally didn't dare to go to Yuan Shikai's door to run into a wall, and tried to contact a few acquaintances in Beiyang in the past few days, but everyone avoided him. In the end, He Ruming thought of Wang Shizhen, who was Chen Ke's "parent" at the time, and Ding Wei was worried at home, and he came to meet Wang Shizhen. Wang Shizhen finally let He Ruming enter the door, but he didn't come out to receive him immediately.

After waiting for a while, He Ruming doubted whether Wang Shizhen wanted to let him retreat. However, he always knew that Wang Shizhen was not this kind of villain who was not responsible, and decided to wait any longer. The servants, perhaps finding it inappropriate, finally came to add water. He Ruming, who had been thirsty for a long time, didn't wait for the servants to go down, so he picked up the teacup and drank it all. After pouring three bowls of tea in a row, He Ruming felt more comfortable.

After waiting for a long time, I saw Wang Shizhen walking in from the gate. It looks like he just came back from going out. After seeing He Ruming, Wang Shizhen just said indifferently: "Let Lord He wait for a long time." ”

He Ruming hurriedly got up and saluted, "Lord Wang is polite." ”

The two sat down separately, and Wang Shizhen said his opinion straightforwardly, "Lord He, if there is no other big thing, you don't want to look for people everywhere." This has come to such a point, what do you mean by making such a mess again? ”

"That's what Lord Wang said." He Ruming said subconsciously. As soon as the words came out, He Ruming felt wrong. In fact, what he hopes most is to justify himself, he has nothing to do with the "anti-thief" Chen Ke, and everything is not his fault. In He Ruming's view, he himself is a victim. Now that there is such a fierce political struggle in the imperial court, if those big people above get He Ruming out as a scapegoat, He Ruming himself will have no way to resist at all.

Wang Shizhen said coldly: "Lord He, if you don't bother yourself with some things, it's okay." If you have to distinguish between right and wrong, then who do you think is right and who is wrong between you and Lord Yuan? If you say you don't know, then Lord Yuan knows? ”

Wang Shizhen didn't see He Ruming many times, and his attitude towards He Ruming was naturally not polite, but a just right feeling. What appeared on Wang Shizhen's face now was a chilling look, it was not a threat, but a "advice" look from a powerful person to the incompetent. This attitude made He Ruming shudder.

Seeing that He Ruming had already softened, Wang Shizhen continued to stare at He Ruming opposite with a cold gaze, knowing that He Ruming was seen as if he was on pins and needles, Wang Shizhen said: "Lord He, it was Chen Ke who wanted Lord Yuan to be the matchmaker, and he knew you first at that time." There is also a Pu Guanshui of the Anhui New Army in the anti-thieves, how did Chen Ke know Pu Guanshui, you should know better than me, right? You and Chen Ke are in the medicinal herb business together, how much money have you made in the past year, do you need me to tell you? ”

Listening to Wang Shizhen's statement of his contact with Chen Ke one by one, He Ruming was already sweating profusely. And Wang Shizhen didn't let He Ruming go at all, he continued: "At this time, you don't say that you have thought about it behind closed doors. Instead, I wanted to pull Lord Yuan into the water, what kind of crime do you think you should be guilty of? ”

He Ruming couldn't hold back any longer, he knelt on the ground with a puff, "Please Lord Wang save me." I was fascinated, and I really didn't see that Chen Ke was a thief at the time. This ...... because Mr. Yan Fu wrote to me that I became friends with Chen Ke. ”

"Yan Fu has also become a thief." Wang Shizhen said coldly.

"What?" He Ruming was frightened by the news, "Even Yan Fu rebelled?" ”

Wang Shizhen couldn't stand He Ruming's ugliness anymore, he turned his face and fixed his emotions, and then turned his head, "Lord He, you should go home obediently now, quit your errand and think about it behind closed doors." The imperial court will naturally deal with this matter, and this matter is widely implicated, if you are honest, you will naturally not have anything. But if you're obsessed, or if you're encouraged to try to drag people into the water, what do you think I'm going to do with them? ”

He Ruming had heard some stories about Wang Shizhen, when he was in Shandong, Yuan Shikai and Wang Shizhen's bloody suppression of the Boxers aroused the dissatisfaction of the Qing Dynasty nobles Duanjun Wang Zaiyi and Zhuang Wang Zaixun, because it hindered their attempts to use the Boxers for personal gain. In June 1900, the two kings of Duan and Zhuang sent a senior brother of the Boxers to find Yuan Shikai with the order of the Qing government, saying that King Duan ordered Yuan Shikai to pacify the Boxers and allow the altar to be set up to continue the exercises. Yuan was very surprised, and immediately called a meeting of his subordinates to discuss. The bureaucrats believed that if they agreed to set up an altar, the Boxers would prosper and rebel against the government; If you don't agree, you will inevitably be severely condemned by the two kings of Duan and Zhuang. Looking at each other, they can't think of a solution. At this time, Wang Shizhen stood up and said, "Please leave it to me for interrogation!" "Immediately behead the leader of the Boxer Rebellion for the crime of stealing the arrows of Duan and the second king of Zhuang. At this time, the meeting convened by Yuan had not yet dispersed, and Yuan asked the king, "How is the interrogation?" The king replied: "It has been executed, and the arrow can be sealed and returned to the two kings of Duan and Zhuang." Yuan Shikai suddenly woke up and admired Wang Shizhen's "clear decision" in handling things.

Wang Shizhen has never been a murderer, but this does not mean that Wang Shizhen is an indecisive person. When it was time to make a move, Wang Shizhen was also known for making quick decisions. Thinking of this, He Ruming didn't dare to speak anymore.

"Let's go back." Wang Shizhen said.

When He Ruming obediently left Wang Shizhen's mansion, Wang Shizhen immediately ordered the housekeeper to start packing his luggage. "My lord, where are we going?" The butler couldn't help but ask.

"I'm going to be appointed as the governor of Jiangbei in a few days." Wang Shizhen said calmly.

On July 17, Chen Ke received information that the Manchu court ordered Li Yuanhong's troops, who were now stationed in Anqing, to immediately move north. And Wang Shizhen has also been appointed as the governor of Jiangbei. He will be in office in a few days. In addition, the Manchu court also ordered the local green battalions and training troops in Henan to prepare to go south. Zhang Xun, the governor of Jiangnan, was also ready to participate in the extermination of the "Anhui Yanchen bandits".

Looking at these familiar names, Chen Ke couldn't help but laugh. These people were all influential figures in the early years of the Republic of China. "Beiyang Dragon" Wang Shizhen, "Beiyang President" Li Yuanhong, "Debater" Zhang Xun. Each one is an indispensable character in a history textbook. Chen Ke couldn't help but think, I don't know what the three people will appear in the middle school history textbooks on this time and space? Is it the winner, or the loser? Or is it just a footnote in history?

After a few moments, Chen Ke dismissed this boring thought that only a time-traveler would have, and if he could not win the battle that was about to take place, Chen Ke knew that he would definitely become one of the many "revolutionary ancestors" in history who ended in defeat. Chen Ke didn't want to put himself in such a role at all.

The guards looked at their beloved Chairman Chen, who first laughed happily like a child, and then his expression changed to the passionate look that was characteristic of before the war. He was also inexplicably excited. The guards can't ask questions indiscriminately, this is organizational discipline, so the guards couldn't help but stand straight, and at this time they heard Chen Kelang say: "Go and inform the comrades of the Military Commission, now the meeting is held." ”

The cadres of the Military Commission had learned a few days ago that the Manchu court had known about the existence of the base area, and Chen Ke ordered the General Staff to begin drawing up an operational plan, which was based on the assumption that Li Yuanhong would directly attack Hefei. In fact, this plan has been formulated since the defeat of King Yue from Anqing. However, Chen Ke predicted at that time that Li Yuanhong would never act before the summer harvest, and such a "heroic" prophecy once made the comrades of the Party Central Committee and the Military Commission feel that Chen Ke was too arrogant. Now the facts have proved that Chen Ke is not wrong, so at the beginning of the meeting, Hua Xiongmao couldn't help but ask Chen Ke again why.

"The Hubei New Army is absolutely unwilling to take advantage of others." Chen Ke still repeated what he said last time. War is not a cheap action for the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army in the base areas. The last Anqing campaign almost depleted the base area's grain stocks. However, compared with the war expenses of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the cost of this idea in the base areas was a dime a dime at all. Under the new system in the base areas, the government directly controls the village-level units, and all taxes and grain are not consumed at all, and are directly transported to the grain depots. However, the Manchu Qing sent troops to exploit too much, and they needed to go through bureaucratic procedures and go through layers of exploitation, so each war cost a lot. Therefore, spending so much money to fight the war was a heavy burden for the Manchu court and local government. Zhang Zhidong may be loyal to the Manchu court, but no matter how loyal Zhang Zhidong is, he himself does not know the spell of gold and urine silver. You can't afford to fight without money, this is an eternal truth.

After Chen Ke finished explaining, the other comrades of the Central Military Commission also read the latest information transmitted.

Pu Guanshui asked, "Chairman Chen, is the person who delivered this news reliable?" ”

Hearing this question, many comrades looked at Chen Ke with concern. Bai Chenke did not fail in his prediction every time, and everyone has become accustomed to leisurely production in the environment of strong enemy servo. Now that the enemy has suddenly launched a full-scale attack, everyone can't help but have a feeling of unreality.

Chen Ke didn't answer this question, he asked, "How are our military rations prepared?" ”

"It's 30% higher than planned. The stock of military rations reached 10 million catties. Qin Wuan is now the Minister of Logistics, he hurriedly took out his notebook and said.

The effect of vigorously developing the aquaculture industry in the base area has been shown, and the grain and feed originally needed by the breeding industry has now been replaced by earthworms and small fish and shrimp. There is no shortage of water in Anhui, and after the women were put into the production movement as labor, the animal husbandry industry supported almost 30% of the grain. Although the proteins of duck eggs and duck meat are not very delicious, they can even exceed the same amount of food.

"30,000 people a pound and a half a day, this idea of food can last a year, right?" Chen Ke asked.

"Military canned food production is still insufficient. Glassware suitable for long-distance transportation is not too well made. Qin Wu'an still has some questions about this.

"We fight on the inside, so we don't have to care so much about this." Chen Ke said with a smile.

"Inside combat? Do you want to put Li Yuanhong in the base area? Pu Guanshui was a little surprised.

"Why don't you let it in? If you don't let Li Yuanhong in, close the door and fight the dog, how can you fight a war of annihilation? Chen Ke asked rhetorically.

He Zudao couldn't help but ask: "Chairman Chen, if you let it in, in case Li Yuanhong wreaks havoc, how can we explain to the people?" ”

"Li Yuanhong will never go to the countryside. He is definitely going to occupy Hefei. We let him occupy it, and when he occupies Hefei, we will annihilate him in Hefei. Chen Ke said as if talking about how to eat.

Without waiting for everyone to continue questioning, Chen Ke said: "However, once Li Yuanhong is resolved, Wang Shizhen must be put into the base area to fight." He's not easy to fight. ”

In 1901, Yuan Shikai inherited the mantle of Li Hongzhang and became the governor of Zhili and the minister of Beiyang. In order to consolidate his foundation, Yuan Shikai attached great importance to the training of the army, and he appointed Wang Shizhen as the commander of the left town of the Beiyang Standing Army, and was also in charge of the army's operation and defense battalion office, specializing in training. Soon Wang Shizhen went to the south of Zhili to recruit troops, and selected more than 6,000 people with local officials, and concentrated on Baoding to organize and train as the Beiyang Standing Army (that is, the New Army). Wang Shizhen also has a very good way of training the army, he does not beat or scold the soldiers, and touches people with kindness, if the officer makes a mistake, he never reprimands the officer in front of the soldier, so as to maintain the respect of the soldier for the officer. He also tried his best to cultivate the soldiers' sense of absolute obedience and loyalty, so that they believed that Yuan Shikai was their food and clothing, and only by obeying his orders could they be promoted and rich.

Wang Shizhen is what Chen Ke is afraid of, and Li Yuanhong is far from being so important.