The night before Li Hongzhang came to Chengdu in Baoji, Liu Jun summoned him alone to discuss the problem of bandits in the southwest.

Liu Jun reminded us at the beginning that land reform must be carried out first, and then we can encircle and suppress bandits.

When the land reform was completed, it was supported by the people, and the people were very terrible. Any powerful force, as long as it offends the common people, is a dead end. Therefore, by distributing the land to the people, we can gain the support of the people.

Once the people support it, when the time comes, they will incite the people, unite the army, and deal with the bandits, and it will be as easy as a finger.

"Liu Jun told me about this matter, and what he meant was six words, land reform first, and encirclement and suppression." Li Hongzhang said after thinking for a while.

It seems that this time it is going to be a joint operation, thinking of this, Zhang Zhidong and Wang Shizhen on the side nodded in reply, "Why don't we conduct an experiment first, what do you think?" Wang Shizhen, who lowered his head and thought for a while, thought for a while and said.

The test point, this is not an unfamiliar word for Wang Shizhen, Li Hongzhang and even people from Liaodong. As early as a few years ago, the construction of this test site was carried out. But at that time, it was economic construction, not the current situation.

"I agree, in this way, since several of us are here today, let's discuss a countermeasure and see where to implement this."

"I think Zunyi Mansion is good, there are more than 5,000 Qingxiang people in the area of Loushanguan in Zunyi Prefecture. did not accept the arrangement of the imperial court, and returned to us, in my opinion, Duan Qirui could postpone his entry into Yunnan, let him immediately divide his troops, cross the Wujiang River from Guiyang, and then enter Zunyi Mansion. Li Hongzhang, who thought about it for a while, said.

Zunyi Mansion? Wang Shizhen and Zhang Zhidong, who heard these two words, lowered their heads and pondered, then nodded and said, "Okay, just Zunyi Mansion." ”

Guiyang. This time, when Duan Qirui set out from Huaihua, Hunan, the troops brought out were two armies of the Eighth Corps, as well as an army of the 30th Corps reorganized in Hunan, plus a cavalry division and an artillery brigade, totaling more than 80,000 people, under the command of Duan Qirui and Li Yuanhong, they entered Guizhou and safely accepted Tongren, Kaili, Qingzhen, Duyun and other places all the way, and took over Guiyang half a month ago. More than 13,000 people of the Guiyang Defense Army were reorganized.

At present, Duan Qirui is temporarily serving as the commander of the Guizhou garrison, Li Yuanhong is the deputy commander, and Hunan has been handed over to Zhang Xun's 11th Corps from Xuzhou to take over.

A division of the 15th Army of the Eighth Corps and a brigade of the 30th Corps, because of problems in the Fanjing Mountain area, have now advanced eastward, and under the command of Zhang Xun, a division of the 11th Corps from Hunan launched a pursuit, encirclement, and suppression of the remnants of the enemy entrenched in the Fanjing Mountain area.

In the headquarters, on the conference table laid out with several tables, a map of northern Qianbei is currently placed.

Originally, the mission of Duan Qirui's corps was to take over Yunnan, but now, the plan has changed, and his corps is not entering Yunnan, but going north to accept Zunyi Mansion. And Yunnan has been handed over to Feng Guozhang in Guangxi.

The telegram was received yesterday afternoon, when the 16th Army had already set off and arrived in Anshun, and Duan Qirui, who received the order, immediately ordered the 16th Army to turn around and return to Guiyang immediately. Wait for the order to go north.

"I said Lao Duan, you've watched it almost three times, when will you see it?" Seeing that Duan Qirui had been picking up a magnifying glass to see the situation in Qianbei, Li Yuanhong, who was sitting on the side, put down his teacup and said.

Hey, hearing Li Yuanhong say this, Duan Qirui put down the telescope in his hand and said: "Do you think I want to, the Military Department of the Southwest Government Affairs Office jointly issued a document and asked me to change the direction of receiving, I have never considered the reception of Qianbei before, but now it is okay, if I don't think about it well, how to receive it." After saying this, Duan Qirui felt a little troubled in his heart.

This one? Li Yuanhong is not unaware of the disadvantages of the change of the imperial order, but the Southwest Administrative Office and the Military Department have already sent a message to explain the situation, that is, what will be done after taking over Zunyi is an experimental point reform. If results are achieved, the work of suppressing bandits in the southwest region in the future will be carried out in this way.

"There is a reason why the Southwest Administrative Office and the Military Office think so, I think?"

What is the reason, seeing Li Yuanhong mentioning Wang Shizhen to speak, Duan Qirui was unhappy. The order is still reasonable, fortunately, this is not a war, if it is a war, he has to talk to the handsome Gao Wang Shizhen and others. Sending messages indiscriminately.

"Report, Chengdu Command telegram."

came again, and when he heard the guard say this, Duan Qirui immediately closed his eyes and motioned for Li Yuanhong to see for himself.

Li Yuanhong took the telegram and looked at it and said, "Wang Shizhen's private telegram." ”

This guy, what are you doing with a private telegram at this time? Duan Qirui opened his eyes and looked at Li Yuanhong, hoping that he would be able to tell him the content.

"The handsome man is about to establish a country. But the first condition is stability in the southwest. Li Yuanhong read the telegram again.

I grass, Duan Qirui, who heard this, stood up suddenly, if this is the case, he really has no complaints, this is a matter involving the handsome being the emperor.

Hahahaha...... Hahaha....... Duan Qirui, who picked up the telegram, laughed, this sudden call made Li Yuanhong look puzzled.

"Lao Li, good news, Dashuai is finally going to be the emperor, this is what we dream of, I've been waiting for several years, and it's finally the first time I've heard that Dashuai doesn't refuse." Duan Qirui, who suddenly ran over, suddenly picked up Li Yuanhong.

Emperor. What does that mean? Li Yuanhong looked at Duan Qirui, who was like a woman, with a puzzled expression.

Duan Qirui was also too excited, and after a few happy moments, Duan Qirui knew that Li Yuanhong didn't know about this matter at all, and immediately, Duan Qirui told Li Yuanhong what happened some time ago.

Li Yuanhong finally understood that the generals and government officials under Liu Jun all hoped that Liu Jun would be the emperor and ascend the throne, but they were rejected again and again. The reason is that the country is not unified, and all of them are not accepted, and now, the country has been unified, that is, it can only ascend the throne after waiting for the stability of the southwest.

"Old Duan, let's hurry. Otherwise, this will affect the marshal's ascension to the throne. Li Yuanhong thought for a while and said.

These words immediately reminded Duan Qirui in front of him, only to see Duan Qirui immediately let go of Li Yuanhong, and then said: "What you said is so right. ”