Chapter 53: Internal Strife at the Start of War

December 1st, Shenhai, Pier 18
With a long blast of the steam whistle, a white West-Africa continent liner slowly sailed in under the guidance of a pilot boat.
The 18th pier has been decorated with colorful ribbons and flowers. The 3rd regiment of the Shanghai military stationed at the Southern Manufacturing Bureau has selected 500 well-trained soldiers, who stand in two rows with their uniforms neat and tidy. The officers wear shiny boots and carry military swords, which clink together as they bump into each other.
The dock was crowded with people of all kinds, including even some foreign ships flying colorful flags on the Yangtze River.
Among those waiting on the dock were important figures like Huang Kegong returning from Wukou, Song Jiaoren rushing from Hong Kong, and Zhang Jizhi who arrived early in Hanjiang city, as well as representatives from various states and provinces, and so on.
When a middle-aged man wearing a white suit and a top hat walked to the side of the ship's deck, the dock suddenly erupted with a huge cheer.
The ribbons on the hats were dancing in the air, and the camera flashes were constantly flickering from a distance, making the entire Pier 18 seem like it had gone crazy.
On December 1st, Mr. Sun returned to his home country after passing through the western continent, marking the first time he had returned to the country after being wanted for ten years.
Although he achieved nothing in his campaign to gain recognition from the Western powers, the entire Southern region of the Great Qing Dynasty is still crazy about his return.
On that day, Mr. Sun held a press conference: "I have returned to the 33 states of the current Great Qing Dynasty in order to form a united and new Great Qing. Eighteen of the states have regained their independence, and the restoration of the Jiangbei state is within sight. The future trend of the court needs no divination. I look forward to negotiating with powerful people in the North, and working together for the revival of the Great Qing with honesty and sincerity."
When asked by a curious reporter how much military equipment and money Mr. Sun brought back this time, Mr. Sun smiled and replied: "I have not brought any weapons or foreign money with me on my return to the country. The only thing I have brought is my spirit!"
Chen Yingshi was anxiously waiting at the door for dinner time. After a long time, he saw the teacher and a journalist walking into the courtyard, chatting and laughing.
Chen Yingshi greeted them: "Teacher, you have been away with the journalist for so long, it's already dinner time. Why did it take so long?"
The teacher smiled and said, "Oh, Sir Ying, I'm sorry! Zhang Jila specially invited me to a dinner party. Jila was Yuan Shiren’s teacher and played a useful role in networking for us and the North. I couldn't avoid going to hear his opinions on the current situation. He insisted on keeping us for dinner, so we ended up talking for a while longer. Jila was very polite and used his own carriage to take us back. What about Duke Ke?"
Chen Yingshi supported the old man towards the inside. Seeing that his face was slightly rosy, he knew he had already had some alcohol and forced a smile, saying, "Mr. Ke hasn't been feeling well since he came back from Wukou. He went to rest early. Mr. Ke's mood hasn't been very good lately, he's planning to talk with you all day tomorrow."
He hesitated for a moment, but seeing the journalist nod slightly and gesture to lower his voice, he said to the sir, "It's better to keep some distance from Mr. Zhang Jilao. He may have some other intentions in his heart."
The teacher looked surprised and said, "Hmm? What's going on? Jilao is an old scholar. The telegram urging the abdication of the Emperor by Dongnan was also his work. How could he have other ideas?"
这下陈英士才把对王峰的怨气娓娓道来，说张季直伙同他将汉江城钱财，搜刮得凶狠。
All of the valuable resources were used to establish the Guangfu Bank, and the Manufacturing Bureau was also under their control. Recently, they even sold it to America, and the Hanjiang Military Government had no right to intervene in this type of public asset.
Shenhai's imperial bank was also extorted by Wang Feng, and when he took over, it was empty.
The financial situation of the Hanjiang Military Government was extremely difficult after their actions, and there was no military equipment to arm the new army. Even the Communist Party member Jiang Lingwu was forced to give up by Wang Feng's pressure, and stopped caring about the world.
归结到最后，就是张季直和王峰勾结在一起！
这个老狐狸想借着这个来历不明的人物，将实力抓在手上，好继续在政坛上出卖他的风云雷雨。
His closing remark was: "Although Zhang Jizhi has a big reputation, we can deal with that. But Wang Feng is definitely a rotten apple who has infiltrated our team! Sooner or later, he will cause trouble, and we must come up with ways to punish him!"
The teacher listened quietly without interrupting, and only smiled slightly at the end.
"I am very curious about this Wang Feng and always want to meet him. Regardless, he is currently standing with us in our team, isn't he, Ying Shi?"
Chen Yingshi was a little stunned: "Sir? What do you mean…”
The gentleman stood up and said: “Yesterday I may not have been a comrade, but today I could be. And even if I’m not today, I may become one tomorrow. Yingshi, there’s no need to dwell on these things. Right now it’s important to unite all our efforts. I’m tired today and have guests to meet tomorrow, so I’m going to rest now.”
Looking at the master waving his hand and walking away, Chen Yingshi sighed and said, "The master is really kind!"
The journalist patted his shoulder and smiled, then followed inside. The senior Party member and Chen Yingshi didn't have much in common to talk about.
Chen gritted his teeth and sat down, feeling defeated. "Red guy! I have plenty of chances to get you..."
In the north of the Great Qing Dynasty, lies the city of Qianjing.
Chen, clutching his official letter, sprinted towards the residence of the Prime Minister.
As everyone knows, Mr. Chen has been the trusted counselor of the current minister Yuan since graduating from university six years ago. He can enter the inner court without any notice or questioning about his haste. With the current situation, there is already too much bad news to bear.
Chen Guanzhi walked into the inner hall and saw the short and stout minister Yuan eating his lunch. He was holding a silver-handled small knife, shaving slices of Korean ginseng and chewing them.
他迟疑了一下，这位可是大乾帝国现任首辅大臣，掌握北洋多年，被有的人称为曹操、称为奸雄、有的人称为能臣、有的称为大乾帝国定海神针的人物。
Yuan Shiren smiled and called out to him: "Second official, what bad news have you brought this time? Don't hide it."
He spoke in Mandarin with a Henan accent, but his tone was not harsh, but rather a gentle tone! His appearance was not particularly imposing, and his eyes long resembled those of a woman.
Chen Guan performed a ceremony, opened the cover of the book, and took out a telegram: "Zhang Dingwu's telegram, seeking assistance! Tianbao City has been taken over by the rebels, and they say it's done by Wang Feng's Iron Blood Army! News from Shenhai newspaper: Mr. Sun has also returned to Shenhai."
Yuan Shijin shook his head and said, "I have also reviewed the report on the situation in Jinling City from the Military Advisory Office. The naval fleet of the Communist Party has already blockaded the Yangtze River, and the Jiangfang Army is finished! How about the situation in Wukou?"
Chen Guan respectfully said, "The military action has already ceased. Er Gou is restraining the troops ahead and negotiations for a ceasefire with Hui Hui Party have begun! Lao Hu is overseeing the situation in Qingzhou and Yuzhou. As per your request, he has sent out two telegrams."
Yuan Shiren responded with an unsure sound and asked, "Is the situation stable in Xishan Road?"
Chen Guan answered even more respectfully, "Brother Laohu's progress is going very smoothly in the third town. Yan, the leader of the party, has already withdrawn from Xishan Road and has fled to the northern region."
Yuan Shih-Jen smiled contentedly and said, "Second Official, you must remember that the north is our foundation! If the north is stable, the core of our Beiyang will be united and we won't have anything to fear. There will always be a way out for us. You are a cautious person, and I trust you enough to say these words. As for Zhang Dingwu, we are really powerless. Oh, by the way, what do you think of Wang Feng, this rising new figure?"
Chen Guan thought for a moment before shaking his head: "I have never heard of this person before. He rose very quickly, so I don't know what kind of person he is, therefore I don't have much of an opinion! However, I do admire him."
Yuan Shiren nodded in satisfaction. "Second official, I like this about you – you're very cautious and don't underestimate people! Although Wang Feng is not much now, I have a strong feeling that he may cause a huge change in the future. You never know!"
He may have felt like he had talked too much, waving his hand to dismiss Chen Guan and then flipped his thoughts to the letter his teacher Zhang Jizhi wrote to him, which made him smile unintentionally.
At this time, a strange scene appeared on the vast land of the Great Qing Empire. In the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the armies of the North and South had completely ceased fire.
However, the behavior of the Beiyang Army was very strange. Sometimes they sent telegrams to the South warning them not to neglect the fighting power and determination of the Northern troops, and other times they jointly sent telegrams requesting the Qing court in Beijing to abdicate.
In the north, the Beiyang Army is focusing on suppressing and attacking the rebellious Hui Army.
In the southern 18 provinces and regions, representatives are focusing on the return of Mr. Shen Hai.
There is also chaos within each province, as both the commander and vice commander Jiao Dafeng and others who participated in the Hu-Nan Dao uprising have already been killed.
Various military and political offices are scattered throughout the provinces, all awaiting the arrival of this figure with a high reputation in the south to tidy up the situation and end the chaos.
The representative for peace talks, Donald Duck, has quietly headed south, while the Great Qian Empire is no longer waiting to die, but is already dying and on the verge of collapse.