Chapter 548 Old-style soldiers

The guards were at a loss and their eyes fell on their captain. The captain hesitated. He was Li Houji's loyal confidant. This time, Li Houji lost Fujian, and the person who should retaliate was of course the Guangdong Army. Now the highest leader of the Guangdong Army, Wu Shaoting, was standing in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel an impulse in his heart. But after a difficult thought, he gritted his teeth and sent a guard back to the garden to inform him again.

Li Houji was also shocked when he heard that Wu Shaoting was outside the door. It had only been four days since he had powered to step down. Quanzhou and Putian were still in rectification. There was no other Guangdong military force in Fuzhou except for a Guangdong military unit with more than 100 people. Wu Shaoting dared to come to Fuzhou so carelessly?

He had long been paying attention to Wu Shaoting's recent major moves. He first established the National People's Progressive Council, and then issued a "Two-Party Statement" with the Progressive Party. What kind of person is this pioneer of the Great Revolution and the most popular figure in the Republic of China? Curiosity is only a part of his heart. What is more important is that Wu Shaoting has the courage to meet him, so how can he stay away without the courage?

"Please come in." He ordered the guard who came to inform him quickly.

"Yes." The guard immediately ran out again.

A moment later, Wu Shaoting, Wang Changling, Wang Yun and others came to the atrium of Zhao Family Garden. Wu Shaoting asked Wang Yun and the guards to stay here. He only went to see Li Houji with Wang Changling.

In the small hall in the backyard of the garden, Li Houji met Wu Shaoting, but his attitude was very calm, as if he was rude but without being rude, and he could not see any enthusiasm or kindness. He looked at the young general in front of him and felt a little emotional. Is Wu Shaoting a genius in the military and political circles or a young talent? If he could have attracted attention from the whole country at such an age, I am afraid that it will be difficult to find a second person in Huanyu.

Wu Shaoting bowed to Li Houji first and greeted him neither arrogant nor humblely: "We have long admired General Li's name, so we can be regarded as not knowing each other without fighting."

Li Houji smiled coldly and said, "General Wu, even if we fight one game, we may not be considered acquaintance."

Wu Shaoting heard Li Houji's rudeness in his words. He maintained a calm demeanor and smiled and said, "It seems that General Li still has some concerns about me. General Li had previously said that he was sick and it was not convenient to meet him, but at this time he did not find General Li was sick at first sight. It seems that this misunderstanding is already quite good."

Li Houji said in a constant tone: "My illness is not in my body but in my heart. But General Wu, you are proud now. Before the overall situation in Fujian is settled, you can't wait to come to Fuzhou to steal power. I am here today, I am afraid that I am making fun of me, a defeated enemy."

Wu Shaoting sighed: "General Li, if you really think this way, I'm afraid you won't invite me into the house."

Li Houji smiled secretly, then changed his mind and said, "General Wu has been in the door for so long, and I have not invited General Wu to sit down. I shouldn't have. General Wu please do it yourself."

Wu Shaoting slowly walked to the nearest chair and sat down, and Wang Changling stood behind him.

"General Li, it is necessary for me to reiterate my previous misunderstanding. General Li was defeated in Fujian, and everyone can understand the hatred in his heart. But if General Li's hatred was targeted, it would be too unfair. Yuan Shikai was the one who started the war, and Yuan Shikai was the one who refused to send troops to aid. Even if he fired the first shot first, it was for the sake of the overall situation of the war. There was no morality on the battlefield. General Li was also a soldier, so he should understand this truth." Wu Shaoting said slowly.

"I understand this truth, but unfortunately I have to obey my orders when I am in my post. However, General Wu joined forces with the Progressive Party in Guangzhou and refused to recognize the new laws promulgated by the President, which caused a situation of confrontation between the north and the south. If it weren't for such a rebellion, how could it cause today's military disaster?" Li Houji said sternly.

"General Li, should you say you are foolish or naive? Shouldn't this new law be resisted? The president's intention is obvious. He wants to be the president for the rest of his life, and he also wants his descendants to be the president. What is the difference between this president and the emperor?" Wu Shaoting said in a stressful tone.

"I know you will use this set of rhetoric to speak, but unfortunately everyone has different ideas. This country needs a strong leader to be stable." Li Houji insisted.

"Maybe you are right, but since you said that everyone's ideas are different. The prosperity of a country is not determined by one person, but by the concerted efforts of the entire country. Yuan Shikai's move can arouse opposition, which has proved that he cannot unite this country and cannot make this country work together. Rebellion is relative. For Yuan Shikai, I rebel against the Beiyang government, but for me, Yuan Shikai rebels against the country and the people." Wu Shaoting responded in an orderly manner.

"Are you coming to me today to tell me these great truths?" Li Houji said coldly. It was not because he could not refute Wu Shaoting's words. Over the years, all those in power could see clearly that revolution, righteousness, and national supremacy were just empty words, and even tools for use. If you really want to break up and talk about these contents, you will be afraid that everyone will have a good face.

"These words are just momentary sighs, not the real intention of me coming here to disturb me this time." Wu Shaoting sighed and said slowly.

"Since that's the case, we don't have to waste time. General Wu has anything to teach you, so you might as well say bluntly. You and I are both from martial artists and have roughly similar personalities, so just be more cheerful." Li Houji said calmly.

"There are two things here today. One is to express gratitude and admiration for General Li's choice to retreat bravely in a turbulent situation. This move prevents the Guangdong-Fu War from causing more unnecessary harm. It is a good thing for both public and private, and for the army and the people." Wu Shaoting said with a sincere expression.

"There is no need to say more about these words. I don't want to listen or like to listen." Lee Houji said with a cold face.

Wu Shaoting paused for a moment, and he could see that Li Houji was either a person who was not surprised by his favor and disgrace, or he was now a mentality of not surprised by his favor and disgrace. From the previous conversation, he could understand more or less. Li Houji was a person who understood the truth, but he still had the characteristics of an old soldier in his bones, which was a very complicated personality.

He doubted whether he could persuade Li Houji in the next words, but there was no way to do so. He could only express his feelings first, and even if this time fails, he could leave a kindness for the future. He adjusted his tone and said, "The second thing is that I hope General Li can stay and serve as the governor of the Fujian Military Government after the reorganization."

Li Houji's face changed slightly, and he asked lukewarmly: "General Wu, what do you mean?"

Wu Shaoting was silent for a while, sighed and said, "This matter must be discussed for a long time, and I will make another arrangement."

Duan Qirui held the telegram in his hand, his face was extremely gloomy, and his leather boots were stomping, and he walked through the corridor outside the Qinzheng Hall and went straight to the President's private library.

Without waiting for the guards at the entrance of the library to sing the rank, he pushed the door open with a big hand and walked in quickly.

Yuan Shikai was standing on a small ladder looking for the upper bookshelf. After hearing the movement, he turned his head and glanced at it, and then continued to search the books without caring.

"President, Fujian is lost, Li Houji is really powered on and off the wilderness!" Duan Qirui shouted at Yuan Shikai.

On the small ladder, Yuan Shikai's back trembled slightly, but it soon returned to its original state.

"Oh, this situation should have been expected long ago. Zhiquan, you don't have to make such a big deal." He said heavily and slowly.

"President, you are really relieved. In less than two months, Fujian has been given away for nothing. I issued an order to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai to send troops south to support, but you stopped my order and instead asked them to threaten their troops to observe the movement. Now, Fujian is lost, and our people are still watching the movement. Is this meaningful?" Duan Qirui's tone was filled with unconcealed complaints, his voice was not diminished, and he said with great force.

Yuan Shikai became silent and did not reply. He walked down slowly with the ladder, and his fat body seemed very slow. After landing, he held his hands with his face as quiet as water, and could not see any waves.

Duan Qirui couldn't hold back any more. He said again: "President, it's still time to order the troops in Wenzhou to continue to fight. The Guangdong army has not yet established a foothold. Moreover, most areas in northern Fujian still have no intention of joining the Guangdong army, which will be of great help to our march into Fujian."

Yuan Shikai finally spoke at this time. He said in awe and threatening manner: "Zhiquan, if others can't understand it, don't you understand the current situation? Once the Beiyang Army goes south to Fujian, Wu Shaoting's toughness will definitely not give up easily. At that time, both sides will only have the ability to continuously increase their troops. In the end, it will be a big battle, a big battle that can determine the settlement of the north and the south. Let me ask, are you ready? Am I ready?"

Duan Qirui was stunned and then said, "But Wu Shaoting may not be ready. We could suppress Guangdong last year, but we can still do this year. If Wu Shaoting merged the territory of the two provinces and developed it, that would be terrible. It would be too late to suppress Wu Shaoting in the end."
Chapter completed!