Age of Conquest Reborn

Chapter 295 Farewell to old friends

At night in Peiping, the weather was much cooler. Tang Qiuli, who was tired of traveling, drove hundreds of miles overnight to reach the Song Mansion located in Tieshizi Hutong.

After getting off the car, the guard at the door was very surprised to see it was Tang Qiuli. He wanted to report it, but he stopped him. The guard respectfully stepped aside and watched Tang Qiu enter the Song Mansion with respect.

The Song Mansion was as peaceful as ever. Tang Qiuli had been here many times and knew the layout and structure of the Song Mansion very well. It was a quiet and elegant place with carved beams and painted edifices. Compared with most of the old palaces of princes and nobles in Peiping, it was less crowded.

Instead of being graceful and luxurious, it is a little more elegant and simple.

How many times have I had long talks with the old army commander here to discuss the military and political plans of North China? The food of the Song Dynasty is also very suitable to Tang Qiuli's appetite. Many major strategies and policies are made on the dining table with Lu-flavored delicacies.

After confirming it, all this seems to be right in front of you, but now looking at it, there is a bit of desolation and melancholy of parting.

People's mood can actually change their views and feelings about the environment. There is nothing better than being moved by a scene.

Passing through a long corridor covered with ivy, roses and peonies blooming on both sides, the wind brings a fragrant fragrance, Tang Qiuli's rapid footsteps, in the quiet night, the gravel-covered corridor

Above, extremely clear.

In the living room, Song Zheyuan, who was chatting with some old friends, heard the footsteps and smiled knowingly on his face. He was very familiar with this footsteps. How many times had the owner of these footsteps brought the vigor of a young man like this?

Approaching him gave him wisdom, foresight and surprise beyond his years. In front of his eyes, the image of this extraordinary, young and handsome general appeared, and Qiu Li rushed back.

Song Zheyuan originally didn't want to disturb Tang Qiuli. He knew very well that with the current situation in North China, how heavy the burden was on Tang Qiuli's shoulders. There were tigers and wolves looking around from the Japanese army outside, and there were remnants inside who had ulterior motives and were ready to act. All of this was weighed down on him just now.

On the shoulders of a twenty-year-old.

In the past few years of taking charge of North China, Song Zheyuan felt physically and mentally exhausted, struggling to cope, and feeling physically exhausted. It was not until Tang Qiuli came to North China that this situation changed, allowing him to pay attention to the developments in North China with the mentality of a bystander.

With everything going on in the political world, there is still time to carefully examine whether one will stay or leave.

Song Zheyuan had the idea of ​​​​resigning, which had been brewing for a long time. However, something unexpected happened some time ago. The political situation in Pingjin, North China, was treacherous. Tang Qiuli devoted all his energy to it. He could not let Qiuli distract him.

When everything was settled, Qiu Li defeated his opponent and firmly controlled the situation. The two major forces, the Japanese and the pro-Japanese faction, suffered a serious blow. He stabilized the situation in North China and demonstrated his sophisticated and skillful military and political talents. Song Zheyuan finally felt that

A trace of worry disappeared completely, and North China could be handed over to Qiu Li to take charge.

I hope that this move can bring a few years of stability and peace to North China. This is Song Zheyuan's good wish. Unfortunately, this veteran soldier's good wish was shattered by the ruthless reality.

One year later, the July 7th Incident broke out in North China, and the Japanese army began a full-scale invasion of China. From then on, the Chinese people fell into an arduous eight-year war of resistance against Japan.

Song Zheyuan chose to leave when Tang Qiuli was not in Peiping and rushed to the front line. He really didn't want to experience that kind of parting scene. He also knew that Tang Qiuli would try his best to retain him. Soldiers should be impassioned and come to gain determination. Why bother to be a child?

This is why Song Zheyuan chose to leave.

I have packed my belongings. Fortunately, my hometown in Shandong still has a hundred acres of fertile farmland, so I should have no worries about food and clothing. From now on, I can "gather under the east fence and see the Nanshan Mountain leisurely", concentrate on being a farm servant, and stay away from the troubles of military and political affairs, and the turmoil of officialdom.

It is not one of the great joys in life. After thinking about it all, Song Zheyuan felt a kind of tranquility after relief.

Song Zheyuan had been in the army for many years and had been the most powerful person in charge of North China. He had not accumulated much wealth. The 29th Army had exhausted all his efforts. He himself was not a warlord who was crazy about amassing money.

The old tradition of the Northwest Army is clearly reflected in him. When he was in charge of Jehol Province, he vigorously developed the local economy and improved the living conditions of the people. He achieved outstanding achievements. He had a good reputation among the people and moved the defense away from Jehol.

At that time, the people of Chengde were fighting each other, and the local gentry even signed a joint letter to the Nanjing government, requesting that Song Zheyuan should be allowed to stay in office.

He refused the request of the officers of the 29th Army to hold a farewell banquet, but on the day before leaving, he invited a few old friends who had been with him for many years to have a family dinner and talk about old times. The old brothers talked about their military career back then.

, is also a pleasure.

Its real intention is to remind these old guys that they must fully cooperate with Tang Qiuli to lead the 29th Army and not have second thoughts. With Tang Qiuli's wisdom, no small move of yours will escape his eyes. Don't do it yourself.

Looking for discomfort.

Song Zheyuan had seen Tang Qiuli's political wisdom and military talent, and these old guys couldn't even get half of it when bundled together. He didn't want these old guys to look in the wrong direction and end up in the wrong place after he left.

The end was tragic, so he invited these people with military power and prestige in the 29th Army to come over and give his final instructions.

Tang Qiuli's tall figure appeared at the door of the living room, amidst the dust and dust, with a bit of anxiety, and a pair of eyes eagerly looking for the figure of the old army commander.

Song Zheyuan's eyes met Tang Qiuli's kindly gaze. At the moment when their eyes intertwined, Tang Qiuli completely understood the heart of the old army commander, and he also saw a sense of relaxation in this old soldier who had always seen his age.

and relief.

Tang Qiuli swallowed back the words that were on his lips and wanted to stay. He knew very well that Song Zheyuan had already made up his mind to leave and could not change it. He was not a person who did useless things.

He just said in a slightly sad and reproachful tone: "Old commander, you shouldn't. Even if Qiu Li is in the fire or water now, he still has to come back to see the old commander off. This is fate and affection.

!" Tang Qiuli really didn't know what to say.

The atmosphere in the room seemed heavy. Several of Song Zheyuan's old men lowered their heads, their eyes already wet. The sudden resignation of the old army commander was also a sudden thing for them. Tonight, Song Zheyuan called them.

Come over here and tell me that you guys are catching up on old times.

It was Song Zheyuan who broke the dull situation. He laughed loudly and said, "Look, Qiu Li, I won't let you come because I'm afraid that this kind of scene will happen. We are all soldiers. It makes you cry and wipe your eyes. On the contrary, it is an insult to the true nature of a man."

, I feel uneasy before I leave. There are people coming and carrying wine. Commander Tang has been working hard all the way, so have a few drinks today and I won’t come back until I’m drunk!"

The food and drinks came quickly, and the atmosphere became lively again. Tang Qiuli talked about the sudden increase in troops of the Japanese army opposite the 285th Regiment. Song Zheyuan didn't care. The Japanese were not sure of taking action yet. He was testing my resignation.

, as the new commander of the army, can you mobilize the troops of the 29th Army? The Japanese are accustomed to this method.

When Tang Qiuli heard what Song Zheyuan said, he suddenly became enlightened. He fell into a misunderstanding in his thinking. All he thought about was that the Japanese would take action in advance. Older people are still smarter. The Japanese motives were revealed by Song Zheyuan. What else did he worry about?

However, they had to be prepared for any eventuality, so the mobilized troops moved in according to the original plan to see what tricks the Japanese were playing. Tang Qiuli felt much relieved when he put aside his most worried things.

After several old men from the 29th Army said goodbye, Tang Qiuli and Song Zheyuan were the only two people left in the living room. Tang Qiuli took out a check from his briefcase, handed it to Song Zheyuan, and said: "Old Army Commander, no

What can I give you? This is a cashier's check deposited in the British Standard Chartered Bank in Qingdao, totaling 300,000 silver dollars. When I got there, there were many places to use the money. I was in a hurry and didn't prepare much!"

Song Zheyuan was shocked. Three hundred thousand silver dollars was an astonishingly large amount at the time. He had long heard that the imperial master had strong financial resources. Qiu Li was indeed generous in his actions. How did he get his money? How could this young man still be able to get it?

What a mysterious young man with so many unknown secrets.

Song Zheyuan insisted not to accept it, claiming that his hometown still had hundreds of acres of fertile land, which could fully meet daily expenses. Besides, what would an unemployed old man do with so much money? He even said jokingly: "Then we will invite bandits and kidnap me."

Yes, Qiu Li, the ransom you paid is probably more than this!"

Tang Qiuli knew that the old army commander did not have much money. All his property was spent on the 29th Army, and he could not be allowed to return to his hometown to live a poor life. In the end, with his persistence, Song Zheyuan reluctantly

After putting away the check, Tang Qiuli felt a lot of comfort in his heart. This was the only thing he could do for this respectable old soldier.

The next day, early in the morning, Song Zheyuan's car drove away from the ancient city of Beiping, which was still sleeping. Originally, Song Zheyuan wanted to take a train back to his hometown in Shandong, but Tang Qiuli refused, and Peking left the old army commander's hometown in Shandong.

It's not too far, and it can still let him toss around on the train.

In addition to the vehicles used by Song Zheyuan's family members and vehicles pulling some furniture, there were also more than a dozen military trucks, with a reinforced battalion of more than 600 fully armed soldiers responsible for escorting the old army commander on the road.

Song Zheyuan's joke last night reminded Tang Qiuli that it was really unsafe along the way. Those daring bandits, no matter what kind of army commander or provincial governor you were, they would attack whenever they got the chance.

For this reason, he specially selected 80 people from the 29th Army Guard Regiment to form Song Zheyuan's escort team, with a battalion commander as the captain. After the escort troops withdrew, they stayed with Song Zheyuan for a long time and protected him at all times.

his safety.

The soldiers were paid double pay, and the battalion commander who led the team enjoyed the regimental commander's allowance. All expenses were paid by Tang Qiuli himself. Even if he paid out of his own pocket to arrange a guard for the old commander, he was still in the 20s.

The establishment of the Ninth Army is composed of active-duty soldiers.

After shaking hands with Song Zheyuan and bidding farewell, Tang Qiuli watched the long motorcade gradually disappear into the grassy and green fields, and finally disappeared. A former strongman left. His era was over, and only the love of the people remained.

in memory.

Quietly, the military and political affairs of Pingjin and North China have changed hands, heralding the arrival of a new era.