Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 136 Zhang Chengxiang with ill intentions in the Congress meeting

Just when Su Zhengyang was still immersed in joy, Yan Shuangying suddenly knocked on the door.

"come in."

Yan Shuangying strode in and said to Su Zhengyang, "Governor, President Yang sent a message that a formal congressional meeting will be held at the Northern Frontier Congress Auditorium at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. All fourteen congressmen will be present at that time. You are asked to prepare in advance."

Su Zhengyang nodded and said, "I understand. Go to bed early and accompany me to the congressional meeting tomorrow morning."

The next morning, on Longzheng Street, not far from Shuixiu Garden, the royal garden left by the Shuiqing Empire, a large number of fully armed Central Guard soldiers with solemn expressions had blocked off the entire street. Members of Congress from the Northern Frontier Government arrived one after another with their personal guards and walked into the solemn and magnificent Congress Auditorium next to Shuixiu Garden.

This is a manor building covering an area of ​​dozens of acres, lush and green with trees. In the middle is a square three-story building that looks very imposing. This is the so-called Congress Auditorium.

The space inside was as large as half a football field. Two rows of long tables with chairs had been placed in the center of the venue. Yang Jiakai and Prime Minister Duan Jinshu were among them. After seeing that all fourteen members of parliament were present, Yang Jiakai walked up to the podium with a solemn expression. Everyone's eyes were focused on Yang Jiakai, who was wearing a Zhongshan suit.

"I believe most of you have received the news from Shanghai. Elder Zhang has passed away. The situation in Shanghai is extremely serious. If we are not careful, our Northern Frontier government will completely lose half of its control over Shanghai. This is a major loss that we cannot accept. We are convening a congressional meeting today to discuss with everyone and make a quick decision on how to resolve this matter."

The Governor of Hongzhou, Ding Zhengong, who was already white-haired and over 70 years old, was the first to speak: "Everyone knows that once Brother Zhang dies, his only son Zhang Liye will take over the power of commanding the 50,000 Songhu Army. What's more troublesome is that Zhang Liye has always been very close to the Southern Government. Without his father's pressure, something would have happened in Shanghai long ago. Now the only way to solve this problem is to regain control of the Songhu Army."

Hanzhou Governor Wang Jin frowned and said, "This is the problem. Knowing that Zhang Liye has shown signs of defecting to the Southern Government, it is undoubtedly a very difficult thing to take back the military power of the Songhu Army. The Songhu Army is the direct line cultivated by the Zhang family. Now that Elder Zhang has passed away, no matter who it is, they can't speak as well as Zhang Liye. His position and prestige in the Songhu Army are irreplaceable."

Zhili Governor Zhang Chengxiang snorted coldly, "I said at the beginning that Zhang Liye is a thoroughgoing pro-Southern faction. We must use iron-blooded methods to get rid of him and find a way to transfer the Songhu Army away. We can't let the Zhang family continue to control the important area of ​​Shanghai. You all have to think of the old friendship and do nothing about Zhang Liye, a traitor, for the sake of Mr. Zhang. This has planted the seeds of disaster. Now this matter is very difficult and has put our Northern Frontier government in a dilemma."

Duan Jinshu frowned and said, "Well, now is not the time to complain or hold people accountable. Shanghai is not only an important port in the south, but also a large and prosperous city in the entire Chinese economy. We cannot afford to lose anything. The General Political Department Office has already sent a letter of condolence in the name of the president and asked Zhang Liye to return to Beijing to report on his work."

"But so far, Zhang Liye has not given any response, and the situation is not optimistic."

Zhang Chengxiang looked at Huizhou Governor Feng Changan, who was sitting next to him, sipping tea with a nonchalant look on his face, and said, "Councilor Feng, Qingzhou and Huizhou, both of which are controlled by your Feng faction, border Bizhou where Shanghai is located. I believe no one here knows the situation and situation in Shanghai better than you. Tell me what we should do about this matter."

Feng Changan calmly put down the celadon teacup in his hand and cursed him in his heart as an old fox.

In fact, the only solution to this problem is for the Northern Frontier to send a person with enough weight and prestige to Shanghai to try to negotiate with Zhang Liye and find a way to take back control of the Songhu Army. Unless it is absolutely necessary, it must not be resolved by force.

Otherwise, once the Songhu Army lost control, coupled with the support of the Southern Government, Northern Xinjiang would actually be out of the game in terms of the ownership of Shanghai.

But the problem is that no one wants to be the first to take action. If it can be done well, it will be a great achievement. But if it is not done well, it is easy to lose one's life in Shanghai.

Because no one knows how deep the relationship between Zhang Liye and the Southern Government is. If Zhang Liye has already made up his mind to betray Northern Frontier, going to Shanghai now is no different from a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth.

"In my opinion, the only way is to ask a respected elder from the Northern Frontier government to go to Shanghai to contact Zhang Liye and negotiate with him, and try to appease him with gentle means, so that the Songhu Army can stand on our Northern Frontier side again."

Zhang Chengxiang took advantage of the situation and said, "Councilman Feng's territory borders Bizhou, which is a great deterrent to Zhang Liye. In my opinion, you are the most suitable candidate."

Feng Changan looked calm on the surface, but he looked at Zhang Chengxiang with extremely cold eyes.

I am neither in the same camp with Zhang Chengxiang nor close to Yang Jiakai's faction. I am considered a representative of the neutral faction among the members of Congress. Why does Zhang Chengxiang direct every word at me? Everyone knows that Shanghai today is a time bomb that can explode at any time. If I take such a huge risk and go there, isn't that an attempt to harm me?

"Councilman Zhang, that's not true. In terms of seniority and reputation, you are far superior to me in the Northern Frontier lineage. In terms of strength, as the Governor-General of Zhili, you are in charge of the three provinces of the Central Plains. I think you are the most suitable candidate."

Zhang Chengxiang was not angry, but smiled slightly. His purpose of throwing the topic to Feng Changan first was to remove both himself and Feng Changan. Among the remaining candidates, the most suitable ones were Jiang Dapao and Duan Jinshu. As the president, Yang Jiakai had to consider the overall situation and could not act rashly. Duan Jinshu and the Zhang faction had always been at odds. If he was asked to talk, this kid Zhang Liye might make him collapse as soon as they met.

As for Jiang Dapao, he is a hot-tempered and reckless man. Letting him participate in such negotiations will only make things worse. In the end, Zhang Chengxiang will go with the flow and recommend Su Zhengyang, then everything will be reasonable.

"Councilman Feng, you are joking. When Zhang Liye made remarks about being close to the Southern Government, Premier Duan and I were determined to deal with it seriously. We didn't even give Zhang the slightest bit of face. If I had gone there, Zhang Liye would have exploded on the spot without even a discussion."

The other congressmen present were also cautious and did not dare to speak out easily. No one wanted to let this thankless and extremely dangerous task fall on them.