Black Flag Army

Chapter 182 Director Zhang’s Warning

Di Xiong took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I think this marriage can't be delayed any further, especially for Yang Lushuang. She is already 28 years old. If she doesn't get married, she will probably attract strange looks from others. And I am also 28 years old, and I am already the father of three children. So, what do you think about your marriage?"

Hearing Di Xiong's words, Yang Lushuang's cheeks instantly flushed. She lowered her head and replied softly: "I lost my parents when I was young and had no one to rely on. Since I came to Bei Tang, I have relied on your care and concern. Regarding this matter, I will naturally follow your arrangements." After she finished speaking, a hint of shyness and expectation revealed in her eyes.

When Di Chun saw Di Xiong looking at him, he quickly said, "Of course I have no objection, I just need to tell my parents. They will definitely agree, because they have said before that the marriage is entirely up to me."

Di Xiong said to Huo Qingtong, "They are a pair now. What about you? You are already 27 years old. No one has ever pursued you, right? Is there any hope for Liu Zhennan?"

Huo Qingtong said seriously, "There is no possibility between Liu Zhennan and me. He likes Le Hongmei from the Propaganda Department, and they have been together for a long time. In fact, there were people who pursued me, but I rejected them all because I really looked down on them."

After hearing this, Di Xiong advised, "Women shouldn't have such high expectations of men, especially when you are already 27 years old. The population of Beihai Province is increasing, and young and beautiful girls are emerging like mushrooms after rain. Naturally, your suitors will have a wider range of choices."

Huo Qingtong said: "Thank you for reminding me, boss. I know what's going on. You worry about so many national affairs every day, but you still care about the marriage of an ordinary guard like me. I am really touched."

Di Xiong felt sorry for Liu Zhennan. He ignored his fellow sister Huo Qingtong and instead fell in love with Le Hongmei, an actress who had been occupied by several warlords. Le Hongmei's charm was extremely strong!

After returning to the office, Di Chun and Huo Qingtong walked straight to the guard room, while Yang Lushuang, who also served as the secretary, followed closely behind Di Xiong and said in a low voice: "In fact, Huo Qingtong has always loved Liu Zhendong, but unfortunately, Liu Zhendong has already married Katyusha, so she is destined to have no chance of this relationship."

Di Xiong couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and said with emotion: "To be honest, most people's first love is often just a one-sided lovesickness. It is actually very rare for two lovers who are in love with each other to get married. Things like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water are really a common situation."

At this time Tian Mengxue came to report that Zhang Shaozeng, the training director of the Beiyang government's Army Department, had arrived and had already arrived at the Beitang City Airport by plane. Upon hearing this, Di Xiong hurried out to greet him. As soon as he left the Justice Party building and before he got into the car, Zhang Shaozeng and his party had already arrived.

Di Xiong said with surprise, "Director Zhang, you came so quickly! I was going to meet you at the airport."

Zhang Shaozeng looked at the other person coldly without a smile on his face, and said stiffly: "General Di is very busy, and I am just an insignificant idler in the Army Department. How can I be qualified to ask you to come and greet me in person?" There was a hint of sarcasm and dissatisfaction in his words, as if he did not appreciate the behavior of General Di. After speaking, Zhang Shaozeng frowned slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned down, showing his inner displeasure.

When Di Xiong heard that the tone was wrong, Zhang Shaozeng no longer called him "Brother Di". It seemed that his attitude had changed a lot.

After entering the reception room, Di Xiong knew that Zhang Shaozeng must have important business here, so he asked his secretary and guards to leave. Zhang Shaozeng also asked his entourage to wait outside the door.

Zhang Shaozeng took out a newly published copy of the Beijing News with a serious face, spread it out on the table, pointed at the huge headline on the front page of the newspaper, stared at Di Xiong sharply, and asked in a cold tone: "Did you really instruct your men to do these two things?"

Di Xiong looked carefully and saw the shocking headline on the front page of "Beijing News": "General Zhang's entire family was killed, and four members of parliament were killed at the same time!"

Facing Zhang Shaozeng's questioning, Di Xiong was unusually calm and frank. He raised his mouth slightly, revealing a disdainful smile, and answered righteously: "Yes, it was my people who did it. Zhang Jingyao was a man full of evil. During his tenure, he oppressed the people and committed all kinds of evil. His hands were stained with the blood of countless innocent people in Hunan. And the four so-called pro-Japanese members of parliament gave speeches in parliament several times, maliciously slandering our Justice Party. They must have accepted bribes from the Japanese for such behavior. What's the point of keeping such national scum? I am just eliminating harm for the people and killing one to warn the hundred!"

Zhang Shaozeng said: "I'm not saying that you are wrong to kill, but do you understand the dangerous situation of the three northern provinces? In the east, Beiling Province is attacked by Zhang Yuting's Fengjun and the White Guard Army from the north and south. The Japanese have equipped the two armies with a large number of aircraft and military advisers, and also provided food, weapons and ammunition. At present, your Black Flag Army is struggling to support; in the west, the Suiye City area of ​​Beiting Province is being attacked by the Indian and Afghan troops commanded by the British. Although the combat effectiveness of these indigenous troops is very poor, the British Air Force has dispatched a large number of aircraft to assist in the battle, tying down a large number of air forces stationed in Beiting Province. In the Kazakh steppe, the commander of the southern White Guard Army of the Tsarist Russia, Deng Nijin, has personally led 100,000 troops to the outside of Tingzhou City. Deng Nijin is not willing to lose the Balkhash Lake area. Once the attack is launched, it will be another bloody battle. How many troops are there under the command of Wu Chunlei, the acting governor of Beiting Province? You should be very clear that most of your troops and all air forces in Beihai Province have gone to support these two provinces, right? If the Beiyang government launches another five-province encirclement and suppression of Beihai Province at this time, what can you use to resist?"

Di Xiong said, "The Director means that I shouldn't have killed Zhang Jingyao and the four councillors on impulse?"

Zhang Shaozeng said solemnly: "It is not wise to take action now! You can wait for a better time. It will not be too late to act after the three northern provinces have completely gained a firm foothold and their territory is secure! As the saying goes, 'impatience will ruin great plans'. Only those who can endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens are saints!" His voice was low and powerful, as if it contained endless wisdom and experience.

Di Xiong said seriously: "If you choose to be patient when you shouldn't be patient, you will only make yourself a useless person. You also said that knowing when to be patient is the realm of a saint, but I am just an ordinary person, how can I reach that height? All I know is that upholding justice and eradicating evil is the meaning and purpose of the Justice Party's existence! If you can't even do this, then how can you have the face to be the leader of the Justice Party?" His voice was sonorous and powerful, as if every word carried a heavy weight.

Zhang Shaozeng said, "I remember that you are a democratic person. Did you discuss this matter with the Justice Party's top leaders beforehand? Did no one object?"

Di Xiong said: "It was discussed at the top level. Wu Zhong expressed his opposition, but most people agreed."

Zhang Shaozeng sighed deeply, and said earnestly: "Most of the senior leaders of your Justice Party are too young and energetic. It is rare to find someone as experienced and steady as Governor Wu! After all, you have developed so rapidly, and naturally you have lacked a lot of experience in setbacks and the bitter fruits of failure. Do you really think that just because you have regained the lost territory in the north and become the so-called national heroes, you can be invincible and victorious? Don't forget the simple and easy-to-understand truth that 'arrogant soldiers will be defeated'! You know, in the long history of China, how many times have we been strong for a time and successfully recovered the northern territory, but unfortunately lost it in the end. These profound historical lessons, don't you know anything about them?" There was a trace of helplessness and worry in his words.

Di Xiong said, "Director Zhang means that if there is another five-province encirclement and suppression, we will definitely fail?"

Zhang Shaozeng said seriously: "I really don't want to see that you have learned a painful lesson because of a wrong decision, and paid a heavy price of losing the three northern provinces! This is not only a failure of your Justice Party, but also a burden that the country and the entire nation cannot bear! Every piece of land was fought for by those martyrs with their lives, how can we give up easily? If this is the case, how can we face the more than 50,000 heroes?" His voice was sonorous and powerful, full of firmness and determination.

Di Xiong said, "It's already been done, there's no point in regretting it. I wonder if Director Zhang has any good suggestions to make up for it?"

Zhang Shaozeng said with a serious face: "First of all, you must never admit that these two cases have anything to do with you! You must let the propaganda department and newspapers unify the external statements and put all the blame on other warlords or gangs. Anyway, those guys have always done this kind of dirty work. Take Qi Xieyuan, the former Jiangsu Military Affairs Supervisor, for example. In order to usurp the post of Jiangsu Governor, he actually used such despicable means - he bribed the guard of Governor Li Chun and brutally assassinated Li Chun! Then, in the name of revenge for Li Chun, he ruthlessly executed the guard to eliminate future troubles, and finally got his wish and became the governor. Not only that, he also fabricated an unbearable love affair, saying that Li Chun's concubine had an affair and conspired with her lover to kill her husband. Humph, it's really shameless! So, you can completely follow his example and fabricate some so-called "evidence" to slander other warlords."

Di Xiong smiled and said, "That's a good idea. I'll let the intelligence department do it. I didn't expect Director Zhang to know how to make a fake look real."

Zhang Shaozeng said: "Secondly, the Beiyang government in Beijing is in financial difficulties. You can pay a portion of the money and grain to the Beiyang government in the name of paying taxes, which will shut some people up. Although the White Guards of Tsarist Russia have weakened, the army of the Bolsheviks has become unprecedentedly powerful. I heard that there are more than one million troops. You have signed a secret agreement with the Bolsheviks to send them large quantities of food, liquor, and salt every month. This is a good practice. You can attack one faction and pull another. But some people in the Beiyang government do not understand your difficulties. Empress Dowager Cixi once said: I would rather give gifts to friendly countries than to my slaves. Now some people have put this eight-character crime on your head. If you send some money and grain to the Beiyang government and let the newspapers publicize it more, they will have no reason to attack you."

Di Xiong sighed heavily, his face full of helplessness and indignation: "They are so heartless and ungrateful. Not only did they dismiss us from our posts, they also slandered us as gangsters! And now, they are even asking me to deliver money and food to them? How could the top leaders of our Justice Party agree to such an unreasonable request? Director Zhang is clearly deliberately making things difficult for me!"

There was a hint of despair in his voice, as if he felt powerless to change the predicament before him. However, deep in his heart, Di Xiong still firmly believed that justice would eventually triumph over evil, and he was determined to seek justice for himself and his companions.

Faced with this difficult choice, Di Xiong knew that he could not give in easily. He must stick to his principles and defend the dignity and honor of the Justice Party.

Zhang Shaozeng said firmly: "Leave this matter to me! I will persuade President Xu to restore your positions. At the same time, you will also need to spend some money to bribe some officials and congressmen. You know, your intelligence chief Yin Quan is quite good at this!"

Then, he changed the subject and continued his analysis, "The current situation is very tense, and the struggle between the Anhui clique and the Zhili clique is extremely fierce. The Anhui clique is now at a disadvantage, and they regard the Zhili clique as their number one enemy, and have no time to deal with you. Although Feng Huafu, the leader of the Zhili clique, is seriously ill, he is still able to maintain peace. However, if he unfortunately passes away one day, then a fierce conflict will inevitably break out between the Zhili and Anhui factions, and then you will no longer have to worry about pressure from the country."

Di Xiong said with emotion: "Okay! Then do as Director Zhang said! In order to defend the three northern provinces, Director Zhang did not fear the long journey and took the trouble to come here in person. I am grateful for this and will never forget it! Director Zhang is devoted to the country and does not care about his own interests. Such loyalty is enough to move the heaven and earth! It's a pity that the rulers of the Beiyang government are really blind and let such a smart and wise talent like you take up an idle position without any real power. It's simply a waste of talent! If Director Zhang is willing to condescend to come to our Beihai, I will definitely hand over this important position of governor to you! Even if I have to give up my position as the commander-in-chief of the Black Flag Army, I am willing to do it!"

Zhang Shaozeng said with a smile, "Brother Di thinks too highly of me. I don't have any military achievements, so how can I be the commander-in-chief of the Black Flag Army? You have spent seven years of blood and sweat, and even risked your life to get that position. Your subordinates are loyal to you, and whoever dares to take your position will fight to the death. If I really come to Beihai Province in the future, I will be satisfied to be a consultant."