Hearing the sound, the commander turned around, saluted and said, "Sir, what are your instructions?"

However, as soon as his words were finished, a cold light flashed. The messenger felt a little cold in his neck, and then he saw blood spraying out from his arteries. (eng.com)

Feng Yuxiang rushed forward, covered the messenger's mouth and refused to let him call for help. When he died, he would not struggle anymore, and then he gently fell to the ground. Wu Peifu looked at everything in front of him in surprise, and he didn't even have time to speak, because Feng Yuxiang's movements were too fast, so fast that he didn't have time to react.

Feng Yuxiang clapped his hands and carefully wiped the blood on the short knife, and said, "Actually, it's not that I'm willing to come here in person, but this matter is very important. I have to personally convey the commander's order. The messenger recognized me, so he must die. I think it's no problem to deal with a corpse without leaving any traces with the status of Captain Wu in the army!"

Wu Peifu then reacted and nodded and said, "No problem, no problem."

"I am a naive face. If I stay for a long time, something will inevitably happen, so I left first. Commander Wu, remember the secret code, I will be back soon. Also, it is best not to let Cao Kun know the news that the commander said just now." Feng Yuxiang turned around and reminded Wu Peifu a few times.

Wu Peifu patted his chest and said, "Brother Feng, don't worry, I will definitely get this done."

"Okay, I'll leave first, there will be a date later!" Feng Yuxiang waved to Wu Peifu, and then disappeared from Wu Peifu's vision.

Wu Peifu was lost in the regiment headquarters for a moment. Soon, he ordered his two confidants to secretly get the body out and deal with it secretly.

After dealing with the body, Wu Peifu breathed a lot of relief in the regiment headquarters. What had just happened kept circling in his mind. He began to be glad that he had made a wise decision.

Since Feng Yuxiang was able to sneak into the army so easily, it means that there were many spies from the Southern Army hidden in the Beiyang New Army at this time, and even Cao Kun was surrounded by people from the Southern Army. Cao Kun's every move was under the surveillance of the Southern Army. Then it was easy for the Southern Army to assassinate Cao Kun, but the Southern Army was slow to move, so it must have had some intentions for Cao Kun.

Thinking of the words Feng Yuxiang whispered beside him just now, Wu Peifu seemed to have a reassurance. It seemed that Tang Jian did not want to kill all the tens of thousands of Beiyang New Army, but wanted to use them for him, otherwise he would have killed him long ago without having to go through so much trouble.

A few days later, the Southern Army's Marines began to land in Rudong with the support of the Beiyang Fleet's naval guns. Although Rudong was already guarded by several regiments of Cao Kun, under the strong firepower of the Marines, several regiments of Cao Kun often collapsed at once, and could not stop the Marines' heading straight into the slightest entry of only 3,000 troops.

In view of the fierce offensive of the Southern Marine Corps, Cao Kun was in chaos and hurriedly drew a large number of troops from Anhui to stop the Southern Army from advancing west. Even several direct main groups in Yangzhou were sent to Taizhou. Cao Kun prepared to fight the landing troops of the Southern Army in a manner as if facing a great enemy.

However, even so, the southern army of Jiangsu was still retreating step by step. Finally, Cao Kun decided to go to Tai'an to supervise the battle himself, and accompanied him with eight armored vehicles that he regarded as treasure.

On this day, Cao Kun was assembling troops, intending to stay in Yangzhou, and the other troops went to Taizhou with him.

Cao Kun sorted out documents in his command room. Seeing that Wu Peifu had not arrived yet, he asked the guards beside him: "I just asked you to notify Commander Wu Peifu to lead the guard battalion, why haven't you seen anyone yet? Have you notified him in person?"

Seeing Cao Kun's face was unhappy, the guard quickly explained: "Teacher Commander, I have notified Commander Wu in person. Commander Wu said that he was summoning the troops and would be here soon!"

"When I urge you, why are you still going to be too late? The military situation is so hot. I found that he is not in a hurry at all!" Cao Kun said dissatisfied.

"Yes, yes, division commander, I'll go now!" The guard nodded quickly and was about to go out to inform Wu Peifu. However, just as he was about to step out of the door, a voice came in: "Haha, division commander is looking for me, am I here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Peifu led two guards to Cao Kun's command center.

Cao Kun raised his head and said to Wu Peifu: "Hurry up, you must hurry to Taizhou. Those generals really don't dare to make people worry!"

"Huh? Is this your newly selected guard? Why do I look familiar?" When Cao Kun raised his head, he happened to see the two guards behind Cao Kun, and asked.

"Haha, Commander Cao, do you still recognize me?" Wu Peifu's right guard took off his military cap and said with a smile.

Cao Kun originally wanted to shout loudly about the guard's rude and boldness, but when he raised his head, he was stunned on the spot. After carefully looking at the guard, he was so scared that he took a few steps back and said in a lost voice: "You... are you... Tang Jian?"

Tang Jian smiled and said, "It seems that Master Cao is a nobleman who forgets so much. He won't remember me so soon?"

Cao Kun then woke up from his surprise and shouted loudly: "Come here! Came here!"

Tang Jian smiled slightly: "Master Cao doesn't have to waste his energy. Your command center is surrounded by mine, and no one will come to save you."

"You!" Cao Kun pointed at Tang Jian, then quickly took out Zilai from his waist. Then, Wang Jianchuan on Wu Peifu's left hand was faster, and instantly he had already pressed the black star on Cao Kun's temple.

The guard who was about to go out saw that his commander was being controlled, and quickly took out his gun. However, it was too late. The second before, Wu Peifu had already taken the initiative and pointed his gun at the guard.

When Cao Kun saw this situation, he understood what was going on after a moment. He glared and pointed at Wu Peifu and cursed: "Okay, Wu Peifu, I, Cao Kun, have always been good to you. Do you dare to conspire to the Southern Army to deal with me?"

Wu Peifu lowered his head in shame, then looked directly at Cao Kun and said, "Teacher Commander, the general trend is coming! Now the southern army is in a state of unstoppable power, and even the general has been defeated and died. If we continue to resist, wouldn't we joke about the lives of tens of thousands of Beiyang New Army soldiers?"

Just as Wu Peifu was speaking, a dozen Southern Army dressed in a dress of guards suddenly rushed in outside the door. Each of them held a spear and pointed it at Cao Kun. It was the lone wolf team member who disguised as ordinary soldiers of the Beiyang New Army.

Cao Kun said angrily: "Wu Peifu, it turns out that you have planned it. I'm telling me why the guard battalion around me has been replaced frequently recently. It turns out that spies from the Southern Army have already been involved in our army."

Wu Peifu did not deny it and said directly: "Yes, at this time, the command center is surrounded by people from the Southern Army, and there are also many officers in the army who have the same idea as me. They have all surrendered secretly with me."

Hearing this, Cao Kun knew that the situation was hopeless, and it was just a futile to say more, so he had to lower his head and said regretfully: "How sad, how painful!"

"Haha, Commander Cao doesn't have to be so discouraged. In fact, Commander Wu did this for the sake of the army. Does Commander Cao really think that it is up to the tens of thousands of Beiyang New Army to stop the pace of the 200,000 Southern Army unification of the country?" Tang Jian sneered.

Cao Kun knew that he would die today, and saying more was useless, so he sighed and said, "Forget it, forgot."

Tang Jian asked: "Ask a little more, what is the pursuit of Commander Cao joining the army?"

Cao Kun smiled miserably: "Super the country!"

"Self-serving the country?" Tang Jian sneered and continued: "This is the country you serve. Look at the governance of the Qing government, the great powers have robbed the pass and occupied a large area of ​​land. Countless people live in difficulties. Look at Yuan Shikai, who dominates the court, cuts the Northeast, betrays Outer Mongolia, and colludes with foreign enemies to deal with their own people. This is the country you serve?"

Cao Kun was speechless for a moment. He could not say anything to refute what Tang Jian said.

"So what? Do you think you can expel the great powers, the country is rich and the people are strong, and let the people live a good life?" Cao Kun blushed and asked back.

Tang Jian said sincerely: "I'm not sure I can do it, but I regard these as my lifelong ideals. I hope all Chinese people can work hard with me, including you, Commander Cao Kun and Master Cao!"

Cao Kun was stunned. After confirming that he had heard it correctly, he asked in disbelief: "Are you saying that if you don't kill me, you still want me to serve you?"

"Not bad!" Tang Jian nodded affirmatively, "This is why I came here in person. I think this is enough to express my sincerity."

Cao Kun's face was gloomy and calm, and at the same time, what Tang Jian said just now flashed in his mind, "I'm not sure if I can do it, but I have regarded these as my lifelong ideals. I hope all Chinese people can fight for it with me, including you, Commander Cao, Master Cao!"

Tang Jian's words touched the softest part of Cao Kun's heart. He clearly remembered the first, the Second Opium War, the Sino-French War, and the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 that he was deeply ashamed of. After each war, either he signed countless unequal treaties with the great powers or seized land, the lives of the Qing people became more and more difficult.

Hearing Tang Jian's words, he was deeply moved. After so many years of following Yuan Shikai, Cao Kun's heart has never caused such a big wave like today.

For a moment, Cao Kun was stunned, and countless thoughts emerged in his heart in an instant.

Tang Jian felt that he had said almost everything, so he asked, "How is it? Commander Cao? Have you made a decision?"

Cao Kun was pulled back from his deep memory by Tang Jian. Cao Kun was not a fool. He also explained the recent abnormal actions of the Southern Army at this moment. It turned out that Tang Jian had not attacked him for a long time because he hoped that he could serve him, and at the same time, he also gave the tens of thousands of Beiyang New Army a chance to make a new choice.

After thinking about it, Cao Kun suddenly knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and said like an oath: "Cao Kun is willing to work with the commander to fight for this great ideal.
Chapter completed!