Everyone in the council hall, including Adjutant Liu who was standing, knew which "one" Zhang Xiluan felt was "capable of assuming heavy responsibility." But no one made a sound. For a moment, the council hall was so quiet it seemed as if no one existed.

Adjutant Liu wasn't anxious. He found a chair and sat down. In the past, he would have had to stand. But Zhang Xiluan was about to leave Fengtian, so Adjutant Liu naturally didn't need to act cautiously anymore. Even sitting down didn't matter.

As for whether He Rui could secure support, Adjutant Liu wasn't worried.

Since accompanying He Rui to the Japanese Kwantung Governor-General's Office, Adjutant Liu knew He Rui was quite capable. This time, He Rui brought a large amount of silver dollars to Fengtian, gaining the support of the 27th Division, and giving mobilization fees to the 28th Division. He also gave 30,000 silver dollars each to the three people in the council hall who held the military power of the three divisions outside the pass. This gave Adjutant Liu more confidence in He Rui.

The only one here who didn't receive money was Heilongjiang Governor Zhu Qinglan, but that didn't matter anymore.

These past few days, when Adjutant Liu helped introduce He Rui to visit the three figures wielding military power, Heilongjiang Provincial Army Commander Xu Lanzhou asked directly about Zhu Qinglan returning to Heilongjiang before accepting the money. He Rui laughed: "Heilongjiang can only be reassuring with Commander Xu sitting in command."

Zhu Qinglan was now kept in Fengtian, powerless. It was already extremely benevolent of He Rui not to throw Zhu Qinglan into jail.

Although no one in the council hall made a sound, Adjutant Liu waited patiently. A person who had silver dollars and knew how to use them, as long as he still had nearly ten thousand troops in his hands, could suppress the situation. What Zhang Xiluan did was just go with the flow and give He Rui a chance.

It was 28th Division Commander Feng Linge who broke the silence. He asked somewhat sullenly, "I wonder who the Marshal thinks is capable of assuming heavy responsibility?"

It was evident that Feng Linge still had some expectation that Zhang Xiluan could change his mind.

Zhang Xiluan pointed at He Rui. "I think Brother He Rui can assume the heavy responsibility. I wonder what you all think?"

Except for Zhu Qinglan, the other three had accepted He Rui's money, and Zhang Xiluan had already made a decision. The three knew they had no chance right now. Jilin Governor Meng Enyuan calculated in his heart that He Rui being in Siping actually counted as Meng Enyuan's subordinate.

The one who sent He Rui outside the pass was Duan Qirui, but Duan Qirui had resigned now, so it was impossible to clarify how deep the relationship between He Rui and Duan Qirui was.

But these weren't problems; endure He Rui for at most half a year. Given the chaos of the current situation, Meng Enyuan believed there would definitely be changes within half a year. It wouldn't be too late to think of a way then.

Heilongjiang Provincial Army Commander Xu Lanzhou's thoughts were simpler. As long as He Rui watched Zhu Qinglan, after the exercise ended, it would be time for Xu Lanzhou to return to Harbin and take charge. Jilin still separated Heilongjiang and Liaoning; whether He Rui could sit firmly in Fengtian wasn't for Heilongjiang to say. Since He Rui was sensible and knew to use enough money, let He Rui and Zhang Xiluan deal with the matters between He Rui and the Beiyang central government.

28th Division Commander Feng Linge had the most complex mood. If possible, Feng Linge wanted to jump up and object. But with the situation as it was, Zhang Xiluan had clearly made a decision, and two regiments of the 28th Division had already gone to Heilongjiang to rotate garrisons on Zhang Xiluan's orders after taking He Rui's mobilization fees. This really wasn't the opportunity to object.

He Rui fully understood the thoughts of these three people, knowing they wanted to stall and wait for changes. And what He Rui needed most right now was precisely time.

Just one month, at most two months. With the number of cadres trained in Siping, they could probably complete land reform in the areas surrounding the railway line from Fengtian to Changchun. At that time, spring plowing would just be starting, and land reform wouldn't delay continuing to deepen cadre training in new areas and militia construction.

Even now, He Rui could deal with them with the three regiments of 7,500 troops he already possessed, but He Rui didn't want to pay a high price. In at most two months, relying on the Fengtian munitions provided by Zhang Xiluan, He Rui's troop numbers could reach twenty thousand. At that time, what the three provincial governors thought would be completely unimportant.

The most important thing right now was to obtain the formal title first, not to really make the three figures holding military power truly support him. Zhang Xiluan happened to be able to provide such an opportunity.

Finally, it was Zhang Xiluan who broke the silence. He asked, "I wonder what you think of the candidate recommended by this Marshal?"

Xu Lanzhou glared fiercely at Heilongjiang Governor Zhu Qinglan and said loudly, "Since it is the candidate recommended by the Marshal, it is naturally good."

Jilin Governor Meng Enyuan and 28th Division Commander Feng Linge expressed approval reluctantly.

Zhang Xiluan laughed. "Since that's the case, this Marshal will send a telegram to the central government."

On March 12, Yuan Shikai received Zhang Xiluan's telegram. In the telegram, Zhang Xiluan clearly stated that he wanted to retire and return home. For the position of Fengtian Governor, he recommended Siping Governor He Rui to take over. And He Rui would control the military affairs of Jilin and Heilongjiang.

Yuan Shikai finished reading and snorted with disgust. He called someone to summon Duan Zhigui.

The next day, March 13. Jilin Governor Meng Enyuan and Heilongjiang Governor Zhu Qinglan sent a joint telegram supporting Zhang Xiluan's recommendation of He Rui to take over as Liaoning Governor.

This compelled Yuan Shikai to suspend the plan to send Duan Zhigui to Fengtian. It even made Yuan Shikai have to temporarily put aside his attention to the war provoked by Cai E and consider what this change meant.

To be honest, Yuan Shikai didn't think at all initially that Zhang Xiluan really wanted to retire and return home. Instead, he thought Zhang Xiluan was making a tactical retreat to advance, blocking the road for Duan Zhigui to go to Fengtian to take over as Liaoning Governor first.

But after discussing it, they couldn't come up with a result. Finally, Yuan Shikai could only send someone to Fengtian. After much consideration, Yuan Shikai picked a person. "Yang Du, go to Fengtian to see Zhang Xiluan and He Rui."

On March 14, before Yang Du set off, He Rui sent a telegram to Yuan Shikai. *"...This subordinate has meager talent and shallow learning, and should not have taken charge of Fengtian. It is just that Lord Zhang is about to retire and return home; this subordinate has to reluctantly accept the difficult task of temporarily acting in the post of Fengtian Governor, stabilizing the Fengtian situation, and waiting for instructions from the central government..."*

Yuan Shikai put down the telegram and laughed instead of getting angry. However, the guards around him didn't dare to breathe loudly, just standing with hands down in attendance. Because when Yuan Shikai laughed like this, it wasn't because he was happy.

But this time, Yuan Shikai couldn't be said to be happy or unhappy. At this moment, Yuan Shikai only felt desolation in his heart; the smile was mostly self-mockery.

The world had really changed. Just yesterday, Feng Guozhang, one of the Dragon, Tiger, and Dog of Beiyang, actually sent a telegram asking Yuan Shikai to restore the Republic.

Feng Guozhang being called "Dog" wasn't someone cursing him, but referred to Feng Guozhang being loyal to Yuan Shikai. Now that Beiyang's loyal dog Feng Guozhang did this, what did it matter if a He Rui dared to ignore the Beiyang central government's order and take over the position of Liaoning Governor without authorization?

However, Yuan Shikai didn't let himself indulge in grief and indignation. He had seen too many storms and waves over so many years. Zhang Xiluan handing over the position to a fledgling youth amidst chaos—such magnanimity actually roused Yuan Shikai's spirit. Zhang Xiluan dared to be like this at 73; Yuan Shikai was 16 years younger than Zhang Xiluan!

Mentioning nothing more about affairs outside the pass, Yuan Shikai ordered, "Send a telegram to Feng Guozhang. Cai E and his ilk are capricious people. They swore allegiance pretentiously in the capital, then started a rebellion upon returning to Yunnan. Such villains are not to be feared. As long as the officers and soldiers on the front line fight hard, the destruction of Cai E and his ilk is right before our eyes! Specifically confer Feng Yuxiang as Baron of the Third Class; specifically grant Zhao Xiling the hereditary rank of Commandant of Light Chariots of the First Class; specifically grant Meng Zhenyuan the hereditary rank of Commandant of Light Chariots of the Third Class."

Yang Du beside him hesitated to speak. Promoting Feng Guozhang's subordinates was just to give Feng Guozhang confidence to keep fighting. But historically, granting titles and promotions at this time was often of no avail. This First Year of Hongxian, I'm afraid, really couldn't be passed.