"Don't tell anyone about this matter!" Zhang Zuolin said to Wang Yongjiang after sending away the Japanese consul.

"Yes! Marshal!" Wang Yongjiang answered hurriedly. But after a pause, Wang Yongjiang couldn't help but ask, "Marshal, are the Japanese just trying to scare us?"

Zhang Zuolin did not speak. He truly hoped the Japanese were just trying to scare him. But given the Japanese posture, Zhang Zuolin clearly felt it wasn't just a bluff. In late September, the Northeast could hardly be considered hot, yet Zhang Zuolin felt his back becoming sticky—it was cold sweat from fear. This sensation greatly stimulated Zhang Zuolin's pride. He turned his head and cursed at Wang Yongjiang, "Damn it all! So what if the Japanese come? At worst, I'll fight them to the death!"

Although the content of his words sounded tragic and heroic, the tone was more akin to despair. Zhang Zuolin had come from a humble background and had struggled hard to climb to his current position. He hadn't even warmed the seat of the Fengtian Military Governor for a few days before facing such a desperate situation. A wave of grievance suddenly welled up in Zhang Zuolin's heart. "Who the hell did I provoke?"

No one in the entire Northeast was unafraid of the Japanese. The Japanese made no attempt to hide their actions this time. Not only did they send someone to contact Zhang Zuolin, but Japanese people all over the Northeast were also vigorously greeting prominent figures, demanding that the Northeast accept the requirements of the Sun Yat-sen government.

When Zhang Zuolin held a meeting again, the civil and military officials of the Northeast were initially silent. Tang Yulin, who originally had the loudest voice and had mocked Sun Yat-sen not long ago, tremblingly put forward a view, "Marshal, how about we fool the Japanese first and pretend to recognize that little bastard Sun Yat-sen?"

The Northeast civil and military officials dared not utter a sound. No one dared to oppose it, but no one dared to support it either.

What Zhang Zuolin detested most right now was someone making such a request. Zhang Zuolin knew the insatiable nature of the Japanese better than anyone. If Sun Yat-sen were invited in, the Japanese would absolutely not stop there. Zhang Zuolin did not get angry, but asked in a calm tone, "After we fool the Japanese, what do we do next?"

Hearing this, Tang Yulin thought he had persuaded Zhang Zuolin, so he hurriedly continued, "We can just put Sun Yat-sen in the city, give him good food and drink, and put him under house arrest. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Zhang Zuolin had originally thought Tang Yulin might have some brilliant idea. After hearing this, he really couldn't hold it back and actually laughed out loud. Hearing this, some of the others felt it made sense, while others frowned.

Zhang Zuolin said angrily, "Yulin! Do you think Japan only wants this Sun Yat-sen to be the president? Without Sun Zhongshan [Sun Yat-sen], they will find a Sun Xishan; without Sun Xishan, they will find a Sun Nanshan. The Japanese want to fight their way into the Northeast now. If Japan could stay out of the Northeast, never mind giving Sun Yat-sen good food and drink, what would it matter even if I made offerings to him like a god?!"

Seeing that none of the others dared to suggest any way to deal with the Japanese invasion, Zhang Zuoxiang couldn't help but say, "Marshal! If we can't hold them off, maybe we should go back to Liaoxi first? At least that's our old turf, the Japanese can't touch us there!"

Zhang Zuolin looked at Zhang Zuoxiang, then glanced at the Northeast civil and military officials shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, and finally said helplessly, "Brother Zuoxiang, what good would it do even if we retreated to Liaoxi? These troops are now holding on relying on their military pay. Many of them feel they have a home and a career now; who would be willing to go back to Liaoxi to suffer? Once we retreat, the Japanese can recruit a large number of people under the banner of Sun Yat-sen. At that time, we will really be finished!"

Hearing these words, the officials of the Northeast felt as if they had been lashed by a whip. Wang Yongjiang quickly stood up and said, "Marshal! I was promoted by you single-handedly. I will absolutely serve the Marshal with all my heart and soul!"

With Wang Yongjiang taking the lead, the Northeast officials immediately pledged their loyalty to Zhang Zuolin one after another. Zhang Zuolin could see that some people's loyalty was sincere, but a considerable number of people were wavering after learning the news that the Japanese were determined to fight their way in. Of course, there were also some who were not originally from Zhang Zuolin's faction, but had simply become his subordinates in this changing era. Whether they swore allegiance or not was completely meaningless.

However, meaningful or not, this act of cohesion had to be performed. The Northeast was now under attack from two sides. The People's Party was eyeing them covetously from the south, and Japan had simply stated its intentions bluntly. They couldn't win a fight right now, so they could only submit. But Zhang Zuolin had to find a way out for himself, moving money back to his hometown and evacuating his wife and children. Zhang Zuolin himself was also determining the retreat route in case something went wrong.

On September 28, 1915, the Japanese consul was indeed punctual. Three days after the agreement, the Japanese consul visited again as expected. "Mr. Zhang, how have you considered the matter?"

Zhang Zuolin gave a chuckle. "Naturally, we wouldn't distrust our Japanese friends. However, what needs to be done still needs to be done. You have to let me see this Mr. Sun first. If it really is Mr. Sun, we aren't saying we completely disagree with Mr. Sun becoming the Grand President."

The Japanese consul smiled insincerely and said, "Of course you can see Mr. Sun. However, since we support Mr. Sun, naturally we must protect Mr. Sun's safety. As guards, we will dispatch two divisions to escort Mr. Sun to Fengtian. Since Mr. Zhang understands righteousness, please give your assistance regarding passage!"

Hearing Japan's request, Zhang Zuolin could finally no longer smile. Two divisions of Japanese troops entering Fengtian—that was no longer about escorting Sun Yat-sen, but about seizing power. The cards were completely on the table now, and there was no need for Zhang Zuolin to play dumb. He sneered, "There are some things regarding which I feel everyone had better not joke."

The Japanese consul said solemnly, "We are sincerely supporting President Sun Zhongshan's government to restore its status in China. We are absolutely not joking about this matter. Since Mr. Zhang has already agreed to obey the new government just now, why not show some sincerity? I can say that Mr. Sun has already made it clear that he will absolutely not shift Mr. Zhang's official position. Mr. Sun is deeply righteous on this point."

These comforting words sounded like complete bullshit to Zhang Zuolin. He had gone through so much deception and intrigue to seize his current position. Everyone always spoke beautifully at the beginning, but when it came to action, they would never stop until they had played people to death. When Zhang Zuolin had just become a Commander (Regiment Commander), in order to destroy his old rival Du Lisan, Zhang Zuolin used the method of fake recruitment and offering official posts. After inducing him in many ways, he finally caught Du Lisan and executed him by firing squad.

If the Japanese hadn't made promises of official positions, Zhang Zuolin might have thought the Japanese just wanted to march into the Northeast and drive him out of Fengtian. Hearing these words, Zhang Zuolin only felt a greater danger. When the Japanese tried to stabilize him, it was likely they were about to stab him in the back.

At this point, Zhang Zuolin instead put on an expression of resignation. "If that's the case, then I will await Grand President Sun in Fengtian." After discussing the specific details of the military handover, Zhang Zuolin saw off the Japanese consul.

Once the person was gone, Zhang Zuolin immediately sent someone to find Zhang Zuoxiang. "Brother, what you said last time was right. We can only take the troops and hurry back to Liaoxi. The sooner the better!"

Zhang Zuoxiang was instead startled by Zhang Zuolin's words. "Brother, what's wrong?"

"The current situation is not right. If we continue to resist the Japanese here, we will definitely die without a burial place. It's better to just yield Fengtian to the Japanese. The Japanese not only want to hit us now, but I see their intention is also to fight for this territory of the Northeast against the People's Party. If we yield Fengtian, just let the two of them fight it out."

Zhang Zuoxiang had followed Zhang Zuolin through life and death, so he was naturally very clear about the risks involved. Without waiting for further instructions from Zhang Zuolin, he said, "I will transfer our reliable troops to Liaoxi first, and I'll hurry up and mobilize the other troops."

After finishing the discussion with Zhang Zuolin, Zhang Zuoxiang hurriedly went out.

Zhang Zuolin immediately ordered his household to pack up their things quickly and prepare to retreat.

Antiques, calligraphy, paintings, gold and silver—he couldn't care about sorting them anymore, stuffing them directly into various boxes. However, just as they had started packing a little, gunshots suddenly rang out outside. Zhang Zuolin shivered, and a moment later, the gunshots became more and more dense. After another while, Wang Yongjiang rushed into Zhang Zuolin's home, burning with anxiety. "Marshal! The people from Mantetsu in the city are coordinating from inside and outside, and have started to seize the city gates! The brothers can't hold them off now! Marshal, make a decision quickly!"

"Where is Tang Yulin? Isn't he in charge of secret agents!" Zhang Zuolin asked sternly. The Japanese action was so hasty that Zhang Zuolin had surprisingly not detected it at all beforehand.

"Haven't seen him!" Wang Yongjiang answered anxiously.

"I fuck his grandmother!" Zhang Zuolin shouted loudly.

"Marshal, let's hurry up and deploy troops to fight the Japanese!" Wang Yongjiang quickly reminded.

"Fight what fight! Hurry up and *che hu* [run for it]! Let's get out first!" In his desperation, Zhang Zuolin even shouted out the slang from his days as a bandit.