A Love Never Lost Episode 36 Recap
> A Love Never Lost Recap
Although Liang Xiang acted indifferent about Yang Kaizhi and Xie Shuhong’s relationship, he couldn't help bringing it up during the military train ride. Once the strategic directives approved by the imperial edict were delivered, the conversation shifted to official matters. News of the Wuchang New Army's mutiny reached Beijing. Zhang Biao, the commander of the Eighth Town, sent a telegram seeking instructions on suppressing the rebellion.
Zai Tao was awakened from his sleep with news of armed unrest in Wuchang and hurriedly informed Zai Feng. On the 19th day of the eighth month in the third year of Xuantong, Xiong Bingkun and others from the Eighth Engineering Battalion of the Hubei New Army fired the first shots, seizing the Chuwangtai Armory and the Governor’s Office in Huguang, marking the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution—historically known as the Wuchang Uprising.
The Wuchang New Army stormed into the deputy commander’s residence with torches, dragged Li Yuanhong from under his bed, and forced him to be the governor of the revolutionary army. Amid flames, the revolutionaries occupied the provincial treasury, seizing all the silver reserves for the revolution. Before the Yongping autumn exercises began, Liang Xiang received an imperial edict to cancel them. All participating units were to return to their original stations immediately and await further orders.
On the 22nd day of the eighth month in the third year of Xuantong, the court dispatched part of the exercise troops to march south at once to attack the Wuchang revolutionary army. Hanyang housed the largest arsenal, and the Wuchang armory had ample weapons and ammunition—enough for the rebels to expand into five divisions within three days. To quell the Wuchang rebellion, the only viable solution was to send the Beiyang Army’s main force—there was no alternative.
At that time, the cabinet ministers were discussing who should lead the southern expedition. King Qing nominated Yuan Shikai for reinstatement. Liang Xiang had already sent a telegram, volunteering to lead the army south himself, though the chance of being appointed was slim. Therefore, he urged Zai Tao to relay a message to the Prince Regent that Yuan Shikai must not be reinstated.
For the Sixth Town, Liang Xiang and Prince Zai Tao could only rely on Yang Kaizhi—no one else was trustworthy. If Yuan Shikai returned, Wu the deputy commander and Li Renjun would surely side with him, making the situation uncontrollable for Yang Kaizhi. Even so, Yang Kaizhi’s heart was already with the revolution. Privately, he had Gu Maichen reach out to Wuhan, ready to ally the Sixth Town with the revolutionary army at any moment.
Yang Kaizhi wired a request to personally lead the Eleventh Division to the Wuchang front. Master Yinchang replied: the Eleventh Division should load up on-site and head to Kaifeng, Henan, to report to the Second Army. As for Yang Kaizhi’s request—it was denied. If he insisted on going to the Wuchang front, he could report to the command post. Yang Kaizhi expressed dissatisfaction to Li Renjun, questioning why the higher-ups always tried to separate a town’s commander from his troops.
Yinchang still did not trust Yang Kaizhi and reminded Liang Xiang to be wary of him. Sending Yang Kaizhi to Wuchang with troops would be like letting a turtle back into the sea. Xie Shuhong returned to the Qin Pavilion of Vice President Song in Shanghai. From Song Chen, she learned that the Chamber of Commerce had decided to arm themselves in response to the plan to restore Shanghai.
The Twentieth Town and the Second Mixed Division, participants in the autumn exercises, refused the court’s orders and jointly rose in rebellion in Luan County, Hebei. As they hadn’t yet resorted to violence, Liang Xiang, on behalf of Zai Tao, ordered that the relatives of Zhang Shaozeng and Lan Tianwei in Beijing be treated well—otherwise, they might truly rebel.
Zai Tao failed to grasp the situation, but Liang Xiang sternly analyzed that the Beiyang Army’s main force had shown a level of passivity inconsistent with their strength. This could only mean they were waiting for Yuan Shikai to become the new commander-in-chief. The next moment, Zai Tao received a phone call. The court had issued a decree reinstating Yuan Shikai as Governor of Huguang. Liang Xiang rushed to see Zai Feng, but even the prince was helpless.
Liang Xiang shifted the topic to the Wuchang rebellion. At this point, the three towns of Wuhan were the largest leverage between the Qing court and the revolutionaries.
