Wu Peifu and Feng Yuxiang are both the backbone of the direct warlords, but the relationship is like water and fire. Feng Yuxiang was initially attached to Yuan Shikai, who had been the main force of the Anhui warlords, and because of his grudge with Duan Qirui's "military master" Xu Shuzheng, he left Duan Qirui in a rage and threw himself into the name of the warlord Cao Kun. But Wu Peifu has always been hostile to him and tried to exclude him, first, because he felt that he was not loyal enough, and second, because he was afraid that he would steal his limelight.
In the first "Zhifeng War", Feng Yuxiang made the first contribution, and was pleased that Cao Kun condescended to worship, and even boasted: "The great victory in this battle depends on the general!" He also appointed Feng Yuxiang as the overseer of Henan. Wu Peifu was unhappy, but he was powerless to obstruct, so he promoted his close associate Bao Dequan to "Henan Military Deputy", which was actually a spy who supervised Feng Yuxiang.
For Wu Peifu's little trick, Feng Yuxiang already knew it, so Bao Dequan was shot by Feng Yuxiang within a few days of taking office. Wu Peifu strictly ordered the matter to be investigated, but Feng Yuxiang said lightly in the reply: "He was killed by the rebel army on the way to office, and it has nothing to do with me." Angry, Wu Peifu smashed the purple sand pot that was usually regarded as a treasure, and vowed to "dispose" of Feng Yuxiang.
When Feng Yuxiang officially took office, he found that all the key positions in the Overseer Were inserted by Wu Peifu as "his own people", leaving him with only a vacancy as secretary general. Feng Yuxiang scolded: "Wu Peifu has sinister intentions, this is to put me under house arrest, so what else am I doing!" So he forcefully drove away the group of people and re-made personnel arrangements, although Wu Peifu could not do anything to him, but the hatred became more and more deep.
In the early summer of 1923, coinciding with Wu Peifu's fiftieth birthday, the flowers in Luoyang City were full of flowers and lights, and warlords from all over the world came to congratulate him. The cultural atmosphere of the ancient capital is strong in the end, and some people take out the four treasures of the literary room during the banquet, so that everyone can improvise poems. But most of the warlords are "big old and rough", at this time can only stare at the big eyes, Xiucai wu Peifu felt that his highlight moment had finally arrived, so he raised his pen and said: "I will throw bricks and lead jade first, and you will laugh!" Then immediately write a seven-piece poem - Eurasian changes, heroic causes are the same in ancient and modern times. Flowers bloom in the spring of March, people in Penglai first peak.
Whether they understood it or not, the crowd applauded in unison, "The grand marshal has the style of a Confucian general, and the shot is really extraordinary!" The honor guard was busy singing military songs written by Wu Peifu, and the moment was full of joy. Wu Peifu was intoxicated with himself, when someone suddenly reported that Feng Yuxiang had come to celebrate his birthday, and he couldn't help but feel refreshed--is this boy finally willing to bow to me? So the shelf went out to greet each other, only to see Feng Yuxiang's entourage carrying the birthday gift down from the car, it seemed that the weight was not light. Wu Peifu was even more proud, and the two of them exchanged greetings and then pretended to be affectionate and walked into the hall holding hands.
The crowd was stunned by this scene of "living for a long time", and they turned their heads and ears one after another, speculating about which play Feng Yuxiang was singing. Without waiting for Wu Peifu to finish being polite, Feng Yuxiang said frankly: "Senior Marshal, I am just a poor soldier, and the territory is very desolate, I should have given you a generous gift, how can I not do it, today I can only express my heart with a pot of clear water." Wu Peifu thought that this was Feng Yuxiang's humble words, and said busily: "The friendship of gentlemen is as light as water, and Qing Shui is the best gift!" "Then he ordered the man to open the frightening wooden box, only to see that inside was a large altar that could hold more than three hundred pounds of wine, and it was expected to be good wine. Everyone watched a good play and laughed hard.
Only then did Wu Peifu understand Feng Yuxiang's subtext: Now that the soldiers are in chaos and the people are not happy, but you are doing shou so extravagantly, I just want to pour some cold water on you! But he had already spoken out the scene, and it was not easy to get angry again, so he could only force a smile and say: "This birthday gift is very much in line with my wishes!" ”
Shortly thereafter, the second "Zhifeng War" broke out, and Feng Yuxiang turned against him, causing the warlords directly under wu Peifu's command to suffer a crushing defeat, and Wu Peifu was devastated from then on.