Chapter 62 6. Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai Discuss the Tuning of Yang Du's Entry to Beijing

Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai were the two pillars of the frontier ministers after the death of Li Hongzhang and Liu Kunyi.In terms of Qingwang, Zhang Zhidong was born in the Hanlin Academy, served as the chief examiner for several times, and was respected by scholars and bureaucrats all over the world, far above Yuan Shikai; Zhang Zhidong is beyond the reach of the dog-slayers who are sister-in-law.Zhang Zhidong's youth, Gao Di, had a successful official career, and he developed an arrogant and self-reliant character. In his later years, he made meritorious deeds and became famous all over the world.Therefore, when Zhang and Yuan met for the first time, Yuan was quite unhappy.

That was five years ago, Yuan Shikai had just filled the vacancy of Li Hongzhang and was promoted to Governor of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, stationed in Baoding Mansion.Zhang Zhidong entered the pilgrimage according to the order, and went north from Wuchang, passing through Baoding.Yuan Shikai attached great importance to this good opportunity to get acquainted with Zhang Zhidong, and made all preparations early, but Zhang Zhidong didn't take it seriously. Yuan Shikai was only forty-three years old that year, twenty-two years younger than Zhang Zhidong.When Zhang Gaokao was looking for flowers, Yuan was just a child in the arms of a woman.When Zhang became the governor of Shanxi, Yuan was just a carefree young man who sent food with his hands.From Zhang's point of view, Yuan is an upstart who is illiterate and purely depends on chance. Zhang Nanpi, who has always been defiant, has no place in his heart for the young governor of Zhili.

He didn't plan to stay in Baoding City at first, he stayed outside the city first, and passed through the city early the next morning, thus avoiding the meeting with Yuan.Unexpectedly, there were still 30 miles away from Baoding City, and the welcome team sent by Yuan Shikai arrived, and respectfully arranged Zhang Zhidong and his party in a luxuriously furnished and comfortable inn in the city.Just after dinner, Yuan Shikai came to visit in person.Reluctant in Zhang's heart, he reluctantly received him, and started snoring on the chair after he couldn't say a few words.Although Yuan was not happy, but thinking that he was old and tired after traveling a long distance, he didn't take it for granted, so he hurriedly got up and bowed, and said with a smile on his face: "Xiang Shuai has worked hard, rest early. At noon tomorrow Governor Huating cleans up the dust for Xiangshuai, please do me a favor."

Zhang Zhidong answered vaguely, Yuan Shikai said goodbye and went out. The next day, when Zhang Zhidong was carried to the Daping of the Superintendent's Office in a brand-new green sedan chair, the tall gate was decorated with lights and festoons, and the middle door of the yamen was wide open. The officials greeted me on the side.Zhang Zhidong got out of the sedan chair, drums, music and firecrackers blared, Yuan Shikai went up to meet him, bowed and bowed, begging An Daofu, let Zhang go in front, and himself followed behind, using all the etiquette that juniors greet elders and students greet teachers .However, Zhang Zhidong had seen this kind of scene a lot, so he took it for granted and was not moved.

Yuan Shikai entertained with a grand banquet, and the table was filled with delicacies from mountains and seas, fine wines and fine wines.He and Yang Shixiang, the governor of the feudal clan, sat on both sides, enshrining Zhang Zhidong in the middle.At the banquet, Yuan kept pouring wine and serving dishes in person, looking for topics to chat with Zhang, but Zhang ignored him, and kept talking about Shilin anecdotes and Hanyuan anecdotes with Yang Shixiang, who was born in the Imperial Academy, so that Yuan couldn't get in a word. I was very annoyed in my heart, but on the surface I still smiled and didn't dare to get angry.After eating, Zhang patted Yuan on the shoulder and said, "Brother Wei Ting, I never thought that once you became the governor, even someone like Yang Lianfu would be willing to be your feudal secretary."

Yuan Shikai felt very uncomfortable when he heard this, so he summoned Yang Shixiang that night and said to him, "Since Xiangshuai thinks highly of me, I might as well ask you to transfer to Wuchang." Yang Shixiang knew that it was Yuan Tiantian who received Zhang's indifferent words at the table, so he quickly said with a smile on his face, "What is Wei Shuai talking about! Xiang Shuai searched all the old rotten sesame seeds during the day, I really don't want to talk to him about this, just look He is perfunctory on the grounds that he is a senior, so that he can live with face. Even if Xiang Shuai has such intentions, Si Li is unwilling to serve such a boss, not to mention that in Si Li's opinion, Xiang Shuai is not a person who does big things , and he has no intention of sending me there."

Everyone says that Zhang Zhidong is a great talent in the world. Why does Yang Shixiang say that he can't accomplish great things?After Yuan Shikai thought about it, he deliberately asked: "How do you think of Xiangshuai?" "I think Xiangshuai's situation today is exactly the same as when Zuo Zongtang won the westward expedition and returned to his teacher. At that time, Zuo Zongtang thought he was invincible, arrogant and vain, and he was eating with Dongge. It's just for a while. Xiang Shuai is Zuo Zongtang in his old age, so don't be afraid." Yuan Shikai heard Yang Shixiang's words, and most of the fuss he had suffered during the day was exhausted, but he still couldn't let go of it and said: "Xiang Shuai only talked to you at the banquet today, and ignored me. He looked down on me for not being born in the Imperial Academy."

That's exactly what happened!How could the smart Yang Shixiang not know, but he couldn't go along with it, turned his mind, and said something very pleasant: "In Yisili's opinion, he is not exaggerating his strengths, but covering up his weaknesses. Xiang When Shuai entered Baoding Mansion, he saw that the Beiyang Army was clean-up and ordered strict, and he was jealous, but he had no choice. He knew that talking about Wu was definitely not to comfort Shuai's opponents, so he avoided the serious business and focused on talking about Ci Cao's old affairs to cover up his embarrassment. Therefore, Xiang Shuai does not despise the public, but values ​​the public and fears the public."

All the resentment in Yuan Shikai's stomach disappeared, and he said with a smile: "You still have eyesight, and you can see what others don't see." Yang Shixiang took the opportunity to say: "Duke Zeng Wenzheng first created the Hunan Army. There are two people who can carry forward it later, one is Zuo Zongtang and the other is Li Hongzhang. Zuo Zongtang is big talk but not practical. Li Hongzhang, on the other hand, did things in a down-to-earth manner and firmly grasped the Huai army, so even though he was attacked by the Quartet Attack, he can still maintain Zhou Ying for a while. Today, Wei Shuai has the foundation of a new army. If he can do his best to expand and train the new army, and can control the general to the end, then the government and the public will look up to Wei Shuai like Daiyue. Zeng and Li compete for the length of the day, and none other than Comfort Commander. Zhang Xiangtao, who is old-fashioned, can count on Comfort Commander!"

As soon as the words touched Yuan Shikai's heart, he turned his anger into joy and said: "there are so many Hanlins in the world who can't understand it. I think there are only three and a half people who really understand the Hanlin. One is Zhang Youqiao, the other is Xu Ju, and the other is your foot. Zhang Xiangtao can only be counted as half." After all, the two looked at each other and laughed. The next day, as if nothing had happened, Yuan Shikai sent a gift to Zhang Zhidong outside Baoding City. A financial history said that at the banquet that day, in order to mock Yuan Shikai, Zhang Zhidong deliberately made a second line to ask Yuan for the upper line.Zhang's second couplet reads: Yuyan makes the furnace fragrant for a long time. The three characters "Xu Jiuxiang" not only form a poem with "Yuyan provokes the stove", but also the name of a Hanlin at that time.Yuan Shikai couldn't apologize, it was embarrassing.After the banquet was over, he told his staff that anyone who could show the Shanglian and tease Zhang Zhidong to vent his anger on his behalf would be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver.All the staff wanted to get this big money, and they racked their brains and stayed up all night.The next morning Yuan received dozens of couplets, and he was very satisfied with one of them, so he pasted it in an envelope, sent Zhang Zhidong out of the Baoding city gate, and handed it to Zhang in person.Zhang Zhidong took a look at it and was so angry that he almost fainted.It turns out that the first couplet wrote: Picture Chen Mixi Zhang Zhidong.The couplets are indeed neat and sarcasm, but most of them are word games fabricated by later generations.Taking Yuan Shikai as a person in the world, he would never use such obscene language to desecrate the respected Zhang Zhidong.

Zhang Zhidong belittled Yuan Shikai so much in Baoding Mansion, but Yuan Shikai didn't care about it, which made Zhang Zhidong feel that something was wrong.Later, Yuan Shikai trained the new army in the six towns of Beiyang in Zhili, set up industries, promoted education, vigorously implemented the New Deal, and built Zhili into a model province in the whole country.Yuan Shikai's talent also made Zhang Zhidong secretly admire, and often said to his left and right: Yuan Weiting is a fearsome young man.Today, five years later, the two entered Beijing at the same time to enter the Military Aircraft Office. When the aging Zhang Zhidong saw the radiant Yuan Shikai, he couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart: I am old, and the future of China can only be played by this person. Play the leading role! Yuan Shikai treated Zhang Zhidong as he did in Baoding City five years ago, and greeted him with great respect.Zhang is a relatively clean official and has no real estate in Beijing, so he has to live in Xianzhe Temple.It's cold in winter and it's extremely inconvenient to check in.Yuan Shikai bought a spacious courtyard in Xila Hutong near the Forbidden City, and then said to Zhang, this is a house bought many years ago, and it is empty and useless.Zhang Zhidong was suffering from the distance from Xianzhe Temple, so he agreed.This bookish old bureaucrat had no idea that all the porters and handymen in the apartment in Xila Hutong were undercover spies of Yuan Ren.From then on, Zhang's every move was under Yuan's control. On this day, Zhang Zhidong accidentally looked through the "Beijing News" and found a news article in the lower left corner of the front page, saying that the constitutional government movement in the south was very active. He and others jointly issued a statement, suggesting that the court popularize knowledge of constitutionalism among ministers of relatives and nobles, so as to reduce obstacles and facilitate the implementation of constitutionalism. "When did Yang Du return to China?" Zhang Zhidong put down the newspaper and talked to himself.The special economic case and the Guangdong-Han Railway's own handling of the case left a deep impression on Yang Du in Zhang Zhidong's heart.The previous case made him confirm that Yang Du was outstanding in knowledge, and the latter case made him see that Yang Du was capable of handling affairs. From this, he concluded that Yang Du was just the talent that the country needed urgently and should be reused. Zhang Zhidong tried his best to implement the New Deal in Guangdong, Guangxi and Huzhou, and achieved great results, but most of his businesses were specific industries such as railways, factories, and education.In these respects, Zhang Zhidong believes that we should learn from foreign countries with an open mind and transfer the successful experience of foreign countries. As for China’s principles of discipline and ethics and its guiding ideology, the way of Zhou Gong, Confucius and Mencius, is the most perfect in the world, and it does not need to be changed and cannot be changed. .He summed up this understanding with the eight words "Chinese learning is the essence, Western learning is application", which won the approval of many people in the ruling and opposition parties. In the past two years, the wind of constitutionalism has flourished, and many ministers in the court have also echoed it, and even the Queen Mother has accepted it.At first Zhang Zhidong was quite dissatisfied, but later he thought that the queen mother's acceptance was reasonable.Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany adopted constitutional systems, and the countries became strong. This is a fact, which shows that constitutional systems do have their advantages.What's more, the revolutionaries' anti-Manchu activities are becoming more and more intense. If the Manchu court does not give up some power and stabilize some people's hearts, it may be overthrown.There are two evils in power, and we can only choose the lesser. Now that the queen mother is determined to implement constitutional government, Zhang Zhidong, who was a loyal minister of the Qing Empire for the first time, and became the ultimate minister in his later years, can he not act according to the queen mother's will?However, Zhang Zhidong understood that he knew very little about constitutionalism, and most of the Manchu and Han officials in the imperial court did not know the truth.To run constitutional government, one must first understand constitutional government; since constitutional government is a foreign thing, only those who have drunk foreign water can say that Yang Du is the best candidate.He has already returned to China, why not transfer him to Beijing and let him preside over a seminar on constitutionalism?Zhang Zhidong thought about it, and the servant reported: "Yuan Gongbao is visiting." Zhang Zhidong thought, it's a good time to come, and I'm going to tell him about this matter.He got up and went to the gate to greet him. Yuan Shikai came to Xila Hutong to visit Zhang Zhidong every now and then, sometimes for business, sometimes for chatting, Zhang Zhidong never greeted him at the gate, at most he just stood by the door of the study and waited, usually sitting still, When Yuan came in, he casually pointed to the low stool beside him and said lazily, "Wei Ting is here, sit down!" Yuan Shikai was a little flattered when he kissed the gate this time. "Oh, it's so cold, Lao Zhongtang, why did you come to the gate!" Yuan Shikai said, and stepped forward quickly to support Zhang Zhidong. "Come into the study, Wansheng can't afford to catch a cold!" "Sit down!" After entering the study, Zhang Zhidong pointed to a chair with a scarlet hala cushion beside him, and said to Yuan Shikai.I also sat down on the old wicker chair that I used to sit on every day.The servant quickly brought a bowl of hot tea. He had only been in Beijing for two months. Compared with Wuchang, Zhang Zhidong looked much thinner and older, his long and sparse beard was so white that it didn't have any luster.He also felt tired just after walking a few extra steps like this, so he calmed down a bit and said, "Hey, what can I do for you?" "It's nothing. Wansheng intends to go to Prince Chun's mansion to see Prince Chun. I heard that he has been feeling unwell for the past two days. He passed by the mansion and stopped by to see Lao Zhongtang. It's cold these days, so you should take care of yourself." Yuan Shikai answered casually.In fact, he came here specifically to inquire about a major event this time.Last night, the concierge of Zhang Zhidong's apartment quietly came to Dong'anmen Beiyang Office and reported to Yuan Shikai: In the afternoon, King Chun came to Xila Alley and talked for more than half an hour in Zhang Zhidong's study, but the specific content is not clear. Yuan Shikai didn't sleep well all night after hearing the news.Full of relatives and nobles, civil and military in the whole dynasty, Yuan Shikai is not afraid of anyone, but he is afraid of Prince Chun Zaifeng.Zaifeng is mediocre and young, so why is Yuan Shikai afraid of him alone?The relationship here is complex. During the palace coup in 1898, Yuan Shikai knew that he had an indisputable relationship. As long as the empress dowager was alive, he would be safe. Once the empress dowager died, the emperor would be in charge, which would be dangerous.Because of this, he insisted on the constitution of the monarch, and wanted to use the cabinet to restrict the emperor.If not, on that day he will ask for a vacancy and return to his hometown, in order to lose his power to save his life.In the past few years, he was secretly happy when he learned that the emperor was seriously ill, and bought the eunuchs around the emperor with a lot of money, so as to keep abreast of the changes in the emperor's condition.Not long ago, he got an amazing news from a personal eunuch: one day the queen mother and the emperor talked about Pu Yi, the one-year-old son of King Chun.After Yuan Shikai and his confidantes carefully analyzed the situation, they believed that it was likely to be about the establishment of an heir, that is, making Puyi the elder brother and inheriting the throne after the death of the emperor.Puyi is so young, of course the national handle will fall in the hands of his father Zaifeng after succeeding to the throne.Zaifeng hated the Han people's military power the most, and he wanted to avenge his brother. Once he became the country, he might become his scorpion.This speculation was confirmed after Zaifeng entered the military aircraft office.At present, there are six people in the Military Aircraft Department, and the successor has always been in trouble. Lu Chuanlin is old and faint, and Zaifeng can only help Zhang Zhidong as a party; against.After Yuan Shikai thought about it carefully, he felt that the concierge's information was very important, so he decided to go to Zhang Yu to test it out. "Prince Chun is sick! Didn't you feel fine yesterday?" Yuan Youxin and Zhang Wubei provided convenience for Yuan to ask further questions as soon as they opened their mouths. "Did Lao Zhongtang see Prince Chun yesterday?" "Yes!" Zhang Zhidong didn't notice Yuan Shikai's treachery at all. "Yesterday afternoon, the prince came to my place. I saw that he is in good spirits." "Oh, my lord really respects Lao Zhongtang, and he came to ask for advice in person." Yuan Shikai made a look of compliment and envy. "It's not asking for advice, it's not about asking about the iron factory and weaving layout." Zhang Zhidong was also proud of King Chun's presence. "It's not easy for Lao Zhongtang to start a business with hard work and achieve such a big business in Hubei. Even the late students have to ask Lao Zhongtang for advice." Yuan Shikai took advantage of the opportunity to give Zhang Zhidong a high hat. Zhang was very happy and said, "Actually, Prince Chun's visit yesterday was not mainly about business matters. He heard that there was an old doctor in Hanyang City who specialized in treating qi deficiency. I know no, I want to call into the palace to treat the emperor's illness." "What's the matter with the emperor?" Yuan Shikai pretended to be shocked. "Prince Chun said that the emperor's condition has worsened in the past few days. He is very anxious. The imperial doctor is incompetent, and he wants to find a doctor with special skills in the folk to treat the emperor. The old man said that I know the doctor in Hanyang, but it is just a name, not true. There is no need to summon it.” Yuan Shikai admired Zhang Zhidong's shrewdness.Recommending a doctor for the emperor is the most risky thing. If he is cured, he will be rewarded with a few words. as well. "The old man asked the lord what medicine the Tai Hospital prescribed, and the lord took out a medicine list." Zhang Zhidong got up, took out a medicine list from the drawer, and said, "The lord left the medicine list with me. Ask me to find a few good doctors to consult with, and return it to him in a few days." Yuan Shikai took the list.This is indeed the medicine list prescribed by the Imperial Hospital. Knowing that the old man is not lying, it seems that King Chun didn't come here for himself and King Qing yesterday. Yuan Shikai was relieved, and said with a smile: "I heard the rumors, and I don't need to go to Prince Chun's Mansion. You can rest, I'm leaving." "Sit down for a while, I have something to discuss with you." "What's the matter? Please tell the old Zhongtang." Yuan Shikai looked like he was asking for advice. "Nowadays the folks in the south are making a lot of noise about constitutionalization. Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong and other places have established constitutional groups. Have you heard of it?" Zhang Zhidong stroked his sparse white beard and looked at Yuan Shikai with dim old eyes. "Late students know a little bit better." Yuan Shikai put his hands on his knees and straightened his back. "However, the establishment of a constitution is a matter for the imperial court, so there is no need for them to mess around." "Although they say so, they also have good suggestions. Yesterday's "Beijing News" published a news saying that they suggested setting up a constitutional government seminar in the capital to teach princes and ministers the constitutional government of various countries in the east and west. Now visit the political hall It has been changed to a constitutional government compilation and inspection office, and I am worried that I have nothing to do, so it is better to let them do this." "It's good to teach the princes and ministers the constitutionalism of various countries." Yuan Shikai smiled wryly, "Old Zhongtang, you know that who among Zegong's men can bear this burden!" The Zegong mentioned by Yuan Shikai was the Zhen Guogong Zaize, the head of the five ministers who went abroad for inspection.His Fujin is the sister of Empress Guangxu, both of whom are Cixi's nieces.For this reason, Zaize is very trusted by Cixi.Cixi agreed to prepare to imitate the constitution, which also had a lot to do with his vigorous advocacy.After the five ministers returned to China, the political inspection hall was changed to the constitutional government compilation and inspection hall, and Zai Ze served as the supervisor of the hall.In fact, Zai Ze knew nothing about constitutionalism.There are quite a few people in the constitutional editorial office, but they are all three relatives recommended by this prince or that son-in-law. They are either playboys or uncles who have left hands, and none of them can do practical things.Fortunately, Cixi didn't really want to establish a constitution. She announced that she was going to follow the constitution and build a constitutional government office. "Yang Du, have you heard of him?" Zhang Zhidong paused to stroke his beard, with a rare look in his eyes. "Yang Du?" Yuan Shikai slightly raised his voice, then nodded and said, "I know. At that time, the old Zhongtang was in charge of the special economic department. He won the second place in the first list, but failed in the second list. In recent years, I heard that Japanese went." Yuan Shikai only mentioned this well-known incident. He didn't say anything about the meeting with Yang Du in the year of 1898 and the agreement last year that Xu Shichang asked Yang Du to be the gunman for the five ministers. "The incident in Guimao was originally an unjust case. The old man was under pressure at that time, so he had no choice but to do so." Zhang Zhidong has always been brooding over the incident caused by the first list of the Special Economic Section, but it was a case appointed by Empress Dowager Cixi, so he could not openly reverse it. "That's exactly what he said. It's a joke to say that Liang Shiyi is Liangtou Kangzu. Liang Shiyi's Hanlin in the 20th year of Guangxu, according to the special department's handling, wouldn't that test have to be overthrown and restarted!" These words were spoken loudly, and no one who complained about the special economic special case had uttered such a weighty word.Zhang Zhidong himself did not think of this, but unexpectedly, the words of this upstart in the officialdom, whom he has always regarded as having skills but no education, are so hot!It seems that this person is really a little different from ordinary people.A rare smile appeared on Zhang Zhidong's face: "My brother said that well! One day I will drag my brother to the Queen Mother and say it again." "Obey." Yuan Shikai firmly agreed, "Even if I offend Longyan, Wansheng must speak a word of justice for Lao Zhongtang and the scholars who were wronged that year." Zhang Zhidong nodded heavily, expressing that he accepted the favor. "You just said that there is no one in the Political Compilation Office as a constitutional lecturer. I think it is better to call Yang Du to do it. I know this person, and he is qualified for this role." Regarding Yang Du's constitutional knowledge, Yuan Shikai had already learned from the inspection reports of the five ministers.Yuan Shikai, who wanted to use constitutionalism to limit the monarchy for protection, was also hating the opposition of princes and nobles. Someone came to the capital to teach constitutionalism, which was very in line with his wishes, so he said: "Yang Du is very suitable as a lecturer on constitutionalism." "Then how about we make a book together?" Such a small matter, does it need to be played jointly?The old man is too cautious!He is so serious, and I am happy to be a favor.Yuan Shikai thought of this, got up quickly and said: "Old Zhongtang thinks highly of Wansheng, Wansheng dare not follow orders!"