Chapter 83 4. Yang Du did not expect that Yuan Shikai wanted to be the president
The attention of the whole of China has been attracted by the three towns of Wuhan.Everything that happens here touches the hearts of all people who pay attention to state affairs.On the surface, Hankou, located in the north of the Yangtze River, is full of gunpowder and gunfire all day long, but in fact, the war has not made any progress.Although the revolutionary army was very enthusiastic, it was loosely organized and its combat effectiveness was not strong.Li Yuanhong was called the governor, and he was still watching from the bottom of his heart, and did not actually perform his duties.The Beiyang Army is well-equipped and well-trained.It stands to reason that the Revolutionary Army is not the opponent of the Beiyang Army.However, Yin Chang, the commander-in-chief of the Beiyang Army, had no actual commanding ability, so he stayed in Beijing and dared not go south.Duan Qirui, the commander of the Second Army, was still on his way to his post, and the commander of the front line was Feng Guozhang, the commander of the First Army.
The core figure of the Xiaozhan back then is still loyal to his former master.That day, when he appeared in Huanshang Village, Yuan Shikai was both surprised and delighted.Talking about the old relationship and the situation, the two chatted freely for more than two hours.When Feng Guozhang left, he asked Yuan Shikai for instructions.Yuan sent him six words: go slowly, wait and see.Feng understood the content hidden behind these six words.He asked his deputy to take the army to go first, while he himself used the excuse of checking the armaments, stopped and stopped, and arrived at Xiaogan five or six days later.Feng Guozhang set up his headquarters in the city of Xiaogan and stopped going south.
A strange situation of tight outside and loose inside appeared on the Wuhan battlefield.At the same time, a power struggle without gunpowder is going on between the Forbidden City and Huanshang Village.
Yuan Shikai immediately sent a telegram back to the court after receiving the decree that he was appointed governor of Huguang to leave the mountains immediately.First, let me say some face-saving words: I am ashamed of receiving the state's favor, and I am ashamed to report it. I am grateful to read the imperial edict.Let's play again: the old foot disease has not yet healed, and the left arm is pulled, and there is severe pain, the situation is difficult, and it is really difficult to support.
Zaifeng couldn't laugh or cry after receiving this telegram, so he had to bite the bullet and issue another decree, advising him to put state affairs first and do as he could.Yuan Shikai called back to bargain: bare hands, no way to raise funds, please agree to recruit 12,000 defense troops on the spot, allocate 4 million taels of silver, and please transfer Wang Shizhen, Ni Sichong, Duan Zhigui and others to Wuchang.Zaifeng knew that Yuan Shikai was threatening, so he had no choice but to agree.However, Yuan Shikai was still reciting poems and fishing in the Yangshou Garden, and he did not leave Huanshang Village.Zaifeng was so anxious that he couldn't come up with an idea, so he had to invite Yikuang to discuss it.Yikuang had already sensed Yuan Shikai's thoughts from Yang Du's secret report, but he couldn't express it for him, so he sent Xu Shichang to Zhangde himself to act as Yuan Shikai's spokesperson.
At the same time, Yuan Shikai's old friends from the bureaucracy came to Zhangde from all over the capital.Some of them had secret connections before, but they dared not move about in the open. Now they no longer have such worries, and came to strengthen their friendship before Yuan Shikai came out of the mountain, seeking further promotion.In the past two years, some of them were afraid of attracting trouble, so they completely cut off contact. Seeing that Yuan Gongbao was about to regain his prestige, he rushed to curry favor, reminisce about the old days, and ask for future care.All of a sudden, on the avenue from Zhangde Station to Huanshang Village, cars and horses were galloping, dust was flying, and high-ranking officials came to pay their respects like a pilgrimage, making the quiet Huanshang Village bustling with excitement. Noisy, really earnestly staged another scene of comedy about the warmth and coldness of the world.No matter who they were, Yuan Shikai received them warmly and with a smile on his face, allowing them to come with their needs and leave with satisfaction.For those true confidantes, let them stay and let them participate in military aircraft praise paintings.A small and inconspicuous Huanshang Village almost became the real political center of the country in the first days of the new era of Chinese history.
"Xizi, Juren is coming tomorrow morning, what do you think I should do with him?" In the evening, Yuan Shikai invited Yang Du to take a walk in the Yangshou Garden.While walking, he suddenly stopped and asked Yang Du.
"Master Gong Bao, I have some thoughts these two days. You are too busy to listen to me." Yang Du pointed to the small fishing boat parked nearby and said, "Let's sit on the boat and talk about it!"
"Okay!" Yuan Shikai happily agreed.
Yang Du walked to the side of the boat, helped Yuan Shikai into the boat, untied the cable, picked up the penny, and gently touched the rocks on the bank, the small fishing boat advanced two or three times to the center of the pond smoothly. Husband.
Yuan Shikai said: "Xi Zi, you are still a good pole-puller!"
"Hunan people are born to be able to sail boats, otherwise how can there be such a powerful Hunan Navy Navy?" Yang Du said proudly.He put down the penny, sat opposite Yuan Shikai, and let the fishing boat float on the water.
"The chrysanthemum came this time, no doubt to urge me. How much do you think Zaifeng can offer?"
Yuan Shikai sat in the fishing boat, holding a rattan cane with both hands.Yuan Shikai's left leg was injured when he was in North Korea, and after it was healed, there was not much scar left. He usually walks like ordinary people, and it is only when he walks fast that he can see that he is not very flexible.He had never used a cane before.Zaifeng vacated him and returned home in the name of foot disease. He was glad that he was not beheaded. In order to show his respect to the court, he has been leaning on a rattan cane since then, as if he really suffered from foot disease.
"In my opinion, as long as you don't sit in the seat of their father and son, Zaifeng can pay any price." Yang Du answered very happily.
"Xizi, tell me, what points should I raise?" Yuan Shikai asked very seriously, and the rattan cane slammed twice on the board of the boat.
Yang Du's expression became excited.In the past few days, he has thought a lot about the political situation.
"There are a few points, I think you must have already thought of it. If you want to go out to do things, you must have two things, power and money."
Yuan Shikai nodded.The fundamental secret of his smooth sailing in the officialdom over the past thirty years is to use the words "power" and "money" well.Yang Du revealed the truth with one word, and he secretly admired it.
"From the perspective of power, you can propose to form a new cabinet. The royal cabinet headed by King Qing has been widely attacked. You made this request in line with the people's hearts."
"This can be mentioned. After the establishment of the new cabinet, I don't have to be the prime minister. It's also good to let the Ju people come forward." Yuan Shikai seemed to be sincere, "I just need to have the power to command the national army."
Yang Du sneered in his heart, but said with a serious face: "Lord Gongbao is expected by all, and there is nothing to say about the new cabinet being appointed by you. Xu Zhongtang can't cope with this situation. As for military expenditure, there must be sufficient guarantees." .”
"The national treasury has probably been emptied by them in the past two years. It seems that the money must be borrowed from foreigners. Several foreign banks have expressed this intention to Keding."
Yuan Shikai's casual words made Yang Du very surprised. The half-old man sitting on a stick in front of him really deserved to be a veteran of chopping wheels. He was already quietly handling the most realistic and difficult things.
"There is one more important thing you need to consider, did you think of it?"
"What?" Yuan Shikai put the cane back to his chest and listened intently.
"People's hearts." Yang Du leaned his body towards Yuan Shikai, and said something he had thought deeply about. "Master Kung Pao, when I first met you at Xiaozhan more than ten years ago, I knew that you were a well-informed and ambitious hero. I don't think you will object to what I said: what happened in Wuchang It was forced out by the imperial court, the revolutionary army is not a rebellious party, their leaders are patriots."
Yuan Shikai groaned, but did not make a sound.Suddenly, he laughed loudly: "Xizi, I finally understand why you put your boat up to the center of this pond. It turns out that you are afraid that others will hear your rebellious words against the imperial court. Are you not afraid that I will report you?" ?”
Yang Du asked back: "Is a small fourth-rank palace worth reporting on?"
"Go ahead, Yang Jingqing!" Yuan Shikai smiled and waved his hand.
"The imperial court headed by Zai Fengcui and King Qing has actually lost the hearts of the people. If they had listened to a few words of good advice, had convened the parliament and implemented constitutional government earlier, they would not have become so troubled today. The leading figure of the Revolutionary Party , I have had contact with them all. Although I do not approve of their violent means of changing the state system, I am sure that they are all passionate patriots."
"I heard that Sun Wen and Huang Xing are your friends?" Yuan Shikai stared at Yang Du, his eyes contained untestable meaning.
"That's right, they are all honest and honest men. Although I have different political views with them, we have very good personal relationships." Yang Du admitted frankly. "But I don't advocate riots. China is too weak to stand a big war. Once a full-scale war is launched, the country will be destroyed immediately."
"Why?" Yang Du said so seriously, which surprised Yuan Shikai.
"As soon as the war starts, there will be great chaos in the country. Foreign powers have been coveting for a long time, and they have long wanted to carve up and annex them. When China is in chaos, it just uses the name of maintaining peace to blatantly interfere in internal affairs, and then take the beautiful rivers and mountains as its own. Therefore, I think Wuhan We must not allow the war to expand, only to solve it quickly. The solution is suitable for harmony and not for war. If peace is to be achieved, people's hearts can be won first. Gong Bao came out of the mountain this time and unveiled this banner, so that the affairs of Wuchang will come naturally without fighting. If it is peaceful, it will make a great contribution to the life of the common people in the country!"
Yang Du spoke excitedly, with sincerity in his chest: "The most popular thing right now is to convene the Congress quickly and lift the ban on the party. If we can further propose to pardon the perpetrators, it will be easier to subside the war."
Yuan Shikai thought for a moment and said: "Xizi, things in the world are probably not so simple. Let me tell you, according to reliable sources, the revolutionary parties in Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Yunnan, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang are already ready to move under the influence of Wuchang. There is a possibility of declaring independence from the imperial court at any time, and if they join forces, it will cause half of the country to change. At that time, people's hearts cannot be dealt with with a few empty words."
Yang Du knew that the fire of Wuchang could spread like a prairie fire all over the country.It seems that this Huanshui fisherman really has the overall situation in mind.He was at a loss for words for a moment, not knowing how to continue.Twilight has shrouded the Yangshou Garden. The pavilions in the water and the flowers, trees, mountains and rocks on the bank are partly visible, making the surrounding scenery more charming.
Yuan Shikai stood up abruptly, and sighed: "Xizi, look at how elegant and comfortable this Huanshang Village is, why should I meddle in other people's business. The country is not owned by me, Yuan, and I think I'll just live here for the rest of my life!"
Meeting guests from all over the world every day, keeping in touch with the front line in Wuchang, recruiting troops, asking for money, and even contacting foreign banks, why did he suddenly express his emotions?Yang Du really couldn't figure out what this man had in his heart.
"The country doesn't belong to me, Yuan." He suddenly thought of this complaint from the replaced poem "Look at the Big Dipper from the porch, and feel the setting sun is low".This poem not only has the spirit of Emperor Wu of Wei's chanting at night, but also the heroism of Song Taizu's "chasing away the remaining stars and chasing away the moon".Could it be that this Huan Shang Murano old man can't even satisfy his appetite as a cabinet minister, so he wants to be Cao Cao and Zhao Kuangyin?Suddenly, the scene of that summer night when Ming Xingzhai was burning and smoky reappeared in Yang Du's mind.History is surprisingly similar. Isn't the Yuan Gongbao sitting in front of him the same as Su Zhongtang fifty years ago?Compared with Sushun back then, Yuan Shikai held the powerful new army of Beiyang Six Towns in his hands. This is where Sushun's strength is inferior, and the current Longyu and Zaifeng have not received any true biography of Cixi.Master Xiangqi worked so hard to study the learning of emperors, but it was a pity that he found the wrong object and could not succeed, but in the near future, his students will be able to put it into reality.
Yang Du burst into ecstasy, and said excitedly: "Master Gong Bao, why don't you just take over this country?"
"Me?" Yuan Shikai's eyes widened. "Xizi, you are not drunk today, why are you talking nonsense?"
"This is not nonsense." Yang Du calmed down. "Many people are exhausted, and they can't do anything anymore. The country should have been in the hands of the Han people long ago. Whether it is Sun Wen or Huang Xing, I don't think they are the ones who can control the world. In this turbulent country, there is only you, Mr. Gong Bao. to sit still."
"Xizi, don't talk about it anymore. This is a matter of beheading and exterminating the family. My Yuan family has received the state's favor, and the only reason is to be loyal to the court. Besides, it is not honorable to take the world from the hands of orphans and widows." Yuan Shikai said solemnly, "Besides, Right now, the Revolutionary Party keeps saying that it wants to build a democratic republic, and everyone wants to be the president, so how can I, Yuan, be allowed to say that I am a widow?"
That's a good point.Yang Du thought to himself: The revolutionary party wants to build a democratic country and no emperor is allowed anymore. If Yuan Shikai proclaims himself emperor, he will inevitably have a life-and-death struggle with the revolutionary party, and the country will be in chaos immediately, and outsiders will immediately interfere.It doesn't seem to work!
"Xizi, let me tell you a joke. If the Revolutionary Party elects me to be the president, I might as well cooperate with them to try to run a democratic republic in China."
Yang Du was deeply surprised by Yuan Shikai's words. He never thought that Yuan Gongbao, who claimed to be the world's benefactor, had the idea of becoming the president!
Yuan Shikai's scheming is beyond the reach of the scholar Yang Du.Just over two years ago, when Yuan Shikai was resigned and returned home, he was worried that the court would not let him go easily, so he decided to strike first.He sent a loyal servant with his own letter to quietly go to Japan to find the Revolutionary Party, expressing his willingness to cooperate with them.At that time, the Tokyo Headquarters of the Tongmenghui reported the matter to Huang Xing. Huang Xing was very suspicious of Yuan's abnormal attitude and did not agree.As a result, the cooperation between the Chinese democratic revolutionaries and Yuan Shikai was postponed for three years.
Yang Du couldn't accept Yuan Shikai's bizarre idea.China can only implement a constitutional monarchy but not a constitutional democracy. This is his political belief for many years, but the implementation of the constitution by the Aixinjueluo family is not only unreasonable to the people of the whole country, but also the actions of the past few years have made Yang Disappointed too.If you change the monarch at this time, it will cause chaos in the world, and it will not work.If the Revolutionary Party really elects Yuan as President, the chaos of war can be quelled immediately, the Congress can be convened immediately, and constitutional government can be established immediately. This is indeed the most acceptable plan at present.But will the revolutionaries agree?Where is the five-year-old little emperor in the capital?Yang Du felt that these things were difficult to handle.
"Xizi, you are very familiar with the leaders of the Revolutionary Party, how about I entrust you to contact them?"
"Okay." Yang Du agreed without hesitation. "However, who should I contact now? It is said that Sun Wen is in the United States, Huang Xing is in Hong Kong, and Liu Linsheng is in Japan. It is impossible to connect with them."
"Among the top figures in Wuchang, do you have any friends?"
"I only know one Tang Hualong, but he is not a revolutionary party. I don't know anyone else." After a short pause, Yang Du continued, "By the way, I know one Hu Ying, who just got out of prison and became a diplomat. Minister. But I don’t have a deep relationship with him, and he doesn’t have enough prestige in the Revolutionary Party, so he can’t influence the situation.”
Yang Du searched vigorously for his friends in the revolutionary party that he had met in the past, either they were not in the country, or their status was not high, and he couldn't find a suitable person for a while.Suddenly, he remembered one.
"Do you know a man named Wang Zhaoming?"
"I know. Is it the revolutionary party that failed to assassinate Zaifeng last year and was imprisoned?"
"Exactly, exactly." Yang Du nodded repeatedly.
"How is your relationship with him?"
"He and I are classmates in Japan's Hosei University, and we are very close. This person is very prestigious in the Revolutionary Party. You might as well ask Zaifeng to release him from prison first, and then I will go to see him."
"Okay." Yuan Shikai stroked his beard subconsciously and said, "Xizi, you are not in a hurry to go back to Beijing to see Wang Zhaoming, and you can stay at my place for a few days to see how the situation develops, and we will make another step. That's all for today, Juren will come tomorrow, I still have some things to arrange."
In that short period of time, the wheel of Chinese history moved forward at an unprecedented speed, and almost every day there were major events that attracted worldwide attention.
On October 20, Xu Shichang hurried to Zhangde to meet Yuan Shikai.On the 21st, the imperial court fully accepted the six conditions put forward by Yuan Shikai: 1. The Congress will be held next year; 2. Organize a responsible cabinet; Sixth, the full power of the various armies of the water and land and the establishment of the army. Sixth, adequate military expenditures.On the 22nd, Hunan declared its independence, and Jiao Dafeng, a member of Gongjin, was elected as the governor.On the 23rd, Jiujiang announced its separation from the Qing government, and Ma Yubao, the new military standard commander, was established as the governor.On the 24th, Shaanxi became independent, and Zhang Fenghui, a new military commander who was born as a non-commissioned officer, became the governor.On the 27th, Yinchang, who arrived late, was recalled to the capital from Wuchang by the imperial court, and Yuan Shikai was appointed as the imperial envoy, with full power to control all land and water armies across the country.On the same day, Yuan Shikai instructed Feng Guozhang to launch an attack, and Dazhi Gate in Hankou was captured by the Beiyang Army.
On the 28th, Huang Xing, Liu Kuiyi, Song Jiaoren and others rushed from Hong Kong and Japan to Shanghai and arrived in Hankou.On the 29th, Shanxi became independent, and Yan Xishan was promoted as the governor.On the same day, Zhang Shaozeng, the commander of the 20th township stationed in Luanzhou, Hebei, joined forces with Lu Yongxiang, the governor of the third township, Lan Tianwei, the leader of the second mixed township, Wu Xiangzhen, the commander of the 39th township, and Pan Juhan, the commander of the 49th township, to electrify the court. It is required to convene a parliament within this year, draft a constitution, abolish the royal cabinet, and reorganize the responsible cabinet. If the imperial court does not agree, it will go to Beijing to remonstrate.On the 30th, under the threat of this ultimatum, Zaifeng had no choice but to issue an imperial edict in the name of the emperor.He also ordered the release of all political prisoners since the 1898 coup, and ordered the Zizhengyuan to draft the constitution overnight.Zaifeng was worried that Zhang Shao had really remonstrated with him, so instead of blaming him, he ordered to reward him, and awarded Zhang the title of minister, and appointed him Minister of Xuanfu of the Yangtze River.
Zaifeng's court was on the verge of collapse.
On October 31, another news broke out in Southwest Side Sleeping: Yunnan became independent, and Cai E was elected as the governor.
After Cai E returned from Japan and Japan, he first worked as a teacher in Jiangxi and Hunan military schools, and later came to Guangxi, where he served as the general staff officer and chief coach of the New Army, and the general office of the Army Primary School.Cai E enjoys a high reputation in the new army with his outstanding military ability and strict self-discipline. He was promoted very quickly, and was promoted to Xietong at the age of 27.At the beginning of this year, he was transferred to Yunnan and served as the commander of the 37th Association of the 19th Town of the New Army stationed in Yunnan.Under the influence of the Wuchang Uprising and the independence of Hunan, Jiangxi, Qin, Jin and other provinces, he led his troops in Kunming to support the revolution, and was unanimously elected by his subordinates as the governor of the military government.
It was midnight when he got the news of Yunnan's independence, and Zaifeng rushed to Dianhuan to go to the village overnight, almost begging Yuan Shikai to put aside his past suspicions and leave the mountain as soon as possible.At the same time, he told Yuan that as soon as he was ordered, Yikuang's cabinet would resign immediately.
In the early morning of the next day, seeing that all the opportunities inside and outside the government and the public were ripe, Yuan Shikai publicly announced that he would go out to see the matter.
Like an emperor going on a tour, from Huanshang Village to Zhangde Station, unusual and grand ceremonies were held along the way.The special car clad in red and colorful blew loudly on the platform, and a full set of Western military instruments imported from Germany played Caesar's victory song.Before boarding the car, Yuan Shikai held Yang Du's hand and said, "Xi Zi, I will go back to the capital after I stay in Hankou for a few days. Please meet Wang Zhaoming first. I have already reserved a place for you in the new cabinet."
The next afternoon, when Yang Du returned to Beijing, Yuan Shikai's promise at Zhangde Station gave him great joy.Thinking that in a few days, I will be a member of the new cabinet, and a wave of smug passion surged through my body.He felt that this trip to Changde has taken a crucial step towards the realization of his life goals.He has no time to say goodbye to Jingzhu and Yizhu. He wants to find Wang Zhaoming immediately, and discuss with this old friend important matters related to China's future and destiny. At this time, Wang Zhaoming is still squatting in the prison of the Criminal Ministry.