Chapter 85 6. Yuan Shikai held a grand banquet for Wang Jingwei, who had just been released from prison

Xiaoyangjiao Hutong was full of guests all day long, and Wang Jingwei received friends from all walks of life in a happy manner.When he heard that Yang Du came to visit, he immediately greeted him at the gate and took Yang alone to the study.As soon as he was seated, Chen Bijun came in with tea.Wang Jingwei hurriedly introduced: "Bi Jun, this is Mr. Yang." "Oh!" Chen Bijun was surprised and said, "Jingwei always talks about you, we are so grateful to you." "Where, where!" Yang Du took a careful look at Chen Bijun while speaking.The girlfriend of this great revolutionary is a typical southern girl: of medium height, a little thin, with a dark face and regular features, not overly dressed, with a capable and free manner, really a bit of a heroine.

Chen Bijun didn't evade, and after putting down his teacup, he sat down next to Wang Jingwei, participating in the men's conversation openly. "Xizi, I've been looking forward to your coming for the past few days. Why do you suddenly care about my case? Renting a house, sending a carriage, and 80,000 silver. What's going on?" Wang Jingwei threw out a series of questions.He is only twenty-seven or eight years old, and he is at the time when his vitality is at its peak. He is full of the joy and excitement of a winner in his spirit. He has Chen Bijun's careful care of him in his life. He has only been released from prison for a few days. The image of the handsome and handsome man in the past It recovered again.Yang Du secretly praised him in his heart: the creation of heaven and earth favors him too much, it is so complete that it is impossible to pick it up!Then he envied Chen Bijun who was sitting beside him, for a woman to be able to marry Mr. Xu is truly a blessing from Eternal Cultivators!

"Look how anxious you are!" Yang Du laughed. "Let me tell you, don't remember these things on my head, it's another person who cares about you!" "Who?" Wang Jingwei asked eagerly.Chen Bijun's clear eyes were also looking at Yang Du. "Yuan Shikai." Yang Du lowered his voice intentionally. "Yuan Shikai!" Wang Jingwei glanced at Chen Bijun, turned around and asked Yang Du suspiciously, "He is the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty, why should he care about me?" Chen Bijun's expression was also rather perplexed.

"Jingwei, it's not surprising." Yang Du picked up his teacup and said calmly, "Although Yuan Shikai doesn't approve of your assassination of the regent or your idea of ​​revolutionizing Manchuria, he loves your talent and especially admires you." You have the integrity to regard death as home for your own beliefs. Among the high-ranking officials throughout the ages, there are not many people like Yuan Shikai who love talent and value virtue!" Wang Jingwei nodded and said, "That's true. In that case, I have to thank him." Turning to Chen Bijun, he said, "Bijun, what do you think?"

Chen Bijun said, "It's only right to thank him." Yang Du hurriedly said: "Yuan Shikai is about to see you, go and thank him in person!" "Okay, then introduce me." Wang Jingwei said happily. "I'll pick you up tomorrow night." After finishing speaking, Yang Du got up to leave. On the second night, eight red palace lanterns were hung at the gate of the Yuan Mansion of the Beiyang Government Office, and forty or fifty pots of flowers and trees were moved in front of the gate: the autumn chrysanthemums bloomed in season, the pomegranates that had been frosted were bright red, and the eyes of bulls were big. The golden oranges are yellow and clear, and the evergreen pines and cypresses are green all the year round.The eldest son Yuan Keding, the second son Yuan Kewen, and the third son Yuan Keliang led a group of aides and aides, all standing outside the door waiting in unison.

The coachman rang the bell, and the big rubber wheel stopped smoothly in front of the door.Yuan Keding came to the car door wearing a brand-new robe and jacket, bent slightly, and said loudly, "Please get off the car, Mr. Wang!" Wang Jingwei didn't expect the welcome scene of the Yuan Mansion to be so grand, and when he didn't know how to address the person standing beside the car, Yang Du hurriedly introduced: "This is Mr. Yuntai, the eldest son of Yuan." Pointing to the two people behind Keding, he said, "They are the second son, Mr. Han Yun, and the third son, Mr. Guichang."

Seeing the three princes of the Yuan family waiting beside him, Wang Jingwei was quite moved.He clasped his fists in both hands and said as he got out of the car: "Don't dare to be, don't dare to be!" Yuan Keding supported Wang Jingwei's hand and said: "My father admires Mr. Wang very much, and Brother Yu respects Mr. Wang even more. It is an honor for my Yuan family to have Mr. Wang come to the humble house today." Yuan Keding's words were so sincere that Wang Jingwei was secretly surprised.His ears were full of praise these days.The praises of revolutionary comrades are predictable, and the praises of ordinary people are also understandable. What kind of family is the Yuan Mansion?Who is Mr. Yuan?It was a big surprise that he said such a thing.

They walked to the door together and were about to step into the door when they heard a loud shout: "Mr. Wang is here!" As soon as the shout came to an end, a person came out from the room on the left side of the door.But seeing this man's head and thighs are short, broad shoulders and round waist, his face is red and bright, his eyes are bright and bright, and he is covered with a smoky gray robe. At a rough glance, he looks like the round ancient clock in the Great Bell Temple. Wang Jingwei was watching, and Keding said softly, "That's my father. He never comes to the gate to welcome guests. Today, I make an exception for Mr. Wang."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jingwei hurriedly took a step forward and called out, "Master Yuan!" Yuan Shikai stretched out his hands, held Wang Jingwei's hand, and looked him up and down. Wang Jingwei was wearing a light gray striped suit tonight, a tie with a red mottled soft silk, and white snowy leather shoes.His elegant appearance, paired with this brand-new western dress, in front of a large group of dark and simple mandarin jackets and long robes, is really like a crane coming among a flock of chickens. Yuan Shikai sighed from the bottom of his heart: "I have heard for a long time that Mr. Wang has the beauty of Pan An and He Yan. I always have doubts. How can someone who is as brave as Mr. have such an appearance? Seeing him today, he really deserves his reputation. In front of Mr., my son Everyone has become a jackdaw."

Wang Jingwei said repeatedly: "Master Yuan, thank you, thank you!" Yuan Shikai greeted Wang Jingwei with such a grand ceremony, which Yang Du did not expect.A political prisoner who had just been released from prison for plotting to assassinate the Prince Regent was out of line for a man of Yuan Shikai's status.Treating each other with such courtesy, are you not afraid of gossip in the officialdom?Is this respect for Wang Jingwei sincere, or is it just to win over and use him?Suddenly, Yang Du thought that Wang Jingwei was going to kill Zaifeng, isn't Zaifeng his deadly enemy?He wanted to vent his hatred for Zaifeng by treating Wang courteously.Yes, it must be so!

Everyone walked into the Yuan Mansion Restaurant together.Here, the newly installed electric lights are shining brightly, and the big round table is already filled with delicacies, jade chopsticks and silver cups.Yuan Shikai said to Wang Jingwei: "This banquet is specially set up for Mr. Wang tonight, please sit down!" If it were someone else, a boy in his twenties, without an official title, who would dare to take this kind of favor?However, Wang Jingwei was a member of the Revolutionary Party after all, and he thought highly of himself. After a few refusals, he graciously took his seat.After Yuan Shikai sat down, the Yuan brothers, Yang Du and others also sat down in turn. Wang Jingwei said: "During these days, Mr. Yuan has taken good care of me, and I am very grateful. This time, I came to the mansion just to express my gratitude. I didn't expect Mr. Yuan to be so polite. I am ashamed." Yuan Shikai said: "Mr. Wang is a man of integrity, and I respect him very much. A little meaning is not enough to thank you. Come, have a drink!" Yuan Shikai raised his glass and everyone took a sip.Putting down his wine glass, Yuan Shikai ordered Keding to bring food to Wang Jingwei.At the banquet, Yuan Shikai never mentioned the word "revolutionary party" or the war in the south. He kept talking with Wang about family affairs and reading, and asked Wang if he had a wife.Wang introduced Chen Bijun to Yuan and his son.After hearing this, Yuan Shikai said again and again: "It's so rare, what a heroic woman." He also said, "I have more than ten daughters, and none of them are decent. In the future, I have to invite Ms. Chen to come to our house and let my daughter come to my house." When we met her, it opened their eyes." When Yuan Shikai praised Chen Bijun in this way, Wang Jingwei was elated.He felt that Yuan was very different from ordinary bureaucrats. After dinner, go to the tea room for tea.Ke Wen and Ke Liang said goodbye, and Ke Ding and Yang Du sat with them.After chatting for a while, Yuan Shikai said: "Listening to what Mr. Wang said just now, I know that Mr. Wang was also from a scholarly eunuch, and he also has a patriotic heart. He is not the same kind of person as the grassroots robbers who rob houses in the world. The world thinks As the prime minister, I will resolutely oppose the Revolutionary Party, but they are wrong, I just hate those green-skinned robbers who sneaked into the Revolutionary Party." Wang Jingwei was taken aback and thought to himself: Yuan Shikai didn't oppose the Revolutionary Party, where did he start with this remark! "I have worked for the country for more than 30 years, and I know that there are many problems in the country's affairs." Yuan Shikai continued, "Mr. Wang may not know it because he is young. As early as when Kang Youwei first arrived in Beijing, I delivered the reform memorial for him. , and later participated in the Strong Society. After the two palaces returned to Luan, Zhang Wenxiang and I went to the Reform and Sanshu together. Later, in Shandong, we trained the new army in Zhili to implement the new policy. What is all this for? Isn’t it all for the prosperity of the country? !" When Yuan Shikai said this, he stared at Wang Jingwei.Wang Jingwei felt that there was a deterrent force in these eyes, and it seemed that there was a deep subtext hidden in them. Yang Du interjected: "Yes, Mr. Gongbao has done a lot of practical things for China's New Deal. For example, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway opened to traffic the year before last. Mr. Kungbao appointed Zhan Tianyou to build it during his tenure as the direct governor. The entire railway is entirely from our China. It was designed and constructed by people themselves. The common people say that this railway has strengthened the ambition of us Chinese.” Yuan Shikai was very happy with what Yang Du said, and he continued the topic: "Mr. Wang was studying in Japan at that time, so he may not be very clear about it. Although this railway is only more than 300 miles long, it passes through Juyongguan and Badaling in the middle, passing through mountains and rivers. The terrain is complex and the project is huge. Foreigners say that the engineer who built this railway in China has not yet been born. I encourage Zhan Tianyou to do it boldly. I will purchase for him and provide the funds for him. If others gossip, I will support him. It was also Zhan Tianyou who worked hard, and it was finally completed. Zhan Tianyou was a young boy who was sent by Zeng Wenzheng to study in the United States. Zeng Wenzheng was very far-sighted and cultivated many talents for the country, and Shaochuan was one of these people." Shaochuan is Tang Shaoyi's cousin.He was Yuan Shikai's old subordinate when he was in North Korea, and Yuan appreciated his talent very much.Yuan went back to the country to train troops at the small station, and then transferred him to work in the battalion affairs office.Yuan served as the direct governor and transferred him to Tianjin Customs Road.Later, he successively served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Office of Shanghai-Nanjing and Beijing-Han Railway, Minister of Postal Communications Department, Governor of Fengtian, and Minister of Postal Communications Department last year.This time Yuan formed a cabinet and appointed him as Minister of Post and Communications. Wang Jingwei knew about Zhan Tianyou's construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, but he didn't know the details. After hearing Yuan's words, he thought that Yuan really knew how to employ people and had the mind to be a leader.So he said: "Zhan Tianyou made this career thanks to your support and trust." Yuan Shikai smiled slightly and said: "I have always supported anyone who has real talents and learning and is willing to contribute to the country. If the revolutionary party is really doing things for China, if the republic run by the people can really make China prosperous and strong, I will also support you." Definitely support it." The enthusiastic young revolutionist was excited by the words of the prime minister, and said excitedly: "Master Yuan, if you really support the Chinese people's republic, this is the luck of the Chinese people. I believe that we revolutionaries will be happy to communicate with you." friend's." "Thank you." Yuan Shikai stroked his beard and said, "Then please tell Mr. Wang what I mean to the leaders of your party, especially Mr. Huang Keqiang who is in Wuchang as soon as possible." "Okay!" Wang Jingwei agreed. "I also want to ask Mr. Wang to do me a favor." Yuan Shikai stretched out a stubby arm and raised his fat palm. "I don't know anything about the democratic republic. I want to ask Mr. Wang to teach me." Hearing that Yuan Shikai wanted to ask him about the democratic republic, Wang Jingwei became very emotional.He has a stomach full of knowledge in this area, so he can talk for three days and three nights without any preparation.Over the years, what he has worked hard to promote among overseas Chinese is mainly the theory of democracy and republic.Wang Jingwei was soberly aware of Yuan Shikai's status and role in today's Chinese political arena, and thought: If Yuan Shikai was persuaded to accept a democratic republic through his own preaching, many bloody sacrifices would be avoided, and the road to revolution would be greatly smoothed.He is too happy to do this kind of thing. "Master Yuan, when will you start talking?" Yuan Shikai thought for a while, and said: "I have so many things to do during the day, I really can't find time. How about this, every night from ten o'clock to eleven o'clock, you tell me for an hour, and finish talking about the main points of democracy and republic in three nights. ,OK?" "Okay!" Wang Jingwei agreed. "Then starting tomorrow, I will send a car to pick you up, please come on time, Mr. Wang." Knowing that Yuan Shikai was busy, Wang Jingwei stood up and said goodbye.Yuan sent Wang to the gate in person, and Yang Du accompanied Wang to the car and left Yuan's mansion. Yuan Keding followed his father back to the room.Yuan Shikai said to his son: "You can find some pamphlets written by revolutionaries tomorrow. I want to read them, and you brothers should also read them." "Father!" Yuan Keding was puzzled, "Are you really interested in a democratic republic?" "Keding, you are thirty-three years old this year, and you have been growing up by my side, why don't you put more effort into studying?" Yuan Shikai frowned, and said to his son solemnly, "Democratic Republic, you want to Do you think I will practice a democratic republic? Can China practice a democratic republic? But now that the revolutionary party is causing trouble, and half of China responds, can it be suppressed by force? The only way is to talk to them. They keep talking about democracy. Gonghe, if I don’t understand anything, how can I talk to them?” Yuan Keding said: "Oh, I understand, Dad went into the tiger's den to catch tiger cubs." Yuan Shikai pointed to his head and said, "You still don't understand here." Yuan Keding was puzzled again: Obviously what you said just now meant that, why not?In the mind of Mr. Yuan, this old man of his is really unattainable.From the age of seventeen or eighteen, he had determined to be a powerful figure like his father, and even wanted to surpass him.For more than ten years, he has been learning from his father step by step, carefully observing and speculating carefully, hoping to learn from Lao Tzu, but he feels that the gap between Lao Tzu and Lao Tzu is too great.Father's thoughts and methods are really beyond reach.But he was never discouraged, he believed that one day he would be better than blue. "Father, please give me advice." Yuan Keding stood respectfully beside his father, with a pious demeanor of receiving advice. Yuan Shikai was very strict with his sons, and always hoped that they would become masters and succeed him in the future, but he gradually became disappointed over the years.Not to mention the younger ones, but the grown-ups: the second son, Kewen, is dissolute and willing to be a scholar of poetry and wine, and he doesn't like it; the third son, Keliang, is always laughing and joking, like a fool, and he doesn't like it either; The fourth son, Ke Duan, is eccentric and withdrawn, and he is worried that his son is insane; the fifth son, Ke Quan, is keen on studying in the study; the sixth son, Ke Heng, and the eighth son, Ke Ji, both want to start a business; He was dissatisfied, compared with others, only the boss was reluctant.Keding is naturally good at talking about state affairs, and Yuan Shikai thought that this son had great ambitions.Keding can indeed give him some ideas and do things for him sometimes, so he has always attached great importance to this eldest son.Although Yuan Keding was not his ideal successor, among the fifteen sons, he could only count on the eldest son in the future.Since his comeback, he has been more interested in nurturing Keding, and he often tells Keding what he thinks in his heart, hoping that his son will mature sooner. "Keding, have you ever thought about how the current war will end?" Yuan Shikai stared at his son and asked. "My son hasn't thought about it well, so I ask my father to enlighten me." In fact, Yuan Keding thought about it, and thought about it a lot, but he didn't want to say it, he wanted to hear his father's opinion on this important matter first. "There are just a few endings." Yuan Shikai took out a cigar from the cigarette case on the coffee table, and Keding quickly lit the match for his father.After puffing out a puff of smoke, Yuan Shikai continued, "One is that the revolutionary army retakes Hankou, Feng Huafu and Duan Zhiquan are defeated by Huang Xing, and then Henan, Shandong, Zhili, and the three eastern provinces all follow the example of the south and declare Independence from the imperial court. At that time, the imperial court is over, and our Yuan family is also over." Yuan Keding said: "It cannot end like this." Yuan Shikai smiled slightly and said: "The second is that Feng and Duan immediately take Hanyang and Wuchang, and then send more than a dozen armies to conquer the independent provinces, wipe out the revolutionary parties one by one, and return a complete country to them." emperor." Yuan Keding touched the back of his forehead and said, "This is quite a difficult task." "Hmph!" Yuan Shikai exhaled a puff of thick smoke from his nostrils. "Isn't it just difficult, and I'm not willing to do this, can I do this for Zaifeng? There is nothing wrong with the world, and I am demoted to the people. When there is something wrong with the world, I am asked to lead troops to the front. He wants me To be the second Zeng Guofan is a miscalculation. I, Yuan, am not Zeng Guofan, nor do I want to be Zeng Guofan!" Yuan Keding was a little surprised: this was the first time that his father had expressed his unwillingness to be loyal to the imperial court so clearly.He nodded and said, "Yes, Zaifeng is too much of a bully. He is not worthy of our Yuan family's work for him." "There is only a third way left, to negotiate peace with the revolutionary party." Yuan Shikai put out a small cigar in the ashtray, stood up from the sofa, put his hands on his waist, and his expression clearly expressed his determination Only bet on this move. Yuan Keding asked cautiously: "Since it is for peace talks, both parties have to accept the other party's conditions. What conditions are you going to accept from the revolutionaries?" "I accept their democratic republic!" Yuan Shikai said firmly, "Didn't they say that a democratic republic is their highest goal? I accept this highest goal." "What conditions did father propose?" Yuan Keding was most concerned about this. "They also have to reward me with the highest status." "Their highest status is the Grand President." "Yes, tell them to give up the president." Yuan Shikai stroked the beard under his nose, looked at his son with a half-smile and asked, "How about your father being China's first president?" "Excellent!" Yuan Keding was so happy that he almost jumped up. "Where are Sun Wen and Huang Xing the material to be a great president? In the whole of China, only dad can be a great president." After a short pause, Yuan Keding asked another question: "Father has become the president, how can the emperor do it? Can a country have both a president and an emperor?" "This is a difficult problem." Yuan Shikai sat down on the sofa again and said, "So I want you to find the pamphlets of the revolutionaries. If you want the emperor, the revolutionaries will not agree. If you don't want the emperor, I Yuan After all, my family has been favored by the state, and in the future someone will say that someone Yuan bullies widows and orphans, and is unkind, and I don't want to bear this bad name, I have to find a way to get the best of both worlds." Yuan Keding couldn't think of any solution, and stood there blankly.Yuan Shikai didn't have a good idea for a while.He said to his son, "Keding, go discuss it with Xizi and see if he has any good ideas. You also want Xizi to give Wang Jingwei a chance to see if they can accept my offer." "My son obeys." Yuan Keding agreed happily.