Chapter 72 71. Liang Shiyi and the Petition Federation

Before Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, the undercurrent in Beiyang politics was the dispute between the Guangdong faction and the Anhui faction. The so-called Cantonese faction was the Liang Shiyi faction, also known as the Communication faction; the so-called Anhui faction was the Yang Shiqi faction.During the first, second and third years of the Republic of China, Liang Shiyi was really an authoritative figure under Yuan. He also has actual financial power, so he is indeed a hot figure. He embarrassed Premier Xiong Xiling, a financial expert, and caused the miscarriage of Yang Du and Yang Shiqi, the chief of communications. , the future of being an official is limited.

However, the greater his power, the greater his opposition, and the two Yangs were the main opposition forces.The two Yangs are Yang Du and Yang Shiqi.It is said that when the convention meeting was held, Yuan Shikai was quite interested in giving Liang Shiyi the speaker's seat, but Yang Du said lightly from the side: "Yan Sun is the leader of the Kuomintang, and the Kuomintang branches are all over the country."Yuan immediately said with a heavy face: "He is not suitable for this job." Yang's backstabbing happened to report to Xiong Xiling when Xiong Xiling formed the cabinet. The old grudge that knocked off the traffic chief's hat.

At the beginning of the third year of the Republic of China, the two factions in the presidential palace, Guangdong and Anhui, fought fiercely. In March, Yang Shiqi made a public statement as follows: "Others call me Huang Laoism, I really don't care. It's the same as when someone called me Yuan Dang in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Xiang Cheng had already resigned, and Wen Jing (referring to his brother Yang Shixiang) was the Minister of Beiyang, so I couldn't leave immediately. Zhang Wenxiang actually said: "Although one of the two pillars is transplanted, there is still a line in the middle." The two pillars refer to Xiangcheng and Qingdi, and I am the front line to convey the news. After the Wuchang Uprising, I was appointed as a peace representative. It is not enough to overcome difficulties, and the republic will not have good results, so I resigned. In the past two years, I lived in Shanghai, or it was the period when the Huang-Laoism was practiced. Xiangcheng called repeatedly. For the relationship of old friends, If you are here, you will be safe, and it doesn’t matter whether you are an official or not. There is no need to be an official, and there is no need not to be an official. The last time Secretary-General Liang swore not to be a minister, I agreed to be the chief of transportation. Others scolded I am the leader of the Anhui faction, so I am the leader of the Anhui faction.” Liang Shiyi was based on transportation, but in fact he held financial power.At that time, although the Beijing government had a chief financial officer, the financial power was concentrated in the financial conference in the presidential palace.Yuan was the convener of this financial meeting, while Liang was the actual host. After the collapse of the Xiong cabinet, financial power was more concentrated in the presidential palace, and even all revenue and expenditure were approved by the president.One day, Yuan said to Liang, "If the financial crisis is like this, the Ministry of Communications must help." Liang replied, "Please tell the president, how much is enough?" Yuan said, "There must be four to five million yuan per month. That’s enough.” Liang replied, “Then it’s 500,000 yuan.” Since then, the Ministry of Communications has paid the full amount on time every month.

Liang's power is great, and so is his anti-Liang's power. The anti-Liang strategy is to cater to Yuan's psychology, and promote Xu Shichang to be the Secretary of State, because after the cabinet system is broken, the president's old friend is invited to be the Secretary of State, and the position of the Secretary-General of the Presidential Palace will be lost. It completely failed, this is the best way to hit Liang Shiyi, and it is also a wonderful move! Therefore, although Liang Shiyi is powerful, he is also in a very dangerous situation, which can be seen from a newspaper clipping and a letter from Liang's father.

This newspaper clipping is a special article in Hong Kong's "Zi Lin Xi Bao", describing Liang's power. The full text is as follows: "The one that China relies on today is President Yuan, and the one that will rely on it in the future is actually Secretary-General Liang. Liang Shiyi is the most powerful person in China's finances. He has a firm nature and talent. He is very smooth and doesn't like big talk, but seeks to be down-to-earth, step by step, so that it will come to fruition, and he will reap it in one fell swoop. This kind of character is very similar to the life of President Yuan. In the presidential palace, President Yuan always relies on him for major financial matters. Left and right hands are like marchers. President Yuan Da is the vanguard of the front, and Liang Shiyi is the food platform for the rear. He also has the best support from the Ministry of Communications, which has endless sources of wealth. After Zhou Xuexi left, he has already used his skills. As for the Ministry of Finance, It has been successful recently. And it has been further focused on the national industry. Now the policy of opening up the industry actually started from Liang Shiyi. Xiong Xiling and others just echoed it, and the one who received the credit is still Liang Shiyi. Therefore, when we talk about the real power in China's finances, except Liang Shiyi It is almost impossible to find a second person. Moreover, Liang Shiyi's financial power not only occupies real power in the country, but also has the highest international credit. Recently, various loans have been signed by someone in name, but There is Liang Shiyi in the inside story; and often others fail to negotiate, but Liang Shiyi is completely successful as soon as he handles it. Today, Liang Shiyi has the qualifications to represent President Yuan Da, and he can cater to the trend of industrial investment externally. Everything he did was not as he wished. In Chinese political circles, there may be some people who say that Liang Shiyi has too much power, or even that President Yuan’s power is on the sidelines. It cannot be supported, fearing that President Yuan’s mighty military power will be affected by it. The trust of outsiders in Liang Shiyi is also the biggest reason. In short, the political power of all countries in the world today has almost all the financial power, and the military strength is no more than what is left. Ying, if there is no fallacy in this theory, then the person who will rule China after military power must be in power, that is, the person who will rule China after President Yuan will be Liang Shiyi. This is why Liang Shiyi is the most promising talent in Chinese politics.”

Liang Baosan, Liang Shiyi's father, wrote a letter to his son for this special article: "I read a commentary in "Zi Lin Xi Bao", which seems to be highly praised, but it is actually a taboo in the world. For those who are open-minded and magnanimous, they may not be suspicious, but for those who are far-sighted, they are not without thoughts. , I hope that the successor, all kinds of people, are jealous. In the past, Cao Mengde was afraid of Yang Xiu, who used his talent to exaggerate himself and harm him. It is the daily newspaper that if someone deliberately does it, he must go from Beijing to Shanghai. From Shanghai to Hong Kong, the government must hear about it. Therefore, take a step back in every matter to save yourself. The predecessors have made great achievements and shocked the master. It may be said that some things have too much power, or that power has been left behind. These are all seditious words, which are enough to confuse newspaper readers."

Mr. Liang is not worrying too much, it is a fact.When Yuan used troops against the south, the military and political chiefs and division and brigade commanders of various provinces must make a special trip to visit Liang after they visited Yuan in Beijing.One day Yuan said to Liang: "Your status will be more important in the future. The commander of the division and brigade who is now entering the pilgrimage should not be underestimated." .However, Liang advocated not to change the cabinet system for the time being. If you want to expand the government system, it is better to expand the government secretary office to accommodate talents.Yuan wanted to change the Prime Minister to Secretary of State, but Liang Da objected. Yuan stared at Liang without turning his eyes. Only then did Liang realize that he was suspected by Yuan.

After Xu Shichang became Secretary of State, Yang Shiqi, Liang Shiyi's political opponent, gained power, and Liang Nai left the presidential palace. Naturally, his momentum dropped a lot. The big participation in the case was a sensational political case of the Beijing government that year, and the participation in the case began with the Jinpu Railway.The former General Office of the North Section of Jinpu Road, the current Suzheng Shi Meng Yushuang, and the Jinpu Road Chief Auditor Jin Gongshou decided to participate in the draft, and the Suzheng Shi Wang Hu and Cai Baoshan went to Jinpu Road to conduct a close investigation, listing ten crimes, led by Du Suzhengshi, On July 18, Secretary of State Xu Shichang then delivered an oral order to President Yuan Da:

"According to Suzheng Shi Zhuang Yunkuan and other statements: 'The railway is of a commercial nature, such as Pujin Road, and it is all borrowed. If I don't renovate and rectify it, those with creditors will object to it' and other words." Actually visited Ming Dynasty and petitioned for approval. According to the report of the investigation of the history of the Su government and other investigations, I have listed ten items, all of which are serious flaws, except that the Ministry of Communications dismissed Zhao Qinghua, the director of the road, and explained the quality. , should be handed over to the Pingzhengyuan for trial according to law, and the important witnesses in the case should be passed on separately, and there is no need to follow them!"

This was the first shot, but it was not a major blow to Liang Shiyi. On July 20, Yuan issued an order to suspend Liang’s right-hand man Ye Gongchuo’s position as the Deputy Minister of Transportation. This was the important start. Yuan’s order was: "According to Zhou Shumo, the dean of Pingzheng, the case of Jinpu Railway Director Zhao Qinghua's fraud and self-dealing, Ye Gongchuo, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Communications, is the most involved. Please order a temporary suspension pending announcement. Ye Gongchuo is temporarily suspended." Ye Gongchuo is the second person in the traffic department, the incarnation of Liang Shiyi. Liang is not the chief of traffic but the leader of the traffic department. Ye Gong is the actual soul of the traffic department when he is the deputy chief of traffic. It is conceivable that the power behind the scenes is so great that Yuan attacked Ye Gongchuo.However, the situation did not end with Ye Gongchuo's suspension pending announcement. On the contrary, it was expanding, involving the Beijing-Han, Beijing-Sui, Shanghai-Nanjing, and Zhengtai railways.The Ministry of Communications ordered Guan Genglin, director of the Beijing-Hanzhou Railway Bureau, and Guan Miandiao, director of the Beijing-Suizhou Railway Bureau, to resign for a hearing.In this way, of course, it became a sensational event in the traffic circle, and everyone knew that this was agreed by Yuan, and it was a big blow to Liang Shiyi's traffic department.

After the Jiaotong University participated in the case, Yuan once said to Liang: "So you were involved in the case, and I asked them to remove your part." This seems to indicate that Yuan is still very good to Liang, but the president will meet with the case first. When it comes to the manuscript, it is obvious that there is something wrong with it.After participating in the case, Liang Shiyi asked for sick leave and took a nap in Cuiwei Mountain. It took five months for the Jiaotong University to investigate and deal with the case, and in the end Ye Gongchuo still had to be reinstated. Liang Shiyi organized the National Petition Federation when he was participating in the case at Jiaotong University. This may be a political self-help movement, which was not Liang's original intention. However, Liang tried his best to clean up the matter afterwards, insisting that the "National Petition Federation" was not organized by him. group, but Yuan insisted on signing it for him, which seems to be too reluctant to deny. The National Petition Federation was established on September 19 in Beijing's Anfu Hutong. This is a veritable imperial action group, and it is much more practical than the Chou An Association in the name of research. This is where Liang Shiyi differs from Yang Du.The founding manifesto of the National Petition Federation reads: "The founding of the Republic of China has been precarious for four years now, and it cannot last all day long. It is not a day for the fathers and children to look forward to the reconciliation of the monarch and the constitution! , combined with colleagues, for a common appeal, the book has tens of thousands of words, its people are counted by thousands, and its aspirations, then the word "Junxian" is it! Opinions in the Legislative Yuan, all proposals that are in line with the consolidation of the country's foundation and the revitalization of the country's power, the representative organ, so accepting the review and reporting, are also in line with the public will of our people and do not violate the government's declaration. In a spirit of vindictiveness, it is advisable to have the hope of letting go of the old and trying to make a new one! But if you fall short of success, you will not be able to make a mountain; The sand is scattered in the pan, and there is no discussion, so it is not necessarily possible to make a car and join the same track. What's more, if you have the same job ambition and the same goal, if you make persistent efforts, it will be judged by whether the sound can be carried out; The same person initiated the National Petition Federation and agreed on a number of articles. Afterwards, we worked together to make progress and plan to succeed every day. We will become a new state and comfort our people. This will bring glory to the welfare of 400 million people. " Chairman Shen Yunpei, Vice Presidents Na Yantu and Zhang Jinfang, Secretary Xie Huanwu, Deputy Liang Hongzhi, Fang Biao, Accounting Director Ruan Zhonghuan, Deputy Jiang Bangyan, Xia Renhu, General Affairs Director Hu Bicheng, Deputy Quan Liang and Wu Zesheng, Communication Director Zheng Wan Zhan, deputy Yuan Zhenhuang, Kang Shiduo. The rickshaw puller initiated the petition on behalf of the Beijing Rickshaw Puller. Beggars initiated the petition on behalf of Beijing Beggars. Launched by the Women's Petition Group Jingsheng Institute. Citizens' petition groups are composed of provincial officials in the name of native citizens. Initiated by Yang Du and others of the Preparatory Security Council. The security petition delegation is composed of representatives from various provinces in the security committee. The chamber of commerce petition was initiated by Feng Linpei of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce and Zhou Jinyang of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce. The education association petition group Beijing Mei Baoji and Ma Weilong initiated it. Initiated by Yun Yuding and Li Yuru of the Beijing Social Political Reform Meeting. Initiated by Chen Shaotang, a citizen petition group in Shanghai. The women's petition group was initiated by Ms. Jingsheng, nicknamed An Dalang, and its petition stated: "Our girls live in groups and are silent. I have never heard of a single person running after the gentlemen, and the gentlemen have not awakened the women who are obsessed with drunken dreams and thought they were petitioners. Are women not the people of China? Changing the national system is a major issue, and it is not something we women can hear? Check the "Convention Law" and it contains the sovereignty of the Republic of China. This is the case for the people of the whole country. It is the same for the people of the whole country. From the perspective of men and women, among the 400 million compatriots, women account for Half of the petitions are made by men and no women, so this crippled and endless petition will not take away the sovereignty of our women? If women don't know, it means ignorance. If they don't understand, it means giving up. Husbands and women in our country are wise. The shallowness of knowledge, how can we hide it? However, avoiding danger and seeking safety is also the same mentality as men. The relationship between life and property, how can we let it go for a long time, and not seek to maintain it? Jingsheng and others Frail body, shabby knowledge, turmoil of the painful situation, women are just worried, fortunately, the ignorance is restored, the brilliance is brighter, the streams gather to form the sea, and the soil is made into a mountain. Since the woman is a citizen, can you not be self-aware? Don't worry about the details, dare to lead our 200 million compatriots in the women's world to accompany and petition after the patriotic gentlemen. Sisters are like sisters! I'm so happy! The initiator is Jing Shengqi." After this petition was disclosed in the newspaper, girls Yang Shuyi, Chen Xiuwen, Liang Xiuying, etc. sent out a lot of messages: "The petitioners in the political circle hope to be knighted. The petitioners in the female world hope to be concubines. Quiet life book A bitch, I hope all my aunts and sisters don't associate with bitches!" She scolded very happily! After the Petition Federation was formed, it mobilized all provinces and agencies to send petitions, requesting a change to the monarchy, as a group to urge the realization of the monarchy.At that time, Yuan Shikai hoped to convene a National Assembly as an institution for the whole people to support the imperial system, so the Petition Federation wrote to the Senate, requesting that the National Assembly be the official institution to resolve the state system. Originally, Yuan was eager to proclaim himself emperor, and planned to use the "National Assembly" as an institution to solve the state system, but legal experts believed that the National Assembly was the constitutional institution of the Republic of China, and it was not suitable for solving the state system. It cannot be justified internally and externally.Therefore, the purpose of the joint petition is to promote the formation of the National Congress.