Chapter 66 Chapter 26

Just after Feng Guozhang had a heart-to-heart conversation with Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai's second son, Yuan Kewen, invited him to a banquet in Zhongnanhai, accompanied by Beiyang Duan Zhigui and several internal history secretaries. During the banquet, Feng Guozhang said with great grief and indignation: The president is too timid. If China does not implement the imperial system, it will definitely not be strong.But today I persuaded the president to come in, and the president gave me a scolding, what should I do? Yuan Kewen gritted his teeth and said with a smile: I'm afraid the time is not enough.

Feng Guozhang said: After the Kuomintang's second revolution was defeated, it was a good opportunity.At that time, I advised him that the president refused, saying that he was afraid of violating public opinion.What is public opinion?Do whatever you want, regardless of public opinion.Alas, the president was quite decisive at the beginning, why is he a little afraid of wolves and tigers now? At this point, Feng Guozhang's own attitude has become confusing and unpredictable. He came to Beijing with Liang Qichao this time, and he had something to say in advance, to test Yuan Shikai's attitude.Therefore, his conversation with Yuan Shikai should be to find out Yuan Shikai's true inner thoughts.But when it came to another occasion, he had the cheek to say that he persuaded him to join, but Yuan Shikai refused. Why is this?

Analyzing it, this is actually Feng Guozhang, after probing, recognized that Yuan Shikai had no intention of proclaiming himself emperor, so he wanted to get a favor, claiming that he supported Yuan Shikai, and even supported Yuan Shikai's proclaiming emperor, but he said it casually, expressing his loyalty and reliability, why not? In fact, Feng Guozhang hated Yuan Shikai's proclaiming emperor very much, because he hated Yuan Keding the most.In many public occasions, he referred to Yuan Keding as Cao Pi, and complained to someone every day: If President Yuan became the emperor, how could Cao Pi like this be served?

That night, when Yuan Shikai came home from get off work, he heard that Feng Guozhang was talking nonsense again, so he shook his head angrily and said, "Feng Huafu is so unreasonable!"How could Feng Huafu be reasonable! What Yuan Shikai meant was: Old Feng, Feng Guozhang, I know that you are against the imperial system, so just speak out if you are against it.Everyone speaks clearly, gongs and drums face to face, and then analyze and judge, in order to figure out what should really be done.But you can't talk about no limit, you are obviously here to test whether I want to be emperor, if I say yes, then it's your turn to get mad, and you will definitely fight with me like Duan Qirui.In order to prevent you from killing me, I can only deny it.But you are fine, I denied you but said I was persuading you, please, let's not be too thick-skinned, you can't always be right in everything, you have to give others a chance.

All in all, Yuan Shikai hoped that Feng Guozhang could also be like Duan Qirui. In that case, things would be simple. But Duan Qirui only has one. This is where Yuan Shikai's tragedy lies. In desperation, Yuan Shikai ordered: rebuild Zhengyang Gate. With this order, the capital immediately went into an uproar.