Chapter 98 Section 97

Arriving at the "Yangshou Garden" in Zhangde, Henan, Yang Shiqi immediately presented Zaifeng's letter with both hands, and said, "Congratulations! Congratulations! " Yuan Shikai was silent, opened the letter and read it, but it was only a general word of comfort, but it was indeed Zaifeng's own handwriting, so he immediately asked: "Why did you remember to send me such a letter?" "Of course there are still things to say. But the letter is very important. Having this letter is enough to prove that the past has been cleared up." Yang Shiqi said: "It is time to think about when to leave the mountain!"

Then, Yang Shiqi explained in detail how Yikuang tried to protect him in front of Zaifeng, and specifically mentioned that if he was willing to go to Beijing, Yikuang would be responsible for ensuring his "official reinstatement". "No way!" Yuan Shikai said: "The court has always been forbidden to have six people. If I go, there will always be one person who will be disadvantaged." There has been a long-standing legend of the six people who were banned from the shuting. Today, there are Yikuang, Lu Chuanlin, Zhang Zhidong, Shixu, Natong, and Yuan Shikai. "But," Yang Shiqi said, "Nanpi I'm afraid the days are numbered."

"Then I can't go, because it will hinder Nanpi if I go." Yang Shiqi said: "I was ordered to advise me, so I had to say something. In fact, although the time to go out of the mountain is approaching, it is not yet time to go out. I have to wait until the three major events are settled." "Yes! Let's see. Xingcheng," Yuan Shikai asked, "You said it was three major events?" "One is the good and bad luck of Nanpi; the other is Duan Taozhai's deeds; the third is the origin of Tie Baochen." Yuan Shikai thought about his three words for a while, and felt that what he said was right. Duanfang was able to settle the debt he owed to Yang Shixiang when he arrived. In addition, Zhang Zhidong died and Tie Liang left, so he could go out of the mountain when he arrived. when.And yet he didn't say enough!

Yuan Shikai's idea is that if he doesn't come out, he must grasp the power. In military affairs, the "big boss" can still take the lead, but he must have the real power to make all the ministries buy it. At present, at least he is like Zai Ze. Clinging to financial power is something that cannot be tolerated. However, Yuan Shikai's nature likes to cheat, and since he is in the forest, it is inconvenient to appear enthusiastic. However, in such a relationship as Yang Shiqi, he has to say a few words of truth, so after thinking about it for a while, he said in a casual chat: "In the middle of Guangxu, Rong Wenzhong was squeezed out, and later he offended King Chun, so he was relegated to Xi'an, where he sat on the bench for several years. After the Sino-Japanese War, King Gong came back up, just when Rong Wenzhong Zhu Gu was in Beijing, King Gong deliberately said to the congratulatory guests, " When I came out this trip, I have no prejudice against the employing people. Only the infantry commander must be protected by me. I must rely on Rong Zhonghua!" Rong Wenzhong heard this and said to people, "I was demoted by Shangshu. Still following the usual practice, I will not do it if I am transferred to serve as a minister and then serve as the commander of the infantry.' The result is to make up the minister first, and then the admiral Jiumen. I think that I should get back my face before I can negotiate. other."

"Didn't the boss say that the official should be restored to his original post?" "Does this count as saving face?" "What should I do?" Yang Shiqi asked calmly. Yuan Shikai smiled and did not answer, and changed the subject: "I heard that Chun Wang Fujin often walks quietly. Do you have this word? " Hearing the word "Mixing", Yang Shiqi couldn't help laughing: "The word Weixing is wonderful!" He said: "Actually speaking, Chun Wang Fujin is equal to the queen, and in name, it is exactly the same. The empress dowager who was detained, is doing little things anyway."

"So, there is indeed such news?" "It's not news anymore!" Yang Shiqi replied: "In about three days, one day at noon, you can see her at the Liuguo Hotel in Dongjiaomin Lane." "What are you doing there?" "Eat, sing and drink, and sometimes dance." "This is really news! It's a bit unbelievable." Yang Shiqi himself knew that the news was a bit sloppy, how could he dance with embroidered shoes with "flower pot bottoms" on the flag?He couldn't help but flush, but it wasn't easy to see because he had a big wine nose.

"Dancing is a rumor." He lied calmly: "Drinking is something I can see with my own eyes." "I believe that this little girl can drink since she was a child." Yuan Shikai nodded, and his thoughts fell into memories: "At that time, I often saw her in Rong Wenzhong's signing room. She was only eleven or twelve years old, wearing a Blue silk gown, like a boy. Rong Wenzhong often left me in the signing room for lunch and business affairs, and the servant never forgot to put another pair of gold-inlaid tooth chopsticks, and Rong Wenzhong never forgot to scoop up half a spoonful of wine for her, saying something , 'Drink slowly.' It has been eleven years!"

Eleven years ago was the Reform Movement of 1898.The "little girl" who was delicate and naive back then, was already the same as the mother of the country!Yang Shiqi was thinking, the "fourth brother" in front of him, the "fourth brother" in the next life-brother Yang Shixiang, the official positions at that time were all ranked fourth or fifth. But in eleven years, he became the number one. First-class people, but suddenly, those who go into the soil go into the soil, and those who return to the field return to the field, it is really a big dream. Even the influential figures at that time, Weng Tonghe, who was the most dedicated to the king, and Ronglu, who was extremely powerful, are now all tombs have been arched, and all grievances and grievances have disappeared.Yang Shiqi changed his mind to this, and couldn't help asking: "It has been rumored for many years that Master Weng was tricked by Rong Wenzhong, and that Master Weng was offended because he saved Kang Youwei. I don't know the truth, what is it?"

"How can a man as cautious as Master Weng be healthy and successful? But a scholar is a gentleman with a peaceful disposition, and he hates it deeply and cannot be killed. Master Weng is modest and studious. After getting close to Zhang Youqiao, he realized that 'the world' is not limited to China. The truth is like the above. As I said, there are several big states besides 'Dongsheng Shenzhou', so I don't care about the new learning, and listen to it from the bottom of my heart. Even if there are different opinions about the old learning, I dare not refute it clearly. Kang Youwei is in Master Weng, but so-and-so It's just a palliative."

"This theory is very sophisticated. However, the Empress Dowager Cixi always thought that Kang Youwei had a deep relationship with Master Weng, so it was not uncommon for him to be jealous." When Yang Shiqi sent a piece of Jilin Laoshan ginseng sent by Yuan Shikai to Zhang's mansion, Zhang Zhidong was already drafting the will.The writers are two of his proud students, both from Hubei, Chen Zengshou and Fu Yufen who were born in Lianghu Academy. "I already have the general idea." Zhang Zhidong coughed and said, "The general idea is this: he has never planted party support or planted production to encourage himself. He has nothing to think about, but the current situation is difficult, the people are poor and rich, I hope that the emperor will learn from the classics personally, be diligent and renew day by day, and all the issues of profit and loss should be reviewed in order of priority. This sentence is very important! Do you understand what I mean?"

"It means that the reform of the general government must be done step by step. There is no need to rush for things that are not urgent." Chen Zengshou asked, "Is this the teacher?" "That's right!" Zhang Zhidong continued to dictate: "Manchu and Han are regarded as one, and both internal and external must be taken care of. Financial management is based on raising the people, and we abide by the rule that our ancestors will never add gifts; teaching and fighting is based on shame. The ring of self-immolation. This sentence is also important!" "Admonishing relatives and noble soldiers, you must be cautious?" "Now I have to say that! In fact, we shouldn't hold military power in our hands at all." Zhang Zhidong shook his head, sighed, and read again: "If you want to be clear about respecting your relatives and righteousness, there will be many people who are eager to serve you. May there be upright and honest people, and those who are greedy and profit-seeking will be screened out. The righteousness of the common people is growing day by day, and the country is self-defense." After chanting, I can't stop being short of breath, so I hurried to find the medicine left by the Western medicine, which is specially used for asthma, and take it. After a while, the liver and stomach hurt, and then I look for painkillers.In the evening, the doctor of traditional Chinese medicine came to make a diagnosis and treatment. He heard that the appetite had dropped sharply, so the prescription was mainly to invigorate the spleen and stimulate the appetite.In this way, both Chinese and Western medicines are advanced, medicines and stones are thrown together, and it is extended to August 18th. I vomit after taking medicine and eating. It seems that the deadline is approaching. "Please open the vacancy!" He said weakly, "Otherwise it will be too late." Zhang Zhidong didn't want to lose the reputation of being dead and still in love.The family understood what he meant, so they wrote the paper on the same day, but it was not delivered until August 20th. "How is his illness?" Prince Regent Zaifeng asked Lu Chuanlin. They are uncle Lang's close relatives, Lu Zhuanlin has to visit the sick every day, the situation is very clear, he replied with a frown: "It's at stake!" "I have to go see him." Lu Chuanlin was silent because he was conflicted.With Zhang Zhidong's status, before he died, the regent had to make a quick move, otherwise he would lose face.But the custom has been passed down that once the emperor visits the patient in person, the minister's illness will never be cured. But Zhang Zhidong was looking forward to this grace.Because he still has some words related to the world's most important plan, he wants to persuade the regent, hoping that those who are persuaded will think of the idiom "Life is about to die, and his words are good", and he will pay attention to his advice. So on the 21st day of the eighth month, an edict was first issued: "Great scholar Zhang Zhidong is loyal to the country and has been working hard for a long time. Because he has not recovered from a long illness, I am thinking deeply from time to time, and I will reward the holiday again. There is no need to set a fixed date, and recuperate with peace of mind. Once the illness is cured, it will be sold as a fake, and two liang of ginseng will be rewarded to people, so as to facilitate the transfer of funds. At noon, Prince Regent Zaifeng came to Zhang Zhidong's new residence by the Shichahai in an apricot-yellow sedan chair, accompanied by the imperial ministers. This building was built with a grant of 20,000 taels from the Hubei Rehabilitation Bureau, and it was only moved in not long ago.The relatives of Zhang's family have prepared it long ago, and will post Zhang Zhidong's collection of sentences: "The imperial court has a way to be young; the gate is selfless and the day is free." On that day, Zhang Zhidong's eldest son, Zhang Quan, knelt beside the sedan chair to meet him.After saying hello, he was led to the side of the sick bed. Zhang Zhidong couldn't get up anymore, he could only kowtow on his pillow.It was the first time that Zaifeng looked at the minister's illness, and he didn't know what to say? After listening to Zhang Quan kneeling on the ground, Zai Feng looked at Zhang Zhidong and said, "Mr. Zhongtang is loyal to the country and is very famous. Take good care of him." "I don't dare to be loyal to the country. But I am honest and selfless, I dare not not encourage it!" "It should be like this, it should be like this! You take good care of it, don't worry." As he said, his footsteps had already moved, and he turned away after speaking. Zhang Zhidong closed his eyes as if he were dead, and squeezed two tears out of his eyes. After twenty years of idleness, Chen Baochen, who was summoned to Beijing a few months ago, had been hiding elsewhere. what?" Zhang Zhidong didn't answer, he sighed after a while, and said in a voice so low that only he could hear, "I'm exhausted!" He regards the regent as a "king of subjugation"!If Zaifeng had the slightest idea in his mind to heal the country, of course he would ask Zhang Zhidong, how can there be nothing to replace the 40 years of ministers and the 30 years of feudalism?And if he didn't take this into account, it showed that he didn't have the word country in his mind at all. If he supervised the country like this, what would he do if he didn't die? "I have something on my mind," Zhang Zhidong said again, "I originally wanted to discuss it in person, but now it happens to be described in the oblivion." As he spoke, he stretched out his dry and trembling hand, and touched the pillow.His fourth son, Zhang Renkan, was by his side and took out the missing manuscripts from the pillow box for him, and handed them to him. "Tao'an!" He said, "Please write for me and change one or two places." Chen Baochen pondered for a while, and answered softly: "Okay." "Help me sit up!" When Zhang Renkan helped his father to sit up, the servant had already brought a half table with pens and inkstones on it, and put it in front of the bed. Chen Baochen sat facing the bed across the half table, and Zhang Zhidong leaned on the table, Prime Minister Bai met, pondering over the words, and both of them unexpectedly recalled the days when they were in high spirits in Ci Lin. "Tao'an, you read it first and I will listen." Zhen Baochen nodded, and read the draft in a low voice, very slowly, allowing him to interrupt at any time to make comments. When he read, "The minister is mediocre and has no academic knowledge. He was honored with the knowledge of the previous dynasty. He tried his countermeasures, pointed out Chen Shizheng, put him in the first place, prepared a member of the CI library, and was promoted to a cabinet bachelor." He opened his mouth. "I think," he said, "it's a bit too brief here. It seems that there should be an explanation for the four words 'Teda Zhizhi'." Chen Baochen nodded in agreement.The theory of Zhang Zhidong's Palace Examination was written out of the box and not in the formula. He had already been ranked at the bottom of the top three, and he had no hope of Hanlin. Unexpectedly, Bao Yun greatly appreciated it and strived to be ranked first in the second class. The Empress Dowager Cixi promoted him to the top three. Yijia, from Chuanlu to Tanhua.This is a good story that has been heard for a long time. Of course, it should be told in it, so that it is enough to express my gratitude and deep gratitude, and I will never forget it until my death. However, if the narration is too revealing, it will be lost in Qianbao. Chen Baochen pondered for a while, and added a few sentences, "Hu Gong," he said by his alias Zhang Zhidong, "I want to say it like this, 'The palace test countermeasures, Refers to Chen Shizheng, Empress Meng Xiaozhenxian and Empress Xiaoqinxian, who are ranked first, and meet the prosperity of harmony. Although the Empress Dowager Song Xuanren is better than Song Chen Su Shi.' Next, I will continue with the words of "Bei Yuan Ci Guan". how?" "That's great!" Zhang Zhidong showed a smile he hadn't seen for a long time: "Tao'an, you can really tell my heart." Another concern is the ownership of the rights and interests of the Guangdong-Han and Sichuan-Han routes.Zhang Zhidong’s ideal in life was to use foreign debt and Western learning to set up industries and enrich the country and the people. As a result, he borrowed a lot of foreign debt, which Weng Tonghe denounced as "extravagant". It's not enough for the people, but it's just a group of handlers.After the internal call, he was ordered to supervise the two roads. He knew that this was the last chance, and he didn't want to be rebellious, and the time didn't wait for him. He couldn't even seize this last chance. It is particularly painful to report in the omissions. Therefore, this matter will be described at the end: "Yichen still has unfinished business. The fundraising methods for the Guangdong-Han Railway and the Hubei-Jingchuan-Han Railway have been determined so far. I plan to ask the Ministry of Posts and Communications to take over, so as to focus on the road. The share capital of the railway is divided between the government and the people. The Sichuan-Han and Guangdong-Han railways have a heavy relationship and must be presided over by the officials so that they can be realized as soon as possible. And the merchants and people in this province are allowed to attach half of the shares forever, so as to take advantage of the welfare The capital. This time, when the minister is dying, he can't help but report the Chen." At this moment, I saw Chen Zengshou holding a new book with a happy face until he was in front of the bed. It turned out that his "Guang Ya Tang Poetry Collection" was printed, and the paper and ink were excellent, which was naturally gratifying. "Is this the third printing?" Chen Baochen asked. The first time was one of the Six Gentlemen of 1898 and one of the favorite disciples he picked when he was an examiner in the Zhejiang Provincial Examination. Yuan Chang engraved it for him.At that time, the collection was incomplete, so it was titled "Guang Ya Sui Jin". The second time was when he was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. I kept a final copy and deleted it when I picked up the old work. It was not until recently that I deleted it for printing, but I still lost one song. This poem is included in Baixiangshan's "Changqing Collection". Knowing people and feeling heaven and earth, tears shed on Xiangshan allegorical poems." "This must be my last pen!" Zhang Zhidong picked up the "Changqing Collection" from the side of the paper, pulled out the piece of poetry paper, handed it to Chen Baocan and asked, "Consciousness is too shallow. Taoan, look at it Don't stay?" "Of course I have to keep it. The second sentence is very profound, and I can't tell it unless I am the master of the pot." "Then put it last." Zhang Zhidong handed the poem to Chen Zengshou. "A superficial person argues arbitrarily, saying that the word 'min' should be changed to 'chen' in the second sentence, and the word 'self' should be changed to 'yi'. I don't understand the teacher's heart at all." "Oh, there is such an argument!" Zhang Zhidong took it very seriously: "Don't spread rumors, it really misses my original intention. If the monarch and his ministers deviate from each other, then both the ruler will be unvirtuous and the ministers will be disloyal, so I will scold myself Yet?" "What's more, the two characters on the title are very clear, and the non-min characters are not enough to get to the point!" Chen Baochen also said: "It's really superficial." "Ah!" Zhang Zhidong sighed: "This is what the end of the world is, and there are only so many shallow people!"