Chapter 187 Yingtai sunset (1-1)

Yugui's auspicious date was set on November 21st, and since the tenth day of the lunar new year, people in Rongfu, Dongchang Hutong, Wangfujing Street, have been giving gifts all the time. The dowry was distributed on the first day, and more than a thousand porters were used.Among the guards of honor accompanying the dowry, four pairs of "tall cards" and eight "top horses" are the most impressive. The high-footed card is a common name, and the name of the palace is called "title brand". The red lacquer and gold characters, the first pair are: "Prince Taibao", "Wenhuadian University Scholars manage household affairs"; the second pair: "Military Minister", "Hereditary Cavalry Captain and Yunqi Captain"; the third pair: "reward wearing a yellow mandarin jacket", "reward wearing double-eyed feathers"; Two people shoulder to shoulder".It is not surprising that the eight "top horses" are of the same color, and it is rare to see that the eight top horses are ridden by eight military officers with red tops and feathers.This was Yuan Shikai's flattery trick when Ronglu was in charge of the Wuwei army. From his Wuwei right army, he sent two second-rank generals to the army's camp to serve as errands. Then there are eight material officials with red tops.This was unprecedented since Nian Gengyao, and Nian Gengyao didn't dare to "show off" in the capital at that time, and he was inferior to Ronglu!

When the rumors of "going to see Miss Rong Zhongtang's dowry" were heard in the streets and alleys, Fu Niu was being brought by her aunt to greet the Empress Dowager Cixi in the palace. Fu Niu is naturally well-dressed, but she doesn't follow the rules. She wears a red satin cheongsam with a white fox in front, and a green jade bracelet, which is very tacky and interesting.Originally there were red and white on the face, but it was only for the sake of shame, and the place where it was not stained with rouge was also as bright as a bright glow.The Empress Dowager Cixi was very happy that day. When she met her, she smiled and said, "What a handsome bride!"

"Lafayette, don't talk about it!" Princess Rongshou said with a smile: "I'm too ashamed to lift my head, and making fun of her makes her unbearable." "Look, Fu Niu," Mrs. Rong Lu interjected, "Everyone protects you!" Fu Niu came here after being taught, and she thanked Princess Rongshou for her kindness, but Empress Dowager Cixi restrained her smile and wanted to speak seriously. "Fu Niu, from tomorrow on, Da Gege will be your eldest sister-in-law! Being at your mother-in-law's house is no better than being at your mother's house. You are free to be willful. Your mother-in-law is pitiful and sick, so she won't say anything if you think about it. But , don’t forget, you still have a sister-in-law here! You know the rules of the banner family, if your sister-in-law wants to talk about you, even I can’t stop her.”

"Yes!" Fu Niu was very alert, "Slaves must not understand the rules." "It's good to know the rules. Being a girl at home is different from being a daughter-in-law at your husband's house. Besides, you are Fujin, so you should learn some etiquette." "Yes! With the teaching of Da Gege, the slave is not afraid of not learning thoroughly." In front of the Empress Dowager Cixi, no personal entertainment is allowed, so although Princess Rongshou has a lot of words of encouragement and persuasion to say, she can only say a few polite words at this time.

"I have to give you something." Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Fu Niu and said, "But I really can't think of anything else you need? You can choose it yourself!" Fu Niu hurriedly knelt down and said, "Lafayette has rewarded enough." "Tomorrow is your day of great joy. If you come into the palace again, you will be my nephew and daughter-in-law. According to the rules, you have to give a gift when you meet. You choose it yourself today. After entering the palace tomorrow, I will give it to you. It will save trouble." Yet?" When she said this, Fu Niu didn't know how to answer properly, so she had to kneel upright and wait for orders.

"Big Gege, bring me that box!" It's called a "box", but it's actually a box, and it took two maids to carry it.This small leather case with four corners wrapped in gold and embossed patterns on it is specially made for storing jewellery. The inside is lined with yellow silk and divided into four compartments, the first compartment is pearls; the second compartment is five-color gemstones; The third grid is all kinds of beautiful jade; the fourth grid is miscellaneous items. According to the instructions of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Princess Rongshou ordered the maid to bring Zhang Changfang Zitan short table, took out all four grids, and arranged them in order. At a glance, she was fascinated, and she felt that everything was good, but she couldn't tell what it was Same best.

"Choose yourself!" Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Choose six." "I'm afraid I can't pick out any of the slaves." Fu Niu laughed: "No wonder it is said to be 'like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed'. I dare not know how to pick it at that time!" "Let me teach you a way!" Empress Dowager Cixi said, "You choose from the miscellaneous items first." How could Fu Niu know how to choose, she just said that to please the old lady.Listening to the method she taught at this moment is exactly what I want.Because among miscellaneous items, there is a huge disparity between high and low, and coral agate is not considered precious, but since the westerly wind spreads eastward, the price of diamonds from abroad has risen day by day, making them the most precious.Fu Niu had long since taken a fancy to a ring among the glittering and dazzling pile of diamond jewelry.

This diamond was about the size of a ginkgo biloba, and when she got it in her hand, she heard someone cough. When she looked up, Princess Rongshou, who was standing behind the Empress Dowager Cixi, had the silk tassels on her "two handles" blown by the wind. Automatic, understand immediately, not suitable for seizing love. "Your servant is not so lucky to have such a big diamond." Then he put down the diamond ring and took another diamond bracelet to play with. "That bracelet is not bad!" Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Put it on and let me have a look!"

"Yes!" Put the diamond bracelet on the right wrist, and stretch the left wrist in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi. "Okay!" She said proudly, "It's perfect for your emerald bracelet. Da Gege, look, it's tacky to wear a pair of emerald bracelets. It's better to match it like this, it looks unique! Don't you think so?" "No one can match Lafayette's vision. It really looks good!" Princess Rongshou said: "Just don't take it off!" "That's right!" Empress Dowager Cixi said to Fu Niu, "Just wear it!"

Fu Niu was overjoyed.Because this diamond bracelet is worn on the wrist, when you become a bride tomorrow, it will take away the brilliance of the ladies and ladies, not to mention that it sounds like it was a gift from the Empress Dowager Cixi, so it will get even more limelight. After waiting for her thanks, Empress Dowager Cixi said, "You'd better choose six!" The auspicious number is six, so I kept it as a meeting gift, and the diamond bracelet was an extra reward, and Fu Niu felt even more complacent.However, she was clever and did not forget the taboo. Empress Dowager Cixi entered the palace for the first time in her life, and she could not enter through the Qing Dynasty, so she tabooed the green used by concubines.But at this moment, Fu Niu will become the concubine of King Chun. If she doesn't choose green, it will touch the Empress Dowager Cixi's mind.Therefore, she first chose a glass emerald ring, expressing that she has no prejudice against red and green.

Sure enough, he did the right thing all of a sudden, because Princess Rongshou already had a wink of approval.Fu Niu thought to herself, everything is going well today, and this rare opportunity should not be missed. Except for Dong Zhu who dared not use it, she took away the empress dowager Cixi's top pieces of jewelry. At that time, it was time for the key of the palace gate to be released. Ronglu and his wife took Fu Niu to knock out of the palace. As soon as they turned from Donghuamen to Wangfujing Street, they felt that there were many sedan chairs and horses, and the bustle was different from usual. The hutongs are connected by crowns and covers.The setting sun is still on, the lights are already hanging, looking in through the open door, the lights are bright, the gongs and drums are blaring, the hall is prepared for the male guests, and the hall is full of famous actors from the four major Anhui troupes. Female customers are more quiet and quiet, and they are a group of "children's books" who "take tickets".In the early years, there was a group of "uncles under the banner", who were full of the salary of the heavenly family, and had nothing to do when they were free. "Xicheng Diao" is more lingering and slow, with a long tune, thousands of times, seemingly intermittent, continuous for a long time, it is most suitable for people who are full of food all day long. This group of "children's books" is very valuable, because wearing official uniforms, at least they are red tops.At this time, of course, they are plain clothes, which are specially worn for Yueqi. They are all lucky-colored satin leather gowns, blue satin waistcoats with pipa lapels, red knotted melon skin hats on their heads, and a huge piece of rosy clouds on the brim of the hat.This is the prescribed color of the clothes. In addition, according to everyone's preference, they can be modified at will. The buttons on the waistcoat, the fingers on the hand, and the purse on the waist are all places that can compete for victory. When Mrs. Ronglu's mother and daughter arrived, it was "Zhen Beizi" - Beizi Zaizhen, the eldest son of Qing Wang Yikuang, who was performing skills.Just because of the honorable status of this fancier, the guests and hosts are inconvenient to stand up and greet each other, which disturbs the scene, and they just greet each other with smiles from a distance.Zai Zhen also nodded to Fu Niu with a smile, still shaking the tambourine with the little golden bell on it, singing his book. This set of books is called "Mandarin Duck Buckle", which specifically describes the marriage of banner people, from "blind date" to "returning door", a total of nine paragraphs.At this time, "Open Face" was being sung, and it was the next day when "the grandma hid herself and smiled and said: 'If you still miss the monkey, you will miss the hour.'".Just in time for the meeting, when Fu Niu was seated, Zai Zhen cheered up and sang in his bright voice: "The announcement said that the ladies who combed their hair got out of the car, and the grandma went out to greet her, and the beautiful woman was not allowed to accompany her, so she sat alone in the room." In the midst of this, I couldn’t help but feel miserable. In no time, all the female relatives of her mother’s family entered Zhu Fei, and the beautiful women who met her hand in hand fell away, and the wives also felt sad, and the joy was born with sadness! After all, they are not more affectionate than her own mother, but they are only temporarily miserable. , In an instant, frowns appeared. The grandma asked to sit with cigarettes to talk, and the servants fetched water from copper basins to serve the fragrant boudoir. Push, the natural temples can only be cleaned with tweezers. The face can be changed after the face is opened, and the eyebrows have not been applied, and the face is already radiant... " When Zai Zhen sang to this point, all the female guests turned to look at Fu Niu at the same time.She was so ashamed that she couldn't sit still, she stood up with her head down, and backed out. As soon as she entered the upper room, she met Liang Kui, her cousin who had been inherited as a brother. His face was full of sadness, which made Fu Niu's heart beat fast. "What's the matter?" "Ama is not feeling well today." Liang Kui replied, "I'm very short of breath." "Have you invited the doctor yet?" "I'm going to invite you," Liang Kui replied, "Second Master Cheng of the Ministry of Punishment is listening to the opera in front, so I'll find him first to have a look." So Fu Niu didn't care about talking anymore, and went straight to Rong Lu's bedroom around the corridor. There were a lot of old servants and maids, but most of them were in a daze.When I entered the bedroom, I saw Rong Lu sitting on the "easy chair" supported by two servants, sweating profusely, panting like a cow, and there was phlegm in his throat. The symptoms were several times worse than usual. times.Especially the phlegm, which is even more frightening. Fu Niu remembered that when an elder relative was dying, a mouthful of phlegm was stuck in his throat, and he immediately turned his eyes and broke his breath. "Ama!" She shouted, knelt in front of her father, and kept wiping his chest with her hands. Rong Lu was speechless, his eyes only followed the dangling diamond bracelet on her wrist.Maybe it was radiant and dizzy, so he closed his eyes. At this time, Mrs. Rong Lu had arrived. Rong Lu heard the voice, opened his eyes, and just waved. Mrs. Rong Lu didn't understand what she meant, but Fu Niu understood, "Grandma, Ama means that you have to go outside to greet guests." The guests in front were less excited when they heard the news that the host was seriously ill.Although the ceremonies on the first day of the second day were held according to the plan, and on the surface, there were a lot of flowers and flowers, but Rong Lu was unable to receive the congratulators in person.My asthma has been consulted by a famous doctor, and it has improved slightly, but the doctor privately revealed that if the disease is fatal, even if it can be delayed for the Chinese New Year, the deadline will come in February and March. Others just listen to these words, but when Yuan Shikai hears them, he attaches great importance to it.Because Ronglu is the real chief assistant, once he dies of illness, who will succeed him will have a very important relationship with him.Of course, this matter has been planned long ago. Although Zhang Zhidong was ordered to enter the court, but after careful investigation, he can't use it internally, so he won't join the military aircraft. People have been used too little, let alone a Han Chinese to make up for the lack of honor and salary. The situation is quite clear. In the absence of Ronglu in the military aircraft, not only the bannermen must be used;Since the Empress Dowager Cixi took over the administration, it has become a rule that military aircraft do not use Han "leaders", and kings, deer and the like must never be in charge. Among the banner people, the only one who can be compared with the king and the deer is a scholar of Dongge University and the clan Kungang.After all the calculations, there is only one King of Qing, Yikuang, who is worthy of his choice, and only if Yikuang is used well, can he have the possibility to rise to the next level.Otherwise, there are many people who covet the title of Governor of Zhili and Beiyang Minister, and people like Cen Chunxuan and Sheng Xuanhuai are not good friends. Therefore, Yuan Shikai regarded it as the most important thing that he must do his best to help Yikuang succeed in his succession.In the past few months, it has been arranged in many ways, and with four grids as the internal response, Yikuang's curtains are even better than before.However, Yuan Shikai is clear in his heart that the success or failure of this matter depends on Rong Lu, who has a lot of promises. If Rong Lu knows that he can't afford it, he will make a secret report. I will definitely ask him, if in a hurry, I can't remember King Qing and make a special move, then even if it is not the person, the Empress Dowager Cixi will reluctantly obey because of the deep love she has for Rong Lu. Then it was all wrong. It was such a view and plan, so Yuan Shikai was worried when he heard the news that Rong Lu was seriously ill, and was eager to go to Beijing. While visiting the sick, he asked Rong Lu's tone and took the camera for Yikuang activities.Only when Rong Lu is willing to have a word of recommendation can he rest assured about major events. Beijing and Tianjin are close to each other, but the governor of Zhili cannot enter Beijing unless he is ordered, and he must have a reason to be present when he invites himself to be admitted. Fortunately, there is an opportunity in front of him.When returning to Luan, there was a decree that the Empress Dowager Cixi would visit the mausoleum in person to make up for the predecessors of "the mountain mausoleum is horrified, and it is worshiped every year, and it is abandoned and not repaired".The Eastern Tomb has already been exhibited, and the Western Tomb is scheduled to be worshiped in the spring of next year. For this reason, if the decree is requested in person, it will definitely be granted. Sure enough, one day the palace talked about the trip to Xiling in the spring next year. By the way, I will try the northern section of the Luhan Railway, the branch road from Gaobeidian to Tailing in Yizhou. Is it smooth?Li Lianying immediately suggested: "Why don't you go to the governor of Zhili and ask him face to face!" With just a few words, Yuan Shikai received a verbal order to come to Beijing immediately to "see Your Majesty". When Yuan Shikai came to Beijing, besides bringing enough cash, he also had a large box of medicines, both Chinese and Western, which were specially formulated to treat asthma and weakness.After getting off the train, greet the palace gate, go back to the Beiyang Office in Xila Hutong, unload the luggage, put on the official uniform, and then take the box of medicine to see Rong Lu's illness. On this day, Rong Lu was in good spirits, so I saw him without waiting.Rong Lu's face was originally yellow, but now it looks more like a wax figure, his voice is weak, but he is very excited, "Wei Ting," he said, "You and I have met each other!" "Don't say that, Zhongtang!" Yuan Shikai pretended to be the kind of junior who couldn't bear to listen to the "cut off words", "The luck of the Qing Dynasty is extremely good, Zhongtang is really in charge of the big plan, and there are still a few years to work hard! " "How many years are there? I don't know if this year can be passed! Let's not talk about it. Wei Ting..." At this point, I was out of breath and couldn't talk any more. "Please save your time, Zhongtang!" Yuan Shikai asked Liang Kui, who was standing beside him, "Brother Shi, which doctors have you invited to see recently?" From this point of view, when talking about Rong Lu's condition, Yuan Shikai asked very carefully.He had a pair of eyes that could deceive the dead, and the piercing and clear light was full of pure sympathy and trustworthy power. Therefore, the unrepentant Liang Kui could also talk eloquently, until Yuan Shikai confessed the box of medicine that he brought with him Rong Lu's heir was so moved that he wanted to cry. After Liang Kui withdrew for the time being, Rong Lu said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Wei Ting, my adopted son, I will ask you to take care of me and take care of me in the future!" "Zhongtang's words are serious!" Yuan Shikai stood up quickly, and said with trepidation: "Shikai has inherited Zhongtang's cultivation, and his heart of gratitude and repayment is always there. Shikai's things about Zhongtang, life and death, do not change the original intention." These words seem to be his own confession that he will not change his loyalty until death, but it can also be explained that although Rong Lu died, his loyalty remains unchanged, so it is easy to take care of future generations.This is a temptation, and Rong Lu didn't think it a taboo, nodded and said: "If you can do this, it is worthwhile for us to get to know each other!" Yuan Shikai heard that the words were not an attitude of absolute trust, and he became vigilant in his heart, wishing to kneel down and swear to Rong Lu.Think about it and say: "Shikai doesn't learn, but he inherited his family education when he was young, and he knows a little bit that 'a scholar dies for a confidant'!" "Heavy words, serious words!" Rong Lu seemed a little moved, and then he was deeply moved, "It's not easy to have a confidant in life? I have been misunderstood all my life." He said slowly, thinking and saying: "Like Shen Jingsheng, Bao Peiheng The king, the king, the emperor, and even the empress dowager have all misunderstood me. I don’t argue, I will see people’s hearts over time, just wait and see! Just like Weng Shuping, a scholar who misled the country and committed a crime that cannot be punished. Li Wenzhong mentioned him before his death. I can't wait to sleep on his skin and eat his flesh! Before King Gong died, it is said that there were some unfavorable Chen Zou. Therefore, the Empress Dowager hated him deeply, and often said that the emperor's nature was very strong, and it was caused by someone Weng. Several times Ask me how to deal with it, but I don't say a word. Later, I issued an edict to "determinate the country", as if to kill the old queen. I see that the trouble is too unreasonable, and there will be a disaster of death. I read it for the sake of exchanging posts. , so when the queen mother asked me again, I advised the queen mother to let him go back to Changshu for retirement. If I wanted to trick him, I would persuade the queen mother to keep him in Beijing. Cheng Yilu. Don't think that this dynasty has never had a precedent for killing a master. That bastard Zai Yi dared to do the thing of killing the king. Why do you care about Weng Shuping? You were in Shandong at that time, and you didn't know the lawlessness in Beijing. The Zaiyi brothers even blushed in front of the queen mother and spoke rudely. You think Weng Shuping's life can be saved. Even if the queen mother wanted to save him, she would have no energy left. Otherwise, what would happen to Li Yufu? It's so miserable!" This paragraph was too long, and I was out of breath again.Yuan Shikai stood up and said, "I have to go. Zhongtang's words are too hurtful, please rest!" "No, no! Comfort the court!" Rong Lu pressed down his hand vigorously, motioning him to stay.Yuan Shikai hesitated for a while, and Fang replied uneasy: "Yes!" and sat down again. "I've wanted to invite you to Beijing for a long time to hear about the situation in Liangjiang, but I don't have the energy to accompany you. It's best for you to come today, talk about what you want to say, feel better, and feel better." "I also often want to visit Zhongtang. Some things cannot be expressed freely in the letter, and I have to ask for instructions in person." Yuan Shikai paused and said, "This time I went to the south, and I was quite touched. Li Wenzhong's management of Beiyang is of a large scale, of course it is admirable. However, many of Beiyang’s measures, as the so-called ‘people survive and government survives, people die and government perish’, will have to be rectified from the system in the future, which is the fundamental way.” "That's true. But, what is meant by 'the death of a person and the death of a government', please give me an example." "For example, telegraphs, ships, mining, etc., were all founded by Beiyang committee members. Li Wenzhong's prestige is enough to cover everything in Japan. Even in Shanghai, Li Wenzhong can control the remote control freely. When Li Wenzhong is away, the situation is very different. It's different, it doesn't belong to Beiyang, but it doesn't belong to Nanyang, and there is a tendency to establish itself as a king and pretend to be self-serving, which cannot but be said to be a hidden concern of the imperial court." Taking this example is entirely to attack Sheng Xuanhuai, but it cannot be said that he is unreasonable, so Rong Lu kept nodding his head in agreement. "What do you think of Sheng Xingsun's intentions?" Rong Lu asked, "Is there any intention of controlling?" This refers to the Telegraph Bureau, China Merchants Bureau, Railway Bureau, etc. managed by Sheng Xuanhuai.Yuan Shikai and Rong Lu had already discussed that they should be taken back one by one and supervised by a special minister, but Sheng Xuanhuai seemed only willing to hand over the telegraph office, so Rong Lu asked this question. This question hit his heart, and Yuan Shikai immediately replied: "It's hard to say. What he said is that the telegram is related to the promotion of government orders, and should be owned by the government. The ship is purely commercial, and it is not easy to supervise it. It cannot be owned by the government. As for the railway, it is even more important." Needless to say." "Don't talk about the railway, Zhang Xiangtao is doing his best to support him, let's give in first. Telegrams and ships might as well receive them first, what do you think should be done? " With Yuan Shikai in mind, he slowly replied: "The telegram might as well have a minister of telegraphy, who is dedicated to the government. The ship is more troublesome. If you are not an expert, you will be held hostage by the ship. Fortunately, there are many talents in the Beiyang Naval Academy. Please play it in the middle hall." Tomorrow, it will be temporarily handed over to Beiyang to take over, and whether to simplify the ministers and set up another yamen in the future can be discussed in the long term." "This transition method is very appropriate." Rong Lu instructed: "Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager will summon you and mention this matter, so you can play it accordingly." "Yes!" Yuan Shikai paused for a moment and asked, "I would like to ask Zhongtang to tell you, this time, apart from the errands in Yeling, I don't know what else the Queen Mother will ask?" "You must ask about the local situation. The commercial agreement will also mention it." Rong Lu thought for a while and said, "Among the various new policies, the Empress Dowager is most concerned about the two ends of training troops and raising salaries. You should have prepare." "Please Zhongtang give advice, how should the Empress Dowager answer these questions?" "Answer what you think is right." This is a very open-minded attitude, but Yuan Shikai felt that it is better to seek Ronglu's consent first, so he negotiated a business agreement first. "According to Chinese rules, scholars, farmers, businessmen, and merchants are the bottom of the people. Now it is very different from what it used to be. Western countries are all merchants, and the best are officials. Japanese politics is almost controlled by merchants. If China wants to be a country To make the people rich and strong, and keep pace with other countries, we must attach importance to merchants.” Yuan Shikai went on to say: “Since the six ministries have the Ministry of Industry, there should be a Ministry of Commerce in the new official system.” "The Ministry of Commerce?" Rong Lu was a little confused, "The Ministry of Industry has its own origin. It evolved from the Tang Dynasty's 'Master General'. The Ministry of Commerce has never had a precedent! Besides, today's business is not limited to salt and iron. There are so many tricks, I really don’t know what to do?” "Zhongtang's analysis is very good!" Yuan Shikai said: "The establishment of the Ministry of Commerce was originally an imitation of Western methods, and stones from other mountains can be used for reference. The Ministry will not be at a loss." "This method is feasible!" Rong Lu asked: "The person who inspects the business is the future official of the Ministry of Commerce?" "According to logic, it should be so." "It's time to take a good look! Who is suitable?" Rong Lu asked, "Is there anyone in your mind?" Yuan Shikai already had someone, but it was inconvenient to say so, so he deliberately thought about it and said, "What I mean is that it is better for young people to be relatives." Rong Lu shook his head, and said contemptuously: "The old men only know how to eat, drink and play, what business do they know?" Hearing this, Yuan Shikai did not dare to propose candidates, but said: "Let's look slowly!" "It has to be like this." Rong Lu asked again: "Have you been to Prince Qing's Mansion?" "No!" Yuan Shikai replied: "After greeting the palace gate, I changed my clothes and went to the middle hall." "Then, please! I won't keep you." The meaning in the words is obvious, it is to imagine for Yuan Shikai, so that he can go to see King Qing early.And the more so, Yuan Shikai thought it was necessary to show that his relationship with King Qing was not as close as rumored.So he quickly replied: "I plan to go to King Qing tomorrow to pay my respects. Anyway, it's nothing important. It doesn't matter whether it's sooner or later." "Since that's the case, you can just eat with me." "Yes!" Yuan Shikai said happily, "I'll just stop bothering you." Ronglu's clothing is as famous as Lishan in Beijing. Fans in summer, leather clothes in winter, and court beads all the year round are changed every day and never repeated.The daily food and beverages are also extremely refined. In terms of variety, it may not be comparable to the jade food above.Most of the famous properties that were paid for tribute can be seen in his family, and they were inherently given by the Empress Dowager Cixi, and most of them were given to the "Xiangguo" when the provinces paid tribute.On this day, there is white fish with pine flowers, which is a delicacy that ordinary people can't buy with money. But for Rong Lu, he hesitated before eating, because his appetite was too bad, and his shortness of breath was the most taboo in food, so he had no place to eat.On the contrary, Yuan Shikai had an amazing appetite, but he didn't pay much attention to the quality. He liked to eat eggs most, and he could eat a basket of cakes and twenty boiled eggs in one breakfast. At this time, he was eating and talking at the same time, without stopping his chopsticks. In a short while, he ate up a plate of honey roasted noodles and a plate of silver silk rolls.Rong Lu only ate half a bowl of millet porridge with Jinzhou pickles. Seeing Yuan Shikai eating so healthy, he was very envious! "No wonder you're so energetic." Rong Lu said sadly, "I'm like 'Eat less and worry about it, how long can it last?' If I have one-tenth of your appetite, I will be satisfied." "I'm a rough person, I can't compare with Zhongtang." Rong Lu didn't know what to say, he pondered for a while, then suddenly sighed and said: "Being a monk for a day hits the clock for a day." "This bell has to be knocked down." Yuan Shikai asked, "Does Zhongtang want to try western medicine?" "Western medicine is better for surgery, and Chinese medicine is better for internal medicine. Especially for me, I have an original disease, and I am exhausted, and I am just procrastinating." Yuan Shikai stopped eating because of this, frowned slightly and said: "Zhongtang should find a helper on the military plane. Wang and Lu are old after all; Qu Zijiu may not be able to do it alone. I heard that in the past on the military plane, there was always It is three full and two Han, but now one is full and three Han, it is biased, why don't Zhongtang find another one under the flag?" Rong Lu shook his head, "Where are there talents under the flag?" He said: "There are only one or two, and they are not a weapon of the temple. Besides, the qualifications are very low, and the opportunity to join the army is still very early!" Yuan Shikai didn't dare to say more.It's a taboo to say it!However, as far as the timing of the conversation is concerned, it is a good opportunity to test, after all, he refuses to give up.After thinking for a while, he said anxiously: "Once upon a time, Zeng Wenzheng said, 'Finding a substitute is the first thing to do when doing great things'. Zhongtang seeks talents for the country, and it seems that he should also pay attention to this." "It's not that I don't want to look for a substitute. It's good to meet the opportunity. Like you, you can finally be my substitute after training and leading troops. As for the court, I don't know where the sage is. To be honest, I It is not of much use to think that you are a virtuous person, and you have to trust the Queen Mother. Anyway, the superiors also know that my days as a coward are not many, so I will naturally have plans, so I don’t need to worry about it.” "Yes! Yes!" Yuan Shikai said gratefully: "Shi inherits all the scale systems of Zhongtang's cultivation, training and leading troops, and never dares to violate the system set by Zhongtang." "That doesn't have to be the case! The military has changed a lot. Now that Western law is used, many regulations in the past are no longer needed. You don't have to stick to it." "Yes." Yuan Shikai replied: "I mean that although weapons and formations are changing with each passing day, the spirit remains the same! One is loyal and the other is brave. "Yes, yes!" Rong Lu seemed very pleased, "I'm relieved if you can say these two sentences." Yuan Shikai felt that the trip was worthwhile after receiving these two words of praise during the meeting.After dinner, I sat with him for a long time, and waited until Rong Lu urged the guests by himself before leaving.