Chapter 19 Chapter Eighteen

du8.com copyright Shanghai, autumn. In a quiet courtyard by the Huangpu River, golden osmanthus exhales intoxicating fragrance, yellow leaves fall under the shade of flowers, Xinyang covers the railings with splendor, blooming chrysanthemums compete with golden osmanthus for beauty! A few wild birds are In the bushes, there were chirping and melancholy ditties.In the small study room shaded by green bamboos, there are bursts of melodious sounds of silk and bamboo, flowing clouds and flowing water, intertwined with melancholy, but it is a warm atmosphere. This is the villa of Xu Shuzheng, the undersecretary of the Army Ministry who was just dismissed.

Xu Shuzheng was dressed in a long gown, a top hat, gold glasses in his hands, and a teacup in front of him. He leaned back on the rock chair with half-closed eyes, and as the chair rolled back and forth, he listened intently to his new concubine Shen Dinglan singing song.The piece is "Butterfly Love Flower" newly written by Xu Shuzheng. Shen Dinglan plays the pipa by herself: The grass-footed Su Qinghan is still there, moistening the fragrant pool, and the water on the surface of the pool has just dissolved.As if the east wind is stingy, slowly blowing warm news and returning fragrance.It's not that the flowers are coquettish and impatient, but it's a pity that the Spring Emperor is a weak and rascal.The curtain is as cool as the sea in the evening rain, and Xiaomei leans on the outside of the red railing sadly.At the end of the song, Shen Dinglan sat on the arm of the gently rolling chair.Xu Shuzheng stopped rocking, smiled at Shen Dinglan, and said: "Okay, you sang very well! The rhyme, beat, and emotion are all sung." .

Shen Dinglan shook her head stubbornly, and then said: "Why should it be so high? I think it's better to be low. It should be low." "Why should it be low?" Xu Shuzheng said: "Fangchi, Bingjie, and Dongfeng are all thriving. Put your words up..." "Mr. Xu," Shen Dinglan said, "Look at you, the wind and rain, the army and the horse are not high enough? Now, it's not a plummet. I'm no longer an official, no longer a leader, A leisurely life just leads us to live a leisurely and peaceful life. Cough! I really want to be able to grow old in such a 'slow' way, peacefully, that's what I want!" A few words made Xu Shuzheng's heart sour.He took her down from under the armrest of the chair, hugged her in his arms, and said, "Okay, okay! Let's go on in this leisurely way until we get to the end of life." At this moment, people reported that "President Duan is here!" Xu Shuzheng Duan Qirui helped him set up the villa, and even Xu Shuzheng's entourage was arranged by Duan Qirui for him.Duan Qirui walked in without anyone reporting.Xu Shuzheng went up to meet him, and asked in surprise, "When did you arrive in Shanghai? Why did you come here by yourself without even informing you?" Sitting in the small living room, he said: "We don't have gauze hats on our heads now, and there are quite a few tails stalking us. We can come and go quietly like this, so as to prevent those dubious things from catching wind and spreading rumors and giving birth to mustaches, but But he put on a long gown, a black cloak, a top hat, cloth shoes, and a painted copper-colored cane in his hand. With this attire, even Xu Shuzheng didn't recognize him, no wonder he could "Bon voyage" to Shanghai. Xu Shuzheng asked softly, "How are you doing recently?"

Duan Qirui answered irrelevantly and said, "Yezheng, you came to Shanghai as soon as you slapped your ass, and you made me suffer." Xu Shuzheng smiled lightly, and said, "'No official is light'! President Yuan—Emperor Yuan doesn't like us, why don't we stay away from him! He doesn't like other people discussing politics, and if others hold back, that's considered knowledgeable. Current affairs. Didn’t the boss also go to Xishan to relax?!” “Fart!” Duan Qirui slammed the table and said angrily: “Yuan Xiangcheng hopes that I can stay at Xishan for a long time, but God won’t let him The common people would not tolerate him. No, there is an incident in Yunnan..." So Duan Qirui told the whole story of what happened in Beijing, Xishan, and Bafuxue Hutong, and then said: "In this situation, we You will understand why you came to Shanghai." After speaking, Duan Qirui stood up, took off his hat to wash his face, and then sat down to drink tea.

——For Yuan Shikai, Duan Qirui and Xu Shuzheng originally had different views.In the past, when they talked about heroes together, Duan Qirui said: "Today, people who can be called heroes and heroes, besides Li Songqing (Li Yuanhong's word Song Qing) is Yuan Weiting (Yuan Shikai's word Weiting)." Xu Shuzheng did not agree with Duan Qirui's opinion. He dismissed Duan Qirui's comment and said: "Huangpi (Li Yuanhong, a native of Huangpi, so called "Huangpi") started his business by cursing people all his life, and Xiang Cheng spent his whole life by deceiving people. However, a true hero neither scolds nor deceives. Today, Huangpi and Xiangcheng can only be regarded as "half-heroes" when they scold and cheat. At best, they can only be regarded as "half-heroes". Qi Rui didn't approve of Xu Shuzheng's comments at the time.Now, he understood that he felt that Xu Shuzheng had a vision, and Xu Shuzheng also felt that it was a good thing that Duan Qirui could recognize Yuan Shikai clearly today.

Xu Shuzheng thought for a while and said, "Boss, I uttered wild words earlier, I don't know if you still remember the mouth?" Duan Qirui blinked, unable to remember. "What are you talking about?" "Treat Yuan Xiangcheng." du8.com copyright "I remembered." Duan Qirui said: "You said, 'Yuan Xiangcheng is too vicious! With me, Xu, I will never let this generation run amok and harm the country!' Coincidentally, I came to you because of this." Xu Shuzheng shook his head. "It's not time, we have to wait for a while."

Seeing Xu Shuzheng's indifferent attitude, Duan Qirui took out Feng Guozhang's letter from his underwear bag and handed it to Xu Shuzheng. "Here is a 'strange essay', you can read it." "who?" "You can tell at a glance." Xu Shuzheng unfolded the letter, looked at the inscription first, and saw that it was written by Feng Guozhang to Yuan Shikai, only smiled slightly, then folded it again, and returned it to Duan Qirui.Said: "Feng Huafu is not a decent person, don't let his dirty language dirty my eyes. Don't look!" "Don't read it?!" Duan Qirui threw the letter to Xu Shuzheng again, and said in a reproachful tone, "Why didn't you read it? 'Admiration for Strange Writings'. Besides, this letter has a lot to do with you and me." "Yo ?!" Xu Shuzheng was startled, and then he really unfolded it, reading it carefully from beginning to end.While reading the letter, he thought: "How could Feng Guozhang's 'secret letter' to Yuan Shikai fall into Hefei's hands? This is obviously to frame Hefei. So..." After reading the letter, Xu Shuzheng threw it on the table, Said: "Yuan Xiangcheng handed it over to you?"

"He asked Zeng Yujun to give it to me." Duan Qirui said. "Yuan Xiangcheng betrayed Feng Huafu!" Xu Shuzheng said: "Feng Huafu wrote such a letter, it is nothing; Yuan Xiangcheng betrayed him, it is even more nothing!" Duan Qirui interjected: "Feng Huafu was originally a dog, but now it seems that he is even worse than a dog!" "You came to Shanghai just for this matter?" "Of course it's not just about this matter." Duan Qirui said: "Being angry about a dog is worse than a dog. I don't care about it. There is something big!"

"What's the big deal?" Xu Shuzheng asked. "Did you know that something happened in Yunnan?" "I don't know." But immediately changed to "Know a thing or two." Yuan Xiangcheng's determination to be emperor cannot be shaken.The common people did not agree.Yunnan first declared independence, and Cai E organized the "National Defense Army" to challenge Yuan.The whole country responded and vigorously launched the 'Protection of the Nation Movement, Yuan Xiangcheng's life is not easy!" Xu Shuzheng still smiled faintly. "What does this have to do with you and me?"

The relationship is very important!" Duan Qirui said: "Yuan Xiangcheng sent Zeng Yunpei (Zeng Yujun's word Yunpei) to come to look for him every day. " "I want you to go out of the mountain, and you want to be 'King Qin'?" Duan Qirui shook his head fiercely, and said: "I asked Zeng Yunpei to tell Yuan Xiangcheng, 'I'm sick and can't move. Zeng Yunpei refused, so I handed Feng Huafu's letter to me...' Speaking of this, Duan Qirui Blinking his slightly tired eyes, he looked at Xu Shuzheng, as if he wanted to see something from his face—is it sympathy or disapproval?

Xu Shuzheng held the letter in his hand and remained silent, facing the wall without saying a word. Duan Qirui was impatient, looking at Xu Shuzheng's appearance, his heart was already on fire. "Yezhen, the problem is in front of us, where do we go? You have to make up your mind!" Xu Shuzheng remained silent—— If Yuan Shikai wanted to be emperor, the people of the country would never agree.This is what Xu Shuzheng expected.Xu Shuzheng also understood that the “National Defense Movement” was surging. He also expected that Yuan Shikai would not have a good result. Now, even Yuan Shikai himself felt that the situation was serious, so he had to send “eyeballs” to Duan Qirui and the others. One point, Xu Shuzheng was not so optimistic beforehand. When the news of the uprising in Yunnan spread to Shanghai, Xu Shuzheng thought about it seriously, but he felt that it would not be a climate: "In the border of Yunnan, the land is remote and the resources are thin. Even if Cai Songpo has great ambitions, he can't do what he wants, and he can't do what he wants. One." However, Xu Shuzheng also saw the influence of this trend, which was unstoppable! He was shaky and wanted to go back to Beijing. Take action, push him down, and create a good opportunity for Duan Qirui to fight against the imperial system!" However, after all, Xu Shuzheng followed Duan Qirui and Yuan Shikai's "pole" to climb up. To oppose Yuan is to oppose Xu Shuzheng's "ancestor". .Xu Shuzheng hesitated, Duan Qirui came to him, and he brought Yuan Shikai's "help" message to him, and he did not hesitate to betray his cronies.Suddenly, Xu Shuzheng felt that Yuan Shikai was so pitiful. "Should I pity Yuan Shikai and be grateful for his past support and today's sincerity? Or follow the trend and stand at the forefront to oppose him and defeat him?" Xu Shuzheng weighed over and over again, uncertain: "Help Yuan—— Hope is too small, Yuan Shikai will not let go of the "emperor's dream" easily, this dream will destroy him; anti-Yuan - what will be the final result of the "National Defense Movement"? Even if it succeeds, who will be in charge of ups and downs? "Where do we go? This man, who was called a "weird man" by the people at that time, was at a loss for a moment.In the long history of China, the true qualities of a hero can be best shown in the melee! Almost all "heroes in troubled times" have a "truth" with similar content, that is to develop themselves, strengthen their strength, and dominate the world with their fists! du8.com copyright Xu Shuzheng claimed to be a "hero among heroes", and Duan Qirui also wanted to be a "hero among heroes". Not only did they want to dominate the Beiyang world, but they wanted to "swallow the six kingdoms and rule the world" like Qin Shihuang.In Xu Shuzheng's mind, they can't come out of the mountain at present.He thought for a long time before saying to Duan Qirui: "Boss, I think you'd better go back to Xishan to relax. Stick to our own purpose, don't support anyone to be emperor, but don't go out of the mountain either!" "Not going out of the mountain? Waiting to die in the mountain nest?" Duan Qirui was anxious. "It's not going out forever." Xu Shizheng said: "When and how to get out of the mountain? Go down and wait for a while." "It's not stable!" Duan Qirui said: "The situation is changing every day, and if we don't go out, is it a bit of 'seeking death' for Yuan Xiangcheng? Besides, the 'Protection of the Nation Movement' has succeeded..." Xu Shuzheng shook his head and smiled . "Just sit on the Diaoyutai, Yuan Xiangcheng will not die, and Cai Songpo will not succeed immediately." Duan Qirui suddenly became cheerful... "It's okay to leave the mountain, who will win? It's hard to tell. But how do we go to see Xiangcheng?" "Aren't you sick?" Xu Shuzheng said, "recover behind closed doors. What are you doing seeing him?" Yes, since Yuan Shikai frequently sent people to remind him, it was unreasonable for him to refuse to meet.What's more, Duan Qirui still wears the gauze hat of "Chief of the Ministry of Army" on his head, so there must be a legitimate countermeasure.After thinking for a while, he said: "Boss, you don't have to be in a difficult situation. Although Yuan Xiangcheng wants you to come out immediately, although it is forced by the form, I think there must be someone around him to "speak". Words", wouldn't it be the best of both worlds. ""What action?" Duan Qirui didn't believe that there would be any small action to entertain such a big event in the past. "It's not so easy to make people 'resign'!" Xu Shuzheng said: "We sent people to Liang Shiyi, Yang Du and others to create public opinion, and said, 'As long as Hefei is willing to see Xiangcheng, Xiangcheng can agree to all requests from Hefei. At that time, all personnel, finance, and decision-making in Xiangcheng It all belongs to Hefei." These people are all Xiangcheng's confidantes, and they are at odds with us. They will definitely obstruct and prevent Xiangcheng from meeting you. Can't we just sit back and watch things change!" "Okay!" Duan Qirui slapped the table again and said, "Excellent! Let's just watch him 'snipe and clam fight'!" "That's not enough," Xu Shuzheng said, "We have to launch an attack on him." "How to attack?" "Write him a letter to motivate him." "Would it work?" "It's useful!" As he said, Xu Shuzheng picked up the pen, and after a while of "brushing and brushing", the letter was finished.While handing it over to Duan Qirui, he said: "If Zeng Yujun looks for you again, you will hand it over to him and ask him to transfer it to Yuan Xiangcheng." Duan Qirui read the letter again, and although he felt a little irritated, he also felt satisfied, so he said: "Okay, we will do this when we return to Beijing." Since Yuan Shikai sent Zeng Yujun to meet Duan Qirui, he confidently waited for Duan Qirui to join him again.This person is so "confident". When you kick someone away, you have to admit that he was right, and you have to be willing to leave; I got it, and I came willingly, and I even had to shed tears of gratitude! Who knew that this time it was a bit ineffective on Duan. In the past few days, Yuan Shikai was in a very irritable mood. The expected enthronement ceremony was only a few days away, and the movement to protect the country that had sprung up in Yunnan spread across the country like a raging wave.Who will put out this "fire"? There is no capable person to send, and Zeng Yujun has been unable to deliver the good news of "persuasion".He was restless.The court uniforms made by the guards according to the order were sent to him for him to try on, but he didn't even look at them; the breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered by the imperial dining hall were said to be better than those of "Lafayette" back then, but Yuan Shikai was Can't swallow.He couldn't figure it out: "I can be the president, why can't I be the emperor? China is mine, it's mine! Protect the country, protect the country. Is it true that if I become the emperor, China will not be China anymore? I will become a foreign devil Already?!" At this time, Yuan Shikai missed the old love very much. He felt that Duan Qirui was his person, and Duan Qirui should be his person; he was kind to Duan Qirui, and Duan would never forget it.Furthermore, Yuan Shikai thought again: "Duan Qirui is the only one who has the strength to support his throne in the country. I can't live without him!" Zeng Yujun finally brought Duan Qirui's "echo" to Yuan Shikai. He held a letter in front of him and said in a muffled voice, "Please... the President have a look." du8.com copyright Yuan Shikai was very happy. He believed that nine out of ten it was Duan Qirui's "Letter of Loyalty"! He hurriedly opened it, took a look, and there was a "boom" on his forehead. He recognized the clear and beautiful font at a glance. It turned out that it was Xu Shuzheng's ink. "It's him? Didn't this thing go to Shanghai? Why..." Yuan Shikai's heart turned cold. He understood: once Xu Shuzheng found out about asking Duan to come out of the mountain, he would definitely make trouble for it.He wanted to put the letter down without reading it.However, maybe because he was "severely ill and went to the doctor indiscriminately", he had another fantasy: "If Xu Shuzheng can change his mind, wouldn't it be a good thing!" So he opened the letter again. He rolled his eyes again and frowned again.Seeing that Qishou's title was "Generalissimo", he became furious: "Bastard! I'm just a Generalissimo? I...I..." He wanted to say "I am the President", but he realized that, I wanted to say "I am the emperor and your majesty", but it was too early.After being angry for a while, I calm down and read the text: ...... The world has been decided for the first time, and the vows are not yet dry, but the situation is suddenly changed, and the national system is changed.No matter if the diplomacy is not in harmony, the people's trust is not good, wars are everywhere, and the overall situation is in danger, you can wait for it... "Bastard! I, Yuan, is a three-year-old child, and I fainted after a few big words?" He was annoyed, his voice trembling, and continued to curse: "I am the lord of a country, whether to change the country system is my business, What qualifications do you, Xu Shuzheng, have to make irresponsible remarks?" Cursing, he continued to read: Immediately implement the Meiji rule of self-criticism, get rid of the traitorous disciples, win the hearts of the people who have gone, and restore the old system of republic, then Dian (referring to Cai E's meaning of Yunnan) can dispatch an envoy to relieve its soldiers, and everyone inside and outside There are no excuses, and the affairs of state are settled! "It's wrong, it's wrong!" Yuan Shikai threw his credit power to the ground, feeling dizzy.He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. Zeng Minjun picked up the letter and carefully read it.He said in surprise: "President, there is still something to say, there is still something to say." "What words?" Zeng Yujun said hesitantly: "He said that if his opinion is not accepted..." "What dare he do?" "President please..." "Read!" Zeng Yujun said according to his original belief: Give people a handle, call the soldiers of the world, and the country is in danger! "Nonsense!" Yuan Shikai waved his hand and said loudly, "Throw him back! Never allow him...they...to disturb me!" ——I don’t know if “they” refers to Xu Shuzheng alone, or also includes Duan Qirui?