Chapter 20 Chapter 19 Going out for the Republic

Just like when it should be windy, it must blow, when it should rain, it must rain, and when this woman has a child, she must have a child. After a period of "republic" in China, an emperor was born, and indeed another emperor was born. ——Emperor Hongxian. December 13, 1915. The once sluggish city of Beijing suddenly revived, and the boiling started from pawnshops and consignment shops.Whether it is located in the bustling downtown area or in a remote alley, almost every family is full of families and the business is booming. Many people have a strong interest in court clothes and crown belts, and a rush to buy them quietly blows up.These antique things can only be found in antique shops, so those who think they are qualified to re-wear have to go to antique shops.The ones who are more calm are those old people who are expected to make a comeback in the Qing Dynasty. They have a lot of "foresight".Now you only need to turn it out, dust off the dust, bask in the sun, and then you can put it on again; the old Beiyang people, the upstarts of the revolutionary party, are miserable, and they can't go on a "pilgrimage" with suits and leather shoes, so they have to go to thrift shops.The second-hand store is "out of stock", and the smart people sneak into the troupe secretly and in a hurry...

The Presidential Palace was restructured, the Office of the Secretary was renamed as the Internal Envoy Prison, and Ruan Zhongshu, the knife pen who retired to Tianjin for the elderly due to unseasonable conditions, was reactivated.The first thing is to draft the "edict" for the ascension ceremony. On that day, people flocked to Juren Hall in Zhongnanhai from early in the morning. The ascension ceremony was "for some reason" not held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, but in Juren Hall in Zhongnanhai. On that day, Yuan Shikai did not have a dragon robe on his body, nor did he have a crown on his body. Instead, he was wearing a generalissimo uniform with a bare head.People became suspicious: Yuan Shikai's marshal's uniform had a hat, which was decorated with folded feathers. down.

His Royal Highness Duan Zhigui was the official in charge of the grand ceremony. He announced loudly in front of the scattered crowd: "The emperor has ordered that the ceremony be kept simple. Just bow three times, and everything will be avoided!" Next, the new emperor issued an edict: …The establishment of a constitutional monarchy is the unanimous request of the people. The emperor of the Chinese Empire has been selected, and it is inevitable that there will be rapes that go against the will of the people and cause mischief.Here is an edict to the whole country, if anyone dares to oppose Emperor Hongxian, he will be severely punished!

"It's over?! People were amazed: "There's no such thing as an official statement like 'Following Heaven's Carriage? Putting palms together; the person in the suit hits the head of the person in the court dress, and the person in the mandarin jacket steps on the feet of the person in the casual dress; the person in the court dress has knocked off his gauze cap before the person in the court dress has pulled up his robe, and the person in the court dress loses his voice, "Ouch!" --"stand up…… Yuan Shikai didn't care about such a "lively" scene in the hall, and was still reading the edict word by word, weakly.It wasn't until the end that he straightened his chest and announced in a strong Henan dialect:

Take over the throne and change Yuan Hongxian! After reading the edict, he stood, waiting for the shouts of "Long live" in the hall like a tsunami.But, in the end, he slumped down on the Dragon Throne in disappointment. When Yuan Shikai held his ascension ceremony in Beijing, Duan Qirui, who was in Beijing, did not attend.He huddled in the mansion in Fuxue Hutong donated to him by Yuan Shikai, and didn't even open the door, as if nothing happened in Beijing.Duan Qirui is very calm. It seems that the initiative to change the overall situation in China is in his hands, and he has the ability to manipulate it and influence it.A few days ago, when he left Shanghai, he and Xu Shuzheng discussed and decided to create public opinion and attack the "Chou An" group, they also agreed on one thing -

What if Yuan Xiangcheng has to go to extremes?" Duan Qirui took a step back and asked Xu Shuzheng. Xu Shuzheng said unequivocally: "It's not just a case, but a certainty. Yuan Xiangcheng must wear a yellow robe!" Sure enough, he did that, so I once again united with the generals to send a telegram to object!" You cannot take this title. Xu Shuzheng said firmly. "We are firm not to cooperate with him." " "Why? Could it be that he will be in jail better than the little emperor?" that's not what it means. "Xu Shuzheng said: "No one in the world knows that you have a life-and-death relationship with Xiang Cheng, and if you take the lead against him, there are two possible outcomes: first, Xiang Cheng hates you, and all friendship is severed; The generals will consider 'You Hefei Anti-Xiangcheng, is it true or false?' and will not necessarily respond. "

"Then what do you say?" "I think Feng Huafu is leading this call, at least he has to be a joint name." Duan Qirui shook his head quickly and said, "Feng Guozhang? He didn't do it! He brought his little wife to Beijing earlier. Do you know who his little wife is?" Without waiting for Xu Shuzheng to answer, he said, "It's Yuan Xiangcheng's tutor Zhou... ...Zhou Daoru!" I know.But these are two different things. Xu Shuzheng said: "Feng Huafu came to Beijing to dissuade Yuan Xiangcheng from becoming emperor." " du8.com copyright

"What dissuasion? Duan Qirui shook his head." Feng Huafu said to him clearly: "It's not that the South disagrees with the reform of the state system, it's just a matter of time." He also said, "In the future, heaven and man will return. Although the president is modest, I am afraid he will not be able to push it away." 'Listen, what kind of persuasion is this?' "It is precisely because of this that Feng Huafu has to lead." Xu Shuzheng said: "Feng turned against Yuan, and Yuan realized that the situation is serious. At that time, the play will be good. Maybe Xiangcheng will come to our door." "I'm afraid not." will do."

"I have my own way!" When Duan Qirui returned to Beijing and Yuan Shikai had not yet ascended the throne, Xu Shuzheng held a grand funeral ceremony for his grandmother who died 20 years ago and his father who died 9 years ago in Liquan Village, Xiao County, Xuzhou Prefecture, where he was originally from. Invited military and political officials from all over the country, it was so lively! At the time of the funeral, Xu Shuzheng reported Feng Guozhang to Yuan Shikai, and Yuan Shikai gave Duan Qirui a letter to inform the governors of several provinces, and released words: "Feng Huafu can only fight against the imperial system. If there is a clear attitude on the issue, Chinese people will forgive him. Otherwise, he will be destroyed together with Yuan!" He also said: "Hefei intends to reconcile with Feng, but it depends on whether Feng will take action?" These words quickly spread to Feng Guozhang In his ears, he was furious at first: "Yuan Xiangcheng is really not a thing, and he sold out his cronies at a low price!" Then he was shocked: "Originally, we have been in harmony with Hefei, so we will become enemies."

Just when the volt line buried by Xu Shuzheng became clear, Yuan Shikai reached the pinnacle, and the telegram of "The General Powered On" concocted by Xu Shuzheng came to Feng Guozhang.Feng Guozhang did not regress, so he had no choice but to sign the power-on.Not long after Yuan Shikai ascended the pole, Cai E's National Defense Army went north, and the provinces south of the Yangtze River became independent one after another; a military leader from five provinces including Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hunan jointly sent a telegram to Yuan Shikai, demanding Yuan Shikai, "Quickly abolish the monarchy to reassure people!"

This move is known as the "Secret Telegram of the Five Generals". ... Duan Qirui once again admired Xu Shuzheng's strategy. "You Zheng, resourceful." One day, Xia Shoutian, former chief of staff of the Presidential Office, hurried to Duan's mansion.Duan Qirui welcomed him to the living room and warmly entertained the unexpected guest, but he was muttering in his heart: "Is this civil servant here by order, or is he doing it on his own? I don't know what to explain?" So he opened the day and asked directly: " Shou Gong will not go to the Three Treasures Hall if there is nothing to do, please ask for an interview." Xia Shoutian smiled, nodded, and said, "It's nothing serious, it's just that the higher-ups are very worried about Mr. Zhi, and they can't get away, so let me come and visit." The overall situation is settled, do you want me, Duan, to make some contribution?" Duan Qirui thought about the bad. "Zhiquan only has a head, nothing else!" Zhi Lao misunderstood.Xia Shoutian said: "There must be some rumors coming here, it's completely nonsense, Mr. Zhi must not believe it." Duan Qirui also followed the topic and said: "No wind, no waves!" Zhi is old and cannot be misunderstood. ,'Xia Shoutian said: "Xiang Cheng scolded his elder son severely the day before yesterday. He said: t your brother-in-law has a problem with the imperial system. He didn't use soldiers but words. I heard that you are bad for him outside. The action should be stopped as soon as possible. He is a close relative of our family, and the matter has not yet been settled. This is the way we are internally, and it will be even more unimaginable in the future' This is what Xiang Cheng said himself, and Elder Zhi must believe it." "So, Shougong is here to give me a 'reassurance pill'?" Not all. ,, Xia Shoutian said: "It's not because of orders, but because I have an immature personal opinion, and I'm here to discuss it with Mr. Zhi." "Speaking." After the grand ceremony, the whole country was in turmoil, especially in the south.Without an attitude, it seems difficult to calm down. "Xia Shoutian said: "I want to offer advice to Xiangcheng. Following the example of the King of England who is also the emperor of the five sons, Yuan will step down as the president and the emperor of Manchuria.What does Elder Zhi think?" Duan Qirui frowned and thought about it, and said: "Your idea is quite clever, I'm afraid it's not easy to accept." Xia said: "Xiang Cheng understands it very well, but it's a pity that it's surrounded by small groups. Now that there is an incident in Yunnan, my solution may have some effect." effect.". Duan Qirui just smiled lightly, and didn't talk about it anymore - soon, he heard that this view doesn't work.Duan Yi laughed it off.But a passage of words from Xia brought a touch of warmth to Duan.Just when the rumors in Beijing were boiling, Xu Shuzheng came back to Beijing from Shanghai.Come on, come on, he just created a kind of momentum: he notified his friends and his ex-department in advance, and they all ran to Qianmen Station to welcome him. There was a feast at home.It was like welcoming a general who had returned in triumph. On this occasion, Duan Qirui had to come.He came, but he was not excited, his thick eyebrows were kept locked, his eyes were not enough, and he spoke less.It wasn't until Xu Shuzheng finished seeing off the guests and friends that he pulled him in front of him and said, "Youzheng, if I do this today, I feel a little uneasy." du8.com copyright "What's wrong?" Xu Shuzheng asked. "I went to Xishan, and you went to Shanghai, all to avoid Xiangcheng's eyes and ears. We didn't enter when he ascended the throne, and we avoided it on purpose. Besides, he has long planned to investigate you. I feel that we should avoid it out of fear. No secret. You came to Beijing in such a big way, and you were greeted by people, and you held a banquet. Didn’t you mean to tell Xiang Cheng, "We are back!" He really became angry and made trouble, but what should we do? "When Duan Qirui said these words, his heart was very heavy, and his face was gloomy.He had been in such a gloomy atmosphere for some time.Xu Shuzheng is not so gloomy, whether in Shanghai or back to Beijing, he is more relaxed.It seems that the state affairs that are happening are just a play, a children's play, or a bizarre dream that will disappear in the blink of an eye.He listened to Duan Qirui's worries with a smile, and then explained to him with a smile: "Let's see how the situation develops. I always feel that the current situation is beneficial to us. And it is very favorable! Yuan Xiangcheng really forgot us, that is his misfortune, But it’s our misfortune. I made such a statement, in fact, to remind him, so that he will not forget us.” "And why?" "You don't have to worry, as things evolve, you will understand naturally." Duan Qirui's tightly locked brows did not relax at all. He could not predict what the situation would "evolve" into, and the shadow of bad luck was always hanging over him. In the evening, Duan Qirui did not leave Iron Lion Alley. He wanted to "speculate" on the future of evolution with Xu Shuzheng.Xu Shuzheng brought his wives and concubines to play cards with Duan Qirui, and they played almost all night. After the ceremony, Yuan Shikai was not overly excited.He was looking forward to becoming an emperor, and when he really became an emperor, it seemed that he was not as intoxicated as when he was "hoping".So, after the ceremony was over, he became silent and melancholy. Not only did he not wear the dragon robe, but he also stopped wearing the marshal's uniform, and he didn't even wear the long robe and mandarin jacket. Instead, he changed into a black woolen uniform.The uniform had a low stand-up collar and four concealed pockets; on his feet he wore short black leather boots lined with sheepskin, with two horseshoe-shaped elastics on the sides of the boots; The black velvet flat-topped leather hat was exposed—this was almost his winter clothing that would never change all his life, and it was still the same now that he was the emperor.Yuan Shikai can't get excited! The grand ceremony is an ancient event, but not even one of his three Beiyang masters was present! The uprising in Yunnan and the response from the whole country are still expected. It has always been like this in all dynasties. Economic risk cannot win a big position.However, "The secret message of the five generals is completely beyond his expectations; Feng Huafu is among the five generals, which is even more unexpected." Damn, Feng Huafu once forced me to take the big position.What kind of person is it that you force me to 'quickly abolish the imperial system' today?" He also felt that this was not Feng Huafu's original intention and must be used by others. He decided to send Duan Zhigui to Nanjing to find out the truth. Duan Zhigui went and reported that the news was true. Feng Huafu said: "Such a big move is not a joke! I did it for the benefit of the country and Xiangcheng." Everything was hopeless, and Yuan Shikai finally set his sights on On Duan Qirui. "Xiangyan," he said by the nickname of Duan Zhigui, the only person walking beside him, "I have decided, and I will do everything possible to ask Zhiquan to come out and take on the important task." "Have you decided?" Yuan Shikai nodded. "Will he answer the imperial edict?" "Go and invite." "Aren't you going out of the mountain?" "I'll go." Duan Zhigui's heart beat. "Yuan Xiangcheng! It's really pitiful for you to be an emperor!" He still said, "Zhiquan and you have nothing to say, whether public or private. It's just that in recent years, some things have not been in common. Since the exemption With Xu Shuzheng's position, your relationship is not as good as before. Zhiquan lives in seclusion in Xishan, and actually has a prejudice against you. At present, the prejudice is still unresolved, I'm afraid he won't come out easily." Yuan Shikai thought about it, and felt that there was room for Duan Zhigui's words. Why did the prejudice start from Xu Shuzheng?Now, isn't it too late to mention those things.Yuan Shikai had no choice but to sigh, and said, "Duan Zhiquan will never let others kill me!" Duan Zhigui asked again: "How do you want to use him?" "Let him be the 'Secretary of State'!" Duan Zhigui's heart skipped a beat: "It's a big bet!" But he said, "I don't know what Hefei's plan is? I'm afraid that 'little fan' will restrain him too much." "You mean Xu Shuzheng?" "It's him." "He has already gone to live in Shanghai in seclusion." "No!" Duan Zhigui said: "Xu Shuzheng has returned to Beijing, and he has come back showing off his power." So, he described the situation of Xu Shuzheng's return to Beijing in detail, and said: ...Little fan, I don't know why I returned to Beijing with such actions. Intend?" Yuan Shikai thought for a while and said, "Well, since Xu Shuzheng is also in Beijing, let's invite him out together." du8.com copyright "I'm afraid this person will cause trouble again." "I don't care so much now." Duan Zhigui became a lobbyist... It's spring again in Beijing. Everything revives in spring.People are also spiritual. Duan Qirui talked with the "imperial envoy" Duan Zhigui in the secret room for a long time, emotionally agitated, flustered, joyful and depressed for a while, but in the end, he didn't say a word of yes or no. "Well, I understand what the President means. As for what should I do? Let me think about it again. For such a big event, you have to make a plan in your mind. What do you think?" Duan Zhigui felt that his words were reasonable, so he had no choice but to agree. In fact, Duan Qirui didn't think about it again, but went to discuss it with his "military adviser"! Duan Zhigui left, and Duan Qirui went to Iron Lion Alley in a carriage.Before he could sit still in Xu Shuzheng's small living room, he shouted loudly: "You zheng, you zheng, you have magical calculations like a fairy. Admiration, admiration!" "Why are you so happy?" Xu Shuzheng asked while pouring tea. "He came to the door." "Who came to the door?" "Yuan Xiangcheng." "What is it?" "Yuan Xiangcheng sent Duan Xiangyan to find me in a hurry, and said these days, 'Xiangcheng misses you crazy, and has decided to let you be the Secretary of State. You have to accept it no matter what.' Finally, this day. You guessed a hundred Right!" "You agreed?" Xu Shuzheng asked in surprise.Duan Qirui shook his head and said, "I'm here to discuss with you." Xu Shuzheng smiled lightly and said, "Yuan Xiangcheng is at the end of his rope, and he is besieged on all sides. He will naturally think of you. If the whole country shouts 'Long live' three times, I am afraid that the first one will suffer. It's you!... "I understand, I understand!" Duan Qirui said, "You think I'm happy to be Secretary of State? Shit! I don't care about that official.I think you are capable, just like the "worm" in Yuan Xiangcheng's stomach, guess he is right. " "You don't want to accept the position of Secretary of State?" "I, Duan Zhiquan, am a dignified general, not someone's watchdog: when I stare, I run away with my tail between my legs; when given a piece of rotten pancake, I wag my tail and snuggle up! When he was Hong Xianhuang, I died. Now, the rivers and rivers are reversed, and he has a hard time, so he wants me to come out to be the Secretary of State. What Secretary of State? Shield, for the dead! I am not a three-year-old child, so I don’t want to be fooled by this!” "Decided not to do it?" Xu Shuzheng was a little surprised. "It's decided, don't do it!" Xu Shuzheng straightened his face immediately and shook his head. "Wrong. Very wrong!" "Huh?" Duan Qirui felt cold. "What's wrong?" "The fault was not serving as Secretary of State." "Youzheng, what's your idea?" Duan Qirui said, "You and I have jointly expressed our determination: 'Never cooperate with Xiangcheng'! Why today?" "This is the same as the other." Xu Shuzheng said: "It was right for us to decide not to cooperate with him at the beginning; it is also right to cooperate with him today..." "This this……" "This is not scaremongering, it's the truth. Look, Yuan Xiangcheng became the emperor and became the target of public criticism. Heroes from all directions were dispatched, and capable people from all over the world showed their prestige. Who will win? It's hard to know. But everyone wants to hunt deer, this is a fact, Because whoever hunts the deer is a hero! What is false is also true.” "What do you propose?" "Being the Secretary of State! It is better to be in control than to be in control!" "That's right!" Duan Qirui suddenly realized. "Yes, you have to dominate!" He said again: "What do you do?" "Now is not the time to think about me," Xu Shuzheng said. "What should be thinking about is 'how to get out of the mountain?' and raise a banner." "What banner?" "I want Yuan Xiangcheng to abolish the imperial system." "..." Duan Qirui opened his mouth, but did not speak. Xu Shuzheng smiled easily: "Aren't you the hero who created the republic, why can't you be the hero who maintains the republic?!" "I understand!" Duan Qirui stood up and said as he walked out, "I understand!"