Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Inauguration of Secretary of State in the Clouds

Yuan Shikai knew about Xu Shichang's retreat in Qingdao beforehand. Although he did not agree with him to go, he felt that he could not force him to stay.After decades of getting along, didn't Yuan Shikai know Xu Shichang? Yes.I understand very clearly that he is a person who can only do things calmly and dare not take any risks.Two days before Xu Shichang left Beijing, Yuan Shikai sent his confidant Zhao Bingjun to persuade him to stay. However, Zhao brought back Xu Shichang's words: "Everything should be stable. Today, everything is unstable. The president and the prime minister have no reputation. If you can be stable, A magistrate is also a joy, Xi must be a high-ranking official!" Yuan Shikai had no choice but to ask Zhao Bingjun to see Xu off on his behalf, and brought a sentence: "Once I take this bastard, I will prepare to meet the big brother." !" This made it clear to Xu that after the dissidents have been eliminated, the big brother must return to Beijing to be an official in a stable place.

Xu Shichang lived in Qingdao for two years. Although he didn't live like a year, he was anxious and anxious every day-he wanted to know the world! He especially wanted to know Beijing and what happened to his ally Yuan Shikai. The changes in Beijing were fast enough and big: In March 1912, Yuan Shikai became the interim president of the Republic of China and established the Beijing government; in 1913, he sent people to kill Song Jiaoren, a member of the Kuomintang, and in October forced the Congress to elect him as the official president As soon as the official president took office, he dissolved the Congress and tore up the "Provisional Constitution", and he implemented a dictatorship.Yuan Shikai had courage, and soon after the autocracy, he wanted to completely change everything, so he grasped that the State Council, which had full power in power, was changed to the Political Affairs Office, and the Prime Minister of the Cabinet was changed to the Secretary of State.Yuan Shikai decided that only Xu Shichang could take on the position of Secretary of State! This happened in the spring of 1914.Yuan Shikai decided to make Xu Shichang the Secretary of State, so he sent Wu Jisun to Qingdao to invite him.

Before Wu went to Qingdao, Yuan Shikai called him in front of him and said with emotion: "Shixiang, please, this time I go to Qingdao, I must invite Brother Ju to come out of the mountain. Please tell him that the capital is beautiful in spring! Soothing the heart What is disturbing is that there is no elder brother Juren by my side. Brother Juren is not here. I have no appetite to eat, sleep hard, and have a restless mind! Please brother Juren, please come out and help me with state affairs and personal friendship!" Wu Jisun already knew in his heart that Xu Shichang was not a person who sees through the world. After two years of calm thinking and the general trend of the Yuan family, coupled with the persuasion of many people, this is a good time for Xu Shichang to come out.Therefore, he said to Yuan: "Ju Shuai and the President (people at that time called Yuan the President) are brothers and sisters, and the state affairs are respected and entrusted to each other. Ju Shuai will never refuse. Please rest assured, President Ju. to Beijing."

Wu Jisun hurried to Qingdao, explained everything to Xu Shichang, and then took out Yuan Shikai's personal letter, saying: "Ju Shuai, Xiang Cheng is in dire straits, and I hope you will share his worries. Please understand his painstaking efforts." !" While reading the letter, Xu Shichang said: "With today's situation, it is really difficult to comfort the family. This kind of spirit for the country and the community will be pitied by heaven and earth. Well, I will return to Beijing immediately and help him!" The news that Xu Shichang was going back to Beijing was first known by his second wife Mrs. Wang. Mrs. Wang told her younger brother Xu Shiguang to "stop him and not allow him to go to Beijing."

Shiguang and his elder brother Shichang were from the same imperial examination. Although he ranked 50th ahead of his elder brother, in the end he was not as promising as his elder brother, and always worked under his elder brother's influence. The front and the back are bright, and the family is prosperous."However, this younger brother is a straightforward and quick-witted person. No one can stop him from doing what he wants to do, and no one can stop him from doing what he doesn't want to do.Hearing what his sister-in-law said, he said unequivocally: "I can't let him go! What are you going to do in Beijing? It must be Wu Jisun's life-stalker who is dragging Big Brother again."

That night, Xu Shiguang made an exception to accompany his elder brother to dinner, and offered to pour two glasses of wine. He was very wary of drinking, for fear that too much wine would cause trouble; although Xu Shiguang liked to drink a few glasses, he never drank in front of his brother. Today's behavior seemed abnormal. "Shiguang, what's the matter with you today?" Xu Shichang raised his cup and asked uneasily. "No how?" Xu Shiguang replied. "Why did you start drinking all of a sudden?" "I have nothing to do when I'm free, and I'm happy with wine." "No, it seems that you have something on your mind!" "Brother, I want to ask you," Xu Shiguang said, "Wu Jisun is here again. what?"

"Here, how are you?" "He must want to take you away." Xu Shiguang said: "I know, he must have come under the order of Yuan Weiting. Brother, what did you say to him?" "Nothing." Xu Shichang said, "Why are you asking this?" "Brother, you can't go to Beijing." Xu Shiguang said firmly. Xu Shichang only looked at his younger brother impatiently, and said nothing, but his eyes were very serious.At the same time, he pushed the wine glass to indicate that he would not drink, so he stopped talking. Xu Shiguang saw that his brother had stopped talking, and knew that his brother wanted to become an official in Beijing. His heart sank: "Is Yuan Shikai's official position suitable?" They are all courtiers of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty has not yet died, and the old officials are eager to wait for him to follow. Not to mention future generations, even the contemporary people will curse." Not long ago, Xu Shichang said in front of his family, "If you don't recite the Qing court, you don't make mistakes. Minister", Xu Shiguang felt that his brother should not be shaken.then.He picked up the glass by himself, drank the wine in the glass, and said: "Brother, what you said to me (to clean up the room) is temporary and don't forget the words about cleaning up the room. The words are still in your ears. It's only been more than two years. You forgot You are going to Beijing now, to be an official of the Republic of China, how can this work? The queen mother and the emperor named you the title of Taifu and Taibao. People in the world don't understand your conspiracy, and the party members have already been defeated. If you continue to work for Yuan and build a coffin, how will you see the first queen mother and first emperor underground?" When he spoke, Shi Guang was a little excited, his voice trembling, his head and hands were a little bit His son was shaking, and there were tears in his eyes, as if his elder brother went to Beijing this time to be a rebellious official, a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire, and his family would say goodbye to him forever.

Xu Shichang was very contradictory. He said "no second minister" in front of his family.However, today's unswerving loyalty seems so far away from reality, "Can the Qing Dynasty be revived? Sure enough, the Revolutionary Party has ruled the world..." Xu Shichang is really afraid that the Revolutionary Party will replace the Qing Dynasty dynasty.He doesn't express his attitude, he doesn't answer his younger brother's questions; he feels that what he wants to do may not be understood by his younger brother today, but in the long run, his younger brother will still understand and agree, so Xu Shichang Has been silent.Shiguang respects his brother, he has finished speaking, and he doesn't want to embarrass his brother too much, so he just drinks a cup of wine quietly.The two brothers sat until Dongfang turned pale, and Xu Shichang finally took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away his tears.

Xu Shiguang pushed away the wine glass and walked out silently. Xu Shichang left Qingdao and took the train to Beijing to accept the high position of Secretary of State given to him by President Yuan Da. Xu Shichang, 59 years old, is still young, with black hair, bright eyes, and a bit of a tiger when he walks. However, in his spiritual world, there are secrets that no one can and cannot detect.The officialdom is too colorful, but the officialdom is too sinister! Although Xu Shichang did not have such ups and downs, he has witnessed all kinds of situations where "today he is too small, but tomorrow he will be a prisoner".

The train is running fast. Xu Shichang's thoughts were also racing. In Qingdao, he was in the excitement of "would rather seize power for Yuan than let it fall into the hands of Sun Yat-sen", refused to persuade him, and resolutely went out of the mountain; What kind of world will Yuan's world be?" in confusion. "Fifty knows the destiny", Xu Shichang will be 60 in a blink of an eye, a 60-year-old should know where he is going, and not panic when things happen, he has this ability.Now it is different, he is going to face the rise and fall of a big central country, dealing with the life and death of hundreds of millions of people, a mistake is not a personal eternal hatred, but the rise and fall of the country.Xu Shichang is a person who has read the books of sages and sages. A three-year-old child knows that "the rise and fall of a country is the responsibility of everyone." Doesn't he, a well-educated person, don't understand?

Xu Shichang got off the train in Tianjin. He wanted to stay for a day or two. It was the place where his ancestors lived, with his house and relatives. There were many friends and subordinates in Tianjin. He wanted to get in touch with them and listen to their opinions. The "high opinion" of the current situation. After all, Xu Shichang is the default "Prime Minister" of the Yuan government. Although it has not been made public, most of the world knows it, and everyone in the officialdom knows it.As soon as he arrived in Tianjin, Liu Ruozeng, Chief Civil Affairs Officer of Zhili Province, hosted a banquet at Juhecheng Restaurant to welcome him, and invited Yan Xiu, Hua Shikui, and Gao Lingwei, Director of the Department of Internal Affairs, to accompany him.The banquet was full of official entertainment, with a lot of flattery and flattery, and everyone was covered with a veil—a veil of posturing.After three rounds of drinking like this, Hua Shikui got a little excited. He held up his glass, stood up, and said before toasting, "Brother, what are you doing in Beijing?" This kind of knowingly asking, quite a bit of blame.Xu Shichang was just taken aback, and didn't reply - Hua Shikui is a friend of Xu Shichang's hometown, and the two have worked together in the Imperial Academy for many years, and they are both assistant ministers in the cabinet of King Qingqing.Yuan Shikai came back to take charge of the cabinet, and there was no longer an assistant minister. Hua remained as a cabinet minister, with a rank of second rank, while Xu Shichang helped the cabinet prime minister manage politics as a military counselor.Hua Shikui saw clearly that Yuan did not trust him, so he resolutely resigned and lived in Tianjin.Now, he attacked Xu first, and Xu was speechless. The reason is that Xu did say to Hua, "If you don't be a second minister, you won't work for the government of the Republic of China". Hua Shikui is a straightforward person. Seeing that Xu Shichang was speechless and unhappy, he took advantage of the wine and asked again: "Brother, what did you tell me in Beijing two years ago? I don't have Hua. After repeated questions, Xu had no choice but to hang his head and not answer. The banquet was once deserted and embarrassed. Liu Ruozeng, the host, felt embarrassed, stood up quickly, and said conciliatoryly: "Even if Jushuai comes out of the mountain, he is only serving the people, not an official. He raised his glass while speaking, and said with a smile: "Come on, let's Cheers!" The wine in the glass was dry, but Hua Shikui didn't give up. When he put down the glass, he said: "It's not counted as an official, it's just a high-sounding statement, the fact is still for an official. "Xu Shichang felt very embarrassed. He didn't say a word, reluctantly ended the banquet, and broke up. Xu Shichang returned home, still thinking sullenly: "Why do these people hate being Yuan Shikai's official? Could it be that Yuan Shikai is worse than Sun Yat-sen?"- -Hua Shikui's accusation against Xu Shichang spread like wildfire, and the whole Tianjin Weidu was in an uproar. At this moment, Gao Lingwei also wanted to flatter Xu out of the matter, so he often explained in front of and behind people in a "party" manner: "Hua Bi This is not the intention of Chen (Hua Shikui, nicknamed Bichen), but he was distracted by Zhong Lao (Liu Ruozeng's word Zhonglu, so he was called Zhong Lao) before he could finish his sentence.In fact, Hua wanted to say: Mr. Ju, you went to Beijing to be the prime minister of Duke Yuan, how did you forget about me? I'm going too! "Everyone who heard it laughed, and those who were friendly said: "This is just trying to cover up the truth, and it doesn't justify it!" Xu Shichang finally arrived in Beijing. After all, Xu Shichang has been in the officialdom for a long time. He knows the truth and falsehood in the officialdom. After Beijing, he sent Yuan Shikai a "Letter of Thanks". He pretended to say that "the time is difficult and the responsibility is heavy, the age is weak, and the huge task is hard to overcome", "I beg you to take it back." Yuan Shikai received this After the "resignation letter", I was surprised at first: "Xu Ju came to Beijing, but he didn't want to take up the post.Sure enough, I don’t want to take up the post, if I don’t come to Qingdao, a letter will be over, I don’t need to come to Beijing, why?” Looking at the resignation letter again, I found this confession: “Bi Sui raised the disease on the seashore, and retired from the shadow of Qiu Fan The world has been forgotten for a long time." Yuan Shikai understood that this was Xu Shichang's cover-up for his promise of "dedicated allegiance to the Qing Dynasty". It's just a formality, it's all taken as real, people still have a way to live? Stupid, stupid!" After thinking about it again, I understood: "This is an official entertainment, Brother Ju used this technique to treat me, wrong!" Thinking, put Pushing the wet "resignation letter" to the side, spread out the paper and swiped a pen, and wrote a "reply" reply letter, ordering people to "send it to Secretary of State Xu as soon as possible". Xu Shichang took a look at the exhibition letter and saw: The times are difficult and difficult, and it depends on the old man's great hope, comprehensively planning the overall situation, and learning from Bangji.The wing expresses the greatness, Kezhen Zhizhi, the president of this university has high hopes! Singing and harmonizing, it just shows that Yuan and Xu have been the true heart of each other for many years.No wonder there was a media outlet that pointedly stated: When Yuan and Xu Yu were young, they used to be friends with brothers in cloth clothes and Kun, but they had different paths in civil and military affairs, and it was not easy to follow the same path.Shishikai's military training station, Shichang participated in the army with the Imperial Academy, and then laid the foundation of cooperation. It is the occasional situation, each of which is unique, and the outside is sealed, and the inside is a privy. , both heroes of the Qing Dynasty.After entering the Republic of China, times have changed, and positions have also been different. In the back-and-forth submissions to each other, they have repeatedly made tactful statements to show the respect of the bureaucrats. They are full of affection and do not forget the respect of the old. These are all modern official documents. It is also rare in the book. On May 2, 1915, Xu Shichang officially took office as Secretary of State of Zhengshitang. Yuan Shikai asked Xu Shichang to come out as Secretary of State, because he wanted to entrust him with trivial government affairs, dismissing officials and other matters, while Yuan himself could concentrate on diplomacy and dealing with party members, and Xu Shichang was under one fell swoop. , above all.Therefore, his first step was to implement his "government program" and issue a series of decrees-however, people can see at a glance that what Xu Shichang did basically followed the old system of the former Qing Dynasty, with administrative, military, personnel, Finance and etiquette systems remain unchanged from before. One of the interesting things is that all civil and military officials in the Qing Dynasty will be included in their resumes, and they will be regarded as seniority in the same way as their experience in the Republic of China.The Xu family is in power, and when an order is issued, the earth is shaken: all the ministries in the political affairs hall, the generals, governors, and courts outside are all replaced by Yuan and Xu's cronies, and they are extremely obedient to the central government; Duan Qirui from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chen Huan from the General Staff Department, and Yuan and Xu are even more caring; the old officials from the three eastern provinces came to Beijing one after another, each occupying an important position.Xu Shichang has entered the most prosperous years. After all, Xu Shichang came from the official ranks of the Qing Dynasty. What he was familiar with was the old system, and everything he did showed his legacy.As a result, from the capital to the localities, there were many criticisms and criticisms.Xu Shichang was a little flustered, thinking again and again, but he had no good plan. Finally, he decided to name the office of the Zhengshitang "Hou Letang", inscribed a plaque himself, and hung it high, which means "worry about the world first, and worry about it later". To enjoy the joy of the world", to show that although he is a prominent position, he is not here to be an official! Xu Shichang, who became the Secretary of State, had exhausted all his efforts for Yuan's rule. He went to the political affairs hall in the Yazhu Building behind the Han Palace on time every day to work. All official affairs of various ministries had to be approved by the Secretary of State. , the presence of the Secretary of State is required.The Secretary of State is busier than the President.At that time, a Beijing newspaper made such a report: The Secretary of State is as busy as the Minister of Military Aircraft in the former Qing Dynasty who was also in charge of the Ministry.According to reliable sources, Xu Xiangguo gets up very early every day, washes up after eight minutes, goes to the presidential palace at nine minutes, visits the president at ten minutes to discuss state affairs, goes to the political affairs hall at eleven minutes, and has lunch at twelve minutes , Take a break at two o'clock in the afternoon, start work again at three or five o'clock, and continue until around ten o'clock, as usual every day. Although Xu Shichang was so dedicated, Yuan Shikai's control over the Zhengshitang was very strict, making it difficult for Xu to do anything.Xu Shichang secretly said to his confidants: "In the past, when the cabinet members entered the cabinet, they made a lot of announcements, but in essence they couldn't do anything. After the current chaos, they only want to rest. I didn't dare to say too much, but I chose what was feasible. In other words, if it is not feasible, do not do it, if it is effective, it is good, and if it is not, it is evil, depending on the result! I will ridicule it without expressing it. Yu Juechang said the truth, others listened to him" The theory of "doing nothing" seems to have seen through his heart of "governing by doing nothing". In the end, he had to say "Xu Shichang, the world's biggest slicker!" "Worry about the world's worries first, and enjoy the world's joys later." "Government by doing nothing" is not so easy. Even Yuan's world, which he believes to be "no worries", is not peaceful. Many unexpected things , They are all coming one after another, Xu Shichang, the "prime minister", can't even tell whether he should assist the president or the new emperor. After the abdication of the Qing emperor, power returned to Yuan, which is undisputed.However, how to return to the law? There are differences within the Yuan family: Duan Qirui, who led the advocacy of the Republic, advocated making Yuan the president of a democratic republic; and Duan Zhigui, the adopted son of the Yuan family, advocated that Yuan Shikai should replace the Qing Dynasty as emperor.After arguing endlessly, they went to Xu Shichang. At that time, Xu Shichang's cabinet assistant minister had just "thank you", and the military counselor's gauze cap had not yet been covered, so he could have pushed it to Yuan Shikai, and it would have been settled.However, Yuan Shikai's comeback was manipulated by him, and he personally went to Zhangde for a secret talk. He was confident that he knew Yuan Shikai, so he expressed his attitude without hesitation: "Democracy is in the right time, and I should take it." Later , Xu Shichang told Liang Shiyi this opinion, and Liang also said that he answered "good!" Later, when Xu Shichang fled to Qingdao, his caring Zhou Fu said to him unequivocally: "(Second revolution pacification) comfort from now on." The court must carry out its aspirations!" Xu Shichang asked in amazement: "What is the aspiration?" Zhou said: "Your position!" At that time, Xu Shichang only shook his head slightly, and put the matter to the back of his mind. .After Xu Shichang took office as Secretary of State, the discussion of "democracy in accordance with the times" or "immediately high position" gradually became dusty again. He didn't know where the wind came from.Although Yuan Shikai has become the president, the revolutionary parties in various provinces opposed him fiercely. Although he suffered repeated failures, he still continued to fight. There were even more cracks in Yuan's Beiyang Army, and even Feng Guozhang did not agree with the monarchy.However, Japan, which is adjacent to the east, is becoming more and more active, conspiring to use the imperial system as bait, and persuade Yuan Shikai to "return to heaven and man, and it is better to be in power quickly."One day, Lian Zaizhen also used the banner of his father Yixu to persuade Yuan to proclaim himself emperor. Xu Shichang was dubious about the blatant "monarchy": he didn't believe that Yuan Shikai wanted to be emperor, "he is a smart man, opposing the monarchy is already the common aspiration of the people of the country, and being the president is enough for him, so why risk the world again?" How big is it?" However, Xu Shichang also understood the other side of Yuan Shikai, "This man has great ambitions, unfathomable. A man with great ambitions is also ambitious. He is familiar with imperial power and admires it. The Ninth Five-Year Honor It is more majestic than the president, not to mention it can be hereditary. It is a kind of magical temptation to create a great cause for Yuan's descendants." Xu Shichang can't tell which is right and which is wrong, so he can't reveal his feelings. .Since Yuan Shikai entrusted him with the responsibility of being in charge of the country, he has to be worthy of Yuan Shikai, let alone a friend of the commoner Kundi.Xu Shichang decided to meet Yuan Shikai and ask him about the matter.After Xu Shichang played his crown and adjusted his clothes, he couldn't move his feet anymore. "There's no need to do anything extra." He knew in his heart that Yuan Shikai was a very headstrong person, and no one could stop him from doing what he wanted to do; no one could drag him out to do what he didn't want to do.Why bother to find out what is true or false? Xu Shichang paced around for a while, but did not leave. Xu Shichang didn't leave, Yuan Keding, Yuan Shikai's eldest son, limped and hurried to find Xu Shichang. "Uncle Xu, I miss you, come to see you." Xu Shichang smiled at him and said, "Sit down." Then he said, "What are you up to these days, I don't see you." "Uncle Xu, what can I do?" Yuan Keding said, "It's not all about housework." Xu Shichang smiled and thought to himself: "I know what you are busy with, kid. After the Battle of Wuchang, which one thing did you do without you? Forcing the Qing emperor to abdicate, negotiating peace between the north and the south, and fighting for the president for me. You are actively working on it." .Yes, it’s housework. Are you busy with Lao Tzu’s imperial system again?” Xu Shichang heard the rumors and knew that this boy was very keen on the imperial system. "Yuntai (Yuan Keding word Yuntai), let me ask you, what are you doing these days? How are you doing? Can you tell Uncle Xu?" "Uncle Xu, look at what you said." Yuan Keding grew up in front of Xu Shichang, and he was still very childish. "How dare I hide something from Uncle Xu? How dare I have such courage!" "Okay then, why did you come to Uncle Xu? Tell me." --Yuan Keding is the most active member of the imperial system.Because the monarchy is in his best interest: God fights for the emperor, in fact, he fights for him.Late last night, he went to visit Yixu and his son (he has a very good relationship with Zai Zhen). Three days ago, Zai Zhen persuaded Yuan Emperor Zhi, and Yuan Shikai hid his hands and said angrily: "You let me be the emperor, why don't you let your father?" To be an emperor?" Zai Zhen said, "I'm afraid it will make people laugh." "Yuan said: "Aren't I just afraid of making my old colleagues and officials laugh?" Zai Zhen came out ashamed, and still suggested to Keding to promote his monarchy. Although Yuan Keding was active, he didn't dare to speak out because his father was unclear about his attitude. He knew The old man listened to Xu Shichang's words, so he rushed to see Xu. Under Xu Shichang's questioning, Yuan Keding explained his purpose, and then said: "Uncle Xu, I'm chasing you (Yuan Keding didn't call Yuan Shikai father or father, It’s called uncle) I listen to you the most, my mouse, he will only make up his mind if you tell him, what’s your opinion on this matter, Uncle Xu?” After Xu Shichang heard what Yuan Keding said, he still smiled, but his smile was cold, and he said after a long time: "The imperial system is not an imperial system. I don't stop it, and I don't agree with it. Listen to you and make your own art." Turn around, no matter how Yuan Keding babbles, he doesn't speak anymore. Seeing this appearance, Yuan Keding knew that Xu Shichang would not support him clearly, so he said some weak words and resigned. After Yuan Keding left, Xu Shichang fell into deep thought: "Yuan Weiting wants to establish an imperial system, and it has become open and slightly secret. What should I do...?" Yuan Shikai fell ill and recuperated at his home in Jurentang, Zhongnanhai. He came back from Zhangde and served as Prime Minister of Goge, and later as interim President. After leaving Zhongnanhai, Yuan Shikai moved into Jurentang.After Yuan Tukai returned to Beijing, there was an explosion in Dongxing Building; after he moved to Zhongnanhai, someone threw a bomb into the courtyard (unexploded). He knew that someone had plotted against him, so he stayed at home to recuperate from his illness.Xu Shichang was going to visit a doctor, so he hurried to Zhongnanhai. Yuan Shikai had too many things to do, state affairs, family affairs, internal affairs, foreign affairs, everything was entangled; among the complicated matters, being the emperor or the president became the biggest matter.How difficult! If you don't become an emperor, your power will not be extreme; if you want to be an emperor, you will be hindered by all parties.What should we do? Yuan Shikai is a human being, made of flesh and blood. "Thousands of worries make people grow old"--thousands of worries make people sick by themselves.He fell ill! Zhongnanhai is on the west side of the Forbidden City. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was called Xiyuan together with Beihai, also known as Xihaizi, and it was the Forbidden Garden.According to the region, Zhongnanhai is divided into Nanhai, Beihai and Zhonghai. This place was originally the place where the Wanning Palace was located in the Jin Dynasty.The lake in the garden is wide, and the halls, terraces and pavilions are arranged in an orderly manner. It is a famous garden of the royal family.Yuan Shikai used this as his presidential palace, and since then, it has become the seat of the country's highest authority. However, when Xu Shichang came in, the entire Zhongnanhai was so quiet that there was no sound. Ju Ren Tang, where Yuan Shikai's office and bedroom are located, was equally quiet.When Xu Shichang was led in, Yuan Shikai was sitting by the bed. Beside him, besides his son Yuan Keding, was his subordinate Yuan Naikan, a family member who climbed up.Seeing Xu Shichang coming in, Yuan Shikai got up quickly and said, "Brother Juren, why are you here?" "I heard that you are not feeling well, so I'll come and see you." Xu Shichang said. "A little ailment, why bother to take it to heart." "Thousands of miles of long dikes collapsed in ant nests, even minor illnesses can't be ignored!" Yuan Shikai smiled, and said in a relaxed manner: "Life cannot be without disease, and life and death are unpredictable! I ask myself, although I am not enough to look at the past and the world, it seems that there is no one who lives on the right. However, after four years of doing everything, I have not fully developed my aspirations, and if I go to the position, although the successor has been predicted, his name will be preserved, but his talent and ability may still be inferior to that of me. China's future safety and danger are hard to predict!" When he said these words, Yuan Shikai's mind changed from light to heavy, and his brows were gradually furrowed. Seeing this, Xu Shichang was startled: "Just now he said it was a minor illness, why is he thinking about the funeral all of a sudden, does he really know that he is dying?" Xu Shichang was about to offer words of comfort, but Yuan Naikuan hurriedly replied, The words were as urgent as notes, and he was clearly advised to establish a high position early and change his career to the monarchy.Xu Shichang didn't speak anymore, because he said to Yuan Keding, "If you don't stop it, you don't agree with it." Now, what else do you say? Yuan Naikuan's words moved Yuan Shikai's heart quite a bit, and the eyebrows that had just been furrowed seemed to be relaxed: a smile gradually appeared on his face. However, Yuan Shikai was still not very optimistic.Yuan Naikuan put flattery and persuasion into words After finishing speaking, Yuan Shikai fell silent—he didn't speak, but turned his gaze to Xu Shichang, as if asking, "What's your opinion, Brother Ju?" Xu Shichang didn't want to speak, and he had nothing to say. He and Yuan Shikai looked at each other, then hurriedly lowered their heads. When Yuan Shikai saw Xu Shichang bowed his head and said nothing, he knew that he did not support this matter.He calmed down his thoughts coldly, and said: "Don't talk about this matter anymore. It's not something you can talk about in a day or two, so let's talk about it later." yawned. Xu Shichang understood that "this is serving tea to see off guests", so he stood up and said with a smile, "Wei Ting, take a good rest, and I will come to see you some other day." Yuan Shikai also reluctantly stood up and said: "You have a lot of things to do, so you don't need to come here. I will let someone tell you about your condition. It's not a big deal." Turning around, he said to his son: "Ke Ding, go see Xu off." Bob." Yuan Keding stood up, and was about to leave to see off the guests, when Yuan Shikai said, "Keding, you, Uncle Xu, know how to taste tea. Yesterday a guest from Hunan sent two halls of yellow bamboo and pekoe. He said it was the best tea. If you are interested in tea, please bring it to Uncle Xu. If you have nothing to do, please Uncle Xu to taste it." Xu Shichang said: "Thank you for your kindness. Besides, I am also a layman to tea, so I am lucky to be able to taste this superb product."