received Li Jingfang's invitation, Yuan Shikai was also very happy, Li Jingfang was willing to see him, this is a good signal. Therefore, Yuan Shikai also prepared a gift, and the next day, together with the family sent by Li Jingfang to invite him, entered Hefei City and came to Li Jingfang's residence.

After the two met, they were polite to each other, and then the guests and hosts sat down, and the tea was served, Yuan Shikai took the tea bowl, took a sip, put the teacup down, and said: "Brother Boxing, the last time we met, it was when we were at the funeral of Lao Zhongtang, and we haven't seen each other for more than 3 years." ”

Li Jingfang smiled and said, "Comfort Pavilion, you remember it clearly." In the past few years, you have sent gifts and greetings during the New Year's holidays, and you have a heart. ”

Yuan Shikai hurriedly said: "This is a matter of course, the old hall has the grace of knowing Shikai, Shikai will always be remembered in his heart, how can he forget it." It's just that he is busy with official business, so he can't visit Brother Boxing in person, and he can't put a pillar of incense in front of the spirit of the old middle hall, so he can only send someone to send a small gift, which is really ashamed. ”

Li Jingfang waved his hand and said, "You don't have to blame yourself for comforting the pavilion, as long as your mind arrives, it's enough, your burden is heavy, there are many things, you don't have to come in person." ”

Yuan Shikai said: "This time I went to Liangjiang to take office, responsible for disaster relief affairs, the stakes are very important, and now the situation in the south Brother Bo Xing is also clear, it is difficult, I can also help the coffin to go south, but I can see Brother Bo Xing in Hefei, it is no regret." ”

Li Jingfang smiled and said: "Comfort Pavilion don't have to worry too much, I see that Comfort Pavilion is going south this time, although the difficulties are some, but there is no Comfort Pavilion said so serious, what Comfort Pavilion is worried about, probably our East China **, in fact, don't worry, East China ** has no intention of the south, this time to occupy Anhui, it is really the Qing Dynasty has done too much, this time East China ** through the comfort pavilion, it can be seen that there is still goodwill to the comfort pavilion, as long as the comfort pavilion does not pick East China **, there will be no more soldiers to meet. ”

Yuan Shikai nodded and said, "What Brother Bo Xing said, I am much more relieved. However, Brother Bo Xing has now taken refuge in East China, and he can be regarded as having a bright future! Speaking here, I don't have any scruples, he is a day when overseas Chinese open a dynasty, Brother Bo Xing is from the dragon's work, the founding hero, the title of the general, just around the corner, the future may not be under the old hall. ”

Li Jingfang said with a smile: "Weiting, I am at the age of knowing the destiny of heaven, I have no desire to compete for fame and fortune, and I don't want to add officials to the knighthood, and besides, what kind of talent and wisdom I am, how dare I have extravagant hopes, I just want the second half of my life to be safe and sound, and my grandchildren are all safe and happy, and it is enough." ”

Yuan Shikai said with a smile: "Brother Boxing has seen through fame and fortune, I really admire it." ”

Li Jingfang said: "Since Weiting has no scruples, I will also be blunt." ”

Yuan Shikai hurriedly said: "Brother Boxing, I have something to say but I don't want to visit." ”

Li Jingfang said: "The Qing court is exhausted, irretrievable, I will become a big thing in East China, this is what I said just now, I think that the pavilion also has to plan for itself, and find a way back for yourself." ”

In fact, Yuan Shikai just led the conversation to East China**, just waiting for Li Jingfang's words, and immediately said: "Brother Bo Xing said this, Shikai doesn't know, East China ** is still in time for the sky, and there is a great contribution to China, naturally it will become a big thing, Shikai doesn't want to imitate Weizi to go to Yin, Han Xin returned to Han, abandoned the dark and turned to the light, but Shikai was favored by the court, a very good minister, and the official was the best, so he really couldn't bear to abandon it. ”

Li Jingfang smiled faintly, he is also a very shrewd person, seeing Yuan Shikai citing the topic to East China, he knew Yuan Shikai's intentions, so he deliberately said a word to let Yuan Shikai plan for himself, and sure enough, Yuan Shikai immediately followed Li Jingfang's words. Although these words were high-sounding, Li Jingfang heard the meaning of Yuan Shikai's words, he first said that East China ** is the right time, and also cited the example of Weizi going to Yin and Han Xin returning to Han, saying that he also wanted to take refuge in East China**, but the conversation turned around, saying that he was a very good minister in the Qing court, the official was the best, and he was favored by the Qing court, so he couldn't bear to abandon it, in fact, it was a lie that he couldn't bear to give it up, and the real goal was to tell East China ** that he was the top official in the Qing court, and if East China ** wanted to surrender by himself, he had to give himself a weighty official position.

However, Li Jingfang did not say anything, but he did not follow Yuan Shikai's words, but moved on to other topics, and see what Yuan Shikai should do?

And after talking for a while, Yuan Shikai was really a little breathless, so he said: "I don't know what position Brother Bo Xing holds in East China now?"

Li Jingfang sneered in his heart, Yuan Shikai really couldn't help it, but he still replied calmly: "I am now in East China, I am a member of the Consultative Bureau, a member of the Preparatory Committee, at the end of this year, East China ** will recruit a meeting of the Advisory Bureau, and officially elect the Speaker, member and other positions of the Advisory Bureau." Now I'm coming to Hefei just to help temporarily, who called Hefei my hometown? Only after things here have stabilized, I'll go back to Qingdao. ”

Yuan Shikai frowned and said, "What does the Advisory Bureau do?"

Li Jingfang briefly explained the responsibilities and functions of the Advisory Bureau to Yuan Shikai, and Yuan Shikai listened to it and generally understood that according to Li Jingfang, this Advisory Bureau actually does not have much power, that is, to make suggestions to East China, which is far less powerful than the Senate. Of course, Yuan Shikai is not concerned about Li Jingfang's position, but through Li Jingfang, he will assess what position he will be after defecting to East China, and he also wants to express his attitude to East China through Li Jingfang.

Now it seems that Li Jingfang's status in East China is not high, of course, Li Jingfang's official position in the Qing court is not high, but there is a layer of Li Hongzhang's aura, so Li Jingfang's official position in East China only has reference value for himself, but it cannot be used as the basis for his own evaluation, and the point is to hope that Li Jingfang will pass on the word to East China ** for himself. But this can't be said directly, so Yuan Shikai said: "With Boxing's ability, in East China, even if he does not serve in various ministries, he should at least have the position of governor of the prefecture. East China** is too ignorant. ”

Li Jingfang didn't know what Yuan Shikai meant, on the surface, he was upset for himself, but in fact he was still talking about himself, since Li Jingfang was overkill in East China, then he Yuan Shikai defected to East China, of course, he wanted a higher official position.

So Li Jingfang sighed and said, "I am an old minister of the previous dynasty, how dare I have extravagant hopes in the new dynasty." Comfort Pavilion! Looking at the 24 th History, it can be seen that the old ministers of the previous dynasty can be reused in the new dynasty? Not to mention the other dynasties, that is, the three feudal domains at the beginning of the founding of the Qing Dynasty, they were all crowned princes, but that one got a good death. Forget it, I have no intention of pursuing a career anyway, so I won't talk about it, I won't talk about it. ”

But Yuan Shikai was hit hard, and the whole person was stunned, because Li Jingfang's words completely shattered Yuan Shikai's dream, so that Yuan Shikai finally realized that it was simply unrealistic for him to want to negotiate the conditions of submission with East China**, and to hold an important position in East China**, and it was impossible for East China to reuse himself, so Yuan Shikai's heart was very frustrated, and he had no intention of dealing with Li Jingfang anymore.

Seeing Yuan Shikai's dejected appearance, Li Jingfang also knew that his words had a role, Li Jingfang's understanding of East China was much deeper than Yuan Shikai's, and he knew that East China would not reuse the Qing court, on the one hand, it was the difference between the old dynasty and the new dynasty, and on the other hand, the system, rules, and governance of East China were completely different from those of the Qing court, and it was basically impossible for the officials of the Qing court to adapt to this system in East China. Of course, this step is in place, and how to go behind is up to Yuan Shikai to choose. So he said: "The comfort pavilion came all the way, and it was hard all the way, so I won't stay in the comfort pavilion anymore, go back and rest early." ”

Yuan Shikai came back to his senses, hurriedly got up to say goodbye to Li Jingfang, and returned to the camp. However, Yuan Shikai was still in a bad mood, he didn't even eat lunch, and sat alone in the tent for an afternoon, only saying that he had to think about things and not bother, so his family and subordinates didn't dare to ask more.

However, Yuan Shikai Bi Jing is a person who has seen the big wind and waves, and he will basically adjust his mood in an afternoon, and he has also planned his future plans, since he has taken refuge in East China, it is basically impossible to be reused, so he does not have to consider taking refuge in East China for the time being, Bi Jing himself is still in power, and he has gotten rid of the elbow of the Qing court, and he can create a new situation in the south.

At present, the primary target of East China is still the Qing court, not itself, so during this period, he can still maintain power in the south, and even be able to divide one side, and after a few years, he has the final say, of course, he must try his best to maintain a good relationship with East China, don't start a fire. And when East China wiped out the Qing court, unified the north, and turned the goal to the south, he would see the opportunity to do it again, and if he could fight, he would fight, and if he couldn't fight, he would surrender, anyway, as long as he didn't make enemies with East China, he could still be a rich man after surrendering. After figuring out the future path, Yuan Shikai's mental state was obviously much better, and at dinner, he basically returned to normal.

Yuan Shikai and his entourage stayed in Hefei for three days, Yuan Shikai originally planned to visit Luo Yue, at least make friends first, and it was considered to be acquainted, but since he did not plan to take refuge in East China now, there was no need for this, so in addition to visiting Li Jingfang, he stayed in the camp to rest for the next two days, and Bi Jing walked for more than ten days, and he was indeed very tired. On the third day, the ships of East China were also arranged, so Yuan Shikai and his team boarded the ship in Hefei and set sail for Nanjing.