But it's not a way to drag it out like this, if East China ** really sends troops, then it will be a big trouble, even if it surrenders East China ** at that time, it is also a surrender before the battle, which is far worse than the effect of taking the initiative to surrender East China**, so Yuan Shikai also thought about whether to test East China ** again, or simply pick things out, although doing so will put himself in a passive situation in the bargaining with East China**, but it is better than sitting still.

At this time, Zhu Erdian came to Tianjin to visit Yuan Shikai, persuaded Yuan Shikai to go to the south to create a new situation, and said that if Yuan Shikai was willing to go to the south, then all countries would support Yuan Shikai and help Yuan Shikai. At the same time, it can also operate Yuan Shikai to go to the south.

Listening to Zhu Erdian's words, Yuan Shikai was also surprised and delighted, this is a way to dismantle the middle, first of all, you can take this opportunity to leave Beijing, without accompanying the Qing court to be martyred, and he also agrees with Zhu Erdian's judgment, once East China sends troops, it will inevitably unify the north first, this is because the main territory of East China is in the north, Shandong, Henan, Northeast and other places are in the north, so East China ** It is impossible to use troops against the south first, so that if you go to the south at this time, you can indeed show your strength and create a world, not to mention the support of various countries, and secondly, if you really lay a world in the south, you can also increase the cost of asking for the price of East China.

However, Yuan Shikai is a steady person after all, and he will not listen to the wind or rain, Zhu Erdian immediately agreed to say this, so he asked Zhu Erdian for details, once he went to the south, how much help can be provided to him by studying various countries, Zhu Erdian did not hide it, Bi Jing This kind of thing cannot be fooled, and Yuan Shikai replied truthfully, now the French consul in Hankou Fran is recruiting businessmen from various countries to raise funds, and banks in various countries can also provide low-interest loans to Yuan Shikai, but the amount of the body can be negotiated, and can help Yuan Shikai train his troops, the sale of arms, and so on

After listening to this, Yuan Shikai also had a bottom in his heart, so he told Zhu Erdian that he needed to think about it for a few days. Zhu Erdian also knew that Yuan Shikai could not decide on such a major matter at once, it always took time to think about it seriously, and today could only be regarded as the first contact, so it was like Yuan Shikai saying goodbye and leaving.

And after Zhu Erdian left, Yuan Shikai also began to weigh the success or failure of going to the south to start over again at this time, although staying in Beijing is definitely a dead end, but at that time, it is not the best time to go to the south, Bi Jing is flooding in the south, and East China ** The relationship deteriorated, it can be said that it is full of crises, whether it is necessary for him to go to the south at this time, whether to wait for a while, and wait for the crisis to pass before it is too late; followed by Yuan Shikai, who started from training troops at a small station, worked diligently and painstakingly for more than 10 years before climbing to his current position, and held the main official positions are: Minister of Military Aircraft Department, Governor of Zhili, Minister of Beiyang, Although it cannot be said that he is in charge of the military training committee alone, he is also in power leaning towards the government and the opposition, but most of his foundation is in the north, and although he cannot say that he has given up all of his foundation in the north, he will definitely go to eight or nine out of ten; and Yuan Shikai does not have much resources in the south, so if he wants to start all over again, will he be able to regain his strength? These two issues must be clarified before we can decide whether or not to go to the south.

Of course, Yuan Shikai can't decide such a major matter alone, so he recruited his staff to negotiate together, and after consultation, everyone agreed that although the south is now in danger, it is an opportunity in the crisis, and only when this kind of crisis goes to the south, Yuan Shikai can have the opportunity to quickly gain a foothold in the south, as long as Yuan Shikai can quickly calm the crisis in the south.

So it is not difficult to calm the crisis in the south, the problem of Guan Jian is actually still in East China, as long as East China has no intention of occupying the provinces along the Yangtze River, only trying to plot a province in Anhui Province, then the crisis in the south will disappear by more than half, as for the flood, it is not a problem, Bi Jing is now the peak of the flood has passed, as long as the problem of the return of the victims is settled, it can also be avoided to pay for the past. Not to mention the support of various countries, it is not difficult to deal with it.

As long as the grand strategy of East China is to use troops against the north first, then naturally there is no intention of occupying the provinces along the Yangtze River now, so he goes to the south, and the chance of success is still very great. Bi Jing is not really self-made like he was when he was training in a small station, although he was not a fledgling at that time, but his fame, qualifications, experience, and power are far from being compared with now. What's more, he still has a fairly powerful army in his hands.

Although he said that he went to the south, he could only serve as a governor, of course, the position was far less prominent than now, but there were a lot of good outside, Bi Jing served in Beijing, although the position was high and powerful, but after all, it was at the feet of the Son of Heaven, the undercurrent was surging, and the local governor could not only obtain territory, and far away from the center of the Qing court, and act with a lot less constraints, and with the support of various countries, he could also re-recruit troops, train people, and expand his strength, once in East China** If you start a war, you can stand still in the south, or even divide one side, and you will talk about it after two days.

After discussing clearly, Yuan Shikai also borrowed the time to return to Beijing to visit Zhu Erdian, and after several collusions, the two reached a general agreement, so Zhu Erdian also began to operate Yuan Shikai to go to the south.

At this time, in Anhui Province, there was a collusion between the Qing court nobles and Japanese intelligence officers, and they used the Red Lotus Sect as a cover to launch a fearful attack on the resettlement camp for the victims, and then the People's Army attacked and launched a battle to exterminate the Red Lotus Sect.

Zhu Erdian took advantage of this incident to send a diplomatic note to the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office on behalf of the ministers of various countries, pointing out that the floods, turmoil, and wars that occurred in the Yangtze River valley had seriously damaged the interests of all countries, and therefore all countries unanimously demanded that the Qing court take favorable measures to restore stability in the Yangtze River valley.

Although at this time, all countries have converged a lot, but Bi Jing is decades of accumulation, not to mention that the Qing court also knows that the countries are afraid of East China, not themselves, so they dare not despise the attitude towards the countries, not to mention that the Yangtze River basin area is indeed too chaotic at this time, and the Qing court is also considering how to pacify the Yangtze River basin area. So Prince Qing and Zhang Zhidong had several talks with Zhu Erdian, and Zhu Erdian made a suggestion to the Qing court: send a capable, prestigious, and relatively good relationship with East China to the south to preside over the overall situation, responsible for disaster relief, quelling turmoil, negotiating with East China, stabilizing the situation, and restoring peace.

In fact, everyone can see that these conditions prescribed by Zhu Erdian were actually tailor-made for Yuan Shikai, but the Qing court was a little hesitant and hesitant on this issue, so that he did not suspect that Zhu Erdian had any conspiracy, but now the Qing court also needs Yuan Shikai, in case Yuan Shikai has any accident in the south, it will be a huge loss for the Qing court.

After a few days of delay, the People's Army pacified the Red Lotus Newspaper and turned to attack Anhui Province, at this time Zhu Erdian was also a little breathless, on the one hand, he instructed the British consul in Qingdao to negotiate with East China ** to understand the intentions of East China **, and on the other hand, he issued an ultimatum to the Qing court, claiming that if the Qing court did not take effective measures that could satisfy all countries, then all countries would cooperate with East China ** to restore peace in the Yangtze River valley.

At this time, the Qing court was also frightened, if the countries and East China joined forces, the entire south may not be able to be saved, so it was finally decided to appoint Yuan Shikai as the governor of Liangjiang and the minister of disaster relief, and from now on he will go south to take office and preside over disaster relief matters. In fact, it is to meet the requirements of the United Kingdom. On the other line, merchants from various countries also felt the huge pressure, so they quickly gathered more than 300 taels of silver, so Zhu Erdian rushed to visit Yuan Shikai overnight.

At this time, Yuan Shikai said again: "Mr. Minister, now I just don't know what kind of attitude East China ** has, I am not afraid that you will laugh at me for being cowardly, what to say, if East China ** insists on capturing the entire Yangtze River basin this time, I am afraid that I will take office in Jinling, and I will not be able to return to the sky, and I am afraid that even my life will be handed over there." ”

Although Yuan Shikai judged that the primary target of East China ** was the north rather than the south, this was only his own judgment after all, and Yuan Shikai himself was not completely sure, and it was also a big gamble to go to the south this time, and he did not put all his hopes on his own judgment, so it was necessary to declare to Zhu Erdian. On the other hand, it also hinted to Zhu Erdian that he should do some work over there in East China, at least to test the attitude of East China. And Yuan Shikai also made up his mind, if the target of East China ** is the south instead of the north, he will simply take this opportunity to take the initiative to surrender to East China**.

Zhu Erdian said with a smile: "Don't worry, Lord Yuan, we have already colluded with East China through diplomatic channels, and their attitude is that they have no intention of expanding the war and occupying the entire Yangtze River Basin." However, they also asked the court to give them a clear explanation. ”

When Yuan Shikai heard this, he was also a little relieved, and said: "This is very good, but this explanation, I'm afraid that only the imperial court can decide, and I can't decide." Of course, I can do my best to provide convenience to them within the scope of my authority as the governor of Liangjiang. ”

Zhu Erdian also nodded, and said: "I also know this, and we will also negotiate with Huadong ** again, but I suggest that Lord Yuan personally go to meet with Huadong ** and determine their respective goals, conditions, and requirements, because this Bi Jing is a matter between the two of you, and we can't get involved too deeply." ”

Yuan Shikai said: "What Mr. Minister said is reasonable, okay, I will visit East China early tomorrow morning to see what conditions they have." ”