A bunch of like-minded people. On August 14, the "Preparatory Security Committee" headed by Yang Du sent electricity to all provinces. This telegram can be regarded as Yuan Shikai's first declaration to be proclaimed emperor, and the telegram said: "At the time of the Xinhai Revolution in our country, the people were based on feelings, but in addition to racial barriers, they did not have time for political progress, and hastily formulated a republican form of government. ”

In the view of Yuan Shikai, Yang Du and others, the republican system of the Republic of China is actually not suitable for China's national conditions, and it is precisely because of the implementation of this system that "the dangers experienced by the country and the pain felt by the people can be said by the whole country." If you don't do this for a long time, you will have no trouble. "If there will be dangers and woes, what should be done? The manifesto goes on to say: "Dr. Goodnow, the great political scientist of the United States, said that a monarchy is better than a dish, and China in particular cannot do without a monarchy." ”

In other words, American scholars have said that China should implement the imperial system, so it is really necessary to implement the imperial system, and foreign monks are good at chanting scriptures, and it seems that at that time there was a foreign moon full moon. Therefore, Yang Du said that as a Chinese, "the survival of the country is the life and death of the living family, and how can we bear to sit and wait for its death." ”

At this point, the basic intent of this manifesto is already obvious, which is to promote the establishment of an imperial system in China. However, as a pawn, the declaration also needs to explain itself: "The establishment of this association is to maintain the security of a country, to study how the monarch and the state are suitable for China, and to discuss the scope of discussion with the theory of right and wrong and the power of facts. The proceeds of the discussion will be tributed to the people. ”

However, although the Preparatory Committee said that it was only a research institution, on the 28th, they actually held a so-called vote on the issue of the national system. As a result, "a constitutional monarchy has always been advocated". And the next day, he also announced the results to the whole country: "The law of our country to remove chaos is like a waste dish and a monarch is boiled; The way to seek a cure is to abolish the abolition of autocracy and implement a constitutional monarchy. The results of this discussion are also. ”

In order to increase his influence, Yang Du even sent a telegram to the provincial generals, patrol envoys, capital commanders, military expansion envoys, provincial capitals, and Shanghai and Hankou chambers of commerce, asking them to send representatives to Beijing.

Under this kind of intentional and unintentional explicit hints, who is discerning who cannot understand the situation? Taking advantage of this trend, bureaucrats of all sizes have tried their best to "persuade them to advance" in an attempt to gain support. Therefore, since August, Beijing has been brewing an undercurrent of restructuring, and Dr. Goodnow, an adviser to the presidential office, also published a discussion in the Beijing Evening News on the pros and cons of monarchy and republic, suggesting that the United States supports this change in the national system.

Of course, the one who contributed the most was his eldest son Yuan Keding. In order to strengthen his father's confidence in being the emperor, the future "crown prince" racked his brains to the fullest. You can't blame him, the position of the crown prince is too tempting. But although my father is looking forward to being arrogant, he is timid in this matter and needs to be pushed vigorously. After all, China's imperial power politics for more than 2,000 years is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and such a big thing needs to be carefully weighed.

Foreign friends have supported it, public opinion has supported it, and many allies and enemies in politics have succumbed, what is Dad still worried about? Oh, the local powerful faction has not officially expressed its determination, Lao Yuan is worried about this, right?

"Father, at present, the whole country is supporting you to promote the imperial system, and you can't live up to the wishes of the people! If it is interrupted, it will suffer. If you are worried that the princes of various places have different intentions, then let them telegraph in advance to express their position! They agreed, and they were tied to a chariot with their father; They don't agree, that is, they are cut off from the central government, and their father can calmly replace him in the name of righteousness! This is Yuan Keding's opinion to instigate his father.

Really? Yuan Shikai thought about gains and losses. It is indeed a good way to express support by telegraphing, and there is a political price to be paid for going back on one's word! But is there anything else that can be done? Like taking something substantial?

In this regard, Yuan Keding has studied: "If my father is still not at ease, then ask the generals everywhere to proton!" With their son in their hands, I don't think any of them will dare to be half-hearted! ”

That's a good idea! Yuan Shikai suddenly became enlightened, and he began to make a list in his mind: among several unreliable provinces, Cai Ye in Yunnan has long been plucked and raised in Beijing, but Lu Rongting in Guangxi is a little out of reach, and Feng Delin and Meng Enyuan in the northeast are all arrogant and inferior, so they need to be paid attention to. This time Proton, they bear the brunt of it.

As for Zhang Xueliang who just came out, it is also a little interesting, I didn't expect Zhang Zuolin's son to be a promising! Thinking of Zhang Zuolin, his mind immediately appeared with a dogskin mink covered with a single military uniform, and the image of a green forest character with a simple head and a brain.

It was two years ago, the Southern Revolutionary Army was making trouble, Yuan Shikai needed the support of generals from all over the country, and needed stability in the rear, so he wanted to eliminate dissidents, Zhang Zuolin was counted as one at that time.

Although Zhang Zuolin was entrenched in the northeast and had the support of the Japanese, he knew that he could not fight Yuan Shikai, so he immediately wrote to express his surrender: "I am willing to take the crossbow forward, but the president is the first to look forward", and took the initiative to meet him.

Zhang Zuolin, who had just become the head of the teacher, knew at a glance that he was a countryman who had never seen the world, and as soon as he entered the gate of Zhongnanhai Huairen Hall, he knelt down, and he didn't even buckle his head---- and didn't look at what age it was? Xuantong has abdicated for several years, and Yuan Shikai has so many generals under his command, who still uses this posture of worshipping the emperor with three bows and nine knocks?

However, for this gift, Yuan Shikai is very useful, maybe Zhang Zuolin did not do a military salute and walked the previous salute touched a certain nerve in his heart, his good impression of Lao Zhang was born at once, and he hurriedly pulled up and said: "Now it's all the Republic of China, and it's not like this." ”

Zhang Zuolin did not relent: "In the former Qing Dynasty, Zuolin only knew that there was an emperor, and now he only knows that there is a president." The president is like the emperor, how can he not kowtow when he sees your old man? ”

It is not strange that many people have ceremonies, although they are not Yuan Shikai's cronies, and they can't talk about their trust in Zhang Zuolin at this time, but this respect still makes President Yuan Da's heart very close, and then the conversation between the guest and the host is much more cordial.

"In the past few days in Beijing, are Brother Yuting and the brothers still comfortable?"

In response to the president's inquiry, Zhang Zuolin's old face turned red, and he bent down and said with a smile: "The brothers are all some dirt buns, and they have never seen the world, which makes the president smile." In front of President Yuan, the always fierce Master Zhang's words were particularly gentle.

It turned out that as soon as Zhang Zuolin entered Beijing, he chartered all the brothels, and searched for flowers and willows all day long, making the capital smoky. How could Yuan Shikai, who has many ears and eyes, not know this? It's just that Lao Zhang's time spent in bed has not been counted. Lao Yuan doesn't care about this thing in the crotch of men's pants, he likes Zhang Zuolin's loyalty. Although Zhang Zuolin has a big and rough image, compared to a literate person with a honey belly and a sword, the big old and rough are reliable.

The first impression was very good, Yuan Shikai was very good at winning people's hearts, and felt that Zhang Zuolin was a talent that could be created, and his attitude was inevitably close, and the two couldn't help chatting for a while. Zhang Zuolin also opened his heart, showed his loyalty without a trace, and condemned the southern opposition, and almost patted his chest and wrote a guarantee. But as soon as he said a few words, Yuan Shikai almost couldn't hold back his laughter: Sure enough, this Fengtian master is a big boss, and when he opens his mouth, he is "damn it", and he is a bandit. Zhao Erxun said well, "Zhang Zuolin is a big boss, if he has milk, he is a mother, as long as he gives some benefits, he will follow you with all his heart."

In addition, Zhang Zuolin's biggest impression on him was a stupid look that he had never seen the world, because when he was talking, Zhang Zuolin's eyes never left a beautifully made gold watch on his antique shelf. The dial of this watch is embellished with pearls as white as jade, and the back is a delicate portrait of a woman at sunset, which intrigued the old man.

Yuan Shikai deliberately asked him: "Now that the situation at home and abroad is complicated, does Division Commander Zhang need to increase his troops and expand the area of the garrison?" Zhang Zuolin hurriedly said that he didn't want anything, but he said timidly that he would be grateful if the president could "borrow" the gold watch on the antique shelf to look at it. This reply made the old Yuan who was very deep in the city laugh, and then gave him the watch to show his favor, and at the same time, he also beat Lao Zhang into the list of coarse and ambitious husbands in his heart, and said to Yuan Keding: "Zhang Zuolin is a full country man, and even a gold watch can coax him to be happy, so he is really not afraid." ”

As everyone knows, for the sake of this image, Zhang Zuolin has thought about it a lot. He knew that this meeting was a Hongmen banquet, and if he dealt with it properly, he would be able to gain Yuan Shikai's trust, and if he misbehaved, he would probably die. Despite his misgivings, he hurried to Beijing.

The way he wore his military jacket and mink coat and bowed down was only a trick to show that he had no ambitions. And before he came, he gave a generous gift to his old boss and governor of the three eastern provinces, Zhao Erxun, and asked him to maneuver in front of the president. In addition, after entering Beijing, he also threw a lot of money and bought all the people around Yuan Shikai. These people are short-handed, soft-mouthed, and all of them exaggerate in front of Lao Yuan to be friends and morality.

In the end, Lao Yuan, who originally wanted to cut the domain, not only did not touch Zhang Zuolin, but also specially gave him a carved lacquer vase from the Qianlong period when he was about to return to the Northeast, and gave his mink coat together to show his importance. The meeting between the two powerhouses can be called a textbook-like classic, and it has also been spread by the outside world.

Now, a group of literati are waving the flag for his imperial system, and the momentum is no longer small, but there is an urgent need for local powerful factions to rise to the wind. It's not enough for someone to beat the drum, it takes a hammer to do things. Although there are many temptors and blowers who have already started, it is the first time that a young talent like Zhang Hanqing who justified the connection between the 21st and the imperial system has spoken out, which is a positive signal. Whether it was obtained from Zhang Zuolin's instruction or not, it is indeed remarkable that a martial artist's children can have this kind of political vision. Well, he can also be counted as one.

Zhang Hanqing won the award!