After repeated discussions with Cai Jimin, Zhang Tingfu, and others, Li Yuanhong decided to appoint Hu Egong as the person in charge of the revolutionary liaison work in the north. We know that despite the interference of Wang Jingwei and the brutal suppression of Yuan Shikai, under the leadership of Hu Egong, the work of the Northern Revolutionary Party was still carried out vigorously.

Although Hubei's finances were also very difficult, Li Yuanhong still squeezed out 10,000 yuan to support the revolution in the north. Li Yuanhong knew very well that without the response of various localities, it would be impossible for Hubei alone to hold on.

That night, Li Yuanhong was in the military administration. The government set up a banquet to entertain the revolutionary comrades in the north, Leng Gongzhao and others, accompanied by Yang Shijie and others.

Soon after the opening of the meeting, someone came to report that representatives of the women's circles in Hubei came to the military and political affairs. The government visited and asked for an audience with the governor of Lai. also released the words, Li Yuanhong will not be patriarchal!

Li Yuanhong really couldn't get out, but he didn't want to be slow down with the representatives of the women's world. Seeing his aunt's wife Li Benwei, who was busy working beside him, he had an idea. He whispered a few words in Li Benwei's ear, such as his wife Li Benwei nodded in agreement.

Mrs. Ru went to Li Yuanhong's office and found the paper flowers that Li Yuanhong said to her. This paper flower was given to him by a Dutch friend when Li Yuanhong was the co-president, which was still a rarity at that time.

According to Li Yuanhong's instructions, Li Benwei held paper flowers in his hand and met with representatives of the women's world.

She first introduced herself, and then said enthusiastically: "The Governor of Li Du is receiving distinguished guests, and I really can't take the time to meet them, so I have been entrusted to greet everyone." I want to give you this bouquet of flowers, and I apologize. This flower is a token, tomorrow you bring the flower over, he will definitely see everyone. ”

It's worth the trip if you don't see Li Dudu and see Mrs. Ru, not to mention the promise of tomorrow. The representative of the women's world took the flowers and left happily.

Did Li Yuanhong set a precedent for lady diplomacy in China this time?

Li Benwei's original name was Wei Wenxiu, after his parents died early, in order to survive, Wei Wenxiu threw himself into the fireworks willow lane in Hankou, Hubei, and became a singing girl in the study. In January 1905, Li Yuanhong accompanied people to the study apartment on official business and met Wei Wenxiu.

Wei Wenxiu's beautiful posture and tactful singing voice attracted Li Yuanhong's attention. Seeing such a weak woman committed herself here for her livelihood, Li Yuanhong became sympathetic, and after that, he ransomed Wei Wenxiu, took her home as a concubine, and renamed her Li Benwei.

Although Li Benwei is a concubine with no identity, she is extremely strong and refuses to bow to fate. Insisting on learning English, French, and Western etiquette from her teacher has enabled her to cope with various social situations with ease.

For this reason, Li Yuanhong often took her out, and soon, she became the "diplomatic lady" by Li Yuanhong's side, and her reputation was far greater than that of Li Yuanhong's original wife Wu Jingjun.

is also because he often mingles in political and social situations, Li Benwei has also become a political socialite and has a wide range of contacts. Later, she also co-founded a girls' normal school with Sun Yat-sen's two daughters, Sun Ying and Sun Wan.

The next day, the French consul made a special visit and said that he had received a letter from the military administration. The note from the government came to thank you in person.

Li Yuanhong did not expect the French consul to act so quickly, and felt that receiving foreign consuls here was afraid that it would damage the country's image. I wanted to politely decline on the grounds of "local narrowness".

When the French consul heard the reason, he said it didn't matter. When the French Revolution was just victorious, there was a shortage of materials, and there was no banner for celebration, so the revolutionaries had to replace it with women's flower skirts, which later became a beautiful talk in France.

Comparing Wuchang Shouyi with the French Revolution is still encouraging. Li Yuanhong had no choice but to accompany him to meet the French consul.

The U.S. consul also arrived at the same time and simply received them together. During the meeting, the consuls of the two countries first asked about the military administration. What is the government's attitude towards external debt?

Tang Hualong replied on behalf of Li Yuanhong: "On August 19 of this year, that is, before October 10, 1911 in the Gregorian calendar, the foreign debts owed by the Qing court. All governments recognize it. However, no debts thereafter will be recognized. ”

This is obviously the practice of regime change in the international community, and the consuls of the two countries are very satisfied.

The U.S. consul asked: "It goes without saying that this revolution in your country has to do with the racial question, but I don't know what kind of political system to adopt in the future?" ”

Li Yuanhong replied categorically: "The republican system and feudal autocracy must be overthrown. ”

The consuls of the two countries are also very concerned about the disaster relief in some places in Hubei, and Tang Hualong interjected: "This military and political . The government has its own proper policies. ”

Thanks to Li Yuanhong and the military administration. On 17 October, the consuls of Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan in Wuhan publicly recommended British Consul Ge Fu as their representative and handed over an official letter.

Ge Fu praised the revolutionary army's bravery and civilization, and thanked the foreigners and the institutions and churches stationed abroad for their protection. It was clearly stated that it recognized the People's Army as a belligerent group, and the Five Nations strictly maintained neutrality in the war between the People's Army and the Qing court.

Li Yuanhong expressed his gratitude and said that the protection of foreigners, churches, and foreign institutions is a normal policy. The government must do something military and political. This is the proper meaning of the question. Referring to the Gengzi incident a few years ago, he pointed out that although fundamentally speaking, it was the bullying of a weak country by a strong country, the ignorance of the Qing court and its xenophobic policy, regardless of right and wrong, were also important reasons for this disaster. Such a stupid move not only brings harm to the countries concerned, but also brings disaster to one's own country. So, this military government. The government rose up to reform the life of this rotten dynasty.

He said: "Over the years, the Qing court has become more suspicious of the people, Hubei since Ruizi took office, adopted a high-pressure policy, made the people angry, Hubei's revolution is a last resort, please your consul to do more explanation work to various countries, as soon as possible to let everyone know about us, understand us, and then support us." ”

Then, Li Yuanhong arranged people to prepare five letters of thanks and handed them back to Ge Fu, who returned satisfied.

To treat the people's army as a belligerent group is to be military and political. The government and the Qing court were in the same position, which was undoubtedly a negative blow to the military government. The house is favorable. In order to achieve this, Li Yuanhong made an indestructible contribution.

Just sent off the British consul Ge Fu, the former minister of the eight provinces Ke Fengshi asked to see him.

Ke Fengshi (1845~1912), also known as Fengxun, the word Xun'an, Mao Xiu, Xun'an, alias Xiyuan, is a native of Laoya Quanwan, Yuanpu Village, Jinniu Town, Daye City, Hubei Province. In the ninth year of Guangxu (1883), he took the Jinshi, ordered the Hanlin, changed the Shuji Shi, and awarded the Hanlin Academy for editing.

He has successively served as the envoy of Jiangxi, the political envoy of Hunan, the governor of Guangxi, the squire of the military department, the minister of "supervising the eight provinces of anointment", the prime minister of national affairs, and the honorary prime minister of the Hubei Railway Association. Before the Xinhai Revolution, he was appointed governor of Zhejiang, but did not go to his post and lived in Wuchang.

Coin was a native of Hubei Province and had a special interest in the revolution in Wuchang. At the beginning, because he did not understand Wuchang Shouyi, he took a wait-and-see attitude. Military. After the establishment of the government, especially after Li Yuanhong was elected as the governor of the capital, he watched the military and political affairs. A series of notices issued by the government and Li Yuanhong changed their attitude. His family was wealthy and donated 300,000 yuan to support the Wuchang Revolution.

Li Yuanhong is naturally very clear about these things, so he has special respect for Ke Fengshi.

After sitting down, Li Yuanhong politely asked the other party's intention? Ke Fengshi said: He felt that at present, the most important thing is to calm the people's minds; although the discipline of the revolutionary army is very strict and it never disturbs the people, the social order still makes people unable to relax their minds, and robberies still occur in the market from time to time. As for the revolutionary army, if it can further manage social order and do a good job in protecting the territory and the people, he is willing to make additional donations.

Li Yuanhong made it clear that now that the circular on rectifying order has been issued and the specific requirements have been made clear, the key to the next step is to grasp implementation.

"Mr. has vigorously supported us, chasing no additional donations, this social order also needs to be grasped with great effort, everyone rises up to revolution, in the final analysis, so that the people can have a stable life, is to let the people live a good life."

After speaking, Li Yuanhong got up and bowed deeply to Ke Fengshi, saying that he was representing the military and government. Fu, on behalf of the entire revolutionary army, expressed his gratitude to Ke Fengshi.

People like Ke Fengshi, who have some old-fashioned ideas, are very interested in military and political affairs. The attitude of the government has a great social impact. It is important to strive for the support and understanding of this group of people.

Li Yuanhong then appointed him as a military politician. General Copywriting.

After the Wuchang uprising, the revolutionary situation in the whole country was very good, and soon Hunan and Jiangxi were recovered one after another, and they greatly supported the revolution in Wuhan, especially the success of the Hunan uprising. The revolutionaries of the two lakes have always maintained communication, and now Hunan can become a reliable rear for Hubei.

Nanyang overseas Chinese businessmen sent congratulatory messages with rhymes, which was even more inspiring.

After Li Yuanhong was elected governor, he still had a long braid on his head. At that time, most of the revolutionaries were young people in their twenties, and they were strong-blooded. After the Qing army entered the customs, the common people dragged on for more than 260 years, and whether they dared to cut it off was regarded as an important sign of whether or not they were determined to revolution.

This braid on Li Yuanhong's head has a certain impact on everyone's revolutionary enthusiasm. However, although many people have opinions and opinions on Li Yuanhong's arguments, they are only talking behind their backs, and they dare not raise it in person because Li Yuanhong is the governor of the capital.

There are always people who don't listen to evil.

On this day, a young man named Chen Lei in the New Army boldly said to Li Yuanhong: "You are our Grand Governor, what do you look like with a debater on your head?" Many people don't dare to cut out the argument, they are just looking at you, and you should set an example for everyone. (This young man named Chen Lei is also an unusual person, and he is the elder brother of Chen Tanqiu, who participated in the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China)

Cai Jimin and others saw that someone took the lead in speaking, and they also came over to persuade him.

Li Yuanhong touched the debate on his head and smiled, and said: "You don't do things so fiercely, let alone go to extremes, isn't it just an argument?" What's the big deal? I have long said in the army that whether or not to cut the knit is entirely up to the individual's own volition. Since you don't like my argument, you can find a shaver tomorrow and cut it off. ”

After listening to Li Yuanhong's words, how could several young people wait until tomorrow, for fear that Li Yuanhong would rebel, someone immediately ran out to find a head shaving tool.