Zaifeng had a deep resentment towards Yuan Shikai, and when he heard that Natong was willing to use his life to protect Yuan Shikai, he immediately lost his temper.

Natong didn't give an inch, and immediately proposed to return to his hometown.

Yehenala Natong, the word Qinxuan, another word Fenglou, Yehenara, the Manchurian Internal Affairs Office inlaid with the Yellow Flag, was born in a person, and was one of the "three talents" of the late Qing Dynasty.

In the 11th year of Guangxu (1885), Natong was promoted to the fourth grade of Jingtang by the head of the household department, and was awarded the Honglu Temple, and later moved to the cabinet bachelor. Since 1900, he has also served as the Prime Minister's National Affairs Yamen and the Chamberlain of the Imperial Court.

During the Boxer Rebellion, the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu fled to Xi'an, and Na Tong was appointed as the minister to stay in Beijing, and participated in the negotiation of the signing of the "Xinchou Treaty" with Yixuan and Li Hongzhang.

In 1901, due to the murder of the secretary of the Japanese embassy, Shanshanbin, as the right attendant of the Tobe, he was rewarded with a head and a head, and sent Japan to "apologize". In the following year, he was sent to Japan to observe the exposition, during which he led his attaché to inspect Japan's police and road administration; Later, Na Tong was in charge of the Jingshi Industrial Inspection Bureau, and learned more from Japan's experience in opening up new roads and building Dong'an markets.

In 1903, he was promoted to the secretary of the household department, and soon transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the minister of the General Office, and also the commander of the infantry army (that is, the "Admiral of the Nine Gates", which is often referred to as the "Admiral of the Nine Gates"), and the supervisor of the Patrol Bureau. In 1905, he was promoted to the rank of Fellow of Tiren Court University, and in 1909 he was appointed Minister of Military Aircraft.

He once named Tsinghua University "Tsinghua Park".

Like Yun Yuding, Na Tong left a valuable wealth for future generations is also his diary.

From the 16th year of Guangxu (1890) to the 14th year of the Republic of China (1925) and 36 years, he insisted on keeping a diary, systematically and completely recording the political, diplomatic, military and bureaucratic daily life in the late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China. In the existing diary, the diary of the first 23 years was written by Na Tong day by day, and on July 11, 1912, after Na Tong suffered a stroke, the diary was changed to Na Tong's dictation, and others wrote on behalf of him, and then Na Tong would also consult and make minor changes. Sometimes, Na Tong feels that he is in good health, can pick up a pen, and will write again in person.

Because he is in an important position and is in a special period of change, the content of "Na Tong Diary" is very rich. It has a complete system and a large time span, and has gone through important stages such as the First Sino-Japanese War, the Wuxu Reform, the entry of the Eight-Nation Coalition into Beijing, the Xinhai Revolution, and the abdication of Puyi, which is of great value for the study of the political, diplomatic, military and bureaucratic operation of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, and provides rich historical materials for the study of the customs of the Manchu people.

Of course, these are later words.

sang and harmonized with Natong, and Yixuan was also in a mood, and said that he was sick at home.

And the military situation on the front line is urgent, and many things must be dealt with immediately. Zaifeng had no choice, so he invited a few people to discuss.

Yixuan spread his hands and said home: "This extraordinary situation, I am old and absolutely unable to bear it." Yuan Shikai has courage, ability, and means. The Beiyang Army was built by him, and if he was ordered to go to Hubei to suppress it, he would have a chance of winning.

"Otherwise, if we delay any longer, the consequences will be unimaginable. And the foreign missions in Dongjiaomin Lane also advocate this, they are more anxious than us, can their opinions be ignored? ”

Yi Xuan is obviously not the only one who is speaking like this. After he finished speaking, no one else spoke, but shot their eyes to Zaifeng.

Zaifeng is not stupid, of course he knows the thoughts of everyone present.

However, he was unwilling and looked at everyone, "Is there really no other way than to use Yuan Shikai?" "Look at a few people and no one speaks," can you guarantee that he doesn't have other problems? Zaifeng looked at Yixuan.

"This is a no-brainer." Yixuan made a guaranteed ticket.

Zaifeng paused for a moment, and it was obvious that the two opinions were in a fierce confrontation in his mind.

"Since you all have such a opinion, let me do what you all think, but I will say it to the front, and you will all be responsible for what happens." As he spoke, he cried sadly, feeling pitiful and helpless.

So, the decision to use Yuan Shikai was made.

Regarding the use of Yuan Shikai, the opinions in the imperial court are not one-sided, and there are many people who oppose it.

As soon as the news came out, someone asked Na Tong: "Aren't you doing this to hasten the demise of the Qing Dynasty?" ”

Na Tong replied: "The general trend is like this today, and you don't need Yuan to die in the future, if you use Yuan, you will be able to fall Shang Xi a little later, or you may not die." ”

Prince Gong Pu Wei immediately found Zaifeng and blamed Zaifeng for not letting the tiger return to the mountain and luring the wolf into the house.

Zaifeng was also regretting it, but the decision he made couldn't be changed, so he comforted himself and said: "Yuan Si is a general, and his reputation is good, and he has made many achievements, so he ordered him to go." ”

Pu Wei said: "This is even more terrifying, no one can control him, it is easy to ask God to send God, don't do anything that you regret." ”

Zaifeng pondered for a long time, and said that Yixuan and Natong tried again and again to protect, or it could be used.

Pu Wei said: "Even if it is difficult to recover the fate, can you use loyal and brave ministers to divide the momentum?" ”

Zaifeng asked: "Who to use?" ”

Pu Wei said: "Uncle has been in charge of the country for three years, and the ministers are free to learn. ”

Zaifeng said dejectedly: "It's all their people, how can I ever have a minions and henchmen." ”

Pu Wei knew that it was irretrievable, sighed, and walked away.

The edict has not yet been issued, so Zaifeng does not withdraw his order, on the one hand, there is really no other way to think of it, and no one in the Beiyang Army can command it except Yuan Shikai. If you want to suppress the revolutionary party, you have to use the Beiyang Army, and he is also thinking about the overall situation.

On the other hand, he also has a plan.

It is recorded that he discussed with several princes, and this time he only used Yuan Shikai. If Yuan Shikai doesn't succeed, he can use this to get rid of Yuan Shikai.

If Yuan Shikai becomes a thing, it will also be unloading the mill and killing the donkey, and it is not easy to find an excuse?

It can be seen that this young regent is not given in vain.

It's just that the course of many things is often beyond the control of the planner.

On October 14, Zaifeng wrote an edict appointing Yuan Shikai as the governor of Huguang to supervise the suppression of the appeasement, and all the provincial troops and reinforcements were under his control; The land and water armies brought by Yinchang and Sa Zhenbing may also be dispatched together. asked Yixuan to send a courtier who was familiar with Yuan Shikai to Zhangde with an edict.

Advise: "Urge him to come quickly, be kind to me, and don't mind the old things." ”

Yi Xuan then sent Yuan Shikai's confidant, cabinet senator Nguyen Zhongshu, to go.

On the same day, Ruan Zhongshu rushed to Huanshang and handed over the imperial decree and Yixuan's handwritten letter to Yuan Shikai. also conveyed Zaifeng's words, "Come quickly" and "Don't mind the old things".

Also with him was Yang Du, director of the Cabinet Statistics Bureau. Yang Du had a special friendship with Yuan Shikai, when Zaifeng wanted to kill Yuan Shikai, he asked him to write an edict, and he risked his life to disobey his orders.

When Yuan Shikai took the train south from Tianjin to return to his hometown, two people made a special trip from Beijing to Tianjin, and saw off Yuan Shikai without avoiding suspicion and being implicated, including Yang Du, which made Yuan Shikai particularly moved.

Yang Du came to Zhangde this time to stop Yuan Shikai, and he sincerely thought about Yuan Shikai. In his opinion, the Qing Dynasty was hopeless. Even if Yuan Shikai came out of the mountain and could successfully exterminate the revolutionary party in Wuchang, he would not be able to save the fate of the Qing Dynasty, and there was no need to be martyred for this decadent imperial court.

At that time, a local liuliu named Wang Xitong, who made a special trip to congratulate Yuan Shikai on his birthday, still lived in Yuan's mansion, and Yuan Shikai's eldest son Yuan Keding was also at home.

Wang Xitong and Yuan Keding also did not agree with Yuan Shikai's comeback, they were mainly worried about Yuan Shikai's safety.

Yuan Shikai has been looking forward to the stars, the moon and the arrival of this day. I was very happy, and I listened to the words of a few people, and I was very disappointed. I saw that several people were all for their own good, and it was not good for them to do it.

just said firmly: "My Yuan family is favored by the emperor, and when the life of the country is at stake, it is my duty to serve the country, and my personal safety can only be put aside." He made a generous statement and said: "I and the descendants of my Yuan family will not stand against the revolutionary party. ”

Seeing that Yuan Shikai had made up his mind, several people could only shake their heads and sigh.

It is contrived to say those passionate words, but Yuan Shikai really doesn't want to give up this opportunity. Can he imagine what kind of efforts Yixuan, Xu Shichang, Na Tong and others have made for his departure from the mountain, and can their efforts be in vain?

Of course, this is not the main thing. In the past two years, in the eyes of others, it has been leisurely and leisurely, fishing, chanting poetry, and sending love to the landscape. But he knew how uncomfortable he was, how many days he had lived.

Is he the one to stay? What a day of not giving orders, what emptiness and melancholy.

A tiger jumping alive and in a cage. Every day, only in dreams, back to the old days, can you find the feeling. When I woke up, I was even more sad and sad. He really hates Zaifeng, hates the Empress Dowager Longyu very much, hates it very much.

When there were only two people left, Ruan Zhongshu secretly handed Yuan Shikai a sealed secret letter, and Ruan Zhongshu said that it was written to him by Xu Shichang. can only be shown to Yuan Shikai alone, and it will be destroyed after reading.

On that day, Ruan Zhongshu and Yang Du lived in Yuan's mansion.

Wang Xitong didn't leave, he wanted to see Yuan Shikai off.

Yuan Shikai said to him arrogantly: "You won't have much time at home, you have to go out to help me." ”

Soon, Wang Xitong really became Yuan Shikai's staff, and in later years, he wrote a lot of articles about Yuan Shikai. Of course, that's a story for later.

After breakfast the next day, Ruan Zhongshu asked Yuan Shikai when he would leave?

Yuan Shikai smiled mysteriously, took out a letter, and handed it to Ruan Zhongshu, "Brother Zhongshu, please give this letter to our Lord Regent." ”

"Aren't you leaving?" Ruan Zhongshu asked.

"If I leave, will I let my loyal brother do it for me?" Yuan Shikai smiled mysteriously.