At 10 p.m. on March 20, 1913, a black-painted train slowly stopped at Shanghai's Shanghai-Nanjing Railway Station, belching white smoke. A large room on the west side of the platform with a white sign reading "Members' Lounge" at the door. As the name suggests, this is a room reserved for members of the Senate.

Huang Xing saw through the window that the train had arrived at the station, and he smiled and said to the talkative Song Jiaoren: "At the beginning of the escape, the train has arrived. This time I went to Yanjing, I hope you have a successful start! ”

Song Jiaoren said in high spirits: "In this election of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Kuomintang is bound to win!" The Ming Cook Party, the Republican Party, and the Progressive Party are not our opponents! I did a rough calculation, even if Chai Dongliang in Anhui voted all the votes in the area he controlled to the Progressive Party, we could still win! ”

After traveling around the southern provinces, Soong and the Kuomintang received the support of many provinces, which gave him considerable confidence in the Senate and House of Representatives elections.

Kuomintang veteran Yu Youren, who was just over 30 years old and had a big beard, twisted his long beard and said: "In the early days of your speech, when you made speeches in Changsha, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and other places, there was often no shortage of words attacking Yuan Shikai's political axe. You must remember that rigidity is extremely easy to break, and you should not be too sharp to avoid unexpected risks. ”

Song Jiaoren disagreed: "In my life, I have neither long-cherished grudges nor personal enmity in my life, how can there be such despicable and cruel means in broad daylight of politician competition?" ”

Huang Xing laughed and said: "Humble and humble gentleman, although Yuan Shikai is an old bureaucrat, he is also an enlightened person after all, and he will never do those obscene things!" The bearded man is too worried! ”

It was only a few tens of meters from the parliamentarian's lounge to the ticket gate, and it took two or three minutes to walk, but at this time, it suddenly went down in a light rain. The entourage held up the umbrella, but was pushed away by Song Jiaoren with a smile, and he seemed to enjoy the feeling of strolling in the spring rain. Seeing that he was reluctant to use an umbrella, Huang Xing accompanied him to walk forward in the drizzle.

Surrounded by everyone, Song Jiaoren and Huang Xing walked side by side in front, talking and laughing along the way, Song Jiaoren kept telling about the future parliamentary concept, and Huang Xing also listened with relish. When they were about to walk to the ticket gate, a black shadow suddenly appeared from the oblique thorn, saying that it was too late and too fast, and they didn't wait for everyone to reflect. Just heard a "bang" of a gunshot, Song Jiaoren, who was walking in front of the team, fell to the ground with a painful expression, he held on to the iron fence beside him, and endured the pain and shouted: "I was shot!" ”

Huang Xing and others were shocked, and hurriedly pounced on him, using their bodies to cover for him, and the entourage pulled out their guns and looked around, only to see that the passengers waiting to get on the bus blew up the nest, and everyone screamed and ran around, and they couldn't find out where the murderer was.

"Bang bang" was followed by two more gunshots, but this time the bullet hit the ground and did not hurt anyone. In the midst of everyone's exclamations, the entourage found a sturdy man in black holding a pistol. The entourage wanted to shoot but was afraid of accidentally injuring other passengers. The murderer's vision was also blocked by the passengers, and he did not hesitate to climb over the railing but was agile, disappeared into the misty night rain, and ran away without a trace. After this incident, the joyful atmosphere was swept away, and the night was so nervous that it changed its face, and in the drizzle, the street lights seemed even more dim.

When everyone calmed down, they found that Song Jiaoren had fallen to the ground, and his hands were still tightly covering his injured waist. By the time his companions brought him a car to take him to the hospital, blood was already pouring all over the floor. Soon, Song Jiaoren was sent to a nearby railway hospital, and after the doctor's examination, Song Jiaoren was shot in the back, the bullet pierced diagonally through the waist, and the kidneys and large intestine were hit, and what was even more terrifying was that the bullet was poisonous!

There is no doubt that this was a well-planned political assassination aimed at the death of Song Jiaoren.

When the surgeon arrived, he immediately operated on Song Jiaoren, and only after a lot of trouble did he remove the bullet from his body, but it was too late by this time. After the operation, Song Jiaoren's face was like a blank piece of paper, he knew that his life was coming to an end, so he groaned and dictated the will to Yu Youren, who accompanied him, saying that there were three things that needed help from comrades, one was to donate all the books he had deposited in Nanjing, Yanjing and Tokyo to the Nanjing Library; The second is that his family has always been poor, and his old mother is still there, and he hopes to ask Huang Xing and the deceased to take care of him after his death; Third, comrades should continue to struggle to save the country, and do not take him as a thought and abandon their responsibilities.

After speaking, Song Jiaoren was in great pain, he would hold his shoulders with his hands for a while, and then form a cross, it seemed that he had endless suffering, and a group of friends next to him also cried for it. After the second intestinal suture operation, Song Jiaoren's injury worsened, and he groaned: "I tried my best to reconcile the north and the south, but the rumors and ordinary people don't know the reason, and every time I misunderstand, I really can't turn a blind eye." ”

Huang Xing said with tears in his eyes: "At the beginning of the year, you need to rest, don't talk too much, your heart and sincerity to the country, people all over the world will understand, even if they don't understand it now, they will definitely understand you in the future!" ”

Song Jiaoren said in a faint, barely audible voice: "Please help me call the Yanjing Presidential Palace, I want to send a telegram to President Yuan Shikai!" ”

Huang Xing's teeth gritted loudly, and the first thing he suspected in his heart was Yuan Shikai, but he didn't dare to talk nonsense without evidence.

At four o'clock in the morning of March 22, surrounded by Huang Xing, Yu Youren and others, Song Jiaoren finally died of exhaustion in the tossing and suffering at the age of 32. Before he died, Song Jiaoren kept his eyes open, his fists clenched, and there were still tears in his eyes, which showed how attached and reluctant he was to this beautiful world.

When Song Jiaoren visited the West Lake in Hangzhou, he once occupied two of the five unique songs, one said: "It is said that the snow is slippery, and the mountains and forests are empty; Xu Xun bending path, actually went to the highest peak"; The second said: "The village and the city are at the bottom of the clouds, and the river sails among the trees; The tide of the sea gate is surging, and I want to force the bow."

If the last line of the two poems is combined, it is "I want to reach the highest peak, I want to draw the bow", which is quite ominous. Maybe it's a trick of fate, Song Jiaoren's too young body may really not be able to bear such great ambitions. When he was about to reach the pinnacle of his political life, the trap of darkness had already been laid.

When Song Jiaoren was just 32 years old, the flame of life gradually went out, and the constitutional ideal that countless people were excited about would also be ruthlessly extinguished?

In the hearts of Huang Xing, Yu Youren and others, a big question mark was drawn at the same time!

??? Dividing line ???

Zhongnanhai Huairentang "has been thinking about his own self-love since he was appointed, and has never held a grudge against himself. Now that the foundation of the country has not been consolidated, the people's welfare has not increased, and they have died with hatred. President Fu Ji is open and sincere in preaching justice, and strives to protect the rights of the people, so that the country can have an incorruptible constitution, and although he dies, he will still be alive. Dying lamentation, still pray for acceptance??? Song Jiaoren is a masterpiece! ”

"Absolutely unwritten? Song Jiaoren is dead? Yuan Shikai's hand trembled violently, and the chopsticks fell to the ground.

Xu Shichang took the translation of the telegram and looked Yuan Shikai up and down for a long time: "Weiting, you tell me the truth, did you send someone to do it?" If it's you, let's quickly find a way to close the cracks and not let the situation expand! ”

Yuan Shikai stumbled and said: "Brother Juren, others don't understand, you still don't know me?" In the sensitive period of the elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives, am I doing such a thing to bring about my own destruction? Am I that stupid? ”

"You really didn't do it?"

Yuan Shikai stomped his feet and said, "It's really not me!" ”

Xu Shichang smiled bitterly: "Weiting, at this time, you still don't tell the truth, how can we, old friends, help you round the field!" ”

Yuan Shikai dragged his hand and said, "My brother Juren, you and I have intersected for decades, and you still don't know my means?" If I really wanted to kill Song Jiaoren, would he still be alive today? ”

Xu Shichang watched it for a long time, but he didn't see that Yuan Shikai was cheating, and sighed: "Even if it's not you, everyone in the world will doubt you??? Weiting, have you shown any signs of hating Song Jiaoren, such as scolding him in the presidential palace or something? ”

Yuan Shikai thought carefully for a long time, and suddenly exclaimed: "But there is such a thing!" I gave Song Jiaoren a check for 500,000 yuan from the Bank of Communications, but he sent it back to me without moving, I scolded him for not knowing how to lift, what a fucking damn! ”

Xu Shichang rubbed his hands and said: "That's it, Bacheng is an eyeless bastard under you, who killed Song Jiaoren on his own initiative, and wanted to invite merit and favor you here??? Weiting, think about it carefully, who was there when you scolded Song Jiaoren that day? ”

Yuan Shikai thought for a long time and said with a bitter face: "I have been scolding for more than half a month, I don't know how many people have heard this, and I know that I am annoyed by him, even if there are not a hundred, there are eighty." ”

Xu Shichang shook his head and said, "Then this will be difficult!" You can't catch them all and go through the hall, right? ”

After thinking for a long time, Yuan Shikai muttered: "If you want to ask for credit, why doesn't anyone come to me to ask for credit?" I'm afraid it's a private revenge??? Brother Kikuto, I suspect someone. ”

"Who?"

"Zhao Bingjun!"

Xu Shichang was shocked and said, "Zhao Zhi'an? Why did he murder Song Dunchu? A few days ago, at the cocktail party in the presidential palace, he saw him and Song Dun laughing happily! It can't be him, right? Besides, Zhao Zhi'an is loyal to you, and he won't dare to do it without even saying hello? ”

Yuan Shikai sneered: "I may not dare at first, but this time and that time!" Zhao Bingjun has coveted the position of prime minister for a long time, and now that he has become the acting prime minister, his ass is not hot yet, where can he give up? If the Kuomintang succeeds in the election this time, then Song Jiaoren will be the unyielding premier, think about it, can Zhao Bingjun not be resentful? ”

Xu Shichang sighed and said, "Weiting, you can't wash it even if you jump into the Yellow River this time!" Everyone in the world knows that Zhao Zhi'an is your confidant, even if you tearfully kill the horse, others will think that you are the handsome man who lost the car, as long as Zhao Zhi'an is implicated, everyone will think that you instigated it! For today's plan, you can only carry it hard, and you must not climb onto Zhao Zhi'an's body, otherwise you will be burned! ”

Yuan Shikai scolded: "Zhao Zhi'an, this idiot, I have to be killed before I am willing!" ”

Xu Shichang gritted his teeth, and said with a hideous face: "The most important thing now is to find out the murderer quickly, and then ???"

He raised his palm like a knife and made a gesture of cutting off his head.

Yuan Shikai understood: "That's the only way, slaughter the murderer and make a death without proof!" Someone came, notified Cheng Dequan, the governor of Jiangsu, and quickly arrested the murderer and escorted him to Beijing! ”

??? Dividing line ???

Shanghai is a tense affair, plastered with notices offering bounties for the arrest of the murderer. The police station dug three feet into the ground in places where it was easy to hide dirt and dirt, such as tobacco houses and inns, and even the patrol houses and bags in the public concession and the French concession were collectively dispatched.

Yuan Shikai sent a telegram to Cheng Dequan, the governor of Jiangsu, demanding that the murderers be quickly arrested and dealt with strictly according to the law in order to maintain national discipline. After the news of Song Jiaoren's death came, Yuan Shikai issued an order asking the State Council to give preferential treatment, and said: "Song Jiaoren, the former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, has made great contributions to state affairs and the creation of a republic. It is suitable for the establishment of the unified political axe, and praises the state affairs, especially to inform the general. Painting hard work, the period of great development, why not hear about the tragedy? The Republic of China was newly built, talents are rare, the murderer dared to snipe Xun Liang in full view of everyone, and the patrol police were not arrested on the spot and were escaped, and the reading of the telegram was outrageous. All our citizens share deep compassion. ”

Cheng Dequan also ordered the Shanghai Police Department to quickly crack the case and arrest the murderer. Something so big happened, Yang Bangzi didn't dare to slack off, not only sent all the police out to arrest the murderer, but also posted rewards everywhere, and used the connections in the rivers and lakes to ask Huang Jinrong and other underworld figures for help. The policemen in pure black uniforms, the concession patrols in blue-black uniforms, and the gangs in silk shirts and trousers patrolled the streets one after another, all intending to get the reward of 100,000 silver dollars.

Yang Bangzi was on pins and needles in the office of the police chief, he could conclude that the matter must be very complicated, and it was very difficult to say how deep the water was inside, anyway, it was absolutely no problem to drown him, the police director.

Immortals fight and affect mortals, Yang Bangzi has not never seen it. Who is Song Jiaoren? The future Prime Minister, the first person in party politics!

Can anyone who dares to kill him be an ordinary second-class person? Yang Bangzi was the first to suspect Yuan Shikai's head, maybe this is him a thief shouting to chase a thief!

Don't look at Yang Bangzi's five or six people in Shanghai, whether it is the Kuomintang or Beiyang, it is easier to trample Yang Bangzi to death than to pinch an ant to death.

"Someone!" Yang Bangzi shouted outside the door.

One of his cronies walked in, saluted respectfully, and asked, "Director, what instructions do you have?" ”

"Order me a good dish on the table at Cheeseline, and I'm going to invite the old man Adegota to dinner. Hurry up, Ma'er! ”

Yang Bangzi made up his mind, this kind of matter between big people, I still ask Yu Qiaqing to help analyze it, this big Buddha may be able to block some wind and rain for himself.

Anyway, he recommended himself as the director of the Shanghai Police Department, and now that he is at the critical juncture, he can't stand by and watch himself fall into the pit without squeaking, right?

"Director, Director!" A policeman rushed in like crazy, a look of excitement on his face.

"Is there a bit of a rule? Do you know what realm this is? Director's Office! You're just staring and screaming in? Yang Bangzi scolded people and was full of Tianjin dialect at that time.

"Director, the murderer of Song Jiaoren has been found!"

(To be continued)