108631908 Far Eastern madman

If real peace cannot be achieved between the north and the south, it can only be a bone for those martial sighs. It was exactly what neither Song Jiaoren nor Tang Shaoyi wanted to see, and they both desperately hoped to achieve peace, so that the warriors of the north and south would lose their excuse to continue the war.

This was the end of the second peace conference between the powerful factions of the North and the South, and Tang Shaoyi left the hotel in the lobby of the Six Nations Hotel, and was about to get into the four-wheeled carriage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but was stopped by a person.

"Shaochuan, let's take my carriage and go."

Tang Shaoyi turned his head to look and saw a pitch-black four-wheeled carriage slowly driving over, and a person was poking his head out of the window to greet him.

That person, Tang Shaoyi, knew that it was Zhang Shuhe, the owner of the Zhang Garden in the Shanghai Concession, and the last peace talks between the north and the south on the issue of national system were held in Zhang Yuan, and Tang Shaoyi and Zhang Shuhe were also old friends.

"Uncle He, why did you come to the north? It's rare for us to meet in Beijing, so it's better for me to be the east in the evening, and let's go to Nancheng to eat flavorful snacks. But now I'm going to hurry to see the president, let's see you in the evening, and I'll call a few more literati. Let's go to the south of the city at night and take a look at the new atmosphere of the capital after the republic."

Uncle Zhang and Tang Shaoyi walked over and exchanged pleasantries, but he hurried back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had to see Xu Shichang, and he really didn't want to get into Zhang Shuhe's carriage.

"Shaochuan, it seems that Shuhe's face is not big enough, and I have to personally invite you to get in the car, do you appreciate your face?"

Another voice came from the carriage, but the man who spoke did not show up.

This person's voice was very familiar, Tang Shaoyi's face changed, he hesitated slightly, and ordered the attaché to rush back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first, while he got into the dark carriage that Uncle Zhang and he was riding.

After entering the carriage, Tang Shaoyi said to Uncle Zhang and the person sitting next to him: "Xing said, you are really bold enough to dare to come to Beijing." Do you know that Yuan Xiangcheng hates you to the core. ”

"Yuan Xiangcheng has half a life left now. He is too busy to take care of himself, where is the time to think about me? ”

This person was triumphant and disdainful of Yuan Shikai.

This person is Sheng Xuanhuai, known as the "God of Wealth of Beiyang", after the defeat of the Second Army of Beiyang Southward in southern Henan. It was this person who came out and organized a pound. The "Yuan faction" is ready to use "peaceful means" to oust Yuan Shikai from power and change the head of the Beiyang Group, which is why Yuan Shikai has been offended, and now. In Yuan Shikai's heart, he Sheng Xuanhuai was the enemy second only to Zhao Bei.

However, with Yuan Shikai's critical illness and Xu Shichang's coming to power, the "reverse Yuan faction" in Beiyang lost its goal of struggle, but it did not automatically disband, but continued to be busy for his own interests.

Seeing Tang Shaoyi get into the carriage, that Uncle Zhang found an excuse to get out of the carriage, "stay away from politics" is not only Mr. Zhang's motto. It's also his cleverness that the less he knows about the conspiracy. The fewer people will trouble him, and the more it will be. It wasn't the carriage he had hired.

As soon as Uncle Zhang left, it was more convenient for Tang Shaoyi and Sheng Xuanhuai to talk, the two worked together in Beiyang back then, and the relationship has always been good, so there is no need to beat around the bush when it comes to talking.

"Xing said, you rushed to Beijing, you won't be here to fall into the well, right? Now Yuan Xiangcheng is seriously ill. I can't even speak, I have to be forgiving and forgiving, and it was very good for him to treat you and me back then. Tang Shaoyi said.

Where do you think of "less"? There is no personal grudge between me and Yuan Xiangcheng, and I did not organize Yuan to fall for my own selfish interests. I poured Yuan for our Beiyang group, to tell the truth from my heart, when Yuan Xiangcheng issued the order to crusade against the Southern Revolutionary Party, I also supported it, but who told our Beiyang Army to suffer defeat in Henan? If we win the battle in Henan, I will definitely be the first to send a congratulatory message to Yuan Xiangcheng, even if he wants to be the emperor, I will support it. But now there is nothing, if. Now there is only reality, the reality is that our Beiyang clothes are made to be stripped of a fine light, and now everyone knows that our Beiyang is an embroidered pillow that is strong in the outside, and we have to find a scapegoat, right? Yuan Xiangcheng is this scapegoat, if he doesn't step down, our Beiyang will be finished, the battle of Jiawu was a mess, and the court will find a scapegoat afterwards, why did Li Hongzhang and Li Zhongtang go into the wilderness? It's the same thing. But then again, Shimono doesn't mean that he is in a slump, didn't Li Zhongtang also come back then? It's just that Yuan Xiangcheng can't see it, otherwise, how could he have a critical stroke? ”

Sheng Xuanhuai sprinkled a paragraph, which can be regarded as saying his purpose of reversing Yuan, but whether it is true or false, I am afraid that he understands it in his own heart.

"So what are you doing in Beijing? It can't be that you're here to visit Yuan Xiangcheng, right? If you really plan to visit Yuan Xiangcheng, I want to hold you no matter what, lest you get angry with him, and now we in Beiyang can't stand the toss. Tang Shaoyi said.

"Don't worry, I won't go to Yuan Xiangcheng. I'm measured, and I don't try to be boring. Now that the situation in Beiyang is like this, I can't just watch Beiyang end like this, right? I came to Beijing this time to help us get out of the current predicament. This is not the place to talk, you go to a place with me, and when we get to the place, we will talk in detail. ”

Sheng Xuanhuai instructed the coachman to start the carriage and drove Tang Shaoyi out of the Six Nations Hotel, and when the local carriage stopped, Tang Shaoyi looked out the car window, but it was the British Legation in China.

"The British Legation?" Tang Shaoyi was very surprised.

"Shaochuan, don't be surprised, although the British Minister Mr. Zhu Erdian is a friend of Yuan Xiangcheng, but in the face of national interests, Mr. Zhu Erdian will never betray the principle of diplomacy for the sake of personal friendship, and the British government is now also very dissatisfied with Yuan Xiangcheng's arbitrary fighting, not long ago when I organized Yuan, the British Minister has already expressed his support for me, otherwise, where do you think I got the confidence?" Sheng Xuanhuai's words were too straightforward.

Tang Shaoyi could only shake his head and sigh, diplomats understand this truth, national interests come first, perhaps, this is the main reason why Zhu Erdian can serve as minister to China for a long time. He is indeed a qualified diplomat, and he changes his face faster than he flips through a book, and he sees that Yuan Shikai has betrayed his relatives and left. immediately abandoned this old friend in the officialdom and formed an ally with Yuan Shikai's political enemies.

"If Yuan Xiangcheng hadn't been stunned. The British will definitely force him to go into the wilderness, not Tang Shaoyi, ah 16

"I have said, there is no "if" and "if" now we can only look forward, can we find a way to live in Beiyang and get out of the current predicament. Right now. Let's not do things right, now that Yuan Xiangcheng has arrived. We should unite to support Xu Xiangguo, Sheng Xuanhuai shook his head and pushed the car door. Walked into the British Legation with Tang Shaoyi.

The staff of the embassy was waiting at the door, obviously having received Zhu Erdian's order, and as soon as Tang Shaoyi and Sheng Xuanhuai arrived, he led the two directly to the conference room.

Zhu Erdian was already waiting in the conference room, and the room was already full of people, most of whom were figures in the Beiyang officialdom, just like Tang Shaoyi and Sheng Xuanhuai. Most of the people here are the "literary school" in Beiyang. Small, it is the organization of the "reverse Yuan faction." The main force.

"Mr. Tang, I'm glad that you have joined this group, if all the people can be as rational as you, maybe there will be no such chaos in your country at all, and then Beiyang will not be forced to the edge of the cliff by the United Front."

Zhu Erdian's words seem to classify Tang Shaoyi as the "inverted Yuan faction"? , which makes Tang Shaoyi very much

。

"Mr. Minister, you may already be aware of the shelling at Nanking, and I am very honored that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Palace are waiting for me to reply, but now I must rush to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend to official business and continue to consult with the United Front on the question of North-South peace talks. Now the situation in Beiyang is critical. I can't sit idly by. ”

Tang Shaoyi's words also showed that he didn't want to get involved in this conspiracy, no matter what the other party wanted to do, he wanted to stay out of it.

"Shaochuan, you misunderstood, what we want to discuss here is to maintain the interests of the Beiyang group. Now that the Beiyang Army is scattered, wolves and dogs can't get up, and it is better for us scholars who are powerless to think of a way to do it ourselves. ”

Sheng Xuanhuai's words made Tang Shaoyi even more at a loss, so he had to sit down and chat with everyone for a few words, only then did he understand what they wanted to do.

The reason why these Beiyang "literary factions" met at the British Legation in China was because they were preparing to set up a political party to prepare a political retreat for certain politicians of the Beiyang group.

In other words, they're going to have a "golden cicada shell."

Now, the news of the Beiyang Army firing artillery on residential areas came from Nanjing, and once the news spread. It will only make the word "Beiyang" more smelly, so the mood of these Beiyang Chinese to change their faces is more urgent.

But they also understand that it depends on them and a bunch of "literary factions." "It's not a match for Takefu at all. So, they have to look for a backer. As a result, they got in touch with the British Minister to China, Zhu Erdian, and received the strong support of the British minister.

Faced with the chaotic situation in China, the current British government is also in a bit of a mess, seeing that the Beiyang Army is muddy and cannot support the wall, and for a while it cannot find a more suitable agent than Beiyang. Although I also understand that "Wen does not fight with martial arts." In any case, once the United Front really grasps the central power, at least they can be used to make trouble, maybe they will not play a big role, but the British government can use them to create an excuse to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

What surprised Tang Shaoyi even more was that even the current Beiyang family Xu Shichang was also very interested in this small "golden cicada shelling" plan, this meeting, Xu Shichang also sent a representative to attend the meeting, that person is named Wang Ma, the word is a hall, the name is Tang, once served as the head of the Qing court's military department, when Xu Shichang was the governor of the three eastern provinces, he served as a military counselor in the governor of the three eastern provinces, and was Xu Shichang's confidant, after Xu Shichang took over as the acting president of the Republic of China. He was transferred to the presidential palace and became the president's secretary. Xu Shichang trusts this person very much, and when he calls him, he does not call him by name, but calls him "Yi Tang", which shows the status of this person in Xu Shichang's heart.

In fact, this meeting was also presided over by this Wang Yitang, and even Sheng Xuanhuai was willing to be a foil, obviously, what Sheng Xuanhuai said to Tang Shaoyi was sincere, and now, this group of "inverted Yuan faction" Beiyang Chinese have begun to go all out to support Xu Shichang, and the representative sent by Xu Shichang is naturally the head of this meeting.

However, there must be a premise for the formation of a new political group, that is, the armistice between the north and the south to negotiate peace, otherwise, when the united front hits Beijing, these politicians will not have to worry about the action of "golden cicada out of the shell", it is better to pack up and prepare to run away, after all, they are all "fat pigs" in the eyes of Commander-in-Chief Zhao.

Therefore, in the eyes of this group of people, it is necessary to reach an agreement with the Southern Peace Delegation headed by Song Jiaoren no matter what, and it is precisely for this reason that Sheng Xuanhuai specially waited for Tang Shaoyi outside the Liuguo Hotel and invited him to come over to participate in this meeting.

For everyone's "value" Tang Shaoyi is a little honestly afraid, as a pound of Xiaozhuo Jing who has joined the alliance, Tang Shaoyi's role in the Beiyang Group is a little embarrassing, although this move has been forgiven by Yuan Shikai, but for the people in Beiyang, Tang Shaoyi's move is suspected of betraying Beiyang. Therefore, not everyone treats him politely, and the "Cadre Highness" Duan Zhigui has made him unable to get off the stage at the meeting several times.

"The contemptible people must reach a compromise with the United Front as soon as possible. However, this also requires the formal authorization of President Xu Da, and the conditions of the United Front are too harsh, and they want to use the peace talks to control the parliament and the cabinet, and once they agree to their conditions, the center is hollowed out. ”

Tang Shaoyi's truth-telling made everyone present silent for a moment, and British Minister Zhu Erdian also frowned, in his opinion, the two new peace conditions proposed by the United Front were indeed "harsh".

"Do we have any other choice now?" Wang Yitang was the first to break the silence, and his words expressed the worries in everyone's hearts.

Yes, now Beiyang really has no choice.

Negotiation of peace as soon as possible is the only way out for Beiyang.