Based on Wang Shizhen's understanding of Yuan Shikai, he does not think that Yuan Shikai is essentially a treacherous person. Although Yuan Shikai's methods are tough, Yuan Shikai is a person who does things. This is a hundred times more than the other Manchu officials. As for the wrist that has to be used, it is that the other party only understands this kind of wrist, or the other party only eats this kind of wrist. Wang Shizhen, as Yuan Shikai's "dragon eye", put forward most of the work of various political tricks was undertaken by Wang Shizhen.

"Yuan Gong, if Chen Ke doesn't fight to the death with our Beiyang, they will definitely die." Wang Shizhen hopes to understand Yuan Shikai's true thoughts. These days, Wang Shizhen has been trying to study the shortcomings of the People's Party. The training and cooperation of the People's Party troops on the Beiyang Army, Wang Shizhen has already determined this. Then the only weakness is that compared with the entire national strength of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Anhui is at a disadvantage. However, Wang Shizhen never believed that the Manchu Qing Dynasty had the ability to rally the strength of the whole country to deal with Anhui. The only one who can have a decisive battle with Chen Ke is Beiyang. And only Yuan Shikai can command the Beiyang Army. Therefore, Wang Shizhen is not optimistic about this military operation. He continued:

"Yuan Gong, it is said that it is encirclement and suppression, but in fact, there is only one of us in Beiyang. If Chen Keyu dies and the net is broken, the Beiyang Army is afraid that the casualties will be very heavy. ”

Although Yuan Shikai did not participate in the actual battle, this does not mean that Yuan Shikai does not know about Beiyang's own affairs, he smiled and said: "Pingqing, can we enter Anhui in the short term?" ”

"Never." Wang Shizhen replied immediately.

Yuan Shikai then asked, "If Chen Ke wants to fight with me, he will have to fight." Do you think Chen Ke will take the initiative to send troops? ”

"Of course not." Wang Shizhen's answer was still decisive.

Wang Shizhen's serious attitude made Yuan Shikai smile, "So, I said that it is not that I want to fight to the death with Chen Ke, but that Chen Ke wants to fight to the death with me." We just need to be ready to fight Chen Ke to the death. If Chen Ke can't retreat, we will listen to the intelligence and gradually advance the troops, so that Chen Ke has no opportunity to take advantage of it. ”

"Chen Ke is cunning and cunning, and he will definitely come up with all kinds of tricks." Wang Shizhen thinks that Yuan Shikai is a little arrogant. Even if the Beiyang Army outnumbered the People's Party by a large number, this would not necessarily be the number that would be able to win.

Seeing that Wang Shizhen was still confined to the military battlefield, Yuan Shikai was a little regretful. "Pingqing, if Chen Keruo is a person who only knows how to fight, he can't live now."

Wang Shizhen disagreed with Yuan Shikai's hint, "Yuan Gong, Chen Ke can call the wind and rain in addition to Anhui, and it is almost impossible to move an inch in other places. ”

"Pingqing, we have all underestimated Chen Ke, this doll is ghostly. If he deals with our Beiyang, he may only have to fight hard, but against the imperial court, I really don't look at the good people in the imperial court. Speaking of this, Yuan Shikai said with a smile: "Now that the matter is now, it would be good to let Chen Ke surprise us." ”

Before Chen Ke returned from Lu'an with a large army, the comrades thought they had seen a cheerful Chen Ke. And when they really saw Chen Ke, many people felt a little disappointed. Chen Ke has obviously changed, but Chen Ke, who used to be a little "styled", has become more ordinary, even if he walks in front of the team, Chen Ke is no longer as easy to find at a glance as before. Because they have been separated for several months, the contrast effect is very obvious, and the faint arrogance of the past, as well as the indifference and sharpness from the heart, have disappeared a lot from Chen Ke. Now Chen Ke gives people more tolerance and sincerity, and even makes people feel a kind of warmth. It's kind of like a big brother next door. Although with this warmth and tolerance, Chen Ke's already young appearance looks younger.

In the military field, there is no need for Chen Ke to make meticulous arrangements, and after the reorganization of the troops, all the outstanding officers and men are left, and the work is more effective. After Chen Ke finished explaining his work, he first went home to see his wife who was in labor. This kind of move was something that Chen Ke would never have done so naturally before. In a sense, humanity seems to have revived in Chen Ke. It was as if the sharp, rigid youth had suddenly become an adult.

However, the anxiety of the comrades could not disappear because of Chen Ke's change, and no one could take the attack of the 50,000 Beiyang Army as a joke. According to the last military plan, "the walls are cleared and the enemy is lured to go deep." The Military Commission came up with a plan that was imitated.

When Chen Ke finished reading the plan, he raised his head and replied in a clear voice: "Let's try to solve this problem with political methods first." ”

"Political methods?" The comrades doubted whether they had heard it wrong. Did the People's Party and the Manchus have any means of political settlement of the conflict?

"Who is the driving force behind the Beiyang Army this time?" Chen Ke asked.

"Cixi." "Yuan Shikai." Both responses came out almost simultaneously. However, the comrades who proposed "Yuan Shikai" soon realized that they were not thoughtful, and hurriedly changed their words, "It's Cixi." ”

"What if Cixi dies? Yuan Shikai was with a large army, and the end of the Manchu Qing Dynasty came. Chen Ke replied simply.

The last time the party committee discussed negotiations with Yuan Shikai, Cixi and the clan were the biggest opponents of Yuan Shikai, and if Cixi died, Yuan Shikai really had no reason to continue attacking the base area. But could politics kill Cixi? In the current Manchu Qing Dynasty, no one or political faction had the ability to execute Cixi.

Looking at the stunned looks of his comrades, Chen Ke smiled: "I can only try." Write an announcement first, then a brochure. Maybe Cixi died after reading it? ”

Is Chairman Chen sick? The comrades exchanged glances with each other. Hua Xiongmao was very confident in Chen Ke, "Chairman Chen, are you going to learn from Zhuge Liang to scold Wang Lang to death?" ”

"Wang Lang still has a sense of shame, and Cixi will feel ashamed?" Chen Ke asked strangely, "When this old lady entered Beijing by the Eight-Nation Alliance, she fled to Xi'an in shame and didn't die to eat mutton steamed buns, do you expect her to have such a thing as shame?" ”

"And how do you write this announcement and brochure?" Yan Fu asked, he was worried that Chen Ke would make a fuss about the things in the palace. The handsome old man Yan Fu made up his mind, if Chen Ke wanted to write like this, he would stop it no matter what.

"Tell me the truth," looking at Yan Fu's serious expression, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing, "I don't think the comrades in our People's Party are good at telling nonsense, and they give full play to their strengths to tell the truth." ”

Qi Hui frowned deeply and asked, "Chairman Chen, that is to say, when preparing for war, you did not participate in the military, but took the lead in forming a writing class?" ”

Chen Ke nodded, "In terms of military training, I think the comrades are absolutely capable of doing a good job. On the political front, if the new comrades from Dabie Mountain can join the army and go outside the mountain in order to defend the fruits of the revolution, we must lead the way. Don't just emphasize the significance of the revolution to the whole country, but first explain how the revolution can save us. Don't engage in any great ideals. I think that looking at it realistically, the great ideal can easily be misled into making a fortune as a big official for these simple comrades who live a hard life. We, the People's Party, don't talk about this in the first place. ”

The comrades nodded one after another, and everyone felt a little strange in their hearts, in the past, when Chen Ke talked about these slightly dark things, he usually used sharp sarcasm, but this time he used an attitude of frankness and earnest teaching. Although the comrades were not used to it, it was obviously easier to accept Chen Ke's attitude. At the very least, Chen Ke acknowledged that selfishness and erroneous attitudes are common mistakes, rather than asking all comrades to resolutely not allow such mistakes with a fastidious attitude.

"Chairman Chen, if there is a political solution to Cixi, is it possible to solve Yuan Shikai politically? For example, take a walk on some Yuan Shikai threat theory and the like? Hua Xiongmao asked.

"Cixi is not a cautious eye, since she dares to let Yuan Shikai out, then this kind of Yuan Shikai threat theory has long been mentioned. We don't have to worry about this useless mind. Chen Ke replied.

Many comrades looked at Hua Xiongmao with a playful eye, Hua Xiongmao stuck out his tongue and made a grimace of indifference, and then sat back in his seat.

Since the division of labor was decided, Chen Ke, Yan Fu, Feng Xu, and Shen Zengzhi formed a writing group and began the work of "political settlement" of Cixi.

Cixi did not have any doubts about the "Yuan Shikai threat theory", and openly scolded Yuan Shikai for being Cao Cao, I don't know how many. If Cixi really believed this, then she would have gotten rid of Yuan Shikai a long time ago. For someone like her, who is proficient in political power, her subordinates must be capable and loyal. If an official is not very capable and loyal, Cixi does not mean that he cannot tolerate this person. As long as this guy can be a-stirring stick at a critical moment, Cixi will also give him a chance to give policy.

The prime minister can hold the boat in his belly, but he can't accommodate all kinds of people. A poisonous snake also has a purpose to protect treasure, and there is no one in the world who cannot use it, only those who cannot use it. Cixi was convinced of this.

But Cixi is not a good person without a bottom line, for her bottom line, that is, the courtiers must not have the ability to complete political operations independently, and the monarch must be the leader and controller. Once politics can run smoothly without the intervention of the sovereign, what does the lord have to do? As a woman in the court, Cixi could not leave the palace at will. Naturally, it is impossible to have the same great range of movement as a male monarch. Therefore, mixing sand and taking advantage of factional contradictions is Cixi's forte. Personnel power means that things can not run smoothly, and pulling one faction against another faction is to balance the two factions competing for interests, rather than letting one faction dominate.

It was now clear to Cixi that the immediate priority was to eliminate the Manchus' greatest enemy, the People's Party. Regarding the various slanders of the Zongshe Party, Cixi skillfully stayed in the middle of the matter. But the so-called "will not be affected by the life of the king outside", Cixi did not believe it at all. If it was the kind of time that there was no rapid communication ability from thousands of miles away, it would be fine. The cable telegraph office could easily deliver military information to all parts of the telegraph network. Cixi kept Tie Liang, the Minister of War, in close contact with Yuan Shikai. As soon as there is a military situation, report it immediately.

In the final analysis, Cixi knew that she had made a very dangerous move this time. Yuan Shikai was indeed very loyal to Cixi, but Yuan Shikai's loyalty was only directed at Cixi. Cixi knew that she was going to die eventually, and this day was getting closer and closer. If Yuan Shikai wins, then it's okay to say. If Yuan Shikai fails, the entire Qing Dynasty will immediately encounter the greatest crisis. In the rebellion of the Tianping Heavenly Kingdom that year, even if the south was in shambles, there were still officials in the north who did not know about the rebellion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The rebellion of the BJP seems to be nothing now, but now that the information is so smooth, every defeat is a great blow. The Qing Dynasty is now stormy, far from the Xianfeng era, even if there is a great chaos that swept the south, the country can still hold on. The successive blows made the Manchus crumble. Cixi remembered that Yuan Shikai said that the Anhui rebel party fought desperately, and that was because a single defeat could completely destroy the Anhui rebel party. But how much of a blow can the Qing Dynasty withstand?

September 2, 1908.

"Queen Mother Lafayette, Zaifeng asks to see." Li Lianying bowed cautiously and said in a voice that Cixi could hear clearly, but would not disturb Cixi.

Without listening to Zaifeng's report, Cixi knew what Zaifeng wanted to say. This group of men from the clan has no existence that can be handled. One by one, they are either greedy for money or power, or they are greedy for both money and power. And without exception, this group of people are incompetent. Cixi waved her hand in disgust, "I'm tired today, don't see you." ”

Watching Li Lianying go out to spread the word, Cixi closed her eyes slightly. These people simply don't know what they're thinking. It is absolutely impossible for Cixi to let Guangxu take power again, so who will inherit the throne of the Manchu Qing Dynasty after Cixi's death is a great problem for Cixi. In such chaotic times, there must be a general among the lame, and it is common sense that an elderly monarch should be appointed.

Although Guangxu is also an extremely unbearable one, Guangxu has been on the throne since he was a child. He is not only Cixi's nephew, but also the nephew of Cixi's husband by blood. This kind of strong blood relationship and long reign time finally ensured that everyone accepted the existence of such an emperor. However, as far as the clan is concerned, there is no one who can convince the public, and even if they are given great power, none of these people can keep their power. These people have always thought that Cixi protected Yuan Shikai, but in fact, if Cixi and Cixi did not help each other, Yuan Shikai was afraid that he would have already made this group of clans unable to survive and die.

Cixi didn't have anything to worry about Yuan Shikai, in fact, it didn't matter if she was at ease or not. Cixi knew very well that no one's loyalty has no price, and the key is whether they are given enough temptation, so there must be checks and balances. The clan was theoretically the best check and balance for Yuan Shikai, but now Cixi has to use Yuan Shikai to check and balance the clan in turn. This is the reason why Cixi is disgusted when she sees the clan.

It's already September, and it's been more than half a month since Yuan Shikai left Beijing. Cixi did not understand military affairs, but she had to care about areas that she was completely unfamiliar with. For this seventy-year-old lady, it is really a heavy burden.

After resting for a while with her eyes closed, Cixi felt that she was short of breath. She opened her eyes and glanced at the table, and Li Lianying hurriedly served the tea bowl. Cixi took a few sips and felt a little more comfortable.

"Is there any news?" Cixi asked Li Lianying.

This was Cixi's special designated inquiry, and it was about the hateful notice of the People's Party. Although the announcement brought bad news to Cixi every time, the news of the People's Party was not exaggerated or falsified. It's also a rare source of information. Li Lianying replied calmly: "Back to Lafayette, there is no news." ”

Cixi saw some clues in this calm. Li Lianying pretended to be too good, if it was in the past, Li Lianying's expression would not be so calm no matter what. If Cixi didn't know Li Lianying too well, other people would definitely be deceived by Li Lianying. Thinking that Li Lianying was so obedient and happy to send a message to Zaifeng to go back, Cixi was even more sure of her judgment.

"Little Lizi, take out the things." Cixi said gently. Li Lianying would not deliberately deceive herself, Cixi knew this. But what makes Li Lianying keep it so secret definitely has great weight.

"Back to the Queen Mother Lafayette, the slave really didn't receive anything." Li Lianying's voice could still remain calm, but the look on her face could no longer be disguised.

"Little Lizi, it's all time. What else do we have to fear? Cixi smiled bitterly, "Take it out and I'll see, the People's Party has said something again." ”

"Queen Mother......" Li Lianying's voice had a rather painful feeling.

"Little Lizi, if you don't give it to me now, someone will show it to me sooner or later. A few days earlier and a few days later, what difference can it make. Eunuchs can't interfere in politics, can you still let those ministers hide this news together? ”

"Yes, Queen Mother." Li Lianying retreated.

Cixi took another sip of tea, which was a very unusual thing. She is an extremely noble person, and she is very systematic in everything she does. But now is the time for Cixi to need more courage and energy to face the blow she is about to face.

Li Lianying handed over two things, one was a notice and the other was a booklet. At first glance, the paper and binding are the things of the BJP bandits. Cixi even noticed that Li Lianying's hands were trembling slightly.

Could it be that Yuan Shikai was annihilated? Cixi couldn't help but think.

Li Lianying watched Cixi take two things, he stepped aside, and his attention was on Cixi's face.

As soon as she read the beginning of the notice, Li Lianying saw Cixi's expression relaxed. Li Lianying has seen these two things, and the title of the notice is "This Life of Cixi". Anhui called Cixi the female leader of the Manchu bandits, and from the perspective of anti-thieves, the title of this article is not too shocking.

But Li Lianying was not relieved at all because Cixi's face was relaxed, although he wanted to lower his head, he couldn't help but pay attention to Cixi's face at all times.

Sure enough, as Li Lianying expected, she saw Cixi's expression becoming more and more solemn. After reading the notice, Cixi did not speak for a long time. When she put down the notice and went to get the pamphlet, Cixi rarely paused and hesitated because of fear.

"The Queen Mother Lafayette, the rebels are talking nonsense, you don't need to look at it at all!" Li Lianying wanted to shout like this, but she couldn't say it anyway. Li Lianying watched as Cixi picked up the pamphlet with a rare trepidation, and then flipped through it.

Looking at it, Cixi's eyes turned red, and she blinked her eyes a few times as if she wanted to relieve her fatigue, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Queen Mother!" Li Lianying choked up and said.

“…… Go down," Cixi replied.

"Old ......" Li Lianying wanted to continue to say something.

"Go down!" Cixi shouted, "Give it all to me!" ”

The palace maids and eunuchs in the palace did not dare to disobey Cixi's wishes, and under Li Lianying's instructions, everyone quietly withdrew from the main hall.

When all these people went down, Cixi wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. As a woman, Cixi had the experience of crying many times. Cixi cried when his father died when he was a teenager, Cixi cried when her husband Xianfeng died when she was young, and Cixi cried when her own son died in middle age. Cixi cried when she was troubled by Ci'an in the East Palace. When talking to the minister about the political situation, Cixi cried. But a considerable part of the pain at that time was because others, or Cixi, had to cry at all.

This tearing was a very new or very distant feeling for Cixi. Cixi had tears of self-pity because of herself, and she had completely forgotten the last time she had such feelings. Cixi couldn't even be sure if she had cried because of herself.

"This Life of Cixi" does not contain any abusive content, because it is in the vernacular, the faint sympathy in the text feels that Cixi can read it. The announcement is equivalent to a comment, and the booklet is the text. Cixi had never seen such a truthful thing. Although this kind of thing should have been written after death, the People's Party wrote Cixi's life from the perspective of closing Cixi's coffin.

I don't know who the writer was, but it's clear that I know a lot about Cixi's life. The various major historical events are clearly recounted, and the records of Cixi's various actions are also quite clear. What Cixi never imagined was that this booklet was a lot of analysis and evaluation of Cixi's life. It's not criticism, it's not approval, it's not cursing, and naturally it's not singing praises. Cixi's education, the ideas she established, the things she learned through her experiences, and some of her characteristics. The pamphlet is very plausible.

If the pamphlet was nonsense, or blindly criticized, Cixi would never have been so excited. But it was precisely because there was a sense of sympathy in it that Cixi was moved.

For the first time in so many years, someone really treated Cixi as a person, especially a woman. Cixi was also a lovely child, a young woman who wanted to be a good wife, and a mother who truly loved her son. It is also a member of the royal family who hopes to save the Qing Dynasty. This pamphlet does not shy away from these things at all, but frankly states.

Therefore, the conclusion reached by this pamphlet, Cixi could not completely ignore it and laugh at it.

"Cixi's failure was not only her personal failure, but also the failure of the old system. Cixi's sins were not only the sins of Cixi alone, but the sins of the corrupt system of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. If we had to give Cixi a final word, Cixi, also known as Yehnara 61 Xingzhen, was the most stubborn adherent of the old Manchu system, and one of the most steadfast and powerful defenders of the old Manchu system. If she died, she would have no shame in saying to the Manchu emperors underground, "I did my best." ”

Seeing this, Cixi couldn't help but cry. As a woman, when someone, especially the enemy, can give such a dignified evaluation, Cixi recalls the hardships of her life, how can she not feel self-pity and self-pity?

But the anti-thief is the anti-thief, in addition to giving a more fair evaluation of Cixi, but also an analysis of the various tricks implemented by Cixi, the article clearly describes the characteristics of this kind of tricks, the mode of operation, and the effect. This tactic was refuted purely based on the leader's personal interests and incompetence, and his sins were attributed to the rotten Manchu system. However, seeing these reasonable evaluations, these things that must have been hidden in the deepest part of the world were clearly exposed in broad daylight, Cixi felt inexplicably frightened.

In particular, the last part is a description of Cixi's future, which makes it clear that Cixi must now put the die-hard conservatives in power. Because if other factions are in power, I am afraid that Cixi will not be able to be seriously buried. The article ridiculed the incompetence of the clan and talked about the uselessness of the conservatives. Because Cixi has been playing politics for a long time, it is impossible for the country to embark on any truly reasonable path. As soon as Cixi died, following the path opened by Cixi, the Manchus would plunge headlong into the abyss of death.

Of course, the article also clearly explains the strategy of Cixi General "establishing a young monarch" and "killing Guangxu".

At the end, the pamphlet concludes with the words, "Today, when the Manchu court and the people are full of demands for constitutional restoration, Cixi has to go against history in order to continue to maintain the old and rotten system of the Manchu Dynasty." After Cixi's death, it was naturally not visible, but this reaction was destined to be crushed. In a few years, everything that Cixi tried to maintain would be shattered. This is a situation that cannot be reversed by Cixi's personal will. Our purpose in writing this article is to hope that Cixi and the Chinese can see this general trend clearly. ”

As if fascinated, no matter how much Cixi wanted to put down the book, the seventy-four-year-old lady couldn't help but read the pamphlet about herself over and over again. Until Cixi suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and then she didn't know anything.

On September 3, 1908, Cixi ordered the imprisoned He family to be put on death row. On the 4th, the Sun family was implicated, but because He Qian was dead, the Sun family escaped.

On the 5th, Guangxu and Cixi died successively.