With Ma Longbiao's support, Yuan Shikai trembled through a long and narrow corridor, opened three heavy stone doors, and finally entered the Jinkui Stone Room, a crimson sheepskin box. Yuan Shikai carefully wiped off the dust on it with a soft flannel cloth, and the old box that originally looked inconspicuous immediately shone brightly, gold, silver, amber, coral, clams, glass, agate, and the seven treasures of Buddhism inlaid on the box shone with dazzling brilliance.

Yuan Shikai personally enshrined the sheepskin box on the incense case, burned a furnace of incense, and the faint smell of curling green smoke immediately made people feel calm. President Yuan, who was seriously ill, increased his forehead with both hands, respectfully performed the three-membranous top salute, and then took off the box again.

Yuan Shikai was silent for a long time, seemed to have made up his mind, and then slowly opened the seven treasures brilliant, dazzling box, and a copper box was set inside, and when the copper box was opened, a finely carved silver box appeared, which was opened again, and a small golden cylinder was wrapped in yellow silk.

The cylinder was no more than six inches long, and was made of gold throughout, and was decorated with the pattern of an ear of grain.

Jiahe Jinjian, this is Jiahe Jinjian, the biggest political secret of the political axe of the Republic of China.

The hearts of Yang Shiqi, Jiang Guidi, and Ma Longbiao also beat wildly, and Yuan Shikai personally opened and sealed the gold cylinder, which was a bright yellow satin, stamped with the vermilion seal of the Republic of China political axe and the president.

When the secret was revealed, the three of them were shocked when they saw the name on it.

There are three names on the Golden Harvest Golden Jane, and to everyone's surprise, the first name turned out to be Vice President Li Yuanhong, who was placed under house arrest by Yuan Shikai in Yingtai, followed by the names of Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang. There was no Yuan Keding among these three.

"Accident? Do you know why Li Yuanhong is in the first place? Yuan Shikai said calmly.

Without waiting for the three of them to return, Yuan Shikai asked himself and replied: "The first one on the list I recommend is Li Yuanhong." According to the rules, it can only be opened when the president dies, and this is my will. When I made the will, I had just defeated the rebellious Sun Wen, and Beiyang was in full swing. Therefore, I take into account that among all the people in Beiyang, Xu Ju is the oldest and Duan Zhiquan is the highest. However, Xu Juren and Duan Zhiquan did not personally control the military power for a long time, and the Beiyang generals were not convinced even if they were oral. If Cao Kun, Meng Enyuan, Jin Yunpeng and others, who hold heavy troops, inherit my mantle, where will their prestige be able to subdue everyone? Therefore, I let Li Yuanhong succeed him, so that Beiyang will have the same hatred and hatred, and unite around Duan Zhiquan and Xu Juren??? Do you wonder why there are no names of my sons? Keding is injured and has a disabled leg and foot, and the president of a country is lame, isn't it the laughing stock of the world? Kewen is not interested in politics, he is determined to be a celebrity, and I have no choice but to follow him! Moreover, their prestige is not as good as that of Cao Kun and others, and if they take over the position of president, I am afraid that it will be difficult to save their lives! ”

Yang Shiqi sighed: "The president's love for the Beiyang group and the heart of his children is really emotional!" It's a pity, I'm afraid that Beiyang and the eldest prince will find it difficult to understand your painstaking efforts. ”

Yuan Shikai said with a wry smile: "Although Beiyang inherits the mantle of Li Zhongtang, it is carried forward in my hands, and now Beiyang is formed with my small station new army as the core, and I regard Beiyang as more important than my surname!" As for Keding and Kewen, they are my own sons, how can I not cherish them? If the world is peaceful, you can naturally hand over this family business to your children, but this is a troubled time, and it is not who is pure and pure, but whose fist is bigger. If Keding inherits the president, it is tantamount to a baby holding gold and swaggering through the market, no matter how stupid my Yuan Shikai is, it will not hurt my own son's surname, right? ”

The three nodded yes.

I saw Yuan Shikai pick up the pen, dip it in cinnabar, draw a circle on Duan Qirui's name, and then said: "I have changed it now, and the first heir to the position of the president will be replaced by Duan Zhiquan!" ”

Ma Longbiao was puzzled, scratched his bald head and said, "Why is this?" Duan Qirui, this kid is not a thing, he has always been against you, especially his little fan Xu Shuzheng, who has a bad stomach, and he is not a thing! ”

Yang Shiqi suddenly gasped, and there seemed to be a trace of emotion in his eyes.

Yuan Shikai looked at him and smiled faintly: "Those who know me are also Xingcheng!" You must have guessed my thoughts! ”

The old general Jiang Gui asked: "President, Mr. Xingcheng, don't sell it, you have confused my old man!" ”

Yang Shiqi said bitterly: "Doesn't the president have the heart of Zen? ”

As soon as these words came out, Ma Longbiao and Jiang Gui were shocked, and said in unison: "No!" ”

Yuan Shikai remained silent: "Why not?" ”

"President, now besides your old man, who else can suppress the proud soldiers of Beiyang? Duan Zhiquan certainly has some prestige, but it is very different from you, if you rashly take the Zen position, I am afraid that Beiyang will fall apart! "Ma Longbiao admonished bitterly.

Yuan Shikai smiled bitterly: "Isn't it falling apart now?" If Beiyang is united, which one am I afraid of? Just let Keding inherit the position of president! ”

Yang Shiqi asked, "What do you mean, the president?" ”

Yuan Shikai sighed: "How many days I can live, it's already unknown, now I can't think about it so long-term, it's important to protect my children and grandchildren??? Beiyang, let him go! ”

Ma Longbiao and Jiang Guidi were surprised inexplicably, and said in unison: "Aren't you here to protect Beiyang?" ”

Yang Shiqi said tentatively: "How can the president protect several sons?" ”

Yuan Shikai said bitterly: "How did I protect the Qing Dynasty back then, how can I protect them now!" ”

Yang Shiqi exclaimed: "Is the president going to give way to Chai Dongliang of Anqing? ”

Yuan Shikai nodded and said, "Yes, I have this intention!" I know my condition, and if I can put on the shoes I took off tonight, I still have to say whether I can put them on tomorrow! As long as the surnamed Chai promises to protect the safety and dignity of Keding and Kewen, I will give way to him. ”

Jiang Guidi's dizzy old eyes shot out a cold light, and he roared angrily: "Don't! How can the great president, who has worked hard for many years, give it to others? If the surname Chai wants to be the president, let him bring the troops to take it himself! Don't worry, President, I'm 100,000 Righteous Army and will swear allegiance to your old man! ”

Ma Longbiao fell to his knees with a puff: "Even if all my second division is killed, it will never disappoint the president!" ”

Yuan Shikai was a little moved, patted Jiang Guidi and Ma Longbiao on the shoulders and said, "I don't understand your loyalty, but do you think we can beat the Jianghuai Army?" Chai Dongliang said that Mongolia and Fengtian are in his hands, and Dagukou has his vanguard troops, once the war starts, in the west, north, and south, he can encircle Yanjing City on three sides! ”

Jiang Gui gritted his teeth and said: "Wen is admonished, and martial arts are fought to the death, how can there be a reason to surrender without a fight?" ”

Yuan Shikai waved his hand and said: "I have made up my mind, no need to say more!" If I die, let Duan Qirui replace him as president, and then give way to Chai Dongliang. Let the surnamed Chai inherit my Beiyang legal system, if the Jianghuai army is allowed to enter Yanjing City, I am afraid that the jade will be burned??? I, Yuan Shikai, have spent half my life for Beiyang, and I have to take care of my children and grandchildren when I die! ”

The words were full of sadness, Yang Shiqi had never seen Yuan Shikai so depressed.

Yuan Shikai continued: "I don't have much time, if before I die, the negotiation to give way can be successful, naturally it is the best, if I die before the negotiation is successful, the three must ensure that they can force Duan Qirui to give way??? It is necessary to let the surname Chai inherit the legal system of Beiyang, which is related to the net worth and surname of my Yuan family's descendants, and it must not be sloppy at all! ”

Yang Shiqi and others saw that Yuan Shikai's attitude was resolute, and it was difficult to persuade him again, Yang Shiqi sighed: "The president is not only favored by the Qing court, but also by the Southern People's Party, and with the support of the great powers, so he became the first president of the Republic of China." Moreover, the people unanimously support it, and the legitimacy of the legal system is unprecedented in China for 3,000 years. But it's only been three years, and it's going to be given to a hairy boy in his twenties??? In the end, we are incompetent and cannot assist the president to create great achievements, and Shiqi's sin is great! ”

Yuan Shikai patted him on the shoulder and said: "You and I have known each other for more than 30 years, I have suppressed you for more than ten years and refused to be promoted, not because I don't know your talent, but because Brother Ling Yang Lian's Mansion is red and purple in Li Zhongtang??? It wasn't until Lao Zhongtang died that I dared to entrust you as my heart, but I took another step and was assigned to fish in Huanshui. If Xingcheng didn't run for me, I, Yuan Shikai, would probably die of old age??? When I became the president, I wanted to repay Xingcheng's love with wealth and honor, but today, I, I, I can't even do this! ”

Yuan Shikai was emotional, and he couldn't help but cry.

Yang Shiqi also felt a sour feeling in his heart, remembering that he was called a prodigy when he was a child, and he was promoted in his early twenties, but he couldn't get into the jinshi after repeated attempts. In Yuan Shikai's shogunate, he was not allowed to reuse, and he was thrown to build the railway for more than ten years, until Li Hongzhang died, he was called Yuan Shikai's confidant, but a young man who was full of ambition has been tempered into a middle-aged man.

After Yuan Shikai became the president, it should have been the time for him to make a big difference, but he got kidney stones, and the minor problem was dragged into serious uremia because Yuan Shikai was afraid of illness and medical treatment. Yuan Shikai was moody and tormented by kidney colic, and he was also in a state of flux. Sun Wen, who originally defeated the Second Revolution, made Yuan Shikai's prestige reach an unparalleled level, but he was full of support to dissolve the National Assembly and dissolve the Kuomintang, which offended all the elites in the world at once. He reversed his word and played the political axe, although he made a false name as a national hero, but he also resented his strong neighbors.

Lu Zongyu, the minister of the Republic of China to Yueben, had a close relationship with Sun Wen, Huang Xing, and the Kuomintang, so he had the real evidence that Yuan Shikai intended to betray China's interests to Yueben, wouldn't it mean that Sun Wen and the Kuomintang knew about it? Yuan Shikai is simply giving people a handle, and he is stupid!

Yuan Shikai, whom Yang Shiqi first knew, was cautious but ambitious, but after becoming president, he was like a different person. Maybe the foreigner is like the foreigner story, once the monkey climbs the tree, the red butt is exposed??? Yuan Shikai used to be under the tree, and his life and future were always in the hands of Cixi and Li Hongzhang, so he was trembling and trembling like walking on thin ice, and when he became the president of the Republic of China, the stuffiness that had accumulated for many years was able to be stretched to the fullest, and the monkey's red ass was undoubtedly revealed. Coupled with the torture of renal colic caused by kidney stones, Yuan Shikai was almost the same as before, and the eloquent Yuan Shikai became a stupid tyrant.

Yang Shiqi remembered that he had a strong ambition but couldn't stretch it, and in a blink of an eye, he was already gray with sideburns but had no achievements, and he couldn't help but feel sad.

The encounter in life is like a tragic tragedy!

Yang Shiqi couldn't help but burst into tears, Ma Longbiao and Jiang Guidi had no choice but to accompany them to shed tears, and the four of them cried together.

The four of them cried for a long time, and then Yuan Shikai said again: "Xingcheng, I want to ask you to go again, you have some friendship with that Chai Dongliang, and talk to him about giving way??? Long Biao, the defense of the Jingshi will depend on you??? General Jiang, when it comes to giving way, the Beiyang generals will inevitably be a little moved, so rely on your resolute army to defend Gyeonggi! ”

Yang Shiqi, Ma Longbiao, and Jiang Gui said in unison: "Dare not obey your fate!" ”

Ma Longbiao couldn't help but ask: "What if the surname Chai doesn't know how to lift?" ”

Yuan Shikai said coldly: "Then I have to break the net!" ”

??? Dividing line ???

The Dagu Pass was heavily guarded, and the Jianghuai army built trenches, reinforced concrete anti-artillery holes, and breastwork reinforced with sleepers and wooden planks. The shallows are covered with bamboo shoot-shaped pinnacles facing upwards and cement piles, which are used as obstacles to prevent enemy landing ships from approaching.

Thirty kilometers away from the coast, there is Chai Dongliang's temporary command post, and outside stood Gurkha guards with loaded guns and live ammunition, wearing the uniforms of the Jianghuai Army, and they were very shy and energetic.

The outside is heavily guarded, and the inside is at loggerheads.

"The position of the president is an important weapon of the state, how can it be given to each other privately, it is ridiculous!" Chai Dongliang took the case.

Yang Shiqi rushed from Yanjing to Dagukou, thinking that this matter must be just said, let Chai Dongliang be the president, and not let him cut off his head, where is there no unwillingness to do such a good thing?

Unexpectedly, Chai Dongliang refused in one bite!

"Brother Guanghua, think about it again!" Yang Shiqi, who was sharp-toothed, was a little blindsided and didn't know what to say.

Chai Dongliang shook his head and said: "If Mr. Xingcheng has anything else, it depends on Mr. Dang's affection for me, and Chai should not allow it." But this great president's position is a national weapon, how can it be granted privately? Chai didn't dare to be! ”

Yang Shiqi suddenly understood that Chai Dongliang did not recognize the "Presidential Election Law" approved by Yuan Shikai, which means that he was unwilling to recognize the legal system of Beiyang.

According to the "Presidential Election Law", Yuan Shikai has the right to recommend the successor president, but Chai Dongliang took out the reason that the state is important and privately granted, making it clear that he is unwilling to recognize this law, that is, he is unwilling to recognize the legal surname of Beiyang.

Yuan Shikai demanded that Chai Dongliang must recognize Beiyang's legal surname, and only if Chai Dongliang admitted this, the vested interests of the Beiyang generals could be preserved, otherwise it would be difficult for Yuan Shikai to give way even if he wanted to. It's no wonder that the Beiyang generals don't rebel!

"Mr. is far away, please rest for a while, Chai has a little drink, not a respect!"

Yang Shiqi had no choice but to step back first, and then think about how to persuade Chai Dongliang to accept the conditions.

Chai Dongliang sent Yang Shiqi down and carefully considered the current situation. Surrendering without a fight is of course a very good result, but Yuan Shikai dissolved the National Assembly without authorization, dissolved the Kuomintang, and amended the Constitution, which has offended both the revolutionary party and the constitutionalists.

It is true that now the Jianghuai army is like Zhongtian, of course, it can rely on military strength to subdue the forces of all sides, and the battle with Yue himself is almost over, and now both sides are thundering and raining, and no one is willing to do their best to fight a national war before the outbreak of the European war.

However, the hundreds of thousands of people in the Kuomintang, almost half of the Chinese elite, hated Yuan Shikai's actions, and other parties also hated Yuan Shikai's act of amending the constitution without authorization.

Most of the people in the old parliament were in Anqing, and they all hoped to restore the "Provisional Covenant" or the "Temple of Heaven Constitution", but if Chai Dongliang accepted this condition, the joke would be too big.

The "Provisional Statute" stipulates that the Republic of China is a parliamentary system, and it is a parliamentary system in which the Senate is the only one, not to mention the executive power of the president, that is, the executive power of the courts, which have been squeezed to the limit. "Temple of Heaven Constitution" has pushed this extreme parliamentary system to the top, and if Chai Dongliang accepts this constitution, it is not even as good as a rubber stamp.

Yuan Shikai did the opposite, taking all the power into the president, and according to the constitution he created, his power was better than that of any president in the world, and more power than most constitutional monarchs, almost equal to the emperors of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

The people from the revolutionary party and the constitutionalist faction would not accept the constitution concocted by Yuan Shikai under any circumstances.

said a thousand things and ten thousand, Lao Tzu can't be a gunman, let alone a rubber stamp.

The Republic of China has only been less than three years old, and has already produced two constitutions with diametrically opposed contents, one is the monopoly of power in the National Assembly, and the other is the president's speech. To put it bluntly, it is all the result of the overflow of ideas about reading talents.

No matter how stupid Chai Dongliang is, he will not take over Yuan Shikai's presidency in such a daze. He also knew in his heart that the people were looking forward to ending this chaotic situation, otherwise Sun Wen's second revolution would not make the people look sideways. The greater the achievements of oneself in the construction of the areas ruled by the Jianghuai Army, the better the people's livelihood will be, and the higher the call for oneself to come forward to integrate the country??? The more capital you have to negotiate on your own.

Only by formulating a constitution that satisfies him and is the most beneficial to the country can Chai Dongliang ascend to the pinnacle of power without distraction and become the supreme ruler of China, otherwise the constitution will be amended twice in three days, and the people will be at a loss, and he will be despised by others because of his rebellion, and lose the trust of ordinary citizens and elites.

If even the Constitution is changed every three or five years, the people will regard the law as nothing, and it will be difficult to maintain the prestige of the political axe.

In the case of the founding of the country, the trust of the people in the political axe is more important than everything!

If you stretch them again, whether it is the eight hundred Arhats of the Congress who were driven away by Yuan Shikai, or Yuan Shikai and others in Yanjing City, they dare not delay for too long.

Time, on your side!

The corners of Chai Dongliang's mouth provoked a smile, he was not far from the peak of power! It is time to put into practice the vision of future national construction in my heart!

The weather was already a little hot, and the time had come to May 6, 1914.

It is less than 100 days since the outbreak of the Great War in Europe in memory!

???

Author's words: Tangyuan is guilty, and it hasn't been updated for a week!

You despise me as much as you want, you can eat glutinous rice balls for dinner today, even if you have a bad mouth!

(To be continued)