"The foreign devil finally relented." Yang Du said excitedly.

"It's all up to the president. The German side is ready to negotiate with us. Until the negotiations are clear, the two sides will not take military action for the time being. Tang Shaoyi said with a smile. It's a smile from the bottom of my heart, and he's been in diplomacy for many years, and it's the most agreeable. Of course, Tang Shaoyi still had to put Yuan Shikai's wise leadership in front. This is not just a hype, the policy given by Yuan Shikai has indeed played a role.

Yuan Shikai was not so elated, as a soldier, he was also one of the very few figures in modern Chinese history who experienced relying on military victories as a background to gain an all-round advantage in political negotiations. In order to compete for Korea, Japan once instigated the pro-Japanese faction in Korea to make trouble. Yuan Shikai completely wiped out the pro-Japanese faction in Korea with lightning speed, stabilized the political situation in Korea, and thwarted Japan's ambitions.

It's just that it was not Yuan Shikai who won the military victory this time, Yuan Shikai just grasped that the Beiyang government made full use of this victory. The agreement reached by Chen Ke and Yuan Shikai has made a big difference, and the British and French ministers have made it clear that Britain and France are willing to "stay out" as long as a quota trade agreement can be reached this year. The U.S. representative begged to see Tang Shaoyi all day long, hoping to fully negotiate a quota trade agreement with the Chinese government.

The Russians are always insidious, and when Tang Shaoyi visits politely, the Russians only want to see if the Beiyang government has a request for Russia. As for Japan's consistent obedience to the British, after the British expressed their position, the Japanese minister's nonsense Yuan Shikai did not take it to heart at all.

Knowing that the European and American powers would not settle the accounts of the People's Party on Beiyang, the Beiyang Cabinet, which had been gloomy recently, finally became a little angry. Everyone's mouths seemed to wake up from hibernation, and cabinet ministers praised Yuan Shikai for his ability to grasp the situation.

Yuan Shikai looked indifferent, he knew that this was not his own credit. What the foreign devils are afraid of is not the Beiyang government, but the combat effectiveness of the People's Party. The number of garrisons of the great powers in China was not large, and the Beiyang War Department later deduced the battle situation, and trusted the attendant Jiang Baili to fully deduce the operational strategy of "diverting the tiger from the mountain" adopted by the People's Party.

All the battles may be admirable in hindsight, but they don't make people feel shocked. On paper, the People's Party had no tricks at all, but the Germans were arrogant, thinking that they could easily build a fortress in Lianyungang and then divide their forces to defend Qingdao and Lianyungang. But no one expected that the People's Party held Lianyungang, and after the main force of the Germans was exhausted, it sent troops to attack Qingdao for a long time. The ratio of the People's Party to the Germans was 10 to 1, and the capture of Qingdao, which was not well defended, was not an earth-shattering event.

Jiang Baili does have a set of military theories, and he explains the ins and outs in simple terms. It's easy to win the seemingly unthinkable. Yuan Shikai admired this young man very much.

"It's best if the president is strategic, and he can avoid the flames of war." The happiest thing is the Minister of the Navy Sa Zhenbing, the German warships run fast, if they meet them, they can't fight, they can't run away, and the Beiyang Naval Division and the Nanyang Naval Division will definitely have a lot of losses. Moreover, the cost of a single dispatch by the Navy is extremely high, and the current situation of Beiyang's finances is simply not able to support the Navy to take refuge at sea for many years.

"Although the war is avoided for the time being, it is still necessary to send a mission to negotiate with the Germans, and this time it will be difficult for Shaochuan. Go to Germany for a few months. Yuan Shikai said.

"President, this time I want to go not only to Germany, but also to the United States." Tang Shaoyi said.

"Why?"

"I want to go to the United States to find someone named Gu Weijun, who is now studying for a Juris Doctor at Columbia University. If he can be invited back, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can rest assured that many important matters can be entrusted to him. ”

"I've heard you recommend this man many times, and I think he's a talent. If you need me to write a letter, you can let me know in advance. Yuan Shikai has great trust in Tang Shaoyi's negotiation ability. Tang Shaoyi strongly recommended Gu Weijun many times, thinking that this young man would never point to the nose of a foreign minister and say "no need to wash, just sleep" This kind of disgrace is a foreign teacher's demeanor. Beiyang is not a people's party, the people's party dares to fight if it wants to fight, and the Beiyang government does not need Chen Ke's crazy approach at all.

After the meeting ended, Yuan Shikai invited Tang Shaoyi to his office, "Shaochuan, this time I want you to take Keding to Germany together." ”

A look of embarrassment flashed in Tang Shaoyi's expression, "President, this is not quite in line with diplomatic conventions." ”

"I just want this kid to go out and see the world, he has followed me since he was a child, and he thinks that all he sees is big people and big things all day long. In fact, it's just a rat's eye. Look at that Chen Ke, although he never said where he went to school, he must have traveled abroad for a long time. In fact, now that I think about it, I should have sent him abroad to school early. Speaking of which, Yuan Shikai's expression was full of regret unique to his father.

As a diplomat, Tang Shaoyi knows better than anyone how to grasp the balance in the conversation, and is even more reluctant to add any unknowable variables. But after thinking for a moment, Tang Shaoyi said: "President, I have heard recently that the eldest prince has more dealings with British and French diplomats. ”

As soon as he finished saying this, Tang Shaoyi saw a cold light flash in Yuan Shikai's eyes, his father's expression disappeared cleanly, and Yuan Shikai's whole person instantly became a politician who ruled the country.

"Is that right?"

"The British and French ministers have also privately mentioned that they have been in contact with the president's family, and I think that only the eldest prince is the only one." Tang Shaoyi replied. Yuan Shikai's second son, Yuan Kewen, is only 21 years old now, and he can't even talk about being a fledgling.

"Then the British and French ministers have been in contact with those cabinet ministers?" Yuan Shikai asked very calmly, "If you have anything to say, don't worry." ”

"President, the People's Party has made such a big fuss this time, and countries are extremely worried about whether their interests in China will be harmed. Now that we in Beiyang are the central government, they all hope that Beiyang can control the People's Party and prevent these things from happening again. Tang Shaoyi's voice was quite exhorting.

Hearing this, Yuan Shikai straightened his face, "Shaochuan, the reason why Britain and France are not involved in the Germans this time is just to draw on the quota trade agreement. What they are worried about now is that China has gotten rid of the control of Britain and France, and China is so big, what can Britain and France do if they are trying their best to enter it. If they can't take it, they will eventually have to quit. Therefore, it is what Britain and France want to support a few governments that only listen to them. At first, they wanted to find the People's Party, they wanted to find Chen Ke. It's just that the People's Party absolutely didn't listen to them, and these people turned their heads to our Beiyang government. In such matters, even Chen Ke still doesn't dare to do it, so naturally we can't be as good as Chen Ke. ”

Listening to Yuan Shikai's words, Tang Shaoyi was inexplicably moved. China's military strength is inferior to that of the great powers, and if it wants to safeguard China's interests, it must have a strong military force, and the Beiyang Central Government bears huge financial expenditures. Now the economy is very difficult, and there is no strength to expand the army. With the great powers outside and the People's Party inside, Yuan Shikai can still have this kind of move to ensure China's interests with the support of Yuan Shikai, which really requires extraordinary confidence and backbone.

"When I go to Germany this time, I will definitely not lose my power and humiliate the country." Tang Shaoyi replied. Of course, this kind of statement naturally avoided the question of Yuan Shikai asking which members of the Beiyang Cabinet the foreign mission had dealed with.

As soon as Yuan Shikai went home, he asked where Yuan Keding was. The family's reply was that Yuan Keding didn't say where he went when he went out.

"Send someone to find it immediately!" Yuan Shikai said angrily.

Yuan Keding did not know that his father was so angry, and he was meeting with the Japanese minister in the Japanese embassy at this time. Naturally, the Japanese minister could not summon a group of geisha to accompany him in the embassy, but ordinary banquets were still acceptable. After some pushing and changing the glass, everyone was a little drunk.

"Your Royal Highness, I wonder what you think of China's current state system?" The minister grunted.

"It's a republic, and it's naturally the current system." Yuan Keding pretended to answer calmly.

The Japanese minister's Chinese was actually good, although there were also interpreters speaking at the wine table, but he himself was extremely dissatisfied from Yuan Keding's words.

"Your Royal Highness, how many countries in the world today have a republican system? It's just France, the United States, and a few countries in South America. Both Japan and China adopt Chinese culture, and the imperial system naturally has the benefits of the imperial system. For example, the president has the support of the whole people, and according to Chinese tradition, it is only natural to be called emperor. Moreover, China's current situation is so chaotic that without a strong central leadership, it will be difficult for President Yuan Da to achieve his goal of making China as strong as Japan. ”

Hearing this, Yuan Keding nodded slightly. In this era, powerful countries are all imperial countries, and Britain is naturally needless to say, the ferocious Russian Maozi, or the rising star iron-blooded Germany, are all emperors in power. In Europe, in addition to France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, and Sweden all have kings. Republican France was defeated by China at Zhennanguan, leading to the collapse of the domestic cabinet. As for the United States in 1911, it is far from the United States in 1949. Now the great powers don't really think of the United States as a big thing, and the general view is that the United States is just a barbaric country on a wild continent. Even the Americans, at this time, did not consider themselves more civilized than European countries.

Opposition to the republic was even a "politically correct issue" in Europe at the end of the 19th century, and no matter how much the parliamentarians or civil figures below shouted, at least the upper echelons of the countries were resolutely opposed to the republic.

Seeing that Yuan Keding already had a sense of identity, the Japanese minister then persuaded, "Your Royal Highness, what the president needs now is the support of all countries, as long as all countries can support the president to become emperor, then the biggest problem will be solved." And we, Japan, in fact, also want to see China led by His Majesty the Emperor. ”

"But now after all, it's a republican system......" Yuan Keding felt a little embarrassed.

"The current opponents are still the same group of parliamentarians, but the imperial state is not against parliament at all. Each country has its own parliament. In fact, if the former Qing Dynasty had been able to establish a parliament earlier, many things would have been resolved long ago. "What the minister said was sincere.

Yuan Keding really likes this, the imperial system is very good for Yuan Shikai, and it is even more beneficial to the Yuan family. There has never been a surname Yuan in the emperor's family tree, and if this surname can be added, it will naturally be good.

"But are countries really willing to support it?" Although Yuan Keding liked it in his heart, he didn't think that countries, especially Japan, would be so kind to help Yuan Shikai. They are bound to make all kinds of demands.

"European and American countries hope that China can be stable, but whether a stable China is an imperial system or a republican system, I believe that everyone still wants to see an imperial China. I talked to the US minister about this some time ago, and the US minister has no objection to the president's proclamation of the emperor. They even expressed their willingness to provide adequate support in terms of the political institutional framework. ”

"Really?" Yuan Keding didn't expect the Americans to make such a statement.

"If His Royal Highness the Grand Duke doesn't believe it, I can ask the American minister to come over and talk together in the next few days, and His Royal Highness the Grand Duke will know if this is the case."

Hearing that the ministers of so many countries would support Yuan Shikai to be the emperor, Yuan Keding's pretended composure had already flown out of the nine clouds at this time, and he nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes." ”

"Then the eldest prince can inform me when it is convenient, and I will help you get in touch." The Japanese minister took advantage of the situation. Historically, after repeated searches, the relevant departments of the United States finally appointed Goodnow, a constitutional adviser to Yuan Shikai in February 1913 in the name of the "Carnegie Foundation." Goodnow is an American political scientist, former president of Hopkins University, and the main founder of the American Political Science Association. Yuan Shikai made Goodnow work in the Legislative Yuan and concurrently served as a constitutional adviser to the cabinet. He argued and compared the length of the monarchy and the republic from the aspects of history, politics, law, international relations, and the quality of the people, and clearly stated: "There is no doubt that if China adopts a monarchy, it will be better than a republic." "From the republic to the monarchy, as long as the concrete plan for a constitutional monarchy is truly implemented." At that time, the "New Imperial Code" was also drafted, which included that "princes and princes may be naval and army officers, but they may not form political parties and serve as important political officials; the permanent abolition of the eunuch system; the permanent abolition of the palace maid selection system; Abolish the system of tribute from all parties forever; No royal relative is allowed to engage in business and compete with the common people for profit" These are typical constitutional monarchical legal provisions.

As long as Yuan Shikai is willing to be the emperor, the great powers are really ready to support Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Keding returned home in great excitement, and these days he had held talks with the envoys of the major powers, and all the information he received was that the powers were willing to support Yuan Shikai and the central government of Beiyang. This feeling is really good, and the foreign devils who are feared by the Chinese in Pingsuri are now mildly or enthusiastically expressing their support. Yuan Keding felt that the previous diplomatic department was really a bunch of waste, and it was easy to get support, but it was like fighting to the death. If things were handled by Yuan Keding, I am afraid that many things would have been resolved peacefully.

So at the door, when he learned that his father Yuan Shikai let him go home, he went to see him immediately, Yuan Keding was only a little nervous in his heart, Yuan Shikai didn't give Yuan Keding a good face, most of them either criticized or scolded, and the expert method was not a few. But this time, Yuan Keding got back such an important "diplomatic commitment", and Yuan Keding felt that his waist was much stiffer.

"What are you doing these days?" Yuan Shikai asked coldly.

If it was in the past, Yuan Keding had already begun to find out what he had done wrong, so that he was forced to be questioned so fiercely by his father, and he had to do everything possible to come up with something that would not be punished too harshly and prevaricate. Of course, the best thing to do is to be able to guess what my father was thinking and admit what made him angry.

This time, Yuan Keding was not afraid, he replied calmly: "Dad, recently the ministers of various countries invited me to drink. ”

Hearing such a complacent answer, Yuan Shikai's eyes had already widened.

Yuan Keding didn't have the slightest look of fear this time, and he continued to say calmly: "Dad, I definitely didn't say anything related to the government. I'm still very clear about the most basic things. You can rest assured. I didn't say a word about it, and they asked. I just replied that I am now at home every day and have no idea about these things at all. ”

Seeing that Yuan Keding was so calm, Yuan Shikai was not in a hurry to attack. He changed his expression to a softer one, "That's all you guys talked about?" I'm afraid it won't take that much time. ”

"Daddy......" Yuan Keding was about to say the key words, but because of excitement, he delayed for a few seconds to calm down his emotions, Yuan Shikai has an advantage, when punishing Yuan Keding, at least he will not let others be around, so as to save some face for Yuan Keding. Since there was no one left and right, Yuan Keding did not deliberately lower his voice, "Dad, the ministers of various countries have expressed their willingness to support you to become emperor." ”

Yuan Keding thought that these words would surprise Yuan Shikai, and he himself had already tried his best to start searching for a look of surprise on Yuan Shikai's face. However, he was disappointed, Yuan Shikai not only had no surprise, but not even the slightest surprise. Yuan Shikai asked calmly: "When you go out these days, just talk to me about this kind of thing?" ”

"How dare I talk about these things? It's just that after the ministers invited me over, they first asked me about some official business, and when I said that I didn't know, they didn't press me anymore. Instead, he turned his head and talked about China's political system, and after talking about the political system, he said that he was willing to support his father to become emperor. I didn't even dare to ask them to talk to you directly about it, I was forced by them to be anxious, I just said I knew. Dad, you are the president, how dare I talk nonsense! Yuan Keding replied with an aggrieved emphasis.