Yuan Shikai was overjoyed, nodded his head in approval, and then said to Wang Jingwei in the tone of an elder: "I have heard in the past that revolutionaries are all people who are for the country and the people, and Mr. Sun has been working for the country and the people for more than ten years, and I have always respected and admired him. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoIt's just that, as a fellow revolutionary party, the revival will be a bit too much. ”

Wang Jingwei was silent for a moment, although he had the characteristics of revolutionary enthusiasm, fanaticism, and vacillation of petty-bourgeois revolutionaries, he was very unstable. But this time he went north, saying that he betrayed the revolution and wronged him, and that he wanted to do miraculous deeds for his own selfishness was very correct.

He took a fancy to Yuan Shikai's influence in the Qing army, and was confused by the strength of the Beiyang faction's superficial power. He believed that if he could persuade Yuan to oppose the Qing Dynasty, it would not only be a great merit, but also a bloodless political solution to the problem.

For this purpose, even compromises and concessions to Yuan Shikai are acceptable, in other words, he is a guy who wants to auction off the revolution cheaply in exchange for individual and small group status. But he also knew that although Beichen was famous, the strength of the Revival Society was strong, and its dominance in the provisional government was unchangeable. Yuan Shikai's words were secretly provocative, and he could still hear it.

Yuan Shikai saw that Wang Jingwei did not speak, so he raised his glass to persuade him to drink and did not mention the matter again. I secretly regretted in my heart, if only Wang Jingwei was an influential figure in the revival meeting.

A guard suddenly walked in, leaned into Yuan Shikai's ear and whispered a few words, Yuan Shikai nodded, said sorry to everyone, turned around and left the table again.

In the study, Yang Shiqi was still there, but his face was grim, a sturdy young man was sitting on a chair, drinking tea with a relaxed expression, and two Yuan Shikai's personal guards stood guardfully behind him.

Yuan Shikai stepped into the house. Signaling with his eyes, Yang Shiqi hurriedly stretched out his hand and introduced: "This is Mr. Chen Tao, who sent a handwritten letter from Mr. Chen Wenqiang, commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, to Yuan Gong, and in addition, he has two telegrams to convey to Mr. Wang Jingwei." ”

The young man arched his hand and pulled the letter from his bosom. handed it to Yang Shiqi and said with a smile: "Lord Yuan, I have delivered the letter to you, and the mission has been completed, please send someone to see Wang Jingwei!" ”

"Why did Mr. Chen come and go in a hurry, was he afraid that Yuan would be imprisoned?" Yuan Shikai wanted to know more about the situation from Chen Tao's mouth, and when he heard Chen Tao call Wang Jingwei's name, he had a premonition that something was going to happen, so he opened his mouth to stay.

"What's so terrible about being held? I don't even care about this life. Chen Tao stood up. said: "Lord Yuan, you will understand after reading the letter, and I will leave." ”

Yuan Shikai nodded a little helplessly, told the guards to take Chen Tao to the front hall to find Wang Jingwei, and secretly glanced at one of them, and the guard understood and took a few steps behind. Yuan Shikai whispered a few words, and the guard nodded and took the order.

Yang Shiqi checked the letter. handed it over to Yuan Shikai. In fact, there was no inspection for the thin ones, and there were no means such as sprinkling anthrax at that time.

Yuan Shikai sat at the table. Open the envelope, take out the letter, and look at it carefully. At first, his eyes widened, then his face turned red and white, and his expression was complicated.

Yang Shiqi wanted to know the contents of the letter, but he knew what a strategist should do when. What should he say, Yuan Shikai didn't say anything, he could only sit and wait.

There is nothing more infuriating and embarrassing than having one's own mind being told by others, and a well-conceived plan being shattered by others and being said to be useless. That feeling is like standing in front of someone else. Being pinched and touched by others, and unceremoniously commenting that the muscles are too loose, the skin is wrinkled, and the fat is too thick...... Too, too hurts self-esteem.

Chen Wenqiang exposed Yuan Shikai's elaborate plan for the throne in a eloquent tone, pointed out his tricks of fighting and making peace, and ridiculed him for usurping the throne and overthrowing the Qing court, and was afraid of being saddled with the unfaithful and unrighteous name of persecuting orphans and widows.

Chen Wenqiang then listed several basic conditions for the North-South peace talks, pointing out that a large-scale civil war was not the outcome hoped for by the revolutionary party. Chen Wenqiang also pointed out that the Revival Association is the main force of the Revolutionary Party, and that it is wishful thinking to win over some small groups and create division and chaos. Finally, Chen Wenqiang also told Yuan Shikai that the Revival Society was willing to help him in the affairs of the Zongshe Party. It's just that he asked Yuan Shikai to command the Beiyang people stationed in the northeast to beware of Japan and Russia, as well as the remnants of the Manchu Qing in the northeast.

"Yuan Gong-" Yang Shiqi saw Yuan Shikai frowning, a little out of the world, so he called softly.

"Oh, oh." Yuan Shikai came to his senses and disguised: "This Chen Wenqiang is really rude, full of vernacular, it's really-"

Yang Shiqi pursed his lips and said thoughtfully: "This person drinks foreign ink, and naturally he doesn't know much about my Chinese culture. I wonder what this letter says. ”

"Huh!" Yuan Shikai laughed dryly twice and said: "When I am what kind of person Yuan is, I want to send them away with a small official position and not give them some color, and I am really a strong army in Beiyang in vain." As he spoke, he unfolded the last sheet of the letter, his expression slightly stunned.

"I see." Yang Shiqi was suspicious in his heart, but he pretended to believe it and said with a smile: "Yuan Gongxiong is very talented, but don't let the young man who doesn't know the height of the sky be underestimated." ”

Yuan Shikai nodded perfunctorily, the last one was different from the previous one, but the analysis and judgment of the current situation and the great powers were clearly organized and the views were clear.

In the late Qing Dynasty, the political and economic power of the great powers spread throughout the country. There are three kinds of ports: "treaty", "open" and "docking", and there are as many as 92 places, of which 48 have customs. The appearance of "concessions" or "settlements of expatriates" in the 16 treaty ports is like the "autonomous enclaves" of the great powers, and foreign countries not only hold "extraterritoriality" but also control local administrative power and tax collection power.

For example, Tianjin has --- British, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Belgian and Austrian concessions; Hankou has --- British, French, Japanese, German, and Russian concessions; Guangzhou has ---, British and French concessions; Xiamen has ---, British and Japanese concessions; Shanghai has a public concession (the former British and American concessions were merged) and a French concession; Zhenjiang and Jiujiang have British concessions; Chongqing, Shashi, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Fuzhou have Japanese concessions; There are public concessions on Gulangyu Island (including Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and other countries).

At the same time, the great powers deployed military forces in China, large warships docked at coastal ports, and gunboats sailed into the ports of the inland waterway treaty and as far as Chongqing. In terms of garrisons, the Beijing embassy delegation has more than 2,000 people; The army of the great powers of Tianjin was more than 6,000 people; There are more than 1,200 troops of the great powers along the railway line in Shanhaiguan. Of course, there were other treaty ports or concessions, and most of them had garrisons. A situation has been created in which there is no country but no defense.

Moreover, the great powers also established spheres of influence in China, such as the Yangtze River valley of the United Kingdom, Tibet, Guangdong, and Weihaiwei; Northeast Japan, Inner Mongolia, Fujian; Northeast Russia, Inner and Outer Mongolia, Xinjiang; France, Yunnan, Guangxi; Deqing and Jiaoji lines; The U.S.-Israel open-door policy benefited from the great powers.

Chen Wenqiang pointed out that while the national situation is grim, he hoped that the peace talks between the north and the south would end the war as soon as possible and put the country on the right path of construction.

"Yuan Gong is honest and has made a lot of achievements in the new policy. People are respectful. Now that we know that the Qing court is about to overthrow, and we have seen the people's hearts and minds, why not resolutely do it anyway, it is still a republican hero, and the post of president is now vacant, so why not? The last few words were the most touching to Yuan Shikai, and he blinked his eyes and fell into deep thought.

In fact, Chen Wenqiang is not unaware of Yuan Shikai's current actions. In other words, as Yuan Shikai at that time, what would he do? Will you be stupid to fight desperately for the Qing Dynasty, destroy the revolutionary party, and then bow down to orders and let the court unload and kill donkeys?

Go to the end of the bird, and hide the good bow; Cunning to avoid death, lackeys cook. The Manchu rulers had always used this trick. Can Yuan Shikai not chill? From Korea to Zhili, Yuan Shikai did his best for the Qing Dynasty. But. What did he get in the end? Almost got a head-killing steel knife.

If Zaifeng had been a little more ruthless at that time, Yuan Shikai would definitely have a different head, and he wouldn't even get a bunch of white practice - it was given to the Manchu magnates to kill themselves, and the Han people would have lost their heads.

Moreover, as a figure who is both new and old, half-new and half-old, new and old, Yuan Shikai has mastered the strength of the Beiyang military system. He also has extraordinary intelligence, and in this great change that has never been seen before, it is also a matter of forgiveness to give full play to his ambition. Things in the world are often so delicate, and a person's fate is so unpredictable. The opportunity is in front of us. Can you blame Yuan Shikai for wanting to reach out and grab it?

Understanding is understanding, but Chen Wenqiang knows that it is not okay to indulge Yuan Shikai too much, and ambition must be restrained. Therefore, he wants to hit him, suppress him, block his path one by one, and knock off most of his self-confidence.

"Gong Yuan, the prince and the eldest prince are here." Yang Shiqi became more and more curious about the content of the letter, and glanced closer, but he didn't see anything clearly.

Oh, Yuan Shikai hurriedly put away the letter, raised his head and said, "Huizi, sit down, the outer seat is scattered?" ”

Yang Du smiled bitterly and said, "Wang Jingwei is gone, and this seat will naturally disperse." ”

"What's going on?" Yuan Shikai asked in surprise, "But what did the surnamed Chen say?" ”

"Father, the man surnamed Chen carried the instructions of the League with him, read it aloud on the spot, reprimanded Wang Jingwei for acting without authorization, colluding with the enemy, and being unorganized and undisciplined, and ordered him to go back immediately. If he disobeys the order, the revolutionary party will publish a newspaper tomorrow to expel him from the party and regard it as revolutionary rebellion. Yuan Keding frowned and said.

Yuan Shikai smiled bitterly, knowing what it meant. The League, as a revolutionary group, may be bowing to the Renaissance Society, or the two may have compromised and acted together.

He also knew what this instruction meant to Wang Ching-wei, and if he lost his status as a revolutionary party and became a revolutionary rebel, not only would he no longer be able to play any role in the revolutionary party, but he would also most likely face assassination by radicals from the revolutionary party in the north. In other words, he is worth money because he wears the hat of a revolutionary party, and if he becomes a waste that is nothing, who will hang him.

"The revolutionary party's trick is powerful and vicious, and Zhao Ming is afraid that there will be no future." Yang Du sighed: "I wanted to make a miracle achievement, but I didn't want to be hit by this." ”

"Father, I've already sent someone to follow the person surnamed Chen, it's better to take him—" Yuan Keding stretched out his hand and made a downward cutting motion.

"It's useless to kill." Yuan Shikai waved his hand very tiredly, he was close to Wang Jingwei, and he also had a layer of intention, that is, he hoped that he could prevent the Northern Revolutionary Party from potentially targeting him, although he was protected by more than 300 cronies and guards, but he was still very worried about whether he could escape the catastrophe every time.

Assassinations are rarely done in revival meetings, but if they do, they are almost unsuccessful. Of course, other revolutionary groups have always been keen on this: "Revolution and assassination go hand in hand, and the results are most abundant and fast." "And bombs, pistols, daggers, and all kinds of powerful assassinations of Manchu officials and giants are easy to succeed and low cost; Second, the assassin himself can enjoy a "glorious reputation" and go down in history; third, it can promote the awakening of the lower classes; Fourth, it can promote the "evolution" of society.

Of course, it is unfair to simply attribute the assassination to the venting of pessimism and frustration after the failure of the armed uprising or the luck of the revolution to "take a shortcut". Among the revolutionaries, there are few professional assassins who kill for money, and most of them are well-honed young people from good families. The purpose of the assassination was to provoke righteous indignation, to promote a revolution and overthrow the Manchu rule.

Wang Jingwei left in a panic, Yuan Shikai was a little lost, but he also knew that it was useless to force him to stay, and it was useless for him to leave a revolutionary party to rebel.

"Come and don't be rude, since Chen Wenqiang can write a letter to persuade me, I should also reply to explain it." Yuan Shikai forced his spirit and smiled: "Huizi, I have to trouble you to run in person." ”

Yang Du nodded and said, "Du Yi had already thought about meeting this celebrity, but he didn't know Yuan Gong's intentions. ”

"I'll think about it." Yuan Shikai stretched out his hand to stroke his forehead, looking very tired, and everyone immediately retreated with interest.

After everyone left, Yuan Shikai fell into a long contemplation. The Zongshe Party, which was formed by the Manchu relatives and nobles, did their best to prevent him from ascending to power, which was an obstacle. Because Chen Wenqiang's letter exposed Yuan Shikai's plan, Yuan Shikai was upset and did not figure it out for a long time.

But Yuan Shikai still has a fluke, although the Beiyang Army has a small setback, but its strength still exists, and he also has a backup move, that is, the twentieth town of the new army stationed in Fengtian.

The town was originally formed from a mixture of some of the six towns in Beiyang, and many officers were still the old members of the Beiyang faction, and Yuan Shikai had sent people to liaise, and if it succeeded, it would also be a force to be feared. There are also armed forces such as the Northeast Patrol Battalion, which are also the targets of Yuan Shikai's wooing. If these armed forces can enter the customs to participate in the battle, or go south to block the Shanhaiguan, this will be a great threat to the Qing court, and it will also be a significant increase in their own strength.

Of course, if you can achieve your goals without using these powers, it will definitely be the best. Yuan Shikai unfolded the letter again and began to analyze and study in detail the conditions listed above.

…………… (To be continued.) )