Not only Japan, but also the sheer size of the "Great White Fleet" shocked the traditional naval powers of Italy and France, and even the British, who had the strongest maritime power, were shocked by this scene when they saw the "Great White Fleet" approaching slowly. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 Info The British Admiralty Lance was not apprehensive at the time when he said: "The British should understand that if the Americans had chosen this path, they would have been able to easily build up a navy, first of the same size as ours, and then beyond the size of ours." ”

Therefore, the attitude of the United States towards the Chinese revolution is crucial. Coupled with the warmth of Germany and the fact that France was attacking the French forces in the north of Vietnam, concessions were also needed to avoid the assistance of the revolutionary army and the Provisional Government against the French forces.

Yuan Shikai may have to go out of the mountain to form a cabinet, which is not surprising to Chen Wenqiang. Liangbi was seriously wounded by a shot while supervising the war, and the Beiyang Army retreated slightly and confronted the revolutionary army. It is not so much that it was really unable to resist the attack of the revolutionary army, but that there was a great deal of deliberate element involved. The generals of the Beiyang Army were creating a tense atmosphere for the imperial court to see, forcing the imperial court to use Yuan Shikai to seize the military and political power in the north.

In Yuan Shikai's view, relying on the people of the Beiyang Army alone seems to be no longer enough. Moreover, the situation of the Beiyang Army was very bad, and it became a meatloaf sandwiched between the imperial court and the revolutionary army. He must rely on the support of the Beiyang Army and the Great Powers to force the imperial court to put him on the throne, and then control both the Praetorian Guard and the Yi Army, and with these hundreds of thousands of troops in the north, he may be able to compete with the revolutionary army. Or fight or draw, if he doesn't have the strength, it's all a dream, and no one will hang him.

The armistice was only a test to test the bottom line of the revolutionary army's peace talks. At the same time, it can also preserve the strength of the Beiyang Army.

But this is all Yuan Shikai's wishful thinking, which is well designed, but it is often destroyed by Chen Wenqiang. Now the virtues among the great powers have been biased in favor of the Provisional Government because of insider trading, and they do not fully support him. And the estrangement and suspicion between the Qing court and him. It will be deepened with Chen Wenqiang's conspiracy, and his plan to take the throne will be in danger of being stranded.

If he wants to call for wind and rain and advance and retreat freely like in history, Yuan Shikai faced many difficulties. In other words, the interim government will have quite favorable conditions for the peace talks.

The Northern Expeditionary Army, which had been replenished with heavy weapons, also began to attack, following the recovery of Xuzhou. It advanced northward and confronted the Yi Army and the Third Town of Beiyang. Lin Shuqing's Zhenjiang Army landed in Yantai by ship and joined the revolutionary troops of Yantai's "Eighteen Heroes" Luan Zhongyao and others.

At this time, the oppression of the reactionary officers led by Wu Dingyuan, the acting commander of the Third Town, coupled with the covert sabotage of the former governor Sun Baoqi, had already declared its independence, and the entire provincial capital of Jinan was shrouded in the terror of counterrevolutionary restoration. A group of reactionary gentry and hooligans of Wendeng had just launched an armed rebellion, captured the recovered Wendeng and Rongcheng, and killed many revolutionaries.

Lin Shuqing personally led the troops to attack. They swept through Wendeng and Rongcheng, crushed the counter-revolutionary army that had been bewitched by traitors and gathered in one fell swoop, and killed a number of reactionary gentry and hooligans by ruthless means.

Subsequently, the Shandong Revolutionary Provisional Government was established in Yantai, and Luan Zhongyao temporarily served as the acting chief of civil affairs. The revolutionary situation in Shandong was thus shaken up.

Xiong Kewu's division of the Western Route Army entered Shaanxi from western Hubei and marched extremely fast. Shake Shaanxi. At this time, the troops of the Shaanxi Revolutionary Military Government were engaged in fierce battles with the Qing troops on the Gansu and Henan routes, especially the loss of Changwu County, the tightening of the western front, and the fighting of the revolutionary army and the Qing army in the Qianzhou and Yongshou areas of Shaanxi. Hearing of the arrival of reinforcements, morale was greatly boosted. Zhang Yunshan, the governor of Shaanxi, led the revolutionary army to resist vigorously, so that the Qing army was never able to break through the city of Qianzhou.

The Northern Expedition was successful, the morale of the army and the people was boosted, the provisional government rejoiced, and the Manchu court was inexplicably frightened.

……………

The palace of Prince Alcohol in Beijing is shrouded in a dark glow. It's getting dark. For many years, at dusk, the eunuchs would install carved wooden square paper windows outside the glass windows, which were called windows. But now, the windows are not closed, and no one is urging them.

The lights in the study room were lit in Baoshan Hall, and Prince Su Shanqi, Prince Gong Pu Wei, Yu Lang and others were among them, all of whom were members of the anti-Yuan Zongshe Party. The regent Zaifeng frowned, listening to Pu Wei roaring loudly.

"Yuan Shikai is ruthless and ill-intentioned, and using him is to seek skin with the tiger, which is absolutely not feasible."

"But the envoys of Britain, Japan, France, Russia and other countries are all exerting pressure on the imperial court, saying that Yuan cannot calm the situation, and the generals of Beiyang jointly sent a telegram, asking the imperial court to use Yuan Shikai, otherwise the military will be unstable." Zaifeng said with a sigh.

"Those foreigners will not have any good intentions." Prince Su said in a deep voice: "The court is in danger, they have helped, but now they are here to point fingers. ”

Yu Lang nodded in agreement and said: "The generals of Beiyang are old people of Yuan, and the joint power generation has the intention of forcing the palace, so you must not agree easily." ”

The regent Zaifeng hesitated a little, turned his gaze to Pu Wei, and asked, "Prince Gong, what do you think of this matter?" ”

"I knew that Yuan Shikai had Wang Mang's treachery and Cao Cao's ambition, and such people must not be used. Even if the world falls apart, such treacherous and stubborn people cannot be used. If the state falls apart, with the emperor's intelligence, inspirational and new, it can also slow down the great cause; If Yuan is allowed to enter the court, it is to lure the wolf into the house and open the door to steal, then the emperor is in danger, please think twice! Pu Wei stomped his feet again and again angrily, "There are Janissaries in the capital, and we can also organize tens of thousands of banner soldiers, and the children of the Eight Banners in the Northeast can also organize death squads, vowing to meet the traitors with iron and blood, and fight to the death." ”

True and false, false rumors and speculations, are very useful for the Manchu relatives and nobles who are rumored about it. Moreover, in the traditional Chinese understanding, conspiracy to usurp the throne is more hateful than raising the banner to rebel. Therefore, Wang Mang and Cao Cao have become white-faced traitors and are criticized.

Regardless of whether Pu Wei's impassioned enthusiasm was practical or not, it did help to make the atmosphere of the meeting stronger and the anti-Yuan sentiment even higher.

"Even if we take 10,000 steps back, the Southern Revolutionary Party really kills the capital, and we negotiate with it, which is a hundred times stronger than handing over the imperial court to the hands of Yuan Thief and having him wait for the price and sell it." Yu Lang's words drew a few rolls of eyes.

"Jiang Gui's question is not very reliable, it is more appropriate to be stationed outside the city, and it is better to keep the nine gates of the Jingshi in the hands of the Praetorian Guard." Pu Wei diverted the topic and said: "Or you can transfer him to Shandong to face the rebellious party and bandit army." ”

"Entrust high-ranking officials and seize their soldiers." Prince Su said quietly: "Another military emergency. Ask the regent to ask the emperor to order the princes and ministers to donate their private wealth, destroy their homes and relieve their difficulties, and help them in times of difficulty. ”

"Yes, it's hard together." Pu Wei said: "I am willing to lead the Yi army, fight for the emperor, and fight to the end for the Qing Dynasty." ”

"The Provisional Government of the South was formed. Public opinion is turbulent, and the imperial court must also show a gesture in order to win the hearts of the people. Yu Lang said: "I think Zhang Zhidong's recital can be considered." ”

A few more white eyes flew over, Yu Lang spread his hands, and said with a wry smile: "Today, the situation is so critical, and he still doesn't give up anything, how can he do it, this person has a heart." Can't you see clearly? ”

According to Jang Zhidong's recital, the National Assembly was convened, the National Assembly drafted a constitution, and the National Assembly elected a responsible cabinet, and the imperial family was not allowed to act as the Minister of State. In this way, the royal family will have no power, the regent will become an empty shelf, and even the emperor will become an ornament. Isn't the Qing Dynasty dead in name?

However, I am afraid that this is the only way to do it now. The regent Zaifeng was in a hurry. The stuttering problem is done again, "That-this, also, is there any other way?" ”

Prince Su Shanqi sighed and said, "There is no way to delay the revolution with a constitution. If it is not good, he can keep the emperor, and then contact Kang, Liang and others, or there may be a turnaround. ”

"I think it's better to let the emperor and the queen mother go to Chengde Palace to take refuge temporarily, and follow the example of Emperor Xianfeng Qiu Di Mulan." Pu Wei suggested with a frown.

There was silence in the room for a moment, and Yu Lang shook his head and said, "I can't go to Chengde for the time being." Now it is different from Emperor Xianfeng back then. The people of the world are looking at the emperor, if the emperor moves, the world will be panicked, so withdraw from the customs, then the Qing Dynasty will be difficult to recover. In addition, there are already revolutionary party activities in Gyeonggi, and there are also revolutionary bandits plotting in the three northeastern provinces. ”

Prince Su Shanqi nodded in agreement and said, "This is very true, let's wait and talk." Also, Yuan Shikai and the Revolutionary Party secretly communicated, should we also send an envoy to the south to test the final bottom line of the Revolutionary Party, or maybe ease the aggressive offensive of the Revolutionary Party? ”

"Yuan, Yuan Shikai's side, such as, how to deal with it?" The regent Zaifeng asked.

"Let him go to Beijing, doesn't he want to form a cabinet, let him take the post of prime minister." Pu Wei gritted his teeth and said, "As long as he enters the capital, kill him." ”

"What if he doesn't come, the post of prime minister can't be given." Yu Lang hurriedly stopped and said: "It's better to make it clear in advance, as long as he can lead the Beiyang Army to quell the bandits, the imperial court will let him form a cabinet." ”

After some secret deliberations, the group finally decided on a charter and began to go their separate ways.

…………………

Tianjin, British Concession, Yuan Shikai's residence.

Before the banquet was over, Yuan Shikai returned to the study alone, and his henchman Yang Shiqi was anxiously waiting here.

"Xingcheng, what's the news?" Yuan Shikai pretended to be calm and asked.

Yang Shiqi handed the telegram to Yuan Shikai and said worriedly: "The imperial court urges Yuan Gong to go to the front line to supervise the division and add the title of first-class earl. He also said that if Yuan Gong can pacify the rebellious party, he can form a cabinet. ”

"I really don't cry when I don't see the coffin." Yuan Shikai didn't read the telegram either, threw it away hatefully, and said with a gloomy face: "I really didn't see it, Zaifeng is really stubborn." ”

"According to Zhi'an, this is a good thing done by the Zongshe Party." Yang Shiqi said: "To deal with those diehard guys, in my opinion, except for them." ”

Yuan Shikai nodded, he also thought about killing a few relatives and nobles who were the leaders of the sect and the party, but he considered that there were still Praetorian Guards in the capital, and if he stimulated them too much, he was afraid that it would backfire. Moreover, killing the royal family will alarm the entire Qing family, which not only makes him never clear the notoriety of "Cao Cao", but also does not help him to safely take over power from the Qing family.

Yang Shiqi saw that Yuan Shikai was silent, so he said quietly: "Yuan Gong, it's inconvenient for you to start, you can use the thirty-six strategies to borrow a knife to kill someone." Now, isn't there a good candidate? ”

Yuan Shikai couldn't help laughing and said, "Xingcheng, what do you think of Wang Jingwei?" ”

"This person has great ambitions and is unwilling to be subordinate; His talent is high, he thinks of himself as high, and he is even more reluctant to be under others. Therefore, if he can satisfy his own desires, especially the desire for power, he will do anything. Yang Shiqi smiled: "Didn't he go north just for fame and profit?" ”

Yuan Shikai said: "However, he seems to really have a deep heart for the republic. ”

"That's for my own sake, too." Yang Shiqi said disappreciatively.

Yuan Shikai thought about the conversation at the banquet just now, nodded his head, expressed his agreement, and said: "Wang Jingwei once said: The goal of the revolutionaries is to overthrow the Qing court, and in order to achieve this goal, they do not hesitate to use any revolutionary means!" ”

"Good! All rivers return to the sea, our goal is the same, just like Yuan Gong, for the sake of the country and the people, it is better to not make a big move. Yang Shiqi smiled meaningfully.

"Over the years, the Qing court has ruined the country into a thousand holes, the country is poor and the people are poor, if there is another civil war, I am afraid that it will only lead to the destruction of the country." Yuan Shikai pretended to be worried about the country and the people and sighed, then frowned and asked, "It's just that the Southern Provisional Government has been established, where will it be to me?" ”

Yang Shiqi smiled bitterly and said: "You can ask Brother Hui Zi to continue to work hard for the reconciliation between the north and the south, but you still need to ask the great powers to put pressure on it, and then contact Chen Wenqiang to discuss it, so that it can be accomplished." ”

Yuan Shikai nodded lightly and said, "Chen Wenqiang is negotiating with Huizi in Shanghai, and there may be a result soon." Either way, let's take a look at their conditions first. ”

The plan has been decided, Yuan Shikai returned to the banquet in the living room, Yang Du and Yuan Keding were accompanied, and Wang Jingwei was present. Although Wang Jingwei drank a lot of wine, he was also flushed and a little drunk.

Yuan Shikai entered the table, the atmosphere was warm again, a few glasses of wine were down, Yuan Shikai pretended to sigh and said: "The abdication of the Qing Emperor has become a stalemate at the moment, in fact, it is just a few royal relatives who do not know the height of the sky, they are holding on to the death, and they have the strength of the Praetorian Guard to back them up. If this continues, the civil war will continue, the war will be in trouble, and the country will not be a country. ”

Wang Jingwei saw Yuan Shikai's sad and worried appearance, pondered for a while, and asked, "Yuan Gong, can't you control the current situation?" ”

Yuan Shikai shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You want to negotiate peace, but the revolutionary army doesn't buy it, and the Qing court doesn't accept it." Go to war? I can't bear to lose my life and my country to pieces. Although the current Qing court can be compared to an old and dilapidated house, if it is to be torn down, even if thousands of people work together, it may not be able to achieve the goal, and then again, if a few of the pillars are removed, it will fall down on its own. ”

Wang Jingwei understood Yuan Shikai's intention to assassinate the head of the Zongshe Party, and he pondered for a while before replying: "I should do my best to get rid of the stubborn Manchu nobles. (To be continued.) )