1908 Far Eastern Maniac Chapter 132 Transaction

Wait for Yang Du to finish sighing. Yuan Shikai over there had stopped writing. He took a pair of hot towels from Yuan and wiped his hands. When I looked up, I saw that Yang Du was staring at the screen of the imperial gift in a daze. So he said, "Gentleman." Is that screen familiar? That's right. It was the side that Emperor Daxing gave back then. I left Beijing in a hurry. Didn't bring anything. The screen was left in the capital. The previous imperial court sent to Tianjin to announce the decree. Take advantage of the situation to bring this screen to Tianjin. But he didn't say much. ”

"Everything the court wants to say is on this screen." Birds and phoenixes". This sentence. It is enough to show the prestige of Yuan Gong now. Yang Du cautiously patted the politician's ass.

Shi Kai smiled noncommittally. Place a hot towel on the table. Walked around the desk to a few subordinates waiting on the side. said: "Just now Zhang Ji sent someone to send a painting. Ask me to do the inscription. said that it was going to be taken to Jiangsu and hung in the House. Originally, I couldn't handle my words. But it's hard to resist. In the end, he still wrote a few lines cheekily. ”

Several people were relieved. But he also knew that Yuan Shikai didn't call a few of them over to show off calligraphy. So there is no interface. Just put down the tea and stand up. Stand with your hands down. The military attache of the second rank also came over. Stand straight.

Shikai waved his hand. Refers to the outside. said: "It's too stuffy in the house. Or go for a walk in the garden. I have lived in this governor's yamen for many years. I planted the plum blossoms in the garden with my own hands. It's a pity that it's not yet the flowering festival. Otherwise. Under the plum blossom tree, the country is pointed. But it also has a different taste. "The group published the book. Walk through the courtyard to the back garden. I chose a stone pavilion. Several servants brought sandalwood screens and circled them. Several braziers stood on the screen. It's not that cold. And under the steam, the sandalwood became more and more intense. Smokers are fascinated.

"Skinny. You've just returned to the North Wind and Dust. He came to me without even changing his clothes. What is the urgency? "Shikai gets straight to the point

Yang Du stood up. From the sleeve he pulled out the sealed letter. Present with both hands. He said, "Du was entrusted to forward a letter to Lord Regent. This letter is urgent. I don't dare to postpone. ”

Shi Kai took the letter. Glancing at the fire paint. Then I opened the envelope and looked at it carefully.

Yang Du continued: "This letter is written by Zhenhua, the governor of Hubei, before Xindu left Wuhan. Zhao Junmen once carefully admonished. This letter is of great importance and must be forwarded to the Lord Regent by hand. ”

That letter doesn't last long. In a moment, Yuan Shikai finished reading. Handing the letter to Yang Du, he smiled faintly. Said: "Skinny." You also see. He's a lion's mouth. ”

Yang Du read the letter. Only slightly surprised. glanced at the few young Beiyang officers sitting opposite. Some of them look like they stop talking.

Shi Kai smiled faintly. I made a formal introduction for several people.

"This is Yang Du, Yang Huijun, the prodigy, the regent's right-hand man. Skinny. The few people sitting opposite are not outsiders, all of them are Beiyang, rising stars. The one on the far side is Wu Guangxin. Character Shido. is the brother-in-law of Duan Zhiquan (Duan Rui). Stay rì non-commissioned officer body. Now it is the pipe belt of the artillery battalion of the third town of Beiyang. Cao Zhongshan (Cao)'s tiger general. Yesterday rì just arrived from Mukden; The one next to him was Wu Pei. Words. Xiucai was born. Later, he was framed and robbed of his fame. Fortune-telling in Jinmen for a living. Wu Yi's army that joined Nie Junmen in the afternoon. I have seen a battle with the Eight-Nation Alliance. When Russia started the war, he served in the Sino-Chinese Joint Reconnaissance Team. He is also a tiger general. It is now the infantry battalion of the third town of Beiyang. It was to go south with Shido. In addition, it is Yunpeng. The word wing green. He joined the army when he was training at the small station. is now the head of the "Four King Kongs" under Duan Zhiquan; The one next to Yiqing was Lu Jin. The first period of non-commissioned officers and students. After returning to China, he assisted Duan Zhiquan and Feng Huafu (Feng Guozhang) in training and running schools. Toiled. It is now the General Office of the Beiyang Staff Office. ”

Several people hurriedly stood up. That's enough. To put it mildly.

Yang Du thought about it for a while. It has been understood that these people are coming|. Now there are rumors. said that Yuan Shikai planned to expand the Beiyang New Army. The expansion of the army is inseparable from officers. These young officers may have been recommended by Duan Ruicao and others. This is also one of the reasons why Yang is optimistic about Yuan Shikai. this era. Most of the best military personnel are concentrated in Beiyang. The revolutionaries of the South could not compare.

The four junior officers were introduced. Yuan Shicai introduced the two officials to Yang Du alone.

"This Zhao. Word Zhou people. It's the old man of Yijun. In the first year of the first year, he entered the court with the army. I've seen a battle with the Rì army. Geng Zinian also fought with the Eight-Nation Alliance. It is a rare fierce general in the Yi Army. Now he is the wing commander of the Wuzuo Army. Some time ago, the Second Army of Xinyang responded to the constitution. He's done a great job. If it weren't for him personally leading the soldiers to attack Qin. Seung-yun will not flee back to Shaanxi either. This time I came to Tianjin. It's a debriefing. Handed over from his post. It went up. Maybe next time you'll see him. Just shouted "Zhao Ministry" and "Zhao Cheng". ”

Zhao is not as humble as those foreign officers. only slightly arched his hand at Yang Du. He sat back on his own. I have done enough to be a hero.

Wait for a few people to sit back. Yuan Shikai said: "You are all your own people. In the future, we will inevitably work together. If you speak in a secret. On the contrary, I saw the outside. Skinny. You have read Zhenhua's letter. Let me know what you have to say. ”

Yang Du straightened out his thoughts. Raise your hand. said: "Zhao Zhenhua is here."

Say. He wants to be the "Southwest Road Administration". I also want to be "the governor of southwest salt, not only wants to manage the southwest railway." I also want to manage the salt tax in the southwest. This appetite is indeed not small. But. Compared to the Restoration Society of the League. His appetite wasn't too big. At least he doesn't want to be the head of state. ”

Hear the meaning of Yang Du's words. Yuan Shikai muttered silently for a moment. He asked, "That's according to the opinion of the Child." To commission him? ”

Yang Du wrinkled his brows and said, "It doesn't seem appropriate to be incompetent. Now the Beiyang Army is mostly in the north. For the time being, the forces are unable to take care of the south. Not to mention the Southwest One. The mountains are high and far away. Poor mountains and bad waters. Moreover, now Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other provinces are not subject to the order of the regent. Rather than being rebellious and arrogant. It's better to give some benefits to Zhao Zhenhua. Let him serve the Lord Regent as a dog and horse; But if you say yes. But it's all right. One made that Zhenhua underestimate the center. In the future, it may cause the southern revolutionary party to follow suit. Bargain with the hub at every turn. undermines the authority of the cardinal. ”

"If you can't do it, you can't do it.

Skinny. It's been a long time in officialdom. You're getting more and more sleek, too. Shikai said jokingly.

Yang Du shook his head. Said: "That's not what I mean. Degree means: It can't be a full commission. This "Southwest Road Administration" and "Southwest Salt Administration". He Zhao Bei can only choose one. You can't do both. The commission must be commissioned, but it cannot be all as he wishes. If you want to give forage to the handlebar, you can't forget to add a halter. ”

"What is this called? A little messy party. I also dare to ask the regent for an official. Isn't it upside down? He is just a bandit leader in Hubei, with only tens of thousands of rabble. Why bargain with the imperial court? provoked Lao Tzu. When I went back, I went south from Henan to see if it was his soldiers. Or Lao Tzu's Henan soldiers. Zhao snorted coldly. A few words interjected. Qiu Ba is full of everything. The ability of cowhide is a five-body cast that Yang Du admires.

Yang Du has seen the military appearance and military discipline of the Hubei Revolutionary Army. Although the Revolutionary Guards are not on the table. However, the two divisions of the Republican Army are real revolutionary armies. Equipped with jīng liang well-trained - rì out of the cāo back to the camp are shouting revolutionary mouth. It is by no means the rabble that can only "grab money and land" in the legend.

Yi Yang Du didn't have an interface, just looked at Yuan Shikai. As for the Beiyang officer of the Young Zhuang faction. They all kept their mouths shut. Even the atmosphere did not dare to breathe. I admired the "Commander-in-Chief Zhao" in my heart. Now everyone else is busy giving gifts to Regent Yuan. But he's fine. is so blatant to ask for officials. Either it's something to rely on. Either it's just officialdom.

Zhao Ben has the heart to perform. But when he saw that the crowd did not answer. The performance ended in time. Keep your mouth shut.

There was a moment of silence. Yuan Shikai said a few words unhurriedly.

"Skinny. If I really entrust him Zhao Zhenhua, a bad one. His wish was granted. No matter what the superintendent is. The prestige of the center is detrimental. ”

"But if you don't ask him to do anything. He would not have supported a "presidential system." At that time, a responsible cabinet will be pressed on Yuan Gong's head. Doing things is constrained everywhere. I'm afraid it's even worse for the center. Besides, not many people know about it. Let's talk. How could he, Zhao Zhen, go around announcing it? At that time, the Qing court sent Zeng Wenzheng to lead the army to encircle and suppress Changmao. No, it's not also after giving enough benefits. Did Zeng Zhengcai go out of the mountain again? What's the benefit of that? That's a few provinces of soldiers, horses, food, and grass. Isn't it more than a mere superintendent? Yang Dugan made his words clear.

Before sending the letter, he knew that Bei would never support Yuan Shikai unconditionally. On the way back to the north, he also carefully considered how to say that Yuan Shikai made this political deal. And he asked himself enough to convince Yuan Shikai.

Politics. It is inherently a trade of interests between different groups. Sometimes this deal can be made peacefully. Others may be in a non-peaceful way. Yang Du is not subject to the latter trading method. This is the main reason why he keeps running between the north and the south.

The country is too weak. Withstand any major internal conflict. The "carve-up crisis" is not just a matter of heaven for literati. The great powers that are obsessed with their stubbornness will never miss any opportunity to expand their interests in China. And what Yang Du wanted to do was to avoid giving the great powers this opportunity.

The national system must be established as soon as possible. Even if you give some benefits to Zhao Bei, you will not hesitate. Besides, Zhao Bei really doesn't want many benefits now. It's just the title of two superintendents. Compared to the "King of E" who was named by the Qing court. It's like picking up sesame seeds and throwing watermelon. Yang Du pondered for a few days. I didn't understand why Zhao Bei would give up the benefits of this "Shizhen Hubei". It was on the way back to Tianjin by train that I saw the newspaper. Reports of the commander-in-chief's refusal to be rewarded by the Qing court's "King of E" were overwhelming. Until this time. Yang Du pondered.

Zhao Bei's move is simply cultivating popularity. Now he is unmoved by the lure of the title of "King of E". At first, he was unmoved in the face of the flanking attack of the two route armies. Isn't this what the ancients said, "Wealth can't be yín." Mighty and unyielding"?

O great husband of the fateful!

It's acting! This is Yang Du's final evaluation of Zhao Bei. Otherwise, it is not enough to explain. Why did the commander-in-chief put the secret decree that Zhang Tingfeng made him the "King of Hubei" on display at the door of the Hubei Parliament.

This acting is not comparable to politics

Shi Kai naturally didn't know that Yang Du was comparing him with Zhao Bei. He just remained silent.

Others didn't dare to speak. Zhao wanted to speak. But I looked at the four young officers who were watching their noses and noses. In the end, I swallowed back the words that came to my mouth.

This stone pavilion was strange and quiet for a while. Only the sound of the wind passed through the cracks in the screen. Hum chirp makes people frown.

"The highway superintendent can't give it." Yuan Shikai said quietly.

Foreigners just look at the middle way. This is also one of the few trump cards in Yuan Shikai's hands. He was really reluctant to hand it over to others, and Zhao Bei was known for his clear anti-British stance. Not pleasing to the British. If he is appointed to "Southwest Road Administration". If I have full authority to deal with the railway affairs of the southwest district. The British were the first not to agree. Because Hubei is in the British sphere of influence. The same goes for Sichuan.

As for the salt administration. Yuan Shi couldn't give it to others. At present, the salt tax is the largest part of China's fiscal revenue. How can it fall into someone else's bag?

But if one is good: don't give it to it, that's what Yang Du said. Zhao Bei is likely to switch to a "responsible cabinet system". Put the president in the air. After the arduous negotiations in the previous paragraph, the north and the south have basically reached an agreement on whether to implement a constitutional monarchy or a republic. The main disagreement now is over whether there is a presidential system or a "cabinet". If the most powerful IRA in the South falls to the "cabinet system", the president will be hollowed out. Lost power. Yuan Shikai would rather choose a constitutional monarchy. But the republic is the most fierce advocate of republicanism. So. Don't talk about a constitutional monarchy.

Target*.

Shikai was keen to resolve this disagreement by force. But here's the problem. He doesn't have enough strength right now.

At present, the Beiyang forces are confined to the north of the Yangtze River, and only have a foothold in the districts of Jiangsu, and the southern provinces are either in the hands of the revolutionaries. Either in the hands of the Junxian faction and the Manchu diehards, Yuan Shikai did not have any confidence to use force to defeat these powerful factions. At least not yet. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt the method of pulling one and hitting one. It is impossible to win over the Manchu recalcitrant faction. They have come to regard Yuan Shikai as a "usurper". Where will it come together with him? So. The only allies were the revolutionaries and the monarchists in the south. The Republican Army was the most powerful faction of the revolutionaries in the South. The extermination of the Manchu forces in the southwest also relied on this force.

That's it. It's not to give Zhao Bei some benefits.

And. gave Zhao Bei enough benefits. Perhaps he could also be used to contain the revolutionary forces in the south. I heard that the League is ready to unite with other parties to form a big one. Yuan Shikai did not quite understand the role of such a party. But his intuition told him. Once that party is formed. It is quite possible that the various forces of the South will be integrated. That's it. Dissident forces in the South will be even more difficult to contain. So. Yuan Shikai is in dire need of an ally right now. And Commander Zhao seems to be this ally.

didn't wait for Yuan Shikai to make up his mind. The butler walked into the stone pavilion with a long entourage. He handed over a name slip in his hand.

"Sir. Xu Shichang, the governor of the three eastern provinces, sent people to ask for a meeting. Bring a letter. There is also a painting. This painting was painted by Xu Zhitai himself. Please make an inscription. ”

After speaking. The butler took a scroll from the long hand. Present with both hands.

"How. Are you all asking me to do the inscription? ”

Shi Kai smiled faintly. Rise. The butler and the long retinue slowly unfolded the scroll. Several people in the pavilion also stood up in curiosity. Look at the scroll. The background of the painting was pouring rain. A green bamboo stands tall in the rainstorm. Plus the two sentences next to the painting: "The times are chaotic." Brother Hope, cherish". The moral of this painting is self-explanatory.

"Xu Donghai has a great eye. Yuan Gong's situation at this time has been clearly seen. Counter-current|boat. If you don't advance, you will retreat. Yang Du on the side praised.

Shi Kai smiled bitterly. Xu Shichang saw it clearly. Why can't he see clearly? His current situation as a regent of Yuan is only afraid that it is more embarrassing than the green bamboo that was painted. On one side is the usurper in the eyes of the banner man. On one side is the "style character" in the mouth of the Southern revolutionaries. If you want to call both sides of the mouth. How easy is it to say?

What a mistake. If it is admonished, the banner of "republican" will be held high at the beginning. Lead the troops into the Forbidden City. I'm afraid that he Yuan is now the dignified president of the Republic of China.

But that's it. Commander-in-Chief Zhao, who was the first to "recommend" him as the president, is afraid that he will also be more happy.

Speaking of which. Why is this Zhao Zhen's vision so poisonous? It's like I've seen what he thinks in Yuan's heart a long time ago. First "elected" him to be the president of the republic. Throw out another suggestion of "preferential treatment of the abdicated royal family". Everything is ahead of others.

But he Yuan Xiangcheng just went to the road. The imperial court also caught the way. They were all nosed by Commander-in-Chief Zhao with a rope. Lead around.

A Yuan Shikai. A Manchu court. Now both sides have become rats in bellows. There is no way back. The rest is sick and sympathetic. It's just a matter of sympathy.

So. This "loyal minister" of the Great Qing State continues to be in office. It was to untie the rope that tied him to his nose. It is also made for subordinates. In the future, he Yuan will sit in the world. Others won't say he's incapacitated.

After all, the world still needs loyal ministers!