After sending Zhu Erdian away, Xiao Zhenlei looked up and took out his pocket watch to look at the time, it was already 5:10 in the afternoon, only twenty minutes before getting off work, and when he saw Xiao Gao send Zhu Erdian back, he asked, "Is that Mo Lixun gone?" ”

Xiao Gao said: "Not yet, big president, he insists on seeing you!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei took out a cigarette and lit it, took a few puffs and said, "Then bring him to see me, I would like to hear what this British journalist who used to be Yuan Shikai's political adviser wants to say to me."

"Yes, President!"

Xiao Zhenlei still has a certain understanding of this person, during the period when this person was Yuan Shikai's political adviser, his status in the capital rose sharply, and all foreigners who came to the capital from other places took rickshaws and carriages, and the coachman directly pulled those foreigners to the Mo Mansion without asking, because the coachman thought that all the foreigners came to visit Mo Lixun. It can be seen how influential Morison was in the capital at that time.

Soon Xiao Zhenlei met Mo Lixun in the reception hall of foreign guests, Mo Lixun was dressed very formally, and it could be seen that before he came, his clothes, hairstyle, and even leather shoes were carefully cared for.

When Mo Zhenlei walked over under the guidance of Xiao Gao, he kept looking at Xiao Zhenlei from far to near in the process, observing Xiao Zhenlei's every move, and Xiao Zhenlei walked around the reception hall with his arms behind his back, his expression seemed to be immersed in thinking, this image conquered Mo Lixun in an instant, Mo Lixun has been in China for more than ten years, and Yuan Shikai has also been a political consultant for more than a year, he has never seen this thinking expression in any political figure in Huaguo, this is so focused. He wondered, is this what is called charisma? Perhaps Xiao Zhenlei at this time was thinking about another important political decision.

"Your Excellency, the President. It's a pleasure to meet you! Mo Lixun came to Xiao Zhenlei, pressed his hand on his abdomen, bent down slightly, and bowed.

Xiao Zhenlei seemed to be awakened by this voice, stopped and turned around to look at Morrison. Stretching out his hand, he asked gently, "Mr. Morrison?" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Mo Lixun hurriedly agreed, shook hands with Xiao Zhenlei and said, "I hope my arrival didn't disturb you."

Xiao Zhenlei said with a smile: "No, my work today has been completed, I have heard of Mr. Morrison a long time ago, you are the first foreign political adviser in the history of our country, and I also want to talk to you!" ”

"It is a great honor, Your Excellency!" Morrison seemed polite.

Xiao Zhenlei stretched out his hand and pointed to the sofa seat in front of him, and the two walked over together. Xiao Zhenlei asked as he walked, "Does Mr. Morrison drink tea or coffee?" ”

Morry said: "Drink tea, I think I'm used to it!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei made a gesture to Xiao Gao, Xiao Gao retreated to prepare tea, he took out a cigar box from the coffee table next to him, opened it and handed it over: "Smoking!" ”

"Oh, thank you!" Mo Li Xun was really flattered, he kept looking at Xiao Zhenlei, and found that Xiao Zhenlei did not have the slightest intention of wooing or currying favor with him, and it seemed so natural, not like a big president treating a foreigner who no longer had a career and identity. And like two people of the same age and equal status, they chatted as usual.

Both of them lit their cigars, and after a while, Xiao Gao came over with two cups of tea, put down the tea, and then withdrew. In the entire reception hall, there were only two people left, Xiao Zhenlei and Mo Lixun.

After taking a few sips of tea, Xiao Zhenlei put the cigar in his mouth and took a few puffs and asked, "Mr. Morrison." What is the matter with you coming to see me today? ”

Morrison put down the teacup and said, "Your Excellency, I am ready to return home." I wanted to come and talk to you before I left. It is a miracle to know what kind of person you are to be able to pull this country that has rotted to the bone back from the mire of the abyss in such a short period of time, and let it regain its vigor and vitality, but this miracle happened in front of me, I have watched you single-handedly create this regime, so that those people here who were extremely inferior, cowardly, and ignorant have changed their faces, and become confident, enthusiastic, and open, I used to think for a long time that I had been living in a dream, But it's true! ”

"I once thought that only Yuan Shikai was the one who led the country out of the quagmire, and I saw him as the future of China, and I once published an article in The Times praising Yuan Shikai's wisdom. During the period when I was his political advisor, I tried my best to assist Yuan Shikai, give him advice, run around, shout and cheer, and even returned to China to advocate for him in various media and newspapers, so that the politicians in London supported him, hoping that he could lead the country well and make the new republican regime more perfect. Ironically, however, these efforts did not make Yuan Shikai, who crawled out of the feudal mud, clean and democratic. I had too high hopes for the nascent republic, for democracy, for Yuan Shikai, and even for the whole of China at that time, which doomed me to end in tragedy in China! ”

"Your Excellency, when I saw you today, I realized that what I did before was wrong, you are the hope of this country, although these are deliberately flattering, I have no other suitable words to describe you, you have saved this country with your wisdom and ability, this is also my hope all along, I hope that my second hometown, where I have lived for many years, will become democratic and strong, although your government is not so democratic, but at this stage, Perhaps this form of government is the most suitable for this country! ”

Xiao Zhenlei smiled after hearing this, and asked, "Mr. Moritson, do you know what you are like in my eyes?" ”

Morrison hurriedly sat up straight and said, "I want to hear it!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei took a puff of his cigar and said: "In some incidents, you are very fair as a reporter, for example, in the Boxer Rebellion, as a reporter who has experienced it firsthand, you used the Times to report the "Boxer Incident" objectively and impartially to the Western world, believing that some Western missionaries did not respect the feelings of the Chinese people as an important cause of the whole incident, and dispelled the fog of public opinion that demonized China.

"In addition, when you were serving as Yuan Shikai's political advisor, you tried your best to create a positive and powerful leadership image for him, and when someone raised the issue of Tang Shaoyi's resignation and departure from Beijing due to the conflict with Yuan Shikai, you even said without blinking your eyes that Tang Shaoyi was visiting his wife and children in Tianjin, and there was no contradiction with Yuan Shikai. During your lobbying in London, you also praised the investment environment in China at that time, believing that you should have confidence in the country's future. But the facts of China at that time were far from your description and speech. So why do you still want to create public opinion for Yuan Shikai in the British media? Why do you want to portray the chaotic country of China as a peaceful scene? Because you think that the scheming Yuan Shikai was the only competent leader of the turbulent China at that time, and it was the 'future of the Chinese country'. You want Yuan Shikai to be the leader you have in mind -- a leader who has absolute authority, who has influence in the world, who is guided by British-style capitalist politics, economy, culture, and diplomacy, and who can lead China to a strong and bright future."

"However, your heart is extremely contradictory, on the one hand, as a British imperialist colonist, you will instinctively think and act from the position of British imperialism in many things, and on the other hand, as a government employee of the Beiyang authorities at that time, you try to help the Beiyang authorities get out of the political and economic crisis. You are sometimes very painful, if you serve the Beiyang government wholeheartedly for Yuan Shikai, it is not in line with the purpose of your coming to China, you are here to colonize, to seize interests in China, not to help China get rid of British control. If you only think about the interests of the UK, and you are employed by Yuan Shikai, it is equivalent to you taking the employer's money, but instead doing things that harm the interests of the employer, which is contrary to your professional ethics, so you are very painful and extremely conflicted, Mr. Morrison, am I right? ”

After hearing this, Morrison's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly: "Yes, Your Excellency, in fact, you are the only one who knows my true inner thoughts, oh, thank God, in the words of Huaguo, this is called a confidant, yes, Your Excellency the President, you are my confidant!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei smiled, took a puff of cigarette and said, "I'm honored!" ”

After taking a sip of tea, Morrison said: "Your Excellency, I think that China should now take advantage of the outbreak of the world war to send troops into Europe to participate in the war when the conditions are ripe or permitted, only in this way can China greatly enhance its influence in the international community in the future and obtain more benefits."

The two talked about the war in Europe for another half an hour, and seeing that it was almost six o'clock, Morrison ended the topic and said: "Your Excellency, I am about to return to China, and I have a private library in the capital, which has a collection of more than 20,000 books, magazines, maps, and other documents related to China and Asia.

Xiao Zhenlei hurriedly said, "Of course, I will send someone to contact you." In addition, I recommend that you do not return to China for the time being, no one can guarantee that Germany will not play the British mainland, I think it is safest for you to stay here, if you need a job, I can recommend a job to you! ”

"Oh, really? Thank you so much! (To be continued......)