In Xiangcheng, Hebei Province, after winter, the weather has become much warmer. Those who came out of their homes gradually began to leave behind heavy and inconvenient immunity, and suffered from some warm and light clothing.

For the vast majority of Chinese people, spring is undoubtedly more popular than winter.

Because compared to the cold winter, there are obviously many more opportunities to work in the other three seasons. This is not surprising, as in later generations, this era did not provide enough jobs for 500 million people, because China's industry was still unusually small compared to later generations. Many of the landless people are basically in the nature of temporary workers, and some are simply waiting for a job to come to their door in the labour market.

One can imagine how difficult the cold winter has brought to these people.

In particular, there are still many old buildings in this era, and many of them are not very warm, although the government will provide a certain amount of coal for free every winter, but these cannot meet the needs of the whole city after all, and in most cases, people still need to solve the problem themselves...

So the arrival of spring is good news for many people...

Except for those children who are still very naughty~

For those children, the passing of winter is obviously a very sad thing. After all, that means they won't have a snowball fight anymore and build a snowman. But the most regrettable thing for them is probably that with the arrival of spring, the winter vacation is over...

That's right, just like later generations, schools in this era also have winter vacations. It's just that spring is coming, and the winter vacation can obviously only come to an end temporarily. It's especially sad that's especially sad. There are many people who have not completed their winter vacation homework and are now being punished―――――― but for children who like to play by nature, I am afraid that there are few children who like to go to school. At least Yan Shao absolutely doesn't like it, when Yan Shao was still in school, he always looked forward to graduating as soon as possible, so that he could get out of the sea of suffering.

But when he really graduated, he realized that the school was a paradise...

Anyway, with the arrival of spring. Everything is reviving, and those things that were basically invisible in the winter have suddenly popped up one by one.

on the blue sky. A layer of white clouds was floating in the air, just blocking the sunlight.

Even though it's spring and the sun isn't very strong yet, it still doesn't make the sunlight in the sky look so dazzling.

Meanwhile. On the earth. With the hard work of the workers, the buildings of several factories have risen from the ground at a relatively fast speed! Around the factory, there are also some locals who seem to be happy. One by one, they pointed at the factory under construction and smiled...

Perhaps it is because the industry of this era is not as large as that of Yan Shao's time, and it is even large enough to affect the environment. In addition, industrialization has only been around for a few years. So the sky here looks blue and at the same time it looks clean. It gives a very thorough feeling. But maybe it's because this kind of scene is too common for people in this era, so those locals who are pointing around the factories obviously can't imagine what these factories in front of them will bring to them, and they may not be able to imagine what the sky will be in a hundred years, and what color the air will be―――――― well, the air has no color, but the things in the air are...

This is also a very helpless thing, because this can almost be said to be the road on the road to development.

The British used to do this, the Americans used to do this, the Japanese used to do this, and now that it is China's turn, it will naturally be the same.

In the same way, China's path may be the same as that of those before it, which is to develop first and then govern.

Although this road is a bit helpless, it is better than not even having the opportunity and qualifications to govern―――――― of course, then there will be no pollution, but considering the situation in Africa and India, it is estimated that there will be many, many people who will die of malnutrition and hunger by then...

――――――――――――――――――――――――

Looking at the factories being built not far away, some of the locals surrounding the factories knew exactly what kind of jobs and wages these factories would bring them―――――― and wages!

As for pollution, people in this era are not very clear about the dangers of pollution, they are just more aware of the importance of industrialization, which is often mentioned in newspapers.

In fact, in order to promote industrialization, some domestic newspapers often report some articles related to industrialization, and at the same time mention some of the benefits brought by industrialization, which also makes it relatively easy for Chinese people to accept...

Similarly, for many people, although working in a factory is hard, for those farmers who do not have land, the factory is also their only way out. What's more, the government has been working hard to improve labor security, and the treatment of workers is getting better and better...

However, while the locals were surrounding the factory, on the path not far away, an old man was walking slowly under the entourage of several people...

"Lord Gong Bao, this is the factory that the Qian family planned to set up some time ago...", pointing to several factories under construction in the distance, one of the people who followed Yuan Shikai said in a respectful voice.

"Is it..."Hearing what the person next to him said, Yuan Shikai nodded slightly, and then looked at the factories, perhaps because of his age, Yuan Shikai had some difficulty looking at things, and it took a long time to see things in the distance. What are these factories used for? ”

"It's said to be an ash factory," the man replied respectfully. Recently, the government plans to build a few roads around Xiangcheng, which requires a large amount of ash, and many buildings in the city also need to be renovated, and the government also plans to build a new city outside the city for ordinary people to live in. So I deliberately borrowed more than one million yuan from the bank, intending to set up an ash factory here..."

Although the construction of roads and the construction of new urban areas are in some ways a government secret. But even if it's confidential. As long as there are more people who know, there is a chance that it will still be leaked out, and this is the case right now.

The Qian family was also a big family in Xiangcheng, well-informed, and after getting the news that the government planned to build a new city and build a road, he immediately made a decision and borrowed more than one million yuan from Yushi Bank. It is planned to establish the largest ash factory in Xiangcheng area.

Next, as long as the government's project is decided, then with the advantage of distance, plus some of his connections within the government. Absolutely sure you don't lose money.

On the other hand, while answering Yuan Shikai like this, the person who answered quietly glanced at Yuan Shikai, and his heart was also full of emotion.

Yuan Shikai is old...

As a person born in 1959. Today's Yuan Shikai is over sixty years old...

Not only must the hair be white. And the face has become much older, and the body that was originally neat has become a little sluggish. It is also because of this relationship that no matter where Yuan Shikai goes now, he will be followed by a few followers to avoid accidents.

Now if someone who has been in Beijing for Yuan Shikai sees him, I am afraid that no one will be able to recognize the old man in front of him as the President Yuan Da who once surprised him.

Because compared with Yuan Shikai at this time and him back then, the gap is too big.

It's not just the traces of the years on the face, but more importantly, the temperament.

Yuan Shikai was in high spirits back then. Even if he was hit, he had to announce his resignation from the position of the president. I still have the idea of making a comeback, but now...

However, the current Yuan Shikai is also willing to live now, and what makes him happiest is probably the issue of lifespan. In the past, there has always been a saying in the Yuan family that none of the men in the Yuan family can live past the age of sixty, and Yuan Shikai's father died before the age of sixty, and his grandfather seems to be the same.

Therefore, Yuan Shikai has always been worried about himself, if this were not the case, he would not have chosen to be the emperor in history―――――― would have chosen to be the emperor, one of the reasons is that he wanted to use the imperial qi to dispel the almost curse-like thing on his body...

It's just that now, it seems that it is no longer necessary, although Yuan Shikai does not look very healthy now, but at least he has lived past sixty years old, and he no longer needs to worry about his children and grandchildren following their grandfather.

On the other side, those who were pointing around the factory seemed to have discovered the arrival of Yuan Shikai and others.

It's just that when they saw Yuan Shikai, those locals were a little surprised at the same time, and they also began to dodge, even some younger ones, when they looked at Yuan Shikai, although they didn't reveal a scared expression, their eyes looked a little complicated.

As a person who walked out of Xiangcheng, and at the same time a person who once stepped on the pinnacle of the country, Yuan Shikai was once the pride of Xiangcheng.

It was only later that with his defeat, as well as the establishment of the Guoshe government and the success of Yan Shao, Yuan Shikai's position in Xiangcheng became somewhat complicated.

On the one hand, Yuan Shikai has never been sorry for his hometown, but on the other hand, as Yan Shao's opponent in a certain period, his status in the textbooks may also...

Although when compiling the textbooks, the Ministry of Education was already trying its best to whitewash the Beiyang government. However, during the period between the establishment of the Beiyang government and the establishment of the Guoshe government in 1913, most of the things that the Beiyang government did that people could write down were mainly bad things.

Similarly, as the main opponent of the Guoshe government, the Beiyang government obviously has to be described in one or two pages, and it is also because of this relationship that the image of the Beiyang government in the textbook also appears...

Of course, it can't be said that all of them are bad, at least when the expedition to Mongolia was made, the Beiyang government did a good job. It's just that the logistics of the Beiyang Army at that time were all provided by the Anhui Military Government, that is, Yan Shao's private individuals, and the Beiyang Government at that time had always been hesitant to send troops, which made the impression score much lower.

As a result, although Beiyang was the direct combatant in judging the affairs of Outer Mongolia, the glory was given to Yan Shao.

Now Yan Shao's status cannot be called a god in China. But from a certain point of view, I'm afraid it's about the same, and the vast majority of Chinese people are sincerely looking forward to Yan Shao. So when he looked at Yuan Shikai, if it wasn't for the fact that he was from his hometown. I'm afraid these people have long been speaking ill of each other.

Noticing this, the person who followed Yuan Shikai pursed his lips and wanted Yuan Shikai to leave here.

He didn't know it at all, and he didn't dare to look down on Yuan Shikai like those locals. Although in the civil war of that year, Yuan Shikai stepped down because of his defeat, the Beiyang system of that year could almost be said to have disappeared.

However, this is only on the surface, in fact, the Beiyang system still exists in this country. Whether it is Xu Shichang or Duan Qirui, for example, Feng Guozhang, these former backbones of the Beiyang system. Now he is in a high position in the national government.

The one who really lost power was actually only Yuan Shikai.

But even so, Yuan Shikai still has some influence on the Beiyang series, the same. Whether it is Xu Shichang or Feng Guozhang and others. also has unusual respect for Yuan Shikai. I come to visit almost once a year, but of course, it's just a simple visit.

Especially now, if the Kuomintang government has just been established and he has just stepped down, Yuan Shikai still has a little bit of care, then with the success of the Kuomintang government in Shandong and Europe, this idea has disappeared.

And Yan Shao succeeded in cutting off large chunks of territory from Russia. And after swallowing it in one gulp, Yuan Shikai's thoughts could no longer be said to have vanished. It should be said that there is no more at all. Because this incident has brought Yan Shao great prestige and support, if Yuan Shikai was also expected to be in China back then, then his original reputation is compared with the current Yan Shao, not to mention one percent, even one thousandth...

After all, at that time, Yuan Shikai's reputation was limited to the upper class, and as for ordinary people or lower classes, many of them didn't even know who Yuan Shikai was.

As for Yan Shao now, there is not much to say about the vases in the Congress, but they have been supported by the government. In addition, there are ordinary people and even the army, almost all of whom are supporters of Yan Shao, and Yan Shao's status has reached an unshakable level.

In this way, even if Yuan Shikai doesn't want to give up, there is no way.

But...

Despite this, Yuan Shikai still has a very high status in the eyes of everyone in the Beiyang Department, and many people will visit him during the New Year's holidays. So if you really despise Yuan Shikai because he went into the wilderness, I'm afraid you will be unlucky...

――――――――――――――――――――――――――

The eyes of the people surrounding the construction site were obvious, and Yuan Shikai noticed it at once, but perhaps he was used to this kind of gaze, Yuan Shikai did not feel anything uncomfortable, but walked directly in the direction of the factory.

And after noticing this, the people who were originally surrounding the factory also suddenly dispersed, as if there was something unclean on Yuan Shikai's body...

"Lord Gong Bao..."For fear that Yuan Shikai would be angry, the entourage who followed on the side hurriedly came up.

However, Yuan Shikai just waved his hand, and there was nothing on his face except for gloom...

"It's not their fault, it's me, it's mine," he said, looking at the factory being built in the distance and the fairly smooth road beneath his feet. The most important thing is the clean clothes worn by the locals who are watching, and the faces that are still healthy, Yuan Shikai shook his head.

Now, where can he not see clearly, and similarly, after witnessing the changes in China, Yuan Shikai has also been completely convinced of Yan Shao. After all, he knows very well that even if he is not pulled off the presidency by Yan Shao, under his leadership, this country will only defend the city at most, and if the powers come over again, I am afraid that they will be bullied.

And...

Look at the new clothes worn by the villagers around them, and the obvious healthy appearance, and the confident expressions despite dodging. When I think back to the time when the Beiyang government still existed, the appearance of those people on the streets of Beijing, with numb expressions...

"I'm really inferior to him..."

Saying this, after a long sigh, Yuan Shikai didn't say anything more, just turned around and walked in the direction of Xiang Cheng.

The other entourages glanced at each other, although they didn't quite understand what was going on, but anyway, since Yuan Shikai was not angry, it was a good thing, so they followed behind Yuan Shikai one after another...

Then Yuan Shikai and his entourage walked around Xiangcheng again, but just like in the factory not long ago, almost all the locals in Xiangcheng regarded Yuan Shikai as a plague. There is no way, although they may not really dislike Yuan Shikai, but the most Yan Shao's original opponent, he is still a little in the eyes of Xiangcheng people...

On the other hand, Yuan Shikai didn't care at all, just constantly watching Xiang Cheng's changes now, and comparing it with when he was still president...

It's just that what people didn't expect was that after returning to their home, there was nothing at the beginning, Yuan Shikai just ate with his wives and concubines as usual, and then read books, but it didn't take long for Yuan Shikai to completely fall ill and lie down on the sickbed.

Although the Xiangcheng government invited the best local doctors in Hebei to rush over the system, it still failed to save Yuan Shikai's life.

And in Yuan Shikai's last period of time, what he muttered was.

"I'm not as good as him, I'm not as good as him" (To be continued......)