Zou Rong was at least right, that is, after the news came out that Yang Xiaolin had let the Russians build a railway in the base area, many Chinese who had great hopes for Yang Xiaolin before were very dissatisfied after hearing the news.

You must know that their national sentiment has been hurt to the lowest point, and at this time they are already desperate for the imperial court, only the bandit Yang Dagui emits a little bit of light that they can't even see, making them feel a little comfort.

Now this comfort has also disappeared, and many people who went to Liaodong set out on the journey back to their hometowns as soon as they turned around. These people were originally emotional and impulsive, and when they found out that Yang Xiaolin was actually eye-to-eye with foreigners, the heroic image of Yang Dagui in their minds collapsed in an instant.

However, if Yang Xiaolin had chosen again, he would still have done it, because compared with his plummeting status in the minds of these emotional people, the life of the Chinese people in western Liaoning is really very painful, and the four words of dire water and misery can no longer describe their current situation.

Artillery fire is flying in their homes, and those shells could take their lives at any moment. And those foreign troops passing by their doorstep are their biggest nightmare, whether they are Russians or Japanese, if they want to, break into the homes of Chinese and do what they want.

The Chinese could not resist because their imperial court had declared neutrality, and if they dared to complain about these invaders, they would be immediately killed under the title of Japanese spy or Russian spy.

Even if they don't resist, their fate will be just as miserable. Because both Russians and Japanese need labor, and they will not let go of these Chinese.

Being caught to do labor is the same as nine deaths. None of Lao Maozi and Little Japan took the lives of the Chinese seriously. Whipping at every turn. The Russians can't be caught working for the Russians, and the Japanese can't fall into the hands of Lao Maozi. Otherwise, you're a spy.

Don't be reasonable, no one will reason with you.

In the more than half a year since the start of the war, the population of the entire western Liaoning region has been sharply reduced by half, and it is lucky to be able to escape to Guannei. However, as the Japanese First Army came from Korea, Lao Maozi and Little Japan both opened their jiashi on the Liaoxi Plain, and this road was no longer passable.

This war is now destined to be more brutal than the Russo-Japanese War in history, and if you can't get out, you will really die! The people of western Liaoning need a way to live, Yang Xiaolin's recruitment. Just when they need it most.

It's not that all people don't understand Yang Xiaolin. Just as the directors in the base voted 11-8, there are also people outside who support him, especially those who have a long-term vision, such as Yuan Shikai.

Lao Yuan has been paying attention to the war in the Northeast. Especially for Yang Dagui, a person who may become his opponent, he always tries his best to inquire about all Yang Xiaolin's movements.

The news didn't come quickly, but Old Yuan could know some inside stories that ordinary people couldn't know, because they were Yuan Shikai.

Recently, Lao Yuan's mood is a little bad, because the body of the wise and martial Lafayette who has always appreciated him is not as good as day by day, and the power of the Manchu court is gradually falling. Liangbi, these so-called rising stars of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, were very dissatisfied with him, the Han Chinese, who controlled the most elite new army of the Qing Dynasty.

Zaitao has repeatedly released words to ask Yuan Shikai to hand over the military power, and he promised that if Yuan Shikai handed over the military power, he will still be reused by the imperial court, even higher than the current official position.

Lao Yuan sniffed at this. Manchu official positions? Without military power, what is an official position? …,

He saw it very thoroughly, the Manchu Qing was over! Some people say that these people are the pillars of the Qing Dynasty, enough to support the Qing Dynasty, and there is no problem in holding out for another hundred years. But Yuan Shikai knew in his heart that if the Qing Dynasty could last more than ten years, he would cut off his head and give it to these night pots!

The reason is very simple, the Qing Dynasty has changed the law!

Isn't it a good thing to change the law? It's a good thing, but it's not good for the Qing Dynasty. The system of the Qing Dynasty is the system of the feudal dynasty, and under this system, you change the law to seek the kind of democracy in the West? To put it in two words, it is most appropriate, that is, "looking for death".

No change? It doesn't work if it doesn't change, being beaten like that by foreigners, the Chinese are already desperate for this imperial court, if you don't change, you are "waiting for death"!

In a word, the current Qing Dynasty has fallen into the grave, either someone else buried you, or you buried yourself, and there is no third way for them to go. In addition to carrying the coffin when the dynasty fell, those so-called Manchu talents were only qualified to be funeral offerings.

Especially in this Russo-Japanese War, the Manchus chose neutrality, which made them lose the hearts of the people! The Manchu Qing Dynasty is over, not to mention the Tao Zaifeng, even if the Qin Emperor and Han Wu come, they can't save this dynasty.

The so-called opening of foreign affairs can only accelerate the demise of this dynasty!

Lao Yuan is training, and he has the huge Beiyang Army as a backing. He is engaged in foreign affairs, there is a group of chaebols in the north to support him, he has just established Shandong University Hall, the four-year primary school and the three-year middle school are also under construction, and his reputation is now in full swing!

When the Qing Dynasty buried itself, looking at the heroes of the world, how many people were his opponents? Maybe the bandit in the northeast will have to make some effort for himself, but that's just right, if you change the dynasty, you always have to listen to the sound to be lively.

But now those milky little guys in the Manchu Qing Dynasty actually want to move themselves, which makes Lao Yuan very distressed. Could it be that Zuihou pushed this dynasty in the face, does it really have to be done by himself? He didn't want that.

Lao Yuan is troubled, he likes to go fishing when he is troubled, and he is very single-minded, always fishing in the same place in the same river.

Yesterday he went to Zaifeng and sent Zaifeng 300,000 taels of silver, but Zaifeng's tone was very different from before, this white-eyed wolf ate his countless gold and silver, and now he turned his face and refused to admit it, Yuan Shikai had no way to take him.

Sitting by the river in a daze, looking at the ripples in the river, he didn't know what he should do next?

Just when Lao Yuan had no choice in his heart, a person suddenly sat down opposite, and that person was also holding a set of fishing gear. sat across the bank from Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai was stunned for a moment, and saw the man throw the fish hook into the river. The river was not wide, and when he threw it, it was already very close to Yuan Shikai's fishing hook.

Anyone who fishes knows that if someone else sits down in one place, you have to fish in another position. Throwing the fish hook in front of Yuan Shikai like him like this, that's called robbing the nest! It's very rude.

Lei Zhenchun, who had been following Lao Yuan, saw this situation, and immediately took out his gun to save him without giving orders, trying to scare that guy away.

But Yuan Shikai stopped Lei Zhenchun, no matter what, he is an official now, and Lao Yuan usually pays attention to his reputation. Especially thinking about several pairs of eyes staring at his backbone. If something goes wrong, he's in trouble.

Then let's fish together, Lao Yuan is also a master of fishing, and when he catches too much, that guy will naturally leave.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. To be honest, Lao Yuan has not had the heart to win with others for a long time, not that he dares to be dull, but that he really can't find an opponent!

I don't know if that guy is lucky or what's wrong, Lao Yuan's heart to win just started, he suddenly lifted the fishing hook, and a grass carp with a long ruler was caught, stretched out his hand and threw it into the fish basket, and continued to fish like no one. …,

Yuan Shikai touched his nose. He glanced at the man, then stared at the float closely. After a while, seeing that the fishing rope was moving, it was obvious that the fish had been hooked, and Lao Yuan's heart was about to rejoice when he heard a noise next to him, and the guy caught another one. but scared away Lao Yuan, the fish that was going to eat the hook.

This time Lao Yuan can endure it twice, but that guy's fishing level is too powerful, whenever Lao Yuan is just about to eat the hook here, there is movement there there, so after a few times, Yuan Shikai can't help it anymore: "Hey, I said the bastard on the other side, are you looking for fault?" ”

The man looked up at Lao Yuan, suddenly smiled, got up and picked up the fishing basket, and put all the fish he had just caught back into the river.

Yuan Shikai, who saw this move, was stunned for a moment, and asked loudly: "You weishenme caught and released the fish again?" Didn't you come to play tricks on me? ”

The man smiled: "How dare you, how dare the villain play with the Governor, but the biggest fish has already been hooked, what is the use of such small fish?" ”

Yuan Shikai's eyes lit up when he said it, and his tone calmed down: "Who is Mr.?" What to say, but please speak straight! ”

The man took off the hat, and looked like he was no more than forty years old, and he hugged his fist from Yuan Shikai: "The villain's surname is Li, he just returned from studying in Japan, and others want to achieve a career when they come back from studying abroad, but the villain is naturally lazy and doesn't want to work so hard, so he took the liberty to find the Governor and want to seek a great fortune with the Governor!" ”

Yuan Shikai's eyes flickered, and he asked, "What kind of great wealth?" ”

The surnamed Li said: "The Manchu Dynasty will not be long, looking at the world, Zhang Gong is old, who is Yuan Gong's opponent?" As long as Yuan Gong solves the current crisis, in a few years, this wealth will be at your fingertips! ”

Yuan Shikai's face turned blue in an instant, and his fingers trembled and pointed at the man: "Someone!" Arrest this guy! He must be a revolutionary! I will send it to the official in a few days! ”

A group of soldiers came across the creek, and they bound the man and dragged him to the dark room in the governor's palace.

At night, the small door of the black room was opened by Yuan Shikai, and he saw him standing at the door in a cloth coat, and bowed inside: "Mr. Li, Yuan is not talented, I am willing to listen to Mr. Li's teachings." ”

The surnamed Li smiled: "I don't dare to teach properly, but the student has four words to give to Yuan Gong." ”

"What four words?"

"Compromise."

Yuan Shikai was silent for a while: "I'm afraid that if I am wronged, I may not be able to seek perfection." I've been looking for Zaifeng many times, and I've said all the good things, but to no avail! ”

The man shook his head: "Yuan Gong is wrong, it's useless to find Zaifeng." There are only two people in the world who can protect Duke Yuan, one is the Queen Mother, and the other is Lord Zhang. ”

Yuan Shikai walked into the hut: "However, the Queen Mother and Master Zhang are not in good health, and I am afraid that they do not have that energy." ”

The surnamed Li smiled: "Yuan Gong go to see them more, go close to them, don't focus too much on power, they will naturally protect you." ”

"How long can you protect me?"

"Protecting one day is one day, if one day these two people are gone, Yuan Gong's opportunity will come."

Yuan Shikai's eyes lit up, and he looked at the man again in the dark: "Thank you, Mr. for your advice!" (Your support is my biggest motivation.) )