Founded in 1906, the American Review of Political Science is not only the journal of the American Political Science Association, but also a political observation journal with great international influence. In order to enrich the library collection and broaden students' horizons, Jingshi University has recently purchased books and subscribed to newspapers and periodicals at home and abroad. If you look through this journal, you will never miss this article written by the U.S. Minister to China on the current political landscape in China.

However, from the time Reinsch wrote this article at the embassy in China, to sending it to the American Political Science Review magazine for review, to Fu Zi printing, and then to the sea. By the time Liang Qichao sent it to Sun Yuanqi's desk, the time had already entered 1914. At this time, tensions between the New China Party and the Civic Party became even more tense, and the atmosphere in the Senate and the House of Representatives became more and more solemn, and even the most dull people could smell the smell of gunpowder.

And no wonder! Nearly a year has passed since the National Assembly was officially convened in April 1913, and the matter of the presidential election has been unresolved. A certain Japanese journalist pointed out in a gloating tone in the Suncheon Shihsta, a Chinese-language newspaper published by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing:

"The current situation in China is like two children threatening each other with explosives, hoping that their more dangerous actions will scare each other and get concessions from the other side. As everyone knows, this kind of dangerous behavior can easily misfire, and it may inadvertently detonate explosives, and finally destroy both sides. — But this is not necessarily good news for the revolutionaries in exile and other powerful factions in other places. ”

After reading Rui Enshi's article, Sun Yuanqi couldn't help but ponder: There is still some truth in the article that the dispute between the two parties in the Congress has been elevated to a dispute between the two parties in the parliament and a dispute between the courts and factions; But to sublimate to the conflict of ideas between East and West, it would be pure nonsense. However, Rui Enshi is not wrong about one thing, after so many years of immersion in officialdom, his thoughts are indeed no longer as youthful and pure as they were at the beginning, but have become dirty. It is mixed with the pursuit of power, the exclusion of dissidents, and the intention of dictatorship!

Are these earthly dirt and rust, or are they the experience of struggle and the rules of survival of officialdom? Sun Yuanqi couldn't distinguish it clearly for a while, but he knew that if such a stalemate continued, it would inevitably evolve into a decisive battle between the two forces. Although it was tempting to completely solve Yuan Shikai's idea before the outbreak of World War I, Sun Yuanqi did not dare to try, because his economic, scientific, technological, and educational strengths had not yet been fully transformed into war potential. It is likely to be yourself who will be completely eliminated!

Even if he has the strength to win in battle, Sun Yuanqi still doesn't dare to act rashly, because there are still two hungry wolves of Tsarist Russia and Japan around him, who may jump up and bite at any time; In Outer Mongolia and Tibet, there are also a few wild dogs that cannot be fed, and they may be sold at any time to seek glory and bite back; As for the revolutionaries in Hunan and Guangdong, they colluded everywhere in private. Nor is it to be taken lightly. If you are not careful, it may become a tragedy of "praying mantis catching cicadas, yellow finches behind"!

If we want to solve the current crisis, we should take a step back, as Reinsch suggested. Of course, it is impossible to let Yuan Shikai retreat in the first place, first, his age and qualifications are not comparable to Sun Yuanqi. Second, he is still the "temporary" president, and if he survives, there is really no way back.

And objectively speaking, with Yuan Shikai's qualifications and strength, becoming the president is also expected. Who knows that being relayed by the Kuomintang and the New China Party for nearly a year or two is indeed a bit inhumane for the old people who have few days left. He has been able to endure it until now, and he is already very good at home!

After introspection, Sun Yuanqi decided to take a step back. But this backstep is not unprincipled. It's a friendly gesture made with the overall picture in mind, not a weak heart. Once this friendly gesture is misinterpreted as a weak concession, it is likely that the new China Party will face a more severe stalemate and more excessive demands next time, so it must communicate with Yuan Shikai before backing down.

After making up his mind, Sun Yuanqi quickly prepared and went to the Grand Presidential Palace alone to visit Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai was quite surprised by Sun Yuanqi's sudden visit, and hurriedly got up to greet him out of the middle door: "What a rare guest!" Baixi, you haven't been here for a long time. The old man still thinks when we will be divided! ”

Sun Yuanqi had no choice but to make a haha to bypass this section.

Seeing that Sun Yuanqi came alone, Yuan Shikai also knew that there must be something important to discuss, so he sat down in the middle hall, and after serving fragrant tea, he waved everyone away. After saying a few words of unnutritious gossip. Sun Yuanqi suddenly changed his words: "A few days ago, Mr. Reinsch, the US Minister to China, published an article in the American Political Science Review magazine commenting on the current political situation in China. ”

Yuan Shikai shook his head: "The old man is frail and sickly, his eyes are dizzy, and he rarely reads books on weekdays; And if you don't know foreign languages, how do you know what articles are in foreign magazines? However, Mr. Rui is the new U.S. minister to China, and he used to be a professor of political science at a famous university in the United States, and he is said to have a unique understanding of politics. The old man had met him a few days ago when he submitted his credentials, but he didn't talk about it deeply, and now he is a little curious about what he wrote in the article? ”

Yuan Shikai's words are true or false, Sun Yuanqi naturally won't believe it all, because even if Yuan Shikai has read that article, it is impossible for him to admit it at this time. Some things are best said from Sun Yuanqi's mouth.

Sun Yuanqi replied in accordance with his meaning: "Mr. Rui Enshi's article starts from the current situation of the two parties in the Chinese Congress, traces the cause upwards, and blames the crux of the problem on Sun Yat-sen's sudden change of the presidential system to the cabinet system at the beginning of the founding of the Republic of China, without taking into account the impact on the entire political structure, making the division of power unclear, which eventually led to the current situation. At this point, Sun feels that he is quite discerning! However, in the article, he understood the situation of the two parties in the Congress as a power struggle and factional struggle between the government and the court, and Sun did not agree with it. ”

Yuan Shikai's expression moved slightly: "Oh? Baixi: What is your view on the juxtaposition of the two parties? ”

Sun Yuanqi said: "I think that the current juxtaposition of the two parties in the Diet is not so much a power struggle between the government and the court, as a factional struggle between the government and the cabinet. Whether it is the New China Party's insistence on formulating the constitution first, or the Civic Party's demand for the election of the president first, what they are fighting for is the issue of the ownership of various public powers, not for personal interests. But why is the stalemate between the two sides? Because the system is not clear, the ownership of various public powers is unclear, and everyone has doubts and fears in their hearts, fearing that the other party will seize the power that should belong to them; If you take the initiative to back down, you will make the other party feel that there is an opportunity.

In fact, too, human desires have no end. In many cases, taking the initiative to back down may not be able to obtain the other party's understanding, but will make the other party think that it is profitable, and it will be even more serious in the future. Just like the Warring States Period, the six eastern countries cut the land to Qin, originally in order to get their own peace and stability, who knew that the Qin State was insatiable, go today, come tomorrow, the service is complicated, the invasion is more urgent, and finally the six countries were annexed by the tyrannical Qin. This is a lesson from the past! Therefore, the best way to resolve congressional disputes today is to first distinguish the powers of the president, the State Department, and the Congress, and not to infringe on each other, in the words of a Western proverb, 'Render to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's'." Once the respective powers are clarified and a legal document is formed, all other problems will be solved! ”

Yuan Shikai took a sip of ginseng soup and repeated lightly: "What Bai Xi said is extremely true, now everyone has doubts and fears in their hearts, worried that the other party will seize the power that should belong to them!" ”

Sun Yuanqi knew that Yuan Shikai was worried that once the constitution was formulated, the New China Party would sweep him, the provisional president, into the dustbin of history. Even if he doesn't clean up, the three or four hundred members of the New China Party will only need to disperse after the constitution is formulated, and his dream of becoming a big president will be completely shattered!

Sun Yuanqi had already thought of a countermeasure: "I also know where the president's worries are!" The constitution is the fundamental law of the country, which needs to be carefully crafted, and it must not be sloppy in the slightest. However, if the constitution is not decided, there is no basis for electing a formal president. The contradiction between the two is indeed not easy to reconcile. However, there is a compromise method in the bottom, I wonder if the president agrees with it? ”

"Oh? Baixi, please speak! Yuan Shikai's spirit was suddenly lifted.

Sun Yuanqi said: "Since it takes years to formulate the constitution and the election of the president is imminent, it is better for us to suggest that the congress extract the three chapters of "Congress", "President" and "State Council" from the draft constitution drafted now for revision and then submit it to the congress for voting. Once the vote is passed, Congress can be convened and the president elected in accordance with these three chapters. I wonder what the president thinks? ”

In real history, in order to realize their wish to elect a president at an early date, Yuan Shikai, Liang Shiyi, and members of the Civic Party specially extracted the presidential election clause from the draft constitution, which was revised by the Constitution Drafting Committee of the National Assembly, and then submitted to the National Assembly for voting and approval, and then forcibly held a presidential election. In this way, Sun Yuanqi is just an old technique to attack his predecessors.

Yuan Shikai pondered for a moment: "Baixi's proposal is very feasible, but it is not easy to revise those three chapters, but I am afraid that it will still be difficult to submit it to the National Assembly for a vote in the short term, right?" ”

Sun Yuanqi gritted his teeth and said, "How about just taking out the chapter of "The Great President" for revision?" ”

The chapter "The Great President" covers the qualifications, election, term of office, deposition, powers, etc. In Sun Yuanqi's view, as long as the power of the president is restrained and Yuan Shikai is not allowed to have the idea of autocracy and dictatorship, it is okay to make appropriate concessions.

Yuan Shikai immediately sat up straight when he heard this: "It's okay, then according to Baixi's opinion!" (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to the starting point (qidian.) to vote for recommendation, monthly pass, your support, is my biggest motivation. For mobile phone users, please go to m.qidian. )