Years of the Republic of China 1913

Not long after the Qingdao incident, the Sino-Russian business agreement, and the Sino-German business agreement, Cao Rulin formally replaced Liang Ruhao as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Cao Rulin sat in the new office with a smile on his face, explaining to several subordinates For the recent diplomatic work, Fang Zida was recruited just after talking about it.

"Try this tea. A friend from Jiangnan specially brought me Yuqian Longjing from Hangzhou." After several cooperations, Cao Rulin and Fang Zida had long become friends. He took out a box of tea from the desk drawer and brewed it with a water bottle.

After taking the teacup, Fang Zida could smell the fragrance before drinking it, and Fang Zida praised the good tea.

"Shang Ming, you go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing, and say, what's the matter with me today?" Sitting down on the sofa, Cao Rulin asked.

Fang Zida smiled, put down the teacup, took out a piece of paper from his pocket and put it on the table: "It's nothing serious, just trouble Brother Runtian with this thing."

"What is this?" Cao Rulin picked it up strangely, and was stunned for a moment: "Invite Her Royal Highness Anastasia Romanova of the Russian Empire to visit the Republic of China?"

Nodding his head, Fang Zida said, "Brother Runtian, is it not difficult for your Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get this official invitation document? Please just issue a formal letter according to the content I drafted."

"Of course no problem!" Such a trivial matter was easy for Cao Rulin, but he wondered why Fang Zida suddenly thought of inviting the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanova of the Russian Empire to visit China?As far as he knows.The Grand Duchess was only the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II.This year is only a teenager, such a girl who is not very sensible, why call her here?

Cao Rulin couldn't help asking what happened. Fang Zida smiled and told him the rhetoric he taught Wu Peifu, and emphasized that both Tsar Nicholas II and the crown prince had reasons for not being able to visit China. This little princess who is still underage can be used as the representative of Tsar Nicholas II.

"That's true... so, I'll help you right away." Cao Rulin nodded, and immediately called the secretary to explain a few words, and took away the draft written by Fang Zida.Not long after Fang Zida and Cao Rulin chatted in the office, the people below took care of the matter.At the same time, through diplomatic channels, it was officially transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Russian Embassy.Seeing that the matter was resolved, Fang Zida didn't stay any longer, and left in a hurry after thanking him repeatedly.

"This Fang Zhangming..." sent Fang Zida out.Cao Rulin sighed a little dumbfounded, although what Fang Zida said sounds reasonable, but to Cao Rulin he certainly knew it was just rhetoric.Since Fang Zida didn't want to tell him his real intentions, Cao Rulin wouldn't go to the bottom of it either. As a friend, it's okay to help with such a small matter, but the curiosity in his heart is inevitable.

Wu Peifu did a good job. After the official invitation letter from Cao Rulin's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent out, Fang Zida was completely relieved.Walking out of the gate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he felt extremely relaxed, and he was even more indescribably proud.

The European War has been fought until now.Almost halfway there, thanks to the aid of Chinese supplies, the war between the Russian Empire and the Allies is now three points more intense than it was in history.Fang Zida couldn't figure out whether the course of the war would be prolonged or shortened because of his own appearance, but he could be sure of one thing, that is, the revolution in the Russian Empire was the beginning of the end of the European War. Once it was suppressed by the last straw The crumbling Russian Empire is about to collapse, a revolution will break out, and Tsar Nicholas II and his family will also become victims of the revolution.

Starting from China's interests, Fang Zida would never want a powerful and dictatorial country to appear beside him.What he needs is a Russia in disintegration and civil strife.To achieve this goal, the Tsar's family must not die, or at least leave an irrefutable bloodline, and use this as the core to form another force in the Russian Empire to fight against.This is the real reason why Fang Zida took so much pains.

Her Royal Highness Anastasia Romanova is called Princess Anna according to Chinese custom.This is a legendary princess.Whether she survived the massacre has been speculated in later generations, and several movies have even been made based on her rumors.For the youngest member of the tsar's family, Fang Zida has been famous for a long time, and he did not expect that Nicholas II would let the youngest daughter replace her to go to China.But if you think about it carefully, this is also normal. Tsar Nicholas II and the empress have never liked this youngest daughter very much. Compared with the other children, they love the rest of the children more. Since they want to use members of the royal family to go to China, it is wise to choose this one. It is only natural for the dispensable princess to act as a messenger.

Since the last discussion between Yang Du and Fang Zida, the two had a tacit understanding that Yang Du, Yuan Shikai's confidant, was still the same on the surface, but he had secretly invested in Fang Zida and revealed a lot of secrets to him.According to Yang Du, since Yuan Keding conspired with Cao Kun last time to promote Yuan Shikai's plan to become emperor, he did not give up. Instead, he prepared more secretly, especially in the past two months. There are quite a few people, and taking advantage of Yuan Shikai's illness and being unable to take care of state affairs, he poured broth in front of Lao Yuan twice every three days.

Yuan Shikai is a hero, but also a sensible person. As a father, he certainly knows what his son is thinking.However, after all, father and son are connected, no matter how determined a person is, he can't stand Yuan Keding's repeated persuasion, not to mention the long-term illness, which greatly damaged Yuan Shikai's health, coupled with his age, his mentality gradually changed .After a long time, he couldn't help thinking about this matter. Once this idea appeared in his mind, it would not be so easy to erase it.

"President for life?" Yang Du quietly found Fang Zida and told him the news. Fang Zida frowned immediately after hearing this.

The so-called lifetime president is almost the same as the big fat, the second fat, and the third fat of the Jin family in later generations. It seems that with Yuan Keding's continuous efforts, Yuan Shikai was finally moved. Ideas for testing responses.

"Father-in-law is old, so he has to do this kind of stupid trick? Brother Xizi, didn't you persuade him well?"

"Persuasion?" Yang Du said with a wry smile, "There are Mr. Yuan and Liang Yansun who keep trying to confuse people. Now how can the president listen to other people's words? Before I even opened my mouth, the president revealed that he is waiting for the title of emperor to be sealed." What do you mean I am a noble, how can I persuade you?"

Looking at the embarrassed Yang Du, Fang Zida couldn't blame him. As a son-in-law, it is not easy for him to see Yuan Shikai these days, let alone Yang Du who is just a counselor.Yuan Keding, who has learned a lesson from the last time, not only hides it from outsiders, but even his brothers and sisters are on guard like thieves. Now he eats and lives in Yuan Shikai's small courtyard every day, almost treating him as a treasure to him. hid.

"No, I have to talk to my father-in-law once. Once this step is taken, my fame will be discredited and my reputation will last forever!" Fang Zida thought for a while, and said to Yang Du: "Brother Xi, please think of a way, I need to meet Daddy alone as soon as possible president."

"This..." Yang Du hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay! I'll think of a way, but how can I tell the President, Zhang Ming, have you made up your mind?"

"Hehe, you don't have to worry about that, I naturally have an idea."

After Yang Du left, Fang Zida hurried back home, called Yuan Sizhen and asked her to go to Yuan Kewen and the others immediately, and asked them to come to him immediately for urgent talks.Seeing Fang Zida's impatient look, Yuan Sizhen hurried out the door without asking any questions. Fang Zida waited at home and smoked several cigars in a row. When the color of the day gradually turned dark, Yuan Kewen and others drove away together come over.

"What's wrong with finding us in such a hurry?" Yuan Kewen and his brothers and sisters had just entered the room when they saw Fang Zida sitting there with a solemn expression, the knot between his brows tightly knotted and unable to be wiped away. asked.

"Everyone, sit down first." Fang Zida asked everyone to sit down first, then asked Yuan Sizhen to close the door and sent Zhang Huchen to guard outside to ensure safety.Seeing Fang Zida's appearance as if he was facing a formidable enemy, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, not knowing what happened.

Looking around, there are the second son Yuan Kewen, the third son Yuan Keliang, the fifth son Yuan Kequan, the eldest sister Yuan Bozhen, the third miss Yuan Shuzhen and the seventh miss Yuan Fuzhen, plus Yuan Sizhen and Fang Zida himself, there are eight people in total. It can be said that apart from Yuan Keding and others Except for a few children of the Yuan family who are not in the capital or who are underage, basically everyone who can talk is here.

"Shang Ming, what happened?" The oldest sister, Yuan Bozhen, saw Fang Zida's dignified expression and asked. Fang Zida sighed, shook his head and said, "Do you remember what happened last year?"

"Last year? What happened?" Yuan Kequan asked subconsciously, but Yuan Kewen suddenly thought of something and asked anxiously, "You mean about elder brother and father?"

Nodding heavily, Fang Zida said, "I just got the news that my elder brother, Liang Yansun and others want my father-in-law to be the president for life."

"what!"

As soon as the words fell, everyone in the room exclaimed. Among them, Yuan Kequan was the youngest, and there was a hint of surprise in his surprise, but the rest of them were shocked, and they looked at each other with strong anxiety.

"Ke Ding what is he going to do! He...he wants to deceive his father!" Yuan Bozhen, as the eldest sister, is also the young lady of the Yuan family who married a long time ago. Rising against the table, the two willow eyebrows stood up, with an angry expression on his face.

"Sister, what's wrong with father being the president for life? Why are you so angry?" Yuan Kequan asked strangely before turning the corner.

"You silly boy!" Yuan Bozhen scolded angrily: "What is the president for life? He just wants his father to be the emperor! He wants to be the prince himself! He just wants to put his father on the fire!" (To be continued continued..)

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