Years of the Republic of China 1913

It is now August 1916, just over two months before the end of the term of Okuma's cabinet in Japan, and there is not much time left for China.According to history, Yuan Shikai should have passed away on June 8, but due to the flapping of Fang Zida's little butterfly wings, Yuan Shikai did not proclaim himself emperor, nor did he become the lifelong president, but just continued to serve as the president of the Republic of China.

After the events of Liang Shiyi and Yuan Keding passed, Yuan Shikai's health became worse day by day, but without the psychological burden and the pressure of being emperor, Yuan Shikai lived more easily.The change in mentality allowed him to live far longer than in history, but he himself knew that the remaining days were not many.

No matter how majestic and decisive a person was back then, he would always think of other things when it comes to this time, just like Yuan Shikai, as his body deteriorated day by day, he also began to make arrangements for his death.As the Beiyang Minister back then, and now the President of the Republic of China, the Yuan family's possessions are not many, and it can even be said to be very shabby.The entire Yuan family, according to Fang Zida's estimation, only has property of 40 to 15 oceans. Most of these properties include real estate, jewelry, jewelry, etc., and the family's cash will not exceed [-] oceans.This kind of wealth, if it is said, no one will believe it, but it is just like this. Although the Yuan family is the first in the Republic of China, it is indeed far inferior to other dignitaries in this regard.It can be said that ordinary teachers and the like in the Beiyang Department have much more property than Yuan Shikai. This is an undeniable fact.

As the only big boss in Beiyang, Yuan Shikai passed countless gold and silver hands in his life, but it was often the one hand that came in and the other hand that went out.Almost never leave a penny down.In addition, the Yuan family's family rules are very strict. Except for the eldest son Yuan Keding, who is old and bold, and made some money outside the old Yuan's knowledge, none of the other children works in the government. These old subordinates and old friends often send gifts and so on, so the whole Yuan family is far cleaner than ordinary people imagine.

Yuan Shikai himself knew that once he let go, he would go west.There is not much left to the children.What's more, no one among his children can inherit his political legacy.Yuan Shikai is not allowed to make arrangements in advance for what the Yuan family will do in the future.In fact, Yuan Shikai had already planned for this arrangement, and that was to let Fang Zida provoke the Yuan family's leadership, so as to ensure that the Yuan family would not decline after he left in the future.

well thought out.Agreeing China to join the Allied Powers to start war against the Allied Powers, Yuan Shikai, on the one hand, was considering the current political aspects, and on the other hand, he also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of the war to let Fang Zida gradually take over his power, shifting from purely political to military aspects, so as to gain more power in the Beiyang system. a seat.

As a military strongman, Yuan Shikai knew very well that without a gun in China, you are nothing.Think back then, if it weren't for his new Beiyang army, where would the Manchu abdication and Sun Wen's abdication happen?Without Zhong Yang's strong military strength, how could the second revolution launched by the Southern Revolutionary Party a few years ago be suppressed so easily?Without the backing of the military power in hand, how can the cooperation between the Beiyang faction and KMT and other parties continue to this day?About these.Yuan Shikai was very clear in his heart.Fang Zida is a good person from KMT, but he is also the junior he places high hopes on. After a hundred years, entrusting the entire Yuan family to Fang Zida is the most appropriate regardless of reason.

With the development of the country and the changes in these years, Fang Zida has gradually risen to a high position from the entourage of Song Jiaoren.Not only serving as the deputy finance minister but also the president of Zhongyang Bank, holding financial power, is called "Fang God of Wealth" by insiders.At the same time, due to KMT's status and Song Jiaoren's reliance, Fang Zida still has control over the Eighth Army and the No.15 Army under his command, as well as the actual control over a brigade of the Central Yang Bank Guard Army.From this point of view.Fang Zida's status among high-ranking officials in the Republic of China was not low. If you want money and money, you need soldiers and soldiers.But in Yuan Shikai's eyes, apart from his actual status as the president of Zhongyang Bank, Fang Zida, the military power of the Eighth Army and the No.15 Army, only controls KMT. The predecessor of the Eighth Army is the Eighth Division, and the Eighth Division is the backbone of KMT. , has always been the housekeeper of kmt. The No.15 Army was formed by Fang Zida after he took down Shandong and based on the Eighth Division. Both troops belonged to the kmt camp. No one can guarantee that these two troops will be mobilized.

In order to pave the way for Fang Zida, Yuan Shikai used a lot of brains, taking advantage of the opportunity before the war, he secretly made arrangements.Taking advantage of the contradiction between Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang, the scheming Yuan Shikai asked Wang Shizhen to order the formation of three new armies in the name of the chief of the general staff-National Defense No. 30 Army, 31 Army and 32 Army.The chief officers of the three new armies have all been carefully selected to ensure that Yuan Shikai will escort Fang Zida in the future.In addition, basic officers are also selected from the graduates of the Zhongyang Military Academy. As for equipment, logistics, etc., these are arranged by Fang Zida. After all, Duan Qirui, as the Minister of National Defense, also requires Zhongyang The God of Wealth who is in charge of the banking and manufacturing bureaus.

"How are the preparations going?" In the presidential palace, Yuan Shikai asked Fang Zida who had come to ask questions.

Regarding Yuan Shikai's nonsensical question, Fang Zida certainly understood what preparations he was referring to, and immediately said: "Returning to my father-in-law, thanks to the good development of the country under your leadership these years, the financial affluence and the abundance of materials, so Everything went according to plan and went very well.”

"Hehe, you, Fang Zhangming, are the key to the financial turnaround, but I have nothing to do with it." Yuan Shikai waved his hand and smiled: "It's good that the preparations are going well. In your opinion, how long will it take to reach the target?"

"It is estimated that it will take more than a month. The key is that it is difficult to mobilize materials. You also know that the business cooperation between my country, Germany and Russia is still going on, and there cannot be any changes until the last moment, so..." After a pause, Fang Zida hesitated and said: "Actually, my lord father-in-law, according to my son-in-law, we don't have to be ready to declare war. Although we will suffer some losses in business with Germany, we can also gain the initiative as soon as possible."

"Of course this old man knows that the German army is strong, but he is afraid that they will not be able to fly over with an old man? Even if war is declared immediately, the Allies will have nothing to do with us." Yuan Shikai smiled slightly, expressing his point of view, Fang Zida nodded at the side, with joy in his eyes. In his opinion, choosing as soon as possible, although there are some losses in business, is the most appropriate way. Now that the European military observation team has set off to return home, Fang Zida no longer has any worries, and declares war early If we can take the initiative early, the losses in front of us are still affordable for the country.

"However, now is not the time." Unexpectedly, Yuan Shikai said such a sentence suddenly, and the enthusiasm in Fang Zida's heart was extinguished at once.You know, in these days, he often suggested that Yuan Shikai should declare war as soon as possible, but Yuan Shikai always laughed and didn't answer.

"Look at this list first." Yuan Shikai handed Fang Zida a piece of paper, which was densely packed with unknown contents. Fang Zida took it in doubt and took a closer look, then he was stunned.

"This is……."

"This is specially left for you by the old man." Twirling the corners of his mustache, Yuan Shikai said with a smile: "The three new troops are directly under the Ministry of National Defense. These officers are specially arranged by the old man. What do you think? Of course, if you feel If there are unsuitable candidates, you can report to this old man."

Of course, the three new army Fang Zida knew that Fang Zida's equipment and composition were rarely arranged.But he never expected that these three new troops were formed by Yuan Shikai for Fang Zida, that is to say, these three troops are equivalent to Fang Zida's direct descendants. Still don't understand?

So far, Fang Zida finally understands why Yuan Shikai said just now that the time has not come, the key lies in these three new troops.According to the plan, it will take another month to complete the formation of these three new armies. If war is declared before then, Yuan Shikai's arrangements will definitely be disrupted, so Yuan Shikai knows that Fang Zida's suggestion is correct, so he holds back and does not declare war for now.

"father in law……."

Waving his hand, Yuan Shikai said earnestly, "Shang Ming, my time is running out, and the Yuan family will depend on you in the future. This is the last thing this old man will do for you, and you will have to go on your own path in the future." But no matter what, you have to remember the old man's words, relying on others is worse than relying on yourself, after the old man, no matter whether it is KMT, Duan, Feng, etc., they are not as serious as their own work, do you understand this?"

"Thank you father-in-law... son... Zida understands!" Looking at the old Yuan Shikai, Fang Zida nodded gratefully for the first time with respect and guilt for the old man.

"In addition, I have arranged for you to be given the rank of general, and the order will be issued in a few days. With this body, it will be more convenient for you to command the army in the future."

"Is there something wrong?" Fang Zida didn't expect Yuan Shikai to make such an arrangement. He is now a pure civil servant, so he suddenly lost the rank of general. Is this unreasonable?

"There's nothing wrong with it." Yuan Shikai said indifferently: "In the battle between the South China Sea and Shandong East, you would have been a lieutenant general long ago if it hadn't happened for Chen Qimei, not to mention that as the president of Zhongyang Bank, the guards of Zhongyang Bank didn't directly belong to the army. Are you in charge? With such a title, it is no exaggeration to give it to a general."

Yuan Shikai basically thought of everything he could think of. Fang Zida pondered it carefully and felt that it was indeed the truth. Although he did so suddenly, it was not an exaggeration. There are quite a few people with the rank of general in the whole country. Aren't many people not leading soldiers now?This is not a lot of Fang Zida alone, at least Beiyang and KMT will not have much reaction.

"There is something I want to ask you, can you answer me?"

"Master Yuefu, please tell me."

Yuan Shikai put down the teacup in his hand, and looked into Fang Zida's eyes: "If China and Japan start a war, can China win?" (To be continued...)

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