The Republic is so violent

Chapter 159 The Enemy of Beiyang (4)
But no one is qualified to mediate the discord between Yuan Shikai and Duan Qirui. On the contrary, the relationship between the two has become a hot spot of media attention, making Duan Qirui and Yuan Shikai drift away. To each other's back.

Next, the Japanese came up with the "21 Measures", and Yuan Shikai was immediately in high spirits, thinking of ways to deal with it extremely excitedly.Duan Qirui was so busy that he suddenly handed over an official document. Yuan Shikai thought it was a statement from the military and hurriedly opened it, but he didn't expect it to be a report from the Ministry of the Army asking for a salary increase.

At that time Yuan Shikai was so angry that he cried and approved eight big characters:
If you have a little heart, you can't do it.

It means, Duan Qirui, Duan Qirui, as long as you have a little bit of humanity, just a little bit, you only need a little bit, and you won't pick this crucial point to add to the chaos.

Duan Qirui also realized that something was wrong with him. The "21 Articles" have come. If you insist on raising your salary at this time, it is no wonder that Yuan Shikai scolded you.So in order to make up for the gap, Duan Qirui closed the door again, made a declaration of war against Japan, telegraphed the governors of all provinces, and asked everyone to sign and express their views.

Duan Qirui's way of doing this is probably to express his support for Yuan Shikai in the form of the military's telegram signature.I don't want the conflict between him and Yuan Shikai to become superficial, and everyone can't hide in time. Who would go into this muddy water?No one paid attention to it.At the time of depression, the "21" crisis was easily resolved by Yuan Shikai, and he survived the crisis.Then Yuan Shikai was even more annoyed when he saw Duan Qirui's statement calling for a declaration of war against Japan, and said with a smile: "Zhiquan always sings the opposite tune, you can leave as you want, why bother to speak so badly?"
Yuan Shikai interpreted this power call as Duan Qirui's opposition to him. Although this misunderstanding was obvious, Yuan Shikai didn't want to explain it, and neither did Duan Qirui, so the situation deteriorated further.

A few days later, Yuan Shikai summoned Duan Qirui, and when they met, he said, "Zhiquan, your complexion is not good. I think you should rest for a while before we talk."

Duan Qirui was speechless and handed in his resignation.

The time was May 1915, 5, and the Beiyang was broken.

14 The emperor's imperial pen and horse horns

After the relationship between Yuan Shikai and Duan Qirui broke down, Feng Guozhang was next.

Speaking of the relationship between Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui, it is an extremely subtle relationship between upper and lower bunk beds.If Duan Qirui is in good shape, the first person who can't see it must be Feng Guozhang. Sneering is necessary, and irony is inevitable. It is also reasonable to do some small tricks to add trouble to Duan Qirui. .But if someone else does this to Duan Qirui, it is absolutely not allowed.

The relationship between old comrades in arms is just so ambiguous, not a lover is better than a lover.You can hit his father yourself, you can scold his mother yourself, but others can't say a word.

So Duan Qirui was devastated and was repaired by Yuan Shikai. The first one who couldn't see it was Feng Guozhang.After all, Feng Guozhang's resentment towards Yuan Shikai was deeper than that of Duan Qirui.

As early as Li Yuanhong's righteous deeds in Wuchang, when the world responded, Feng Guozhang led his army to a decisive battle in Wuhan and took Hanyang lightly. Assigned to Chahar as the governor, this is tantamount to Feng Guozhang being exiled.At that time, Feng Guozhang was furious. After returning to Beijing, he didn't go to see Yuan Shikai or Chahar, so he closed the door at home and lived alone.

While he was getting angry, Yuan Keding suddenly came, holding in his hand Feng Guozhang's protégé note from Yuan Shikai's previous visit to Yuan Shikai.Yuan Shikai returned this post, meaning that he would no longer recognize Feng Guozhang as a student, but as a brother.Yuan Shikai's action caught Feng Guozhang unexpectedly, and immediately eased the relationship between the two, coaxing Feng Guozhang to go out willingly, and settled Yuan Shikai's most troublesome trouble with the Habayashi Army.

Since then, the relationship between Feng Guozhang and Yuan Shikai has always been very delicate. When Duan Qirui was exiled, a mysterious eccentric Hu Siyuan suddenly appeared out of the sky, causing the relationship between the two to cool down rapidly, close to freezing point.

Speaking of this Hu Siyuan, this man was an official in the Qing Dynasty. He was very unhappy after the Qing emperor abdicated. He always felt that the Chinese should not be so foolish. How could they bully the emperor?Is it easy for the emperor?You say that you can fire the squid if you fire the emperor. Is this still plausible?So Hu Siyuan became a restorationist with a strong will, and made a great determination to help the Qing Dynasty ascend the throne.

As for Feng Guozhang, he also felt that he was sorry for the Qing Dynasty, because after he captured Hanyang, he was made a baron by the Qing Dynasty.So from a moral point of view, he should not bully the Qing Dynasty, but should help the Qing Emperor restore the throne.Feng Guozhang had this idea, so he respected the emperor Puyi very much. He heard that the young Puyi liked painting very much, so he queued up to ask for a painting. , Urgent order to burn the painting quickly.

What did Pu Yi paint for Feng Guozhang?

It is said that a horse was drawn with two horns growing from its head.It is a metaphor that the two horns of the horse are for Feng, and there is an inscription on the painting, saying: This is my family's thousand-mile horse.

Puyi's action made Feng Guozhang's loyalty to the Qing Dynasty suddenly cold.Say to people: Pu Yi is a child who abuses his intelligence and behaves frivolously.From then on, I never thought about supporting the Qing emperor's ascension to the throne.

But when the Hu Siyuan incident broke out, Pu Yi hadn't painted that strange painting, and the mainstream public opinion at that time was also calling for the restoration of the Qing emperor, so Feng Guozhang and Hu Siyuan hit it off and became confidants.Soon after, Hu Siyuan brought Feng Guozhang into contact with Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, forming a strange political camp ever since.

This new political camp aroused Yuan Shikai's strong anxiety.So Yuan Shikai repeatedly issued orders to remove Hu Siyuan from Feng Guozhang's side.But he didn't want Feng Guozhang to ignore Yuan Shikai's order and ignore it.

Yuan Shikai was in a hurry, and sent his secretary Ruan Zhongshu to find Feng Guozhang and asked Lao Feng to carry out the order.Old Feng categorically refused, how he refused is not clear, because there is a lack of relevant records, but this refusal means that Beiyang is no longer Yuan Shikai’s private vegetable garden, its unique and strong will, more and more clearly revealed.

Against this background, two murder cases were discovered in succession in Beijing, making Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang created by him present an extremely delicate confrontation of forces.

15 One-legged prime ministers hunted down
In the winter of 1915, near the day when Yuan Shikai ascended the throne, a major case occurred in Beijing.

Specifically, there were at least four major cases at that time, one was the case of Lu Zhengxiang being scolded, the other was the case of bombing in the Forbidden City, the third was the case of the crown prince chasing and killing Duan Qirui, and the fourth was the case of Duan Qirui being hunted down by someone.In short, each case is more mysterious than the last, and more outrageous than the last, especially the first case of Lu Zhengxiang being scolded. This case made Lu Zhengxiang cry for decades, but he still didn't figure out what was going on.

This strange case happened after the "Article 21" negotiations ended, and Lu Zhengxiang returned to Japan and continued to be his Chinese ambassador to Japan.One day he was happily drinking sake, eating sashimi, and talking to his wife, when suddenly Okuma Shigenobu sent someone to tell Lu Zhengxiang to go to the Prime Minister's Office as soon as possible, there is a good thing.

Lu Zhengxiang rushed over excitedly, and when he got there, he saw Okuma Shigenobu jumping around with his only leg. Seeing him coming, he jumped up to him with a whoosh, and shouted: "Sla, blah, blah blah!" Press the deer!
Lu Zhengxiang was stunned at the time: Brother Okuma, why are you swearing?Can't you speak well if you have something to say?
Okuma: Your conscience is badly broken!
My conscience... Lu Zhengxiang was so angry that his hands and feet were cold: Okuma, I'm not talking about you. You can't get rid of your bad temper for many years. You see, because of your bad temper, someone took off one of your legs. Why don't you? Lesson learned?
Your eight grids press the deer, your family eight grids press the deer!Okuma Shigenobu roared wildly, and threw over a newspaper: Look for yourself, is this something that people did?
Lu Zhengxiang took the newspaper: Brother Okuma, can I have a cup of tea first?I have a habit of reading newspapers, tea must be served first, and a cigar is needed... Hearing Okuma's sudden roar, Lu Zhengxiang didn't dare to ask for tea or water, and hurriedly opened the newspaper: Haha, it turned out to be from an American "New York Times", this newspaper is old and wicked, and dares to publish anything. I have made suggestions to Americans a long time ago. It should have established a propaganda department long ago. It must do a good job of guiding public opinion. The media let their own way, they can say whatever they want, how can this work, how can this not work... While talking about it, Lu Zhengxiang unhurriedly searched for news in the newspaper: Hey, I see, this is a negotiation between our two families In the end, the text of the treaty was not bad at all, and it was all published.

Okuma Shigenobu roared: Lu Zhengxiang, you bastard, I knew I couldn't work with you Chinese people. I told you back then that no other person besides you, me and President Yuan should know about this matter, but why did you Want to leak the news?Why do you do such immoral things?

Lu Zhengxiang smiled and said: Brother Okuma, don't worry, see what good things I brought you.This is our Chinese special envoy Zhou Ziqi. He is as famous as you. You founded Waseda University in Japan, and Zhou Ziqi founded Tsinghua University in China. This time Lao Zhou came to see you and brought a very valuable gift.The presents for you include a Song porcelain blue pagoda and a pair of Kangxi porcelain multicolored vases. Do you like it?Let's take a look at the gifts that Lao Zhou brought to others: for Songfang Zhengyi, it was a pair of Kangxi porcelain large multicolored bottles and a pair of large blue bottles.The gift for Youpeng in Shanxian County is ten inks of Yan Zhenqing, trust me, ten, you see, we in China have lost all our money, and one of Song Gaozong's inks, and a pair of large porcelain vases after the rain.There are also gifts for Inoue Xin. His gift is a Kangxi porcelain screen and a Song Huizong painted eagle.There are also other Japanese friends, all of whom have gifts. I have given you so many good things. The meaning is just one thing. Don’t force us Chinese anymore. We are in a hurry. Water, nothing.

Okuma Shigenobu cried: Lu Zhengxiang, do you think you are short of mind?He actually read me the list of gifts he gave to others.Okay, okay, seeing that you are so heartless, I won't say anything, you can go, and I guess, I won't be able to receive your presents, and neither can anyone else.

why?Lu Zhengxiang asked.

If you are told to leave, you will leave. Why do you ask so many questions?Okuma Shigenobu roared.

Lu Zhengxiang exited the Prime Minister's Mansion in dismay. Just as he was wondering, he heard a gunshot in the Prime Minister's Mansion. He saw a figure jumping like flying on one leg, followed by a large group of barefoot girls wearing slats and wearing a white ribbon on their heads. Assassin, just look at the figure in front of you and shoot.Although the figure in front had only one leg, it jumped with astonishing agility. Seeing whoosh, chichichi, chachacha, quackcha, it had already escaped, and the assassins scolded Baga and hurriedly chased it away.

Seeing this scene, Lu Zhengxiang shook his head again and again: This Japan is so fucking barbaric. It's the prime minister and founded Waseda University. Although there is only one leg left, it can't just be killed.

But all right, why did the Japanese hunt down Prime Minister Shigenobu Okuma?
Even though Lu Zhengxiang's mouth was broken and his personality was rough and sticky, it was unexpected that the one-legged Prime Minister of Japan was hunted down and killed by the British Minister to China Zhu Erdian.

Zhu Erdian, a British man in China, was able to order the Japanese to hunt down and kill his one-legged prime minister. This is a very good job.

But how did Zhu Erdian accomplish this?

16 Too poor to buy fur

In the winter of 1915, British Minister Zhu Erdian quietly came to Shanghai under the pretense of visiting British consulates in various places.At night, he smeared a puddle of mud on his face to cover his high nose, changed into dirty clothes, put on a broken top hat, pulled a rickshaw, and came to the street.

Under the street lamp in front, a Chinese was standing and reading a newspaper. Zhu Erdian ran over with a rickshaw: Master, take pity on me, please take my car. My business has not opened for a day, and my wife has no money to buy furs.

The man put away the newspaper, boarded the car, and cursed: "Zhu Erdian, you are heartless, you are dressed up now, you are like a camel in a herd of sheep, a hippo in a pigsty, you can tell at a glance that you are a burden." Foreign agents with special missions.

Zhu Erdian said: "Tang Shaoyi, you don't come here, so what if you see it?"I'm British, you're making me anxious, tomorrow I'll disguise myself as Miss Qianjin, and let you see how many love letters I can receive.

Sitting in the car, Tang Shaoyi said: Zhu Erdian, why did you invite me here?Let me make it clear to you that I have absolutely nothing to do with politics.

Zhu Erdian said: Tang Shaoyi, this time you have to meddle, you know?Next year at the latest, Yuan Shikai will definitely proclaim himself emperor, and you must stop him.

Tang Shaoyi yelled: Zhu Erdian, I lost your old mother. Yuan Shikai didn't want to be emperor at first, and he didn't dare to be emperor. It was because you repeatedly urged Yuan Shikai not to agree, and you still dragged Russian envoys, American envoys, and Japanese envoys. In addition to the German minister, the five families joined forces to fool Yuan Shikai, and insisted on fooling Yuan Shikai into the dead end of proclaiming himself emperor, and then you came to ask me to stop him. What kind of heart do you have?

Zhu Erdian said: Miss Tang, you misunderstood.My advice to Yuan Shikai to proclaim himself emperor is precondition.The premise is that there are no problems in China and the people respond. Under this premise, of course, one is going to be called emperor.But you have also seen the current situation, the public opinion is raging, and they are obviously plotting against your family Yuan Shikai, pushing Yuan Shikai into the pit of fire.I bet you, Tang Shaoyi, if Yuan Shikai proclaims himself emperor, those who support him now will swarm against him by then.In the final analysis, your Chinese minds are too evil, and you deliberately deceive Yuan Shikai into doing wrong things to prove yourself right.All these people think about deceiving and harming others, and they don't think about the country and the nation at all.

Tang Shaoyi: Pooh, Zhu Erdian, stop slandering us Chinese, Chinese people are not as bad as you say.

Yeah?Zhu Erdian was amused: Tang Shaoyi, let me tell you, the first person who signed the persuasion form was Cai E, you can't imagine it?The second person to sign is Sun Wu, the revolutionary father of the Wuchang Uprising, you can't think of it?The third signer is Ma Xiangbo, an old scholar who founded Fudan University. You can't even imagine it?
Tang Shaoyi was horrified: Cai E also persuaded Yuan Shikai to become emperor?
Zhu Erdian: You can look at the persuasion form yourself, he was the first one to sign.Let me tell you the truth, if Cai E does not sign, Yuan Shikai will not be able to make up his mind, because he has broken up with his Beiyang, and he is most eager to get Cai E's support.But I don't think that Cai E is a fuel-efficient lamp, he is clearly playing with your Yuan Shikai.

Tang Shaoyi: ... No way, it is said that Yuan Shikai is better than anyone else, and if he is not good, he can't be the president, so he won't be played by Cai E and his group, right?

Zhu Erdian sighed, "Tang Shaoyi, you have forgotten that once people get old, their brains will dull, their intelligence will decline, their brains will get flooded, and their minds will become more and more insufficient.What's more, you Chinese like cheating and harming others the most. Yuan Shikai, as the president, everyone is thinking about cheating him and harming him. He was not cheated by others before, so he was lucky. I don't think he can escape this time. up.

Tang Shaoyi: It's your fault, it's all your fault, why didn't you remind Yuan Shikai?
Zhu Erdian: I have already reminded him. I have joined forces with the Japanese, Russian, and American envoys to issue a stern warning to Yuan Shikai, ordering him to rein in his horse immediately and stop the imperial rule.But Tang Shaoyi, let me ask you, is the warning from the ministers of the four countries more powerful than General Cai E's signature support?
Tang Shaoyi was stunned for a long time, and said: "Lao Yuan is really miserable this time.

Suddenly Zhu Erdian dropped the car, rushed to Tang Shaoyi, and shouted: But Yuan Shikai still has a chance, at least once.But this requires you, Tang Shaoyi, it depends on whether you are still Yuan Shikai's friend, and whether you are willing to give him a hand at the most critical moment.

17 Mothers also have spring

Zhu Erdian was sitting on the sofa smoking a pipe, Tang Shaoyi walked in, followed by a person.

It was a strange person. Looking at the expression on his face, he seemed to be crying but not smiling, silly but not smart. Looking at his pupils, they seemed scattered and not gathered, chaotic.Tang Shaoyi introduced: This is my good friend, the current chief inspector of the Jingshi Police Department, and his name is Yuan Ying.

I don't want that person to shake his head vigorously: You are bad, Tang Shaoyi, you are bad, a certain family is no longer called Yuan Ying.

Zhu Erdian asked: Then what is your name now?
The man said: The current name of a certain family is Yuan Budong.

Zhu Erdian: Why did you choose such a name?

The man said: Because I don't agree with Yuan Shikai proclaiming emperor, so I changed my name to show my political attitude.

Okay, okay, Zhu Erdian stood up and walked around Yuan Tongtong in satisfaction: But I heard that your family has a very close relationship with Yuan Shikai?

wrong!Yuan Butong said: The relationship between my family and Yuan Shikai is not very close, but unusually close, so close that it cannot be increased.Although our family is from Zhengyang, Henan, we are actually the same family as Yuan Shikai. My father’s name is Yuan Kekuan. In terms of genealogy, he is just a generation younger than Yuan Shikai, so I recognized Yuan Shikai as my uncle, changed my name to Yuan Naikan, and is now the chief steward of Yuan Shikai’s residence.

Zhu Erdian: If so, you should support Yuan Shikai, why would you oppose him?
Yuan Butong said: Our family relies on Yuan Shikai for survival, of course we must support him unconditionally.But there is one thing, we firmly support what Yuan Shikai did right, but we absolutely cannot support what Yuan Shikai did wrong, otherwise we would be irresponsible to our Yuan family.

Zhu Erdian: So do you think it was wrong for Yuan Shikai to proclaim himself emperor?

Yuan Budong: If you make a mistake, you can't make any more mistakes.Looking at Yuan Shikai's life carefully, it can be said that he did not miss a single thing. If he made a mistake, he would not become China's No. 1 and become the president.But because of this, he has too many enemies and too many enemies, and now everyone is working together to lure him, trying to make him wrong once.As long as he makes a mistake once, he can be completely denied, saying that he was all wrong before.So I have to do everything possible to prevent this mistake from happening. I can't just watch him being tricked by Xiao Xiao and finally ruined.

Zhu Erdian asked: Then can you stop him?

(End of this chapter)